It corroborates, too, the report of these superficial inconsistencies made by the Duke of Wellington on a later occasion.
The narrator, Lieutenant Layman, was the same who had recently been with Nelson in the Baltic, and who has before been quoted in connection with that expedition.

Sir Alexander Ball will be remembered as one of his chief supports during the long chase that preceded the Battle of the Nile, as well as in the action, and afterwards during the protracted operations around Malta.

Hood was also a Nile captain.
"During the temporary peace, Mr.Layman spent some days at Merton, with Sir Alexander Ball and Sir Samuel Hood.

One day, after tea in the drawing-room, Lord Nelson was earnestly engaged in conversation with Sir Samuel.

Mr.Layman observed to Sir Alexander, that Lord Nelson was at work by his countenance and mouth, that he was a most extraordinary man, possessing opposite points of character; little in little things, but by far the greatest man in great things he ever saw: that he had seen him petulant in trifles, and as cool and collected as a philosopher when surrounded by dangers, in which men of common minds, with clouded countenance, would say, 'Ah! what is to be done ?' It was a treat to see his animated and collected countenance in the heat of action.