5 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM PITT. [Autograph draught in the possession of Miss Bolton of Burnham.] Sir, Gordon's Hotel, 6 A.M., August 29th, 1805. I cannot rest until the importance of Sardinia, in every point of view, is taken into consideration. If my letters to the different Secretaries of State cannot be found, I can bring them with me. My belief is, that if France possesses Sardinia, which she may do any moment she pleases, that our Commerce must suffer most severely, (if possible to be carried on) when France possesses that Island. Many and many most important reasons could be given, why the French must not be suffered to possess Sardinia, but your time is too precious to read more words than is necessary; therefore I have only stated two strong points to call your attention to the subject, and I am [sure] our Fleet would find a difficulty, if not impossibility, of keeping any Station off Toulon for want of that Island to supply cattle, water, and refreshments in the present state of the Mediterranean, and that we can have no certainty of commerce at any time, but what France chooses to allow us, to either Italy or the Levant. I am, &c., Sir, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Merton, 29th August, 1805. I have to acknowledge the favour of your letter accompanying the report of the Admiralty Solicitor, whose opinion appears to be that His Majesty's Proclamation does not in terms confer upon the Flag-Officers of the Mediterranean "The following passage is here referred to in the draught, but it was deleted :"There is no place in the present War for our Fleets to resort to (supposing the Enemy at Toulon) for water and refreshments, but at such a distance as to leave the Enemy at liberty to move as they pleased, and that . Station a right to participate in Prizes taken by Captain Bennett, under the circumstances mentioned in my letter of the 12th instant. I must now beg that you will be pleased to submit to the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, whether the case in question be sufficiently provided for' in the Proclamation; and if not, whether their Lordships will think proper to exercise, in favour of the Flag-Officers of the Mediterranean Station, the discretion vested in them by that clause of the Proclamation which was cited in my former letter, and to give directions' accordingly, which will then have the same force and effect' as if inserted in the Proclamation. It is provided in the Proclamation that a Captain of a Ship shall be deemed to be under the command of a Flag, in certain contingencies therein expressed; but the Proclamation does not go on to say that he shall not, in any other contingency. Captain Bennett, after his arrival within the limits of the Station, fell in with, and dispatched on different services, several Ships of the Mediterranean Fleet. This was not merely a virtual, but an actual union and consolidation of his Ship, by co-operation in joint services, with the Mediterranean Fleet; and as Captain Bennett was positively ordered to put himself under the command of the Flag-Officer commanding that Fleet, it should seem the presumption ought to be, that by such junction and co-operation he had done so, whereby the rights of his Superior Officers would be preserved; rather than such a presumption as would entitle him (in derogation of the rights of others) not merely to disobey orders with impunity in point of emolument, but to receive a reward for having done so. It has been suggested that the passage in the Proclamation which I have alluded to, might have been designed to refer only to the clause immediately preceding it; but I am advised, (and indeed it appears evident from the provisions which follow this) that the control of the Lords of the Admiralty was intended to extend over every case not specifically set down in the Proclamation, and that such is the true construction of the provision. It would indeed have been a defect to confine it within narrower bounds. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON and Bronte. REMARKS BY LORD NELSON, on MR. BICKNELL'S LETTER. The whole of Mr. Bicknell's answer is what I had no doubt upon, but the power of the Admiralty is referred to upon cases not clearly ascertained; and this I take to be one of them. The question is, whether Captain Bennett, having taken the Ships of the Mediterranean Fleet junior to him, under his orders, did not virtually make himself a part of that Fleet? Orders lying with the proper Officer at Gibraltar for any Captains ordered to belong to the Mediterranean Fleet, whether the omission of their delivery, wilfully or neglectfully, ought to deprive the Flag-Officers of their right? TO WILLIAM BECKFORD, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of the Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon.] Merton, August 31st, 1805. My dear Mr. Beckford, Many thanks for your kind letter. Nothing could give me more pleasure than paying my respects at Fonthill, but I cannot move at present, as all my family are with me', and my stay is very uncertain; and, besides, I have refused for the present all invitations. Every Ship, even the Victory, is ordered out, for there is an entire ignorance whether the Ferrol Fleet is coming to the Northward, gone to the Mediterranean, or cruizing for our valuable homeward-bound Fleet. I hope they will be met with and annihilated. Lady Hamilton desires me to present her kind regards.