were conducted, now transmitted to him, through the lord-mayor, their public thanks, voted on the 9th of April 1804, for his skill and perseverance in blockading the port of Toulon, so as to prevent the enemy’s fleet in that quarter from putting to sea.  This panegyric, however intended, was not at all relished by his lordship, who had never approved of the blockading system.  “Praise undeserved,” the hero probably thought, as well as the poet, “is censure most severe.”  Under some such impression, therefore, instantly on receiving the lord-mayor’s letter, which unfortunately arrived the famous 1st of August, he wrote the following animated answer; spiritedly declining any acceptance of thanks from his fellow-citizens, in which his own services seemed so imperfectly recognized, and from which his brave coadjutors were unjustly excluded.

     “Victory, August 1, 1804.

     “MY LORD,

“This day, I am honoured with your lordship’s letter of April 9th; transmitting me the resolutions of the corporation of London, thanking me as commanding the fleet blockading Toulon.  I do assure your lordship, that there is not that man breathing, who sets a higher value upon the thanks of his fellow-citizens of London than myself; but I should feel as much ashamed to receive them, for a particular service marked in the resolution, if I felt that I did not come within that line of service, as I should feel hurt at having a great victory passed over without notice.

“I beg to inform your lordship, that the port of Toulon has never been blockaded by me; quite the reverse.  Every opportunity has been offered the enemy to put to sea:  for, it is there that we hope to realize the hopes and expectations of our country; and, I trust that they will not be disappointed.

“Your lordship will judge of my feelings, upon seeing that all the junior flag-officers of other fleets, and even some of the captains, have received the thanks of the corporation of London, whilst the junior flag-officers of the Mediterranean fleet are entirely omitted.  I own, that it has struck me very forcibly; for, where the information of the junior flag-officers and captains of other fleets was obtained, the same information could have been given of the flag-officers of this fleet and the captains; and it was my duty to state, that more able and zealous flag-officers and captains do not grace the British navy, than those I have the honour and happiness to command.  It likewise appears, my lord, a most extraordinary circumstance, that Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton should have been, as second in command in the Mediterranean fleet, twice passed over by the corporation of London:  once, after the Egyptian expedition, when the first and third in command were thanked; and, now, again.  Consciousness of high desert, instead of neglect, made the rear-admiral resolve to let the matter rest, until he could have an opportunity