Having stated this conversation, I have only to add, what you, my dear Lord, are fully satisfied of, that the service of my King and Country is the object nearest my heart; and that a First-Rate, or Sloop of War, is a matter of perfect indifference to your most faithful and obliged NELSON. The San Josef, as far as relates to Captain Hardy, is ready for sea, but the Dock-yard have not done with her. My cabin is not yet finished, of course-nor even painted; but that I do not care about: I shall live in Captain Hardy's. My wish is to get her to Torbay, and, in seven days alongside the Ville de Paris. She will be perfection, and I leave myself to your friendship. The note from Lord St. Vincent is this moment arrived. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Tucker's Memoirs of Earl St. Vincent, vol. ii. p. 172.] Plymouth Dock, January 20th, 1801. May this day, my dear Lord, which I am told is your birthday, come round as often as life is comfortable, and may your days be comfortable for many, many years. Almost my only ungratified wish is, to see you alongside the French Admiral, and myself supporting you in the San Josef. We may be beat, but I am confident the world will believe we could not help it. I called on Troubridge's sister this day, and I find I have given great offence in not going to the Long Room last night; but my promise is solemnly made not to go to an Assembly till a Peace. The people in the Yard did not believe that I wished to get to sea till the winter was worn more away, and now all are bustle. I hope five cables will be on board this night, and I have borrowed the St. George's messenger and stern cable. My cabin was finished yesterday, but I shall get into Hardy's. There are no orders for completing the Ship, or for his movements. To Lord St. Vincent was born on the ninth of January, 1734, old style, which became the twentieth on the alteration of the Calendar, in 1752. morrow morning will produce them. With every kind wish to Lady St. Vincent, Mrs. Cary, and all your cheerful party, believe me ever, my dear Lord, your obliged and affectionate, NELSON. TO SIR EDWARD BERRY, KENSINGTON. [Autograph, in the possession of Lady Berry. On the 21st of January, Lord Nelson arrived at Exeter from Plymouth, on his way to Tor Abbey, to meet Lord St. Vincent. He was received in that City with every mark of honour, and the Mayor and Corporation conferred upon him its Freedom, which appears (vide p. 273) to have been voted to him some time before. In reply to a complimentary address from the Recorder, Lord Nelson said, "Whatever merit may have been attributed to him in the Action of the Nile, it was only for having executed the orders intrusted to him; that those orders came to him from his Commander-inChief who had received them from the Lords of the Admiralty. They were very concise it was to take, burn, sink, and destroy the French Fleet wherever he should meet them, and he had only been the instrument employed to effect this service." He assured those around him, from his own knowledge, "that to this war, however burdensome it may have been considered, we owed the blessings we now experienced, in the enjoyment of our liberties, laws, and religion; and, although we might at one day hope to be at peace with France, we must ever be at war with French principles." On the 24th of January, the Corporation of Plymouth likewise voted Lord Nelson the Freedom of their Borough in a silver Box.] San Josef, Cawsand Bay, January 26th, 1801: My dear Sir Edward, I yesterday received your kind letter of the 20th, and I beg, if you think the £200 is enough for poor dear Miller's monument,' that you will direct Flaxman to instantly proceed about • Captain Miller, who was blown up in the Theseus. Vide vol. ii. p. 465. Sir Edward Berry wrote, on the 28th of March, the following Note to Sir Thomas Troubridge on this subject: "Princess Charlotte, Woolwich, 28th March, 1801. "Dear Sir Thomas,-Amongst the many reflections that can possibly occur, that of remembering our old and dear friend stands foremost; and truly happy I am to hear you and Lord St. Vincent approve of the monument for our late dear coadjutor Miller-a man whom we knew, and there was but one opinion of him. £500 will by no means be too much, if the Captains of the 14th of February subscribe, and those of Sir Sidney Smith; and my opinion is, they ought to have that honour, but none but brother officers; and I would not even allow Davison to subscribe, but that you will be a better judge of. Sir James and Sir Thomas Thompson are the only subscribers I know of, though no doubt can be entertained of all hands, nem. con. I have corresponded with the Dean of St. Paul's on the subject, who is very polite, and will do what is proper on the occasion. Flaxman is the artist, and in him we may all trust. I want to get the precise date, and a few other documents, and then we can form an inscription. Of course our aim must be simplicity. Truth needs no ornament; Miller requires none, himself was all. .