his name. I have this moment received your letter about Captain Foley of the Marines; you are right to take care of your own first. He is a very good man, or I would not have mentioned You will wish me at the Devil: Mr. Collet was Gunner of the Captain on the 14th February, and is so now. Your Lordship gave him the Prince George. By Sir Charles Thompson's desire he was removed back to the Captain, to please a friend of Thompson's. The Admiralty, by letter from Mr. Nepean, promised me a Second-Rate for him. His son has served all the War in the Agamemnon and Captain-has passed, as by enclosed letter. The father is an excellent Officer; the son a good young man: I presume not, my dear Lord, to say more. Troubridge tells me, he fears you were not well yesterday, which makes me sorry. Cheer up, and be well. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] September 9th, 1801. My dear Lord, Young Walpole, who was placed by Admiral Pole, third Lieutenant of the Amazon, has not yet received his confirmed Commission, which makes him a little uneasy. I shall be obliged to your Lordship to direct its being sent down to Deal, which will much oblige your affectionate, NELSON AND BRONTE. I hope you are better. TO HERCULES ROSS, ESQ., ROSSIE CASTLE. [Autograph, in the possession of Horatio Ross, Esq., the son and heir alluded to in this Letter.] My dear Friend, Amazon, Downs, September 12th, 1801. I congratulate you most sincerely on the birth of a son and heir, and from my heart I wish all the wealth and happiness you possess, and all the honours which have fallen to my lot, A Mr. Isaac Charles Smith Collett, probably the Midshipman alluded to, was made a Lieutenant on the 9th of September 1801. may be the young Horatio's. Sir William and Lady Hamiltou are with me, and as they have been partakers with me of the hospitality of Mrs. Parish, when at Hamburgh, they desire to join me in good wishes for Mrs. Ross's speedy recovery. Whatever call the Public duty has to my services, yet I must not altogether forget the duty of private friendship. You do not think me capable of forgetting when your house, carriages, and purse were open to me;' and to your kindness probably I owe my life, for Green Bay had very often its jaws open to receive me. But as money never was my object, so I am not much richer than when you knew me, except by my pension. No; the two Parkers have had the sweets of Jamaica, but I would not change with them. I pray God we may have Peace, when it can be had with honour; but I fear that the scoundrel Buonaparte wants to humble us, as he has done the rest of Europe—to degrade us in our own eyes, by making us give up all our conquests, as proof of our sincerity for making a Peace, and then he will condescend to treat with us. be dd, and there I leave him; and do you believe me ever, my dear Ross, your old and affectionate friend, NELSON AND Bronte. P.S.-I must beg the favour of you to give the enclosed to the Nurse. TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. Не [Autograph, in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] My dear Sir, Amazon, Downs, September 14th, 1801. Will you have the goodness to forward the letters sent herewith to the Mediterranean? I wish the wretch had been caught as an example-not but that I am indifferent to all they can say against me, because I know I have always done my duty to the best of my abilities. The Goerce expedition has a great probability of success, if the secret is well kept, and the weather favours us. Nothing shall be wanting on my part; for six Sail of the Line makes my mouth water. Ever your obliged, NELSON AND BRONTE. At Jamaica in 1779 and 1780. Vide vol. i. p. 34*. Admiral Sir Peter Parker, and his son, Vice-Admiral Christopher Parker. "Mr. Hill." TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Amazon, Downs, September 14th, 1801. I have to give you ten thousand thanks for your very friendly offer of assisting me in purchasing the Farm. It is true, it will take every farthing I have in the world, and leave me in your debt, and also in Tyson's; but I hope in a little time to be able at least to pay my debts. Should I really want your help, and know that I have enough in the world to pay you, I shall ask no one else. The Baltic expedition cost me full £2000. Since I left London it has cost me, for Nelson cannot be like others, near £1000 in six weeks. If I am continued here, ruin to my finances must be the consequence, for everybody knows that Lord Nelson is amazingly rich! Sir William and Lady Hamilton leave me on the 16th. You will easily guess my feelings at their going. Parker is easy, comfortable and cheerful, whether the thigh will ever unite none can say. Langford is suffering much pain, several pieces of bone of his leg are come away, but they both have youth on their side. I look forward with hope but will not be too sanguine. I yet hope the negotiation is not broken entirely off, for we can never alter the situation of France or the Continent, and ours will become a War of defence; but I hope they will do for the best. A man, a few days ago, sent me a letter demanding a bank note of £100, or he would abuse me in the Papers: I sent it of course to Nepean; the Porter who went to the Post-office for my answer, has been taken up, but he knew not his employer and probably never will be caught. Ever, my dear Davison, believe me, your most obliged friend, NELSON AND Bronte. Sir William, Lady Hamilton, and Mrs. Nelson, desire to join me in best compliments to yourself and Mrs. Davison. His late Secretary. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 302.] My dear Lord, 15th September, 1801. Captain Campbell's' spirit we are all acquainted with: the plan is fixed in my mind: and at least the attempt is worthy of an English Admiral. It is one of those judicious enterprises, in which we hazard only a few Boats, and may destroy an Enemy's Squadron. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Amazon, Downs, September 17th, 1801. I have communicated your letter to Captain Sarradine, and allow me to say, that although the Hound has certainly lost many men, yet that the Captain has taken all the precautions in his power against the loss of men, and I believe that he has sent many more than four descriptions of the men to the different rendezvous. Captain Sarradine is, I can assure their Lordships, a very zealous and good officer. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LORD ELDON, LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR. [From "The Life of the Earl of Eldon," by Horace Twiss, Esq., vol. i. p. 390.] Amazon, September 17th, 1801. My Lord, I feel very much obliged by your open and very handsome answer to my request, which so exactly accords with what my friend Davison told me of your Lordship's character; and allow me to consider myself, in every respect, your most obliged NELSON AND Bronte. Captain Patrick Campbell, of the Ariadne, who had distinguished himself in command of the Dart in the preceding year. He died a Vice-Admiral, and a Knight Commander of the Bath, in August 1841. To attack Goeree. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 302.] My dear Lord, 19th September, 1801. I have given out this day the strictest orders relative to the discipline of the Ships (in particular meant for the Gun-brigs), and to have them always ready for service. The new Gunbrigs are certainly very fine Vessels; and, if the Commanders of them will keep the sea, I should think they might prevent much smuggling; but many of them will require changing; and a proper Boat must be given to each for that service. In short, Officers must be found fit for the command; and the command not be, merely as a sinecure, fit for them. Much reformation has been adopted; and, my dear Lord, much, very much, is necessary. The history of the Bomb-tenders will make you stare; but you know it all. 20th of September.-I am full of grief for the fate of poor Parker; our only consolation is, that everything has been done which was possible: the breath is not yet gone; but, I dare say, he cannot last until night. Dr. Baird's kindness and ability will make a lasting impression on me. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO DR. BAIRD. [From "The Athenæum."] Amazon, September 20th, 1801. My dear Doctor, Your kind letter has given me hopes of my dear Parker; he is my child, for I found him in distress. I am prepared for the worst, although I still hope. Pray tell me as often as Would I could be useful, I would come on shore you can. and nurse him; I rely on your abilities, and if his life is to be spared, that you, under the blessing of God, are fully equal to be the instrument. Say everything which is kind for me to Mrs. Parker, and if my Parker remembers me, say, 'God bless him;' and do you believe me, your most obliged and thankful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. I have been in real misery. Hawkins will come off, night or day. |