Duty is the great business of a sea officer; all private considerations must give way to it, however painful it may be.

Our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an Officer for attacking his Enemy than for letting it alone.

Never break the neutrality of a port or place, but never consider as neutral any place from whence an attack is allowed to be made.

Buonaparte has often made his boast that our fleet would be worn out by keeping the sea and that his was kept in order and increasing by staying in port; but know he finds, I fancy, if Emperors hear the truth, that his fleet suffers more in a night than ours in one year.

The bravest man feels an anxiety 'circa praecordia' as he enters the battle; but he dreads disgrace yet more.

Laurels grow in the Bay of Biscay, I hope a bed of them may be found in the Mediterranean.

I cannot command winds and weather.