VI

PREFACE.

the Mediterranean; with the Admiralty, on mattersconnected with his Squadron; with the Officers of theDockyards at Malta and Gibraltar , the Storekeepers atthose places, and the Vice-consuls at Barcelona andBosas, about materiel and provisions for the Fleet,especially with the view of promoting the health andcomfort of the Crews; and with various Officers, for theprotection of our Trade, in appointing the necessaryConvoys, &c.

It would be difficult to select any of these Letters asmore interesting or more important than the rest; sincethey all bear in a greater or less degree upon each other,and must be read in connexion, to be properly understoodand appreciated. The paper which he sent to.Mr.Addington in June, 1803, containing his views respect-ing Gibraltar , Algiers , Malta , Sicily , Sardinia , Borne,Tuscany , Genoa , and the Morea, was so able as to obtainthe marked approbation of the Government, accompaniedby a request that he would in future direct his ob-servations on Political subjects at once to the Secretaryof State for the War Department .

In Lord Nelson ’s opinion, it was of the utmost im-portance that Great Britain should obtain a cession ofSardinia ; and the soundness of that opinion, which herepeated over and over again to every person of theleast Political influence, is not likely to be disputed byany one who remembers the central position of thatIsland , its admirable harbours, and the necessity ofwatching the Enemy’s Squadron at Toulon .

His Letters to the Dey of Algiers, and his instructions