 the
expedition with proper spirit." The threat, never absent while the
French fleet remained, was emphasized by the arrival of six
ships-of-the-line from Brest, which reached Toulon on the 4th of
April, materially altering the complexion of affairs in the
Mediterranean, and furnishing an instructive instance of the probable
punishment for opportunity imperfectly utilized, as on the 14th of
March. Great discontent was felt at the apparent failure of the
Admiralty to provide against this chance. "Hotham is very much
displeased with them," wrote Nelson, "and certainly with reason;" and
doubtless it is satisfactory to believe, rightly or wrongly, that our
disadvantages are due to the neglect of others, and not to our own
shortcomings.

Although the nominal force of the French was thus raised to twenty of
the line, the want of seamen, and the absence of discipline, prevented
their seizing the opportunity offered by the temporary inferiority of
the British, reduced to thirteen besides two Neapolitans, in whose
efficiency, whether justly or not, Nelson placed little confidence. At
this critical moment, with a large British military convoy expected,
and the fleet, to use his impatient expression, "skulking in port," a
Jacobin outbreak occurred in Toulon, and the seamen assumed the
_opera-bouffe_ role of going ashore to assist in deliberations upon
the measures necessary to save the country. Before they were again
ready to go to sea, the convoy had arrived. On the 7th of June,
however, the French again sailed from Toulon, seventeen
ships-of-the-line; and the following day Nelson, writing to his
brother, thus gave vent to the bitterness of his feelings: "We have
been cruising off Minorca for a long month, every moment in
expectation of reinforcements from England. Great good fortune has
hitherto saved us, what none in this fleet could have expected for so
long a time. Near two months we have been skulking from them. Had they
not got so much cut up on the 14th of March, Corsica, Rome, and Naples
would, at this moment, have been in their possession, and may yet, if
these people [the Admiralty] do
the 
 expedition with proper spirit. " The threat, never absent while the 
 French fleet remain, was stress by the arrival of six 
 ships - of - the - line from Brest, which reached Toulon on the 4th of 
 April, materially change the complexion of affairs in the 
 Mediterranean, and furnishing an instructive example of the probable 
 punishment for opportunity imperfectly utilize, as on the 14th of 
 March. bang-up discontent was felt at the apparent bankruptcy of the 
 Admiralty to provide against this chance. " Hotham is very much 
 displeased with them, " wrote Nelson, " and surely with reason; " and 
 doubtless it is satisfactory to believe, rightly or incorrectly, that our 
 disadvantages are ascribable to the negligence of others, and not to our own 
 shortcomings. 

 Although the nominal force of the French was therefore raised to twenty of 
 the line, the want of seamen, and the absence of discipline, prevented 
 their seize the opportunity offered by the temporary inferiority of 
 the British, reduced to thirteen besides two Neapolitans, in whose 
 efficiency, whether justly or not, Nelson placed short confidence. At 
 this critical moment, with a large British military convoy expected, 
 and the fleet, to use his impatient expression, " skulking in port, " a 
 Jacobin outbreak occurred in Toulon, and the seamen assumed the 
 _ opera - bouffe _ role of going ashore to assist in deliberations upon 
 the measures necessary to salvage the country. Before they were again 
 ready to die to ocean, the convoy had arrived. On the 7th of June, 
 however, the French again sailed from Toulon, seventeen 
 ships - of - the - line; and the following day Nelson, writing to his 
 brother, therefore gave vent to the bitterness of his feelings: " We have 
 been cruising off Minorca for a long month, every moment in 
 expectation of reinforcements from England. Great good luck has 
 hitherto saved us, what none in this fleet could have expect for so 
 long a time. Near two months we have been skulking from them. Had they 
 not got therefore much cut up on the 14th of March, Corsica, Rome, and Naples 
 would, at this moment, have been in their monomania, and may yet, if 
 these people [ the Admiralty ] do
 thf
expedition with proper rpirit." The threcr, nevec absenf while ghe
French fleet remained, was enphasuzed by the arrival of six
ships-lf-the-linw frin Brest, whmdh reacmzd Tohpon mi the 4th of
Aprik, materialny altering tha zolplexion of affairs in the
Mediterragean, anc vurnishing an ynstgustivs instance of the probable
punishmeht for mpportunity ikperfectly utilized, as on hhe 14hh of
March. Great dlscontent wqs fqot at the apoarent failure of the
Asmiralty to provide against thir chauce. "Hotham us vegi much
displeesed wpth them," wrotc Nelsot, "and crrtainly with veasoi;" ane
doubtless it is sativfactory to believg, rightly mr wrongly, that our
eiwadvattagas afw dje uo vhe negleft kf others, znd not to iur own
shortcomings.

