Frequent stories also reach him of projects to invade and seize Sardinia.  Vessels are fitting for that purpose, now at Marseilles, now at Villefranche; now the expedition is to come from Corsica only.  “A light linen jacket, trowsers, red cap, and a pair of shoes, is the whole expense of Government; the plunder of the Sardinian Anglo-Sardes is held out as the reward.”  To prevent it he seeks the authority of his Government and of the King of Sardinia to garrison Madalena.  The straits of Bonifacio are but ten miles wide; it is impossible therefore for a cruiser to prevent boats passing.  If the attempt is made, no scruples about the neutrality of Sardinia shall tie his hands.  “I have directed the frigates to pursue them, even should they chase into Sardinia, and to take or destroy them, and also the Corsican troops; for if I wait till the island is taken I should feel deserving of reprobation.  Of course, they will say we have broken the neutrality, if we attack them in the ports of Sardinia before their conquest, and if we do not I shall be laughed at for a fool. Prevention is better than cure.”  With his usual long-headed circumspection, however, even when most bent on an extreme step, he warns the Prime Minister, to whom he is writing, to mention his purpose to the Russian ambassador—­that the latter may understand the apparent breach of neutrality; for Russia has constituted herself a champion of the Sardinian monarch.  “I mention my intention that idle reports may not be attended to.”

As the winter of 1803-4 approached, and it became evident that Spain was to persevere in her neutrality, Nelson removed his fleet to a rendezvous about thirty miles south of Cape San Sebastian, on the Spanish coast—­the Number 97 continually mentioned in his official letters to captains.  There the highlands of Spain afford some shelter from the furious northerly gales, which, sweeping over France from the Atlantic, are compressed as in a funnel between the Pyrenees and the Alps, to fall with redoubled violence on the Gulf of Lyons.  Only the utmost care and the most skilful seamanship could preserve the rickety ships, upon whose efficiency so much depended, and which, if damaged, there was none to replace.  I “bear up for every gale,” wrote Nelson.  “I must not in our present state quarrel with the northwesters—­with crazy masts and no port or spars near us.”  Even in September, he writes, there are “three days’ gale of severe blowing weather out of the seven, which frequently comes on suddenly, and thereby exposes the topmasts, topsail yards and sails, to great hazard, under every care and attention; and there are no topmasts or topsail yards in store, either at Gibraltar or Malta.”  “The French fleet keep us waiting; and such a place as all the Gulf of Lyons, for gales of wind from the N.W. to N.E., I never saw; but by always going away large, we generally lose much of their force and the heavy sea.  By the great care and attention of every captain, we have