Nelson took hold of Pahlen’s expression, that he had come “with his whole fleet” to Revel.  Confining himself to that, he pointed out the mistake the minister had made, for he had brought “not one-seventh of his fleet in point of numbers.”  He mentioned also the deference that he had paid to the Revel authorities.  “My conduct, I feel, is so entirely different to what your Excellency has expressed in your letter, that I have only to regret, that my desire to pay a marked attention to His Imperial Majesty has been so entirely misunderstood.  That being the case, I shall sail immediately into the Baltic.”  Retiring thus in good order, if defeated, he had the satisfaction of knowing that it was not his own blunder, but the wretched dilatoriness of his predecessor, that had made the Czar, instead of the British admiral, master of the situation.

Stopping for twenty-four hours at Bornholm on the way down, Nelson on the 24th anchored in Rostock Bay, on the German coast of the Baltic, and there awaited the relief he confidently expected.  He had scarcely arrived when a second letter from Pahlen overtook him.  The minister expressed his regret for any misunderstanding that had arisen as to the purpose of his first visit, and continued, “I cannot give your excellency a more striking proof of the confidence which the Emperor my Master reposes in you, than by announcing the effect produced by your letter of the 16th of this month.  His Imperial Majesty has ordered the immediate raising of the embargo placed upon the English merchant ships.”  Nelson plumed himself greatly upon this result of his diplomacy.  “Our diplomatic men are so slow.  Lord St. Helens told me that he hoped in a month he should be able to tell me something decisive.  Now, what can take two hours I cannot even guess, but Ministers must do something for their diamond boxes.  I gained the unconditional release of our ships, which neither Ministers nor Sir Hyde Parker could accomplish, by showing my fleet.  Then they became alarmed, begged I would go away, or it would be considered as warlike.  On my complying, it pleased the Emperor and his ministers so much, that the whole of the British shipping were given up.”  There is nothing like the point of view; but it must be admitted that Nelson extricated himself from an unpleasant position with great good temper and sound judgment.

He remained in his flagship between Rostock and Kioge Bay, until relieved by Vice-Admiral Pole on the 19th of June.  Nothing of official importance occurred during these three weeks; for the naval part of the Baltic entanglement was ended, as he had foreseen.  A pleasant picture of his daily life on board the “St. George” at this time has been preserved for us by Colonel Stewart:  “His hour of rising was four or five o’clock, and of going to rest about ten; breakfast was never later than six, and generally nearer to five o’clock.  A midshipman or two were always of the party; and I have known him send during the middle watch[36]