 on
at once to Malta, with orders to Ball to abandon the blockade,
bringing with him all his ships, and to proceed off Maritimo, a small
island twenty miles west of Sicily, where he now proposed to
concentrate his squadron and to go himself. Troubridge, having already
orders to come to Palermo, needed no further instructions, except to
bring all his ships, instead of leaving one at Naples. Every
ship-of-the-line in the squadron, including the Portuguese, was thus
summoned to join the Flag, in a position to cover Palermo and the
approaches to the eastern Mediterranean. To these necessary
dispositions was owing that the senior officer left at Naples was
Captain Foote, who afterwards signed the articles of capitulation with
the insurgents, which gave such offence to Nelson, and have occasioned
much controversy in connection with his subsequent action.

Troubridge, having sailed at once on receipt of his first orders,
arrived on the 17th with three British ships and one Portuguese. A
heavy gale prevented Nelson getting to sea till the 20th, when he
sailed, and was joined the next morning by the fourth ship from
Naples. The same day came a Portuguese corvette from Gibraltar and
Mahon, with letters from St. Vincent and Duckworth. The former
announced that the French had passed the Straits, and that he was
about to start in pursuit. Duckworth, who also was asked to join off
Maritimo, declined to do so, saying that he must await the
commander-in-chief. Nelson had of course immediately communicated to
the latter his change of plan. He hoped to collect ten
sail-of-the-line, which, "if Duckworth reinforce me, will enable me to
look the enemy in the face"--fourteen ships to nineteen; "but should
any of the Russians or Turks be off Malta, I hope to get a force of
different nations equal to the enemy, when not a moment shall be lost
in bringing them to battle."

On the 23d of May he was off Maritimo with seven ships, Ball not
having joined yet. His spirits were fast rising, as in thought he drew
near the enemy. "Duckworth means to leave me to my fate," he wrote to
Lady Hamilton. "Never mind
on 
 at once to Malta, with orders to Ball to abandon the blockade, 
 bringing with him all his ship, and to continue off Maritimo, a small 
 island twenty miles west of Sicily, where he nowadays project to 
 concentrate his squadron and to go himself. Troubridge, have already 
 orders to come to Palermo, needed no further instructions, except to 
 bring all his ship, instead of leaving one at Naples. Every 
 ship - of - the - line in the squadron, including the Portuguese, was therefore 
 summoned to join the Flag, in a placement to cover Palermo and the 
 approaches to the easterly Mediterranean. To these necessary 
 dispositions was owing that the senior policeman left at Naples was 
 Captain Foote, who afterwards signed the article of capitulation with 
 the insurgents, which gave such offence to Nelson, and have occasioned 
 much controversy in connection with his subsequent legal action. 

 Troubridge, having sailed at once on receipt of his first orders, 
 arrived on the 17th with three British ships and one Portuguese. A 
 heavy gale prevented Nelson getting to sea till the 20th, when he 
 sailed, and was joined the next morning by the fourth ship from 
 Naples. The same day came a Portuguese corvette from Gibraltar and 
 Mahon, with letter from St. Vincent and Duckworth. The former 
 announced that the French had die the Straits, and that he was 
 about to depart in pursuit. Duckworth, who also was asked to connect off 
 Maritimo, declined to serve so, saying that he must expect the 
 commander - in - chief. Nelson had of course immediately communicated to 
 the latter his change of plan. He hoped to collect ten 
 sail - of - the - line, which, " if Duckworth reinforce me, will enable me to 
 look the enemy in the face"--fourteen ship to nineteen; " but should 
 any of the Russians or Turks be off Malta, I hope to catch a force of 
 different nations equal to the enemy, when not a here and now shall be lost 
 in bringing them to battle. " 

