I find this is not the time of year for shaddocks, but I will send some whenever they are in season; at present there is not one to be had. Captain Deane, &c. desire their compli

ments.

Dear Sir,

TO CAPTAIN LOCKER.

[Autograph in the Locker Papers.]

Port Royal, Thursday, 12th August 1779.

6

The Count Line, and a

Jamaica is turned upside down since you left it. d'Estaing is at the Cape with twenty Sail of the Flag-ship, with eight or nine more, are at Port au Prince; the latter Fleet fell in with the Charon and Pomona, in the night, but they got off by good sailing. They say that there are 20,000 men at the Cape ready to embark, and 5,000 at Port au Prince. He arrived at the Cape last Saturday fortnight, with one hundred and twenty-five Sail, Men-of-War and Transports. He passed Captain Lambert's Squadrons on a very thick day, who arrived here yesterday; so that all our Ships are in Port, except Hinchinbrook, Hound, and Porcupine, who, we [have] reason to believe, are taken; as reports are very strong from the Bahama Islands. As I have told you what we may expect, I will tell you the measures taken to defend the Island: 5,000 men are encamped between the Ferry and Kingston, 1,000 in Fort Augusta, 300 at the Apostles' Battery, and we expect to have 500 in Fort Charles, where I am to command. Lion, Salisbury, Charon, and Janus, in a line from the Point to the outer shoal; Ruby and Bristol in the narrows going to Kingston, to rake any Ships that may attack Fort Augusta; Pomona and Speke Indiaman above Rock Fort, and Lowestoffe at the end of the dock-wall. Expresses go to-morrow morning to all quarters. Resource and Penelope off the East End to cruise: four Fire-ships are down here, two of them commissioned. I have very fairly stated our situation, and I leave you

Captain Robert Lambert of the Niger, who obtained that rank in February 1760. Charnock erroneously says, that he was not employed after 1770 until 1782, when he was appointed Commissioner of the Navy at Jamaica.

The reports were unfounded.

in England to judge what stand we shall make; I think you must not be surprised to hear of my learning to speak French. I hope you have had a good passage, and are now in peace and plenty with your family. Ross has behaved in a very publicspirited manner. Has sent the Gayton and his vessels to the Admiral, to send expresses, even his negroes into the batteries. As the Packet sails to-morrow morning, and it was a secret, I have not time to say any more; I know we shall have your wishes for success. May health, peace, and happiness always surround you and your good family, to whom I beg to be kindly remembered, is the constant wish of

Your devoted humble Servant,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO CAPTAIN LOCKER.

[Autograph, in the Locker Papers.]

My dear Sir,

Port Royal, January 23rd, 1780.

I arrived here from a cruize in the middle of December, and received your letter from London with great pleasure, as I much feared you were in France; and on the 10th of this month, I received your letter from Kent, dated October 3rd, and am sorry you are not quite recovered. I sailed in the Hinchinbrook from Port Royal in the middle of September, to join the Niger and Penelope. We took four Sail, for which I shall share about 8007. sterling. We left the Penelope at sea, who soon afterwards took a Spanish privateer: the crew rose upon the Penelope, and have carried her off: they certainly have killed poor Captain Jones and his Officers.7

I know you will be sincerely sorry for the loss of poor Hill, who died of a fever at Rattan. He had entirely recovered of his wounds. I suppose you have heard he lost his right hand in the action. William Forrest, your old Coxswain, is amongst the slain. The Lowestoffe was the

7 This report was not true; but the Penelope, Captain James Jones, foundered with all her crew in that year.

first that stormed, under the command of Dundas. I am now going to tell what you and many others will be very sorry to hear the death of that worthy, good man, Captain Joseph Deane. He died on the 12th of January, and was buried next day, at Green Bay, amidst the tears of his Officers and Ship's company, and his many friends. Captain Cowling 10 is appointed to the Ruby. Of that noble Ship's crew, three hundred took boats and are gone off. Every method has been used to bring them back, which I hope will prove successful. The Salisbury has brought in a Spanish Storeship, mounting fifty-six guns, four hundred men, from Cadiz to Port Omoa, after a smart action of two hours and a-half. The Salisbury lost nine men; the Don fifty men.

