91 Minto II p. 258
92 Nelson to Addington 4.12.1802, covering his Memorandum on Malta; Nicolas V pp. 36–7. Ziegler p. 182
93 Minto 23.2.1803; Minto II pp. 273–4
94 Nelson to Addington 8.3.1803; Nicolas V pp. 47–9. Curiously Vincent misdates this letter to 1802, pp. 472–4
95 Ziegler, Addington p. 184, citing the original note
96 Nelson to Addington 23.4.1803; to Rose 15.5.1803; Nicolas V pp. 59–60, 65
97 Nelson to Murray 22.3.1803; Nelson to St Vincent 24.3.1803; Nelson to Berry 26.3.1803; Nicolas V pp. 50–1
98 Glenbervie I p. 338. Farington II p. 20. The busts were modelled by Whig artist Mrs Darner. Foreman, Georgiana, p. 47.
99 Ziegler, Addington p. 184.
CHAPTER XIII
1 Nelson to Davison; to St Vincent 6.5.1803; Nicolas V p. 63
2 Admiralty to Bickerton 1.2.1803; ADM 2/1360
3 Admiralty to Bickerton 7.3.1803; ADM 2/1360
4 Admiralty to Bickerton 7.5.1803; ADM 2/1360
5 Ziegler, pp. 197–8
6 Admiralty to Nelson 18.5.1803 Secret; ADM 2/1360. The next Admiralty letter was sent on 9.11.1803
7 Nelson to St Vincent 22.5. to Admiralty and Cornwallis 23.5.1805; Nicolas V pp. 71–5. Cornwallis to Nelson 25.5.1803; CRK /2
8 Nelson to Emma 20.5.1803; Morrison II p. 210–1. 23.5.1803; Nicolas V p. 73
9 Scott to Emma 3.6.1803; Nelson to Emma 10.6.1803 Morrison II pp. 212–13. See Nelson to Emma 4.6.1805: Pettigrew II p. 473 and compare with Monmouth EL167 to see how far Pettigrew removed the passion that distinguished this correspondence from that with Fanny.
10 Nelson to Acton 10.6.1803 Public and private letters; he also wrote on the same day to both the King and the Queen; Nicolas V pp. 81–5
11 Nelson to Acton 19.6.1803; Nicolas V p. 92
12 Ferdinand to Nelson 20.6.1803; CRK/3
13 Nelson to Jackson 10.6.1803; to Drummond c.11.6.1803; Nicoals V pp. 85–7
14 Nelson to Addington 4.6.1803; Nicolas V p. 79
15 Nelson to Hardy and Admiralty 1.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 112–14
16 Lord Hobart to Nelson 23.8.1803; Nicolas V pp. 220–1
17 Nelson to Davison 27.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 143–4
18 Nelson to St Vincent; to Moira 2.7.1803; Nicoals V pp. 114–15
19 Nelson to St Vincent 4.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 116–17
20 Nelson to Captain Richardson HMS Juno 26.6.1803; Nicolas V p. 103
21 Nelson to Elliot; to Acton 25.6.1803; there were public and private letters to both men. Nicolas V pp. 95–101
22 Nelson to Villettes 26.6.1803; Nicolas V pp. 104–5
23 Nelson to Clarence 6 and 17.4.1803; Nicolas V pp. 57–9
24 Troubridge to Nelson 27.6.1803; CRK/13
25 Melville to Nelson various; CRK/8. Nelson to Henry Duncan 4.10.1804; Nicolas VI p. 216. Lord Duncan to Nelson 18.7.1803; CRK/4
26 St Vincent to Nelson various 1803–04; CRK/11. Admiral Sir Peter Parker to Nelson 20.8.1803; CRK/10
27 Layman to Nelson 27.6.1803; Add. 34,919 f.173
28 James Duff at Cadiz, Price at Cartagena and Hunter at Madrid all provided vital evidence while Spain remained neutral; CRK/4 /7 /10
29 Duff to Nelson 8.10.1803; CRK/7
30 Foresti to Nelson 2.7.1803; CRK/5. Hawkesbury to Nelson 8.7.1803; CRK/6
31 Noble to Nelson 4.7.1803; CRK/9
32 Wellesley to Nelson 9.11.1803; CRK/13
33 List of books June 1803; Add. 34,919 f. 180
34 Nelson to Davison 24.8.1803; Nicolas V p. 175. 35 Davison to Nelson various; CRK/2
36 Nelson to Emma 5 and 8.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 117–20
37 Nelson to St Vincent 8 and 13 7.1803; to Villettes 9.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 122–36
38 Nelson to Elliot 11.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 129–30
39 Nelson to St Vincent 5.10.1803; Nicolas V p. 223
40 Nicolas prints a sample section for 25–31.10.1803; Nicolas V p. 273
41 Mahan, Nelson, 2nd edn. pp. 572–3
42 Nelson to Ball 16.9.1803; Nicolas V pp. 203–5
43 Nelson to Addington 16.7.1803; to St Vincent 21.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 136–8
44 Drummond to Nelson 22.7.1803; CRK/4
45 This was his ‘Guardian Angel’, painted in Dresden by Schmitt for Hugh Elliot, then British Minister at the Saxon Court..
