I was yesterday honoured with your excellency’s very handsome and flattering letter of the 9th, conveying to me their Sicilian Majesties congratulations on the victory obtained by my royal master’s fleet over the enemy.  I have to request, that your excellency will have the goodness to assure their majesties, that I am penetrated with their condescension in noticing this battle; which, I most fervently pray, may add security to their majesties throne, and peace and happiness to all mankind.  The hand of God was visibly pressed upon the French; and, I hope, there is not a person in the British fleet, who does not attribute this great victory to the blessing of the Almighty on our exertions in a just cause.  With every sentiment of respect, believe, me, your excellency’s most obedient,

     “Horatio Nelson.” 
     “Sir John Acton, Bart.”

On the 16th, being off Strombolo, he inclosed General Acton’s letter, which contained some state secrets of importance, in a private letter to Earl Spencer.  The Portuguese, he observes, having been got, with no small difficulty, from Naples, went to Egypt; where, however, they would neither stay, nor give our ships water, which was all Captain Hood requested.  Having watched for them off Messina, he had now sent them to Malta; but hoped that his lordship would not build hope on their exertions.  “The moment,” says he, “I can get ships, all aid shall be given the Maltese.  What would I give for four bomb-ships! all the French armament would long since have been destroyed.  Pray, if the service will admit of it, let me have them:  I will only say, I shall endeavour to make a proper use of them.”

He complains, also, in this letter, of the uncertainty of our situation with regard to Genoa; which, he says, has been at war with us during the two past years.  Even at this period of our hero’s glory, he seems to have been suffering under what he considered as legal persecution; and animadverts, with much severity, on the conduct of the Judge of the Admiralty.

“He has cited me to appear before him,” complains the indignant hero, “and shew cause why I seized a Genoese ship; the accounts of which I long ago sent to the board of Admiralty, for the sale of her cargo, and which I have long wanted to be taken out of my hands.  The ship was liberated, when our troops evacuated Porto Ferrajio.  The seas are covered with Genoese ships; but the Judge of the Admiralty’s conduct has, to me, so repeatedly militated against my duty in the service of my king and country, that I dare not do my duty.  I have already been half ruined by him; and condemned, without knowing I was before him.  The treasury, it is true, paid part of the expence, but that does not make the judge’s conduct less grievous.”  In all this, there is much to regret; but the judge could scarcely entertain the smallest personal prejudice against our hero, though he might appear too favourable to the frauds of neutral powers