Westward, and if they should get out of the Straits, I am of opinion they will try for the West Indies, and then, with 7000 Troops, farewell our Islands. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA." [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] My dear Ball, Victory, September 6th, 1804. Many thanks for your kind letter of August 20th. I am sensible of your partiality for me; but I cannot bring myself Of this able Officer, the following brief notice will probably be read with interest. After seeing much service, including Lord Rodney's Action in 1782, Captain Ball obtained Post Rank in 1783; and having gone to France during the Peace, he met Nelson at St. Omer's, in November of that year, where, as has been already observed, they imbibed a mutual dislike for each other. (Vol. i. p. 88.) The remarkable manner in which, after an interval of many years, their friendship commenced, has also been stated, (vol. iii. p. 21,) and it has been shown that Captain Ball greatly distinguished himself at the Battle of the Nile, in command of the Alexander. In October 1798, he was placed by Lord Nelson in command of the Squadron blockading Malta, and "at the request of the Chief of the contending factions in that Island, he mediated between them, succeeded in restoring harmony, and by his wise and conciliatory conduct, secured the confidence of the Maltese people. He presided over their councils, organized the government, and, with singular zeal and energy, directed the operations of the native battalions." At the request of the Maltese, his Sicilian Majesty appointed him Governor of Malta; and though he joined Lord Nelson in the Alexander, in May 1799, he soon after returned to the government of Malta, at the earnest desire of the inhabitants. In March 1801, Captain Ball was superseded at Malta by Major-General Pigot, the Commander of the Forces; and, in June following, his eminent services were rewarded by a Baronetcy, previously to which he had obtained permission to wear the Cross of Commander of the Order of St. Ferdinand and Merit, and of the Order of Malta. By the Treaty of Amiens, the Island of Malta was to revert to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and Sir Alexander Ball was sent to Malta as British Plenipotentiary, where he was received, on his arrival in August 1802, with the strongest demonstrations of gratitude and affection. Soon after, the Civil Government of the Island was temporarily placed in his hands; and, in 1803, he was confirmed as his Majesty's Commissioner for the Civil Affairs of Malta. In 1805, he obtained the rank of Rear-Admiral, and in 1807, was ordered to hoist his Flag, and carry on the Naval duties of the harbour of Valetta, in conjunction with those of Civil Governor. Sir Alexander Ball died at Malta, a Rear-Admiral of the White, on the 25th of October 1809, aged 52, deeply lamented by all to whom he was known; and more especially by the Maltese, who, from his paternal care, and kindness of heart, had bestowed upon him the appellation of their " father." The high opinion which Nelson entertained of his talents, is shown by his correspondence; and a publication of a Memoir of his Services, including a selection from his Letters, would establish his right to an elevated position among the Naval Worthies of his Country. To his only son, Sir William Keith Ball, Bart., the Public are indebted for some of the most interesting Letters in this Work. to suppose but that one half of the Admirals on the list will perform the duty of the Mediterranean Command as well, at least, as myself; and if the other half of the Admirals' list was to hear of my vanity they would think me a fool; but be that as it may, I am very far from well. At the same time if I was to get better, nothing could please me so much as returning to this Command; but I have no interest and another will come, and I think very probably Orde, or Curtis-Young seems fixed at Plymouth. With respect to Mr. Fagan, you sent me Admiral Murray's letter instead of his, (but I can assure you I have not read it.) I have heard Mr. Fagan well spoken of by several of our travelling gentry, and I carried him from Naples, and returned him to Leghorn; but if I had interest, I must know more of his services than I can recollect at present, and what remuneration an Artist can claim from Government I know not. He wants, I fancy, to be Consul and Agent at Cività Vecchia and Rome, which Mr. Dennis has been long appointed to. The Vice-Consul at Girgenti has much greater claims upon the Government than Mr. Fagan, and both you and I ought to exert ourselves to get him a small pension as Vice-Consul; but of his merits you know even more than I do. I have read the account of the Marquis Dasserto. I never intended to hold any communication with him. I considered him as a French spy, and for that reason referred him to Diplomatic characters, if he had anything to communicate. Mr. Elliot wanted to send me some good Frenchmen, to go ashore, and to get me information. My [answer] to all these offers [is], I can be told nothing of any consequence to me; but a copy of the French Admiral's orders; when he is to put to sea, and where he is destined to, is the only useful information I can care about. I can see the number and force at Toulon any day I please, and as for the names of the Captains or Admirals, I care not what they are called;' therefore, as you may suppose, I have none of these 'good Frenchmen' about me. I will direct the Agent of Transports to send a Vessel to Cerigo with the first Convoy destined into the Levant for Lord Elgin's things, if she will lay in safety there, and one of our Ships shall call for her upon her return. I wish