d his hopes that Spain might resume her natural rank among the nations。 〃We ought；〃 he said； 〃by mutual consent； to be the very best friends； and both to be ever hostile to France。〃 But he saw that Buonaparte was meditating the destruction of Spain； and that； while the wretched court of Madrid professed to remain neutral； the appearances of neutrality were scarcely preserved； An order of the year 1771； excluding British ships of war from the Spanish ports； was revived； and put in force： while French privateers； from these very ports； annoyed the British trade； carried their prizes in； and sold them even at Barcelona。 Nelson complained of this to the captain…general of Catalonia； informing him that he claimed； for every British ship or squadron； the right of lying； as long as it pleased； in the ports of Spain； while that right was allowed to other powers。 To the British Ambassador he said： 〃I am ready to make large allowances for the miserable situation Spain has placed herself in； but there is a certain line； beyond which I cannot submit to be treated with disrespect。 We have given up French vessels taken within gunshot of the Spanish shore； and yet French vessels are permitted to attack our ships from the Spanish shore。 Your excellency may assure the Spanish government that； in whatever place the Spaniards allow the French to attack us； in that place I shall order the French to be attacked。〃
During this state of things； to which the weakness of Spain； and not her will； consented； the enemy's fleet did not venture to put to sea。 Nelson watched it with unremitting and almost unexampled perseverance。 The station off Toulon he called his home。 〃We are in the right fighting trim；〃 said he： 〃let them come as soon as they please。 I never saw a fleet altogether so well officered and manned； would to God the ships were half as good！ The finest ones in the service would soon be destroyed by such terrible weather。 I know well enough that if I were to go into Malta I should save the ships during this bad season； but if I am to watch the French I must be at sea； and if at sea； must have bad weather； and if the ships are not fit to stand bad weather； they are useless。〃 Then only he was satisfied and at ease when he had the enemy in view。 Mr。 Elliot； our minister at Naples； seems at this time to have proposed to send a confidential Frenchman to him with information。 〃I should be very happy；〃 he replied； 〃to receive authentic intelligence of the destination of the French squadron； their route； and time of sailing。 Anything short of this is useless； and I assure your excellency； that I would not upon any consideration have a Frenchman in the fleet； except as a prisoner。 I put no confidence in them。 You think yours good； the queen thinks the same； I believe they are all alike。 Whatever information you can get me I shall be very thankful for； but not a Frenchman comes here。 Forgive me； but my mother hated the French。〃
M。 Latouche Treville； who had commanded at Boulogne； commanded now at Toulon。 〃He was sent for on purpose；〃 said Nelson； 〃as he BEAT ME at Boulogne； to beat me again； but he seems very loath to try。〃 One day； while the main body of our fleet was out of sight of land； Rear…Admiral Campbell； reconnoitring with the CANOPUS； DONEGAL； and AMAZON； stood in close to the port； and M。 Latouche； taking advantage of a breeze which sprung up； pushed out with four ships of the line and three heavy frigates； and chased him about four leagues。 The Frenchman； delighted at having found himself in so novel a situation； published a boastful account； affirming that he had given chase to the whole British fleet； and that Nelson had fled before him！ Nelson thought it due to the Admiralty to send home a copy of the VICTORY's log upon this occasion。 〃As for himself；〃 he said； 〃if his character was not established by that time for not being apt to run away； it was not worth his while to put the world right。〃〃If this fleet gets fairly up with M。 Latouche；〃 said he to one of his correspondents； 〃his letter； with all his ingenuity； must be different from his last。 We had fancied that we chased him into Toulon； for； blind as I am； I could see his water line； when he clued his topsails up； shutting in Sepet。 But from the time of his meeting Captain Hawker in the ISIS； I never heard of his acting otherwise than as a poltroon and a liar。 Contempt is the best mode of treating such a miscreant。〃 In spite； however； of contempt； the impudence of this Frenchman half angered him。 He said to his brother： 〃You will have seen Latouche's letter； how he chased me and how I ran。 I keep it； and if I take him； by God he shall eat it。〃
