TO THE REVEREND MR. NELSON, HILBOROUGH. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] My dear Brother, St. George, February 28th, 1801. I have this moment your letter of February 25th, and have sent your letter, as it was, to Lord Eldon. My stay in Town was so short, that you could not have arrived in time to see me. I expect to be at Yarmouth, Thursday or Friday. With best and kindest regards to Mrs. Nelson, and all friends, believe me, ever your affectionate brother, NELSON AND BRONTE. Hardy, Parker desire their regards. I have a hundred sharp-shooters on board that fire so well, I am told, they can for Philip's right eye-say for Paul's. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. ii. p. 258. Lord Nelson arrived at Spithead on the 21st of February, and on the 23rd, obtained leave of absence for three days to go to Town. On the 26th, he was directed to embark 600 Troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable William Stewart, and he was informed that Sir Hyde Parker having left London for Yarmouth, he was to cause the Ships destined for his Squadron to proceed to that place. On the 2nd of March, Lord Nelson sailed in the St. George from Portsmouth with seven Sail of the Line, Frigates, and small Vessels, for the Downs, and shortly after, arrived at Yarmouth, the rendezvous of Sir Hyde Parker's Squadron.] 1st March, 1801. The wind was yesterday at S.S.W., which has prevented Warrior, Defence, and Agincourt from sailing. Time, my dear Lord, is our best Ally, and I hope we shall not give her up, as all our Allies have given us up. Our friend here is a little nervous about dark nights and fields of ice, but we must brace up; these are not times for nervous systems. I want Peace, which is only to be had through, I trust, our still Then recently appointed Lord Chancellor. Like all great men, Nelson was deeply impressed with the value of time. In conversation with the late General William Twiss, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers, Lord Nelson observed, "Time, Twiss-time is everything; five minates makes the difference between a victory and a defeat."-(From the information of W. E. Surtees, Esq.) invincible Navy. I have not seen Captain Thesiger" here, I shall receive him with much pleasure; if he is still in Town pray send word to him to meet me in the Downs or Yarmouth. I have written to Troubridge relative to Miller's monument. March 2nd, getting under sail. I am always happy when my conduct meets with your approbation, and whilst I remain in the service my utmost exertions shall be called forth: for although, I own, I have met with much more honours and rewards than ever my most sanguine ideas led me to expect, yet I am so circumstanced that probably this Expedition will be the last service ever performed by your obliged and affectionate friend, NELSON AND BRONTE, 8 TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 32.] [March, 1801.] You say, my dearest Friend, why don't I put my Chief forward? He has put me in the front of the battle, and Nelson will be first. I could say more; but will not make you uneasy, knowing the firm friendship you have for me. The St. George will stamp an additional ray of glory to England's fame, if Nelson survives; and that Almighty Providence, who has hitherto protected me in all dangers, and covered my head in the day of battle, will still, if it be his pleasure, * Captain Sir Frederick Thesiger, uncle of Sir Frederick Thesiger, Her Majesty's Attorney-General. He had served with such distinction, as a Captain in the Russian Navy, against the Swedes, that he received the Cross of St. George from the Empress Catherine. This gallant Officer, who was then only a Commander in our Navy, accompanied Lord Nelson to Copenhagen, as a Volunteer, and is often honourably mentioned for his gallant conduct. He was Posted in 1801, and died in August 1805, being then Agent for Prisoners of War at Portsmouth. In reply to this letter, Lord St. Vincent wrote to him :-"Be assured, my dear Lord, that every public act of your life has been the subject of my admiration, which I should have sooner declared, but that I was appalled by the last sentence of your letter; for God's sake, do not suffer yourself to be carried away by any sudden impulse. With many thanks for the spur you have given to the movement of the Ships at Spithead, believe me to be yours most affectionately, ST. VINCENT." -Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 258. support and assist me. Keep me alive, in your and Sir William's remembrance. My last thoughts will be with you both, for you love and esteem me. I judge your hearts by my own. May the Great God of Heaven protect and bless you and him! is the fervent prayer of your and Sir William's unalterable friend, till death, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN SIR EDWARD BERRY. [Autograph, in the possession of Lady Berry.] My dear