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Letters and
Dispatches of Horatio Nelson
August 3 to 9,
1798
TO THE CAPTAINS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OFF THE NILE
[Autograph in the possession of the Dowager Lady de
Saumarez.]
Vanguard, August 3rd, 1798.
Gentlemen,
I feel most sensibly the very distinguished honour you have
conferred upon me by your Address of this day. My prompt decision was the
natural consequence of having such Captains under my command, and I thank God I
can say, that in the Battle the conduct of every Officer was equal. I accept,
as a particular mark of your esteem, the Sword you have done me the honour to
offer, and will direct my Picture to be painted the first opportunity, for the
purpose you mention.
I have the honour to [be], Gentlemen,
With the highest respect, your most obliged,
HORATIO NELSON.
TO THE CAPTAINS OF ANY FRIGATES CAPTAIN BERRY MAY FLEET
WITH.
[ Order-Book]
Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, 5th August, 1798.
I expect to sail from this place the 19th instant, and
shall steer for Candia, keep in shore on the south side of it, and proceed
towards Cape Passaro, and down the Mediterranean. Sicily and Naples will be the
most likely places to hear of me after my leaving Candia. I am, and have been,
very much distressed for Frigates, and hope the Captains of them under my
command will use their utmost endeavours to join me, according to the
above-mentioned expectations to find me.
HORATIO NELSON.
TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.
[Letter-Book, and London Gazette," of October 2, 1798.]
Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile, August 7, 1798.
Sir,
Herewith, I have the honour to transmit you a Copy of my
Letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, together with a Line-of-Battle of the
English and French Squadrons, also a List of Killed and Wounded. I have the
honour to inform you that eight of our Ships have already Top-gallant yards
across, and ready for any service; the others, with the Prizes, will soon be
ready for sea. In an event of this importance, I have thought it right to send
Captain Capel; with a Copy of my Letter (to the Commander-in-Chief) overland,
which I hope their Lordships will approve; and beg leave to refer them to
Captain Capel, who is a most excellent Officer, and fully able to give every
information; and I beg; leave to recommend him to their Lordships' notice.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
HORATIO NELSON.
P.S. The Island [Bequier Island] I have taken possession of,
and brought off the two thirteen-inch mortars, all the brass guns, and
destroyed the iron ones.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON, K.B.
[Letter-Book.]
Vanguard, Month of the Nile, 8th August, 1798.
My dear Sir,
Almighty God has made me the happy instrument in destroying
the Enemy's Fleet, which I hope will be a blessing to Europe. You will have the
goodness to communicate this happy event to all the Courts in Italy, for my
head is so indifferent that I can scarcely scrawl this letter. Captain Capel,
who is charged with my Dispatches for England, will give you every information.
Pray put him in the quickest mode of getting home. You will not send by post
any particulars of this Action, as I should be sorry to have any accounts get
home before my Dispatches. I hope there will be no difficulty in our getting
refitted at Naples. Culloden must be instantly hove down, and Vanguard all new
masts and bowsprit. Not more than four or five Sail of the Line will probably
come to Naples; the rest will go with the Prizes to Gibraltar. As this Army
never will return, I hope to hear the Emperor has regained the whole of Italy.
With every good wish, believe me, dear Sir,
Your most obliged and affectionate,
HORATIO NELSON
9th August.—I have intercepted all Buonaparte's
Dispatches, going to France. This Army is in a scrape, and will not get out of
it.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.
Vanguard, Month of the Nile, 8th August, 1798.
My Lord,
Having the honour of being a Freeman of the City of London,
I take the liberty of sending to your Lordship, the Sword of the Commanding,
French Admiral, Monsieur Blanquet, who survived after the Battle of the first,
off the Nile; and request, that the City of London will honour me by the
acceptance of it, as a remembrance, that Britannia still rules the Waves,
which, that She may for ever do, is the fervent prayer of your Lordship's most
obedient Servant,
HORATIO NELSON.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY.
[Letter Book.]
Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile, 9th August, 1798.
Sir,
Although I hope the Consuls who are, or ought to be resident
in Egypt, have sent you an express of the situation of affairs here, yet, as I
know Mr. Baldwin has some months left Alexandria, it is possible you may not be
regularly informed. I shall, therefore, relate to you, briefly, that a French
Army of 40,000 men in 300 Transports, with 13 Sail of the Line, 11 Frigates,
Bomb Vessels, Gun-boats, &c. arrived at Alexandria on the 1st of July: on
the 7th, they left it for Cairo, where they arrived on the 22nd. During their
march they had some actions with the Mamelukes, which the French call great
victories. As I have Buonaparte's dispatches before me, (which I took
yesterday,) I speak positively: he says, 'I am now going to send off to take
Suez and Damietta;' he does not speak very favourably of either the Country or
people: but there is so much bombast in his letters, that it is difficult to
get near the truth; but he does not mention India in these dispatches. He is
what is called organizing the Country, but you may be assured is master only of
what his Army covers.
