head, if the Vessels will send a Boat to me, I will acquaint them of the determination. I have wrote to the Admiral concerning the damage done to a Swedish Vessel's cable by the Peterel, and will communicate his answer so soon as received, which will, I am sure, be favourable to the Swede. On every occasion, Sir, it is my duty, and very much my inclination, to cement the harmony and perfect good understanding which so happily subsists between our Sovereigns; and I shall be proud in opportunities of assuring you with what respect I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B. Part of this Letter is in vol. ii. p. 225.] Sir, Leghorn Roads, 1st August, 1796. I feel the highest degree of pleasure which an Officer is capable of feeling, by the full approbation of his Commanderin-Chief; and it must not be a little increased by the knowledge that his Commander-in-Chief is such a character as Sir John Jervis, without disparagement or flattery allowed to be one of the first in our Service. All goes well here, nothing gets in or comes out, except a Privateer, which our Boats cannot come up with. I do not say but in a Westerly gale Vessels will get in, notwithstanding all our endeavours; but I will answer for my exertions to prevent them. I send you, as I have the Vice-Roy, the list and disposition of my Squadron. Blanche I intend, or the first English Ship, to be the convoy for Naples. I have recommended the Vice-Roy to spare Rose or Vanneau, or to induce two Privateers to see them in sight of Naples. They are valuable Vessels, and should be taken all the care of in our power. Rowing Vessels are the most useful against the French Privateers. I send you a copy of my letter to the Swedish Minister, at Genoa (perhaps the Vice-Roy is right), and I hope you will approve my letter. It is certainly most desirable to keep those Neutral gentry in good humour. However much we all must respect the good King of Naples, cargoes must not be allowed to pass. To what applications, and ill-will, in refusing others, shall we bring ourselves! The Neapolitan small Vessels I will liberate the moment they come to me, so I have wrote the Vice-Roy, without cargoes. The lower order at Leghorn are miserable; several have been on board, wishing to serve for provisions: they have a plan for rising, (but the Grand Duke almost every day tells them the French will go away, and to be quiet.) The fishermen are to take the Mole batteries; the Venetians the Fortress where the colours are hoisted. The shoemakers, bricklayers, &c., have all their different stations. I have told them they may be sure of my assistance. I hope Speedy will bring us good news, which I will send to Bastia for you directly. What pleasure it will give me!-Ever your most obliged and most faithful HORATIO NELSON'. TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Leghorn Roads, August 4th, 1796. Dear Sir, I wrote you yesterday, and the day before. Nothing gets in, or comes out. All are tired of the French, and the tables are turned on them; for they are the cause that no supplies go from Leghorn to France. We want for nothing. No. 12 is not fit for a Lieutenant: therefore I shall say nothing till I hear further from you. La Genie is just hove down, and I expect her this night from Port Ferrajo. I have sent off the Peterel for the Naples' Convoy, and after seeing them into Naples, she can go on. I will not keep Comet a moment: therefore have only to say that I am ever your most faithful HORATIO NELSON. Plenty of Danes and Swedes come for Leghorn, but not a Vessel has got in since the blockade. TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B. "August 10th.-Lieutenant Edward Berry took command of the Ship as acting Captain."-Captain's Loy.] Dear Sir, Captain, Leghorn Roads, August 10th, 1796. By the first opportunity I shall send this letter, and if great news come to me, I shall send a Ship direct to you. I have this moment received, by way of Bastia, your letters of July 25th, 30th, and 31st July, which require answers to some parts. I took the liberty of saying that the small Gunboat is really unfit for an Officer. I have lent to her a Mid and sixteen men, and she is the thing for guard in Leghorn Roads, but unfit for sea; her value is only £40, therefore much cannot be expected. (The Venom, ci-devant La Genie, 1 Upon this Letter Sir John Jervis wrote, "Approve entirely; pay for the damage done to the Swedes' cable, and I will repay." is, of her kind, the very finest Vessel I ever saw, and is in most exceeding good order, fit for a gale of wind, or any sea). I therefore have not opened my mouth about Lieutenant Dutton's commission for her. I know the Vice-Roy's worth and wisdom; and you will, and he does, give me credit for having only one point in view, faithfully to serve my King and Country; and as both you and him have the same consideration, I shall not, as far as my abilities will allow me, think very differently from you. You are, Sir, ever adding to my obligations, and I can only endeavour to repay you, by the way most agreeable to yourself-by a most assiduous attention to my duty. You surprise me about Sir Hyde, as I see by an Italian paper, with London news, July 5th, that Sir H. P.'s Flag was hoisted on board the Queen, on the 30th June. As to Admiral Man, from what I have seen under his hand to you, I expected this step would follow. Answer to July 30th. Commissioner Coffin shall be forwarded to Naples. When he comes, perhaps it will be in Diadem, or he may possibly have gone in the Peterel. The Transports I hope Captain Craven has sent with the Convoy. If not, and he must have had the orders in time, he has done very wrong. I will take an early opportunity of sending to Fiorenzo for the Transports for Genoa. July 31st is a duplicate. I