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talantie iimo,
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PUBUaHBD BT HABPER * BB0THXB8, MSW-TORX.
Life orGflfwnorMifi Jay, 9 1. 8«n.
Lift t<i Got. Wm. LWingslon, 8vow
BketcbM of Turkey Id I8S2.. .8to.
Taylor^ Records of hie Uft. .8tq.
Gibbon's Rome (flne) 4 t. 8to.
Robenson'e Woriu St. 8toi
Hiatory of Modem fSwope, S t. 6to.
Life of Byron, bv Moore. .9t. 6Ta
OooperHi Surg. IMetionary, St. 8to.
Hooper^ Met!. Dietlonary, 9t. Bra
Wea1ey*s Mlscel. Woriu, 3 t. 8to.
Ret. Robt. IIatl*« Works, S t. 8to.
Good'k Book of Nstore .Sra
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Brown** Bible Dictionary .... Sro.
Gibson** Snrveylng Bra
BoQcharlatt's Mechanics Sya
DsTles* Surreylng. 8to.
DsTies* DesivipliTeGeometry.STO
DsTles' Shades and Shadows, 8to.
Memoirs Dnchcss D'Ahrantes,8vo.
Poems of Brooks and WUUs, 8Ta
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Parey Anecdotes 8vo.
MorrsU** Fonr Voyages 8vo.
HisLof the Ameriain Theatre. 6to.
^ynestan Researches, 4 t. ISroa
Engtamland the English St. ]9mo
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Dibdio's ReminisMnces 6to.
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Impriaonnieiit of Pellioo, As. ISmo.
Ow«n*s Santtm
TraTds of Pidler and Cokt In tba
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Lilbof Baron CoTler ISma
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Bnsb on the Mlliennliim....ltao.
Keith on ]hR>pliecy. ••••*.>. IBbio*
British Spy, by Wirt ISmo.
Comfmter of the Alffieted*.]Soia
Mrs. MorTeII*s Voyages ....ISmo.
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Moore*sLlft of Fltigendd St. Itno.
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HARPER'S FAMILY LIBRARY*
D18IONEP FOR ADULT P X R S O H •»
« Bookt AaS you may carry to the Jbrtt and hold readily m your JUmd,
are tkt moat useful <^Ur all. A man will ofUn look at tkem. and kt
tempted to go an, wkin he would have beenfinghUned at booka tffa larger
oiMO, and qfa more erudite appearance,"-^ va.. JoHiraolU
Tm yrop i i e to ri of the Family Libraiy fed iImiiimItm tcimnlatod tt
Inereaaed exertiooa by tlie distinguisbed fiiToor with which it ha* alrcadj
been reeeiTed.
The volumes now before tbe pnblle may be oonfidently appealed to
M prooA of zeal on tbe part of tbe publiahera to present to their readBn
« aeriee of produetione, which, aa they are connected, not with eidtemeral,
but with nermanent subjects, may, years hence as well as now, be eon-
•alted tot lively amusement as well as solid instruction.
To render this Library still more worthy of patronage, the proprie-
ton propose incorp(»rating in it such works of interest and valve m
may appear in the various Libraries and Miscellanies now preparing In
Europe, particularly '* Constable's Miscellany,*' the ** Edinburgh CabineiP
Library, 4lc. All these productions, as they emanate flrom the pre«i|
will be submitted to literary gentlemen for inspection ; end none will be
nprinted but such as shall be found calculated u sustain the exalted
ehanirier which this Library has already acquired.
fievenl well-known' authors have been engaged to prepare flir it original
works of an American character, on History, Biography, Travels, Ac. dec.
Every distinct^ubject will in general be compfenended in one volanN^
er at most in three volumes, which may fbrm either a portion of tlie
■eries or a complete woilc by itself; and each volume will be embelUahed
with appropriate engravings.
The entire eeries will be tbe production of authors of eminenoe, ^flfes
have acquired eelebri^ by their literary labours, and Whose name^. m
they ajqpear in succession, will aflbrd tlie surest guarantee to the pal^
tar the satisftctory manner in which the subjects will be treated.
Bnch is the plan by which it is intended to fbrm an American FamUy
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tars will be tuen, not only to exclude whstever can have an ii^ariout
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die best and most salutary impressions.
With thess srrangements and ftciUties, the pnbllriierB flatter then*
flslves that thmr shall be able to present to their fellow-dtizens • wcrk
of unparalleled merit and che^H^ess, embracing subjects adapted to oil
^serving the
of readers, and forminc a body of literature ^serving the praiao
of having inatmeted many, and amused all ; and above every ochm' qw
iles of eulogy, of being flt to be introdneed, without reserve or ezceptioa,
by the fhther of a flunily to the domestre circle. Meanwhile, the very loiw
pme at whioh it ia eharged renders more extensive patronage neneaaaiy
nr ita anpiort and proeecotlon. The tmmeduUe encoursgement, ttier^
tee,ofihar who approve its plan and ezeeution ia rsspeetrally oolteiiad^
llM wwk OMf bo abcainad in oomnlela aeta, or ta separate wiaibMn^
iwlkspite^tfteolDNllanthion^uMittlMlhktedSai^ ^
LIBBART OF SELECT HOTELft
f te ' ii ' ffioy eompoiitloii to now ■drntttwil to Item on atoiMNo mwHb
yortaot portion of litonuare. Well-wrougbt not cto taka tbslr rank by ikt
■id* of real narratiTea, and are appealed to aa aridance in all qoa^kMM
coneerniny man. In them the customa of coantriea, the traneitiona aatf
•hadea of character, and otoq the very pecnliaritiea of coetume and dla>
laet, an eorioualy preeenred ; and the imperiahable apirii that aorronMla
and keepo them fhr tlM uae of anoeeaaiTe fenerationa rendera tkt rarMaa
Ibr erer frsah and green. In tUem human life ia laid down aa on a anapk
The atrong and TiTid ezhibitlona of paaaion and of eharacter which UMnr
ftimiah, acqvire and maintain the atrongeat hold npon tho eorioalty, ana,
It may be added, the aUbctiona of cTory elaaa of raadera ; Ibr no( o|hr to
iMlartainmant in all the variooa loooda of tragedy and comedy provMaa fai
tkeir pagea, but he who reada them attentlTely may often obcam, wttboal
tbe bitterneaa and danger of experienea, that knowledge of hto MlOfW-
areaturea which but for auch aid could, tn the majority of oaaaa, ba only
•aqaixed at a p«iod of lift too late to tots It to account.
Tbto ** Library of 8al*et Noveto** will embraea noae bat aoeh m iMiftt
laealTcd the impraaa of g^nend approbation, or have been wiltMa to
— thora of eatabliahed eharacter ; and the pttbUahera hope to reeaiTa aura
ancouragemeot ttom the piiblie patronage aa will enable them la tba
•ourae of time to produce a aeriea of worka of uniform appearance, and
isduding moat of the really valuable noTeia and romancea that have ban
•r ahali be iaaued from the modem Engliah and 4meriean praaa.
There ia acarcely any qocaUon connected with the mtereato of UleratlBia
Which haa been mora thoroughly diacnaaed and inveatigated than that of
tfte utility or evil of novel reading. In ita (hvour mud. nun be and haa
keen aaid, and it muat be admitied tiiat the raaaoninga n ioae who b»>
ttere noveto to be inJUEioua, or at laaot naetoua, are not win* it tbrea asd
plauaibility. Yet, if the argumenta againat novela are cloaei ^landnod.
It will be Ibund that they are more ai^icaMa in general to eik atf ?t to-
Anlgonoa in the pieaaurea afforded by the peruaal of fictttioua ad^tAOBraa
ttan to tba worka themaeivea ; and that the erils which can b« jQatly
•wribed to them ariae almoat excluaively, not from any paealiar nnttoaa
qvaliciea that ran be fkirly attributed to noTela m a speciaa, bttt from tboaa
iMdiTidiaal woika which in their daaa muat be pronounced to ba ladil^
But aren were It otharwlae— were novela of arery kfaid, tba food ia
well aa the bad, the acriking and animated not leaa than ttta pawila, bl
4Bed liable to the charge of eafeeblii^ or perrerting the miod ; tad waw
llnre no qualitiea in any which might render them matmetire aa wdl ■•
•mnaing— the univeraal acceptation which they have ever reeeivodt WtA
mm eoutinvo to receive, from all agea and daaae* of man, woald ptova
ao irreaiatible incentive to their production. The remonstranceaof iiMr#>
lata and tba reaaoninga of philosophy have ever been, and will atftt ba
Ibund, anavaiiing againiit the deaire to partnkc of an voymaiu ao aitiaa
Urm. Men will read novela ; and therefore the utmoav thai wiadaoa lai
ahilantliropy can do ia to cater prndeptly for the poblic appetite, and, aa l|
U hopeleaa to attempt the excluaion of nctitlona writings from the T
•r the library, to aee thai tbey are encumbered with tbe laaat
of ovch aa ha^a no other merit than that of novelty.
1X7 SUctun werkM, 6y emmmti mdkon, jUm dinmdy bmn
IfaAad m tht " Ubrani of StUct Ntna^,"* wkkh mn 9old 9eftrit»lm
(1)
VALUABLE WORKS
PUBLISHSD BT
J. & J. HARPER, 82 CLIFF-ST^
NKW-TOBK,
And ftr fliie I17 the principal BookMUen in tbe Unitad BtHMk
HISTORY OF THE JEWS. By the Rev.
H. H. MiLHAN. In 3 Tols. 18mo. Illostrated with origi-
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*'Tbe narratlTe of tbe Tarioas and bighly interesting erents in that
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LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.
By J. G. LocKHART, Esq. With copperplate EngraT*
ings. In 2 vols. 18mo.
** We anticipate a prodigious circulation for this sttraetiTe woric. It
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** It is, unquestionably, in a brief and tangible form, the most popular
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LIFE OF NELSON. By Robt. Southey,
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** aouthey*s fine and popular biography of Nelson was vMry miMli
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LIFE OP ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
7 Rev. J. Williams. With a Map. 18mo.
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**It is ably and eloquently written."— A Journal.
NATURAL HISTORY OP INSECTS.
Illostrated by numerous Engravings. 18mo.
**Of all studies, perhaps, there is none more captivating than that of
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LIFE OF LORD BYRON. By John Galt,
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** The sprightly pen of the author has communicated uncommon inter-
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** Mr. Gait is one of the most fascinating writers of the age."— Joumal
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LIFE OF MOHAMMED, Founder of the
Reliffion of Islam and of the Empire of the Saracens.
By the Rev. George Bush, M.A. With a plate. ISmo*
** It seems to us to be a good narrative of the life of the great Arabian
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** Mr. Bash is a scholar of extensive acquirements, and well fitted A>r
the task which he has undertaken in this volume."- i7. Y. Observer.
** In' the collection of materials, the author appears to have neglected
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** The history of the eminent impostor caunot hot be a work afliUcniiH,
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DEMONOLOGY AND WITCHCRAFT.
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*Thi8 volume is most interesting, and will be read wilb greet plMi-
uan by almost every class of rpaders."— U. S. Gazette.
** It would be difficult to select a more interesting subject fbr ttae pen
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** The subject is most alluring, and the manner in which it is handled
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fflSTORY OP THE BIBLE. By Rev. G.
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** tlie style of it is surpassed by no work with which we are ao-
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among pwsons of taste as those who are fond of Biblical studies."-
Albany TUtgrapk and Register.
POLAR SEAS AND REGIONS. By Pro
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"A work flrom such hands on snch a subject cannot Ail to be both
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** Tlie three eminent men who have produced this compilation hava
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jy. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
<* The writers are gentlemen of flrst-rate standing in the scientifle
world, and the subject is one to which every curious mind is attached
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LIFE AND TIMES OP GEORGE IV
With Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons. By the Rev
George Crolt. With a Portrait. 18mo.
<*Mr. Croly has acquitted himself very handsomely. His subject i»
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Hie author's style is chast^ classical, and beautiflil, and it may be tidcen
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** Mr. Croly is not merely a fine writer, but a very power Ail one. His
Mtttne is as bold and broad at his colours are glowing. He wrifss liki»
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4 ▼ALUABLl WOBKS.
DISCOYERY AND ADTENTURE iW
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''Tbe names of the distinguished indiTiduals by whom the volume has
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** This work we believe will be interesting to every class of readers,
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LIVES OF EMINENT PAINTERS AND
SCULPTORS. By Allan Cunningham, Esq. With
Portraits. In 3 vols. ISmo.
** We advise all those of our readers who have any respect fbr oar
neommendation, to read these three volumes fhrni beginning to end ; and
are confident of the thanks of such as shall be induced by our advice to
proems for themselves so great an enjoyment."— iV. Y. Mirror.
** This is one of the best written and most instructive books of tbs
series to which it belongs."— iV. Y. Artierican.
" The whole narrative is of a lively and alluring kind, flowing in Hs
language, and enriched with ceaseless anecdote."— i>r. Y. Atlas.
HISTORY OF CHIVALRY AND THE
CRUSADES. By G. P. R. James, Esq. With an
Engraving. 18mo.
The "present volume may safbly be pronounced an ornament to the
IHeratnre of the day, and Mr. James be esteemed a writer of great clear-
ness and stn^ngth.**— iV. y. Standard.
** The author of this work has done the public a service, whleh we think
will be diHy appreciated."— CAruhon Herald.
** Mr. James is well known as an agreeable writer ; and the snbjeets
of this volume are such as can scarcely fail to prove both amnsinc and
Interesting.'* ^/T. Y. Daily Advertiser.
LIFE OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.
By H. G. Bell, Esq. With a Portrait. In 2 vols. ISmo.
^^ It is decidedly the most Interesting account we have ever seen of that-
loively and unfortunate being. We have al ways/«/f that Mary was inno*
eent of the great crimes charged against her by her fYirious and deadly
enemies ; but our understanding was never befbre convinced. It was
with a (beling of eager Joy, that we, for the first time in our lives, admit-
ted the (lill conviction of her innocence. The book is written with much
candour." — Slasaactnuetts Journal.
"The reader wUl be pleased lo learn that the lifb of Mary has^ssn
Written anew, by one who appears, both in temper and talenti *~
wall qaaUyOed Ibr Iheiask."— iY. Y. Atlas,
VALTTABtK WORKS. 5
ANCIENT AND MODERN EGYPT. By
the Rev. M. Russell, LL.D. WUh a Map and En-
gravings. 18mo.
** All that is known of Egyyi is condensed into this history : and tlis
readers of it will find themsdives well reinid for their labour and mooef.*
—Neuf-Haven Adi>ertiser.
" The information respecting the present state of this interesting com
try will be found peculiarly valuable.'*— iVictP-ybr*: Mirror.
" The work is written in a very happy ^tyle, and presents a mass o(
knowledge of the most useAil and instructive character, collected togetliei
by great industry and research.'*— Sattmore RepuUiean,
HISTORY OF POLAND, from the earli-
«st Period to the present Time. By Jamks FLSTCHBBy
Esq. With a Portrait of Kosciusko. ISmo.
^ This work recommends itself to public notice by Ks clear, omeiML
and impartial history of a country and a people for whom the feelinga of
evenr lover of fixedom are deeply interested."— iV. Y. AUtu.
" Of the writer's fairness and research we have a very good opinkm ;
and his book is just the thing that is wanted at the present m<»nent."'—
N. Y. American.
*' No work has for a long period been published here so deserving of
praise and so replete with interest.'*«^Ameriean Traveller,
FESTIVALS, GAMES, AND AMUSE-
^ENTS, Ancient and Modem. By Horatio Smith,
Esq. With Additions. By Samuel Woodworth, Esqiy
/)f New-York. With Engravings. 18mo.
*' The book contains a mine of information on the subjects embraeed
In its title, and should be placed in every fiunily."— 2V. Y. Standard.
** We can commend the boek as both attractive and useftil."— JV. Y.
Affurican,
** The book is highly amusing and interesting, as well as instructive.*
'•^Peruitylvania Inquirer.
** The present work is characterized by great research and learning
employed in illustrating a subject of much general interest."— fattimorv
R^nibUcan.
LIFE OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON. By
David Brbwstsr, LL.D. F.R.S. With a Portrait and
Woodcuts. 18mo,
*' The present publication cannot 1^1 to prove acceptable and ossAiL*
— iV. Y. Standard.
*' The biography of the greatest astronomer that ever lived cannoc be
Aaught with else than interest."— iV. Y. Mercantile Advertiser.
" This is the most complete and authentic biography of this iUostriioni
loan that has yei appeared."— iV. Y. Evening JoumaL
** An excellent biography, beautiAillv written, and eoiii;*ilaing % Ings
iOIDimt of tisenu inSomaHoa/'-^ifpui'aaven Cknmide,
• VALOABLE WORKS.
PALESTINE, OR THE HOLY LAND.
From the earliest Period to the present Time. By the
Rev. Michael RussklL) LL.D. With a Map and nine
Engravings. 18mo.
*^ An tnterasting hoA/'—New-Haiyen Advertiser.
**Tbe wbole work is Imbued wiih a sacred engrossiog interest."-*
Conneetieut Mirror.
** It is writsen in a Tery popnlar and attractive style.**— i^. Y. Evening
JowmdL
** The whole volnme will amply repay perusal."— iV. Y. Ameriaan.
*^ This work is the most desirable record of Palestine we have ever
."—American Traveller.
MEMOIRS OF THE EMPRESS JOSE-
PHINE. By John S. Mbmbs, LL.D. With Portraits.
"The language of the author is beautiful, and his powers of descrip*
tton exceedingly flno."— JV. Y. Evening Journal.
"A very entertaining book."— ^. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
** This is the first complete biography which has ever appeared of that
mneh admired woman."— j^T. V. Conaiellation.
** This work will be found to possess a beauty of language, a ftscination
of style, and a depth of interest which feW works ta thi'i kind can
claim."— Aojton Traveller.
THE COURT AND CAMP OF BONA-
PARTE. With a Portrait of Talleyrand.
•*Thls work is highly interesting."— IT. S. Gazette.
"The volume will be read with iaierest and iastmction."— Cmm.
M£irror.
"The sketches are entertaining and well written, and constitute a
TSLoable eompend fbr reference on all the naore important subjects con-
nected with the career of this extraordinary dynasty."— WtuAin^tois
(D. C.) aiobe.
LIVES AND VOYAGES OF DRAKE,
CAVENDISH, AND DAMPIER ; including an intio-
ductory View of the earlier Discoveries in the South Sea,
and the History of the Bucaniers. With Portraits.
** This is certainly one of the most interesting compilations which the
ficss has sent forth for some years."— i\^. Y. Evening Journal.
<' While in the present work the young will And delicht, the aged and
mature will discover matter of deep interest and useful reflection."—
Baltimore Minerva.
** These volumes will beget a love for appropriate and nseftil reading,
ud eannot but be widely hsneiMal to in<0tkhials and eoounanittea.'*-*
TAVVABLE WORKS. 7
DESCRIPTION oy PITCAIRN'S ISLAND
Am) ITS INHABITANT.S. With an authentic Ac-
count of the Mutiny of the Ship Bounty, and of the sub-
sequent Fortunes of the Mutineers. With EngraTingv.
The reader may here find in fkithfkil history events of thrillinf intw*
flst in the varied fortunes of seaiQen."— iSou2A«m Rdigious TeUgrapk.
" There is hardly any reading more interesting than voyages, and tbs
accounts in this hook are among the most interesting we bave aver .
perused."— fiofton Statesman.
** A subject having more pointsof interest can scarcely be Imagined,
and the abilities and opportunities of the author give an aaauranoe that
they have not been overlooked." — Atlas.
** The story is exceedingly well told— it is vme— and is embelllahed
with particulars of which the public have not before been put in poase»-
sion." — Connecticut Mirror.
SACRED HISTORY OF THE WORLD,
as displayed in the Creation and subsequent events to the
Deluge. , By Sharon Turner.
"The volume contains a vast mass of interesting Acts toillostrate tb*
different departments of the natural world. It bears marks of great r^
search, and is worthy of a oarefUl pervma].*'— Connecticut Obaener.
** We csa most heartily recommend this work as eminently worthy of
a place in every library."— CAwrcAman.
" It is a book calculated to be of great gtoeral utility ; and will ba
<band particularly convenient for bible-classes, who are studying U10
Mosaic History of the Creation." — Commerr'.U Advertiser.
MEMOIRS OF CELEBRATED FEMA.LE
SOVEREIGNS. By Mrs. Jameson, .v .* ww.
" A readable book, in which good use is made of a ^abject not the
promising — The authoress telis a plain RUiry wi*** facility, and makes
neat and appropriate comments with a happy fnedam."~Ckurckman.
*'Many a more ambitious history has been executed with less taleoC
and happy candour than these moral and picturesque sketches." — Boston
Daily Advocate.
AN EXPEDITION TO EXPLORE THE
COURSE AND TERMINATION OF THE NIGER
By RicHARn and John Lander. In 2 vols. Maps, 6tc*
*' They (the Landers) tell a story of no small interest, and no few vlds-
sitndes, with mifnly honesty and vmplicity, and considerable lifb andi
vigour. In description of local scenery they are often eminently happy ;
in narrative never tiresome : in sketches of character and manners, inter*
esting and successful, because artless and faithAil." — Churclunan.
'*The incidents were many and interesting: while their discoveries
have brought to our knowledgro scores of savage tribes and nations. We
know of few works of this descripiipn which bave added as much to ow
geographical knowledge, cr depicted in such painAiily interesting colours.
|f|s ijpiaranee and wild barbarism of finbaptised 4Mca."— i^. Y. O^MTMr
O VAIUABLK WORKS.
INaumiES CONCERNING THE IN
TELLECTUAL POWERS AND THE INVESTI-
GATION OF TRUTH. By John Abebcrombib, M.D.
" It will not only feed, but fimn the pablic intellect. It caniDot be dis-
■eminated too widely in a nation eager foi knowledge, keen in inquiry
to a proverb, and accustomed to thirric no matters too bigb fbr scrutiny,
no autbority too venerable Tor question." — Churchman.
** It will be read, or nitber studied with deligbt and prcf ^ Cboee wto
wisb to cultivate an acquaintance with the phenomena of tneintellectMl
^orld. The author's illustrations are clear, and his reasoning sound.*—
Southern Religious Telegraph.
THE LIVES OF CELEBRATED TRAV-
ELLERS. By James A. St. John. In 3 vols.
**The work is well edited, and will unquestionably be perused witli
•alisftction and profit, especUQly by the younger class of the conuno-
nlty."— £ap£»< Repository.
**Bixt few works have ever been published which comprise more gens-
rsl iBfomiatiAn in a brief form . ... It is a publication whicb will eommend
Itself to M.^'—Albany DaUy Advertiser.
** The whole is an interesting publication, and may be properly ooo-
■olted both by the adult and youthi\i) student.**— ^Zftion.
LIFE OP FREDERICK THE SECOND,
KING OF PRUSSIA. By Lord Dover. In 2 vob.
With a Portrait.
*' Jjori Dover has in these volumes, by rejecting all that is exceptlonabls
or of slight interest, while he retained every thing essential, mads up a
compfebensLvs and very attractive book.**— iVL Y. ^tnericam.
** An agreeably written and highly interesting piece of biography. .. .
The biographer^ own morality is of the soundest kio<' ; and his redee-
ttons, in handling the infidel principles and correqiondcnce of the royal
skeptic, are such as they should be. The pQiM>n is not allowed to work
by being passed overwlthont commeot.''-^iv. Y. Commercial Advertiser,
SKETCHES FROM VENETIAN HIS-
TORy. In 2 vols. With Maps and Engravifigs on
Steel and Wood.
** A history of the Venetian republle, iccessible to all classes and ages,
prepoTwI fbr papular use, has been much wsnted for a long tope, and this
production is admirably calculated to supply it."— Baltimore ATneriean,
" The work is written in a style of brilliant narrative fh>m anthentio
BHterials, and deserves a place in every library.'*— -Afofrife Oazette.
** The able manner in which the author has accomplished his task te
above all pntiae.'"— Boston Statesman.
*' These ' Sketches' are sleaned from several very rare worics, sntf
tNt>nght vdtbin the reach of cjvery person who is dbsirous of acquainting
himself with the history of this ancient people ; and nbone, after reading
these little voliimes^ wUl ngret his szp«n^tQre of time aiul money.'*-*
M A JUvths.
VALUABLE WORKS. 9
INDIAH LIVES; or, an Historical Account
of those Individuals who have been distinsnished among
tne North American Natives as Or&ton, Warriors, States-
men, dec. By B^ B. Thatcher, Esq. In 2 vols.
"The antbor has spared no pains In making himself aoqnainted wHh
the protwr materials Tor a work of this character: and their arraDgenmat
leflects much credit on him."— iV. E. Christian Herald.
** We like these Volumes well. They are written with a perspienlty
snd liveliness that recommend them to all. Mr. Tbalcher has ably lllled
np a chasm in American literature. These two volumes blend the authsa-
ticity of history with the thrilling excitements of forest narratives, ds-
scriptive of the nstive energy sno grandeur of the old free kiaga, wte
ruled the new-lbund America."— Badger's Weekly Messenger.
HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE AC-
COONT OF BRITISH INDIA. From the moat remote
period to the present time. By several popular Authors.
In 8 vols. With a Map, and many Engravings on Wood.
*'The history of British India is uncommonly lnteTeatinf....Tlis
whole work bears the impress of impartiality, fidelity, resewch, and
accuracy."— Bap<i«t Repository.
** Such suthentie and exiensiye information relstlng to this iittsnstinf
portion of the globe has never before been so happily Imbodisd."— iV. r.
TYaveUer.
LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. Ad-
dressed to Sir Walter Scott, Bait. By Sn Datd
Bbkwstse, K.H. LL.D.
** The present work may be regsidsd as one of those rssolts of modvi
resesreh and study, by whisi} society st large will be benefited ; and tlis
perusal <tf it would very profitably and pleasantly employ the hoars now
wssted upon books which leave not a single sslatary impressioa apsa
the m\nd.'^— Presbyterian.
'* We know of no other work or teestiss wheh hss o&npresssd, wlthia
the same compass, so much uaefhl snd various, matter upon the maay
snbjecu foiling within the nmge of the investlgatidn."— Com. .tfdofrtiissr.
THE fflSTORY OF IRELAND. ByW. O.
1- ATLOR, Esq. With Additiona, by Willuh Sammoii^
Esq. In 2 vols. Plates.
** This is a calm, clear, and a candid hook. • . .A sober snd disnaarioir*
ats book on this tender subject wss much wanted • . . Mr. Taylor has per-
formed his melancholy task with no ungentle spirit, and written the most
sonsisisnt asnrstive of thoss events that we have yei seen- • . .Tba work
abounds w|th pictures of war and desolatioi>— of happiness and prosperity
•—of suddsn elevations snd sad overthrow ; If there is ^aeh vlolsaos
and wrong, ilisrs is slso much noblsaess of inind,tnwM^^
aad rnilsness ijthmMt,^^Tk§ A t k m mu m »
BOVS AND GIRL'S LIHRART.
NwnUrt ain4tdy PMished. — Each Work can h9 had
separately.
LIVES or THi APOSTLES and EARLY MAHU
. TTRS or THI CHURCH. 18mo. [No. L of the Boy'i
And Girl's Library. Deoignod for Sunday Raading.]
Tbit, a» well ae some of the ftibiequent numberB of the Boy^
ftiid Girl's Library, is especially designed for Sanday reading,
ind the object of the writer has been to direct the minds of
youthfiil readers to the Bible, by exciting an interest m the li^es
and actions of the eminent apostles and martyrs who bore testi-
•lony to the troth of their ni ssions and of the Redeemer by
ibaa preaching and their righteous death. The style is besiitt-
.ftiUy simple, and the nairative is intersperMd with eommeale
iUid reflections lemarkaUe for their derout apint, and for the
cleaneee with which they elucidate whatever miglit appear tm
the tender mind either oontrsdictory or ummtelligibie. It is
impossible for any child to read these affecting histories without
becoming mterested ; and the interest is so directed and in-
prored as to implant and foster the purest principles of religion
and morality. The most esteemed leligious publicatioM
throughout the Union have united in cordisl expressions of
praise to this as well as the other Scriptural numbers of the
Ubnry, and the publishers have had the gratification of re*
Viiwtalg ftom ilidifiduals emiiMnt for piety, the warmest coo^
WMwrtatione aot only of the plan, bat alao of th» mannir te
vitfoh it hae Itai » Ar flseoiited.
nnrBlflLB WOftKl
THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON ; oe, ADVEN-
TTIRES OF A FATHER AND MOTHER amd FOUR
SONS ON 1 DESERT ISLAND. In 2 Tolf. Itma.
|Nos. II. & III. of the Bo^*f and Girl's Libruj.]
The pUTpoee'of this pleasmgr >tory is to coomj instifUction in
the arts and Natural History, and, at the same time, to incnkate
by example principles which tend to the promotion of social
happiness. Every one has read or heard of Robinson Cra8oe»
and the unriTalled and long-continued popularity of that admi^
Table narrative, proves that the tastes and feelinfs to which it
addresses itself a» among the strongest and most universal
which belong to human nature. The adventures of the Swiss
ftfflily are somewhat similar in character, snd, of course, hi in
tete^t; ^jd they illustrate, hi the most forcible and pleasing
manner, the efficacy of piety, industry, ingenuity, and good-
temper, in smoothing difficulties and procuring, enjoyments
under the most adverse circumstances. The story abounds
with instruction and entertainment, and well deserves the liigh
encomium that has been passed upon it, of being one of th*
best children's books ever written.
** This little work is so much of a stoij, that it will Mem a
nelaxation rather than a school-task, and at the same time It
will give the juvenile reader more practical instraetion in
■Btural history, economy, and ths fneam of amtriimig and ktlpii^
mu^9 9elft than many boolcs of the very best pretensions in tlia
department of instruction."— J9o«foii DaSy AAiscwif.
** We do not think a parent could select a more acoeptabla or
Judicious gi^.**— New-Haven Rdigioiu IntdUgeneer,
**The story has ail that wild charm of adventure and dia>
covery which has made Robiiison Crusoe such a wonder to
every generation since it was written."— Artful Repatittry,
** This work is interesting and truly valuable.**^- IT. 8. Oaamt.
^Well calculated to claun the attention of tha intiinlti^
part of the community to which it is addnasad."— iC Y
THE SON or a GENIUS. Bt Mm. HorcAim
[No. T. of tho Bo7*fl and Gtrl'i Libniy.]
Hut adminblB iUny boo been too long familiar to tho pab*
He— at leaft to tbat pottioB of it wbich baa advanetd beyond
tie period of cbildbood— to requite either eulogy or deauiptien.
It bti for many yeara maintaioed ita place anumg the beat and
BMMt eateemed juTenile worka in the Engliah language ; and iie
popularity ia easily accounted for by the touching intereat of the
incidenta, and the purity of the principlea it incolcatea both
of wiadom and religion. The pttbUahera were induced to f»>
print it aa one of the numbert of the Boy'a and Oirl'a Library,
partly by the advice and aolicitationa of many of their frienda,
and their own knowledge of ita merita, and partly by the coft-
■deration that it has long been oat of print, and that it waaTeiy
difficult to procure a copy.
" *The Son of a Oeniua' will afford a profitable itudy to
parenta, aa well as an exquisite treat to youths. It ia an admt-
lable tale : (ascinating in its delineations, admirable in its morel,
jnat aa a picture of the mind, a faitlifiil arid true piirtraiture
nf the remlta of geniui vaccilating, unapplied, and turning to
luin, and the aame geniua supported by sound- moral principle,
ftrengthened by judicious exercise and continuous effort, useful
Mad triumphant It is a striking ilhistration of the importance
€( method, persererance, and industry to produce the perfect
frvita of genius ; and the utter uselassness of delicate taste,
tirid conception, rapid performance, aided by generous affee-
tiona and engaging manner, to the attainment of excellence,
without that tteady appUcaUmt, which nothing but jnat moni
principle can ensure. The story is not, howcTer, a refined, met-
aphysical disquisition on genius ; but a simple, engaging tale,
trfaich leta in upon Uke reader a sort experience worth a hon-
drad easaya.^— Gonfudieitf JoumaL
** To youth of both sexes this work fonna an excellent piaoe
«f tnading."— 3^ Pmntjfiitcmkm,
**To onr yoang fiieiida it will aflbri mitdi entMtafattnest'^^ .
jf—iaa ARrrar.
linrXMLS WOAKt. f
SUNDAY EVENINGS; om jm EASY INTRO-
DUCTION TO THE READING OF THE BIBLE. [Noi.
IV. ond XIV. of the Boy'» and Girl'i Library.]
The title of thk excellent little work eufficicntly. ezplaiM
He object Ab an introduction to the knowledge of Scriptwe
Hiitory* and an incentive to the etudy of the Sacred Volume^
It ia calculated to produce the moat happy effect* upon the
tninda of children; and the timplicity o the language pre-
■ervea to the ttory aU those charms which are inherent in the
oarratiTe, but are aometimea lost to very youthful reader* by
their want of a perfect understanding of the wor Js they read.
Besides a developed and connected view, m easy language,
of the Scripture story itself, the author has endeavoured to Wr
terspeiae m the narrative such notices of the countries apokeu
of, together with such references to the New Testament an4
practical remarks, as would tend to make the book either more
Interesting, more uitellcctually improving, or more valuable in
a moral and religious light: and it cannot fail of obtaining the
approbation of all judicious and pious parents, and of proving,
by the blessing o\ God, an assistance to the Christian mother,
in giving to her children an early knowledge and love of Wt
Sacred Word.
»*The style is simple, the sentiments expressed Scriptural,
and the book every way calculated as an assistant in the in-
itroction of children.— TA« Pretbyterim.
"To be commended cordially."— TAe Churchman.
"We recommend it particularly to mothers and guardiana
of the young, confident that it will obtain their approbation, and
prove an assistance to them in giving those under their care an
early knowledge and love of the Sacred Word.'*— Am. TravelUr
" The work is well worthy the attention of parenU and ia-
itructers, to whom we most cheerfully xecommend it**— Bastas
Jnitrrof.
*< It will be ibund, we think, a uaeiiil anzOiary in the lutnda
of parents^ and Auiost winning book to children.'*— ComMdisMi
JUTXIIILS WUUCS* 7
TALBS nioM AMERICAN HISTORY. {Hob. IX.
X. and XI. of Um Boy*! and Giri*a libraiy.]
Tbe writer of theao Talot hu had in view two diiaf pwr^
poeea,— the one to conrey to the juvenile reader a gvaeral idea
of Uw incjdenta connected with the 'liacorery ind eubeeqaent
tiialory of the American continent ; the other to excite an in-
tareet to the subject which shall create a desire for more minute
and exteuMfe information. These purposes have been effected
with much sQCcesSi and the volumes will be found instructive
and entertaining. In the majority of instances, the Tales have
been selected with reference to the illustration of some morau
principle : and the frequent opportunities affohled for the intro
ductum of reflections leading to the cultivation of piety and re-
ligion have been ably and zealously improved. As a school
book this collection of Historical Tales is calculated to be emv*
aeiitly serviceable ; and there can be no doubt that their intro-
duction into seminaries will be attended with both pleasure and
advantage to the scholars.
** It IB sufficient praise for this work to say that it is by tho
.iothor of * American Popular Lessons,* of whose powers of pre-
senting knowledge to the young mind in a graceful and attract*
Ive garb the public are not now to be in£Drmed."-~iV. F. Evening
Pmt.
** A collection which is really deserving of its title. We haw
looked over these Tales with great pleasure, and find them full
«f interest^and instroctiAn.''— iV. F. Advocate.
** One of the best works that can be put mto the hands of our
yoi'th. ... It presents aO the cireumstances respecting the dis-
covery rif this country, in a condensed form, clothed m language
calculated to interest the young. It ought to be in the hands
<if every youth ; and it cannot be too early or too extensively in-
troduced into our schools.**— TA« CMrut of Beligkm.
** Tfte stories are highly interesting, and abound with pleasinf
iUnstrations and noticas of the history, original inhahitanta, pi»-
.4MtiGM,aBdfiiats«tt]en«f our ovmpmtioaof tba ^obc"*-*
wmLM WOfiXt.
NATTiRaL HISTORY; ob UNCLE PHlLIP*t
CONVERSATIONS with thi CHILDREBi about
TOOLS AND TRADES among tie INFERIOR
ANIMALS. [No VI. of the Boy'i and Giri'i Libnij.)
The wonders of God*s providence, as they are maniflBtt«d
in the figures, habits, and performances of the Tarioas creatnret
which fill the earth, the air, and the waters, — the endless ▼arietiet
of form, the accuracy and ingenuity of their contrivaucet^
whether for security or subtenance, and the admirable adapta>
tion of their instruments to the works their instinct piompte
them to construct, supply an exhaustless theme for obeenratioii
and astonishmenl, and call forth in the mind the most Bxalted
ideas of the Supreme wisdom and beneficence. In the capti-
Tating volume which forms the sixth number of the Boy's and
Girl's Library, a portion of this department of science is treated
oi "ith consummate ability, and the work has deservedly n^
ceived the highest encomiums, not only for the extent, utility,
and interesting nature of the information it conveys, but also ftir
the skill with which the ideas and language are adapted to the
tastes as weU as the capacities of youthful readers. But theee
are not its only or its greatest merits: its highest clainn to
praise are the tone of sincere and earnest piety which pervades
the conversations, and the excellence of the precepts drawn
from the wonders they disclose.
** It is written with a thorough knowVedge of the sabject, and
with that delightful freshness of impression from natural sights
Which revives the days of our childhood. Here, then, is a
bnautifvl and appropriate pres en t for the Christian paxent.**-<-
Thi Pretbyterian.
"This work deserves high praise. It displays much taut
and ingenuity, guided by sound judgment, and controlled by
fervent piety. Such books for the young are scarce, and likely
to be so ; for tew are able to produce them. Childran wiU do-
tiUfai in it, and pnofit by it."*-7A« Ckurdaum.
*^ We look upon this as one among tfao bmft jQ
«nib«Te net with."
6 jmrENILB WORKS.
INDIAN TRAITS; being SKETCHES ov m
MANNERS, CUSTOMS, aw CHARACTER or
niB NORTH AMERICAN NATIVES. Br B. B.
Tbatchib, Esq. [Nm. VIL and VIII. of the Boy's
And GirPs Libnry.]
The appearance, character, and habits of the North American
Indians have long been a favourite and fertile theme for writers
«s well as readera,and accurate descriptions of them are equslly
isstructive and agreeable. These torm the subject of the
seventh and eighth numben of the Library, and the? are ad-
jniited to contain much correct and interesting infonnttion. A
^aiger work (in the Family Library), by the same suthor, en-
titled " Indian Biography,** treats of the history of those le-
narfcable membera of the human £unily : the work now under
^consideration makes no pretensions to that character, but is eB-
<ireiy descriptive ; and it is entitled to high praise, not only as
t)eing the firet attempt to render the subject attractive to
youthful readen, but also for the ability with which the object
is accomplislied.
" These two little volumes furnish the leading traits of Indian
character in a style adapted to instruct while it interests the
youthful reader.*' — N. Y, American.
'* Most enteitaining and excellent volumesi**-- JV. F. Weddjf
Jlleuenger,
** The author has produced a work which will not only be
valuable to the young, but to all who wish for a concise and
Just delineation of what is most desirable to be known respect
sng the character and customs of the natives of North America."
— 3o9ton TVavelUr,
*'The language is easy and familiar, and the descriptions
^oite interesting.** — Jbkinton^t Evening Poet
** Two volumes more interesting or mete useful were ntfver
placed in the hands of American youth.**— BMion Mirror.
" Tbsae little volume^ equal in interest all that havB gont
Mbn them in the lamB family.**— 7Vi»y Ai4l«
AhercrtnnHe <m the InttUectudl P&w€r$»
** Now thia \n \Fnc\wAy the good ofBce which, in oar estimation, Dr.
A. haa actually rendered loihe diaciploa of that science of which be If
hlmaeir ao diatinguiahed i^ornament. In the verv moderate eomims<i
of one volume, he haa placed within the reach of the atudent as muck
sound metaphyalcal lore an any human being need cive a rush to pos
Sean, unlesa he aspires to Tory high distinction In that perulisr line of
investigation. He has divested his researches of all the frivoloua tnim-
perv in which the philosophers of former days were often in the habit
of disguising their ambitious poverty. He baa shown that, In this, m
in other sciences, the grand object is to establish the universality of
flurtn, and that science la successful and triumphant in proportion as she
approximates to the accomplishment of this object. And, lastly, what
is above all praise, he has.exhibited phRusophy aa the handmaid of re-
ligion ; and has made it manifest that all the rays of knowledge natu-
rally converge towards that one point in which iasiinated tbethnme of
fltemal and heavenly triitu. All this he has done with a degree of maa-
tery which shows the amplitude of his resources ; and, at the same
time, with that simplicity and modesty which are among the most en*
gaging attributes of every superior mind. He profesnes not to oflbr
any thing which has a claim to novelty or originality. His avowed ob-
ject la merely to direct the inquiries of the student **on a subject of
great and generiU interest,** and of peculiar importance to the inquirer,
namely, the philosophy of mind ; and, without fbrmallv assuming the
eharacter of a moral or religioua lecturer, he has made hia work auxil-
iary to the moat sacred and maje^itic of all sciences. He haa made it
clear that aound metaphysical philosophy is not a knowledge which
pnffath up: that, on the contrary, ita legitimate tendency ia to chastiso
the arrogance of human wisdom, and to conduct us to that wladbm
which ia (h>m above, and which is pure, and peaceable, and rich in all
the fruits which can strengthen up the soul into eternal Ilfb. But our
limita admonish us that we muat break off our converse with this can-
did, aairacious, and benevolent inquirer. We cannot, however, take
leave of his work witho it expressing our reverence fbr the motive*
which prompted him to undertake it, and our admiration for the powers
which have so nobly redeemed flnnm loss and waste the fragments of
time spared him lYom most extensive practice.**— Ari<i>A Critic.
" Dr. Abkkcko^ibik is already known to the public as a gentleman
of the first eminence in his profession. The work befiire us proves him
to p osses M an independent, vigorous, and practical mind, thoroufhly
conversant with the subjects it discusses, that enters ex ammo Into the
spirit of Inductive philosophy, and withal is deeply hnbued with Chris-
tian piety. It is a volume calculated to render essential service to uitel-
lectu'il, medical, and theological acience, and we have risen ft-om tha
perusal of it with an earnest wish that it may And its way into the hands
of erery thinking man in the empire, be he a believer or an infidel. It
abornds with interesting statement and powerAi! reasoning; and w«
confidently recommend it to our renders as a publication of uo ordinary
▼aloe — Dublin Chrittian Examiner.
