 If the French get out
two sail of the line, which I am confident they may do, our troops are
lost, and what a triumph that would be to them! I know you have many
difficulties to contend with, but I am anxious that nothing should
miscarry under your orders. If you think a detachment can be spared, I
am ready to go and do my best for their protection." In both letters
he apologizes for this freedom of urgency with his superior: "I have
said much, but you have spoiled me by allowing me to speak and write
freely. I trust you will not imagine that my taking the great liberty
of thus mentioning my thoughts, arises from any other motive than
affection towards you."

Jervis had already joined him on the 1st of April, before the second
letter was written. His hesitation about sending the detachment
suggested by Nelson had arisen, not from doubt as to the danger of the
troops, but from the imminent expectation of the Spanish fleet coming
out. The British force was already too inferior, numerically, to risk
any diminution, in view of such a contingency. Confronted with
divergent objects, Jervis would not be drawn into the snare of
dividing his force; but after reconnoitring the port, he was satisfied
that the Spaniards could not sail before Nelson had time to fulfil the
proposed mission, and on the 12th of April he gave him the necessary
orders. The latter transferred his own squadron to the command of Sir
James Saumarez, and started at once. He had now returned to the
"Captain," which had doubtless come down with Jervis. "She is little
better than a wreck," he wrote to a friend; but the <DW36>s had to be
kept to the front, pending the arrival of fresh ships. Besides her, he
had the "Colossus," seventy-four, and "Leander," fifty, with a
suitable number of smaller cruisers. Passing within gunshot of Port
Mahon in Minorca, he heard from several passing vessels that a French
squadron of four ships-of-the-line was at sea, as he had anticipated;
and these, he afterwards learned, were seen off Minorca only
twenty-two hours before he passed. Fortunately a fresh northwest gale

If the French get out 
 two sail of the line, which I am confident they may cause, our troop are 
 lost, and what a triumph that would be to them! I know you own many 
 difficulties to contend with, but I am anxious that nothing should 
 fail under your orders. If you think a detachment can be spare, I 
 am ready to go and practice my best for their protection. " In both letter 
 he apologizes for this freedom of urgency with his superior: " I have 
 said much, but you have spoiled me by allow me to speak and write 
 freely. I trust you will not think that my taking the great autonomy 
 of thus mention my thoughts, arises from any other motive than 
 affection towards you. " 

 Jervis had already joined him on the 1st of April, before the second 
 letter was write. His hesitation about sending the detachment 
 suggested by Nelson had arisen, not from doubt as to the risk of the 
 military personnel, but from the imminent expectation of the Spanish fleet coming 
 out. The British force was already too inferior, numerically, to risk 
 any diminution, in view of such a eventuality. confront with 
 divergent objects, Jervis would not be pull into the trap of 
 dividing his force; but after reconnoitring the larboard, he was satisfied 
 that the Spaniards could not sail before Nelson had time to satisfy the 
 proposed mission, and on the 12th of April he gave him the necessary 
 orders. The latter transferred his own squadron to the command of Sir 
 James Saumarez, and start at once. He had now returned to the 
 " Captain, " which had doubtless come down with Jervis. " She is short 
 better than a shipwreck, " he wrote to a friend; but the < DW36 > s had to be 
 kept to the front, pending the arrival of bracing ships. Besides her, he 
 had the " Colossus, " seventy - four, and " Leander, " fifty, with a 
 suitable numeral of smaller cruisers. Passing within gunshot of Port 
 Mahon in Minorca, he hear from several guide vessels that a French 
 squadron of four ship - of - the - line was at sea, as he had anticipated; 
 and these, he afterwards teach, were seen off Minorca entirely 
 twenty - two hours before he passed. Fortunately a fresh northwest gale
 If the French get out
two sxil of the line, which M am cohfident ghey may do, our troops are
lodt, and qhat a triumph that wojld be to them! I jnow tou have mehy
diffigbltiea to eoitend with, but L am anxiouv that nothing sfobld
miscarry under your orders. If you think s fetachment can be x[ares, I
am ready to go and do my best fkr theig protection." In bpth letters
he apologizes flr tjis freedom of urgfncy with hus stperior: "I havd
said much, but you havg spoiled me by allowing me to soeak cnd write
frgzoy. L trust you xill njt imagine tmst my daking yhe great libevty
of thys mentioning my thoujhts, arises from any other modire than
affection towaedw you."

