His letters at this time breathe an angry feeling toward Troubridge, who
was now become, he said, one of his lords and masters. "I have a letter
from him," he says, "recommending me to wear flannel shirts. Does he
care for me? NO: but never mind. They shall work hard to get me
again. The cold has settled in my bowels. I wish the Admiralty had my
complaint: but they have no bowels, at least for me. I daresay Master
Troubridge is grown fat; I know I am grown lean with my complaint,
which, but for their indifference about my health, could never have
happened; or, at least, I should have got well long ago in a warm room
with a good fire and sincere friend." In the same tone of bitterness
he complained that he was not able to promote those whom he thought
deserving. "Troubridge," he says, "has so completely prevented my ever
mentioning anybody's service, that I am become a cipher, and he has
gained a victory over Nelson's spirit. I am kept here, for what?--he may
be able to tell, I cannot. But long it cannot, shall not be." An end
was put to this uncomfortable state of mind when, fortunately (on that
account) for him, as well as happily for the nation, the peace of Amiens
was just at this time signed. Nelson rejoiced that the experiment was
made, but was well aware that it was an experiment. He saw what he
called the misery of peace, unless the utmost vigilance and prudence
were exerted; and he expressed, in bitter terms, his proper indignation
at the manner in which the mob of London welcomed the French general
who brought the ratification saying, "that they made him ashamed of his
country."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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