46 Gatty, Recollections of the Life of the Reverend A J Scott DD Lord Nelson’s Chaplain.provides first-hand testimony, although more interested in the picturesque, and doubtless somewhat censored by contemporary views on the role of intelligence gathering, and Nelson’s private affairs. Reprinted as Nelson’s Spy? in 2003, a title reflecting modern taste.
47 Nelson to Ryves 2.11.1803; to Ball 7.11.1803; Nicolas V pp. 277–8 and 282–4. See Add. 34,919 for a range of Nelson’s chart and intelligence papers, including Ryves’ report.
48 Nelson to Admiralty 12.7.1803; Nicolas V pp. 133–4
49 Baird to Nelson 30.101803; CRK/1
50 Nelson to Moseley 11.3.1804; Nicolas V pp. 437–8
51 Crimmin, ‘Letters and Documents relating to the Service of Nelson’s Ships’
52 Nelson to Minto 11.1.1804; Nicolas V pp. 365–7
53 Mackesy, War in the Mediterranean p. 62
54 Nelson to Cornwallis 31.7.1803; Manuscripts of Cornwallis p. 399
55 Admiralty to Nelson 13.1.1804 (Secret); ADM 2/1362
56 Nelson memo. 28.4.1804 and Sailing Direction for Leghorn nd. Nicolas V pp. 519–21
57 Nelson to Sir William Bolton 3.5.1804; Nicolas VI pp. 2–3 is typical of his mastery of local detail.
58 Nelson Disposition of the Fleet 21.6.1804; Nicolas VI pp. 79–81
59 Nelson to Lord Melville 10.3.1805; Nicolas VI p. 353. This is the letter that inspired Nicolas to compile his edition. It concerns the unfortunate Captain Layman, who had lost two ships in quick succession, and been censured for the second loss, much to Nelson’s dismay, as Layman was a very successful intelligence officer.
