CHAPTER X.

1799-1800.

On the 20th of August the following letter was written to Lord Nelson, by which he became acting Commander-inchief in the Mediterranean.

"My Lord,

"Admiralty Office, August 20, 1799.

"I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform your Lordship, that, from the circumstances of Lord St. Vincent's having returned to England for the recovery of his health, and Lord Keith, with other flag-officers, having quitted the Mediterranean in pursuit of the combined fleets of the enemy, which are arrived at Brest, your Lordship is become the senior officer of his Majesty's ships in the Mediterranean; and that, till the return of Lord Keith, or some other your superior officer, you will have all the important duties of that station to attend to.

"It is probable, Lord Keith will have left, for your Lordship's information and guidance, such orders and instructions as he may have received either from their Lordships, or from Lord St. Vincent. But, lest his having quitted the station unexpectedly should have prevented his doing so, their Lordships think fit, that I should point out to you those objects to which it will be necessary you should be particularly attentive.

"Your Lordship is, on all occasions, to cultivate, to the utmost of your power, the most perfect harmony and good understanding with all his Majesty's allies: co-operating cordially with, and assisting, as far as circumstances will admit, their fleets and armies, and protecting their subjects: for which purposes, you are, till the French shall be entirely driven out of Italy, to keep such a part of your squadron as may be found necessary on the coast of Genoa, to prevent

them from receiving supplies, or to distress them in any other way that may be found practicable. Your Lordship is also to take such measures as shall to you appear most effectual for the speedy reduction of the town of Malta.

"Your Lordship is to be particularly attentive to the protection of the island of Minorca, where you are to station such a force as, from the information you may receive of the intentions of the Spaniards to attack, and the preparations they make for that purpose, you shall judge necessary.

Your Lordship is to watch the motions of the ships remaining in the port of Cadiz, stationing off that port a sufficient force to blockade it, not only to prevent their ships of war from putting to sea, and their merchant ships from entering, but also to insure the safety of the convoys passing to and from the Mediterranean.

"Your Lordship is to be attentive to the trade of his Majesty's subjects, and that of his allies; giving it every protection in your power, and appointing convoys from one port to another, whenever other more essential services will admit of it.

"As, from the great exertions of the ships under the orders of Sir Sidney Smith, the French have been driven out of Syria, and as they will probably be very soon driven out of, or entirely destroyed in Egypt; it is their Lordships' commands, that you do, whenever you shall be informed of this, and that the services of Sir Sidney are no longer required on that coast, call the ships away, and employ them on other service.

Having stated to your Lordship the different services to which it is necessary to direct your attention, I have only to add, that their Lordships have the greatest confidence in your zeal and exertions to perform them, as far as the force under your orders will admit.

Some idea of the extent of duty, and of the means to perform it, may be estimated by the foregoing letter, and by the following memorandum of the disposition of the Squadron, and the condition of the ships on the 21st of September:— "Disposition of the Squadron under the command of Lord Nelson, the 21st September, 1799.

Alceste, 36

{

At Mahon.

Not to be considered in force as a frigate: gone with convoy from hence to Mahon; half manned.

Santa Dorotea, 34,-not known, very bad.

Santa Teresa, 34,-cruising off Genoa, to return to Mahon.

Courageux, 20,-not manned, at Mahon.

Foudroyant, 84

{

Gone to Sardinia to convey his Sardinian Majesty and family to Leghorn, or some part of the Continent. Alliance, half manned,-at Palermo, to proceed to England.

"Portuguese Squadron:

Principe Real, 92

Affonço, 74

Rainha, 74

St. Sebastian, 64

Benjamin, 18

Off Malta, blockading that island,-all very bad state.

Balloon, 14,-gone to join Commodore Troubridge.

Any other ships on the station not known.

"NELSON."

On the 12th of September he wrote to Rear-Admiral Duckworth: "My mind is fixed that I will not keep one ship in the Mediterranean which is not fit for any service. During the winter those half fit drain us of all the stores, and render us all useless."

On the 2nd of October the Phaeton brought him intelligence of thirteen sail of the line of the enemy having been seen on the 8th and 9th of September off Cape Ortegal, upon which he immediately determined to proceed to Port Mahon, ordering Captain Troubridge to meet him there, and he directed other vessels to proceed to Gibraltar. Whilst on his way to Gibraltar, he met with the Bulldog, which relieved him of the necessity of proceeding further, as he learnt that the vessels seen had proved to be Spanish, and they got into Ferrol on

the 14th.

In October the Queen of Naples continued her correspondence with Lady Hamilton :

"My dear Lady,

"October 12, 1799.

"I wish to know how you are, and also the Chevalier; I hope the cow arrived last night in good condition, and that she will prove serviceable. I am going to the Colli to attend the Council, and to take leave of the King, as I am going tomorrow with my children to the Bagaria,1 to try and regain my health the suffering I see on all sides affects me too much. Pray let me have news of you, my dear friend, I am quite impatient for it. Yesterday I was very feverish and am really ill; I fear that I shall never recover. Were it not for my daughters I should wish to bid adieu to the world, and

A country house.

retire into a convent, there to terminate my days, a desire prompted by the circumstances in which I am placed.

"Our news are that Bourcard took possession of Rome half an hour before the Austrians. Frolick was very much piqued by it, but withdrew his troops; he sent this bulletin of good news to Bourcard, which I translate and communicate to you, hoping it is true. Adieu, my very dear Lady; take care of yourself, be happy, and think of me. Do not forget to send me news of yourself, they are always interesting to me, and believe me for life your attached and grateful friend. "A thousand compliments to the Chevalier and to Miss Knight."

TO THE SAME.

"October 15, 1799.

"My dear Lady,

"I hope you are not ill, but you give me no sign, even of being alive, although I have heard that you see company, and look well; that is a comfort to me.

Have you no news from our hero? They say here that the King talks of going to Naples in the middle of November, and that I am to remain here. I do not know if the first part is true, but the second certainly is not, for I will positively go with him, being convinced of the necessity of the Government being there, and besides that, to please all my friends, who so much desire this visit. I wish for nothing but good to result from it, but I protest that I think his presence necessary. Were I king, I should have been there long since, or, indeed, should never have left, but should have risked and should certainly have conquered. I shall be ready in three days to accompany him. I promise you, that though I follow, yet I would never force the King to go there, for the race of Ravillac and Damiens is not extinct, but the contrary, and I do not wish to burthen my feelings with such shocking apprehensions. I regret even having urged his first visit, for being thirty-six days on board ship, doing nothing of any utility or glory, seriously compromised him, but I am now ready to go with him whenever he wishes it, even should he go in a polacca. This is a long tirade by way of reply to the rumours current here. I know