private ones. I was satisfied with the conscious rectitude of my actions; and only trouble you with this communication, that, if possible, any improper mode of conducting this Department may be altered. The openings for fraud are so numerous, the facility of carrying it on so easy, and detection so very difficult, (it being the interest of all parties to keep the secret,) that I fear it is a difficult thing to find virtue enough to withstand the temptation. TO GEORGE ROSE, ESQ., SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 104. The date of this Letter is not given. It was probably written towards the end of 1787.] Sir, I yesterday received the enclosed letter from the Commissioners of the Customs. The exertions I made, whilst on the Leeward Islands Station, in stopping the illegal Trade with America, is not, I trust, forgotten by their Lordships. I have therefore to request you will be pleased to move their Lordships, that they will order the necessary steps to be taken for supporting the legality of the Sentences. I am, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO THE REVEREND WILLIAM NELSON, HILBOROUGH. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] 6, Princes-street, Cavendish-square, January 3rd, 1788. My dear Brother, Our little boy shall be at Hilborough on Tuesday or Wednesday next, escorted by Frank,3 who I have desired to stay two or three days till the child becomes reconciled. I am assured of your and Mrs. Nelson's goodness to himthat is, you will not allow him to do as he pleases: it's mistaken kindness where it happens. I wish him at school to have the same weekly allowance as the other boys for him. We have been else may be proper for him. 3 His servant, Frank Lepée. stever d TO CAPTAIN SIR CHARLES MIDDLETON, BART., COMPTROLLER OF THE NAVY, [Original draught in the Nelson Papers. The exact date of this Letter does not appear; but it was probably written in November or December 1787.] Captain Nelson returns Sir Charles Middleton's Books, with thanks for the perusal. Captain Nelson can most truly say, that were those Instructions in any manner complied with, it would have been impossible that the present charges could have been brought forward. The mind that's callous to the oath relative to the Negroes, would not scruple committing any act; and yet sorry am I to say, it is my firm belief, that every Instruction relative to the hire of Negroes is broke through. Captain Nelson has turned in his mind what Sir Charles said about an examination abroad. In respect to merchants vouching for the prices of goods, the fact, as far as it goes, is most true. But any Vouchers may be got, signed in the West Indies, and with propriety on the part of the merchant, for there is no fixed market price, as in this Country. Everything is valued as the want of it occasions. In respect to drawing Bills, I never saw an advertisement in the Antigua papers for obtaining the best Exchange. It came to my knowledge, in the first Bills to which my Name was put on my having the Command, that two and a half per cent could be got (it was offered to me by a Merchant) more than the Exchange wrote on the Bills; and on my talking to Mr. Dow, the Deputy Naval Officer, on this subject, he gave as a reason that Mr. Charles Kerr, in whose favour the Bills were drawn, had advanced this money and goods for the use of the Yard before the Exchange had risen. These were but bad reasons for his conduct, as I told him at the time. I mentioned, that in future I should insist on money being advertised for: but difficulties were started; nor was ever any part of those Instructions communicated to me, but such as either militated against the interest of the Naval Officer, or (what I had ordered) might give some additional trouble. During the term of my Command, it may be found, that from two and a half per cent, and in some instances seven per cent, was obtained more for the Navy Bills, than was got for private ones. I was satisfied with the conscious rectitude of my actions; and only trouble you with this communication, that, if possible, any improper mode of conducting this Department may be altered. The openings for fraud are so numerous, the facility of carrying it on so easy, and detection so very difficult, (it being the interest of all parties to keep the secret,) that I fear it is a difficult thing to find virtue enough to withstand the temptation. TO GEORGE ROSE, ESQ., SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 104. The date of this Letter is not given. It was probably written towards the end of 1787.] Sir, I yesterday received the enclosed letter from the Commissioners of the Customs. The exertions I made, whilst on the Leeward Islands Station, in stopping the illegal Trade with America, is not, I trust, forgotten by their Lordships. I have therefore to request you will be pleased to move their Lordships, that they will order the necessary steps to be taken for supporting the legality of the Sentences. I am, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO THE REVEREND WILLIAM NELSON, HILBOROUGH. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] 6, Princes-street, Cavendish-square, January 3rd, 1788. My dear Brother, Our little boy shall be at Hilborough on Tuesday or Wednesday next, escorted by Frank,3 who I have desired to stay two or three days till the child becomes reconciled. I am assured of your and Mrs. Nelson's goodness to himthat is, you will not allow him to do as he pleases: it's mistaken kindness where it happens. I wish him at school to have the same weekly allowance as the other boys, and whatever else may be proper for him. We have been very unwell, and 3 His servant, Frank Lepée. shall go to Bath as soon as I can get out. Your rum will come down when I know the best conveyance: send me word. Your pay for the Boreas would not amount to the fees of Office. In the Lottery, whatever part of a ticket, or in what proportion you wish to have one, shall be complied with. Maurice is well: he has just left us, and desires to be remembered. Our best compliments to Mrs. Nelson and the old ladies. The wine shall come as soon as I can get it from the Custom-house, and know the best conveyance. Adieu, and believe me ever, your most affectionate Brother, HORATIO NELSON. TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., KENSINGTON. [Autograph, in the Locker Papers.] My dear Sir, Bath, January 27th, 1788. Your kind letter I received yesterday, and am much obliged by your kind inquiries about a house. I fear we must at present give [up] all thoughts of living so near London, for Mrs. Nelson's lungs are so much affected by the smoke of London, that I cannot think of placing her in that situation, however desirable. For the next summer I shall be down in Norfolk, from thence I must look forward. I was rather hurried in getting down here, by Prince William having invited me to Plymouth. I was therefore glad to place Mrs. Nelson here at once, which not only saved me the expense, but the toil, of a journey three hundred miles. I returned from Plymouth three days ago, and found Prince William everything I could wish-respected by all. Those who knew him formerly say he is a most altered young man; and those who were prejudiced against him acknowledge their error. The Pegasus is allowed by every one to be one of the best disciplined Ships that ever came into Plymouth. But the great folks above now see he will not be a cypher, therefore many of the rising people must submit to act subordinate to him, which is not so As Chaplain. palatable; and I think a Lord of the Admiralty is hurt to see him so able, after what he has said about him. He has not certainly taken a leaf out of his book, for he is steady in his Command and not violent. He has wrote Lord Hood what I cannot but approve, yet am sorry about his taking Lieutenant Schomberg. When the Lists come out will you be good enough to send me one? Kingsmill will frank it if it can come by the post. I hope he is better; pray give my best wishes to him. Mrs. Nelson desires the same, and unites with me in best wishes. to your family. I pray compliments to Bradley, Anderson, &c. You are in debt to Mr. Suckling for the duty on the rum: the wine I desire you will not pay. Charles Pole is not well, I fear he is getting too fat. God bless you, my dear Sir, and be assured I am your most faithful and affectionate HORATIO NELSON. I beg my compliments to Lord Ducie when you see him. TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty.] Bath, February 20th, 1788. Sir, I am this moment honoured with your letters of February 16th, acquainting me that if I had looked into the Instructions, I should have seen that I ought to have sealed my Remarks and Observations on board the Boreas up, and sent them under cover directed to you. I beg you will inform their Lordships it must have arisen from a mistake of my Clerk's, for that on the day the Ship was paid off, I myself inclosed the Remarks and Observations to you, and saw them directed. My Clerk was sealing the official letters to the several Boards, for passing my Accounts, which were to be put in a box with my books, The two Naval Lords of the Admiralty were Admiral Viscount Howe, and Rear-Admiral the Honourable John Leveson Gower. |