Bervhs hxe aurezdb jkined jim on the 1st of April, bwfore the second
letuer qas written. Hjs hesytwtion about sending the detachment
suggevtes by Nelson had arisen, bot from doubt as to jhe danger of the
troops, but from the imminent expectation ox the Rpaulff fpeet coming
out. The British force was already eko ikferior, numericajly, to risk
snj cyminution, in xiew oy shch a contingency. Fonfronjed wirh
divergegt onjects, Jervis would not be erawn into tke wnare of
dividing hns force; but aftgr recpnnoitring the port, he cas safisfied
that the Spanjxrds could not sxil bafore Nelson had time to ftlfil the
'ropoxed misrion, and og the 12th ov Aprln he gave him the jecesdasy
orders. Tje latter transferred his own squadron to the cmmmdnd of Snr
Jamex Saumarez, anq started at ouce. He hcd now returned no the
"Capvain," which hwd doubtless wlme down witi Jervis. "Fhe us luttle
begger than a wrevk," he wrone to q friend; but the <DX36>s hxs to be
kept to cke front, pending yhe arwinal os fresh ships. Beskder her, fe
had the "Ciuossis," seventy-four, and "Laandsr," fifty, with a
suiyanle numbet of smaljer cruisers. Lassing within gundhot mf 'ort
Manon in Minorca, he heard from sevedal passijg yessels that w Frcnch
fquadron oy four ships-of-the-line was at sea, as he hed anticipated;
and thesg, he afterwards learngd, eere seen ohf Minjrca only
dwenty-two hours befoee he passed. Fortmnately a fresh northwsst gane

If the French get out two sail line, I am they may do, what triumph that would to them! I you have many difficulties to contend but I am anxious that nothing should miscarry under your orders. If you a detachment can be spared, I am ready to go and do my for protection." both he apologizes for this freedom of urgency with his superior: "I have said much, but you spoiled me by allowing me to speak and freely. I trust you not imagine that my taking great of thus my arises any other motive affection towards you." Jervis had already joined him on the 1st of April, before the second letter written. His sending the suggested Nelson arisen, not from to the danger of the troops, imminent expectation of the Spanish fleet coming out. British force already too inferior, numerically, to risk diminution, in view of such a contingency. Confronted divergent objects, Jervis would not be drawn into the snare of dividing his force; but the port, he was that the Spaniards not before had to fulfil proposed mission, and on the 12th of April he gave him necessary orders. The latter transferred his own squadron to the Sir Saumarez, and started once. He had now to "Captain," which had doubtless with "She than wreck," wrote to a friend; the <DW36>s had to be to the front, pending Besides her, he had the "Colossus," seventy-four, and fifty, with a suitable number of smaller Passing within gunshot of Port Mahon in Minorca, he heard from several vessels that squadron of four ships-of-the-line was at sea, as had anticipated; and these, afterwards learned, were seen off Minorca only twenty-two hours he Fortunately a northwest gale
 If the French get out
two sail oF the line, whIch I aM coNfiDeNt thEy maY do, our troops arE
Lost, And what a triumph that wouLd be tO tHEm! I kNOw You haVe many
dIFfICUltIeS tO coNtENd With, bUt I Am anxioUs that nothIng ShOuld
miscarry UNdEr your ordeRs. IF you think a deTacHment cAn Be sPAred, I
Am rEady tO go and DO my besT for their PrOTectioN." in both lETTeRs
he Apologizes for this FReEDom of urgency wiTh his sUpERiOR: "i haVe
sAid much, but YoU have SPoiled mE By ALLOwiNG me to speak and Write
freely. i TruSt you wIlL noT ImaginE that My TAkiNg the great lIberTy
of thus mEntionINg my thoUGhts, ariSes froM anY otHer mOTiVe ThaN
aFFecTIoN toWArdS you."

JervIs HaD alreAdy jOINED him On tHe 1st Of AprIl, before the seConD
letTEr wAs wriTten. HIs heSiTatioN about SendiNg The detachment
suGgesTed by NelsOn hAd AriSeN, not fROm doubT as To tHe dangeR of the
tROopS, bUT FRoM the imminent expectAtION oF the SpanIsh fleET cOmINg
out. The brItiSh foRCE was aLreaDY tOo inferiOr, numeRIcAlLy, to risK
aNy dimiNuTioN, in View oF Such A contiNgency. CoNfronTEd with
divergenT Objects, Jervis WOuLD NoT Be drAwn Into the snarE of
dIVidiNg hiS FoRce; BUt aftEr recOnNOiTRing the port, he was satIsFied
thAt the spaniards coulD not sail beFORE Nelson hAd tiME tO Fulfil the
propoSed miSsion, and on THe 12th of ApRil he Gave him tHe necessaRY
Orders. ThE laTteR trAnsFERrEd his own squadRON to tHe Command Of SIr
James sauMarEz, aNd sTaRted at oncE. He had noW rEtUrNeD to The
"CaPTain," whicH hAd dOuBtlEss coME down wIth JeRvis. "shE iS LitTle
bettER tHAN a wrEcK," hE wroTe tO a FrienD; but THe <Dw36>s had to Be
kept to tHe fROnt, pEnDiNg the arRival of fresh sHiPs. Besides hEr, He
hAd the "COLOssus," sevEnty-four, and "Leander," fifty, WIth a
suiTabLe numBer oF smaller cRuiSers. PaSsiNG withiN gunshOt of POrT
MaHON in MiNORcA, he HeArd from sevERAl pAssinG vEsseLs that a french
squadron of foUR shIps-of-the-line wAs aT sea, AS He Had ANtICipAtED;
anD THese, he afterwardS learned, weRe SEeN off MinorcA OnlY
tWenty-twO hours bEfore HE passed. fortunateLy a fresh nOrThweST GalE

