Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph in the Admiralty.] Merton, August 24th, 1805. I have been honoured with your letter of the 22nd, inclosing Mr. Gosling's report upon the Maria Theresa, taken by the Ambuscade, when she was Prize to the Victory." It never could be contended, but that all Captures made by Ships not Commissioned, belong of right to the Crown, but as in no instance that I have ever heard of, and as must be known to every Sea-Member of the Board, the Vessels manned (in every War) by Officers and Men belonging to His Majesty's Ships taking Prizes, they have in every instance been condemned as Prizes taken by the Ship, to which such Officers and Men belonged. A deviation I once heard of, when a Ship of War, being in sight, claimed the capture; and I have heard the Vessel manned from the other Ship only shared as a Cutter or Privateer, but the proceeding was considered as very shabby. This right being, when prosecuted, certainly in the Crown as a Droit of Admiralty, I rely with confidence that the Officers and Crew of the Victory will not be the first, and perhaps the solitary instance, of such proceedings. 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 Keats, Many thanks for your kind letter. Nothing, I do assure you, could give me more pleasure than to have you at all times near me, for without a compliment, I believe your head is as judicious as your heart is brave, and neither, I believe, can be exceeded. Yesterday the Secretary of State', • Vide vol. vi. p. 40, and p. 1 ante. 7 Lord Castlereagh (afterwards Marquis of Londonderry, K.G.) was, however, Gazetted as Secretary of State on the 10th of July, 1805, six weeks before the date of this letter. which is a man who has only sat one solitary day in his Office, and of course knows but little of what is passed, and indeed the Minister, were all full of the Enemy's Fleet, and as I am now set up for a Conjuror, and God knows they will very soon find out I am far from being one, I was asked my opinion, against my inclination, for if I make one wrong guess the charm will be broken; but this I ventured without any fear, that if Calder got fairly close alongside their twentyseven or twenty-eight Sail, that by the time the Enemy had beat our Fleet soundly, they would do us no harm this year. The Royal Duke wrote you from Merton about yourself, I believe, but when I can see Lord Castlereagh I shall know positively what they mean to do; perhaps you may pass by Merton in your way to London; if you come by Epsom it is the nearest road to pass my door. Ever, my dear Keats, your most faithful and obliged friend, 8 NELSON AND Bronte. You see [by] my writing tackle that I am not mounted as a Commander-in-Chief. Pray thank Admiral Montagu for his kind letter. I have not time to write to all my numerous correspondents, and I hope many of them, friends. TO WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of the Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon.] Merton, August 26th, 1805. My dear Mr. Beckford, Our dear Lady Hamilton has told me that you have had the goodness to write to me some time past, but which letter, nor indeed any one (except a few from her Ladyship in April) have I received since December last year. No less than four Dispatch Vessels being lost or taken, and the letters by other Vessels having followed me to the West Indies, therefore, my good friend, if you have supposed for one moment that I have been neglectful in answering your letter, this will do away any such suspicion, for I do assure you, my dear Mr. Beckford, there are very few persons who I have a higher The Duke of Clarence, who had called on Lord Nelson at Merton. respect for; and so I ought, for none have been kinder or more attentive to me, both in receiving me as a Public man, or a private friend than yourself. I have only a moment to scrawl this line, but I would not delay it one moment, as none wishes to stand higher in your good opinion than, my dear Mr. Beckford, your much obliged humble servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR RICHARD NEAVE, BART., AND THE COMMITTEE OF WEST INDIA MERCHANTS. [From Harrison's Life of Nelson, vol. ii. p. 456, and the "Naval Chronicle," vol. xiv. p. 480.] A Meeting of West India Merchants was convened on the 23rd of August, Sir Richard Neave, Bart., in the Chair, when it was unanimously agreed, “that the prompt determination of Lord Nelson to quit the Mediterranean, in search of the French Fleet; his sagacity in judging of, and ascertaining, their course; and his bold and unwearied pursuit of the Combined French and Spanish Squadrons to the West Indies, and back again to Europe; have been very instrumental to the safety of the West India Islands in general, and well deserve the grateful acknowledgments of every individual connected with those Colonies; and that a Deputation from the Committee of Merchants of London trading to the West Indies be appointed to wait upon Vice-Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, to express these their sentiments, and to offer