TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS DE NIZA. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Palermo, 18th December, 1799. I beg leave to acquaint your Excellency that I no longer consider you, or the Ships of your Squadron, under my command: I therefore again beg you will accept of my sincere thanks for your prompt obedience and execution of all my orders for the public service, and [wishes] that you may meet with a just reward for your meritorious conduct on your return to Lisbon. I am, with the greatest respect and esteem, &c., BRONTE NELSON. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL SPENCER, K.G. My dear Lord, [Letter-Book.] Palermo, December 18th, 1799. I cannot get the Russian Admiral to come from Naplestherefore, our troops are at a stand still at Malta, and seem preparing to resist an attack from the French, [rather] than to make one. I think the Emperor of Russia will not be pleased with his Admiral, but nothing shall be wanting on my part to finish this business, consistent with the other services entrusted to me. The Phaeton arrived yesterday from Constantinople; and Lord Elgin presses me, if it can be done, to send a larger Squadron into the Levant Seas. But your Lordship knows that is not possible, and, indeed, except to gratify the Turks is there any service for a large Squadron, Malta having kept everything not wanted for other particular services. If I could have any Cruisers, as was my plan, off Cape Bon, in Africa, and between Corsica and Toulon, Mr. Buonaparte could not probably have got to France; but if it bri on a confusion at Paris, I hope it will be for the best. e Board have called Admiral Duckworth to watch Terrol, and I have no Ships of the Line, (Foudroyant, excepted,) except the Northumberland, which is fit to go out of the Mediterranean, I have detached the Phaeton and Pene lope to cruize between Cape Spartel and St. Vincent, in case the Enemy's fleet should be coming this road, and elude the vigilance of Lord Bridport, that I may have timely notice of their approach; and this station will also be favourable for intercepting any outward-bound Ships from Cadiz. The Grand Signior has sent me, with a very elegant letter, a drawing of the Battle of the Nile, together with a drawing of myself-a curious present, but highly flattering to me, as it marks I am not in the least forgotten. I am almost blind-therefore, my dear Lord, excuse my writing more at this moment, and only believe me ever your obliged, BRONTE NELSON. TO HIS HIGHNESS THE DEY OF ALGIERS. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Palermo, 18th December, 1799. His Imperial Majesty Sultan Selim, having sent an Officer with dispatches for your Highness, I have directed an English frigate to carry him to Algiers; and I take this early opportunity of acquainting you that the Portuguese Squadron are no longer under my command since yesterday. It having ever been my study to prove his Britannic Majesty, my gracious Master, your Highness's best friend, you will receive this extraordinary mark of my duty as an incontestible proof of it. Your Highness must be sensible how steadily my attention must have been employed to keep such a Squadron from your Coast. In return for this kindness, the Ships of your Highness have taken Vessels having my recommendation, in consequence of which, they have many of them gone to your Ships, where they were captured and carried into slavery; and these Vessels having certificates were not carrying merchandize, (for to such I never gave certificates,) but provisions, for those who were fighting against the common Enemy. You might as well have taken their arms. as their bread. I look forward, from your Highness's character for humanity, for the immediate release of poor people, who, in consequence of my paper, put themselves in your power, [and] for the restitution of the Vessels. I only look for justice, and I pray you to have the goodness to think for a moment that it was Nelson who put them in the power of your Cruisers, and not their activity. There cannot, your Highness will allow, be a stronger proof of my attention, than in my communication of this day, which puts you in the way to avoid your enemies, the Portuguese, now no longer restrained by me, gives you an opportunity of showing to the world your humanity and justice, and of highly gratifying your Excellency's most faithful friend and servant, BRONTE NELSON. Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY, [Original, in the Admiralty.] Atty Transport, Palermo, the 18th December, 1799. I beg leave to acquaint you that his Majesty's Ship Phaeton arrived here yesterday from Constantinople, having, by desire of the Ottoman Ministry, brought two Turks from thence— the one to be landed at Tunis, the other at Algiers, which Captain Morris will do on his way down the Mediterranean. Not knowing whether Rear-Admiral Duckworth hath left any Ship to cruize between Cape Spartel and Cape St. Vincent, I have put the Penelope under Captain Morris's orders, and directed him to cruize in such a position between those Capes as he may think most eligible for annoying the Enemy, as well as to keep a good look out for the approach of the Combined fleets, whom I have reason to suppose, from the information I have received, are destined for the Mediterranean; and, in case of their approach, to run for Minorca and Malta, to put them on their guard. Captain Blackwood having sprung his fore-yard, calls at Minorca in his way down, to take either the fore or mainyard of the Courageux to replace it, as there are no spars at Mahon to make one. The Russian Squadron, which should have sailed from Naples Bay for Malta, with their Troops, on the 17th of last month, are still laying there, and the Troops not yet embarked, although the necessity for using dispatch has been strongly urged to their Admiral. Those delays on their part, very much retard the operation against Malta, but nothing has been wanting on ours. The Marquis de Niza arrived here two days ago from Malta to refit and victual, having left the command of the blockade to Commodore Sir Thomas Troubridge, Bart., from whence he proceeds immediately, by order of his Court, to Lisbon, with the Squadron under his command. I have the honour to be, &c., BRONTE NELSON. TO THE HONOURABLE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FOX. [Autograph, in the possession of Dawson Turner, Esq., F.R.S.] Sir, Palermo, 18th December, 1799. I have received your Excellency's letter of the 6th inst., requesting my assistance for his Majesty's Ships to convey from Sardinia, Elba, or Leghorn, such Corsican recruits as may be raised at those places, from time to time, to Mahon; and I beg leave to assure your Excellency, that I shall at all times be ready to meet your wishes, and render you all the assistance in my power; and whenever you may have occasion for any Ship for this service, you will be pleased to make application to the senior Officer of his Majesty's Ships at Mahon, who will send such Ship as may be necessary to take them to Mahon. I have the honour to be your Excellency's most obedient and faithful servant, BRONTE NELSON. TO J. FAGAN, ESQ., ROME. [From Harrison's Life of Nelson, vol. ii. p. 202. It is also printed, with some trifling variations, in the "Naval Chronicle," vol. iii. p. 145.] Dear Sir, Palermo, December 19th, 1799. Sir William Hamilton has been so kind as to communicate to me the distinguished honour intended me by the inhabitants, by you, and other Professors and Admirers of the Fine Arts, at Rome, to erect a Monument. I have not words suffi cient to express my feelings, on hearing that my actions have contributed to preserve the works which form the School of Fine Arts in Italy, which the modern Goths wanted to carry off and destroy. That they may always remain in the only place worthy of them, Rome, are and will be my fervent wishes, together with the esteem of, dear Sir, Your most obliged servant, TO COMMODORE SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART. [Letter-Book.] Palermo, 19th December, 1799. My dear Troubridge, If I rightly remember, I mentioned in one of my letters to you, that I intended the Princess Charlotte as the Ship to take charge of the present Convoy to England, and the Alliance to go under her command; therefore, if you have not already dispatched those two Ships to Mahon for that purpose, I beg they may be sent down immediately, as the Convoy will wait for their arrival, there being only the Gorgon there, which is not of force sufficient. By the Boyne Transport I have sent you bread and wine, with an assortment of provisions; and by the Arab tender I have sent also thirty pipes of wine; and a Transport sails this evening to load wood at Coronea, which I hope will be with you soon. General Acton has informed me that four cargoes of wood have already been ordered for the troops at Malta, on the demand of Chevalier Italinsky. Wishing you every success, believe me, &c., BRONTE NELSON. Sir, TO CAPTAIN MORRIS, H.M. SHIP PHAETON. [Letter Book.] Atty Transport, Palermo, 19th December, 1799. On your return to Gibraltar from carrying my orders into execution, you will, in all probability, find yourself the senior Officer in that case, you will render every assistance to : |