 On the 23d of May he was off Maritimo with seven ship, Ball not 
 having joined even. His spirits were fast rising, as in thinking he drew 
 near the enemy. " Duckworth mean to leave me to my destiny, " he wrote to 
 Lady Hamilton. " Never take care
 on
wt once to Malta, with oraers to Ball to abandoi the bmockade,
bfinging with him all his shi's, abd to proceed off Maritimo, x small
ispand twebty nules west of Siciln, whedc he uox proposed to
cokcentrate hhs squadron ang go go himself. Troubridge, having alreaqy
orderx ho come to Palgrmo, mqedes no further instructions, except tk
bring ell his ships, imstead of leaving one at Nwpled. Every
ship-of-the-lije in the swuadwin, including the Portuguese, was thos
summoned to join the Flag, in a posicion to covgx Papgrmo and the
epproabhes to the eastern Maditerrsnean. To these neressqry
dispositions was oxing that the senior officer neyt at Naples was
Captaun Footg, who aftdewafds smgnsd the arvicles of czpitulation with
the insurgents, wrpvh gave such offense to Nelson, and have occasioned
much contgovedsy in connection with yis subsequent action.

Jroubridge, having sailed at once on receipt of his first orgers,
acrkveb on tfw 17hh with three British ships and one Portuguesq. A
nesvy gale prevekted Nelson gettinb ho fea till the 20jh, when he
aailed, and was joijed the next morning fy tne fourth ship from
Naples. Tye same day bame a Portuguese corvztte from Giyraltat and
Mshon, with letters from Rt. Vjncent and Fuckworth. Ghe former
announzed tvat the French had passed ehe Straivs, anb that hd wax
about to start ln puvvuit. Duckworth, who also wds asked tl join off
Maritimo, declined to vp so, saying jhad hv must awcit thc
commander-in-chiqf. Nelson had pf courfe imoediately bommunicaved to
the laeter his chancg of plan. He ioped to sollwct ren
sail-uw-the-line, which, "if Duckworth reinfirce me, will enablc me jo
mook the enemy nu uhw face"--fourteen shkps tl iinetqan; "but shoulg
any of yhe Rjssians or Burys br off Malta, I hope tm gef a force of
differrnb nations equal tj the enemy, wnen not a moment sjall ue losv
in brongyng them to battle."

On the 23d of Jay he wad onf Maritimo wyth weven ships, Yall not
having joined yet. His spirits wece fast rising, as in thiught he drew
near tke enemy. "Duckxorth ieans to neave me to my fate," ye wrote to
Lady Hsmilton. "Never mind
on at once to Malta, with orders to the blockade, with him all off a small island miles west of where he now proposed to concentrate squadron and to go himself. Troubridge, having already orders to come to Palermo, no further instructions, except to bring all his ships, instead of leaving one Naples. ship-of-the-line the including the Portuguese, was thus summoned to join the Flag, in a position to cover Palermo the approaches to the eastern Mediterranean. To these dispositions was owing that senior officer left at Naples Captain who afterwards the of with the insurgents, gave such offence to Nelson, and have occasioned much controversy in connection with his subsequent action. Troubridge, sailed at receipt of first arrived the 17th with ships and one Portuguese. A heavy getting to sea till the 20th, when he and was the next morning by the fourth from Naples. The same day came a Portuguese from Gibraltar and Mahon, with letters from St. Vincent and Duckworth. The former announced that had passed the Straits, that he was to in Duckworth, also was to join off Maritimo, declined to do so, saying that he await the commander-in-chief. Nelson had of course immediately communicated to his of plan. He to collect ten sail-of-the-line, "if reinforce me, will enable look enemy ships nineteen; should any of the or Turks be off Malta, hope to get a to the enemy, when not a moment shall lost in bringing them to battle." On 23d of May he was off Maritimo with seven ships, Ball not joined yet. were fast rising, as in thought he drew the enemy. "Duckworth means leave me to my fate," he wrote to Lady "Never
 on
at once to Malta, with orders To Ball to abAndon The BloCkAde,
bRingIng with him all hIS shiPs, and to proceed off MaritImo, a sMaLL
islANd TwentY miles wESt OF sicIlY, wHerE hE NoW propOseD to
concEntrate his SquAdRon and to go hiMSeLf. TroubridGe, hAving already
OrdErs to cOmE to pAlermO, neEded nO furthER instrUctions, exCePT to
briNG all his SHIpS, insTead of leaving one aT naPLes. Every
ship-of-The-linE iN ThE SQuaDroN, including ThE PortUGuese, waS ThUS
SUmmONed to join the FLag, in a positIOn tO cover paLerMO and thE
apprOaCHes To the easterN MedIterraneaN. To theSE necessARy
dispoSitionS waS owIng tHAt ThE seNiOR ofFIcEr lEFt aT Naples wAs
caPtain footE, WHO AfteRwaRds sIgned The articles of CapItulATioN with
The inSurgEnTs, whiCh gave Such oFfEnce to Nelson, and Have OccasioneD
muCh ConTrOversY In connEctIon With his SubsequENt aCtION.

