Of his own disappointment, at not having obtained higher rank, he writes nothing to his commander in chief; but, among his most intimate friends, he is known to have freely expressed his grief and indignation at receiving the title of baron only.  Had they left him as he was, he has been heard repeatedly to say, he would not have complained; but, he thought, his services merited more than a barony.  It would, perhaps, be difficult to find any substantial objection against his having been made, at least, a viscount; which would still have left the commander in chief his superior in rank.  Indeed, on such peculiarly great and glorious occasions, there need be little dread respecting precedents.  No minister would have been impeached, who had even advised his being created a duke; and, most assuredly, the country would have rejoiced at his merited elevation to that dignity.  Why should not the navy possess honours equal to those of a military Marlborough? and, when do we expect to behold the hero on whom they may with more propriety be bestowed?

It is a positive fact, that Lord Nelson would never wear his own gold medal, till he had obtained one for his friend Captain Troubridge; who, by the strictness of official etiquette, without any actual blame in administration, had been at first excluded.

The following laconic epistle to Captain Troubridge, at Leghorn, exhibits a true sailor’s letter.

     “Naples, Dec. 10th 1798.

     “MY DEAR TROUBRIDGE,

“I have just received Mr. Windham’s letter of November 30th, and find it is settled that all the cargoes of the Genoese ships should be landed; and all the French privateers disarmed, and their crews sent away.  So far, I am content.  Money is not our object; but to distress the common enemy.  I hope, if you liked it, you visited the Grand Duke, in my stead; I could not have been better represented—­the copy is a damned deal better than the original.

     “Nelson.”

     “Duckworth has a captain under him; John Dixon, from England, is
     Post Captain; and Mr. Grey arrived.”

At the same time, he wrote to his Excellency the Honourable Mr. Windham, apologizing for not having himself accepted his Royal Highness the Grand Duke’s invitation to visit him at Pisa.  “I have,” says he, “to request that you will present my most profound acknowledgments to his Royal Highness.  I was under a sacred promise, to return here as expeditiously as possible; and not to quit the Queen and Royal Family of Naples, without her majesty’s approbation.  This will plead my cause for quitting Leghorn so expeditiously.”

Another letter, written to Mr. Windham this day, is too interesting to be omitted.  It presents his opinion of the patriotic character of Mr. Windham, the disinterestedness of his own, and the wretched pusillanimity of the Neapolitan officers.

     Naples, 10th Dec. 1798.

     “MY DEAR SIR,