had entered into my plans
to make war upon the King of Naples, I should have done it on the
entrance of the first Russian in Corfu, but I wish for peace with
Naples, with Europe entire, with England even." Napoleon's wishes for
peace, except on the condition of having his own way, are scarcely to
be taken seriously; but his care to keep things quiet in the South
corroborates the other indications of his firm purpose to invade
England. He was too astute to precipitate troubles elsewhere while
that was pending. The appearance of the Russians in Corfu, although
unwise in Nelson's view, relieved his fears for the islands and the
Morea, and enabled him to reduce a little his detachment about the
heel of Italy.

Towards the middle of December Nelson had received information, which
was substantially correct, "from various places, and amongst others,
from the King of Sardinia [then in Gaeta], that the French were
assembling troops near Toulon, and had taken some of the best troops
and a corps of cavalry from the Riviera of Genoa. Every seaman was
pressed and sent to Toulon. On the 16th the Active spoke a vessel from
Marseilles, who reported that seven thousand troops had embarked on
board the French fleet."

It was in Madalena Roads that the long-expected summons came at last.
In the afternoon of January 19, 1805, blowing a heavy gale of wind
from the northwest, the two lookout frigates from off Toulon came in
sight, with the signal flying that the French fleet was at sea. At 3
P.M. they anchored near the "Victory." Three hours later Nelson had
left Madalena forever.

FOOTNOTES:

[59] This sentence refers to the governor; not to Villettes, as the
construction might indicate.

[60] Unfit for sea, and kept at Naples for political reasons.

[61] The Honourable Mr. Waldegrave, afterwards Admiral Lord Eadstock.

[62] Five French ships-of-the-line, returning from the West Indies, had
taken refuge in Ferrol.

[63] Life of Rev. A.J. Scott, p. 124.

[64] Phillimore's Last of Nelson's Captains, p. 122. A portion of this
incident has before been quoted, in another connection (vol. i. p. 355,
note). It is repeated, because again applicable, to illustrate a different
trait of Nelson's character.

[65] The letter of this gentleman, Dr. Gillespie, from which a quotation
has already been made, was published in the London "Times" of October 6,
1894.

[66] This incidental remark may be noted, as bearing upon the statement,
now r