TO CAPTAIN LOCKER. [From Charnock's "Biographical Memoirs of Nelson," Appendix, p. 45. The original is not now in the Locker Papers.] My dear Friend, August 20th, 1793. 4 I shall send by Trowbridge, if I can find his Ship, a cask of sherry, which I hope will prove good. The Fleet has hitherto done nothing but look into Toulon. Lord Hood went with the Fleet ten days past to speak to the Genoese about supplying the French with corn, and bringing back French property under Neutral papers, for our being here is a farce if this trade is allowed. By all accounts we learn the district of Provence would gladly become a separate Republic under the protection of England. The people of Marseilles have said they would destroy Toulon to accomplish this meaIn short, France will be dismembered, but in all their misery they have no thought of Kingly government. Lutwidge and Mann have been very ill indeed, we had fears for them; Lord Hood is very kind. Agamemnon sails well and is healthy, but we want to get into Port for refreshments. Remember me to Kingsmill;5 I hope his Flag is flying: also to all our friends, and kindly to your family. Believe me, Yours most affectionately, sure. HORATIO NELSON. TO THE REVEREND EDMUND NELSON. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 130.] My dear Father, August 20th, off Toulon. No occurrence of a public nature has taken place since our arrival here, and our private ones are confined to a very nar Captain, afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Trowbridge, Bart., then commanded the Castor of 32 guns. 5 Captain Kingsmill had obtained his flag as Rear-Admiral of the White, in the promotion of April 1793. • Clarke and M'Arthur have printed some admirable Letters from the venerable Father of Nelson to his Son, which place the character of both in the most row sphere, which yet I am sure will be considered by you a valuable one-We are all well. The affairs of France in this Country are worse than ever: the guillotine is every day employed. A Master of a Ship, whom we spoke from Marseilles, says, there are now only two descriptions of people in France the one drunk and mad; the other, with horror painted in their faces, are absolutely starving; yet nothing brings them to their senses. A Peace with England is what they wish for; and Provence would, it is said, willingly put itself, as a separate Republic, under the protection of England. In the winter we are to reduce Ville Franche and Nice for the King of Sardinia, and drive the French from Corsica. It seems of no use to send a great Fleet here, without troops to act with them. I consider you now as at high harvest, and hope you have good weather and good crops. I hear Lady Spencer' and the party are at Lucca, a few miles from Pisa. I think we shall be in England in the winter or spring. If the Burnhamites inquire for me, make my compliments. Believe me, Your most dutiful Son, HORATIO Nelson. pleasing light. The Letter in the text seems to have been in answer to the following, dated Burnham, 12th July 1793. (Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 127.) "Every mark of my affection you may justly expect; and it gives me satisfaction to reflect on the many proofs I have had of your disposition to observe those duties which each relation in life calls for. The approbation of your own mind is far more pleasing than any supposed partiality of mine; though a reward infinitely short of what moral virtue, which is an attendant on true Religion, shall one day receive.-The principal domestic occurrence at this juncture is that of your brother's ordination, [Suckling Nelson]. Thus far, thank God, our design is accomplished: all proceeds favourably, and there is good hope he may prove a worthy member of society. Farming goes on well; and at Christmas I look forward for the auditing my accounts to your own person; Agamemnon and her crew being either honourably discharged, or laid up for the winter in safety. O England! blessed art thou among the Isles, for thy internal prosperity. In peace and plenty may thy Counsellors preserve thee. . . . . . . As to myself, the material machine keeps pretty nearly the same periodical movement; the repairs must be by a very nice delicate touch, and my mind is so fortified as to meet all common events with calmness: ever steady to my position, that the good of every man's life preponderates over the evil. God bless you." 7 Georgiana, wife of John first Earl Spencer, daughter of Stephen Poyntz, Esq., and sister of Dr. Poyntz, so often mentioned. LIST OF THE FRENCH LINE-OF-BATTLE SHIPS IN TOULON. