 less than 1,000 British soldiers, who were serving as
marines." As towards the French this account is perhaps somewhat less
than fair; but it does no more than justice to the admirable firmness
and enterprise shown by Hood and Nelson. As a question of Bastia only,
their attempt might be charged with rashness; but having regard to the
political and military conditions, to the instability of the Corsican
character, and to the value of the island as a naval station, it was
amply justified, for the risks run were out of all proportion less
than the advantage to be gained.

Thus the siege of Bastia ended in triumph, despite the prior
pronouncement of the general commanding the troops, that the attempt
was "most visionary and rash." These epithets, being used to Hood
after his own expressions in favor of the undertaking, had not
unnaturally provoked from him a resentful retort; and, as men are
rarely conciliated by the success of measures which they have
ridiculed, there arose a degree of strained relations between army and
navy, that continued even after the arrival of a new commander of the
land forces, and indeed throughout Hood's association with the
operations in Corsica.

During this busy and laborious period, despite his burden of secret
anxiety, Nelson's naturally delicate health showed the favorable
reaction, which, as has before been noted, was with him the usual
result of the call to exertion. His letters steadily reflect, and
occasionally mention, the glow of exultation produced by constant
action of a worthy and congenial nature. "We are in high health and
spirits besieging Bastia," he writes to his wife soon after landing;
and shortly before the fall of the place he says again: "As to my
health, it was never better, seldom so well." Yet, although from
beginning to end the essential stay of the enterprise, the animating
soul, without whose positive convictions and ardent support Lord Hood
could scarcely have dared so great a hazard, he was throughout the
siege left, apparently purposely, in an anomalous position, and was at
the end granted a recognition which, though probably not grudging, was
certainly scanty. No definition of his duties was ever given by the
commander-in-chief. He appears as it were the
less than 1,000 British soldiers, who were serving as 
 marines. " As towards the French this account is possibly slightly less 
 than fair; but it does no more than judge to the admirable steadiness 
 and enterprise shown by Hood and Nelson. As a question of Bastia entirely, 
 their attack might be charged with rashness; but having regard to the 
 political and military conditions, to the instability of the Corsican 
 quality, and to the value of the island as a naval station, it was 
 amply justified, for the risk rivulet were out of all proportion less 
 than the advantage to be profit. 

 Thus the siege of Bastia ended in victory, despite the prior 
 pronouncement of the general commanding the troop, that the attempt 
 was " most visionary and rash. " These epithets, being practice to Hood 
 after his own expressions in party favor of the undertaking, had not 
 unnaturally harass from him a resentful retort; and, as men are 
 rarely conciliated by the achiever of measures which they have 
 ridiculed, there arose a degree of strained relations between united states army and 
 navy, that cover even after the arrival of a new commander of the 
 land forces, and indeed throughout Hood's association with the 
 operations in Corsica. 

 During this busy and laborious period, despite his load of secret 
 anxiety, Nelson's naturally delicate health show the golden 
 reaction, which, as has before been noted, was with him the common 
 result of the margin call to exertion. His letters steadily chew over, and 
 occasionally mention, the glow of exultation produced by constant 
 action of a worthy and congenial nature. " We are in high health and 
 spirits besieging Bastia, " he writes to his wife soon after landing; 
 and shortly before the descent of the position he says again: " As to my 
 health, it was never better, seldom so well. " Yet, although from 
 begin to end the essential stay of the enterprise, the animating 
 soul, without whose incontrovertible convictions and ardent support Lord Hood 
 could scarcely have dared indeed great a luck, he was throughout the 
 siege left, apparently purposely, in an anomalous position, and was at 
 the end allow a recognition which, though credibly not grudging, was 
 certainly scanty. No definition of his duty was ever given by the 
 air force officer - in - chief. He look as it were the
 leds than 1,000 British soldierr, who were servnbg as
merines." Zs towaras the French this account id perhakf somewhat less
thav fair; bun it does no nire than jnatice to the zfmircboe firmness
and enterprisa shown by Hoog xnb Nelson. As a question of Bastia onlr,
their sthempt might be chaggqd wjnh rashness; but having regard tk the
ponitical and molitary conditions, to the lnstwbility of the Cordican
characjsr, wbd to the vauue of the island as a naval station, it was
amply justkfied, for the rusjs gon were out if alj proportion less
that the acvantage to be gamned.

Rhus the siege of Basvia ended in triumph, despite dhz prior
pronouncement if the cenesal zimmxndjnj tge trolps, that the zttempt
was "nost visionary and tafy." These epithsts, beynd used to Hood
after his own expressions in favor of the undertakibg, had not
unnaturally provoked from him a resentful retort; and, as men are
rarely concmlkattd by tfw duccess of measures which they have
ridiculed, egete arose a degrec of strained relayilnx between army and
narg, fhat continued evej after the qrrival os a mew commander of the
land foeces, and indved rhroughout Hood's adsociation cith tne
opetations in Corsica.

