TO CAPTAIN BALL, CHIEF OF THE MALTESE.

My dear Ball,

[Letter-Book.]

At Sea, 5th October, 1799.

I fervently hope that Niza has got hold of the French ships from Toulon. As that business is over, I have only to hope the best. This day, by his Sicilian Majesty's orders, a letter is wrote to Messina to request General Graham to go to Malta with five hundred men. The Russian Admiral is wrote to, to go with at least seven hundred. A corps of Russian grenadiers are also expected at Leghorn for Malta. If Niza has been successful, all will end well. Ever yours most faithfully, NELSON.

I am not well, and left our dear friends Sir William and Lady Hamilton very unwell.

TO LIEUTENANT BLOW, ACTING COMMANDER OF THE ALLIANCE.

[Order-Book.]

3

5th October, 1799.

Ordered Lieutenant Blow, Acting Commander of the Alliance, to proceed with the mortars, &c., he has on board to Messina, and there wait the final decision of Brigadier-General Graham, whether he will send part of that garrison to Malta. If he determines in the affirmative, to take on board the troops, and carry them to Malta, land them there, delivering the mortar, shells, &c., to Captain Ball, Chief of the Maltese, and then to proceed without delay to Mahon.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS DE NIZA.

[Letter-Book.]

My dear Marquis,

Fondroyant, at Sea, October 5th, 1799.

Having this day received information that the French ships from Toulon are at sea, with Transports, bound to Malta, I

Lieutenant John Aitkin Blow: he was not promoted until 1826, and was made a Post Captain in 1842.

am anxious in the extreme to know the result of their approach. I pray God it may have been glorious to you, by the destruction of all the scoundrels; therefore I beg your Excellency will send me the account by the Salamine, who is ordered to join me at Mahon. I hope the Benjamin had joined you before their approach. Ever, my dear Marquis, your faithful servant,

NELSON.

TO COMMODORE SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART., OR SENIOR OFFICER AT MAHON.

Dear Sir,

[Letter-Book.]

Foudroyant, at Sea, 10th October, 1799. In case the wind will not admit of my calling at Mahon in my passage down to Gibraltar, and as in all probability the Enemy's Squadron seen on the Coast of Portugal may attempt to come through the Straits, you will immediately, on receipt hereof, proceed down and join me at that place, with the Northumberland, and either Minotaur or Bellerophon, leaving the other behind at Mahon, with such a sufficient number of Frigates and Sloops as you may think necessary, for the protection of that Island; but should Minorca be threatened by a superior force, and you think it not safe to quit it, you will send some Vessel down to me immediately [with a notice] of such event. I am, &c.,

NELSON.

TO COMMODORE SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART., CAPTAIN DARBY, OR THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AT MAHON.

[Letter-Book.]

Sir,

Foudroyant, at Sea, October 11th, 1799. As I am on my way to Gibraltar, to look after a Squadron of the Enemy of thirteen Sail of the Line which has been seen towards Cape Finisterre, for which purpose it is necessary I should collect as large a force together as the service will admit,

Commodore Troubridge is ordered with the Culloden and Minotaur to join me at Mahon; but it is my intention that one Ship of the Line should remain, with a proper number of Frigates and Sloops, for the protection of the Island of Minorca, and to give Convoys to Victuallers, &c. It is therefore my wish that Captain Darby should be left with the command, unless the wants of any other Ship makes it more eligible to send the Bellerophon to Gibraltar, and to direct the Ship wanting a re-fit to remain. If the Northumberland is at sea, it is my directions that a Vessel be dispatched to direct Captain Martin to join me at Gibraltar, or wherever I may be, upon intelligence gained there from the Commanding Sea-Officer, or the Commissioner.

It is also my directions that the Thalia is sent directly to Gibraltar, with similar orders, and the Earl St. Vincent Cutter. I also have to desire that you, as soon as convenient, send a Vessel with my letter to his Excellency the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton, at Palermo. The Alceste is ordered to take the Convoy of Victuallers from Messina, Palermo, and Cagliari, for Mahon. The Salamine I have sent to put the Ships off Malta on their guard, although I believe the Vessels seen by the Fly schooner were the Alceste and her convoy. I send you a copy of my directions to the Masterbuilder relative to the Ships. For your further instructions, I have only to refer you to the general directions of the Earl of St. Vincent, the orders left you by Rear-Admiral Duckworth, and your own judgment. I have received the report of the Naval Hospital, and also of the Princess Charlotte and Courageux. I am, &c.,

NELSON.

