The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1Harrison, James
History
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1
Harrison, James
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805
"And, as it is my earnest wish, that not one individual inhabitant
of the island of Teneriffe should suffer by my demand being
instantly complied with, I offer the following most honourable and
liberal terms; which, if refused, the horrors of war, which will
fall on the inhabitants of Teneriffe, must be, by the world,
imputed to you, and to you only: for I shall destroy Santa Cruz,
and the other towns in the island, by a bombardment, and levy a
very heavy contribution on the island.
"ARTICLE I.
"The forts shall be delivered to me; and, instantly, a party of the
British troops shall be put in possession of the gates.
"ARTICLE II.
"The garrison shall lay down their arms, but the officers shall be
allowed to keep their swords; and the garrison, without the
condition of being prisoners of war, shall be transported to Spain,
or remain in the island while their conduct is orderly and proper,
as the commanding officer pleases.
"ARTICLE III.
"On the express condition, that the full and entire cargoes of the
El Principe d'Asturias, and all such other cargoes and property as
may have been landed on the island of Teneriffe, and not intended
for the consumption of it's inhabitants, be given up, and the first
article complied with, not the smallest contribution shall be
levied on the inhabitants, but they shall enjoy the fullest
protection in their persons and property.
"ARTICLE IV.
"No interference whatever shall be made in the holy catholic
religion; the ministers of it, and all it's religious orders, shall
be considered as under my especial care and protection.
"ARTICLE V.
"The laws and magistrates shall be continued as at present, unless
by the general wish of the islanders.
"These terms subscribed to, the inhabitants of the town of Santa
Cruz shall lodge their arms in one house, under the joint care of
the bishop and chief magistrate; and it will be my pride to consult
with these gentlemen what may be most advantageous for the
inhabitants.
"Horatio Nelson."
"I allow half of one hour for acceptance or rejection.
"Horatio Nelson."
These articles being transmitted to Captain Troubridge, special orders
were sent, the same day, to Captain Thomas Oldfield, senior captain of
the marines ordered to disembark; and to Lieutenant Baynes, of the
Royal Artillery; directing them to attend, respectively, to all the
desires of Captain Thomas Troubridge, who was to command all the forces
landed for taking the town of Santa Cruz. To the latter officer, a copy
of the third article of the following regulations was, at the same time,
particularly addressed.
_"Regulations recommended by Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson_.
"1.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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