AST. 23 .]
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week, when I will write again. I hope Mrs. Bolton’s 4troubles are over. Give my kind love to her, and to myfather, sister, and Mun; tell him I would not take either Mr.Wiseman or Walker. I hardly think I have so bad a man inmy Ship. I have got John Oliver, belonging to Wells, andhave made him a Quarter-master; he is a very good man.
I am, dear Brother, yours affectionately,
TO WILLIAM LOCKER , ESQ., GRAY’s INN.
[Allograph, in the Locker Papers. —Two days after the date of this letter,he received his Orders to the effect — that as the Russia Company hadrepresented, that besides the Fleet of Merchantmen under the Convoy of theAfrica , there would also be a very considerable number of Ships from thedifferent Ports of the Baltic at the Sound , laden with cargoes of the utmostNational importance, he was to take the Argo and Enterprise under his com-mand, and proceed to Elsineur for the homeward bound trade, and havingseen them in safety to their respective places, he was to proceed to the Downs.He was also informed, that he might, probably, be reinforced by some Ships fromCommodore Stewart’s Squadron, which was off the Texel .—Original in the Nel-son Papers.]
Albemarle, Nore , October 21st, 1781.
My dear Sir,
I arrived here this day week from Long lleach, and Idare say you are almost scolding for my not writing beforethis; but, in the first place, I have been very busy in gettingmy Ship’s company in order for service. They are, in myopinion, as good a set of men as I ever saw: indeed, I amperfectly satisfied with both Officers and Ship’s company. Allmy Marines are likewise old standers. As another excuse,which is much worse, I have been so ill, as hardly [to be] kept
4 His eldest sister, Susannah, who was born 12th June 1755, and married5th August 1780, Thomas Bolton, Esq., of Cranwich, in Norfolk . She gavebirth to twin daughters on the 20th November 1781. Her son Thomas succeededas second Earl Nelson, and was father of the present Earl. Mrs. Bolton died inJuly 1813.