TO DR. BAIRD. [From "The Athenæum."] Amazon, September 26th, 1801. My dear Sir, Although the contents of your letter were not unexpected, yet I am sure you will judge of my feelings-I feel all has been done which was possible: God's will be done. I beg that his hair may be cut off and given to me; it shall remain and be buried with me. What must the poor father feel when he is gone! I shall request Captain Sutton and Bedford to arrange the funeral, and I wish you to ask Admiral Lutwidge to announce it by telegraph to the Admiralty; the Board ought to direct every honour to be paid to the memory of such an excellent gallant Officer. Say every kind thing to the poor father, and believe me your obliged and affectionate, NELSON AND Bronte. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Amazon, September 27th, 1801. My dear Parker left this world for a better at 9 o'clock this morning. It was, they tell me, a happy release; but I cannot bring myself to say I am glad he is gone; it would be a lie, for I am grieved almost to death. May God bless you and yours. Amen. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 303.] [About 27th September, 1801.] The scene, my Lord, with our dear Parker is closed for ever; and I am sure your good heart will participate in our grief, both as a public and private loss; not a creature living was ever more deserving of our affections. Every action of his life, from Sir John Orde to the moment of his death, showed innocence, joined to a firm mind in keeping the road of honour, however it might appear incompatible with his interest: his conduct in Orde's business' won my regard. When he was abandoned by the world, your heart had begun to yearn towards him-how well he has deserved my love and affection his actions have shown. His father, in his advanced age, looked forward for assistance to this good son. Pensions I know have sometimes been granted to the parents of those who have lost their lives in the service of their King and Country. All will agree, none fell more nobly than dear Parker; and none ever resigned their life into the hands of their Creator with more resignation to the Divine Will than our Parker. I trust much to your friendship to recommend his father's case to the kind consideration of the King. I fear his loss has made a wound in my heart which time will scarcely heal. But God is good, and we must all die. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. My dear Sir, TO DR. BAIRD. [From "The Athenæum."] Amazon, September 27th, 1801. I should be a wretch if I did not feel sensible of all your kindness to my dear Parker; we have the melancholy consolation to think that everything was done which professional skill and the kindest friendship could dictate. God's will be done; but if I was to say I was content, I should lie-but I shall endeavour to submit with all the fortitude I am able. Poor Mr. Parker! What a son has he lost! My pen fails to express my feelings, except that I shall for life consider myself your obliged, NELSON AND BRONTE. Vide vol. iii. p. 25. Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Amazon, September 28th, 1801. Captain E. T. Parker having died in consequence of the wounds he received on the 16th of last month, I have given directions for his being buried this day with all the honours and respect due to so meritorious and gallant an Officer;' and I have to request that their Lordships will be pleased to direct the Sick and Hurt Board to defray all the expenses of his lodgings, &c. on shore, and also of his funeral. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 303.] My dear Lord, Amazon, September [about the 29th], 1801. I send Nepean another Pilot's letter. I have experienced in the Sound the misery of having the honour of our Country intrusted to Pilots, who have no other thought than to keep the Ship clear of danger, and their own silly heads clear of shot. At eight in the morning of the 2nd of April, not one Pilot would take charge of a Ship. Brierly, who was Davidge Gould's Master in the Audacious, placed Boats for me, and fixed my order, saying, 'My Lord, if you will command each Ship to steer with the small red house open with a mill, until such a Church is on with a wood, the King's Channel will be open.' Everybody knows what I must have suffered; and if any merit attaches itself to me, it was in combating the dangers of the shallows in defiance of the Pilots. The business of Pilots brings all this fresh to my memory, and I long to have the Medal which I would not give up to be made An account of Captain Parker's funeral is given in the Naval Chronicle, vol. vi. p. 341. Lord Nelson, who was one of the mourners, was visibly affected during the ceremony. Admiral Lutwidge, Lord George Cavendish, Colonel of the Derbyshire Militia, and Captains Poulden, Brodie, Rowley, Warren, Sarradine, Clay, Bazeley, and Sutton, and many other Officers of both Services attended. For the Battle of Copenhagen. Vide post. an English Duke. You know, my dear Lord, with what cheerfulness I came here, and the Country, as your Lordship and Mr. Addington thought, attached a confidence to my name which I submitted to, although I was conscious that many more able Officers could be found every day in London; but my zeal I will never give up to any man breathing. This Boat-business must be over: it may be a part of a great plan of Invasion, but can never be the only one; therefore, as our Ships cannot act any more in lying off the French Coast, I own I do not think it is now a command for a Vice-Admiral, Turn it in your mind. It is not that I want to get a more lucrative situation-far from it: I do not know, if the Mediterranean were vacant to-morrow, that I am equal to undertake it. You will forgive me if I have said too much; they are my feelings, which for several years you have allowed me to throw before you, not in an impertinent manner, but with all the respect due to your great character and exalted situation. I have answered Hawkins about the Pilots exactly as you see it, that he was to go where he was ordered, without consulting Pilots, and that when the Ship was standing into danger, they were to point it out; but that it was not allowable for them to dictate where it was proper for a Ship to be stationed in the Channel. From my heart I wish the Enemy would try and come over, and finish the war; although, without great care, I see the misery of Peace. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAINS ROSE AND SOMERVILLE, HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS [From a Copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Sir, Amazon, off Dover, 1st October, 1801. It is my intention to send the Nancy Fire-Brig to attempt the destruction of the Enemy in Boulogne. You are to take particular care that she is not boarded, or in any way approached, so as to give the Enemy suspicion of her being an English Vessel. You will know her by wearing the Admiral's assenting Flag (red with white cross), and her fore-top-gallant mast is cut close to the rigging. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. P.S.-When you caution the Vessels under your orders not to molest a Brig of the above description, you are not to acquaint them what she is, but keep it a profound secret. If the wind is fresh, probably it may be to-morrow morning, at daylight. The King George Cutter will attend her, at a proper distance. N. & B. TO LIEUTENANT OWEN, COMMANDING THE NANCY FIRE VESSEL. [Autograph draught, in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Secret. [Apparently about 1st October, 1801.], Whereas I think it necessary for his Majesty's Service, that an attempt should be made to burn the Enemy's Flotilla in Boulogne Harbour, and repose entire confidence in your bravery and zeal, You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to take under your command his Majesty's Hired Cutter the King George, whose Commander has my directions to follow your orders; and whereas the greatest secrecy is necessary towards the success of this service, it is my positive directions that you hold no communication whatever with any Ship, or Vessel, or with the shore. Whenever the wind comes between the West-North-West and North, and blowing so fresh as to force all the Enemy's Vessels from the Road of Boulogne into the harbour, you are to sail from this anchorage, and, directing the Cutter to keep upon you, approach within four leagues of the French Coast, at a distance of six or seven miles from you, to carry all the sail which the Nancy can bear, and run into the harbour of Boulogne, and there set her on fire, taking care that you enter the harbour half an hour, or three quarters of an hour, before high water, in order that the Nancy may drift up the harbour with the flood. And on your approaching the French Coast, finding that the wind blows into the harbour, you are to hoist the Admiral's assenting flag, red with a white cross, at your main top-gallant mast-head; and you are not to Apparently the present Captain William Fitzwilliam Owen, brother of ViceAdmiral Sir Edward W. C. R. Owen, G.C.B. |