have wrote to Mr. Drake, and also to Mr. Jackson: sent your letter, and made your apologies, as desired. I have given permission to some Neapolitan Vessels to leave the Mole, for Naples, but without cargoes. The worth and good faith of the King of Naples demands of us everything we can grant; and it was pleasure for me, the day after I had granted the permission, to find the Vice-Roy had wrote a very similar letter to the Marquis de Silva. I have also permitted, by desire of Mr. North, some goods, and the American tribute to the Dey of Algiers. A Venetian Vessel is to come here, and load under my guns. The Lord of the Bedchamber, or some such great man, has been on board me. He was highly pleased with my entertainment of him, and declared he would supply us with bullocks of 600lbs. each, for ten Spanish dollars. He was never tired of looking about him. I must relate an anecdote, although you may be troubled to read it. I asked him why he would not make Peace with the Genoese and Neapolitans; for they would pay the Dey. His answer was, If we make peace with every one, what is the Dey to do with his Ships? What a reason for carrying on a Naval war! Mr. Pitt has not a better for this war. I have sent great news to Bastia, but (this word, I wish it was out of our language!) I am not fully contented. We beat the 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st, 2nd; and, because I do not know we beat the third, am not satisfied. Such is human nature. Guns are sounding from the ramparts, and I am wicked enough to wish all those fellows' throats may be cut before night. August 11th.-Yesterday the French had their fête; but they seemed fearful of a riot. By Proclamation, all Tuscans were ordered to remain in their houses, and every possible precaution taken. The French say they have no orders from their Government to quit Leghorn: therefore, they shall remain. August 15th, at Sea.-I shall reply to your letters by Lord Garlies, who joined me this morning, by a separate letter. Ever your most obedient and faithful Servant, HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B. "August 11th.-At 3 P.M. weighed and stood farther in to the Eastward. At 4 came-to-sent the Venom and Vixen gun-boats in-shore after a French Privateer, which they took after some resistance the people got on shore-she had one brass 4-pounder and two brass swivels. 15th.-Weighed."-Captain's Log.] Sir, Captain, at Sea, August 15th, 1796. I am this morning honoured with your letters by Lord Garlies the Diadem joined me at the same time, having been eight days from Ajaccio, and I dispatch her instantly to Genoa. I am on my way to Bastia, to talk with the ViceRoy on the subject of the Leghorn expedition. As to our success, and making all the French in Leghorn our prisoners, I entertain no doubt. All the lower order are our sincere friends. I verily believe the French would be glad to get clear off; but the Austrians, who are at Bologna, will prevent them. But the French are preparing a bridge, to throw over the rivers by the coast, and hope to escape that way. Buona Part, all the Tuscans believe, died of his wounds at Florence, on the 10th August, and said to have been received on the 3rd. L'Eclair is gone to Genoa for news; but she is so slow that my expectation cannot be gratified; but I have no fears that Wurmser is beating these fellows. After is, of her kind, the very finest Vessel I ever saw, and is in most exceeding good order, fit for a gale of wind, or any sea). I therefore have not opened my mouth about Lieutenant Dutton's commission for her. I know the Vice-Roy's worth and wisdom; and you will, and he does, give me credit for having only one point in view, faithfully to serve my King and Country; and as both you and him have the same consideration, I shall not, as far as my abilities will allow me, think very differently from you. You are, Sir, ever adding to my obligations, and I can only endeavour to repay you, by the way most agreeable to yourself-by a most assiduous attention to my duty. You surprise me about Sir Hyde, as I see by an Italian paper, with London news, July 5th, that Sir H. P.'s Flag was hoisted on board the Queen, on the 30th June. As to Admiral Man, from what I have seen under his hand to you, I expected this step would follow. Answer to July 30th. Commissioner Coffin shall be forwarded to Naples. When he comes, perhaps it will be in Diadem, or he may possibly have gone in the Peterel. The Transports I hope Captain Craven has sent with the Convoy. If not, and he must have had the orders in time, he has done very wrong. I will take an early opportunity of sending to Fiorenzo for the Transports for Genoa. July 31st is a duplicate. I have wrote to Mr. Drake, and also to Mr. Jackson: sent your letter, and made your apologies, as desired. I have given permission to some Neapolitan Vessels to leave the Mole, for Naples, but without cargoes. The worth and good faith of the King of Naples demands of us everything we can grant; and it was pleasure for me, the day after I had granted the permission, to find the Vice-Roy had wrote a very similar letter to the Marquis de Silva. I have also permitted, by desire of Mr. North, some goods, and the American tribute to the Dey of Algiers. A Venetian Vessel is to come here, and load under my guns. The Lord of the Bedchamber, or some such great man, has been on board me. He was highly pleased with my entertainment of him, and declared he would supply us with bullocks of 600lbs. each, for ten Spanish dollars. He was never tired of looking about him. I must relate an anecdote, although you may be troubled to read it. I asked him why he would not make Peace with the Genoese and Neapolitans; for they would pay the Dey. His answer was, If we make peace with every |