* These directions merely referred to the refitting of some inefficient Ships.

TO CAPTAIN DARBY, H.M. SHIP BELLEROPHON.

Letter-Book. "October 12th, (11th,) Port Mahon, N.N.E. 4 miles; made the Bellerophon's signal for a Captain. Sunday 13th, spoke H. M. Sloop Bulldog; anchored in Port Mahon; found at anchor here, H. M. Ships Bellerophon, Santa Dorotea, Princess Charlotte, [late Junon,] Courageux, Vincejo, and Entreprenant Cutter."-Journal.]

My dear Darby,

Foudroyant, 11th October, 1799.

I wish to see you for ten minutes, or if you are not able, send a boat and an Officer, for I wish to know the state of Minorca in as short a space of time as possible, that I may not lose this very fine wind. Ever faithfully,

NELSON.

P.S.-You will hurry the Chichester to execute my orders for carrying stores to the Ships off Malta, immediately on the return of the Salamine, depending on the information she may bring. If the Dover is a Store-ship, and not wanted at Minorca, send her down when Troubridge sails, for those Ships are much wanted in England.

TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR JAMES ST. CLAIR ERSKINE, BART.

My dear Sir James,

[Letter-Book.]

Foudroyant, at Sea, 11th October, 1799.

I wrote you a line last night to tell you, in case I had not been able to reach Minorca, that the Phaëton brought me an account that thirteen Sail of the Line, French and Spaniards, were seen off Cape Finisterre. This of course has made me call together some of my Squadron, except from Malta—that I shall never take away, I hope, till we have reduced it. I am endeavouring to make up nine Sail of the Line, that, if they come this way, (but which I do not think,) I may be able to meet them-therefore, for the moment I shall only leave you one Ship of the Line; but of Frigates, except the Thalia, I take nothing from you, and I have no doubt but in fourteen days from this day I shall be in Mahon harbour, consulting with you and General Fox on the best mode of taking Maltaan object which I know our Ministry are very anxious to ac

complish, as it is not only of the greatest importance to us, but will be highly pleasing to our Ally, the Emperor of Russia, whose mind, as Grand Master, is set upon getting full possession of his new Dignity. Rome and Cività Vecchia being now evacuated by the French, on an agreement entered into between Commodore Troubridge and General Grénier, Malta and Ancona are the only remaining posts of the Enemy, from Genoa.

I have with great difficulty induced His Sicilian Majesty to permit Sir John Acton to write to Colonel Graham, that he might take 500 men from the Citadel of Messina, for the important service of Malta; and Sir John has wrote in the same strong manner to the Russian Admiral at Naples, for 700 troops. I have 500 English and Portuguese Marines on shore on the Island; and if I am so happy as for you and General Fox to agree to the sending 1000 or 1200 men, I am sure we shall have it; and without their assistance I fear we shall miscarry in spite of all our exertions. I trust that you

will, my dear Sir James, represent me to General Fox as I am, for I am entirely unknown to him. If I did not feel confident of our success, I would not urge it so strongly, although I attach so much importance to driving the French villains from Malta, that there is scarcely any proper risk that I would not run to obtain it. In fourteen days, I hope to be with you. Ever believe me, my dear Sir, your obliged and faithful servant,

NELSON.

TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AT

MAHON.
[Letter-Book.]

Foudroyant, at Sea, 11th October, 1799.

Sir,

I send you herewith nine books of the New Signals, to be distributed to the Ships of the Line as they may arrive at Minorca, and to the Thalia and Mermaid one each, but not to the Ships that are employed about the Island of Minorca, or going

In the margin, Lord Nelson put the names of the Ships: "Culloden, Bellerophon, Minotaur, Northumberland, Thalia, Mermaid."