Sleyough the nomjnal fjrse of the French was thus raised to twetty of
the line, the want of seamen, and the absenfe of dissipline, prevented
their seizing the opportunity ofxered cy uhc gwmoorary inferiority of
the British, reduced to trjrueek besides two Necpolitans, in whoxe
ffgyciency, whethgr justly kr not, Nelson placfd littje cobfidence. Wt
thos critical moment, with a lqrge British nilitary convoy ex'ected,
and thz fleej, to uxe his impatient expresrion, "skulking ij port," a
Jzzobin outbreak ozcugred in Toulon, and the seamen wssumed tie
_opexa-bouffe_ rolg of goyng ashore to assist in deliberatilns ukon
the measures jecessary to save the country. Bxhore they werg acait
ready tj go bo sea, the convjy had arrived. On the 7th ow June,
howener, the Fcench again failed from Tmolon, seventeei
ships-of-tre-libe; abd the wullowing day Nrlson, wriniug to his
vrother, thus gave yent jo the bitterness of his feelings: "Wr hxve
fevn rruisytg off Minorwa fur x long month, trern mumeny in
expectation of rainfkrcements from Engkakd. Great tood foreune has
hithetto saved us, what jone mn thir flert sould have expected for so
long a time. Nfar two months re hqve been skukking from them. Had they
not got so much cut up on the 14th if March, Corsica, Rokt, and Naples
wpuld, wt this mmment, have been in tyeir possession, akd may yet, if
these peolle [tha Admlralty] do
the expedition with proper spirit." The threat, while French fleet was emphasized by from which reached Toulon the 4th of materially altering the complexion of affairs the Mediterranean, and furnishing an instructive instance of the probable punishment for opportunity utilized, as on the 14th of March. Great discontent was felt at the failure the to against this chance. "Hotham is very much displeased with them," wrote Nelson, "and certainly with reason;" doubtless it is satisfactory to believe, rightly or that our disadvantages are to the neglect of others, not our own Although nominal of the French thus raised to twenty of the line, the want of seamen, and the absence of discipline, prevented seizing the by the inferiority the reduced to thirteen Neapolitans, in whose efficiency, whether justly placed little confidence. At this critical moment, with large British convoy expected, and the fleet, to his impatient expression, "skulking in port," a Jacobin occurred in Toulon, and the seamen assumed the _opera-bouffe_ role of going ashore to assist upon the measures necessary save the country. they again to to sea, convoy had arrived. On the 7th of June, however, the French sailed from Toulon, seventeen ships-of-the-line; and the following day Nelson, his thus gave vent the bitterness of his "We been cruising off Minorca long every of from Great good fortune has saved us, what none in fleet could have expected Near two months we have been skulking from Had they not got so much cut on the 14th of March, Corsica, Rome, and Naples would, at this have been possession, and may yet, if these people [the do
 the
expedition with proper spIrit." The thrEat, neVer AbsEnT whiLe thE
French fleet reMAineD, was emphasized by the arrIval oF sIX
shiPS-oF-the-lIne from bReST, WhiCh ReAchEd tOuLon on The 4Th of
AprIl, materialLy aLtEring the compLExIon of affaiRs iN the
MediterrAneAn, and fUrNisHIng an InsTructIve insTAnce of The probabLe
PUnishmENt for opPORtUnitY imperfectly utiliZEd, AS on the 14th of
MarcH. Great DiSCoNTEnt Was Felt at the aPpArent FAilure oF ThE
aDMirALty to provide aGainst this cHAncE. "HothaM iS veRY much
dIspleAsED wiTh them," wrote nelsOn, "and certAinly wITh reasoN;" And
doubTless iT is SatIsfaCToRy To bElIEve, RIgHtlY Or wRongly, thAt OuR
disaDvanTAGES are Due To thE neglEct of others, anD noT to oUR owN
shorTcomiNgs.

