Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] St. George, Gulf of Finland, May 17th, 1801. You will know by my letter of the 7th, of my intentions to proceed with a Squadron into the Gulf of Finland. I now have to acquaint you, that having left Captain Murray with seven Sail of the Line and all the Small craft, off Bornholm, I arrived, and anchored with the consent of the Governor and Russian Admiral, in the outer part of the Bay of Revel on the 13th, where the greatest civilities were shown the Squadron; but as I found that none of our Merchant-ships were actually at liberty to sail, I left Revel this morning, and am proceeding to join the Squadron left off Bornholm. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE EARL OF CARYSFORT, K.P. My dear Lord, [Letter-Book.] St. George, off Gothland, May 19th, 1801. As it may be pleasant for you and particularly for Lord St. Helens, if he passes by Berlin, to know everything which relates to the Court of Russia, I send your Lordship copies of some letters which have passed between Count Pahlen and myself. You will have your opinion, as I have mine, that he never would have wrote such a letter, if the Fleet had been at Revel in April. Mine was a desire to mark a particular civility which, as it was not treated in the way I think handsome, I left Revel on Sunday the 17th, and here I am. From all the Russian Officers at Revel, I received the most attentive behaviour, and I believe they are as much surprised at the answer as I was. Sir Hyde Parker's letter on the subject of the release of the British Merchant-ships has not been answered. I hope all is right; but as seamen are but bad negotiators-for we put the matter to issue in five minutes what Diplomatic forms would be five months doing-I shall have a frequent communication with Rostock, if our stay in the Baltic is prolonged. The Swedish Admiral has sent my letter to his King. I have just received a letter from Count Bernstorff; and under our present circumstances I have only to say, that a good understanding is kept alive between us and Denmark. Although I am sensible that all which I send you is of no consequence, still I know from experience that to know there is nothing very particular passing, is comfortable. Our Fleet is twenty-two Sail of the Line, and forty-six Frigates, Bombs, Fire-ships, and Gun-Vessels, and in the Fleet not one man in the Hospital ship-a finer Fleet never graced the Ocean. Ever, my dear Lord, your most obliged and obedient Servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY COUNT PANIN. [Letter-Book.] Sir, St. George, May 20th, 1801. I have received the honour of your Excellency's letter by Admiral Tchitchagoff, and have conversed freely with the Admiral on the several points to which your Excellency referred Sir Hyde Parker, the late Commander-in-Chief; and I trust that my full and explicit Declaration will remove "Milord, 9A 8. E. MILORD NELSON-BRONTE. "St. Petersbourg, ce 29 Avril, V. S., 1801. "Celui que a su mériter le titre honorable de votre ami est sûr de trouver partout l'accueil le plus distingué. Mr. le Capitaine Fremantle ne pouvoit pas sans doute nous apporter une meilleure recommandation, et je me flatte que le rapport qu'il fera à votre Excellence de son séjour dans cette Capitale la convaincra de l'empressement que j'ai eu à remplir vos intentions; il me laisse cependant le regret de n'avoir pas eu le tems de lui prouver combien je suis jaloux de toutes les occasions de mettre au jour les sentimens que j'ai voués au héros du Nil. Mr. Fremantle m'ayant dit que votre Excellence n'avoit encore aucune nouvelle d'Egypte depuis le débarquement des troupes Angloises, j'éprouve une satisfaction particulière d'être le premier à vous transmettre, Milord, la nouvelle des succès de l'Armée Britannique, dans ce pays témoin de votre gloire. Agréez en mes sincéres felicitations. Je ne saurois terminer ces lignes sans recommander aux bontés de votre Excellence Mr. le Contre-Amiral Tchitchagoff, porteur de la présente, chargé d'une commission particulière pour Mr. l'Amiral Parker. C'est un des Officiers les plus distingués de la Marine Impériale. J'ai l'honneur d'être, avec une haute consideration, Milord, de votre Excellence le très humble et très obéissant serviteur, PANIN."-Autograph, in the possession of the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker. every impression, which would militate for a moment against the returning peace and harmony between our august Masters, and which, from the bottom of my heart I hope, never again to see interrupted. With every sentiment of respect, believe me, your Excellency's most obedient Servant, NELSON AND Bronte. MANIFESTO. [Letter-Book.] Admiral Tchitchagoff having declared to me this day, that His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, has the greatest desire to return to his amicable Alliance with the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, my most gracious Sovereign, I have, therefore, the pleasure to say, that I can declare the wishes of my Sovereign to return to His ancient friendly Alliance with the Court of Russia, and that my orders,' on such a Declaration being given on the part of His Imperial Majesty, are clear and decisive to commit no act of hostility against anything appertaining to the Emperor of Russia. And I likewise declare, that the wishes of His Imperial Majesty respecting the freedom of the trade, both of Denmark and Sweden, in the Baltic, have been fully complied with. Given on board His Britannic Majesty's Ship, St. NELSON AND Bronte. TO LADY PARKER. [Autograph, in the possession of Mrs. Ellis.] My dear Lady, St. George, Baltic, May 21st, 1801. It was only when Admiral Totty joined me that I received your most truly kind and affectionate letter of April Believe me, when I say that I am as sensible as ever that I owe my present situation in life to your and good Sir Peter's partiality for me, and friendly remembrance of Maurice Suck 1 Vide p. 349, ante. ling. I am sorry to hear you so complaining, but I trust the summer will completely repair your health. The air of the Baltic has completely done me up, and I have my serious doubts, if Lord St. Vincent do not very soon send out an Admiral to supersede me, that I never shall leave this Country. Pray remember [me] most gratefully to dear Sir Peter, affectionately to Admiral Parker and all your family; and believe me, as ever, your obliged and grateful, NELSON AND Bronte. Murray, Foley, and Fremantle, are now on board: they desire their kind thanks and best regards. