Great Britain can have nothing to do with their infamous or degrading treaties: she looks to her treaty being fulfilled in the most liberal manner. I shall state my complaint of the circumstances which generally happen at Lagos. A Ship of War goes there for water and refreshments, which, by treaty, she has a right to from her communications she seems placed under the direction of the Consul of one of our Enemies, and very improper language is held by our Enemies to the British Officers and Seamen, and inducements held out to them to desert. The Enemy's Consul then directs that only so many cabbages, or bullocks, or sheep, shall go on board-and, at his will and pleasure, so much water and it has been carried so far, that a Captain, whose Ship was complete with water, giving his proper water to wash the linen, on sending ashore for more, was threatened by the Portuguese sentry to be fired upon, if they presumed to attempt to take a drop. To this degradation no Nation can submit. Now, what I demand is, that our Officers and Men, whilst in the Neutral Port, shall be under the protection of the Neutral Flag, and not be permitted to be insulted by the interference, either secret or open, of our Enemies; and that every Ship which goes into Lagos, or other Ports, shall have such refreshments as are reasonable. And, as to water, I never before heard that any limited quantity was allowed, much less, that if a dirty shirt was washed, any French or Spanish Consul should be allowed to say, You English shall either wear a dirty shirt, or go without water to drink;' and that a sentinel of a Neutral Power should presume to threaten to fire, if an Ally presumed to take water! I shall send a Ship or Ships to take in water at Lagos. They shall wash, or let it run overboard, if they please; and I rely that the Portuguese Government will direct that our Enemies shall not insult our people, much less dictate to the Portuguese Governor for his treatment of us. However degraded the Portuguese may allow themselves to become, it is hardly fair that they should expect us to be insulted by our Enemies on their Neutral ground; for if, by words, or any other mode of warfare, they do permit it, I shall certainly retaliate. I should get warm was I to go any farther, therefore I shall leave the business in much better hands-those of your Lordship; only repeating, that all we want is, that when our Ships go to Lagos, we may not be allowed to be insulted by our Enemies (unless we have permission to retaliate); that we shall take either one ton, or one thousand tons of water, as we please, and be allowed the free use of the markets, as by friendship we had a most unquestionable right to expect; and that the Portuguese Governor may be called to a most severe account for his conduct, in allowing a sentinel to threaten to fire on an English boat going for water, or any other purpose, to the shore of friendly Powers. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood.] My dear Coll., Victory, October 3rd, 1805. I have not the smallest wish about Dr. Felix, beyond what I told you: it is very reasonable and proper that your Surgeon should go with you. You will see what I have said about the Marine Officers; and I will endeavour so to act respecting them that, not to offend the Admiralty, we may not be left without proper Marine Officers. I shall expect you with much pleasure to-morrow morning; being ever, my dear Coll., Your attached friend, NELSON ANd Bronte. Eurydice is gone under Cape St. Mary's. Vide p. 66, ante. TO CAPTAIN DUFF, H. M. SHIP MARS. [From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. ii. p. 434.] 4th October, 1805. As the Enemy's Fleets may be hourly expected to put to sea from Cadiz, I have to desire that you will keep, with the Mars, Defence, and Colossus, from three to four leagues between the Fleet and Cadiz, in order that I may get the information from the Frigates stationed off that Port, as expeditiously as possible. Distant Signals to be used, when Captain George Duff, of the Mars. When Rear-Admiral Louis quitted the Fleet for Gibraltar, Lord Nelson appointed Captain Duff to command the inshore squadron, consisting of four Sail of the Line, which was stationed between the Frigates watching the Enemy in Cadiz, under Captain Blackwood, in the Euryalus, and the main body of the Fleet. This able Officer was killed at Trafalgar. "There was a French Ship on each side of the Mars; and a Spanish Ship, a Firstrate, on her bow, and a fourth Ship also within range of shot. The Ship on her starboard quarter, the Fougueux, was soon disabled, and it was thought she had struck, but her colours had only been shot away, as she had never ceased to fire. The Captain of Marines [Norman, who was likewise slain] on the poop, seeing that the Fougueux, in dropping to leeward, was getting into a position which would enable her to rake the Mars, and that she was preparing to do so, came down to the quarter-deck to mention it to Captain Duff. The want of wind rendered it impossible to alter the position of the Mars, nor could it with safety be attempted in regard to the Enemy's other Ships. Captain Duff, therefore, said to the Captain of Marines, 'Do you think our guns would bear on her?' He answered, 'I think not, but I cannot see for smoke.' 