**.... It cannot be disseminated too widely in a nation esfsr Ibr know*
ledfs, keen in inquiry to a provsrb, and accustomsd to tbina no matter*
100 Ufh f» Mmtiny, «io antbodty too v«o«riM«fbr quwtiMr*>C»icftA
••• •
*
• »
Harper*9 Stereotype Edition,
iky ■^ i f»
, or s i:f..^--:ys
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I .* .
■ ' ,%.
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Harper^t Stereotype EdUiom,
THE
LIFE OF IHrELiSOX.
••;''
BY
ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQ. LL.D.
POST LAUREATE, ETC. ETC
PRINTED BY J. fr J. HaRPER, 82 CLIFF-ST.
Bold by CollinB fc Haimay, Cnllinii k, ro.. 0. k, C. k H. Carvill, White,
GallHher, k. Wlilie, O. A. Ri»orbiM-h, E. BIIh*, nnd C. S. Franrit;—
l^BiL-DEi.PHiA, Carey At l.cn, Joliii Grig(r,.TowNr St J. k D. Mm
liogan, U. Hunt, £. L. Carey k A. Hart, atid M'Carty k Davia.
1833.
COlTTJBirTS.
CHAPTER L
KetaoQ'i Birth iind '6ayhood—tte is entered on Board the BaiaonnabM
— Goes to the West Indies in a Merchant-ship ; then serves in thfl
Trlum|rfi~fie sails in Capi. Ptaippo^s Voyage of Discovery— Ones to
. the East Indies in the Seahonw, and returns in ill Health— Serves as
oeting Lieutenaat in the Worcester, and is made Lieutenant into the
liowestoffe^ Commander into the Badger Brig, and Po»t into the
Hinchinbrook— Expedition against the Spanish Main^-Sent te tlie
Unrth Seas in tlie All>emarle— Services duriitg tiie Ameriean
IVai Pag)Bl5
CHAPTER n.
Melaon goea toi France during the Peace— Reappointed to the Boraaa,
and stationed at the Leeward Islands— His firm Conduct concerning
tiM American Interlopers and the Contractors— Marries and returns
lo England — ^b on the Point of quitting the Service in Disgust^
Maiufcerof Lift wbUe uoenployed— Appointed to tlie Agajnemnon on
liMbfealriiigoiitoftbaWaroftbaFieaehBevoltttioii ^.•«.. 41
CHAPTER ni.
I
Tbe Againenuion sent to the Mediterranean— Commencement of Nei*
•on*a Acquaintance with Sir William Hamilton- He is sent to Cor-
■lea, to oo-operate with Paoli— Stnte of Aithirs in that Island — Nelson
undertakes the Siege of Bastia, and reduces It— Takes a^iistinguished
' Fan in ttie Siege of Calvi, where he Insas an Eye— Admiral Hotban^s
Action— The Agamemnon ordered to Oenna, to eo-opwate with the
AmriM and Bardkiian Forces— Orosa Misaonduct of the Auairlaa
Gfloenl «" 90
*.99863 •
Xil COIVTE2VT8.
CHAPTER IV.
Sir J. Jerv is takes the Coinraand— Genoa Jains the French— BuonaparW
begins his Career— Evacuation of Corsica— Nelran htiisis his broad
Pennant in tlie Minerve— Action witli the Sabina— Battle off Cape
St. Vincent- Nelson commands ti)«> inner Squadron at the Blockade
of Cadiz— Boat Action in the Bay of Cadiz— Expedition against
TenerifTe— Nelson loses an Arm— His Sufferings in England, and
Becovery OS
CHAPTER V.
Nelson rejoins Earl St. Vincent iu the Vanguard — Sails in Pureuit of
the French to Egypt— Returns to Sicily, and sails again to Egypt-"
Battle of the Nile ]S3
CHAPTER VI.
Nelson returns to Naples— State of that Court and Kingdom— General
Mack— The French approach Naples— Flight of the Royal Family—
Sttccesaes of the Allies In Italy— Transactions In the Bay of Naples
—Expulsion of the French from the Neapolitan Lnd Roman Statea—
Nelflon is made Duke of Bronte — He leaves the Mediterranean, and
returns to England U3
CHAPTER VIC.
Nelson separates himsflf from his Wife— Northern Confederacy— He
goes to the Baltic, under Sir Hyde Parker— Battle of Copenhagen^
and subsequent Negotiation— Nelson is made a Viscount SOST
CHAPTER VIIL
Sir Hyde Parker is recalled, and Nelson appointed Oommander— 4ftf
goes to Bevel— Settlement of Aflhirs in the Biillii TTnsmiiififnT
Attempt upon the Flotilla at Boulogne— Peace of Amien»— Nelson
takes the Command in Ule Mediterranean on the Renewal of the
War— Escape of the Toulon fleet— Nelson chases them to the Weat
Indies, and back— Delivers up bis Squadron to Admiral Cornwallia^
and lands in England.. 93ft
CHAPTER DL
8ir Robert Calder fjifla In with the combined Fleeta-^They fbnn s
Junction with the Ferrol Squadron, and get Into Cadift~N«lana la
reappoinied to the Command— Battia of Tftfalgai^Vkiofjr and
Death of NalaoD SBI
LIFE OF NBLSOir*
tUktiit lilrei of f^EttiON have bd^ii writteft ; dno Is fd
wanting, clear and concise enougrh to beciime a manual
for the young Bailor, which he may carry about with
him till he has treasured up the example in his memory
and in his heart. In attempting such a work, I sh^
write the eulogy of our great naval hero ; for the best
eulofl^ of Nblson is the faithful history of his actions :
and the best history must bd that which shall ttkM
them most perspicuously.
CHAPTER I.
^elson*» Birtk and Boyhood— He to entered on Board the RaUotuuihtt
f-Ghteo to the fVeot Indies in « MerehonUokip ; then sonoo m tko
Trinmph — He saiU tit Copt. Pkipp*o Voyage of Diecoverf—Cfoef
pi the Eaet hdieo tn the Seakoret, and rt turns inill HeaUhServea
as acting Lieutenant m the Worcester^ and is wade Lieutenant into
tho Lewestoffr^ Commander into ike Badger Brig, and Past into tJU
flinekiukrook — Expedition against the Spanish Jlfatu — Sent to the
jjforth Seas in the Jilbemarle— Services during the American War,
Horatio, son of Edmund and Catherine Nelson,
was bom Sept. 39, 1758, in the parsonage house of
Bumham Thorpe, a village in the county of Nor-
folk, of which his father was rector. The maiden
name of his mother was Suckling: her grand*
mother was an elder sister of Sir Robert Walpole,
And this child was named after his godfather, the
first Lprd Walpc^e. Mrs. Nelson died in 1767, leav«
ing eight, out of eleven, children. Her brother,
Capt. Maurice Suckling of the navy, visited the
widower upon this event, and promised to take care
ol one of the boy^. Three years afterward, when
Horatio was only twelve years of age, being at
home di|ring the Christmas nolydays, he read in the
county newspaper that his uncle was appointed to
the RaisonnaMe, of sixty-four guns. ** Do, Wil-»
liam," said he to a brother whp was a year and a
half older than himself, '* write to my father, and
tell him that I should like to go to sea wi^ unolQ
16 UVB OF HRLfOk. [1771.
Msnirice.*' Mr. Nelson was then at Bath, whither
he had gfone for the recovery of his health : his cir-
cumstances were straitened, and he had no prospect
of ever seeing them bettered : he knew that it was
the wish of providing for himself by which Horatio
was chiefly actuated ; and did not oppose his reso-
lution : he understood also the boy^s character, and
had always said, that in whatever station h^ might
be placed, he would climb, if possible, to the very
top of the tree. Accordingly, Capt. Suckling was
written to, ** What," said he in his answer, " has
poor Horatio done, who is so weak, that he, above
all the rest, should be sent to rough it out at sea! —
But let him come, and the first time we so into ac-
tion, a cannon-ball may knock off his head, and pro-
vide for him at once."
It is manifest from these words, that Horatio was
not the boy whom his uncle would have chosen to
bring up in his own profession. He was never of a
strong Dody ; and the ague, which at that time was
jone of the most common diseases in England, had
greatly reduced his strength ; yet he had already
given proofs of that resolute heart and nobleness of
mind, which, during his whole career of labour and
of glory, so eminently distinguished him. When a
mere child, he strayed a bird's-nesting from his
ridmother's house in company with a cow-boy :
dinner hour elapsed ; he was absent, and could
not be found ; and the alarm of the family became
very great, for they apprehended that he might have
been carried off by gipsies. At length, after search
had been made for him in various directions, he was
discovered alone, sitting composedly by the side of
a brook which he could not get over. '^ I wonder,
child," said the old lady, when she saw him, '* that
hunger and fear did not drive you home." — ^^ Fear !
grandmamma^" replied the future herb, ^l never
saw fear: — ^What is it?" Once, after the winter
bolydaysy when he and his brother William had sfit
1771.] I.IFE OF KEUKNT. 17
off on horseback to return to school, they came
back, because there had been a fall of snow ; and
William, who did not much like the journey, said it
was too deep for them to venture on. " If that be
the case," said the father, " you certainly shall not
go ; but make another attempt, and I will leave it to
your^ honour^ If the road is dangerous, you may
returiy: but remember, boys, I leave it to your ho-
nour." The snow was deep enough to have afforded
ihem a reasonable excuse : but Horatio was not to
be prevailed upon to turn back. ** We must go on,"
«aid he j " remember, brother, it was left to our ho^
nour !" — There were some fine pears growing in the
schoolmaster's garden, which the boys regarded as
lawful booty, and in the highest degree tempting;
but the boldest among them were afraid to venture
for the prize. Horatio volunteered upon this ser-
▼kte ; he was lowered down at night from the bed*
room window by some sheets, plundered the tree,
was drawn up with the pears, and then distributed
them among his schoolfellows without reserving
any for himself.— ^'^ He only took them," he said,
** because every other boy w^is afraid."
Early on a cold and dark spring morning Mr. Nel-
son's servant arrived at this school, at North Wals-
ham, with the expected summons for Horatio to
join his ship. The parting from his brother Wil-
liam, who had been for so many years his playmate
and bedfellow, was a painful effort, and was the be-
ginning of those privations which are the sailor's
lot through life. He accompanied his father to
Ijondon. The Raisonnable was lying in the Med-
way. He was put into the Ohatlmra stage, and on
its arrival was set down with the rest of the passen-
gers, and left to find his way on board as he could.
After wandering about in the cold, without being
able to reach the shio, an officer observing the forlorn
appearance of the boy, questioned him ; and hap^
paning to be acquainted with his uncle, took hiod
M isn OF msuKm. [1771.
•faome, and g^re bim some refre«hmeiit«. — ^Wben he
foi en board, Gapt. Suekling was not in 'the shipi
nor had any person been apprized of the boy's
«omingf. He paced the deck the whole remainder
of the day, without being noticed by any one ; and
it was not till the second day that somebody, as
he expressed it, ^ took compassion on him.'* The
pain whiL*h is felt when we are first transplanted fr6m
our native soil, — when the living branch is cut from
the parent tree, — is one of the most poignant which
ve have to endure through life. There are after-
ffriefs which wound more deeply, which leave be-
hind them sears never to be effaced, which bruise
the spirit, and sometimes break the heart : but never
do we feel so keenl v the want of love, the necessity
of being loved, and the sense of utter desertion, as
when we firstieave the haven of home, and are, as
it were, pushed off. upon the stream of life. Added
to these feeflngs, the seafooy has to endure phy-
sical hardships, and the privation of every comfort,
even of sleep. Nelson had a feeble body and an
affectionate heart, and he remembered through life
his first days of wretchedness in the service.
The Raisonnable, having been commissioned on
account of the disputes respecting the Falkland
Islands, was paid oft as soon as the difference with
the court of Spain was accommodated, and Capt.
Suckling was removed to the Triumph, seventy 'four,
then stationed as a guardship in the Thames. This
was considered as too inactive a life for a boy, and
Nelson was therefore sent a voyage to the West
Indies in a merchant-ship, commanded by Mr. John
Rathbone, an excellent seaman, who had served
as master's mate under Capt. Suckling, in the
Dreadnought. He returned a practical seaman, but
with a hatred Of the king's service, and a saying
then common among the sailors — ^aft the most
honour : forward the better man.'* Rathbone had
piobably been disappointed and disgusted in th#
i779.] uvx OP imutm. 19
^Tv; ^d, with no unfriendly intentions, warned
Nelson ag^ainst a profession which he himself had
Iband hopeless*. His uncle received him on board
the Triumph on his return, and discovering his dis-
like to the navy, took the best means of reconciling
mm to it. He held it out as a reward, that if he
attended well to his navigation, he should go in the
cutter and decked long-boat, which was attached to
the commanding ofiicer'e ship at Chatham. Thus
he became a good pilot for vessels of thai descrip-
tion, from Chatham to the Tower, and down the
Swin Channel to the North Foreland, and acquired
a confidence among rocks and sands, of which he
often felt the value.
Nelson had not been many months on board the
Triumph, when his love of enterprise was ezeited
by hearing that two ships were fitting out for a
voyage of discover jr towards the North Pole. In
consequence of the difficulties which were expected
.on such a service, these vessels were to take out
^effective men instead of the usual number of boy?.
This, however, did not deter him from soliciting to
be received, and, by his uncie^s interest, he was ad*
jxiitted as coxswain under Capt Lutwidge, second
in command. .The voyage was undertaken in com-
^iance with an application from the Royal Society*
The Hon. Capt. Constantine John Phipps, eldest
eon of Lord Mulgrave, volunteered his services*
The Racehorse and Carcass bombs were selected,
as the strongest ships, and, therefore, best adapted
for such a voyage ; and they were taken into oock
and strengtliened, to render them as secure as pos-
sible against the ice. Two masters of Greenland-
men were, employed as pilots for each ship. No
^expedition was ever more carefully fitted out ; and
the first Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Sandwich,
with a laudable solicitude, went on board himself^
iiefore their departure, to see that every thing had
beeaOk completed to the wi%h of the officers. The
fO xjTb of veison. [177S,
nhips were provided with a flimple and excelleot
fipparatus for distilling fresh from snlt water, the
invention of Dr. Irving, who accompanied the ex-*
pedition. It consisted merely in fitting a tube to
the ship's kettle, and applying a wet mop to the
surface as the vapour was passing. By these means
from thirty-^four to forty gallons were produced
every rfay.
They sailed from the Nore on the 4th of June 5
on the eth of the following month they were in lat,
79^ 66' 89" ; long. 9*^ 43' 30" E. The next day,
about the place where most of the old discoverers
had been stopped, the Racehorse was beset with
ice ; but they hove her through with ice anchors.
Capt. Phipps continued ranging along the ice, north*
ward and westward, till the 24th ; he then tried to
\he eastward. On the 30^ he was in lat. 80^ 13',
long. 18^ 48' E*, among the islands and in the ibe,
with no appearance of an opening !br ihe ships.
The weather was excedjngly fine, mild, and unusu-
ally clear. Here they were becalmed in a large
bay, with three apparent openings between the
islands which formed it ; but every where, as far aa
they could see, surrounded with ice. There waa
no^ a breath of air, the water was perfectly smooth^
the ice covered with snowi low and even, except a
few broken pieces, near the edge ; and the pools of
water in the middle of the ice-fields just crusted
over with young ice. On the next day the ice
closed upon them, and no opening was to be seen
any where, except a hole or lake, as it might be
called, about a mile and half in circumference,
where the ships lay ftist to the ioe with their ice an^
chors, They filled their casks with water from
these ice«fields, which, was very pure and soft. The
men were playing on the ice all day ; but the Green^
land pilots, who were farther than they had evef
been before, and considered that the season wa4
JTar 9:dvancinga were alarmed at being thus be<iet«
i77SL] UPB OV KELSON. tl
The next day there was not the smallest openaag
the ships were within less than two len^hs of each
other, separated by ice, and neither having room to
turn. The ice, which the day before had been flat,
and almost level with the water's edge, was now, in
many places forced higher than the mainyard, by
ihe pieces squeezing together. A day of thick fog
followed: it was succeeded by clear weather; but
the passage by which the , ships had entered from
the westward was closed, and no open water was
in sight, either in that or any other quafter. By the
pilots^ advice the men were set to cut a passage and
warp through the small openings to the westward.
They sawed through pieces of ice twelve feet thick i
and this labour continued the whole day, during
which their utipost efforts (jiid not move the ship
above three hundred yards ; while they were driven,
together with the ice, far to the N. £. and £• by
the current. Sometimes a field of several acres
fiqrare would be lifted up between two larger islands,
«nd incorporated with them ; and thus these larger
pieces continued to grow by aggregation. Another
day passedy.and there seemed no probability of get*
ting the ships put, without a strong E. or N. E. wiud#
The season was far advanced, and every hbur les*
aened the chande of extricating themselves* Young
as he was. Nelson was appointed to command ona
of the boats which were sent out to explore a pas*
sage into the open water. It was the means of
saving a boat belonging to the Racehorse from a
singular but imminent danger. Some of the officers
had fired at and wounded a walrus. As no other
animal has so human-like an expression in its conn*
ienance, so also is there none that seems to possess
more of the passions of humanity. The wounded
animal dived immediately, and thought up a nuniF
iber of its companion^ ; ajid they all joined in an
attack upon the boat. Th^y wrested an oar from
lone of the men; and it was with the utmost diffir
tt ZiIFB OF KELSON. [1773
011117 that the crew eonld prevent them from staying
or upsetting her, till the Carcasses boat came up;
and the w^nises, finding their enemies thus rein"*
forced, dispersed. Young Nelson exposed himself
in a more daring manner. One night, during the
mid-watch» lie stole from the ship with one of his
comrs^des, tailing advantage of a rising fog, and set
off over the ice in pursuit of a bear. It was not
long before they were missed, The fog thickened*
and Capt. Lutwidge and his ofllcers became exceed-
ingly alarmed for their safety. Between three alld
four in the morning the weather cleared, and the
two adventurers were seen, at a considerable dis-
tance from the ship, attacking 'a huge hear. The
signal for them to return was immediately made 1
Nelson's comrade called upon him to obey it, but in
vain ; his musket had flashed in the pan; their am<«
munition was expended ; and a' chasm in the ice^
which divided him from the bear, probably preserved
his life, ♦* Never mind," he cried ; ** do but let me
get a blow at this devil with the butt-end of my
musket, and we shall have him." Capt. Lutwidge,
however, seeing his danger, fired a gun, which had
the, desired effect of frightening the beast 1 and the
boy then returned, soniewhat afraid of the conse-
quences of his trespass. The captain rep^'imanded*
hini sternly for conduct so unworthy of the office
which he filled, and desired to know what motive he
could have for hunting a bear. ** Sir," said he,
pouting his lip, as he Was wont.to do when agitated,
'* I wished to kill the bear, that I might carry the
pkin to my father.**
^ A party were now sent to an island, about twelve
miles off (named Walden's Island in the charts,
from the midshipman who was intrusted with this
pervice), to see where the open water lay. They
pame back with information, that the ice, though
closed all about them, was open to the westward,
f Q^d the point by which they can^e ii|« They 8^4
17Y9,] I01B or mstsoH^ H
also, that upon the island they had had a fresh
wind. This intelligence considerably abated the
hopes of the crew ; for where they lay it had been
almost calm, and their main dependence had been
upon the effect of an easterly wind in clearing the
bay* There was but one alternative ; either to wait
the event of the weather upon the shipsf Or to he*
take themselves to the boats. , The likelihood thai
it miffht be necessaiy to sacrifice the ships had
been foreseen ; the boats, accordingly, were adapted^
both in number and size, to transport, in case of
emergency, the whole crew i and there were Dutch
whalers upon the coast) in which they could all bd
conveyed to Europe^. As for wintering where they
were, that dread/ol . experiment had been already
tried too often. No time was to be lost ; the ships
had driven into shoal water, having but fourteen
fathoms. Should they, or the ice to which they
were fast, take the groundf they must inevitably be
lost: and at this time they were driving fast to*
wards some rocks on the N<JE!I^ Captain Phipps
sent for the officers of both ships^ and told them his
intention of preparing the boats for going away.
They were immediately hoisted out$ ^nd the fitting;'
begun^ Canvass bread-bags were made, in case it
should b^ necessary suddenly to desert the vessels }
and men were sent with the lead^and-line to th0
northward and eastward^ to sound wherever they
found cracks in the ice, that they might have notice^
before the ice took the ground ; for, in that cascrthe
ships must uistantly have been crushed or overset.
On the 7th of August they began to haul this boats ^
over the icCf Nelson having command of the four- >
oared cutter. The men bihaved excellently well,
like true Briti^ seamen: they seemed fe^onciled^
to t'le thought of leaving the ships^ and bad full con*'
fidence in their officers. About noon, the ice ap«
pea*ed rather more open near the vessels ; and as
the wind was easterly, though there was but littl^a
S4 UFS o' NX1.80N. [1775^
of lt» the pails were set, and thev got about a mile
to the westward. Thgr moved very slowly, and
were not now nearly so Jar to the westward as when
they were-first beset. Howe vet, all sail was kept
xmon them, to fprce them through whenever the ice
slacked the least* Whatever exertions were made,
it could not be possible to g^t the boats to the water
edge before the 14th ; and if the situation of the
chips should not alter by that time, it would not be
justifiable to stay longer by them. The commander
therefore resolved to carry on both attempts to-
gether, moving the boats constantly, and takii^
every opportunity of gettmg the ships through. A
party was sent out next day to the westward, to
examine the stale of the ice : thiey returned with
tidings that it was very heavy and close, consistiiM
chiiBfty of large fields. The ships, however, moved
something, and the ice itself was drifting westwards
There was a thick fog, so that it was impossible to
ascertain what advantage had been gained. It con-
tinued on the 9th; but the ships were moved a little
thrcmgh some very small openings : the mist cleared
off in the afternoon ; and it was then perceived that
they had driven much more than could have bectt
expected to the westward, and that the ice itself
liad driven still farther. In tb^course of the day
they got past the boats, and took them on board
again. On the mbrrow the wind sprang up to the
N. N. E. All sail was set, and the ships forced
their way through a great deal of very heavy lee.
They frequently struck, and with such force, XhBl
one stroke broke the shank of the Racehorse's best
bower anchor: but the vessels made way; and by
noon they had cleared the ice, and were out;, at sea.
The next day they anchored in Smeereiibek'g harbon;[^
close to that island of which the westernmost point
is called Hakluyt's Headland, in honour of the greajt
promoter and compiler of our fingliah voyages of
discovery.
1776.^ XJFB OF NBLSON. 911
Here they remained a few days, that the men
might rest after their fatigue. No insect was to be
seen in this dreary country, nor any species of rep-
tile—not even the common earth-worm. Large
bodies of ice, called icebergs, filled up the valleys
between high mountains, so dark, as, when contrasted
with the snow, to appear black. The colour of the
ice was of a lively light green. Opposite to the place
where they fixed their observatory was one of these
icebergs, above three hundred feet high : its sides
towards the sea was nearly perpendicular, and a
stream of water issued from it. Large pieces fre«
qiiently broke off, and rolled down into the sea*
There was no thunder nor lightning during the
whole time they were in these latitudes. The sky
was generally loaded with hard white clouds, from
which it was never entirely free even in the clearest
weather. They always knew when they were ap«
proaehing the ice, long before they saw it, by a
bright appearance near the horizon, which the
Greenlandmen called the blink of the ice. The
season was now so far advanced, that nothing more
eould have been attempted, if indeed any thing had
been left untried: but the summer had been lin*
usually favourable, and they had carefully surveyed
the wall of ice extending n>r more than twenty de«
grees between the latitudes of 80^ and 81°, without
Qie smallest appearance of any opening.
The ships were paid off shortly after their return
to England; and Nelson was then placed by his
uncle with Captain Farmer, in the Seahorse, of
twenty guns, then going out to the East Indies in
the squadron under Sir Edward Hughes. He waa
stationed in the foretop at watch and watch. His
good conduct attracted the attention of the master
(afterward Captain Surridge) in whose watch he
was; and, upon his recommendation, the ca(>tain
rated him as midshipman. At this time his conn*
tenance was florid, and his appearanoe rather Hoiit
C
S6 LIPfi OF NElSOlf. [1776«
and athletic ; but when he had been about ei^teen
months in India, he felt the effects of that climate^
80 perilous to European constitutions. The disease
baffled all power of medicine ; he was reduced al-
most to a skeleton ; the use of his limbs was for
some time entirely lost ; and the only hope that re-
mained was from a voyage home. Accordingly, he
was brought home by Captain Pigot,in the Dolphin;
and had it not been for the attentive and careful
kindness of that officer on the way, Nelson would
never have lived to reach his native shores. He
had formed an acquaintance with Sir Charles Pole,
Sir Thomas Troubridge, and other distinguished
officers, then, like himself, beginning their careet r
he had left them pursuing that career in full enjoy-
ment of health and hope, and was returning from a
country, in which all things were to him new and
interesting, with a body broken down by sickness,
and spirits which had sunk with his strength. Long
afterward, when the name of Nelson was known as
widely as that of England itself, he spoke of the
feelings which he at this time endured. '* I felt im-
pressed,*^ said he, *'with a feeling that I should
never rise in my profession. My mind was stag-
gered with a view of the difficulties I had to sur-
mount, and the little interest 1 possessed. I could
discover no means of reaching the object of my
ambition. After a long and gloomy reverie, in
which r almost wished myself overboard, a sudden
glow of patriotism was kindled within me, and pre-
sented my king and country as my patron. * Well,
then,' I exclaimed, *I will be a hero! and, con-
fiding in Providence, I will brave every danger !' '*
Long afterward. Nelson loved to speak of the
feeling of that moment: and from that time, he
often said, a radiant orb was suspended in bis
mind's eye, which urged him onward to renown*
The state of mind in which these feelings began, is
what the mystics mean by their season of darkness
1777.] UFB OF KBLflON. 27
and desertion. If the animal spirits fail, they repre*
sent it as an actual temptation. The enthusiasm of
Nelson's nature had taken a different direction, but
its essence was the same. He knew to what the
previous state of dejection was to be attributed;
that ah enfeebled body, and a mind depressed, had
cast this shade over his soul : but he always seemed
willing to believe, that the sunshine which suc-
ceeded, bore with it a prophetic glory, and that the
light which led him on, was ** lijp^ht from heaven.**
His interest, however, was far better tha^ he
imagined. During his absence. Captain Suckling
had been made comptroller of the navy ; his healtn
had materially improved upon the voyage; and, as
soon as the Dolphin was paid off", he was appointed
acting-liexiteuant in the Worcester, sixty-four. Cap-
tain Mark Robinson, then going out with convoy to
Gibraltar. Soon after his return, on the 8th of
April, 1777, he passed his examination for a lieu-
tenancy. Captain Suckling sat at the head of the
board ; and when the examination had ended, in a
manner highly honourable to Nelson, rose from his
seat, and introduced him to the examining captains
as his nephew. They expressed their wonder that
he had not informed them of this relationship
before ; he replied, that he did not wish the younker
to be favoured ; he knew his Ujephew would pass a
eood examination, and he had not been deceived.
The next day Nelson received his commission as
second lieutenant of the Lowestoffe frigate. Captain
William Locker, then fitting out for Jamaica.
American and French privateers under American
colours were at that time harassing our trade in
the West Indies : even a frigate was not sufficiently
active for Nelson, and he repeatedly got appointed
to the command of one of the Lowestoffe's tenders.
During one of their cruises the Lowestoffe cap^
tured an American letter-of-marque : it was blowing
,ft gale, and a heavy sea running. The first lieute-
M UFB or ymiMM. [1778.
nant heing ordered to board the prize, went below to
put on his hanger. It happened to be mislaid ; and,
while he was seekingr it, Captain Locker came on
deck. Perceiving the boat still alongside, and in
danger every moment of being swamped, and bein^
extremely anxious that the privateer should be in-
stantly taken in charge, because he feared that it
would otherwise founder, he exclaimed, ** Have I
no officer in the ship who can board the prize V*
Nelson did not offer himself immediately, waiting,
with, his usual sense of propriety, for the first lieu-
tenant's return ; but hearing the master volunteer,
he jumped into the boat, saying, " It is my turn
now ; and if I come back, it is yours.'* The Ameri-
can, who had carried a heavy press of sail, in hope
of escaping, was so completely water-logged, that
the Lowestoffe's boat went in on deck, and out
again with the sea.
About this time he lost his uncle. Captain
Locker, however, who had perceived the excellent
qualities of Nelson, and formed a friendship for
him, which continued during his life, recommended
him warmly to Sir Peter Parker, then commander-
in-chief upon that station. In consequence of this
recommendation he was removed into the Bristol
flag-ship, and Lieutenant Cuthbert CoUingwood,
who had long been in habits of great friendship
with him, succeeded him in the Lowestoffe. Sir
Peter Parker was the friend of both ; and thus it
happened, that whenever Nelson got a step in rank,
Collingwood succeeded him. The former soon be-
came first lieutenant ; and, on the 8th of December,
1778, was appointed commander of the Badger
brig; Collingwood taking his place in the BristoL
While the Badger was lying m Montego Bay, Ja-
maica, the Glasgow of twenty guns came in and
anchored there, and in two hours was in flames, the
•teward having set fire to her while steading rum out
of the after-hold. Her crew were leaping into the
1779.J UFB OF nxLsoii. 29
water, when Nelson came up in his boatfi, made
them throw their powder overboard, and point their
guns upward: and, by his presence of mind and
personal exertions, prevented the loss of life which
would otherwise have ensued* On the 11th of
June, 1779, he was made post into the Hinchin-
brook, of twenty-eight guns, an enemy's merchant-
man, sheathed with wood, which had bee^b taken
into the service. CollingwOod was then made com-
' mander into the Badger. A short time after he left
the Lowestoffe, that ship, with a small squadron,
stormed the fort of St. Fernando de Omoa, on the
south side of the Bay of Honduras, and captured
some register ships which were lying under its
guns. Two hundred and fifty quintals of quick-
silver and three millions of piastres were the re-
ward of this enterprise : and it is characteristic of
Nelson, that the chance by which he missed a shar^
in such a prize is never mentioned in any of his let«
ters ; nor is it likely that it ever excited evea 9 taox
inentary feeling of vexation.
Nelson was fortunate in possessing good interest
at the time when it could be most serviceable to
him : his promotion had been almost as rapid as it
could be ; and before he had attained the dge of
twenty-one he had gained that rank which brought
all the honours of the service within hip reach. No
opportunity, indeed, had yet been given him of dis-
tinguishing himself; but lie was thoroughly master
of his profession, and his zeal and ability were
acknowledged wherever he was known* Count
d'Estaing, with a fleet of one hundred and twenty-
five sail, men of war and transports, and a reputed
force of five-and-tw6nty thousand men, threatened
Jamaica from St. Domingo. Nelson offered his ser-
vices to the Admiral and to Governor-general Dal-
ling, and was appointed to command the batteries
of Fort Charles, at Port Royal. Not more than
•even |;housaod men could be mastered (br the de«
C«
30 hOMi tft vlstMOJU. [1780.
fene($ of ihe island,— ii number wholly inadequate
to redist the force which threatened them. Of this
Nelson was so well aware, that when he wrote to
his friends in Engfland, he told them they must not
be surprised to hear of his learnings to speak French.
D*Estaing, however, was either not aware of his
own superiority, or not equal to the command with
which h^was intrusted ; he attempted nothing with
this forbidable armament; and General Dallinff
was thus left to execute a project which he had
formed against the Spanish colonies.
This project was, to take Fort San Juan, on the
river of that name, which flows from Lake Nicara-
gua into the Atlantic ; make himself master of the
lake itsielf, and of the cities of Granada and Leon ;
and thus cut off the communication of the Spa*
ni^rds between their northern and southern posses-
sibns in America. Here it is that a canal between
the two seas may most easily be formed; — a work
more important in its consequences than any which
has ever yet been effected by human power. Lord
George Germaine, at that.time secretary of state for
the American department, approved the plan : and
as discontents at that time were known to prevail
in the Nuevo Reyno, in Popayan, and in Peru, the
more i^nguine part of the English began to dream
of acquirinsf an empire in one part of America more
extensive than that which they were on the point of
losing in another. General Balling's plans were
well formed ; but the history and the nature of the
country had not been studied as accurately as its
geography : the difficulties which occurred in fitting
out the expedition delayed it till the season was too
far advanced ; and the men were thus sent to adven-
ture themselves, not so much against an enemy*
whom they would have beaten, as against a climate,
which would do the enemy's work.
Early in the year 1780, five hundred men, des-
tined ror this 8enrice» were convoyed by Nelson
1760.] LOfti 6t MvMh 91
from Port Royal to Cape Gracias n Dioti, in Hon-
duras. Not a native was to be seen when they
landed: they had been taught that the English
came with no other intent than that of enslaving
them, and sending them to Jamaica, After a while,
however, one of them ventured down, confiding in
his knowledge of one of the party; and by his
means the neighbouring tribes were conciliated
with presents, and brought in. The troops were en-
camped on a swampy and unwholesome plain, where
they were joined by a party of the seventy-ninth
regiment, from Black River, who were already in a
deplorable state of sickness. Having remained
here a month, they proceeded, anchoring frequently,
along the Mosquito shore, to collect their Indian
allies, who were to furnish proper boats for the
river, and to accompany them. They reached the
river San Juan, March 24th : and here, according to
his orders,' Nelson's services were to terminate ;
but not a man in the expedition had ever been up
the river, or knew the distance of any fortification
from its mouths and he, not being one who would
turn back when ^o much was to be done, resolved
CO carry the soldiers up. About two hundred, there-
fore, were embarked in the Mosquito shore craft,
and in two of the Hinchinbrook's boats, and they
began their voyage. It was the latter end of the
dry season, the worst time for such an expedition ;
the river was consequently low : Indians were sent
forward through narrow channels between shoals
and sand banks, and the men were frequently
obliged to quit the bo^ts, and exert their utmost
strength to drag or thrust them along. This labour
continued for several days : when they came into
deeper water, they had then currents and rapids to
contend with, which would have been insurmount-
able, but for the skill of the Indians in such diffi-
culties. The brunt of the labour was borne by
ihem and by the sailora-'-iiien never aocastomed to
32 LIFE OT NXLSON. [178U
stand aloof when any exertion of strength or hardi-
hood is required. I'he soldiers, less accustomed to
rely upon themselves, were of little use. But all
equally endured the violent heat of the sun, ren-
dered more intense ^)y being reflected from the white
shoals, while the high woods, on both sides of the
river, were frequently so close, as to prevent any
refreshing circulation of air; and during the night
all were equally exposed to the heavy and unwhole-
some dews.
On the 9th of April they reached an island in the
river, called St. Bartolomeo, which the Spaniards
had fortified, as an outpost, with a small semicir-
cular battery, mounting nine or ten swivels, and
manned with sixteen or eighteen men. It com-
manded the river in a rapid and difficult part>of the
navigation. Nelson, at the head of a few of his
seamen, leaped upon the beach. The ground upon
which he sprung was so muddy^ that he had some
difficulty in extricating himself, and lost his shoes :
barefooted, however, he advanced, and, in his own
phrase, boarded the battery,. In this resolute at-
tempt he was bravely supported by Despard, at that
time a captain in the army, afterward unhappily
known for his schemes of revolutionary treason.
The castle of St. Juan is situated about sixteen
miles higher up: the stores and ammunition, how-
ever, were landed a few miles below the casile, and
the men had to march through woods almost im-
passable. One of the men was bitten under the eye
oy a snake, which darted upon him from the bough
of a tree. He was unable to proceed from the vio-
lence of the pain : and when, after a short while,
flome of his comrades were sei^t back to asbist hioi,
he was dead, and the body already putrid. Nelson
himself narrowly escaped a similar fate. He had
ordered his hammock to be slung under some trees,
being excessively fatigued, and was sleeping when
a monitory lizard passed across his face. The la*
1781.] urs OP inKLsoir. 53
dlans happilf observed the reptile, and, knowing
what it indicated, awoke him. He started ap, and
found one of the deadliest serpents of the country
coiled up at his feet. He suffered from poison of
another kind; for, drinking at a spring in which
some boughs of the manchineel had been thrown,
the effects were so severe, as, in the opinion of some
of his friends, to inflict a lasting injury upon his
constitution.
The castle of St. Juan is thirty-two miles below
the Lake of Nicaragua, from which it issues, and
sixty-nine from the mouth of the river. Boats
reach the sea from thence in a day and a half; but
their navigation back, even when unladen, is the
labour of nine days. The English appeared before
it on the llth, two days after they had taken Hi*
Bartolomeo. Nelson's advice was, that it should
instantly be carried by assault : but Nelson was not
the commander; and it was thought proper to ob-
serve all the formalities of a siege. Ten days
Were wasted before this could be commenced : it
was a work more of fat^igue than of danger ; but
fatigue was more to be dreaded than the enemy ;
the rains set in : and, could the garrison have held
out a little longer, disease would have rid them of
their invaders. Even the Indians sunk under it,
the victims of unusual exertion, and of their own
excesses. The place surrendered on the S4th.
But victory procured to the conquerors none of that
relief which had been expected; the castle was
worse than a prison; and it contained nothing
which could contribute to the recovery of the sicl^
or the preservation of those who were yet unaf-
fected. The huts, which served for hospitals, were
surrounded with filth, and with the putrefying hides
of slaughtered cattle — almost sufficient of them-
selves to have engendered pestilence : and when, at
last, orders were given to erect a convenient hospi-
tal* the contagion had become »o general, that there
34 UFK OF NELSON. [1781.
were none who could work at it ; for, besides the
few who were able to perlbrm garrison duty, there
were not orderly men enough to assist the sick.
Added to these evils, there was the want of all
needful remedies; for, though the expedition had
been amply provided with hospital stores, river
craft enough had not been procured for transporting
the requisite baggage ; and when much was to be
left benind, provision for sickness was, that which
of all things men in health would be most ready to
leave. Now, when these medicines were required,
the river was swollen, and so turbulent, that its up-
ward navigation was almost impracticable. At
length, even the task of burying the dead was more
than the living could perform, and the bodies were
tossed into the stream, or left for beasts of prey, and
for the gallinazos — those dreadful carrio;i birds,
which do not always wait for death before they
begin their work. Five months the English per-
sisted in what may be called this war against na-
ture ; they then left a few men, who seemed proof
against the climate, to retain the castle till the Spa-
niards should choose to retake it, and make them
prisoners. The rest abandoned their baleful con-
quest. Eighteen hundred men were sent to differ-
ent posts upon this wretched expedition : not more
than three hundred and eighty ever returned. The
Hinchinbrook's complement consisted of two hun-
dred men ; eighty-seven took to their beds in one
night; and of the whole crew not more than ten
survrved.
The transports* men all died, and some of the
ships, having none left to take care of them, sunk in
the harbour: but transport ships were not wanted,
for the troops which they had brought were no
more: they had fallen, not by the hand of an enemy,
but by the deadly influence of the climate.
Nelson himself was saved by a timely removal.
In a few days after the commencement of the siega
1782.] XIFE OF NELSOir. 95
he was seized with the prevailing dysentery ; mean-
time, Capt. Glover (son of the author of Leonidas)
died, and Nelson was appointed to succeed him in
the Janus, of forty-four guns ; Collingwood being
then made post into the Hinchlnbrook. He returned
to the harbour the day before St. Juan surrendered,
and immediately sailed for Jamaica in the sloop
which brought the news of his appointment. He
was, however, so greatly reduced by the disorder,
that when they reached Port Royal he was carried
ashore in his cot ; and finding himself, after a partial
amendment, unable to retain the command of his
new ship, he was compelled to ask leave to- return
to England, as the only means of recovery. Capt.
(afterward Admiral) Cornwallis took him home in
the Lion ; and to his care and kindness Nelson
believed himself indebted for his life. He went
immediately to Bath, in a miserable state ; so help*
less, that he was carried to and from his bed ; and
the act of moving him produced the most violent
pain. . In three months he recovered, and imme-
diately hastened to London, and applied for em-
Eloyment. After an interval of about four monthn
e was appointed to the Albemarle, of tWenty-
eight guns, a French merchant-man, which had
been purchased from the captors for the king's
service.
His health was not yet thoroughly re-established ;
and while he was employed in getting his ship
ready, he again became so ill as hardly to ^be able
to keep out of bed. Yet in this state, still suffering
from the fatal effect of a West Indian climate, as
if, it might almost be supposed, he said, to try his
constitution, he was, sent to the North Seas, and
kept there the whole winter. The asperity with
which he mentioned this so many years afterward,
evinces how deeply he resented a mode of conduct
equally cruel to Ibe individual and detrimental to
the service. It was during the armed neutrality;
9B uwm or hju^oit* [IfW*
and when tiiey anchored off Elsinore, the DanUli
Admiral sent on board, desiring to be informed
what ships had arrived, and to have their force
written down. ^ The Albemarle," said Nelson to
the messenger, ^ is one of his Britannic Majesty's
ships : you are at liberty, sir, to count the gui^ as
you go down the side: and you may assure the
Danish Admiral, that, if necessary, they shall all
be well f^erved.** During this voyage be gained «
considerable knowledge of the Danish coast, and
its soundings; greatly to the advantage of his
country in after-times. The Albemarle was not a
good ship, and was several tiroes nearly overset, in
consequence of the masts having been made much
too long for her. On her return to England they
were shortened, and some other improvements made
at Nelson's suggestion. Btill he always insisted
that her first owners, the French, had taught her
to run away, as she was never a good sailer, except
whea^oing directly before the wind.
On their return to the Downs, while he was
ashore visiting the senior officer, there came on ao
heaVy a gale, that almost all the vessels drove, and
a storeship came athwart-hawse of the Albemaiie.
Nelson feared she would drive on the Goodwin
Sands: he ran to the beach; but even the Deal
boatmen thought it impossible to get on boardf
jiuch was the violence of the storm. At lengthy
some of the most intrepid offered to make the
attempt for fifteen guineas ; and to the astonishment
end fear of all ^he beholdiers, he embarked during
the height of the tempest. "With great difficulty
and imminent danger he succeeded in reaching her.
She lost her bowsprit and foremast, but escaped
farther injury. He was now ordered to QucImbc;
where, his surgeon told him, he would certainly be
laid up by the climate. Many of his friends urged
him to represent this to Admiral Keppel: but*
having received hia ordens ixom Lord Siuidwklit
178^4] XJFB ogr lasiaon, ST
there ftf|)eared to him an indelioeey la aifplying to*
his sueoesBor to have them altered.
