 latter of course carried out the Admiralty's
wishes, by intrusting to Smith the immediate direction of operations
in the Levant, while retaining in his own hands the general outlines
of naval policy. He kept a very tight rein on Smith, however, and
introduced into the situation some dry humor, unusual with him. The
two brothers, envoys, he addressed jointly, in his official letters,
by the collective term "Your Excellency." "I beg of your Excellency,"
he says in such a letter, "to forward my letter to Sir Sidney Smith,
Captain of the Tigre. I have this day received letters from Sir Sidney
Smith, in his Ministerial capacity, I believe. I _wish_ that all
Ministerial letters should be written in your joint names; for it may
be difficult for me to distinguish the Captain of the man-of-war from
the Joint Minister, and the propriety of language in one might be very
proper to what it is in the other." To the naval captain he writes: "I
must _direct_ you, whenever you have Ministerial affairs to
communicate, that it is done jointly with your respectable brother,
and not mix naval business with the other. I have sent you my orders,
which your abilities as a sea-officer will lead you to punctually
execute."

Nelson resented to the end this giving to a junior naval officer, by a
side-wind, an authoritative position in diplomatic affairs, which, on
the naval side, properly belonged to him. "Sir Sidney should
recollect," he told Earl Spencer, meaning doubtless that the latter
also should recollect, "how I must feel in seeing him placed in the
situation which I thought naturally would fall to me." It was a
singular step on the part of the Government, justified neither by
general practice, nor by particular ability on the part of the person
chosen; and all Nelson's care and decision were insufficient to
prevent the consequent evil, although he was perfectly clear in his
intimation to "Your Excellency," the joint ministers, that they should
"upon all occasions, arrange plans of operations with me," and not
with Captain Sir Sidney Smith. Smith was active and fought well; but,
as far as he dared, he did as he pleased in virtue of his diplomatic
commission, looked only to the interests of
latter of course carried out the Admiralty's 
 wishes, by intrusting to Smith the contiguous steering of operations 
 in the Levant, while retaining in his own hired hand the cosmopolitan outlines 
 of naval policy. He kept a very tight rein on Smith, however, and 
 introduce into the situation some dry humor, strange with him. The 
 two buddy, envoys, he address jointly, in his official letters, 
 by the collective term " Your Excellency. " " I beg of your Excellency, " 
 he says in such a letter, " to forward my letter to Sir Sidney Smith, 
 Captain of the Tigre. I have this sidereal day received letters from Sir Sidney 
 Smith, in his Ministerial capacity, I think. I _ wish _ that all 
 Ministerial letters should be written in your joint names; for it may 
 be difficult for me to distinguish the Captain of the serviceman - of - war from 
 the Joint Minister, and the propriety of language in one might be very 
 proper to what it is in the other. " To the naval captain he writes: " I 
 must _ direct _ you, whenever you own Ministerial affairs to 
 communicate, that it is done jointly with your respectable brother, 
 and not shuffle naval business with the other. I have sent you my orders, 
 which your abilities as a sea - officer will lead you to punctually 
 execute. " 

 Nelson resented to the end this giving to a junior naval military officer, by a 
 side - wind, an authoritative stead in diplomatic affairs, which, on 
 the naval side, properly belonged to him. " Sir Sidney should 
 remember, " he told Earl Spencer, mean doubtless that the latter 
 also should recollect, " how I must find in seeing him placed in the 
 situation which I thought naturally would fall to me. " It was a 
 singular footprint on the part of the Government, justified neither by 
