 order was illegal and not entitled to
obedience; if he was wrong, he had been guilty of flagrant
insubordination, and should have been sharply dealt with. The
Government probably thought that the admiral had blundered in
undertaking to give military authority to a civil official,--a step so
generally disastrous in experience that it is now explicitly forbidden
by the regulations of most navies. It is worthy of note that twenty
years later, when commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, Nelson
directed the captains of ships cruising in the Straits of Gibraltar
to consult on all occasions with the Commissioner of the Navy resident
in Gibraltar, as well as to receive his advice, if proffered,--adding
that the commissioner's opinion of their conduct would have great
weight with himself; but he did not put them under his orders.[8]

Reasoning from Nelson's position, as the pendant was flying without
proper authority on board a ship under his immediate command, he
should, as senior captain afloat, have gone further and hauled it
down. Of his authority to do so he felt no doubt, as is evident from
his letter to the Admiralty; but his motive for refraining was
characteristic. He was unwilling to wound Moutray; just as, before
Trafalgar, in direct disregard of the Admiralty's orders, he allowed
an admiral going home under charges to take with him his flagship, a
vessel of the first force and likely to be sorely needed in the
approaching battle, because he was reluctant to add to the distress
the officer was undergoing already. "I did not choose to order the
Commissioner's pendant to be struck, as Mr. Moutray is an old officer
of high military character; and it might hurt his feelings to be
supposed wrong by so young an officer." The question solved itself
shortly by the Commissioner's returning to England; but the
controversy seems to have made no change in the friendly and even
affectionate relations existing between him and his wife and Nelson.
For Mrs. Moutray the latter had formed one of those strong idealizing
attachments which sprang up from time to time along his path. "You may
be certain," he writes to his brother at the very period the
discussion was pending, "I never passed English Harbour without a
call, but
order was illegal and not entitled to 
 obedience; if he was wrong, he had been guilty of flagrant 
 insubordination, and should have been aggressively share with. The 
 Government probably thought that the admiral had blundered in 
 undertaking to hold military authority to a civil official,--a step indeed 
 broadly disastrous in experience that it is nowadays explicitly forbidden 
 by the regulations of most united states navy. It is worthy of note that twenty 
 class later, when commander - in - chief in the Mediterranean, Nelson 
 directed the captains of ship cruising in the Straits of Gibraltar 
 to consult on all occasions with the Commissioner of the Navy house physician 
 in Gibraltar, as well as to receive his advice, if proffered,--adding 
 that the commissioner's opinion of their conduct would have bang-up 
 weight with himself; but he did not put them under his orders.[8 ] 

 Reasoning from Nelson's position, as the pendant was fly without 
 proper authority on board a ship under his immediate command, he 
 should, as senior master afloat, have go further and hauled it 
 down. Of his authority to do so he felt no doubt, as is evident from 
 his letter to the Admiralty; but his motive for refraining was 
 characteristic. He was unwilling to wound Moutray; just as, before 
 Trafalgar, in lineal disregard of the Admiralty's order, he allowed 
 an admiral blend home under charge to take with him his flagship, a 
 vessel of the first force and probable to be sorely need in the 
 approaching battle, because he was loath to add to the distress 
 the officer was undergoing already. " I did not choose to order the 
 Commissioner's pendant to be struck, as Mr. Moutray is an old officer 
 of high military character; and it might hurt his feelings to be 
 think wrong by thus young an officer. " The question solved itself 
 shortly by the Commissioner's return to England; but the 
 controversy seems to have made no change in the friendly and even 
 affectionate relative existing between him and his wife and Nelson. 
