Sir, TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Antigua, February 8th, 1787. In September 1786, I appointed Mr. Thomas Morgan to act as Surgeon of the Rattler in the room of Mr. William Lewis, who was invalided to go to England for the establishment of his health. Inclosed I send you the Navy Board's letter, and also one from Mr. Morgan. Mr. Morgan's situation is a hard one. The Appointment to the Rattler was an additional expense, which he would not have been subjected to had he remained in the Boreas. However, the Service obliged his going, and that was not to be considered; but Mr. Morgan had many and just reasons to refuse bringing a Medicine Chest and Instruments. The Rattler was expected to be ordered Home, and if she goes soon he will still be out of pocket by the Appointment; but Mr. Morgan would not allow the King's Service to be injured by his refusal to take the Medicine Chest and Instruments; hoping, and indeed I told him, that there would be no doubt of his being put on the Surgeons' List for his conduct, more especially as he had passed for Surgeon of a Third Rate, and had served all the War with an unexceptionable character. This, I hope, will weigh with their Lordships, and induce them to order Mr. Morgan to be put upon the Surgeons' List. I have the honour to remain, &c. Sir, TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Antigua, February 9th, 1787. In January, the Rattler being at Barbadoes, seized a Schooner, being clearly by her papers an American Vessel. I transmit you the several letters which have passed, and the Case laid before Mr. Charles Brandford, his Majesty's Attorney and Advocate-General of Barbadoes. Their Lordships will see that he has refused his Opinion, unless accompanied by a proper fee. Captain Collingwood, not having money to pay for Opinions, could do nothing to the Vessel; and she is now trading in these Seas. I some time ago told you of Mr. Brandford's intentions;" and a Captain of a Man-of-War that does not carry a long purse cannot prosecute Vessels under Mr. Brandford of Barbadoes, and Mr. Byam of Grenada. They, I am certain, do not deserve (and I hope their Lordships will think with me) to be his Majesty's Law Officers. But whilst I am complaining of Mr. Brandford of Barbadoes, let me do justice to Mr. William Forbes, the King's Proctor, who carried on this business without demanding any fees; and how high does Messrs. Brandford and Byams' conduct place Mr. Stanley and Mr. Adye, who have ever carried on Prosecutions, and given opinions without fee or reward. Your letter of December 4th, I received by the Packet, and do most sincerely partake of the happiness you enjoy by being united to an amiable woman. You will treat her kindly and tenderly, I have no doubt. A truly good husband is a good thing, and I hope to see it fully in you. I beg my best respects to the lady. The summer will probably bring me to England, but the time lays with the Admiralty. I fancy the King's Servants and the Officers of my little Squadron will not be sorry to part with me. They think I make them do their duty too strictly and the West Indians will give a Balle Champetre upon my departure. They hate me; and they will every Officer who does his duty. You know I have the honour of having Prince William under my command. In every respect, both as a Man and a Prince, I love him. He has honoured me as his confidential friend; in this he shall not be mistaken. I am sorry for poor Kate, but marriage is not a thing to be hastily entered into ; and it's better to find a man to be good for nothing before, than after marriage. I am happy my Father has been able to make an addition to Maurice's allowance. I have never lost sight of his preferment in the line he is in, but my interest is but rising. I have already spoken to his Royal Highness about him, but it must take time to get on; and the Prince has it not in his power to do all he wishes at present. My time is short; therefore my letter must finish. Compliments to all I know, and believe me ever, Your affectionate brother, HORATIO NELSON. TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., TOWN MALLING. [Autograph, in the Locker Papers.] My dear Friend, Boreas, English Harbour, February 9th, 1787. Your letter of November 29th I received by a Merchantship; it is the only one I have got, although I see you have wrote several desiring me to get things; but not a line has ever reached me till now. I was fearful I had unknowingly offended, but am happy to find it is not so. I am at a loss how to direct this letter, but shall send it to your Agent; for I have never heard of your removal to Kensington, nor am I certain you live there now, but it must take its chance. I am here without Ships enough to hold Court-Martials; and discipline, you know, cannot be kept up without that resort. Mountserrat, February 13. I am here with the Pegasus and Solebay; the Island has made fine Addresses and good dinners, &c. To-morrow we sail for Nevis and St. Christopher's, where the same fine. things will be done again. His Royal Highness keeps up strict discipline in his Ship, and without paying him any compliment, she is one of the first ordered Frigates I have seen. He has had more plague with his Officers than enough: his First Lieutenant will, I have no doubt, be broke. I have put him under Arrest; he having wrote for a Court-Martial on himself to vindicate his conduct, because his Captain thought proper to reprimand him in the Order-book: in short, our Service has been so much relaxed during the War, that it will cost many a Court-Martial to bring it up again. I am kept in utter darkness about who is coming to this Country. Since August, when Sir Richard Hughes left the Station, the Admiralty have not wrote me a single line, only to take the Pegasus and Solebay under my command. Many things have happened, and they have neither approved, nor otherwise, of my conduct. That Lord Howe3 is a strange character-it may be all right, but I can't understand it. Pray remember me kindly to the Bradleys; I am truly sorry for poor Dick. I had not heard of his death. To Lord Ducie, and any others that may please to honour me with their remembrance. I am sorry for your wine, but I have five dozen of it saved and in bottles. Rum I have plenty of on board, and you shall have as much as you please; and whatever else I am in possession of, being, as I ought to be, with the truest esteem, Your most faithful, HORATIO NELSON. TO MRS. NISBET. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 90.] My dear Fanny, Boreas, Montserat, 11th Feb. 1787. We are at last out of English Harbour again, and so far I am on my way to be with you. I anticipate with pleasure our 3 First Lord of the Admiralty. 4 Vide ante. 8 meeting; for never do I feel truly happy when separated from you. Length of time often, too often, gives proof of the fail ings of human nature, and how difficult it is to be perfect, You have given me a proof that your goodness increases by time. These I trust will ever be my sentiments; if they are not, I do verily believe it will be my folly that occasions it. Never think otherwise, than that I am, in the fullest sense of the word, most affectionately your S Sir, HORATIO NELSON. TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Nevis, 15th February 1787. I beg leave to acquaint you for their Lordship's information that his Majesty's Ship Maidstone arrived here yesterday evening. I have the honour to remain, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO MRS. NISBET. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 92.] Boreas, 28th February 1787. Indeed I am not well enough to write much, and I have a good deal of fag before me. Captain Holloway is gone from us. Captain Newcomes is laid up; therefore poor I must be worked: and I am the more mortified, as I purposed, when the Prince went over to the other side of the Islaud, to have escaped that trip, and have got a few hours to see you: but that is all over. It is possible His Royal Highness may stop at Nevis in his way up from Tortola. This, however, shall be his own act, and not mine. To-day we dine with the Merchants; I wish it over: to-morrow a large party at Nicholas Town; and on Friday in Town Captain Henry Newcome, of the Maidstone, of 28 guns, who was Posted on the 19th May 1782. |