PREFACE.
Some explanation of the contents of this Volume seemsnecessary, because many of the public documents in itare of rather a different description from those that pre-ceded them, and Lord Nelson ’s private correspondencewas partly with different persons, and on different sub-jects from his former Letters. Though equally illustra-tive of his character, occasionally treating of importanttopics, and forming valuable materials for Naval, andsometimes for General History, they have not the vividinterest of either his previous or his subsequent cor-respondence, being written while he was on half-pay, orduring the monotony of a blockade. They exhibit Nelson ,however, in a new position; and the admiration whichwas bestowed on his matchless exploits, will now begiven to the wonderful energy and zeal which he dis-played as Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean;and the Public will learn for the first time, what werethe multiplied duties of an Officer holding that mostimportant post.