! Therefore, my dear Sir
John, never, never, for a moment, think that I am capable of doing any
thing but endeavouring to exalt the glory of their Sicilian Majesties."

Nor was this the only prejudice which malevolence seems now to have been
secretly exciting against our hero. Though it has been sufficiently
seen, that his lordship's indefatigable endeavours for the possession of
Malta, which were never surpassed, either in activity or address, had
constantly in view the merited aggrandizement of his persevering, brave,
and conciliating friend, Captain Ball--for whom he had implored both
emoluments and honours, which no consideration on earth could ever have
induced him to solicit for himself--some apprehensions of our hero's
diminished regard had been malignantly insinuated into the bosom of that
worthy commander: as appears from the following expressions, which occur
in a letter written to him by Lord Nelson on the 24th of November 1799.
"My dear Ball, I love, honour, and respect you; and no persons ever
have, nor could they, were they so disposed, lessen you in my esteem,
both as a public officer and a private man: therefore, never let such a
thought come into your head; which was never more wanted to be clear
from embroils, than at this moment." Then, fortifying his perseverance
with assurances that Commodore Troubridge is immediately coming with
ships, and Colonel Graham with troops, he thus affectionately proceeds--

"But, my dear friend, your holding your post so long as you have,
is matter of the greatest credit to you;" and, with unexampled
kindness, concludes with thus arming his friend against the
worst--"If you are forced to quit the island, it cannot lessen your
exertion or abilities; and do not let such an event, should it
unfortunately happen, depress your spirits for a moment: and
believe me, as ever, your obliged and affectionate friend,

"Bronte Nelson."

These unpleasant events did not fail momentarily to affect his
lordship's sensibility, and with more permanency his health. In every
excess of anxiety, or even of joy, his heart continued to suffer a
renewal of that agony which it had first experienced during his search
after the French fleet destined for Egypt; and such were the
ever-shifting scenes of his active life, that he was seldom, for many
days together, exempted from the effects of it's influence, by the
occurrence of one or other of these causes.