lieve_.

I have run over our present state; perhaps, too hastily: but, I am
anxious not to keep the brig one moment longer than my writing this
letter. With every sentiment of respect, believe me, my dear lord,
your most obedient servant,

"Bronte Nelson."

To his Excellency, the Honourable Lieutenant-General Fox, at Minorca,
his lordship on the same day wrote, that he would not suffer General
Graham to want, if he could "beg, borrow, or steal, to supply him. Lord
Keith," he adds, "is, I dare say, with you, at this moment; and, I am
sure, all matters will be much better arranged with him than I have
ability of doing. I have only the disposition to do what is right, and
the desire of meriting your esteem." To Colonel Graham, at Malta, he
also wrote, this day, as follows--"I hope to soon pay you a visit, and I
only wish that I could always do all you ask me. It is certain, that you
cannot go on at Malta, without money; therefore, I declare, sooner than
you should want, I would sell Bronte. But, I trust, from General Fox's
letter to me, that you will have his consent for ordering what money may
be necessary. I send you all the Egyptian papers, for you, Ball, and
Troubridge; and, if you like, in confidence, Italinskoy. Suwarrow is at
Prague, with his whole army: ready to act with the Austrians, if they
come to their senses; or, perhaps, against them. _Moreau_ is at Vienna,
treating for peace. What a state the allies bring us into! But, it is in
vain to cry out; John Bull was always ill-treated. May a speedy success
attend you!"

On the 14th, a new mortification occurred to his lordship. The Russian
admiral, who had so long lingered at Naples, and recently arrived at
Messina, with the intent, as was supposed, of at length going to Malta,
sent notice that he was proceeding with his ships and troops to Corfu,
and could not go to Malta. Lord Keith was, at this time, gone to station
a squadron for the blockade of the port and coast of Genoa; and Lord
Nelson, after arranging, with General Acton, a plan for sending two
thousand six hundred troops, and encouraging his respective friends at
Malta to persevere in their labours, under these and other comforting
assurances, sailed in the Foudroyant, on the 16th, to concert measures
for future operations with the commander in chief.

On the 23d, his lordship writes to Earl Spencer, from Leghorn, that he
came thither to meet Lord Keith; and that they a