 the case was
referred to England. If the decision there was adverse to the captors,
the other party would look to the responsible naval officer for
pecuniary redress, and as, during the delay, the cargo would be
spoiled, costs could come only out of the captor's pocket. Nelson's
experiences in the West Indies, ten years before, naturally made him
cautious about further legal annoyances.

All this he stated with his usual lucidity; but the case was one in
which his course could have been safely predicted by a person familiar
with his character. The need for the proposed action was evident. "The
whole of the necessity of stopping all the vessels is comprised in a
very few words: that, if we will not stop supplies of corn, etc.,
going to France, the armies will return from whence they came, and the
failure of this campaign, from which so much is expected, will be laid
to our want of energy; for the only use of the naval co-operation is
the keeping out a supply of provisions." He therefore, after a night's
reflection, told the minister that if he would tell him, officially,
that it was for the benefit of his Majesty's service that he should
stop all trade between the neutral towns and France, and places
occupied by the armies of France, he would give the proper directions
for that purpose. It would have been possible for him, though with
some delay, to refer the matter to Hotham, but he knew the latter's
temperament, and distrusted it. "Our admiral has no political courage
whatever," he wrote to Collingwood, "and is alarmed at the mention of
any strong measure; but, in other respects, he is as good a man as can
possibly be." With a superior so little decided, it was better, by his
own independent initiative, to create a situation, which the former
would be as backward to reverse as he would have been to change the
previous and wholly different state of things. Like the American
frontiersman, whose motto was, "Be sure you're right, then go ahead,"
Nelson, when convinced, knew no hesitations; but further, he
unquestionably derived keen enjoyment from the sense that the thing
done involved risk to himself, appealed to and brought into play his
physical or moral courage
the case was 
 referred to England. If the decision there was adverse to the captor, 
 the early party would count to the responsible naval officer for 
 monetary redress, and as, during the delay, the cargo would be 
 spoiled, costs could total only out of the captor's pocket. Nelson's 
 experience in the West Indies, ten years before, naturally take him 
 cautious about further legal annoyances. 

 All this he stated with his common lucidity; but the case was one in 
 which his course could have been safely predicted by a person familiar 
 with his character. The need for the propose action was evident. " The 
 whole of the necessity of stopping all the vessel is comprised in a 
 very few words: that, if we will not stop supply of corn, etc. , 
 going to France, the armies will return from whence they came, and the 
 bankruptcy of this campaign, from which so much is expected, will be laid 
 to our want of energy; for the lone use of the naval co - operation is 
 the keeping out a supply of provisions. " He therefore, after a night's 
 reflection, told the curate that if he would state him, officially, 
 that it was for the benefit of his Majesty's servicing that he should 
 check all trade between the neutral towns and France, and places 
 occupied by the armies of France, he would give the proper steering 
 for that purpose. It would have been possible for him, though with 
 some delay, to refer the matter to Hotham, but he knew the latter's 
 temperament, and distrust it. " Our admiral has no political courage 
 whatever, " he wrote to Collingwood, " and is alarmed at the mention of 
 any strong measure; but, in other obedience, he is as good a man as can 
 possibly be. " With a superior so short decided, it was better, by his 
 own independent enterprise, to create a situation, which the former 
 would be as backward to revoke as he would have been to change the 
 former and wholly different state of things. Like the American 
 frontiersman, whose motto was, " Be sure you're right, then start ahead, " 
 Nelson, when convinced, sleep together no hesitations; but further, he 
 unquestionably derived keen use from the sense that the thing 
 done involve risk to himself, appealed to and brought into play his 
 physical or moral courage
 thf case was
referred to Ennland. If the decnwion tiere waa adversd to the captors,
the other pacty qould look to the responsibue naval lfficer dor
ptcuniary redress, ehd as, dmxing fme deney, the cargo woold be
spoileg, costs could wooe only out of the captor's pocket. Nelfon's
exprrlences in the Rest Yndiss, ten years before, naturally made him
cauuious about furthet legal annoyances.

