Volume II Part 12 (1/2)
”Palermo, 26th Oct. 1799.
”MY DEAR SIR JAMES,
”I am in desperation about Malta. We shall lose it, I am afraid, past redemption, I send you copies of Niza's and Ball's letters; also, General Acton's: so that, you will see, I have not been idle.
If Ball can hardly keep the inhabitants, in hopes of relief by the five hundred men landed from our s.h.i.+ps; what must be expected, when four hundred of them, and four sail of the line, will be withdrawn?
And, if the islanders are forced again to join the French, we may not find even landing a very easy task; much less, to get again our present advantageous position. I therefore intreat, for the honour of our king, and for the advantage of the common cause, that whether General Fox is arrived, or not, at least, the garrison of Messina may be ordered to hold post in Malta, till a sufficient force can be collected to attack it; which, I flatter myself, will in time, be got together. But, while that is effecting, I fear our being obliged to quit the island; therefore, I am forced to make this representation. I know, well enough, of what officers in your situation can do. The delicacy of your feelings, on the near approach of General Fox, I can readily conceive; but, the time you know nothing about. This is a great and important moment; and the only thing to be considered--_Is his majesty's service to stand still for an instant?_ I have no scruple in declaring what I should do: that, knowing the importance of possessing Malta, to England and her allies; that, if even two regiments were ordered from Minorca, yet it must be considered--for which the officer must certainly be responsible--was the call for these troops known at home, would not they order them to proceed where the service near at hand so loudly calls for them? _This is the only thing, in my opinion, for consideration._ If we lose this opportunity, it will be impossible to recal it. If possible, I wish to take all the responsibility. I know, my dear Sir James, your zeal and ability; and, that delicacy to General Fox, has been your sole motive for not altering the disposition of the troops: but, I hope, General Fox is with you; and, I am sure, from his character, he will approve of my feelings on this subject. If he is not, I must again earnestly entreat that, at least, you will give directions for Colonel Graham to hold Malta till we can get troops to attack La Valette. May G.o.d direct your councils, for the honour of our king and his allies, and to the destruction of the French, is the fervent prayer of, &c.
”Nelson.”
At the same time, addressing a letter to Commodore Troubridge, who he had reason to suppose was at Minorca, his lords.h.i.+p says--”My letter to Sir James St. Clair, if this finds you at Mahon, will shew you what I feel about Malta.” After again describing apprehended consequences, and expressing his hope that General Fox is arrived, and that Sir James will lay all circ.u.mstances before him, his lords.h.i.+p continues--”I know Sir James to be a most fair, honourable, and zealous officer; and I earnestly hope, that you will have the carrying him and fifteen hundred troops to Malta. If, alas! all my arguments are in vain, against _orders--not knowing our situation here_--or the delicacy of the approach of General Fox; then, it is only for me to grieve, and intreat of you to come here, and bring the Northumberland--that, at least, I may prevent supplies getting in: and, for this purpose, I shall be under the distressing necessity of taking as many s.h.i.+ps as possible from Minorca; which, I a.s.sure you, would hurt me very much.”
On the 28th, his lords.h.i.+p detached the Minotaur, and even the Foudroyant, to join the Marquis De Niza off Malta; intreating him, not to withdraw a man from the island, even on the arrival of the Russians.
”Again, and again,” writes his lords.h.i.+p, ”I desire--for which, you may be certain, I hold myself responsible--that you will not, on any consideration, withdraw a single man belonging to your squadron from the island.”
Scarcely a day now pa.s.sed, that Lord Nelson did not send some information to Captain Ball, for the purpose of inspiriting his depressed hopes in the conduct of this arduous undertaking; and, certainly, the indefatigability of his lords.h.i.+p, in labouring to obtain every requisite aid for the accomplishment of this important object, was impossible to be surpa.s.sed, and has probably never been equalled. Every risk, the purity of his heroic mind was prepared to encounter; every honour, it's dignified humility was desirous of yielding to all who should a.s.sist in the enterprize.
In one of these letters, he says--”I have begged, almost on my knees, for money, for the present subsistence of the Maltese who bear arms.” In another, a day or two after--”The court have all the inclination; but, to my knowledge, they have not cash enough for the common purposes of the government!” In a third, the day following--”The King of Naples has sent four thousand ounces, to a.s.sist the poor islanders who bear arms.”
His lords.h.i.+p adds, that this will do for the present; and, that the large sum required must come from the three allied courts. In a future letter, Lord Nelson observes, that this sum of four thousand ounces, was taken, for it was no where else to be had, from their Sicilian Majesties children, with the hope of being replaced with the money which Lord Grenville had so handsomely promised to the Marquis Circello. ”The enormous expences,” writes his lords.h.i.+p to Earl Spencer, ”incurred within the last eight months, have drawn the king's chest very low; but, his majesty has never failed giving every thing I could ask.”
