In confirmation of this general forecast, we are told by Dr. Scott that, when the admiral left England before Trafalgar, arrangements had been made with the Foreign Office for Este with six clerks to be attached to the flagship, to conduct the diplomatic correspondence.  The fact is doubly interesting.  It shows, on the one hand, the accuracy of Nelson’s foresight as to the vast importance the Mediterranean was about to assume, to meet which he thus was making provision in a general way; although neither he nor any other man could have anticipated the extraordinary, complicated snarl of the political threads in Napoleon’s later years.  The cares from these, it may be said in passing, were by Nelson’s death devolved upon Collingwood; who, though a strong man, was killed by them, through general debility resulting from confinement, and through organic injury produced by bending over his desk.  On the other hand, it cannot but be grateful to those who admire the hero, to see that Nelson looked forward to no inglorious ease, but to a life of strenuous work, as well as, if it might be so, of military honor.  Had he lived, we may hope, the days after Trafalgar would not have been the grave of his renown.

On the first of November his decision was taken.  He sent for Este and said, “Oh, my good fellow!  I have abandoned the idea of going to England, at present.  I shall not go yet, and when I may go is quite uncertain—­must depend upon events, and upon my own precarious health; at the same time, I am doing you an evident injustice, by detaining you here so long in uncertainty.”  Este of course expressed his willingness to remain while needed, but Nelson interrupted him, saying, “No, my wish is that you should go,—­I am anxious that you should go, and go without further delay.  To tell you the truth, I am not entirely disinterested.  Go home; get confirmed in your appointment, according to my desire, and return to me as soon afterwards as you can.  Should I retain my command in the Mediterranean, with the powers already conceded to me, I shall require your assistance.”  It seems probable that he was anxious to get some one home as rapidly as possible, to forestall, if time permitted, a final recall, which the appointment of a successor would be.  “Long before this time,” he had written Lady Hamilton, “I expect, another admiral is far on his way to supersede me.  I should for your sake, and for many of our friends, have liked an odd hundred thousand pounds [by a Spanish war]; but, never mind.  If they give me the choice of staying a few months longer, it will be very handsome; and, for the sake of others, we would give up very much of our own felicity.”