to begin a new one; for long Accounts ought to be closed between the dearest friends. I am sorry Swanland is so distant; but I may remain in England for seven years, if the Enemy's Fleets are met with. I have only a moment to say God bless you; and believe me ever your most obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. Can Mr. Cutler settle my Account, and give the regular receipts? Admiral Murray cannot get his Prize-money from him, and is, of course, exceedingly displeased; I mean for the Orion. I send you two other Letter-books, and those I have marked may be worth your reading relative to Sardinia, as marking strongly my opinion. In the large Book without number, you will find one strong letter to Lord Melville on Sardinia. I shall be in Town on Monday. As an index is placed in the first page, you can refer to any letter in the Book. As I said yesterday, you will only find in the opinions of a Seaman your own confirmed.-Ever, my dear Lord, your faithful friend, NELSON ANd Bronte. The Letter-Books referred to have not fallen under the Editor's observation. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] On the 2nd September, 1805, Captain the Honourable Henry Blackwood of the Euryalus, arrived at the Admiralty, with intelligence that the Combined Fleets had put into Cadiz. At five o'clock on that morning he called on Lord Nelson at Merton, for a few minutes, and found him already up and dressed. Immediately on seeing Captain Blackwood, he exclaimed, "I am sure you bring me news of the French and Spanish Fleets, and I think I shall yet have to beat them." According to the statement in Blackwood's Magazine for July, 1833, "Lord Nelson followed him to London, and in talking over the operations that were intended, on returning to the Mediterranean, often repeated, 'Depend on it, Blackwood, I shall yet give Mr. Villeneuve a drubbing."" Clarke and M'Arthur's account of the interview differs only from the above by the necessary addition, that the last remark was made on his again meeting Captain Blackwood in London. A very different, and rather apocryphal statement, is given by Harrison (vol. ii. p. 457), and repeated by Southey: "All this, however," Captain Blackwood's account of the Enemy's Fleet, was nothing to him. Let the man trudge it who has lost his budget,' gaily repeated his Lordship. But amid all this allegro of the tongue to his friends at Merton Place, Lady Hamilton observed that his countenance, from that moment, wore occasional marks of the penseroso in his bosom. In this state of mind, he was pacing one of the walks of Merton garden, which he always called the Quarterdeck, when Lady Hamilton told him that she perceived he was low and uneasy. He smiled and said, 'No! I am as happy as possible.' Adding, 'that he saw himself surrounded by his family; that he found his health better since he had been at Merton; and, that he would not give a sixpence to call the King his uncle.' Her Ladyship replied, that she did not believe what he said, and that she would tell him what was the matter with him; that he was longing to get at these French and Spanish Fleets; that he considered them as his own property, and would be miserable if any other man but himself did the business; that he must have them, as the price and reward of his long watching, and two years' uncomfortable situation in the Mediterranean :' and finished, by saying, ‘Nelson, however we may lament your absence, and your so speedily leaving us, offer your services, immediately, to go off Cadiz; they will be accepted, and you will gain a quiet heart by it. You will have a glorious Victory; and, then, you may come here, have your otium cum dignitate, and be happy.' He looked at her Ladyship for some moments; and, with tears in his eyes, exclaimed-Brave Emma! good Emma! if there were more Emmas, there would be more Nelsons; you have penetrated my thoughts. I wish all you say, but was afraid to trust even myself with reflecting on the subject. However, I will go to Town.' He went, accordingly, next morning, accompanied by her Ladyship and his sisters. They left him at the Admiralty, on the way to Lady Hamilton's house in Clarges Street; and, soon after, received a Note informing them that the Victory was telegraphed not to go into Port, and begging they would prepare everything for his departure. This is the true history of that affecting affair." "When it was determined that Lord Nelson should proceed in the Victory and resume the command of the Fleet off Cadiz, Lord Barham, the First Lord of the Admiralty, is said to have placed a List of the Navy in his hands, desiring him to choose his own Officers, to which he replied, returning the list: Choose yourself, my Lord, the same spirit actuates the whole profession; you cannot choose wrong.' Lord Barham then desired that the Admiral would, without reserve, dictate to the Private Secretary, Mr. Thomson, such Ships as he wished, in addition to his present Squadron, and that they should follow him, at short intervals, as soon as each was ready. Have no scruple, Lord Nelson, there is my Secretary, I will leave the room, give your orders to him, and rely on it they shall be implicitly obeyed by me.'”—Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 422, who consider that this took place before Captain Blackwood's arrival, though they say it occurred at one of Nelson's last visits to the Admiralty; but this is scarcely possible, for he does not appear to have known that he was actually to resume his Command until about the 3rd or 4th of September. The late Admiral Sir Philip Charles Henderson Durham informed the Editor, that about the 9th of September, having gone to the Admiralty (after his arrival in the Defiance, to repair the damages sustained in Sir Robert Calder's Action), he met Lord Nelson in the Admiralty room, who said "I am just appointed to the Command in the Mediterranean, and sail immediately. I am sorry your Ship is not ready, I should have been very glad to have you." Captain Durham replied, “ask Lord Barham to place me under your Lordship's orders and I will soon be ready." Lord Nelson did so and promised to leave the Orders at Portsmouth. The next day, Captain Durham went to Portsmouth, when he found at the George Inn the two Orders dated on the 11th of September, vide p. 32. As Lord Nelson merely resumed his Command after leave of absence, a new Commission was not necessary, and none was issued. Sir, Merton, 3rd September, 1805. I beg leave to transmit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter, with its inclosure, which I have received this morning from Captain Adair, of the Royal Marines, late Inspecting Officer for raising Recruits in the Mediterranean; and I beg to observe, that the representation conveyed in his letter is just, that the Recruits were raised under the particular circumstances therein mentioned, and that those raised were prime men. I therefore consider Captain Adair very justly entitled to their Lordships' kind consideration in this business, and request that you will be pleased to move them to grant him such allowance on the occasion, as they may think him entitled to. It is impossible for me to say too much in favour of that excellent and zealous Officer. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE REV. ROBERT ROLFE. [Autograph in the possession of the Rev. Robert Rolfe.] My dear Mr. Rolfe, September 5th, 1805. I hope you have not been angry at my not having answered your truly kind letter, but in truth I have not a moment. All my things are this day going off for Portsmouth'. Accept my best regards and good wishes, and say every kind thing to your good mother and sister; and be assured I am ever, my dear Rolfe, your most affectionate cousin, NELSON AND Bronte. TO J. D. THOMSON, ESQ." [From the "Naval Chronicle," vol. xxxviii. p. 17.] My dear Sir, Merton, 5th September, 1805. This will be delivered to you by Captain Layman, who, if he had not been a very active zealous Officer, I am certain would not have lost his fine Sloop, the Raven". The sentence of the Court-Martial, placing him at the bottom of the list, I have too much respect for a Court, to say a word about. But this I will assert, that I consider Captain Layman as a most zealous, able, active, and brave Officer; and that the Sentence of the Court has neither altered my public or private opinion of his great merits. The loss of the services of men On the 4th of September, Lady Hamilton wrote to Lady Bolton, Lord Nelson's niece : "My dear Friend, I am again broken-hearted, as our dear Nelson is immediately going. It seems as though I have had a fortnight's dream, and am awoke to all the misery of this cruel separation. But what can I do? His powerful arm is of so much consequence to his Country. But I do, nor cannot say more. My heart is broken. Your father goes to-day. Mr. William Bolton came yesterday. God bless you! Ever your affectionate E. HAMILTON."—Autograph in the possession of John Wild, Esq. 2 Afterwards Sir John Deas Thomson, K.C.H., then Private Secretary to Lord Barham, First Lord of the Admiralty. He died in February, 1838. 3 Vide vol. vi. p. 348. of such rare abilities is to be lamented by the Country. My wish at present is, to place Captain Layman well with Lord Barham, and that his Lordship may possess my opinion of him. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE. [Autograph in the possession of the Right Hon. Sir George Rose, G.C.H.] Merton, September 3rd, 1805. My dear Mr. Rose, Mr. Thomas Bolton, my brother, is a gentleman in every meaning of the word: his pursuits in life have always been those of a gentleman, first a merchant, now a large farmer; he is a man of business, and probably in either the Customs, Excise, or Navy Office, [would] carry more abilities than many who have Seats at those Boards. The Customs would please me best, as, from having been a merchant, he may at first be more conversant in the business. Mr. Bolton is about my age; but I am sure it is not for yourself that these questions could be asked: however I have answered them. But I asked that place for my dear brother-in-law which I knew he was fully competent to fill with advantage to the Public, and to do credit to my recommendation. I hold myself ready to go forth whenever I am desired, although God knows I want rest; but self is entirely out of the question. I shall rejoice to see you on board the Victory, if only for a moment; but I shall certainly not be an advocate for being at Portsmouth till one of the Victory's anchors are at the bows. If you do not see Mr. Pitt very soon, I think it would be best to send him my letters relative to Mr. Bolton. I am ever, my dear Mr. Rose, your most faithful Friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. |