TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL CAMDEN, K.G.

My Lord,

[Autograph, in the Colonial Office.]

Victory, at Sea, 10th October, 1804.

I had the honour to receive your Lordship's letter of the 17th August, on the subject of a Tunisian Vessel having been carried into Palermo by a Privateer supposed to be belonging to Gibraltar. In answer thereto, I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that the business respecting the detention of the said Tunisian Vessel is settled; and, I have the pleasure to add, without any subsequent bad consequences. I have, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL SPENCER, K.G.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 387.]

Victory, 10th October, 1804.

I do assure you, my dear Lord, that not one of all your Naval friends, and you ought to have many, loves, honours, and respects you more than myself, or is more grateful for all your kindness. Circumstances may have separated us: but my sincere respect and attachment can never be shaken by either political or other considerations; and it will always give me pleasure, in showing my regard for the Father by attentions to the Son. The sight of your letter called forth feelings of which I have reason to be proud, but which cannot be readily expressed; therefore I shall only say for myself, that Nelson never has, nor can change. I am, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

♦ The Honourable Robert, afterwards Captain Sir Robert Spencer, K.C.H., who

died on the 4th of November, 1830.

TO VISCOUNT MELVILLE, FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 388, who state that "the Admiral expressed himself as being satisfied with the arrangements that had been made by the Board of Admiralty, as to Line-of-Battle Ships, yet lamented the manner in which the Service continued to be cramped for want of Frigates. A deficiency of them in the Mediterranean allowed the Enemy's Privateers to increase, and considerable depredations to be made on our valuable Trade in that sea;" and he added:]

10th October, 1804.

But I am sure, my Lord, from your wise beginning, that a full crop of credit, and I believe of glory, will accrue to the Board of Admiralty. I am, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

Sir,

TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 10th October, 1804.

You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that I have received their order, dated the 31st July last, directing me to hold in readiness, in such Port as may be agreed upon by Mr. Jackson, his Majesty's Minister to the King of Sardinia, and myself, one of the Ships under my command, for the purpose of conveying his Sardinian Majesty to such Port in the Mediterranean as he may appoint; and to adopt such measures for the Naval defence of the Island of Sardinia as may be best calculated for that purpose, and consistent with the other services entrusted to my care. In answer to which, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that, in the very early part of my communication with Mr. Jackson, the removal of his Sardinian Majesty was a principal consideration; and that I have frequently wrote to that Minister on the same subject, and have constantly had the safety of his Sardinian Majesty in view.

I wrote on the 7th instant to Mr. Jackson, and the moment he signifies his Sardinian Majesty's pleasure to me, a Ship of War shall be sent agreeably to his wish, to remove his Majesty to any Port in the Mediterranean which he may think proper.

The defence of the Island of Sardinia shall be constantly kept in view, and the necessary measures adopted for that purpose, as far as may be compatible with the other services entrusted to my care. I am, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

Sir,

TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 10th October, 1804.

I herewith transmit you a letter from the Reverend Mr. Hughes, Chaplain to the Naval Hospital at Gibraltar, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their consideration; and at the same time acquaint their Lordships that Mr. Hughes is a very respectable Clergyman, and appears to me deserving of some relief. A former application from Mr. Hughes was transmitted in my letter to Sir Evan Nepean, dated the 18th August, 1803. I am, &c.

NELSON ANd Bronte.

TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 10th October, 1804.

Sir,

I have received your letter of the 28th August last, acquainting me that it is the wish of his Majesty's Confidential

5 Mr. Hughes' letter stated that he had performed the duty in the Gibraltar Naval Hospital and Yard for fourteen years, with no remuneration but burial fees; and he therefore requested to be allowed a salary.

The letter referred to has not been found; but Lord Nelson then received the following letters from Earl Camden, Secretary of State for the War Department, and from Lord Harrowby, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, (to some of which he afterwards alludes,) which show the high value the Government attached to his opinions, especially respecting Sardinia :

FROM EARL CAMDEN TO LORD NELSON.

"Most private and confidential.

"My Lord,

"Downing Street, 29th August, 1804. "His Majesty having been graciously pleased to place in my hands the Seals of the Colonial and War Department, the letters which your Lordship addressed to

Servants that I should keep a watchful look over any motions of the Enemy that may have a tendency to injure any of the rights and possessions of the Allies of Great Britain in this Country, and signifying to me their Lordships' direction to

Lord Hobart on political subjects, have been delivered to me. In this dispatch I propose to confine myself to the communications received from your Lordship on the great importance which you attach to the Island of Sardinia, both as its possession regards the object to which this Country must always look in the Mediterranean, or as its occupation by France would enable that Power to counteract these objects, and assist her own views in that part of the world.

