Sicilies, and his fear that the loss of the Island of Sicily may be the consequence of the want of assistance from this Country, that it has struck me forcibly that the former plan of the French is still likely to be carried into effect, either by treaty or by force. I dare say that plan is much better known to you than to me, although having for a length of time seen the correspondence both public and private, from all the Neapolitan Ministers to their Government and to the Queen of Naples, I am perfectly acquainted with the views of the several Powers. The plan of the French Directory was, not to have an Army of French in Italy on a peace, but to make all the Powers of Italy dependent upon them; in order to do this, Corsica was to be taken from us, Elba, Sardinia, Sicily, if possible, Malta, Corfu, and these could be easily kept, and would awe their enemies in Italy (if any turned against them), and support their friends, and cut our trade both with Italy and Turkey to pieces; indeed, we could have none. From Castelcicala's conversation, I think, that either by a forced treaty with the King of Naples, or by force of arms, these people will attempt, and even are attempting, the getting Sicily, which will be a very severe stroke upon us. Forgive me, being thus impertinent, but I could not have an opportunity of conversing with you, which I wished, on various subjects. I send a letter from Sir John Acton to Sir William Hamilton. Ever, my dear Sir, your obliged,

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO REAR-ADMIRAL HOLLOWAY.

[Autograph, in the possession of Admiral Sir Robert Otway, Bart., G.C.B.]

7

July 8th, 1801.

My dear Holloway, Otway is as good as an angel. London will not come home, I suppose, till the rest of the Baltic Fleet-unless a part of them are ordered home. She will, most probably, be docked. Lyons is on board the St. George; a very good young man.

This letter was written in reply to one from Admiral Holloway, asking Lord Nelson his opinion of Captain Otway, of the London, who had then proposed for the hand of Miss Holloway, now Lady Otway, the Admiral's daughter, whom he married on the 15th of the following mouth.

He will, of course, remain there till you otherwise dispose of him. Many thanks for all your kind congratulations. Ever yours faithfully,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B.

[Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Staines, July 12th, 1801.

My dear Lord,

Before I saw you yesterday, and afterwards, I was so unwell with the pain in my stomach, that I have been forced to get again into the Country; and therefore have been obliged to make my apologies to Lord Hobart for not dining with him on Tuesday, and I hope his Lordship will forgive me. Large dinners truly alarm me.

8

I have to send you a letter from Lieutenant Walpole." I have no right to ask you to do anything: probably he would have been made, if he had not come home with Sir Hyde. Most sincerely do I congratulate you on the good news from the Baltic; and believe me ever yours faithfully,

Nelson and Bronte.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY ADDINGTON.

[Autograph, in the Sidmouth Papers.]

My dear Sir,

July 18th, 1801.

I take the liberty of sending you the manner it is my wish to have the Barony of Nelson extended,' which I trust will

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

"Apparently the Honourable William Walpole, son of Horatio, 2nd Earl of Orford, who was made a Commander in 1806, Posted in November 1809, and died in June 1814.

To prevent the extinction of his Peerages, from failure of heirs male of his own body, Lord Nelson, obtained, on the 18th of August, 1801, a new Barony of Nelson, entitled the "BARONY OF NELSON OF THE NILE AND OF HILBOROUGH, IN THE COUNTY OF NORFOLK," which was limited, in default of his issue male, to his Father and the heirs male of his body, failing which, to the heirs male of the bodies of his Sisters, Mrs. Bolton and Mrs. Matcham respectively. His Foreign Orders were, as he requested, fully described in the Patent, which declares the Royal pleasure that every person who may succeed to the Barony thereby created, shall use the surname of NELSON only. (Vide APPENDIX, No. II.) In reply to Mr. Addington's

have your approbation; and it is also my earnest wish, that my Foreign honours may be stated fully in the Patent and Gazette, for feeling as I do that they were honourably obtained, and that the title of Duke of Bronté and the Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit, having been approved under the King's Sign Manual, and that the Turkish Order having met, through Lord Spencer, the approbation of the King, I am anxious to have them told to the world, but the fact [is] I have not thought it right to pay for any Honours obtained for military service to the Herald's Office. I have seen Lord St. Vincent and submit to your and his partiality. Whilst my health will allow, I can only say, that every exertion of mine shall be used to merit the continuance of your esteem; and believe me, my dear Sir, your obedient and faithful,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

I hope the news of the surrender of Alexandria is true, but I suspect the channel, for via Constantinople, you would have had it much sooner, unless by very favourable winds.

TO THE HONOURABLE MR. YORKE3

[Autograph.J

My dear Sir,

Lotmar's Hotel, July 20th, 1801.

I beg leave to introduce to you my relation, Lieut.-Colonel Suckling, late of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and at the same time to express, that I am very anxious for his appointment to the situation of Barrack-master. Whenever you can comply with his request, it will be a great obligation conferred upon, dear Sir, your most obedient servant,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

letter, asking the King's approbation of the new creation, his Majesty thus graciously signified his consent:—

66

Weymouth, July 28th, 1801. "The King is so thoroughly satisfied with the services and ardour of Viscount Nelson, that he cannot make the smallest objection to the preservation of the Barony in his Father's family, agreeable to the paper Mr. Addington has transmitted, and which is now returned."—Autograph, in the possession of the Hon. Miss Addington.