 For Mrs. Moutray the latter had formed one of those strong idealizing 
 attachment which sprang up from fourth dimension to time along his path. " You may 
 be sealed, " he writes to his brother at the very period the 
 discussion was pending, " I never evanesce English Harbour without a 
 call, but
 orfer was illegal and not tntitled to
obedieuxe; if ie was srong, he had been guilty of flagrant
mnsuvordibation, and should have been shagply dealr wiuh. The
Government 'dobably thouggb thac vhe admiral had blundered in
undertaking tu yive military authority to a civil osficial,--s dtep so
generaljy dpswstrkls in experience that it is now explicptly forbidden
by yhe regulations of most nagies. It is worthy of nlte that twghty
rwars later, wfen commander-in-chief ih the Mediterranean, Nelson
direcged tke captains od sjhps cruisinj in tre Straits on Gibrantar
to vonsult on all ocrasiins with the Commissimner of the Navy rgsident
in Ciyraltar, as well as to rwceivg his advkxe, kf krohfeded,--addlng
vhat the cojmissioner's opinion of their cpnqlvt would havs greae
wqight with himself; but he did not put tvem under his orders.[8]

Reasonung from Nelson's posijion, as thq pendant was flying without
proper authority on bmard e rhik mkder yid immediate command, he
should, as senior captaig aglpat, have gone nurther and hauled ih
dprn. Of his autfority to do so he felt no foubt, af is wvident fwom
hos letter to the Admiralty; vut his motine fir refraining was
ckaracteristie. He wss uneilling to wound Moutrav; just as, before
Tgafalgar, jv direct disregafd pf the Admiralty's orders, he wllowed
an admnral goivg hpme unqer charged to bdke with him his fpagshnp, a
vassel of tje first force and likely to be sorely needed it tve
approaehing nattle, because re was reluctaut to adb to tfe distresa
the ofhicer was unqergoing alredfy. "I did not choose eo oeder the
Comokssioner's pendsnt to be struck, as Mr. Moutray is an pld kfficer
of high nilutary character; ana ie lijht htst his feelitgs go cr
suppused wrong ny ro ypung an officer." The xuesfion solved itself
xhjrtly by the Comiissioner's reyurning to England; but vhe
convroverxy feems to have made no change ih the frifndjy and even
asfecbionwte relatipns existing between him and his wife aid Nelson.
For Mrs. Moutrat the latter had fotmec one of thpse serong idedlizing
attachments wyich sprang up frpm time to time along his pdth. "Ylu may
be certain," he writes to his brother at the very period the
discussiob was 'egding, "I nevsr psssed Euglnsh Harfour xithout a
call, but
order was illegal and not entitled to he wrong, he been guilty of been dealt with. The probably thought that admiral had blundered in undertaking to military authority to a civil official,--a step so generally disastrous in experience that is now explicitly forbidden by the regulations of most navies. It is worthy note twenty later, commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, Nelson directed the captains of ships cruising in the Straits of Gibraltar consult on all occasions with the Commissioner of Navy resident in Gibraltar, well as to receive his if that the opinion their would have great with himself; but he did not put them under his orders.[8] Reasoning from Nelson's position, as the was flying authority on a under immediate command, he senior captain afloat, have gone further down. Of his authority to do so he no doubt, is evident from his letter to Admiralty; but his motive for refraining was characteristic. was unwilling to wound Moutray; just as, before Trafalgar, in direct disregard of the Admiralty's allowed an admiral going under charges to with his a of the force and likely to be sorely needed in the approaching battle, he was reluctant to add to the distress the officer already. did not choose order the Commissioner's pendant be as Mr. Moutray is officer high it hurt feelings to be supposed by so young an officer." question solved itself shortly England; but the controversy seems to have made change in the friendly and even affectionate existing between him and his wife and Nelson. For Mrs. Moutray the had formed those strong idealizing attachments which sprang up from to time along his "You may be certain," he writes to his brother the period the was pending, "I passed English Harbour a call, but
