Two twenty-six pounders from Commerce de Marseilles, and 3000 shot. Two twenty-four pounders from Agamemnon, and 2000 shot. N.B.-The Agamemnon has not 900 shot of this calibre. Four eighteen-pounders French, and 6000 shot, supposed from Pearl and from Fiorenzo. Three twelve-pounders French, and 4500 shot. Two twenty-one pounders from Agamemnon for shells. These wanted, exclusive of the five guns and ten-inch howitzer on board the Victory. I think these guns are more likely with the shot to be got than any others. HORATIO NELSON. TO THOMAS POLLARD, ESQ., LEGHORN. [Autograph, in the possession of John Luxford, Esq.] My dear Sir, Camp, near Calvi, June 27th, 1794. I have received your letter of June 10th, wherein you want a Prize-list for one vessel taken by Tartar and myself, which I believe Captain Fremantle has settled about: if not, send the net proceeds to me, and I will give you a receipt; but the Tartar must be paid, as you could not have paid Andrews. You have only to class the proportions of Vessels as Captain Fremantle has told you them: 1st Class, Admiral, so much. 2nd ditto, ditto. 3rd ditto, therefore Captains must be alike. 5th ditto, Warrants do. Petty do. 6th ditto, Seamen do. Both Ships, the Cutter and Gun-boat, has, I am sure, 5 Captain Thomas Francis Fremantle of the Tartar of 28 guns, afterwards a Vice-Admiral, a G.C.B., Baronet, and G.C.M.G., who will be again often mentioned. been settled by Fremantle, as Udney has sent his very right, and I only wait yours to make a distribution. Respecting the Virgin del Porto, send the net proceeds to either Captain Wolseley here, or myself; and we will give you a receipt, and shall deliver the proper proportion to Lutine, Meleager, and Gun-boat which were in sight. I have received all the good things you have sent me, even to the last newspapers-a very great treat to us, Captain Hallowell, and Captain Serocold. We are before Calvi, and shall have it in due time. Believe me, your very much obliged, HORATIO NELSON. TO MRS. NELSON. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 175.] My dear Fanny, Camp, near Calvi, June 27th, 1794. I sent you a few lines just as we landed, since which nothing particular has occurred. Dragging cannon up steep mountains, and carrying shot and shells, has been our constant employment. Josiah is very well, and I have no fears but he will be a good man. He is affectionate, though warm in his disposition, which nothing can cool so thoroughly as being at Sea, where nobody has entirely their own way. Corsica, in respect to prizes, produces nothing but honour, far above the consideration of wealth: not that I despise riches, quite the contrary, yet I would not sacrifice a good name to obtain them. The French here do not know what to make of us. They hear we are landed, yet have not seen us, nor have they any idea about our batteries, which, when they open, will be heavy on them. That we shall take Calvi in due time, I have no manner of doubt. You know, probably, that John Udney, Esq., the British Consul and a Merchant at Leghorn, who, like Mr. Pollard, often acted as Agent for Prizes taken by the Squadron. 7 Captain Benjamin Hallowell, afterwards Admiral Sir Benjamin Hallowell Carew, G.C.B. This distinguished Officer will be again frequently mentioned. George the Third is King of Corsica, chosen by the unanimous consent of the people themselves, the best of all Titles; they are now our fellow-subjects. The first resolution of the Parliament of Corsica was to declare they were Englishmen: they might have been mistaken for Irishmen, by their bull. You will hear that Lord Hood fell in with the French Fleet, on the 10th; but they were too near the shore for him to prevent their getting into Port. His Lordship wished to attack them; a Council of Flag-officers prevented him. You may be assured he will either take or destroy them, but I trust not before Calvi is ours, when I shall immediately join the Fleet. Be so good as to write a line to my Father, to say I am well, never better; also to Mrs. Bolton, and that I shall write soon. I expect this will find you at Mr. Matcham's, at Ringwood; remember me kindly. God bless you. HORATIO NELSON. June 28th. Those people who so liberally abuse everybody but themselves, are probably the very persons who deserve abuse. I hope those