...He had deliberately ignored a signal to withdraw, by putting his telescope to his blind eye saying, 'I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes. I really do not see the signal.' By 180a both enemies needed a breathing space, although they knew...

...Despite heavy fire and Parker's signal to retreat — which prompted Nelson to utter his famous line, "You know, Foley, I have only one eye, I have a right to be blind sometimes" — Nelson carried on and won the day. In 1807, the British defeated forces at Copenhagen again, capturing...

...reportedly erupted: "Leave off action? Now damn me if I do! You know, Foley," turning to the Captain, "I have only one eye: I have a right to be blind sometimes"; and then, putting the glass to his blind eye, in that mood of mind which sports with bitterness, he exclaimed,...

...commander-in-chief had had enough and signalled retreat, but when the signal was reported to Nelson, he said, 'I have only one eye — I have a right to be blind sometimes.' Then he put his telescope up to the blind right eye and said, 'I really do not see the signal!' Nelson's...

...as they went out to their various stations. around him insisted it was there, he merely reiterated, "I have only one eye — I have a right to be blind sometimes — I really do not see the signal!" 5 Sir William Hamilton, husband of Nelson's Emma, behaved with...

...occasion, had once served the greatest naval captain of the age. "Leave off action? Now d — n me if I do! You know, Foley, I have only one eye, - I have a right to be blind sometimes. "f On the subject of the "optional flag," in reference to the Acasta, we shall quote from a contemporary:...

...do!' and turning to Captain Thomas Foley, commanding the Elephant, who was also at his side, he said, 'You know Foley I have only one eye - I have a right to be blind sometimes!' Then he put a telescope to his blind right eye and said, 'I really do not see the signal! Damn the...

...Nelson to withdraw. Nelson placed his telescope to his sightless eye and remarked to a subordinate, "I have only one eye — I have a right to be blind sometimes." He continued the fight. At day's end, Nelson stood victorious, and instead of a reprimand for not following...

...circumstances required. Seven bomb vessels would anchor in shallow water between the ships of the line 'You know Foley, I have only one eye I have a right to be blind sometimes In his most famous, if misunderstoo gesture, he put his telescope to his blind eye and said 'I really...

...170. 19 Goold 115 (referring to Nelson's quip to his flag captain during the battle of Copenhagen: "You know, Foley, I have only one eye — I have a right to be blind sometimes; ... I really do not see the signal!"). comes upon the unusual Virgilian phrase perpetui bovis. Like...