the Mediterranean; with the Admiralty, on matters connected with his Squadron; with the Officers of the Dockyards at Malta and Gibraltar, the Storekeepers at those places, and the Vice-consuls at Barcelona and Rosas, about matériel and provisions for the Fleet, especially with the view of promoting the health and comfort of the Crews; and with various Officers, for the protection of our Trade, in appointing the necessary Convoys, &c. It would be difficult to select any of these Letters as more interesting or more important than the rest; since they all bear in a greater or less degree upon each other, and must be read in connexion, to be properly understood and appreciated. The paper which he sent to Mr. Addington in June, 1803, containing his views respecting Gibraltar, Algiers, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Rome, Tuscany, Genoa, and the Morea, was so able as to obtain the marked approbation of the Government, accompanied by a request that he would in future direct his observations on Political subjects at once to the Secretary of State for the War Department. In LORD NELSON's opinion, it was of the utmost importance that Great Britain should obtain a cession of Sardinia; and the soundness of that opinion, which he repeated over and over again to every person of the least Political influence, is not likely to be disputed by any one who remembers the central position of that Island, its admirable harbours, and the necessity of watching the Enemy's Squadron at Toulon. His Letters to the Dey of Algiers, and his instructions to Captain Keats when that Officer was sent to demand satisfaction for the Dey's treatment of the British Consul, and for other insults to this Country, as well as the prudence with which he proposed to defer retaliating, until he could strike an effective blow, are very characteristic. LORD NELSON's private Letters are mostly to the Duke of Clarence, the Earl of St. Vincent, Mr. Addington, Lord Minto, Admiral Lord Radstock, Mr. Hugh Elliot, Mr. Rose, Sir Alexander Ball, General Villettes, Mr. Davison, his brother Dr. Nelson, Lady Hamilton, and his daughter, now Mrs. Horatia Nelson Ward. No part of the Editor's task was so difficult as to decide upon the course which he ought to follow with respect to the Letters to Lady Hamilton. It was his original intention to omit those Letters altogether; but this was found inexpedient, because, after the separation from Lady Nelson, they describe NELSON's private feelings more fully and more naturally than any of his other Letters. It was, however, impossible to reprint those Letters exactly as they occur, on account of some personal and other objectionable allusions in them; and still more, because it would not have been proper, under any circumstances, to republish coarse and offensive expressions, without being sure that they exist in the originals. He has, therefore, printed every part of the Letters in question except paragraphs, or entire Letters of that description, and except those terms of endearment and affection, which that person ought not to have called forth. It may be right to anticipate the objection that many of the Letters in this Volume are on small details, while some are little more than acknowledgments of Orders from the Admiralty. These Letters have been selected from numerous others of a similar kind; and the reason for printing them, is that the one class exhibits NELSON'S extraordinary attention to everything connected with his Squadron, and affords to unprofessional readers an idea, not only of his zeal, but of the manner in which Ships of War are governed and regulated; while the other class shows the duties he was directed to perform, and explains many of his subsequent Letters and proceedings. The "Orders" to his Captains, which often exhibit the sagacity and vigour of his mind, are, it is submitted, necessary for the comprehension of his plans, as manifested in the disposition of his Squadron. The "OrderBook" of the Duke of Wellington has properly been published; and if selections from the "Orders" of NELSON had not been inserted, this collection would have been imperfect. Two more Volumes will complete the Work, which has unavoidably been extended beyond the original design, in consequence of the unexpected accession of materials. 1st December, 1845. |