On the 31st of October, Lord Nelson, fully resolved that nothing should, on his part, be neglected, for the attainment of Malta, or the advantage of it's temporary chief, wrote a long epistle to the Emperor of Russia, as Grand Master. In which, he details the princ.i.p.al operations of this protracted siege; the various difficulties which had occurred, and those which still existed: with the admirable address, fort.i.tude, and perseverance, of Captain Ball, in conciliating the inhabitants, relieving their necessities, and animating their nearly extinguished hopes; whose merits his lords.h.i.+p most earnestly recommended to the notice of his Imperial Majesty. His lords.h.i.+p had before applied for the order of Malta, for his friend Ball, in a letter to Sir Charles Whitworth; but, not having received any answer, he says, in a letter to Captain Ball, ”I have now gone to the fountain head.”
While Lord Nelson was thus earnestly solicitous to obtain honours for his meritorious friend, he little imagined that he should, in two or three days, be gratified by the acquisition of a new and most distinguished one conferred on himself. This, however, actually and very unexpectedly happened: for a Turkish corvette, which had probably reached Messina about the time when his lords.h.i.+p was writing the above letter in favour of his brave friend, brought from Constantinople Abdur Amand, a special messenger, sent by the Grand Signior, who arrived at Palermo on the 3d of November, and was charged with an additional manifestation of the Sublime Porte's friendly esteem for our incomparable hero. This gentleman, on that day, presented to Lord Nelson, as an honourable gift from his imperial master, the Grand Signior, a magnificent diamond star, or medallion; in the centre of which, on blue enamel, were represented the Turkish crescent and a star.
This valuable present was accompanied by an elegant letter from the Grand Vizier, dated the 9th of September: in which it was announced, that the Grand Signior had been pleased to order Lord Nelson a medallion, which his Imperial Majesty was desirous should be worn on his lords.h.i.+p's breast, as a mark of esteem for his kindness to Osman Hadgi--a n.o.ble Turk, who had accompanied Lord Nelson from Alexandria, and to whom his lords.h.i.+p was much attached by the strongest ties of friends.h.i.+p--as well as for the interest which his lords.h.i.+p on all occasions took in the prosperity of the Sublime Porte. From the nature of this rich gift, and the respectful manner in which it was delivered by Abdur Amand, his lords.h.i.+p was induced to consider it as const.i.tuting him, in conjunction with the former insignia, First Knight of the Order of the Imperial Turkish or Ottoman Crescent. In a most respectful answer to the Grand Vizier, Lord Nelson says--”I intreat that your excellency will present, with the most profound grat.i.tude, my thanks to the emperor, for this new and distinguished honour conferred upon me. I have placed it on my coat, on my left side, over my heart. I cannot say, however flattering this mark of favour is to me, that I can in any manner serve the Sublime Porte more than I have done; for, it has ever been with all my soul. But this mark of favour shews, in the strongest light, that the smallest services are watched, and most magnificently rewarded, by his Imperial Majesty; whose life, may G.o.d prolong, with health and every other earthly happiness: and may he give me opportunities of shewing my grat.i.tude, by risking my life for the preservation of the smallest grain of sand belonging to the Ottoman empire; and may the enemies of his Imperial Majesty fall into dust, by the wise councils of your excellency!”
His lords.h.i.+p also wrote a similar letter to the Captain Pacha; in which he did not forget the kindest recommendation of his friend Cadir Bey, and general remembrances to all the admirals and captains serving under that worthy commander. Earl Elgin, and Mr. Spencer Smith, both now at Constantinople, were likewise most respectfully addressed by his lords.h.i.+p. To the former, he modestly writes--”Having yesterday received such a mark of the Grand Signior's favour, I have been puzzled how to express myself properly. I must, therefore, trust to your excellency's goodness for supplying my deficiency of language.” To the latter, he returns thanks for all his goodness to his lords.h.i.+p, both public and private; sends him some sherry and sugar, but can neither get a drop of Madeira nor claret in the island, or even in all Italy: and concludes with desiring affectionate remembrances to his brother, Sir Sidney, whenever he writes; for whom, his lords.h.i.+p observes, he has just sent ”a large cargo of good things.”
The pleasure, however, of this unexpected honour from the Grand Signior, was insufficient to preserve the susceptible heart which it covered, from corroding cares, and painful anxieties, for his country and his friends. He wanted not, indeed, for personal and private causes of vexation and regret: but these, though they were perpetually preying on his const.i.tution, seldom called forth his complaint; and scarcely ever were even mentioned, except to a very few of his most select friends.