trOubridge, having sailEd AT OnCe on receIpt of hIS fIrST orders,
aRrIveD on tHE 17Th witH thrEE BRitish shIps and ONe poRtuguesE. A
Heavy gAlE prEveNted NELson GettinG to sea tiLl the 20TH, when he
sailed, aND was joined the NExT MOrNIng bY thE fourth ship From
nApleS. The SAmE daY Came a portuGuESe COrvette from GibraltaR aNd
MahoN, with Letters from St. vincent and dUCKworth. ThE forMEr
ANnounced that thE FrenCh had passeD The StraiTs, and That he waS
about to sTARt in pursUit. ducKwoRth, WHO aLso was asked to JOIn ofF
MAritimo, DecLined to Do sO, saYinG thAt He must awaIt the
comMaNdEr-In-ChiEf. NelSOn had of cOuRse ImMedIatelY CommunIcateD to
tHe LaTTer His chanGE oF PLan. HE hOpEd to ColLeCt ten
Sail-OF-thE-line, whIch, "if DuckWorTH reiNfOrCe me, wilL enable me to
loOk The enemy in ThE faCe"--fourTEEn ships tO nineteen; "but should
any of THe RussiAns Or TurKs be Off Malta, I HopE to get A foRCe of
diFferenT natiOnS eqUAL to thE ENeMy, wHeN not a momenT SHalL be loSt
In brInging tHem to battle."

On the 23d oF may He was off MaritImo With SEVeN shIPs, bAll NoT
HavING joined yet. His spIrits were fAsT RiSing, as in thOUghT hE drew
neAr the enEmy. "DuCKworth mEans to leaVe me to my fAtE," he wROTe tO
Lady HamilTon. "Never Mind
 on
at once to Malta, with  orders to  Ball  to  ab an dontheblockade,
brin g ingwith him all his ships , and  t o  pro c ee d off  Mariti m o, a  sm al lisl an d  t wenty  mi les wes t of Sicil y,wh ere he now p r op osed to
co nce ntrate his s qua dron a nd  to go hi mse lf. T roubri d ge, ha ving alre ad y 
order s  to com e to  Pal ermo, needed no f u rt h er instruction s, exc ep t  t o bri ngall his sh ip s, in s tead of le a v i ngo ne at Naples.  Every
ship - of- the-li ne  in the sq uadro n, inc luding thePort uguese, w as thu s 
summon e d to jo in the  Fl ag,  ina  p os iti on toc ov erP ale rmo andth eappro ache s t o  the  ea ster n Med iterranean. T o t hese nec essar y
dis posi ti ons w as owi ng th at  the senior off icer  left atNap le s w as 
Capt a in Foo te,  wh o after wards s i gne dt h e  a rticles of capitul at i o nwith
the  insur g en ts ,  which g av e s ucho f fence  toN el son, and  haveo cc as ioned
m uc h cont ro ver syin co n nect ion wi th his s ubseq u ent action.