Accordingly, he sailed for Canada. Dman^if her
first cruise on that station, the Albemade enured
a fishing achooner, which contained, in her cargo^
nearly all the property that her master possesaed*
and the poor fellow had a large family at home»
anxiously expecting him. Nelson employed him
as a pilot in Boston Bay, then restored htm the
schooner and cargo, and gave him a certificate to
secure him against being captured by any other
vessel. The man came ofiT afterward to tiie Albe-
marle, at the hazard of his life, with a present of
sheep, poultry, and fresh provisions. A most v»«
luable supply it proved ; for the scurvy was raging
on board : this was in the middle of August, and the
ship*s company had not had a fresh meal since the
beginning of April. The certificate was preserved
at Boston in memory of an act of unusual gene*
rosity ; and now that the fame of Nelson has given
interest to every thing connected with his name, it
is regarded as a relic. The Albemarle had a nar*
row escape upon this cruise. Four French sail of
the line and a frigate, vhich had come out of fios«
ton harbour, gave chase to- her; and Nelson, per*
ceiving t&at they beat him in sailing, boldly ran
among the numerous shoals of St. George's Bank»
confiding in his own skill in pilotage. Capt. Salter,
in the St. Margaretta, had escaped the French fieet,
by a similar manoeuvre, not long before. The fri-
gate alone continued warily to pursue him ; but at
soon as he perceived that his enemy was unsup*
ported, he shortened sail, and hove to : upon which
the Frenchman thought it advisable to give over the
pursuit, and sail in quest of his consorts» ^ '
At Quebec Nelson became acquainted with Alex*
ander Davison ; b^ whose interference he was pre>-
vented from making what would have been called
an imprudent marriage. The Albemaile wag lalMMrt
D
38 uns Qv* wEjaon. [178S«'
to leave the station, her captain had taken leave of
his friends, and was gone down the river to the
place of anchorage; when, the next morning, as
D&vison was walking on the beach, to his surf)rise
he saw Nelson coming back in his boat. Upon
inquiring the cause of his reappearance. Nelson
took his arm, to walk towards the town, and told
him he found it utterly impossible to leave Quebec
without again seeing the woman whose society had
contributed so much to this happiness there, and
offering her his hand. — ^** If you do," said his friend,
«* your utter ruin must inevitably follow," — " Then
let it follow," cried Nelson, " for I am resolved to
do it" — " And I," replied Davison, " am resolved
you shall not." Nelson, however, upon this occa-
sion, was less resolute than his friend, and suffered
himself to be led back to the boat.
The Albemarie was under orders to convoy a ffeet
of transports to New- York. — ^** A very pretty job,"
said her captain, *' at this late season of the year"
(October was far advanced), ** for our safls are at
this moment frozen to the yards." On his arrival at
Sandy Hook, he waited oii the commander-in-chief,
Admiral Digby, who told him he was come on a iSne
station for msU^ing prize-money. **Yes,^ir," Nel-
son made answer ; '* but the West Indies is the sta-
tion for honour." Lord Hood, with a detachment of
Rodney^ victorious fleet, was at that time at Sandy
Hook: he had been intimate with Capt. Suckling;
and Nelson, who was desirous of nothing but ho-
nour, requested him to ask for the Albemarle, that
he might go to that station where it was most likely
to be obtained. Admiral Digby reluctantly parted
with him. His professional merit was already well
known: and Lord Hood, on introdwung him to
Prince William Henry, as the Duke of Clarence was
then called, told the prince, if he wished to ask any
questions respecting naval tactics. Captain Nelson
could give lum as much information as any officer
ltS3,] urm «v nxuam 80
ui the fleet. The Duke, who, to his own honeuFy
became from that time the firm friend of Nelson, de-
scribes him as appearing the merest boy of a cap-
tain he had ever seen, dressed in a full laced uni-
form, an old-fashioned waistcoat with ]ong flaps, and
his lank unpowdered hair tied in a atiff Hessian tail
of extraordinary length ; making altogether so re-
markable a figure, *' that,'' says the Duke, *' I had
never seen any thing like it before, nor coidd I ima-
gine who he was, nor what he came abouL But his
address and conversation were irresistibly pleasing;
and when he spoke on professional subjects, it was
with ^n enthusiasm that showed he was no common
being."
It was expected that the French would attempt
some of the passages between the Bahamas : and
Lord Hood, thinking of this, said to Nelson, ^1
suppose, sir, from the length of time you were cruis-
ing among the Bahama Keys, you must be a good
pilot there." He replied, with that constant readi-
ness to render justice to every man which was so
conspicuous in all his conduct through life, that he
w^fi well acquainted with them himself, but that in
ihat respect his second lieutenant was far his supe-
rior. The French got into Puerto Cabello on the
coast of- Venezuela. Nelson was cruising between
that port and. La Guayra, under French colours, for
the purpose of obtaining information ; when a king's
launch, belonging to the Spaniards, passed near, and
being hailed in French, came alongside without sus-
picion, and answered all questions that were asked
concerning the number and force of the enemy's
ships. The crew, however, were not a little sur-
prised when they were taken on hoard, and found
themselves prisoners. One of the party went by
the name of the Count de Deux Fonts. He was,
however, a prince of the German empire, and brother
to the heir of the Electorate of Bavaria : his com-
panions were French officers of distinction, and men
4d USB oar hmjkhi, [17^3.
of floienoe, who had been collectings specimens in
the various branches of natural history. Nelson
having entertained them with the best his table could
afford, told them they were at liberty to depart with
their boat and all that it contained : he only required
tbem to promise that they would consider them«
selves as prisoners, if the commander-in-chief should
refuse to acquiesce in their being thus liberated :•—
a circumstance which was not by any means likely
to happen.. Tidings soon arrived that the prelimin&-
ries of peace had been signed ; and the Albemarle
returned to England, and was paid off. Nelson's
first business, after he got to London, even before
he went to see his relations, was to attempt to get
the wages due to his men, for the various ships in
which they had served during the war. •* The dis-
gust of seamen to the navy,*' he said, ^ was all
owing to the infernal plan of turning them over from
ship to ship ; so that men could not be attached to
the officers, nor the officers care the least about the
men." Yet he himself was so beloved by his men,
tiiat his whole ship's company offered, if he could
get a ship, to enter for her immediately. He was
now, for the first time, presented at court. After
going through this ceremony, he dined with his
friend Davison^ at Lincoln's Inn. As soon as he
entered the chambers, he threw off what he. called
his iron«bound coat ;. and putting himself at ease in
a dressing-gown, passed the remainder of the day
in talking over all that had befallen them since they
parted on the shore of the River St. Iiawrenoe,
xxvB ov hblioii. 4t
CHAPTER IL
JVU««» goea t§ FVoties during ike Peace— Rempointed to the Bonue^
and stationed at tke Leeward Mnnde—Hie firm Conduct concerning
the American Interlopere andUue Contraetore—Marriee mad returns t§
England'— h on the Point of quitting the Strwee in Dieguet— Manner
of Life while unemployed— Appointed to the ^gamemnoncn thebreak'
mg e%t of the War of the French Revoltitien.
, .**l HAVE closed the war," said Nelson, in one of
his letters, '* without a fortnne; but there is not a
speck in my character. True honour, I hope, pre*
dominates in my mind far above riches.^ ' He did
not apply for a ship, because be was not wealthy
enough to live on board in the manner whieh was
then become customary. Finding it, therefore, pru-
dent to economize on his half-pay during the peace,
he went to France, in company with Captaih Mac-
namara, of the navy, and took lodgings at St. Omer*8.
The death of his favourite sister Anne, who died in
consequence of going out of the baJl*room, at Bath,
^hen heated with dancing, aflected hir father so
much, that it had nearly occasioned him to return
in a few weeks. Time, however, and. reason, and
religion, overcame this grief in the old man ; and
Nelson continued at St. Omer's long enough to fall
in love with the daughter of an English clergyman.
This second attachment appears to have been less
ardent than the first ; for, upon weighing the evils
of a straitened income to a married man, he thought
it better to leave France, assigning to his friends
something in his accounts as the cause. This pre*
vented him from accepting an invitation from the
Count of Deux Fonts to visit him at Paris, couched
in the handsomest terms of acknowledgment torihm
treatment whieh he had received on boiid the Albe-
marle*
D9
4f Juis or mtRor. [1784.
The self-constraint which Nelson exerted in sub-
duing this attachment made him naturally desire to
be at sea : and when, upon Yisitin? Lord Howe at
the Admiralty, he was asked if he wished to be
employed, he made answer that he did. Accord-
ingly, in March, he was appointed to the Boreas,
twenty-eight guns, going to the Leeward Islands,
as a cruiser on the peace establishment. Lady
Hughes and her family went out with him to Ad-
miral Siir Richard Hughes, who commanded on that
station. His ship was full of young midshipmen,
of whom there were not less than thirty on board :
and happy were they whose lot it was to be placed
with such a captain. If he perceived that a boy was
afraid at fiost going aloft, he would say to him in a
friendly manner: ^Well, sir; I am gomg a race to
the mast head, and beg that I may meet you there.**
The poor little fellow instantly began to climb, and
got up how he. could, — Nelson nerer noticed in what
manner; but when thev met in the top, spoke cheer-
fully to him ; and would say, how much any person
was to be pitied who fancied that getting up was
either dangerous or difficult. Every day he went
into the school-room, to see that they were- pursuing
their nautical studies ; and at noon he was always
the first on deck with his quadrant. Whenever he
paid a visit of ceremony, some of these youths ac-
companied him : and when he went to dine with the
ffovemor at Barbadoes, he took one of them in his
fiand, and presented him, saying, ** Your Excellency
must excuse me for bringing one of my midshipmen,
I ipake it a rule to introduce them to all the good
company I can, as they have few to look up to,
besides myself, during the time they are at sea."
When Nelson arrived in the West Indies he found
himself senior captain, and consequently second in
sommand on that station. Satisfactory as this was,
it soon involved him in a dispute with the admiral,
which a man less zealous for the service might \wf
1784.] uvB or MSLt^m 49
avoided. He found the Latona in English Harhomv
Anti^ia, with a broad pennant boistM ; and, upon
inquiring the reason, was presented with a written
order from Sir R. Hughl«, requiring and directing
him to obey the orders of resident commissioner
Moutray, durine the time he might have occasion to
remain th^re ; the said'resident commissioner being,
in consequence, authorized to hoist a broad pennant
on board any of his Majesty's ships in that port that
he might think proper. Nelson was never at a loss
how to act in any emergency. ** I know of no su-
perior officers," said he, ** besides the lords commis-
sioners of the Admiralty^ and my seniors on the post
list.'^ Concluding, therefore, that it was not coi^-
sistent with the service for a resident cojpmissioner,
who held only a civil situation, to hoist a broad pen-
nant, the moment that he had anchored, he sent an
ordcir to the captain of the Latona to strike it, and re-
turn it to the dock-yard. He went on shore the same
day, dined with the commissioner, to show him that
he was actuated by no other motive than a sense of
duty, and gave him the first iiuelligence that his
pennant had been struck. Sir Richard sent an ac-
count of this to the Admiralty; but the case could
admit of np doubt, and Gapt. Nelson's conduct was
approved.
He displayed the same promptitude on another
occasion. WhQe the Boreas, after the hurricane
mcmths were over, was riding at anchor in Nevis
Rhodes, a French frigate passed to leeward, close
along shore. Nelson had obtained information that
this ship was sent from Martinico, with two general
officers and some engineers on board, to make a sur-
vey of our sugar islands. This purpose he was de-
termined to prevent them from executing, and there-
fore he gave orders to follow them. The next day
he came up with them at anchor in the roads of St,
fiustKtia, and anchored about two cables* length on the
firigatt^ quarter. Being afterward invited by the
44 UWK OF HXMOH* i^7S4*
Dutch gOTernoT to meet the French officers at dior
ner, he seiased that occasion of assurmg the French
captain, that understanding it was his intention to
honour the British possessions with a visit, he had
taken the earliest opportunity in his power to aecom-
pany him, in his Majesty's ship the Boreas, in order
that such attention might be paid to the officers of his
most Christian Majesty, as every Englishman in the
islands would be proud to show. The French, with
equal courtesy, protested against giving him this
trouble; especially, they said, as they intended
merely to cruise round the inlands, without landing
on any. But Nelson, wkh the utmost politeness,
insisted upon paying them this compliment, followed
them close, in spite of all their attempts to elude his
vigilance, and never lost sight of them ; till, finding
it impossible either to deceive or escape him, they
gave up their treatfherous purpose in despair, and
beat up for Martinico.
A business of more serious import soon engaged
his attention. The Americans were at this time
trading with our islands, taking advantage of the
register of their ships, which had been issued, while
they were British subjects. Nelson knew, that by
the navigation-act, no foreigner?, directly or indi-
rectly, are permitted to carry on any trade with these
possessions : he knew, also, that the Americans had
made themselves foreigners with regard to England;
they had disregarded the ties of blood and language,
when they acquired the independence which they
had been led on to claim, unhappily for themselves,
before they were fit for it; and he was resolved that
they should derive ,no profit from those ties now.
Foreigners they had made themselves, and as fo-
reigners they were to be treated. "If once,*' said
he«'"they are admitted to any kind of intercourse
with our islands, the views of the loyalists, in set*
tling at Nova Scotia, are entirely done away ; and
mhta we wre again embroiled in a Preach war, the
17841] UFs or iiBLioa. 46
Amerieans will first become the carriers of these
colonies, and then have possession of them. Here
they come, sell their cargoes for ready money, go to
Martinico, buy moiasses, and so round and round.
The loyalist cannot do this, and consequently must
sell a little dearer. The residents here are Ameri-
cans by connexion and by interest, and are inimical
to Great Britain. They are as great rebels as ever
were in America, had they the poiter to show it.**
In November, when the squadron, having arrived at
Barbadoes, was to separate, with no other orders
than those foF examining anchorages, and the usuid
inquiries concerning wood and water, Nelson asked
his friend Collingwood, then captain of the Mediator,
whose opinions he knew upon the subject, to accom-
■ pan^'him to the commander-in-chief; whom he then
respectfully asked, whether they were not to attend
to the commerce of the country, and see that the
navigation-aet was respected— 'that appearing to him
to be the intent of keeping men-of-war upon this
•tation in time of peace 1 Sir Richard Hughes re-
plied, he had no particular orders, neither had the
Admiralty sent him any acts of parliament. But
Nelson made answer, that the navigation-act was
included in the statutes of the Admiralty, with which
every captain was furnished, and that act was di-
rected to admirals, captains, &c., to see it carried
into execution* Sir Richard said he bad never seen
the book. Upon this. Nelson produced the statutes,
read the words of the act, and apparently convinced
the commander-in-chief, that men-of-war, as he said,
^were sctnt abroad for some other purpose than to
be made a show of/* Accordingly, orders were
given to enforce the navigation-act.
Ma}or«general Sir Thomas Shirley was at this
time governor of the Leeward Islands ; and when
Nelson waited on him to inform him how he intended
to act, and upon what grounds, he replied, that **old
genetals were not in the habit of taking advice from
46 LiVB OF TsmMMcm: [1785.
yoimg gentleincii.'' — *^ Sir," said the young^ officer,
with that confidence in himself which i^ever carried
him too far, and always was equal to the occasion^
^ T am TUB old as the prime minister of Engr]and, and
think myself as capable of commanding one of his
Majesty's ships as th4t minister is of governing the
state.*' He was resoived to do his duty, whatever
might foe the opinion or conduct of others : and when
he arrived upon his station at St. Kitt's, he sent away
all the Americans, not choosing to seize them before
they had been well apprized that the act would be
carried into effect, lest it might seem^as if a trap had
been laid for them. The Americans, though they
prudently decamped from St. Kitt's, were embold-
ened by the support they met with, and resolved to
resist his orders, alleging that king's ships had no
legal power to seize them without having deputations
from the customs. The planters were ta a^man
against him ; the governors and the presidents of
the different islands, with only a single exception^
gave him* no support : and the admiral, afraid to
act on either side, yet wishing to oblige the planters,
sent him a note, advising him to be guided by the
wishes of the president of the counoil. There was
no danger in disregarding this, as it came unofficially,
and in the form of advice. But scarcely a month
after he had shown Sir Richard Hughes the law,
and, as he supposed, satisfied him concerning It, he
received an order from him, stating that he had now
obtained good advice upon the point, and the Ame*
ricans were not to be hindered from coming, and
having free egress and regress, if the governor choee
to permit them. An order to the same purport had
been sent round to the different governors and pre-
sidents : and General Shirley and others informed
him, in an authoritative manner, that they chose to
admit American ships; as the commander-in»chiel
had left the decision to them. These persons, ii) hi«
own words, he soon ** trimmed up, and sileneed ;"
]765i]' £tVE OP raiaoN. 47
but it was a mete delicate buBiness to deal whh the
admiral. "I must either,'' said he, "disobey my
orders, or disobey acts of parliament. I determined
itpon the former, trusting to the uprig-htness of my
intentions, and belienngf that my country would not
let me be ruined for protecting her commerce.**
With this determination he wrote to Sir Richard,
appealed again to the plain, literal, unequivocal
sense of the navigation-act ; and in respectful lan-
guage told him, he felt it iiis duty to decline obeying
these orders till he had an opportunity of seeing and
converging with him. Sir Ricliard's first feeling
was that of anger, and he was about to supersede
Nelson ; but having mentioned the affair to his cap-
tain, that officer told him, he believed all the squad-
jon thought the orders illegal, and therefore did hot
know how far they were bound to obey them. It
was impossible, therefore, to bring Nelson to a court-
martial, composed of men who agreed with him in
opinion upon the point in dispute; and luckily,
though the admiral wanted vigour of mind to decide
upon what was right, he was not obstinate in wrong,
and had even generosity enough in his niiture to
thank Nelson afterward for havihg shown him his
error.
' CoUingwood, in the Mediator, and his brother,
Wilfred CoUingwood, in the Rattler, actively co-ope-
rated with Nelson. The custom-houses were in-
formed, that after a certain day all foreign vessels
found in the ports would be seized ; and many were,
in consequence, seized, and condemned in the Admi"
ralty court. When the Boreas arrived at Nevis, she
found four American vessels deeply laden, and what
are called the island-colours flying — white, with a
red cross. They were ordered to hoist their proper
flag, and depart within eight-and-forty hours ; but
they refused to obey, denyirjg that they were Ame-
ricans. Some of their crews were then examined
is Nelson's cabin, where the judge of Admiralty
4S IJVB 09 lfl940N.: [17991
happei^ed'to be present* The case wm plsin; Uu9]f
confessed that they were Americans^ and that.W:
ships, hull and carj^o, were wholly Anieriican pto<»
perty ; upon which he seized them. This raised a
storm: the planters, the custom-house, ^nd the gor
vernor were all against hhn. Subscriptions were
opened, and presently filled, for the purpose of car<»
rying on the cause in behalf of the American cap*
tains : and the admiral, whose flag was at that time
in the roads, stood neutral. But Uie Americans and
their abettors were not content with defensive law.
The marines, whom he had sent to secure the ships,
had prevented some of the piasters from going
ashore ; and those persons, by whose depositions it
af^eared that the vessels and cargoes were Ameri-
call property, declared, that they had given their
testimony under bodily fear, for that a man with a
drawn sword in his hand had stood over them the
whole time. A rascally lawyer, whom the party
employed^ suggested this story ; and as the sentrv
at the cabin door was a man with a drawn swon]»
the Americans made no scruple of swearing to this
ridiculous falsehood, and commencing prosecutions
against him accordingly. They laid their damages,
at the enormous amount of £40,000 ; and NeLsoa
was obliged to keep close on board his own ship,
lest he should be anested for a sum for which, it
would have been impossible to find bail. The mar-
shal frequently came on board to arrest him, but was
always prevented by the address of the Orst lieu-
tenant, Mr. Wallis. Had he been taken, such was
the temper of the people* that it was certain he wQuld
have been cast for the whole sum. One of his offi-
cers, one day, in speaking of the restraint which he
was thus compelled to suffer, happened to use the
Vfordpity I " Pity !" exclaimed Nelson ; •« Pity ! did
you say ) I shall live, sir, to be envied ! and to that
eoint I shall always direct my course." Eight weeks
e remained under this state of duresse. Diidog
178tl.] JSPM od^ ifEiisoN. 49
th^ time the fri^l respecting th^se detained ships
came oa in the court of Admiralty. He went on
shore under a protection for the day from the judge ;
hat, notwithstanding this, the marshal was called
upon to take that opportunity of arresting him, and
the merchants promised to inden^nify him for so
doing. The judge, however, did his duty, and
threatened to send the marshal to prison, if he
attempted to violate the protection of the court.
Mr. Herbert, the president of Nevis, behaved with
singular generosity upon this occasion. ' Though no
man ivas a greater siiiibrer by the measures which
Nelson had pursued, he offered in (;onrt to become
his bail for £10,000, if he chose to suffer the arrest.
The lawyer whom he had chosen proved to be an
able as well as an honest man ; and, notwithstand-
ing the opinions and pleadings of most of the coim«
sel of the different islands; who maintained that ships
of yrox were not justified in seizing American ves«
sels without a deputation from the customs, the law
was so explicit, the case so clear, and Nelson
pleaded his own cause so well, that the four Fhips
were condemned. During the progress of this bu«
siness he sent a memorial home to the king : in con-*
sequence of which, orders were issued that he
should .be defended at the expense of the crown.—*
And upon the representations which he made at the
same tim& to the secretary of state, and ' the sug*
gestions with which he accompanied it, the register-
aet was framed. The sanction of government, and
the approbation of his conduct which' it implied,
were nighly gratifying to him : but he was offended,
and not without just cause, tha^t the treasury should
have transmitted thanks to the commander-in-chief,
for his activity and zeal in protecting the commerce
of Great Britain. '* Had they known all," said he,
•• I do not think they would have bestowed thanks
in that quarter, and neglected me. I feel much
hurt, that, after th6 loss of health and risk of (Or*
E
50 ImTfb op iAblsoh. [1787*
tune, another should be thanked for what 1 did
against his orders. I either deserved to be sent oat
of the service, or at least to have had some little
notice taken of what I had done. They have
thought it worthy of notice, and yet have neglected
me. If this is the reward for a faithful discharge
of hiy duty, I shall be careful, and never stand for-
ward again. But I have done my duty, and have
nothing to accuse myself of.*'
The anxiety which he had suffered from the
harassing uncertainties of law is apparent from
these expressions. He had, however, something
to console him, for he was at this time wooing the
niece of his friend the president, th(^n in her eight-
eenth year, the widow of Dr. Nisbct, a physician.
She had one child, a son, by name Josiah, who
was ,three years old. One day, Mr. Herbert, who
had hastened, half-dressed, to receive Nelson, ex-
claimed, on returning to his dressing-room, " Good
God ! if I did not find that great little man, of
whom every body is so afraid, playins: in the next
room, under the dining-table, with Mrs. Nisbet's
child !" A few days afterward Mrs. Nisbet her-
self was first introduced to bim, and thanked him
for the partiality which he had shown to her little
boy. Her manners were mild and nvnning: and
the captain, whose heart was easily susceptible of
attachment, found no su<;h imperious necessity for
subduing his inclinations ^s had twice, before with-
held him from marrying. They were married on
March 11th, 1787: Prince William Henry, who
had come out to the West Indies the preceding
winter, being present, by his own desire, to give
aviay the bride. Mr. Herbert, her uncle, was at
this time so much displeased with his only daugh-
ter, that he had resolved to disinherit her, und
leave his whole fortune, which was very -great, to
his niece. But Nelson, whose nature was too
noble to let him profit by an act of injustice, inter-
1787.] UJPE OF iriiLaoN. 61
feredy and Bucceeded in reconciling the president
to his child* •
•* Yesterday," said one of his naval friends the
day after the wedding, ** the navy lost one of its
greatest ornaments, by Nelson's marriage. It is a
national loss that such an officer should marry:
had it not been for this, Nelson would* have become
the greatest man in the service." The man was
rightly estimated : but he who delivered this opinion
did not understand the effect of domestic love and
duty upon a mind of the true heroic stamp.
** We are often separate," said Nelson, in a letter
to Mrs. Nisbet, a few months before their marriage ;
** but our affections are not by any means on that
aecount diminished. Our country has th<* first
demand for our services ; and private convent mce
or happiness must ever give way to the public good.
Duty is the great business of a sea officer : all pri-
vate considerations must give way to it, however
painful." " Have you not often heard," says he, in
another letter, ** that salt water and absence always
wash away love 1 Now I am such a heretic as not
to believe that article : for behold, every morning I
have had six pails of salt water poured upon my
head, and instead of finding what seamen say to be
true, it goes on so contrary to the prescription, that
you must, perhaps, see me before the fixed time."
More . frequently his correspondence breathed a
deeper strain. " To write letters to you," says he,
** is the next greatest pleasure I feel to receiving them
from you. What I experience when I read such as
I am sure are the piire sentiments of your heart,
my poor pen cannot express : — nor, indeed, would I
give much for any pen or head which could express
feelings of that kind. Absent fronr you, I feel no
pleasure: it is you who are every thing to me. —
Without you, T care not for this world ; for I have
found, lately, nothing in it but vexation and trouble.
These are my present sentiments. God Almighty
6t UFK ov nsuov. [1787.
grant they may never change ! Nor do I think they
will. Indeed there is, a& far as human Knowledge
can judge, a moral certainty that they cannot: for
it must be real aflfection that brings ns together;
not interest or compulsion.'* Such were the feel-
ings, and such the senst^ of duty, with which Nelson
became a husband.
During his stay upon this station he had ample
opportunity of observing the scandalous, practices
of the contractors, prize-agents, and other persons
in the West Indies connected with ther naval ser*
vice. When he was first left with the command,
and bills were brought him to^sign for money which
was owing for goods purchased for the navy, he
required the original voncher, that he might examine
whether those goods had been really purchased at
the market price : but t6 produce vouchers would
not have been convenient, and therefore was ndt
the custom. Upon this. Nelson wrote to Sir Charles
Middleton, then comptroller of the navy, represent-
ing the abuses which were likely to be practised in
this manner. The answer which he received seemed
to imply that the old forms were thought sufficient:
and thus having no alternative, he was compelled,
with his . eyes open, to submit to a practice origin-
ating in fraudulent intentions. Soon afterward two
Antigua men^h^nts infprmed him, that they were
privy to great frauds, which had been committed
upon government in various departments: at An-
tigua, to the amount of nearly £500,000 ; at Lucie,
jS300,000; at Barbadoes, £250,000; at Jamaica^
upwarda of a million. The informers were both
shrewd, sensible men of business; they did not
affect to be actuated by a sens^ of justice, bat re-
quired a per qentage upon so much as government
shpuld actual! V recover through their meann. Mel-
son examined the books and papers which they
produced, and was convinced that government had
Deen most infamously plundered. Yoochdis, !ie
1787.] UFE OF 1TBI80V. 59
found, in that country, were no check whatever :
the principle was, that ^a thing was always worth
what it would bring ;'* and the merchants were in
the habit of signing vouchers for each other, without
even the appearance of looking at the articles: —
These accounts he sent home to the different de-
partments which had been defrauded : but the pe-
culators were too powerful ; and they succeeaed
not merely^ in impeding inquiry, but even in raising
prejudices against N^on at the board of Admiralty,
which it was many years before he could subdue.
Owing, probably, to these pn^judices, and the
influence of the peculators^ he was treated, on his
return to England, in a manner which had nearly
driven him from the service. During the three
years that the Boreas had remained upon a station
.which is usually so fatal, not a single officer or man
of her whole complement had died. This almost
unexampled instance of good health, though mostly,
no doubt, imputable to a healthy season, must, m
«ome measure^ also, be ascribed to the wise con-
duct of the captain. He never suffered the ships to
remain more than three or four weeks at a time at
anyof the islands; and when the hurricane months
confined him to English Harbour, he encouraged
«U kinds of useful amusements: music, dancing,
And cudgelling ambh^ the men ; theatricals among
ihe officers : any thing which coul<l employ their
attention, and keep their Spirits cheerful. The Bo-
reas arrived in England in June. Nelson, who had
many times been supposed to be consumptive when
in the West Indies, and perhaps was saved from
•consumption by that climate, was still in a preca-
rious state of heirith ; and the raw wet weather of
one of our ungcnial summers brought on cold, and
«ore throat, and fever: yet his vessel was kept at
ihe Nore from the end of June till the end of No-
vember, serving as a slb0 and receiving ship. This
tu worthytxeatmentf which more piohablyprDceeded
Ed
54 UFB OF KEUKOr. [1781.
from intention than from neg^lect, excited in Nelsoy
the strong^est indignation. Duringfthe whole ^vt
months he seldom or neter quitted the ship, hm
carried on the duty with strict and sullen atlentioa'
On the morning when orders were received to pre
pare the Boreas for being paid off, he expressed hii
joy to the senior officer in the Medway, saying
**It will release me for ever from an ungrateful
service, for it is my firm and unalterable determi-
nation never again to set my foot on board a king's
ship. Immediately after my arrival in town I shall
wait on the first lord of the Admiralty, and resign
my commission.'* The officer to whom he thus
communicated his int^entions behaved in the wisest
and most friendly manner ; for finding it in vain to
dissuade him in his present state of fueling, he
secretly interfered with the first lord to save him
from a step so injurious to himself, little foreseeing
how deeply the welfare and honour of EJngland were
at that moment at stake. This interference pro-
duced a letter from Lord HoWe, the day before the
ship ^SLS paid off, intimating a wish to see Capt.
Nelson as soon as he arrived in town: when, being
pleased with his conversation, and perfectly con-
vinced, by what was then explained to him, of the
propriety of his conduct, he desired that he might
present him to the king on the first levee day : and
the gracious manner in which Nelson was then
received effectually removed his resentment.
Prejudices had been, in like manner, excited
against his friend, Prince William Henry. ** No-
thing is wanting, sir," said Nelson, in one of his
letters, ** to make you the darling of the English
nation, but truth. Sorry I am to say, much to the
contrary has been dispersed." This was not flat-
tery ; ioT Nelson was no flatterer. The letter in
which this passage occurs shows in how wise uid
noble a manner he dealt with the prince. One of
his royal highness's officers had applied for a conrt*
.17(17.] XXVS OF KXIAOK. 55
nutial upon a point in which he was unquestion^
ably wrong. His royal highness, however, while
he supported his own character and authority, pre-
vented the trial, which must have been injurious to
a brave and deserving maui ** Now that you are
rirted,^' said Nelson, '' pardon me, my prince, when
presume to recommend that he may stand in yonr
royal favour as if he had never sailed with you, and
that at some future day you will serve him. There
only wants thi« to place your conduct in the highest
poin^ of view. None of us are withotit failings ;
fiis was being rather too hasty: but that, put in
competition with his beings good officer, will not, I
4im bold to say, be taken in the scale against- him.
More able friends than myself your royal highness
may easily find, and of more consequence in the
«tate ; but one more attached and affectionate is not
«o easily met with. Princes seldom, very seldom,
find a disinterested person to communicate their
thoughts to : I do not pretend to be that person : but
of this be assured, by a man who, I trust, never did
a dishonourable act, that I am interested only that
your royal highness should be the greatest and best
man this cotintry ever produced."
Encourage^ by the conduct of Lord Howe, and
by his reception at court, Nelson renewed his at-
tack upon the peculators with fresh spirit. He had
interviews with Mr. Rose, Mr. Pitt, and Sir Charles
Middleton ; to all of whom he satisfactorily proved
his charges. In consequence, it is said, these very
extensive public frauds were at length- put in a pro-
per train to be provided agfainst in future : his re-
presentations were attended to; and every step
which he recommended was adopted : the investi-
gation was put into a proper course^ which ended in
the detection and punishment of some of the cuU
prits ; an immense saving was made to government,
and thus its attention was directed to similar pecu-
lation in other parts of the colonies. But it is said
66 une of ksuoh. [1788.
also, that no mark of commendation seems to hare
been bestowed upon Nelson for bis exertion* And
it is justly remarked,* that the spirit of the navy
cannot be preserved so efiectnally by the liberal ho-
nours bestowed on officers, when they are vom otit
in the service, as by an attention to those who, like
Nelson at this part of his life, have only thcHr inte-
grity and zeal to bring them into notice. A junior
officer, who had been left with the command at Ja-
maica, received an additional allowance, for wbidi
Nelson had applied in vain. Double pay wa& al«-
lowed io every artificer and seaman employed in the
naval yard: Nelson had superintended the whole
business of that yard with the most rigid exactness,
and he complained that he was neglected. ^ It was
most true,*' he said, *' that the trouble which he took
to detect the fraudulent practices then carried on,
was no ntore than his duty ; but he little thought
that the expenses attending his frequent journeys to
St. John's upon that duty (a distance of twelve
miles), would have fallen upon his pay as captain of
,the Boreas.'*. Nevertheless, the sense of what he
thought unworthy usage did not, diminish his zeal.
** I," said he, " must still buffiet the waves in search
of — whati Alas! that thev called honour is now
thought of no more. My fortune, God knows, has
grown worse for. the service : so much for serving
my country. But the Devil, ever willing to tempt
the virtuous, has made me offer, if any ships should
be sent to destroy his majesty of Morocco's ports,
to be there; and I have some reason to think, that
.should any more come of it, my humble services
will be accepted. I have invariably laid down, and
followed close, a plan of what ought to be upper-
most in the breast of an officer, — that it is much
better to serve an ungrateful country, than to give
up his own fame. Posterity will do him justice.
• Clukraodi M^Anburi vol. i. p. 107.
1788.] UPE OF ifExaoK. 37
A uniform course of honour and integrity seldom
fails of bringing a man to the goal of fame at last.^
The design against the Barbary pirates, like all
other designs against them, was laid aside; and
Nelson took his wife to his father's parsonage,
meaning only to pay him a visit before they went
•to France ; a project which he had formed for the
flake of acquiring a competent knowledge of the
French language. But his father could not bear to
lose him thus unnecessarily. Mr. Nelson had long
been an invalid, suffering under paralytic and asth-
matic affections, which, for several hours after
he rose in the morning, scarcely permitted him to
speak. He had been given over by his physi-
cians, for this complaint, nearly forty years before
his death ; and was, for many of his last years,
obliged to spend all his winters at Bath. The
flijffht of his son, he declared, had given him new
life. " But, Horatio,'* said he, ** it would have been
better that 1 had not been thus cheered, if I am
so soon to be bereaved of you again. Let me,
my good son, see you while I can. My age and in-
firmities increase, and I shall not last long." To
flueh an appeal there could be no reply. Nelson
took up his abode at the parsonage, and amused
himself with the sports and occupations of the
country. Sometimes he busied himself with farm-
ing the glebe ; sometimes spent the greater part of
the day in the garden, where he would dig as if for
the mere pleasure of wearying himself. Sometimes
he went a bird's-nesting, like aboy r and in these ex-
peditions Mrs. Nelson always, by his express desire,
accompanied him. Coursing was his favoarite
amusement. Shooting, as he practised it, was far
too dangerous for his companions: for he carried
his gun upon the full cock, as if he were going to
board an enemy ; and the moment a bird rose, he
let fly, without ever putting the fowling-piece to his
sliottlder. It is not, therefore, extraordinary, that
58 UFB OF MSZdBON. [1788*
hifl having^ once shot a partridge should be remenl-
bered by his family among the remarkable events of
his life.
But his time did not pass away thus without some
vexatious cares to ruffle it. The affair of the Ame-
rican s)iip8 was not yet over, and he waa again >pe8-
tered with threats of prosecution. *' I- have written
them word,'* said he, ** that I will have<nothiilg to do
with them, and they must act' as they think proper.
Government, I suppose, will do what is right, and
not leave me in the lurch. ' We have heard enough
lately of the consequences of the navigation-act to
this country, "^hey may take ray person ; but if
sixpence would save me from a prosecution, I would
not give it.** It was his great ambition at this tiihe
to possess a pony ; and having resolved to pui*cha8e
one, he went to a fair for that purpose. During his
absence two men abruptly entered the parsonage,
and inquired for him: they then asked for Mrs.
Nelson ; and after they had made her repeatedly de-
clare that she was really and truly the captain's
wife, presented her with a writ, or notification, on
the part of the American captains, who now laid
their damages at £20,000, and they charged her to
pve it to her husband on his return. Nelson, hav-
mg bought his pony,>came home wi^ it in high
Spirits. He called out his wife to admire the pur-
chase, and listen to all its excellences : nor was it
till his glee had in some measure subsided that the
paper could be presented to him. His indignation
was excessive: and, in the apprehension that he
should be exposed to the anxieties of the suit, and
the ruinous consequences which might ensue^ he
exclaimed, **This affront I did not deserve! But
I'll be trifled with no longer. I will write imme-
diately to the treasury ; and, if government will not
support me, I am resolved to leave the country.'*
Accordingly, he informed the treasury, that if h. sa-
tisfactory answer were not sent him by return of
^
1793.] UFS OF HSLION. 99
p6st« he should take refuffe in France. To this he
expected he should be driven, and for this he ar-
ranged every thing with his characteristic rapidity of
decision. It was settled that he should depart imme-
diately, and Mrs. Nelson follow under the care of his
elder brother, Maurice, ten days after him. But the
answer which ^e received from government quieted
bis fears ; it stated, that Captain Nelson was a very
good officer, and needed to be under no apprehen-
sion, for he would assuredly be suppotted.
Here his disquietude upon this subject seems to
have ended. Still he was not at ease ; he wanted
employment, and was mortified that his applications
fgr it produced no effect. "Not being a man of
fortune,'' he said, " was a crime which he was un-
aUe to get over, and therefore none of the great
cared about him." . Repeatedly he requested the
Admiralty that they would not leave him to rust in
indolence. During the armament which was made
i]]Xin occasion of the dispute concerning Nootka
Sound, he renewed his application : and his steady
friend, Prince William, who had then been created
Duke of Clarence, recommended him to Lord Chat-
ham. The failure of this recommendation wounded
him so keenly, that he again thought of retiring from
ihe service in disgust: a resolution from which
nothing but the urgent remonstrances of Lord Hood
induced him to desist. Hearing that the Raison-
nable, in which he had commenced his career, was
lo^he commissioned, he asked for her. This also
was in vain : and a coolness ensued, on his part,
towards Lord Hood, because that excellent officer
did not use his influence with Lord Chatham upon
this occasion. Lord Hood, however, had certainly
sdfiicient reasons for not interfering; for he ever
continued his steady friend. In the winter of 1792,
when we were on the eve of the revolutionary war.
Nelson once more offered, his services, earnestly
requested a ship, and added, that if their lordships
60 UFB OF mSLSOBI [I709«i
tihotHi be pledged to i^point him to a eoekle«bo«tf
he should feel satisfied. He was answered in the
usual official form : " Sir, I have received your letter
of the 5th instant, expressing your readiness to
serve, and have read the same to my lords commis*
sioners of the Admiralty." On the 12th of December,
he received this dry acknowledgment. The fresh
mortification did not, however, affect him Iqng ; for,
by the joint interest of the Duke and Lord Hood, he
was appointed, on the dOth of January following,,
to the Agamemnon, of sixty-four guns^
CHAPTER HI.
ir%9 JlgamemMH ant to CA0 MediUrraneaw—ComMencemmt tf M^
$mC« Jlequamtancewith Sir W. Hamillim-^He U tent to Corti^a^ (#
eo-oporate ioitii Paoli^State of Affairs in t^at Island— nSVlion under'
take* the Siege of Bastia^ and reduces it — Takea « diotinruUkei
Part in the Siege of Caloi, where he loses an Eg&— Admiral Hotham^i
Action — The Agnmemnojn ordered to Oekoa^ to eo-operate loUk fA#
Austrian and Sardinian Forcee—Oroes Misconduct of the Austria
General
** There are three things, young gentleman,'' said
Nelson to one of his midshipmen, " which you are
constantly to bear in mind. First, you mui^t alwaya
implicitly obey prdiers, without attempting to forai
any opinion of your own, respecting their propriety/
Secondly, you must consider every man your enemy
who speaks ill of your king: and, thirdly, you must
hate a Frenchman as you do the Devil." With
these feelings he engaged in the war. Josiah, bin
son-in-law, went with him as a midshipman.
The Agamemnon was ordered to the Mediterra-
nean, under Lord Hood. The fleet arrived in thoise
seas at a time when the south of France would
willingly have formed itself into a separate republic^
under live pn>teetion of Sngland. But good prin-
ciples had oeen at that time perilously abided by
igfiiorant and profligate men ; and, in its fear an^
hatred of democracy, the English government ab-»
horred whatever was republican. £ord Hood could
not take advantage of' the fair occasion which pre-
sented itself; and which, if it had been seized with
vigour, might have ended in dividing France : — ^bul
he negotiated with th^ people of Toulon, to take pos-
session, provisionally, of their port and city ; which,
fatally for themselves, was done. Before the British
^et entered, Nelson was sent with despatches to Sir
William Hamilton, our envoy at the court of Naples.
Sir William, after his first interview with him, told
Lady Hamilton he was about to introduce a little
man to her, who coidd not boast of being very
handsome ; btit such a man, as he believed, would
one day astoni^ the world. ** I have never before,"
he continued, **ientertained an officer at my house ;
bat I am determined to bring him here. Let him be
put in the room prepared for Prince Augustus."
Thus that acquaintance began which ended in the
destruction of Nelson's domestic happiness. II
seemed to threaten no such consequences at its
commencement. He spoke of Lady Hamilton, in
a letter to his wife^ as a young woman of amiable
manners, who did honour to the station to which
she had been raised : and he remarked, that she had
been exceedingly kind to Josiah. The activity witfa
which the envoy exerted himself in procuring troops
from Naples, to assist in garrisoning Toulon, so
delighted him, that he is said to have exclaimed:
** Sir William, you are a man after my own heart I
-—you do business in my own way :" and then to
kave added, ^ I am now only a captain ; but I will,
ft I live, be at the top of the tree." Here, also,
that acquaintance With the Neapolitan court com*
menced, which led to the only blot upon Nelson**
public eh»rao#ey. The king, who was sineeve at
F
6t xoB or vziJOH. [1795«
that time in his enmity to the French^ called the
English the saviours of Italy, and of his dominions
in particular. He paid the most flattering attentions
to Nelson, made him dine with him, and seated him
at his right hand.
Having accomplished this mission. Nelson re*
ceived onders to join Commodore Linzee, at Tunis.
On the way, five sail of the enemy were discovered
off the coast of Sardinia, and he chased them.
They proved to he three forty-four gun frigates,
with a corvette of twenty-four and a brig of twelve.
The Agamemnon had only three hundred and forty-
five men at quarters, having landed part of her crew
at Toulon, and others beiujp; absent in prizes. He
came near enough to one of the frigates to engage
her, but at great disadvantage, the Frenchman
manoeuvring well, and sailing greatly better. A
running fight of three hours ensued ; during which
the other ships, which were at some^ distance, made
all speed to come up. By this time the enemy was
almost silenced, when a favourable change of wind
enabled her to get out of reach of the Agamemuon^s
^^s ; and that ship had received so much damage
m the rigging, that she could not follow her. Nel-
son conceiving that this was but the forerunner of
a far more seiious engagement, called his officers
together, and asked . them if the shii> was fit to go
into action against such a superior force, without
some small refit and refreshment for the men!
