On the North coast of Italy, and to go down to Gibraltar as soon as relieved by a Russian Squadron: Northumberland, 74. Thalia, 36. Peterel, 18. Seahorse, 38. Santa Teresa, 36. San Leon, 14. To blockade Cadiz, and protect the Straits of Gibraltar, I approve very much of your first plan of visiting Gibraltar, after looking into Carthagena; but I wish you had fixed to send some of the best Ships immediately back to Minorca, and as Goliath and Swiftsure go from hence direct to Gibraltar, you will send two Ships of the Line, and, if they are to be found, some small Ships; for at present I know not the names of the Frigates left by Lord Keith, or how they are disposed of. When winter gets a little more advanced, all the present Ships off Malta must go down the Mediterranean, and some part to England; therefore, keep no more Ships below Minorca than you think the service requires; for I had plenty of reasons lately to write to the Admiralty, that if a Naval force should be wanted for the Coast of Italy, that England must find it; for the Russian Admiral has told me, his Ships cannot keep the sea in the winter; and I see no desire to go to sea in the summer. The Turks are returned to Constantinople, having had a fray with the Sicilians, in which many lives were lost. I have nothing new since my letters by the Bulldog, and Incendiary. In case Lord Keith is not in the Mediterra nean, I send you an Acting order for Captain Buchanan ; but as I am ignorant of the intention of the Commander-in-Chief, respecting the fitting her for sea, and whether any Officers are to be appointed to her, I leave the making use of the order to your judgment. If I am left in the command even for a few months, I shall send those French frigates' which cannot be manned to England, and for that purpose fifty good men shall be left by those Ships going to England. The Alceste may serve for a convoy for Leghorn, or Sardinia for provisions; but Junon and Courageux cannot be made useful, at least I am told so; and to keep them lying at Mahon appears to me a waste of public money. 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. You have acted on this principle in sending the Aurora and Dolphin, and it is my particular desire that you continue it. Therefore, if the Seahorse, whose state requires docking and a thorough re-fit, cannot, without robbing us of all our stores, be put in order at Gibraltar or Minorca, she must, and sorry I shall be to part with her, go to England; and I beg you will write to the Admiralty of my intentions to keep no Ships but what are fit for service in the Mediterranean; and I am sure the King will save by the measure being adopted on stations so near England. I am aware of the argument which may be used Captain William Buchanan, who was posted in October 1809, and died in April 1833. La Junon (afterwards called the Princess Charlotte), L'Alceste, Courageux, and two brigs, La Salamine and L'Alerte, afterwards called Minorca, which were taken off Cape Sicie, by a detachment of Lord Keith's Squadron, on the 18th of June, 1799. against my plan-viz., our seamen get no good by going to England, to which I perfectly agree; but the Ships left here with me are beyond all common refit, nor can they be furnished with stores, not having any foundation to be kept up; and what would be an ample supply to keep up a Squadron, is really nothing in our situation. Lord Keith will, be the event what it may, with the combined Fleet, probably be at Gibraltar; but I hope he will make allowances that I am acting in the same way as if I knew nothing of his [being there.] If Captain Buchanan goes to Port Mahon, it is your wish, I understand, to have Captain Dunn; if so, I will send an order, and you will have the goodness to direct the Lieutenant of the Incendiary to bring her to me, that I may put an Acting Commander into her. We are longing for news of the Fleet-therefore, trust you will not keep us longer in suspense than you can help. you can help. Make our best regards to General O'Hara. I am, &c., NELSON. Do you know what was the intention of the Commanderin-Chief respecting the French prizes at Mahon? for it is my wish to follow up his plan. TO REAR-ADMIRAL DUCKWORTH. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 218.] [Apparently about 12th September, 1799.] I am venturing certainly out of my line of duty, but as the Commander-in-Chief may not even be on the station, I must do the best which my judgment points out during his temporary absence. If Sir James would have allowed the troops from Lisbon to have proceeded to Malta, I would have forfeited my life if, in three days, it had not surrendered. I am far from being in good health, and the infamous politics of the Austrian Minister Thugut, who ought to be hanged if half what is said be true, do not serve to give me comfort. I am, &c., NELSON. Sir, TO HIS HIGHNESS THE BASHAW OF TRIPOLI. [Autograph, in the possession of William Upcott, Esq.] Palermo, September 13th, 1799. I am told that your Highness thinks that I should have shown you greater friendship in sending a Ship of War to pay you a compliment, than in the way I have employed them; but your Highness will not think so, when I tell you how the British Fleet has been employed. You will have heard that a French Fleet ventured itself into the Mediterranean, and how the British Fleet has chased it into the Ocean, where I hope they will meet; and if so, I venture to assure you that the Naval power of France will be totally annihilated. You will have heard of the total defeat of that vain fool Buonaparte by the English and the brave Inhabitants of St. Jean D'Acre: you will have heard of a part of my Squadron taking all the French Frigates and Corvettes from Egypt: you will have heard of the glorious successes of Field-Marshal Suwarrow, and that an English Squadron was on the Coast of Tuscany and Genoa to support him: you will have heard that I went into the Bay of Naples, landed the people from my Fleet, took the Castles of St. Elmo, Capua, and Gaeta, and had upwards of 6000 French prisoners at my feet, besides rebels; and that, having placed his Neapolitan Majesty again on his throne, a part of my Royal Master's fleet is gone to carry the King of Sardinia and his family to his Kingdom. This is the glorious work I have been engaged in, and which I should have the greatest pleasure in giving your Highness, did you want, the assistance of the Ships of your most faithful Ally. I am now pressing Malta very hard, and it shall soon surrender. Your Highness will not now think I have either been neglectful of your friendship, or been idle. Never, I entreat your Highness, think so of your attached and faithful servant, NELSON. Sir, TO B. M'DONOUGH, ESQ., CONSUL AT TRIPOLI. [Autograph, in the possession of William Upcott, Esq.] Palermo, September 13th, 1799. As I send you a copy of my letter to his Highness the Bashaw, you will be able to answer all the points which appear to have given him discontent. He is right that if he had behaved ill, I would have brought the whole Squadron to Tripoli; but as His Highness is come to a proper way of thinking, I have sent nothing. You will explain it, that I had not the smallest cause for complaint. He will see the Ships under my orders have not been paying compliments, but rendering most important services, to him as well as all the rest of the world. Make His Highness understand this, and his good sense will approve of my conduct. I have sent every paper to England, and in due time he will, I dare say, have an answer, as Mr. Lucas tells me of his intention of returning to Tripoli. I shall only trouble you with telling Mr. Horneman that his letter for Sir Joseph Banks is gone to England, and to say that I am sensible of the care you have taken to maintain a good understanding with his Highness, which I shall not fail to mention in my letter to England. I am, Sir, with great esteem, your most obedient servant, NELSON. TO LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR JAMES ST. CLAIR ERSKINE, BART., MAHON. My dear Sir James, Palermo, September 13th, 1799. Many thanks for your very kind and flattering letter of September 1st. It is true, and I see with pleasure, that you do not envy me my good fortune. The field of glory is a large one, and was never more open to any one than at this moment to you. Rome would throw open her gates and Frederick Horneman, author of " Travels from Cairo to Mourzouk, the capital of the Kingdom of Ferran, in 1797-8." London, 4to, 1802. |