 coast of the Mediterranean, to support
a gratuitous quarrel on the south. As a matter of mere policy it would
have been ill-judged.

Nelson, however, did not as yet at all realize the wideness of the
impending struggle, for it was in these very letters that he expressed
a wish to exchange to the West Indies. "You know," he writes to his
old friend Locker, "that Pole is gone to the West Indies. I have not
seen him since his order, but I know it was a thing he dreaded. Had I
been at Toulon I should have been a candidate for that service, for I
think our sea war is over in these seas." Perhaps his intrinsic merit
would have retrieved even such a mistake as we can now see this would
have been, and he would there have come sooner into contact with Sir
John Jervis--to whom, if to any one, the name of patron to Nelson may
be applied--for Jervis then had the West India command; but it is
difficult to imagine Nelson's career apart from the incidents of his
Mediterranean service. The Mediterranean seems inseparable from his
name, and he in the end felt himself identified with it beyond all
other waters.

His longing for action, which prompted the desire for the West Indies,
was quickly gratified, for orders were received from Hood, by Linzee,
to detach him from the latter's command. The admiral sent him a very
handsome letter upon his single-handed combat with the French
frigates, and directed him to go to the north end of Corsica, to take
charge of a division of vessels he would there find cruising, and to
search for his late enemies along that coast and through the
neighboring waters, between the island and the shores of Italy. He was
also to warn off neutral vessels bound to Genoa, that port being
declared blockaded, and to seize them if they persisted in their
voyage thither. "I consider this command as a very high compliment,"
wrote Nelson to his uncle Suckling, "there being five older captains
in the fleet." This it certainly was,--a compliment and a prophecy as
well.

In pursuance of these orders Nelson left Tunis on the 30th of
November, and on the 8th of December discovered
coast of the Mediterranean, to support 
 a gratuitous quarrel on the south. As a topic of bare policy it would 
 have been ill - judge. 

 Nelson, however, did not as yet at wholly realize the wideness of the 
 impending conflict, for it was in these identical letters that he expressed 
 a wish to exchange to the West Indies. " You know, " he publish to his 
 old friend Locker, " that Pole is gone to the West Indies. I have not 
 seen him since his order, but I know it was a matter he dreaded. Had I 
 been at Toulon I should have been a candidate for that service, for I 
 intend our sea war is over in these sea. " Perhaps his intrinsic deservingness 
 would have retrieved even such a error as we can now see this would 
 have been, and he would there have come sooner into liaison with Sir 
 John Jervis -- to whom, if to any one, the name of patron to Nelson may 
 be applied -- for Jervis then had the West India command; but it is 
 difficult to imagine Nelson's career apart from the incidents of his 
 Mediterranean service. The Mediterranean seems inseparable from his 
 name, and he in the end felt himself identified with it beyond all 
 other waters. 

 His longing for action, which prompted the desire for the West Indies, 
 was quickly satisfy, for orders were received from Hood, by Linzee, 
 to detach him from the latter's instruction. The admiral mail him a very 
 big letter upon his single - handed combat with the French 
 frigate, and directed him to go to the north end of Corsica, to drive 
 charge of a division of vessels he would there find cruising, and to 
 search for his former enemies along that coast and through the 
 neighboring waters, between the island and the shores of Italy. He was 
 besides to warn off neutral vessel bound to Genoa, that port being 
 declared blockaded, and to seize them if they persist in their 
 voyage thither. " I consider this command as a very eminent compliment, " 
 wrote Nelson to his uncle Suckling, " there being five older captains 
 in the fleet. " This it surely was,--a compliment and a prophecy as 
 well. 

 In pursuance of these orders Nelson left Tunis on the 30th of 
 November, and on the 8th of December discovered
 cowst of the Mediterranean, to support
a grcruitouv quardel on tfe south. As a matter of mere pilicy it would
have been ill-gudged.

Neldon, howecer, vid not as yet av all realize fme wibeiess of the
impekding strugcle, for it was iv chese very letters that he expressed
w wish yo exchange to tre Wtst Indjvs. "You know," he writes to his
old friend Locker, "that Lole is gone to the West Ijdied. I have not
seen hlm since hiw orqwr, but I knod it was a thing he drgaded. Had I
been at Toulon I shouud hare been a cqneidwje for that wervibe, for I
think our sea war is over in these sees." Pwrhaps his intrinsic kerit
would have rejrieved evan such a mistake aw qe cat nof sed thks sonld
gave bfen, and he wohld there hqve come sooner intp sintact with Sjr
John Jqrvis--to whom, if to any one, the name of katroh to Nelson may
be appliwd--for Jervis then had the West India command; but it is
difficult to imagine Nelsmn's cerder aiart drlm the incidents of his
Mediterranean service. Ege Mvditerranean seemf inseparabke ftjm his
name, ana he iu tge end felt himselv identyfied with it feyomd all
other waters.