Berry, St. George, Yarmouth, March 9th, 1801. Last night I received your letter directed to Lothian's hotel. Why won't you come here for a day, and look at us? As to the plan for pointing a gun truer than we do at present, if the person comes I shall of course look at it, and be happy, if necessary, to use it; but, I hope, we shall be able as usual to get so close to our Enemies that our shot cannot miss their object, and that we shall again give our Northern Enemies that hail-storm of bullets which is so emphatically described in the Naval Chronicle, and which gives our dear Country the Dominion of the Seas. We have it, and all the Devils in Hell cannot take it from us, if our Wooden walls have fair play. With my best respects to Doctor Forster and all my friends at Norwich, believe me ever, my dear Berry, your faithful and affectionate, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO PILLANS, ESQ., GRAND MASTER OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF GREGORIANS. [Autograph, in the possession of W. F. Patteson, Esq.] Sir, St. George, Yarmouth, March 11th, 1801. On my arrival in England I received a letter from you acquainting me that the Ancient Order of Gregorians at Norwich had elected me a Member; I have therefore, Sir, to request that you will do me the favour to present to the Society my thanks for the great honour they have been pleased to confer upon me, and to assure them that my future exertions shall not be wanting to merit the continuance of their good opinion. I have the honour to be, Sir, with great respect, your most obedient and obliged, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL HOOD, H.M. SHIP VENERABLE. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir Alexander Hood, Bart.] My dear Hood, St. George, March 13th, 1801. Many thanks for your kind letter, and believe me there is not a man breathing that loves you more than myself. I am glad you have quitted that d-d Courageux; she would have drowned you in chase of an Enemy's Squadron. I have directed four Crosses to be made, and they are this day sent to Mr. Davison's, I expect. I send you an order-No, I have wrote to Davison to deliver it to Troubridge, who will send it you; it is to be worn round your neck like the Order of St. Anne. I send you a piece of Ribbon to suspend it by. We sail to-morrow for Yarmouth; I only hope Cornwallis will meet the French Fleet, and that you will be in company. Ever, my dear Hood, your obliged and affectionate, NELSON AND Bronte. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 259. The Squadron sailed from Yar mouth on the 12th of March, and consisted of the London, 98, Sir Hyde Parker, Kut., Admiral of the Blue; First Captain, William Domett; Second Captain, Robert Waller Otway;-St. George, 98, Lord Nelson, K.B., Vice Admiral of the Blue; Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy;-Bellona, 74, Captain Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson; Defence, 74, Captain Lord Henry Paulet; Ganges, 74, Captain Thomas Francis Fremantle; Monarch, 74, Captain James Robert Mosse; Ramilies, 74, Captain James William Taylor Dixon; Russell, 74, Captain William Cuming; Saturn, 74, Captain Robert Lambert; Warrior, 74, Captain Charles Tyler; Ardent, 64, Captain Thomas Bertie; Agamemnon, 64, Captain Robert Devereux Fancourt; Polyphemus, 64, Captain John Lawford; Raisonable, 64, Captain John Dilkes; Veteran, 64, Captain Archibald Collingwood Dickson; Glatton, 54, Captain William Of the Order of St. Ferdinand and Merit. His old friend Admiral Cornwallis had succeeded the Earl of St. Vincent in the command of the Channel Fleet. Bligh; Isis, 50, Captain James Walker. FRIGATES: Desirée, 40, Captain Henry Latitude 57° N., 16th March, 1801. Our weather is very cold, we have received much snow and sharp frost. I have not yet seen my Commander-in-Chief, and have had no official communication whatever. All I have gathered of our first plans, I disapprove most exceedingly; honour may arise from them, good cannot. I hear we are likely to anchor outside Cronenburg Castle, instead of Copenhagen, which would give weight to our negotiation: a Danish Minister would think twice before he would put his name to war with England, when the next moment he would probably see his Master's Fleet in flames, and his Capital in ruins; but out of sight out of mind,' is an old saying. The Dane should see our Flag waving every moment he lifted up his head. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO ADMIRAL SIR HYDE PARKER. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 259. On the 15th of March, 1801, the Admiralty issued the following "Secret" Orders to Sir Hyde Parker: "The Right Honourable Henry Dundas, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, having, in his letter of yesterday's date, signified to us his Majesty's pleasure that whether the discussion supposed to be now pending with the Court |