but they accuse each other: the Officers saying the crews would not fight; the people abuse their Officers, and both parties join in abusing the Commodore, Captain of Fortuneé, for not coming down to us, when we were crippled. I don't think they are the men who would have taken Agamemnon, but they behaved shamefully in not trying. We are taking in stores for Calvi, which I trust will fall in a fortnight after we get our batteries erected. Agamemnon then goes to Gibraltar to get some refit, and I hope from thence to England: latter end of August, or beginning of September, I hope to be at Portsmouth. Remember me kindly to Mrs. Nelson, and to my Aunt, and children. Compliments at Swaffham. Believe me, your most affectionate Brother, HORATIO NELSON. TO MR. EVAN DAVIS, SWANSEA. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, 8vo., vol. i. p. 252.] May or June 1794. From the nature of our profession we hold life by a more precarious tenure than many others, but when we fall, we trust it is to benefit our Country. So fell your Son by a cannon-ball under my immediate command at the Siege of Bastia. I had taken him on shore with me, from his abilities and attention to his duty. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO MRS. NELSON. [From Clark and M'Arthur, vol i. p. 171.] Early in June, 1794. We are just got to Sea after the French Fleet, which we hear is out of Toulon; our Squadron is after them, steering for Calvi, where I fear they will get, in spite of Admiral Hotham's endeavours. The Enemy are nine Sail of the Line, Admiral Hotham seven; two will join from St. Fiorenzo, The Agamemnon's Log states that a Seaman called Thomas Davis, was killed during the Siege of Bastia. and Lord Hood goes with six of us. If we have but the good fortune to catch them at Sea, we shall, I am sure, give a good account of them. Lord Hood only got the account last night at eleven o'clock, and by seven this morning we were all under sail. The Agamemnon had two hundred tons of ordnance to get out, and Lord Hood had given me orders to follow him as fast as possible: I was enabled to sail in half an hour after him, and we are now alongside the Victory. I pray God we may meet this Fleet. If any accident should happen to me, I am sure my conduct will be such as will entitle you to the Royal favour not that I have the least idea but I shall return to you, and full of honour; if not, the Lord's will be done. My Name shall never be a disgrace to those who may belong to me. The little I have, you know I have given to you, except a small annuity. I wish it was more; but I have never got a farthing dishonestly; it descends from clean hands. Whatever fate awaits me, I pray God to bless you, and preserve you for your Son's sake. I think always in the most affectionate manner of my Father; tell him so, and ever believe me your most affectionate husband, HORATIO Nelson. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR GILBERT ELLIOT. [Autograph, in the Minto Papers.-The Right Honourable Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart., was sent to Corsica as Commissary Plenipotentiary. After the cession of the Island to Great Britain he became Viceroy, which office he held until the evacuation of Corsica in October 1796. On the 20th of October 1797 he was created a Peer, by the title of LORD MINTO, and obtained a Royal Grant of the Arms of Corsica, to be borne on a Chief, over his family Ensigns. His Lordship was Envoy Extraordinary to Vienna in 1799: in 1806 he was made President of the Board of Controul; and in 1807, Governor-General of India. In February 1813 his eminent public services were rewarded by the dignities of VISCOUNT of MELGUND, and EARL of MINTO. He died in June 1814, and was succeeded by his eldest Son, Sir Gilbert Elliot Murray Kynynmond, G.C.B., the present Earl of Minto, to whose kindness the Editor and the Public are indebted for this, and many other valuable Letters from Lord Nelson to his distinguished Father.] Agamemnon, Bastia, June 12th, 1794. Dear Sir, As I am sure you must be anxious to hear of Lord Hood,* 'Intelligence having reached Lord Hood, at Bastia, that the French Fleet had put I shall, the moment I get on shore, desire a messenger to be dispatched to your Excellency with this letter. He did not (owing to little winds) join Admiral Hotham off Calvi till daylight on the 9th, and the Admiral had not been nearer the French Fleet than four leagues, and they had the wind of him, which induced him to steer for Calvi. At half-past nine o'clock, a Frigate was seen to the Westward, with the signal flying for the Enemy's Fleet to the Westward. Lord Hood instantly made the signal for a general chase. When the Frigate joined, Sir Charles Hamilton acquainted his Lordship that he left the French Fleet at eight o'clock at night on the 8th, twelve leagues off the Island of Santa Margareta, laying to with their heads off shore. Lord Hood then made the signal for to chase N.W., which we did, till dark, when the Fleet was collected round the Victory, she carrying all her plain sails during the night, and having Frigates in every direction. At noon, on the 10th, being nearly on the Station where the Enemy was seen, and in sight of the French coast, Lord Hood thought fit to order Agamemnon to Bastia, to convoy the troops to Mortella Bay, and to get everything in readiness to land them at Calvi at a moment's notice. Courageux is gone to Fiorenzo for stores, and comes round to Bastia. I