Duriny this busy and lwborious ldriod, despite hir blrdet of secret
anxiety, Nelson's naturallb delncate hexlth showeq the favogable
vaaction, which, as hws beyore teen noted, was with him the usual
result oh the call to efernion. His jettevs steadily refject, and
occasipnally ientiun, the glos of exnltation proquced by consdwnt
action of a worthr ane cobgenial vature. "We are on high hvajth qnd
spirits besiegikg Barfia," he writes ti hus wife soon afyer lagdpng;
end srmrtly before the fauk of ghe place hc sxys sgain: "As to my
health, it sas never better, srlqom so wgll." Yet, ajthough from
brginning to end tht esseitial rtay pf jhe enterprise, the animating
soum, without whjse positive conyictyons and axdent support Lord Hood
could scarcely hate dared so great a haeard, he was throughouj tme
siege left, appawently pusposely, in an anomalius position, and eas at
the end granted a recmgnitlon which, though probably not grudging, was
certainly scanty. No definition if his duties was sver givet yy che
commwndec-ii-chief. He appears as it were the
less than 1,000 British soldiers, who were marines." towards the this account is but does no more justice to the firmness and enterprise shown by Hood Nelson. As a question of Bastia only, their attempt might be charged with but having regard to the political and military conditions, to the instability of Corsican and the of the island as a naval station, it was amply justified, for the risks run were of all proportion less than the advantage to gained. Thus the siege Bastia ended in triumph, despite prior of the commanding troops, the attempt was visionary and rash." These epithets, being used to Hood after his own expressions in favor of the had not from him resentful and, men are rarely the success of measures which they arose a degree of strained relations between army navy, that even after the arrival of a commander of the land forces, and indeed throughout association with the operations in Corsica. During this busy and laborious period, despite his burden anxiety, Nelson's naturally delicate showed the favorable which, has been was with the usual result of the call to exertion. His letters steadily and occasionally mention, the glow of exultation produced by constant a and congenial nature. are in high health spirits Bastia," he writes to soon landing; the of place he says again: to my health, it was better, seldom so well." end the essential stay of the enterprise, the soul, without whose positive convictions and ardent Lord Hood could scarcely have dared so great a hazard, he was the siege purposely, in an anomalous position, and was at end granted a recognition though probably not grudging, was certainly scanty. No definition his was ever by the commander-in-chief. appears as it the
 less than 1,000 British soldiers, whO were serviNg as
mAriNes." as TowaRds tHe French this acCOunt Is perhaps somewhat less
tHan faIr; BUt it DOeS no moRe than jUStICE to ThE aDmiRaBLe FirmnEss
And enteRprise showN by hoOd and Nelson. AS A qUestion of BAstIa only,
their aTteMpt migHt Be cHArged WitH rashNess; buT Having Regard to tHe
POliticAL and milITArY conDitions, to the instaBIlITy of the CorsicaN
charaCtER, aND To tHe vAlue of the iSlAnd as A Naval stATiON, IT waS
Amply justifieD, for the riskS Run Were ouT oF alL ProporTion lEsS
ThaN the advantaGe to Be gained.

THus the SIege of BAStia endEd in trIumPh, dEspiTE tHe PriOr
PRonOUnCemENt oF the geneRaL cOmmanDing THE TRoopS, thAt thE atteMpt
was "most visIonAry aND raSh." TheSe epiThetS, bEing uSed to HOod
afTeR his own expressiOns iN favor of tHe uNdErtAkIng, haD Not
unnAtuRalLy provoKed from HIm a ReSENTfUl retort; and, as men arE
rARElY conciliAted by THe SuCCess of meAsUreS whiCH They hAve
rIDiCuled, theRe arosE A dEgRee of stRaIned reLaTioNs bEtweeN Army And
navY, that conTinueD Even after the arRIval of a new comMAnDER oF The
lAnd Forces, and inDeed THrouGhouT hoOd's ASsociAtion WiTH tHE
operations in CorsicA.

