mond ring; whilst from the King of Sardinia he received a handsome gold snuff-box, in return for the attention he had paid to his royal brother, when on board the Gibraltar for a passage to Cagliari.
On the arrival of Lord Nelson to assume the chief command in the Mediterranean at the renewal of the war, Captain Ryves presented his Lordship with a manuscript chart of the Madalena and Barelino Islands: its correctness and utility are proved by the following letter, dated Victory, Nov. 1, 1803:
“My dear Sir,– We anchored in Agincourt Sound yesterday evening, and I assure you that I individually feel all the obligation due to you for your most correct chart and directions for these islands. We worked the Victory every foot of the way from Asinana to this anchorage, the wind blowing from Largo Sarde, under double reefed top-sails. I shall write to the Admiralty, stating how much they ought to feel obliged to your very great skill and attention in making this survey. This is absolutely one of the finest harbours I have ever seen.” The gallant Admiral, alluding to the state of Naples, &c. &c. thus proceeds in his usual kind and cqmmunicative manner:
“Although I forgot to mention to you when the Childers went to Naples, my desire, if circumstances would allow the Gibraltar to be spared from thence, that you would see the Sardinian galley with the King’s brother on board, safe into Cagliari, I have since then wrote to you by way of Palermo on the subject: but I am sure you would do it if the particular service you are employed upon would admit it, without any directions from me. We are all in high health, and nothing to ruffle our tempers. The French have eight sail ready, so that we shall have them out one of these days. I sincerely hope that your ship’s company are perfectly recovered. We have had very bad weather, and I am afraid the Gibraltar’s rotten masts and yards must have suffered. As I am very anxious to get the Raven back before I leave this anchorage, I beg you will give her all the assistance in your power and send her off, for we are very short of candles, nearly in distress. With every good wish, I am, my dear Sir, your much obliged, and very obedient servant,
“P.S. Will you be so good as to embark my servant Gaetano on board the Raven.”
In June 1804, the Gibraltar having been upwards of twelve years in commission, and in great want of repair, was ordered to proceed home, calling at Cadiz for the trade bound to England, with which she arrived at the Motherbank on the 14th of the following month; and two days after, the
