TO THE EARL OF CORK. [From the "Naval Chronicle,” vol. xxx. p. 8; Vide p. 247, ante.] Portsmouth, July 22nd, 1787. In the first place, my Lord, it is necessary that he should be made complete in his Navigation; and if the Peace continues, French is absolutely necessary. Dancing is an accomplishment that probably a Sea Officer may require. You will see almost the necessity of it, when employed in Foreign Countries; indeed, the honour of the Nation is so often entrusted to Sea Officers, that there is no accomplishment which will not shine with peculiar lustre in them. He must nearly have served his Time, therefore he cannot be so well employed as in gaining knowledge. If I can at any time be of service to him, he may always call upon me. His charming disposition will ever make him friends. He may as well join the Ship, when his brother goes to the Continent. Inclosed I transmit you the Warrant of Charles Green, Boatswain of the Boreas, with the Certificates of his good character from others, his Captains; and I beg leave to recommend him to their Lordships as worthy of having a confirmed War rant. I am, Sir, &c. HORATIO NELSON. 7 The Honourable Courtenay Boyle. Vide p. 247 ante. On the 26th July, Nelson wrote to Mr. Pitt, enclosing Papers on the subject of the Frauds in the West Indies, and was informed on the 31st of July, that his Letter and Papers were under the consideration of the Board of Trea sury. TO H. R. H. PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY. [Autograph draught, in the Nelson Papers.] Portsmouth, 27th July, 1787. If to be truly great is to be truly good, (as we are taught to believe,) it never was stronger verified than in your Royal Highness, in the instance of Mr. Schomberg. You have supported your character, yet, at the same time, by an amiable condescension, have saved an Officer from appearing before a Court- Martial, which ever must hurt him. Resentment I know your Royal Highness never had, or I am sure ever will bear any one: it is a passion incompatible with the character of a Man of Honour. Schomberg was too hasty certainly in writing his letter; but, now you are parted, pardon me, my Prince, when I presume to recommend, that Schomberg may stand in your Royal Favour, as if he had never sailed with you; and that at some future day, you will serve him. There only wants this, to place your character in the highest point of view. None of us are without failings: Schomberg's was being rather too hasty; but that, put in competition with his being a good Officer, will not, I am bold to say, be taken in the scale against him. I wish this matter could have been settled on my Station, and I am sure your Royal Highness will join me when I acquaint you, that I have been reprimanded by the Admiralty for allowing your Royal Highness to proceed to America by way of Jamaica. More able friends than myself your Royal Highness may easily find, and of more consequence in the State: but one more attached and affectionate, is, I am bold to say, not so easily met with. Princes seldom, very seldom, find a disinterested person to communicate their thoughts to. I do not pretend to be otherwise: but of this truth be assured by a man who, I trust, never did a dishonourable act, that I am interested only that your Royal Highness should be the greatest and best man this Country ever produced. In full confidence of your belief of my sincerity, I take the liberty of saying, that having seen a few more years than yourself, I may in some respects know more of mankind. then to urge, a thorough knowledge of those Permit me you tell your mind to. Mankind are not always what they seem. Far, very far, be it from me to mean any person whom your Royal Highness thinks proper to honour with your confidence: but again let me impress on your Royal mind what I have before mentioned. As to news; from a much better quarter, most probably you will be furnished with that. However, Boreas is not paid off; but is kept in readiness to go to Sea with the Squadron at Spithead but in my poor opinion, we shall go no farther at present. The French have eight Sail in Brest Water, ready for Sea: therefore I think we shall not court the French out of Port. The Dutch business is becoming every day more serious; and I hardly think we can keep from a War, without giving for ever the weight of the Dutch to the French, and allowing the Stadtholdership to be annihilated,-things which I should suppose hardly possible. I wrote to your Royal Highness, and sent a number of letters to Jamaica: Gardner,? I am sure, will forward them. When I go to Town, I shall take care to be presented to his Majesty and the Prince of Wales, that I may be in the way of answering any question they may think proper to ask me. Nothing is wanting to make you the darling of the English Nation, but truth. Sorry I am to say, much to the contrary has been dispersed. Lord Hood and the good Commissioner have made many inquiries about you. Permit me to subscribe myself, Your Royal Highness's attached and affectionate, TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., KENSINGTON. [Autograph, in the Locker Papers.] My dear Sir, Portsmouth, August 12th, 1787. It is not kind in one's Native air to treat a poor wanderer, as it has done me since my arrival. The rain and cold at first gave me a sore throat and its accompaniments: the hot weather has given me a slow fever, not absolutely bad enough 9 Commodore Alan Gardner. to keep my bed, yet enough to hinder me from doing anything; and I could not have wrote a letter for the world; now the wind has set in to the Westward, and the air is cool, I am quite well again. You have but too much cause to scold me for not writing, but all my other friends have the same cause, if that is any excuse. However, be assured that the things I have for you are perfectly safe, and although I may be careless in not writing, yet your former kindness to me is never out of my mind. Your sixty-gallon cask of rum is ready to go to the Custom-house whenever Boreas goes up the River. I have a hogshead of Madeira, which I intend you shall have half of as soon as it can be drawn off. Tamarinds and noyeau I must get smuggled, for duty on the former is so enormous, that no person can afford the expense. The latter is not enterable. I shall send up by Clarke's waggon a dozen bottles of Veritable, for when we get to Woolwich, the CustomHouse people will be so thick about us, and our time so short, that most probably I shall lose it-and it's invaluable. I will send you a line when it sets off, and it must take its chance. Kingsmill came, and staid a day or two here. I have not heard of him since he went away. He was fortunate in his wine; and I have given him a stock of rum, and a dozen noyeau. ever. 1 When Boreas is to be paid off, seems as uncertain as If we are to have a Bustle I do not want to come on shore; I begin to think I am fonder of the Sea than ever. Mrs. Nelson returns her best thanks for your kind inquiries; I shall have great pleasure in making her known to so valuable a friend, but she knows you already most perfectly. Charles Pole is gone to Southampton; he is perfectly well. I beg my compliments to the Bradleys, and my kind remembrances to your sons, and believe me to be ever, Your most affectionate, HORATIO NELSON. 1 Captain, afterwards Admiral Sir Robert Kingsmill, Bart, so often mentioned. Sir, TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Portsmouth, August 17th, 1787. I am this moment honoured with your letter of yesterday, wherein you acquaint me of their Lordships' surprise at finding William Clarke 2 discharged from the Rattler by my order, and desiring to know my reasons for giving the order. In return, I beg leave to acquaint you, that it was at the request of the poor man, backed by the desire of the deceased Captain Collingwood. I certainly thought it was proper, as I exactly followed the steps of the late Commmander-in-Chief on the Leeward Island Station, in the case of William Ray, Seaman, deserter from the Unicorn. I had also always understood, that when a man was condemned to suffer death, he was from that moment dead in Law; and if he was pardoned, he became as a new man; and, there being no impress, he had the choice of entering or not his Majesty's Service. There was no want of a good man to supply his place. If I have erred in discharging him, I am sorry; but I had at that time no doubts, as I conformed to the manner of the late Commander-in-Chief's treatment of a man in a similar situation; and I beg you will assure their Lordships, that I only wish to know the exact Rules of the Service in this respect, to have conformed most strictly to them. I have the honour, &c. HORATIO NELSON. The man who had been condemned. Vide p. 222, ante. 3 It appears that even if the man had been properly pardoned, be had no claim to be discharged. |