 general practice, nor by especial ability on the part of the person 
 choose; and all Nelson's care and decision were insufficient to 
 prevent the consequent evil, although he was perfectly clear in his 
 hint to " Your Excellency, " the joint ministers, that they should 
 " upon all occasions, arrange plans of operation with me, " and not 
 with Captain Sir Sidney Smith. Smith was active and fought well; but, 
 as far as he dared, he did as he please in virtue of his diplomatic 
 commission, look only to the interest of
 lahter of course carried omt the Admiralty's
wishes, by infrusting to Smith the immediate dirertiob of iperations
in the Levang, while rvtaining un hms own hands the general outlihcs
of uatal policy. He kgpt a very thght rein on Skigh, however, and
introduced into the sittation xole dry humor, ugususj wifh him. The
two brothers, envoys, he asdressev jointly, in hix official letters,
by the cllleftive term "Your Exfellency." "I veg jd your Exceluency,"
he sajv in such z letter, "to forward my letter tu Sir Sidney Smuty,
Caojain of the Vigre. P have this day receieed letyers from Sir Xidiey
Snith, in his Ministeriel capacity, I believg. I _wish_ tvac all
Ministerial lettwrw shoold ba wrkrtev ih boud joinh nemes; for it may
be diffucult for me to disuindlosh the Captzin of tre man-of-war from
the Joint Minister, and uhe pdopriety of language in one might be very
proker to whae it is in the other." To the naval captain he writas: "I
mnsg _dnvcct_ hiu, whenever you have Ministerial affairs to
commthivane, that it is donc jointly with yout gexkectable brothgr,
and not jix naval business with tre otyer. I havt seny you my orders,
which your avilities as c swa-officer will leab you to punetualli
execuye."

Nelson resented to thz end fhis giving to a junjur naval officer, by a
vide-wind, an authoritative [osition mn di'lomatic affsirs, wrich, on
the naval side, properly bellnged tm him. "Sir Didney should
recollect," he told Xerl Spencer, mganhng doubtlefs thst the latter
wlso should reeollect, "kow I oust feel pn seeing him placed in the
situathln which I tiought naeuraoly qould fxul to me." It wax a
singulcx step on the part of the Gpvetnjent, justified utityer by
general ptacgicq, joc by [drticular abhlith ov the oart of the oerspn
chosen; and all Nelvon's care and decision wcre insufdicient eo
prevent the consequent evil, apthoujh he xas petfestly clear in his
intimation to "Your Excfllcncy," the joine mikistgrs, that thzy should
"upon all occasions, arrange planw of operations wirh me," and not
with Ccpuain Sir Sidnxy Smieh. Smith fas active and foughr well; but,
as far ss he dared, he did as he plaased in virtue of his diplomatic
commission, looked only to the interests of
latter of course carried out the Admiralty's intrusting Smith the direction of operations in own hands the outlines of naval He kept a very tight rein Smith, however, and introduced into the situation some dry humor, unusual with him. two brothers, envoys, he addressed jointly, in his official letters, by the collective "Your "I of Excellency," he says in such a letter, "to forward my letter to Sir Sidney Smith, Captain the Tigre. I have this day received letters Sir Sidney Smith, in Ministerial capacity, I believe. I that Ministerial letters be in joint names; for may be difficult for me to distinguish the Captain of the man-of-war from the Joint Minister, and propriety of one might very to it is in To the naval captain he writes: you, whenever you have Ministerial affairs to communicate, it is jointly with your respectable brother, and mix naval business with the other. I have you my orders, which your abilities as a sea-officer will lead you to punctually execute." to the end this to a junior officer, a an position in affairs, which, on the naval side, properly belonged to him. "Sir should recollect," he told Earl Spencer, meaning doubtless that the should "how I must in seeing him placed the which I thought naturally to It step the of the Government, justified by general practice, nor by ability on the part all Nelson's care and decision were insufficient to the consequent evil, although he was perfectly in his intimation to "Your Excellency," the joint ministers, that they should all occasions, of operations with me," and not with Captain Sidney Smith. Smith was and fought well; but, as far as he dared, did he pleased virtue of his commission, looked only the interests of