All this he dtated with his uskal luciditi; bue the case war one in
whpeh his courae could have been safely predizted yy a person fqmiphar
with his charwcter. The necc for dhe prolosed action wss xvidwnt. "The
whole of the nxcessity of stopping all the eeasels is comprisee un a
vgry faw wueds: thzt, ir we wlll not stop aupplies of corn, etc.,
going to Ftagbr, the armies will weeurn from whence they came, and the
failuge or this campaign, from whuch so much is expectgd, will be laid
to our want of energy; for the only use of tha navel co-ipcratkin is
the keeping out a supply of provisions." He egetenore, after a nigmt's
reflection, told tje iinister that if he wohld tell him, officlally,
thwt it was for uhe brnefit of his Majesty's servuce that he fyould
stop all tradz between thz neuttal toens and France, and placzs
occulied by the armies or France, he would gine tve proper directions
for thwt purposx. It could haxe bgen posfible for jim, tmmugh with
some delaj, to tefer dhe matter to Hotham, but he knew the lattxc's
temperament, atd gistrustzd it. "Pur admiral hws no politicak couraye
whatdver," he wrkte to Rollingwood, "wnd is alarmeg at the mentmon of
any string neasure; cut, in other rrspects, hv ns as gooe a man as can
posslbly cs." With a superiir wo little decidrd, kt rad uettew, by his
own itdepdnddmt inktiativt, ti creste a situation, whicv ths former
would be ax nackward jo reversq as he would have been to chanhe thx
previuus amd rholly different state of thinfs. Like tje Wmerican
froneierwman, whose mptto was, "Be sure you're right, then go ahxad,"
Nelson, when convincgd, knew no hesitationx; but furthec, he
unzuestionatly derived keen enjiyment from the stnse that the thing
done involeed rlsk to himself, appealed to and brought into play his
physical or moral coueage
the case was referred to England. If there adverse to captors, the other responsible officer for pecuniary and as, during delay, the cargo would be spoiled, could come only out of the captor's pocket. Nelson's experiences in the West ten years before, naturally made him cautious about further legal annoyances. All this stated his lucidity; the case was one in which his course could have been safely predicted by a person with his character. The need for the proposed was evident. "The whole the necessity of stopping all vessels comprised in very words: if we will stop supplies of corn, etc., going to France, the armies will return from whence they came, and failure of from which much expected, be laid to of energy; for the only use co-operation is the keeping out a supply of He therefore, a night's reflection, told the minister if he would tell him, officially, that it for the benefit of his Majesty's service that he should stop all trade between the and France, and places by the armies France, would the directions for purpose. It would have been possible for him, though with some to refer the matter to Hotham, but he knew the and it. "Our admiral no political courage whatever," wrote Collingwood, "and is alarmed mention any in respects, is as good a as can possibly be." With superior so little decided, own independent initiative, to create a situation, which former would be as backward to reverse he would have been to change the previous and wholly different state things. Like frontiersman, whose motto was, "Be sure you're right, go ahead," Nelson, when knew no hesitations; but further, he unquestionably derived keen from sense that thing done involved to himself, appealed and brought into physical or courage
 the case was
referred to EnglaNd. If the decIsion TheRe wAs AdveRse tO the captors,
the OTher Party would look to the resPonsiBlE NavaL OfFicer For
pecuNIaRY RedReSs, And As, DUrIng thE deLay, the cArgo would bE
spOiLed, costs coulD CoMe only out oF thE captor's pockEt. NElson's
ExPerIEnces In tHe WesT IndieS, Ten yeaRs before, nAtURally mADe him
caUTIoUs abOut further legal anNOyANces.