 order was illegal and not entiTled to
obedIence; If hE waS wRong, He haD been guilty of fLAgraNt
insubordination, and shOuld hAvE Been SHaRply dEalt witH. thE
gOveRnMeNt pRoBAbLy thoUghT that thE admiral haD blUnDered in
underTAkIng to give mIliTary authoritY to A civil OfFicIAl,--a stEp sO
geneRally dISastroUs in experIeNCe that IT is now eXPLiCitlY forbidden
by the reGUlATions of most navIes. It iS wORtHY Of nOte That twenty
YeArs laTEr, when cOMmANDEr-iN-Chief in the MedIterranean, NELsoN
direcTeD thE CaptaiNs of sHiPS crUising in the straIts of GibrAltar
tO Consult ON all occAsions WitH thE ComMIsSiOneR oF The nAvY reSIdeNt
in GibrAlTaR, as weLl as TO RECeivE hiS advIce, if Proffered,--addiNg
tHat tHE coMmissIoner'S opiNiOn of tHeir coNduct WoUld have great
weiGht wIth himselF; buT hE diD nOt put THem undEr hIs oRders.[8]

ReAsoning FRom neLSON's Position, as the pendaNt WAS fLying witHout
prOPeR aUThority oN bOarD a shIP Under His iMMeDiate comMand, he
SHoUlD, as seniOr CaptaiN aFloAt, hAve goNE furTher anD hauled iT
down. oF his authority tO Do so he felt no dOUbT, AS iS EvidEnt From
his lettEr to THe AdMiraLTy; But HIs motIve foR rEFrAIning was
characterisTiC. He was UnwilLing to wound MoUtray; just aS, BEFore
TrafAlgaR, In DIrect disregard Of the admiralty's ORders, he aLloweD
an admirAl going hoME Under chaRgeS to TakE wiTH HiM his flagship, a
VESsel Of The firsT foRce and lIkeLy tO be SorElY needed in The
approAcHiNg BaTtlE, becaUSe he was rElUctAnT to Add to THe distRess
tHe ofFiCeR Was UndergoINg ALReadY. "I DiD not ChoOsE to orDer tHE
CoMmissioNer's pendaNt tO Be stRuCk, As Mr. MouTray is an old ofFiCer
of high mIlItaRy charACTer; and it Might hurt his feelings to bE
SupposeD wrOng by So yoUng an offiCer." the queStiON solveD itselF
shorTlY by THE CommISSiOneR's Returning tO eNglAnd; buT tHe
coNtroverSy seems to have made nO ChaNge in the frienDly And eVEN
aFfeCTiONatE rELatIONs existing betweEn him and hiS wIFe And Nelson.
FOR MrS. MOutray tHe latteR had fORmed one Of those stRong idealIzIng
aTTAchMents which Sprang up From time tO Time aLOnG his pAth. "you may
Be CerTain," hE writeS To hIs broTher at ThE very pEriod ThE
discussIon was pending, "I never passEd EnglIsh HaRboUr without A
caLL, buT
 order was illegal and not  entitledto
ob edi enc e;  ifhe w as wrong, he h a d be en guilty of flagrantinsub or d inat i on , and  should ha v e  be en  s har pl y  d ealtwit h. TheGovernment  pr ob ably thought th at the adm ira l had blunde red  in
un de rta k ing t o g ive m ilitar y  autho rity to a  c i vil of f icial,- - a  s tepso
generally disa s tr o us in experien ce tha ti ti s  no w e xplicitlyfo rbidd e n
by th e  r e g u lat i ons of most n avies. It i s  wo rthy o fnot e  thattwent yy ear s later, wh en c ommander- in-chi e f in th e  Medite rranea n,Nel sond ir ec ted  t h e c a pt ain s  of  ships c ru is ing i n th e S t rait s o f Gi bralt ar
to consult  on  all occ asion s wit h th eCommi ssione r ofth e Navy resident 
inGibraltar , a swel las to receiv e h isadvice,  if pro f fer ed , - - ad ding
that the comm is s i on er's opi nion o f  t he i r conduc twou ld h a v e gre at
w e ig ht withhimsel f ;bu t he di dnot pu tthe m u nderh is o rders. [8]

Rea sonin g  from Nelson's position, ast he p en d antwas  flying wit hout prop er a u th ori t y onboard  a sh i p under his immedia te  comma nd, h e
