however, that he does not intend to allow his functions to lapse into a mere official primacy,—­that he will rule, as well as reign.  “Duty, not inclination, brought me to North America.  I came to interfere in the American War, to command by sea in it, and to do my best endeavours towards the putting an end thereto.  I knew the dignity of my own rank entitled me to take the supreme command, which I ever shall do on every station where His Majesty’s and the public service may make it necessary for me to go, unless I meet a superior officer, in which case it will be my duty to obey his orders.”  He then proceeds to exercise his authority, by explicit directions and some criticism of existing arrangements.

Afterwards, in submitting the papers to the Admiralty, Rodney wrote, “I am ashamed to mention what appears to me the real cause, and from whence Mr. Arbuthnot’s chagrin proceeds, but the proofs are so plain that prize-money is the occasion that I am under the necessity of transmitting them.  I can solemnly assure their Lordships that I had not the least conception of any other prize-money on the coast of America but that which would be most honourably obtained by the destruction of the enemy’s ships of war and privateers—­but when prize-money appeared predominant in the mind of my brother officer, I was determined to have my share of that bounty so graciously bestowed by His Majesty and the public.”  Nelson’s retort to Arbuthnot’s successor, two years later, may be recalled.  “You have come to a good station for prize-money.”  “Yes, but the West Indies is the station for honour.”

The visit to continental waters was on this occasion productive of little result.  Contrary alike to Rodney’s anticipations and those of Washington, De Guichen’s whole fleet had returned to Europe.  Some slight redistribution of cruisers, the more frequent capture of privateers, with increased security to the trade of New York and incidental support to some rather predatory land operations, were all that Rodney could show of tangible consequence from his presence.  Arbuthnot alone was superior to Ternay if neither received reinforcements.  Rodney’s health felt the keener atmosphere, so that he had to go ashore in New York, and he accepted the views of Arbuthnot as to the strength of the French fleet’s position in Newport, without examining it himself.  Had he done so, however, it is unlikely that he would have formed more strenuous purposes.  The disposition of the enemy’s squadron there was so imposing that only the genius of a Nelson, mindful as at Revel of the moral influence of a great blow at a critical period of the war, could have risen to the necessity of daring such a hazard.  His phrase was there applicable, “Desperate affairs require desperate remedies.”  There is no indication of this supreme element in Rodney’s composition.  It is interesting to note, however, that personal observation had given conviction of success at Newport to the officer who was afterwards Nelson’s gallant second at Copenhagen,—­Sir Thomas Graves.