be employed to watch off the harbour, a measure very necessary, as on the night of the 4th, a fast-sailing Polacca, of about seventy tons, did get out, but was chased in again by our Ships. I think Vaubois wants to get information of his deplorable situation to France.

We have no tidings of the French Corvettes, and I begin to think that they are either gone to Egypt or Corsica; for if they have stayed at sea twenty-nine days, the time they have left Toulon, they must have the plague. We have got the Prize Ship afloat, and Troubridge intends to have her round to Marsa Sirocco; he has sent her by the Sirene Tender, to offer her for sale to the Bashaw of Tripoli; but of course she will not be delivered without your permission. Troubridge thinks the brass guns might be sold with her, for we do not want them. I do not believe, from what I hear, that except the Ship, there is £500 of property in her. All the Tripolines are sailed in the Sirene, with a fair wind, and tolerable weather. The Success is watering in St. Paul's, but goes to the westward this evening.

I am sorry to tell you that my health continues to be so very indifferent, that I am obliged, in justice to myself, to retire to Palermo for a few weeks, and to direct Troubridge to carry on the service during my necessary absence. I shall quit this station when matters are all put in a right way. I am, &c.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

JOURNAL FROM THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY TO THE 10TH OF MARCH, 1800.

[Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.]

February 26th, at 2 P.M.-Ordered the Foudroyant to be anchored on St. Paul's bank-she having split her maintopsail and foresail, parted the cable, let go another anchor. The Commander-in-Chief weighed and stood to the North East, leaving in sight the Lion, Minorca, and Perseus, and under my command Culloden, Lion, Success, Bonne Citoyenne. All night, hard gales. A.M. Hard gales, no communi

cation with the shore-two Sail in sight, under main-topsails and foresails.

27th.-Strong gales till evening, when it moderated. Governor Ball sent me word that he was sure the French Ships would attempt to put to sea the first favourable moment. No Ship near us, blowing very fresh all night. A.M. In the morning, more moderate: attempted to get our anchor; but the wind freshening, was obliged to give up, leaving a stream cable on it.

28th. The Entreprenant Cutter joined from Corfu : read her dispatches, and directed her to the Commander-inChief; but having received seventy Maltese for the Genéréux, I directed her to call off Marsa Sirocco, as Commodore Troubridge had them all ready, and the way the wind blew, it could not make a difference of two hours. At nine, the Cameleon joined from Sir Sidney Smith with dispatches. At half-past ten, sent to Lord Keith to Syracuse, or to follow him to Leghorn.

1st March.-Governor Ball came on board to tell me of the state of the Ships in La Valetta, and that, in his opinion, the wind coming round to the S. W., they would endeavour to put out in the night directed the Lion to anchor off Marsa Scala, the Alexander off St. Julian's, Foudroyant off La Valetta, the Success to keep near us, as also the Vincejo, the Minorca, and

. . In the night it came on a sudden squall at N.E., by which, I believe, the Ship was drove in shore; for at daylight she was within reach of shot, which the French fired at her till ten o'clock, when she was warped out of gun-shot without any damage except wounding the fore top-mast.

In

2nd.-At four, weighed with a light breeze, southerly. the night, variable winds and squally. Strong gales to the N.W. all day.

3rd. At four, joined the Northumberland; received Lord Keith's letters and orders of the 27th February; heavy gales all night; laying to under a reefed mainsail. A.M. More moderate; directed Captain Martin to carry the powder into Marsa Sirocco, and to desire Commodore Troubridge to dispose of the French prisoners in a Transport, as they have a bad fever.

4th.-The wind coming to W.S.W., got the Foudroyant to

an anchor on St. Paul's bank; Bonne Citoyenne showed his pendants; all night fresh breezes to the southward. At daylight, employed shifting the fore-topmast; found two of the main-shrouds on the larboard side carried away, the sails all split and none to replace them, all, except one fore-sail, being unfit for a gale of wind, all the ropes very bad, and continually breaking. The Alexander and Lion at anchor, as by order of the 1st; Vincejo off La Valetta; Success near the Strombolo, preparing to go to Tripoli; Minorca not in sight; Bonne Citoyenne never joined. Wind, southerly.

