ved to man the ship, it must be
Friday night, or Saturday morning, before she can sail for Torbay.
Direct my letters, now, to Brixham.

My eye is very bad. I have had the physician of the fleet to examine
it.

He has directed me not to write, (and yet I am forced, this day,
to write Lord Spencer, St. Vincent, Davison about my law-suit,
Troubridge, Mr. Locker, &c. but you are the only female I write to;)
not to eat any thing but the most simple food; not to touch wine or
porter; to sit in a dark room; to have green shades for my eyes--(will
you, my dear friend, make me one or two? Nobody else shall;)--and to
bathe them in cold water every hour. I fear, it is the writing has
brought on this complaint. My eye is like blood; and the film so
extended, that I only see from the corner farthest from my nose. What
a fuss about my complaints! But, being so far from my sincere friends,
I have leisure to brood over them.

I have this moment seen Mrs. Thomson's friend. Poor fellow! he seems
very uneasy and melancholy. He begs you to be kind to her; and I have
assured him of your readiness to relieve the dear good woman: and
believe me, for ever, my dear Lady, your faithful, attached, and
affectionate,

NELSON & BRONTE.

I will try and write the Duke a line. My brother intended to have gone
off to-morrow afternoon; but this half order may stop him.

LETTER IX.

San Josef, February 8th, 1801.

MY DEAR LADY,

Mr. Davison demands the privilege of carrying back an answer to your
kind letter; and, I am sure, he will be very punctual in the delivery.

I am not in very good spirits; and, except that our country demands
all our services and abilities, to bring about an honourable peace,
nothing should prevent my being the bearer of my own letter. But, my
dear friend, I know you are so true and loyal an Englishwoman, that
you would hate those who would not stand forth in defence of our King,
laws, religion, and all that is dear to us.

It is your sex that make us go forth; and seem to tell us--"None but
the brave deserve the fair!" and, if we fall, we still live in the
hearts of those females. You are dear to us. It is your sex that
rewards us; it is your sex who cherish our memories; and you, my dear,
honoured friend, are, believe me, the _first_, the best, of your sex.

I have been the world around, and in every corner of it, and never yet
saw your equal, or even one which could be put in comparison with you.
Yo