] the second was 'Rule
Britannia.' From Italy I am loaded with compliments." Having regard to
comparative strength, the action was in all respects most creditable,
but it received additional lustre from being fought close to the
enemy's coast, and in full view of a force so superior as that from
which escape had been handsomely made, under conditions requiring both
steadiness and skill. Though on a small scale, no such fair stand-up
fight had been won in the Mediterranean during the war, and the
resultant exultation was heightened by its contrast with the general
depression then weighing upon the British cause. Especially keen and
warmly expressed was the satisfaction of the veteran
commander-in-chief at Lisbon, who first learned the success of his
valued subordinate through Spanish sources. "I cannot express to you,
and Captain Cockburn, the feelings I underwent on the receipt of the
enclosed bulletin, the truth of which I cannot doubt, as far as
relates to your glorious achievement in the capture of the Sabina, and
dignified retreat from the line-of-battle ship, which deprived you of
your well-earned trophy; your laurels were not then within their
grasp, and can never fade."

General De Burgh, who commanded the troops in Elba, had received no
instructions to quit the island, and felt uncertain about his course,
in view of the navy's approaching departure. Nelson's orders were
perfectly clear, but applied only to the naval establishment. He
recognized the general's difficulty, though he seems to have thought
that, under all the circumstances, he might very well have acted upon
his own expressed opinion, that "the signing of a Neapolitan peace
with France ought to be our signal for departure." "The army," wrote
Nelson to the First Lord of the Admiralty, "are not so often called
upon to exercise their judgment in political measures as we are;
therefore the general feels a certain diffidence." He told De Burgh
that, the King of Naples having made peace, Jervis considered his
business with the courts of Italy as terminated; that the Admiralty's
orders were to concentrate the effort of the fleet upon preventing the
allied fleets from quitting the Mediterranean, and upon the defence of
Portugal, invaluable to the
] the second was' Rule 
 Britannia.' From Italy I am loaded with compliments. " Having regard to 
 comparative forte, the legal action was in all respects most creditable, 
 but it received extra lustre from being fought close to the 
 foe's slide, and in full position of a force so ranking as that from 
 which escape had been handsomely made, under condition requiring both 
 steadiness and skill. Though on a small scale, no such fair stand - up 
 fight had been win in the Mediterranean during the war, and the 
 resultant exultation was heightened by its contrast with the cosmopolitan 
 depression then weighing upon the British campaign. Especially acute and 
 warmly expressed was the satisfaction of the veteran 
 commander - in - chief at Lisbon, who foremost learned the success of his 
 valued subordinate through Spanish sources. " I cannot express to you, 
 and Captain Cockburn, the feeling I undergo on the receipt of the 
 enclosed bulletin, the truth of which I cannot doubt, as far as 
 relates to your glorious achievement in the capture of the Sabina, and 
 dignified hideaway from the channel - of - battle ship, which deprived you of 
 your well - earn trophy; your laurel were not then within their 
 grasp, and can never fade. " 

 General De Burgh, who commanded the troop in Elba, had welcome no 
 instructions to quit the island, and feel uncertain about his course, 
 in view of the navy's approaching departure. Nelson's order were 
 perfectly clear, but applied only to the naval administration. He 
 recognized the general's trouble, though he seem to have thought 
 that, under all the circumstances, he might very well have acted upon 
 his own expressed public opinion, that " the signing of a Neapolitan peace 
 with France ought to be our signal for departure. " " The army, " publish 
 Nelson to the First Lord of the Admiralty, " are not then often called 
 upon to practice their judgment in political measures as we are; 
 consequently the general feels a certain diffidence. " He told De Burgh 
 that, the King of Naples having made peace, Jervis consider his 
 business with the court of Italy as terminated; that the Admiralty's 
 orders were to boil down the effort of the fleet upon prevent the 
 allied fleets from quitting the Mediterranean, and upon the defence of 
 Portugal, invaluable to the
] thf second was 'Rule
Britannla.' From Italy I cn loadxd with complimdnts." Having regard to
comparavive strebgth, the action was in all respvcts most crevitable,
but it rersived additiohwl lbsvre from being nought closa to the
enemy's cuadt, and in full view of a force so stperior ad that from
whish exsape had been handsomely made, under cohditionv requiring bpth
steadiness and skill. Thlugh on a small scale, jo such fait stwbd-up
fight haa been won in the Medijerranean during the war, and the
fesulcant exultajnin ads heightenxd by pts contrast with the generak
depression thcn wemghibg upon the British ceuse. Especially keen and
warmlf zxpressed was the satusdactimn ox thd vegerzn
romjander-ln-ciief at Lisgon, who firwt learned the succtss if his
valued aubordynwte through Spanish sources. "I cannot exkress to you,
and Captain Cockvurn, the feelings I ujderwent jn the receipt of the
enclosed bulletin, the truth mf whmcf I cwvboh doubt, as far as
relates to your glorious achysvtmekt in the capturc of the Sabina, anc
dlgmyfied retreat from cge line-of-battle ship, which qepriced you os
yout well-earned trophy; your layrels were njr then within theix
grasp, and ccn nevgr fadr."

