in Minorca than they know what to do with. I wished Sir James St. Clair Erskine to let me have 1200 for either the Roman State, or for Malta; but I have not been able to succeed at this moment-under pretence that General Fox is hourly expected, and it would not be proper to lessen the garrison under these circumstances; and then Sir James enters upon the difficulty of the undertaking in a true soldier way. I can only say, my dear Troubridge, that I am perfectly easy about Minorca, and I see no immediate use of sending more Ships off Malta-therefore, you need not hurry, if it is of any importance, or probability of success attending your labours, by remaining at Cività Vecchia. If not, I shall rejoice to see you soon. The Court has just got an account of Captain Gore, and you know he carried the news of the Combined fleets sailing, and of their being past Cape St. Vincent. As Gore left them the 24th, and arrived in London on the 6th, in the morning-although a Frigate moved as fast again as the Fleet-yet, as the probability is that Lord Keith was not much, if anything, to the westward of Cape St. Vincent, when Gore arrived in London, there is but little hopes of his overtaking them, for they must have had a good wind. In England it has created a general consternation. Every small Vessel is sent forth to collect our scattered Ships, and to prepare Ireland for this damned event. God bless you. I am, &c., NELSON. Lieutenant Parkinson landed at Yarmouth on the 9th. The Courier spoke to him and Sylvester. TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR JAMES ST. CLAIR ERSKINE, My dear Sir James, MAHON. Palermo, 17th September, 1799. The Salamine brought me your letter of September 5th, and the original, by a Polacca, came yesterday. I was sorry to find that, under your present circumstances, it was not in Commanded by Captain, now Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, G.C.M.G. your power to make such a detachment as I so earnestly requested, and which I am convinced would have so much assisted the King of Naples in restoring peace and quietness to his Kingdoms, by first driving the French out of the Roman State. Whenever, my dear Sir James, you can with propriety send these troops, it will be my business to take care they be properly conveyed; and nothing you will believe will be wanting on my part to afford them every support, either in the attack of Cività Vecchia, in landing them in the City of Naples, or in sending them to finish this very tedious business of Malta. Certainly some small articles necessary for a siege would be desirable to be brought-if on the Continent, particularly entrenching tools; gunpowder, &c., we can get from Gaeta. If Malta may be judged more eligible, mortars and shells are the principal things wanted. Guns can be landed from our Ships, but shot of 32 pounds and downwards may be wanted. I know if we could get an outwork, Vaubois would be forced to give up. I was sorry Duckworth took so many Ships from Minorca. It was not my intention, as I had sent Ships direct from the Coast of Naples for Gibraltar. I am sure you will agree with me in the necessity of keeping the door of the Mediterranean open. Northumberland will be with you and some Frigates, and I have desired Duckworth to send up two Sail of the Line to Mahon, which shall always be an object of my attention. A Neapolitan courier is just arrived-left London the 6th, on which day arrived Captain Gore of the Triton, who left the Combined fleet, on the 24th July, to the northward of Cape St. Vincent. The news has created much surprise. I have now my fears that this Fleet will safely enter Brest. Pardon what I am going to repeat, that either in Malta or on the Continent, a field of glory is open; and I can take upon myself to say, that every support of His Sicilian Majesty will be a most acceptable service to our good King. I need not say how anxious I am to support the good Cause, and to get an honourable peace, but which can only be hoped for by activity and vigour of all the Allies. Ever believe me, my dear Sir James, &c., NELSON. P.S.-His Sicilian Majesty has 2000 men raised, regular troops, at Veletri, and about 6000 Calabrese, and troops en masse. TO CAPTAIN DARBY, H.M. SHIP BELLEROPHON. [Letter-Book.] My dear Darby, Palermo, 18th September, 1799. I return the Salamine to you, with my answer to Sir James St. Clair, and I am sure you will make every arrangement in your power should Sir James St. Clair wish to embark any troops. I am ignorant of what Transports are at Mahon, but the Princess Charlotte, if a hundred men from four different Ships could be lent to her, would carry a great number of troops. Troubridge and Louis are off Cività Vecchia, and I hope to force that garrison to evacuate that place. They are trembling for fear of an exasperated populace. Totally ignorant as I am of the Frigates and Sloops left me by Lord Keith, I cannot fix what shall be in my power to give to Minorca. But take care of it I will, but not a Ship more than is necessary. The object