t station, leaving the transports
victualled, and so arranged that all the troops and stores could be
embarked in three days. He was now about to leave the Mediterranean.
Mr. Drake, who had been our minister at Genoa, expressed to him, on
this occasion, the very high opinion which the allies entertained of his
conspicuous merit; adding, that it was impossible for any one, who
had the honour of co-operating with him, not to admire the activity,
talents, and zeal which he had so eminently and constantly displayed.
In fact, during this long course of services in the Mediterranean, the
whole of his conduct had exhibited the same zeal, the same indefatigable
energy, the same intuitive judgment, the same prompt and unerring
decision which characterised his after-career of glory. His name was as
yet hardly known to the English public; but it was feared and respected
throughout Italy. A letter came to him, directed "Horatio Nelson,
Genoa;" and the writer, when he was asked how he could direct it so
vaguely, replied, "Sir, there is but one Horatio Nelson in the world."
At Genoa, in particular, where he had so long been stationed, and where
the nature of his duty first led him to continual disputes with the
government, and afterwards compelled him to stop the trade of the port,
he was equally respected by the doge and by the people; for, while
he maintained the rights and interests of Great Britain with becoming
firmness, he tempered the exercise of power with courtesy and humanity
wherever duty would permit. "Had all my actions," said he, writing at
this time to his wife, "been gazetted, not one fortnight would have
passed, during the whole war, without a letter from me. One day or other
I will have a long GAZETTE to myself. I feel that such an opportunity
will be given me. I cannot, if I am in the field of glory, be kept out
of sight; wherever there is anything to be done, there Providence is
sure to direct my steps."

These hopes and anticipations were soon to be fulfilled. Nelson's mind
had long been irritated and depressed by the fear that a general action
would take place before he could join the fleet. At length he sailed
from Porto Ferrajo with a convoy for Gibraltar; and having reached that
place, proceeded to the westward in search of the admiral. Off the mouth
of the Straits he fell in with the Spanish fleet; and on the 13th of
February reaching the station off Cape St. Vincent, communicated this
intelligence to Sir Jo