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TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ.

[Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison. An imperfect copy of part of this Letter, is in vol. iii. pp. 460, 462; but the ten last lines which, following Clarke and M'Arthur, are there added to it, belong to another Letter.]

My dear Friend, Palermo, August 15th, 1799. Yesterday brought me your letters of the beginning of April, together with your elegant Medals, which cannot fail to be as highly grateful to all the brethren of the Nile, as

it would, I confess, give me peculiar satisfaction to see that Island reduced by our Naval force, without the interference of any other Maritime Power. I am willing to hope, from your not mentioning your health, that you were well when you wrote. I know you must be a good deal hurried and fatigued from the constant exertion and anxiety you have been exposed to, but the complete success with which it has been attended will, I doubt not, have much alleviated the pressure of such a crisis.

"I had great pleasure in giving the rank of Commander to Mr. Parkinson, as a compliment to the news he brought. I desired the Marquis de Circello to consider his appointment as a testimony of my respect for His Sicilian Majesty, who was graciously pleased to charge that Minister with a message to me, in which he did no more than justice to your most satisfactory exertions in his restoration.— Believe me, &c., SPENCER."

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"My dear Lord,

"19th August, 1799.

By the Marquis de Circello's Messenger I received your letter of the 19th July, and I take the opportunity of the return of his Messenger to acknowledge it. I can easily conceive the unpleasant difficulty you must have been under, on the receipt of Lord Keith's orders. Those orders he was certainly right in sending, and undoubtedly nothing but the strongest necessity could justify you in disobeying them. I have not the smallest doubt upon my mind that you thought that necessity existed, and at the moment in which your letter was written, I can easily perceive that very dangerous consequences might have attended withdrawing any part of the Troops under Captain Troubridge. I trust, however, that you will have sufficiently considered the extreme importance of providing for the security of Minorca, as well as of keeping your Squadron in a state capable of cooperating with His Majesty's Allies on other parts of the Coast of Italy, (where a more pressing necessity may arise of Naval assistance, than can possibly be required at Naples since the fortunate restoration of His Sicilian Majesty,) to have induced you to take the very first opportunity of recalling the seamen and marines to their Ships, and of detaching such parts of your Squadron as may have appeared requisite, not only to Minorca for its defence, but to the Coast of Genoa, for co-operation with Marshal Suwarrow, in completing the expulsion of the French from Italy, and restoring another Sovereign to his Throne.

"These objects, with the addition of Malta, and a certain degree of attention to the final destruction of the Egyptian Army (by this time, I hope, nearly, if not quite completed) form the outline of the operations necessary for your attention, in the present state of the Naval War in the Mediterranean. More important and interesting objects were never intrusted to any man; and I have real gratification in adding, that I do not believe any man was ever better suited to carry them into effect than the one I have now the pleasure of addressing.

"You have already, my dear Lord, done wonders. What remains for you to do, may not, perhaps, be quite so brilliant, but is no less useful to your Country, and I know that wherever her interests call for your exertions, there they will not fail to be found. Believe me, &c., SPENCER.

"P.S.-The St. Joseph is fitting out, and no one could possibly have a better claim to her than you, if it should be thought fit to employ Ships of that class on

they are to your old friend. The spare gold Medal which you was so good as to send me, I presented to the man that all Europe is obliged to for his encouragement of the Arts, as well as many other acts of a public benefit. You will know this person can only be Sir William Hamilton. I have also sent all the boxes as directed. In your postscript I see you intend gold Medals for all the Captains. I have presented the other gold one to Captain Hardy in your name, as I am confident it was not your intention to exclude Captain Hardy, who was a Captain in the Battle of the Nile. I assure you, my dear friend, it hurt me to part with your kind and invaluable present, but I considered you before myself. A silver or even a copper one I shall esteem as equally valuable.

You must not think me neglectful, if I do not write so often as my friends think I ought. It is impossible, even had I two hands, and I have made a resolution never to turn over the paper but on extraordinary occasions. I wish you would ask Nepean to read two letters which I send by this opportunity-one from the King of Naples, the other from his Minister, and if the Board do not put them in the Gazette, which I take for granted they will, I think gratitude from me, if they do not, calls that it should be put in the Public papers, which I beg you to do. The estate is said to be about 3000/. sterling a-year. I am determined on one thing, that the inhabitants shall be the happiest in all His Sicilian Majesty's Dominions. I have to thank you for the interest you have

that station under the present circumstances. But unless an alteration should take place in the disposition of the Enemy's Fleet, I do not think it likely that we shall send any first-rate Ship to the Mediterranean."

"My dear Lord, "10th September, 1799. "I received with great satisfaction your letters of the 1st and 6th August, by Captain Oswald, which gave me the more pleasure, as I had feared that the business of Capua and Gaeta might possibly have occupied our people longer than would have been desirable, considering the various other services for which we have to provide in the Mediterranean. I am glad to perceive that you have made such arrangements as comprehend them all for the present, and I trust that much good may arise from the Squadron you have placed off the Coast of Genoa, where the French were reduced to great straits by the activity of Marshal Suwarrow, about the time that Captain Martin will have reached it, and I am not without hopes that a considerable effect will have been produced by his appearance there. "I did not fail to promote Captain Oswald and Lieutenant Compton on your recommendation; and I am happy to find that the former, of whose activity I had before formed a very high opinion, has conducted himself in a manner to be approved both by your Lordship and your gallant friend Troubridge. His patent for a Baronetage is now forwarding through the offices, and will soon appear in the Gazette. Lady Spencer desires me to say every kind thing to you from her, and I am, my dear Lord, your very faithful humble servant, SPENCER.