60 Nelson to Emma 2.10.1804; Morrison II pp. 240–1
61 Nelson to Berry 8.8.1804; Nicolas VI p. 146
62 Captain Capel to Nelson 20.11.1804; CRK/3
63 Nelson to Emma 12.8.1804; – Melville and to Elliot 15.8.1804; Nicolas VI pp. 152–7
64 Nelson to Elliot 7.10.1804; Nicolas VI pp. 221–2
65 Nelson to Ball 3.8.1804; Nicolas VI p. 131
66 Nelson to General Villettes (Malta); Nicolas VI pp. 189–90
67 Nelson to Ball 6.9.1804; Nicolas VI pp. 191–3
68 Nelson to Emma 23.11.1804; Nicolas VI p. 278
69 Nelson to Ball 15.12.1804 Nicolas VI pp. 285–6
70 Nelson to Davison 29.12.1804; Nicolas VI pp. 306–7
71 Orde to Admiralty 27.3.1805; Nicolas VI pp. 383–4. Orde was never again employed.
72 Hunter to Nelson 1804; CRK/7. Trigge to Nelson 27.10.1804; CRK/12
73 Admiralty to Orde 15.11.1804; ADM 2 /1362
74 Nelson to Admiralty 29.1.1805,18.2.1805. Nelson to Ball 11.2.1805; Nicolas VI pp. 332–4
75 Nelson to Admiralty 13.3.1705; Nicolas VI p. 357
76 Collingwood to Nelson 13.12.1804; CRK/3
77 Nelson to Collingwood 13.3.1805; Nicolas VI p. 35
78 Nelson to Lord Moira n.d.; Nicolas VI p. 310
79 Gillespie to Nelson 12.4.1805; CRK/6
80 Nelson to Admiral Lord Radstock 1.4.1805; Nicolas VI pp. 391–2
CHAPTER XIV
1 Desbrière, Projets et tentatives de débarquement aux Iles Britanniques 1792–1805, 5 vols. Paris 1900–2
2 Nelson to Emma 4.4.1805; Morrison II p. 256
3 Nelson to Ball 6.4.1805; Nicolas VI p. 399
4 This chapter is largely based on Julian Corbett’s brilliant survey, The Campaign of Trafalgar, a text developed through his teaching on the Naval War Course. Aside from a few errors in footnotes, and the occasional heavy hint to his high-ranking pupils that they would face similar problems, and might profit from the example,
it remains a compelling work.
5 The official correspondence for this period is very full, and reveals a clear and effective direction. ADM 1/4206; 2/149–150; 2/1363 (Secret) 2/923; 3/154 and War Office WO 1/282; 1/711
6 Nelson to Davison 7.5.1805; Nicolas VI p. 427
7 Nelson to Emma 16.5.1805; Nicolas VI pp. 441–2. Pettigrew prints other letters but badly edited. The originals are at Monmouth.
8 Waters, The Art of Navigation in England in Elizabethan and Early Stuart Times, pp. 262–3. Hakluyt’s Principal Navigations was a compendium of Tudor and early Stuart sea knowledge. It must be presumed that Nelson owned a copy, and consulted it.
9 Nelson to Davison 12.6.1805; Nicolas VI pp. 453–4
10 Matra (Consul at Tetuan) to Nelson 17.7.1805; CRK/9. Matra had been to the Pacific with Cook.
11 Nelson to Davison 24.7.1805; Nicolas VI p. 494
12 Villeneuve to Decrès 13.8.1805; Corbett p. 257
13 Cornwallis to Nelson 1.8.1805; CRK/2 A few weeks later Cornwallis would bitterly regret that he had not called Nelson over, so that they could meet one last time.
14 Fremantle to Nelson 15.8.1805; CRK/6
15 Nelson to Rear Admiral Louis 15.8.1805; Nelson to Fremantle 16.8.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 4–5
16 Nelson to Admiralty 18.8.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 8–9. Rose to Nelson 20.8.1805; Add. 34,930 f. 167.
17 Clarence to Keats 22.8.1805; Keats MSS NMM KEA/3; Hood to Nelson 22.8.1805; Keats to Nelson 23.8.1805; Add. 34,930 ff.187–90
18 Nelson to Keats 24.8.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 15–16
19 Hood to Nelson 26.8.1805; Add. 34,930 f. 250
20 Rose to Nelson 26.8.1805; Add. 34,930 f. 251. Nelson to Sir Richard Neave, Chair of the West India Committee 27.8.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 17–18
21 Exeter to Nelson 25.8.1805; Add. 34,930 f. 235.
22 Minto II p. 368
23 Ehrman III pp. 789–90.
24 Barham to Pitt and enclosure 4.9.1805; Instructions for Lord Nelson 5.9.1805; Laughton ed. The Barham Papers III. London, Navy Records Society 1910 pp. 312–15.
25 Minto II p. 369
26 Admiralty to Collingwood 4.9.1805; ADM 1/1363. Hardy to Nelson 3.9.1805; Add,. 34,931 f3o.
27 Marsden and McArthur 6.9.1805. Bligh and Saumarez 10.9.1806; Lord Mulgrave 12.9.1805. Add. 34,931 ff. 111–80. Dalrymple 31.8.1805 Add.34,93o f319.
28 Nelson to Davison 6.9.1805; to Collingwood 7.9.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 30–2
29 Lady Bessborough to Lord Granville Leveson Gower 12 & 13.9.1805: Countess Granville ed. Lord Granville Leveson Gower, First Lord Granville: Private Correspondence 1781–1821. London 1916 Vol. II pp.112–4. Lady Bessborough was Gower’s mistress, and had his child.
