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LETTERS.

331

Officer, and can tell you as much as I can. Excuse my hastyscrawl; but I am ever your Excellency’s most faithful andobliged friend and servant,

Nelson and Bronte.

I hope the Governor of Augusta will not give up the Postto the French Fleet; but if he does, I shall go in and attackthem, for I consider the destruction of the Enemy’s Fleet ofso much consequence, that I would willingly have half ofmine burnt to effect their destruction. I am in a fever. God send I may find them !

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE VICE-ROY OF SICILY .

[Autograph draught, in the possession of Miss Bolton, of Burnham.]

Victory, at Sea , January 26th, 1805.

Sir,

The difficulties which some of his Majesty’s Ships undermy command have experienced in obtaining pratique in thePorts of Sicily , although they were clearly entitled to themost liberal pratique, render it necessary for me to demand,in the name of my Sovereign, that orders may be instantlygiven to all the Governors, &c., in the different Ports of Sicily ,that all Ships having my Certificate of Health shall be in-stantly entitled to the most liberal pratique, and receive everyhospitable reception which the close and intimate alliancebetween our most gracious Sovereigns so justly entitles themto expect; and I beg to be furnished with a duplicate copy ofthe Order. I have the honour to be,

Nelson and Bronte.

PRIVATE DIARY.

[From Clarke and M ( Artliur, vol. ii. p. 395.]

Victory, January 29tk, 1805.

Stromboli burnt very strongly throughout the night. Passedround it at three in the morning. As we ran outside the Lipari Islands , we had been obliged to steer E. b N., and for twohours E.N.E. by compass, when, by the Spanish chart, E.and E. b S. were laid down as the proper course.