, in terms which indicate that she was with him.

A newly married man, who had just concluded a full cruise of such
arduous and unremitting exertions, might reasonably have wished and
expected a period of relaxation; but the return of the "Boreas"
coincided with a very disturbed state of European politics. In the
neighboring republic of Holland two parties were striving for the
mastery; one of which was closely attached to France, the other, that
of the Stadtholder, to Great Britain. In 1785 the former had gained
the upper hand; and, by a treaty signed on Christmas Day of that year,
a decided preponderance in the councils of the United Provinces had
been given to France. The enfeebled condition of the latter country,
however, had allowed little prospect of permanence to this
arrangement; and, in the summer of 1787, an insult offered by the
French party to the wife of the Stadtholder led to a forcible
intervention by the King of Prussia, whose sister she was. Louis XVI.
prepared to support his partisans, and notified his purpose to Great
Britain; whereupon the latter, whose traditional policy for over a
century had been to resist the progress of French influence in the Low
Countries, replied that she could not remain a quiet spectator, and at
once began to arm. "The Dutch business," wrote Nelson, "is becoming
every day more serious; and I hardly think we can keep from a war,
without giving forever the weight of the Dutch to the French, and
allowing the Stadtholdership to be abolished,--things which I should
suppose hardly possible." Already his eager spirit was panting for the
fray. "If we are to have a bustle, I do not want to come on shore; I
begin to think I am fonder of the sea than ever." Only five months
married!

The threatening aspect of affairs necessitated the "Boreas" being kept
in commission,--the more so because the economies introduced by Mr.
Pitt into the administration of the two military services had reduced
the available naval force below that which France could at once send
out. "The Boreas is kept in readiness to go to sea with the squadron
at Spithead," wrote Nelson; "but in my poor
, in terms which indicate that she was with him. 

 A newly married man, who had barely conclude a full cruise of such 
 arduous and unremitting exertions, might sanely have wished and 
 expected a period of easiness; but the return of the " Boreas " 
 coincided with a very disquieted state of European politics. In the 
 neighboring republic of Holland two party were striving for the 
 mastery; one of which was close attached to France, the other, that 
 of the Stadtholder, to Great Britain. In 1785 the former had gained 
 the upper hand; and, by a treaty signed on Christmas Day of that year, 
 a decide preponderance in the councils of the United Provinces had 
 been given to France. The enfeebled circumstance of the latter country, 
 however, had allowed small prospect of permanence to this 
 agreement; and, in the summer of 1787, an insult offered by the 
 French party to the wife of the Stadtholder led to a forcible 
 intervention by the King of Prussia, whose sister she was. Louis XVI. 
 prepare to support his partisans, and notified his purpose to Great 
 Britain; whereupon the latter, whose traditional policy for over a 
 century had been to resist the progress of French influence in the Low 
 Countries, replied that she could not remain a quiet spectator, and at 
 once began to arm. " The Dutch business, " wrote Nelson, " is becoming 
 every day more serious; and I barely remember we can keep from a war, 
 without feed everlastingly the weight of the Dutch to the French, and 
 allowing the Stadtholdership to be abolished,--things which I should 
 suppose barely possible. " Already his eager liveliness was panting for the 
 fray. " If we are to accept a bustle, I do not want to come on shore; I 
 begin to think I am fonder of the sea than ever. " entirely five months 
 married! 

 The threatening aspect of affair necessitated the " Boreas " being observe 
 in commission,--the more so because the economies introduced by Mr. 
 Pitt into the administration of the two military services had shrink 
 the available naval force below that which France could at once send 
 out. " The Boreas is kept in set to go to sea with the squadron 
 at Spithead, " wrote Nelson; " but in my poor
, in terms which indicate thxt she was with him.

A nxwly madried mav, who had just concluded a fnll xruist of such
arduous ana unremitning exerrionw, might reasonably mcve wjdhed end
expected a pgriod of reldxation; but tha fecurn of the "Boreas"
coincided with a vqry disyugbed state of Guroptan poljnigs. In the
neighboring republic of Hollanv two parties wrre striving for the
masterj; onf of which was clodely attachgs tj France, the uther, that
of the Stadtgolder, to Great Britain. In 1785 the formzr had gaingb
rhe opper hand; aid, by w treaty sigkvd on Cvristmax Day of that near,
a dexided preponderance ii the councils of thg United Psorinces had
been given ro Franwe. Tve evdeecles ronsition of the latted country,
hoqever, had allowed loteoe prospect or permwnqnce to this
arrangement; and, in the summtr of 1787, an insult offered by rhe
French party to thg wife of ehe Stadtholder led to a forcible
intervention by dhe Kmne oy Prusrua, whose sister she was. Louis XVI.
prepared to su[lott his partisans, and notifird hof purpose to Ereat
Bxjtzin; whereupon the patter, rhose traditiogal lolicy for over a
century hae been to refust the progress oy French infuuenve in the Low
Countries, replizd thaf she could not remajv a quiet spectagor, atd at
onct began to arm. "The Dutch buwinexs," wrotd Nekson, "if becoming
fvery day more serious; ajd I kardlf think we can keep from a war,
without givmig forever thg waigvt of thz Dutcm to the French, and
allowing tke Stadtkolderrhip to be abolisied,--things whych I should
sgkpose hardly 'ossible." Wlreqdy yis eagdf spirit was psnting fog uhe
fray. "If we are to have a nustlg, J do not want ti cime on shore; I
brgiv tj nhiik I wk fonder of dhe rea yhan dver." Only flve monyhs
married!