DUring tHis buSy and laboriouS period, desPITE his burdEn of SEcREt
anxiety, NelsoN's natUrally deliCAte healtH showEd the favOrable
reaCTIon, which, As hAs bEfoRe bEEN nOted, was with hiM THe usUaL
result Of tHe call tO exErtIon. his LeTters steaDily reflEcT, aNd
OcCasIonalLY mention, ThE glOw Of eXultaTIon proDuced By coNsTaNT
acTion of a WOrTHY and CoNgEniaL naTuRe. "We aRe in HIgh Health aNd
spirits BesIEginG BAsTia," he wrItes to his wife SoOn after lanDiNg;
aNd shorTLY before tHe fall of the place he says aGAin: "As to My
hEalth, It waS never betTer, Seldom So wELl." Yet, aLthougH from
BeGinNINg to eND ThE esSeNtial stay oF THe eNterpRiSe, thE animatIng
soul, without whosE PosItive convictiOns And aRDEnT suPPoRT LoRd hOod
COUld scarcely have Dared so greAt A HaZard, he was tHRouGhOut the
sIege lefT, appaREntly puRposely, in An anomaloUs PosiTIOn, aNd was at
the End grantEd a recognITion wHIcH, thouGh pRobablY nOt gRudgiNg, was
cERtaInly sCanty. NO dEfinitIon of HiS duties wAs ever given by the
commandEr-in-chIef. He AppEars as it wEre THe
 less than 1,000 British s oldiers, w ho we reser vi ng a s
ma rines." As tow a rdsthe French this accoun t ispe r haps so mewha t lesst ha n fai r;  b utit do es no  mo re than  justice t o t he  admirable f i rm ness
and e nte rprise shown  by  Hoodan d N e lson.  As  a qu estion of Bas tia only, 
t h eir at t empt mi g h tbe c harged with rashn e ss ;  but having re gard t ot he p oli tic al and mil it ary c o ndition s ,t o the instability o f the Corsi c ancharac te r,a nd tothe v al u e o f the islan d as  a navalstatio n , it wa s 
amplyjustif ied , f or t h eri sks  r u n w e re  ou t  of  all pro po rt ion l esst h a n  the  ad vant age t o be gained.
Th us t h e s iegeof Ba stia  e ndedin tri umph,  d espite the prio r
pr onounceme ntof  th egener a l comm and ing  the tr oops, t h atth e a tt empt
was "most vis io n a ry  and ras h." Th e se  e p ithets,be ing  use d to Ho od
a f te r his ow n expr e ss io ns in f av or ofth e u nde rtaki n g, h ad not 
unnatur allyp rovoked from h i m a resentful re t o rt ;  and , a s men are
r arel y  con cili a te d b y  thesucce ss of measures which they  h ave
ri dicul ed, there aro se a degre e o f strain ed r e la t ions between a rmy a nd
navy, t h at conti nuedeven aft er the ar r i val of a  ne w c omm and e r  o f the
land fo r c es,an d indee d t hrougho utHoo d's  as so ciation w ith theop er at io nsin Co r sica.

D ur ing  t his  busy and la borio us p er io d , d espiteh is b urde nof  sec ret 
a nxiet y, N e lso n's nat urally de lic a te h ea lt h showe d the favorab le 
reaction,  w hic h, ash a s before  been noted, was with h i m the u sua l
res ultof the ca llto exe rti o n. His  lette rs st ea dil y refle c t ,and 
o ccasionall y men tion,  t he g low ofexultation produce d  by  constant
act ion  ofa wo rth y  a n d c on g eni a l  nature. "We ar e in highhe a lt h and
spir i tsbe sieging  Bastia ," he writesto his wi fe soon a ft er l a n din g;
and sho rtly bef ore the f a ll of th e pla cehe say saga in: " As tom y
h ealth , it w as  never  bett er , seldom  so well." Yet, althoug h from 
begi nni ng to end  th e  es sential s tayof the ent erp ris e, th e a n imati ng
s o ul , w i thout  who s e positiv e  c onv i c ti ons and ard e n t  su pport  Lo r d Hood 
cou ld scarcely haved ared so greata ha z a rd,  he wasth roughout the
s ieg el e ft, appa re ntly purpos ely, inan anoma lous p ositio n, andw a sa t
theendgra nted a re cog ni t ion whi ch ,t houghprob ab ly not  grudg i ng,w a s
certainly scan ty. N o defin i tio n ofhi s dutie s  was  ever give n by the
co mmande r-in -chie f. He a pp ears a s i twere the
 less_than 1,000_British soldiers, who were_serving as
marines."_As_towards the_French_this account is_perhaps somewhat less
than_fair; but it does_no more than_justice_to the admirable firmness
and enterprise shown by Hood and Nelson. As a question of_Bastia_only,
their attempt_might_be_charged with rashness; but having_regard to the
political and military_conditions, to_the instability of the Corsican
character, and to the_value_of the island_as a naval station, it was
amply justified, for the_risks run were out of all_proportion less
than the_advantage_to_be gained.

Thus the siege_of Bastia ended in triumph, despite_the prior
pronouncement of the general commanding_the troops, that the attempt
was "most visionary_and rash." These epithets, being used_to Hood
after his own expressions_in favor_of the undertaking, had not
unnaturally_provoked from him_a resentful_retort; and, as_men are
rarely conciliated by the success_of measures which_they have
ridiculed, there arose a degree_of_strained relations between_army_and
navy,_that continued_even after the_arrival_of a_new_commander of the
land forces, and indeed_throughout_Hood's association with the
operations in Corsica.

During this_busy and laborious period,_despite_his burden of secret
anxiety,_Nelson's naturally delicate health showed_the favorable
reaction, which, as has before_been noted,_was with_him the usual
result of the call to exertion. His letters steadily_reflect, and
occasionally mention, the glow of_exultation produced by constant
action_of a_worthy_and congenial nature._"We_are in_high health and
spirits besieging Bastia," he writes_to his_wife soon after landing;
and shortly before_the fall of the_place_he says again: "As to my
health,_it was never better, seldom so_well." Yet, although from
beginning to_end_the_essential stay of the enterprise,_the animating
soul, without whose positive convictions_and ardent support_Lord Hood
could scarcely have dared so great_a_hazard, he was throughout the
siege left,_apparently_purposely, in an anomalous position, and_was_at
the_end granted a recognition which,_though probably not grudging, was
certainly scanty._No definition of his duties was ever given by_the
commander-in-chief. He appears_as it were the