Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking an enemy than for letting it alone.

Let me alone: I have yet my legs and one arm. Tell the surgeon to make haste and his instruments. I know I must lose my right arm, so the sooner it's off the better.

First gain the victory and then make the best use of it you can.

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

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

My greatest happiness is to serve my gracious King and Country and I am envious only of glory for if it be a sin to covet glory I am the most offending soul alive.

I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humor.

Now I can do no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of all events and the justice of our cause. I thank God for this opportunity of doing my duty.

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.