17th September 1805
TO LADY HAMILTON.
Victory, off Plymouth, September 17th (1805). Nine o’Clock in the Morning, Blowing fresh at W.S.W., dead foul.
I sent, my own dearest Emma, a letter for you, last night, in a Torbay Boat, and gave the man a guinea to put it in the Post-Office. We have had a nasty blowing night, and it looks very dirty. I am now signalling the Ships at Plymouth to join me; but I rather doubt their ability to get to sea. However, I have got clear of Portland, and have Cawsand Bay and Torbay under the lee. I intreat, my dear Emma, that you will cheer up; and we will look forward to many, many happy years, and be surrounded by our children’s children. God Almighty can, when he pleases, remove the impediment. My heart and soul is with you and Horatia. I got this line ready in case a Boat should get alongside. For ever, ever I am yours, most devotedly,
NELSON AND BRONTE.
Mr. Rose said he would write to Mr. Bolton, if I was sailed; but I have forgot to give him the direction: but I will send it to-day. I think I shall succeed very soon, if not at this moment.
TO CAPTAIN SIR ANDREW SNAPE HAMOND, BART., COMPTROLLER OF THE NAVY.
Victory, off Plymouth, September 17th, 1805.
My dear Sir Andrew,
I have read, with much attention, your very interesting letter of the 12th; and I rely, that although you have been involved in money transactions out of your strict line of duty, for the benefit of the Naval Service, that you will pass the fiery ordeal without a singe. You have then a most undoubted right to retire from the fatigues of your laborious Office with such pension and marks of your Sovereign’s approbation, as he may be graciously pleased to bestow. With respect to your petitioning for your rank, on the List of Admirals, I shall answer you, my dear Sir Andrew, to the best of my opinion; and if it should not meet exactly your ideas, yet I trust you will believe that no one has a higher opinion of your Naval abilities, as a Captain or Admiral, than myself.
If my memory serves me right, when you passed your Flag, I wrote my regret that the Service was to lose your abilities at sea. You would long since have commanded the Fleets of Britain with the whole Service looking up to your abilities. But, with what you may deem precedents, Lord Barham, Sir John Laforey, Lord Hood, Admiral Gambier, and lately, Admiral Sterling, yet these gentlemen contended for their Flags. We will not [they said] hold our Civil employments (Lord Barham, Sir John Laforey, and Admiral Sterling, in a stronger degree than the other two). You allowed it to pass over, and holding your Civil employment for many years, desire to take your place on the List of Admirals. Your pension ought to be equal to your wishes, and much more, in addition to your Comptroller’s pension, than an Admiral’s half-pay. But I fear, that if the precedent was established, however properly in your person, that such a field would be opened for Officers getting on the List of Admirals, after being long out of the Service, that the Ministry would never get clear of applications; nor could the Service know who were likely to command them.
Having given you, my dear Sir Andrew, my full opinion, allow me to say, and to offer, that if the King is pleased to place you on the List of Admirals, that I shall be ready, and offer myself to serve as Second under you for a given time, to mark, at least in myself, to the Service, that I receive you with open arms as a most valuable Officer restored to us.
With respect to your good son, you are sure of my affectionate attention to him; and believe me ever, my dear Sir Andrew, your most obliged and affectionate friend,
NELSON AND BRONTE.
TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE ROSE
Victory, off Plymouth, September 17th, 1805.
My dear Mr. Rose,
I forgot to give you my dear brother-in-law’s direction, that you might know where to direct to him, so I now beg to give him a line, and I flatter myself it will be a most favourable one: “Thomas Bolton, Esq., Cranwich, Brandon, Norfolk.” We have had two nasty days, but by perseverance have got off Plymouth; therefore, at least, I secure Torbay in case of a gale; but I shall try hard and beat out of the Channel, and the first Northerly wind will carry me to Cape St. Vincent, where nothing shall be wanting on my part to realise the expectation of my friends. I will try to have a Motto,—at least it shall be my watch-word, “Touch and Take.” I will do my best; and if I fail in any point I hope it will be proved that it will be owing to no fault of mine, my dear Mr. Rose, your very faithful friend,
NELSON AND BRONTE.
I beg my respectful compliments to Mr. Pitt.
TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH, K.B.
Off the Eddystone, September 17th, 1805.
I could not answer your kind letter of the 10th, as I was every moment engaged in settling my affairs both public and private. Perhaps this will not find you at Plymouth, for I know it was intended to offer you your Flag, as Third in Command in the Mediterranean Fleet. I am aware, and said so at the Admiralty, that having served, so long and so honourably, as Commander-in-Chief, you might not wish to take an inferior station; but that if you did, it would give me most sincere pleasure to have you, and to profit by your skill and gallantry.
I am, &c.,
NELSON AND BRONTE.
