I am glad to hear my mare is not sold. Lord Hood has not quitted La Malgue.—27th, 6 p.m.

Mrs. Nelson wrote about a fish dried called Tonges for Mr. Speed. I cannot find out any such fish. I think she must have mistaken the name. Be so good as to find out

what it is, and let me know.

Sir,

TO H. R. H. THE DUKE OF CLARENCE.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol.i. p. 140.]

Agamemnon, Leghorn Roads, 27th December 1793.

My last letter to your Royal Highness would convey to you my opinion of the impossility of holding Toulon without a superior Army in the field: but the fall of it has been something quicker than I expected, owing to the Foreign troops having but very badly defended some of the outposts, as reported here by several vessels with some of the wretched inhabitants of Toulon. Lord Hood is said to have attempted rallying the flying troops, but in vain; and that he exposed himself to great danger. The reports, although there is some difference in the telling, all seem to agree that the following are facts :

That on the 13th a most numerous Army covered the hills; that Lord Hood issued a Proclamation to prepare the inhabitants for what would probably happen, the evacuation of Toulon; that on the 17th, at eight o'clock at night, the Enemy made a general attack on all our outposts, which lasted the whole night, many of which they carried with too much ease; that the other outposts were obliged to be abandoned, and the troops to retire to Fort la Malgue; that on the 18th, Lord Hood ordered all the Neapolitans to be embarked together, with as many Royalists as could find Ships to carry them; and that our Fleet, with that of Spain, were anchored under La Malgue. On the 19th, in the morning, such a scene was displayed, as would make the hardest heart feel the mob had risen, was plundering, and committing every excess; many-numbers cannot be estimated-were

drowned in trying to get off; boats upset; and many put a period to their existence. One family, of a wife and five children, are just arrived-the husband shot himself. Indeed, Sir, the recital of their miseries is too afflicting to dwell upon. In this scene of horror, Lord Hood was obliged to order the French Fleet of twenty Sail of the Line, and as many other Ships of War, together with the Arsenal and Powder Magazines, to be set on fire: report says one-half of that miserable place is in ashes.

The Neapolitan Fleet, and near one hundred Sail with them, are arrived in Port Especia, twelve leagues from hence. What calamities do Civil Wars produce; and how much does it behove every person to give their aid in keeping peace at Home. It is the poor inhabitants at Toulon that I feel for. The quitting Toulon by us, I am satisfied, is a National benefit; both in money, for our contracts will be found to have been very extravagant, people seemed to act as if fortunes were to be made instantly; and in saving some of our gallant English blood, which, when the muster comes to be taken, will appear to have flowed plentifully. The destruction of the Fleet and Arsenal, and indeed of the harbour of Toulon, for a number of years, is a great benefit to England. I have only to regret it could not have been done on the first day of our entrance. I expect Lord Hood here immediately, although they say he is in Hieres Bay, having blown up Fort la Malgue. I shall not close this letter till the moment of the post going out.

Four Sail filled with wounded soldiers and sailors are just arrived. It is thought that the Governor here will not allow the emigrés to land; Leghorn being, as they say, in want of provisions. I have still a small Squadron blocking up the Frigates in Corsica, who are in the greatest distress. And I remain, as ever, your Royal Highness's most dutiful and faithful servant,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO MRS. NELSON.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 141.]

My dear Fanny,

Agamemnon, December 27th, 1793.

Everything which domestic Wars produce usually, is multiplied at Toulon. Fathers are here without their families, families without their fathers. In short, all is horror. I have the Count de Grasse under my command, in a French Frigate: his wife and family are at Toulon. Lord Hood put himself at the head of the flying troops, and was the admiration of every one; but the torrent was too strong. Many of our posts were carried without resistance; at others, which the English occupied, every one perished. I cannot write all: my mind is deeply impressed with grief. Each teller makes the scene more horrible. Lord Hood showed himself the same collected good Officer which he always was. I have only time to say, God bless you.

HORATIO NELSON.

TO MRS. NELSON.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 144. Early in January 1794, Lord Hood concluded a convention with General Paoli, by which it was agreed that the British Forces should assist the Corsicans in expelling the French from possession of the Forts, &c.; and that Corsica should be ceded to Great Britain. Captain Nelson was then cruising off Calvi with a small Squadron to prevent the French from receiving supplies; and he was in frequent communication with Paoli.]