—And believe me ever, my dear Mr. Beckford, your much obliged friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. 6 Solicitor to the Admiralty. 7 Namely, his brother, Dr. Nelson (afterwards Earl Nelson) and Mrs. Nelson, and their children, Horace and Charlotte, (now Lady Bridport); his sisters and brothers-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton, and Mr. and Mrs. Matcham; his nephews, Mr. Thomas Bolton (afterwards second Earl Nelson) and Mr. George Matcham ; and his nieces, Miss Ann and Miss Eliza Bolton; and Lady Hamilton.-Harrison's Life of Nelson, vol. ii. p. 454. TO REAR-ADMIRAL MURRAY. [Autograph in the possession of George Murray, Esq.] My dear Murray, Merton, August 31st, 1805. I have wrote to Mr. Cutler this day. It was very improper hiş withholding your Prize-money one moment on any pretence-such conduct does my good friend Davison harm. Victory is ordered to sea; whether my Flag goes out in her I have not heard. I am satisfied you may hoist your Flag whenever you please; and I do assure you that it will always give me pleasure to see your Flag fly in any Fleet under my command. Being ever, with the sincerest regard and esteem, Your most obliged friend, I am almost blind. NELSON AND BRONTE. Mr. Scott is just come, and he will be with Mr. Cutler to-morrow morning. TO SIR EDWARD BERRY", POST-OFFICE, YORK. [Autograph in the possession of Lady Berry.] My dear Sir Edward, Merton, August 31st, 1805. As this may, or not, catch you at York, I shall only thank you for your letter. I will certainly, with much pleasure, mention you for a Ship; but Lord Barham is an almost entire stranger to me. However I can speak of you, as one of whose abilities I am well acquainted.-I am ever, my dear Sir Edward, yours most faithfully, a NELSON AND BRONTE. * In reply to the following Letter, which shows the neglect that formerly attended even the most meritorious Officers. Captain Berry was, however, and probably at Lord Nelson's suggestion, appointed to Nelson's old Ship, the Agamemnon, and commanded her at Trafalgar. "My dear Lord, 66 'Leith, 23rd August, 1805. "I have this moment had the pleasure of seeing your Lordship's arrival announced in the papers after your great exertions, fatigue, and anxiety, which I TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ., SWANLAND-HOUSE, MORPETH. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Merton, August 31st, 1805. I had the pleasure of your truly kind letter of August 25th. I am pretty sure that I wrote you a line on our passage up Channel, to tell you of my near approach. My time and movements must depend upon Buonaparte. We are at present ignorant of his intentions, and whether the Squadrons from Ferrol are coming to join the Brest Fleet, going to the Mediterranean, or cruizing for our homeward-bound Fleets. With respect to your kind offer of money, I shall try and settle my Account with you, even should I feel it necessary assure you I have ever been mindful of, tracing your route upon the chart, and sharing your disappointments at the different places you missed the Enemy's Fleet; at other times elated, more than I can express, with a sanguine hope of your gaining a great victory, and always wishing to transport myself to your Squadron. But, alas! I may wish and hope, write, and dance attendance for years, without the smallest notice taken of my applications. A man's standing in the Service, and his reputation, (and who has not reputation that has served with you?) all goes for nought. The consequence is disgust on my part, and a fixed determination to apply no more. After five weeks' Admiralty attendance, and not being permitted the honour of an interview, I received the following letter from Lord Barham, or rather his Secretary, in reply to my request for a Line-of-Battle Ship or Frigate :-'I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to acquaint you that I have directed an entry to be made of your application, but cannot come under any promises. 9th May, 1805.' "Finding that I was treated in that way, and seeing fresh appointments almost daily, I took it in my head to travel about my own Country a little, and have visited the English Lakes, the Highlands of Scotland, and purpose returning into Norfolk by Berwick, Northumberland, Yorkshire, &c., &c. I purpose being at York the 1st or 2nd of September, and if you receive this time enough, I should be most happy to hear that you are in good health on my arrival there. To be left at the Post-Office, York, till called for,' must be my address, until I arrive in Norwich, which will be about the 18th. We have been much satisfied with our tour, but I should feel much more pleased at an appointment to the Resistance, building at Rochester, or the Lavinia, at Milford Haven, or anything that is to be had. I only mention those Frigates, because I know they are not yet given away, and will soon be ready. The idea of totally giving up the Service is not very pleasant to me, and I know your Lordship will do what you can for your ever faithful, obliged, and affectionate E. BERRY."-Autograph. |