sufficient. "Our days," he himself says,
"pass so much alike that, having described one, you have them all. We
now [October] breakfast by candle light; and all retire, at eight
o'clock, to bed." "We cruise, cruise, and one day so like another that
they are hardly distinguishable, but _hopes_, blessed _hopes_, keeps
us up, that some happy day the French may come out, then I shall
consider my duty to my country fulfilled." Of one of these monotonous
days we have received a description from an officer,[65] a member of
the admiral's mess, who had then too lately entered upon them to feel
the full weight of their deadly sameness.

"At 6 o'clock my servant brings a light and informs me of the hour,
wind, weather, and course of the ship, when I immediately dress and
generally repair to the deck, the dawn of day at this season and
latitude being apparent at about half or three-quarters of an hour
past six. Breakfast is announced in the Admiral's cabin, where Lord
Nelson, Rear Admiral Murray, (the Captain of the Fleet,) Captain
Hardy, commander of the Victory, the chaplain, secretary, one or two
officers of the ship, and your humble servant assemble and breakfast
on tea, hot rolls, toast, cold tongue, &c, which when finished we
repair upon deck to enjoy the majestic sight of the rising sun
(scarcely ever obscured by clouds in this fine climate) surmounting
the smooth and placid waves of the Mediterranean, which supports the
lofty and tremendous bulwarks of Britain, following in regular train
their admiral in the Victory. Between the hours of 7 and 2 there is
plenty of time for business, study, writing, and exercise, which
different occupations I endeavour to vary in such a manner as to
afford me sufficient employment. At 2 o'clock a band of music plays
till within a quarter of 3, when the drum beats the tune called, 'The
Roast Beef of Old England' to announce the Admiral's dinner, which is
served up exactly at 3 o'clock, and which generally consists of three
courses and a dessert of the choicest fruit [a fact which bespeaks the
frequency of communications with the land], together with three or
four of the best wines, champagne and claret not excepted. If a person
does not feel himself perfectly at his ease it must be his own fault,
such is the urbanity and hospitality which reign here, notwithstanding
the numerous titles, the four orders of Knighthood, worn by Lord
Nelson,[66] and the well earned laurels which he has acquired. C