January 18th 1805
TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, MALTA.
Victory, January 18th, 1805.
My dear Sir,
I am much obliged by your favour of January 3rd, and as the Camel will come direct to the Fleet, she will be by far the most eligible conveyance you can have; and I hope to reap another great advantage from your coming in that Ship, that she will be much sooner unloaded, and reloaded, with the stores wanted for the Fleet, by your presence. We want an entire floating Arsenal. When we get you to the Fleet, easy modes will be found to carry you to Gibraltar. As all our Sloops will soon be wore out, if the Small Craft cannot get men at Malta, I am afraid the Eastern part of the station will be very badly off for the necessary protection; but if the Admiralty will not give me Sloops, and Small Craft cannot get men at Malta, I have no means of furnishing the means of protection.
I send you a copy of Captain Malcolm’s last letter to me. You will see that Mr. Taylor has not been correct in saying he had not given Mr. James any orders; it was enough between man and man, where words were to be relied upon more than the official forms. I can again repeat that Mr. Bunce would be a most valuable acquisition to any Yard; and should you find it proper to suspend Mr. Stocker, upon your application I will send Mr. Bunce, for whose abilities and good conduct I would pledge my head. The Excellent is gone to relieve the Renown, who is going direct to England. My staying or going seems at present very uncertain. With every good wish, I am ever, my dear Sir, your much obliged,
NELSON AND BRONTE.
Horatio Nelson, letter to Commissioner William Otway, 18 January 1805, HMS Victory, in The Letters and Dispatches of Lord Nelson, vol. VI, ed. Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas (London: Henry Colburn, 1845), p. 324.
