oth of what he did and of what he left
undone. It was a day when force ruled, and all the nations of Europe,
whether they wished or not, had to put their chief trust in the sword,
and in those who bore it. Not the least of Nelson's qualifications for
his post was that he possessed intimate knowledge and experience of
political conditions in the Mediterranean, knew the peoples and the
rulers well, and to great sagacity and sound judgment added a temper
at once firm and conciliatory. "He had in a great degree," said a
contemporary who knew him well,[69] "the valuable but rare quality of
conciliating the most opposite tempers, and forwarding the public
service with unanimity amongst men not of themselves disposed to
accord;" and although the remark referred primarily to his conduct in
the naval service, it will readily be seen that this aptitude is
nowhere more useful than in the tangled maze of conflicting national
interests. "My line of conduct," he wrote to Hobart, a year after
taking his command, "in obedience to the spirit of his Majesty's
instructions communicated through your Lordship, has been simply
this,--to conciliate all, to protect all from French rapacity. I have
been honoured with your letter of January 7th, and it has given me
most sincere pleasure that my whole conduct in my command here has
been such as to meet his Majesty's approbation." The new Ministry,
upon assuming office, requested him in the most flattering terms to
continue his direct correspondence on political subjects with them, as
with their predecessors.

Yet, while conciliatory, he could at times be curt and arbitrary
enough. Fault was found with the blockade of Genoa on the ground that
it did not comply with the requirements of international law; the
complaint resting, apparently, on the statement that the blockaders
could not be seen from Genoa. Nelson replied that the proof of evident
danger to vessels seeking to enter or leave, rested on the fact that
captures were made; and it is, on the face of it, absurd to say that
there can be no danger to a vessel seeking to enter a blockaded port,
because the blockading vessels are not visible from the latter. Much
more depends upon their number, disposition, and speed. "From my
knowledge of Genoa and its Gulf," said Nelson, "I assert without fear
of contradiction, that the nearer ships cruise to Genoa, the more
certain is the escape of vessels from that port, or their entrance
into it insured. I