St.Vincent felt it necessary to tell him, with reference to the difficulty of granting some requests for promotion, "Encompassed as I am by applications and presumptuous claims, I have nothing for it but to act upon the defensive, as your Lordship will be compelled to do, whenever you are placed in the situation I at present fill." This Nelson contents himself with quoting; but of Troubridge he says: "Troubridge has so completely prevented my mentioning any body's service, that I am become a cypher, and he has gained a victory over Nelson's spirit.
Captain Somerville has been begging me to intercede with the Admiralty again; but I have been so _rebuffed_, that my spirits are gone, and the _great_ Troubridge has what we call _cowed_ the spirits of Nelson; but I shall never forget it.

He told me if I asked anything more that I should get nothing.

No wonder I am not well." The refusal of the Admiralty to give him leave to come to London, though founded on alleged motives of state, he thinks absurd.

"They are beasts for their pains," he says; "it was only depriving me of one day's comfort and happiness, for which they have my hearty prayers." His spleen breaks out in oddly comical ways.

"I have a letter from Troubridge, recommending me to wear flannel shirts.