JET. 23.]
LETTERS.
57
vice. Charles Pole 3 is here : he is going to Gibraltar with alarge Cutter, laden with Gun-boats; I wish he was safe back.I think he runs great risk of going to Cadiz. 4 Sir RichardBickerton 5 is here ;—a great man , he seems to carry it prettyhigh with his Captains. Jack Moore is with him, and Iheard him tell Captain Robinson, who was Admiral Parker ’s 6Captain in the Fortitude, he would certainly provide for him.I shall certainly see you in Town before the Albemarle getsout of the harbour. Mr. White, the builder, has inquiredafter you. Farewell, my dear Sir, and believe me to be,
Faithfully yours,
Compliments to the Bradleys, and all that ask after me.
TO THE REVEREND MR. NELSON , BURNHAM.
[Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.]
Portsmouth, February 8th, 1782.
Dear Brother,
Your letter of January 30th I received two nights ago;and am much obliged to you for it; I should havewrote before I did from the Downs, only I expected myorders every day, when I could have told you where I was tohave been stationed. You have heard of the accidents thathave happened to the poor Albemarle, both by my letter andthe Papers long before this. I was under orders for Foreignservice, and I fancy was going with dispatches to North America . 1 am now waiting at Spithead for a wind to bringme into the harbour to be docked and repaired; what willbecome of me afterwards I know not. If 1 should touch atany wine Countries, you may assure Lord Walpole I will pur-chase some of the best wines for him. I beg you will make
3 Captain Pole then commanded the Success frigate.
* i. e. Of being captured by the Spaniards.
5 Wearing a Broad Pendant in the Gibraltar 80, and going with a Squadron toIndia .
6 Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker . Captain Mark Robinson is mentioned in p.6, ante.