Nelson resented to the end this giving to a junior naval officer, by a side-wind, an authoritative position in diplomatic affairs, which, on the naval side, properly belonged to him.  “Sir Sidney should recollect,” he told Earl Spencer, meaning doubtless that the latter also should recollect, “how I must feel in seeing him placed in the situation which I thought naturally would fall to me.”  It was a singular step on the part of the Government, justified neither by general practice, nor by particular ability on the part of the person chosen; and all Nelson’s care and decision were insufficient to prevent the consequent evil, although he was perfectly clear in his intimation to “Your Excellency,” the joint ministers, that they should “upon all occasions, arrange plans of operations with me,” and not with Captain Sir Sidney Smith.  Smith was active and fought well; but, as far as he dared, he did as he pleased in virtue of his diplomatic commission, looked only to the interests of his own small part of the field, and, as will appear later, flatly disobeyed both the spirit and the letter of Nelson’s orders, as well as the Government’s purpose, concerning the French army in Egypt.  The general sound judgment and diplomatic ability of Nelson, who was thus superseded, had on the other hand been fully recognized—­formally by the Government, explicitly by St. Vincent and Minto, both of whom had personal experience of his conduct in such matters.  “What relates to co-operation with the armies of the allied powers cannot be in better hands than yours,” wrote the former.  “You are as great in the cabinet as on the ocean, and your whole conduct fills me with admiration and confidence.”  “There is one other point of excellence,” said Minto in the House of Peers, “to which I must say a single word, because I am, perhaps, the man in the world who has had the best opportunity of being acquainted with it.  The world knows that Lord Nelson can fight the battles of his country:  but a constant and confidential correspondence with this great man, for a considerable portion of time, has taught me, that he is not less capable of providing for its political interests and honour, on occasions of great delicacy and embarrassment.  In that new capacity I have witnessed a degree of ability, judgment, temper, and conciliation, not always allied to the sort of spirit which without an instant’s hesitation can attack the whole Spanish line with his single ship.”  Of Nelson’s superior fitness in this respect, the unfortunate choice of Sidney Smith for his anomalous position was to furnish the Government an additional proof.