In the mean time, Lord Nelson wrote to the Marquis De Niza, inculcating the necessity of not obeying his orders to return home.  “I have,” says his lordship, “received a letter from Don Roderigo de Souza, saying that, as the squadron under your orders were not now necessary in the Mediterranean, his royal highness had directed their return.  On this belief, your orders are founded; but, as the contrary is the fact—­for your services were never more wanted than at this moment, when every exertion is wanting to get more troops of English and Russians to Malta—­I must, therefore, most positively desire, that your excellency will not, on any consideration, withdraw one man from the shore, or detach any ship down the Mediterranean.  I send you an order, to justify your excellency’s not complying with his royal highness’s orders; and, I am confident, he will approve of my conduct.”

While his lordship was indefatigably engaged in obtaining every aid for the reduction of Malta, information arrived, that thirteen French and Spanish sail of the line, one of them a three-decker, had been seen on the coast of Portugal.  He immediately, therefore, wrote to hasten Commodore Troubridge, and sent also to Sir Sidney Smith:  informing them, that he should sail next day, the 5th of October, for Mahon; and, probably, to Gibraltar.  “If,” says his lordship, to Commodore Troubridge, “I can but get a force to fight these fellows, it shall be done quickly.  I am in dread for our outward bound convoys; seven hundred sail, under a few frigates, in England, thinking all the force was at Brest.  I need only say, get to Mahon as quick as possible, that we may join.”  Accordingly, having sailed from Palermo, he wrote the following letter to Captain Ball.

     “Fondroyant, at Sea,
     5th Oct. 1799.

     MY DEAR BALL,

“I fervently hope, that Niza has got hold of the French ships from Toulon.  As that business is over, I have only to hope the best:  This day, by his Sicilian Majesty’s orders, a letter is wrote to Messina, to request General Graham to get to Malta with five hundred men.  The Russian Admiral is wrote to, to go with at least seven hundred.  A corps of Russian grenadiers are also expected at Leghorn, for Malta.  If Niza has been successful, all will end well.  Ever your’s, most faithfully,

     “Nelson.”

     “I am not well; and left our dear friends, Sir William and Lady
     Hamilton, very unwell.”

     “Captain Ball, Chief of the Maltese.”

His lordship had, this day, fallen in with the Salamine brig; which brought him a letter from Captain Darby at Minorca, stating that a fleet of twenty vessels, among which were two sail of the line and several frigates, had been seen steering to the south-east on the 29th of September.  These, his lordship was of opinion, could only be the two Venetian ships from Toulon, with a convoy for Malta; and, as the Marquis De Niza had seven sail of the line, one frigate, and three sloops, he had hopes that the greatest part of them would be taken.