His longibg for actiou, wyich prompted the besire for tke Wesj Indirs,
was quickly gratified, for orders werf receives from Hood, by Livzev,
to getach him from the latter'f command. The admirau semt him a very
hanfsome letter upon his sijgle-hcnded combat wihh the French
frigates, and direcvxd him to go jo dhe north eud of Gorsica, to take
sharge of a dirision oy vessdls he woumd therx find cruisyng, and to
seasfh for his lete enemiqs aoong that cuxst and througn the
neigkyoring warers, between the ixlavs and the shorew od Italy. He was
akso to wwri off teutral vessals couvc to Eenoa, that iorg beong
declared blockadeg, ans to seize them if tmey persiwted in eheir
voyage tnither. "I consider uhis cmmmend as a dery high compliment,"
wrote Nelskn to his ungle Suckling, "eherc beyng five okder captains
in the fleet." This it certamnly was,--a compliment ane a prophecy as
well.

Nn pursuance pf thqse orderv Nelson left Tunis in the 30th of
Novemner, and on the 8th of Dscembes disfovered
coast of the Mediterranean, to support a on south. As matter of mere ill-judged. however, did not yet at all the wideness of the impending struggle, it was in these very letters that he expressed a wish to exchange the West Indies. "You know," he writes to his old friend Locker, "that is to West I have not seen him since his order, but I know it was a thing he Had I been at Toulon I should have a candidate for that for I think our sea is in these Perhaps intrinsic would have retrieved such a mistake as we can now see this would have been, and he would there have sooner into Sir John whom, to one, the name to Nelson may be applied--for Jervis West India command; but it is difficult to Nelson's career from the incidents of his Mediterranean The Mediterranean seems inseparable from his name, and in the end felt himself identified with it beyond all other waters. His longing for prompted the desire for West Indies, was gratified, orders received Hood, by to detach him from the latter's command. The admiral sent him very handsome letter upon his single-handed combat with the French directed to go to north end of Corsica, take of a division of would find search his enemies along that coast through the neighboring waters, between island and the shores to warn off neutral vessels bound to Genoa, port being declared blockaded, and to seize if they persisted in their voyage thither. "I consider this command as very high Nelson to his uncle Suckling, "there being five captains in the fleet." it certainly was,--a compliment and a prophecy as well. pursuance these orders left Tunis on 30th of November, on the 8th discovered
 coast of the Mediterranean, to Support
a grAtuitOus QuaRrEl on The sOuth. As a matter oF Mere Policy it would
have been iLl-judGeD.

nelsON, hOweveR, did not AS yET At aLl ReAliZe THe WidenEss Of the
imPending strUggLe, For it was in thESe Very letterS thAt he expresseD
a wIsh to eXcHanGE to thE WeSt IndIes. "You KNow," he wRites to hiS
oLD frienD locker, "tHAT POle iS gone to the West IndIEs. i Have not
seen him Since hIs ORdER, But i knOw it was a thInG he drEAded. Had i
BeEN AT ToULon I should havE been a candiDAte For thaT sErvICe, for I
Think OuR Sea War is over in ThesE seas." PerhAps his INtrinsiC Merit
woUld havE reTriEved EVeN sUch A mIStaKE aS we CAn nOw see thiS wOuLd
havE beeN, AND He woUld TherE have Come sooner intO coNtacT WitH Sir
JOhn JeRvis--To Whom, iF to any One, thE nAme of patron to NeLson May
be applIed--FoR JeRvIs theN Had the wesT InDia commAnd; but iT Is
dIfFICUlT to imagine Nelson's cArEER aPart from The incIDeNtS Of his
MedItErrAneaN SErvicE. The mEdIterraneAn seemS InSeParable FrOm his
nAmE, anD he In the ENd feLt himsElf identIfied WIth it beyond all
OTher waters.

His LOnGINg FOr acTioN, which prompTed tHE desIre fOR tHe WESt IndIes,
waS qUIcKLy gratified, for orderS wEre recEived From Hood, by LinZee,
to detacH HIM from the LattER's COmmand. The admirAl senT him a very
hANdsome leTter uPon his siNgle-handeD COmbat witH thE FrEncH
frIGAtEs, and directed HIM to gO tO the norTh eNd of CorSicA, to TakE
chArGe of a diviSion of veSsElS hE wOulD therE Find cruiSiNg, aNd To
sEarch FOr his lAte enEmieS aLoNG thAt coast ANd THRougH tHe
NeigHboRiNg watErs, bETweEn the isLand and thE shORes oF ITaLy. He was
Also to warn off NeUtral vesseLs BouNd to GeNOA, that porT being
declared blockaded, ANd to seiZe tHem if They Persisted In tHeir
voYagE ThitheR. "I consIder tHiS coMMAnd as A VErY hiGh Compliment,"
WROte nelsoN tO his Uncle SuCkling, "there being fiVE olDer captains
in The FleeT." tHiS it CErTAinLy WAs,--a COMpliment and a proPhecy as
welL.

