Bombay of Toloun August 1st 1810

Dear Uncle,

I take the Liberty of writing these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health as it leaves me at preasant thank god for it, uncle I have rote two letters to my farther and has not had any answer from him which makes me think that he has left arnold (3) has the last letter he informed me of Mr. Hawksleys misfortune (4) but I hope that is all past and as Brisk as ever and'he wrote to me respecting Lord Collingwoods action and I sent him 2 letters since and told im every particular of it it was on last September but our ship was not in it at all but in sight of them, but know this summer they are more bolder than ever they coms out side there arbour and chase our ships of but 10 or 12 days ago our fleet was driven to the coast? and some of there ships came out and had taken one of our Brigs four of our 74's man to how assistance and rundown among ? sail of the line and done a deal of damage to them and he never received a shot.

There is know in Toloune 14 sail of the line and 9 Friggats, and who have only 12 sail of the line and 2 or 3 friggats at the best of times our admiral Lord Collingwood (5) died on Board the Nile departing 98 again home and Sir Samual Hood superceded him and since that Sir Charles Cotton (6) has know got the command up the Medetrannen whe do expect them out to run to some other port every day, our officers doe talk of peace very much here and whe do have us hopes that before next spring I shall get home again for whe have been 10 months out from England and has not had 18 days fresh provisions in that hole time and let me further know that I do wish im to write as soon as possible and write back yourself and let me know all the news at home. Remember me to my Mother and to my Brothers and sisters and to all enquiring friends and hoping before long I shall bee along with you all at home.

Remember me to Thomas Gadsby at Mansfield and tell my farther to remember me to William Kerk and Thomas Matlock at arnold and to all other enquiring friends and when whe come to england if whe get Liberty I will come home to se you and I hope you will have more pleasant on the 10 of this month then I shall for I shall have know rairties but our salt Beefs ov 3 years old there one of my country men on Board from Mansfield and whe shall have a drop of wine together I have know more to say at presant but remaining yours till Death

Wm Nelson

rite as soon as pofsible and tell my farther to rite to

Recd sept 16 1810

Wrote again Nov 20 1810

Adrefse ? New Radford, Nottingham.

NOTES

1. H.M.S. St. George, 2nd Rate ship of the Line
2. Alexander Davison was a personal friend of Nelson and dealt with his business affairs, also being his prize agent.
3. Arnold was a village three miles north of Nottingham, now being part of that City.
4. I take this to mean John Hawksley. In 1788, he along with a Robert Davison erected a large worsted mill at Arnold, eventually employing 1,000 people. The mill shut in 1809 partly due to the death of Davison, and heavy financial losses caused by the depression in trade arising from the decrees of Napoleon (i.e. the continental system) against British Commerce, along with price rises of supplies caused by the French war. The apprentices were handed over to the recruiting Sergeant and the Millowners received £ 5 for each one enlisted. Hawksley went onto open a new mill in Butcher close, Nottingham on 5th February 1810.
5. Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood 1750-1810. In 1805 assumed command of the fleet at Trafalgar and wrote the dispatch on the battle. Commanded in the Mediterranean 1807-08, and supervised the blockade of Toulon 1808-10. He died at sea and is buried at St. Paul's.
6. Admiral Sir Charles Cotton 1753-1812. He commanded naval units in the Tages 1807-08, and commanded in the Mediterranean 1810. His last appointment was the channel fleet in 1812.

Sources

H. Nelson letter: DD P61/31/38 Notts Archivies
W. Nelson letter: DD 798/16 Notts Archivies
Greenwich Maritime Museum.
Dictionary of Napoleonic Wars : D. Chandler. Immortal Memory: D. and S. Howarth.
History of Arnold : J. Russell and R. King, Nottm. 1913.
The Nelson letters reproduced with the kind permission of the Principal Archivist, Notts. Archivies.

More Letters

Nelson Letters: Introduction
Nelson Letters: Vice Admiral
Nelson Letters: Able Seaman