General for his Opinion as to what steps are proper to be taken thereon, and to use every means in his power to investigate and bring forward the whole of the business so soon as possible.' Retired as I am, upwards of one hundred and twenty miles from London, I can render you little if any assistance in getting forward in this business; and good wishes, without something more powerful, are of no avail in this Country. I can only sit down and think. Sir John Laforey is going out with the Command, and will probably be the man to investigate the frauds committed in the Naval Yard, &c. during the War. I am, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS. [Autograph draught in the Nelson Papers.] [Apparently in 1790]. I received your letter of the 20th yesterday, relative to the capture of the Hercules and Nancy Pleasant, American vessels, and desiring that I would acquaint you whether I have given 2 This appears to be the last letter from Nelson respecting those Frauds; and his Biographers conclude the subject by observing: "Thus the very extensive public Frauds which had long been committed with impunity in the West Indies, were at length put in a proper train to be provided against in future. An immense saving was made to Government, and its attention directed to similar peculations in other parts of our extensive Colonies. No reward, however, nor any mark of commendation, seems in consequence to have been conferred on Captain Nelson ;" and they add the remark of Mr. Rose, then Secretary to the Treasury, that Nelson's "representations were all attended to, and every step which he recommended was adopted. He thus put the investigation into a proper course, which ended in the detection and punishment of some of the parties whose conduct was complained of."-Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. pp. 106, 114. Southey says, as well in the "Quarterly Review" as in his "Life of Nelson," "that the peculators were too powerful; and they succeeded not merely in impeding inquiry, but even in raising prejudices against Nelson at the Board of Admiralty, which it was many years before he could subdue;" but he does not give any authority for the statement. It is, however, proper to observe, that in 1788 and 1789, the Public Boards offered Nelson their warmest thanks for his zeal; and that the Duke of Richmond concluded his Letter of the 2nd of June 1789, in these words: "With respect to yourself, I can only renew the assurances of my perfect conviction of the zeal for His Majesty's Service which has induced you to stir in this business."-Original, in the Nelson Papers. any orders, and what orders, for the support of the sentences of condemnation. I beg leave to acquaint you that I did seize the abovenamed Vessels, (with many others,) and that they were prosecuted in the name of, and by his Majesty's AttorneyGeneral of the Leeward Islands, (John Stanley, Esq., of No. 10, Queen Ann Street, Westminster,) to whom I beg leave to refer you for farther particulars. Mr. Stanley has copies of the proceedings under the Great Seal of the Leeward Islands, and I did not imagine I could possibly have anything more to do in this business. The great exertions I made during the years of 1784, 85, 86, and 87, part of which I was on the Leeward Islands Station, in stopping the illegal trade with America, is not I hope forgot by the Board of Commissioners, and I have firm hope that they will order me to be defended, and that they will direct the legality of the sentence to be supported. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO GEORGE ROSE, ESQ., SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY. [Autograph draught, in the Nelson Papers.] [Apparently in 1790.] Sir, On yesterday I received the inclosed letter from the Commissioners of Customs. The exertions I made whilst on the Leeward Island Station, in stopping the illegal trade with America is not, I trust, forgot by their Lordships. I have, therefore, to request you will be pleased to move their Lordships, that they will order the necessary steps to be taken for supporting the legality of the Sentences. I have the honour to, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty. In reply to this Letter, he was informed that the Admiralty had referred his communication to the Treasury, with a recommendation that he should be defended at the Public expense.] Sir, Burnham, Norfolk, March 21st, 1790. Last night I received a Letter (of which the inclosed is a copy,) the contents of which cannot but give me uneasiness.3 Since May 1785, I have been continually harassed by my exertions in suppressing the illegal traffic which was carrying on between the States of America and the West India Islands, where I was stationed. These people seem determined to go lengths which must be very unpleasant to me, unless supported by