Page images
PDF
EPUB

I hope will soon fall to the Allies. Should any public event occur, your Excellency may rest assured that I shall inform you of it as expeditiously as possible.

[blocks in formation]

You will send such stores as may be a fair proportion for the Tigre and Theseus; but we are all stripped to the skin. We are preparing for the siege of Malta, and are anxiously waiting the arrival of General Fox, without whose assistance all our hopes would fail. Sir William and Lady Hamilton are better than they have been, and always speak of you with the most affectionate regard. Make my best respects to the General, and believe me, dear Sir, your obliged and sincere friend,

BRONTE NELSON.

TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Palermo, November 3rd, 1799.

Sir,

Having arranged a proper force for the protection and comfort of Minorca, and given such directions as were necessary for the refitting of the Ships at the Arsenal, &c., I sailed from Mahon on the 17th, and, in my route falling in with the Minotaur, I arrived here with her on the 21st, where I found letters from Captain Ball, who acts as Governor of the Island of Malta, and from the Marquis de Niza, who commands the blockade, giving me an account of the deplorable state of the inhabitants, particularly of those who have borne arms, having no pay to support themselves, or clothes, &c. And fearing that the French should make a sortie in their present state, and from the Marquis saying that his orders were so strong from his Court for the return of the Portuguese Squadron to

Lisbon, that he could not much longer justify the disobedience, and of course he must withdraw the 400 men landed at Malta from that Island. If this was to take place, and we consequently obliged to keep afloat, it would take more time and loss of men (if possible to effect it) to regain our present advantageous positions for the attack of La Valetta, than it would at this moment to take the Town. I have been with General Acton to advance some money for the support of the people bearing arms, to my knowledge, because it has been by my application alone that His Sicilian Majesty has granted the money, (taken, for it was nowhere else to be had, from his children,) and it was, and is I hope, to be replaced by the money promised by Lord Grenville to the Marquis de Circello. The enormous expenses incurred within the last eight months have drawn the King's chest very low; but His Majesty has never failed giving everything I could ask. I hope General Fox will agree to the arrangement made by General Sir James St. Clair and myself, for a cordial co-operation with the Russian Admiral and General, to effect this important object. Malta has not yet been relieved, and I have sent the Foudroyant and Minotaur to assist in the blockade. I have again requested General Sir James St. Clair to order the garrison of Messina to Malta, in order to hold our present advantageous positions until a proper force can be collected to attack it. I have wrote to the Russian Admiral, urging the measure with all my power, and I hope he will see the force of my reasoning, as he ought to be satisfied I can have no object in view but the speedy restoration of the Grand Master and the Order. Nothing shall be wanting, I can assure you, on my part, to conciliate the affections of the Officers of His Majesty's Allies, and if any difficulties arise, to leave the matter open for the amicable settlement of the Courts. Ever believe me, Sir, &c.,

NELSON.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GRAND VIZIR.

[Letter-Book.]

Sir,

Palermo, November 4th, 1799.

I was yesterday honoured with your Excellency's letter' of September 9th, in which you announce to me that his Imperial Majesty had been pleased to order me a Medallion, which his Majesty desired I would wear, as a mark of his pleasure for my conduct to Osman Hadji, and for the interest which I take in the prosperity of the Sublime Porte. I entreat that your Excellency will present, with the most profound gratitude, my thanks to the Emperor for this new and distinguished honour conferred upon me. I have placed it on my coat, on the left side, over my heart. I cannot say, however flattering this mark of favour is to me, that I can in any manner serve the Sublime Porte more than I have done, for it has ever been with all my soul; but this mark of favour shows, in the strongest light, that the smallest services are watched, and most magnificently rewarded, by his Imperial Majesty, whose life may God prolong, with health and every other earthly happiness; and may he give me opportunities of showing my gratitude, by risking my life for the preservation of the smallest grain of sand belonging to the Ottoman Empire, and may the enemies of his Imperial Majesty fall into dust by the wise councils of your Excellency.