30 Nelson to Emma 1.10.1805; Morrison II p. 267. He invited the young man to dine with him.
31 Sidmouth to Nelson 10.9.1805; Add. 34,931 f. 125
32 Ziegler, Addington, pp. 244–5.
33 Stanhope, Life of Pitt, IV p. 330.
34 John Wilson Croker Diary entry of 1.10.1834, minuting a conversation with Wellington on that day. Croker was a lifelong confidant of the Duke, and a key figure in the creation of the Nelson legend.
35 Col. McMahon to Nelson 11.9.1805; Morrison II p. 265
CHAPTER XV
1 Castlereagh to Nelson and Matra (Consul at Tangier) 14.9.1805; Add. 34,931 ff.192–3
2 Nelson to Matra 25.9.1805; Frost, A. The Precarious Life of James Mario Matra. Melbourne, 1995, pp. 137–8. .
3 Nelson to Emma 17.9.1805; Nicolas VII p. 40
4 See for example Nelson to Emma 20.9.1805; Morrison II p. 266
5 Collingwood to Admiralty 30.8.1805; Add. 34,930 f. 304.
6 Castlereagh to Nelson 27.10.1805; WO 1/282 f. 131.
7 Castlereagh to Nelson n.d. and Francis to Nelson 4.9.1805; Add. 34,930 f.247 and Add. 34,931 f. 689
8 Fremantle to Buckingham 30.9.1805; Buckingham, Duke of, Courts and Cabinets of George III, London, 1855, Vol. II, p. 446
9 Duff to Wife 1.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. 70
10 Edward Codrington Orion to Wife 4.9.1805; Bourchier, Lady Memoir of Sir Edward Codrington, London, 1873, Vol. I, p. 47
11 Codrington 20.9.1805; Bourchier p. 49
12 Nelson to Emma 1.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. 60
13 Lempriere to Collingwood 24.9.1805; Bayntun to Nelson nd; Add. 34,931 ff. 207–8
14 Nelson to Acton 30.9.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 53–4
15 Young to Nelson nd. Add 34,931 f. 219
16 Nelson to Admiralty 2.10.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 62–4
17 Senhouse to Pellew 3.10.1805; Add. 34,931 f. 253
18 Blackwood to Nelson 10.10.1805; Add. 34,931 ff. 296–7 Nelson to Blackwood 14.10.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 121–2
19 Nelson to Elliot 9.10.1805; Monserrat MS. MON/III 54
20 Knight to Nelson 5.10.1805; Add.34,931 f. 266.
21 Nelson 10.10.1805; Nicolas VII 106
22 Nelson to Admiralty 10.10.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 98–9. Pocock, Remember Nelson; The Life of Captain Sir William Hoste for the career of this brilliant officer.
23 Blackwood to Nelson 15.10.1805; Add. 34,931 f33o. This may the basis for the famous Nelson quote ‘Here comes Berry, we are sure to have a battle now!’ cited by Nicolas at VII p. 117.
24 Codrington 21.8.1805; Bourchier p. 46. Duff to Wife 10.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. 71
25 Admiralty to Nelson 21.9.1805; ADM 2/1363 (Secret) arrived 8.10.1805. Nelson to Admiralty 10.10.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 109–10
26 Corbett, Trafalgar, pp. 342–59. Report of a Committee appointed by the Admiralty to consider the tactics employed at Trafalgar, HMSO London. 1913.
27 Nelson Memorandum 9.10.1805; Nicolas VII 89–92, and Corbett pp. 447–9
28 Blackwood to Wife 23.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. 226
29 Nelson to Collingwood 9.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. 95
30 Nelson to Stewart 8.10.1805; Cumloden Papers
31 Blackwood to Nelson 19.10.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 130–1
32 Nelson to Collingwood 12.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. 115
33 Nelson to Emma 19 and 20.10.1805; Nelson to Horatia 19.10.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 132–3
34 Nelson Diary 21.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. 139
35 Both Blackwood, who knew him well, and Codrington, who did not, were struck by how profoundly the loss of his chief had affected the flag captain. They had missed, as have most others, the intense relationship between the two men, forged in war, and sustained through years spent working, living and relaxing together. He even cut up the one-armed admiral’s meat. All great admirals needed a Hardy, an officer to provide the calm, efficient ship administration, exemplary seamanship and emotional support that relieved them of the daily routine, to concentrate on the business of command. When Nelson asked him why they got on so well Hardy explained that it was because he knew when to let Nelson take over as captain. J. Gore, Nelson’s Hardy and his Wife, p. 18.
