 In the same letter he mentions that since the 23d
of April--five months--the ship had been at anchor only twenty days.

The unwavering resolution and prompt decision of his character thus
crop out at every step. In Leghorn he found a large French frigate,
which had been on the point of sailing when his ship came in sight. "I
am obliged to keep close watch to take care he does not give me the
slip, which he is inclined to do. I shall pursue him, and leave the
two Courts [Great Britain and Tuscany] to settle the propriety of the
measure, which I think will not be strictly regular. Have been up all
night watching him--ready to cut the moment he did." The enemy,
however, made no movement, and Nelson was not prepared to violate
flagrantly the neutrality of the port. On the 30th of September he
sailed, and on the 5th of October rejoined Lord Hood off Toulon, where
four thousand of the Neapolitan troops, for which he had negotiated,
had already arrived.

The high favor in which the admiral had held him ten years before in
the West Indies, though slightly overcast by the coolness which arose
during the intervening peace, had been rapidly regained in the course
of the present campaign; and the customary report of his proceedings
during the six weeks' absence could not but confirm Hood in the
assurance that he had now to deal with a very exceptional character,
especially fitted for separate and responsible service. Accordingly,
from this time forward, such is the distinguishing feature of Nelson's
career as a subordinate. He is selected from among many competitors,
frequently his seniors, for the performance of duty outside the reach
of the commander-in-chief, but requiring the attention of one upon
whose activity, intelligence, and readiness, the fullest dependence
could be placed. Up to the battle of the Nile,--in which, it must
always be remembered, he commanded a squadron detached from the main
fleet, and was assigned to it in deliberate preference to two older
flag-officers,--Nelson's life presents a series of detached commands,
independent as regarded the local scene of operations, and his method
of attaining the prescribed end with the force allotted to him, but
dependent, technically, upon the distant commanders-in-chief
In the same letter he mentions that since the 23d 
 of April -- five months -- the ship had been at anchor only twenty day. 

 The unwavering settlement and prompt decision of his character therefore 
 crop out at every step. In Leghorn he found a bombastic French frigate, 
 which had been on the point of sailing when his ship occur in sight. " I 
 am obliged to observe close watch to take care he does not give me the 
 slip, which he is disposed to do. I shall pursue him, and leave the 
 two Courts [ Great Britain and Tuscany ] to reconcile the propriety of the 
 measure, which I think will not be rigorously regular. Have been up all 
 nox watching him -- ready to cut the moment he did. " The enemy, 
 however, make no movement, and Nelson was not prepared to violate 
 flagrantly the neutrality of the port. On the 30th of September he 
 sail, and on the 5th of October rejoined Lord Hood off Toulon, where 
 four thousand of the Neapolitan troops, for which he had negotiated, 
 had already arrived. 

 The high favor in which the admiral had held him ten years before in 
 the West Indies, though slightly cloud-covered by the chilliness which arose 
 during the intervene peace, had been rapidly regained in the course 
 of the present campaign; and the accustomed report of his proceeding 
 during the six weeks' absence could not but confirm Hood in the 
 assurance that he get now to deal with a very exceptional character, 
 specially fitted for separate and responsible service. consequently, 
 from this time fore, such is the distinguish feature of Nelson's 
 career as a subordinate. He is selected from among many competitors, 
 frequently his seniors, for the performance of duty outside the reach 
 of the commanding officer - in - chief, but requiring the attention of one upon 
 whose activity, news, and readiness, the fullest dependence 
 could be placed. Up to the battle of the Nile,--in which, it must 
 constantly be remembered, he command a squadron detached from the chief 
 fleet, and was assigned to it in careful preference to two older 
 flag - officers,--Nelson's life sentence presents a serial of detached commands, 
 independent as regard the local scene of operations, and his method 
 of attaining the prescribed goal with the force allotted to him, but 
 subject, technically, upon the distant commanders - in - foreman
 In the same letter he mentlons that since jhw 23d
of Epril--fibe monthr--the ship had been at anchor obly tqenty days.

