sidered, (for which the Officers certainly must be responsible,) was the call for these troops known at home, would they not order them to proceed where the Service near at hand loudly calls for them? this is the only thing in my opinion for consideration. If we lose this opportunity it will be impossible to recall it. If possible, I wish to take all the responsibility. I know, my dear Sir James, your zeal and ability, and that delicacy to General Fox has been your sole motive for not altering the disposition of the troops; but I hope General Fox is with you, and I am sure, from his character, he will approve of my feelings on the subject. If he is not, I must again earnestly entreat that, at least, you will give directions for Colonel Graham to hold Malta till we can get troops to attack La Valetta. May God direct your counsels for the honour of our King and his Allies, and to the destruction of the French, is the fervent prayer of yours, &c., NELSON. TO COMMODORE SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] My dear Troubridge, Palermo, October 26th, 1799. My letter to Sir James St. Clair, if this finds you at Mahon will show you what I feel about Malta. I hope the General will give troops to at least hold possession till we can get a force to attack La Valetta in a regular way. I have entreated and ordered Niza not to quit his post, or withdraw a man from the shore till I can get troops to relieve them. If he does, and I fear he will be persuaded by the Commodores, we shall lose all hold on the Island, and it would perhaps be more difficult to regain our present position than to take La Valetta at this moment. I hope General Fox is arrived, and I know Sir James will lay all circumstances before him. From experience I know Sir James to be a most fair, honourable, and zealous Officer, and I earnestly hope that you will have the carrying him and 1500 troops to Malta. If, alas! all my arguments are in vain against orders (not knowing our situation here) or the delicacy of the approach of General Fox, then it is only for me to grieve, and entreat of you to come here, and bring the Northumberland, that at least I may prevent supplies getting in; and for this purpose I shall be under the distressing necessity of taking as many Ships as possible from Minorca, which I assure you would hurt me very much. Ask the General to give me, on proper receipts, 3000 or 2000, 32-pound shot. I have sent most of mine to the Tigre and Theseus, and Minotaur's is very short. We have nothing new here. Send or bring me all my letters which came from Palermo in the St. Vincent Cutter, and Entreprenant will sail in two days. Bring what stores you can for Louis, and in particular a boat. Ever yours, &c., NELSON. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS DE NIZA. [Letter-Book.] October 27th, 1799. My dear Marquis, This moment, on the departure of the Transfer, I received your letters relative to your going down the Mediterranean. By every tie of honour to your Court, the Ally of my gracious Sovereign, do not quit the blockade of Malta, or withdraw a man from the Island, until I can get troops and Ships to relieve them, for which purpose I have sent an express both to Naples and Minorca, pressing for orders for the garrison of Messina to go directly to Malta. If you quit your most important station till I can get these things, depend upon it, your illustrious Prince will disapprove of (in this instance) your punctilious execution of orders. I shall send El Corso in a few days. Ever believe me your obliged and affectionate friend, BRONTE NELSON. TO CAPTAIN BALL, CHIEF OF THE MALTESE. My dear Ball, [Letter-Book.] 27th October, 1799. Sir William has sent your letter to General Acton. The Order of Malta is to be restored-therefore the King of Naples is only the Founder-Lord, for which he receives an acknowledgment from the Order, but I believe he has no more power when the Order is restored--which is the moment the French flag is struck. I have wrote to Naples, to Minorca, and Messina, for troops and Ships to relieve Niza. It would grieve me to think of our losing possession for a moment. I will write to Commodore Campbell by El Corso; for the Transfer is on the eve of sailing. Acton I hope will send an answer to the purpose by El Corso. The Court have all the inclination, but to my knowledge they have not cash enough for the common purposes of the Government. Ever believe me, yours most faithfully, NELSON. TO CAPTAIN BALL, CHIEF OF THE MALTESE PEOPLE. