N.B.-To prove how scrupulous I am, La Sardine boarded a Vessel which was subject to quarantine, for which I put her in forty days' quarantine, and sent her off the station. ΤΟ Sir, [Letter Book.] Captain, August 26th, 1796. You will take the command of the Ships blockading the Port of Leghorn, and endeavour, by every means in your power, to prevent the passage of Boats to Corsica-a thing very difficult, if not impossible, but I rest assured nothing will be wanting on your part. Such public letters as may come from anywhere directed for me you will open, and as far as possible, execute. The Vice-Roy has wrote me there are two Privateers at Genoa, Corsicans. Our Consul has the directions about them. If you send any Vessel to Genoa, desire the Captain to see these Vessels safe to this Road. The Spanish Consul at this place having acquainted me that there is a Vessel here loaded with construction-timber for Carthagena, I have to desire you will take an opportunity of sending my letter to him, and if he sends out the Spanish Vessels-particularly the one with construction-timber-you will detain her, or them, which may be worth detention, and send them to St. Fiorenzo or Bastia, as may be most convenient. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO [MR. WYNDHAM?] "August 27th.-Weighed and made sail from Leghorn. 30th.-Joined the Fleet off Toulon. 31st.-Made sail from the Fleet.”—Captain's Log.] My dear Sir, Captain, at Sea, September 1st, 1796. The same day I received your kind favours of August 17th and 20th, I sailed to join the Fleet off Toulon, in hopes the Dons would have been hardy enough to have come up the Mediterranean; but on my joining the Fleet, I found the Spanish War over, at least for the present. But it must remain to be seen, how England takes it, although I believe, if we are not particularly inclined to it, they have so acted as to have avoided an insult to our Flag. Perhaps you do not know the part they acted. They first, by report, so alarmed Admiral Man, and General O'Hara, and do not let me omit 2 Though the copy of this Letter commences "Sir," it was probably addressed to Captain Lord Garlies of H. M. Ship Lively. Vide vol. ii. p. 256. my Lord Bute, that they thought a Spanish War inevitable. Man unluckily came up the Mediterranean. He is an Officer of so much honour and integrity, that we all know he acted the part he thought most beneficial to our Country. On the 4th or 5th Solano first, then Langara, making in the whole twenty Sail of the Line, went out of Cadiz, then came out Mons. Richery. On the 28th I have seen a letter from Mr. Duff to General O'Hara, saying, Richery was seen so many days ago to the Northward of Cape St. Vincent's steering to the Northward, and that on the 17th our Squadron returned to Cadiz, when all the people who have served two years have leave of absence. The Marines are landed, and the Ships going up to the Caraccas. Whether Don Langara would have protected Richery, (or whether the Spaniards will say our Fleet went out on a cruize,) we cannot say, although I believe they would at least they would have carried the matter so far that our Admiral Man would have thought it very hazardous to put it to the trial. I am told England is threatened with an invasion, as is Ireland. Richery is gone to Brest, or Rochefort, to assist in whatever may be the intentions of the Directory. I myself believe Portugal is their object, and if the Spaniards allow the French to march an Army through Spain to attack Portugal, we must in honour declare against her. Then an alliance with America will wrest for ever from Spain the Kingdom of Mexico, &c. What shall I say of Corsica? It is in the interior, and I fear in many places on the Coast, in rebellion, and every day receiving fresh Troops, or rather Corsicans in the French service, by ten and twelve, in any Boat or Greek Vessel, which carries them over. It is true we have a large party who wish us well, and hope we shall stay on the Island, but like America, this party will do nothing for us, whilst the other is all activity. They are a most ungrateful set; and whatever is the event of this, I hope whenever a Peace comes, we shall have done with them. The conduct of the Austrians must surprise me, and every one. Is it bribery, or is it panic? both I fear. They are beat by boys, without Cavalry, without Artillery. Only six hundred French remain at Leghorn; but the Tuscans will sooner endure every misery than dismiss them. Manfridina ought to be hanged, and the people deserve to suffer, for not having spirit to rebel. We are now allowing all Ships without cargoes to leave the Port of Leghorn. It will, perhaps, strike the lower order more forcibly when they see not a Vessel in the Mole, a thing never before seen at Leghorn. We had a plan for assisting the Austrians, and taking all these people prisoners; but the Germans being beat, must alter our plans. Four Corsican Generals are come to Leghorn to cross the water, which they may do from the Coast in a Boat any day they please. It is out of our power to hinder them.