text: " But the troubles of the unfortunate Horatio were not over; for just at this time arose another vexed and vexatious question as to whether a senior officer on half-pay--though holding a commissionership of the navy--could be empowered by the admiral on the station to hoist a broad pendant; and after a spirited correspondence the point was decided though apparently in a very shilly-shally shabby way in Nelson's favour--for it is accompanied with a reprimand--the Admiralty informing him that he ought to have submitted his doubts to the commander-in-chief on the station instead of having taken on himself "to control the exercise of the functions of his appointment"--whatever that may mean