Volume II Part 11 (2/2)
In the mean time, Lord Nelson wrote to the Marquis De Niza, inculcating the necessity of not obeying his orders to return home. ”I have,” says his lords.h.i.+p, ”received a letter from Don Roderigo de Souza, saying that, as the squadron under your orders were not now necessary in the Mediterranean, his royal highness had directed their return. On this belief, your orders are founded; but, as the contrary is the fact--for your services were never more wanted than at this moment, when every exertion is wanting to get more troops of English and Russians to Malta--I must, therefore, most positively desire, that your excellency will not, on any consideration, withdraw one man from the sh.o.r.e, or detach any s.h.i.+p down the Mediterranean. I send you an order, to justify your excellency's not complying with his royal highness's orders; and, I am confident, he will approve of my conduct.”
While his lords.h.i.+p was indefatigably engaged in obtaining every aid for the reduction of Malta, information arrived, that thirteen French and Spanish sail of the line, one of them a three-decker, had been seen on the coast of Portugal. He immediately, therefore, wrote to hasten Commodore Troubridge, and sent also to Sir Sidney Smith: informing them, that he should sail next day, the 5th of October, for Mahon; and, probably, to Gibraltar. ”If,” says his lords.h.i.+p, to Commodore Troubridge, ”I can but get a force to fight these fellows, it shall be done quickly. I am in dread for our outward bound convoys; seven hundred sail, under a few frigates, in England, thinking all the force was at Brest. I need only say, get to Mahon as quick as possible, that we may join.” Accordingly, having sailed from Palermo, he wrote the following letter to Captain Ball.
”Fondroyant, at Sea, 5th Oct. 1799.
MY DEAR BALL,
”I fervently hope, that Niza has got hold of the French s.h.i.+ps from Toulon. As that business is over, I have only to hope the best: This day, by his Sicilian Majesty's orders, a letter is wrote to Messina, to request General Graham to get to Malta with five hundred men. The Russian Admiral is wrote to, to go with at least seven hundred. A corps of Russian grenadiers are also expected at Leghorn, for Malta. If Niza has been successful, all will end well.
Ever your's, most faithfully,
”Nelson.”
”I am not well; and left our dear friends, Sir William and Lady Hamilton, very unwell.”
”Captain Ball, Chief of the Maltese.”
His lords.h.i.+p had, this day, fallen in with the Salamine brig; which brought him a letter from Captain Darby at Minorca, stating that a fleet of twenty vessels, among which were two sail of the line and several frigates, had been seen steering to the south-east on the 29th of September. These, his lords.h.i.+p was of opinion, could only be the two Venetian s.h.i.+ps from Toulon, with a convoy for Malta; and, as the Marquis De Niza had seven sail of the line, one frigate, and three sloops, he had hopes that the greatest part of them would be taken.
On the 12th, having arrived off Port Mahon; and left orders with Captain Darby, who had come on board the Foudroyant, for Commodore Troubridge, with some other s.h.i.+ps to follow, his lords.h.i.+p proceeded on his voyage to Gibraltar. Between Port Mahon and Majorca, however, Lord Nelson fell in with the Bull-dog, ten days from Rear-Admiral Duckworth, at Gibraltar; who, giving little or no credit to the report of the s.h.i.+ps seen off Cape Ortegal, and Sir Edward Berry, from Lisbon, a.s.suring his lords.h.i.+p that the information was entirely disbelieved there, the squadron returned to Minorca.
On the 14th, his lords.h.i.+p wrote a long letter to Rear-Admiral Duckworth; in which are some interesting pa.s.sages, relative to Captain Nisbet. ”I send you down,” says his lords.h.i.+p, ”the Bellerophon; who, Darby says, and I believe truly, is in good order, and fit to stand fair winter's service. The Thalia also goes with him: I wish I could say any thing in her praise, inside or out. You will receive an order for holding a court-martial on the lieutenant of marines. Perhaps, you may be able to make something of Captain Nisbet; he has, by his conduct, almost broke my heart. The s.h.i.+p, I believe, wants some little matter doing to her. If so, I wish Inglefield would bring her out of the mole as soon as possible; and if, after all our pains, no good can be got out of either s.h.i.+p or captain, send the Thalia to England with some of the convoys; or send her any where out to try. I wished to have placed him with my friend c.o.c.kburne; but, alas! he will not let me do for him what my heart wishes.” This letter mentions the propriety of getting a list of all vessels taken since the 1st of August, Lord Keith having arrived in Torbay on the 17th. Custom, his lords.h.i.+p observes, will point out, whether they are to be considered as the only two flag-officers in the Mediterranean; and freights of money, by the Earl of St. Vincent's acting, belong to the commander in chief. ”Whether that is so, or no,”
says his lords.h.i.+p, ”we shall never differ about; my only wish is, to do as I would be done by.” After detailing the particulars of his proceedings since leaving Palermo, and stating his future intentions, particularly with regard to Malta, his lords.h.i.+p concludes with observing--”Captain Buchanan has just told me, that you wish to put two young men into the Port Mahon; and, that Lord St. Vincent had intended you should name all the officers for her. Believe me, I would not, on any consideration, do less than was intended by the earl; therefore, I beg you will send up all officers you like, and I will leave acting orders for them with Captain Buchanan.”