Their answer was, that she certainly was not. He
then gave these orders : ** Veer the ship, and lay her
head to the westward : let some of the best nten be
employed in refitting the rig§ring, and the carpenter
getting crows and capstan- bars to prevent our
wounded spars from coming down : and get the wine
up for the' people* with some bread, for it may be
half an hour good before we are again in action."
But when the French came up, their comrade made
aigiials of distress, and they all hoisted out theii
1794.] LIFE OF VVUCfSf 6B
boats to go to her assistance, leaving the Agamem-
non unmolested.
Nelson found Commodore Linzee at TuaiSf where
he had been sent to expostulate with the dey upon
the impolicy of his supporting the revolutionary
government of France. Nelson represented to him
the atrocity of that government. Such arguments
were of little avail in Barbary : and when the dey
was told that the French had put their sovereign to
death, he dryly replied, that ** Nothing eould he more
heinous; and yet, if historians told the truth, the
Eniflish had once done the same.*' This answer
had doubtless been auggested by the French about
him : |hey had completely gained the ascendency^
and all negotiation on our part proved ' fruitless.
shortly afterward Nelson was detached with a small
squadron, to co-operate with General Paoli and the
Anti-Gallican party in Corsica.
Some thirty years before this time, the heroic
patriotism of tne Corsicans^ and of their leader,
Paolt, had been the admiration of England. The
history of these brave^ people is but a melancholy
tale. The Island which they inhabit has been' abun-
dantly blessed by nature: it has many excellent
harbodrs; and though the maiaria, or pestilential
atmosphere, which is so deadly in jnan^ parts of
Italy, and of the Italian islands, prevails on the
eastern coast, the greater part of the country is
mountainous and healthy. It is about one hundred
and fifty miles long, and from forty to fifty broad ;
in circumference, some three hundred and twenty :
—a country large enough, and sufficiently distant
from the nearest shores, to have subsisted' as an
independent state, if the welfare and happiness of
the numan race had ever been considered as the
end and aim of policy. The Moors, the Pisans, the
kings of Arragon, and the Genoese, successively
attempted, and each for a time eifTected, its conquest.
The yoke of the Genoese continued longest, and
64 uvx or ifsuov. [1794.
waa ihe heaTiest. These petty tyrants ruled with
an iron rod : and when at any time a patriot rose to
resist Uieir oppressions, if they failed to subdue him
by force, they resorted to assassination. At the
ooismeacement of the last century they quelled one
revolt by the aid of German auxiliaries, whom the
Emperor Charles Y I. sent against a people who had
never offended him, and who were fighting for what-
ever is most dear to man. In 1734 the war was
renewed ; and Theodore, a W^stphalian baron, then
appeared upon the stage. In that age men were not
accustomed to see adventurers play for kingdoms,
and Theodore became the cofnmon talk of Europe.
He had served in the French armies; and having
afterward been noticed both by Ripperda and Albe-
roni, their example, perhaps, inflamed a spirit as
ambitious and as unprincipled as their own. He
employed the whole of his means in raising money
and procuring arms : then wrote to the leaders of
the Corsican patriots, to o0er them considerable
assistance, if they would erect Corsica into an in-
dependent kingdom, and elect hiim king. ' When he
landed among them, they were struck with his
stately person^ his dignified manners, and imposing
talents: they believed the magnificent pronuses ol
foreign assistance which he held out, and elected
him king accordingly. Had his means been as he
fepresented. them, they eould not have acted more
wisely, than in thus at once ^xing the government
of their country, and putting an end to those rival-
ries among the leading families, which had so often
proved pernicious to the publks weal. He struck
money, conferred titles, blocked up the fortified
towns which were held by the Grenoese, and amused
the people with promises of assistance for about
eight months : then, perceiving that they cooled in
their affections towards him, in proportion as their
expectations were disappointed, he left the island,
under the {dea of expediting himself the succams
1794.] UFB Of MBUOM. 69
which he had so long awaited. Such was his ad-
dress, that he prevailed epon several rich merchants
in Holland, particularly the Jews, to trust him with
cannon and warlike stores to a great amount.
They shipped these under the charge of a super-
eargo. Theodore retnrned with this supercargo to
Corsica, and put him to death on his arrival, as the
shortest way of settling the account. The remain-
der of his life was a series of deserved afflictions.
He threw in the stores which he had thus fraudu-
lently ohtained: hut he did not dare to iand; for
Genoa had now called in the French to their assist-
ance, and a price had been set upon his head. His
dreams of royalty -were now at an end: he took
refuge in London, contracted debts, and was thrown
into the King's Bench. After lingering there many
years, he was released under an act of insolvency :
in consequence of which, he niade over the kingdom
of Corsica for the use of his creditors, and died
flhortly after his deliverance.
The French, who have never acted a generous
part in the history of the world, readily entered into
the viewis of the Genoese, which accorded with
their own policy : for such was th^ir ascendency at
Genoa, that in subduing Corsica for these allies,
Uiey were in fact subduing it for themselves. They
entered into the contest, therefore, with their usual
vigour, and their usuai cruelty. It was in vain that
the Corsicans addressed a most affecting memorial
to the court of Versailles; that.remorseless govern-
ment persisted in its flagitious project. They poured
in troops ; dressed a part of them like the people of
the country, by which means they deceived and
destroyed many of the patriots ; cut down the stand-
ing corn, the vines, and the olives; set fire to the
villages, and hung all the most able and active men
who fell into their hands. A war of this kind may
be carried on with success against a country so
smalls and so thinly peopled as Coraica. Hftving
66 juvfi or jtBiMH. [1764.
reduced the iiAand to perfect sertitudb, which they
ealled peace, the French withdrew their force's. Ai
0o6a aft they were gone, men, women, and hoys
roee at once against their oppressors. The circuoi"
stances of the times were now favonrable to them ;
and some British ships, acting as allies of Sardinia,
bombarded Bastia and San Fiorenzq, and delivered
them into the hands of the patriots. This service
was- long remembered with gratitude : the impres-
aioA made upon our own countrymen was less
favourable. They had witnessed the heart-burning
of rival chiefs, and the .dissensions among the pi^
triots; and perceiving the state of barbarism to
which continual oppression, and habits of lawless
turbulence, had reduced the nation, did ndt recollect
that the vices of the people were o'wing to their un-
happy circamstances; but that the virtues which
they displayed arose from their own nature. This
feeling, perhaps, influenced the British court, when,
in 1746, Corsica offered to put herself under the pn>-
tection of Great Britain : an answer was returned,
expressing satisfaction at such a communication,
hoping that the Oorsicans would preserve the same
ftentiments, but signifying also that the present was
not the time for such a measure.
These brave islanders then formed a government
for themselves, under two leaders, Gaffori and
Matra, who had the title of protectors. The latter
is represented as a partisan of Genoa, favouring the
views of the oppressors of his country by the most
treasonable means. Gaffbii was a hero worthy of
old times. His eloquence was long remembered
with admiration. A band of assassins was once
advancing against him ; he heard of their approach,
went out to meet them ; and, with a serene dig^nity,
which overawed them, requested. them to hear him :
he then 8)3oke to them so forcibly of the distresses
of their country, her intolerable wrongs, and the
%Qpea and views of their brethren jb anzwy 4hat the
I7M.] SiVB W KSLVOlf, &7
very men who iMd been hired to murder him» fell at
hie feet, implored his forgiveness, and Joined hit
banner. While he was besieging the Genoese in
Oorte, a part of the garrison perceiving the nurse
wilh his eldest son, then an infant in arms, straying
at a little distance from the camp, suddenly sallied
out and seized them. The use they made of their
persons was in conforqiity to their usual execrable
conduct. When Oaffbri advanced to batter the walls,
tk^ held, up the child directly over that j>art of the
wall at which the guns were pointed. Tlie Corsi-
cans stopped: but Gaffori stood at their head, and
ordered them to continue the fire. Providentially,
the child escaped, and lived to relate, with becoming
feeling, a fact so honourable to his father. That
futher conducted the af&irs of the island till 1753,
'When be was assassinated by some wretches, set
«n, it is believed, by Genoa ; but certainly pensioned
try that abominable government after the aeed. He
left the country in such a state, that it was enabled
to continue the war two years after his death with-
<Nit a leader: then they found one worthy of thebr
<eau8e in PaMuale de Paoli.
' Paolfs fatW was one of the patriots who
ejected their escape from Corsica when th^ French
Tednced it to obedience. He retii:ed to Naples, and
broogbt up this his youngest son in the Neapolitan
service. The Corsicans heard of young Paoli*s
-abilities, and solicited him to come over to his
native country, and take the conunand. He did not
betitate long : his father, who was too far advanced
In years to take an active* part himself, encouraged
tiim to go^ and when they separated, the old man
fell on ms neck, and kissed him, and gave him his
blessing. ^ My -son,'' said he, ^* perhaps I may never
«ee you more-; but in my mind 1 shaU ever ue pre-
sent with you. Your design is great and pooler
and I doubt not hut God will bless you in it. I shaH
deiQole to your ^eause the little o'emainder of my life
_j
08 tUFE OF IVXI40M. [17M«
in offering up my prayers for yonr iticcess." When
Paoli assumed th^ command, he found all things in
confusion: he formed a democratical government,
of which he was chosen chief; restored the autho-
rity of the laws; established a university ; and U^ok
such measures, both for repressing abuses and
moulding the rising generation, that, if France had
not interfered, upon its wicked and detestable prin-
ciple of usurpation, Corsica might, at this day, have
been as free, and flourishing, and happy a common-
wealth as any of the Grecian states in the days of
their prospenty. The Genoese were at this time
driven out of their fortified towns, and must, in a
short time have been expelled. Frante was indebted
some millions of livres to Genoa: it was not con-
venient to pay this money; so the French minister
proposed to the Genoese, that she should discbarge
the debt by sending six battalions to serve in Corsica
for four years. The indignation which this conduct
excited in all generous hearts was forcibly ex-
pressed by Rousseau, who, with all his errors, was
seldom deficient in feeling for the wrongs of hur
inanity. "You Frenchmen," said he, writing to
one of that people " are athoroughly servile nation,
thoroughly sold to tyranny, thoroughly cruel and
relentless in persecuting the unhappy. If they
knew of a freeman at the other end of the world, I
believe they would go thither for the mere pleasure
of extirpating him."
The immediate object of the French happened to
be purely mercenary : tl\(By wanted to clear off their
debt to Genoa; and as the presence of their troops
in the island effected this, they aimed at doing the
people no farther mischief. Would that the conduct
of England had been at this time free from re^ach !
but a proclamation was issued by the English go-
vernment, after the peace of Paris, prohibiting any
intercourse with the rebels of Corsica. Paoli said«
he did not expect this from Great J^htatn. This
1184.] ars of keuoh. W
great man was desenredly proud of his country : —
** I defy Rome, Sparta, or Thebes,*' he would say,
** to show me thirty years of such patriotism as Cor«
sica can boast \^ Availing himself of the respite
which the inactivity of the French, and the weak-
ness of the Genoese allowed, he prosecuted his
plans of civilizing the people. He used to say, that
tliough he had an unspeakable pride in the prospect
of the fame' to which he aspired ; yet, if he could
but render his countrymen happy, he could be con-
tent to be forgotten. His own importance he never
affected to undervalue. *' We are now to our coun-
try," said he, **• like the .prophet Elisha, stretched
over the dead child of the Snunamite,— eye to eye,
nose to nose, mouth to mouth, It begins to recover
warmth, and to revive : I hope it will yet regain fuU
health and vigour." - - .
But when the four years were expired, France
purchased the sovereignty of Corsica from the Ge-
noese for forty millions of livres ; as if the Genoese
had been entitled, to sell it ; as if any bargain and
«ale could justify one country in taking possession
of another against the will of the inhabitants, and
butchering all who oppose the usurpation ! Among
Che enormities which France has committed, this
action «eems but as a speck ; yet the foulest mur-
derer that ever suffered by the hand of the execu-
tioner, has infinitely less guilt upon his soul than the
statesman who concluded this treaty, and the mo-
narch who sanctioned and confirmed it. A des-
perate and glorious resistapce was made ; bat it was
m vain; no power interposed in behalf of these
injured islanders, and the French poured in as many
troops as were required. They offered to confirm
Paoli in the supreme authority, only on condition
that he would hold it under their government. His
answer was, that **the rocks which surrounded him
should melt away before he would betray a cause
whieh he held in common with the poorest Cor-
^0 UFB or msLBON. [1794
Bican.** This people then set a price upon his head.
During two campaigns he kept them at bay : they
overpowered him at length : he was driven to the
shore, and, having escaped on ship-board, took re-
fuge in England. It is said that Lord Shelbume
resigned his seat in the cabinet, because the ministry
looked on, without attempting to prevent France
from succeeding in this abominable and important
act of aggrandizement. In one respect, however,
our country acted as became her. Paoli was wel-
comed with the honours which he deserved, a pen-
sion of 1200/. was immediately granted him; an^
provision was liberally made for his elder brothei
and his nephew.
Above twenty years Paoli retnained in England,
enjoying the friendship of the wise, and the admira-
tion of the good. But when the French revolution
began, it seemed as if the restoration of Corsica
was at hand. The whole country, as if animated
by one spirit, rose and demanded liberty ; and the
national assembly passed a decree, recognising the
island as a department of France,. and therefore en-
titled to all the privileges of the new French consti-
tution. T^his satisfied the Corsicans, which it ought
not to have done ; and Paoli, in whom the ardour
of youth was past, seeing that his countrymen
were contented, and believing that they were about
to enjoy a state of freedom, naturally wished to re-
turn to his native country. He resigned his pen-
sion in the year 1790, and appeared at the bar of
the assembly with the Corsican deputies, when they
took the oath of fidelity to France. But the course
of events in France soon dispelled those hopes of a
new and better order of things, which Paoli, in
common with so many of the friends of humankind,
had indulged ; and perceiving, after the execution
of the king, that a civil war was about to ensue, of
which no man could foresee the issue, he prepared
to break the connexion between Corsica and the
1794.] livx ov^KiaoN. 71
French rejmblic. The convention, sutpectini^ snch
a desigfn, and perhaps occasioning^ it oy their sns*
picions, ordered him to their bar. That way, he
well knew, led to the guillotine ; and returning a
respectful answer, he declared that he would never
be found wanting in his duty, but pleaded age and
infirmity as a reason for disobeying the summons*
Their second order was more summary i and the
French troops, who were in Corsica, aided by those
of the natives, who were either influenced by here*
ditary party feelings, or who were sincere in ja**
cobinism, took the neld against hi m. But the people
were with him. He repaired to Oorte, the capital
of the island, and was again invested with the au«
thority which he had held in the noonday of his
ikme. The convention upon this denounced him as
a rebel, and set a price npon his head. It was not
the first time that France had proscribed Paoli.
• Paoli now opened a correspondence with Lord
Hood, promising, if the English would make an
attack upon St. Fiorenzo from the sea, he would, at
the same time, attack it by land. This promise he
was unable to performs and Commodore Linzee,
who, in reliance upon it, was sent upon this service,
was repulsed with some loss. Lord Hpud, who had
now been compelled to evacuate Toulon, suspected
Paoli of intentionally deceiving him. This was an
injurious suspicion. Shortly afterward he des«
S itched Lieutenant-Colonel (afterward Sir John)
oore and Major Koehler to confer with him upon
a plan of operations. Sir Gilbert Elliot acconipa-
nied them : and it was agreed upon, that in coniiider*
ation of the succours, both military and nav2|l, which
his Britannic majesty should afford for the purpose
of expelling the French, the island of Corsica should
be delivered into the immediate possession of his
majesty and bind itself to acquiesce in any settle-i
ment he might approve of concerning its govern-
nent and its future relation with Great Britain*
7t UVB 09 IVBUOlf [I7M.
While this negotiation was goinfr on. Nelson cruised
off the island with a small sqiiadron, to prevent the
enemy from throwing in supplies. Close to St.
Fiorenzo the French had a storehouse, of flour, near
their only mill: he watched an opportunity, and
landed one hundred and twenty men, who threw the
flour into the sea, burnt the mill, and re-embarkedt
before one thousand men, who were sent against
him, could occiasion them the loss of a single roan.
While he exerted himself thus, keeping out all sup*
plies, intercepting despatches, attacking their out-
posts and forts, and cutting out vessels from the bay^.
— a species of warfare which depresses the spirit of
an enemy even more than it injures them, because
of the sense of individual superiority which it indi-
cates in the assailants^—troops were landed, and St.
Fiorenzo was besieged. The French, finding them*
selves unable to maintain that post, sunk one of
their frigate^, burnt another, and retreated to Bastia*
Lord Hood submitted to General Dundas, who com-
manded the land-forces, a plan for the reduction of
this place : the general declined co-operating, think-
ing the attempt impracticable, without a reinforce**
ment of two thousand men, which he expected from
Gibraltar. Upon this Lord Hood determined to re-
duce it with the naVal force under his command;
and leaving part of his fleet off Toulon, he came with
the i*est to Bastia.
He showed a proper sense of respect for Nelson's
services, and of confidence in his talents, by taking
care not to bring with him any older captain. A
few days before their arrival. Nelson had had what
he called a brush with the enemy. ^ If I had had
with me five hundred troops," he said, " to a cer-
tainty I should have stormed the town ; and I h^
lieve it might have been carried. Annies go so
slow, that seamen think they never mean to get fo9*
ward : but I dare say they aot on a surer prtnoiplet
although we seldom fail.'' Dumg thk panial aoT
17^4.] «ZFB QV HELSOir. 7S
tion our army appeared upon the heights ; and hay-
ing reconnoitred the pLace, returned to St. Fiorenzo.
'^ What the general could have seen to make a ve*
treat necessary,!' said Nelspn, ^ I cannot compre*
hend. A thousand men woidd certainly take Bastia ;
with five hundred and Agamc^mnon I would attempt
it. My seamen are now what British seamen ought
to be-»-almost invincible. They really mind shot no
more than peas.'' General Dundas had not the same
confidence. " After mature consideration," he said
in a letter to Lord Hood, '* and a personal inspec-
tion for several days of all circumstances, local aa
well as others, I consider the siege of Bastia, with
our present means and forc^, to be a most visionary
and rash attempt : such as no officer would be jus-
tified in undertaking." Lord Hood replied, that
nothing would be more gratifying to nis feelings
than to have the whole responsibility u^n himself;
and that he was ready and willing to undertake the
reduction of the place at his own risk, with the force
and means at present there. General d'AubanC, who
succeeded at this time to the command of the army,
coincided in opinion with his predecessor, and did
not think it right to furnish his lordship with a single
soldier, cannon, or any stores. Lord Hood could
only obtain a few artillery-men; and ordering on
board that part of the troops who, having been em-
barked as marines, were borne on the ships' books
as part of their respective complements, he began
the siege with eleven hundred and eighty-three sol-
diers, artillery'-men, and marines, and two hundred
and fifty sailors. " We are but few," said Nelson,
'* but of the right sort ; our general at St. Fiorenzo
not giving us one of the five regiments he has there
lying idle."
These men were landed on the 4th of April, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Villettes and Nelson, who had
now acquired from the army the title of brigadier.
Guns were dragged by the sailor;* up heights where
G
74 LtFl! OP KEL60B. [1794
it appeared almost hnpotssible to convey them ;— a
work of the greatest difficulty; and which, Nelson
said, could never, in his opinion, have been accom-
plished by any but British seamen. The soldiers,
though less dexterous in such service, because no^
accustomed, lilce sailors, to habitual dexterity, be -
haved with equal spirit. •* Their zesd," said the briga-
dier, *^ is almost unexampled. ' There is not a man
but considers himself as personally interested in the
event, and deserted by the. general. It has, I am
persuaded, made them equal to double their num-
bers.^ This is one proof, of many, that for our sol«
diers to equal our seamen, it is only necessary fw
them to be equally well commanded. They have
the same heart and soul, as well ^ the same flesh
and blood. Too much may, indeed, be exacted
from them- in a retreat ; but set their face towards a
foe, and there is nothing within the reach of human
achievement which they cannot perform. The
French had improved the leisure which our mili-
tary commander had allowed them ; and before Lonl
Hood commenced his operations,' he had the morti-
fication of seeing that .the enemy were every day
erecting new works, strengthening old ones, and
rendering the attempt more difficult. La Combe St
Michel, the commissioner from the national conven-
tion, who was in the city, replied in these . terms to
the summons of the British admiral : ^* I have hot
shot for your ships, and bayonets for your troops.
When two-thirds of our men are killed, I will ihen
trust to the generosity of the English." The siege,
however, was not sustained with the firmness which
such a reply seemed to augur. On the 19th of May,
a treaty of capitulation was begun : that same eve-
ning the troops from St. Fiorenzo made their ap-
pearance on the hills ; and, on the following mom-
mg. General D'Aubant arrived with the who'e army
to take possession of Bastia.
The evei^t of the siege had justified the confideor*
1794.^ UFB OF NELSON. 7S
of the sailors ; but they themselves excused the opU
nion of the generals, when they ss^w what they had
tione. "lam all astonishment," said Nelson, " when
I reflect on what we have achieved ; one thousand
regnlars, fifteen hundred national guards, and a large
party of Corsican troops; four thousand iu all, laying
down their arms to twetve hundred soldiers, marines,
and seamen! I always was of opinion, have ever
acted up to it, and never had any reason to repent
it, that one Englishman was equal to three French-
men. Had this been an English town, I am sure it
■would not have been taken by them. When it had
been reserved to attack the place, the enem^ were
supposed to be far inferior in number ; and it was
not till the whole had beexi arranged,, and the siege
publicly undertaken, that Nelson, received certain
information of the great superiority of the garrison.
This intelligence he kept secret, fearing lest, if so
fair a pretext were afforded, the, attempt would be
abandoned. " My own honour," said he to his wife,
*♦ Lord Hood's honour, and the honour of our country,
must havo been sacrificed, had I mentioned what I
knew : therefore, you will believe what must have
been my feelings during the whole siege, when I had
often proposals made to me to write to Lord Hood
to raise it." Those veiy persons who thus advised
him were rewarded for their conduct at the siege
of Bastia: Nelson, by whom it may truly be aflrmed
that Bastia was taken, received no reward. Lord
Hood's thankd to him, both public and private, were,
as he himself said, the handsomest which man could
give : but his signal merits were not so mentioned
in the despatches as to make thein sufficiently
known to the nation, Qor to obtain for him from
government those honouiw to which they so amply
entitled him. This couid only have arisen from
the haste in which the despatches were written ;
certainly not from any deliberate purpose, txjT Lord
Hood was uniformly his steady and sincere friend*
n LIFE OP NELSOIf. [1794.
One of the cartePs ships, which carried the gar-
Wson of Bastia to Toulon, brought back intelligence
that the French were about to sail from that port ^—
such exertions had they made to repair the damage
done at the evacuation, and to fit out a fieet. The
intelligence was speedily verified. Lord Hood
sailed in quest of them towards the islands of
Hieres. The Agamemnon was with him, " I pray
God," said Nelson, writing to his wife, ** that we
may meet their fleet. If any accident should happen
to me, I am sure my conduct will be such as will
entitle you to the royal favour;— not that 1 have
the least idea but I shall ^turn to you, and full of
honour :-^if not, the Lord's will be done. My name
shall never be a disgrace to those who may belong
to me. The little I have,- 1 have given to you,
except a small annuity ; I wish it was more ; but
I have never got a farthing dishonestly ; it descends
from clean hands. Whatever fate awaits me, I
pray God to bless you, and preserve you, for your
son's sake." With a mind thus prepared, and thus
confident, his hopes and wishes seemed on the point
of being gratified, when the enemy were discovered
close under the land, near St* Tropez. The wind
fell, andf»revented Lord Hood from ^^tting'between
them and the shore, as he designed: boats came
out from Antibes and other places, to their assist-
ance, and towed them within the shoals in Gouijean
roads, where they were protected by the batteries
on isles St. Honore and St. Marguerite, and 'on Cape
Garousse. Here the English admiral planned a
new mode of attack, meaning to double on five of
the nearest ships; but the wind again died away,
and it was found that they had anchored in compact
order, guarding the only passage for lai^ ships.
There waci no way of effecting this passage, except
by towing or warping the vessels ; and this rendered
the attempt impracticable. For this time the enemy
escaped: but Nelsoii bore in mind the admirablfi
J 794.] ^ UFS OF liBLSON. 77
plan of attack which Lord Hood had devised, and
there came a day when they felt its tremendous
effects.
The Agamemnon was now despatched to co-
operate at the siege of Calvi with General Sir
Charles Stuart; an officer who, unfortunately for
his country, never had an adequate field allotted
him for the display of those eminent talents, which
were, to all who knew him, so conspicuous.* Nel-
son had less responsibility here than at Bastia ; and
was acting with a man after his own heart, who
was never. sparing of himself, and slept every night
ifi the advanced battery. But the service was not
less hard than that of the former siege* " We will
fag ourselves to death," said he to Lord Hood,
** before any blame shall lie at our doors. I trust it
will not be forgotten, that twenty-five pieces of
keavy ordnance have been dragged to the different
batteries, mounted, and, all but three, fought by
seamen, except one artillery-man to point the guns."
The climate proved more destructive than the
service ; for this was during the lion sun, as they
there c^ our season of the Jog-days. Of two
thousand men, abov^ half were sick, and the rest
like so many phantoms. Nelson described himself
as the reed among the oaks,) bowing before the
storm when they were laid low by it. *' All the pre-
vailing disorders have attacked me," said he, ^ but
I have not strength enough for them to fasten on."
The loss from the enemy was not great: but Nelson
receiyed a serious injury ; a shot struck the ground
near him, afid drove the sand and small gravel into
one of his eyes. He spoke of \ slightly at the
time : writing the same day to Lord Hood, he only
said, that he got a little hurt that morning, not much;
and the next day, he said, he should be able to
attend his duty m the evening. In fact, he suf-
• Lord Melville was ftilly sensible of these talents, and bore testi-
moay toUiem inUjeJuuMliomett manner after Sir Cbarles'f deitli.
G2
7S Lira ov 2Vsi4M)K. [1794.
fered it (o confine him only one day ; but the sigfal
was lost.
After the fall of Calvi, his services were, by a
strange omission, altogether overlooked; and his
name was not even mentioned in the list of wounded.
This was no ways imputable to the admiral, for he
sent home to government Nelson's journal of the
siege, that they might fully understand the nature
of his indefatigable and unequalled exertions. If
those exertions were not rewarded in the c6nspi«
cuous manner which they deserved, the fault was in
the administration of the day, not in Lord Hood.
Nelson felt himself negiected. **One hundred, and
ten days," said he, ** I have been actually engaged,
at sea and on shore, against the enemy; three
actions against ships, two against Bastia in my
ship, four boat actions, and two villages ti^en, and
twelve sail of vessels burned. I do not know that
any one has done' more. I have had the comfort
to be always applauded by my commander-in-chief,
but never to be rewarded : and, what is more morti-
fying, for services in which 1 have been wounded,
others have been praised, who, at the same time,
were actually in bed, far from the scene of action.
Theyliafe not done me justice. But, never mind,
I *llhave a gazette of my own." How amply was
this second sight of glory realized !
The health of his ship's company had now, in
his own words, b^en miserably torn to pieces by as
hard service as a ship's crew ever pterformed : one
hundred and fifty were in their beds when he left
Calvi ; of them ne lost fifty ; and believed that the
constitutions of the rest Were entirely destroyed.
He was now sent with despatches to Mr. Drake,
at Genoa, and had his first interview with the doge.
The French had, at this time, taken possession of
Vado Bay, in the Genoese territory; and Nelson
foresaw, that if their thoughts were bent on the
invasion of Italyv they- would accomplL^h it the
1794.] XXFB OF KELSOlff. 79
ensuing' spring* *<The allied powers,^ he said,,
*'were Jealous of each other; and none bnt Eng-
land was hearty in the cause." His wish was for
peace, on fair terms, because England, he thought,
was draining herself, to maintain allies who would
not fight for themselves. Lord Hood had now re-
turned to England, and the command devolred on
Admiral Hotham. The affairs of the Mediterranean
wore at this time a gloomy aspect. The arts as
well as the arms of the enemy were gaining the
ascendency there. Tuscany concluded peace, rely-
ing upon the faith of France, which was, in fact,
placing itself at her mercy. Corsica was in danger.
We had taken that island for ourselves, annexed it
formally to the crown of Great Britain, and given it
a constitution as free as pur own. This ws^s done
with the consent of the majority of the inhabitants :
and no transaction between two countries was ever
more fairly or legitimately conducted : yet our con-
duct was unwise; — the islapd is large enough to
form an independent state, and such we should have
made it, under our protection, as long as protection
might be needed ; the Corsipans would tnen have
feli as a nation ; but, when one party had given up
the country to England, the natural consequence
was, that the other looked to France. The question
proposed to the people^ was, to which would they
belong ? Our language and our religion were
against us ; our unaccoinmodating manners, it is to
be feared, still more so. The French were better
politicians. In intrigue they have ever been un-
rivalled ; and it now became apparent, that, in spite
of old 'wrongs, which ought never to have been
forgotten or forgiven, their partisans were daily
acquiring strength. It is part of the policy of
France, and a wise policy it is, to impress upon other
powers the opinion of its strength, by lofty language,
and by threatening before it strikes; a system
whichy while it keeps up^ the spirit of its allies, and
60 UFE OF irSLBON* [1794.
porpetuft^ly stimulates their hopes, tends also to
dismay its enemies. Corsica was now loudly
threatened. The French, who had not yet been
taught to feel their own inferiority upon the seas,
braved us, in contempt, upon that element. They
had a superior fleet in the Mediterranean, and they
sent it out with express orders to seek the Englis^h
and: engage them. Accordingly, the Toulon Beet,
consisting of seventeen ships of the line, and five
IBmaller vessels, put to. sea. Admiral Hotham re-
ceived this information at Leghorn, and sailed im-
mediately in search of them. He had with him
fourteen sail of the line, and one Neapolitan seventy-
four; but his ships were only half-manned, contain-
ing but seven thousand six hundred and fifty men,
whereas the enemy had sixteen thousand nine hun-
dred. He soon came in sight of them : a general
action was expected ; and Nelson, as was his custom
on isuch occasions, wrote a hasty letter to his wife,
as that which might possibly contain his last farcr
well. " The lives of all," said he, " are in the hand
of Him who knows best whether to preserve mine
or not ; my character and good name are in my own
keeping."
But however confident the French government
might be of their naval superiority,' the officers had
no such feeling ; and after manoeuvring for a day,
in sight of the English fleet, they suffered themselves
to be chased* One of their ships, the Ca« Ira, of
eighty-four guns, 'carried away her main and fore-
topmasts. The Inconstant frigate fired at the dis-
abled ship, but received so many shot, that she was
obliged to leave her. Soon afterward a French
frigate took the Oa Ira in tow ; and the Sans-Oulottes,
one hundred and twenty, and the Jean Barras, se-
venty-four, kept about gun-shot distance on her
weather bow. The Agamemnon stood towards her,
having no ship of the line to support her within
«evetal miles.' As she drew .near the Ca Ira fixed
1795.] LIFE OF |nS£805« 61
her stern ^ns so truly, that not a shot misdedf some
Cart of the ship, and, latterly, the masts were struck
y every shot. It had been Nelson's intention not
to fire before he touched her stem; but seeing how
impossible it was that he should be supported, and
how certainly theAgamemnohmustbe severely cut
up, if' her masts were disabled, he altered his plan
accordiiig to the occasion. As soon, therefore*
as he was within a hundred yards of her stem,
he ordered the helm to be put a-starboard, and
the driver and after-sails to be brailed up and shi*
vered; and, as the ship fell off, gave the enemy
her whole broadside. They instantly braced up tibe
after-yards, put the helm a-port, and stood after her
again. This manoeuvre he practised for two hours
and a quarter, never allowing the Oa Ira to get a
singly gun from either side to bear on him ; and when
the French fired their after-guns now, it was no
longer with coolness and precision, for every shot
went far ahead. By this time her sails were hang-
ing in tatters, her mizen-topmast, mizen-topsaS,
and eross-jack-yards, shot away. 'But the fjngate
which had her in tow hove in stays, and got her
round. Both these French ships now brought their
guns to bear, and opened their fire* The Agamem-
non passed them within half pistol-shot; almost
eveiy shot passed over her, for the French had ele-
vated their guns for the rigging, and for distant firing,
and did not think of altering the elevation. As soon
as the Agamemnon's after-guns ceased to bear, she
hove in st.ays, keeping a constant fire as she came
round ; and being worked, said Nelson, with as much
exactness as if she had been turning into Spithead.
On getting round, he saw that the Sahs-Culottes,
which had wore, with many of the enemy's ships,
was under his lee-bow, and standing to leeward.
The admiral, at the same time, made the signal for
the van-ships to join him. Upon this Nelson bore
away, and prepared to set all sail; and the enemy*
SH UFB OF mismu [1T95
having saved their ship, hauled close to the windy
and opened upon him a distant and ineffectual fire.
Only seven of the Agamemnon*s men were hurt— a
thing which Nelson himself remarked as wondeiful:
her sails and rigging were very much cut, and she
had many shots in her hull, and some between wind
and water. The Ca Ira lost one hundred and ten
men that* day, tmd was so cut up, that she could not
get a topmast aloft during the night/
At daylight, on the following morning, the English
ships were taken aback with a fine breeze at N« W.
while the enemy^s fleet kept the southerly wind.
The bendy of their fleet was about five niiles distant ;
the Ca Ira, and the Censeur, seventy-four, which
had her in tow, about three and a half. All sail was
made to <3ut these ships off; and, as the French at-
tempted to save them, a partial action was bpught
on. The Agamemnon was again engaged with her
yesterday's antagonist ; but she ha<l to fight on both
sides Uie ship at the same time. The Ca Ira and the
Censeur fought most gallantly : the first lost nearly
three hundred men in additioh to her former loss ; the
last three hundred and fifty. Poth at last struck : and
Lieutenant Andrews, of the Agamemnon, brother to
the lady to whom Nelson had become attached in
France, and, in Nelson^s own words, *' as gallant an
officer as ever stepped a quarter-deck,'' hoisted
English colours on board them both. The rest of
the enemy's ships behaved very ill. As soon as
these vessels ^had struck. Nelson went to Admiral
Hotham, and proposed that the two prizes should be
left with the Ulustrious and Courageux, which had
been crippled in the action, and with four frigates,
and that the rest of the fleet should pursue the enemy,
and follow up the advantage to the utmost. But his
reply was — " We must be contented : we have done
very well." — " Now," said Nelson, ** had we taken
ten sail, and allowed the eleventh to escape, when it
luid been possible to have got at her, I could never
1795.] LIFE Of ITELSON. 89
have called it well done.* Goodall backed rae: I
got him to write to the admiral ; but it would not do.
We should have had such a day as, I believe, the
annals of England never producpd." In this letter,
the character of Nelson fully manifests itself. " 1
wish," said he, *Uo be an admiral, and in the com-
mand of the English fleet ; I shbuld very, soon either
do much, or be ruined : ray disposition cannot bear
tame and slow ^measures. Sure I am, had I com-
manded on the 14th, that either the whole French
fleet would have graced my triumph, or I should have
been in a confounded scrape." What the event would
have been, he knew from his prophetic feelings and
his own consciousness of power: and we also know
it now, for Aboukir and Trafalgar have told it us.
The Ca Ira and Censeur probably defended them-
selves with more obstinacy in this action, from a
persuasion, that, if they struck, no quarter would be
given ; because they had fired red-hot shot, and had
also a preparation sent, as they said, by the conven-
tion from Paris, which seems to have been of the na-
ture of the Greek fire ; for it' became liquid when it
was discharged, and wat^r would not extinguish its
flames. This combustible was concealed with great
care in the captured ships ; like the red-hot shot, it
had been found useless in battle. Admiral Hotham's
action saved Corsica for the time; but the victory
had been incomplete, and the arrival at Toulon of six
sail of the line, two frigates, and two cutters from
Brest, gave the French a superiority, which,' had
they known how to use it, would materially have en-
dangered the British Mediterranean fleet. That
fleet had been greatly neglected during Lord Chat-
ham's administration at the Admiralty ; and it did
not, for some time, feel the beneficial effect of his
• " I can', entre woim," says Sir William Hamilton, in a letter to Nelson,
** perceive that my old friend, Hotham, is not quite awalce enough for
such a command as that <^ the King's fleet in the Mediterranean, at
though he appears the best creature imaginable/'
84 I2FB OF SfiLSOH, [1795*
Temoval. Lord Hood had gone home to represenC
the real state of affairs, and solicit reinforcements
adequate to the exigencies of the times, and the im-
portance of the scene of action. But that fatal
error of under-proportioning the force to the service;
tha^ ruinous economy, which, by sparing a little,
renders all that is spent useless, infected the British
councils ; and Lord Hood, not being able to obtain
such reinforcements as he knew were necessary,
resigned the command. *^ Sorely," said Nelson, the
people at home have forgotten us." Another Nea-
politan seventy-four joined Admiral Hotham,.and
Nelson observed with sorrow, that this was matter
of exultation to an English fleet. When the store*
ships and victuallers from Gibraltar arrived, their es-
cape from the enemy was thought wonderful ; and
yet, had they not escaped, '* the game," said Nelson,
''was. up here ! At this moment our operations are
at a stand for want of ships to support the Austrians
in getting possession of the seacoast of the king.<^
Sardinia; and behold our admiral does not feel
himself equal to show him^lf, much lesrto give
assistance in their 9perations," It was reported
that the French were again put with eighteen or
twenty sail. The combined British and Neapolitan
were but sixteen ; should the enemy be on^y eigh-
teen. Nelson made no doubt of a complete victory;
but if they were twenty, he said, it was not to be
expected; and a battle, without complete victory,
would have been destruction, because another mast
Ivas not to be got on that side Gibraltar; At length,
Admiral Man arrived with a squadron from England.
** What they can mean by sending him with, only
five sail of the line," said Nelson, " is truly as-tonish*
ing : but all men are alike, and we in this country
do not find any amendment or alteration from tfa^
old board of, Admiralty. They should know that
half the ships in the fleet require to go to England;
and that long ago they ought to have reinforced us.**
179BJI IiIF£ OF lf£Z«>lf. 85
j^bout this time Nelsoo was made colonel of ma-
rines : — a mVrk of approbation which he had Uing
wished-for rather than expected. It came in good
season, for his spirits were oppv j«sf d by the thought
that his services had not been r.cknowledged as they
deserved ; and it abated th^ zijsentful feeling whicn
would else have been excited by the answer to an
application to the war-i>ffiee. During his four
months' land service in Corsica, he had lost aU his
ship furniture, owing to the movements of a camp.
Upon this he wrote .to the secretary at war, brie^
stating what his services on ushbre had been, and
saying, he trusted it was not asking an improper
thing to request that the same allowance might be
made to him which would be made to a land officer
of his rank, which, situated as he was, would be that
of a brigadier-ffeneral : if thisjcould not be accorded,
Le hoped that his additional ei^penses would be paid
Aim. The answer which he received was, that ''no
pay had ever been issued under the direction of the
war-office to officers of the navy, serving with the
arniyon fihore."
.H!e now entered upon a new line of service. The
Austrian and Sardinian armies, under General de
Yins, required, a British squadron to co-operate with
Uiem in driving the French from the Riviera di Ge-
noa, and as Nelson had been so much in the habit
of soldiering, it was immediately fixed that the bri-
gadier should go. He sailed from St. Fiorenzo on
this destination; but fell m,o£f Cape del Mele, with
the enemy's fleet, who immediately gave his squad-
ron chase. The chase lasted four-and-twenty hours ;
and, owing to the fickleness of the wind, the British
ships were sometimes hard pressed; but the want
of skill on the part of the French, gave them many
advantages. Nelson bent his way back to St.
Fiorenzo, where the fleet, which was in the midst
of watering and refitting, had, fj\ seven hours, the
mortification of seevf g him almost, in possessitr of
H
86 UVB OF KEUOM. [1795.
Ilie enemy* before the wind would allow them to
put out to his assistance. The French, however,
at evening, went off, not choosing to approach
nearer the shore. During the night. Admiral
Hotham, by great exertions, got under way: and,
having sought the enemy four days, came in sight
of them on the fifth. Bafflinr winds, and vexatious
calms, so common in the Meaiterranean, rendered it
impossible to close with them ; only a partial action
could be brought on; and then the firing made a
perfect calm. The French being to windward,
drew in shore ; and the English fleet was becalmed
six or seven miles to the westward* L^Alcide, of
seventy-four guns, struck ; but before she could be
taken possession of, a box of combustibles in her
foretop took.iire, and the unhappy crew experienced
how far more perilous their mventions were to
themselves than to their enemies. So rapid was
the conflagration, that the French in their official
account say, the hull, the masts and sails, all
seemed to take fire at the same moment; and
though the English boats were put out to the as-
sistance of the poor wretches on board, not more
than two hundred could be saved. The Agamem-
non, and Captain Rowley, in the Cumberland, were
just getting into close action a second time, when
the admiral called them off, the wind now being di-
rectly into the gulf of Frejus, where the enemy
anchored after the evening closed.
Nelson now proceeded to his station with eight
sail of frigates under his command. Arriving at
Geno^, he h^d a conference with Mr. Drake, the
British envoy to that state ; the result of which was,
that the object of the British must be, to pUt an
entire stop to all trade between Genoa, Prance, and
. the places-occupied by the French troops : for, un-
less this trade were stopped, it would be scarcely
possible for the allied armies to hold their situation,
and impossible for them to make any progress in
1795.] I.U1S o9 sxEJJsan. 87
driving the enemjr out of the Riviera di Genoa. Mn
Drake was, of opinion, that even Nice might fall for
want of supplies, if the trade with Genoa were cut
off. This sort of blockade Nelson could not carry
on without great risk to himself. A captain in the
navy, as he represented to the, envoy, is liable to
prosecution for detention and damages. Thisf dan-
ger was increased by an order which had then
lately been issued ; by which, when a neutral ship
was detained, a complete specification of Jier cargo
was directed to be sent to .the secretary of the Ad-
miralty, and no legal process instituted against her
till the. pleasure of that board should be communi-
cated. This was re(]|uiring an impossibility. .The
cargoes of sliips detained upon thfs station, consist-
ing chiefly of com, would be spoiled long before
the orders of the Admiralty could be known ; and
theU) if .they should happen to release the vessel,
the owners would look to the captain for damages.
