seamen as are with him, and were employed at Bastia, the sense that is
entertained of their spirited and meritorious conduct.
This, too, which is merely an official letter, has been magnified, by
those who clearly know nothing about the matter, into an additional
honour conferred on Captain Nelson, and said to have been highly
flattering to his feelings.
How his feelings were in reality affected at this period, the reader
will presently have an opportunity of knowing from much better
authority.
In the mean time, Lord Hood sent duplicates of his former dispatches to
the Admiralty, dated on board the Victory, off Calvi, August 9, 1794. He
herewith transmits a continuation of Captain Nelson's Journal, from the
28th of July, to the 8th of August: also, the copy of a letter which he
had received from Captain Nelson, highly creditable to Lieutenant
Harrison, a transport agent; as well as to Mr. William Harrington,
master of the Willington, and the transports men; who were all anxiously
eager to serve on shore, or on board his majesty's ships, mentions
having taken possession of the Melpomene and Mignonne frigates: the
former, one of the finest ever built in France, carrying forty guns; the
other, only thirty-two. Captain Cunningham, charged with these
dispatches, who had been three months cruizing off Calvi, with infinite
diligence, and perseverance, under many difficulties, is recommended as
an officer of great merit, and highly deserving any favour that can be
shewn him.
Without wishing to detract from the merits of Captain Cunningham, it may
certainly be contended that he had not, during the time mentioned,
surpassed Captain Nelson, who receives no such decided praise, nor any
positive recommendation whatever.
These observations are drawn from the face of the public dispatches,
compared with a knowledge of the services and character of Captain
Nelson, as they were at that time manifesting themselves to all who
knew him.
His conspicuous merits, it should seem, were growing too conspicuous;
|