who are to get so much money will make a proper use of it. Had I attended less than I have done to the service of my Country, I might have made some too: however, I trust my name will stand on record, when the money-makers will be forgot. JOURNAL C. On the 27th of June, we got up two ten-inch howitzers, and were employed all the day in carrying the heavy guns and carriages about three quarters of a mile forward, during a constant rain. Throughout the whole time, a gale of wind cut off all intercourse with the Ships. At one o'clock in the afternoon, the French came out, and made an attempt to turn $ Nelson's dislike to "Councils of War " is emphatically shown by a Letter in a subsequent part of this work. Owing to recent promotions, there were in a Fleet of thirteen Sail of the Line, the extraordinary number of eight Flag Officers; namely, Admiral Lord Hood, Vice-Admirals Hotham, Goodall, and Corby, and Rear-Admirals Sir Hyde Parker, Linzee, Lutwidge, and Dickson. both flanks of the Corsicans. A Gun-boat also came out to support their rear, and the Enemy advanced under cover of a heavy cannonade. Our Light Corps were under arms to support the Corsicans if necessary, and the Seamen got down two field-pieces and fired at the Gun-boat, which instantly rowed away. The Enemy rather forced our Corsicans to fall back, on which I went with General Stuart to them: they kept up a smart firing of musketry, and regained their post. Colonel Sabbatini,9 their Commandant, was killed, with two or three others, and five or six were wounded. The Enemy retired to their works about four o'clock, and I believe have not the smallest idea of our intentions of bringing cannon over the mountains. July 3rd.-The Seamen were employed for six hours in bringing up stores from the landing-place, and at night carrying casks, sand-bags, and platforms, towards the intended battery. The French cannoneers and Royal Louis made the three-gun battery against Monachesco, which they are to have the fighting of. TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. My dear Lord, Camp, July 3rd, 1794. I keep a regular Journal of each day's occurrence, which I will write out to-morrow and send your Lordship. In case you should send away before I can get my Journal to you, I beg leave to tell you that I arrived at Bastia on the 12th of June, in the morning; that all the Troops were embarked, 1450 men, on the 13th; that I sailed from Bastia the same evening; arrived at Fiorenzo on the 15th, in the evening; and having got all the stores embarked, I sailed with Dolphin and Lutine, with eighteen Sail of Transports and Store-ships, and anchored on the 17th, in the night, about four miles to the westward of Cape Revellata. The 9 Called in General Stuart's Despatch in the London Gazette, “ Lieutenant Colonel Senibaldi." VOL. I. E E Troops were landed on the 19th, at four o'clock in the morning, in a Cove called Port Agro, about three miles and half from the Town of Calvi, at which place all our Artillery and Stores are obliged to be landed. Particulars of our transactions I will, as I have before wrote, send to morrow, if possible. I beg leave most sincerely to congratulate your Lordship on the great news from England, though I am sure we shall all regret poor George Montague.1 Believe me with truest esteem, Your most obliged, HORATIO NELSON. By the ignorance and laziness of people in the different departments, the General is kept back much longer than he wished. Our advanced battery, I am sure, will not be made this night-much to his displeasure. All our guns are within three hundred yards of the intended battery against Mozelle: the battery against Monachesco was made last night in direct contradiction to the General's orders. The French are of course firing at it, but it is thought right not to return the fire. We have nine twenty-six pounders, two twenty-four pounders, two eighteen pounders, three twelve-inch mortars, two ten-inch howitzers, one eight-inch howitzer, six fieldpieces, all in their proper places. I have sent for the Agents of Transports to send me an exact Return of what Ships are cleared; and what the other Ships have still on board, which I will send the first moment I get it. 1 The Battle of the 1st of June 1794; Captain James Montague fell, in command of the Montagu, of 74 guns. |