Even the only precaution which could be t^en
against this d^ger, involved another danger not
less to be apprehended : for, if the captain should
direct the cargo to be taken out, the freight paid for,
and the vessel released, the agient employed might
prove fraudulent, and become bankrupt ; and in that
case the captain became- responsible. Such thing;?
had happened: Nelson therefore required, as the
only means for carrying on that service, which was
judged essential to the common cause, without ex-
posing the officers tq ruin, that the British envoy
should appoint agents to pay the freight, release the
vessels, sell the cargo, and. hold the amount till pro-
cess was had upon it: government thus securing its
ofllcers. ** I am acting," said Nelson, ** not only
without the orders of my commander-in-chief, but,
in some measure, contrary to him. However, I
have not only the support of his majesty's ministers,
both at Turin and Genoa, but a consciousness that
I am douig what is right and proper for the service
68 LIFE OF NSLflOir. [1795.
of our king and cotintiy. Political courage, in an
officer abroad, iB as highly necessary as militaiy
courage.^'
This quality, which is as much rarer than military
courage, as it is more valuable, and without whica
the soldier's bravery is often of little avail, Nelson
possessed in an eminent degree. His representa-
tions were attended to as tiiey deserved. Admiral
Hotham commended him for what he had done;
and the attention of government was awakened to
the injury which the cause of the allies continpally
suffered from the fraudfe of neutral vessels. <*. What
changes in my life of activity !" said this indefati-
gable man. '^Here I am; having commenced a
co-operation with an old Austrian general, almost
fancying myself charging at the* head of a troop of
horse ! I do not write less than from ten to twenty
letters every day ; which, with the Austrian genend
and aids-de-camp, and my own little squadron,
fully employ my time.- This I like ; — ^active service,
or none.** It wa^ Nelson's mind, which supported
his feeble body through these exertions. He was
at this time almost blind, and wrote with very great
pain. '*Poor Agamemnon,*' he sometimes said,
'^ was as nearly worn out as her captain : and both
must soon be laid up to repair."
When Nelson first ' saw General de Tins, he
thought him an able man, who was willing ^o act
with vigour. The generad charged his inactivity
upon the Piedmontese and Neapolitans, whom, he
said, nothing could induce to act ; and he concerted
a plan with Nelson, for embarking a part of the
Austrian army, and landing it in me rear of the
French. But the English commodore soon began
to suspect that the Austrian general was little dis*
posed to any active operations. In the hope of
spurring him on, he wrote to him, telling him that
he had surveyed the coast to the westward as far
w Nice, and would undertake to embark four or
1795.] Jjom OF vmjsQS. 89
ive thousand men, with theii- arms and a few days'
provisions^ on board the squadron, and land them
within two miles of St. Remo, with theiir field-pieces.
Respecting farther provisic ns for the Austrian army,
he would provide convoys, that they should arrive
In safety ; and, if a re-embarkation should be found
necessary, he would eover it with the squadron.
The possession of St. Remo, as head-quarters for
magazines of every kind, would enable the Austrian
general to turn his army to the eastward or west-
ward. . The enemy at , Oneglia would be ciit off
from provisions, and men .could be landed to attack
that place whenever it was judged necessary. St.
Remo was the only place between Vado and Ville
Franche,. where the squadron could lie in safety,
and anchor ia almost all winds. The bay was not
as good as Vado for large ships ; but it had a mole,
which Vado had not, where aJl small vessels coidd
lie, and load and unload their cargoes. This bay
being in possession of the allies, Nice could be coni-
pletely blockaded by sea. General de Yins, affect-
mg, in his. reply, to consider that Nelson's proposal
had no other end than that of obtaining the bay oi
St. Remo as a station for the ships, told him
what he well knew, and had expressed before, that
Vado bay was a •better anchorage; nevertheless, it
Monsieur le CofnmandatU Nelson was well assured
that part of the fleet could winter there, there was
no risk to which he would not expose himself with
pleasure, for the sake of procuring a. safe station for
the vessels of his Britannic majesty. Nelson soon
assured the Austrian commander, that this was not
the object of his memorials • He now began to sus-
pect that both the Auistrian court and their general
nad other ends in view than the cause of the allies.
** This army," said he, " is slow beyond all descrip-
tion; uid I begin to think that the emperor is
anxious to touch another four millions of English
money. As for the German generals, war is. thei?
90 un OF ffsiMR. [tt95.
trade, and peace is tuin to them; therefore, we
cannot expect that they should have any wish
to finish the war* The politics of courts are so
'mean, that private people would be ashamed to act
in the same way ; all is trick and finesse, to which
the^ common cause is sacrificed. The general wants
a loophole.; it has for some time appeared to me,
that he meahs to go no farther than his present
position, and to lajr the miscarriage of the enterprise
against Nice,^ which has always been held out as
the great object of his army, to the non-co-operation
of the British fleet, and of the Sardinians."
To prevent this plea. Nelson again addressed de
Vins, requesting only to -know the time, and tlw
number of troops ready to embark ; then he would,
he said, despatch a ship to Admiral Hotham, re-
questing transports, having no doubt of obtatkiing
them, and trusting that the plan would be successfid
to its fullest extent. Nelson thought at the time,
that if the whole fleet were offered himfor trans-
g>rts, he would find some other excuse ; and Mr.
rake, who was now appointed to reside at the
Austrian head-quarters, entertained the same idea
of the generaPs sincerity. It was not; however,
put so clearly to the proof as it ought to have been.
He replied, that as soon as Nelson could declare
himself ready with the vessels necessary for con-
veying ten thousand men, with their artillery and
baggage, he would put the army in motion. But
Nelson was not enabled to do this : Admiral Ho-
tham, who was highly meritorious in leaving such a
man so much at his own discretion, pursued a can:
tipus systein, ill according with the Wd and com-
prehensive views of Nelson, who continually regretted
Lord Hood, saying, that the nation had suffered
much by his resignation of the Mediterranean com-
mand. The plan which had been concerted, he
said, would af tonish the French, and perhaps the
English.' * .
1796.] wm Of KEtsoN. 91
There was bo unity in the views of the allied powers,
no cordiality in their co-operation, no energy in their
councils. The neutral powers assisted France more
efTectually than the allies assisted each other. The
Cfenoese ports were- at' this time filled with French
privateers, which swarmed out every night, and
covered the gulf; and French vessels were allowed
to tow out of the port of Genoa itself, hoard vessels
which were coming in, and then return into the
mole. T%is was allowed without a remonstrance ;
while, though Nelson abstained most carefully from
offering any offence to the Genoese territory or fla|f,
•<fomplaint8 were so repeatedly made aeainst his
«quadron, that, he says, it seemed a trial who should
be tired first ; they of complaining, or he of an-
«wering their complaints. But the question of
neutrality was soon at an end. An Austrian com-
missary was travelling from Genoa towards Vado ;
it was known that he was to sleep at YOltri, and
that he had £10,000 with him ; a booty which the
French minister in that city, and the captain of a
F^nch frigate in that port considered as far more
important man the word of honour of the one, the
duties of the other, and the laws of neutrality. The
boats of the frigate went out with some privateers,
landed, robbed the commissary, and brought back
the money to Genoa. The next day men were pub-
Ucly enlisted in that city for the French army :
seven hundred men were embarked, with seven
thousand stand of arms, on board the frigates and
other vessels, who were to land between Voltri and
Savona : — ^there a detachment from the French army
was to join them, and the Genoese peasantry were
to be invited to insurrection^ — a measure for which
every thing had been prepared. The night of the
13th was fixed for the sailing of this expedition :
the Austrians called loudly for Nelson lo prevent jt ;
Cind he, on the evening of the 13th, arrived at
Genoa. His presence cheeked the plant thefrigate.
92 . xiFS or VEXioK. [1796
knowing her deserts, got within the merchant-shitMs,
iu the inner mole ; and the Genoese government
did not now even demand of Nelson respect to the
neutral port, knowing that they had allowed, if not
connived at, a flagrant hreach of ^eurality, and
expecting the answer which he was prepared to re-
turn, that it was useless and impossible for him to
respect it longer.
But though this movement produced the imme-
diate effect which was designed, it led to iU conse-
quences, which Nelson foresaw, but, for want of
sufficient force, was unable to prevent. His squad-
ron was too small for the service which it had to
perform. He required two seventy-fours, and eight
or ten frijprates and sloops ; but when he demanded
this reinforcement. Admiral Hotham had left the
command ; Sir Hyde Parker succeeded till the new
commander should arrive ; and he immediately re-
duced it almost' to nothing, leaving him onlyone
frigate> and a brig. This was a faxSi error. While
the Austrian and Sardinian troops,' whether from the
imbecility or the treachery of their leaders, remained
inactive, the French were preparing for the invasion
of Italy. Not many days before Nelson was thus
summoned to Genoa, he chased a large convoy into
Alassio. Twelve vessels he had formerly destroyed
in that port, though two thousand French troops
occupied the town: this former attack had madetiieni
take new measures of defence ; and there were now
above one. hundred sail of victuallers, gun-boats,
imd ships of war. Nelson represented to the admi-
ral how important it was^ to destroy these vessels ;
and offered, with his squadron of frigates, and tiie
Culloden and Courageaux, to lead himself in the
Agamenmon, and take or destroy the whole.' The
attempt was not permitted : but it was Nelson's be-
lief, that, if it had been made, it would have pre-
venjted the attack upon the Austrian army which
^k place almost immediately afterward.
1795.] hOfS OF IfXLSON. 93
General de Tins demanded satisfaction of the
Genoese government for the seizuie of his commis-
sary; and then, without waiting for their reply^
took possession of some' empty magazines of the
French, and pushed his sentinels to the very ffatei^
of Genoa. Had he done so at first, he would nave
found the magazines full ; but, timed as the mea-
sure was, and useless as it was to the cause of thei
allies, it was in character with the whole of the
Austrian general's conduct: and it is no small
proof of the dexterity with which he served the
enemy, that in such circumstances he could so act
with Genoa, as to contrive to put himself in the
wrongs • N^son was at this time, according to his
own expression, placed in a cleft stick. Mr. Drake,
the Austrian minister, and the Austrian general, all
joined in requiring him not to leave Genoa: if he
left that port unguarded, they said, not only the im-
perial troops at St. Pier d^ Arena and Yoltri would
be lost, but the French plan for taking post between
Yoltri and Sayona would certainly succeed : if the
Austrians should be worsted in the advanced posts,
the retreat by the'Bocchetta would be cut off; and,
if this happened, the loss of the army. would be
imputed to him, for having left Genoa. On the
other hand, he knew, that 41 he were not at Pietra,
the enemy's gunboats would harass the left flank
of the Austrians, who, if they were defeated, as
was to be expected, fiom the, spirit of all their ope-
rations, would, very probably, lay their defeat to
the want of assistance from the Agamemnon. Had
the force for which Nelson applied been given him,
he could have attended to both objects r and had he
been permitted to attack the convoy in Alassio, he
would have disconcerted the plan's of ihe French,
in spite of the Austrian general. He had foreseen
tiie danger, and pointed out how it. might be pre-
vented ; but the means of preventing it were with-
held* The attack was made, as he foresaw ; and
94 LIFE OF mBLSON. [179d
the gunboats brought their fire to bear upon the
Austrians. It so happened, however, that the left
flaiik, which was exposed to them, was the only part
of the army that behaved well ; this division stood
its ground till the centre and right wing fled, and
then retreated in a soldier-like manner. General de
Vins gave up the command in the middle of the bat-
tle, pleading ill health. *' From that moment,'' says
Nelson, '* not a soldier staid at his post {-^-it was tne
devil take the hindmost. Many thousands ran
away who had never seen the enemy; some of them
thirty miles from the advanced posts. Had I not«
though, I own, against my inclination, been kept at
Genoa, from eight to ten thousand men would have
been taken prisoners, and among thi number Gene-
ral de Vins himself : but, by tlus means, the pass
of the Bocchetta was kept open. The purser of the
ship, who was at Vado, ran with the Austrians
eighteen miles without stopi^ing ; the men without
arms, officers without soldiers, women without as-
sistance. The oldest officer, say they, never heard
of so complete a defeat, and certainly without any
reason. Thus has ended my campaign. — ^We have
established the French republic; which, but for us,
I verily believe, would never have been settled by
such a volatile, changeable people. I hate a French-
man : they are equally objects of my detestation,
whether royalists or republicans : in some points, I
believe, the latter are the best." Nelson had a lieu-
tenant and two. midshipmen taken at Vado.: they
told him, m their letter, that few of the French sol-
diers were more than three or four-and-twenty years
old, a great many not more than fourteen, and all
were nearly naked : they were sure, they said, his
barge's crew could have beat a hundred of them ;
and that, had he himself seen ^hem, he would not
have thoueht, if the world had been covered with
such people, that they could have beaten the Aua*
trian army.
1796,]. una op hslbon. 95
The defeat of General de Vins grave the enemy
possesfiion of the Genoese coast from Savona to
Voltri ; and it deprived the Austrians of their direct
communication with the EngUah fleet. The Aga-
memnon, therefore, could no longer be useful x>n
this station, and Nelson sailed for Leghorn to refit.
When his ship went into dock, there was not a mast,
yard, sail, or any part of the rigging, but what stood
in need of repair, having been cut to pieces with
shot. The> hull was so damaged, that it had for
some time been secured by cables, which were
served Or thrapped round it.
CHAPTER iV.
Sir J. Jervis'takeg the Command— Genoa j«fyu the Fh'eitek—Buonfiparte
begins hie Career— Evacuation of Coreiea—M'eleoh hoiets hie bread
Pennani in the Minero&—Jlction toith the Sabina — Battle off Cape
St. VincenU — Xdeon eommande the inner Squadron atr the Bloekade
of Cadiz — Boat Action in the Bay. of Oadii — ETCfedition against
Teneriffe—Jfelson Uses an Arm— His Sufferings %n England^ and
Recovery t
Sir JoHir Jerv» had now arrived to take the com-
mand of the Mediterranean fleet. The Agamen^non
having, as her captain said^ been made as fit for sea
as a rotten ship could be. Nelson sailed from Leg-
horn, and joined the admiral in Fiorenzo Bay. ''I
found him," said he, '* anxious to know many things,
which I was a good deal, si^rprised to find had not
been, communicated to him by others in the fleet ;
and it would appear that he was so well satisfied
with my opinion of what is likely to happen, and
the means of {n^vention to be taken, that he had
no reserve with mc respecting his information and
ideas of what is likely to be done." The manner
in which Nelson was received is said to have excited
96 UFJB OF IfKLSON [I796L
some envy< One captain observed to him : ^ You
did just as you pleased in Lord Hood's time, the
same in Admiral Hotham's, and now again with Sir
John Jervis : it makes no diffl^rence to you who is
commander-iiKchief." A higher compliment could
not have been paid to any commander-in-chief, than
to say of him, that he understood ^he merits of
Nelson, and left him, as far as possible, to act upon
his own judgment.
Sir John Jervis 4)frered him the St. George, ninety,
or the Zealous, seventy-four, and asked if he should
have any objection to serve under him with his flag.
He replied, that if the Agamemnon were ordered
home, and his flag were not arrived, he should, on
many accounts, wish to return to England : still, if
the war continued, he should be very proud of
hoisting his flag under Sir John's command. ** We
cannot spare you," said Sir John, ^ either as captam
Or admiral." Accordingly, he resumed his station
in the Gulf of Genoa. The French had not fol-
lowed up their successes in that quarter with their
usual celerity. Scherer, who commanded there,
owed his advancement to any other cause than his
merit: he was a favourite of the directory; but, for
the present, through the influence of ISarras, he
was removed from a command for which his inca-
pacity was afterward clearly proved, and Buona-
parte was appointed to succeed him. Buonaparte
had given indications of his military talents at Tou-
lon, and of his remorseless nature at Paris : but
the extent, either of his ability or his wickedness,
was at this time known to none ; and, perhaps, not
even suspected by himself.
Nelson isupposed, from the information which lie
had obtained, that one column of the French army
would take possession of Port Especia; eithei
penetrating through the Genoese territory, or t)ro-
ceeding coastwise in light vessels; our ships of
war not l)eing able to approach the coast, because
f796.] i.iF£ OF Txmjsor(. 97
of the shallowness of the water* To prevent this,
he said, two things were necessary ; the possession
of Vado Bay, and the taking of Port Especia; if
either of these points were secured, Italy would
be safe from any attack of the French by sea.
Greneral Beaulieu, who had now superseded de Vina
in the command of the allied Austrian and'Sitrdiniaa
army, sent his nephew and aid-de-camp to com-
municate with Nelson, and inquire whether he could
anchor in any other place than Vado Bay. Nelson
replied, that Vado was the only place wherci the
British fleet could lie in safety : but all places would
suit his squadron ; and wherever the general came
down to the seacoast, there he should find it. The
Austrian repeatedly asked, if there was not a risk
of losing the squadron? and was constantly an«
swered, that if these ships should be lost, the admi«
ral would find others. But all plans of co-operation
with the Austrians were soon frustrated by the battle
of Montenotte. Beaulieu ordered an attack to be
made upon the post of Voltri ; — ^it was made twelve
hours before the time which he had fixed, and before
he arrived to direct it. In ponsequence, the French
were enabled to effect their retreat, and fall back to
Montenotte ; thus giving the troops there a decisive
superiority in number oyer the division which at-
tacked them. This drew on the defeat of the Aus-
trians. Buonaparte, with a celerity which had
never before been witnessed in modern wai, pur-
sued his advantages; and, in the course of a mrt-
night, dictated to ^e court of Turin terms of peace,
or rather of submission ; by which all the strongest
placses of Piedmont were put into his hands.
On one occasion, and only on one. Nelson was
able to impede the progress of this new conqueror.
Six vessels, laden with cannon and ordnance-stores
for the siege of Mantua, sailed from Toulon fo|
St. Pier d* Arena. Assisted by Capt. Cockbum, in
Uie Meleager,he drove them imder a battery, pur-
98 UFE* OF nxucnr. [1796*
sued them, silenced the batteries, and captured the
whole. Military books, plans, and niap» of Italy,
with the different points marked upon them where
former battles had been fought, sent by the directory
for Buonaparte's use, were found in the convoy.
The loss of this artillery was one of the chief
causes 'which compelled the French to raise the
siege of Mantua : but there was too much treachery,
and too much imbecility, both in the councils and
armies of the allied powers, for Austria to improve
this momentary success. Buonaparte perceived
that the conquest of all Italy was within his Teach :
treaties, and the rights of neutral or of friendly
powers, were as little regarded by him as by the*
government for which he acted : in open contempt
of both he entered Tuscany, and took possession of
Leghorn. In consequence of this movement, Nel*
son blockaded that port, and landed a British force
in the Isle of Elba, to secure Porto Ferrajo. Soon
afterward he took the island of Capraja, which had
formerly belonged to Corsica, being less than forty
miles distant from it ; a distance, however, short as.
it was, which enabled the Genoese to retain it, after
their infamous s^e of Corsica to France. Genoa
had now taken part with France : its government
had long covertly assisted the French, and now wil-
lingly yielded to the first compulsory menace which
required them to exclude the English from their
ports. Capraja was seized, in consequence : but
this act of vigour was not followed up as it ought
to have been. England at that time depended too
much upon the feeble governments of the continent,
and too little upon itself. It was determined by the
British cabinet to evacuate Corsica^ as soon as
Spain should form an offensive alliance with France.
This event, which, from the moment that Spiain-
had been compelled to make peace, was clearly
foreseen, had now taken place ; and orders for the
^aeuation of the island were immediately sent ouU
1796.] MFC OF ^cELsoar. 99
It was impolitic to annex this island to the British
dominions ; but having done so, it was disgraceful
thus to abandon it. The disgrace would have been
spared, and every advantage which could have been
derived from the possession of the island secured,
if the people had at first been left to form a govern-
ment for themselves, and protected by us in the en-
joyment of their independence.
The viceroy, Sir Gilbert Elliott, deeply felt the
impolicy and ignominy of this evacuation. The
fleet also was ordered to leave the Mediterranean.
This resolution was so contrary to the last instruc-
tions which had been received, that Nelson ex-
claimed : — ^^ Do his majesty's ministers know their
own minds ? They at home," said he, " do not know
what this fleet is capable of performing*-any thing
and every thing. Much as I shall rejoice to see
England, I lament our present orders in sackcloth
and ashes, so dishonourable to the dignity of Eng-
land, whose fleets are equad to meet the world in
arms : and of all the fleets I ever saw, I never be-
held one, in point of officers and men, ecjual to Sii
John Jervis's, who is a commander-in-chief able to
lead them to glory." Sir Gilbert Elliott believed
that the great body of the Corsicans were perfectly
satisfied, as they had good reason, to be^with the
British government, sensible of its advantages, and
attached to it. However this may have been, when
they found that the English intended to evacuate
the island, they naturally and necessarily sent to
make their peace with the French. The partisans
of France found none to oppose them. A commit-
tee of thirty took upon them the |[overnment of
Bastia, and sequestered all the British property:
armed Corsicans mounted guard at every place, and
a plan was laid for- seizing the viceroy. Nelsoti,
who was appointed to superintend the evacuation,
frustrated these projects. At a time when ever^
cme else despaired of saving stores, cannon, pion^
100 LIFE OF TXTEwam, [1796.
sions, or i»*opertr of any kind, and a privateer was
moored across tne mole-head to prevent all boats
from passing, he sent word to the committee, that'
if the slightest opposition were made to the em*
barkment and removsd of British property, he would
batter the town down* The privateer pointed her
guns at the officer who carried this message, and
muskets were levelled against his boats from the
mole-head. Upon this, Captain Sutton, of the Eg-
mont, puUin? out his watch, gave them a quarter of
an hour to deliberate upon their answer. In five
minutes after the expiration of that time, the ships,
he said, would open their fire. Upon this the very
sentinels scampered off, and every vessel came out
of the mole. A ship-owner complained to the com-
modore, that the municipality refused to let him take
his goods out of the custom-house. Ndson di-
rected him to say, that unless they were instantly
delivered, he would open his fire. The committee
turned pale ; and, without answering a word, gave
him the keys. Their last atteifopt was to levy a
duty upon the things that were re-embarked. He
sent tnem word, that he would pay them a * dis-
agreeable visit, if there were any more complaints.
The committee then finding that they had to deal
with a man who knew bis own power, and was de-
termined to make the British name respected,
desisted from the insolent conduct which they had
assumed: and it was acknowledged, that Bastia
never had been so quiet and orderly sinee the En?
lish were in possesjsion of it. This was on the 14th
of October : during the five •following days the
work of embarkation was anmed on, the private
proi!>erty was saved, and public stores to the amount
Of £200,000. The French, favoured by the Spa-
nish fleet, which was at that time within twelve
leagues of Bastia, pushed over troops from Leg-
horn, who landed near Cape Corse on the 18th ; and,
on the SOthi at one in the morning, entered the
1796.] IIFB OfF RKLSOlf. 101
eitadel, an hour only after the British had spiked
iVie guns, and evacuated it. Nelson embarked at
daybreak, being the last person who left the shore ;
having thus, as he said, seen the first and the last
of Corsica. Provoked at the conduct of the muni-
cipality, and the disposition which the populace had
shown to profit by the confusion, he turned towards
the shore, as he stepped into his boat, and ex-
claimed: *'Now, John Corse, follow the natural
bent of your detestable character — ^plunder and
revenge." This, however, was not Nelson's deli-
berate opinio]) of the people of Corsica; he knew
that their vices were the natural consequences of
internal anarchy and foreign oppression, such as the
same causes would produce in any people: and
when he saw, that of all those who took leave of
the viceroy, there was not one who parted from him
without tears, he acknowledged, that they manifestly
acted not from dislike of the English, but from fear
of the French. England then might, with more
reason, reproach her own rulers for pusillanimity,
tiian the Corsicans for ingratitude*
Having thus ably efiected this humiliating ser-
vice. Nelson was ordered to hoist his broad pennant
on board the M inerve frigate, Captabi George Cock-
bum, and, with the Blanche under his command,
proceed to Porto Ferrajo, and superintend the eva-
cuation of that place also. On his way, he fell in
with two Spanish frigates, the Sabina and the Ceres.
The Minerve engaged the former, which was com-
manded by D. Jacobo Stuart, a descendant of the
Duke of Berwick. After an action of thrqe hours,
during which the Spaniards lost one hundred and
sixty-four men, the Sabina struck. The Spanish
captain, who was the only surviving officer, had
hardly been conveyed on board the Minerve, when
another enemy's frigate came up, compelled her to
cast off the prize, and brought her a second time to
•ction. After half an hour's trial of strengtfay this
12
102 UFB OF ITELSON. (1796.
new antagonist wore and hanled off: bnt a Spanish
squadron of two ships of the line and two frieates
came in sig^ht. The Blanche, from which the Ceres
had got off, was far to windward, and the Minerve
escaped only by the anxiety of the enemy to recover
their own ship. As soon as Nelson reached Porto
Ferrajo, he sent his prisoner in a flag of triice to
Cartha^ena, having returned him his sword ; this
he did m honour of the gallantry which D. Jacobo
had displa^^ed, and not without some feeling of re-
spect Yor his ancestry. "I felt it," said he, "con-
sonant to the dignity of my country, and. I always
act as I feel right, without regard to custom: he
was reputed the best officer in Spain, and his men
were worthy of such a commander." By the same
flag of truce he sent back all the Spanish prisoners
at Porto Ferrajo; m exchange for whom he re-
ceived his own men who had been taken in the
prize.
General de Burgh, who commanded at the Isle
. of Elba, did not think himself authorized to aban-
don the place, till he had received specific instruo-
tions from England to that effect; professing that
he was unable to decide between the contradictory
orders of government, or to guess at what their pre-
sent intentions might be: but he said, his only mo-
tive for urging delay in this measure arose from a
desire that his own conduct might be properly
sanctioned, not from any opinion that Porto Ferrajo
ought to be retained. But Naples having made
peace, Sir J. Jervis^ considered his business with
Italy as concluded; and the protection of Portugal
was the point to which he was now instructed to
attend. Nelson, therefor^, whose orders were per-
fectly clear and exf^icit, withdrew the whole naval
establishment front) that station, leaving the trans-
ports victualled, and so arranged, that all the troops
and stores could be embarked in three days. He
was now about to leave the Mediterranean. Mr«
1797.] tlFE OP N££801ff. 10$
Drake, who had been our miniiter at Genoa, ex-
pressed to him, on this occasion, the very high opi.
nion which the allies entertained of his conspicuous
merit; adding, that it was impossible for ally one,
who had the honour of co-operating with him, not
to admire the activity, talents, and zeal which he had
80 eminently and constantly displayed. In fact,
during this long course of services in the Mediter-
ranean, the whole of his conduct had exhibited th^
same zeal, the same indefatigable energy, the same
intuitive judgment, the same prompt and unerring
decision, which characterized his after-career of
glory. His name was as yet hardly known to the
English public; but it was feared and respected
throughout Italy. A letter came to him, directed
"Horatio Nelson, Genoa:" and the writer, when he
was as)ced how he could direct it so vaguely, re-
plied, «* Sir, there is but one Horatio Nelson in the
world." At Genoa, in particular, where he had so
long been stationed, and where the nature of his
duty first led him to continual disputes with the go-
vernment, and afterward compelled him to stop the
trade of the port, he was equally respected by the
doge and by the people: for, while he maintained
the rights and interests of Great Britain with be*
coming firmness, he tempered the exercise of power
with courtesy and humanity, wherever duty would
permit. " Had all my actions," said he, writing at
this time to his wife, ^been gazetted, not one fort-
night would have passed, during the whole war,
without a letter from me. One day or other I will
have a long gazette to myself. I feel that such an
opportunity will be given me. I cannot, if I am in
the field of glory, be kept out of sight : wherever
there is any thing to be done, there Providence is
sure to direct my steps."
lliese hopes and anticipations were soon to be
fulfilled. Nelson's mind had long been irritated
and depressed by the fear that a general action
104 LIFE OP NEMOW. [1797.
would take place before he could join the fleet. At
length he sailed from Porto Ferrajo with a convoy
for Gibraltar; and having reached that place, pro-
ceeded to the westward in search of the admiral.
Oif the mouth of the Straits he fell in with the Spa-
nish fleet; and, on the 13th of February, reaching
the station off Cape St. Vincent's, communicated this
intelligence to Sir John Jervis. He was now di-
rected to shift his broad pennant on board the Cap-
tain, seventy-four. Captain R. W. Miller ; and, be-
fore sunset, the signal was made to prepare for ac-
tion, and to keep, during the night, in close order
At daybreak the enemy were in sight. The British
force consisted of two ships of one hundred guns,
two of ninety-eight, two of ninety, eight of seventy-
four, and one sixty-four : fifteen of the line in all ;
with four frigates, a sloop, and a cutter. The Spa-
niards had one four-decker, of one hundred and
thirty-six guns ; six three-deckers, of one hundred
and twelve; two eighty-fours; eighteen seventy-
fours; in all, twenty-seven ships of the line, with
ten frigates and a brig. Their admiral, D. Joseph
de Cordova, had learned from an American, on the
6th, that the English had only nine ships, which was
indeed the case when his informer had seen them ;
for a reinforcement of five ships from England,
under Admiral Parker, had not then joined, and the
Otilioden had parted company. Upon this informal
tion, the Spanish commander, instead of going into
Cadiz, as was his intention when he sailed from
Carthagenaj determined to seek an enemy so infe-
rior in force; and relying, with fatal confidence,
upon the American account, he suffered his ships to
remain too far dispersed, and in some disorder.
When the morning of the 14th broke, and discovered
the English fleet, a fog for some time concealed
tiieir nuitiber. That fleet had heard their signal guns
during the night, the weather being fine, though,
thick and hazy ; soon after daylight they were seen
I79f.] llFE OF NELSON. l06
very much scattered, while the British ships were
in a compact little body. The look-out ship of the
Spaniards fancying that her signal was disregarded,
because so little notice seemed to be taken of it,
made another signal, that the English force con-
sisted of forty sail of the line. The captain after-
ward said, he did this to rouse the admiral : it had
the effect of perplexing him, and alarming the whole
fleet. The absurdity of such an act shows what
was the state of the Spanish navy under that mise-
rable government, by which Spain was so long
oppressed and degraded, and finally betrayed. In
reality, the general^ incapacity of the naval officer^
was* so well known, that in a pasquinade, which
about this time appeared at Madrid, wherein the dif-
ferent orders of the state were advertised for sale,
the greater part of the sea«-officers, with all their
equipments, were offered as a gift ; and it was added,
that any person who would please to take them,
should receive a handsome gratuity. When the
probability ^hat Spain would take part in the war,
as an ally of France, was first contemplated, Nel-
son said that their fleet, if it were no better than
when it acted in alliance with us, would '< soon be
done for."
Before the enemy could form a regular order of
battle. Sir J. Jervis, by carrying a press of sail,
came up with them, passed through their fleet, then
tacked, and tiius cut off nine of their ships from the
main body. These ships attempted to form on
the larboard tack, either with a design of passing
through the British line, or to leeward of it, and
thus rejoining their friends. Only one of them
succeeded in this attempt ; and that only because
she was so covered with smoke that her intention
was not discovered till she had reached the rear :
the others were so warmly received, that they put
about, took to flight, and did not appear again in the
action till its close. The admiral was liow able to
106 UPB OF N£LSON. [1797.
ilirect his attention to the enemy's main body, which
was still superior in number to his whole fleet, and
more «o in weight of metal. ^ He made signal to
tack in succession. Nelson, whose station was in
the rear of the British line, perceived that the Spa-
niards! were bearing up before the wind, with an in-
tention of forming their line, going large, and join-
ing their separated ships; or else, of getting off
without an engagement. To prevent either of these
9chemes, he disobeyed the signal withoat a mo-
ment's hesitation, and ordered his ship to be wore,
^his at once brought him into action with the San-
tissima Trinidad, one hundred and thirty-six, the
San Joseph, one hundred and twelve, the Salvador
del Mundo, one huadred and twelve, the St. Nicolas,
eighty, the San Isidro, seventy-four, another seven-
ty-four, and another first-rate. Trowbridge, in the
Culloden, immediately joined, and most nobly sup-
ported him ; and for nearly an hour did the CuUoden
and Captain maintain what Nelson called ^ this ap-
parently, but not really, unequal contest f* — such
^was the advantage of skill and discipline, and the
^confidence which brave men derive from them.
The Blenheim then, passing between them and the
enemy, gave them a respite, and poured in her fire
upon the Spaniards. The Salvador del Mundo and
S. Isidro dropped astern, and were fired into, in a
xnasterly style, by the Excellent, Capt. Colling wood.
The S. Isidjro struck ; and Nelson thought that the
/Salvador struck also ; " but CoUingwood," says he,
** disdaining the parade of taking possession of
l>eaten enemies, most gallantly pushed up, with
^ very sail set, to save his old friend and messmate
-i?trho was, to appearance, in a criticsd situation**'
f'ar the Captain was at this time actually fired uDon
l,y three first-rates, by the S. Nicolas, and bv a
seventy-four within about pistol-shot of that vesspl
Tl»e Blenheini was ahead, the CuUoden criDDled
^nd aatem, Coljingwood ranged up, and handing
1797.] LIFE OF KBL80K. 107
up his mainsail just astern, passed within ten feet
of the S. Nicolas, giving her a most tremendous
fire, then passed on for the Santissima Trinidad.^^
The S. Nicolas luffing up, the S. Joseph fell on
board her, and Nelson resumed his station abreast
of them, and close along-side. The Captain was
now incapable of farther serrice, either in the line or
in chase : she had lost her fore-topmast ; not a sail,
shroud, or rope was left, and her wheel was shot
away. Nelson, therefore, directed Capt. Miller to
pat the helm a-starboard, and, calling for the board*
ers, ordered them to board.
Capt. Berry, who had lately been Nelson's first
lieutenant, was the first man who leaped into the
enemy's mizen-chains. Miller, when in the yery
act of going, was ordered by Nelson to remain.-—
Berry was supported from the spritsail-yard, which
locked in the S. Nicolas's main rigging. A soldier
of the sixty-ninth broke the upper quarter-gallery
window, and jumped in, followed by the commodore
himself, and by others as fas^ as possible. The
cabin doors were fastened, and the Spanish officers
fired their pistols at them through the window : the
doors were soon forced, and the Spanish brigadier
fell while retreating to the quarter-deck. Nelson
pushed on, and found Berry in possession of the
poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. He
passed on to the forecastle, where he met two or
three Spanish officers, and received their swords.—
The English were now in full possession of every
part of the ship ; and a fire of pistols and musketry
opened upon them from the admiral?s stem gallery
of the San Joseph. Nelson, having placed sentinels
at the dijQferent ladders, and ordered Capt. Miller to
send more men into the prize, gave orders for
boarding that ship from the San Nicolas. It was
done in an instant, he himself leading the way, and
exclaiming— ^" Westminster Abbey or victory!"—
Berry assisted him into the main-chains; and at
108 UFE OF KBLBOir. [1797.
that moment a Spanish officer looked orerlHie quarter-
dedL-rail, and said they surrendered, tt was not
long before he was on the quarter-deck, where the
Spanish captain presented to him his sword, and
told him the admiral was below, dying of his wounds.
There, on the quarterrdeck of an enemy's first-rate,
he received the swords of the officers ; giving them,
as they were delivered, one by one, to William
Feamey, one of his old Agamemnon's, who, with
tile utmost coolness, put them under his arm ; ^* bun-
dling them up," in the lively expression of Colling-
wood^ ** with as much composure as he would have
made a fagot, though twenty-two sail of their line
were still within gunshot." One of his sailors came
tip, and, with an Englishman's feeling, took him by
tne hand, saying, he might not soon have such an-
other place to do it in, and he was heartily glad to
see him there: Twenty-four of the Captain's men
were killed, and fifty-six wounded ; a fourth part of
the loss sustained by dhe whole squadron falling
upon this ship. ^ Nelson received only a few
bruises.
The Spaniards had still eighteen or nineteen
ships, which hatd suffered little or no injury : that
part of the fleet which had been separated from the
main body in the tnocnkig was now coming up, and
Sir John Jervis made signal to bring to. His ships
could not have formed without abandoning Ifiose
which they had captured, and running to leeward :
the Captain was lying a perfect wreck on board her
two prizes ; and many of the other vessels were so
shattered in their masts and rigging, as to be wholly
unmanageable. The Spanish admiral, meantime,
according to his official account, being altogether
undecided in his own. opinion respecting the state
of the fleet, inquired of his captains whether it was
proper to renew the action : nine of them answered
explicitly, that it was not ; others replied that it was
expedient to delay the business. The Pelayo and
>W70
UFJC.op JSKiamf, 1Q9
the Pnnqjpe Conquistador wer^ the only ships that
"were for nghting.
As soon as the action was discontinued, N&lson
went on board the admiral's ship. Sir John Jcrvis
received him on the quarter-deck, took him in his
arms, and said he could not sufficiently tHank him.
For this victory the commander-in-chief vf^s re-
warjcled with the title of Earl St. Vincent.* Nelson,
wlio, before the action was known in England, had
been advanced to the rank of rear-admirai, had the
Order of the Bath given him. The sword of the Spa-
* In th9 official l^ter of Sir John itervis, Nelson wu uot mentioned.
It is said, tbiit tlie admiral iiad ttenn an instance of the ill-consequence
of such selections, afler T^ord Howe's victory ; and, therernre, would
nctt name any individnid thinking it proper to fpeak to the public only
In terms of gehural approbation. His private tetter to tlie first lord of
the AdiiiirnUy, was, with his consent, publi^jihed, for the first time, in a
Lifb of Nelsna, by Mr. Harrison. Here it is said, that *^ Commodore
Nelson, who was in the rear, on the starboard tack, took the lead on the
l^boardi and contributed very much to the fortune of the day.*' It is
tfliX) said, that he boarded the two Spanish ships successively ; but tike
fthct, that Nelson wore without orders, and thus planned as well as ao-
comfilished the victory, is not explicitly stated. Perhaps it was thought
proper tn pass over this part ^ of his conduct in silence, as a splendid
fault : but sucli an example is not dangerous. The author of the work
In which this letter was first made public, protests a^inst chose over-
.tealoan friends, '' who would make the action rather apiiear as Nel-
son's battle, th^n that of the Ittttstrious commiinder- in-chief, i;i^o
dAives fVom It so deservedly his thte. No man," he says, *' ever lesa
needrd, or less deairnl, to strip a single ktif from t^e honoured wreath
of any other hero, with the vain hope 'n augmenting his own, than the
'tmoiortal Nelson : no man ever more merited the whole of that which
ft fC}ien)u» nation unanimously presented to Sir J. Jervis, than the
Ear! of St. Vincem."— Certainly, Earl St Vincent well deserved the
reward which he received ; but it is not detracting from his merit to
lay, that Nelson is Ailly entitled to as much fame from this action as
ttie commander-iiHchief ; not because the brunt of the action fell upon
him ; not because he was enjiasfed with ail the four slUps which were
taken, and took two of them, it may almost besaid, vt^ith his own hand ;
Jottt because the decisive movement, which enabled him to perform all
this, and bv which the action became a victory, was executed in ne-
glect (iff orders, upon his own judgment, and at his peril. Earl St. Vlu-
«^t deserved his earldom ; .but it is not to the honoyr of those by
.wtwua titles were distributed in those days, that Nelson never obtained
the rUnk of earl for either of those victories winch he lived to enjoy,
tbongh the one was the most complete and glorious in the annals of
, ^aval hhtioryv and tlie other the most important in its c(Misequepc«i of
uy yyhich was achieved during the whqle war.
K
110 MFE OP NEMON. [1 79 'TV
nish rear-admiral, which Sir John Jer^s insistea
upon his keeping, he presented to the mayor and cor-
poratibn of Norwich, saying, that he knew no place
where it could g'ive him or his family more pleasnire
to^have it kept, than in the capital city of the county
where, he was born. The freedom of that city wa»
voted him on tliis occasion. But of all the nume-
J'ous cong-ratulations which he received, none could
have affected ii i m w ith deeper delight than that whicli
came from his venerable father. " 1 thank my God,»
said this excellent fnan, " with all the power of a
grateful soul for the mercies he has most gra-
ciously besto'wed on me in preserving you. Not
only my fg j^eQuaintance here, but the people m
general, met me eit every comer with siieh handsonae
^ords, that T was obliged to retire from the publKs
«ye. The hpi o-ht of Rlory to which your prdfessional
judgment, imi ted with a proper degree of bravery,
Swarded bv l^rovidence, has raised you, few soiis,
^y dearchilHT attsiin to, and few fathers live to see-
Tears of iov ^kve involuntarily trickled down my
furrowed (•}/ t s A?Vho could stand the force of such
B-enprai J^ r.\is^tion ? The name and services oi
Knha°7,^unded through this^cityofBath-from
'he common b^U^d-«'"?r»'*. l^*^.P,t>"*= theatre."
rhe good 014 m^n *'*l'^''l"^^'l ''J **'V'"S J»m, that
hf> fiSiH ^f , S^r in which he had so long been con-
* S^r"ffA,=« «rlao tiad now hoisted his flag as rear-
idmira" ofthe tol«e, ^'?* ^r**^ """.^ away the
roonle^L DJf^*.<> Kf^rrajo: having performed this,
nSff5SK-^S«^ to t*^^ Theseus. That ship had
Aen n«^^''»S^^"*i"y '",^"^'*"*^' and being ju.t
wen part in thef" some danger -was aoDrehended
Si2"o'aTe^^^^- *-'"^^^' was dro^^SiS
i'7^'7'] UFE OF NEIiSOIf. |||
quarter-deck, containing these worda: "Success
attend Admiral Nelson! God bless Capt. Miller'
We thank them for the oflicers they have placed
over us. We are happy and comfortable ; and will
shed every drop of blood in our veins to support
them ; and the name of the Theseus shall be immor-
tahzed as high as her captain's." Wherever Nelson
commanded, the men soon becaine attached to him-
— m ten days' time he would have restored the most
mutinous ship in the navy to order. Whenever an
officer fails to win the affections of those who are
under his command, he may be assured that the fault
IS chiefly in himself.
While Sir Horatio was in the Theseus, he was
employed in the command of the inner squadron at
the blockade of Cadiz. During this service, the most
perilous action occurred in which he was ever en-
gaged. Making a night-attack upon the Spanish
gunboatSj his barge was attacked by an armed
launch, under their commander, D. Miguel Tregoyen
carrying twenty-six men. Nelson had with him'
only his ten bargemen, Capt. Freemantle, and his
coxswain, John Sykes, an old and faithful follower,
who twice saved the life of his admiral, by parrying
the blows that were aimed at him, and, at last, actu-
ally interposed his own head to receive the blow of
a Spanish sabre, which he could not by any other
means avert;— thus dearly was Nelson beloved.
