The recriminations exchanged between Nottingham and Russell were loud and angry.

Nottingham, honest, industrious, versed in civil business, and eloquent in parliamentary debate, was deficient in the qualities of a war minister, and was not at all aware of his deficiencies.

Between him and the whole body of professional sailors there was a feud of long standing.

He had, some time before the Revolution, been a Lord of the Admiralty; and his own opinion was that he had then acquired a profound knowledge of maritime affairs.

This opinion however he had very much to himself.