5th. The Governor came on board to dinner: at sunset, the wind west; the station of the Ships-Foudroyant on St. Paul's bank; Alexander off St. Julian's; Lion off Marsa Scala; Success, Minorca, and Vincejo, off La Valetta; Bonne Citoyenne supposed to be west of Goza, as ordered; Strombolo standing to the N. N. West, being bound to Girgenti. All night fresh breezes. A.M. At daylight, increasing to a heavy gale of wind, which lasted till noon.

6th.-Heavy gales till sunset, when it moderated a little. A.M. At 10, a boat came from the Governor to say a Corvette had got into La Valetta the night of the 5th, which I cannot believe from the position of the Ships. At noon, the Governor came on board to say he began to think it was a Vessel attempting to get out.

7th. It is ascertained the Polacca was attempting to get out. All these twenty-four hours, strong breezes to the N.W. 8th. Strong breezes and variable from S. to N.W. The report from the Northumberland very unfavourable. The Penelope joined, but brought no dispatches from England.

9th.-Strong gales from the N.W. all these twenty-four

hours.

10th.-Hard gales the whole twenty-four hours, from W.S.W. to N.N.E. Only Alexander and Penelope in sight. A.M. At 8 the Speedy joining.

6 Captain Ball.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON, K.B.

[From "Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 256.]

My dear Sir William,

March 8th, 1800.

I thank you kindly for all your letters and good wishes. It is my determination, my health requiring it, to come to Palermo, and to stay two weeks with you. I must again urge, that four Gun-boats may be ordered for the service at Malta; they will most essentially assist in the reduction of the place, by preventing small Vessels from getting in or out. I think, from the Enemy, on the night of the 4th, trying and getting out for a short distance a very fast sailing Polacca, that Vaubois is extremely anxious to send dispatches to France, to say he cannot much longer hold out; and if our troops, as Captain Blackwood thinks, are coming from Gibraltar and Minorca, I have no idea the Enemy will hold out a week. I beg General Acton will order the Gun-boats. Troubridge has got the jaundice, and is very ill. As I shall so very soon see you, I shall only say, that I am ever, your obliged and affectionate,

BRONTE NELSON.

TO COMMODORE SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART., CAPTAIN OF H. M. SHIP CULLODEN.

[Order-Book. Lord Nelson left Malta in the Foudroyant, on the 10th, and arrived at Palermo on the 16th of March.]

Foudroyant, off Malta, 10th March, 1800. You are hereby required and directed, during my illness and temporary absence, to take under your command the Ships named in the margin,' whose Captains have instructions from me to follow your directions, and to obey the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, copies of which I have already sent You will once a-week send me, viâ Girgenti, by express to Palermo, an account of your proceedings. I send you the situation of the Ships as they are at present disposed

you.

7 Northumberland, Alexander, Lion, Success, Strombolo, Bonne Citoyenne, Minorca, Penelope, Vincejo.

of by me, and you will keep the Foudroyant, when she returns, in a situation to be ready to sail for me at a moment's notice.

BRONTE NELSON.

TO GOVERNOR BALL.

[Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.]

My dear Ball,

March 10th, 1800.

I request you will have the goodness to always inquire and collect any letters which may arrive for me from Palermo. One of great consequence to me was sent by the Maltese Consul's relation, Matei. Pray make inquiries, whenever he may arrive, if such a letter is received by Matei at Malta; and all letters, as well as this, to be sent over by you to Girgenti, and forwarded to me by express; and I will thank you to write our Vice-Consul there a letter of thanks, in my name, for his attention; for I have received several very civil letters from him, and, having nobody to write Italian, cannot answer them. The weather is so bad, and the wind so far to the northward, that we must weigh or slip after breakfast. I am, &c., BRONTE NELSON.

The Speedy brings nothing later than the Penelope, except a report from Cadiz that the combined Fleets are expected there, as is supposed from the Merchant Ships being ordered up the harbour.

TO ADMIRAL GOODALL.

[Autograph, in the possession of John Dillon, Esq.]

My dear Admiral,

March 11th [1800], at Sea, off Malta,

It was only two days past that I received your letter of November 15th," the day Lord Keith sailed from Spithead, to

Admiral Goodall's letter was a very amusing one: Lord Nelson does not notice his allusion to the "Enchantress :"

"My good Lord,

"London, No. 34, South Audley-street, November 15th, 1799.

"I hope, as the sailor says, this will find you well, as I am at this present.' I have wrote at different times three letters to you in favour of my protégé, Captain