This was a desperate service— hand to hand with
srwords: — and Nelson always considered that his
personal courage was more conspicuous on this oc-
casion than on any other during his whole life.
Notwithstanding the great dispioportion of num-
bers, eighteen of the enemy were killed, all the rest
wounded, and their launch taken. Nelson would
have asked for a lieutenancy for Sykes, if he had
served long enough : his manner and conduct, he
observed, were so entirely above his situation, that
Nature certainly intended him for a gentleinan: but
112 lilPte OF K£I.S0Tr. {1797,
though he recovered from the dangeroud wound which
he received in this act of heroic attachment, he did
not live to profit by the gratitude and friendship of
his commander.
Twelve days after this rencounter, Nelson ssiiled at
the head of an expedition against Teneriffe. A re-
port had prevailed a few months before, that the
viceroy of Mexico, with the treasure-ships had put
into that island. This had led Nelson to meditate
the plan of an attack upon it, vvhich he communi-
cated to Earl S,t. Vincent, He was perfectly aware
of the difficulties of the attempt. " 1 do nqt,*' said
he, " reckon myself equal to Blake : but, if I recol-
lect right, he was more obliged to the wind coming
off the land than to any exertions of his own. The
approach by sea to the anchoring-place is'under'very
high land, passing three valleys ; therefore the wind
is either in from the sea, or squally with calms from
the mountains ;" and Jie perceived,, that if the Spa^
nish ships were won, the object would still be frus-
trated, if th§ wind did not come off shore. *rhe land
force, he thought, would render success certain ; and
there were the troops from Elba, with all necessary
' stores and artillery, already embarked. " But here,^
said he " soldiers must be consulted ; and 1 know,
from experience, they have not the same boldness
in undertaking a political measure that we have :
we look to the benefit of our country, and risk our
own fame every day to serve her ; — a soldier obeys
his orders, and no more.*' Nelson's experience at
Corsica justified him in this harsh opinion : — ^he did
not live to see the glorious days of the British array
under Wellington. . The army from Elba, consisting
of three thousand seven hundred men, would do the
business, he said, in three 'days, probably in much
less time ; and he would undertake, with a very small
squadron, to perfprm thie naval part; for, though the
Bhore was not easy of access, the transports might
run in and land the troops in. one day, •
1797.] MJP* o^ KELSON. 113
The report conceraiiig the viceroy was unfounded ;
out a homeward-bound Manilla ship put into Santa
Cruz at this time, and the expedition was determined
upon- It was not fitted out upon the scale which
. Nelson, had proposed. Four ships of the line, three
frigates, and the Fox cutter formed the squadron;
and he was allowed to choose such ships and offi-
cers as he thoug^ht proper. No troops, were em-
barked ; the seamen and marines of the squadron
being thought sufficient. His orders were, to make
a vigorous attack; but onlio account to land in per-
son, unless his presence should be absolutely neces-
sary. The plan was, that the boats should land in
the night, between the fort on the north-east side of
Santa ('r^z bay and the town, make themselves mas-
ters of that fort, and then send a summons to the
governor.! By ^midnight, the three frigates, having
the force on board which was intended for this de-
barkation, approached within three miles of the
place ; but, owing to a strong gale of -wind in the
offing, and a strong current against them in shore,
they were not able to get within a mile of the land-
ing place before daybreak ; and then they were seen,
and their intentio^i discovered. Trowbridge and
. Bovven, with Capt. Oldfield, of the ipaarines, went
upon this to consult with the admiral what was to
be done ; and it was'resolved that they should attempt
to get possession of the heights above the fort. The
frigates accordingly landed their men ; and Nelson
stood in with the line-of-battle ships> meaning to
batter the fort, for the purpose of distracting the
attention of the garrison. A calm and contrary
current hindered him from getting within a league
of the shore ; and the heights were by this time so
secured, and manned with suph a force, as to be
iudged iippracticable. Thus foiled in his plans by
circumstances of wind and tide, he fetill consid^r^
it a point of iiopouV that some attempt should be
made. This was ou the twenty-second of July : he
^ K 3
114 UFE OF ȣLSON. [17^7*
re-embarked his men that night, got the ships, on
the twenty-fourth, to anchor about two miles north
of the town, and made show as if he intended to
attack the heights. At six in the evening, signsd
was made for the boats to prepare to proceed oii the
service as previously ordered.
When this was done,^ Nelson addressed a letter
to the commander-in-chief— the last which was ever
written with his right hand. " I shall not," said he,
" enter on the subject, why we are not in poissession
of Santa Cruz. Your partiality will give credit, that
all has hitherto been done which was possible; but
without effect. This night I, humble as I,amj com-
mand the whole, destined to land under the batteries
of the town ; and to-morrow, my head will probably
be crowned either with laurel or cypress. I -have
only to recommend Josiah Nisbet to you and my
country. The duke of Clarence, should 1 fall, will,
I am confident, take a lively interest for my son-hi-
law, on his name being mentioned." Perfectly
aware how desperate a service thite was likely to
prove, before he left the Theseus, he called lieute-
nant Nisbet, who had the watch on deck, into the
cabin, that he might assist in arranging and burning
his mother's letters. Perceiving that the young
man was armed, he earnestly begged him to remain
behind. "Should we both fall, Josiah," said he,
♦* what would become of your poor mother ! The
care of the Theseus falls to you : stay, therefore,
and take charge of her." Nisbet replied ; " Sir, the
ship must take care of herself; I will go with you
to-night, if I never go again."
Jie met his captains at l^upper on board the Sea-
horse, Capt. Freejnantle; whose wife, whQm he had
lately ipafried in the Mediterranean, presided at
table. At e^sven o'clock, the boats, containing be-
tweeiv six and seven, hundred men, with one hun-
dred and eighty on board the Fbx cutter, and from
seventy to eighty in a boat which had been taken
i797«] UPB OF VELBOTH. 115
ihe day before, proceeded in six divisions towards
the to>^rn, conducted by all the captains of the squa-.
dron, except Freemantle and Bowen, who attended
with Nelson to regulate and lead the way to the at-
tack. They were to land on the mole, and thence
hasten, as fast as possible, into the great square ;
then form, and proceed, as should be found expe-
dient. They were not discovered till about half
past one o*clock, when, being within half gun-shot of
the landing place, Nelson directed the boats to cast
off from each other, give a huzza, and push for the
shore. But the Spaniards were excellently well
prepared : the alarm-bells answered the huzza, and
a fire of thirty or forty pieces of cannon, with mus-
ketry from one end of the town to the other,
opened upon the invaders. Nothing, however,
could check .the intrepidity with whit;h they ad-
vanced.' The night was exceedingly dark: most
of the boats missed the mole, and went on shore
through a raging surf, which stove all to the left of
it. The admiral, Freemantle, Thompson, Bowen,
and four or five other boats, found the mole : they
stormed it instantly, and carried it, though it was
defended,.'as they imagined, by four or five hundred
men. Its guris, which were six-and-twenty pound-
ers, were spiked ; but such a heavy fire of musketry
and grape was kept up from the citadel and the
houses at the head of the mole, that the assailants
could not advance, and nearly all of them were
killed or wounded.
In the act of stepping out of the boat, Nelson re-
ceived a shot through the right elbow, and fell ; but
as he fell. He caught the sword, which he had just
drawn, in his left hand, determined never to part
with it while he lived, for it had belonged to his
uncle, Capt. Sucklifig, and he valued it like a relic.
Nisbet, who was close to him, pla^d him at the
bottom of the boat, and laid his hat over the shat-
tered ann, lest the sight of the blood, which gushed
M6 LIFE OF NEUON. [1797.
out in great abundance, should increase his faint-
ness. He then examined the wound, and taking
some silk handkerchiefs from his neck, bound them
round tight above* the lacerated vessels. Had it not
been for this presence of mind in his son-in-law,
Nelson must have perished. One of his bargemen,
by name Lovel, tore his shirt into shreds, and made
a sling with them for the broken limb. They then
collected five other seamen, by whose assistance
they succeeded, at length, in getting the boat afloat ;
for it had grounded with the falling tide. . Nisbet
took one of the oars, and ordered the steersman ^o
go close under the guns of the battery, that they
might be safe from its tremendous fire.^ Hearing
his voice. Nelson roused himself, and desired to be
lifted up in the boat, that he mi?ht look about him.
Nisbet raised him up ; but iibtning could be seen,
except the firing of the guns on shore, and what
could be discerned by their flashes upon the storniy
sea. In a fow minutes, a general shriek was heard
from the crew of the l^ox, which had received a
shot under water, and went down. Ninety-seven
men were lost in her; eighty-three were saved,
many by Nelson himself, whose exertions on this
occasion greatly increased the pain and danger of
his wound. The first ship which the boat could
reach happened to be the Seahorse : but nothing could
induce him to go on board, though he was assured
that if they attempted to row to another ship, it
might be at the risk of his life. " I had rather
suffer death," he replied, "than alarm Mrs. Free-
mantle, by letting her see me in this state, when I
can give her 1)0 tidings whatever of her husband."
They pushed on for tne Theseus. When they came
along-side, he peremptorily refused all assistance in
getting on board, so impatfent was he that the boat
should return, in hopes that it might save a few
more from the Fox. He desh-ed to have only a
single rope thrown over the side which he twisted
1797.] ftira OF KSLSON. 117
YDTind his left hand, saying, ** Let me alone : I have
yet my legs left and one arm* Tell the surgeon to
make haste and get his instruments. I know I
must lose my right arm ; so the sooner it is off the
better/'* The spirit which he displayed in jumping
up the ship's side astonished every body.
Freemantle had been severely wounded in the
right arm, soon after the admiral. He was fortu-
nate enongh to find a boat at the beach, and got
instantly to. his ship. Thompson was wounded:
Bowenf killed, to the great regret of Nelson ; as
was also one of his own officers, Lieutenant Wea-
therhead, who had followed him from the Agamem-
non, and whom he greatly and deservedly esteemed.
Trowbridge, meantime, fortunately for his party,
missed the mole in the darkness, but pushed on
shore under the batteries, close to the south end of
the citadel. Capt. Waller, of the Emerald, and two
or three other boats landed at the same time. The
surf was so high that many others put back. The
boats were . instantly filled With water, and stove
against the rocks ; and most of the ammunition in
. the men's pouches was wetted. Having collected
a few men, they pushed on to the great square,
hoping there to find the admiral and the rest of the
* During the peace of Amiens, when Nelsnn was passing throuffh
Salisbury, and received there with those acclamations wliich foliowed
him every where, he recognised, amid the crowd, a man who had as-
sisted at the ainpiitation, and attended him afterward. He beclconed
Mm up the stairs of the Council House, shook hands with him, ami
made him a* prssent, in remembrance of his services at that time-
The man took fi^m hb bosom a piece of lace, which iie had torn from
tbe sleeve of the amputated limb, sayihg, he had preserved, and wouM
preserve it totlie last mmnent, in memory of bis old commander.
t Captain Bowen^s gold snaN, a^id chain, and sword were preserved
fn the town bouse at Teneriffe ; his watch and other valuables had
been made booty of by the populace. Tn 1810, the majristrates of the
island sent these metnnriala of the dead to hU brother, Commisslonai
Bowen^ saying that they conceited It would be gratifying to hin filings
to receive them, and that as the two nations were now united In a
cause which did equal honour to both, they did not wish to- retain a
trophy 'whicli could remind them that they had ever bsen oppoaed to
' \ othsr. — J^aoal Okmticlit vol. 34, p. 303.
U8 ZJFE OF KBtSON. ;[i797.
lorce. The ladders were all lost, so that they could
make no immediate attempt on the citadel ; but they
sent a sergeant with two of the town^s-people to
summon it : this messenger never returned ; and
Trowbridge, having waited abo^t an hour, in paihful
expectation of his friends, marched jto join Oaptains
>, Hood and Miller, who had effected their lauding to
the south-west. They then endeavoured to procure
\ some intelligence of the admiral and the rest of tlie
officers, but without success. By daybreak they
had gathered together about eighty marines-, eighty
pikemen, and one hundred and eighty small-arm
seamen ; all the survivors of those who had made
good their landing. They obtained some amniuni-
tion from the prisoners whom they had taken, and
marched on, to try what could be done at the citaidel
without ladders. - They found all the streets com-
manded by field-pieces, and several thousand Spa-
niards, with about a hundred French, under arms,
approaching by every avenue. Finding himself
without provisions, the povvder wet, and no possi-
bility of obtaining either stores or reinforcements
from the ships, the boats being lost, Trowbridge,
with great presence of mind, sent Capt. Sampel
Hood with a flag of truce to the governor, to say
he was prepared to burn the town, and would in-
stantly set fire to it, if the Spaniards approached
one inch nearer: — this, however, if he were com-
pelled to do it, he should do with regret, for he had
no wish to injure the inhabitants : and he was ready
to treat upon these terms, — that Ihe British troops
should re-embark, with all their arms, of every
kind, and take their own boats, if they were saved,
or be provided with such others as might be want-
ing : they, on their part, engaging that the squadron
should not molest the town, nor any of the Canary
Islands : all prisoners on both sides to be given i^.
When these terms were proposed, the governor
made answer, that the English ought to fiunrendar
1797.] hmt OF HxisoN. 1 19
as lA-isoners of war: but Capt. Hood replied, he
was instructed to say, that if the terms were not ac-
cepted in five minutes, Capt. Trowbridge would set
the town on fire, add attack the Spaniards at the
point of the bayonet. Satisfied with his success,
which was indeed sufficiently complete, and respect-
ing, like a brave and honourable man, the gallantry
of his enemy, the Spaniard acceded to the proposal,
found boats to re-embark them, their own having all
been dashed to pieces in landing, ^nd before they •
parted gave every mlm a loaf and a pint of wine.
** Ana here," says Nelson in his journal, ** it is
right we should notice the noble and generous con-
duct of Don Juan Antonio Gutierrez, the Spanii^
fevemor. The moment the terms were agreed to,
e directed our wounded men to be received into the
hospitals, and all our people to be supplied with the
best provisions that could be procured ; and made it
known; that the ships were at liberty to send on
shore, and purchase whatever refreshments they
were in want of during the time they might be off
the island." A youth, by name Don Bernardo Col-
lagon, stripped himself of his shirt, to make band-
ages for one of those Epglishmen against whom
not an hour before he had been engaged in battle.
Nelson wrote to thank the governor for the humani-
ty which he had displayed. Presents were inter-
cnanged between them. Sir Horatio offered to tako
charge of his despatches for the Spanish govern
ment ; and thus actually became the first messenger
to^pain of his own defeat.
The total loss of the English, in killed, wounded,
and drowned, amounted to two hundred and fifty.
Nelson made no mention of his own wound in his
ofiScial despatches : but in a private letter to Lord St.
Vincent, — the first which he wrote with his left
hand, — ^he shows himself to have been deeply af-
fected by the failure of this enterprise. " 1 am
become," he said, ^ a burden to my friends, and
1^ UVS OF f««I#9N. i^W.
uctelew) to my country: but by my laa^ letter yon
will perceive my anxiety for the promotion of my
Bon-in-law, Josiah Nisbet* When I leave your
command, I become dead to the world : — ' I go
hence, and am no more seen.' If from poor Bowen's
loss you think it proper to oblige me, 1 rest eohfideot
you will do it. The boy is under obligations to m^ ;
but he repaid me* by bringing me from the niole pf
Santa Cruz. I hope you will be able to give me a
frigate^ to pom^ey the remains, of my carcass to
England.'' — ^* A left-handed admiral," he said, in a
subsequent letter, ** will never again he considered
as useful ; therefore, the sooner I get to a very hum-
ble cottage the better ; and make room for a sounder
man to serve the state.'^ His first letter to Lady
Nelson was written under the same opinion, but in
a more cheerful strain. . " Jt was the chance of war,"
said he, "^aud I have great reason to be thankful:
and I know it/will add much to your pleasure to find
that Josiah, under God's- providence, was principsUly
instrumental iii saving my life. I shall not be sui*-
prised if I am neglected and forgotten.; probably I
shall no longer be considered as useful ; however, I
shall feel rich if I continue to enjoy your afi^ction.
I beg neither you nor my father will think much of
this mishap : — my mind has long been made up to
such an event." ,
Hrs son-i|i-Iaw, according to his wish, waa imme-
diately promoted ; and honours enough to heal his
wounded spirit awaited him^ in England. Letters
were addressed to him by the first lord of the Admi-
radty, and by his steady friend, the Duk^ of Cla-
rence, to congratulate him on his return, covered as
he was with glory. He assured the duke,! in his le-
ply,' that not a scrap of that ardour,, with which he
had hitherto served his king, had been shot away.
The freedom of the cities of Bristol andX-Qodpn
were transmitted to him : he was invested with^ti^e
Older of Hie Bath ; a»d neceiyed a pension of ^ioOO
1797.] UFs OF TSEuaonf. 121
a year. The memorial which, as a matter of form*
he was called upon to present on this occasion, ex-
hibited an extraordinary catalogue of services per-
formed during the war. It stated, that he had been
in four actions with the fleets of the enemy, and in
three actions with boats employed in cutting out of
harbour, in destroying vessels, and in taking three
towns : he had served on shore with the a^my four
monthft, and connmanded the batteries at the sieges
of Bastia and Calvi : he had assisted at the capture
of seven sail of the line, six frigates, four corvettes,
and eleven privateers: taken and destroyed near
fifty sail of merchant vessels ; and actually been en-
gaged against the enemy upwards of a hundred and
twenty times ; in which service he had lost his right
eye and right arm, and been severely wounded and
bruised in his body.
His sufferings from the lost limb were long and
painful. A nerve had been taken up in one of the
ligatures at the time of the operation ; and the liga-
ture, according to the practice of the French sur-
geons, was of silk, instead of Mraxed thread : this
produced a constant irritation and discharge; and
the ends of the ligature being pulled every day, in
hopes of bringing it away, occasioned fresh agony.
He had scarcely any intermission of pain, day or
night, for three months after his return to England.
Lady Nelson, at his earnest request, attended the
dressing his arm, till she had acquired sufficient re-
solution and skill to dress it herself. One night,
during this state of suffering, after a day of constant
pain. Nelson retired early to bed, in hope of enjoy-
ing some respite by means of laudanum. He was
at that time lodging in Bond-street ; and the family
were soon disturbed by a mob knocking loudly and
violently at the door. The news of Duncan's vic-
tgfy had been made public, and the house was not
illuminated. But when the mob were told that
Admiral Nelson lay there in bed, badly wounded,
L
1^2 JtlFE OF NELSON. []7d7«
the foremost of them made answer; "You shall
hear no more from us to-night:" and, in fact, tlie
feeling of respect and sympathy was communicated
from one to another wiUi such e£fect, that, under
the confusion of such a night, the house was not
molested again.
About the end of November, after a night of
sound sleep, he found the arm nearly jfree from
pain: the surgeon was immediately sent for to
examine it ; and the ligature came away with the
slightest touch. From that time it began to heal.
As soon as he thought his health estabiished, he
sent the following form of thanksgiving to the
minister of Sfi George's, Hanover Square : — "An
officer desires to return thanks to Almighty God
for his perfect recovery from a severe wound, and
also for the many mercies bestowed on him."
Not having been in England till now, since, her
lost his eye, he went to receive a year's pay, a»
smart money ; but could not obtain payment, be-
cause he had neglected to bring a certificate from
a surgeon, that the sight was actually destroyed.
A little irritated that this form should be insisted
upon, because, though the fact was not apparent, he
thought it was sufficiently notorious, he procured a
certificate, at the same time for the loss of his arm ;
saying, they might just as well doubt one as the
other. This put him in good-humour with himself,
and with the clerk who had oflfended him. On his
return to the office, the clerk finding it was only the,
annual pay of a captain, observed, he thought it had
been more. " Oh !" replied Nelson, "this is only
for an eyfe. In a few days I shall come for aa arm ;
and in a little time longer, God knows,' most pro-
bably for a leg." Accordingly, he soon afterward
went ; and with perfect good-humour exhibited the
certificate of the loss of his arm.
1798.] LIFE OF NELSON 1*^
CHAPTER V.
».
MUen rnoint Earl St. Vtneent in the Vatiguardr^SaiU in Vurtuit
of Uu Frewdi to Rsfypt—Retwmt U Sieiljfj and taiU again *st E^fft
—BattU of the Jfile.
. Eablt in the year 1798, Sir Horatio Nelson
hoisted his flag in the Vanguard, and was ordered
to rejoin Earl St. Vincent. Upon his departure, his
father addressed him with that affectionate solemnity
by which all hiis letters were distinguished. "I
trust in the Lord," said he, " that he will prosper
your going out and your coming in. I earnestly
desired once more to see you, and that wish has
been heard. If I should presume to say, 1 hope to
see you again, the question would be readily asked,
How old art thou 1 Fale ! vale! Damine, vale /" It
is siaid, that a gloomy foreboding hung on the spirits
of Lady Nelson at their parting. This could have
arisen only from the dread of losing him by the
chance of war. Any apprehension of losing his
affections could hardly have existed; for all his
correspondence to this time shows that he thought
himself happy in his marriage; and his private cha-
racter had hitherto been as spotless as his public
condnot. One of the last things he said to her was,
that his own ambition was satisfied, but that he
went to raise her to that rank in which he had long
wished to see her.
Immediately on his rejoining the fleet, he was
despatched to the Mediterranean, with a small
squadron, in order to ascertain, if possible, the ob-
ject of the great expedition which at that time was
fitting out, under Buonaparte, at Toulon. The de-
feat of this armament, whatever might be its des-
124 UFB OF NELSOir. [1798*
tination, was deemed by the British g-oremment an
object paramount to every other; and Earl St, Vin*
cent was directed, if he thougrht it necessary, to
take his whole force into the Mediterranean, to re-
linquish, for thjat purpose, the blockade of the
Spanish fleet, as a thing of inferior moment : but if
he should deem a detachment sufficient, '' I think it
almost unnecessary ,'* said the first lord of the Ad-
miralty, in his secret instructions, " to sugjo^st to
you the propriety of putting it under Sir Horatio
Nelson." It is to the honour of Earl St, Vincent,
that he had already made the same choice. This
appointment to a service in which so .much honour
might be acquired, gave great ofTenc^ to the senior
^admirals of the fleet. Sir William Parker, who was
a very excellent officer, and as gallant a man as.anjr
in the navy, and Sir John Orde, who on all occa-
sions of service had acquitted himself with great
honour, each wrote to Lord Spencer, complaining
that so marked a preference should have been given
to a junior of the same fleet. This resentment is
w^hat mast men in a like case would feel ; and if the
preference thus given to Nelson had not originated
in a clear perception that (as his friend Collingwood
said of him a little while before) his spirit was equal
to all undertakings, and his resources fitted to all
occasions, an injustice would have been done to
them by his appointment. But if the services were
conducted with undeviating respect to seniority, the
naval and military character would soon be brought
<iown to the dead level of mediocrity.
The armament at Toulon consisted of thirteen
fiihips of the line, seven forty-gun frigates, with
t^iventy-four smaller vessels of war, and nearlv two
liundred transports. Mr. Udney, our consul at Leg*
liorn, was the first person who procured certainia.
celligence of the enemy's design agrainst Malta ; and
from his own sagacity foresaw that Egypt must be
tlxeir after-object. Nelson sailed from Gibraitsff on
1798.] ZilTE OF NSL80N IM6
the 9th of May, with the Vanguard, Orion, and Alex-
ander, seventy #four8 ; the Caroline, Flora, Emerald,
and Terpsichore, frigates ; and the Bonne Citoyenne
sloop of war ; to watch this formidable armament.
On the 19th, when they were in the Gulf of Lyons, a
gale came on from the N. W. It moderated so
miich on the 20th, as to enable* them to get their top-
gallant-masts and yards aloft. After dark, it again
began to blow strodg: but the ships had been pre-
pared for a gale, and therefore Nelson's mind was
easy. Shortly after midnight, however, his main-top-
mast went over the side, and the mizen-topmast soon
iiterward. The night was so tempestuous, that it
was impossible for any signal either to be seen or
heard ; and Nelson determined as soon as it should
be daybreak,' to wear, and scud before the gale : but
at half-past three the foremast went in three pieces,
and the bowsprit was found to be sprung in three
places'. When day broke, they succeeded in wear-
mgthe ship with a remnant of the spritsail: this
was hardly to have been expected : the ; Vanguard
was at that time twenty-five leagiies south of the
islands of Hieres, with her head lying to the N. E.,
and if she had ^not wofe, the ship must have drifted
to Corsica. Capt* Ball,, in the Alexander, took her
in tow, to carry her into the Sardinian harbour of
St. Pietro. Nelson, apprehensive that this attempt
might endanger both vessels, ordered him to cast
ofi*: but that excellent officer,'with a spirit like his
commander's, replied, he was confident he could
aave the Vanguard, and by. God's help he would do
it. There bad been a previous coolness between
these great men ; but from this time Nelson became
i'uUy sensible of the extraordinary talents of Captain
Ball, and a sincere friendship subsisted between
ihem during the refoainder of their lives. " I ought
not," said the admiral, writings to his wife, — ^**I
•ought not to call what has happened to the Van-
f^ard by the cold name of accident: I believe
L 2.
126 mm of msLioK. [1798.
firmly it was the Almighty's ^odness, to check my
consummate vanity. 1 hope it has made roe a better
officer, as I feel confident it has made me a better
man. Figure to yourself, on Sunday evening, at
sunset, a vain mfan walking in his cabin, with a
squadron around him, who looked up to their chief to
lead them to glory, and in whon; their chief placed
the firmest reliance that the proudest ships of equal
numbers belonging to France would have -lowered
their flags ; — figure to yourself, on Monday morning,
whea the sun rose, this proud man, his ship dis-
masted, his fleet dispersed, and himself in such dis-
tress, that the meanest frigate out of France would
have been an tinwelcome guest." • Nelson had, in-
deed, more reason to refuse the cold name of ac.ci-
dent to this tempest, than he was then aware of;
for on that very day, tfhe French fliset sailed from
Toulon, and must have passed within a few leagues
of his little squadron, which was thus preserved by
the thick weather that came on.
The British government at this time, with a be*
coming spirit, gave orders, that any port in the Me-
diterranean should be considered as hostile, where
the governor, or chief magistrate, should refuse to
let our ships of war procure supnlies of provisions,
or -of any article Which they mignt require.
In these orders the ports of Sardinia were ex»
cepted. The continental possessions of the king of
Sardinia were at this time completely at the mercy
of the French, and that prince wag now discovering^
when too late, that the terms to which he had con*
sented, for the purpose of escaping immediate dan*
ger, necessarily involved the loss of the dominions
which they were intended fo preserve. . The citadel
of Turin was now occupied by French troops ; and
his wretched court feared to aflbrd the common
rights of Immanity to British ships, lest it should
give the French occasion to seize on the remainder
of his dominions : — a measure for which, it was ceiw
n9S.| jural OW KELSOH. 1127
tain they would soon n»ake a pretext, if they did
not&idone. Nelson was informed that he could
Bot be permitted to enter the port of St. Pietro.
Regardless of this interdict, which, under his cir-
cumstances, it would have been an act of suicidal
folly to have reg^arded, he anchored in the harbour ;
and by the exertions of Sir James Saumarez, Capt.
Ball, and Capt. B^rry, the Vanguard was refitted in
four days; months woiild have been empl03'ed in
refitting her in England. Nelson, with that proper
sense of merit, wherever it was found, which pro,ved
atf once the goodness and the greatness of his cha^
racter, especially recommended to Earl St. Vincent
the carpenter of the Alexander^ under whose direc-
tions the ship had been repaired ; stating, that he
was an ojd and faithful servant of the crown, who
had been nearly thirty years a warrant carpenter;
and begging most earnestly that the commander-in-
chief would .recommehd him to the particular no-
tice of the board, of Admiralty. He did not leave
the harbour without expressing his sense of the
treatment which he had received there, in a letter to
the Viceroy of Sardinia, — "Sir," it said,, "having,
by a gale of wind, sustained some trifiing damages,
I anchored a small part of his majesty's fleet under
my orders off this island, and was surprised to hear,
by an offioer sent by the governor, that admittance
wajs to be refused to; the fiag. of his Britannic ma-
^sty into this port. When I reflect that ray most
gracious sovereign is the oldest, I believe, and cer-
tainly the most faithful ally which the king of
Sardinia ever had, I could feel the sorrpw which it
must have been to his majesty to have given such
an order ; and also for your excellency, who had to
direct its- execution. I cannot but look at the Afri-
can shore, wherQ the followers of Mahomet are per*
forming the part of the good Samaritan, which 1
look for in vain at St. Peter's, where it is said the
Christian religion is professed."
128 LIFE OF NSUOK. [1798
The delay which was thus occasioned was useful
to him in many respects : it enabled him to complete
his supply of water, and to receive a reinforcement,
which Earl St. Vincent, being himself reinforced
from England, was enabled to send him. It con-
sisted of the best ships of his fleet; the Cnlloden,
seventy-four, Captain T. Trowbridge ; Goliath, se-
venty-four, Capt. T. Foley ; .Minotaur, seventy-four,
Capt. T. Louis ; Defence, seventy-four, Capt. John
Peyton ; Bellerophon, seventy-four, Capt. H. D. E*
Darby.; Majestic, seventy-four,* Capt. G. B. West-
cott; Zealous, seventy-four, Capt. S. Hood; Swift-
sure, seventy-four, Capt. B. Hallowell; Theseus,
seyenty-four, Capt. R. W. Miller; Audacious, se-
venty-four, Capt. Davidge Gould. The Leander,
fifty, Capt.T. B. Thonipson, was afterward added
These ships were made ready for the 'service as
soon as Earl St. Vincent received advice from Eng-
land that he was to be reinforced. As soon as the
reinforcement was seen from the- mast-head of the
admiral's Ship, off Cadiz Bay, signal was immediately
made to Capt. Trowbridge to put to sea ; and he
was out of sight before the ships from home oast
anchor in the British station. Trowbridge took
with him no instructions to Nelson as to the course
hjd was to steer, nor any certain account of the, ene-
my's destination : every thing was left to his own
judgment.' Unfortunately, the frigates had been
separated from him in the tempest, and had not been
able to rejoin : ^hey sought him unsuccessfully in
the Bay of Naples, where they obtained no tidings
of his course ; and he sailed without them.
The first news of the enemy's armament was, that
it had surprised Malta. Nelson formed a plan for
attacking it while at anchor at Gozo ; but on the 1^
of June, intelligence reached him that the French
had left that island on the 16th, the day after their
arrival. It was clear that their destination was
eastward — ^h^ thought for Egypt — and for Egypt,
1798.] I.IFB OF HEISOIT. J^
therefore, he made all sail. Had the frigfates been
with him he could scarcely have failed to gain ib-
formation of the enemy : for want of them he only
spoke three vessels on the way; two came from
Alexandria, one from the Archipelago ; and neither
of them had seen any thing of the French. He ar-
rived off Aleximdria on the 28th, and the. enemy
were not there, neither was there any account of
them ; but the governor was endeavouring to put the
city in a state of defence, having, received advice
from Leghorn, that the French expedition was in*
tended against ^gypt, after it had taken Malta.
Nelson then shaped his course to the northward, for
Caramania, and steered from thence along the
southern side of Candia, carrying a priess of sail,
both night and day, with a contrary wind. It would
have been his delight, he said, to have tried Buona-
narte on a wind.. It would have been the delight of
Europe, too, and the blessing, of the world, if that
fleet had been overtaken with its general on board.
But of the myriads and millions of human beings
who would have been preserved by that day's vic-
tory, there is not one to whom such essential benefit
would have resulted, as to Buonaparte himself. It
would have spared him his defeat at Acre— his only
disgrace; for to have been defeated by Nelson upon
the sead would not have been disgraceful : it would
have spared him all his after-enormities. Hitherto
iiis career had been glorious ; the baneful principles
of his heart had never yet passed his lips : history
would have represented him as a soldier of fortune,
who had faithfully served the cause in which he en-
gaged ; and whose career had been distinguished
by a series of successes, unexampled in modem
times. A romantic obscurity would have hung over
the expedition to Egypt, and he would have es-
caped the perpetration of those crimes which have
incarnadined his soul with a deeper die than that of
the purple for which he committed tbem ; — ^those
130 LIFE OF KlSLSON. [tT98.
•
acts of perfidy, midnight murder, u8arpation« and
remorselesjs tyranny, which have consigned his
name to universal execration, now and for ever.
Conceiving that when an officer is not successfiil
in his plans it is absolutely necessary that he should
explain the motives upon which they were founded^
Nelson wrote at this time an account and vindica-
tion of his conduct for having carried the fleet to
Egypt. The objection which he anticipated was,
that he ought not to hhve made so long a voyage
without more certain information. " My answer,"
said he, *Ms ready^ — Who was I to get it fromt
The- governments of Naples and Sicily either knew
not, or chose to keep me in ignorance. Was I to
wait patiently until I heard certain accounts 1 If
Egypt were their object, before I could hear of them
they would have been in India. To do nothing was
disgraceful; therefore I made use of my under-
standing. I am before your lordships* judefment;
and if, under all circumstances, it is decided that I
am wrong, I ought, for the sake of Dur country, to
be superseded ; for at this moment, when I know
the French are not in Alexandria, I hold the same
opinion as off Cape Passaro, — that, under all cir-
cumstances, I was right in steering for Alexandria :
and by that opinion I must stand or fall." Captam
Ball, to whom he showed this paper, told him, he
should recommend a friend never to begin a defence
of his conduct before he was accused of error: he
might give the fullest reasons for what he had done,
expressed in such terms as would evince that he
had acted fVom the strongest conviction of being
right ; and of course he mi;st expect that the publte
would view it in the same light. Capt. Ball judged
rightly of the public, whose first impulses, though
from want of sufficient information they must fre-
quently be erroneous, £^re generally founded upon
just feelings. But the public are easily misled, and
aere are always persons ready to mislead them.
1796.] I.1FE OP KELSON. 131
Nelson had not yet attained that fame which com*
pels enyy to be silent; and when it was known in
jSngland that he had returned after an unsuccessful
pursuit, it was said that he deserved impeachment ;
and Eari St. Vincent was severely censured for
having sent so young* an officer upon so important a
servipe.
Baffled in his pursuit, he returned to Sicily. The
Neapolitan ministry had determined to give his
squadron no assistance, being resolved to do nothing
which could possibly endanger their peace with the
French directory: by means, however, of Lady
Hamilton's influence at court, he procured secret
orders to the Sicilian governors ; and, under those
orders, obtained every thing which he wanted at
Syracuse; — a timely supply; without which, he
always said, he could . not have recommenced his
pursuit with any hope of success. ** It is an old
saying,*' said he, in his letter, '^ that the Devil's chil-
dren have the Devil's luck. I cannot to this moment
learn, beyond vague conjuncture, where the French
fleet are gone to : and having gone a round of six
hundred leagues, at this season of the year, with an
expedition incredible, here I am, as ignorant of the
situation of the enemy as I was twenty-seven days
ago. Every moment I have to regret the frigates'
having left me ; had one-half of them been with
me, I could not' have wanted information. Should
the French be so strongly secured in port that I can-
not get at them, I shall immediately shift my flag
into some other ship, and send the Vanguard to
Naples to be refitted; for hardly any person but
myself would have continued on service so long in
such a wretched state." Vexed, however, and dis-
aroointed as he was. Nelson, with the true spirit of
a hero, was still full of hope. " Thanks to your
exertions," said he, writing to Sir W. and Lady
Hamilton, " we Have victualled and watered ; and
surely watering at the fountain of Arethusa, we must
132 UVE OF ZfJBLBON. [1798*
have victory. We shall sail with the first breeze;
ieind be assured 1 will return either crowned with
laurel, or covered with cypress." Earl St. Vincent
he aseured, that if the French were above water, he
would find them out ; — he still held his opinion that
they were bound' for Eg^ypt : " but,*' said he, to the
first lord of the Admiralty, " be they bound to the
antipodes, your lordship may rely that I will not
lose a moment in bringing them to action/' *
On the 25th of July, he sailed frOm Syracuse for
the Morea. Anxious beyond measure, and irritated
that the enemy should so long have eluded him,
the tediousness of the nights made him impatient;
and the officer of the watch was repeatedly called
on to let him know the hour, and convince him,
who measured time by his own eagerness, that it
was not yet daybreak. Th.e squadron made the
Gulf of Coron on* the 28th. Trowbridge entered the
port, and returned with intelligence th^t the French
had been seen about four weeks befot'e, steering to
the S. E. from Candia. Nelson. then determined
immediately to return to Alexandria: and the British
fleet accordingly, with every sail -set, stood once
more for the coast of Egypt. On the 1st of August,
about ten in the morning, they came in sight of-
Alexandria; the port had been vacant. and solitarv
when they saw it last : it was now crowded with
sihips ; and they perceived, with exultation, that the
tricolour flag was flying upon the walls. At four
m the afternoon, Capt. Hood, in the Zealous, made
the signal for the enemy's fleet. For many pre-
ceding days- Nelson had hardly taken either sleep
or food : he now ordered his dinner to be served,
while preparations were making for battle; and
when his ofiicers rose from table, and went to their
separrte stations, he said to them, ** Before this time
to-morrow, I shall have gained a peerage, or West-
minster Abbey."
The French, steering direct for Candia, had made
.t79S.l um flp usimir. 138
an angulsr psraage for Alexandria ; Trfacreas Nelson*
in {mrntttt of them, made straif bfe for 4iat place, and
thus materially shortened the distance. The conw
parattve smallness of his force made it necessary
to sail in close order, and it covered a less space
than it wonld have done if the frigates had been
\rith him: the weather also was, constantly hazy.
These oircumstances prevented the English from
discovering^he enemy on the way to Egypt, though
it appeared, upon examining the journals of the
« French officers taken in the action, that the two
fliBets must actually have crossed on the night of
the tweniy-second of Juno. During the return to
Byraeuse, the ebanceij of falling in with them were
fewer.
Why Buonaparte,) having effected his landing,
■hocda not have suffered 'the fleet to return, has
nevef yet been explained. Thus much is certain,
that It \^'«s detained by bis -command ; though, with
his accustomed falsehood, he abcused Admiral
BrueySf after that officer's death, of having lingered
on the coast, contrary to orders. The French fleet
urived at Alexandria on th& Ist of July; and
Brueysy not being able to enter the port, which time
and neglec;t had ruined, moored his ships in Aboukir
.Bay, in a strong and , compact line of battle ; the
.headmost vessel, according to his own account,
heiug as close as possible to a shoal on the N. W.,
and the rest of the fleet forming a kind of curve
aloog the line of deep wa^r, so as not to be turned
/by any means in the S.W. By Buonaparte^s desire,
-:he had ottered a reward of 10,000* livres to any
.pilot of the QOKinlry who would carry^tbe squadron
ui; bait none conldbe found who would veuture to
take cbafge of a single ^-vessel drawing more than
twenty feet. He had therefore made the beet of
hie sitnsUion, and chosen' tile strongest piosition
which he coald po«sibly take in an open road. The
cflsamiseary of the fleet said, they were mooied
M
134 im ev HBunir. .[179S.
in 8ueh a manner as to bid defianee to a fene
more than double their own. This presumption
could not then be thought unreasonable. Admiral
Barrington, when moored in a similar manner off
St. Lucia, in the year 1778, beat off the Gomte
d'Estaign in three several attacks, though his force
was inferior by almost one-thiid to that which
assailed it. Here, the advantage of numbers, both
in ships, guns, and men, was in fayour of the
French. They had thirteen ships o( &ie line and
four frigates, carrying eleven hundred and ninety*
six guns, and eleven thousand two hundred and
thirty men. The English had the same number of
ships of the line, ana one fifty^gun ship, earr3rin|
ten hundred and twelve guns, and eight thousand
and sixty-eight men. The English ships were all
seventy-fours: the French had three eighty-gun
ships, and one three-decker of one hundred and
twenty.
During the whole pursuit, it had been N^son's
Eractice, whenever circumstances would perroLt, to
ave his captains on board the Van^ard^ and
explain to them his Own ideas of the d Efferent and
best modes of attack, and such plans a« he proposed
to execute, on falling in with the enemy, whatever
their situation might be. There is no poseiUe por-
tion, it is said, which he did not take into cstlculaition.
His officers were thus fully acquaiirted with fais
principles of tactics : and such was his coofideiiee
m their abililiesj that the only thing deteroaned
upon, in case they should find the Freirch at anchor,
was for the ships to form as most convenient for
their mutual support, and to anehor by the stem.
*• First gain the victory," he said, *« and then make
ttie best use of it you can." The moment he per-
ceived the position > of the Freneh, that ininitive
genius, with which Nelson was endowed, displayed
itself; and it instantly struck hiibfi, that ^bore
there was room for an enemT's 9hip4o swings ^m
1798.] UVB OF NSLSOH. 136
was room for one of oura to anchor. The plan
which he intended to pursue, therefore, was to keep
entirely on the outer side of the French line, and
station his ships, as far as he was able, one on the
outer bow, and another on the outer quarter, of
each of the enemy's. This plan of doublings on
the enemy's ships was projected by Lor(l Hood,
when he designed to attack the French fleet at
their anchorage in Grouijean Road. Lord Hood
found it impossible to make the attempt ; but the
thought was not lost upon Nelson, who acknow-
ledged himself,. on this occasion, indebted for it to.
his old and excellent commander. Capt. Berry,
when he comprehended the scope of the design,
exclaimed with transport, ** If we succeed, what
will the world say 1" — **• There is no if in the case,"
replied the admiral: **that we shall succeed is
certain : who may live to tell the story, is a very
different question^"
As the squadron advanced, they were assailed by
a shower of shot and shells from the batteries on
the island, and the enemy opened a steady fire from
the starboard side of their whole line^ within half
gun-shot distance^ full into the bows of our van-
ships.. It was received in silence : the men on
board every ship were employed aloft in furling
sails, and below in tending the braces, and making
ready for anchoring: A miserable sight for the
French ; who, with all their skill, and all their
courage, and all their advantages of numbers and
situation, were upon that element, on which, when
the hour of trial comes, a Frenchman has no hope*
Admiral Brueys was a brave and able man^ yet the
indelible character of his country broke out in one
of his letters, wherein he delivered it as his private
opinion that the English had missed him, because,
not being superior in force, they did not think it pru-
dent to try their strength w^h him. — The moment
now eome in which he was to be undeceived*
136 UFS OF HSIMll. [17M.
A French brig was instrncted to decoy the English,
by manoeuvring so as to tempt them towards ^ shoal
lying off the island of Bekier; but Nelson either
knew the danger, or suspected some deceit; 3tnd
the lure was unsuccessful. Capt. Foley kd the
way in the Goliath, out-sailing the Zealous, which
for some minutes -disputed this post of honour with
him, He had long conceived that if the enemy
- were moored in line of battle in with the land, the
; best plan of attack would be, to lead between them
* and the shore, because the French guns on that side
were not likely to be manned, nor even ready for
action. Intending, therefore, to fix himself on the
inner bow of the Guerrier, he kept as near the edge
of the bank as the depth of water would admit ;
but his anchor hung, and having opened his fire, he
drifted to the second ship, the ConquerarU, before it
was clear ; then anchored by the stern, inside of
her, and in ten minutes shot away her mast. Hood^
in the .Zealous, perceiving this, took the station
which the Goliath intended to ha Vie occupied, and
totally disabled the Guerrier in twelve minutes*
The third ship which doubled the enemy's van was
the Orion, Sir J. Saumarez ; she passed to windward
of the Zealous, and opened her larboard guns as
long as they bore on the Guerrier ; then passing
inside the Goliath, sunk a frigate which annoyed
her, hauled round towards the French line, and
anchoring inside, between the fifth and biJcth
ships from the Gtiemer, took her station on
the larboard bow of the Franklin^ and the quarter
of the Peuph Sou/veraint receiving and retaming the
fire of both. The sun was now nearly down« The
Audacious, Capt. Gould, pouring a heavy fire into
the Guerrier and the Conquerant^ fixed herself on
the larboard bow of the latter; and when that
ship struck, passed on to the Peuple Sowoeram.
