TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL STOREKEEPER AT MALTA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 22nd December, 1803. By the Narcissus I received your letter of the 5th instant, acknowledging my several letters, &c. and requesting, for the reasons therein mentioned, that your instructions may be returned; that you had forwarded by the Eliza and Ellice an additional supply of slops, hemp, &c.; that the Yard punts were repaired, the Cracker hauled up for that purpose, and two new ones agreed for; that the Thomas and Mary Transport proceeded to Trieste, under protection of the Jalouse, for hemp, which you had desired might be taken from the person in charge of Government hemp and other stores; and that you had drawn on the Navy Board for £10,200 sterling, for the payment thereof, and sent the bills to be negotiated on the best terms for Government. In answer to which, I herewith return your instructions, and am glad that the slops, hemp, and other stores are arrived, the Squadron being very much in want of them. I approve of the Cracker's being hauled up for repairs, and two others agreed for, as you mention; also of the measures you have taken to procure hemp for the Fleet, and other Naval stores, should they be wanted. I hope supplies of the stores you may soon be in want of, will arrive from England in the Hindostan, time enough to answer your necessities, as purchases must, on all occasions, be avoided as much as possible. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers. "Saturday, 24th December. At 9.50, anchored in Agincourt Sound, Madalena Islands, with the Squadron and Transports." -Victory's Log.] Private. My dear Sir, Victory, December 25th, 1803. I congratulate you most cordially on the near approach of Mrs. Elliot and your fine family, who I hope arrived at the time you expected, in perfect health. I suppose some Ships will come out to relieve the crippled ones of this station, but I do not believe they will increase my numbers. I do not credit a word of our taking Guadaloupe. I am sorry that good Mr. Falconet should get into any scrape upon my account, and I never considered the buying a few candles with my money would be construed into supplying the Fleet: however, I will be more careful in future. I wish you had employed Nudi for the sake of your family. He has the only good medicines in Naples, and he does not torment his patients with physic. I enclosed Acton a list of the French Fleet. Numerous as they are, I only wish them out. We should have sailed this morning but for a hard gale of Westerly wind. With respectful compliments to Mrs. Elliot, I am ever, my dear Sir, your much obliged and faithful, NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at the Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 26th December, 1803. Mr. Atkinson, Master of his Majesty's Ship Victory, having with much care and attention, in company with Mr. Charles Royer, surveyed the Bay or Gulf of Palma, and taken the particular soundings, as mentioned in a Chart which has been done by the said Mr. Charles Royer, a Midshipman belonging to the Victory; and as I judge it to be a very correct and well-executed Plan of the said Bay, I herewith transmit it to you for their Lordships' information; and beg leave to say, that as Mr. Royer has no friend to bring him forward in the Service, and being a very deserving young man, I mean to take an early opportunity of promoting him to the rank of Lieutenant, which I trust will meet their Lordships' approbation. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Mr. Charles Royer was made a Lieutenant, in November 1804, and obtained his present rank of Retired Commander in February 1838. TO CAPTAIN THE HONOURABLE THOMAS BLADEN CAPEL, H.M. SHIP PHOEBE. [Order-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 26th December, 1803. You are hereby required and directed to proceed immediately with His Majesty's Ship Phoebe, under your command, to my Rendezvous No 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, and cruize there till you shall fall in with any of the Squadron; upon your doing so, you are to communicate to them where I am, at this moment, and that the first change of wind after Wednesday next, the 28th instant, I shall proceed immediately to the said Rendezvous, under Cape St. Sebastians. Should you on your way to that place fall in with either the Seahorse, Niger, or Termagant, on their passage to this place, you are not to order their return to the Rendezvous, but direct their Commanders to proceed to this anchorage with the utmost dispatch. Having performed this service you are to land the Spanish recruits on board the Phoebe, either at Barcelona, or any other place more convenient, and write a letter to the Captain General, impressing upon his mind your great attention to His Catholic Majesty's Subjects, in not sending them to Malta, being taken in an Enemy's Vessel; and also state very particularly the conduct of the party which fired upon the English Boats. You are immediately (after having landed the Spanish recruits as above) to proceed to Gibraltar, and deliver my dispatches for the Admiralty to Commissioner Otway, and those also bearing his address, and use every possible exertion in refitting His Majesty's Ship Phœbe, and in completing her stores, provisions, &c. to the usual time; having so done, you are to return and join me on my Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, with all dispatch; and as, it is probable, the Hindostan Storeship may have arrived from England, and being very much distressed for stores, you are to take her under your protection, and bring her with you to the Squadron on the Rendezvous abovementioned. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO JAMES CUTFORTH, ESQ., AGENT VICTUALLER, GIBRALTAR. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 26th December, 1803. As provisions will soon be wanted for the Fleet under my command off Toulon, I am to desire you will load a proper Transport with a proportion of bread for 5600 men, for two months, about six weeks' beef and pork, with every species of provisions in proportion to the bread, except wine, of which a small quantity only will be wanting, as supplies of that article can be had from Rosas, upon more reasonable terms for Government than from your stores. The Victualler to be loaded immediately, and to be held in readiness to join me by the Phoebe, or the first Man-of-War coming to the Fleet. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. N.B. The provisions to be all put in one Transport or Victualler, that the Convoy bringing her may take her in tow; the wine, therefore, to be excepted, if it cannot be stowed. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE TWO SICILIES. [From a Copy.] Sire, Victory, 26th December, 1803. I presume to address your Majesty on the return of this season of the Nativity, and to express my wishes for your Majesty's health, and every felicity which Divine Providence can bestow. I also feel pleasure in renewing my sincere and devoted attachment to your Majesty and your august Family, and to assure you that the last drop of my blood is at your disposal. I have wrote to General Acton respecting the Gibraltar's joining me, yet your Majesty and Family are the great objects of my care and attention; and although she would be acceptable on the day of Battle, yet I trust, with the blessing of God on our just Cause, that we shall give a very good account of the Enemy without her. Therefore, whether the Ship comes or not, entirely depends upon your Majesty's pleasure. I hope that the French have not yet invaded your Capital; but with such a Nation as the French, who can be sure of them for a moment? With most respectful and sincere attachment, I am for ever, your Majesty's most devoted servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE TWO SICILIES. [From a Copy.] Madam, Victory, December 26th, 1803. I know your Majesty's heart so well, that whatever is well meant will be favourably received; therefore I presume at this season of festivity, to renew to your Majesty my assurances of the most devoted attachment to your august person and family, and that I feel all the warmth of the obligations I owe you, for all your goodness to me. Never, as long as I draw breath, will my exertions cease for the comfort of your Majesty, and I only wish that they may be attended with the desired effect. I have sent General Acton a list of the French Fleet, and of ours, and I leave it to the King's pleasure to send the Gibraltar for the Battle or not. The safety of your Royal Family is one of the objects nearest my heart, and the destruction of the French Fleet, in my opinion, more certainly assures that safety which is so dear to me. With every sentiment of the most respectful attachment and devotion, and with my prayers for your Majesty's health and felicity, and that of all your family, I am your Majesty's most dutiful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, Madalena, December 27th, 1803. The Kent being done up, and gone to Malta, has reduced me from seven Sail of the Line to ten, therefore, I have left it to the King's pleasure to send me the Gibraltar or not; and |