I had any Sloops of War; but you have them all to the Eastward, and at Gibraltar the Childers is the only one I can call upon. The Termagant is going to Gibraltar to be hove down. I wrote to the Admiralty until I am tired, and they have left off answering those parts of my letters. The late Admiralty thought I kept too many to the Eastward of Sicily; the Smyrna folks complain of me, so do the Adriatic, so they do between Cape de Gatte and Gibraltar. But all I have are to the Eastward, as by list. Bittern, Arrow, Halcyon, Sophie-Gibraltar. Morgiana, Termagant-going to heave down. Seahorse, Childers-between the Fleet and Spain. Renard-September 20th, found bad; gone to Gibraltar to heave down. Spider, Hirondelle, Cameleon-gone to the Adriatic. If I had them, I do assure you not one of them should go Prize hunting: that I never have done; and to this day, I can solemnly assure you, that I am a poorer man than the day I was ordered to the Mediterranean Command, by upwards of £1000; but money I despise, except as it is useful, and I expect my Prize-money is embarked in the Toulon Fleet. I should think, now the Russians are getting so large a Naval Force into the Mediterranean, that the Toulon Fleet will not think of going to the Eastward. I should rather think the West Indies. more likely for them to succeed in. Suppose this Fleet escapes, and gets out of the Straits, I rather think I should bend my course to the Westward; for if they carry 7000 men -with what they have at Martinico and Guadaloupe-St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent, Antigua, and St. Kitts would fall, and, in that case, England would be so clamorous for Peace, that we should humble ourselves. What do What do you think? Tell me. I have weighed Ireland against the West Indies. With me the latter throws the beam up to the ceiling; but I may be wrong. It is at best but a guess, and the world attaches wisdom to him that guesses right. I wish I could see you in Sardinia; for if we do not manage to have it, France will; and what shall we do then? I have wrote a last letter upon the importance of it; but I dare say my opinions are thrown aside, as either ignorant or impertinent : so be it. God bless you, my dear Ball, and ever be assured that I am your most faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. VOL. VI. TO JOHN TURNBULL, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH Sir, [From a Copy in the Nelson Papers.] Victory, at Sea, 7th September, 1804. I have received through Mr. Higgins, Merchant at Malta, your letter without date, stating that some little delay has been experienced at that place, by the Merchant Vessels arriving from England, bound to Ports in the Adriatic and Levant, being obliged to wait in Valetta Harbour for Convoy. In answer to which, I herewith transmit you a letter from Captain Schomberg, of the Madras, dated the 7th October 1803, which will show my general desire that every possible protection is to be afforded the Trade bound to and from the Adriatic and Levant, &c. I might also transmit you several extracts of my letters and orders to Captain Cracraft of the Anson, and other Officers employed in the vicinity of Malta, on the same subject, but do not judge it necessary, as I am satisfied that my instructions on that head have been as fully executed as possible; and it will ever be my particular desire to expedite our Trade to its destination, and protect it to the utmost of my power from falling into the hands of the Enemy. I have to observe on the subject of the Enemy's numerous Privateers and Row-Boats, who, in violation of every known law of Neutrality, capture our Trade under the very forts which ought to protect them, that the conduct of those Pirates has been fully stated to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and that I have, in the meantime, adopted the most effectual measures in my power for their destruction. Mr. Higgins's application to the Senior Officer at Malta, respecting Convoys, will always meet with due attention. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 8th September, 1804. I herewith transmit you copies of two letters from Captain Raynsford of the Morgiana, dated the 29th and 30th of July last, together with copies of his letter of the 27th June, and a list of Privateers alluded to in his first-mentioned letter, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information; and also a copy of my answer thereto, dated the 2nd instant, which also accompanies this. Their Lordships will observe, by Captain Raynsford's beforementioned letters, the piratical proceedings of the Enemy's Privateers in the Adriatic, and the necessity of making such remonstrances with the Imperial Court, as may prevent similar robberies under their forts in future. I must here beg to observe that the conduct, not only of the Morgiana, but also of all the Vessels of War employed in the Adriatic and Levant, has been such as merits my warmest thanks, and will, I hope, entitle them to their Lordships' approbation. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN THE HONOURABLE COURTENAY BOYLE, H. M. SHIP SEAHORSE. Victory, at Sea, 8th September, 1804. Whereas it is my intention to proceed immediately with the Squadron to Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, You are hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ship named in the margin,' under your command, and station yourself between Rendezvous No. 102 and Toulon, in such position as you may judge best for watching the Enemy's motions in that Port, and for ascertaining with correctness their putting to sea, in case they should do so. In reconnoitring and watching the Enemy as above-directed, the 1 Niger. |