Letters and Dispatches of Horatio Nelson
July 3rd through July 11, 1797

TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B.
[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 23.]

3rd July, 1797.

We will begin this night by ten o'clock ; and I beg that all the launches of the Fleet may be with me by eight, or half- past at farthest, also all the barges or pinnaces. I wish to make it a warm night at Cadiz. The Town and their Fleet are prepared, and their Gun-boats are advanced; so much the better. If they venture from their walls, I shall give Johnny his full scope for fighting. Mazaredo will be more than human, if he can keep the Merchants of Cadiz in good humour. I am inclined to think he has been out this afternoon. I intend, if alive, and not tired, to see you to-morrow, and ever to the last believe me your faithful,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B.
[Original in the Admiralty. Published in the London Gazette, of the 1st August, 1797.]

Theseus, July 4th, 1797.

Sir,
In obedience to your orders, the Thunderer Bomb was placed, by the good management of Lieutenant Gourly, her present Commander, assisted by Mr. Jackson, Master of the Ville de Paris, who volunteered his able services within 2500 yards of the walls of Cadiz; and the shells were thrown from her with much precision, under the directions of Lieutenant Baynes, of the Royal Artillery; but, unfortunately, it was soon found that the large Mortar was materially injured, from its former services ; I therefore, judged it proper to order her to return under the protection of the Goliath, Terpsichore, and Fox, which were kept under sail for that purpose, and for whose active services I feel much obliged.

The Spaniards having sent out a great number of Mortar Gun-boats and armed Launches, I directed a vigorous attack to be made on them, which was done with such gallantry, that they were drove and pursued close to the walls of Cadiz, and must have suffered considerable loss: and I have the pleasure to inform you, that two Mortar-boats and an armed Launch remained in our possession.

I feel myself particularly indebted, for the successful termination of this contest, to the gallantry of Captains Fremantle and Miller, the former of whom accompanied me in. my Barge; and to my Coxswain, John Sykes, who, in defending my person, is most severely wounded; a.s was Captain Fremantle, slightly, in the attack." And my praises are generally due to every Officer and man, some of whom I saw behave in the most noble manner; and I regret it is not in my power to particularize them. I must also beg to be permitted to express my admiration of Don Miguel Tyrason, the Commander of the Gun-boats. In his Barge, he laid my Boat alongside, and his resistance was such as did honour to a brave Officer; eighteen of the twenty-six men being killed, and himself and all the rest wounded. Not having a correct list of killed and wounded, I can only state, that I believe about six are killed and twenty wounded.

I have the honour to be, &c„
HORATIO NELSON.

TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B.
[From Clarke and M'A'thur,vol.ii.p.24:.]

July 5th, 1797.

My dear Sir,
I am thankful, for your flattering letter, which, as we all like, I will believe as much of as I can. To-night my plan is for Cadiz, on the outside of the lighthouse: Jackson knows a good berth. If the Brigs come out, we will have a dash at them, and, as the Boats will be in three divisions under Captains, we may expect a little more regularity, in case of any unforeseen event. Your encouragement for those Lieutenants who may conspicuously exert themselves, cannot fail to have its good effect in serving our Country, instead of their thinking that if a Vessel is taken, it would make the son of some great man a Captain, in the place of the gallant fellow who captured her. At present the Brigs lie too close to each other to hope for a dash at them, but soon I expect to find one off her guard, and then—. We have eighty-seven living prisoners now on board, and near thirty have since died of their wounds. News from Cadiz this morning is, that some people were killed in the Town, and fifteen were killed, and a great number wounded in the Spanish gun-boats.

I am, &c.;HORATIO NELSON.

TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B.
[From Tucker's Memoirs of the Earl of St. Vincent, vol. i. p. 418.]

H.M.S. Ship Theseus, 7th July, 1797.

My dear Sir,
The Officer who came out with the Flag of Truce says, that our Ministers at Lisle are Lords Grenville, Malmesbury, and St. Helens; Dell ' Campo and Camporosa, on the part of Spain; and De la Groix, Le Turneur, and another on the part of France: that Peace is expected every day,—that with the Emperor is ratified and finished; also, that the Government of Genoa is completely altered,—many of the Senators were massacred, and their palaces plundered. News from Cadiz, by a Market-boat, that our Ships did much damage; the Town was on fire in three places; a shell that fell in a Convent destroyed several priests (that no harm, they will never be missed); that plunder and robbery was going on—a glorious scene of confusion; that representations have been made to Mazaredo, and to the Admiral, to come out with the Fleet. I see an Admiral moving forwards, and now I perceive it is Mazaredo. The bombs and mortars will be finished to night, but I cannot part with the Isis. I have arranged about the change of howitzers: to-morrow I will write on that subject. I wish you had mentioned about Zealous ; we hear nothing of her.

Ever yours most faithfully,
HORATIO NELSON.

