LETTERS.

351

«t. 45.]

Great Britain would not take an Enemy’s Vessel under thosecircumstances. It would be the most cruel thing in nature toattempt starving our friends on any such pretence ; yet yourHighness’s Cruizers attempted to starve his Britannic Majesty’sSubjects under these circumstances.’

Nelson and Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN ROSS DONNELLY, H.M. SHIP NARCISSUS.[Original, in the possession of the late Adam Bromilow, Esq., and Order-Book.]Victory, off Cape St. Sebastian’s, 9th January, 1804.

Secret.

You are hereby required and directed to take his Majesty’sShip named in the margin 1 under you command; and afterhaving waited forty-eight hours on the present Rendezvous,from the receipt hereof, for the purpose of falling in with hisMajesty’s Ship Amazon, (whose Captain you will order tojoin me immediately off Algiers , with the intelligence he mayhave to communicate; but should Captain Parker not findthe Squadron or Superb at anchor off Algiers , he is to returnimmediately to Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians,and wait my arrival,) you will proceed to the Bay of Rosas,for the purposes mentioned in my letter to yon of this date;which, having accomplished, you will take a convenientopportunity of reconnoitring the Enemy’s force at Toulon ,and of ascertaining whether they are still in Port. You will,immediately after having performed this service, return toRendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, where youwill remain till my return, unless the Enemy’s Squadron hasput to sea; in which case, you will make the best of yourway off Algiers , and endeavour to join me with an accountthereof. You will inform any of his Majesty’s Ships whomay be in search of the Squadron, where I am gone, and thatI shall not be absent from Rendezvous No. 97, more than tendays from the date hereof.

Nelson and Bronte.

4 Active.