he station, so
that time enough had elapsed to mature his opinion, asked him to
remain under his command, as a junior admiral, when he received his
promotion. Having regard to Jervis's own high endowments, it was not
then in the power of the British Navy to pay an officer of Nelson's
rank a higher compliment.

During these months of service upon the Riviera, there occurred an
incident, which, from the reflection made upon Nelson's integrity,
drew from him a letter, struck off at such white heat, and so
transparently characteristic of his temperament, aspirations, and
habit of thought, as to merit quotation. A report had been spread that
the commanders of the British ships of war connived at the entry of
supply-vessels into the ports held by the French, and a statement to
that effect was forwarded to the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs. The latter sent the paper, for investigation, to the Minister
to Genoa, who mentioned its tenor to Nelson. The latter, justly
stigmatizing the conduct imputed to him and his officers as
"scandalous and infamous," requested a copy of the accusation, in
order that by his refutation he might convince the King, that he was
"an officer who had ever pursued the road of honour, very different
from that to wealth." Having received the copy, he wrote to the
Secretary as follows:--

AGAMEMNON, GENOA ROAD, 23d November, 1795.

MY LORD,--Having received, from Mr. Drake, a copy of your
Lordship's letter to him of October, enclosing a paper highly
reflecting on the honour of myself and other of His Majesty's
Officers employed on this Coast under my Orders, it well becomes
me, as far as in my power lies, to wipe away this ignominious
stain on our characters. I do, therefore, in behalf of myself,
and much injured Brethren, demand, that the person, whoever he
may be, that wrote, or gave that paper to your Lordship, do
fully, and expressly bring home his charge; which, as he states
that this agreement is made by numbers of people on both sides,
there can be no difficulty in doing. We dare him, my Lord, to
the proof. If he cannot, I do most humbly implore, that His
Majesty will be most graciously pleased to direct his
Attorney-General to prosecute this infamous libeller in His
Courts of Law; and I likewise feel, that, without impropriety, I
may on behalf of my brother Officers, demand the support of His
Majesty's Ministers: