Such a decision may seem superficially a commonplace matter of course; that it was much more is a commonplace historical certainty.  The merit of Rodney’s action appears not only in the details of execution, but in its being undertaken at all; and in this case, as in a later instance in his career, his resolution received the concrete emphasis that a sharp and immediate contrast best affords.  Prior to the enemy’s arrival he had laid the conditions before his colleague in service, General Moncton, commanding the forces on shore, and asked a reinforcement of troops for destitute Jamaica, if necessity arose.  The result is best told in his own words; for they convey, simply and without egotistic enlargement, that settled personal characteristic, the want of which Jervis and Nelson in their day noted in many, and which Rodney markedly possessed.  This was the capacity, which Sandwich eighteen years later styled “taking the great line of considering the King’s whole dominions under your care;” an attribute far from common, as Moncton’s reply showed.  “I acquainted him that I should certainly assist them with all the naval force that could possibly be spared from the immediate protection of His Majesty’s Caribbee islands.  I have again solicited the General for a body of troops, since the enemy left these seas, and must do him the justice to say, that he seems much concerned at the present distress of Jamaica, but does not think himself sufficiently authorized to detach a body of troops without orders from England.  I flatter myself their Lordships will not be displeased with me if I take the liberty to construe my instructions in such a manner as to think myself authorized and obliged to succor any of His Majesty’s colonies that may be in danger; and shall, therefore, without a moment’s loss of time, hasten to the succor of Jamaica, with ten sail-of-the-line, three frigates and three bombs."[8]

It was not because, in so doing this, the obligation was absolute, and the authority indisputable, that Rodney’s course was professionally meritorious.  In such case his action would have risen little above that obedience to orders, in which, as Nelson said, the generality find “all perfection.”  The risk was real, not only to his station, but to the possible plans of his superiors at home; the authority was his own only, read by himself into his orders—­at most their spirit, not their letter.  Consequently, he took grave chance of the penalty—­loss of reputation, if not positive punishment,—­which, as military experience shows, almost invariably follows independent action, unless results are kind enough to justify it.  It is, however, only the positive characters capable of rising to such measures that achieve reputations enduring beyond their own day.  The incident needs to be coupled with Sandwich’s compliment just quoted, as well as with the one paid him when on the Newfoundland command.  Taken together, they avouch a personality that needs only opportunity to insure itself lasting fame.