n events, and upon my own precarious health;
at the same time, I am doing you an evident injustice, by detaining
you here so long in uncertainty." Este of course expressed his
willingness to remain while needed, but Nelson interrupted him,
saying, "No, _my_ wish is that you should go,--I am anxious that you
should go, and go without further delay. To tell you the truth, I am
not entirely disinterested. Go home; get confirmed in your
appointment, according to my desire, and return to me as soon
afterwards as you can. Should I retain my command in the
Mediterranean, with the powers already conceded to me, I shall require
your assistance." It seems probable that he was anxious to get some
one home as rapidly as possible, to forestall, if time permitted, a
final recall, which the appointment of a successor would be. "Long
before this time," he had written Lady Hamilton, "I expect, another
admiral is far on his way to supersede me. I should for your sake, and
for many of our friends, have liked an odd hundred thousand pounds [by
a Spanish war]; but, never mind. If they give me the choice of staying
a few months longer, it will be very handsome; and, for the sake of
others, we would give up very much of our own felicity."

The despatches and routine papers were got ready rapidly, and placed
in charge of Este, who sailed for Lisbon, in a sloop-of-war, on the
6th of November, furnished with orders to all officials to expedite
him on his way, and particularly to captains not to communicate with
the ship, because the plague, then raging in Gibraltar, would involve
her, if visited, in the delays of quarantine. On the 18th of November,
off Cape St. Vincent, Este met the "Swiftsure," seventy-four, bringing
Orde out. It has been charged that the latter discourteously delayed
to notify Nelson of his taking over part of the station.[78] It
appears, however, from this encounter, that his letter to that
effect, dated the 17th,[79] though headed "off Cadiz," was actually
prepared before he reached his position there. It was forwarded to
Nelson by the "Anson," whose captain was senior officer of the
division till then blockading the port, whom Orde relieved and sent on
with his despatch. The "Anson" joined Nelson on the 15th of December.
The "Swiftsure," which was also destined to his squadron, did not
reach him until the 25th. It seems, therefore, fair to acquit Orde of
a discourtesy as aimless as it would be reprehensible.

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