To Specie found in the Military Chest, belonging to the above 27th November.-To Specie found on board the Pearl, Spanish Ves- 5th December.-To Specie found on board the Spanish Polacre, Vir- Dollars. 4734 6808 112,307 19,430 1075 I must beg you will be good enough to recommend James Marguette (Pilot), the bearer hereof, mentioned in my letter in original and duplicate dated the 10th ult.', to their Lordships' kind attention. He is a most valuable and useful man as a Pilot for the Leeward Islands, and very handsomely volunteered his services to me, as mentioned in my said letters; and as he is a perfect stranger in London, and consequently will be apt to be imposed upon, I must beg that he may be taken particular care of, and put in a way for a speedy passage to Barbadoes. I have paid him, as per Certificate from the Captain of the Victory, at the rate of 5s. per day, from the 14th of June to the date hereof, as he has no money to defray his expenses during his stay in England; and beg, if their Lordships consider him entitled to more, that they will be so good as order him to be paid; and also furnish him with such a further sum as they may think proper, to defray his expenses, and be some compensation for the inconvenience and loss he may sustain in the absence from his 1 Vide vol. vi. p. 470. home. I must also beg, when their Lordships order him a passage in any of His Majesty's Ships, that they will be pleased to direct him to be borne as a Pilot, that he may receive the allowance as such till he arrives at Barbadoes. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE COLLECTOR OF THE CUSTOMS, OR THOSE IT MAY CONCERN. [From a Copy inclosed in the preceding Letter.] Victory, Spithead, August 18th, 1805. The Victory, with the Fleet under my command, left Gibraltar twenty-seven days ago, at which time there was not a fever in the Garrison, nor, as Doctor Fellows told me, any apprehension of one. The Fleet late under my command I left on August 15th with Admiral Cornwallis, at which time they were in the most perfect health. Neither the Victory, or the Superb, have on board even an object for the Hospital, to the truth of which I pledge my word of honour. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Spithead, 18th August, 1805. I herewith transmit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter from Captain Hardy of the Victory, with the one therein alluded to from the Surgeon of the said Ship, representing the very bad state of Captain Hardy's health, and the necessity of his being permitted to go on shore for a short time, for the recovery thereof. I also enclose you a letter from the Physician of the Mediterranean Fleet on the above subject; and as my personal knowledge of these facts, as well as the reluct ance with which Captain Hardy is under in making this application, I have to beg you will be pleased to move the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to grant that valuable Officer such indulgence of absence as they shall think proper, for the recovery of his health. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON ANd Bronte. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Victory, August 18th, 1805. You will have heard before I write this line, that the Victory is at Spithead. I hope we are not to be put in Quarantine; for we have neither sick, or have had in the Fleet. Neither this Ship, or Superb, which is come with me, have one man to send to the Hospital. You will have felt, I am sure, for all my ill-luck, or rather d-n General Brereton. As I shall see you very soon, I will only say that I am as ever, my dear Davison, your most obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph in the possession of Mrs. Leake.] My dear Sir, Victory, Motherbank, August 19th, 1805. I am much obliged by your kind letter of yesterday, and the inclosure; this is the first time in my life that I have been in Quarantine. We are now out twenty-eight days; The Admiralty complied with this request, and appointed an Acting Captain to the Victory; but Captain Hardy rejoined her with Lord Nelson in the following month. 3 Considering how long Lord Nelson had served in the Mediterranean, this fact is very remarkable. He had however once placed his whole Squadron in Quarantine for a week, in consequence of having communicated with a Ship from Tunis. Vide vol. v. p. 205. and the most rigorous in the Mediterranean for a Ship of War, is only twenty days from our last communication with an unhealthy place, if the Ship is healthy. I shall see you as soon as I can, and thank you for your kind attentions. Ever, my dear Sir, your obliged NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [Autograph in the possession of the Rev. Richard Keats.] My dear Keats, Victory, August 19th, 1805. I would not ask you to dine here yesterday, as we were to move just at dinner time. I have made the signal for the Cutter's boat under whose orders we are, to know if we may communicate: if he says 'Yes,' I will hoist the Assent and Superb's Pendants; if 'No,' the Negative. If we can communicate, I shall expect of course to see you, and to stay dinner. I do not expect Pratique before to-morrow. Ever yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE REV. DR. NELSON. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 419.] My dear Brother, 19th August, 1805. You will have heard of our arrival, but I know you would like better to have it under my hand. I am but so-so--yet, what is very odd, the better for going to the West Indies, even with the anxiety. We must not talk of Sir Robert Calder's Battle: I might not have done so much with my small force. If I had fallen in with them, you would probably have been a Lord before I wished; for I know they meant to make a dead set at the Victory. Hardy is, I am sorry to say, very A Cutter which was placed near the Victory and Superb at the Motherbank, to enforce the Quarantine Regulations. unwell. Give my kind love to Mrs. Nelson, Horace, &c. and best regards to Archdeacon Yonge, to Rolfe, and our other friends; and be assured that I am your most affectionate brother, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO JOHN SCOTT, ESQ., SECRETARY TO LORD NELSON. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 420.] "19th August. At 9, P.M., hauled down Lord Nelson's Flag."-Victory's Log. Lord Nelson proceeded immediately to Merton, and arrived there early the following morning. He soon after went to London, and had an interview with the Secretary of State for the War Department, the First Lord of the Admiralty, and with some others of the Ministers. [About 19th August, 1805.] I cannot allow myself to part from you, even, as I hope, for a very short time, without giving you the assurance of my sincere esteem and regard; and to say, that, as a Secretary, for ability, punctuality, and regularity, I believe your superior is not to be met with; and as a Gentleman, that your whole conduct has been most exemplary. Wishing you health and every felicity, believe me always, my dear Sir, your obliged and sincere friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO LADY COLLIER. [Autograph in the possession of Commodore Sir Francis A. Collier, C.B.] Merton, August 22d, 1805. Lord Nelson's compliments to Lady Collier, begs to say that Francis was very well, and a good Officer. Lord Nelson begs his best respects to Mrs. Mills. 5 Now Commodore Sir Francis Augustus Collier, K.C.H., C.B., and Superintendent of Woolwich Dock Yard. |