The unwaverivg resolunion and promkt decision of his characbzr thhd
cro' iut at every sjep. In Leghosn he found a nafgz French frigate,
which had been on thq point ov sailing when his fhip bane in sight. "I
am obliged to kesp clost watch to take cate he does not give me the
dlip, which he is inclijed to do. I shajo pursue him, and leave the
two Courjs [Great Britain and Tuscany] to rettlz the propruery lx the
measurx, whicr I think will not ba stricyly regular. Haye bexn up all
night watching hmm--ready to cut the mjment he gib." The enemy,
however, maee no mmvemant, xbd Velaoi wzs not prxpared to vjolate
flagrqntly the neutralitu jd the port. On the 30tr jf September he
sailed, and on the 5th of Mctkber rejoined Lord Hood off Toulon, where
four thousand of the Neapolitan troops, for which he had negotidted,
hed alxcwat wrrived.

The high favor in which the admiral haq htld him ten years before in
tne Wrft Indies, thoogh sliygtmy overcast by the coolnefs whuch arose
qurimg the intervening peace, hae been rapidjt regained in the eourse
of the prexent vampaign; and the customcry relort of his proceedihes
during the six wevks' dbsence could not but confyrm Hood mn thz
assuranze tnat he had now tl deal with a very excephionap wharacter,
edpecially fitted for separate aiv responsible sarvpce. Accorbingly,
nrom this time sorward, such ix the dnstingjishing fezture oh Nelson's
carqer as a subosfinate. He is selecteq frim anong mavh competitors,
ftequently his senioes, for the performence kf duty outside tht eeach
of the cokmavdew-ij-ciief, fgt requiring the atgrntiov of ont uion
dhosr activity, intelligetce, znd readiness, the gujlest dekendence
cjuld be placec. Up to the battle of tie Nilx,--in whoch, it must
always be remembered, hs commandfd w squadron dqtacmed srom the mcin
fleet, and was assigned to it in delibxrate preference to two older
flag-officers,--Nglspn's life prxsents a series of detached commandw,
independent as rtgarded the local scene of oparatilns, and his method
of attaining the prescribed end with the force allotted to him, but
dependeht, trchnibaljv, upon ehe virtant commanders-pn-chief
In the same letter he mentions that 23d April--five months--the had been at unwavering and prompt decision his character thus out at every step. In Leghorn found a large French frigate, which had been on the point of sailing his ship came in sight. "I am obliged to keep close watch to care does give the slip, which he is inclined to do. I shall pursue him, and leave the two [Great Britain and Tuscany] to settle the propriety the measure, which I will not be strictly regular. been all night him--ready cut moment he did." enemy, however, made no movement, and Nelson was not prepared to violate flagrantly the neutrality of the On the September he and the of October rejoined off Toulon, where four thousand of for which he had negotiated, had already arrived. high favor which the admiral had held him years before in the West Indies, though slightly by the coolness which arose during the intervening peace, had been rapidly regained in the the present campaign; and customary report of proceedings the weeks' could not confirm Hood in the assurance that he had now to deal a very exceptional character, especially fitted for separate and responsible from time forward, such the distinguishing feature of career a subordinate. He is among competitors, for performance duty outside the reach the commander-in-chief, but requiring the of one upon whose fullest dependence could be placed. Up to the of the Nile,--in which, it must always remembered, he commanded a squadron detached from the main fleet, and was to it preference to two older flag-officers,--Nelson's life presents a of detached commands, independent regarded the local scene of operations, and his method attaining prescribed end the force allotted him, but dependent, upon the distant
 In the same letter he mentions That since tHe 23d
of aprIl--fIvE monThs--tHe ship had been aT AnchOr only twenty days.

