NELSON LETTER FOUND.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1419, 23 October 1923, Page 3

NELSON LETTER FOUND.

A hitherto unpublished letter from Lord Nelson to the Governor of the Madalena Islands has been discovered. "Ocean Life" is publishing a fascimile of the letter as a supplement. The letter is dated November 9th, ISO!!. It has been submitted to high authority and pronounced genuine. It was written from the Victory at the time when the British main fleet was waiting behind the Madalena Islands for the French and Spanish naval forces to emerge from Toulon and Carthagena—a prelude to the battle of Trafalgar. The letter reads:—-Sir,—l cannot allow myself to depart from the Madalena Islands without assuring you how sensible I am of your great attention to me and to every ship of the British Heet which has anchored here, and I shall be much obliged if you will forward my letter to His Excellency the Viceroy, expressive of the same sentiments. I am sorry it is not in my power to prevent the Barbary cruisers from landing in Sardi ilia, as we are at peace with them, but if they had attempted a landingat this place during my stay I should have felt myself bound in honour to have afforded you every assistance in repelling them. I am. sir, wishing every prosperity to your infant settlement with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant, Nelson and Bronte. I beg that you will deliver the enclosed letter to any of his Majesty's ships who may arrive. I leave the transport here and consider it under the protection of the neutrality of the port.—N. and B. Lieut-Commander Rawson writes of the document: —"The letter to the Governor of the Madalenas was written by Nelson on the eve of one of i his departures from the bases; he had been anxious to enlist the sympathy and co-operation of the Go- | venor, who was able to provide both supplies and water to the fleet, and also, in its absence, to act as agent. He was in fact a 'benevolent neutral,' and as such of considerable importance to the British Admiral, particularly in the matter of giving information regarding the movements of the enemy. The letter illustrates anew the pains which Nelson took to cultivate the friendship of any official who | might he of service to England."