the Outer Road of Toulon: nine certainly-I believe ten— are of the Line; the rest Frigates and large Corvettes, besides Brigs, &c. &c. In the Inner Harbour, one Ship of the Line and a Frigate. Monsieur La Touche's flag was not flying on board Ship, but we suppose he was up on Cape Sepet with his flag, directing any movements which he might think necessary. The Kent left me for England on the 17th, and yesterday the Triumph and Narcissus for the same place. Maidstone is gone to Malta for a Convoy, and from thence to carry them to England. The Spencer seventy-four has joined me from Plymouth, and the Fisgard Frigate. The Renown is ordered to be sent home, and then Superb: indeed, I expect every day the Ships to relieve them. It is not upon my own account, but that I may be able to answer for my conduct to the Admiralty, that I must ask this question of the King of Naples2-viz., do you think your situation requires the constant presence of an English Ship of the Line at Naples? His Majesty and the Queen know that I would sooner fight the Enemy's Fleet with an inferior force, than have them in the least uneasy; but Ministers may not always think as their attached Nelson and Bronté does: therefore, my dear Sir, you will see the necessity I am under of repeatedly asking the same question; and I beg that the answer may be direct to the point, that if I go (and if I do not go before next winter, I shall never go) to England, that my successor may not have the power of taking the Ship from Naples, without the King's consent first obtained. I have wrote to Lord Melville my desire to return to this Command in March, or April, if I am removed; but the Administration may have so many other Admirals looking to them, that I may very possibly be laid upon the shelf. I dare not presume to think that with all my zeal and attachment to their Sicilian Majesties, that I am of sufficient importance for the King to express his wish to England for my return. That must be for him to consider; and if he thinks proper to do it, nothing, I suppose, but a letter to his brother George can do it, and that must not go through me, but through his Minister Castelcicala. I have to thank your Ex 2 Vide p. 219, post. cellency for news from Berlin, &c. &c. I yet hope that Europe will be roused. On August 11th, I see Buonaparte was upon the Coast, and it was thought the attempt upon England would no longer be deferred. We have reports from Leghorn; but I believe no credit is to be given to them of an Action in the Channel, destruction of Gun-Boats, &c. &c. August 30th, Noon.-Close in with Toulon all safe, and looking very smart. I am ever, my dear Sir, your Excellency's most faithful and obliged Servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, August 28th, 1804. Before our friend Dr. Scott leaves the Mediterranean, he is very anxious to pay his respects in the hot-bed of diplomacy, and, joking apart, to pay his respects to you. He is very much in my friendship, and confidence, to a certain extent. He has heard so much of the King and Queen of Naples and the Royal Family, that if he could be presented to them in private, as belonging to me, the Doctor would be very much gratified, and I own it would please me. Both Admiral Murray and good Captain Hardy have suffered by this constant being at sea: they are neither of them in good health. I beg my best respects to Mrs. Elliot, and believe me ever, my dear Sir, your Excellency's most faithful and obliged Servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN PARKER, H.M. SHIP AMAZON. [From a Copy in the Nelson Papers. This letter was written while the Amazon was refitting at Malta.] My dear Parker, Victory, August 28th, 1804. I hope you are making haste to join me, for the day of Battle cannot be far off, when I shall want every Frigate; for the French have nearly one for every Ship, and we may as well have a Battle Royal-Line-of-Battle Ships opposed to Ships of the Line, and Frigates to Frigates; but I am satisfied of your exertions; and be assured that I am ever faithfully [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 383, who state that Lord Nelson, being much hurt at an insinuation which had been thrown out by some Mercantile men, of his having favoured some Merchants more than others, sent the following letter to one of their Chairmen.] August, 1804. I can imagine no circumstance that could possibly influence me, as a British Admiral, to grant more particular protection to one British Merchant, in preference to another; all are equally entitled to the protection of his Majesty's Ships, and if my own brother were in your situation, I should scold him most sincerely for venturing to suppose that any influence would make me unjust. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL STOREKEEPER, MALTA. Sir, [From a Copy in the Nelson Papers.] Victory, at Sea, 28th August, 1804. On my directing you, by letter of the 14th May last, to proceed to Naples, for the purpose of purchasing canvas and cordage, &c. for the Fleet under my command, it is perfectly clear that the instructions therein contained, authorized and directed you to procure these articles upon the best and most reasonable terms, (giving a preference to Mr. James, for the reasons therein mentioned) and to draw bills for the payment thereof on the Navy Board. This I took for granted you had done, until I received a letter, a few days ago, from Mr. James, wherein he charges two and a half per cent. upon the amount of the whole purchase. This being a measure so very extraordinary and unusual, (as I consider you the purchaser, and him, Mr. James, the Merchant of whom the articles were procured,) that I must desire you will transmit copies of the agreement you may have made with Mr. James, as well as of every paper relative thereto, as I cannot suppose you went to Naples without settling a fixed price upon every article, and the mode of payments by bills upon the Navy Board, as directed; and therefore the charge of two and a half per cent. appears to me an imposition on Government, which I cannot submit to. The Captain of any of his Majesty's Ships could have purchased Stores for the Fleet (if I had not thought you the most proper person for that service) without a charge of any per centage whatever being made; and I do venture to assert, that in every instance where purchases are made on Government account, the bills given for the payment thereof include every charge. I must, therefore, desire your answer to this by the very first Vessel coming from Malta, with a copy of the agreement and papers before mentioned. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO JOHN JAMES, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S PRO-CONSUL, NAPLES. Sir, [From a Copy in the Nelson Papers.] Victory, at Sea, 29th August, 1804. Rear-Admiral Murray having transmitted to me your letter of the 26th ultimo, with the duplicate account of stores therein mentioned, purchased by Mr. Taylor from you, and sent in the Termagant for the use of the Fleet under my command, and as I consider Mr. Taylor, his Majesty's Storekeeper at Malta, the purchaser, and you the Merchant of whom the Stores before alluded to were bought, I cannot help expressing my astonishment at observing in the said accounts, not only a Custom-House charge and agio on the ducat, but also a commission of two and a half per cent. on the whole amount. I must, therefore, request that you will transmit me a copy of the agreement or contract, which Mr. Taylor may have entered into with you, and other papers relative thereto, in order that I may most fully understand the transaction, which at present I do not; for my idea of purchases is, that if I agree with a Merchant to deliver me a cer tain quantity of goods on board any Ship, or otherwise, at a certain price, I consider that that price includes everything, and, therefore, I protest against the two and a half per cent., and desire the business may be put a stop to for the present. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. P.S. As the cordage of every description is charged to the Board of his Majesty Navy, in fathoms, the rope you sent on Board the Kent and Termagant ought also to have been in fathoms. TO SIR WILLIAM BOLTON, COMMANDER OF H. M. SLOOP CHILDERS. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 30th August, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to proceed to Barcelona in his Majesty's Sloop Childers, under your command, with all dispatch (using the necessary precaution in communicating with the shore, previous to your anchoring the said Sloop) and deliver my letter to Mr. Gibert, his Majesty's ProConsul at that place, and receive from him such letters, papers, &c. as he may have for me. Having so done, you will make the best of your way to Rosas, and deliver my letter, herewith transmitted, to Mr. Edward Gayner, Merchant at that place, who will give you such letters and papers, as he may have for me, with any Political information he may be able to obtain, with which you will return and join the Squadron on Rendezvous No 102, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings; and as I am exceedingly anxious for information from England, and also with respect to the Political state of Spain, I must desire that this service is performed without a moment's loss of time. NELSON AND BRONTE. |