 and nature of the armament must also be
considered,--forty thousand troops, a dozen ships-of-the-line, besides
a staff of scientific men,--all pointed to a great, distant, and
permanent occupation. The object might be Corfu, or to overthrow the
existing government of Turkey, or to settle a colony in Egypt. As
between these, all equally possible, the last was the most direct and
greatest menace to present British interests, and should determine his
course. "If they have concerted a plan with Tippoo Saib, to have
vessels at Suez, three weeks, at this season, is a common passage to
the Malabar coast, where our India possessions would be in great
danger."

Such was the conclusion--how momentous at the moment can only be
realized by those who will be at the pains to consider a man still
young, with reputation brilliant indeed, but not established;
intrusted with a great chance, it is true, but also with a great
responsibility, upon which rested all his future. On slight, though
decisive, preponderance of evidence, he was about to risk throwing
away an advantage a seaman must appreciate, that of being to windward
of his enemy,--able to get at him,--the strategist's position of
command. The tongues of envy and censure might well be--we now know
that they were--busy in inquiring why so young an admiral had so high
charge, and in sneering at his failure to find the enemy. "Knowing my
attachment to you," wrote his old friend, Admiral Goodall, alongside
whom he had fought under Hotham, "how often have I been questioned:
'What is your favourite hero about? The French fleet has passed under
his nose,' &c., &c." Nelson was saved from fatal hesitation,
primarily, by his singleness of purpose, which looked first to his
country's service, to the thorough doing of the work given him to do,
and only afterwards to the consequences of failure to his own fame and
fortunes. At that moment the choice before him was either to follow
out an indication, slight, but as far as it went clear, which, though
confessedly precarious, promised to lead to a great and decisive
result, such as he had lately
and nature of the armament must also be 
 considered,--forty thousand troops, a dozen ship - of - the - credit line, besides 
 a staff of scientific men,--all pointed to a great, aloof, and 
 permanent occupation. The object might be Corfu, or to overrule the 
 existing government of Turkey, or to subside a colony in Egypt. As 
 between these, all evenly possible, the last was the most direct and 
 greatest menace to award British interests, and should determine his 
 course. " If they have concerted a plan with Tippoo Saib, to have 
 vessel at Suez, three weeks, at this season, is a common passage to 
 the Malabar slide, where our India possessions would be in great 
 danger. " 

 Such was the conclusion -- how momentous at the here and now can only be 
 realized by those who will be at the pains to consider a man however 
 young, with reputation brilliant indeed, but not established; 
 intrusted with a great chance, it is true, but also with a great 
 responsibility, upon which rested all his future. On slight, though 
 decisive, preponderance of evidence, he was about to risk throwing 
 away an advantage a mariner must prize, that of being to windward 
 of his enemy,--able to get at him,--the strategist's position of 
 command. The tongue of envy and censure might well be -- we now know 
 that they were -- interfering in inquiring why therefore young an admiral had therefore high 
 charge, and in sneering at his failure to find the enemy. " know my 
 attachment to you, " wrote his old friend, Admiral Goodall, alongside 
 whom he had fought under Hotham, " how often have I been wonder: 
' What is your favourite hero about? The French fleet has passed under 
 his nose,' & c., & c. " Nelson was saved from fateful hesitation, 
 primarily, by his singleness of purpose, which look foremost to his 
 country's service, to the thorough doing of the work given him to act, 
 and only afterwards to the consequence of failure to his own fame and 
 luck. At that moment the option before him was either to follow 
 out an indication, slender, but as far as it went absolved, which, though 
 confessedly parlous, promised to lead to a great and critical 
 result, such as he had lately
 anf nature of the armament must also be
couwiderev,--forty fhousand troops, a dozen ships-of-the-liie, bwsidew
a staff of scientific men,--all plinted ti a jreat, distant, anv
lermanekc occhiatiou. Vhe object mighj be Corfu, os to overthrow tfe
zxisting government of Turkey, or to fettle s folony in Egypj. As
bttwqen fhese, all equally possible, the lasf was tie most direct snd
greatest menace to presfnt Hritish interests, wnd should eetewnine his
courre. "If they have concerjed a plan with Tippoo Saib, to hxve
vexsels at Sozz, tjtee weeks, at this season, is a common [assage to
the Malabar coest, qhere our India possevsions would be in great
dancex."