In a letter to Mr. Nepean, dated Port Mahon, October 15, 1799, Lord Nelson also details his late proceedings and intentions with regard to Malta; which, if not speedily forced to surrender, will call for the attention of more s.h.i.+ps than he may have the power of placing there, and necessarily cramp other requisite services. The Chichester stores.h.i.+p, Captain Stevens, his lords.h.i.+p observes, is going with the officers of the Leander to Corfu, having now the Russian admiral's order for that s.h.i.+p's delivery; and he has no doubt that Captain Stevens, who appears an excellent seaman, will very soon get her to Minorca. ”This island,”
says his lords.h.i.+p, ”is in such a state of security as to bid defiance to any force Spain can send against it; and, if General Fox was not hourly expected, Sir James would go with me to the attack of Malta, with fifteen hundred good troops.” In another letter, of the same date, addressed to Earl Spencer, his lords.h.i.+p says, ”I have considered the security of his Sicilian Majesty's dominions as very near the heart of the king: this makes the reduction of Malta of the very utmost importance, and to accomplish which is now, in Italy, the dearest object I have in view.” Lord Nelson mentions that, Sir Edward Berry having joined the Foudroyant, by the Bull-dog, he has put Captain Hardy into the Princess Charlotte; and, mustering a few men, intends taking her with him to sea. ”My friend Hardy,” says his lords.h.i.+p, ”will make a man of war of her very soon; and I make it my earnest request that, if Captain Stephenson is not sent out to her, Captain Hardy may be allowed to remain in her, and receive an Admiralty commission.”
This letter, too, is remarkable for containing, a request in favour of his worthy elder brother, Maurice Nelson, Esq. ”I have given,” says his lords.h.i.+p, ”my brother, belonging to the Navy Office, a strong letter of recommendation to your lords.h.i.+p, that he may be appointed a Commissioner of the Navy. I mention the circ.u.mstance, that you may be aware such a letter is coming; and prepared, I most earnestly hope, to meet my wishes.”
On the 23d of October, Lord Nelson returned to Palermo, where he found letters from Sir Sidney Smith; to which he, next day, returned the following interesting answer.
”Palermo, 24th Oct. 1799.
”MY DEAR SIR,
”When I arrived here, yesterday, from Mahon--having been down the Mediterranean to look out for a French and Spanish squadron, which had been on the coast of Portugal, but returned to Ferrol---I received all your letters by the Turkish corvette, which is arrived at Messina. The details you have given me, although unsuccessful at Aboukir, will by all military men ever reflect upon you, and your brave companions, the highest honour; and I beg you will tell all those whose conduct you have so highly approved, that their merits--even of the lowest--will be duly appreciated by me: for which reason, I have given all the promotion, and shall continue to do it, if they deserve it, amongst them. All the arrangements for your young men are filled up as you desired; and, my dear Sir, you shall ever find that, although I am jealous of having a particle of my honour abridged, yet that no commanding officer will be so ready to do every thing you wish. We have but little, here, of stores; but I have stripped the Foudroyant of every thing. At Mahon, there is nothing. But, your demands, with a bare proportion for the Theseus, goes to-morrow for Gibraltar; and, although I am pretty sure you will not receive half what your s.h.i.+ps want, I shall urge Inglefield to send you every thing he can. You will have heard, probably, that Lord St. Vincent still retains the Mediterranean command; and that I am, by order, acting till his return: therefore, I have not the power of giving commissions, or any thing more than acting orders. As to getting Neapolitan gunboats to you, there are many reasons against it. In the first place, they have none fit for such a voyage. This is enough; but, was this not sufficient, it would be a thing impossible. I believe, we are as bad a set to deal with, for real service, as your Turks. Mr.
Harding has sent me word, he does not chuse to return to Egypt; for which, he is a fool. Your brother will, of course, tell you all our good news from Holland and Germany; and, I hope, the King of Prussia has joined the coalition. May peace, with a monarchy in France, be soon given to us! I have just got a report, which appears to have some foundation, that Bonaparte has pa.s.sed Corsica in a bombard, steering for France. No crusado ever returned with more humility. Contrast his going out in L'Orient, &c. Again, be a.s.sured that I place the greatest confidence in all you do; and no commanding officer shall ever have more attention to all your wants and wishes, than will your, &c.
”Nelson.”
”Sir William Sidney Smith, Knt.”
Lord Nelson had, also, on his return to Palermo, received a letter from his friend, Lord Minto; which, he observed in his answer, gave equal pleasure to Sir William, Lady Hamilton, and himself. ”Yesterday,” says his lords.h.i.+p, writing on the 24th, ”your whole letter was read to the queen. I am charged to say every thing which is grateful, and thankful, on her majesty's behalf. But, I know, I need not say much; as she intends, I believe, to write you herself. We all have the most affectionate regard for your public and private character; and I should do injustice to my friends, was I to attempt to say my regard exceeded their's. My conduct, as your's, is to go straight and upright. Such is, thank G.o.d, the present plan of Great Britain; at least, as far as I know: for, if I thought otherwise, I should not be so faithful a servant to my country, as I know I am at present. As I shall send you my letters to Mr. Nepean and Lord Spencer, they will speak for themselves: therefore, I will only say, believe I am the same Nelson as you knew Captain of the Agamemnon; and, more than ever, your attached and faithful friend.”
The pleasurable sensations excited by Lord Minto's most kind and friendly communications, were succeeded by the most racking anxieties respecting Malta. Fresh orders had arrived for the recall of the Portuguese squadron; and Captain Ball could with difficulty keep the distressed islanders from joining the French. Lord Nelson, in a state of distraction, wrote letters to the Marquis De Niza, deprecating his departure; and consoled Captain Ball with hopes of a.s.sistance, which he strained every nerve to obtain from all possible sources. The following most urgent epistle to Sir James St. Clair Erskine, on this occasion, will not only convey the state of his lords.h.i.+p's feelings to every intelligent reader, but elucidate the genuine principles on which his lords.h.i.+p ventures to advise a departure from the strictness of etiquette in the discharge of military duties.
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