The Theseus, Capt. Mtjller, followed,-brought down
the Guerrier'i remaming main and BUBen^maMt
1798.] LIFE OF MELSON. 137
then an^ored Inside of the Spartiate, the third in
the French line.
While these aavanced ships doubled the French
line, the Vanguard was the first that anchored on
the outer side of the enemy, within half-pistol-shot
of their third ship, the Spartiate, Nelson had six
colours flying in different parts of his rigging, lest
they shoidd be shot away; — ^that they should be
struck, no British admiral considers as a possibility.
He veered half a cable, and instantly opened a
tremendous fire; under cover of which the other
foQr ships of his division, the Minotaur, Bellero-
phonv Defence, and Majestic, sailed on ahead of the
admiral. In a few minutes, every man stationed at
the first six guns in the fore part of the Vanguard's
deck wa» killed or wounded: — these guns were
three times cleared. Capt. Louis, in the Minotaur,
anchored next ahead, and took off the fire of the
jd^tft/on, the fourth in the enemy's line. The
Bellerophon, Capt. Darby, passed ahead,- and dropped
her stem anchor on the starboard bow of the Orient^
seventh in the line, Brueya.'s own ship, of one hundred
and twenty guns, whose difference of force was in
proportion of more than seven to three, and whose
weight of bidl, from the lower deck alone, exceeded
that from the whole broadside of the Bellerophon.
Capt. Pe3rton, in the Defence, took his station
ahead of the Minotaur, and engaged the Franklin^
the sixth in the line ; by which judicious movement
the British line remained unbroken. The Majestic,
Capt. Westcot, got entangled with the main rigging
of one of the French ships astern of the OrienL,
and suffered dreadfully from that three-decker's
fire: but she swung clear, and closely engaging the
Hturtux, the ninth ship on the starboard bow,
received also the fire of the Tonnant, which was the
eighth in the line. The other four ships of the
British squadron, having be||i detached previous to
Oe diaeoTery of the French^ were at a considerable
M2
138 UB» OP jmuon. [i^M
distance when the action began. It eomttenced at
half after six ; about seven, night closed, and theie
was no other light than that from the fire of the
contending fleets.
Trowbridge, iq the Oulloden^ Ihen foreoiost of
the remaining ships, was two leagues astera. He
came on sounding, as the others had done; as he
advanced, the increasing darkness increased the
difficulty of the navigation ; and suddenly^ after
having found eleven fathoms water, before the lead
could be hove again,'' he was fast agitnnid ; nor
could all his own exertions, joined to those of the
Leander and the Mutine brig, which came to ijm
assistance, get him off in tinjie. to bear a part in the
action. His ship, however, served, as a beacon to
the Alexander and Swiftsure, which . would elee,
from the course which they were holding, havB gone
considerably farther on the reef, and must ineriiafoly
have been lost. These ships entered the bay^ Mid
took their stations, in the daricness, in a naanner
still spoken of with admiration by all who remom*
bered it. Capt. Hallowell, in the Swiftsufe, as he
was bearing down, fell ip'with what eeetned to be a
strange sail : Nelson had directed his ships 4)0-faot8t
four lights horizontally at the mizen-petk, as soon
as it became dark ; ana this vessel had mi such dis-
tinction. Hallowel, however, with great judguieni,
ordered his men not to fire : if she was an enemy,
he said, she was in too disabled a state to escape;
but, from her sails being loose, and the way in
which her head was, it was probable she niight be
an English ship. It was the Bellerophon, over-
powered by the hugeOrfeit/: her lights had gone
overboard, nearly two hundred of her crew were
killed or wounde^, all her masts and cables had
been shot away ; and she was drifting out of the
line, towards the lee side of the bay. Her statioB,
at this important timCj was occupied by the $wift«
sure, whicn opened a steady fire on the quarter •£
1798.] uwm OP hblson. 13d
tile FroMiMin and the bows of the French admiral.
At the same instant, Capt. Ball, with the Alexander,
passed under his stern, and anchored within-side
on his larboard quarter, raking him, and keeping i^
a severe fire of musketry upon his decks. The
kist ship which arrived to complete the destruction
of the enemy ;«^as the Leander. Capt. Thompson4
finding that nothing could be done that night to get
off the CuUoden, advanced with the intention of an-
ehoring athwart-hawse of the Orient The Franklin
was so near her ahead, that there was not room fqx
him to pass clear of the two ; he therefore took his
station athwart-hawse of the latter, in such a posi-
tion as to rake both.
The first two ships of the French line had been
dismasted within a quarter of an hour .after the
eommencement of the action ; and the others had
in that time suffered so severely, that victory was
alr^idy certain* The third, fourth, and fifth were
taken possession oif at half past eight. Meantime^
Nelison received a severe wound on the head from a
piece of langridge shot, Capt. Berry caught him
in his arms as he was falling. The great effusion
of blood, occasioned an apprehension that the wound
was mortal: Nelson himself thought so: a large
flap of the skin of the forehead, cut from the bone»
had iallen over one eye: and the other being blind.
lie was in total darkness. When he was carried
down, the surgeon, — in the midst of a scene
scarcely .to be conceived by those who have never
seen a cockpit in time of action, and the heroism
which is displayed amid its horrors, — with a natural
-and pardonal^e eagerness, quitted the poor fellow
then under his hands, that he might instantly attend
the admiral. " No T said Nelson, *' I will take my
turn with my brave fellows."^ Nor would he suffer
his <own wound-to be examined till every man who
nad been previously wouncted was properly attended
40. foully belkving &at me wound was mortal^
140 LXFB OF NSL0QN« [1798r
and that he was ahout to die, as he had ever desiredy
in battle and in victory, he ealled the chaplain, and
desired him to deliver what he supposed to be his
dyings remembrance to Lady Nelson ; he then sent
for Capt. Louis ^n board from the Minotaur, that
he migfht thank him personally for the great assist-
ance which he had rendered to the Vanguard ; and
ever mindful of those who deserved to be his
friends, appointed Capt. Hardy from the brig to the
command of his own ship, Capt. Berry having to go
home with the newa of the victory. When the
surgeon came in due time to examine his wound
(for it was in vain to entreat him to let it be ex-
amined sooner), the most anxious silence prevailed ;
and the joy of the wounded men, and of the whole
crew, when they heard that the hurt was merely
superficial, gave Nelson deeper pleasure, than the
unexpected assurance that his life was in no danger*
The surgeon requested, and as far as he could,
ordered him to remain quiet : but Nelson could not
rest. He called for his secretary, Mr. Campbell, to
write the despatches, Campbell had himself been
wounded ; and was so affected at the blind and suf-
fering state of the admiral, that he was unable to
write. The chaplain was then sent for ; but, before
he came. Nelson, with his characteristic eagerness,
took the pen, and contrived to trace a few words,
marking his devout sense of the success which had
already been obtained. He was now left alone;
when suddenly a cry was heard on the deck, that
the Orient was on fire. In the confusion, he found
his way up, unassisted and unnoticed ; and, to the
astonishment of every one, appeared on the quarter^
deck, where he immediately gave order that boats
should be sent to the relief of the enemy.
It was soon after nine that the fire on board the
Orient broke out. Brueys was dead : he had re-
ceived three wounds, yet would not leave iiis post-
a fourth cut hun almost in two He desired not to
1798.] UFB OF MEI0OK. 141
be carried below, but to be left to die upcm deck.
The fl»mes soon' mastered his ship. Her sides had
just been painted ; and the oil-jars, and paint-bucket,
were l3rin9 on the poop. By the prodigious light
of this conflagration, the situation of the two fleets
could now be perceived, the colours of both being
dearly distinguishable. About ten o'clock the ship
blew up, with a shock which was felt to the very
bottom of every vessel. Many of her oflicers and
men jumped overboard, some clinging to the spars
and pieces of wreck with which the sea was strewn,
others swimming to escape, from the destruction
which they momently dreaded. Some were picked
up by our boats; and some even in the heat and
fury of the action were dragged into the lower
ports of the nearest British ships by the British
sailors. The greater part of her crew, however,
stood the danger till the last, and continued to Are
from the lower deck. This tremendous explosion
was followed by a silence not less awful : the firing
immediately ceased on both sides; and the flrst
sound which broke the silence, was the dash of her
shattered masts and yards, falling into the water
from the vast height to which they had been ex-
ploded. It is upon record, that a battle between
two armies was once broken off by an earthquake :
-HBUch an event would be felt like a miracle ; but
no incident in war, produced by human means, has
ever equalled the sublimity of this co-instantaneous
pause, and all its circumstances.
About seventy of the Orient $ crew were saved by
the English boats. Among the many hundreds who
perished, were the commodore, Casa-Bianca, and
nis son, a brave boy, only ten years old. They
were seen floating on a shattered mast when the
ship blew up. She had money on board (the
plunder of Malta) to the amount of £600,000
sterling. The masses of burning wreck, which
wei« scattered by the explosion, excited for some
142 LIFE OF KELSON. [1798.
moments apprehensions in the English which they
had never felt from any other danger. Two largf»
pieces fell into the main and fore- tops of the Swift-
sure without injuring any person^ A port fire also
fell into the main-royal of the Alexander : the Are
which it occasioned was speedily extinguished.
Capt. Ball had provided, as far as hun>an foresight
could provide, against any such danger. All the
shrouds and sails of his siiip, not absolutely neces-
sary for its immediate management, were thoroughly
wetted, and-so rolled up, that they were as hard and
as little inflammable as so many solid cylinders. /
The firing recommenced with the ships to leeward
of the centre, and continued till about three. At
daybreak, the GuUla/ume TeU, and the G&nireux the
two rear ships of the enemy, were the only French
ships of the line which had their colours flying:
they cut their cables in the forenoon, not having
been engaged, and stood out to sea, and two frigates
with them. The Zealous pursued ; but as thei« was
no other ship in a condition to support Capt. Hood,
he was recalled. It was generally believed by the
ofiicers, that if Nelson had not been wounded, not
one of these ships could have escaped: the four
certainly could not, if the Culloden had got into
action : and if the frigates belonging to the aqua^-
dron had been present, not one of the enemy's fleet
-would have left Aboukir Biy. These ^our vessels,
however, were all that escaped; and the victory
^as the most complete and glorious in the annals
of naval history. ". Victoiy,'* said Nelson, " is not
a name strong enough for such a scene ;" he called
it a conquest. Of thirteen sail of the line nine were
taken and two burned : of the four frigates, one was
0unk, another, the Artemise, was burned in a vU-
lanous manher by her captain, M. Estandlet, who.
liaving fired a broadside at the Theseus, strucik his
colours, thp set fire to the ship, and escaped with
^oflt oi his crew to shore. The British loss, in
1798.] UFB OF KELSON. 143
killed and woanded, amounted to eight hundred and
uinety«five. Westeott was the only captain who
fell ; three thousand one hundred and five of the
French, including the wounded, were sent oh shore
by carte), and Aye thousand two hundred and twenty-
five perished.
As soon as the conquest was completed, Nelson
sent orders through the fleet, to return thanksgiving
in every ship for the victory with which Almighty
God had blessed his majesty's arms. The French
at Rosetta, who with miserable fear beheld the
engagement, were at a loss to understand the still-
ness of the fleet during the performance of this
solemn duty ; but it seemed to affect many of the
prisoners, officers as well as men : and graceless
and godless as the officers were, some of them
remarked, that it was no wonder such order was
preserved in the British navy, when the minds of
our men could be impressed with such sentiments
after so great a victory, and at a moment of such
confusion. — The French at Rosetta, seeing their
four ships' sail oat of the bay unmolested, endea-
Toured to persuade themselves that they were in
possession of. the piece of battle. But it was in
vain thus to attempt, against their own secret and
certain conviction, to deceive themselves : and even
if they could have succeeded in this, the bonfires
which the Arabs kindled along the whole coast, and
aver the country, for three following nights, would
90on have undeceived them. Thousands of Arabs
and Egyptians lined the shore, and covered the
faon8e*-tops during the action, rejoicing in the destruc-
tion which bad overtaken their invaders. Long
^er the battle,, innumerable bodies were seen
floating about the bay, in spite of all the exertions
which were made to sink them, as well from fear
of pestilence, as from the loathing and horror which
the si^t occasioned. Great numbers were cast up
upon the Isle of Bekier (Nelson's Island, as it haa
144 mv or hslmb. , [^^99.
since been called), and onr satton raised moimds
of sand over them. Even after an interval of nearly
three years Dr. Clarke saw them, and assisted in
interring heaps of human bodies, which, having been
thrown up by the sea, where there were no jackals
to devour them, presented a sight loathsome to
humanity. The shore, for an iextent of four leagues,
was covered with wreck; and the Arabs found
employment for many days in burning on the beach
the fragments which were cast up; for the sake of
the iron.* Part of the OrtefU'« mainmast was
picked up by the Swiilsur^. Capt. Hallowell
ordered his carpenter to make a coffin of it; the
iron, as well as wood, was taken from the wreck of
the same ship: it was finished as well and hand-
somely as the workman's skill and malerials would
permit ; and Hallowell then sent it to the admiral
with the following letter. — ^* Sir, I have taken the
liberty of presenting you a coffin made from the
mainmast of POrient, that when you have finished
your military career in this world, y<m BE»y be
buried in one of your trophies. But that that period
may be far distant, is the earnest wish of yowr
sincere friend, Benjamin Ha!lowell."— An oflfermg
so strange, and yet so suited to the occasion, was
received by Nelson in the spirit with which it was
sent. As if he felt it good for him, noW that he was
at the summit of his wishes, to have death before
his eyes, he ordered the coffin to be placed ninigbt
in his cabin. Such a piece of Aimitvre, howevar,
was more suitable to his own feelings than to tiMte
of his guests and attendants; and an old-faTomrite
servant entreated him so eamesUy to left it be
removed, that at length he consented to have the
* During hia long Bubeequent cruise off Alexandria, Capt'fYanoirdl
kept hii crew emplofjred and amused in fishing up ifce aniiS ancbaifl in
Hm road, wMeh, with the iron found on the oiaota, wm «n«rwiird wM
m abodes, itnd the produce apjiUed to poreliaae Vegetables and umt»
toi the ship's ecTmpany.
(^9>8»]| UFE OF I9£IiS(»V* i4S
coffin carried ^low; but he g'ave strict orders that
it should be safely stowed, and reserved for the
purpose for which its brave and worthy donor had
desigfned it.
The victory was complete ; but Nelson could not
pursue it as he would have done, for want of means.
Had he been provided with small craft, nothing
could have prevented the destruction of tlie store-
ships arid transpolVts in the port of Alexandria : four
bomb- vessels would at that time have burned the
whole' in a few hours. "Were I to die this
moment," sa^d he, in his despatches to the Admiralty,
** want of Jhgdtes' would be found stamped on my
heart ! No words of mine can express what I have
QUffered, and am suffering, for want of them." He
had also to bear up against grfeat bodily suffering :
the blow had so shaken his head, that from its con-
stant and violent aching, and the perpetuial sicknc^ss
which ac'companied the pain, he C(oul I scarcely per-
suade himself that the skull was not fractured. Had
it not been for Trowbridge^ Ball, Hood, and Hallo-
Well, he declared that he should have sunk under
the. fatigue of refitting the squadron. *^ All," he said,
** bad done well; but these officers were his sup-
porters." But, ^amid his sufferings and exertions.
Nelson could yet think of all the consequences of
his victory; ^nd that no advantage from it might be
lost, he despatched ' an officer over land to India,
Ivith letters to the governor of Bombay, informing
hrm of the arrival of the French in Egypt, the totiit
destruction of their fleet, and jthe consequent pre-
feervatioh'of India from any attempt against it on the
part of this forrflidable armament. "He knew th'4t
Bombay," he said, ** was their first oBject, if they
fcould get there; but he trusted that' Almighty God
would overthrow in Egi/pt these pests of the human
race. Buonaparte had never yet had to contend
yirith an English officer, and he would endeavour to
tnake him respect us." This despatch he sent upon
N
146 LIFE OF NELSON* [1798*'
his own responsibilityt with letters of credit upoa
the East India Company, addressed to the British
consuls, vice-consuls, and merchants on his route;
Nelson saying, '* that if he had done wrong, he
hoped the bills would be paid, and he would repay
the Company : for, as an Englishman, he should be
proud that it had been in his power to put our settle*
ments on their guard.^ The information which by
this means reached India was of great importance.
Orders had just been received for defensive prepare*
tions, upon a scale proportionate to the apprehended
danger; and the .extraordinary expenses Which
would otherwise Jiave been incurred, Were vthus
prevented.
.Nelson was now at the summit of glory: con
gratulations, rewards, and honours were showered
upon him by aU the states, and princes, and powers
to whom his victory gave a respite. The first com-
munication of this nature which he received was
from the Turkish sultan ; who, as soon as the inva-
sion of Egypt was known^ had called upon " all true
believers to take arms against those swinishr infi-
dels the French, that they might deliver these blessed
habitations from their accursed hands;" and who
had ordered his " pachas to turn night into day in
their efforts to take vengeance." The present of
"his imperial majesty, the powerful, formidable^
and most magnificent Grand Seignior," was a pelisse
of sables, with broad sleeves, valued at five thou-
sand dollars; and a diamond aigrette, valued at
eighteen thousand': the most honourable badge
among the Turks ^ and in this instance more espe^
ciaUy honourable, because it was ta^en from one of
the royal turbans. " If it were worth a miUion,"
said Nelson to his wife, " my pleasure would be to
see it in your possession." The sultan also sent, in
a spirit worthy of imitation, a purse of two thou-
sand sequins, to be distributed among the wounded.
The mother of the sultan sent him a boj^ , set
(^
1798.] UPE OF NEMOW. 147
■
with diamonds, valued at one thousand pounds.
The czar Paul, in whom the better part of his
atranffely compounded nature at this time predomi-
nated, presented him with his portrait, set in dia-
monds, in a gold box, accompanied with a letter of
congratulation, written by his own hand. The king
of Sardinia also wrote to him, and sent a gold box,
set with diamonds. Honours in profusion were
awaiting him at Naples. In his own country the
king granted these honourabte augmentations to his
armorial ensign ) a chief undulated, argent ; thereon
waves of the sea; from which a palm tree issuant,
between a disabled ship on the dexter, and a ruinous
battery on the sinister, all proper: and for his crest, on
a naval crown, or,the chelengk, or plume, presented to
him by the Turk, with the motto, Palmam qui meruit
Jerat.* And to hjs supporters, being a sailor on the
dexter, and a lion on the sinister, were given these
honourable augmentations : a paJm branch in the
sailor's hand, and another in the paw of the lion,
both proper; i^ith a tricol0m*ed flag and staff in
the lion*s mouth. He we^s created Baron Nelson of
the Nile, and of Buriiham Thorpe, with a pension
of £2000 for his own life, ind those of his two im-
mediate successors. ' When the grant was moved in
the house of commons. General Walpole expressed
an opinion, that ^ higher degree of rank ou'glu to be
conferred: Mr. Pitt made answer, that he thought
it needless to enter into that question. " Admiral
Nelson's fame," he said, " would be co-equal with
the British name ;» and it would be remembered that
he had obtained the greatest naval victory on record,
when no man would think of .askmg, whether be
* It has been erroneously said, that the motto was selected by the king :
—It wa« fixed on by Lord Orenvllle, and taken from an ode of Jortln's.
The application vfw ningularly fortunate ; and the ode itself breathes a
f^rit, In which no man ever more truly iiympathized than Nelson :
Coneturrant paribus cum ratibut rfUet^
^ Speclent numina pontic et
- PaliMm fui m$ruitferaL
146^ LVfB OF^ IVElSOlf. [179S/
had been created a baron, a viscount, or an earl?" '
It was strange, that in the very act of conferring a
title, the minister should have excused himself for
not having conferred a higher one, by representing
all titles, on such an occasion, as nugatory and su-
perfluous. True, indeed, whatc^ver title had been,
bestowed, whether Viscount, earl, marquis, duke, or
' prince, if our laws had so permitted, he who re-
ceived it would have been Nelson still.- That name
he had ennobled beyond all addition of nobility : it
was the name by which England loved him, France
feared him, Italy, Egypt, and Turkey celebrated
him ; and by which l^ will continue , to be known
while the present kingdoms and languages of the
world endure, and as long as their history after them
shall be held in remembrance. It depended, upoii
the degree of rank what should be the fashion of
his coronet, in what page of the red book his name
was to be inserted, and what precedency should be
allowed his lady in the drawing-room and atihe
ball. That Nelson's honours were affected thus (ar.
and no farther, might be conceded to Mr* Pitt and
his colleagues in administration : but the degree of
rank wlfich they thought proper to allot, was, the
measure of their gratitude,* though not of his ser-
vices. This Nelson felt; and this he expressed*
wi|^ indignation, among his friendsv
Whatever may have been the motives ojf the mi-.
♦ Mr. VJrindh^m must be (Excepted from Urta well-deserved censure
He, whose fate it seems to have been almost always to think and feel
more generously than those with whom he acted, declared, when he
contended against his, own party foe Lord Wellington's peerage, that
he always thought Lord Nelran had been inadequately rewarded.
The case was the more flagrant, because an earldom had bo lately been
gramed for the battle of Si. Vincent's ; an action which could never be
compared with the battle of the Nile, if the very diffWreui manner to
which it was rewarded did not ntoessarily force a compi^rison ; eapeci-^
ijlly when the part which Nelson b^re In it was considered. — laordf
Duncan and St. Vii'cent had each a pension of jClOOO from the Iris^
governuient. This was not granted to Nelson, in consequence of the
Union ; though, surely, it would be more becojiiing to increase the Bii-
tteh grant, tban to save a tbousand a year by the .Uoion in such cases.
1798.] tTFE OF iVBLSOir* 14^1
nistry, and whatever the fonnalitieft with which they
excused their conduct to themselves, the importance
and magnitude of the victory were universally ac-
knowledged. A grant of £10,000 was voted to
Nelson by the East India Company ; the Turkish
Company presented him with a piece of plate ; the
city of London presented a sword to him and to
each of his captains ; gold medals were distributed
to the captains, and the first lieutenants of all the
ships were prompted, as had been done after Lord
Howe's victory. Nelson was exceedingly anxious
that the captain and first lieutenant of the Culloden
should not be passed over because of their misfor-
tune. To Trowbridge himself he said, *' Let us
rejoice that the ship which got on shore was com-
manded by an officer whose character is so tho-
Toughly established."! ^To the Admiralty he stated,
that Capt. Trowbridge's conduct was as fully enti-
tled to praise as that of any one officer in the squa-
dron, and as highly deserving of reward. ** It was
Trowbridge," said he, " who equipped the squadron
so soon at Syracuse: it was Trowbridge who ex-
erted himself for me after the action : it was Trow-
bridge who saved the Culloden, when none that I
know in the servi(ie would have attempted it." The
gold medal, therefore* by the king's express desire,
was given to Capt.. Trowbridge "for his services
both before and since, and for the gre?it and won-
derful exertion which he made at the time of the
action, in saving and getting off his ship." The
private letter from the Adniiraity to Nelson informed
him, that the first lieutenants of all the ships en-
igq,ged were to be ^promoted. Nelson instantly
.wroie to the c<wBfflfi^nder-iii-chief.— " I sincerely
hope,", said he; ** this is not intended to exclude the
iftrst lieutenant of the CuUoden.— For heaven's sake,
for my sake,— if it be so, eet it altered. Our dew
friend Trowbridge has endured enough. His suf-
ferings were, in every respect, more thanany.of us."
N«
150 JiXBB OF nelson; [179S.
To the Admiralty he wrote in terms equally wsnn.
*' I hope, and believe, the word etiffoged is not in-
tended to exclude the Culloden. The merit of that
ship, and her o^allant captain^ ane too well known to
benefit by any thing I could say. Her misfortune
was great in getting aground, while her more for-
tunate companions were in the full tide of happiness.
No ; I am confident that my good Lord Spencer will
never add misery to misfortune. Oapt. Trowhridge,
on shore is superior to captains afloat : in the miast
of his great misfortunes he made those signals
which prevented certainly the Alexander and Swift-
9ure from running on the shoals. I beg your pardon
for writing on a subject which, I verily believe, has
never entered your lordship's head ; but my heart,
as it ought to be, is warm to my gallant friends."
Thus feelingly alive was Nelson to the claims, and
interests, and, feelings of others. The Admiralty
replied, that the exception was necessary, as the
ship had not been in action :' but they desired the
commander-in-chief to promote the lieutenant upon
the first vacancy which should occur.
Nelson, in remembrance of an old and uninter-
rupted friendship, appointed Alexander Davison sole
prize agent for the captured ships : upon which Da-
vison ordered medals to be struck in gold, for the
captains ; in silver for the lieutenants and warrant
officers ; in ettt metal for the petty officers ; and in
copper, for the seamen and marines. The cost of
this act of liberality amounted nearly to £9000. It
is worthy of record on another account ; — for some
of the gallant men, who leceived no other honorary
badge of their conduct on that memorable day, than
this copper medal, from t private individual, years
afterward, when they died upon a foreign station,
made it their last request, that the medals misrht care-
fully be sent home to their respective friends.— So
sensible are brave men of honour, in whatever rank
they may be placed.
1799.] JOFB OF JXSXSUUtf, 1*51
Three of the frigates, whose presence would have
been so essential a few weeks sooner, joined the
squadron on the twelfth day after the action. The
fourth joined a few days after them. Nelson thus
received despatches which rendered i* necessary
for him to return to Naples. Before he left Egypt
he burned three of the prizes : they could not liave
been fitted for a passage to Gibraltar in less than a
month, and that at a great expense, and with the
loss to the service of at least two sail of the Ime.
** I rest assured," he said to the Admiralty, " that
they will be paid for, and have held out that assu-
rance to the squadron. For If an admiral, after a
victory, is to look after the captured ships, and not
to the distressing of the -enemy, very dearly, indeed,
must the nation pay for the prizes. I trust that
£60^000 pounds will be deemed a very moderate
sum for them : and when the services, time, and
men, with ,the expense of fitting three ships for
a voyage to England, aire considered, government
will save nearly as much as they are valued at. —
Paying for prizes,** he continued *^ is no new idea
of mine, and would often prove an amazing sav-
ing to the state, even without taking into calcu-
lation what the natio^ loses by the attention of
admirals to the property of the captors; an at-
tentic^n absolutely necessary, as a recompense for
the exertions of the officers and men. An admiral
may be amply rewarded by his own feelings, and by
the approbation of his superiors ; but what reward
have the inferior officers and men, but the value of
the prizes ? If an admiral takes that from them, on
any consideration, he cannot expect to be well sup-
ported." To Earl St. Vincent he said, " If he could
nave been sure that government would have paid a
reasonable value for them, he would have ordered
two of the other prizes to be bunied : for they would
cost more in refitting, and by the loss of ships at-
tending them than they were worth."
162 uvB OF mujoir, [1798.
Having sent the six remaining prizes forwardy
under Sir James Saumarez, Nelson left Capt. Hood,
in the Zealous, off Alexandria, with the Swiftsure,
Goliath, Alcmene, Zealous, and Emerald, and stood
out to sea himself on the seventeenth day after the
battle.*
* "^ Some French officers, daring the blockade of Alexandria, were
vent off to CapL Hallowell to otkr a supply of vegetabies, and obaerre.
of course, the state of the blockading squadron. They were received
with all possible civility ;~in the course of conversation, after dinner,
one of them remarked, that we had made use of unfair weapons during
the action, by which, probably, the Orient was burht ; and that General
Buonaparte had expressed great indlcnation at it. In proof of this as-
sertion, he stated that in tlie late gunboat attacks, their caoip had twke
- been set on lire by balls of unexUnguishable matter which were fired
from one of the Englirii boats. CapL Hallowell instantly ordered tbe
gunner to bring up some of those balls, and asked hira from whence he
had them. To the confusion of the accusers, he related that they weve
found on board of the Spartiate, one of the ships captured on the ist
of August; as these ballaweredistinguished by panicular marks, though
in other respects alilte, the captain ordered an experiment to be made,
In order to aac'ertain the nature of them. The next morning, says Mr
Willyams, I accompanied -Mr. Pbrr, tbe gunner, to the Islaiul ; tlic ffret
we tried proved to be a fireball, but of what materials composed we
could not ascertain. As it did not explode (which at first we appre
bended), we rolled it into the sea, where it continued to burn under
water ; a black, pitchy substance exuding from it till only an iron skele-
ton of a shell remained. The whole had been carefully crusted over
with a substance that gave it the appearance of a perfect shell. On
settint fire to the fusse of the other, whicli was diflerentfy marked, It
burst Into many pieces: though somewhat alarmed, forcnaately- none
of ua were hurt. People account differently for tbe tire that happened
^n board of the French admiral t but why may it not have arisen from
aojne of these fireballs left, perhaps, carelessly on the poop, or cabin,
when it first broke out ; and what confirms my opinion on this licaid Is!
that Kveral pieces of such shells were found sticking in tbe BellerophonI
which she tuostprobablv received ftoni tlie first fire of TOrient.*' *
^i*t9^'*f^oifaff9 in the MedUtrraneum^p, 145.
". t
ITdS^] iAWm «F NBfil9If. 153
CHAPTER VI.
^tlgon returns to Naples — State of that Court and Kingdom — Oene-
vol Mack — The French approach^ M'^lee'^^ Flight of the Royal Fa-
mily — Successes of the MLies in Italy — lyansaction* in the Bay <yf
Naples — Expulsion of the J^renchfrom the Neapolitan and Roman
States — J^dson is made Duke of Bronte-^ He leave* the Mediterr0r
neon aaid returns to England,
Nelson^s health had suffered gn^'^atly while he was
in the Agamemnon. " My complaint," he sard, " is
as if a g^irth were buckled taut over ray breast ;
and my endeavour in the night is to get it loose."
After the battle of Cape St. Vincent he felt a little
rest to be so essential to his recovery, that he de-
clared he would not, continue to serve longer than
the ensuing summer, unless it should be absolutely
necessary : for, in his own strong language, he had
then been four years and nine months without one
moment^s repose for body or mind. A few months'
intermission of labour he. had obtained — not of rest,
for it was purchased with the loss of a limb ; and
the greater part of the time had been a season of
constant pain. As soon as his shattered frame had
sufficiently recovered for him to resume his duties,
he was palled to services of greater importance than
any on which he had hitherto been emplpyed, and
they brought with them commensurate fatigue and
care. The anxiety which he endured during his
long pursuit of the enemy was rather changed in
its direction, than abated by their defeat : and this
constant wakefulness of thought, added to the effect
of his wound, and the exertions from which it was
not possible for one of so ardent and wide-reaching
a mind to spare himself, nearly proved fatal. On
his way back i6 Italy he was seized with fever.
For eighteen hours his life was despaired of; ai(4
154 tl^S 09 KfilSON. [179^.
even when the disorder took a favourahle turn, and
he was so far recovered as again to appear on deck,
he himself thought that his end was approaching,
— such was the weakness to which the fever and
cough had reduced him. Writing to Earl St. Vin-
cent on his passage, he said to him, ** I never expect,
my dear lord, to see yeur face again. It may please
God that this will be the finish to that fever or anx-
iety which I have endured from the middle of June :
but be that as it pleases tLis goodness. I am re-
signed to His will."
The kindest attentions of the warmest friendship
were awaiting him at Naples. " Come here," said
Sir William Hamilton, "for God's sake, my dear
friend, as soon as the service will permit you. A
pleasant apartment is ready for you in my house,
and Emma is looking out for th6 softest pillows to
repose the few wearied limbs you have left." Happy
would it have been for Nelson if warm and careful
fiiendship had been all that awaited him there!
He himself saw at that time the character of the
Neapolitan court, as it first struck an Englishman,
in its true light : and when he was on the way, he
declared that he detested' the voyage to Naples, and
that nothing but necessity could have forced him to
it. But never was any hero, on his return from vic-
tory, welcomed with more heartfelt joy. Before the
battle of Aboukir the court of Naples had been
trembling for its existence. The language which
the directory held towards it was well described by
{Sir William Hamilton, as being exactly the language
of a highwayman. The Neapolitans were told,
that Benevento might be added to their dominions,
provided they would p?iy a large sum, sufficient to
satisfy the directory; and they were warned, that if
the proposal were refused, or even if there were any
delay in accepting it, the French would revolutionize
all Italy. The joy, therefore, of the court, at Nel-
•on's success, was in proportion to the dismay from
1798.] LIVE OF ivELsoir. 155
which that success relieved them. The queen wa»
a daughter of Maria Theresa, and sister of Marie
Antoinette. Had she been the wisest and gentlest
of her sex, it would not have been possib^ for her
to have regarded the French without hatred and
horror : and the progress of revolutionary opinions,
while it perpetually reminded her of her sifter's fate,
excited no unreasonable apprehensions for her own/
Her feelings, naturally ardent, and little accustomed
to restraint, were t excited to the highest pitch when
the news of the victory arrived* Lady Hamilton,
her constant friend and favourite, who was present,
says, ** It is not possible to describe her transports:
she wept, she kissed her husband, her children,
walked franticly about the room, burst into tears
again, and again kissed and embraced every person
near her ; exclaiming, • O brave Nelson ! O God i
bless and protect our brave deliverer ! O Nelson I
Nelson ! what do we not owe you ! O conqueror —
saviour of Italy ! that my swollen heart could now
tell him personally what we owe to him.'" She
herself wrote, to the Neapolitan ambassador at
London upon the occasion, in terms which show the
fulness of her joy, and the height of the hopes
which it had excited. ^' I wish I could give wing^,'*
said she, " to the bearer of the news, and, at the
same time, to our mOst^ sincere gratitude. The
whole of the seacoast of -Italy is saved; and this is
owing alone to the generous English. This battle,
or, to speak more correctly, this total defeat of the
regicide squadron, was obtained by the valour of this
brave admiral, seconded by a navy which is the
terror of its enemies. The victory is so complete,
that I can still scarcely believe it : and if it were nk>t
the brave English nation, which is accustomed to
perform prodigies by sea, 1 could not persuade myselt
that it had happened. It would have moved you to
have seen all my children, boys and girls, hanging
^n my neck, and crying for joy at the happy news.
f Sa IIFB OF N»l8ttK. [1798
-^Recommeiid the hero to his master : he has filled
the whole of Italy with admiration of the English.
Qreat hopes were entertained of some advantages
being ga&ied by his bravery, but no one could look
for so total a destruction. All here are drunk
with joy."
Such being the feelings of the royal family, it
may well be supposed with what delight, and with
what honours, Nelson ifrould be welcomed. Early
on the 33d of September, the poor wretched Van-
g-uard, as he called hts shattered vessel, appeared in
sight of Naples. The CuUoden and Alexander had
preceded her by some days, and given notice of her
approach. Maiiy hundred boats and barges were
ready to go forth and meet him, with music and
streamers, and every demonstration of joy and
triumph. Sir William and Lady Hamilton led the
-way in their state-barge. They had seen Nelson
only for a few days, four years ago, but' they then
perceived in him that heroic spirit which was- now
so fully and gloriously manifested to the world.
£nima Lady Hamilton, who from this time so greatly
influenced'his future life^ was a womarl whose per-
sonal accomplishnients have seldom been equalled,
a.iid whose powers of mind were not less fascinating
than her person. She was passionately attached to
fhe queen : and by her influence the British fleet had
obtained those supplies at Syracuse, without which,
ig-elson always asserted, the battie of Aboukir could
not have been fought. During the long interval
"^^fiiill?^ K^®^""";? ^y ^^^i"gs were received, her
S?^L«i^ihii ''®'' ^'^""^^y 1««» ^*»an that of Nelson
^^1n in wJ^'*'"^*"'''^ ^ ^^^"*y of whom he could
^^^h^VrhJT''''T\ ^^^ ^^en the tidings wei«
^^ecfwa^'s^cS, Va7she f^IfJl ^^^^'r^ it'^
-»*ot. She and Sir WUliam h»H iw""^ n ^ k*"*^ ^f.
by their hopes and f€^1^^«^ }'^^''^^^y ^^'^ "^^^
^^exceedirg aaT^J^-tHa^^ Z'^tr.
I*79().] LIFB OF NBL80K. .I6t
Their admiration for the hero necessarily produced a
degree of proportionate gratitude and affection ) and
when their barge came alongside the Vanguard, at
the sight of Nelson, Lady Hamilton sprang up the
ship's side, and exclaiming, " O God T is it pos-^
•ible!" fell mto his arms, more, he says, like one
dead than alive. He described the meeting as ** ter-
ribly affecting." These friends had scarcely reco^
Yered from their tears, when the king, who went out
to meet him three leagues in the royal barge, came
on board and took him by the hand, calling him his
deliverer and preserver ; fi-ora all the boats around
he was saluted with the same appellations ; the mul-
titude who surrounded him when he landed, repeated
the same enthusiastic cries ,* and the lazzaroni dis-
played their joy by holding up birds in cages, and
^ving them their liberty as he passed.
His birth-day, which occurred a week after his
arrival, was celebrated with one of the most splen-
did flutes ever beheld at Naples. But, notwithstand-
hig the splendour with which he was encircled, and
the flattering honours with which all ranks welcomed
him, Nelson was fully sensible of the depravity, as
well as weakness, of those by whom he was sur-
rounded. ** What precious moments," said he, " the
courts of Naples and Vienna are losing! Three
months would liberate Italy ! but this court is so en-
ervated, that the happy moment will be lost. I am
very unwell; and their miserable conduct is not
likely to cool my irritable temper. It is a country
of fiddlers and poets, whores and scoundrels." This
sense of their ruinous weakness he always re-
tained ; nor was he ever blind to the mingled folly
and treachery of the Neapolitan ministers, and the
complication of iniquities under which the country
groaned : but he insensibly, under the influence of
Lady Hamilton, formed an affection for the court,
to whose misgovemment the miserable condition of
the country was so greatly to be imputed. By the
O
158 UFs or HBUojer. [1798.
kindness of her nature, as well as by her attractionst
she had won his heart. , Earl St. Vincent, writing
to her at this time, says, ''Ten thousand most
grateful thapks are due to your ladyship for restoring
the health of our invaluable friend Nelson, on
whose life the fate of the remaining governments in
Europe, whose system has not been deranged by
these devils, depends. * Pray do not let your fasci-
nating Neapolitan dames approach too near him, for
he is made of flesh and blood, and cannot resist
their temptations.'* But this was addressed to the
rery person from whom he was in danger.
The state of Naples may be described in few
words. The king was one of the Spanish Bour*
bons. As the Cesars have shown us to what wick-
edness the moral nature of princes may be per-
verted, 80 in this family the degradation to which
their intellectual nature can be reduced has been
not less conspicuously evinced. Ferdinand, like the
rest q( his race, was passionately fond of field
sports,^ and cared for nothing else. His queen had
* Sir William HamUton's letters give the history of one of this sove*
reign*8 campaigns a^nst the wolves and boara. " Ottr first ekase har
not succeeded ; the king would direct how we should beat the wood,
and began at the wrong end, by which ttie wolves and boars Mcaped.
The king's (hce is very long at this morhsnt, bat, I dare say, to-mor-
row's good sport will shorten it again." — " No sport again ! He has no
other comfort to-day, than liaving killed a wild cat, and his fhce is a
yard long. However, his majesty has vowed vengeance on the boara
to-morrow, and will go according to hia own fancy and I dare say there
will be a terrible slaughter."—** To-day has been so thoroughly bad that
we have not been able to stir out, and the king, of coarse^ in bad fau«
mour."— " The king has killed twenty-one boars to-day, and is quite
happy."—" We have had a miserable cold day, but good sport. I killed
two boars and a doe ; the king nineteen boars two stags, two does, mod
a porcupine. He is happy beyond expression." — " Only think of his
not being satisfied with killing more than thirty yesterday ♦ He said. If
the wind had fhvoured him, he should have killed sixty at least.''-*^" Tha
king has killed eighty-one animals of one sort or other to-day, and
among them a wolf and some stag?. Ha fell asleep in the coach : and
waking, told me he had be?n dreaming of shooting. One would haw
thought he had abed blood enough.'^ — " It is a long-fhcsd day with th^
king. We went far^ the wea{h:^r was bil; and, after alJ, mat with
little or no game. Ye^iterday, when we brought homo all we killed, it
flUsd tba house emiyiletely, and to-day they are obliged to wUteowasli
1798.] tIFfi OF NELSOlf. 166
all the vices of the house of Austria, with little to
mitigate, and nothing to ennoble them ; — ^provided
she could have her pleasures, and the king his
sports, they cared not in what manner the revenue
was raised or administered. Of course, a system of,
favouritism existed at court, and the vilest and most
impudent corruption prevailed in every department
of state, and in every branch of administration, from
the highest to the lowest. It is only the institutions
of Cltfistianity, and the vicinity of better-regulated
states, which prevent kingdoms, under such circum-
stances of misrule, from sinking into a barbarism
like that of Turkey. A sense of better things was
kept alive m some of the Neapolitans by literature,
and by their intercourse with happier countries.
These persons naturally looked to France, at the
commencement of the revolution ; and, during all
the horrors of that revolution, still cherished a hope,
that, by the aid of France, they might be enabled
to establish a new order of things in Naples. They
were ffrievously mistaken in supposing that the
principles of liberty would ever be supported by
t^ntnce, but they were not mistaken in believing that
■9 government could be worse than their own ; and,
therefore, they considered any change as desirable.