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers, and referred to in pp. 311, 314 ante. Though this List may not have been compiled by Nelson, yet as it has been found in his own hand-writing, and as it illustrates some of his Letters, it is inserted. A List, with which this very closely agrees, except in the order of the names of the Ships, entitled "List of the French Line of Battle Ships, in the Great Road of Toulon, according to the order in which they anchored, from East to West, August 26th, 1793, together with remarks on the characters of their Captains, Officers, and Men," forms No. IV. of the "Toulon Papers," printed in the Naval Chronicle, vol. ii. p. 106. In this List, the orthography of Names, (which is very uncertain in Nelson's manuscript,) has been taken from the one printed in the Naval Chronicle.] REMARKS. Formerly Lieutenant de Vaisseau; Sound principles: the Crew supposed to be the same. Formerly Captain of a Fire-Ship; believed of sound principles. A good Officer, formerly Lieutenant de Vaisseau; sound principles. Crew doubtful. Formerly Lieutenant de Vaisseau; Member of the Committee General of the Sections at Toulon ; on board the Victory as a Commissioner from that Committee; good principles. Formerly a Pilot; very doubtful. Formerly Officer of the Port; good principles. Formerly Lieutenant de Vaisseau; of sound principles-a Member of the Committee. Ca Ira 74, Le Hardi (74), and two others of 74 guns; La Perle, a Frigate of 40 guns, having now the flag of Vice Admiral Trogoffe; and five other Frigates. TO THE REVEREND MR. NELSON, HILBOROUGH. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] My dear Brother, August 20th, 1793, off Toulon. Although no occurrence has happened since our sailing from Gibraltar worth mentioning, yet as I know you will like to receive a letter, I write literally only to say we are well. Lord Hood has gone to water the Fleet, and left three Sail of us here to watch the French Fleet. At Marseilles and Toulon they are almost starving, yet nothing brings them to their senses. Although, the Convention has denounced them as traitors yet even these people will not declare for anything but Liberty and Equality. They would, we hear, gladly put themselves under our protection, but our Fleet is inactive. We have attempted nothing. Marseilles must fall if we attack it. Monsieur Égalité is still in prison at Marseilles with his daughter. We have taken nothing: my prize-money will not be twenty pounds. I recollect this is high harvest. I hope you have fine weather and good crops. Remember me kindly to Mrs. Nelson, and our Aunt, and to the children. Compliments at Swaffham. Believe me, Your most affectionate Brother, TO MRS. NELSON. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 132. On the 23rd of August 1793, Commissioners from Marseilles came on board the Victory, to treat for Peace, expecting to meet Commissioners from Toulon, on the basis of declaring a Monarchical form of Government in France-Lord Hood accordingly issued a Proclamation to the Inhabitants of the South of France; and General Carteaux's success at Marseilles so alarmed the Toulonese, that they placed the Citadel and Forts on the coasts provisionally at his disposal. On the 25th of August, Lord Hood directed Captain Nelson in the Agamemnon to proceed without a moment's loss of time to Oneglia, and to leave with the Vice-Consul there, his Lordship's despatches to Mr. Trevor, the Minister at Turin. From Oneglia he was to proceed to Naples, with despatches to Sir William Hamilton; after delivering which, and completing her water, the Agamemnon was to rejoin the Admiral in Hiéres Bay. He was further directed, on the 26th of August, to take the Sardinian Frigate under his protection to Oneglia, and thence to see her as far as Corsica, on her way to Sardinia.-Copy, iu the Nelson Papers.] Begun off the Island of Sardinia, 7th September; finished at anchor off 8 My dear Fanny, I sent you a line by Lord Conway, who is gone Home with Lord Hood's dispatches. As soon as the Treaty was con Lord Hugh Seymour Conway, Captain of the Leviathan 74: be died a ViceAdmiral, in September 1801. Lord Hugh Seymour proceeded in the Tartar to Genoa, and meeting the Agamemnon at Sea on the 30th of August, he wrote to Nelson congratulating him on the surrender of Toulon; and added-"I have written to Sir William Hamilton, to press him to send as many Neapolitan troops to Toulon as possible, as Lord Hood means to make that request of the Court of Naples, being in the greatest want of them, to guard the very numerous and extensive Works which surround Toulon; and which the inhabitants think General Carteaux will endeavour to make some impression upon, after bis success at Marseilles, where he has got the better of the party |