little matter
doing to her. If so, I wish Inglefield would bring her out of the mole
as soon as possible; and if, after all our pains, no good can be got out
of either ship or captain, send the Thalia to England with some of the
convoys; or send her any where out to try. I wished to have placed him
with my friend Cockburne; but, alas! he will not let me do for him what
my heart wishes." This letter mentions the propriety of getting a list
of all vessels taken since the 1st of August, Lord Keith having arrived
in Torbay on the 17th. Custom, his lordship observes, will point out,
whether they are to be considered as the only two flag-officers in the
Mediterranean; and freights of money, by the Earl of St. Vincent's
acting, belong to the commander in chief. "Whether that is so, or no,"
says his lordship, "we shall never differ about; my only wish is, to do
as I would be done by." After detailing the particulars of his
proceedings since leaving Palermo, and stating his future intentions,
particularly with regard to Malta, his lordship concludes with
observing--"Captain Buchanan has just told me, that you wish to put two
young men into the Port Mahon; and, that Lord St. Vincent had intended
you should name all the officers for her. Believe me, I would not, on
any consideration, do less than was intended by the earl; therefore, I
beg you will send up all officers you like, and I will leave acting
orders for them with Captain Buchanan."

In a letter to Mr. Nepean, dated Port Mahon, October 15, 1799, Lord
Nelson also details his late proceedings and intentions with regard to
Malta; which, if not speedily forced to surrender, will call for the
attention of more ships than he may have the power of placing there, and
necessarily cramp other requisite services. The Chichester storeship,
Captain Stevens, his lordship observes, is going with the officers of
the Leander to Corfu, having now the Russian admiral's order for that
ship's delivery; and he has no doubt that Captain Stevens, who appears
an excellent seaman, will very soon get her to Minorca. "This island,"
says his lordship, "is in such a state of security as to bid defiance to
any force Spain can send against it; and, if General Fox was not hourly
expected, Sir James would go with me to the attack of Malta, with
fifteen hundred good troops." In another letter, of the same date,
addressed to Earl Spencer, his lordship says, "I have considered the
security of his Sicilian Ma