lost sight of the Victory at half-past five o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, with thirteen Sail of the Line and several Frigates standing with an easy sail in shore. On the morning of the 9th, a heavy firing was heard by the Dido, and we fear the Sardinian Frigate is taken by them. By a Merchant-ship, spoke by the Fleet, we learn that the Convoy from England, with the troops, &c., and Thalia and Inflexible, are arrived in Gibraltar Bay. I hope they will to Sea on the 5th of June, he immediately proceeded with the Squadron, consisting of thirteen Sail of the Line, including the Agamemnon, to meet them. On the 10th the Enemy were seen under the land of St. Tropez, but they succeeded in getting into Gourjean, where he resolved to attack them. It was, however, found impracticable to do so; and Lord Hood, leaving Vice-Admiral Hotham to watch them, returned to Bastia. The Agamemnon quitted the Fleet for Bastia on the 10th, as soon as the hopes of an Engagement were at an end, and she arrived there on the 12th of that month, to assist in the Siege of Calvi. The present Admiral Sir Charles Hamilton, Bart., K. C. B., then Captain of the Dido. not venture up till Lord Hood can get off Toulon, or wherever the French Fleet are got to. The Enemy are nine sail of the Line, and seven other Vessels. If Lord Hood can get hold of these gentry, he will give a most glorious account of them I am certain. Believe me, with the highest esteem, Your Excellency's most obedient Servant, JOURNAL C. [From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. i. pp. 172—189.] [This Journal relates only to the Siege of Calvi. Captain Nelson sent a copy of it daily to Lord Hood, by whom it was transmitted to the Admiralty; but the only parts now in the Admiralty are those from the 28th of July to the 8th of August, for which period Clarke and M'Arthur have not given any extracts.] June 13th.-Having ordered every Transport and Victualler, except the Ships in the Mole, to be ready to sail with me, and a Ship laden with empty casks, on the 13th of June, by eight o'clock every Soldier was embarked, amounting to 1450 men, exclusive of Officers. At noon made the signal to unmoor, and at four the signal to weigh. Sailed in company with his Majesty's Ships Dolphin, Gorgon, and twenty-two Sail of Vessels. June the 15th, at seven o'clock in the morning, we arrived at Fiorenzo, and anchored in Mortella Bay. General Stuart came on board, and expressed himself anxious to go on to the attack of Calvi, if I thought it right to proceed with the Shipping, which I certainly did; placing the firmest reliance that we should be perfectly safe under Lord Hood's protection, who would take care that the French Fleet at Gourjcan should not molest us. I therefore gave the necessary orders, and sailed the next day [the 16th] at half-past five in the evening from Mortella Bay, with the Dolphin, Lutine, and sixteen Sail of Transports, Victuallers, and Store-ships. It was ten o'clock at night on the 17th, before any of the Ships could get to an anchor on the coast about four miles to the westward of Cape Revellata, the bottom rocky, and very deep water; the Agamemnon lying in fifty-three fathoms, about one mile from the shore, opposite a little inlet called Porto Agro. This coast is so rocky, except in this inlet, that a boat cannot land stores on any other place; and it is with the greatest difficulty that a man can get up the cliffs. June the 18th, in the morning, at half-past three o'clock, I went on shore with General Stuart to examine the Coast, with the hopes of finding a better landing-place; but we both agreed it could only be at the inlet called Porto Agro, though by no means a convenient place for landing guns or stores, as sunken rocks lie twenty feet from the shore, with deep water between them; and with a common sea-breeze such a swell sets in, as to prevent Boats from landing. This inlet is three miles and a half from the town of Calvi. Examined the Enemy's outposts, and found them as follows: Monachesco, about 2200 yards from the Town, on the S. W. side of it. The Mozelle fort, West from the Town about 900 yards; and the Fountain battery in a shoulder of the hill, between Mozelle and San Francesco; which last stands on a rock on the north side of the peninsula, and is washed by the The Town itself is apparently well fortified, but without any ditch. sea. June 19th.-The Troops were disembarked at seven o'clock on the morning of the 19th, under the direction of Captain E. Cooke, with six field-pieces, which the seamen dragged up the hills. I landed in the afternoon with 250 Seamen, and encamped on the beach, getting on shore baggage for the Army. By the General's desire I sent the Fox Cutter, with directions for 180 of the Royal Louis, the 18th Regiment, and 100 of the 69th Regiment, to join as soon as possible. soon as possible. During the whole of the 20th and 21st it blew so strong, with a heavy sea and rain, and with such thunder and lightning, as precluded all intercourse with the Shipping, most of which put to sea. The Scamen were employed in making roads for their guns, and in getting up three twenty-six-pounders to the • Called in General Stuart's Despatch "Mollinochesco." Captain Edward Cooke. This gallant Officer was severely wounded in command of the Sybille, in capturing La Forte, French Frigate, in the East Indies, on the 28th February 1799. He died of his wounds on the 23rd of May following. |