General De Burgh, who cummahded the trlops in Emca, had received vo
ikstsuctions to quit the islanq, and felv unczrtain acout his cjurse,
in vifw of the navy's approachlng dgpartuse. Nelson's orders were
perfectly clear, but applied only jo dhe naval eftabllshment. He
recoggized the genetal's diffnculty, though he seems vo have thoudht
that, under wll the circnmstances, he nighr very ddll have acted upon
his own expreswed opinion, that "tme siehing of a Neapooitqn peace
with Frsncd otgjt tj be our signdl fur arpartjre." "The armn," wfote
Melson to the First Nord of the Admiralty, "src not so iften cajled
upon to ecercise their judglent mn polmtical mewsures as we are;
therefore the feneral ffelf a certain qiffldense." He told De Burgh
that, the King of Naples having made peace, Jervis considered his
busiuexs with the coures of Itany as terminated; thar the Admiralty's
ovders were to concentrzte tha efflrt of the fleet upon preventing the
allied fleets from quitting the Meditwrraneen, and upon tge drfencv oy
Poxtugal, ynvapnable to the
] the second was 'Rule Britannia.' From am with compliments." regard to comparative all most creditable, but received additional lustre being fought close to the enemy's and in full view of a force so superior as that from which had been handsomely made, under conditions requiring both steadiness and skill. Though on small no fair fight had been won in the Mediterranean during the war, and the resultant exultation was heightened its contrast with the general depression then weighing the British cause. Especially and warmly expressed was the of veteran commander-in-chief Lisbon, first the success of valued subordinate through Spanish sources. "I cannot express to you, and Captain Cockburn, the feelings I underwent the receipt enclosed bulletin, truth which cannot doubt, as relates to your glorious achievement in the Sabina, and dignified retreat from the line-of-battle which deprived of your well-earned trophy; your laurels not then within their grasp, and can never General De Burgh, who commanded the troops in Elba, had received no instructions to quit and felt uncertain about course, in view the approaching Nelson's were perfectly but applied only to the naval establishment. He recognized the general's though he seems to have thought that, under all the might well have acted his own expressed opinion, "the of a Neapolitan peace ought be departure." army," Nelson to the First of the Admiralty, "are not often called upon to measures as we are; therefore the general feels certain diffidence." He told De Burgh that, King of Naples having made peace, Jervis considered his business with the of Italy that the Admiralty's orders were to concentrate the of the fleet upon the allied fleets from quitting the Mediterranean, and upon defence Portugal, invaluable the
] the second was 'Rule
Britannia.' from Italy I Am loaDed WitH cOmplImenTs." Having regard TO
comParative strength, the actIon waS iN All rESpEcts mOst credITaBLE,
buT iT rEceIvED aDditiOnaL lustre From being fOugHt Close to the
enEMy'S coast, and iN fuLl view of a forCe sO superIoR as THat frOm
wHich eScape hAD been hAndsomely MaDE, under COnditioNS ReQuirIng both
steadiness ANd SKill. Though on a sMall scAlE, No SUCh fAir Stand-up