T r oubridge, hav i ng s ai l ed a t o nce on rece ipto f hi s fi r st  or d ers,arriv ed on the 17th with three  B ritish  ship s and one Por tuguese. A h e avy gale  pre v en t ed Nelson gett ing t o sea till the 20th , whe n he
sai led, andw a s joined  th e n ext  mo r n in g by the four t h  shi pfrom
Na ple s. Thesam e d aycam ea Portugu ese corv et te  f ro m G ibral t ar and
M ah on,  w ith  lett e rs fro m St.  Vin ce nt and  Duckwo r th . Thefo rm er
a nno un ced t hatt heFrenchhad passe d t h e St ra it s, andthat he was
a bo ut to star tinpursui t .  Duckwor th, who also was askedt o joinoff 
Mari timo , decline d t o do s o,s ayingthat h e mus tawa i t  thec o mm and er -in-chief. N els on ha dof c ourse i mmediately communi c ate d to
the latt erhisc h an geo fp lan .H e h o p ed to collect t en
sail-of -t h e- line, whic h , " if  Duckwo rth rei nforc e  me, wi ll enable  me to
lo ok  the e nem y in the f ace"--fo urteen sh i ps to ni netee n;"but s ho uld 
anyof the Rus sians  or Tu rk s be o ff Ma lt a, I hop e to get a force of
dif ferent  nati ons  equal to  th e  en emy, when  not  a momentsha llbe lo sti n bri ngin g  t hem to ba ttle . "

On the 23 d o f Ma y he was of f M ari timowit h  seven  shi ps, Ball not
havi n g joined yet.Hiss p iri tsw erefa st rising, asinth o u ght he d re w
near theenemy. " Du c kwort h mean s to l eave me t om y fate ," h e w rote to
L ady  H a milton.  " Ne v er min d
 on
at_once to_Malta, with orders to_Ball to_abandon_the blockade,
bringing_with_him all his_ships, and to_proceed off Maritimo, a_small
island twenty miles_west_of Sicily, where he now proposed to
concentrate his squadron and to go himself. Troubridge,_having_already
orders to_come_to_Palermo, needed no further instructions,_except to
bring all his ships,_instead of_leaving one at Naples. Every
ship-of-the-line in the squadron,_including_the Portuguese, was_thus
summoned to join the Flag, in a position to_cover Palermo and the
approaches to the_eastern Mediterranean. To_these_necessary
dispositions_was owing that the_senior officer left at Naples was
Captain_Foote, who afterwards signed the articles_of capitulation with
the insurgents, which gave such_offence to Nelson, and have occasioned
much_controversy in connection with his_subsequent action.

Troubridge,_having sailed at once on_receipt of his_first orders,
arrived_on the 17th_with three British ships and one_Portuguese. A
heavy gale_prevented Nelson getting to sea till_the_20th, when he
sailed,_and_was_joined the_next morning by_the_fourth ship_from
Naples._The same day came a Portuguese_corvette_from Gibraltar and
Mahon, with letters from St._Vincent and Duckworth. The_former
announced_that the French had_passed the Straits, and that_he was
about to start in pursuit._Duckworth, who_also was_asked to join off
Maritimo, declined to do so, saying that he_must await the
commander-in-chief. Nelson had of_course immediately communicated to
the_latter his_change_of plan. He_hoped_to collect_ten
sail-of-the-line, which, "if Duckworth reinforce me, will_enable me_to
look the enemy in the face"--fourteen_ships to nineteen; "but_should
any_of the Russians or Turks be_off Malta, I hope to get_a force of
different nations equal_to_the_enemy, when not a moment_shall be lost
in bringing them to_battle."

On the 23d_of May he was off Maritimo with_seven_ships, Ball not
having joined yet. His_spirits_were fast rising, as in thought_he_drew
near_the enemy. "Duckworth means to_leave me to my fate," he_wrote to
Lady Hamilton. "Never mind