“I can assure your majesty, that ships in higher order cannot be, than those under his command; and the little disturbance which has arose in this place has not been owing to any want of attention from your majesty’s admiral.

“Cadir Bey is with me every day; and a better man does not live in the world, or a better officer.  He is my brother; and I am, in the truest sense of the words, your majesty’s attached and faithful servant,

     “Bronte Nelson.”

     “To his Imperial Majesty, the Grand Signior.”

His lordship, in writing to Earl Spencer, a few days before, thus states the difference between the Russian and Turkish commanders in chief.  “The Russian admiral,” says he, “has a polished outside, but the bear is close to the skin:  he is jealous of our influence; and thinks, whatever is proposed, that we are at the bottom.  The Turk, who is by no means a fool, on the contrary, has more natural sense than the other; is our brother; and, I am sure, there is not a thing that we could desire him to do, which he would not instantly comply with.  I make use of the word we,” adds his lordship; “because Sir William and Lady Hamilton have more merit in gaining the affection and implicit confidence of Cadir Bey, and his officers, than I have.”

On the 12th, Lord Nelson writes to Rear-Admiral Duckworth—­“The Russian admiral has told me, his ships cannot keep the sea in winter; and I see no desire to go to sea in summer.”  Then, mentioning the state of some of the ships at Minorca, reported to be unfit for active service, his lordship says—­“To keep them lying at Mahon, appears to me to be a waste of public money.  My mind,” proceeds this great and most considerate commander, “is fixed, that I will not keep one ship in the Mediterranean, that is not fit for any service during the winter; those half fit, drain us of all the stores, and render us all useless:  you have acted on this principle, in sending the Aurora and Dolphin; and it is my particular desire, that you continue it.  I beg you will write to the Admiralty, of my intentions to keep no ships but what are fit for service in the Mediterranean; and, I am sure, the king will save by the measure being adopted on stations so near England.  I am aware of the argument, which may be used against my plan; viz. our seamen get no good by going to England:  to which, I perfectly agree.  But, the ships left here with me are beyond all common refit; nor can they be furnished with stores, not having any foundation to be kept up:  and what would be an ample supply to keep up a squadron, is really nothing in our situation.”