ON THIS DAY - February

1st February 1800:  Nelson writes to Earl St Vincent, "You taught us to keep the seamen healthy without going into port, and to stay at sea for years without a refit. We know not the meaning of the word. The Audacious, Alexander, and others have never seen an arsenal since they have been under my command... Our friend Troubridge is as full of resource as his Culloden is full of incidents; but I am now satisfied that if his ship's bottom were entirely out, he would find means to make her swim."