"This letter, as well as one of this date which your Lordship will receive from Lord Melville, will apprise your Lordship how much weight is justly given to your remarks and reasoning upon the subject of the Island of Sardinia. Lord Melville's letter, which his Lordship has communicated to me, makes it unnecessary for me to address you on the Naval part of this subject, as connected with that Island; but in addition to the observations contained in that letter, and the instructions which are conveyed to you in it, your Lordship will naturally expect to receive from me an intimation of the probability of our being enabled to detach from this Country Troops to be employed in the Mediterranean.

"The extensive preparations of the Enemy on the opposite Coasts of France, render it absolutely inexpedient to advise a present reduction of the force in Great Britain and Ireland, by detaching any part of it upon distant expeditions; and until the season of the year shall render the proposed attempt of the Enemy less probable, or until the measures in progress for augmenting the Army shall have taken place, no addition can be made to the force now in the Mediterranean.

"Whenever such addition can be made, the King's Ministers consider the objects in that quarter as of the highest importance, and the preventing of the Island of Sardinia from falling into the hands of France, amongst the very first objects to be attended to. As far as the arrival of reinforcements bears upon that subject, I cannot hold out to your Lordship any expectation of that event before the close of the present year. Until such reinforcements may arrive, the instructions from Lord Melville, to which I have alluded, point out the objects to which it is desired your Lordship shall attend, as far as respects the Naval view of the subject. With regard to the Military inquiries to be made, the Memorandum which Captain Leake (who had before been instructed by Lord Harrowby to proceed to Corfu, and the Coast of European Turkey) has received from his Lordship, makes it unnecessary for me to do more, than to desire your Lordship to afford whatever assistance your situation enables you to the inquiries it is suggested that Officer shall make, in case you should think it advisable that he should proceed to Sardinia for that purpose. I entirely concur in the Memorandum alluded to, and to which I refer your Lordship.

"Whenever, from Captain Leake's report, or from any other source on which you may depend, your Lordship is enabled to give a more minute and detailed account of the Island of Sardinia, both as the opportunity is afforded to take possession of it, as well as to retain it afterwards, you will give me the earliest information of these circumstances. In the meantime, your Lordship will not omit any means within your power to prevent so serious a misfortune to this Country, as the Islands of Sardinia or Sicily falling into the hands of France.

"I will not detain your Lordship further than to thank you for the communica

afford his Majesty's Allies in the Mediterranean every protection in my power, consistent with a due attention to the other important duties committed to my care. In answer to which, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that due regard shall be paid to their instructions above mentioned. I am, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

tions which have been received from you, and to request a continuance of that correspondence which my predecessor had the advantage of enjoying with your Lordship, on points so essential to his Majesty's interests in that quarter of the globe, in which your Lordship is so desirably and so usefully employed. I have the honour to remain, with great truth and regard, your Lordship's most sincere and faithful, humble servant,-CAMDEN.”—(Original, in the possession of the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker.)

"Private.

"My Lord,

FROM EARL CAMDEN TO LORD NELSON.

66

Downing Street, August 29th, 1804.

"I hope your Lordship will permit me to solicit a continuance of that most useful and advantageous correspondence which Lord Hobart had the advantage of possessing with your Lordship; and I trust it is unnecessary to assure you that in intrusting to me your Lordship's sentiments on the political subjects connected with the Mediterranean, you repose them in a person who justly appreciates your opinions, and has the highest admiration of your character. My letter of this date will inform you how much weight the Government gives to your representations on the subject of Sardinia, and I am very sorry to hold ont to you only a distant prospect of the arrival of reinforcements in the Mediterranean, as it regards the particular subject of Sardinia, as well as other interesting objects in that quarter.

Your Lordship's dispatches and their inclosures, on the subject of the points in dispute with the Dey of Algiers, have arrived so lately in this country, that I am not enabled to send, by the present conveyance, instructions on that subject. I beg your Lordship, however, to be assured of the high opinion I entertain of your discretion and address in the orders you have given, and in the selection of the persons you employed to execute them. I request your Lordship's permission to take this opportunity to return you my thanks for the attention you were so good as to give to my request about my nephew, Mr. James. I lament he did not accept your offer to allow him to remain in the Mediterranean, and still more, that he has since quitted the Sea for the Land Service. I have the honour to remain, with perfect truth, your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,-CAMDEN.”—(Autograph, in the possession of the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker.)

"My Lord,

FROM LORD HARROWBY TO LORD NELSON.

"Downing Street, 29th August, 1804.

Having had the advantage of perusing the letters which your Lordship had sent to Lord Hawkesbury, I beg to solicit the continuance of your Lordship's correspondence, upon such points as relate to the business of that department which his Majesty has been graciously pleased to intrust to me.

"This letter will be delivered to you by Captain Leake, of the Royal Artillery, an Officer of distinguished merit, who served with the Turkish Army in Egypt;