TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] Most Secret. My dear Ball, Victory, November 25th, 1804. A Lieutenant, late of the Bittern, who came down in the Childers, told me, that in the Mouth of the Adriatic they fell in with the Algerine Fleet, consisting of three Frigates and nine Corvettes; but as Captain Corbet has not mentioned it, I should almost doubt it, but from the circumstantial account Lieutenant Nicholas' gave. Now, if this is really so, I should like to know it, and if they are still at sea, for I have the very greatest inclination, if I could lay my hands upon the whole Fleet, to way-lay them, for they have, in my opinion, insulted us beyond what we ought to have suffered. I never would have given up a single point, for it only encourages them in their more insolent demands. But if you can tell me that his Cruizers have this year taken a single Maltese Vessel, I will try and take or destroy his whole Fleet, for I can stretch over to the Coast of Barbary, between Tunis and Algiers; but I will not strike unless I can hit him hard, for I would sooner allow two or three of his small Cruizers to pass unmolested than to give the scoundrel an idea of my intentions. All or none, is my motto. I shall send the Schooner in a few days; this SetteeR is the Majorca Packet, and sails very fast. She would be, I should think, a more effectual Vessel for taking the small Privateers the Coast of Sicily than any of the Schooners, and would, with very little expense, make a proper Malta Government Vessel. I am ever, my dear Ball, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. upon Capel thinks the French Fleet is upon the point of sailing from Toulon. I am ready for them. Vide p. 199, ante. A Spanish Settee, which was captured by the Prize Schooner Bona Adventura, a few days before. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 26th November, 1804. Having, in my letter of the 20th instant, acquainted you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Squadron under my command had detained the Spanish Schooner Ventura, which appeared in every respect well calculated for the service of this Country, you will please to acquaint their Lordships that as Vessels of her description are particularly wanted for the service of Malta, I have ordered her to be commissioned, and placed under the immediate direction of Sir Alexander Ball; and as Officers who have been employed in such Vessels are best calculated to command them, I have, at his own request, and the particular recommendation of Captain Sotheron, appointed Lieutenant Edward Giles, of the Excellent, who has been on this kind of service before; and have given Mr. Andrew Reddie,' of the Victory, an order to act as Lieutenant of the Excellent, in his room. I herewith transmit you copies of the said Acting Orders, which I request you will be so good as to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information, and move their Lordships to confirm them. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] My dear Sir, Victory, December 1st, 1804. The Schooner is far too heavily gunned; therefore I beg the four eight-pounders may be taken from her, and if her barricado could be nearly all taken away, she would be much better for the service she is destined for, of sailing and rowing. When you get supplies of copper, I would have her Lieutenant Edward Giles obtained that rank in March 1799, became a Retired Commander in December 1830, and died about 1842. 1 Mr. Andrew Reddie died a Lieutenant between 1809 and 1814. coppered, or she would require a clean tallowed bottom every six weeks. Hallowell has not been very fortunate. Tigre, Fisgard, and Niger have taken, in toto, about £20,000. Admiral Campbell has been very unwell, but is better. I hope Malta agrees with you. Nothing from England for seventytwo days! I am, my dear Sir, ever your most obliged, humble servant, NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 1st December, 1804. I herewith transmit you the copy of a letter from Captain Corbet, of his Majesty's Sloop Bittern, together with the one therein alluded to, addressed to Captain Cracraft, of the Anson, giving an account of the capture of a small Privateer, mounting one gun, by the Boats of the said Sloop, on the Coast of Ragusa, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information. I am concerned to observe that piracy is so much sanctioned in these seas by the Neutral Powers, which nothing but the strongest remonstrances can prevent. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [Autograph, in the possession of the Rev. Richard Keats.] My dear Sir, Victory, December 3rd, 1804. I suppose, by the arrival of Sir John Orde2 in our vicinity, that I may very soon be your troublesome guest; therefore, that I may not hurry your Ship too much, I shall, with your leave, send some of my wine to the Superb this morningfourteen casks, and about eleven or twelve cases; but, my • Vice-Admiral Sir John Orde, who has been frequently mentioned, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of a Squadron off Cadiz, which station had previously formed part of Lord Nelson's command, in October 1804. 3 Lord Nelson intended to return to England in the Superb. dear Sir, there are so many things that I have to intrude upon your goodness for, that I hardly see how to make you any amends for the trouble I shall give. We shall lay to; therefore, will you come on board this morning, and you will very much oblige, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL CAMPBELL.3 [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, December 4th, 1804. Sir, It was with the sincerest sorrow that I received your letter of yesterday's date, stating the melancholy account of your bad state of health, and that in your opinion it was absolutely necessary you should go immediately to England for its reestablishment, of which opinion I find is also the Physician of the Fleet and other Medical Gentlemen. I shall therefore order the very first Frigate' that comes to the Fleet, to bear your Flag, and to proceed with you to such Port in England as you shall direct her Captain; and I do most sincerely hope that your health will be soon re-established, and that you will very shortly be again at sea, where you have so long served with both honour and advantage to your King and Country; and I beg you to be assured that my most sincere good wishes will ever attend you, and that I am, with the highest esteem and regard, Sir, your most faithful and affectionate Servant, NELSON ANd Bronte. TO REAR-ADMIRAL GEORGE CAMPBELL, H. M. SHIP CANOPUS. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 4th December, 1804. Having directed the Captain of his Majesty's Ship Ambuscade to put himself under your command, and follow your orders for his further proceedings, you are hereby required Rear-Admiral Campbell died an Admiral of the Red, and a Grand Cross of the Bath, on the 23rd of January, 1821. The Ambuscade, Captain Durban, having rejoined the Squadron at Noon, on the 4th, Lord Nelson ordered her to take Rear-Admiral Campbell home. and instructed to shift your Flag from his Majesty's Ship Canopus into his Majesty's Ship Ambuscade, and proceed direct to any Port in England, which you may find most convenient; and on your arrival you will direct Captain Durban, of the said Ship, to wait at such Port until he receives their Lordships' orders for his further proceedings. NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 4th December, 1804. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that there has no particular occurrence happened in the Squadron, since my letter to you of the 15th ultimo, only the detention of two or three Spanish Vessels, which have been sent to Malta; one of them, the Pearl, from Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, had upwards of 106,000 dollars on board, in gold and silver, and otherwise a valuable cargo. By a letter from Minorca to Barcelona, detained by the Squadron, it appears by some of the intercepted letters, that they have been some time expecting a War with England, and have been putting the Forts of that Island, and their Gun-boats, &c. in a state for active defence; but I am perfectly satisfied that no succour of Troops has yet been landed on that Island. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir Willam Keith Ball, Bart.] My dear Ball, No Sir John Orde, no orders, no letters from England; very extraordinary. I almost begin to think that he is sent off Cadiz to reap the golden harvest, as Campbell was sent off Cadiz by Cornwallis (by orders from England) to reap my sugar harvest. It's very odd, two Admiralties to treat me so: surely I have dreamt that I have done the State some ser |