-E. BERRY." it, and as far as that sum, if no one subscribes, I will be answerable. If those of the 14th February are to be allowed the honour of subscribing, I then think we ought to subscribe £500-a less sum would not be proper for such a body. Pray let me know the intended subscription, for we must take care not to say too much, or too little. The language must be plain, as if flowing from the heart of one of us Sailors who have fought with him. Whatever you arrange in this matter, I shall agree to. If our friend Davison will receive the subscription, and take the matter in hand, it can be nowhere so well placed. I am truly concerned about Mr. Fellowes,' but what can I do? I have signed every paper for the victualling those men which he says stop his accounts, and have told him that as Lord Hood and myself were then in London, we could clear him of any blame for victualling men by our order. I will with pleasure do anything I am desired: I would lend him money, but in truth I have it not. As far as we can judge of the San Josef, she will answer all our expectations. She is ready this moment to go alongside the finest Ship out of France; and on such a happy occasion I can assure you that there is not that man in the service I would sooner select as my second than yourself. My brother is with me, and joins in best respects to Mrs. Godfrey, Lady Berry, and all your family, and believe me as ever, your most sincere friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO REAR-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph, in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood. Admiral Collingwood's Flag, as Rear-Admiral of the Red, was flying on board the Barfleur 98. He was hourly expecting Mrs. Collingwood at Plymouth, when orders arrived for him to proceed immediately to Torbay. They met, however, for a few hours, and in a letter to Mr. Blackett, his father-in-law, on the 6th of February, Admiral Colling. wood said: "Sarah will have told you how and when we met. It was a joy to me that I can not describe, and repaid me, short as our interview was, for a world of woe which I was suffering on her account. I had been reckoning on the possibility of her arrival that Tuesday, when about two o'clock I received an express to go to sea im The Captains who were at the Battle of St. Vincent. Mr. Thomas Fellowes, who was Purser of the Agamemnon in 1793. Vide vol. i. pp. 300, 483, and post. mediately, with all the Ships that were ready; and had we not been then engaged at a Court-Martial, I might have got out that day; but this business delayed me till near night, and I determined to wait on shore until eight o'clock, for the chance of their arrival. I went to dine with Lord Nelson, and while we were at dinner their arrival was announced to me. I flew to the inn where I had desired my wife to come, and found her and little Sarah as well after their journey as if it had lasted only for the day. No greater happiness is human nature capable of than was mine that evening, but at dawn we parted, and I went to sea.”—Memoirs of Lord Collingwood, vol. i. p. 111. The following allusion to Lord Nelson, in a letter from Admiral Collingwood to Mr. Blackett, dated on the 25th of January, is remarkable :—“Lord Nelson is here, and I think he will probably come and live with me when the weather will allow him; but he does not get in and out of Ships well with one arm. He gave me an account of his reception at Court, which was not very flattering, after having been the adoration of that of Naples. His Majesty merely asked him if he had recovered his health; and then, without waiting for an answer, turned to General ———, and talked to him near half an hour in great good humour. It could not be about his successes."-Memoirs of Lord Collingwood, vol. i. p. 110.] My dear Friend, Tuesday, [27th January, 1801.] I truly feel for you, and as much for dear Mrs. Collingwood. How sorry I am! For Heaven's sake do not think I had the gift of foresight; but something told me so it would be. Can't you contrive and stay to-night? it will be a comfort, if only to see your family one hour. Therefore had you not better stay on shore, and wait for her? Ever, my dear Collingwood, believe me, your affectionate and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. If they would have manned me, and sent me off, it would have been real pleasure to me. How cross are the fates! Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] San Josef, Plymouth, 28th January, 1801. I have to acknowledge the receipt of their Lordships' order of the 26th instant, directing me to put myself under the command of Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent. I am, &c., NELSON. TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 20.] January 28th, 1801. What a fool I was, my dear Lady Hamilton, to direct that your cheering letters should be directed for Brixham! I feel, this day, truly miserable, in not having them; and, I fear, they will not come till to-morrow's post. What a blockhead, to believe any person is so active as myself! I have this day got my orders, to put myself under Lord St. Vincent's command; but, as no order is arrived to man the Ship, it must be Friday night, or Saturday morning, before she can sail for Torbay. Direct my letters, now, to Brixham. My eye is very bad.' I have had the Physician of the Fleet to examine it. He has directed me not to write, (and yet I am forced this day to write Lord Spencer, St. Vincent, Davison, about my law-suit, Troubridge, Mr. Locker, &c., but you are the only female I write to;) not to eat anything but the most simple food; not to touch wine or porter; to sit in a dark room; to have green shades for my eyes-(will you, my dear friend, make me one or two?-nobody else shall;)—and to bathe them in cold water every hour. I fear, it is the writing has brought on this complaint. My eye is like blood; and the film so extended, that I only see from the corner farthest from my nose. What a fuss about my complaints! But, being so far from my sincere friends, I have leisure to brood over them. I have this moment seen Mrs. Thompson's friend. Poor fellow! he seems very uneasy and melancholy. He begs you to be kind to her! and I have assured him of your readiness to relieve the dear, good woman; and believe me, for ever, my dear Lady, your faithful, attached, and affectionate, NELSON AND Bronte. I will try and write the Duke' a line. My brother intended to have gone off to-morrow afternoon: but this half order may stop him. While at Plymouth, Lord Nelson suffered severely from ophthalmia in his only remaining eye, with acute pain and want of sight. He was attended by Dr. Trotter, Physician of the Fleet, who soon effected his recovery. 1 Apparently the Duke of Hamilton. |