Government. I feel happy that I never made a seizure whilst on that Station without the advice of the Attorney-General, or the Chief Law Officer of the Crown, where the case might happen; and in this particular I had the opinion of the Attorney-General and King's Proctor of Barbadoes. The Attorney-General and Senior King's Counsel of the Leeward Islands (where I was obliged from circumstances already known to their Lordships to carry her) to sanction my proceedings. I trust their Lordships will think that, under such advice, I could not be supposed to err in stopping the Vessel; but that, on the contrary, I should have been guilty of neglect of duty, had I suffered her to trade unmolested, which she had repeatedly done since the Peace, (under false colours and papers.) I hope their Lordships will take my situation into their consideration. I am, Sir, &c. HORATIO NELSON. 3 From Messrs. Venables, Buggin, and Bleasdale, Solicitors, (respecting proceedings against him for having seized the Jane and Elizabeth,") on the 10th of March 1786. TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Burnham, Norfolk, April 26th, 1790. Sir, I wrote a short time since on the subject of the Vessel named in the inclosed papers. This day I was served by a person from London with a notice, of which I send a copy. I trust to their Lordships' protection, hoping they will think I only performed my duty. I have the honour to be, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty. On hearing of the expected rupture with Spain, in consequence of the Affair of Nootka Sound, Captain Nelson immediately proceeded to the Admiralty, where this letter was written.] Sir, Admiralty Office, May 8th, 1790. I have to request you will acquaint their Lordships, that immediately on my hearing of this bustle, I set off for Lon Clarke and M'Arthur (vol. i. p. 110) state, that one day, while Nelson bad gone to a fair to purchase a pony, two men served a "writ or notification" on Mrs. Nelson, on the part of some American Captains, who laid their damages at £20,000: that on his return, while boasting of his pony, he was told of the transaction, and that he vehemently exclaimed, "This affront I did not deserve, but never mind, I'll be trifled with no longer: I will write immediately to the Treasury, and if Government will not support me, I am resolved to leave the Country:" that he informed the Treasury, if a satisfactory answer were not sent him by return of post, he would take refuge in France; and that he accordingly made arrangements for Mrs. Nelson's departure; but that on the 4th of May he was told by Captain Pringle, that Mr. Rose, the Secretary to the Treasury, had said to him, "Captain Nelson is a very good Officer, that he need be under no apprehension, for that he will assuredly be supported by the Treasury." Clarke and M'Arthur have assigned this affair to the year 1788, instead of 1790; and they seem to have mistaken and exaggerated the facts, for it appears from the above Letters, that the "writ," or more probably a mere "notification of an action," was not served until the 26th of April; and the Admiralty had informed Nelson, a month previously, that they had recommended that he should be defended by the Crown. Captain Pringle's Letter, which is among the Nelson Papers, has not the date of the year. don, where I am just arrived; and that I am ready to undertake such employment as their Lordships shall judge most proper. I am, Sir, &c. HORATIO NELSON. Sir, TO H. R. H. THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. [Autograph draught, in the Nelson Papers.] Burnham, Norfolk, June 24th, 1790. I have seen by the papers of the Valiant's arrival at Spithead; I hope she turns out everything your Royal Highness expected of her. My not being appointed to a Ship is so very mortifying, that I cannot find words to express what I feel on the occasion; and when I reflect on your Royal Highness's condescension in mentioning me to Lord Chatham, I am the more hurt, and surprised. Sure I am, that I have ever been a zealous and faithful Servant, and never intentionally have committed any errors; especially as till very lately I have been honoured by the notice of the Admiralty. The attachment, which I trust has never been found to vary, since I first was introduced to you by Lord Hood, had invariably for its object one point-nothing else for myself did I ever presume to solicit- that I might have the distinguished honour of being one of your supporters in a Line of Battle: then it would be shown, that no person had your Fame more at heart than myself. I dare not venture a wish that your Royal Highness should trouble yourself again in my behalf. I trust most firmly on your kind recollection of me; and I beg you to be assured, that I am, as ever, Your most attached and faithful, 5 Then commanded by the Duke of Clarence. |