e town of La Vilette. I wish to send you two
sail of the line, and to request your look-out upon Toulon: I am
sure, it cannot be in better hands. But, our situation respecting
Italy every day alters from bad to worse, so that I cannot answer
for my present intentions. I have, under my command, four
Portuguese ships of the line; you are most heartily welcome to them
all, if you think they will be useful. I own, I consider them as
nothing; except trouble in writing orders, which are intolerably
executed. However, you may be assured of my ardent desire to do
every thing which can render your command pleasant; and, for the
security of the valuable acquisition of Minorca.

"Ever believe me, dear Sir, your faithful and obliged.

"Nelson."

In the letter to General Stuart is a recapitulation of the affairs of
Naples; with the observation that such things are, if he is not
dreaming! "The conduct of the Emperor," he writes, "is to me
extraordinary; the loss, at least, of his new Italian dominions, will be
the natural consequence. Tuscany must drop from his family; and, whether
a month sooner or later, is of little importance. You have seen the
movements of Austrian armies, so have I; and found, unhappily, all their
generals traders, making the most of their command, by oppressing the
poor soldiers. I feel, very much, my dear general, for your situation,
in the invaluable possession which your excellent judgment placed under
the dominion of his majesty; and, believe me, I shall have the greatest
pleasure in doing every thing you can wish me." After observing that his
force is merely nominal, and repeating his intentions, as expressed to
Commodore Duckworth, his lordship concludes--"The Vanguard is at
Palermo, their Sicilian Majesties desiring me not to leave them; but,
the moment you want me, I fly to your assistance."

The fact is, that Lord Nelson did not entertain apprehensions of any
serious attack on Minorca; and, therefore, without weakening more
essential service, prudently kept merely an eye to the remote
possibility of such an event; nor did his lordship's judgment, on this
occasion, prove to be less judicious than usual.

On the 8th, our hero received a most flattering encomium, indeed, from
England; which, certainly, could not fail fully to compensate for every
temporary mortification which he might have experienced. This was
nothing less than an elegan