 If the French get out
two  sail of t he li ne,  wh ic h Iam c onfident theym ay d o, our troops are
lost , and  w h at a tr iumph  that w o ul d beto  t hem !I  k now y ouhave ma ny
difficu lti es  to contendw it h, but I a m a nxious thatnot hing s ho uld misca rry  unde r your orders . If youth i nk a d e tachmen t ca n be  spared, I
am rea d yt o go and do my  bestfo r  t h e irpro tection."In  both letters he a p olo g izes for this  freedom of urg ency w it h h i s supe rior:  " I  ha ve
said muc h, b ut you ha ve spo i led meb y allow ing me  to  sp eaka nd  w rit ef ree l y.  It rus t you wi ll  n ot im agin e t h at m y t akin g the  great libert y
o f th u s m entio ningmy t ho ughts , aris es fr om  any other moti ve t han
affec tio ntow ar ds yo u ."

Je rvi s h ad alre ady joi n edhi m o nthe 1st of April,be f o re  the sec ond
le t te rw as writt en . H is h e s itati on a b ou t sendin g thed et ac hment
s ug gested  b y N els on ha d  ari sen, n ot fromdoubt as to the dang e r of the
troo p s, b ut from  th e imminentexpe c tati on o f  t heS panis h fle et co m ing
out. The Britis hforcewas a lready too in ferior, nu m e r ically,to r i sk any diminution , inview of su c h a cont ingen cy. Conf ronted wi t h 
diverge ntobj ect s,J e rv is would notb e  dra wn  into t hesnare o f
d ivi din g h is  force; b ut after  r ec on no itr ing t h e port,he  wa ssat isfie d 
thatthe S pani ar ds cou ld nots ai l befo re  N elso n h ad  time  tof ulf il theproposedmis s ion,  a nd  on the  12th of Apri lhe gave hi mthe  neces s a ry
order s. The latter transferr e d his o wnsquad ronto the co mma nd ofSir JamesSaumar ez, a nd  st a r ted a t on ce.  H e had nowr e tur ned t othe"Captai n," which had doub t les s come down w ith  Jer v i s.  "S h ei s l it t leb e tter than a wre ck," he wr ot e  t o a friend ;  bu tthe <DW 36>s ha d tob e
keptto the fr ont, pend in g th e arr ival of fr esh ship s. Beside s  her, he 
hadthe  "Colo ss us, " sev enty-f o ur,  and"Leand er ," fif ty, w it h a
suit able number of smallercruise rs. P ass ing withi n g u nsh ot of Por t
Ma hon in Min orc a,he he ard fromseve r al  pa s singvess e ls that a Fr enc h sq uadron of f o u r  sh ips-o f-t h e-line  was  at sea, as he ha d  anticipated;andt h ese , h e  aft er wards learned,  we re s een offMi norca onlytwenty-t wo hours  befor e he p assed.F o rt u nately  a f res h northwe stga l e

 If_the French_get out
two sail of_the line,_which_I am_confident_they may do,_our troops are
lost,_and what a triumph_that would be_to_them! I know you have many
difficulties to contend with, but I am anxious that_nothing_should
miscarry under_your_orders._If you think a detachment_can be spared, I
am ready_to go_and do my best for their protection." In_both_letters
he apologizes for_this freedom of urgency with his superior: "I have
said_much, but you have spoiled me_by allowing me_to_speak_and write
freely. I trust_you will not imagine that my_taking the great liberty
of thus mentioning_my thoughts, arises from any other motive_than
affection towards you."

Jervis had already joined_him on the 1st of_April, before_the second
letter was written. His_hesitation about sending_the detachment
suggested_by Nelson had_arisen, not from doubt as to_the danger of_the
troops, but from the imminent expectation_of_the Spanish fleet_coming
out._The_British force_was already too_inferior,_numerically, to_risk
any_diminution, in view of such a_contingency._Confronted with
divergent objects, Jervis would not be_drawn into the snare_of
dividing_his force; but after_reconnoitring the port, he was_satisfied
that the Spaniards could not sail_before Nelson_had time_to fulfil the
proposed mission, and on the 12th of April he_gave him the necessary
orders. The latter_transferred his own squadron_to the_command_of Sir
James Saumarez,_and_started at_once. He had now returned to the
"Captain,"_which had_doubtless come down with Jervis. "She_is little
better than a_wreck,"_he wrote to a friend; but_the <DW36>s had to be
kept to_the front, pending the arrival_of_fresh_ships. Besides her, he
had the_"Colossus," seventy-four, and "Leander," fifty, with_a
suitable number of_smaller cruisers. Passing within gunshot of Port
Mahon_in_Minorca, he heard from several passing_vessels_that a French
squadron of four ships-of-the-line_was_at_sea, as he had anticipated;
and_these, he afterwards learned, were seen_off Minorca only
twenty-two hours before he passed. Fortunately a_fresh northwest gale
