eriors, in many instances, might have imitated their
conduct to advantage; but hunger is a sharp thorn, and they are not
only in want of food sufficient, but of clothes and firing."

Under the threatening outlook, he considers that every individual will
soon "be called forth to show himself;" and for his own part, he
writes on the 3d of November, he sees no way so proper as asking for a
ship. But, even at that late moment, neither Pitt nor his associates
had abandoned the hope of peace, and this, as well as other
applications of Nelson's, received only a formal acknowledgment
without encouragement. Roused, however, by the Convention's decree of
November 19, which extended the succor of France to all people who
should wish to recover their liberty, and charged the generals of the
republic to make good the offer with the forces under their command,
the ministry decided to abandon their guarded attitude; and their new
resolution was confirmed by the reception, on the 28th of November, of
deputations from British revolutionary societies at the bar of the
Convention, on which occasion the president of the latter affected to
draw a dividing line between the British government and the British
nation. On the 1st of December the militia was called out by
proclamation, and Parliament summoned to meet on the 15th of the
month. On the latter day the Convention put forth another decree,
announcing in the most explicit terms its purpose to overthrow all
existing governments in countries where the Republican armies could
penetrate. Pitt now changed his front with an instantaneousness and
absoluteness which gave the highest proof of his capacity as a leader
of men. It was not so much that war was then determined, as that the
purpose was formed, once for all, to accept the challenge contained in
the French decree, unless France would discontinue her avowed course
of aggression. Orders were immediately given to increase largely the
number of ships of war in commission.

When danger looms close at hand, the best men, if known, are not left
in the cold shade of official disfavor. "Post nubila Phoebus," was the
expression of Nelson, astonished for a rarity into Latin by the
suddenness with which the sun now burst upon him through the clouds.
"The Admiralty so smile upon me, that really I am as much surprised as
when they frowned." On the 6th of January, 1793, the First Lord, with
many apologies for previous neglect, promised to give him a