PREFACE.

The Letters of Lord Nelson in this Volume commencewhile he was still acting as Commander-in-Chief in theMediterranean , and extend from September 1799, toDecember 1801, a period of two years and four months.Ilis Correspondence, until the arrival of Lord Keith inthat command, related principally to the blockade ofLa Valetta in Malta ; to the business of his Squadron;and to the affairs of Sicily, Turkey, Egypt , and theRoman States.

The appointment of Lord Keith so deeply mortifiedhis feelings, (for he did not expect that any Officerwould be placed over him in the Mediterranean , afterthe retirement of Earl St. Vincent,) that he determinedto return to England, as soon as he had obtained thepermission of the Admiralty. In the meantime, hejoined Lord Keith at Leghorn , accompanied him toPalermo, and thence to Malta . On the 18th ofFebruary 1800, Lord Nelson , in the Foudroyant, withother Ships , captured “ Le Genereux,” of seventy-four

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