His letters, vigorous and direct as they are, present neither the polished diction of Collingwood, nor the usual even correctness of St.Vincent and Saumarez, but are, on the contrary, constantly disfigured by awkward expressions and bad English.

There was rarely, however, danger of mistaking his meaning, as was sometimes charged against Lord Howe.
Here, before fairly parting with the humble home life, of which the motherless boy had seen, and was throughout his career to see so little, is a fit place to introduce two anecdotes associated with those early days which his biographers have transmitted to us.

We of these critical times have learned to look with incredulity, not always unmixed with derision, upon stories relating to the childhood of distinguished men; but it can safely be said that the two now to be given are in entire keeping, not merely with particular traits, but with the great ruling tenor of Nelson's whole life.

He and his elder brother were going to school one winter day upon their ponies.
Finding the snow so deep as to delay them seriously, they went back, and the elder reported that they could not get on.

The father very judiciously replied: "If that be so, I have of course nothing to say; but I wish you to try again, and I leave it to your honour not to turn back, unless necessary." On the second attempt, the elder was more than once for returning; but Horatio stuck it out, repeating continually, "Remember it was left to our honour," and the difficult journey was accomplished.
The children in this instance seem to have felt that there was danger in going on.