Respecting the force employed in Egypt, it is now far superior to all the Naval force of the Enemy, it consisting of two Sail of the Line and a fine Corvette; but Lord Elgin will join me in assuring your Excellency, that if more force is necessary in those seas, it shall instantly be sent. But to keep a large Naval force there would be useless, and, indeed, do harm to the Common Cause, by preventing so complete a blockade of the French and Spanish ports. I have just ordered four Gun-boats, taken by that excellent Officer Sir Sidney Smith, to be purchased, as it has been represented to me they may be useful in the Nile. I am just going to the siege of La Valetta, and to satisfy the Sublime Porte of my wishes to com

1 A translation of that Letter is in Clarke and M'Arthur.

ply with its desires, the moment the French are driven out of Malta, I will send to Egypt two more Corvettes. May Almighty God prosper all your Excellency's councils, is, and shall ever be, the fervent prayer of your obliged and faithful servant, BRONTE NELSON.

Abdur Ahmed has executed his commission in a manner highly honourable to the dignity of his Imperial Majesty and your Excellency, and most pleasing to me; and I beg leave to recommend him to your notice.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE CAPITAN PACHA.

[Letter Book.]

Sir,

Palermo, November 4th, 1799.

I was honoured yesterday by your Excellency's letter, by the gentleman who brought the magnificent present of his Imperial Majesty. Could anything increase my desire of showing my attachment to the Sublime Porte, the goodness of the Emperor would insure it, but that is impossible.

I long for the time when I may make a personal acquaintance with your Excellency; and I assure you till then I shall be happy in uniting my councils and services for the benefit of the Common Cause, and for the destruction of the French. I congratulate your Excellency on the total defeat of the French Army in Switzerland: 35,000 men are killed and prisoners to General Suwarrow. I am collecting a force of troops to besiege La Valetta, and hope soon to drive the French out of Malta, when more Ships, if necessary, shall be sent to Egypt. I again beg leave to recommend Admiral Cadir Bey to your notice. He is a good Officer, and appears a truly good man. His Ship was in particularly fine order. All the Admirals and Captains were my friends; and did the service of our two Sovereigns call upon us to act together, I am sure we should be like brothers.

I am much pleased with, and was highly gratified by, the wanner in which he spoke of your Excellency's head, and goodness of heart. With every sentiment of regard and affection, believe me your Excellency's Brother-in-Arms.

BRONTE NELSON.

TO THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF ELGIN.

[Letter-Book.]

Palermo, November 4th, 1799.

My Lord,

Having yesterday received such a mark of the Grand Signior's favour, I have been puzzled how to express myself properly. I must, therefore, trust to your Excellency's goodness in supplying my deficiency of language. The Vizir wishes for more force in Egypt: it is natural for him to do so, as none but our countrymen render the Porte any service. Your Lordship knows I have not Frigates or Corvettes enough for the common service of the Mediterranean; at the same time, to second your endeavours for the success of your important mission, a Corvette shall be found, and after the fall of La Valetta, two; but the French ought to be out of Egypt before that time, or even this. We have nothing new here since I wrote you a few days ago. In any manner in which I can be useful, pray tell me, and I shall be happy in assuring your Lordship with what respect I am, &c.,

BRONTE NELSON.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY J. SPENCER SMITH, ESQ., CONSTANTINOPLE.

[Letter-Book.]

My dear Sir,

Palermo, November 4th, 1799.

I am penetrated by your kindness, and can truly assure you how much I wish to make your acquaintance. Accept again and again my thanks for all your goodness to me, both public and private. What a voyage-from September 9th to November 3rd! I have not got a force, even was it necessary, to send at this moment into Egypt; for Lord Keith carried off all he could lay his hands upon. Your excellent brother will find me everything he can wish his Commanding Officer to be, and should the French not be extirpated in Egypt before they are in Malta, I will send him two more Corvettes. The Turkish Corvette has only reached Messina, being leaky; but I hope she will be able to carry this gentleman back to Constantinople. As he leaves this place to-morrow, I have

« PreviousContinue »