From all the inquiries which I have been able to make, I
cannot learn that any French Vessels are at Suez, to carry any part of this
Army to India. Bombay, if they can get there, I know is their first object;
but, I trust, Almighty God will in Egypt overthrow these pests of the human
race. It has been in my power to prevent 12,000 men from leaving Genoa, and
also to take eleven Sail of the Line, and two Frigates; in short, only two Sail
of the Line and two Frigates have escaped me. This glorious Battle was fought
at the Mouth of the Nile, at anchor: it began at sunset, August the 1st, and
was not finished at three the next morning; it has been severe, but God blessed
our endeavours with a great victory. I am now at anchor between Alexandria and
Rosetta, to prevent their communication by water, and nothing under a Regiment
can pass by land. But I should have informed you, that the French have 4000 men
posted at Rosetta to keep open the Mouth of the Nile. Alexandria, both Town and
Shipping, are so distressed for provisions, which they can only get from the
Nile by water, that I cannot guess the good success which may attend my holding
our present position, for Buonaparte writes his distress for stores, artillery,
things for their hospital, &c. All useful communication is at an end
between Alexandria and Cairo: you may be assured I shall remain here as long as
possible. Buonaparte had never yet to contend with an English Officer; and I
shall endeavour to make him respect us. This is all I have to communicate. I am
confident every precaution will be taken to prevent, in future, any Vessels
going to, Suez, which may be able to carry troops to India. If my letter is not
so correct as might be expected, I trust for Your excuse, when I tell you that
my brain is so shook with the wounds in my head, that I am sensible I am not
always so clear as could be wished; but whilst a ray of reason remains, my
heart and my head shall ever be exerted for the benefit of our King and
Country.
I have the honour to be, &c.
HORATIO NELSON.
The Officer, Lieutenant Duval, who carries this Dispatch
voluntarily to you, will, I trust, be immediately sent to England, with such
recommendations as his conduct will deserve.
TO LIEUTENANT DUVAL.
[Letter-Book.]
Vanguard, in the Road of Bequier, at the Mouth of the Nile,
9th August, 1798.
Sir,
You are hereby required, and directed to proceed with the
Dispatches you will herewith receive, in the Vessel that will be appointed for
you, to Alexandretta, in the Gulf of Scandaroon, and having furnished yourself
with every information from the Consul, Vice-Consul, or, in their absence, any
British Merchants at that place, you will lose no time in proceeding to Bombay
by the shortest and most expeditious route, that may be pointed out by the
before-mentioned gentlemen, delivering the said Dispatches to His Excellency
the Governor of Bombay, on your arrival there. You will, on your arrival at
Alexandretta, direct Mr. ---- to proceed with the Vessel under his command,
with all possible expedition to Syracuse, but should you think it probably the
Vessel will have a difficulty in returning to that place, you will request the
Consul or Vice-Consul at Alexandretta, to obtain for the Midshipmen and people
a passage to Naples or Messina in any Neutral Vessel bound that way, and sell
the Vessel to the best advantage.
HORATIO NELSON.
TO LIEUTENANT DUVAL.
[Letter-Book.]
Vanguard, in the Road of Bequier, at the Mouth of the Nile
9th August, 1798.
Sir,
You are hereby authorized to draw such Bills as you may
find necessary from time to time, to provide you with money sufficient to
defray all your expenses, in your route, &c., to Bombay, on the East India
Company, to whom, I shall write by the earliest opportunity and acquaint them
of these my instructions to you, that the Bills may be duly honoured.
HORATIO NELSON.
TO HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONSULS, VICE-CONSULS—AND
MERCHANTS IN THEIR ABSENCE.—AT ALEXANDRETTA, AND ONE OF THE ABOVE AT
ALEPPO.
[Letter-Book,]
Vanguard, in the Road of Bequier, at the Mouth of the Nile,
9th August, 1798.
Sir,
Having occasion to forward with the utmost haste to India,
Lieutenant Duval of the Navy, who will deliver you this, he being charged with
Dispatches of the greatest consequence to our Possessions in that Country, I am
to request you will be pleased to furnish him with everything that may be
necessary to forward him as fast as possible, particularly with money of the
Country, and letters of recommendation on the route; also, a proper person to
go with him as is customary in cases of Officers and others going overland to
India, and he will give you Bills on the East India Company. In doing this, you
will not only be of infinite service to our Country, particularly the East
India Company, but greatly oblige, Sir, &c.
HORATIO NELSON.
TO EARL SPENCER.
[Letter Book.]
My Lord, Mouth of the Nile, 9th August, 1798.
Was I to die this moment, 'Want of Frigates' would be found
stamped on my heart. No words of mine can express what I have, and am suffering
for want of them. Having only the Mutine Brig, I cannot yet send off Captain
Capel, which I am very anxious to do; for as an accident may happen to Captain
Berry, it is of some importance, I think, for your Lordship to be informed of
our success as speedily as possible. If the King of Naples had joined us,
nothing at this moment could prevent the destruction of the Store Ships, and
all the Transports, in the Port of Alexandria; four Bomb-vessels would burn the
whole in a few hours; but, as I have not means, I can only regret the
circumstance.
I send you a pacquet of intercepted Letters, some of them
of great importance; in particular, one from Buonaparte to his brother. He
writes such a scrawl, no one not used to it can read; but luckily, we have got
a man who has wrote in his Office, to decipher it. Buonaparte has differed with
his Generals here; and he did want—and if I understand his meaning, does
want, and will strive to be, the Washington of France. " Ma mère" is
evidently meant " my Country.', But I beg pardon: all this is, I have no doubt,
well known to Administration. I believe our victory will, in its consequence,
destroy this Army; at least, my endeavours shall not be wanting. I shall remain
here for some time. I have thought it right to send an Officer (by
Alexandretta, Aleppo, and Bussarah) over-land to India, with an account of what
I have gathered from these Dispatches; which I hope will be approved. I have
sent a copy of my Letter to the Board of Control, that they may give the
necessary directions for paying the Officer's bills. If it should have gone to
the East India Company, I hope that Board will forward it. Ever believe me,
Your Lordship's most obliged, and obedient Servant,
HORATIO NELSON. |