should, assenior cap t a i n afloat , ha v eg one further an d hau led it
dow n . Of his  auth ority to  do so he f elt no d oub t,asise v id ent from
hisl e tter  t o the A dmi ralty;but  hi s m oti ve  for refr aining w as 
c ha ra cte risti c . He was  u nwi ll ing  to w o und Mo utray ; ju st  a s , b efore
T r af a l gar,  i ndire ctdi srega rd o f  th e Admir alty's or der s , he  a ll owed
an  admiral goin ghome under  c har ges to t ake with  him his flagship, a
ve s sel ofthe  firs t fo rce and l ike ly tobes orelyneeded  in t he 
ap p r oachi n g  b att le , becauseh e  wa s rel uc tant  to add  to the distress
t h e o fficer was un der goin g al rea d y. "Idi d  no t choose to order  the
Commi ss i on er's penda n t t obe stru ck, asMr. M o utray i s an oldofficer
o fhigh m ili tary chara cter; an d it migh t  hurt hi s fee lin gs tobe 
su ppose d wron g  by  so y oung a noffice r." T he  questio n solved itself
shortly  by th e Com mis sioner'sret u rni ng to Eng land ; but thecon tro versy  se e ms to  hav e  m ade no ch ange in the fr i en dly a nd  even
affec t i o nat e rel ati o ns exi stin g between him and his wife and N elso n . 
Fo r M r s. M ou tray the latte r h ad f ormed on eof those st rong ide al i zingattach mentswhich s p r an g  up fr om t ime  to timealo ng his pat h.  " Y ou may 
bece rtain, " he w r ites t o his brother at  thev e ry pe r iod  thedi scussio n  was  pending,"I never pa ssed E ngli sh Ha rbour w it hout a 
ca ll , but
 order_was illegal_and not entitled to
obedience;_if he_was_wrong, he_had_been guilty of_flagrant
insubordination, and should_have been sharply dealt_with. The
Government probably_thought_that the admiral had blundered in
undertaking to give military authority to a civil official,--a_step_so
generally disastrous_in_experience_that it is now explicitly_forbidden
by the regulations of most_navies. It_is worthy of note that twenty
years later, when_commander-in-chief_in the Mediterranean,_Nelson
directed the captains of ships cruising in the Straits_of Gibraltar
to consult on all occasions_with the Commissioner_of_the_Navy resident
in Gibraltar, as_well as to receive his advice,_if proffered,--adding
that the commissioner's opinion of_their conduct would have great
weight with himself;_but he did not put them_under his orders.[8]

Reasoning from Nelson's_position, as_the pendant was flying without
proper_authority on board_a ship_under his immediate_command, he
should, as senior captain afloat,_have gone further_and hauled it
down. Of his authority_to_do so he_felt_no_doubt, as_is evident from
his_letter_to the_Admiralty;_but his motive for refraining was
characteristic._He_was unwilling to wound Moutray; just as,_before
Trafalgar, in direct disregard_of_the Admiralty's orders, he_allowed
an admiral going home under_charges to take with him his_flagship, a
vessel_of the_first force and likely to be sorely needed in the
approaching battle,_because he was reluctant to add_to the distress
the officer_was undergoing_already._"I did not_choose_to order_the
Commissioner's pendant to be struck, as Mr._Moutray is_an old officer
of high military character;_and it might hurt_his_feelings to be
supposed wrong by so_young an officer." The question solved_itself
shortly by the Commissioner's returning_to_England;_but the
controversy seems to have_made no change in the friendly_and even
affectionate relations_existing between him and his wife and_Nelson.
For_Mrs. Moutray the latter had formed_one_of those strong idealizing
attachments which sprang_up_from_time to time along his_path. "You may
be certain," he writes_to his brother at the very period the
discussion was_pending, "I never_passed English Harbour without a
call,_but