'Then,' replied the Captain, we must point our guns at the Ships on which they can bear. I shall go and look, but the men below may see better, as there is less smoke.' Captain Duff went to the end of the quarter-deck to look over the side, and then told his Aidede-camp, Mr. Arbuthnot, to go below, and order the guns to be pointed more aft, meaning against the Fougueux. He had scarcely turned round to go with these orders, when the Fougueux raked the Mars. A cannon shot killed Captain Duff, and two seamen who were immediately behind him. The ball struck the Captain on the breast, and carried off his head. His body fell on the gangway, where it was covered with a spare colour, an Union-jack, until after the Action.Naval Chronicle, vol. xv. p. 272. His son, Mr. Norwich Duff, then only thirteen years old, (now a Post Captain,) had joined the Mars a few weeks before the Battle; and a relative, Mr. Alexander Duff, acting Lieutenant of that Ship, was killed. The following extracts from Captain Duff's letters to his wife, will be read with interest : "October 1st.-On Saturday night we were joined by Lord Nelson, with the Victory, Ajax, Thunderer, and the Euryalus, when I had the happiness of re Flags, from the state of the weather, may not readily be distinguished in their colours. If the Enemy be out, or coming out, fire guns by day or night, in order to draw my attention. In thick weather, the Ships are to close within signal of the Victory: one of the Ships to be placed to windward, or rather to the Eastward of the other two, to extend the distance of seeing; and I have desired Captain Blackwood to throw a Frigate to the Westward of Cadiz, for the purpose of an easy and early communication. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. ceiving yours, my ever dearest wife, of the 8th September, and the papers up to the 7th. Many, many thanks! I dined with his Lordship yesterday, and had a very merry dinner. He certainly is the pleasantest Admiral I ever served under. I hope the Austrians and Russians will make quick work with Buonaparte, and let us get to our homes once more; when I expect to be an Admiral before I am called upon again." "October 10th. "I am just returned from dining with Browne, of the Ajax, one of my Squadron. He is a very old acquaintance of mine, ever since 1780, when we were in the West Indies together, and have met frequently since on service. I am sorry the rain has begun to-night, as it will spoil my fine work, having been employed for this week past to paint the Ship à la Nelson, which most of the Fleet are doing. • He is so good and pleasant a man, that we all wish to do what he likes, without any kind of orders. I have been myself very lucky with most of my Admirals, but I really think the present the pleasantest I have met with: even this little Detachment is a kind thing to me, there being so many senior Officers to me in the Fleet, as it shows his attention, and wish to bring me forward; but I believe I have to thank my old friend Collingwood for it, as he was on board the Victory when I was sent for." "October 18th. "You ask me about Lord Nelson, and how I like him. I have already answered that question as every person must do that ever served under him. When we want anything we shall go to Gibraltar, as there is a dockyard and stores there; and I suppose we shall remain off here, till the Combined Fleet gives us the slip. This place is easy to blockade during the summer, but no place can be blockaded in the winter; and although every look-out possible will be kept, I have little doubt of their getting off, if they wish it, during the winter." "My dearest Sophia, "Monday morning, October 21st, 1805. "I have just time to tell you we are going into Action with the Combined Fleet. I hope and trust in God that we shall all behave as becomes us, and that I may yet have the happiness of taking my beloved wife and children in my arms. Norwich is quite well and happy. I have, however, ordered him off the quarterdeck. Yours ever, and most truly, George Duff."-Naval Chronicle, vol. XV. pp. 289, 291-293. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Cadiz, 4th October, 1805. I have received your letter of the 16th ult., together with the inclosure therein mentioned from Mr. Huskisson, Secretary to the Treasury, relative to the specie on board the Ships named in the margin', being landed on their arrival in Port, and delivered to the Collector of Customs. In answer thereto, I beg you will be pleased to submit to the Lords Commissioners, that as those Ships are not likely soon to return to England, and having understood at the Treasury that an order would shortly be sent out to land it in this Country, where specie was particularly wanted for various services, whether it would be proper that it should be landed at Gibraltar under the directions of the Vice-Admiralty Court or otherwise, as may be judged fit, or sent to England by the first opportunity. You will therefore be good enough to acquaint me with their Lordships' further direction on this subject as early as possible. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Cadiz, 4th October, 1805. In answer to your letter of the 16th ult. respecting my having given orders to the Ant Cutter, I must request that you will be so good as acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that her name was on the list of Vessels to be under my command, which I received from Lord Barham's Secretary, a copy of which my Secretary took in the Admiralty, and left the original with Mr. Thomson's Clerk, to be delivered to me on my return to the Admiralty, and I pre 5 Canopus, Conqueror, Excellent, Leviathan. • Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty. |