his ability to drive the French out of the whole Riviera of Genoa, and even of taking Nice itself. But he always expressed his wish to have a conference with Admiral Hotham, whom I had always reason to assure him, would, on his arrival from off Toulon, anchor in Vado Bay. On the 14th of August our Fleet was in sight to the Westward; and on the 15th I received letters from the Admiral, telling me he could not at present anchor in Vado Bay, as the Fleet was in want of wood, but that he should return from Leghorn in a very few days to water in Vado. In the evening I went on board the Admiral, to endeavour to induce the Admiral to stop for a few hours, as General de Vins was very anxious to see him, and would come on board to concert a plan of operation with him; but the Admiral did not think it right to stop, and proceeded to Leghorn. The General seemed much hurt, and requested of me to get clear answers from the Admiral to the following questions, viz.: Will the Admiral return to Vado from Leghorn ? Ans. Uncertain; but I rather think I shall not have an opportunity of returning there, owing to the intelligence I have received from the Admiralty, which renders my presence immediately necessary at another place. Ques. Will the Admiral assist, and cover, the landing of from six to ten thousand men on the Coast of Provence? Ans. It will not be in my power so to do, on account of the Fleet being required for another service, as stated in the preceding answer. Ques. Will the Admiral undertake to prevent the Toulon Fleet from molesting my operations? From this time, August 19th, to the end of the month, the General was taken up in examining the Enemy's posts, and, as I thought, preparing for an attack'. August 21st. Extract of a letter from Mr. Jackson, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Turin, in the absence of Mr. Trevor, viz., 'I was truly sorry to see that Admiral Hotham could not go into Vado Bay; for, though I am persuaded that the reasons alleged 1 July 24th-P.M. Anchored in Leghorn Roads. 27th.-Careened the ship to stop a shot-hole between wind and water. Mr. M'Arther (the Agent) came on board and paid prize-money for the Virge del Merio, captured in September 1793. 28th.-Weighed -2 Frigates in company. August 1st.-Noon, anchored in Vado Bay. 9th.-Weighed. 10th.-Anchored in Vado Bay. 12th.-Made the signal for all Boats manned and armed, and for the Mutine to weigh. At 5 the Boats of the Squadron left the ship and steered to the Westward. 13th.-P.M. The Boats returned and brought in a vessel laden with wine, some black pepper, and sundry things, having cut and brought out seven Vessels of different sorts from the Port of Alassio; the Enemy's Gun-boats being of superior force, they were obliged to relinquish six of them. 15th.-A.M. Saw our Fleet in the offing, who were steering for Leghorn.—Agamemnon's Log. are perfectly proper, yet I very much fear it will not be seen with due candour by General de Vins-who, besides, may make it a reason for continuing in his present inactivity, or affect to do so.' August 22nd.-Mr. Drake arrived to talk with the General, but we could make nothing of his intentions. September 4th. Extract of a letter from Mr. Jackson ;'I shall be very glad to see that General de Vins will have stopped your intended cruize off Delle Melle, and have employed your Squadron in some co-operation with his forces, whose inactivity is as unaccountable as it is prejudicial.' September 8th, from Mr. Drake ; 'I am fully persuaded, from your and my own opinion, respecting the future inactivity of the Austrian Army.' September 4th.-Not finding the General likely to move, I proceeded down the Coast as far as Nice, and sounded most part of it. On the 7th saw our Fleet standing to the Westward. On the 12th returned to Vado', and delivered the Paper marked 1, to General de Vins, to which I received the answer No. 2, which occasioned the letters 3, 4, and 5 to pass between us. 2 26th August.-Weighed, Squadron in company. At 10 came to an anchor in the Bay of Alassio-got springs on our cable, the fort in the centre of the Town N.W. W. about 3 cables' length distant-made the signal for the Boats of the Squadron to proceed to cut the Vessels out-sent Lieutenant Andrews on board the Résolue French Corvette, to summon her to surrender to His Majesty's Squadron, which she did-cut her adrift and brought her out-made the signal for all boats to assist the Ariadne, she being aground. At noon she got off. P.M. Strong breezes and clear. At quarter-past 12, two sail cast out to sea, and made sail-saw one gun-boat and one other cast out to sea. At 1 P.M. the French Troops opened their fire of musketry on our boats, which were employed cuttingout the Vessels-the Ariadne and Speedy firing at the Enemy to cover the boats of the Squadron employed on that service. At 3 let go the spring and hove into half a cable. At half-past ditto, up anchor and made sail, the Squadron and 9 sail of Prizes in company. At 6 the Meleager, Tartar, and Speedy, parted company. At 7 Cape Noli, N.E. by E. 7 or 8 miles. (Vide vol. ii. p. 72.) 