—I am, &c., HORATIO Nelson. TO [MR. DRAKE ?] [Letter Book.] My dear Sir, Captain, at Sea, September 1st, 1796. I thank you for your letter of August 12th, which I received the moment I was getting under weigh to join Sir John Jervis off Toulon, in hopes to have assisted in beating Don Langara, and his scurvy companions. You will probably have heard how he sailed, and how he returned into Port; but if not I will tell you. On the 3rd, 4th, or 5th of August, Solano went out of Cadiz, then Langara, then Mons. Richery. How far it was their intention to fight in his defence, Ministers by money may get out the secret: we Navy people cannot. However, on the 17th the Dons all returned to Cadiz, where the Marines are landed, the seamen getting leave of absence, and the Ships going up slowly, Mr. Duff's expression, to the Carraccas. Richery has been seen to the Northward of Cape St. Vincent's, steering to the Northward-probably bound to Brest or Rochefort. Three of his Ships are so bad, it is said that they can never be repaired. Poor Man has been frightened up the Mediterranean by false alarms, so Richery has escaped for the present. But I do not think it impossible but Sir Hyde may fall in with him, when, as Sir Roger Curtis with five or six Sail is with him, I have no doubt but they will give a good account of Monsieur. Man has leave to go home, by his own request, and Sir Hyde was to command the Squadron at Gibraltar; but now the French are gone, he will, I suppose, come up here. The former Gibraltar Squadron is ordered instantly to return to Gibraltar. Your letter is distressing about the Austrians. For them to be beat in the way they have, is beyond belief, I communicated your letter (as indeed I do all which you are so good as to favour me with, which he is in the least interested in) to the Admiral. I would write to Colonel Graham, but, in the first place, I do not know how to direct to him; but I trust you will communicate such intelligence as he may wish to receive, and tell him the reason I do not write. Pray tell me, if you intend to come to Genoa. The Admiral says Captain Miller would order a Sloop of War to bring you. If the Spanish Frigate carries goods belonging to our Enemies, they are certainly as liable to be stopped as any other Vessel. They are Merchant Ships for the time. Upon this principle I shall act, if the Monsieurs embark the statues in any neutral Ship of War from Civita Vecchia, or the Mouth of the Tiber. What shall I say of Corsica? The Vice-Roy will write you. Am I to say it is in rebellion? or are they tired of being free, and taking so much of our good money? What a plague they are. I hope in a Peace we shall not be troubled with them. Nothing can content them. I sent a copy of your letter to the Vice-Roy, and if the Troops are for Corsica, I suppose he will apply for Convoy. The Admiral knows nothing about them. At Leghorn are very few French, but as Manfridini rules in Tuscany, the French are in no danger. There never was a time that people had a more just cause for rebellion than in Tuscany, where they are, from the infamous conduct of the Government, reduced to great distress. As hundreds have told me, if the Great Duke would say go on, we should very soon get rid of the French; but he is betrayed, as well as ourselves.' This is their language of truth. I have just given leave for all Vessels without cargoes to quit the Port. It has had its full effect, and will, to the lower class of people, make the place seem desolate. Not a Ship in Leghorn Mole will be a rare sight. Some Corsican Generals are at Leghorn, Gentili, Cervoni, Gallazzina, &c. Corsicans who have been in France are passing from Genoa, Port Especia, Vado, near Piombino, &c., by 8, 10, or 12 in a Boat. This is what we cannot stop. If all the Island will receive these people, the sooner we give it up the better; the Kingdom must be rotten at heart. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD GARLIES, CAPTAIN OF HIS [Letter Book. "September 2nd, anchored in Leghorn Roads."-Captain's Log.] My Lord, Captain, Leghorn Roads, September 2nd, 1796. I have to desire that you will proceed to Bastia as soon as possible, and concert with his Excellency the Vice-Roy how. you can be most useful on the East side of Corsica, in preventing an invasion, which is meditated by the French. You will also concert with his Excellency on the means most likely to gain information from the Roman Coast, and in what Ships, or Vessels, the effects which the French have plundered and obtained in the Roman States are shipped, which you will use your utmost endeavours to intercept. You will as soon as possible give me information of your proceedings, and also what particular information you may gain, which you may judge necessary for me to be acquainted with. I have the honour to be, &c., HORATIO NELSON. N.B.-You will every week hold a communication with Bastia, to which place I shall send your orders; and should you find that no French property is shipping in the Roman States, or that you can be useful in the defence of Corsica, you will join me in these Roads as soon as possible. H. N. TO THE VENETIAN CONSUL. [Letter Book. "September 3rd. Weighed."-Captain's Log.] Sir, His Britannic Majesty's Ship Captain, off Leghorn Roads, I have a real pleasure in relieving the distresses of my fellow-creatures, and particularly such a respectable Nation as the Venetians; therefore I have no difficulty in permitting Venetian Vessels without cargoes to leave the Port of Leghorn; and if you will direct them to come to me, I will give them passports to prevent their being molested on their present voyage. I expect, as do nearly all the world, that the Republic of Venice will not much longer submit to have the head of the Roman Catholic Church insulted, as his Holiness has been, by the invaders of the peaceful and fruitful plains of Italy. In hopes of soon seeing the downfall of the wicked, I have the honour to remain, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM F. WYNDHAM. [Letter Book.] Dear Sir, Captain, Leghorn Roads, September 3rd, 1796. Yesterday afternoon, on my arrival from Sir John Jervis off Toulon, I received your first and second letters,-the first dated the 31st, the second August the 30th, which I conceive is a mistake, as it appears by its contents to be the second letter of August 31st. Perhaps you do not know that on the |