ET. 35.] LETTERS. TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. i. p. 169.] [Apparently 23rd May 1794.] My dear Lord, With the most heartfelt satisfaction do I congratulate you on the great event of this day,1 accomplished by that solid 1 It is desirable to give Lord Hood's Dispatch, as printed in the London Gazette, on the surrender of Bastia, not only because it is a necessary illustration of an event in which Nelson performed so distinguished a part, but because the manner in which the services of the Officers was mentioned gave great umbrage to him, as he considered that his exertions had not been duly apThat Lord Hood could not preciated. (See some subsequent Letters.) have intended to do him injustice is evident from his Lordship's high character, from his whole conduct towards him, and from his private Letters; but it is impossible to deny that Nelson, who was the mainspring of the Enterprize, and upon whom most of the responsibility and labour had fallen, deserved a distinct acknowledgment of his merits; and, at least, as strong an eulogium as a young Captain of Artillery, whom he had himself first brought to Lord Hood's notice. "" Sir, Victory, off Bastia, May 24th, 1794. "I have the honour to acquaint you that the Town and Citadel of Bastia, with the several Posts upon the heights, surrendered to the arms of his Majesty on the 22nd. On the 19th I received a message that the garrison was disirous of capitulating upon honourable terms, in consequence of which I sent the enclosed note on shore. This brought on board the Victory three Officers, who informed me that Gentili, the Commandant, would assemble the Officers of the several corps and of the Municipality if a Truce took place, which I agreed to, a little before sunset. The next day I received a note from Gentili, which I also enclose, and sent Captain Young on shore on the morning of the 21st, who soon returned to the Victory with two Officers and two of the Administrative Bodies, which, with Vice Admiral Goodall, Captain Young, Captain Inglefield, and my Secretary Mr. M'Arthur, settled the Articles of Capitulation, which were signed the following morning, when his Majesty's Troops took possession of all the Posts above the Town, the Troops in each retiring to the Citadel, from whence they marched to the Mole-head, where they grounded their arms and were embarked. You will receive herewith the Articles of Capitulation, which I hope his Majesty will approve. "I am unable to give due praise to the unremitting zeal, exertion, and judicious conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Villettes, who had the honour of commanding his Majesty's Troops: never was either more conspicuous. Major Brereton and every Officer and soldier under the Lieutenant-Colonel's orders are justly entitled to my warmest acknowledgments; their persevering ardour and desire to distinguish themselves cannot be too highly spoken of, and which it will be my pride to remember to the latest period of my life. "Captain Nelson, of his Majesty's Ship Agamemnon, who had the command and directions of the Seamen in landing the guns, mortars, and stores, and Captain Hunt who commanded at the batteries very ably assisted by Captain Buller and Captain Serocold, and the Lieutenants Gore, Hotham, Stiles, Andrews, and Brisbane, have an equal claim to my gratitude, as the Seamen under their management worked the guns with great judgment and alacrity. Never judgment which no fears of others could warp from that duty, and love of our Country which has ever shone so conspicuous. My heart is too full to say all I think; but I must not for was an higher spirit or greater perseverance exhibited, and I am happy to say that no other contention was at any time known than who should be most forward and indefatigable for promoting his Majesty's Service; for although the difficulties they had to struggle with were many and various, the perfect harmony and good humour that universally prevailed throughout the siege overcame them all. "I cannot but express in the strongest terms, the meritorious conduct of Captain Duncan and Lieut. Alexander Duncan of the Royal Artillery and Lieut. De Butts of the Royal Engineers, but my obligation is particularly great to Captain Duncan, as more zeal, ability, and judgment, was never shown by any Officer, than were displayed by him, and I take the liberty of mentioning him as an Officer highly entitled to his Majesty's notice. "I feel myself very much indebted for the vigilance and attention of Captain Wolseley of the Imperieuse, and of Captain Hallowell, who became a volunteer wherever he could be useful, after being superseded in the command of the Courageux by Captain Waldegrave. The former kept a diligent watch upon the Island of Capraia, where the Enemy have magazines of provisions and stores, and the latter did the same by guarding the harbour's mouth of Bastia, with Gun-boats and launches well armed the whole of every night; whilst the smaller boats were very judiciously placed in the intervals between, and rather without the ships (which were moored in a crescent just out of reach of the Enemy's guns) by Captain Young of the Fortitude, the centre Ship, on board of which every boat assembled at sunset for orders, and the cheerfulness with which the Officers and Men performed this nightly duty is very much to be admired, and afforded me the most heart-felt satisfaction and pleasure. "The very great and effectual assistance I received from Vice-Admiral Goodall, Captain Inglefield, and Captain Knight, as well as from every Captain and Officer of his Majesty's Ships under my command, have a just claim to my most particular thanks, not only in carrying into execution my orders afloat, but in attending to and supplying the wants of the little Army on shore. It is to the very cordial and decided support alone I had the honour to receive from the whole that the innumerable difficulties we had to control with were so happily surmounted. "Major Smith and Ensign Vigoreux of the 25th Regiment, and Captain Radsdale and Lieutenant St. George of the 11th, not embarking with their respective regiments, having civil employments on shore; it is to their honour I mention that they relinquished those employments and joined their corps soon after the troops landed. "It is very much my duty to inform you that I am extremely obliged to General Petrecono, Mr. Frediani, and all the Officers of the Corsicans serving with the Army, for their great zeal, ardour, and attention, in forwarding the reduction of Bastia by every means in their power who were of infinite service by preserving good order in the troops. I transmit an account of the loss on the part of his Majesty in killed and wounded, which I am happy to say is inconsiderable, but the Enemy suffered much, their hospitals being full. "At the commencement of the Siege the number of the Enemy bearing arms was three thousand. get my friend Captain Duncan, who having attained that rank, I understand, for his services at Toulon, will, I trust, have another step through your Lordship's interest: the rank of Major is, as I am informed, not unfrequently given. I need say no more. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON, K.B., MINISTER AT NAPLES. ["Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton." 8vo. 1814. vol. ii. p. 225.] Bastia, May 24th, 1794. My dear Sir, Will you have the goodness to forward the inclosed to Mr. Brand, and to present my letter to Lady Hamilton? Every lover of his Country will rejoice in our great and almost unexampled success, to the honour of my Lord Hood, and to the shame of those who opposed his endeavours to serve his Country. General Stuart, I am happy to say, is just arrived. We shall now join heart and hand against Calvi. When conquered, I shall hope to pay my respects to your Excellency at Naples, which will give real pleasure to your very faithful and obliged HORATIO NELSON. "By the first Ship that sails for England I shall have the honour of sending, to be laid at his Majesty's feet, the several stand of colours taken at Bastia. Captain Hunt, who was on shore in the command of the batteries, from the hour the troops landed to the surrender of the Town, will be the bearer of this Dispatch, and can give any further information you may wish to know respecting the Siege. "I have the honour, &c., " HOOD. " "Right Hon. Henry Dundas." * General the Honourable Charles Stuart, fourth son of John, third Earl of Bute, and father of the present Sir Charles Stuart, G.C.B., Lord Stuart de Rothesay," an Officer who, unfortunately for his Country, never had an adequate field for the display of those eminent talents which were, to all who knew him, so conspicuous." General Stuart received the Order of the Bath in January 1799, and died in March 1801.-Southey's Life of Nelson. VOL. I. D D TO WILLIAM LOCKER, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ROYAL HOSPITAL, GREENWICH. [Autograph, in the Locker Papers.] My dear Friend, Agamemnon, Bastia, May 30th, 1794. I am just got on board after eight weeks' service on shore, where I trust I have acquitted myself in a manner my friends will be pleased with. The more we see of this place, the more we are astonished at their giving it up, but the truth is, the different parties were afraid to trust each other; they can be justified on no other ground. I only yesterday got your letter of the 12th of December, which my brother sent in a box. I have now on board two Captains, twenty-four other Officers, and 300 Seamen of the Ships we fell in with last October.1 The Officers abuse the crews, the people their Officers; all join against their Commodore for not coming down to us after we were crippled: not that I have any idea they could have taken us, but they certainly behaved shamefully ill. The Fortunée is burned, the Minerve and La Flêche taken; the Melpomene is at Calvi, and I trust will fall into our hands. We are now taking on board shot, shells, powder, &c. for Calvi, which, although very strongly situated, will I believe soon fall, which when done, Agamemnon goes to Gibraltar to get something done to her, having now been without the slightest repair in hull or rigging, sixteen months. Bastia is most pleasantly situated, contains 14,000 inhabitants, and will hold 20,000. A few hours carries parties to Italy. If the Corsicans know their own interests they will be happy with us, but they cannot bear dependence. Remember me kindly to all your family, who I hope to see in August or September; and believe me, Your most obliged and affectionate Direct me a letter to Gibraltar. 1 Vide г.334, ante. ET. 35.] LETTERS. TO THE REVEREND MR. NELSON, HILBOROUGH. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] Agamemnon, Bastia, May 30th, 1794. My dear Brother, If received my letter on our intention to land near you Bastia, you will naturally have been anxious (more than common) for our success. If proofs were wanting to show that perseverance, unanimity, and gallantry, can accomplish almost incredible things, we are an additional instance. All has been done by Seamen, and Troops embarked to serve as Marines, except a few Artillery under the orders of Lord Hood, who has given in this instance a most astonishing proof of the vigour of his mind, and of his zeal and judgment. His thanks to the Seamen probably will find its way into the Newspapers: they are as handsome as can be penned. 4,500 men have laid down their arms to under 1,200 Troops and Seamen: it is such an event as is hardly on record. Seventy-seven pieces of ordnance, with an incredible quantity of stores, are taken, with a Man-of-War of twenty-two guns. The Fortunée was destroyed at Fiorenzo,'the Minerva taken, La Flêche here: therefore three out of four of my antagonists are gone. The Melpomene is at Calvi, and will, I hope, fall into our hands with Mignonne, a small Frigate. Thus I shall still have the satisfaction of seeing this Squadron taken, which could not have happened had they not fallen in with me. They were bound to Nice, but Melpomene being so much damaged, they were obliged to put into Corsica. I have now on board two Captains of the Frigates, twenty Officers, and 300 Seamen. All join in our praise, 3" Victory, off Bastia, 2nd May 1794. "The Commander-in-Chief returns his best thanks to Captain Nelson, and desires he will present them to Captain Hunt, Captain Serocold, and Captain Bullen, as well as to every Officer and Seamen employed in the Reduction of Bastia, for the indefatigable zeal and exertion they have so cheerfully manifested in the discharge of the very laborious duties committed to them, notwithstanding the various difficulties and disadvantages they have had to struggle with, which could not have been surmounted, but by the uncommon spirit and cordial unanimity, that have been so conspicuously displayed, and which must give a stamp of reputation to their characters not to be effaced, and will be remembered with gratitude by the Commander-in-Chief to the end of his life." "Captain Nelson." |