TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 96.] Victory, off Plymouth, September 17th [1805]. Nine O'Clock in the Morning, Blowing fresh at W.S.W., dead foul wind. I sent, my own dearest Emma, a letter for you, last night, in a Torbay Boat, and gave the man a guinea to put it in the Post-Office. We have had a nasty blowing night, and it looks very dirty. I am now signalising the Ships at Plymouth to join me; but I rather doubt their ability to get to sea. However, I have got clear of Portland, and have Cawsand Bay and Torbay under the lee. I intreat, my dear Emma, that you will cheer up; and we will look forward to many, many happy years, and be surrounded by our children's children. God Almighty can, when he pleases, remove the impediment. My heart and soul is with you and Horatia. I got this line ready in case a Boat should get alongside. For ever, ever, I am yours, most devotedly, NELSON AND BRONTE. Mr. Rose said he would write to Mr. Bolton, if I was sailed; but I have forgot to give him the direction: but I will send it to-day. I think I shall succeed very soon, if not at this moment. 6 Wednesday, September 18th, off the Lizard. I had no opportunity of sending your letter yesterday, nor do I see any prospect at present. The Ajax and Thunderer are joining; but it is nearly calm, with a swell from the Westward. Perseverance has got us thus far; and the same will, I dare say, get us on. Thomas seems to do very well, and content. Tell Mr. Lancaster that I have no doubt that his son will do very well. God bless you, my own Emma! I am giving my letters to Blackwood, to put on board the first Vessel he meets going to England or Ireland. Once more, heavens bless you! Ever, for ever, your NELSON ANd Bronte. Vide p. 18, ante. TO CAPTAIN SIR ANDREW SNAPE HAMOND, BART., COMP TROLLER OF THE NAVY. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Eden Victory, off Plymouth, September 17th, 1805. My dear Sir Andrew, I have read, with much attention, your very interesting letter of the 12th; and I rely, that although you have been involved in money transactions out of your strict line of duty, for the benefit of the Naval Service, that you will pass the fiery ordeal' without a singe. You have then a most undoubted right to retire from the fatigues of your laborious Office with such pension and marks of your Sovereign's approbation, as he may be graciously pleased to bestow. With respect to your petitioning for your rank, on the List of Admirals, I shall answer you, my dear Sir Andrew, to the best of my opinion; and if it should not meet exactly your ideas, yet I trust you will believe that no one has a higher opinion of your Naval abilities, as a Captain or Admiral, than myself. 8 If my memory serves me right, when you passed your Flag, I wrote my regret that the Service was to lose your abilities at sea. You would long since have commanded the Fleets of Britain with the whole Service looking up to your abilities. But, with what you may deem precedents, Lord Barham, Sir John Laforey, Lord Hood, Admiral Gambier, and lately, Admiral Sterling, yet these gentlemen contended for their Flags. We will not [they said] hold our Civil employments (Lord Barham, Sir John Laforey, and Admiral Sterling, in a stronger degree than the other two). You allowed it to pass over, and holding your Civil employment for many years, desire to take your place on the List of Admirals. Your pension ought to be equal to your wishes, and much more, in addition to your Comptroller's pension, 7 The Commission of Inquiry into Naval Abuses. Vide vol. i. p. 282. than an Admiral's half-pay. But I fear, that if the precedent was established, however properly in your person, that such a field would be opened for Officers getting on the List of Admirals, after being long out of the Service, that the Ministry would never get clear of applications; nor could the Service know who were likely to command them. Having given you, my dear Sir Andrew, my full opinion, allow me to say, and to offer, that if the King is pleased to place you on the List of Admirals, that I shall be ready, and offer myself to serve as Second under you for a given time, to mark, at least in myself, to the Service, that I receive you with open arms as a most valuable Officer restored to us. With respect to your good son', you are sure of my affectionate attention to him; and believe me ever, my dear Sir Andrew, your most obliged and affectionate 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 Mr. Rose, Victory, off Plymouth, September 17th, 1805. I forgot to give you my dear brother-in-law's direction, that you might know where to direct to him, as you promised to give him a line, and I flatter myself it will be a most favourable one: Thomas Bolton, Esq., Cranwich, Brandon, Norfolk.' We have had two nasty days, but by perseverance have got off Plymouth; therefore, at least, I secure Torbay in case of a gale; but I shall try hard and beat out of the Channel, and the first Northerly wind will carry me to Cape St. Vincent, where nothing shall be wanting on my part to realise the expectation of my friends. I will try to have a Motto, at least it shall be my watch-word, "Touch and Take." I will do my best; and if I fail in any point I hope ⚫ Captain Hamond, of the Lively, now Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Eden Hamond, Bart., K.C.B. it will be proved that it will be owing to no fault of, my dear Mr. Rose, your very faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. I beg my respectful compliments to Mr. Pitt. