"Palermo, 10th Sept. 1799.
"SIRE,
"I trust, that your Imperial Majesty will permit the servant of your most faithful ally to bear his testimony to the good conduct of your Admiral Cadir Bey.
"I can a.s.sure your majesty, that ships in higher order cannot be, than those under his command; and the little disturbance which has arose in this place has not been owing to any want of attention from your majesty"s admiral.
"Cadir Bey is with me every day; and a better man does not live in the world, or a better officer. He is my brother; and I am, in the truest sense of the words, your majesty"s attached and faithful servant,
"Bronte Nelson."
"To his Imperial Majesty, the Grand Signior."
His lordship, in writing to Earl Spencer, a few days before, thus states the difference between the Russian and Turkish commanders in chief. "The Russian admiral," says he, "has a polished outside, but the bear is close to the skin: he is jealous of our influence; and thinks, whatever is proposed, that we are at the bottom. The Turk, who is by no means a fool, on the contrary, has more natural sense than the other; is our brother; and, I am sure, there is not a thing that we could desire him to do, which he would not instantly comply with. I make use of the word _we_," adds his lordship; "because Sir William and Lady Hamilton have more merit in gaining the affection and implicit confidence of Cadir Bey, and his officers, than I have."
On the 12th, Lord Nelson writes to Rear-Admiral Duckworth--"The Russian admiral has told me, his ships _cannot_ keep the sea in winter; and I see no _desire_ to go to sea in summer." Then, mentioning the state of some of the ships at Minorca, reported to be unfit for active service, his lordship says--"To keep them lying at Mahon, appears to me to be a waste of public money. My mind," proceeds this great and most considerate commander, "is fixed, that I will not keep one ship in the Mediterranean, that is not fit for _any_ service during the winter; those half fit, drain us of all the stores, and render us all useless: you have acted on this principle, in sending the Aurora and Dolphin; and it is my _particular_ desire, that you continue it. I beg you will write to the Admiralty, of my intentions to keep no ships but what are fit for service in the Mediterranean; and, I am sure, the king will save by the measure being adopted on stations so near England. I am aware of the argument, which may be used against my plan; viz. our seamen get no good by going to England: to which, I perfectly agree. But, the ships left here with me are beyond all common refit; nor can they be furnished with stores, not having any foundation to be kept up: and what would be an ample supply to keep up a squadron, is really nothing in our situation."
To Sir James St. Clair Erskine, also at Minorca, in a letter of the 13th, his lordship writes--"I see, with pleasure, that you do not envy me my good fortune. The field of glory is a large one, and was never more open to any one, than at this moment to you. Rome would throw open her gates, and receive you as her deliverer; and the pope would owe his restoration to the papal chair to a _heretic_. This is the first great object; as it would not only be the compleat deliverance of Italy, but restore peace and tranquillity to the torn to pieces kingdom of Naples: for such an occasion, a part of the garrison of Messina might be taken.
The next great object, is the reduction of Malta; and, in any other moment than the present, it would be a most important one. Vaubois only wants a pretence, to give up: his sole hope is that, in the next month, he may escape with the ships." General Fox, however, being hourly expected at Minorca, Sir James did not judge it proper to lessen the garrison; and, says his lordship, in a letter to Sir Thomas Troubridge, "enters upon the difficulty of the undertaking in a true soldier way."
These difficulties, however, were in a very few days completely surmounted by Sir Thomas Troubridge: for, on the 20th of September, a capitulation was entered into by that commander, who was then blockading Civita Vecchia, on the part of Great Britain and her allies, with the General of Division Gamier, commander in chief of the French troops, and those of Italy and other allies then in the Roman Republic in a state of siege; which terminated in the surrender of the fort and town of Civita Vecchia on the 29th in the afternoon, and of Rome and St. Angelo two hours after midnight. Civita Vecchia, Corneto, and Tolfa, containing five thousand troops, were taken into possession by two hundred marines and seamen of the Culloden and Minotaur; and General Bouchard, with the troops of his Sicilian Majesty, took possession of Rome: but the French general refused to treat with any other than a British commander.
It was the wish of Lord Nelson, that Commodore Troubridge should himself have every advantage of transmitting to England the dispatches on this occasion: being generously desirous of giving all the glory to this favourite officer; who, accordingly, wrote the following letter to Mr.
Nepean.
"Civita Vecchia, 5th Oct. 1799.
"SIR,
"In obedience to orders from Lord Nelson, I have the honour to send you, for their lordships information, a copy of the articles of capitulation I have made with the French General Garnier, to clear the Roman state. As I knew the French had all the valuables of the Roman state packed up ready for embarking, and the coast of Civita Vecchia forming a deep bay, with hard west south-west gales and a heavy sea, which prevented the blockade from being so close as was necessary to prevent the enemy from carrying off those truly valuable articles; I, therefore, thought it best to grant the liberal terms I have, to get them out of this country, where they have committed every excess possible. I trust, what I have done, may meet their lordships approbation. I beg you to represent to their lordships, that I received every a.s.sistance from Captain Louis; who went to Rome, and arranged the evacuation and taking possession of that place, with General Bouchard, with great ability and exertion, and much to my satisfaction.
