January 2nd 1805
To His Highness the Grand Vizir
Victory, off Toulon, January 2nd 1805
Sir,
Yesterday I was honoured by the receipt of your Highness’s precious letter of October 30th, for the truly friendly expressions in which I feel much obliged; and for your Highness’s good wishes for the recovery of my health, which has suffered very much from being one year and eight months constantly at sea, and preventing the designs for the French, who will certainly proceed to that place where they expect to find most friends at, this least resistance, and most plunder. In doing my utmost in preventing the dominions of his Imperial Majesty from being invaded, I only fulfil the orders of the Great King, my Master, who has ever been, and I trust will ever continue, the most faithful Ally of the Sublime Porte.
My inclination, your Highness will have the goodness to assure his Imperial Majesty, is ever alive to this important part of my duty. Mr. Stratton will explain my sentiments respecting an additional force in the Adriatie, and my reasons will, I hope, satisfy your Highness. I have remained till this time, and shall stay some time longer; in hopes that I may be able to get hold of the French fleet, and should I go home to get rest, I shall, if I recover, be ready to take this Command again/ May health and every blessing attend your highness, is the most sincere prayer for your Highness’s most affectionate friend,
Nelson and Bronte
To His Highness the Grand Vizir
Victory, off Toulon, January 2nd 1805
Sir,
Yesterday I was honoured by the receipt of your Highness’s precious letter of October 30th, for the truly friendly expressions in which I feel much obliged; and for your Highness’s good wishes for the recovery of my health, which has suffered very much from being one year and eight months constantly at sea, and preventing the designs for the French, who will certainly proceed to that place where they expect to find most friends at, this least resistance, and most plunder. In doing my utmost in preventing the dominions of his Imperial Majesty from being invaded, I only fulfil the orders of the Great King, my Master, who has ever been, and I trust will ever continue, the most faithful Ally of the Sublime Porte.
My inclination, your Highness will have the goodness to assure his Imperial Majesty, is ever alive to this important part of my duty. Mr. Stratton will explain my sentiments respecting an additional force in the Adriatie, and my reasons will, I hope, satisfy your Highness. I have remained till this time, and shall stay some time longer; in hopes that I may be able to get hold of the French fleet, and should I go home to get rest, I shall, if I recover, be ready to take this Command again/ May health and every blessing attend your highness, is the most sincere prayer for your Highness’s most affectionate friend,
Nelson and Bronte
To Commissioner Otway, Malta
Victory, January 2nd, 1805
My Dear Sir,
I have to thank you for your obliging letters from Malta, and when the precise time is fixed for your leaving Malta, I will endeavour to give you either a Frigate, or a good Brig, to convey you safe to the Rock, where you will find plenty of work from the Squadron outside the Straits. Swiftsure has had a new fore-yard, Defence is to have a new mainmast, and St topmast, I hear, are sprung. It would not have done for my command, where till lately we had not a store.
I have wrote you a letter about the Ships timber. The Captors have nothing to do with sending it to England. You and the Dockyard Officers will judge whether it is fit. This Service, and wanted. If it is, to take it in charge, and send it home in a Government Vessels; and if not wanted, the Agents will sell it. The valuation may either (if the King takes it) be made at Malt,or in Englands. Minorca, I should hope, would be immediately taken; for I shall never send another Ship to Malta. This is so far off, and often so very different to my wishes that I will trust no more of my Frigates there, and a Line-Of-Battle Ship is out of the question; for which reason I have wrote you in the Caulkers, and some of the Artificers.
I again strongly recommend either for the Minorea, or any other Yard, Mr Bunce, Carpenter of the Victory, who will be found an acquisition. The Venture will be an acquisition of our friend Ball’s Squadron, but she should be coppered with thin copper, and not the thick, as is put upon our Ships; I am ignorant if that sort of copper is sent out. She is over -gunned, and so is Hirondelle. Mr Skinner has very properly desired to get rid of his two heavy ones. The Admiralty has approved my purchase of the Hirondella, and I suppose the storekeeper will have orders to pay for her.
I agree perfectly with you respecting Mr Eaton, and we must watch what comes from him; for first samples are, with knowing ones, always the best-witness Mr J.James, of Naples, and his beds. I thought I had taken all human precautions not to be cheated, but if my plans are not followed up. But this original fault was Mr.Taylor’s not letting me know that he had 1000 beds in store, whilst the fleet was in the very greatest distress. I sincerely hope that you will be able to whitewash all the gentlemen. It is cruel in the Navy Board not to do something about Mr. Lawson-either confirm or dismiss him.
Sir Alexander Ball always recommended him most strongly; and I hope he has not done anything to forfeit his good opinion. The Tribune has gone home, left her Convoy and the Station, without any orders, but from his own pleasure. What will the Admiralty say to such conduct? The excuse of carrying Sir Thomas Trigge appears to me very frivolous.
General Fox was sent out in a sStore Ship and I suppose the Admiralty intended Sir Thomas to go home in one. Should any accident happen to the Convoy, it will be a very serious thing to Captain Bennett.
I saw the French Fleet 27th ultimo, but our reports say they are upon the eve of undertaking some Expedition. God send it soon! Reports say, and I believe them, and I have to go home, and to leave Sir Richard Bickerton in command, during either my absence, or another Commander-In-Chief comes out. Sir John Orde has sent Niger home. Fishgard has sent into Gibraltar, a French Privateer-”Oncle Thomas” eighteen nine-pounders, sails very fast, they say. The Spanish Manifesto is dated December 14th, at Madrid. I have only one copy, or I would send it to Malta: It is full of abuse.
I shall have an opportunity of writing from madalena, to which place I shall proceed to-morrow morning. With every good wish, I am ever, my dear Commissioner, you most faithful, humble servant,
NELSON AND BRONTE
