Nelson’s correspondence is full of remonstrances addressed to the various neutral states—­including even Austria, whose shore-line on the Adriatic was extensive—­for their toleration of these abuses, which rested ultimately upon the fear of Bonaparte.  He has, also, constant explanations to make to his own Government, or to British ministers at the different Courts, of the acts of his cruisers in destroying the depredators within neutral limits, when found red-handed.  He makes no apologies, but stands firmly by his officers, who, when right, could always count upon his support in trouble.  He never left a man in the lurch, or damned him with faint approval.  “The protection afforded the enemy’s privateers and rowboats in the different neutral ports of these seas, so contrary to every known law of neutrality, is extremely destructive of our commerce....  Although their conduct is infamous, yet their doing wrong is no rule why we should.  There is a general principle which I have laid down for the regulation of the officers’ conduct under my command—­which is never to break the neutrality of any port or place; but never to consider as neutral any place from whence an attack is allowed to be made.  It is certainly justifiable to attack any vessel in a place from whence she makes an attack.”  “I very fully approve every part of Captain ——­’s conduct on the above occasion,” he writes to the Admiralty in such a case.

The supplying of convoys, therefore, was ceaseless, for the depredations of the marauders were unending.  “I am pulled to pieces by the demands of merchants for convoys,” Nelson said; and he recognized that it must be so, for he entirely disapproved of even a fast-sailing vessel attempting to make a passage unprotected.  “I wrote to the Admiralty for more cruisers until I was tired,” he told Ball, “and they left off answering those parts of my letters.  The late Admiralty thought I kept too many to the eastward of Sicily; the Smyrna folks complain of me, so do the Adriatic, so they do between Cape de Gatte and Gibraltar.  If I had the vessels, I do assure you not one of them should go prize-hunting:  that I never have done, I am a poorer man than the day I was ordered to the Mediterranean command, by upwards of L1,000; but money I despise except as it is useful, and I expect my prize money is embarked in the Toulon fleet.”  “I am distressed for frigates,” was his continual cry.  “From Cape St. Vincent to the head of the Adriatic I have only eight; which, with the service of watching Toulon, and the necessary frigates with the fleet, are absolutely not one half enough.”  For military duties, “frigates are the eyes of a fleet.  I want ten more than I have in order to watch that the French should not escape me, and ten sloops besides, to do all duties.”  For nine stations which ought to be filled, “I have but two frigates; therefore, my dear Ball, have a little mercy, and do not think I have neglected the protection of the trade of Malta.”  This was written soon after joining the station, and he represents the number as diminishing as time passed.  “It is shameful!” he cries in a moment of intense anxiety.