the Ship under my command may by this means be unmanned; other publicans, as well as this man, having declared they have taken out Writs against several of the men, and as the debts are far more than £20, they have a right to take them out of the Ship. I beg their Lordships' orders whether I am to give up these men, or in what manner I am On the 4th of this month Joseph King was entered by the Clerk of the Cheque of this Yard, as Boatswain of his Majesty's Ship under my command, in obedience to a Warrant dated at the Navy Office, the 27th August 1787, and discharged Charles Green, acting Boatswain of the said Ship on the 3rd. On the 20th Charles Green, late acting Boatswain, was entered as Boatswain of his Majesty's Ship under my command, agreeable to a Warrant dated at the Navy Office, the 13th Instant. I am therefore requested by Joseph King to write to their Lordships, to request they will be pleased to appoint him to some other Ship, as he hopes he has done nothing deserving of being superseded; and I beg leave to recommend him as a most excellent gentleman.1 I am, Sir, &c., HORATIO NELSON. 'Professional readers will think this an extraordinary description of a boatswain. VOL. I. S TO THE REVEREND WILLIAM NELSON, HILBOROUGH. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] My dear Brother, Boreas, Nore, September 23rd, 1787. It is an age since I heard from you: not once since I came to this place. I hope nothing is amiss to deprive me of that pleasure, and that Mrs. Nelson is well. I don't know whether you have yet a son and heir. If you have, pray accept my congratulations on the occasion. We are here laying seven miles from the land on the Impress service, and am as much separated from my wife as if I were in the East Indies. A War seems at present inevitable. What the Marquis of Buckingham may be able to do, time must prove; but I dare say the French King has fixed his resolves and will not alter them. It looks like a general War. I suppose Boreas will be paid off, and her men put into some other Ship, but what may become of me, depends on Lord Howe. I always was for actual service, and should not like to be an idle spectator. Jemmy Jamieson3 is well, as we are all on board; and desire their compliments. I have this moment your letter of the 21st, and am happy to hear Mrs. Nelson is so well. I beg my best respects to her. I am this moment getting under sail after some Ships. Adieu, and believe me your affectionate Brother, HORATIO NElson. Sir, TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Nore, September 30th, 1787. The bearer hereof, Joseph King, late Boatswain of his Majesty's Ship Boreas, under my command, who was superseded a few days past by their Lordships;-I beg leave to recommend him as one of the best Boatswains I have seen in his Majesty's Service. I am, Sir, &c., HORATIO NELSON. 4 Master of the Boreas. 5 Mrs. Nelson gave birth to a daughter, Charlotte Mary, now Lady Bridport, on the 20th of September 1787. TO CAPTAIN LOCKER, ROYAL NAVY, KENSINGTON. [Autograph, in the Locker Papers.] My dear Friend, Boreas, Nore, October 3rd, 1787. I have this moment your letter of the 1st. If the Regulating business is a thing you like, most sincerely do I give you joy of it. Exeter, however, I should suppose, is as agreeable a place as you could wish to be at. I have no doubt but there are many very long faces at being left out. I have asked Lord Howe for a Ship of the Line, but Boreas is victualled for three months, and ready for Sea, ordered to hold myself in momentary readiness the moment my Orders come on board. Little S- -, if he has left off grog, may do very well, but I never knew any of these grog-drinkers quit it. I wish he may, for no man has a better heart. My health, thank God, was never better, and I am fit for any quarter of the Globe. It rains hard, and I hope the wind will come to the Westward, and we have had very bad weather of late. My love to your boys, and believe me Your most faithful HORATIO NELSON. I wish you had your rum and tamarinds, but I will take good care of them. TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Nore, October 4th, 1787. Sir, I beg leave to acquaint you that Daniel Piercy, a seaman belonging to his Majesty's Ship under my command, absented Captain Locker was appointed one of the Captains for Regulating the Impressment of Seamen, and stationed at Exeter; but a War not taking place, he retained the situation a very short time. himself from duty on shore last Monday, and his having received a Bill on the Pay Office in London, in part payment of his wages, will enable their Lordships to take such steps as are necessary for detecting him. Inclosed I transmit you his description, and have the honour to remain, &c. HORATIO NELSON. PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Nore, October 20th, 1787. Sir, Inclosed I transmit you two Notes for wages due to William Gaweas and William Caroline, for the Ship Wisk of Whitby, and have to request you will please to cause the said Notes to be immediately accepted, that the men may receive their Many thanks for your kind inquiries about the School: it is quite the thing I wished for, and you will be pleased to tell the Master the child shall come after the Christmas holidays. We are happy to hear Mrs. Nelson is about again, and desire to be most kindly remembered to her, with many thanks for her obliging offer, when the child may come to school: but we hope Boreas will soon be paid off, then we shall come into Norfolk directly. As to news, the Papers are all Peace; but, in my opinion, nothing can prevent a War. In the Naval 7 His step-son, Josiah Nisbet. line every exertion is made use of to man the Fleet. Compliments to all about you, and believe me, ever Your most affectionate Brother, HORATIO NELSON. Maurice is well. He has been staying a few days on board with me. TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Boreas, Nore, November 4th, 1787. Sir, Mr. William Lewis, late Surgeon of his Majesty's Sloop Rattler, having sent me a letter of October 23rd, (marked No. 1,) I returned for answer that as I could not wish to keep him from Employment, although I conceived his conduct had been highly improper, yet whenever he acknowledged the impropriety of writing such a letter as his of August 27th, 1786, and that he was sorry for having written it, I should write to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, I was satisfied. Having in answer thereto received a letter of October 26th, I transmit them both for their Lordships' consideration. As far as relates to myself, I beg to acquaint their Lordships I. am satisfied. I am, Sir, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., KENSINGTON. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Locker Papers.] Sheerness, November 27th, 1787. I have sent your cask of rum to Chatham Custom-House, and it will come to London the first conveyance; your tama Vide p. 195, 211, ante. |