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] Palermo, October 28th, 1799. My dear Ball, This night a Cutter goes off for Minorca with duplicates of my letters for assistance; I hope the Fleet seen are the Russians. I am sure you will co-operate cordially with both Admiral and General; at the same time, you will take care of the honour of our King and Country, and also of His Sicilian Majesty; and recollect that Russia, England, and Naples, are the Allies of the Great Master, that although one Power may have a few men more in the Island than the other, yet they are not to have a preponderance. The moment the French flag is struck, the colours of the Order must be hoisted and no other, when it was settled otherwise the orders from England were not so strong. The King of Naples sends 4000 ounces to assist the poor Islanders who bear arms; this will do for the present; the large sum required must come from the three Allied Courts, who now compose the three langues. I shall come to you on the return of the Foudroyant. The Portuguese are faithful Allies of the Grand Master of Malta, therefore in every situation must be treated with great respect. Ever yours faithfully, BRONTE NELSON. TO CAPTAIN SIR EDWARD BERRY. [From a Copy, in the Nelson Papers. Tuesday 29th, Hoisted the Flag on board the Perseus bomb; sailed His Majesty's Ships Minotaur, Foudroyant, and El Corso Brig for Malta."-Journal.] My dear Sir, October 28th, 1799. Make the signal and have the Foudroyant and Minotaur ready to sail; I mean to be at single anchor, for it is possible it may be necessary before noon. Whether I go to sea in the Ship or not you will always consider that my table is kept on board, and I desire you will without ceremony use all my stores. Ever yours faithfully, BRONTE NELSON. Send the Steward on shore for stock, &c. TO THE MARQUIS DE NIZA. [Letter-Book.] Palermo, October 28th, 1799. My dear Marquis, In case the Ships seen should be French, I send you the Minotaur and Foudroyant. Louis will tell you my sentiments respecting withdrawing a man from the Island, even should the Fleet seen be the happy arrival of the Russians. We shall soon get more troops from Messina and Minorca; and I am not a little anxious for the honour of Portugal and your Excellency, that you should be present at the surrender. Do not detain the Foudroyant, even should Admiral Ouschakoff be arrived, as I wish very much to meet him, and now only wait here to be ready to expedite the garrison of Messina, the moment the order arrives from the General commanding at Minorca. Again and again I desire for which you may be certain I hold myself responsible-that you will not on any consideration withdraw a single man belonging to your Squadron from the Island. Ever, my dear Marquis, believe me your obliged, faithful, and affectionate friend, BRONTE NELSON. I need not repeat the recommendation of your cordial cooperation with the Russian Admiral and General. TO SPIRIDION FORESTI, ESQ., CORFU. [Letter-Book.] Palermo, October 29th, 1799. My dear Sir, I thank you sincerely for all your letters, and I can assure you that Lord Elgin is gone to Constantinople with the most favourable opinion of your character. The situation of the Ottoman Squadron was very unpleasant. With the English they would have been happy, but the bigotry of the Sicilians was the first cause of the disturbance at Palermo. I love Cadir Bey, and respect all the other Officers. I wish you could use my name to restore harmony amongst them. Our successes in Holland still continue. The Duke of York has taken the command, and is at the head of a victorious army of 70,000 men. Our successes in the East Indies are great beyond example, and, thank God, all is happiness in old England! The serious attack of Malta will commence in a few days, as troops are collecting for that purpose. If you think the kind present of the Island of Zante' is ready for me, Captain Compton will, on your telling him so, go for it, and bring it to me. Pray forward the letters for Constantinople. They are not of that great consequence that any very extraordinary means need be used to hasten their arrival, although I wish them to get to their place of destination in reasonable time. A Ship is sailed from Mahon in order to bring the Leander down. You will find Captain Stevens of the Chichester ordered for this service, a very good and valuable man. Believe me, dear Sir, with great regard, your obliged servant, BRONTE NELSON. A Sword and gold-headed Cane. Vide infra. |