 latter of course carried out tHe AdmiraltY's
wisHes, By iNtRustIng tO Smith the immedIAte dIrection of operations
in The LeVaNT, whiLE rEtainIng in hiS OwN HAndS tHe GenErAL oUtlinEs
oF naval pOlicy. He kepT a vErY tight rein on sMiTh, however, aNd
iNtroduced intO thE situaTiOn sOMe dry HumOr, unuSual wiTH him. ThE
two brothErS, Envoys, HE addresSED jOintLy, in his official leTTeRS,
by the collectiVe term "yoUR EXCEllEncY." "I beg of youR EXcellENcy,"
he saYS iN SUCh a LEtter, "to forwarD my letter to sIr SIdney SMiTh,
CAPtain oF the TIgRE. I hAve this day rEceiVed letterS from SIR Sidney
sMith, in hIs MiniSteRiaL capACiTy, i beLiEVe. I _WIsH_ thAT alL
MinisteRiAl LetteRs shOULD Be wrIttEn in Your jOint names; for iT maY
be dIFfiCult fOr me tO disTiNguisH the CaPtain Of The man-of-war from
The JOint MinisTer, AnD thE pRopriETy of laNguAge In one miGht be veRY
prOpER TO wHat it is in the other." TO tHE NaVal captaIn he wrITeS: "I
MUst _direcT_ yOu, wHeneVER you hAve MINiSterial aFfairs TO
cOmMunicatE, tHat it iS dOne JoiNtly wITh yoUr respEctable bRotheR,
And not mix naval BUsiness with thE OtHER. I HAve sEnt You my orders,
WhicH Your AbilITiEs aS A sea-oFficeR wILl LEad you to punctually
eXeCute."

NeLson rEsented to the eNd this giviNG TO a junior NavaL OfFIcer, by a
side-winD, an auThoritativE Position In dipLomatic aFfairs, whiCH, On
the navAl sIde, ProPerLY BeLonged to him. "SiR sIdneY sHould
reColLect," he tOld earL SpEncEr, Meaning doUbtless tHaT tHe LaTteR
also SHould recOlLecT, "hOw I Must fEEl in seEing hIm plAcEd IN thE
situatIOn WHIch I ThOuGht nAtuRaLly woUld fALl tO me." It waS a
singulaR stEP on tHe PaRt of the government, jusTiFied neitheR bY
geNeral pRACtice, nor By particular ability on thE Part of tHe pErson
ChosEn; and all NElsOn's carE anD DecisiOn were InsufFiCieNT To
preVENt The CoNsequent evIL, AltHough He Was pErfectlY clear in his
intimatIOn tO "Your ExcellenCy," tHe joINT mIniSTeRS, thAt THey SHOuld
"upon all occaSions, arranGe PLaNs of operatIOns WiTh me," and Not
with captaIN Sir SidNey Smith. SMith was acTiVe anD FOugHt well; but,
aS far as he Dared, he diD As he pLEaSed in VirTue of hIs DipLomatIc
commISsiOn, looKed onlY tO the inTeresTs Of
 latter of course carriedout the Ad miral ty' s
w is hes,  byintrusting toS mith  the immediate directi on of  o p erat i on s
inthe Lev a nt , whi le  r eta in i ng  in h isown han ds the gen era loutlines
ofn av al policy.  He  kept a very  ti ght re in  on Smith , h oweve r, and introd uced into  t h e situ a tion so m e  d ry h umor, unusual wit h  h i m. The
two bro thers,  e n vo y s , h e a ddressed j oi ntly, in hiso ff i c i all etters,
by th e collectiv e  te rm "Yo ur  Ex c ellenc y." " Ib egof your Exc elle ncy,"
hesays i n  such a letter,  "to f orw ard  myl et te r t oS irS id ney Smi th,
Capt ai nof th e Ti g r e .  I h ave  thi s day  received let ter s fr o m S ir Si dneySmit h,  in h is Min ister ia l capacity, I b elie ve. I _wi sh_  t hat  a ll
Mi n isteri allet ters sh ould be wri tt e n in  your joint names;  f o r  i t may
be  diffi c ul tf or me to  d ist ingu i s h the  Cap t ai n of the  man-o f -w ar  from
t he  Joint  M ini ste r, an d  the  propr iety oflangu a ge in one migh t  be very
prop e rt o  w h at i t i s in the ot her. "  Tothen av alc aptai n hewr i te s : "I
must _direct_yo u, whe never  you have Min isterial a f f a irs to
c ommu n ic a te, that it is  done  jointly w i th yourrespe ctable b rother,
a n d  not mix  na val  bu sin e s swith the othe r .  I h av e sentyou  my ord ers ,
w hic h y ou r abiliti es as ase a- of fi cer  will lead you  t o p un ctu allye xecute ."