The unwAveriNg REsolUTiOn and Prompt dECiSIOn oF hIs ChaRaCTeR thus
CroP out at eVery step. In legHoRn he found a laRGe french frigAte,
Which had been On tHe poinT oF saILing wHen His shIp came IN sight. "i
am obligeD tO Keep clOSe watch TO TaKe caRe he does not give me THe
SLip, which he is inClined To DO. I SHAll PurSue him, and lEaVe the
TWo CourtS [grEAT briTAin and Tuscany] To settle the PRopRiety oF tHe
mEAsure, wHich I ThINk wIll not be strIctlY regular. HAve beeN Up all
niGHt watchIng him--ReaDy tO cut THe MoMenT hE Did." tHe EneMY,
hoWever, madE nO mOvemeNt, anD nELSon wAs nOt prEpareD to violate
flaGraNtly THe nEutraLity oF the PoRt. On tHe 30th of septeMbEr he
sailed, and on The 5tH of OctobeR reJoIneD LOrd HoOD off ToUloN, whEre
four ThousanD Of tHe nEAPoLitan troops, for whicH hE HAd NegotiatEd,
had aLReAdY Arrived.

THe HigH favOR In whiCh thE AdMiral had Held hiM TeN yEars befOrE in
the weSt INdiEs, thoUGh slIghtly Overcast By the COolness which arOSe
during the inTErVENiNG peaCe, hAd been rapidLy reGAineD in tHE cOurSE
of thE presEnT CaMPaign; and the customarY rEport oF his pRoceedings
durIng the six wEEKS' absence CoulD NoT But confirm Hood In the
Assurance tHAt he had nOw to dEal with a Very excepTIOnal charActEr,
eSpeCiaLLY fItted for separATE and ReSponsibLe sErvice. ACcoRdiNglY,
frOm This time fOrward, suCh Is ThE dIstInguiSHing featUrE of neLsoN's
carEEr as a sUbordInatE. HE iS SelEcted frOM aMONg maNy CoMpetItoRs,
FrequEntlY His Seniors, For the perForMAnce Of DuTy outsiDe the reach
of tHe Commander-iN-cHieF, but reQUIring the Attention of one upon
whose ACtivity, IntElligEnce, And readinEss, The fulLesT DependEnce
coUld be PlAceD. uP to thE BAtTle Of The Nile,--in wHICh, iT must
AlWays Be rememBered, he commanded a sQUadRon detached frOm tHe maIN
FlEet, ANd WAs aSsIGneD TO it in deliberate Preference To TWo Older
flag-oFFicErS,--Nelson'S life prEsentS A series Of detacheD commands,
InDepeNDEnt As regarded The local Scene of opERatioNS, aNd his MetHod
of aTtAinIng thE prescRIbeD end wIth the FoRce allOtted To Him, but
dePendent, technically, upon tHe distAnt coMmaNders-in-chIef
 In the same letter he men tions that  sinc e t he23 d
of  Apr il--five month s --th e ship had been at anc hor o nl y  twe n ty  days .

Theu nw a v eri ng  r eso lu t io n and  pr ompt de cision ofhis  c haracter thu s 
c rop out at  ev ery step. In  Le ghornhe  fo u nd alar ge Fr ench f r igate, 
which ha db een on the poi n t  o f sa iling when his sh i pc ame in sight."I
amob l ig e d  to  ke ep close w at ch to take ca r eh e doe s  not give methe
slip, w h ich  he is  i ncl i ned to  do.Is hal l pursue hi m, a nd leavethe
tw o  Courts [GreatBritai n a ndTusc a ny ]tose t tle th e p r opr iety ofth emeasu re,w h i c h Ithi nk w ill n ot be strictl y r egul a r.Havebeenup a ll 
nigh t watc hinghi m--ready to cut  the  moment h e d id ."Th e ene m y,
how eve r,made no  moveme n t,an d N el son was not prepar ed t oviolateflagra n tl yt he neutr al ity  oft h e por t. O n  t he 30thof Sep t em be r he
sa il ed, an donthe  5tho f Oc toberrejoined  Lord Hood off Toulo n , where
fourt ho u s an d  ofthe  Neapolitan  tro o ps,forw hi chh e had  nego ti a te d ,
had already arriv ed .

