“My dear Admiral,– Your son is a very good young man, and I sincerely hope that, now your flag is up, you will be able to promote him. It would give me great pleasure to do it, but I see no prospect, unless we capture the whole French fleet in Toulon; therefore do you consider about him. You are sure of my regard, but I cannot kill people, and I am more likely to go off myself than any one about me. I have many thanks to give you * * * * *.”
“Your kind present of newspapers of Aug. l3th and 21st arrived safe, for all which accept my sincere thanks. Your son has never done wrong, that I can answer for, since he sailed in the Victory, and I wish I could promote him, but I see no prospect; the Admiralty fill all vacancies except death, and nobody will die; therefore I recommend you to ask Lord Melville to let him be put upon the Admiralty list, and then I may be able to give him the step, which will afford great satisifaction to, my dear Admiral, yours, &c.”
“Many thanks for your constant and kind attention in sending me newspapers. Your son is certainly upon the Admiralty list, but so far down that nothing less than the French and Spanish fleets being captured can give him a reasonable chance – however, it is good to be upon that list. I can assure you that your son is an excellent young man. You must forgive my short letter, and only believe that I am ever, my dear Admiral, your most faithful servant,
“To Vice-Admiral Bligh.”
Three days previous to the glorious battle of Trafalgar, Mr. Bligh was appointed by Nelson to command the Etna bomb; but that vessel being then absent from the fleet, he continued to do duty as Lieutenant of the Victory, and was very dangerously wounded, at his quarters on the forecastle, towards the close of that memorable battle, a musket-ball having struck him in the breast, and passed in an oblique direction through his left side. His commission as a Commander bears date Jan. 25, 1806; at which period he was appointed to the Pylades sloop of war, then at Falmouth, with a convoy bound to the Mediterranean. We should here observe, that the Admiralty had previously refused to confirm his appointment to the Etna, and had directed him to join the Ocean 98, fitting for the flag of Nelson’s successor; but which he declined doing