2 Vide vol. ii. p. 401.

The Right Honourable Charles Philip Yorke, half-brother of Philip, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, K.G., afterwards First Lord of the Admiralty: he died in March 1834. ⚫ Colonel Suckling wrote on the back of this letter, "The appointment was granted before there was an opportunity of delivering this letter."

MEMORANDA BY LORD NELSON, ON THE DEFENCE OF THE

THAMES, ETC.

[Autograph in the Admiralty. In the summer of 1801, Buonaparte collected a Flotilla and large Army at Boulogne, with the avowed design of invading England. Vigorous measures were accordingly taken to resist the attempt, and it was determined to place a large force consisting of Frigates, Brigs, and smaller Vessels, under the command of Lord Nelson, between Orfordness and Beachy Head. Lord St. Vincent's (the First Lord of the Admiralty) views on the subject were thus described in a letter to Admiral Lutwidge, the Commander-in-Chief in the Downs, dated Admiralty, 24th of July, 1801. "The state of the Enemy's preparations on different parts of the Coast in the Channel, particularly opposite to you, beginning to wear a very serious appearance, and all our intelligence agreeing that a descent on some part of the Coast is actually intended, it has naturally been matter of consideration, what measures would be most advisable to be taken for our defence; and after viewing the subject in every shape in which it could present itself, no plan appears to me to be so effectual for frustrating the Enemy's designs, as that of placing the whole of the Force applicable to that particular service, under the command of a Flag-Officer who will have no other duty to perform, than that of attending to this important object. I am aware that the measure I have mentioned will materially interfere with your command in the Downs; and I can assure you, with great truth, that I have so much respect both for your public and private character, that I should not have taken this, or any other measure that might be in any respect unpleasant to you, if I had thought it could have been avoided without detriment to the Public service. The Officer I have fixed upon is Viscount Nelson, who will, I think, hoist his Flag in one of the Frigates, and proceed immediately to the coast of France, to settle the necessary arrangements with the Officers, now employed there. The command in the Downs will of course be left in your hands, with the superintendence of what is generally understood to be the port-duty, while it may be requisite to continue Lord Nelson in this situation."-Clarke and M'Arthur.

Lord Nelson assumed his command by hoisting his Flag in L'Unité Frigate, at Sheerness, on the 27th of July, and, two days before, submitted to the Admiralty the following OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEFENCE OF THE THAMES.]

25th July, 1801.

Besides the stationed Ships at the different posts between the North Foreland and Orfordness, as many Gun-vessels as can be spared from the very necessary protection of the Coast of Sussex and of Kent to the westward of Dover, should be collected, for this part of the Coast must be seriously attended to; for supposing London the object of surprise, I am of opinion that the Enemy's object ought to be the getting on shore as speedily as possible, for the dangers of a navigation of forty-eight hours, appear to me to be an insurmountable objection to the rowing from Boulogne to the Coast of Essex. It is therefore most probable (for it is certainly proper to believe the French are coming to attack London, and there

fore to be prepared) that from Boulogne, Calais, and even Havre, that the Enemy will try and land in Sussex, or the lower part of Kent, and from Dunkirk, Ostend, and the other Ports of Flanders, to land on the Coast of Essex or Suffolk; for I own myself of opinion that, the object being to get on shore somewhere within 100 miles of London, as speedily as possible, that the Flats in the mouth of the Thames will not be the only place necessary to attend to; added to this, the Enemy will create a powerful diversion by the sailing of the Combined Fleet, and the either sailing, or creating such an appearance of sailing, of the Dutch Fleet, as will prevent Admiral Dickson from sending anything from off the great Dutch Ports, whilst the smaller Ports will spew forth its Flotilla, --viz., Flushing, &c. &c. It must be pretty well ascertained what number of small Vessels are in each Port.

I will suppose that 40,000 men are destined for this attack, or rather surprise, of London; 20,000 will land on the west side of Dover, sixty or seventy miles from London, and the same number on the east side: they are too knowing to let us have but one point of alarm for London. Supposing 200 Craft, or 250, collected at Boulogne, &c., they are supposed equal to carry 20,000 men. In very calm weather, they might row over, supposing no impediment, in twelve hours; at the same instant, by telegraph, the same number of troops would be rowed out of Dunkirk, Ostend, &c. &c. These are the two great objects to attend to from Dover and the Downs, and perhaps one of the small Ports to the westward. Boulogne (which I call the central point of the Western attack) must be attended to. If it is calm when the Enemy row out, all our Vessels and Boats appointed to watch them, must get into the Channel, and meet them as soon as possible: if not strong enough for the attack, they must watch, and keep them company till a favourable opportunity offers. If a breeze springs up, our Ships are to deal destruction; no delicacy can be observed on this great occasion. But should it remain calm, and our Flotilla not fancy itself strong enough to attack the Enemy on their passage, the moment that they begin to touch our shore, strong or weak, our Flotilla of Boats must attack as

Admiral Archibald Dickson, Commander-in-Chief in the North Sea.