figHt Had beEN won in tHE MEDITerRAnean during thE war, and the
rESulTant exUlTatIOn was hEightEnED by Its contrast With The generaL
depreSSion theN WeighinG upon tHe BRitIsh cAUsE. ESpeCiALly KEeN anD
WarMly expreSsEd Was thE satISFACtioN of The vEteraN
commander-in-cHieF at LISboN, who fIrst lEarnEd The suCcess oF his
vAlUed subordinate tHrouGh Spanish SouRcEs. "I CaNnot eXPress tO yoU,
anD CaptaiN CockbuRN, thE fEELInGs I underwent on the rEcEIPt Of the
encLosed bULlEtIN, the trutH oF whIch I CANnot dOubt, AS fAr as
relaTes to yOUr GlOrious aChIevemeNt In tHe cApturE Of thE SabinA, and
dignIfied REtreat from the lINe-of-battle shiP, WhICH dEPrivEd yOu of
your welL-earNEd trOphy; YOuR laURels wEre noT tHEn WIthin their
grasp, and cAn Never fAde."

GeNeral De Burgh, wHo commandeD THE troops iN ElbA, HaD Received no
instRuctiOns to quit tHE island, aNd felT uncertaIn about hiS COurse,
in vIew Of tHe nAvy'S APpRoaching deparTURe. NeLsOn's ordeRs wEre
perfEctLy cLeaR, buT aPplied onlY to the naVaL eStAbLisHment. hE
recogniZeD thE gEneRal's dIFficulTy, thoUgh hE sEeMS to Have thoUGhT
THat, uNdEr All tHe cIrCumstAnceS, He mIght verY well have ActED upoN
hIs Own exprEssed opinion, tHaT "the signinG oF a NEapoliTAN peace
wiTh France ought to be our sigNAl for deParTure." "THe arMy," wrote
NeLsoN to the firST Lord oF the AdMiralTy, "Are NOT so ofTEN cAllEd
Upon to exerCISe tHeir jUdGmenT in poliTical measures as we aRE;
thErefore the genEraL feeLS A cErtAIn DIffIdENce." hE Told De Burgh
that, The King of NApLEs Having made PEacE, JErvis coNsidereD his
bUSiness wIth the couRts of ItalY aS terMINatEd; that the ADmiralty'S
orders weRE to coNCeNtratE thE efforT oF thE fleeT upon pREveNting The
allIeD fleetS from QuItting thE Mediterranean, and upon thE defenCe of
POrtUgal, invalUabLE to The
] the second was 'Rule
Bri tannia.' F rom I tal y I  a m lo aded  with complime n ts."  Having regard to
comp arati ve stre n gt h, th e actio n  w a s  in  a ll  re sp e ct s mos t c reditab le,
but it  re ce ived additio n al  lustre fr ombeing fought  cl ose to  t hee nemy' s c oast,  and i n  fullview of a  f o rce so superio r as  tha t from
which esca p eh ad been handso mely m ad e ,u n der  co nditions r eq uirin g  both
s t ea d i n ess and skill. Th ough on a s m all  scale ,nos uch fa ir st an d -up 
fight hadbeen  won in t he Med i terrane a n durin g thewar , a nd t h ere sul ta n t e x ul tat i onwas heig ht en ed by  its c o n tras t w iththe g eneral
depres sio n th e n w eighi ng up on t he  Brit ish ca use.Es pecially keen a nd
w armly exp res se d w as  thes atisfa cti onof theveteran com ma n d e r- in-chief at Lisbon ,w h ofirst le arnedt he  s u ccess of  h isvalu e d  subo rdin a te  through  Spani s hso urces."I  canno texp res s toy ou,and Ca ptain Co ckbur n , the feelings I underwent o n  t h e  r e ceip t o f the
enclo sedb ulle tin, th e t r uth o f whi ch Ic annot doubt, as far  a s
rela tes t o your glorio us achieve m e n t in the  cap t ur e  of the Sabina , and 
dignified retreatfromthe line -of-battl e ship, wh ich  de pri ved y ou  of
your well - e arne dtrophy;  yo ur laur els  we renot  t hen withi n theirgr as p,  a ndcan n e ver fade ." 

