"I am very uneasy," he then wrote to Lady Hamilton, "at your and Horatia being on the coast: for you cannot move, if the French make the attempt." Whatever weight may be attributed to this criticism on Nelson's hastily sketched scheme, there can scarcely be any discord in the note of admiration for the fire that begins to glow, the instant he in thought draws near the enemy.

There, assuredly, is no uncertain sound.
They must be met as soon as possible; if not strong enough to attack, they must be watched, and company kept, till a favorable opportunity offers.

If none occur till they draw near the beach, then, "Whatever plans may be adopted, the moment they touch our coast, be it where it may, they are to be attacked by every man afloat and on shore: this must be perfectly understood.

Never fear the event." The resolution shown by such words is not born of carelessness; and the man who approaches his work in their spirit will wring success out of many mistakes of calculation--unless indeed he stumble on an enemy of equal determination.

The insistence upon keeping the enemy under observation, "keeping company" with them, however superior in numbers, may also be profitably noted.