36 Blackwood to Harriet Blackwood 22.10.1805; Nicolas VII p. .225–7. Blackwood, like Codrington, considered that some of the ships at the rear of the line had not engaged at close range, as Nelson required, and were therefore derelict in their duty. Collingwood rejected such carping, after the loss of his friend, and the victory. I am indebted to Dr Michael Duffy for this observation.
37 Collingwood to Moutray 9.12.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 238–9. Collingwood to Cornwallis 26.10.1805; Cornwallis p. 412
38 Collingwood to Pasley 16.12.1805; Nicolas VII p. 241
CHAPTER XVI
1 Coleridge, S. T. The Friend I, pp. 574–5, from his wonderful essay on Alexander Ball. Holmes, R. Coleridge, Darker Visions, London, 1998, pp. 1–63 covers his period in Malta.
2 Barker, J. Wordsworth: A Life, pp. 337–40, 867. Published in 1807, the poem was composed between Trafalgar and the funeral. It was a Victorian favourite.
3 Pitt to Earl Nelson 9.11.180 5; Stanhope, Life of Pitt, Vol. Ill, pp. 344–5
4 Guerin, Horatia, p. 298
5 Hawkesbury to King 10.11.1805; Aspinall, George III Vol. I
V p. 364
6 Parissien, George IV; The Grand Entertainment, p. 27
7 Hawkesbury to Earl Nelson 12.12.1805; MON E218
8 Hood to Hawkesbury 6.1.1806; MON E387
9 Lady Bessborough to Granville Leveson Gower 9.1.1806; Granville II pp.154–5
10 The King to London Corporation 21,11.1805; Prince of Wales to Davison 18.12.1805; Nicolas VII pp. 306–10
11 Sidmouth, 21.1.1806, at the opening of Parliament, House of Lords; Nicolas VII p. 312
12 Lady Londonderry to Castlereagh 15.11.1805; Nicolas VII p. 323
13 Greig, Farington IV p. 269–72
14 For Devis, West and the competition see Greig, Farington IV pp. 109n, 138, 150–9
15 Butlin, M. and Joll, E. The Paintings of J. M. W. Turner. Vol. I Text Yale 1977 P. 39
16 Wilton, Painting and Poetry; Turner’s Verse Book and his work of 1804–1812, p. 48
17 Erdman, Blake; Prophet Against Empire, p 220.
18 Ibid. pp. 318–19
19 Ibid. p. 449.
20 Raine, Blake and Tradition, Vol. I p. 3 59; Raine, ‘A New Mode of Printing’ in Lucas, William Blake, 1998, p. 125.
21 Erdman, p. 449
22 Coleridge, The Friend pp. 551–2
23 Ibid. pp. 572–4
24 Earl Nelson to Col. MacMahan 13.2.1806; and reply of 15.2.1806; STW/8 NMM
25 Earl to Nelson Prince of Wales 16.2.1806; Earl Nelson Memorandum; Add. 34,992 ff. 105–8
26 McArthur to Earl Nelson 31.3.1806 and Earl Nelson to McArthur 4.4.1806; Add. 34,992 ff. 120–3.
27 Clarke to Earl Nelson 28.5.1806; Add. 34,992 f. 146
28 Clarke to Earl Nelson 5.1807 and nd; Add. 34,992 ff.174 and 280
29 Morning Post 3.9.1809. Cadell and Davies to McArthur 25.7.1809, and 17.12.1809; PHB/16. The publishers were later taken over by Messrs Longman.
30 Farington records that he was at work on this piece by March 1807. IV p. 100.
31 Cadell and Davies to McArthur 22.10.1812; PHB/16
32 McArthur to Cadell and Davies 11.1.1816
33 Storey, M. Robert Southey: A Life, pp. 210–21
34 ‘Lives of Nelson’, Quarterly Review, February 1810, pp. 218–62., esp. pp. 220–4
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