TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [Autograph, in the possession of the Reverend Richard Keats.] My dear Keats, Victory, May 1st, 1805. It is an age since I have had the pleasure of seeing you. I hope you will come on board after your breakfast that I may have some conversation with you. I am ever, my dear Keats, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B. "May 4th. A.M. At 10:30, Anchored in Mazri Bay, Tetuan. Log.] My dear Commissioner, Squadron anchored here."-Victory's Victory, off Tetuan, May 4th, 1805. I believe my ill luck is to go on for a longer time, and I now much fear that Sir John Orde has not sent his Small Ships to watch the Enemy's Fleet, and ordered them to return to the Straits' Mouth, to give me information, that I might know how to direct my proceedings; for I cannot very properly run to the West Indies, without something beyond mere surmise; and if I defer my departure, Jamaica may be lost. Indeed, as they have a month's start of me, I see no prospect of getting out time enough to prevent much mischief from being done. However, I shall take all matters into my most serious consideration, and shall do that which seemeth best under all circumstances. I am sending for a Collier, as we are in great want of fuel; and, as I am much hurried, I beg you will excuse my short letter. When I get out of the Straits, which I earnestly hope will not be much longer deferred, I shall write you of my further movements; and I beg that you will present my best. compliments to General Fox; and believe me ever, my dear Commissioner, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. I have a letter of misery from Mr. King; but the Admiralty seem to have fixed what he is to have, and I do not see that I can do anything. Mr. Joe King, the Boatswain, so often mentioned. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. Autograph, in the possession of the Reverend Richard Keats. May 5th. A.M. At 9-30, weighed and made sail to the N.E., Squadron in company."-Victory's Log. My dear Sir, Victory, May 5th, 1805. I send Mr. Ford' with dollars, but I have recommended him only to pay for what is actually embarked, for my movements must depend upon the wind, and I shall not lose a favourable appearance. When the Ships are complete with water, I shall recommend their anchoring nearer Tetuan, for the greater facility in getting cattle. Pray, do you get water. It is generally believed that the French and Spanish Ships are gone to the West Indies. As far as April 27th, nothing was known of them at Lisbon; therefore, I am likely to have a West India trip; but that I don't mind, if I can but get at them. Ever, my dear Keats, yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. I think you wrote Admiral Murray, that you would load the Superb with bullocks for us. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ„ ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 5th May, 1805. I herewith transmit you a letter from Captain Moubray of his Majesty's Ship Active, dated the 29th of April, with the log of that Ship on the 28th, relative to the Spanish Ships of War which he saw off Cape Pallas on the 27th ult., which you will be so good as to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for their information. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. T Agent-Victualler to the Fleet. TO CAPTAIN PEARSE, HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP HALCYON. [Original, in the Nelson Papers. It is doubtful if this letter was ever forwarded.] Victory, at Sea, 5th May, 1805. Sir, I have received your letters of the 17th ultimo and 2nd instant, with the inclosures therein mentioned, and cannot help thinking the Halcyon particularly unfortunate, in carrying away, in the first instance, the bowsprit, and afterwards springing her gammoning-knee, at a moment when her services were so eminently wanted, and when every care and exertion became necessary. I hope her defects will soon be made good, and the Halcyon actively employed in the execution of my former orders. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Tetuan Bay, 5th May, 1805. Whereas, the destination of the Enemy's Fleet (which, at this moment, I am perfectly unacquainted with) may probably lead me to the West Indies, and judging it necessary, under these circumstances, that an Officer of your rank and wellknown experience in this Country should remain in the Mediterranean, for the purpose of carrying into effect the various important services of this Country, which, from your perfect and intimate knowledge of the intention of Government, and my sentiments, on every particular object of the Admiralty instructions for the protection and safety of their Sicilian, and their Sardinian Majesties' Dominions, as well as preventing the Enemy from effecting any Expedition against Egypt, You are therefore hereby required and instructed to shift your Flag from his Majesty's Ship Royal Sovereign, and hoist it on board any of his Majesty's Ships going into Gibraltar, and afterwards shift it at pleasure into any Ship or Vessel at that place, as you shall judge proper, for the purpose above-mentioned; and for carrying any further instructions which the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may send out to this Country into effect. You will herewith receive excies of several A imiralty orders, letters, and instructions, from No. 1 to No. 87, for your guidance and information, many of VIŠ, S VOC will observe, are obsolete, but will tend to show the line of codest, intended at different times, to have been carried into effect. You will, consequently, make such use of them as you shall judze proper. From a perfect knowledge of your real for his Majesty's Service, and well known abuties, I feel it unnecessary to say anything more on this subject, as circumstances must naturally guide your future operations, with such additional force as may be sent to this Country and those left in it, named in the margin. Notwithstanding the orders which I have given to Captain Corbet, of the Amphitrite, to proceed to England if she can be manned and fitted for service in this Country, I would recommend, under the present scarcity of Ships, that she may be detained in the Mediterranean, as the active zeal of Captain Corbet will render her a valuable acquisition at this present moment. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] Victory, Gibraltar Bay, May 6th, 1805. Mr. Joseph King not having received, since the Peace Establishment of 1802, the pay which was formerly paid him as Boatswain of the Yard, but only the pay as Boatswain of the Sheer Hulk, which seems to me to be very hard upon him, as he is by the Admiralty letter of March 1804 (at least, it appears so to me) told, that he is to be Boatswain of the Yard, and in consequence of his removal from afloat to the shore, is also to be allowed house-rent. It also enjoined him that in addition to his duty as Boatswain of the Yard, that he is to attend to the masting of Ships. From all these circumstances, I feel confident that Mr. King is intended by the Admiralty Phoebe, Hydra, Juno, Ambuscade, Niger, Bittern, Termagant, Halcyon, Sophie, Moucheron, Seahorse, Childers, Thunder, Etna, Madras, Morgiana, Jalouse, Spider, Hirondelle, Renard, Ventura. Board to be Boatswain of Gibraltar Yard, and not merely Boatswain of the Sheer Hulk, although the duty of masting Ships, &c., is attached to his other duty. Therefore, with due submission, if you see no great irregularity in the proceeding, I think he should be entered as Boatswain of Gibraltar Yard, and receive the same pay as the Boatswain of Malta, Jamaica, or any other of the Foreign Yards; and I feel so impressed with the justness of the measure, that I shall feel myself responsible for any additional pay to his present, as is equal to give him the same as the Boatswain of Malta Yard, until you shall receive directions from the Navy Board upon this subject. I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Gibraltar Bay, May 6th, 1805. Finding, on the perusal of their Lordships' order, dated the 1st day of February, 1805, relative to the sending to England all Spanish Ships and Vessels detained and sent into Gibraltar, prior to the 11th January last, by his Majesty's Ships and Vessels of War, and the appointment of an Agent to be held responsible to the proper Officer of the Court of Admiralty in England, for the amount thereof, that the spirit of their Lordships' said order is not fully carried into effect, as my authority to the Agents at Gibraltar and Malta only directs them to take into their charge, and dispose of at public sale, all the Spanish Vessels detained and sent into those places, prior to the 11th of January last, by the Fleet under my command, instead of all those detained and sent into Gibraltar by any of his Majesty's Ships of War; I have, therefore, given Mr. Cutforth and Mr. Wilkie new appointments of this date, to take into their charge, and dispose of at public sale, all the Spanish Vessels sent into these Ports, by any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, prior to the 11th of January, 1805, agreeably to their Lordships' said order; and herewith transmit you, for their information, a copy of the said new appointments, |