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, St. George, May 22nd, 1801. By a letter from Sir Andrew Hamond, given to Lord St. Helens, I first heard of the death of my dear brother Maurice. As the dead cannot be called back, it is of no use dwelling on those who are gone. I am sure you will do everything which is right for his poor blind wife. I hope he has left her well provided for; if not, I beg you will take the trouble to arrange a proper and ample subsistence, and I will make it up.' It is the only true regard I can pay to his memory. He was always good and kind to me; but enough on this subject: I know your sincere friendship for him. Your letters are on board Admiral Totty, with Parker, and I have not yet joined him. I shall see you in a very few days; till then I shall only say God bless you. I am very unwell. Since April 27th, I have only been once out of my cabin. Ever yours affectionately, NELSON AND Bronte. Pray send the enclosed. Mr. Maurice Nelson lived many years with a Miss Sarah Ford, who accidentally lost her sight, and became a cripple. Mr. Nelson was supposed to have married her from compassion for her helpless condition, and she bore his name. Lord Nelson, who always treated her as his brother's widow, allowed her an annuity; and after his death, she received assistance from Lady Hamilton. She died in 1810 or 1811. Captain Edward Thornborough Parker, who is frequently mentioned in subsequent Letters. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 280. About this time Lord Nelson received Secret Orders, addressed on the 6th of May to Sir Hyde Parker (though he had been superseded by Lord Nelson,) conveying the King's pleasure, that, as it appears possible the Swedish Squadron, taking advantage of the return of the Fleet under your command to Kioge Bay, may entertain an intention of forming a junction with the Russians, either at Revel or Cronstadt, or with the Danish Fleet at Copenhagen, you should be directed, either with the whole, or with such part of the Fleet as may be adequate to the purpose, to take such a position as you may conceive best calculated to prevent such a movement on the part of the Swedish Squadron. You are, in pursuance of his Majesty's command signified to us, hereby required and directed to place yourself in such a position, either with the whole or a part of your Fleet, as you may judge best adapted to that purpose accordingly, subject, however, to the restriction of your not going to the northward of Carlscrona, so long as the Swedish Fleet shall not proceed up the Baltic; and, with a view to remove any anxiety that may be felt by the Swedish Court with respect to your intentions, you are to take the earliest opportunity of communicating to that Court, that you are expressly instructed to commit no act of hostility whatsoever against the Ships of his Swedish Majesty, provided that he shall direct his Fleet to remain in the Port of Carlscrona; but that, in the event of its leaving that Port, you have received orders to use every means in your power to prevent its junction with the Naval forces either of Russia or Denmark. "In the event of the Swedish Fleet having already sailed to Revel or Cronstadt before you shall receive these orders, you are, in such case, to take such a position off Revel as may be best adapted for preventing any further junction being effected by the Ships there with the force at Cronstadt, or vice versá; and if, after the arrival of the Swedish Fleet at either of the places above-mentioned, the Officea commanding it should be desirous of returning to Carlscrona, you are, in that case, upon a proper intimation being made to you, to allow this movement to be made without any opposition; and as soon as it shall have taken place, return to the position you are directed to take in the more probable case of the Swedish Fleet having remained at Carlscrona, instead of proceeding up the Baltic, unless in consequence of any communication from his Majesty's Ambassador to the Court of Russia, you should judge it more advisable to remain in the Gulf of Finland." Sir Hyde Parker was then directed to regulate his conduct according to the information he might receive from Lord St. Helens, Ambassador to the Court of Petersburgh," and to proceed in conformity with your former instructions, and particularly to those contained in our order to you of the 15th of March last, against the Ports, Arsenals, and Shipping of Russia and Sweden, if, contrary to every expectation, you should receive information from Lord St. Helens that every hope of amicable adjustment is at an end." "With respect to Denmark, no step can be taken against her within the limits of the Armistice, but at the expiration thereof, you are hereby authorized and directed to renew hostilities against that Power, unless the grounds of difference between the two Countries shall in the meantime be removed, either by direct negotiation, or through the intervention of the Court of Petersburgh, of which information will be conveyed to you by his Majesty's Ambassador at that Court."-Original.] May 22nd, 1801. I send you a plan of the Bay of Revel, drawn by our friend Colonel Stewart, who is an excellent and indefatigable young |