be seized would be six or seven millions sterling.  Think what that sum would be, “thrown into circulation in England!” where specie payments had just been suspended.  It was nearly a year’s value of the subsidies which Great Britain was lavishing on the general war.  Whatever the merits of Nelson’s judgment upon the soldiers of his day, this avowal of readiness, for the nation’s sake, to risk fame—­reputation—­which was in his eyes the dearest of possessions, should not be overlooked.  It was the best he had to give; to hazard life was but a vulgar thing compared to it.  His career, both before and after, fully bore out the boast.

While on the return with the Elba troops, in a despatch sent ahead of the convoy, he jogs Jervis’s memory about O’Hara, having doubtless ascertained that De Burgh, as they expected, would not deviate from his orders to proceed to Lisbon.  “I hope you will press General O’Hara about Teneriffe.  What a strike it would be!” In a copy of this letter forwarded to the Admiralty, presumably by Jervis for its general information, these words were omitted.  Possibly he had already sounded O’Hara, and found him unwilling, for he was not optimistic; possibly Jervis himself thought that the fitting conditions had not yet obtained, and did not care to let the idea get abroad before the hour for execution arrived.  For the time, the commander-in-chief preferred to keep his fleet concentrated before Cadiz, and to try to worry the enemy out to battle; for which object, indisputably the most advantageous to be pursued, he also naturally wished to use his most active and efficient subordinate.  Both blockade and bombardment having failed to provoke the enemy to action, and intelligence having been received that a treasure-ship from Manila had put into Teneriffe, it was decided in July to make the attempt, which had only been postponed—­never abandoned.  In words written by Nelson on the 18th of June, the conditions determining Jervis’s course are clearly indicated.  “I wish these fellows would come out, and then, with the good ships we have left [after a general engagement], we might be a little at liberty to make dashes.  I hope your design about Teneriffe will not get wind, by making inquiries at the present moment.  Whenever I see it,” he added characteristically, “ten hours shall decide its fate.”  Although unable to obtain the troops upon which he considered certainty to depend, he felt little fear for the result.  Two hundred additional marines must be given, and certain specified artillery and ammunition in excess of what he had.  With these, “I have no doubt of doing the job as it ought to be, the moment the ships come in sight.”  “Under General Troubridge ashore, and myself afloat, I am confident of success.”

[Illustration:  SKETCH OF SANTA CRUZ AND SURROUNDINGS. (From Nelson’s Journal.)]