he transcribed into the following letter to Sir
Sidney Smith, as a gentle hint that this officer's authority was not
wholly without restriction.

"Palermo, Dec. 31, 1798.

"SIR,

"I have been honoured with your letter from off Malta, with it's
several inclosures: viz. An extract of a letter from Lord Grenville
to John Spencer Smith, Esq. &c.--"And his majesty has been
graciously pleased to direct, that your brother, Sir Sidney Smith,
shall proceed to Constantinople with the eighty-gun ship Le Tigre.
His instructions will enable him to take the command of such of his
majesty's ships as he may find in those seas--unless, by any
unforeseen accident, it should happen that there should be, among
them, any of his majesty's officers of superior rank; and he will
be directed to act with such force, in conjunction with the Russian
and Ottoman squadrons, for the defence of the Ottoman empire, and
for the annoyance of the enemy in that quarter:"--Also, an extract
of another letter, from Lord Grenville to yourself and brother--And
the Earl of St. Vincent having sent me an extract of a letter from
Earl Spencer to him; saying that, for certain circumstances, you
should be the officer selected for the command of a small squadron
in the Levant Seas: and, his lordship having also informed me, that
Captain Miller was the officer of your choice; and directing me to
give you a frigate, or a sloop of war, till Captain Miller's
arrival--You may rest assured, that I shall most strictly comply
with the instructions sent by Lord Grenville to your brother; also,
those of Earl Spencer, and the Earl of St. Vincent. For this
purpose, I must desire that you will lose no time in proceeding to
Alexandria, to take upon you the command of the blockade, &c. which
I shall direct to be delivered up to you; and, from my heart, I
wish you every success. The united squadrons of the Turks and
Russians, and of two sail of the line under your command, must be
sufficient for the two ships _armee en flute_, and three frigates;
which, thank God! are all the enemy have left in those seas.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

"Nelson."

It is by no means improbable, that Lord Nelson, while coolly
transcribing the above passage from Lord Grenville's judiciously guarded
ins