him their unfeigned thanks." Sir, London, August 28th, 1805. I beg leave to express to you, and the Committee of West India Merchants, the great satisfaction which I feel in their approbation of my conduct. It was, I conceived, perfectly clear that the Combined Squadrons were gone to the West Indies, and therefore it became my duty to follow them. But I assure you, from the state of defence in which our large Islands are placed, with the number of regular Troops, and numerous, well-disciplined, and zealous Militia, I was confident, not any Troops which their Combined Squadron could carry, would make an impression upon any of our large Islands before a very superior force would arrive for their relief. I have the honour to remain, Sir, and Gentle VOL. VII. C men, with the greatest respect, your most obliged and obedient servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. [Autograph in the possession of the Right Hon. Sir George Rose, G.C.H.] Albemarle-street, August 29th, 1805. My dear Mr. Rose, Although I certainly want nothing for my individual self, yet you, and every one, must be sensible that I have many and dear relatives, who I am anxious to get something for, and such a Place as they will do credit to, both as Servants of the State, and to my character as recommending them. Therefore I wish Mr. Pitt would give me for my brotherin-law, Mr. Thomas Bolton, father of one of the heirs of my Title, a Commissionership in either the Customs, Excise or Navy Office. The first would be most preferable. Although I have seen Mr. Pitt, yet at a time when he is pleased to think that my services may be wanted, I could • Though not immediately relating to the above communication, the following letter from Mr. Rose to Lord Nelson, respecting the extension of his Pension, will be inserted here, because it explains the intentions of the Government on the subject: "My dear Lord, "Old Palace-Yard, June 12th, 1805. "I am not in the habit of raising an expectation in the mind of any one on slight grounds; but I fear you will be inclined to suspect me a little of having done so with you, when you shall hear that the Session of Parliament has ended, without any step taken for the extension of your Pension in the manner you wished. I can, however, most safely assert, that I am entirely blameless on that subject, as I was fully authorised to have given stronger assurances respecting it than I did. The real truth is, circumstances have occurred which create a difficulty about it at this time; but Mr. Pitt, who feels as cordially about you as any one can do, desires me to say to you, my dear Lord, in his name, that he will not fail in the next Session, to submit to His Majesty a Message to Parliament for extending your Pension to the two next persons who shall succeed to the Title of Viscount Nelson of the Nile. “I am most unaffectedly sorry for this short delay; but I am comforted under a positive certainty that no disappointment can happen from it, as it is a measure not bring my mouth to ask a favour, therefore I beg it may pass through you. I am ever, my dear Rose, your faithful and obliged friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. [Autograph in the possession of the Right Hon. Sir George Rose, G.C.H.] My dear Sir, Albemarle-street, August 29th, 1805. I know Edridge' very well. He does many things for me, and if I do not go forth very, very soon, which I hope Calder's Victory (which I am most anxiously expecting) will render unnecessary, I will sit with pleasure for a drawing. Your élève Strachey is not on the Admiralty list for promotion, and deaths do not happen; but if I get a great Victory he shall most assuredly have a captured Ship. Lyons' is with me, and a very fine, and good young man : I shall have great pleasure in promoting him. Ever, my dear Mr. Rose, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. so entirely right in itself, as to render it utterly impossible for it to be affected by any change of Government whatever. The opinion of the Country is, and must continue, unaltered about you. What is intended is an act of justice, following necessarily the extended limitation of your Title. From my heart I wish more could be done. I am always, my dear Lord, with the truest regard, most cordially and affectionately yours, GEORGE ROSE."-Autograph. 'In a Letter from Mr. Rose, dated Cuffnells, 27th August, 1805, he requested Lord Nelson to sit to an artist of the name of Edridge, "who has taken a most remarkably strong likeness of Mr. Pitt, in small whole-length. I should delight in having such a one of your Lordship." In a postscript Mr. Rose added, “I repeated to Mr. Pitt all you said to me. goodness, and confidence in him. He talked of riding over to Merton to thank you."-Autograph. He is deeply sensible of your zeal, "It was expected that another Action would have taken place between Sir Robert Calder's Squadron and the Enemy. a Vide vol. v. p. 311. ✦ Vide vol. iv. p. 286. Lord Nelson's statements respecting Captain Strachey and Mr. Lyons, were in answer to Mr. Rose's inquiries. |