Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to General Jacob de Budé, partly duplicate of 0680, but forcibly expressing his disappointment at not pursuing and capturing the fleeing French fleet, criticising the abilities and actions of Sir Charles Douglas and Adm. Sir George Rodney, and remarking that his (Hood's) health has suffered as a result of 'seeing things go as they do'.
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captain to a commander in chief, is that of being an honest & candid counsellor & adviser to him and there ought to be a perfect good understanding with and confidence in, each other, which I am sorry to say, from what I have seen and heard, is by no means the case on board the Formidable; and sure I am, that if Sir George Rodney, from whim & caprice, should give orders, for any signal to be made, that would inevitably throw the fleet into confusion, or even into danger, Sir Charles has not fortitude & desolution sufficient, to open his lips, in remonstrance, but would most implicitly obey it. I have several times been witness to Sir Charles's receiving orders, that appeared most clearly to be big with absurdity and has gone upon deck to direct their execution; upon which I have more than once said; 'I. ,, believe Sir George you are unacquainted with some ,, circumstances, respecting the orders you have given ,, to Sir Charles douglas, which I have related; and he has immediately acknowledged it, sent for [[catchword]] Sir [[/catchword]]
