Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Vietory, off the Lizard, 18th September, 1805. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that yesterday, on passing Plymouth, His Majesty's Ships, named in the margin, got under weigh from Cawsand Bay, and this morning joined me off the Lizard. The wind is not fair; but, with perseverance, I hope to get on. Their Lordships may be assured that every exertion shall be used to effect my arrival off Cadiz as early as possible, when a Cutter shall be sent to England, and your several letters, &c., acknowledged. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, September 19th, 1805. I have received their Lordships' duplicate order of the 7th instant, addressed to 'Vice-Admiral Collingwood, or the Senior Officer, for the time being, at Gibraltar,' relative to the sending all the Transports from thence under a proper Convoy to Malta, with directions to their respective Masters to follow such orders as they may receive from General Sir James Craig; and you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that due attention shall be paid to the instructions contained in their order above mentioned. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 19th September, 1805. I have received your Letter of the 10th inst., together with the copy of a Dispatch from Lord Strangford3, His Ajax, Thunderer. 3 Percy Clinton Sydney, 6th Viscount Strangford, then Secretary of Embassy, and Chargé d'Affaires at the Court of Lisbon, now Baron Penshurst in the Peerage of Great Britain, G.C.B., G.C.H., to whose kindness the Editor owes much valuable assistance. Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Lisbon, to Lord Mulgrave, therein mentioned, relative to the Combined Fleet at Cadiz, and its probable destination. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. On Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 19th September, 1805. On my taking the command of the Mediterranean Fleet in July 1803, I received from Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton a copy of their Lordships' authority to Lord Keith for ordering Courts Martial; but owing to some particular circumstances, and the late changes at the Admiralty, their authority to me was omitted to be sent. I have, therefore, to request that you will be pleased to represent the same to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and move their Lordships to send me their order for holding Courts Martial, as early as possible. I feel perfectly satisfied that the authority invested in me by the copy of the said order has hitherto been sufficient; but it is more regular, and will prevent any future consequences, to have their Lordships' order for assembling Courts Martial dated agreeably to that of my late orders. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD CASTLEREAGH, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT. [Original, in the Colonial Office.] "20th September. A.M., 11, exchanged Signals and showed our Colours to Rear-Admiral Stirling's Squadron, consisting of five Ships of the Line and one Frigate. P.M., at 1.30, hove to: Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton came into the Fleet in H. M. Ship Decade. At 2.20, filled and made sail: Decade parted."-Victory's Log. My Lord, Victory, off Cape Finisterre, September 23rd, 1805. I have read with much attention the letters of Prince Castelcicala to Lord Mulgrave, respecting a Vessel taken with an English Pass, belonging to Neapolitans, and carried into Algiers, there condemned, and the Neapolitans made slaves, but that the English Captain was released, and requesting that the Vessel and Crew may be restored. I take the liberty of stating, as my opinion, that no Vessel was ever more fully proved to be an enemy of the Algerines; and it is stated that the English Passport was to cover her from the Algerines, who were cruizing in her intended track. Supposing the case to be French, I believe Sir William Scott would not hesitate one moment in the condemnation; indeed I have seldom met with so clear a case, and the Algerine Judges seemed to have acted as upright men upon the present occasion. Whilst I state this opinion, I have no hesitation in saying, that if the British Government at Malta placed these unfortunate men in this very miserable state of slavery, together with the loss of the Vessel and cargo; then I think, upon every principle of justice, the British Government at Malta are bound to redeem the men, and pay for the Vessel and cargo. But I am rather of opinion that these Neapolitans get Passports (but that is now impossible, I hope) as an additional precaution against being taken; but, never trusting to it, they can escape the Algerine cruizers. Under these circumstances I have not wrote to the Dey of Algiers upon this business. I send an extract of my letter relative to it to Mr. Consul Cartwright, which I hope your Lordship will approve. I have, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Off Lisbon, September 25th, 1805. TO MR. CONSUL CARTWRIGHT, ALGIERS. [From a Copy in the Colonial Office. Extract only.] Victory, the 25th September, 1805. In your packet I suppose you have copies of letters from Prince Castelcicala, as the Neapolitan Envoy, to Lord Mulgrave, upon the subject of the Crews of two Neapolitan Vessels, and for the restitution of the Vessels, or their value; and Lord Castlereagh has thought that, if I wrote to the Dey upon the subject at this moment, that it would be attended with a good effect; but I own I think it would tend to make a new breach between us at a moment, when every thing is just settled; and I believe that these very Vessels were brought forth by Captain Keats, with many other claims, all which are now buried in oblivion, and cannot with prudence be revived: at least it appears so to me; but if you, from being on the spot, think otherwise, I am sure it will give great pleasure to the Government and to myself to get these Vessels and crews released. NELSON ANd Bronte. TO JAMES GAMBIER, ESQ., CONSUL AT LISBON. Victory, September 25th, 1805. Sir, I entreat that it may not be known that I am off Lisbon, for I hope to see our Enemy at sea; and I have further to request that every man which can be raised at Lisbon may be placed for the Fleet under my command. I shall write to Lord Strangford from Lagos. I am, Sir, with great respect, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SUTTON, H. M. SHIP AMPHION, TAGUS. [Autograph in the possession of Captain Ives Sutton.] (Most secret.) My dear Sutton, Victory, September 25th, 1805. Get every man, in every way, for the Fleet under my command; and beg Mr. Gambier to secure all he can for the Fleet. I am ever, my dear Sutton, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. Pray, do not mention my near approach to Cadiz. 4 To this letter the following one was added by Captain Hardy : : TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood.] Victory, September 25th, 1805. My dear Coll., I put your letters, which I know Lord Barham intended to have sent you by a Cutter from Plymouth, as he desired me to sit down at the Admiralty to write you a line which Captain Lechmere has returned to me, and I send it with the other from the Thunderer by Euryalus, who I send forward to announce my approach; and to request that if you are in sight of Cadiz, that not only no salute may take place, but also that no Colours may be hoisted, for it is as well not to proclaim to the Enemy every Ship which may join the Fleet. I fell in with Décade, on the 20th, 27 leagues S.W. from Scilly. It blew then very strong at S.W. I saw Captain Stuart for a moment. Sir Richard was far from well. I shall of course send to Gibraltar as soon as possible after my joining. If Euryalus joins before I am in sight, I wish you would make something look out for us towards Cape St. Mary's, which I shall make if the wind is to the Northward of West. I am ever, my dear Collingwood, your most faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. I would not have any salute even if you are out of sight of land. TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD HENRY PAULET. My dear Lord, Many thanks for your very kind letter. Nothing, I do assure you, could give me so much pleasure as having you "My dear Sutton, "I hope to see you in a day or two. I fear our Galeons will not turn out so well as we expected, as it is said you are to have only one-fifth of the money, and all the hulls. God bless you, my good fellow.-I remain, my dear Sutton, yours most sincerely, VOL. VII. "T. M. HARDY." E |