27th.-Anchored in Vado Bay. 29th.-Employed getting the two Gallies which we brought from Alassio ready to go out on a cruize. P.M. Ditto weather-the Gallies sailed -the launch employed watering. 30th.-A.M. Heavy squalls with a high sea from E.S.E. At half-past 5 came alongside an Austrian privateer, with 4 dead and 8 wounded men, which they brought from our Gallies then at sea-found that the Gallies had fallen in with three Vessels at 9 P.M., one of which they captured, and engaged the other two for three hours, when their ammunition being expended, they were obliged to quit them. The four men killed were Archibald Andrews (Seaman), James Strain and William Landagran (Soldiers), and Wm. Leonard (Seaman), belonging to the Southampton. The Southampton sailed. Interred the bodies on shore. September 1st.-Departed this life Dennis Dyer (Seaman) and Mr. William D. Williams (Midshipman), of the wounds they received in the two Gallies. Interred the bodies of the deceased on shore. 5th.-Weighed. At 2 P.M a Gun-boat, a Brig, and the Fort of Oneglia opened their fire upon us as passing along the coast-several shot went over us, but did not strike. At halfpast 4 a Gun-boat fired several shot at us, and shot away the spritsail yard-let go the kedge anchor. 6th.-Up anchor and made sail-standing off and on St. Remo. 9th.-P.M. Sent the boats in shore and brought out 2 small boats. 11th. -Anchored in Vado Bay.-Agamemnon's Log. Extract of my letter, September 17th, to Admiral Hotham. "It has some time appeared to me that the General intends to go no further than his present position, and to lay the blame of the miscarriage of the enterprise against Nice, (which I had always been led to believe was the great object of his Army,) to the non-co-operation of the British Fleet and the Sardinian Army. To leave the General no room to insinuate such a want on our part has been the object of my paper of the 12th, and my letter of the 17th. If the General's answer should be the desire of Transports, I think we have them. A passage of twenty-four hours is the outside, but I own I believe he will now find other excuses; and was you to grant the whole Fleet for Transports, I verily believe some excuse would be found. This, Sir, is my public opinion, and which I wish not to conceal 3." September 19th.-Received (5) from General de Vins: wrote Admiral Hotham by express (6). Mr. Drake has the Admiral's answer; but the purport of it was, that, on consultation with the Flag-Officers of the Fleet, he had refused the co-operation as a wild scheme. This answer, on consultation with Mr. Drake, was never communicated to General de Vins, nor did he ever ask for it. September 23rd, from Mr. Drake ;— 'General de Vins' excuse about the Court of Turin having made Peace is a mere pretext. To leave him no loop-hole, I have written to him to-day, to assure him, personally and ministerially, that it is not true, and you are fully at liberty to repeat to the General, in the strongest manner, these assurances from me.' From Mr. Trevor, September 25th; 'Every day since I first had the honour of seeing you has been marked by some fresh proof of your zeal and ability. Had it been equally seconded by land, much might have been, and still may be done, though I cannot help seeing the proposition made to you on the 14th exactly in the same light that you do. We must all of us act as if we thought differently, and take care to leave no pretext which can be laid at our door. If the troubles in the interim do not cut out work for the Troops at home, I am of opinion that the most vigorous efforts will be made to recover Vado.' From Mr. Trevor, October 8th; It was, how 'I am glad you kept the Admiral's answer secret. ever, on the whole, I think, favourable, since it appears that, but for the Messenger from the Admiralty, your application would have been complied with. But, before any actual execution be given to it, we should be assured that the General was in earnest, when he made the proposition. Till then, I conceive, all we have to do is 3 This passage is printed in vol. ii. p. 84, from Clarke and M'Arthur's “Life of Lord Nelson," but not accurately. to tell him (that is, as soon as the Admiral authorizes you and Mr. Drake to do so), that we are ready to execute our Naval share of the business, whenever he pleases, and I trust Mr. Drake will succeed in making the Admiral feel the necessity of his really cooperating with zeal in whatever can be attempted, and of taking away