"Reports say," he tells Lady Hamilton, "we are to anchor before we get to Cronenburg Castle, that our minister at Copenhagen may negotiate.

What nonsense! How much better could we negotiate was our fleet off Copenhagen, and the Danish minister would seriously reflect how he brought the fire of England on his Master's fleet and capital; but to keep us out of sight is to seduce Denmark into a war....

If they are the plans of Ministers, they are weak in the extreme, and very different to what I understood from Mr.Pitt.[25] If they originate with Sir Hyde, it makes him, in my mind, as--but never mind, your Nelson's plans are bold and decisive--all on the great scale.

I hate your pen and ink men; a fleet of British ships of war are the best negotiators in Europe." While the greatness and decision of his character remain unimpaired, perhaps even heightened, it will be noticed that self-reliance, never in any man more justified, has tended to degenerate into boastfulness, and restlessness under displeasing orders to become suspicion of the motives prompting them.

"They all hate me and treat me ill," he says, speaking of Spencer's and St.Vincent's administrations.