e habit of writing
on service was almost incredible, were by no means Sir Edward's heaviest
charge. Perhaps there was no ambassador on whom a greater diplomatic
responsibility was imposed than on the commander in the Mediterranean.
It formed by much the largest and most anxious portion of Collingwood's
duties, and the greatness of the trust, the impossibility of confiding
it to another than the commander on the station, and the uncommon
ability with which Collingwood sustained it, gave the British Government
much uneasiness when the state of that officer's health threatened to
deprive them of his services. It increased materially in extent and
importance after Sir Edward had succeeded to the command, when the
reverses of the French in Russia opened a prospect of deliverance to all
the states along the shores of the Mediterranean, including the southern
provinces of France itself. Sir Edward exerted himself unceasingly to
prepare them for this consummation, and to encourage them to seize the
first opportunity to effect it; and the judgment he displayed in these
services obtained from a British Cabinet minister the declaration, that
"great as he may be as a sea-officer, he is still greater as a
statesman."

One professional distinction was yet wanting, and this he anxiously
desired, as a means of hastening an honourable peace, and on personal
grounds, perhaps, to connect his name with the history of his
country--to command in a general action. Though the enemy had shrunk
from meeting him, as he expected when he first assumed the command, yet,
while they continued to build ships of the largest class, and to keep
their fleet always ready for sea, he could not but hope that they only
waited for a favourable opportunity to try the fortune of their flag. At
the end of 1811 there were sixteen sail of the line in Toulon. Two
others were launched next year, and by the close of 1813 there were
twenty-two, of which six were three-deckers of the largest size. Sir
Edward gave them every opportunity, and every prudent advantage, but he
never could induce them to attack him. They had been forbidden to
engage, and the Emperor had hitherto seen nothing to induce him to
recall the order. Thus, though they were kept in a state of high
equipment through the whole period of Sir Edward's command, they never
ventured far beyond the protection of the batteries; and came out only
when they had a leading wind to return.

The restoration of his