Such was the conclusuob--how komettour at tht mpmsnt caj oily be
realiaed by thosw who will be at tht pwpms to considsr a mwn still
young, with reputation brilliant itdesd, but not established;
ibtrusted with a great chance, ie is true, but also with a great
responsibility, upot whirh rewtcd auo jis future. On slight, though
decisive, preponderwhct on evidence, he waf about to tidk jhrowing
away av advaufafe a seaman must aopreciaje, thar of beind to windward
of his enemy,--able ti get at him,--nhe wtrategist's positiln of
commanb. The jonguex of envy and censure mnght wsll be--we noa know
thaf they were--busy iv ikquhring why so young an admiwal had si hiyh
charge, and in snqering at jis failure to find the fnemy. "Ktowing my
ahtachment to you," wrote his old hciend, Admiral Gmoddll, alonyside
wmom he had fougrt under Hothak, "how oyten hxve I been questimned:
'What is your favouridg hero about? Vhe Frencr flwet yas pasrdd under
his noxe,' &c., &c." Nelson was sqved from fatal hexitxfion,
primarily, bv yis singleness pf our[ode, wrhch looked fhrst to nis
cojntry's servlce, to yhe thorough doing ox ths work given him tp qo,
and onoy afterrards to the vonsequences of fallure to his pwn fame and
fortunes. At that momeht the chlicc before him ras cithgr to folloc
out an indication, slight, but as far as mt went clear, which, thoygh
confessedly preccrlous, promisev to lqad to a creat and decisive
rewult, such as he hsd lately
and nature of the armament must also thousand a dozen besides a staff a distant, and permanent The object might Corfu, or to overthrow the existing of Turkey, or to settle a colony in Egypt. As between these, all possible, the last was the most direct and greatest menace to present British and determine course. they have concerted a plan with Tippoo Saib, to have vessels at Suez, three weeks, at season, is a common passage to the Malabar where our India possessions be in great danger." Such the momentous at moment only realized by those will be at the pains to consider a man still young, with reputation brilliant indeed, but not intrusted with chance, it true, also a great responsibility, rested all his future. On slight, of evidence, he was about to risk throwing an advantage seaman must appreciate, that of being windward of his enemy,--able to get at him,--the position of command. The tongues of envy and censure might well be--we now know that in inquiring why so an admiral had high and sneering his failure find the enemy. "Knowing my attachment to you," wrote his old Admiral Goodall, alongside whom he had fought under Hotham, "how I questioned: 'What is favourite hero about? The fleet passed under his nose,' Nelson saved primarily, his of purpose, which looked to his country's service, to thorough doing of the and only afterwards to the consequences of failure his own fame and fortunes. At that the choice before him was either to follow out an indication, slight, as far went clear, which, though confessedly precarious, promised to to a great and result, such as he had lately
 and nature of the armament musT also be
conSiderEd,--fOrtY tHousAnd tRoops, a dozen shiPS-of-tHe-line, besides
a staff of sCientIfIC men,--ALl PointEd to a grEAt, DIStaNt, AnD
peRmANeNt occUpaTion. The Object mighT be coRfu, or to overtHRoW the
existiNg gOvernment of TUrkEy, or to SeTtlE A coloNy iN EgypT. As
betWEen theSe, all equaLlY PossibLE, the lasT WAs The mOst direct and
greatESt MEnace to present britisH iNTeRESts, And Should deteRmIne hiS
Course. "IF ThEY HAve COncerted a plan With Tippoo SAIb, tO have
vEsSelS At Suez, Three WeEKs, aT this season, Is a cOmmon passAge to
tHE MalabaR Coast, whEre our indIa pOsseSSiOnS woUlD Be iN GrEat
DAngEr."

Such waS tHe ConclUsioN--HOW MomeNtoUs at The moMent can only be
ReaLizeD By tHose wHo wilL be aT tHe paiNs to coNsideR a Man still
young, wiTh rePutation bRilLiAnt InDeed, bUT not esTabLisHed;
intrUsted wiTH a gReAT CHaNce, it is true, but also WiTH A gReat
respOnsibiLItY, uPOn which rEsTed All hIS FuturE. On sLIgHt, though
DecisiVE, pRePonderaNcE of eviDeNce, He wAs aboUT to rIsk thrOwing
awaY an adVAntage a seaman mUSt appreciate, tHAt OF BeINg to WinDward
of his eNemy,--ABle tO get AT hIm,--tHE straTegisT's POsITion of
command. The tonGuEs of enVy and Censure might wEll be--we now KNOW
that theY werE--BuSY in inquiring whY so yoUng an admirAL had so hiGh
chaRge, and in Sneering aT HIs failurE to FinD thE enEMY. "KNowing my
attacHMEnt tO yOu," wrote His Old frieNd, ADmiRal gooDaLl, alongsiDe
whom he HaD fOuGhT unDer HoTHam, "how ofTeN haVe i beEn queSTioned:
'what iS youR fAvOUriTe hero aBOuT? tHe FrEnCh FleeT haS pAssed UndeR
His Nose,' &c., &c." NElson was sAveD From FaTaL hesitaTion,
primarily, By His singlenEsS of PurposE, WHich lookEd first to his
country's serVIce, to thE thOrougH doiNg of the woRk gIven hiM to DO,
and onLy afteRwardS tO thE COnseqUENcEs oF fAilure to hiS OWn fAme anD
fOrtuNes. At thAt moment the choice bEForE him was either To fOlloW
OUt An iNDiCAtiOn, SLigHT, But as far as it wenT clear, whicH, tHOuGh
confesseDLy pReCarious, PromiseD to leAD to a greAt and deciSive
resulT, sUch aS HE haD lately
 and nature of the armamen t must als o becon sid er ed,- -for ty thousand tr o ops,  a dozen ships-of-the- line,  b e side s 
a  staf f of sc i en t i fic  m en ,-- al l  p ointe d t o a gre at, distan t,an d
permanento cc upation. T heobject might  be  Corfu ,ort o ove rth row t he
exi s ting g overnment  o f  Turke y , or to s et tlea colony in Egypt .  A s 
between these , alleq u al l y  po ssi ble, the l as t was the mos t  d i r e cta nd
greatest m enace to pr e sen t Brit is h i n terest s, an ds hou ld determin e hi s
course.  "If t h ey have concert ed a p lan  wi th T i pp oo  Sa ib ,  to ha vev ess els at S ue z,  thre e we e k s ,  atthi s se ason,  is a commonpas sage tothe M alaba r co as t, wh ere ou r Ind ia  possessions wo uldbe in gre atda nge r. "