"I am truly grieved at the loss of poor Miller; but I hope that you will think my friend Sir Sidney has shown himself worthy of acting under your command."Copies in the Spencer Papers.

taken in the business of the India House. The present has been magnificent; but, my friend, these presents, rich as they are, do not elevate me. My pride is, that at Constantinople, from the Grand Signior to the lowest Turk, the name of Nelson is familiar in their mouths; and in this Country I am everything which a grateful Monarch and people can call me. You will think this a short letter, but to me it is a long one, therefore I can only say God bless you. Present my best respects to Mrs. Davison and your children, and believe me ever your obliged and affectionate friend, NELSON.

August 23rd. Your duplicate letter of May 7th came this morning, but the original has not made its appearance. Ten thousand thanks for all your goodness. The manner of the Board of Control was gratifying, but I had rather seen poor Maurice provided for. He should have been Commissioner of the Navy; and as Lord Keith will annihilate the Combined Fleet, if he meet them, the name of Nelson will be forgot. But he will never forget his friend Davison.

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August 24th.-Poor dear Miller is dead: so will be your Nelson, but I trust till death that your friend longs to wear your present: therefore I have kept MILLER's, and hope you will send another to his family. If that cannot be, they shall have this, which I have unjustly kept.-Adieu, probably for ever! NELSON.

TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ.

[Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison. Part of this Letter is in vol.

iii. p. 461.]

My dear Davison, Palermo, September 23rd, 1799. I that never yet had any money to think about, should be surprised if I troubled my head about it. In my state, of what consequence is all the wealth of this world? I took for granted the East India Company would pay their noble gift to Lady Nelson, and whether she lays it out in house or land is, I assure you, a matter of perfect indifference. I have given away 2000l. of it to my family, in expectation it had been paid. Ah, my dear friend, if I have a morsel of bread and cheese in comfort, it is all I ask of kind Heaven, until I reach the estate of six feet by two, which I am fast approaching. I had the full tide of honour, but little real comfort. If the War goes on, I shall be knocked off by a ball, or killed

3 These words are not very distinct, though the purport is clear, and Clarke and M'Arthur have accordingly given an interpretation of them instead of the literal expression. (Vide vol. iii. pp. 460, 461.)

with chagrin. My conduct is measured by the Admiralty, by the narrow rule of law, when I think it should have been done by that of common sense. I restored a faithful Ally by breach of orders; Lord Keith lost a Fleet by obedience, against his own sense. Yet as one is censured the other must be approved. Such things are.

I am satisfied, my dear Sir, you would have been truly happy to have paid the Prize-money, as soon as possible; but when the requisites are to be got from abroad, and especially if envy steps in, it makes it more difficult. We can none of us forget your generous and noble way of acting towards us.

I have not wrote to my brother Maurice by this messenger, but truly I feel much for the neglect showed him, and wish they had cared enough for me to have noticed him.-With my best respects to Mrs. Davison, believe me ever your obliged and affectionate friend,

NELSON.

If the Sword' is to be sent me, I shall be glad to wear such an uncommon mark of brotherly regard. I wish I had 20. worth of new books-some caricatures, &c., sent me. My brother sends me the Magazines and Reviews.

TO THE HONOURABLE THE COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.

[Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.]

Gentlemen,

Palermo, September 24th, 1799. Please to pay the ten thousand pounds so generously be stowed upon me by the East India Company to my wife, Frances Herbert Nelson, and her receipt shall be considered the same as if given by myself.-I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, your obliged NELSON.

TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ.

[Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.]

Palermo, November 9th, 1799.

My dear Davison, I introduce to your acquaintance my inestimable friend Hardy. I shall only say, he is worthy of all your notice: therefore I am sure he will have it. I shall refer you to him for all news respecting myself; for what with anxiety, and

The Sword presented to him by the Captains at the Nile.

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other things, I never expect to see England again: therefore, if you have my Sword, send it to me; and if the City of London will send theirs, I should wish of all things to have it to show in this Country.-With my best respects to Mrs. Davison, believe me ever, my dear friend, your obliged

BRONTE NELSON.

TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ.

[Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison. With the exception of one paragraph, which was omitted, this Letter was correctly printed from the "Letter Book," in vol. iii. pp. 133, 134.]

Palermo, December 19th, 1799.

My dear Davison, Reports are here prevalent that the Ethalion, Alcmene and Naiad have taken some very valuable prizes off Cape Finisterre, the two former belonging to the Mediterranean command, devolved upon me by the return to England of all my superior Officers, some of whom have struck their Flags, and others gone under the command of other Admirals, I therefore, although the orders for those Ships cruising may have been given by my Seniors at that time in the Mediterranean, yet consider myself from the time (I think of their quitting the Station), but most assuredly from either their Flags being struck, or having passed under the command of other Officers, entitled to the emoluments arising from prizes taken by Mediterranean Ships, as much as if I had a Commission as Commander-in-Chief. Custom will give it me. I can fix one precedent. Lord Hood, who went home on leave, Admiral Hotham shared as Commander-in-Chief. I therefore desire, in case any difficulty arise from improper claims, that you will lay in my claim as Commander-in-Chief for all prizes taken; and if this is not authority enough for you to act, pray beg Mess. Marsh and Creed to do it. I am cut short enough by having no other emolument. I, as the King gives me this, am determined no power shall take it from me. I consider my right for the Ethalia and Alcmene as two-thirds of one-eighth, and Duckworth for the other.-Ever, my dear friend, believe me your obliged

BRONTE NELSON.

TO MAURICE NELSON, ESQ.

[Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.]

My dear Brother,

Off Malta, February 27th, 1800.

Your kind letter by Mr. Campbell I have received, although I have not seen him; and I hear from Sir William Hamil

VOL. VII.

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