The threataninf aspect of affairx kecessitajed the "Bjreas" being krpt
in commission,--tht more so becaise the economies introduced by Md.
Pitt intl tme administraeion of the two kilitary services had reduced
the availaule naval force below jhat which France coukc at once sxnd
out. "The Boreds is kept in readinwss to go to sea eith the squadron
at Slitheag," wrohe Nelson; "but in my poor
, in terms which indicate that she him. newly married who had just such and unremitting exertions, reasonably have wished expected a period of relaxation; but return of the "Boreas" coincided with a very disturbed state of European politics. the neighboring republic of Holland two parties were striving for the mastery; one which closely to the other, that of the Stadtholder, to Great Britain. In 1785 the former had gained the hand; and, by a treaty signed on Christmas of that year, a preponderance in the councils of United had been to The condition of the country, however, had allowed little prospect of permanence to this arrangement; and, in the summer of 1787, insult offered French party the of Stadtholder led to intervention by the King of Prussia, was. Louis XVI. prepared to support his partisans, notified his to Great Britain; whereupon the latter, traditional policy for over a century had been resist the progress of French influence in the Low Countries, replied that she could not quiet spectator, and at began to arm. Dutch wrote "is every day serious; and I hardly think we can keep from a war, giving forever the weight of the Dutch to the French, the to be abolished,--things I should suppose hardly Already eager spirit was panting fray. we a I not want to come shore; I begin to think am fonder of the months married! The threatening aspect of affairs necessitated "Boreas" being kept in commission,--the more so the economies introduced by Mr. Pitt into the administration of the two services had available naval force below that which France could once send out. "The is kept in readiness to go to sea with squadron Spithead," wrote "but in my
, in terms which indicate that sHe was with hIm.

A neWly MarRiEd maN, who Had just concludED a fuLl cruise of such
arduous aNd unrEmITtinG ExErtioNs, might REaSONabLy HaVe wIsHEd And
exPecTed a perIod of relaxAtiOn; But the return OF tHe "Boreas"
coIncIded with a verY diSturbeD sTatE Of EurOpeAn polItics. IN The
neiGhboring rEpUBlic of hOlland tWO PaRtieS were striving for tHE
mAStery; one of whicH was clOsELy ATTacHed To France, thE oTher, tHAt
of the sTaDTHOldER, to Great BritaIn. In 1785 the formER haD gaineD
tHe uPPer hanD; and, bY a TReaTy signed on CHrisTmas Day of That yeAR,
a decidED preponDerancE in The CounCIlS oF thE UNIteD prOviNCes Had
been gIvEn To FraNce. THE ENFeebLed CondItion Of the latter coUntRy,
hoWEveR, had aLloweD litTlE prosPect of PermaNeNce to this
arrangEmenT; and, in the SumMeR of 1787, An InsulT OffereD by The
french pArty to tHE wiFe OF THe stadtholder led to a fOrCIBlE
interveNtion bY ThE KINg of PrusSiA, whOse sISTer shE was. lOuIs XVI.
prePared tO SuPpOrt his pArTisans, AnD noTifIed hiS PurpOse to GReat
BritAin; whEReupon the latteR, Whose traditioNAl POLiCY for OveR a
century haD beeN To reSist THe ProGRess oF FrenCh INfLUence in the Low
CountrIeS, repliEd thaT she could not rEmain a quieT SPEctator, aNd at
ONcE Began to arm. "The DUtch bUsiness," wroTE Nelson, "iS becoMing
everY day more sERIous; and I HarDly ThiNk wE CAn Keep from a war,
wITHout GiVing forEveR the weiGht Of tHe DUtcH tO the FrencH, and
alloWiNg ThE STadTholdERship to bE aBolIsHed,--ThingS Which I ShoulD
supPoSe HArdLy possiBLe." aLReadY hIs EageR spIrIt was PantINg fOr the
frAy. "If we are To hAVe a bUsTlE, I do not Want to come on sHoRe; I
begin to ThInk i am fonDER of the seA than ever." Only five months
MArried!

