ur," said he, "to do my best while I remain;
but, my dear lord, I shall either soon go to heaven, I hope, or must
rest quiet for a time. If Sir Hyde were gone, I would now be under
sail." On the day when this was written, he received news of
his appointment. Not a moment was now lost. His first signal, as
commander-in-chief, was to hoist in all launches and prepare to weigh;
and on the 7th he sailed from Kioge. Part of his fleet was left at
Bornholm, to watch the Swedes, from whom he required and obtained an
assurance that the British trade in the Cattegat and in the Baltic
should not be molested; and saying how unpleasant it would be to him if
anything should happen which might for a moment disturb the returning
harmony between Sweden and Great Britain, he apprised them that he was
not directed to abstain from hostilities should he meet with the Swedish
fleet at sea. Meantime he himself; with ten sail of the line, two
frigates, a brig, and a schooner, made for the Gulf of Finland. Paul,
in one of the freaks of his tyranny, had seized upon all the British
effects in Russia, and even considered British subjects as his
prisoners. "I will have all the English shipping and property restored,"
said Nelson, "but I will do nothing violently, neither commit the
affairs of my country, nor suffer Russia to mix the affairs of Denmark
or Sweden with the detention of our ships." The wind was fair, and
carried him in four days to Revel Roads. But the Bay had been clear
of firm ice on the 29th of April, while the English were lying idly at
Kioge. The Russians had cut through the ice in the mole six feet thick,
and their whole squadron had sailed for Cronstadt on the 3rd. Before
that time it had lain at the mercy of the English. "Nothing," Nelson
said, "if it had been right to make the attack, could have saved one
ship of them in two hours after our entering the bay."

It so happened that there was no cause to regret the opportunity which
had been lost, and Nelson immediately put the intentions of Russia to
the proof. He sent on shore, to say that he came with friendly views,
and was ready to return a salute. On their part the salute was delayed,
till a message was sent to them to inquire for what reason; and the
officer whose neglect had occasioned the delay, was put under arrest.
Nelson wrote to the emperor, proposing to wait on him personally and
congratulate him on his accession, and urged the immediate release of
British subjects,