Off Calvi, January 6th, 1794.

I left Leghorn on the 3rd, and very soon got off here, since which time we have had nothing but hard gales of wind, and the heaviest rains I almost ever met with. I am waiting anxiously for Troops from Lord Hood, to take St. Fiorenzo and the Frigates, which will fall into our hands a few hours after their arrival. I was most unfortunately driven a few miles to leeward two days ago, in the height of the gale; and a Frigate took that opportunity of sailing from

• La Topaze.

St. Fiorenzo to Calvi with provisions. One of my Frigates exchanged a few shot with her, but at too great a distance to prevent her getting in. I had so closely blockaded Calvi, that they must have surrendered to me at discretion; not a vessel had before got in for the six weeks I have been stationed here. This supply will keep them a week or two longer. We now know from a deserter, that it was the Melpomene who engaged us on October 22nd: she had twenty-four men killed, and fifty wounded, and was so much damaged as to be laid up dismantled in St. Fiorenzo. She would have struck long before we parted, but for the gunner, who opposed it; and when at length the colours were ordered to be struck by general consent, we ran into a calm, whilst the other Ships came up with a fresh breeze, and joined their consort. Admiral Trogoff tells me she is allowed to be the finest Frigate out of France, and the fastest sailer: we were unlucky to select her the others we could outsail. Had she struck, I don't think the others would have come down, and I should have had great credit in taking her from such superior force: now, of course, nothing can be known of that business, and I have to look out for another opportunity; which is very scarce here.

I have just received a most handsome letter from Lord Hood he looks upon these Frigates as certain, trusting to my zeal and activity, and knows, if it is in the power of man to have them, I will secure them. Linzee & was to have been here for this service, and to settle plans with General Paoli, the Chief of the Corsicans, relative to landing the troops, &c. Andrews 9 is my ambassador. This business

7 A French Rear-Admiral, who had zealously co-operated with Lord Hood at Toulon against the Republicans.

• Commodore Robert Linzee, in the Alcide 74: he died an Admiral of the Blue, in September 1804.

"On the 17th of January 1794, General Paoli wrote to Captain Nelson from Murato he had on the preceding day received his Letter by Lieutenant George Andrews, with whom he had agreed about the Signals. Paoli added, "A little before Mr. George [Andrews] came, were arrived here, Sir Gilbert Elliot, Colonel Moore, and Major Koehler: they are gone this morning to reconnoitre the environs of Saint Fiorenzo, and I hope they will bring a plan such as Lord Hood seems desirous to have."-Original in the Nelson Papers. Lieutenant, afterwards Captain, George Andrews, was the brother of the Miss Andrews mentioned in

going through my hands is a proof of Lord Hood's confidence in me, and that I shall pledge myself for nothing but what will be acceptable to him. I have promised my people, as soon as we have taken Corsica, that I would ask for a month's rest from them;-except to get provisions, I have not been one hour at anchor for pleasure, since April 23rd; but I can assure you I never was better in health, as is Josiah. On Sunday I expect Lord Hood and the troops. Hoste is indeed a most exceeding good boy, and will shine in our Service. We shall talk these matters over again in a winter's evening.

Yours, &c.,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF THE ROYAL HOSPITAL AT GREENWICH.

[Autograph, in the Locker Papers.]

My dear Friend,

Agamemnon, St. Fiorenzo, January 17th, 1794.

I had some hopes of seeing my friends in England very soon; but for the present they are at an end, and if I do not sail from this Country before the spring very far advances, I believe I shall give up all thoughts of going home till the Campaign is finished; for I should be truly sorry to have the chance of laying by the walls for two or three months in the height of summer, and when probably we shall have active service in this Country. We are a week arrived here from a cruise of three weeks off Toulon, during which time we were fifteen days under storm-staysails,—indeed such a series of bad weather I never experienced; the Ships most of them strained a good deal, but sustained no material damage, nor did a single Ship part company. We saw three French Frigates, but from the Admiral's anxiety to keep the Fleet together, he did not make the signal for the Frigates to chase

Nelson's letters from St. Omer, ante. An account of Captain Andrews's services is given by Clarke and M'Arthur, in a note to this Letter: he died in July 1810.

'No anticipation was ever more completely realized. Vide p. 355.