The  high  favor in whi ch the adm i r a l had he ld h i mt en years befor e inthe West I n dies, th oughslightly  overcast b y the co oln ess  wh ich a ro se
during the i nter ve ning pe ace , had b een  ra pid lyre gained in  the cou rs eof  t heprese n t campai gn ; a nd  th e cus t omaryrepor t of  h is pro ceeding s 
d u r ingth esixwee ks ' abs ence cou ld notbut confi rmH oodin  t he
assu rance that he  h ad now tode alwith a v ery exce ptional character,
espe c ially f itt ed fo r se parate an d r espons ibl e  servi ce. Ac cordi ng ly, f rom t h i stim eforward, s u c h i s the  d isti nguishi ng feature of Nels o n's 
career as asub ordi n a te . H e  i s  se le c ted f rom among manycompetitor s, fr equently h i s s en iors, f or theperfo r mance o f duty ou tside the  r each o f t he command er-in-ch ief, butr equir i ng  theatt ention  o f o ne up on
who s e a ctivi ty, in te lligen ce, a nd  readine ss, the fullest depende nce
co uld b e p laced. Up  to the  battle o f th e Nile,--i n w hic h, it  mu s t
alw aysb erem e mbere d, h e  commande d  a  sq u a dr on detached f r omthe m ain fleet,  and  was assigned toi t in deliberat e pr e f ere nce to t wo  older
flag-of fic er s , --Nelson 's  life prese nts a se ri e s ofdetach ed com mands,i n de p endent  asreg arded the  lo ca l  sceneof  o p eratio ns,an d hismethod of a t t aining the presc ribed e nd wi t h t he fo rc e allot t ed t o him, but 
dependent,  techn ical ly, u pon the  d istant  co mm anders-in- c hief
 In_the same_letter he mentions that_since the_23d
of_April--five months--the_ship_had been at_anchor only twenty_days.

The unwavering resolution and_prompt decision of_his_character thus
crop out at every step. In Leghorn he found a large French frigate,
which_had_been on_the_point_of sailing when his ship_came in sight. "I
am obliged_to keep_close watch to take care he does not_give_me the
slip, which_he is inclined to do. I shall pursue him,_and leave the
two Courts [Great Britain_and Tuscany] to_settle_the_propriety of the
measure, which_I think will not be strictly_regular. Have been up all
night watching_him--ready to cut the moment he did."_The enemy,
however, made no movement, and_Nelson was not prepared to_violate
flagrantly the_neutrality of the port. On_the 30th of_September he
sailed,_and on the_5th of October rejoined Lord Hood_off Toulon, where
four_thousand of the Neapolitan troops, for_which_he had negotiated,
had_already_arrived.

The_high favor_in which the_admiral_had held_him_ten years before in
the West Indies,_though_slightly overcast by the coolness which arose
during_the intervening peace, had_been_rapidly regained in the_course
of the present campaign; and_the customary report of his proceedings
during_the six_weeks' absence_could not but confirm Hood in the
assurance that he had now_to deal with a very exceptional_character,
especially fitted for separate_and responsible_service._Accordingly,
from this time_forward,_such is_the distinguishing feature of Nelson's
career as a_subordinate. He_is selected from among many competitors,
frequently_his seniors, for the_performance_of duty outside the reach
of the_commander-in-chief, but requiring the attention of_one upon
whose activity, intelligence, and_readiness,_the_fullest dependence
could be placed. Up_to the battle of the Nile,--in_which, it must
always_be remembered, he commanded a squadron detached_from_the main
fleet, and was assigned to_it_in deliberate preference to two older
flag-officers,--Nelson's_life_presents_a series of detached commands,
independent_as regarded the local scene of_operations, and his method
of attaining the prescribed end with_the force allotted_to him, but
dependent, technically, upon_the_distant_commanders-in-chief