ward." To prevent it he seeks the authority of
his Government and of the King of Sardinia to garrison Madalena. The
straits of Bonifacio are but ten miles wide; it is impossible
therefore for a cruiser to prevent boats passing. If the attempt is
made, no scruples about the neutrality of Sardinia shall tie his
hands. "I have directed the frigates to pursue them, even should they
chase into Sardinia, and to take or destroy them, and also the
Corsican troops; for if I wait till the island is taken I should feel
deserving of reprobation. Of course, they will say we have broken the
neutrality, if we attack them in the ports of Sardinia before their
conquest, and if we do not I shall be laughed at for a fool.
_Prevention is better than cure_." With his usual long-headed
circumspection, however, even when most bent on an extreme step, he
warns the Prime Minister, to whom he is writing, to mention his
purpose to the Russian ambassador--that the latter may understand the
apparent breach of neutrality; for Russia has constituted herself a
champion of the Sardinian monarch. "I mention my intention that idle
reports may not be attended to."

As the winter of 1803-4 approached, and it became evident that Spain
was to persevere in her neutrality, Nelson removed his fleet to a
rendezvous about thirty miles south of Cape San Sebastian, on the
Spanish coast--the Number 97 continually mentioned in his official
letters to captains. There the highlands of Spain afford some shelter
from the furious northerly gales, which, sweeping over France from the
Atlantic, are compressed as in a funnel between the Pyrenees and the
Alps, to fall with redoubled violence on the Gulf of Lyons. Only the
utmost care and the most skilful seamanship could preserve the rickety
ships, upon whose efficiency so much depended, and which, if damaged,
there was none to replace. I "bear up for every gale," wrote Nelson.
"I must not in our present state quarrel with the northwesters--with
crazy masts and no port or spars near us." Even in September, he
writes, there are "three days' gale of severe blowing weather out of
the seven, which frequently comes on suddenly, and thereby exposes the
topmasts, topsail yards and sails, to great hazard, under every care
and attention; and there are no topmasts or topsail yards in store,
either at Gibraltar or Malta." "The French fleet keep us waiting; and
such a place as all the Gulf of Lyons, for gales of wind from the N.W.
to N.