Please God, I hope the Spanish Fleet are coming out, and the Admiral is under sail; and I open my letter to say they are all on the move.

TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B.
[From Tucker's Memoirs of the Earl of St. Vincent, vol. i. p. 327.]

Theseus, July 9,1797.

My dear Sir, In the first place, I congratulate you on the finish, as it ought, of the St. George's business," and I (if I may be permitted to say so) very much approve of its being so speedily carried into execution, even although it is Sunday. The particular situation of the service requires extraordinary measures. I hope this will end all the disorders in our Fleet: had there been the same determined spirit at home, I do not believe it would have been half so bad, not but that I think Lord Howe's sending back the first petition was wrong.

Yours most affectionately and gratefully,
HORATIO NELSON.

TO SIR ROBERT CALDER, KNIGHT, FIRST CAPTAIN TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B.
[From Tucker's " Memoirs of the Earl of St. Vincent," vol. i. p. 328.]

Theseus, July 9th, 1797.

My dear Sir,
I am sorry that you should have to differ with [Vice- Admiral Thompson] but had it been Christmas Day instead of Sunday, I would have executed them. We know not what might have been hatched by a Sunday's grog: now your discipline is safe. I talked to our people, and, I hope, with good effect: indeed, they seem avery quiet set.

Ever your most faithful,
HORATIO NELSON.

TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B.
[From Clai'ke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 36, who thus abridge the former part of this Letter:'—"On the 9th of July, 1707, he informed Lord St. Vincent, that, although he hoped enough had been done to force out the Spanish Fleet, yet in case there had not, he would try them again, ' when,' he added,"]

9th July, 1797.

Down comes Cadiz; and not only Cadiz, but their Fleet, if Mazaredo will not come out. The people of Cadiz are told, that they have made great destruction amongst us, and believe it; and reports say their gun and mortar-boats are to attack our advanced Squadron the very first calm night. If they succeed in either destroying some of us, or crippling our masts, then Mazaredo puts to sea, and destroys you: therefore do not be surprised, my dear Sir, if you hear a cannonade ; I am prepared.

I am, &c.;
HORATIO NELSON.

TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B.
[From Tucker's Memoirs of the Earl of St. Vincent, vol. i. p. 419.]

H.M.S. Theseus, July 10th, 1797.

My dear Sir, I will send Mr. Yawkins off San Pedro, and hope it will answer its intended purpose. I was in hopes the gentry would have enabled me to have a run at them, but they are too much on their guard. If the King of Spain goes on this way, and the Mexican Fleet fall into our hands, he will be like Billy Pitt, give nothing but paper. As for those shots flying about the Theseus, it will do her good, and make her the better for your support in some proud day, not far distant, I hope. Portugal ought to be grateful for your attention to her interest, and so ought little England.

Believe me ever your most faithful,
HORATIO NELSON.

The Dons will be tired enough to take a good nap this afternoon.

TO SIR JAMES SAUMAREZ, CAPTAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP ORION.
[Autograph, in the possession of the Dowager Lady de Saumarez.]

Theseus, July 10th, 1797.

Dear Sir, I beg you will have the goodness to immediately send in my Letter for Don Josef de Mazaredo: his Letter of yesterday does not please the Admiral.

Ever your most obedient Servant,
HORATIO NELSON.

TO CAPTAIN JOHN NICHOLSON INGLEFIELD, COMMISSIONER OF THE NAVY AT GIBRALTAR.
[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 27.]

July 11th, 1797.

My dear Sir,
I am sorry to find, from General O'Hara's letter, that he has the smallest alarm for our success in anything my great Commander-in-Chief plans: had my orders been well executed, not a Spanish gun or mortar boat would have been left at Cadiz. Our loss of men is most trifling; but, however that might have been, I had rather see fifty shot by the Enemy, than one hanged by us. It is good at these times to keep the Devil out of their heads.

Mazaredo is alarmed; has drawn all his Ships between St. Mary's and Cadiz; and if you make haste with the sea-mortar, I will bomb him out of Cadiz bay. Three fires were seen in the Town, but they were got under without much difficulty. I laid myself with the Bomb on the strong face of Cadiz, seventy guns and eight mortars. They expected me on the weak side. The next night I took them on the soft side, and eighty shells fell in the Town, and some over it amongst their Shipping. Yesterday, in the Thesens, I had the honour of every gun from the southern part of Cadiz, and of every Gun and Mortar-boat. I could not get them out so far as I wished, or some of them should have paid me a visit. I sent ninety-one prisoners into Cadiz, whom I took on the night of the 3rd; and, as to killed, I know nothing about them: eighteen were killed in the Commanding Officer's boat, that had the presumption to lay my Barge aboard, manned with some of the Agamemnon's people. My Squadron is now ten Sail of the Line. If they come out, there will be no fighting beyond my Squadron.

I am, &c„
HORATIO NELSON.