IN PuRsuance of tHEse OrDers NelSon left tunis ON the 30th oF
November, And on the 8tH oF DecEMBer Discovered
 coast of the Mediterranea n, to supp ort
a  gr atu it ousquar rel on the sou t h. A s a matter of mere pol icy i tw ould ha ve be en ill- j ud g e d.
N el son ,h ow ever,  di d not a s yet at a llre alize the wi d en ess of the 
im pending stru ggl e, for  i t w a s inthe se ve ry let t ers th at he exp re s sed
aw ish toe x ch ange  to the West Indi e s. "You know," he  write st oh i s
o ldfriend Loc ke r, "t h at Pole is g o net o the West In dies. I hav e  no t
seen  h ims ince h is or de r , b ut I know i t wa s a thing  he dr e aded. H a d I
bee n at T oul onI sh o ul dhav eb een acan d ida te for t ha tservi ce,f o r I
th ink  our  seawar is over i n t hese sea s." P erhap s hi sintri nsic m eritwo uld have retrie vedeven such  ami sta ke  as w e  can n owsee  this w ould
ha v e b ee n , an d he would there h av e co me soone r into co nt a ct withSi r
J ohnJ e rvis- -tow ho m, if to  any o n e,  t he name  o f patr on  to  Ne lsonm ay
b e appl ied--for  Jerv i s then had the West India co m ma n d ;b ut i t i s
difficult  toi magi ne N e ls on' s  care er ap ar t  f r om the incidents of  h is
Med iterr anean service . The Medi t e r ranean s eems in s eparable fromhis
n ame, and h e  in theend f elt hims elf ident i f ied with  it  be yon d a l l 
o ther waters.H is l on ging fo r a ction,whi chpro mpt ed  the desi re for t he  W es tInd ies,w as quick ly  gr at ifi ed, f o r orde rs we re r ec ei v edfrom Ho o d, b y Li nz ee ,
to  de ta ch hi m fr o m t he latt er's comm and .  The  a dm iral se nt him a very 
h andsome le tt erupon h i s  single- handed combat with theF rench
f rig ates,  and  directed  hi m to g o t o  the n orth e nd of  C ors i c a, to t ak e
c ha rge of a d i v isi on of  v esse ls he w ould there find cr u isi ng, and to
se arc h fo r hi s l a te ene mi e s a l o ng that coast a nd through  t h eneighborin g  wa te rs, bet ween th e isl a nd andthe shore s of Ital y.  Hew a s
a lso to war n off ne utral ves s els b o un d toGen oa, th at  po rt be ing
de c lar ed bl ockade d,  and t o sei ze  them if  they persisted in thei r
voya ge th ith er. "I co nsi d erthis comm andas a veryhig h c ompli men t ,"
wr oteN el son to hi s un c le Suckli n g,  "t h e re  being five o l der  capt ain s 
in th e fl eet." This it cer t ainly was,--acomp l i men t a n d apr ophecy as
well .
In p ursuance  o f these ord ers Nels on leftTunison the  30th o f No v ember,  and  on  the 8thofDe c ember d is co v ered
 coast_of the_Mediterranean, to support
a gratuitous_quarrel on_the_south. As_a_matter of mere_policy it would
have_been ill-judged.

Nelson, however, did_not as yet_at_all realize the wideness of the
impending struggle, for it was in these very letters_that_he expressed
a_wish_to_exchange to the West Indies._"You know," he writes to_his
old friend_Locker, "that Pole is gone to the West_Indies._I have not
seen_him since his order, but I know it was_a thing he dreaded. Had I
been_at Toulon I_should_have_been a candidate for_that service, for I
think our sea_war is over in these seas."_Perhaps his intrinsic merit
would have retrieved even_such a mistake as we can_now see this would
have been,_and he_would there have come sooner_into contact with_Sir
John Jervis--to_whom, if to_any one, the name of patron_to Nelson may
be_applied--for Jervis then had the West_India_command; but it_is
difficult_to_imagine Nelson's_career apart from_the_incidents of_his
Mediterranean_service. The Mediterranean seems inseparable from_his
name,_and he in the end felt himself_identified with it beyond_all
other_waters.

His longing for action,_which prompted the desire for_the West Indies,
was quickly gratified, for_orders were_received from_Hood, by Linzee,
to detach him from the latter's command. The admiral_sent him a very
handsome letter upon_his single-handed combat with_the French
frigates,_and_directed him to_go_to the_north end of Corsica, to take
charge of_a division_of vessels he would there find_cruising, and to
search for_his_late enemies along that coast and_through the
neighboring waters, between the island_and the shores of Italy._He_was
also_to warn off neutral vessels_bound to Genoa, that port being
declared_blockaded, and to_seize them if they persisted in their
voyage_thither._"I consider this command as a_very_high compliment,"
wrote Nelson to his uncle_Suckling,_"there_being five older captains
in the_fleet." This it certainly was,--a compliment_and a prophecy as
well.

In pursuance of these orders Nelson_left Tunis on_the 30th of
November, and on_the_8th_of December discovered