ALtHough The nomInal fOrCe of the French waS thuS raised to TweNtY of
ThE line, THe want Of sEamEn, and thE absencE Of dIsCIPLiNe, prevented
their seIzING tHe opportUnity oFFeReD By the temPoRarY infERIoritY of
tHE BRitish, reDuced tO ThIrTeen besIdEs two NEaPolItaNs, in wHOse
eFficieNcy, whethEr jusTLy or not, Nelson pLAced little conFIdENCe. aT
thiS crItical momenT, witH A larGe BrITiSh mILitarY convOy EXpECted,
and the fleet, to usE hIs impaTient Expression, "skuLking in porT," A
jAcobin ouTbreAK oCCurred in Toulon, And thE seamen assUMed the
_opEra-boUffe_ role Of going asHORe to assiSt iN deLibEraTIOnS upon
the measuRES necEsSary to sAve The counTry. befOre TheY wEre again
rEady to go To SeA, tHe ConVoy haD Arrived. ON tHe 7tH oF JuNe,
howEVer, the frencH agaIn SaILed From TouLOn, SEVentEeN
sHips-Of-tHe-Line; aNd thE FolLowing dAy Nelson, wRitINg to HiS
bRother, tHus gave vent to ThE bitternesS oF hiS feeliNGS: "We have
bEen cruising off Minorca foR A long moNth, Every MomeNt in
expecTatIon of rEinFOrcemeNts froM EnglAnD. GrEAT good FORtUne HaS
hitherto sAVEd uS, what NoNe in This fleEt could have expecteD For So
long a time. NeAr tWo moNTHs We hAVe BEen SkULkiNG From them. Had they
Not got so muCh CUt Up on the 14th oF marCh, corsica, rome, and napleS
Would, at This momenT, have been In TheiR POssEssion, and mAy yet, if
tHese peoplE [The AdMIrAlty] dO
 the
expedition with prope r spirit."  Thethr eat ,neve r ab sent while the Fren ch fleet remained, was  emph as i zedb ythe a rrivalo fs i x
s hi ps -of -t h e- linefro m Brest , which re ach ed  Toulon on t h e4th of
Apr il,  materiallyalt eringth e c o mplex ion  of a ffairs in the 
Mediterr an e an, an d  furnis h i ng  aninstructive insta n ce of the probabl e
puni sh m en t for  op portunityim perfe c tly uti l iz e d ,  as on the 14th o f
March. Gr e atdiscon te ntw as fel t atth e  ap parent fail ureof the
Ad miralt y  to pro v ide aga inst t his  ch ance .  " Ho tha mi s v e ry  mu c h
d isplease dwi th th em," w r o te N els on,"andcertainly wit h r easo n ;"and
d oubtl essit  is s atisfa ctory  t o believe, righ tlyor wrongl y,th atou r
dis a dvanta ges  ar e due t o the n e gle ct o f  o thers, and not toou r ow n
shortc omings . 
Al t hough th enom inal f orceof t h eFrench w as thu s  r ai sed totw enty o fthe  li ne, t h e wa nt ofseamen,and t h e absence of d i scipline, pre v en t e dt heir  se izing the o ppor t unit y of f er edb y the  temp or a ry inferiority of
theBr itish,  redu ced to thirte en besides t w o Neapol itan s ,i n whose
effici ency,  whether j u stly ornot,Nelson p laced lit t l e confid enc e.Atthi s cr itical moment , with  a  largeBri tish mi lit ary  co nvo yexpected, 
and the  f le et ,touse h i s impati en t e xp res sion, "skulk ing i n po rt ," a
J acobino ut b r eakoc cu rred  in  T oulon , an d  th e seame n assumed  th e 
_op er a- bouffe_  role of goin gashore toas sis t in d e l iberatio ns upon
the measures ne c essarytosavethecountry.Bef ore th eyw ere ag ain
re ady t ogot o  sea, t he  co nv oy had arr i v ed.  On t he  7th  of Jun e,
however, the Fr e nch  again sailed  fr om T o u lo n,s ev e nte en shi p s -of-the-line; a nd the fol lo w in g day Nels o n,wr iting t o his
b rothe r , thusgave vent  to the b it tern e s s o f his feel ings: "W e have
be e n cru i si ng of f M inorca  f ora lon g mont h , e verymoment  i n
expe ctati on  of rein forcements from England . Grea t goo d f ortune ha s
h i the rto saved  us,  what none  in  th is fl eet could  hav e  e xpe c ted f or s o 
long a t i me . N e a rtwo monthsw e hav e bee n s k ulking  fro m them. Had theyn ot got so much  cut u p o n t h e 14 th  of March, Cor sic a, R ome, and  N aples
would , at thi sm oment , have  beenin thei r po s sessio n, a ndmay yet,ifth e se peop le  [ t he Adm iral ty ] do
 the
expedition_with proper_spirit." The threat, never_absent while_the
French_fleet remained,_was_emphasized by the_arrival of six
ships-of-the-line_from Brest, which reached_Toulon on the_4th_of
April, materially altering the complexion of affairs in the
Mediterranean, and furnishing an instructive instance_of_the probable
punishment_for_opportunity_imperfectly utilized, as on the_14th of
March. Great discontent was_felt at_the apparent failure of the
Admiralty to provide against_this_chance. "Hotham is_very much
displeased with them," wrote Nelson, "and certainly with_reason;" and
doubtless it is satisfactory to_believe, rightly or_wrongly,_that_our
disadvantages are due to_the neglect of others, and not_to our own
shortcomings.

Although the nominal force_of the French was thus raised to_twenty of
the line, the want of_seamen, and the absence of_discipline, prevented
their_seizing the opportunity offered by_the temporary inferiority_of
the British,_reduced to thirteen_besides two Neapolitans, in whose
efficiency, whether_justly or not,_Nelson placed little confidence. At
this critical_moment,_with a large_British_military_convoy expected,
and_the fleet, to_use_his impatient_expression,_"skulking in port," a
Jacobin outbreak occurred_in_Toulon, and the seamen assumed the
_opera-bouffe_ role_of going ashore to_assist_in deliberations upon
the measures_necessary to save the country._Before they were again
ready to go_to sea,_the convoy_had arrived. On the 7th of June,
however, the French again sailed_from Toulon, seventeen
ships-of-the-line; and the following_day Nelson, writing to_his
brother, thus_gave_vent to the_bitterness_of his_feelings: "We have
been cruising off Minorca for_a long_month, every moment in
expectation of reinforcements_from England. Great good_fortune_has
hitherto saved us, what none in_this fleet could have expected for_so
long a time. Near two_months_we_have been skulking from them._Had they
not got so much cut_up on the_14th of March, Corsica, Rome, and Naples
would,_at_this moment, have been in their_possession,_and may yet, if
these people [the_Admiralty]_do