One of the first disappointments, after this recent honour, was the arrival of Captain Stephenson, to take the command of the Princess Charlotte; by which, his lords.h.i.+p feelingly observes, in a letter of the 7th, to Captain Ball, ”poor Hardy was consequently turned adrift.” He had, at this time, too, received a mortifying letter from General Sir James St. Clair Erskine: mentioning, that the twenty-eighth regiment was ordered to England; and that he was sure General Fox, who was every moment expected, would not, on any consideration, break his orders, for any object. With this disagreeable information, his lords.h.i.+p could not bring his mind yet to acquaint Captain Ball. On the contrary, he affects to antic.i.p.ate, in the letter above mentioned, that he expects the answer from Minorca will be unfavourable to both their wishes; and expresses his intention of going to Naples, for a.s.sistance from the Russians and his Sicilian Majesty. He then, with exquisite kindness and address, introduces the extract of a letter from Earl Spencer; which liberally states, that Captain Ball, by his unparalleled vigilance and exertion, had indeed shewn himself worthy of the friends.h.i.+p with which Lord Nelson had honoured him. ”I only send this, my dear Ball,” says his lords.h.i.+p, ”to shew that I do not forget my friends: as to honouring you, that is not in my power; but to render you justice, is my duty.”
In the mean time, his lords.h.i.+p had, on the preceding day, thus expressed himself to Earl Spencer, on the subject of attention to orders, in consequence of this refusal of troops from Minorca--”Much, my dear lord, as I approve of strict obedience to orders--even to a court-martial, to enquire whether the object justified the measure--yet, to say that an officer is never, for any object, to alter his orders, is what I cannot comprehend. The circ.u.mstances of this war so often vary, that an officer has almost every moment to consider--What would my superiors direct, did they know what is pa.s.sing under my nose? The great object of the war is--_Down, down, with the French!_ To accomplish this, every nerve, and by both services, ought to be strained. My heart is,” says this excellent man and true hero, ”I a.s.sure you, almost broke, with that and other things.” Then, speaking of the state of the blockade, he says--”If the enemy get supplies in, we may bid adieu to Malta. This would compleat my misery; for, I am afraid, I take all services too much to heart. The accomplis.h.i.+ng of them is my study, night and day.”
It is a singular circ.u.mstance, and merits high consideration, that while Lord Nelson thus strongly urges the necessity for both services to be equally strained; Sir Sidney Smith was most feelingly complaining, in letters dated off Rhodes, 29th September 1799, of the want of a cordial co-operation in General Koehler: who seems to have regarded Sir Sidney's gallant exploits on land as an improper interference with the military department; and to have made the subject of a long and formal complaint, what all the world has agreed to consider as fairly ent.i.tling him to immortal honour. On the receipt of these letters, which are written with a n.o.ble confidence in the kind and generous sanction of his lords.h.i.+p, Lord Nelson immediately wrote the following excellent letter to the Duke of Clarence. It certainly has, being addressed to a brother sailor, some strong professionalism; but it delicately claims, nevertheless, for Sir Sidney's conduct, the most decided approbation and applause, from a very competent judge of the duties of the profession.
”Palermo, 9th Nov. 1799.
”SIR,
”I beg leave to present to your royal highness, Captain Hardy, late of the Foudroyant: an officer of the most distinguished merit; and, therefore, highly worthy of your notice. He will tell you of all my arduous work in this country; and, that all my anxiety is, at present, taken up with the desire of possessing Malta. But, I fear, notwithstanding all my exertions, that I shall not get any British troops from Minorca: without which, the business will be prolonged, perhaps, till it is relieved; when all the force which we could collect would be of little use, against the strongest place in Europe. I am anxiously waiting the arrival of General Fox; and hope he will not consider the order for the removal of one or two regiments, of such great consequence as the reduction of Malta, by keeping them for two months longer in the Mediterranean. On the one hand, they must, in England, or on the continent, be like a drop of water in the ocean. By staying here, and employed, they would liberate us from our enemy close to our door; gratify the Emperor of Russia; protect our Levant trade; and relieve a squadron of our s.h.i.+ps from the service: besides giving us one eighty-gun s.h.i.+p, two forty-gun frigates, a Maltese new s.h.i.+p of the line ready for sea, and two frigates. With these in the scale, I cannot comprehend that a moment can be lost in deciding. But, Sir, I find, few think, as I do--that, to obey orders, all perfection. To serve my king, and to destroy the French, I consider as the great order of all, from which little ones spring; and, if one of these little ones militates against it--(for, who can tell exactly, at a distance?)--I go back to obey the great order, and object; to _down_, _down_, with the d.a.m.ned French villains! Excuse my warmth; but my blood boils at the name of a Frenchman. I hate them _all_; royalists and republicans.
”My late letters from Egypt are, that Sir Sidney Smith is hurt at the notorious cowardice and want of discipline in the Turkish army; and I find, that General Koehler does _not approve_ of such irregular proceedings, as naval officers attacking and defending fortifications. We have but one idea; to get close along-side. None but a sailor, would have placed a battery only a hundred and eighty yards from the Castle of St. Elmo: a soldier must have gone according to art, and the zig-zag way; my brave Sir Thomas Troubridge went straight, for we had no time to spare. Your royal highness will not believe, that I mean to lessen the conduct of the army. I have the highest respect for them all. But General Koehler should not have wrote such a paragraph in his letter. It conveyed a jealousy which, I dare say, is not in his disposition.
”May health and every blessing, attend your royal highness, is the constant prayer of your attached and obliged servant,
”Bronte Nelson.”