every pretext which the Austrians are so ready to seize, to cover their own abominable action. With respect to their being driven from Vado, I think the Enemy will make every effort to do so. I think their present Army must be drilled, in order to force General de Vins. I still think, however, that the French will attempt it, if possible; and that if they do, no very vigorous resistance will be made.' From Mr. Drake, October 26th, Genoa ; "I returned hither from my military excursion on Friday. I intended to have gone from Turin to Savona; but I was so fully persuaded, from everything I heard and saw during my tour, that there is no hope of stimulating the Austrian General to any active operations during the Campaign, that I thought it better to return to Genoa. I shall be very anxious to hear the result of your visit to the Admiral, and I hope he will have adopted your proposition.' The object of my visit was to ask the Admiral to give me two Seventy-four gun Ships, and as many Transports as he had in Leghorn, with the Camel and Dolphin, to have carried the 10,000 men as desired; but the Admiral did not think it right to send a Ship, but reduced my force, and ordered me, in addition, always to undertake the reconnoitering the Port of Toulon. On the 1st [3rd of November], I chased a very large Convoy into Alassio; and by the 8th they were increased to full 100 Sail, including Gun-Boats, and other Vessels of War; but they were too well protected for me to make any attempt with my small Squadron. On the 10th, the French took the Austrian Post at Voltri. On the 11th it was re-taken. On the 12th, the French were making every attempt for a most vigorous and bold attempt to establish themselves between Voltri and Savona, in a strong Post, and were in hopes of causing an insurrection of the Genoese peasantry. My presence was required at Genoa to prevent this Expedition by Mr. Drake, the Austrian Minister, and by the Austrian General commanding at Vado. On the 13th I went to Genoa, and was kept there, contrary to my inclination, till after the defeat of the Austrian Army, • September 15th.-Weighed and anchored in Genoa Mole; found riding here La Vestale and La Brune Frigates, and La Scout and l'Alert Brigs, belonging to the French Republic, with several Privateers. 19th.-A.M. Weighed, and at 6 P.M. anchored in Vado Bay. 20th.-P.M. Weighed and made sail, with the two small gallies in tow. 24th.-Anchored in Leghorn Roads. 28th.-Weighed. 30th.Anchored in Vado Bay. October 12th.-Weighed. 16th.-Anchored in Leghorn Roads; found Admiral Hotham and the Squadron at an anchor here.—Agamemnon's Log. November 23rd. However, I have this consolation that to the Agamemnon's staying at Genoa do many thousands of Austrians owe their safety, by the pass of the Borgetta being kept open, and, among others, does General de Vins himself owe his safety to the Agamemnon. TO HIS EXCELLENCY BARON DE VINS. [From a Copy in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Sir, I am honoured with your Excellency's letter of yesterday's date, and beg you to be assured that the security of your Army from any attacks by sea, is never neglected by me. The news from Genoa is too romantic to give a serious consideration to. His Excellency Mr. Drake, from whose situation at the Head-Quarters of your Excellency's Army, I am obliged to communicate all my movements, will inform you of the disposition I have made of my Sovereign's Squadron, intrusted to my directions. Believe me to be, &c., Agamemnon, Vado Bay, October 2nd, 1795. HORATIO NELSON. TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF HIS SICILIAN MAJESTY'S GALLIES AT SAVONA. [Autograph in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Sir, Agamemnon, Genoa Road, November 16th, 1795. From the present very critical situation of affairs at this place, I must request that although you remain in the Mole of Savona, that you will order the Galleys and Feluccas to be ready for service at a moment's notice. From the flagrant breach of neutrality which the French have been allowed to commit, it is more necessary, perhaps, to be on our guard against what may be done from the Port of Genoa, than from a Port of the French. I am, Sir, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO CAPTAIN MIDDLETON, OR SENIOR CAPTAIN OF HIS [Autograph in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Sir, Agamemnon, Genoa Roads, November 17th, 1795. The situation of affairs here is now so very uncertain from day to day, as to render it improper for this Port to be left without a superior force to what the French can fit out. I have therefore to desire that if Meleager and Dido, with the two Cutters arrive, that you will immediately dispatch a Frigate and Cutter to this place, and hold yourself and Prize |