N elso nre s ent ed to t h ee n d th is  g ivin g t oa jun iorn ava l offic er, by asid e -win d,  a n autho ritative posi ti on in dipl om ati c affa i r s, which , on
the naval side, pr o perly b elo ngedto h im. "SirSid ney sh oul d 
recol lect,"  he t ol d E a r l Spe n c er , m ea ning doubt l e ssthatth e la tter
al so should recollec t , " how I must fe elin s e e in g h i mp lac ed int h e
situation whi ch I thoug ht na turally wo u ldfa ll to m e." Itwas a singula r step on  the part  o f th e Gov ernment, j ustified  neitherb y
gen e ra l pra cti ce, no rbyparti culara bil ity o n thepa rt ofthe p er son
chos en; and all Nelson's ca re and  deci sio n were in suf f ici ent to
pr even t the cons equ ent  evil , a l thoug h he wa s p e rfect ly c l ear in hi s 
i nti m a ti on to "Your E x cel lency ,"t he joi nt m inisters, that th e y should
"upon  all o cca sio n s, a rr ange plans ofope ra t i ons with  m e," and not 
with Ca pt a in Si r Sidn ey Smi th. Smi t h  w a s acti ve a ndfought we ll;  b u t,
as f ar  a s  he da red,  h e didas hep leas e d  in virtue of hi s dip l o matic com missi on , looke d  onl y to the i nterests of 
 latter_of course_carried out the Admiralty's
wishes,_by intrusting_to_Smith the_immediate_direction of operations
in_the Levant, while_retaining in his own_hands the general_outlines
of_naval policy. He kept a very tight rein on Smith, however, and
introduced into the_situation_some dry_humor,_unusual_with him. The
two brothers, envoys,_he addressed jointly, in his_official letters,
by_the collective term "Your Excellency." "I beg of_your_Excellency,"
he says in_such a letter, "to forward my letter to Sir_Sidney Smith,
Captain of the Tigre. I_have this day_received_letters_from Sir Sidney
Smith, in_his Ministerial capacity, I believe. I__wish_ that all
Ministerial letters should be_written in your joint names; for it_may
be difficult for me to distinguish_the Captain of the man-of-war_from
the Joint_Minister, and the propriety of_language in one_might be_very
proper to what_it is in the other." To_the naval captain_he writes: "I
must _direct_ you, whenever_you_have Ministerial affairs_to
communicate,_that_it is_done jointly with_your_respectable brother,
and_not_mix naval business with the other._I_have sent you my orders,
which your abilities_as a sea-officer will_lead_you to punctually
execute."

Nelson resented_to the end this giving_to a junior naval officer, by_a
side-wind, an_authoritative position_in diplomatic affairs, which, on
the naval side, properly belonged to him._"Sir Sidney should
recollect," he told Earl_Spencer, meaning doubtless that_the latter
also_should_recollect, "how I_must_feel in_seeing him placed in the
situation which I_thought naturally_would fall to me." It was_a
singular step on the_part_of the Government, justified neither by
general_practice, nor by particular ability on_the part of the person
chosen;_and_all_Nelson's care and decision were_insufficient to
prevent the consequent evil, although_he was perfectly_clear in his
intimation to "Your Excellency," the_joint_ministers, that they should
"upon all occasions,_arrange_plans of operations with me," and_not
with_Captain_Sir Sidney Smith. Smith was_active and fought well; but,
as far_as he dared, he did as he pleased in_virtue of his_diplomatic
commission, looked only to the_interests_of