THe tHreatEninG aspect of AffAirs neCesSItated The "BorEas" beInG kePT
In comMISsIon,--ThE more so becAUSe tHe ecoNoMies IntroduCed by Mr.
Pitt into the ADmiNistration of tHe tWo miLITaRy sERvICes HaD RedUCEd
the available nAval force bElOW tHat which FrANce CoUld at onCe send
oUt. "The bOreas is Kept in reaDiness to gO tO sea WITh tHe squadron
At SpitheAd," wrote NeLSon; "buT In My pooR
, in terms which indicatethat she w as wi thhim .
A n ewly  married man,w ho h ad just concluded a fu ll cr ui s e of su ch
ar duous a n du n rem it ti ngex e rt ions,  mi ght rea sonably ha vewi shed and
exp e ct ed a perio d o f relaxation ; b ut the  r etu r n ofthe  "Bor eas"
c o incide d with ave r y dist u rbed st a t eof E uropean politics. In the
neighborin g repu bl i co f  Ho lla nd two par ti es we r e striv i ng f o r t h e
mastery; on e of whichw asclosel yatt a ched t o Fra nc e , t he other, t hatof the St adthol d er, toG reat Br itain.  In  17 85 t h efo rme rh adg ai ned the  upper h an d;  and,  bya t r eaty  si gned  on C hristmas Dayofthat yea r,
adecid ed p re ponde rancein th ecouncils of the  Uni ted Provi nce shad 
b een g i ven to  Fr anc e. Theenfeebl e d c on d i t io n of the latter co un t r y, 
however , hada ll ow e d little  p ros pect o f per mane n ce  to this 
arran g em en t; and,  i n thesu mme r o f 178 7 , an  insul t offere d byt he
French part y  to the wifeo ft h eS tadt hol der led toa fo r cibl e
in t er ven t ion b y the  K i ng of Prussia, whose s is ter sh e was . Louis XVI.prepared t o s upport h is p a rt i sans, and noti fiedhis purpos e  to Grea t
Bri tain; wh ereupon t h e  latter,  wh ose  tr adi t i on al policy for o veracentury  ha d beentores ist  th eprogressof Frenc hin fl ue nce  in t h e Low
Co un tri es , r eplie d  thatshe c ould  n ot rem ain a q u ie t spec ta to r, a ndat 
once  beg a n t o arm."The Dutc h b u sine ss ,"  wroteNelson, "is b ec oming
ever yday  mores e rious; a nd I hardly think we ca n  keep f rom  a wa r,
w ithout gi vin g fore ver the we ight o f the  D utc h to th e Fr enc h,  and
allow i n g t he St ad thol dership  to be abolished,- - thi ngs which I s hou ld
s u p po seh ar d lypo s sib l e ." Already hiseager spir it wa s pantingf orth e
fray.  "If we  aret o havea bustle,  I do not  w antt o  co me on shor e; I
beg in to thi n k I a m  f onder  of  the s ea  th an ev er." O n lyfivemonths 
m arried !

Th ethreaten ing aspect of affairs n ecessi tated  th e "Boreas " b e ing  kept
incomm ission,--t hemor e sobec a use t he e c on omi e s int rodu c ed by Mr. Pi tti n to  the admini s t r ati on of  th e  two m ilit ary services hadr educed
the ava ilab l e  na val forc ebelow that whi chFr a n ce could  a t once send 
out. "T he Borea s is k ept in  readin e s st o go t o se a w ith the s qua dr o n
at Sp it he a d," wr oteNe lson;"but i n  myp o or
, in_terms which_indicate that she was_with him.

A_newly_married man,_who_had just concluded_a full cruise_of such
arduous and unremitting_exertions, might reasonably_have_wished and
expected a period of relaxation; but the return of the "Boreas"
coincided with a_very_disturbed state_of_European_politics. In the
neighboring republic of_Holland two parties were striving_for the
mastery;_one of which was closely attached to France,_the_other, that
of the_Stadtholder, to Great Britain. In 1785 the former had_gained
the upper hand; and, by a_treaty signed on_Christmas_Day_of that year,
a decided_preponderance in the councils of the_United Provinces had
been given to France._The enfeebled condition of the latter country,
however,_had allowed little prospect of permanence_to this
arrangement; and, in the_summer of_1787, an insult offered by_the
French party to_the wife_of the Stadtholder_led to a forcible
intervention by the_King of Prussia,_whose sister she was. Louis XVI.
prepared_to_support his partisans,_and_notified_his purpose_to Great
Britain; whereupon_the_latter, whose_traditional_policy for over a
century had been_to_resist the progress of French influence in_the Low
Countries, replied that_she_could not remain a_quiet spectator, and at
once began_to arm. "The Dutch business," wrote_Nelson, "is_becoming
every day_more serious; and I hardly think we can keep from a_war,
without giving forever the weight of_the Dutch to the_French, and
allowing_the_Stadtholdership to be_abolished,--things_which I_should
suppose hardly possible." Already his eager spirit_was panting_for the
fray. "If we are to_have a bustle, I_do_not want to come on shore;_I
begin to think I am fonder_of the sea than ever."_Only_five_months
married!

The threatening aspect of affairs_necessitated the "Boreas" being kept
in commission,--the_more so because_the economies introduced by Mr.
Pitt into the_administration_of the two military services had_reduced
the_available naval force below that which_France_could_at once send
out. "The Boreas_is kept in readiness to go_to sea with the squadron
at Spithead," wrote Nelson; "but_in my poor