rly
established principles, the fruits of an enlightened theory."

Jomini doubtless may be considered somewhat too absolute and pedantic
in his insistence upon definite formulation of principles; but in
these words is nevertheless to be recognized the fundamental
difference between these two great warriors, a difference by which the
seaman was heavily handicapped in the opening of his career. As time
passed on, responsibility, the best of educators, took under her firm
and steady guidance the training of his yet undeveloped genius, gleams
of which from time to time, but fitfully and erratically, illumine his
earlier correspondence. The material was there from the first, but
inchoate, ill-ordered, confused, and therefore not readily available
to correct passing impressions, wild rumors, or even to prevent the
radically false conceptions of an enemy's possible movements, such as
we have had before us. Bonaparte, furthermore, whose career began amid
the troubled scenes of a revolution which had shattered all the
fetters of established custom,--so strong in England to impede a man's
natural progress,--had enjoyed already for some time the singular
advantage of being military adviser to the Directory, a duty which
compelled him to take a broad view of all current conditions, to
consider them in their mutual relations, and not narrowly to look to
one sphere of operations, without due reference to its effects upon
others.

As to the invasion of Corsica after the manner he had imagined, Nelson
was soon undeceived. Bonaparte himself, after a hurried visit to
Leghorn, again departed to press the siege of Mantua, having assured
himself that for a measurable time he had nothing to apprehend from
movements on his flank and rear. Orders were received from Jervis on
the 2d of July to institute a commercial blockade of Leghorn,
permitting no vessels to enter or depart. The conduct of this
business, as well as the protection of British trade in that district,
and the support of the Viceroy in securing Corsica against the
attempts of French partisans, were especially intrusted to Nelson,
whose movements during the following months, until the first of
October, were consequently confined to the waters between Corsica and
Tuscany, while the Riviera west of Genoa saw him no more. Leghorn
became the chief centre of his activities. These redoubled with the
demands made upon him; his energy rose equal to every call. A few
weeks before, he ha