Nelson； who used to say； that in sea affairs nothing is impossible； and nothing improbable； feared the more that this Frenchman might get out and elude his vigilance； because he was so especially desirous of catching him； and administering to him his own lying letter in a sandwich。 M。 Latouche； however； escaped him in another way。 He died； according to the French papers； in consequence of walking so often up to the signal…post upon Sepet； to watch the British fleet。 〃I always pronounced that would be his death；〃 said Nelson。 〃If he had come out and fought me； it would at least have added ten years to my life。〃 The patience with which he had watched Toulon； he spoke of； truly； as a perseverance at sea which had never been surpassed。 From May； 1803； to August； 1805； he himself went out of his ship but three times； each of those times was upon the king's service； and neither time of absence exceeded an hour。 In 1804 the SWIFT cutter going out with despatches was taken； and all the despatches and letters fell into the hands of the enemy。 〃A very pretty piece of work；〃 says Nelson； 〃I am not surprised at the capture； but am very much so that any despatches should be sent in a vessel with twenty…three men； not equal to cope with any row…boat privateer。 The loss of the HINDOSTAN was great enough； but for importance it is lost in comparison to the probable knowledge the enemy will obtain of our connexions with foreign countries。 Foreigners for ever say； and it is true； we dare not trust England： one way or other we are sure to be committed。〃 In a subsequent letter he says； speaking of the same capture： 〃I find； my dearest Emma； that your picture is very much admired by the French Consul at Barcelona； and that he has not sent it to be admired； which I am sure it would be； by Buonaparte。 They pretend that there were three pictures taken。 I wish I had them； but they are all gone as irretrievably as the despatches； unless we may read them in a book； as we printed their correspondence from Egypt。 But from us what can they find out？ That I love you most dearly； and hate the French most damnably。 Dr。 Scott went to Barcelona to try to get the private letters； but I fancy they are all gone to Paris。 The Swedish and American Consuls told him that the French Consul had your picture and read your letters； and the Doctor thinks one of them； probably； read the letters。 By the master's account of the cutter； I would not have trusted an old pair of shoes in her。 He tells me she did not sail； but was a good sea…boat。 I hope Mr。 Marsden will not trust any more of my private letters in such a conveyance： if they choose to trust the affairs of the public in such a thing； I cannot help it。〃
While he was on this station； the weather had been so unusually severe that he said the Mediterranean seemed altered。 It was his rule never to contend with the gales； but either run to the southward to escape their violence； or furl all the sails； and make the ships as easy as possible。 The men； though he said flesh and blood could hardly stand it； continued in excellent health； which he ascribed； in great measure； to a plentiful supply of lemons and onions。 For himself； he thought he could only last till the battle was over。 One battle more it was his hope that he might fight。 〃However；〃 said he； 〃whatever happens； I have run a glorious race。〃 〃A few months〃 rest；〃 he says； 〃I must have very soon。 If I am in my grave； what are the mines of Peru to me？ But to say the truth； I have no idea of killing myself。 I may； with care； live yet to do good service to the state。 My cough is very bad； and my side； where I was struck on the 14th of February； is very much swelled： at times a lump as large as my fist； brought on occasionally by violent coughing。 But I hope and believe my lungs are yet safe。〃 He was afraid of blindness and this was the only evil which he could not contemplate without unhappiness。 More alarming symptoms he regarded with less apprehension； describing his own 〃shattered carcass〃 as in the worst plight of any in the fleet； and he says；〃I have felt the blood gushing up the left side of my head； and； the moment it covers the brain； I am fast asleep。〃 The fleet was in worse trim than the men； but when he compared it with the enemy's； it was with a right English feeling。 〃The French fleet yesterday；〃 said he； in one of his letters； 〃was to appearance in high feather； and as fine as paint could make them； but when they may sail； or where they may go； I am very sorry to say is a secret I am not acquainted with。 Our weather…beaten ships； I have no fear； will make their sides like a