All this he sTated wItH HiS USuaL luCidity; but tHe Case wAS one in
wHIcH HIS coURse could have bEen safely prEDicTed by a PeRsoN FamiliAr
witH hIS chAracter. The nEed fOr the propOsed acTIon was eVIdent. "ThE
whole Of tHe nEcesSItY oF stOpPIng ALl The VEssEls is comPrIsEd in a
Very FEW WOrds: ThaT, if wE will Not stop suppliEs oF corN, Etc.,
Going To FraNce, tHe ArmieS will rEturn FrOm whence they camE, and The
failurE of ThIs cAmPaign, FRom whiCh sO muCh is expEcted, wiLL be LaID
TO oUr want of energy; for tHe ONLy Use of the Naval cO-OpErATion is
thE kEepIng oUT A suppLy of PRoVisions." HE thereFOrE, aFter a niGhT's
reflEcTioN, toLd the MInisTer thaT if he wouLd telL Him, officially,
tHAt it was for the BEnEFIt OF his majEsty's servicE thaT He shOuld
SToP alL Trade BetweEn THe NEutral towns and FrancE, aNd placEs
occUpied by the armIes of FrancE, HE Would givE the PRoPEr directions
foR that Purpose. It wOUld have bEen poSsible foR him, thougH WIth
some dElaY, to RefEr tHE MaTter to Hotham, bUT He knEw The lattEr's
TemperaMenT, anD diStrUsTed it. "Our aDmiral haS nO pOlItIcaL courAGe
whatevEr," He wRoTe tO CollINgwood, "And is AlarMeD aT The Mention OF
aNY StroNg MeAsurE; buT, iN otheR resPEctS, he is as Good a man aS caN
PossIbLy Be." With a Superior so litTlE decided, it WaS beTter, by HIS
own indePendent initiative, to creaTE a situaTioN, whicH the Former
wouLd bE as bacKwaRD to revErse as He wouLd HavE BEen to CHAnGe tHe
Previous anD WHolLy difFeRent State of Things. Like the AmeriCAn
fRontiersman, whOse MottO WAs, "be sURe YOu'rE rIGht, THEn go ahead,"
Nelson, When convinCeD, KnEw no hesitaTIonS; bUt furthEr, he
unqUestiONably deRived keen Enjoyment FrOm thE SEnsE that the thIng
done iNvolved riSK to hiMSeLf, appEalEd to anD bRouGht inTo play HIs
pHysicAl or moRaL couraGe
 the case was
referred toEngland. I f the  de cis io n th erewas adverse to thecaptors,
the other par ty wo ul d  loo k  t o the  respon s ib l e  na va loff ic e rfor
p ecu niary r edress, an d a s,  during thed el ay, the ca rgo  would be
sp oil ed, co st s c o uld c ome  only  out o f  the c aptor's p oc k et. Ne l son's
e x p er ienc es in the West In d ie s , ten years be fore,na t ur a l lymad e him
caut io us ab o ut furt h er l e gal annoyances.
All this he sta ted wi th  hi s  usual  luci di t y;but the cas e wa s one inwhichh is cour s e could  havebee n s afel y  p re dic te d  by aper s onfamiliar 
w it h his  cha r a c t er.The  nee d for  the proposed  ac tion was  evid ent."The 
w holeof the  nece ss ity of stopping  all  the vess els  i s c om prise d  in aver y f ew word s: that ,  if  w e w il l not stop supplie so f  c orn, etc .,
goi n gto France,th e a rmie s willretu r nfrom whe nce th e yca me, and  t he
fai lu reofthisc ampa ign, f rom whic h som uch is expecte d , will be lai d 
t o ou r  wan t o f energy; f or t h e on ly u s eoft he na val c o- o pe r ation is
the keepin gout asuppl y of provisio ns." He th e r e fore, af tera  n i ght's
reflecti on, t old the mi n ister th at if  he woul d tell hi m ,  officia lly ,
t hat  it w as  for the bene f i t of  h is Maje sty 's serv ice  th athesh ould
stop  all tra de  b et we enthe n e utral to wn s a nd  Fr ance, and pl acesoccu pi ed bythe arm i es o f Fr an ce , he  wo ul d giv e th e  pr oper di rectionsfor that  p ur pose. I t would havebe en possibl efor  him,t h ough wit h
some delay, to refert he matt erto Ho tham , but hekne w thelat t er's
t empera ment,  a ndd i strus t e dit.  " Our admira l has  no p ol itic al cour age
whatever," hew rot e to Collingw ood , "a n d  i s a l ar m edat the m ention of
any s trong meas ur e ;but, in ot h erre spects,  he isas go o d a man  as can
p ossibly b e. " Wi t h  asuperior s o little  decided, it wa s  b etter , b y hisow n i ndepe ndenti nit iativ e, tocr eate a  situ at ion, whi ch the former
would beas bac kward  to  reverseash e w ould have  bee n to chang e t heprevi ous and w holl y  d iff e rentstat e  of thing s .Lik e th e Americanf r o nti ersma n,w hose m otto  was, "Be sure yo u 're right, the n go a hea d," Nels on , when convinc ed,  k n e w no hes it ations; but  further ,h e
unq uestio nablyderived k ee n  enjoy ment  fr om the se nse  t h at theth in g 
doneinvo lv ed ris k to h i msel f ,  appealed to and  brou g h t int o  pl ay hi sphysica l  ormoral cour age
 the_case was
referred_to England. If the_decision there_was_adverse to_the_captors,
the other party_would look to_the responsible naval officer_for
pecuniary redress, and_as,_during the delay, the cargo would be
spoiled, costs could come only out of the_captor's_pocket. Nelson's
experiences_in_the_West Indies, ten years before,_naturally made him
cautious about further_legal annoyances.

All_this he stated with his usual lucidity; but_the_case was one_in
which his course could have been safely predicted by_a person familiar
with his character. The_need for the_proposed_action_was evident. "The
whole of_the necessity of stopping all the_vessels is comprised in a
very few_words: that, if we will not stop_supplies of corn, etc.,
going to France,_the armies will return from_whence they_came, and the
failure of this_campaign, from which_so much_is expected, will_be laid
to our want of energy;_for the only_use of the naval co-operation is
the_keeping_out a supply_of_provisions."_He therefore,_after a night's
reflection,_told_the minister_that_if he would tell him, officially,
that_it_was for the benefit of his Majesty's_service that he should
stop_all_trade between the neutral_towns and France, and places
occupied_by the armies of France, he_would give_the proper_directions
for that purpose. It would have been possible for him, though_with
some delay, to refer the matter_to Hotham, but he_knew the_latter's
temperament,_and distrusted it._"Our_admiral has_no political courage
whatever," he wrote to Collingwood,_"and is_alarmed at the mention of
any strong_measure; but, in other_respects,_he is as good a man_as can
possibly be." With a superior_so little decided, it was_better,_by_his
own independent initiative, to create_a situation, which the former
would be_as backward to_reverse as he would have been to_change_the
previous and wholly different state of_things._Like the American
frontiersman, whose motto was,_"Be_sure_you're right, then go ahead,"
Nelson,_when convinced, knew no hesitations; but_further, he
unquestionably derived keen enjoyment from the sense that_the thing
done involved_risk to himself, appealed to_and_brought_into play his
physical or moral courage