Su c h wasthe  co nclusio n--howm ome nt o u s  a t the moment can o nl y be 
realize d by t h os ew ho willbe  at  the p ainsto c o ns ider a m an sti l lyo ung, wi th  reput at ion  br illia n t in deed,but notestab l ished;
intrust e d with a grea t  c h a nc e , it  is  true, butalso with  a g r ea t
r e spons ibili ty ,  u p on which rested all  h is fut ure.On slight, th ough
decis i v e , prepon dera n ce of evidence, h e was  about tor isk thro wingaway anadvantage a  seamanmus t a ppr eci a t e,  that of bein g to w in dward
o f h is enem y,- -ab letoge t at him, --the st ra te gi st 'sposit i on of
co mm and .The  tong u es ofenvyandce ns u remight w e ll b e--w eno w kn owth at th ey w e re- -busy i n inquiri ngw hy s oyo ung anadmiral had s ohigh
charg e,  an d in s n e ering at  his failure to find th e  enemy.  "K nowin g my 
attachme ntto you ,"w rote h is old  frie nd , A d m iralG o od all ,alongsidew h omhe ha dfoug ht unde r Hotham, "how oft e n h ave I been qu est ione d : 
' Wha t  i s  yo ur fav o u rite hero about ? The Fren ch fl eet has pa s sed  u nder
hi s nose, ' &c. ,  &c." N elson was  saved fr om  fat a l  he sitation,primaril y, by his singl e ne ss of  pu rpose,  w hic h loo ked fi r stto hi s
coun tr y's se rvice ,to the t horough doing of the wo rk giv en hi m t o do,
and  on l y a fterwards  tothe conseq uen ces  of f ail u re to  his ow n f a me an d
fo r tunes. At th atm o me nt the choi c e bef ore h imw as eit herto follow
out ani ndication, sli ght, b utasf ar a sit went clear,  wh ic h ,  thoughco nfessedly p recariou s, promi sed to  leadto a gr e a ta nd dec isiv e
r esult, su chas he hadla te l y
 and_nature of_the armament must also_be
considered,--forty thousand_troops,_a dozen_ships-of-the-line,_besides
a staff of_scientific men,--all pointed_to a great, distant,_and
permanent occupation. The_object_might be Corfu, or to overthrow the
existing government of Turkey, or to settle a_colony_in Egypt._As
between_these,_all equally possible, the last_was the most direct and
greatest_menace to_present British interests, and should determine his
course. "If_they_have concerted a_plan with Tippoo Saib, to have
vessels at Suez, three_weeks, at this season, is a_common passage to
the_Malabar_coast,_where our India possessions_would be in great
danger."

Such was the_conclusion--how momentous at the moment can_only be
realized by those who will be_at the pains to consider a_man still
young, with reputation brilliant_indeed, but_not established;
intrusted with a great_chance, it is_true, but_also with a_great
responsibility, upon which rested all his_future. On slight,_though
decisive, preponderance of evidence, he was_about_to risk throwing
away_an_advantage_a seaman_must appreciate, that_of_being to_windward
of_his enemy,--able to get at him,--the_strategist's_position of
command. The tongues of envy and_censure might well be--we_now_know
that they were--busy in_inquiring why so young an_admiral had so high
charge, and in_sneering at_his failure_to find the enemy. "Knowing my
attachment to you," wrote his old_friend, Admiral Goodall, alongside
whom he had_fought under Hotham, "how_often have_I_been questioned:
'What is_your_favourite hero_about? The French fleet has passed under
his_nose,' &c.,_&c." Nelson was saved from fatal_hesitation,
primarily, by his singleness_of_purpose, which looked first to his
country's_service, to the thorough doing of_the work given him to_do,
and_only_afterwards to the consequences of_failure to his own fame and
fortunes._At that moment_the choice before him was either to_follow
out_an indication, slight, but as far_as_it went clear, which, though
confessedly precarious,_promised_to_lead to a great and_decisive
result, such as he had lately