how he
might annoy them even there.

"If they do not come forth soon," writes his lordship, on the 14th, to
the Honourable Captain Blackwood, "I shall then rather incline to think
they will detach squadrons: but, I hope, either in the whole, or in
part, we shall get at them. I am confident in your look out upon them. I
expect three stout fire-ships from England; then, with a good breeze, so
that the gun-boats cannot move, and yet not so much but that a gig can
with ease row out, I should hope that, at least, the gentry might be
disturbed: and I should not be surprised if Mr. Francis and his
catamarans were sent, and Colonel Congreve and his rockets. But, all
this keep to yourself; for officers will talk, and there is no occasion
to put the enemy upon their guard. When those things arrive, we will
consult how to manage them, and I shall have the two bombs ready by that
time."

On Lord Nelson's arrival in the Mediterranean, he had felt it his most
difficult task to send home Sir Robert Calder. "I had never," said his
lordship, speaking on this subject to his confidential friends, "but two
enemies in the profession, that I know of, Sir Robert Calder, and Sir
John Orde; nor do I feel conscious of having ever given either of them
any just cause of offence. However," added this excellent and exalted
man, "I will, at least, endeavour to make Sir Robert love me."
Accordingly, on communicating his orders to this unfortunate commander,
he earnestly advised him not to return home immediately; but to serve
with himself on the expected glorious occasion, after which, there could
be nothing to apprehend from any trivial enquiry respecting what might
previously have happened. Sir Robert, however, though he could not but
feel sensible of his lordship's kindness, was resolved by no means to
protract his justification; and Lord Nelson, finding him determined to
go home, as a last proof of tenderness and respectful consideration for
a brother officer thus disagreeably situated, insisted that, instead of
Sir Robert's departing in a frigate, as directed, he should at least
have the honour of returning in his own ninety-gun ship, ill as it
could at this eventful crisis be spared from that station. Thus did the
hero willingly hazard a degree of censure from his country, through
excess of feeling for Sir Robert Calder; nor is it altogether an
extravagant impossibility that, to this generous action, he owed even
his own death, which the addi