ining shore of Italy,
to look out for some French frigates which were in St. Fiorenzo in
Corsica. With these frigates, it seems, Captain Nelson had, joined with
one or two others, what he calls "a little brush," in the preceding
October. He observes that, if they are active, they may do our trade
some mischief: "but," adds he, "to say the truth, I believe that they
are more inclined to be passive; at least, they had much of that
inclination when I saw them."

At this time, he does not appear to have thought Toulon in much danger;
and, at all events, was persuaded that the French fleet and arsenal
might be destroyed. Some of the ships, he remarked, were the finest he
ever beheld. The Commerce de Marseilles, in particular, he says, had
seventeen ports on each deck, and our Victory looked nothing to it.

Their friend, Sir Charles Pole, he observes, is gone to the West Indies,
which was a thing that officer dreaded: had himself been at Toulon, he
would have been a candidate for this service; for, he thought our sea
war was over in the Mediterranean. He admits, however, that the
Agamemnon has had it's share of service; having had the anchor down but
thirty-four times since sailing from the Nore, and then only to get
water or provisions. He says that, having then upwards of one hundred of
his ship's company absent, they are not much better than a fifty gun
ship. To another friend, however, he jocosely observed, on this
occasion, that those he had were chiefly Norfolk men, and he always
reckoned them as good as two others.

In the warmth of gratitude, he asserts that Lord Hood is a very good
friend to him; and is, certainly, the best officer he ever saw: every
thing from him being so clear, that it is impossible to misunderstand
him.

All this day, the 1st of December, he observes, he has been in sight of
the French squadron; which, he hears, has been joined by a frigate from
Calvi. He misses, however, the frigate which had received most of his
fire; and adds, that there are not wanting those who declare that they
beheld it sink.

With these frigates, on the coast of Corsica, Captain Nelson may be said
to have commenced his career as commander of a squadron; and such was
his activity, skill, and bravery, that they were perpetually engaged
against the enemy. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to trace
every single transaction which occurred during the time which he held
this command. His services were, occasionall