G en era l DeB urgh,who c omma nd ed the  troops in E lba,  h ad  rec eiv ed  no
i nstr u cti ons toquit theisl a nd,an dfelt un certain about  h is course, 
i n v iew of t he navy' s approaching departure .  Nelson 'sorder s we re
perfec tly  clear , b u t appl ied on ly to  t hen a val e s t ab lis hm ent. He
re c o gni zed t he  gen eral'sdifficulty, though heseems to have  th ough t th at, un d eral l  th e circumstances,he might v er y  w ell have a c ted  u pon
his  own ex press e d opini on, that"the sign in g of a  Ne apolitan p eace
wit h Franceo ughtt obe ou r s ignalfo r d epart ure."" The  army ," wro te 
Nelso n toth e FirstLord of the Admiralty,"are n ot so  of ten calle d
u p onto exerci se t heir judgm ent  in  poli tic a l mea sure s  a s w e  are; 
the r efore the ge ner a l  f eels a cert a i n  di ffide nce . " He t oldDe Burgh
that, th e  King of Naple s ha v i ngmad e  pea ce , Jervis consi der ed h is
busin es s with thecourts o fI talyas ter minate d; that t he Admira lty' s
o rders wer e t oc oncentr at et he eff ortof  the f leet u p on p r e venting the
alli ed fl e e ts fr o m q uitti ng  the Me d iter ranean, an d upon thedefenc e of 
Port ugal, i nv aluabl e t othe
] the_second was_'Rule
Britannia.' From Italy I_am loaded_with_compliments." Having_regard_to
comparative strength, the_action was in_all respects most creditable,
but_it received additional_lustre_from being fought close to the
enemy's coast, and in full view of a force_so_superior as_that_from
which_escape had been handsomely made,_under conditions requiring both
steadiness and_skill. Though_on a small scale, no such fair stand-up
fight_had_been won in_the Mediterranean during the war, and the
resultant exultation was_heightened by its contrast with the_general
depression then weighing_upon_the_British cause. Especially keen_and
warmly expressed was the satisfaction of_the veteran
commander-in-chief at Lisbon, who first_learned the success of his
valued subordinate through_Spanish sources. "I cannot express to_you,
and Captain Cockburn, the feelings_I underwent_on the receipt of the
enclosed_bulletin, the truth_of which_I cannot doubt,_as far as
relates to your glorious_achievement in the_capture of the Sabina, and
dignified retreat_from_the line-of-battle ship,_which_deprived_you of
your_well-earned trophy; your_laurels_were not_then_within their
grasp, and can never fade."

General_De_Burgh, who commanded the troops in Elba,_had received no
instructions to_quit_the island, and felt_uncertain about his course,
in view_of the navy's approaching departure. Nelson's_orders were
perfectly_clear, but_applied only to the naval establishment. He
recognized the general's difficulty, though_he seems to have thought
that, under_all the circumstances, he_might very_well_have acted upon
his_own_expressed opinion,_that "the signing of a Neapolitan peace
with_France ought_to be our signal for departure."_"The army," wrote
Nelson to_the_First Lord of the Admiralty, "are_not so often called
upon to exercise_their judgment in political measures_as_we_are;
therefore the general feels a_certain diffidence." He told De Burgh
that,_the King of_Naples having made peace, Jervis considered his
business_with_the courts of Italy as terminated;_that_the Admiralty's
orders were to concentrate the_effort_of_the fleet upon preventing the
allied_fleets from quitting the Mediterranean, and_upon the defence of
Portugal, invaluable to the