TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [Autograph, in the Hood Papers.] Camp, July 13th, 1794. My dear Lord, Captain Knight will tell you that the Enemy dismounted one of our twenty-six-pounders yesterday, but another was got into the battery at dusk. We are now getting off the beach at Port Agro four eighteen-pounders, which are to be carried round in the evening. We are in want of eighteenpounder shot for the two eighteen-pounders landed from Agamemnon. I have landed all but one thousand, but if your Lordship pleases, I will land such part of those as you may judge proper. They also want one barrel of pitch to pay the bottoms of tubs for the batteries. I have none; therefore request you will be pleased to order a barrel to be landed. If it is practicable, the General wishes to get Mozelle without erecting another battery, and then our efforts will all be against the Town-wall: eighteen-pounders to be left in our present battery, and the thirty-six and twenty-sixpounders carried forward. My eye is better, and I hope not entirely to lose the sight. I shall be able to attend my duty this evening if a new battery is to be erected. Hallowell, who is a worthy good man, and myself, feel ourselves fully equal to whatever duty can be performed by our Seamen landed: should we want assistance I will acquaint your Lordship. Believe me, with truest esteem, We have been so unlucky with our guns in the advanced battery, five having been ruined out of the six mounted, that the General wishes, if the Victory has any of the Commerce de Marseilles' guns on board, that two or three may be landed.1 I rather think the guns we have on shore are not those we had at Bastia; therefore I am in hopes they may be on board the Victory. The present battery will be continued complete, eighteen-pounders instead of the heavy ones. Not less than seven guns will be wanted against the Town, and we have got only six. I shall land one twenty-four-pounder from Agamemnon this night, as also some eighteen-pounder shot. I am sure we should get on much faster, but the General has not a person to forward his views-the Engineer sick, the Artillery Captain not fit for active service; therefore every minute thing must be done by himself, or it is not done at all. Last night we landed, and got to the rear of the battery four eighteen-pounders, and mounted a twenty-six-pounder in the room of the one dismounted yesterday. Our battery against Mozelle, if one is necessary, is, I understand, to be made this night. The General is not well. He fatigues himself too much, but I can't help seeing he is obliged to do it. I am sorry to hear your Lordship has not been so well as I most sincerely wish you to be; but I hope before this time the complaint is removed. Believe me, my dear Lord, With highest respect, your most faithful, One Soldier killed. I keep my rough Journal regularly on a copy for your Lordship is rather behind, but to-morrow I hope to send it. To this request Lord Hood signified his assent, on the 14th of July: “My dear Nelson,—You shall have three of the Commerce de Marseilles' guns on shore this evening. I grieve to bear the General is not well, but am not surprised at it, being sensible how much he is obliged to attend to himself, being so tamely supported; but if the Duncans keep well I don't care, as they are the men I depend upon. I cannot boast of my own health, but hope by care and attention to hold out to see Calvi reduced. From your rapid firing last night I flattered myself it was intended to walk into the Mozelle as this night. Captain Seccombe is here, whom I shall keep in case you should want his help. He is a very active fellow. Very faithfully yours, HooD. You shall have two more of the Commerce de Marseilles guns to-morrow night, if the General wishes it."-Copy, in the Hood Papers. TO THOMAS POLLARD, ESQ., LEGHORN. [Autograph, (framed and glazed,) in the possession of Mr. Farrer, of Montagu Street, Portman Square.] My dear Sir, July 14th, 1794. I have to beg the favour of you to forward the inclosed for England. The money you mention as having sent by the Sincerity, Lieutenant Walker, is not received. You will be sorry to hear of the fate of Captain Serocold, but he fell as an Officer should, in the service of his Country. Hallowell and myself are both well, except my being half blinded by these fellows, who have given me a smart slap in the face, for which I am their debtor, but hope not to be so long. Your obliged, HORATIO NELSON, TO MRS. NELSON. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol i. 182.] July 14th, 1794. A fortnight will, I have no doubt, give us Calvi; but our efforts here are at such a distance, and so eclipsed by Lord Howe's great success at home, that I dare say we are not thought of: however, we must exert ourselves. We landed the guns, &c., as you will see by my Journal, which is up to this morning at daylight: the General is better; has spared himself a very little these two nights. He hopes to be able to take Mozelle without erecting another battery. I made, yesterday, thirteen scaling-ladders, on board Agamemnon, and landed them this morning, for I think the Troops will be troubled in getting up the wall, becauset he earth is too loose, and the weight of men will sink into it. The Enemy have heaped up a great quantity of sand-bags in the breach, and are aware of the General's intentions, I am sure by their conduct, although I have no doubt of our success. We changed the twenty-six-pounder in the battery last night for the eighteen-pounder. I shall rejoice to hear your Lordship is perfectly recovered, Being, with the sincerest esteem, Your most faithful HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL LORD HOOD. [Autograph, in the Hood Papers.] July 16th, 1794. My dear Lord, We can want no more guns on shore, having now seven twenty-six pounders, one twenty-four pounder, two thirtysix pounders, laying idle in the rear of our battery, besides three which the Royal Louis are in proper time, I suppose, to bring forward. The General did not think the breach practicable; and I am rather inclined to think it will not be more so this evening, for we are battering against the solid rock, and the Enemy have filled up the space between the work and the Cavalier with sand-bags. We must this evening either erect another battery for four guns, 250 yards nearer, which will knock down an angle, or mount the breach as it is. Two days I can't help thinking are already lost. Colonel Moore, as Colonel of the Flank Company, will have the command, and I think it is he who wishes the breach to be made wider. We are slow, which I am sorry for. Moutray, whose battery on the point seems now little thought of, wishes to come here. He says there is a careful Midshipman, therefore wishes to give his assistance here. Men we do not want: if your Lordship has no objection, I will occa sionally take him over for a night's work now and then; but I would not do it without your approbation. We are all well. My eye is much better. Believe me, with truest esteem, Your Lordship's most faithful, No accident.? TO WILLIAM SUCKLING, ESQ. My dear Sir, [From "the Athenæum."] Calvi, Camp, July 16th, 1794. It is a little age since I have had the pleasure of hearing from you. A letter would give me real pleasure, and to say you are all well. I hear Captain Suckling is gone abroad, where I am sure he will acquit himself with honour to himself and friends, amongst which I hope I am considered in the strongest degree. To an Officer, I feel, and assure you he does, that an opportunity to distinguish ourselves is our greatest happiness. What pleasure must those who are dear to us feel in reading of a gallant Officer's conduct. I don't doubt but your son will return safe, and with every credit which an Officer can receive-that he may, I most sincerely wish. You will probably have heard that I am landed here, although 2 Lord Hood's answer to this Letter, dated July 16th, contains his opinion on an important question, to which Nelson alludes in his Letters of the same day :"My dear Nelson,-I am happy to hear you are better, and that no accidents have happened since yesterday. You are at liberty to make what use you please of Moutray, and I have told him so. Captain Seccombe is here, much disposed to be useful, and ready to obey your commands if you would have him. I am sorry the General and I differ with respect to Summoning the Garrison, having always understood that whenever an Army is before a place and does not Summon it, the besieged conclude no terms will be granted. I shall not, however, say another word upon the subject. I have given my reasons for the measure, and those increase daily, which makes the delay, even of a day, of importance to our Allies, consequently to his Majesty's service. But I say this to you alone. If things do not go altogether right no blame shall lay at my door. Ever faithfully yours, HooD. L'Aigle is in sight from Leghorn.”—Copy in the Hood Papers. |