ed by seizures, confiscations, and a long train of appeals. The governments too, were often ignorant of what was customary, and generally obstinate; but not infrequently they were right and our own countrymen not easily defended. Under these circumstances the greatest temper and judgment, and the nicest arrangement, were necessary; but it is scarcely possible, without entering into long details, to afford a just conception of the effective manner in which those complicated duties were conducted by Sir Thomas Hardy.
It will be easily understood why services of this nature are not suited to strike the public eye in a Gazette; but it is certainly to be lamented, that the successful exercise of such qualities should be confined to the knowledge of a few officers whom accident had placed within its view, and be utterly unknown to the public, and to the body of the naval service, to whom the example is of so much consequence. These things are the more worthy of remark from their requiring an exertion of powers very different from those which it has heretofore been almost the exclusive duty of officers to cherish. Yet it is pleasing to think that the qualities of patient forbearance and of conciliatory kindness may, at times, prove as useful to the public service, as the more energetic talents of enterprise and action. In South America, indeed, where we were at peace, any shew of violence must have been mischievous to the British interests, and could have accomplished nothing. Yet there was no want of provocation, for injustice was often committed, and the national honor, it might seem, sometimes threatened; and although there could not be for a moment a question, that these things required adequate redress, yet there was no ordinary skill and dexterity displayed in the way in which it was sought and obtained, so as to leave things better for us than before. These cases were scarcely ever alike, so that experience did little more than teach the truth and solidity of the principles, by which our conduct was regulated. Had we always had right on our side, that is, had the commercial transactions which we had to protect always been pure, and the displeasure of the governments always unjust, it would have been easier; but it sometimes happened otherwise. Many prizes, or rather detentions, were made by the Patriot squadrons, on the strongly supported plea of