is to prevent troops passing from the Continent to the Island. I send you a line for Admiral Duckworth, which you will send when opportunity offers. Captain Gore arrived in London on August 6th, and all are surprised at his news. Small craft are sent everywhere to call in our detached Ships, but I fear the Combined fleet will reach its destination safely. I am, &c., TO THE MARQUIS DE NIZA. [Letter-Book.] NELSON. My dear Marquis, Palermo, 18th September, 1799. Should the Affonço be found in so bad a condition as to make it necessary to send her down the Mediterranean, I must request of you to order the Marines, or Soldiers, landed from her, to the number of a hundred, to be left behind on shore, to strengthen the force there. With my best wishes for a speedy reduction of the place, I am, my dear Marquis, &c., NELSON. Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty.] Palermo, September 20th, 1799. I am honoured with your letter3 of August 20th, conveying to me their Lordships' approbation of my conduct in having gone into the Bay of Naples, for the purpose of endeavouring to bring His Sicilian Majesty's affairs in that City to a happy conclusion, and of my having landed a large body of men to reduce the Castle of St. Elmo. I have also received their Lordships' disapprobation of my conduct in having sent a part of the crews of the Squadron against Capua, and their direction not to employ them in like manner in future. And I also observe, and with great pain, that their Lordships see no cause which could justify my disobeying the orders of my Commanding Officer, Lord Keith, or for leaving Minorca exposed to the risk of being attacked. I have to request that you will have the goodness to assure their Lordships that I knew when I decided on those important points, that perhaps my life, certainly my commission, was at stake by my decision; but, being firmly of opinion that the honour of my King and Country, the dearest object of my heart [were involved], and that to have deserted the cause and person of His Majesty's faithful Ally, His Sicilian Majesty, would have been unworthy my name and their Lordships' former opinion of me, I determined at all risks to support the honour of my gracious Sovereign and Country, and not to shelter myself under the letter of the law, which I shall never do when put in competition with the Public Service. I only wish to appeal to His Sicilian Majesty, Sir John Acton, Bart., and His Excellency Sir William Hamilton, whether they are not clearly of opinion, that if I had drawn any part of the force landed from the Squadron from the shore, that Capua and Gaeta would at this moment have been in the hands of the French; and who can say what evil consequences might not have ensued from it? 3 Vide vol. iii. p. 410. I beg to thank their Lordships for the promotion of Licutenant Parkinson to the rank of Commander; and am with great truth, your most obedient servant, NELSON.1 Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Samuel and Jane Transport, Palermo, 20th September, 1799. The enclosed is the Medal intended by His Majesty to have been presented to Captain Ralph Willet Miller, to commemorate the Battle of the Nile. As that Officer has been unfortunately killed by the bursting of some shells on board the Theseus, I now return it to be disposed of as His Majesty or their Lordships may think proper. I have the honour, &c. NELSON. About this time Lord Nelson received the following letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence : "It is a long time since I wrote last, and, besides, I owe you two letters, in answer to yours of April and May. I was earnestly engaged in Parliament upon the Slave Trade for several weeks, when I received your first; and Davison assuring me you was shortly to return home, I did not think of acknowledging the second; however, as maritime affairs have taken so strange a turn in the Mediterranean, I think this letter must reach you. "Your first letter, I perceived, was wrote in ill spirits; however, thank God, the Arch-Duke and Suwarrow have brightened up our prospects, and by this time, Italy is delivered from French freedom. Had the same good fortune attended our Fleets, as has the Austrian and Russian Arms, I believe the war would have been over. I trust it is only protracted, and that another Naval victory will seal the fate of France. I lament on every account the illness of Earl St. Vincent, and particularly in the present moment; for I believe the enemy's Combined Fleet would not have escaped from his Lordship's vigilance and abilities. "Your friend Buonaparte and his Army are no more. I am in great hopes that the formidable expedition from this country, together with the Russians and Swedes, will recover Holland and the Netherlands, and drive the French into their own country. Sure France cannot withstand all these attacks and misfortunes, and tranquillity must at length be restored to Europe. Adieu for the present; write as circumstances arise, and ever believe me, yours sincerely,-WILLIAM." |