1

Our mess is broke up. Captain Cornwallis and myself live together. I hope I have made a friend of him, which I am sure from his character you will be glad to hear. Lambert has changed into the Leviathan, to go home. I have sent a cask or two of shaddocks by him, and Mr. Taylor sends to him this day, that if convenient to take two casks of old rum for you. I shall take your rum out of the Lowestoffe and keep it with me until you send for it. The Spanish Ship is to be made a Ship of 36 guns. The Admiral offered her to me, which I declined. He says he will give me the first Frigate. He has appointed me to go with an Expedition which is now on foot against the city of Grenada, upon the Lake of Niguragua. How it will turn out, God knows. I do not expect to return before the beginning of June, but I shall always take every opportunity of writing to you. Collingwood3 desires to be very particularly remembered to you and Mrs. Locker, to whom I beg you [to] give my best respects.

On the 16th October, 1779, Captain the Hon. John Luttrell, in the Charon 44, with the Lowestoffe, Pomona, and Racehorse, attacked the Fortress of Saint Fernando de Omoa, which was gallantly stormed, and the Register Ships, which had taken refuge there, were captured.

9 Apparently Mr. Thomas Dundas, vide p. 24.

10 Captain John Cowling: he died in 1792.

' Commanded by Captain Charles Inglis, who died a Rear-Admiral, in October 1791. The captured ship was the San Carlos, Don Juan Antonio Zavellata.

6

? Vide Sketch of my Life;' p. 9, ante.

3 Captain Cuthbert Collingwood, afterwards Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood.

VOL. I.

D

The Admiral sails with the Fleet on Tuesday next, the 25th January, to meet if he can the Count de Grasse, who has been cruizing these some weeks past between Cape Nicola and Maize with five Sail of the Line.

You must not be surprised to see me in England after this trip; for if my health is not much better than it is at present, I shall certainly come home, as all the Doctors are against my staying so long in this country. You know

4

my old complaint in my breast: it is turned out to be the gout got there. Kitty Crawford sends you two jars of tamarinds. Cuba, and all your old acquaintances in this part of the world, desire to be kindly remembered to you; and none more so than Captain Cornwallis, who has, I assure you, a very high esteem for your character. Caulfield is to stay behind this cruize to take his trial. Captain Pakenham (Lord Longford's brother) goes in his Ship. Glover 5 is very ill; I hardly think he will get over this cruize. I have been twice given over since you left this country with that cursed disorder, the gout. I must make this a double letter, though against your desire. We have just heard the Penelope was carried into St. Jago, in Cuba. She has been cruizing off the West end of Jamaica. I must now bid you Adieu, wishing you every thing you can wish in this life, and believe me to be with real sincerity,

Your much obliged and sincere friend,

HORATIO NELSON.

Captain Inglis desires his compliments.

Captain the Honourable, afterwards Admiral Sir Thomas Pakenham, G.C.B., who died on the 2nd February 1836.

5 Captain Bonovier Glover, of the Janus, who died immediately before Captain the Honourable William Cornwallis' gallant action, "in the very hour he so wished to see," on the 20th March 1780. He was a son of the Author of "Leonidas."

6 Vide p. 32, note.

7 Captain Charles Inglis, of the Salisbury.

TO CAPTAIN POLSON.

[Autograph, in the possession of P. S. Benwell, Esq. This Letter was addressed to Captain John Polson of the 60th Regiment, who commanded the Expedition against Fort San Juan, near Grenada, assisted by the Hinchinbrook, Captain Nelson, and by some Ships under his orders. See the Sketch of my Life," p. 9. Captain Polson obtained his Majority in the 92nd Regiment on the 20th October 1781.]

Dear Polson,

Port Royal, 2nd June, 1780.

I assure you nothing gave me more pleasure than to hear of your reducing the Fort, before the arrival of Kemble, or any of the folks of the Second Division. When I arrived at Jamaica, I saw General Dalling3 several times, and I told him of all your transactions from our first setting out; our troubles on the Mosquito Shore, &c., which I thought you would wish, as no letters had arrived. He expressed himself very much pleased with your conduct on every occasion, and expressed a very great regard for you, and was very sorry he was obliged to send down older Officers. But when the news arrived of the reduction of the Fort, I assure you he expressed the greatest pleasure it happened to you; and the news arriving of the plundering Black River by the Governor of Camayagoa, I told him of your sending back the Black River Company, and only taking 40 men from Tempest instead of 150; and advising to send 200 men to Black River; and that those 40 men had run away, so that not one Indian was taken to the Westward of the Cape. He was much pleased with those matters, as it takes off all reflection of taking the Inhabitants of the Shore to go upon the Expedition.

I am sorry you and so many of the Officers are not well;

2 Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Kemble, who commanded the 60th or Royal American Regiment, to which Captain Polson belonged.

3 Governor of Jamaica. Vide p. 8, ante.

VOL. I.

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