I have the honour to be, &c. T. Troubridge.
Evan Nepean, Esq."
Lord Nelson informed Earl Spencer, in a private letter, as well as the Admiralty Board in a public one to Mr. Nepean, that he had desired Commodore Troubridge to send extracts of all his letters to him, as temporary commander in chief of the Mediterranean fleet, with the terms on which the French evacuated the Roman state. "I sincerely congratulate your lordship," concludes Lord Nelson to Earl Spencer, "on this event, so honourable to our country; for the French would treat with no country but Britain."
It was, certainly, a most singular circ.u.mstance, that Rome should thus be reduced by a naval force: and it appeared to be the more remarkable, as it fulfilled what was now called a prophecy, which had been p.r.o.nounced on our hero"s first arrival at Naples after his glorious victory off the Nile; in which it had been said, _that his lordship should take Rome by his_ ships. This prophecy, however, it seems proper to remark--the author having no desire to encourage the growth of superst.i.tion, or to degrade the dignity of historical research by dazzling weak powers of perception with the fascinative influence of the marvellous--was considered, at the time of it"s being p.r.o.nounced, as nothing more than a mere harmless Hibernicism; originating in the zeal of Father M"Cormick, a very honest and worthy Irish priest, who had come from Rome to Naples, disgusted at the enormities of the French. This good and loyal man, in the ardent warmth of congratulating Lord Nelson on his stupendous victory, triumphantly exclaimed--"And your lordship shall, before long, take Rome, too, with your _ships!_" A declaration which, it may be supposed, was heard with far less gravity than it was uttered, though now converted into a prophetic antic.i.p.ation of the event. This honest Irish pastor, though not regarded as a prophet by Lord Nelson, was so well known to be a pious and faithful priest, that his lordship, who was for ever studying how he could best serve all persons of merit who came in his way, afterwards recommended him to the present Pope, in a letter which was written, expressly for that purpose, by Lady Hamilton.
So active was Lord Nelson in all his operations, that he no sooner received information of the successes of Commodore Troubridge, than he instantly drew his attention to other objects. In a letter of the 1st of October, his lordship says--"If it is necessary to leave a few of your and Louis"s marines, do it, and one or two of the small craft for the protection of the trade; but I want, certainly, all the line of battle ships, and such of the small craft as are not absolutely wanted there.
My intention is, to go almost directly to Minorca, and arrange a proper naval defence for that island; and to try and get troops to finish the business of Malta, which the French intend to relieve. Five polacres, and two Venetian ships, are loading provisions and stores; therefore, I wish to fix our ships on the spot most likely to intercept them: at Lampedosa and Cape Bon, and in the track from Toulon to Ajaccio. These are my ideas; for, as to blockading Toulon for so few ships, they would escape, the first north-west wind, if the whole fleet was there. I need only say, to you, these are my objects, for you to support me; which it is my pleasure always to acknowledge."
His lordship afterwards repeats the full confidence which he feels, that the commodore, knowing what is necessary, will come as soon as he can; "for," says his lordship, "our business is never done."
Lord Nelson had already sent information to the Marquis De Niza respecting these supplies for Malta, which were preparing at Toulon, with directions for intercepting them; but, by letters from Lisbon, just received, the Portuguese squadron was now ordered to return home.
Anxious, therefore, to prevent the intended relief from reaching Malta--over the people of which island he had, a few days before, obtained the honour, for his friend Captain Ball, of being regularly appointed Chief, by his Sicilian Majesty--he inclosed the particulars of this information to General Acton, and urged the necessity of having part of the English garrison at Messina, as well as of the Russian squadron and troops, ordered immediately to Malta; observing that, if Malta was relieved, all our forces got together could not take it, and the commencement of a new blockade would become useless. "Nor," says his lordship, "would this be the worst consequence; for all the Barbary cruizers would here have their rendezvous, and not a vessel of his Sicilian Majesty"s could put to sea: and, Great Britain and Russia not being at war with those powers, the case would be dreadful, and ruinous, to the subjects of his Sicilian Majesty. I have," concludes his lordship, "stated the situation, under mature reflection; and have only to request, that it maybe taken into immediate consideration."
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 lordship, "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 ship 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 lordship 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 lordship, 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 ships 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 lordship 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 lordship was of opinion, could only be the two Venetian ships 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 ships to follow, his lordship 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 ships seen off Cape Ortegal, and Sir Edward Berry, from Lisbon, a.s.suring his lordship that the information was entirely disbelieved there, the squadron returned to Minorca.
On the 14th, his lordship 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 lordship, "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 ship, 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 ship 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 lordship 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 lordship, "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 lordship 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 ships than he may have the power of placing there, and necessarily cramp other requisite services. The Chichester storeship, Captain Stevens, his lordship observes, is going with the officers of the Leander to Corfu, having now the Russian admiral"s order for that ship"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 lordship, "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 lordship 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 lordship, "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 lordship, "my brother, belonging to the Navy Office, a strong letter of recommendation to your lordship, 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 ships 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 lordship, 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 lordship"s feelings to every intelligent reader, but elucidate the genuine principles on which his lordship ventures to advise a departure from the strictness of etiquette in the discharge of military duties.