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 424.] Off the Eddystone, September 17th, 1805. I could not answer your kind letter of the 10th', as I was every moment engaged in settling my affairs both public and 1 No letter from Sir John Thomas Duckworth to Lord Nelson, of the tenth of September has been found. There is, however, the following letter of the 14th of that month, and also Sir John Duckworth's reply to the above letter: “My Lord, "Stoke, Plymouth Dock, September 14th, 1805. "When I had the honour of writing you from Exeter, where I was called to be enrolled among the Freemen with your Lordship, I little thought I should, on my return home, experience the gratification I did, by receiving a letter from the First Lord of the Admiralty, acquainting me that my services were required in the Fleet under your command. Believe me, to serve under your Lordship's auspices is a pleasure next to being in command myself, and this, I trust, will be proved to you, by actions: as I have not been in the habit of being civilly treated since my return from Service, which I had been led to believe I had correctly performed, I have little to expect from the Admiralty, nor has any communication been made of the ship it is intended I should hoist my Flag in, or of my Captain and Officers, who, with my band, cooks, &c., are in the Acasta, off Brest. But I have expressed to the First Lord that the good of the service is blended with that of having officers you have a reliance on, and am preparing to embark whenever called upon. If your Lordship is near Lady Hamilton, I will beg you to keep Mrs. King and myself, in her and Miss Nelson's remembrance, and we unite in every good wish for your Lordship, as I have the honour to be very respectfully, my good Lord, your most obedient and humble servant, J. T. DUCKWORTH. "P.S.-Your Lordship will of course command me, if I can be made useful here. Yours, &c., J. T. D.”—Autograph. "The intended departure of the Belleisle to-morrow, to join your Lordship, affords me an opportunity to acknowledge the honour of your truly kind letter of the 27th, when off the Eddystone, where I beheld you with particular avidity, having prepared myself to directly embark, in consequence of Lord Barham's private. Perhaps this will not find you at Plymouth, for I know it was intended to offer you your Flag, as Third in Command' in the Mediterranean Fleet. I am aware, and said so at the Admiralty, that having served, so long and so honourably, as Commander-in-Chief, you might not wish to take an inferior station; but that if you did, it would give me most sincere pleasure to have you, and to profit by your skill and gallantry. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. laconic letter, saying my services were required in the Fleet under your Lordship's command, and that orders would be directly given for my hoisting my Flag in one of the ships now under immediate orders for that station, which I directly acquainted your Lordship of, and accepted with pleasure, though flattering myself that I should have the honour of being your second; for the nearer I could approach your Lordship, the stronger the effect in imitation of your glorious example; but wherever I am placed, the best of my abilities will be employed to establish those sentiments you so flatteringly apply to me; and I with confidence assert it will be my highest gratification to evince from my zeal the happiness I feel in serving with you, and though the Admiralty endeavour to check my ardour by giving me a spurred and doubled Ship, the Formidable, yesterday out of dock, without a man, refuse me to have all my officers, and can't promise me my band, which was apparently retained for me in the Acasta, with Captain Dunn, and to which I have paid an annual income. This is increasing the injury I have already received from the Board, which they well know I feel, but it will not operate to gratify their hope of my declining service; and my utmost exertions shall be used to join your Lordship. Mr. Haslewood having received directions whilst I was in the West Indies, to consider me as blended with you in the negotiation about the Marquis de Niza's right, which I have since repeated, I conclude the money your Lordship mentions as paid in Exchequer Bills, must be for both our shares; but if the Admiralty refuse giving me a Three-decker, manned, and in readiness, I shall, with concern I say, have sufficient time to go to town, and talk over the subject, when I shall have the pleasure of receiving good Lady Hamilton's commands. I am much obliged by your Lordship's kind intentions towards Mr. Lloyd, and I anxiously hope the Enemy will give your Lordship the opportunity alluded to of rewarding the meritorious. Feeling warmly_interested in everything that has reference to Captain King, my son-in-law, I hope your Lordship will forgive my solicitation for L'Achille being retained under your command. His little wife begs to be honoured with your remembrance, and I have the honour to be, my good Lord, with real respect and regard, your Lordship's most obliged friend, and faithful_humble servant, J. T. DUCKWORTH."Autograph. |