JET. 36 .]

LETTERS.

501

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

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, voU i. p.196.]

November, 1794.

Sir,

Our Transports, which had been detained at Toulon sincethe time they carried over the Garrison of Calvi, arrived onthe 22nd. No reason was ever given for detaining them ;but their sails were taken from them, and during their staynot a man was suffered to go on shore. They were, however,treated tolerably, until the arrival of Jean Bon St. Andre,who, to the Officer’s modest and proper requests, gave insolentanswers, the true characteristic of little minds; a generousEnemy would have disdained the withholding medical assistancefrom the unfortunate, whom chance had put in their power.At eight o’clock in the evening of the 20th, their sails weresent alongside, and a message, that if they were not out of theharbour by twelve o’clock next day, they would keep them.The English , poor fellows, wanted no spur to clear them ofsuch wretches; one Transport, who got aground, they leftbehind, and she is not yet arrived. The Enemy have fifteenSail of the Line ready for Sea , with which, they say, theymean to fight our Fleet; and as Admiral Hotham sailed fromFiorenzo on the 25th, to go off Toulon with thirteen Sail ofthe Line, they will have the opportunity. As to the eventI have no doubt it will be victory on the side of the English .

My heart, I assure you, is almost broke to find Agamem­ non lying here, little better than a wreck: we hope to getfitted in about three weeks. I own my sincere wish, thatthe Enemy would rest quiet until we are ready for Sea , anda gleam of hope sometimes crosses me, that they will. AtToulon seven Sail of the Line are to be launched by nextMarch; they get well supplied with timber by the Genoesevessels.

I am, &c.

Horatio Nelson .

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