In this opinion men of the most different characters
agreed. Many of the nobles, who were not in
favour, wished for a revolution that they might
obtain the ascendency to which they thought them-
selves entitled : men of desperate fortunes desired
it, in the hope of enriching themselves ; knaves and
intriguers sold themselves to the French, to promote
it ; and a few enlightened men, and true lovers of
their country, joined iii the same cause, from the
tiie 'walls to talce away the blood. There werts more Oian flmr handrad
IwttB, deer, stags, and all. To-morrow we are to have another slaughter ;
and Bot a wora of reason or oommon sonse do I meet with the whola
dagr, till I retire to my volmnes of the old Gentleman's Magazine, whleli
jvsC keeps ny mind flnom starring."
1t^ UFB OF NEUOn. ll79Qw
norest and noblest motivee. All these were con-
founded under the common name of jacobins ; and
the jacobins of the continental kingdoms were re*
rarded by the English with more hatred than, they
deserved. They were classed with Philippe Ega-
Ut^, Marat, and Hebert ; — whereas, they aeserred
rather to be ranked, if not with Locke, and Sidney)
and Russel, at least with Argyle and Monmouth,
and those who, having the same object as the prime
movers of our own revolution, failed in their prema-
ture, but not unworthy attempt
No circumstances could be more unfavourable to
»
the best interests of Europe, than those which
placed England in strict alliance with the superan-
Dualed and abominable governments of the conti-
nent. The subjects of those goveniments who
wished for freedom thus became enemies to Eng-
land, and dupes and agents of France. They looked
to their own grinding grievances, and did not see
the danger with which the liberties of the world
were threatened : En^and, on the other hand, saw
the danger in its true magnitude, but was blind to
these grievances, and found herself compelled to
support systems which had formerly been equally
the object of her abhorrence and her contempt.
This was the state of Nelson's mind : he knew that
there could be no peace for Europe till the pride of
France was humbled, and her strength broken ; and
he regarded aU those who were the friends of France,
as traitors to the common cause, as well as to Uieir
own individual sovereigns. There are situations in
which the most opposite and hostile parties may
mean equally . well, and yet act equally wrong.
The court of Naples, unconscious of committing
any crime by continuing the system of misrule to
which they had succeeded, conceived that, in main
taining things as they were, they were maintaining
their own rights, and preserving the people from
such horrors as had been perpetrated in France^
t798«] LIFE OF IfHtSOK. Ml
The Neapolitan revolutioDists thought, that without
a total chang-e of system, any relief from the present
evils was impossible, and they believed themselves
justiHed in bringing about that change by any mean».
Both parties knew that it was the fixed intention of
the French to revolutionize Naples. The revolu-
tionists supposed that it was for the purpose of esta-
blishing a free government : the court, and all disin-
terested persons, were perfectly aware that tfie enemy
had no other object than conquest and plunder.
The battle of the Nile shook the power of France.
Her most successful general, and her finest army,
were blocked up in Egjrpt, — hopeless, as it ap-
peared, of return ; and the government was in the
hands of men without talents, without character,
and divided among themselves. Austria, whom
Buonaparte had terrified into a peace, at a time
when constancy on her part would probably have
led to his destruction, took advantage of the crisis
to renew the war. , Russia, also, was preparing to
enter the field with unbroken forces ; led by a gene-
ral, whose extraordinary military genius would have
entitled him to a high and honourable rank in his-
tory, if it had not been sullied by all the ferocity of
a barbarian* Naples, seeing its destruction at hand,
and thinking that the only means of averting it was
by meeting the danger, after long vaeillations, which
were produced by the fears and weakness and
treachery of its council, agreed at last to join this
new coalition with a numerical force of eighty
thousand men. Nelson told the king, in plain terms,
that he had his choice, either to advance, trusting to
God for his blessing on a just cause, and prepared
to die, sword in hand,*~or to remain quiet and be
kicked out of his kingdom :-^-one of these things
must happen. The king made answer, he would go
on, and trust in God and Nelson; and Nelson, who
would else have returned to Egypt, for the purpose
of destroying the French shipping in Alexandria^
02
162 UFE OF yvXJBOK. [179ftk
• ■
gave up his intention at the desire of the Neapolitan
court, and resolved to remain on that station, in the
hope that he might be useful to the movements of
the army. He suspected also, with reason, that the
continuance of his fleet was so earnestly requested,
because the royal family thought their persons
i^ould be safer, in case of any mishap, under the
British flag, than under their own.
His first object was the recovery of Malta, an
island which the king of Naples pretended to claim.
The Maltese, whom the villanous knights of their
order had betrayed to France, had taken np arms
against their rapacious invaders, with a spirit and
unanimity worthy the highest praise. They block-
aded the French garrison by land, and a small squa-
dron, under Captain Ball, began to blockade them by
sea, on the 13th of . October. Twelve days after-
ward. Nelson arrived ; '* It is as I suspected," he
says : ** the ministers at Naples know nothing of the
situation of the island. Not a house or bastion of
the town is in possession of the islanders : and the
Marquis de Niza tells us, they want arms, victuals,
and support. He does not know that any Neapo-
litan officers are in the island ; perhaps, although I
have their names, none are arrived ; and it is very
certain, by the marquis's account, that no supplies
have been sent by the governors of Syracuse and
Messina.'* The little island of Gozo, dependent
upon Malta, which had also been seized and gar-
risoned by the French, capitulated soon after his
arrival, and was taken possession of by the British,
in the name of his Sicilian majesty, — a power who
had no better claim to it than France. Having seen
this efiected, and reinforced Captain Ball, he left
that able officer to perform a most arduous and im-
portant part, and returned himself to co-operate
with the intended movements of the Neapolitans.
Oeneral Mack was at the head of the Neapoliiian
tro(^s:— ^ that is now doubtful concerning this
1796i] U(hR 6F iTEUosff. liz
man is, whether he was a coward or a traitor : — at
that time he was assiduously extolled as a most
consummate commander, to whom Europe might
look for deliverance : and when he was introduced
by the king and queen to the British admiral, the
queen said to him, " Be to us by land, general, what
my hero Nelson has been by sea." Mack, on his
part, did not fail to praise the force which he was
appointed to command: "It was," he said^ "the
finest army in Europe." Nelson agreed with him,
that there could not be finer men : but when the
general, at a review, so directed the operations of a
mock-fight, that, by an unhappy blunder, his o^vn
troops were surrounded instead of those of the ene-
my, he turned to his friends, and exclaimed, with
bitterness, that the fellow did not understand his
business. Another circumstance, not less cha-
racteristic, confirmed Nelson in his judgment.
** General Mack," said he, in one of his letters,
** cannot move without five carriages ! I have
formed my opinion. I heartily pray I may be mis-
taken."
While Mack, at the head of thirty-two thousand
men, marched into the Roman state, five thousand
Neapolitans were embarked on board the British
and Portuguese squadron, to take possession of Leg-
horn. This was efl^ected without opposition ; and
the grand duke of Tuscany, whose neutrality had
been so outrageously violated by the French, was
better satisfied with the measure than some of the
Neapolitans themselves. Naselli, their general,
refused ,to seize the French vessels at Leghorn,
because 'he, and the Duke di Sangro, who was am-
bassador at the Tuscan court, maintained, that the
king of Naples was not at war with France.
.** What !" said Nelson, " has "not the king received,
as a conquest made by him, the republican flat
taken* at Gozol Is not his own flag flying thcr^
^d at Malta, not only by his permission, but by hig
164 tawm of KSLiOir. - [1798/
order I Is not his flag shot at every day by the
French, and their shot returned from batteries which
bear that flag 1 Are not two frigates and a corvette
placed under my orders i-eady to fight the French,
meet them where they may? Has not the king
sent publicly from Naples, guns, mortars, &c.y wi£
officers and artillery against tlie French in Malta 1
If these acts are not tantamount to any written
paper, I give up all knowledge of what is war.^
This reasoning was of less avail than argument ad-
dressed to the general's fears. — Nelson told him,
that if he permitted the many hundred French who
were then in the mole to remain neutral, till they
had a fail opportunity of being active, they had one
sure resource, if all other schemes failed, which
was to set one vei^el on fire ; the moJe would be
destroyed, probably the town also; and the port
ruined for twenty years. This representation made
Naselli agree to the half measure of laying an em*
bargo on the vessels ;-^among them were a great
number of French privateers, some of which were
of such force as to threaten the greatest mischief to
our commerce ; and about seventy sail of vessels
belonging to the Ligurian republic, as Genoa was
now called, laden with corn, and ready to sail for
Genoa and France $ where their arrival would have
expedited the entrance of more French troops into
Italy. " The general," said Nelson, " saw, I believe,
the consequence of permitting these vessels to de*
part, in the same light as myself; but there is this
difl^rence between us : he prudently, and certainly
safely, waits the orders of his court, taking no re-
sponsibility upon himself^ I act from the circum-
stances of the moment, as I feel may be most ad-
vantageous for the cause which I serve, taking all
responsibility oil myself." It was in vain to hope
ipr any thing vigorous or manly from such men as
Nelson was compelled to act with. The crQws of
the French ships ^md their allies were ordered to
I7d8.] UFE OF NELSON* 16$
depart in two days. Four days elapsed, and nobody
obeyed the order ; nor, in spite of the representa-
tions of the British minister, Mr. Wyndham, were
any means taken to. enforce it: — the true Neapoli-
tan shuffle, as Nelson called it, took place on all
occasions. After an absence of ten days, he re-
turned to Naples : and receiving intelligence there,
from Mr. Wyndham, that the privateers were at
last to be disarmed, the com landed, and the crews
sent away, he expressed his satisfaction at the news
in characteristic language, saying, '*So far I am
ocmtent. The enemy will be distressed ; and, thank
Ood, I shall get no money. The world, I know
think that money is our god ; and now they will be
vndeceived as iar as relates to us. Down, down
with the French I is my constant prayer.'*
Odes, sonnets, and congratulatory poems of every
description were poured in upon Nelson, on m»
arrival at Na^des. An Irish Franciscan, who was
one of the poets, not being content with panegyric
upon this occasion, ventured upon a flight of pro-
phecy, and predicted that Lord Nelson would take
Rome with his ships. His Lordship reminded Fa-
ther M^Cormick, tnat ships could not ascend the
Tiber ; but the father, who had probably forgotten
this circumstance, met the objection with a bold
front, and declared he saw that it would come to
pass notwithstanding. Rejoicings of this kind were
9f short duration. The king of Naples was with
the anny which had entered Rome ; but the castle
of St. Angelo was held by the French, and thirteen
thousand French were strongly posted in the Roman
states at Castellana. Mack had marched against
them with twenty thousand men. • Nelson saw that
the event was doubtful ; or rather, that there could
be very little hope of the result. But the immedi-
ate fate of Naples, as he well knew, hung upon the
mBWi '< If Mack is .defeated,'' said he, '' iu fourteen,
days this country is lost ; (ox the emperor has no4
186 LtFB OF NELsoafr. [i7Q|^'
y^t moved his army, and Naples has not the power
of resisting the enemy. It was not a case for
choice, but of necessity, which inducedthe king to
march out of his kingdom, and not wait till the
French had collected a force sufficient to drive him
out of it in a week." He had no reliance upon the
Neapolitan officers; who, as he described them,
seemed frightened at a drawn sword or a loaded
gun; and he was perfectly aware of the conse-
quences which the sluggish movements and deceit-
ful policy of the Austrians were likely to bring down
upon themselves and ^11 their continental allies.
" A delayed war on the part of the emperor," said
he, writing to the British minister at Vienna, " will
be destructive to this monarchy of Naples ; and, of
course, to the newly-acquired dominions of the
emperor of Italy. Had tl^CNWar commenced in Sep-
tember or October, all Italy would, at this moment,
have been liberated. This month Is^worse than the
last: the next will render the contest doubtful;
and, in six months, when the Neapolitan republic
will be organized, armed, and with its numerouf
resources caUed forth, the emperor will not only be
defeated in Italy, but will totter on his throne at
Vienna. Down, dtywn with the French ! ought to be
written in the council-room of every country in the
world : and may Almighty God give right thoughts
to every sovereign, is my constant prayer !'* His
perfect foresight of the immediate event was clearly
shown in this -letter, when he desired the ambassa*
dor to assure the empress (who was a daughter of
the house of Naples), that, notwithstanding the
councils which had shaken the throne of her fathet
and mother, he would remain there, ready to save
their persons, and her brothers and sisters ; and
that he had also left ships at Leghorn, to save the
lives of the grand duke and her sister : " For all,**
said he, ^ must be a republic, if the emperor does
not act. with expedition and vig<nir."
Iil98.] X2FB OF NBLSOir. 167
Hi* feaif were soon verified. ^ The Neapolitan
officers^ mM Nelson, ^ did not lose much honour,
for, Geo knows, they had not much to lose : but they
lost all they had." General St. Philip commanded
(he right wing, of nineteen thousand men. He fell
in wi9i threer thousand of the enemy; and, as soon
as he came near enough, deserted to them. One of
his men had virtue enough to level a musket at him,
and shot him through the arm ; but the wound was
not sufficient to prevent him from joining with the
French in pursuit of his own countrymen. Cannon,
tents, baggage, and military chest were all forsaken
^ by the runaways, though they lost only forty men :
for the French, having put them to flight, and got
^ possession of every thing, did not pursue an army
of more than three times their own number. The
main body of the Neapolitans, under Mack, did not
behave better. The king returned to Naples, where
every day brought with it the tidings of some new
disgrace from the army, and the discovery of some
)i Bew treachery at home; till, four days after his
Hetam, the general sent him advice, that there was
no prospect of stopping the progress of the enemy,
and that the royal family must look to their own
personal safety. The state of the pulflic mind at
Naples was such, at this time, that neither the
British minister nor the British admiral thought it
j prudent to appear at court. Their motions were
L watched ; and the revolutionists had even formed a
L ^n for seizing and detaining them as hostages,
r.fo prevent anv attack on the city after the French
I sliould have taken possession of it. A letter, which
L IVelson addressed at this time to the first lord of
the Admiralty, shows in what manner he contem*
plated the possible issue of the storm. It was in
these words : — ^*' My dear lord, there is an old say-
ing, that when things are at the worst, they must
mend :«— now, the mind of man cannot fl^ncy things
wprse than they are here. But, thank God! my
168 UFE OF KCUNlir. [l*Ttt*
health is better, my mind never firmer, and my
heart in. the right trim to comfort, relieve, ajid pro-
tect those whom it is my duty to afford assistance
to. Pray, my lord, assure our gracious sovereign,
that, while I live, I will support his glory ; and that»
if I fall, it shall be iu a manner wonhy of your
lordship's faithful and obliged Nelson. I must not
uvrite more. Every word may be a text for a long
letter." ^
Meantime, Lady Hamilton arranged every thing
for the removal of the royal family. This was con-
ducted, on her part, with the greatest ^address, and
without suspicion, because she had been in habits
of constant correspondence with the queen. It was
known, that the removal could not be effected with-
out danger; for the mob, and especially the lazza-
Toni, were attached to the king, and^s, at this time,
they felt a natural presumption in their own numbeni
and strength, they insisted that he should net leave
Naples. Several persons fell victims to their fury:
among others was a messenger from Vienna, whose
body was dragged under the windows of the palace
\Tk the king's sight. The king and queen spoke to
the mcki^ and pacified them ; but it would not have
been safe, while they were in this agitated state, to
liave embarked the effects of the royal family openly.
Xady Hamilton, like a heroine of modem romance,
explored, with no little danger, a subterraneous
passage, leading from the palace to the seaside:
tYirongti thi« passage, the royal treasurea, the
c^hoicest pieces of painting and sculpture, and other
property, to the amount of two millions and a half,
were conveyed to the shore, and stowed safely on
board the Kn^hsh ships. On the night of the 21st,
at half-pas^ eight, Nelson landed^ brought out the
whole royal My, embarked them in three barges,
Sve, to the^BriUsh r^rZ^X^.^^^^^"^^
1799.] LiPB OF HEiJoir. 169
received on board any ship in the sqnadron. Their
property had previously been embarked in transports.
Two days were passed in the bay, for the purpose
of taking such persons on board as required an
asylum; and, on the night of the 23d, the fleet
sailed. The next day a more violent storm arose
than Nelson had ever before encountered. On the
35th, the youngest of the princes was taken ill, and
died in Lady Hamilton's arms. During this whole
trying season, Lady Hamilton waited upon the royal
family with the zeal of the most devoted servant, at
a time when, except one man, no person belonging
to the court assisted them.
On the morning of the 26th, the royal family were
landed at Palermo. It was soon seen that their
flight had not been premature. Prince Pignatelli,
who had been left as vicar-general and viceroy, with
orders to defend the kingdom to the last rock in
Calabria, sent plenipotentiaries to the French camp
before Capua ; and they, for the sake of saving the
capita], signed an armistice, by which the greater
part of the kingdom was given up to the enemy : a
cession that necessarily led to the loss of the whole.
This was on the 10th of Janaary. The French
advanced towards Naples. Mack, under pretext of
taking shelter from the fury of the lazzaroni, fled to
the French general Championet, who sent him under
an escort to Milan : but, as France hoped for farther
services from this wretched traitor, it was thought
?rudent to treat him apparently as a prisoner of war.
'he Neapolitan army disappeared m a few days :
of the men, some, following their oflicers, deserted
to the enemy : the greater part took the opportunity
of disbanding themselves. The lazzaroni proved
true to their country : they atta(*.ked the enemy's
advanced posts, drove them in, and were not dispi-
rited by the murderous defeat which they suffered
from the main body. Flying into the city, they con-
tinued to defend it, even after the French had planted
P
I
170 UVS OF HEUON. [I7dd«
their artilLeiy in the principal streete. Had there
been a roan of genius to have directed their entho-
fliasm, or had there been any correspondent feelings
in the higher ranks* Naples might have set a glorious
example to Europe, and have proved the grave of
every Frenchman who entered it. But the vices of
the government had extinguished all other patriot-
ism than that of a rabble, who had no other virtue
than that sort of loyalty which was like the fidelity
of a dog to its master. This fidelity the French
and their adherents counteracted by another kind of
devotion : the priests sinned, that St. JTanuarius
had declared in favour of the revolution. The
miracle of his blood was performed with the usual
success, and more than usual effect, on the very
evening when, after two days of desperate fighting,
the French obtained possession of Naples. A
French guard of honour was stationed at his church.
Championet gave ^' Respect for St. Januarius T' as
the word for the army ; and the next day Te Deum
was sung by the archbishop in the cathedral; and
the inhabitants were invited to attend theceremony,
and join in thanksgiving for the glorious entry of
the French ; who, it was said, being under the pecu-
liar protection of Providence, had regenerated the
Neapolitans, and were come to establish and con-
floliaate their happiness.
It seems to have been Nelson's opinion, that the
Austrian cabinet regarded the conquest of Naples
with complacency, and that its measures were di-
rected 80 as designedly not to prevent th6 French
from overrunning it. That cabinet was assuredly
capable of any folly and of any baseness : and it is
not improbable that, at this time, calculating upon
the success of the new coalition, it indulged a dream
of adding extensively to its former Italian posses-
sions ; and, therefore, left the few remaining powers
of Italy to be overthrown, as a means which would
/acilitate i%$ own ambitious views. The king of
1T99.J LUTE o^ THEiaCm. 171
Sardinia, finding it impossible longer to endure the
exactions of France, and the insults of the French
commissaiy, went to Leghorn, embarked on board
a Danish frigate, and sailed under British protection,
to Sardinia — ^that part of his dominions, which the
maritime supremacy of England rendered h secure
asylum. On his arrival, he published a protest
against the conduct of France ; declaring, upon the
faith and word of a king, that he had never infringed,
even in the slightest degree, the treaties which he
had made with the French republic. Tuscany was
soon occupied by French troops : a fate which bolder
policy might, perhaps, have failed to avert, but which
its weak and timid neutrality rendered inevitable.
Nelson began to fear even for Sicily. "Oh, my
dear sir," said hey writing to Commodore Duck-
worth, "one thousand English troops would save
Messina, — and I fear General Stuart cannot give me
men to save this most important island !" But his
representations were not lost upon Sir Charlels
StusQTt:, this c^cer hastened immediately from
Minorca, with a thousand men, assisted in the
measures of defence which were taken, and did not
return before he had satisfied himself, that if the
Neapolitans were excluded from the management
of afiairs, and the spirit of the peasantry property
directed, Sicily was safe. Before his coming. Nel-
son had ofiered the king, if no resources should
arrive, to defend Messina with the ship's company
of an English man.of-war.
Russia had now entered into the war. • Corfu sup-
rendered to a Russian and Turkish fieet, aeting
now, for th^ first time, in strange confederacy ; yet
against a power which was certainly the common
and worst enemy of both. Trowbridge having given
up the blockade of Alexandria to Sir Sidney Smith,
joined Nelson, bringing with him a considerable
addition of strength ; and in himself, what Nelson
valued more, a man, upon whose sagacity, ind^ft*
n% uwm OF KBtaoM, [17M
tigMe zeal, and inexhaustible resources, he coiild
place full reliance. Trowbridge was intrusted to
commence the operations against the French in the
bay of Naples :•— ttjeantime. Cardinal Ruffo, a roan
of questionable character, but of a temper fitted for
such times, havijig landed in Calabria, raised what
he called a Christian army, composed of the best
and the vilest materials ; loyal peasants, enthusiastic
priests and friars, galley slaves, the emptying of the
jails, and banditti- The islands in^he bay of Na-
ples were joyfully delivered by the inhabitants, who
were in a state of famine already, from the effect
of this baleful revolution. Trowbridge distributed
among them all his flour ; and Nelson pressed the
Sicilian court incessantly for supplies ; telling them
that £10,000 given away in provisions, would, at
this time, purchase a kingdom. Money, he was
told, they had not to give ; and the wisdom and
integrity which might have supplied its want, were
not to be found. "There is nothing,^' said he,
" which I propose, that is not, as far as orders go,
implicitly complied with; but the execution is
dreadful, and jdmost makes mo mad. My desire
to serve their majesties faithfully, as is my duty,
has been such, that I am almost blind and worn
out; and cannot, in my present state, hold much
longer."
Before any government can be overthrown by the
consent of the people, the government must bif* in-
tolerably oppressive* or the people thoroughly cor-
rupted. Bad as the misrule at Naples had been,
its consequences had been, felt far less there than in
Sicily; and the peasantry had that attachment to
the soil, which gives birth to so many of the noblest
as well as of the happiest feelings. In all the
islands the people were perfectly frantic with joy,
when they saw the Neapolitan colours hoisted. At
Procida, Trowbridge could not procure even a ne
Of the tricoloured flag to lay at the king's feet:--
1799.] ttns 01" Kst^oif. 175
It was rent into ten thousand pieces by the inhabit-
tots, and Entirely destroyed^ "The horrid treat-
ment of the French," he said, **had made them
toad." It exasperated the ferocity of a character,
which neither the laws nor the religion under Which
they lived tended to mitigate. Their hatred was
especially directed against the Neapolitan revolu-
tionists ; and the fishermen, in concert among them-
selves;, chose each his own victim, whom he would
stiletto when the day of vengeance should* arrive.
The head of one was sent off one morning to Trow-
bridge, with his basket of grapes for breakfast ?—
and a note from the Italian, who had, what he called,
the glory of presenting it; saying, he had killed the
man as he was running away, and begging his ex-
cellency to accept the head, and consider it as a
proof of the writer*s attachment to the crown.
With the fttst successes of the court the work of
punishmeht began; The judge at Ischia said it
was necessary to have a bishop to degrade the trai-
torous priests before he could execute them : upon
which Trowbridge advised him to hang them first,
and send them to him afterward, if he did not think
that degradation sufficient. This was said with the
straight^forward feeling of a sailor, who cared as
little for* canon law as he knew about it: but when
he discovered that the judge's orders were to go
through the business in a summary manner, under
his sanction, he told him at once that could not be,
for the prisoners were not British subjects ; and he
declinea having any things to do with it. There
were manifestly persons about the court, who, while
they thirsted for the pleasure of vengeance, were
devising how to throw the odium of it upon the
English. They wanted to emplqy an English man*
of-war to carry the priests to Palermo for degrada-
tion, and then bring them back for execution ; — and
they applied to Trowbridge for a hangman, which
he indignantly refused. He, meantime, was almost
P3
1 74 IrlFB OF NBMON . [ * '^^'
• heart-broken by the situation in which he foimd liim-
«elf. He had promised relief to the «^**^^™»|f®:
lying upon the queen's promise to him. '^® "**^
distributed the whole of his private stocK,— tnere
was plenty of grain at Palermo, and in its neigh-
bourhood, and yet none was senthina: the enenay,
he complained, had more interest there than tiw
king : and the distress for bread, which he witneased,
was such, he said, that it would move even a FrencH-
man to pity? tt t*
Nelson's heart too was at this time ashore. l o
tell you," he says, writing to Lady Hamilton, " how
dreary and uncomfortable the Vanguard appears, is
only telling you what it is to go from the pleasantest
fiociety to a solitary cell ; or from the dearest friends
to no friends. I am now perfepay.the greoi man^
—not a creature near me. From my heart I wwn
myself the little man again. You and good Sir
William have spoiled me for any place> but wiui
you." r ■,
His mind was not in a happier atate respecting
public affairs. "As to politics," said he, " at this
' time thev are my abomination : the ministers of
Ic^ings and princes are as great ecoundrels as ever
lived. The brother of the emperor is just going to
marry the great Somethingof Russia, and it is more
than expected that a kingdom is to be found for him
Xi\ Italy, and that the king of Naples will be sacri*
fi&ed." . Had there been a wise and manly spirit in
the Italian states, or had the conduct of Aastria
been directed bv any thing like a principle of honour,
^jL more favourable opportunity could not have been
4ie6ired for restoring order and prosperity in Europe
Chan the misconduct of the -French directory at thi«
tijrxie afforded. But Nelson saw selfishness and
JKnavery wherever he looked; and even the pleasure
^f seeing a cause prosper, in which he was BO
jasealously engaged, was poisoned by his sense of
elie rascality of those with whom he was compelled
1 799. J UFB OF insusoiv. 175
to act. At this juncture intelligence arrived that the
French fleet had escaped from Brest, under cover of
a fog, passed Cadiz unseen by Lord Keith's squftf
dron, in hazy weather, and entered the Mediterranean.
It was said to consist of twenty-four sail of the
)ine, six frigates, and three sloops. The object of
the French was tp liberate the Spanish fleet, form a
junction with them, act against Minorca and Sicily,
. and ovprpower our naval force in the Mediterranean,
by falling: in with detached squadrons, and thus
destroying it in detail. When they arrived oflf Car-
thagena, they requested the Spanish ships to make
-sail and join; but the Spaniards replied, they had
not men to man them. To this it was answered,
that the French had men enough on board for thai
purpose. But the Spaniards seem to have been ap^
prenensive of delivering up their ships thus entirely
into the power of such allies, and refused to come
out« The fleet from Cadiz, however, consisting of
from seventeen to twenty sail of the line, got out,
under Miuaredo, a man who then bore an honourable
name, which he has since rendered infamous by be-
traying his country. They met with a violent stonn
off the coast of Oran^ which dismasted many of
their ships, and so effectually disabled them, as to
prevent the junction, and frustrate a well-planned
expedition.
Before this occurred, and while the junction was
as probable, as it would have been formidable. Nel-
son was in a state of the greatest anxiety. *' What
a state am I in !^' ^aid he to Earl St. Vincent. *^ If
I go, I risk, and more than risk, Sicily : for we know,
from experience, that more depends upon opinion
than upon acts themselves : and as I stay, my heart
is breaking.'' His first business was tp summon
Trowbridge to join him, with all the ships of the
iine under his command, and a frigate, if possible.
Then hearing that the French had entered the Medir
larr;anean, and eji^pecting them at^ Palermo* whew
176 U<« OF HEUOW. ••
he had only his own ship ;-with that single "^^P^^^
prepared to make all the resistance P^^PJ^iTj -poote,
bndge having joined him, he left Captain b^-* '^^^^^^^
of the Seahorse, to command *"**";,_>,: oss' one
m the Bay of Naples; and sailed with six sn^y telling
a Portuguese, ahd a Portuguese cor',??!,^ver faS
Earl St. Vincent that the squadron sjo"'" ' ^e are
into the hands of the enemy: " And o«wr
destroyed," said he, « I have l'"l! ,^^X^d. that
Will have their wings so conapletely cUppe ^ , ^^
they may be easily overtaken. " T^°y » the pre-
time that he received from Capt. HalloweU in ^^^
sent of the coffin. Such a P'^^^"*,^? one of his
bv the men with natural astomshment^oiw ^^^
old shipmates to the Agamenttnon saio ^^ral
have hot work of it indeed ! ^o" »ti-L he isTo be
intends to fight till he is killed; ""^St the bulk-
buried." Nelson placed it upnghtagains^tne ^^
head of his cabin, behind hia chair, where «« ^^^
dfamer. The gift suited him at this time. M w^
that he was disappointed in the son-m-law, ^^
he had loved so dearly fromhis childhood, and w
had saved his life at feneriffe : and »*}« certain im
he had now formed an infatuated a^^^^'SI^JjoM
Lady Hamilton, which totally weaned his affections
from his wife. Farther than this, there is no rewon
to believe that this most unfortunate attachmem
?^a8 criminal : but this was criminality enough, ana
»t brought with it its punishment. Nelson >»a8 a»
satisfied with himself; and, therefore, weary of tne
World. This feeling he now frequently expressed.
"There is no true happiness in this life," said he.
"and in mv present state I could quit it witn a
■mile." And in a letter to his old friend Davison,
he said : " Believe me, my only wish is to sink wita
bonoar into the grave ; and when that shall pleasa
**o<l» I shall meet death with a smile. Not that I
an» insensible to the honours and riches my king
wul country have heaped' upon tne, — so mucn nm*
1799.] UFE OF jxzuniK. 177
than any officer could deserve ; yet am I ready to
quit this world of trouble, aqd envy none but those
of the estate six feet by two." /
"Well had it been for Nelson if he had made no
other sacrifices to this unhappy attachment than
his peace of mind ; but it led to the only blot upon
his public character. While he sailed from Palermo,
with the intention of collecting his whole force, and
keeping off Maretimo, either to receive reinforce-
ments there, if the French were bound upwards, or
to hasten to Minorca, if that should be their desti-
nation ; Capt. Foote, in the Seahorse^ with the Nea-
oolitan frigates, and some small vessels, under his
command, was left to act with a land force consist-
ing of a few regular troops, of four different nations,
and with the armed rabble which Cardinal Ruffo
csQled the Christian army. His directions were td
co-operate to the utmost of his power with the roy
alistSy at whose head Ruffo had been placed, and he
had no other instructions whatever. Ruffo ad-
vancing, without any plan, but relying upon the
enemy's want ot numbers, which prevented them
from attempting to act upon the offensive, and ready
to take advantage of any accident which might oc-
cur, approached Naples. Fort St. Elmo, which
commands the town, was wholly garrisoned by the
French troops; the castles of Uovo and Nuovo,
which commanded the anchorage, were chiefly de-
fended by Neapolitan revolutionists, the powerful
men among them having taken shelter there. If
these castles were taken, the reduction of Fort St.
Elmo would be greatly expedited. They were strong
places, and there was reason to apprehend that the
French fleet might arrii^e to relieve them. Ruffo
proposed to the garrison to capitulate, on condition
that their persons and property should be guaran-
teed, and that they should, at their own option, either
be sent to Toulon, or remain at Naples, without
l>eiDg molested either in their persons or families.
It8 LtFS OP :n±iMoif. [\199*
This capitulation was accepted : it was si^ed by
the Cardinal, and the Russian and Turkish com-*
manders; and, lastly, by Capt. Foote, as com-
mander of the British force. About six-and-thirty
hours afterward, Nelson arrived in the bay, with a
force, which had joined him during his cruise, con-
sisting of seventeen sail of the line, with seventeen
hundred troops on board, and the Prince Royal of
Naples in the admiral's ship. A flag of truce was
flying on the castles, and on board the Seahorse-
Nelson made-a signal to annul the treaty; declaring
that he would grant rebels no other terms than those
of unconditional submission. 'iThe Cardinal ob-
jected to this : nor could all the arguments of Nel-
son, Sir W. Hamilton, and Lady Hamilton, who
took an active part in the conference, convince'him,
that a treaty of such a nature, solemnly concluded^
could honourably be set aside. He retired at last,
silenced by Nelson's authority, but not convinced.
Capt. Foote was sent out of the bay ; and the gar-
risons, taken out of the castles, under pretence of
carrying the treaty into effect, were delivered ovct
as rebels to the vengeance of the Sicilian court. — A
deplorable transaction ! a stain upon the memory of
Nelson, and the honour of England!' To p^alliate
it would be in vain ; to justify it would be wicked 3
there is no alternative, for one who will not make
himself a participator in guilt, but to record the dis-
graceful story* with sorrow and with shame.
Prince Francesco Caraccipli, a younger branch
of one of the noblest Neapolitan families, escaped
from one of these castles before it capitulated. He
was at the head of the marine, and was nearly
seventy years of age, bearing a high character,
both for professional "and personal merit. He had
accompanied the court to Sicily ; but when the re-
• In oneof hit letters to Lady Hamilton, written a few roontht beflm
this fttal transaction, Netooa sayi, speaking of the queen, " I d«cia«9
to CM, mj whole itudy is how |o best meet her approbation.'*
1799.] UFJ^ OF NEL80V. 179
yolutionaiy government, or Parthenopaean republic,
as it was called, issued ah edict, ordering all absent
Neapolitans to return on pain of confiscation of
their property, he solicited and obtained permission
of the king to return, his estates being very great.
It is said that the kijig, when he granted him thid
permission, warned him not to take any part in poli-
tics ; expressing, at the same time, his own persua-*
fiion that he should recover his kingdom. But nei-
ther the king, nor he himself, ought to have ima-
gined that, in such times, a man of such reputation
would be permitted to remain inactive ; and it soon
appeared that Caraccioli was again in command of
the navy, and serving under the republic against
his late sovereign. The sailors reported that he
was forced to act thus : and this was believed, till
it was seen that he directed ably the offensive ope*
rations of the revolutionists and did not avail him*
self of opportunities for escaping, when they offered.
When the recovery of Naples was evidently near,
he applied to Cardinal Ruffo, and to the Duke of
Calvirrano for protection ; expressing His hope, that
the few days 4nring which he had been forced to
obey the French, would not outweigh forty years
X)f faithful services : — ^but, perhaps not receiving
3uch assurances as he wished, and knowing too
well the temper of the Sicilian court, he endea*
Toured to secrete himself, and a price was set upon
his head. More unfortunat^y for others than for
himself, he was brought in alive, having been dis*
covered in the disguise of a peasant, and carried
one morning on board Lord Nelson's ship^ with
his hands tied. behind him.
Caraccioli was well known to the British officert,
vnd had been ever highly esteemed by all who
knew him. Capt. Hardy ordered him imme'diately
to be unbound, and to be treated with all those' at-
tentions which he felt due to a man who, when last
Qti board the Foudroyant, had been received as 9jk
180 LITE OP TW180W. "" • ^
admiral and a prince. SirWiUiamandl^dy Ham^ ]
ton were in the ship; but Nelson, it is affin^^^ ^
saw no one, except his own officers, <i^F"'e '
gedy which ensued. His own d^^^^^S^f^^iiHatt '
teade; and he issued an order to the NeapoWaa ^
commodore, Count Thum, to assemble a counj- a
martial of Neapolitan officers, on ^^rd the Bi^Mn ^
flag-ship, proce^ immediately to try ^»^ P^«^^5
an3 repbrt to him, if the charges were PJ^^^fl^T™
punishment he ought to suffer. These P^^?^^;;^^*
were as rapid as possible ; Cataccioli was brought
on board at nine m the forenoon, and tbe trial ^
ffan at ten. It lasted two hours : he avprred in ms
defence, that he had acted under compulsion, bavmg
been compelled to serve as a common soldier mi
he consented to take command of the fleet, i nis,
the apoloffists of Lord Nelson say, be fa^ea ip
proving. They forget that the possibility of Pjoyipff
It was not allowed him ; for he was brought to tnai
within an hour after he was legally m arrest; ana
how, in that time, was he to collect his witnesses .
He was found guilty, and sentenced to d6ath ; ana
Nelson gave orders that the sentence should oe
carried into effect that evening, at five o'clock, on
board the Sicilian frigate. La Minerva, by hanging
him at the fore yard-arm till sunset ; when the body
was to be cut down, and thrown into the sea. Ca-
raccioli requested Lieutenant Parkinson, undCT
whose custody he was placed, to intercede with
Lord Nelson for a second trial,— for this^ among
other reasons, that Count Thum^whp presided at
the court-martial, was notoriously his personal
enemy. Nelson made answer, that the prisoner
had been fairly tried by the officers of his own
1799.] UTB OF ITSLSOlff. 181
shot,— *< I am an old man, sir," said he : "I leave no
family to lament me, and therefore cannot be sup-
posed to be very anxious about prolonging my life;
but the disgrace of being hanged is dreadful to me."
^Hien this was iepeated to Nelson, he only told the
lieutenant, with much agitation, to go and attend
his duty* As a last hope, Caraccioii asked the lieu-
tenant, if he thought an application to Lady Hamil-
ton would be beneficial 1 Parkinson went to seek
her : she was not to be seen on this occasion, — ^but
she was present at the execution. She had the most
devoted attachment to the Neapolitan court; and
the hatred which she felt against those whom she
regarded as its enemies made her, at this time, for-
get what was due to the character of her sex, as
well as of her country. Here, also, a faithful his-
torian is called upon to pronounce a severe and
unqualified condemnation of Nelson's conduct.
Had he the authority of his Sicilian majesty for
proceeding as he did t If so, why was not that au-
thority produced? If not, why were the proceed-
ings nurried on without it? Why was the trial
precipitated, so that it was impossible for the pri-
soner, if he had been innocent, to provide the wit-
nesses, who might have proved him so ? Why was
a second trial refused, when the known animosity
of the president of the court against the prisoner
was considered ? Why was the execution hastened
60 as to preclude any appeal for mercy, and render
the prerogative for mercy useless ?T~Doubtless, the
British admiral seemed to himself to be acting
under a rigid sense of justice ; but, to all other per-
sons, it was obvious, th^t he was influenced bv an
infatuated attachment— a baneful passion, which
destroyed his domestic happiness, and now, in a
second instance, stained ineffaceably his public cha-
racter.
The body was carried out to a considerable dis-
ilaioe, and sunk in the bay, with three double-
182 UFB OF NEL601f. (1799.
headed shot, weighing two hundred and fifiy poundi,
tied to its legs. Between two and three weeks af-
terward, when the king was on board the Foudroy-
ant, a Neapolitan fisherman came to the ship^ and
solemnly declared, that Caraccioli had risen from
the bottom of the sea, and was coming, as fast as
he could, to Naples, swimming half out of the wa-
ter. Such an account was listened to like a tale of
idle credulity. The day being fair, Nelson, to please
the king, stood out to sea ; but the ship had not
proceeded far before a body was distinctly seen, up-
right in the water, and approaching them. It was
soon recognised to be, indeed, the corpse of Carac-
cioli, which had risen, and floated, while the great
weights attached to the legs kept the body in a posi-
tion like that of a living man. A. fact so extraor-
dinary astonished the king, and perhaps excited
some feelings of superstitious fear, akin to regret.
He gave permission for the body to be taken on
shore, and receive Christian burial. It produced no
better effect. Naples exhibited more dreadful scenes
than it had witnessed in the days of MassanieUo.
After the mob had had their fill of blood and plunder,
the reins were given to justice — if that can be called
justice which annuls its own stipulations, looks to the
naked facts, alone disregarding all motives and adl
circumstances ; and without considering character,
or science, or sex, or youth, sacrifices its victims,
not for the public weal, but for the gratification of
greedy vengeance.
The castles of St. Elmo, Gaieta, and Capua, re-
mained to be subdued. On the land i|ide, there
was no danger that the French in these garrisons
should be relieved, for Suverof was now beginning
to drive the enemy before him ; but Nelson thought
his presence necessary in the bay of Naples : and
when Lord Keith having received intelligence that
the French and Spanish fleets had formed a Junction,
and sailed for Carthagena, ordered him to repair to
1799.] I.IFE OF NEiJSON.' 183
Minorca, with the whole or the greater part of his
force, he sent Admiral Duckworth witn a small
part only. This was a dilemma which he had fore-
seen. " Should such an order come at this mo-
ment,*' he said, in a letter previously written to the
Admiralty, ^ it would be a case for some considera-
tion, whether Minorca is to be risked, or the two
kingdoms of Naples and Sicily : I rather thii^ my
decision would be to risk the former." And, after
he had acted upon this opinion, he wrote in these
terms to the Duke of Clarence, with whose high
notions of obedience he was well acquainted : " I
am well aware of the consequences of disobeying
my orders : but as I have often before risked my
Ute for the good cause, so I with cheerfulness did
my commission; for, although a military tribunal
may think me criminal, the world will approve of
my conduct : and I regard not my own safety, when
the honour of my king is at stake."
Nelson was right in his judgment : no attempt
was made upon Minorca ; and the expulsion of the
French from Naples may rather be said to have
been effected, than accelerated, by the English and
Portuguese of the allied fleet, acting upon shore,
under Trowbridge. The French commandant at
St. Elmo, relying iipon the strength of the place,
and the nature of the force which attacked it, had
insulted Capt. Foote, in the grossest terms ; but ci-
toyen Mejan was soon taught better manners, when .^
Trowbridge, in spite of every obstacle, opened five
batteries upon the fort. He was informed, that
none of his letters with the insolent printed words
at the top, UherU^ Egalit^, Guerre aux Tyrans, &c.
would be received ; but that, if he wrote like a sol-
dier and a gentleman, he should be answered in the
same style. The Frenchman then began to flatter
his antagonist upon the bienfaisance and humanitS,
which, he said, were the least of the many virtues
wbieh distini^uished Monsieur Trowbridge. Mon*
184 LiFfi OF ivELSoir. [1799.
sieur Trowbridge*s bienfaisance was, at this time,
thinking of mining the fort. — " If we can accomphsh
that," said he, ''I am a strong advocate to send
them, hostages and all, to Old Nick, and surprise
him with a group of nobility and republicans.
Meantime," he added, " it was some satisfaction to
perceive that the shells fell well, and broke some
of their shins." Finally, to complete his character,
Mejan offered to surrender for 150,000 ducats. Great
Britain, perhaps, has made but too little use of this
]und of artUlerv, which France has found so effect-
ual towards subjugating the continent: but Trow-
bridge had the prey within his reach ; and in the
course of a few days, his last battery, '* after much
trouble and palaver," as he said, ^ brought the vaga-
bonds to their senses."
Trowbridge had more difficulties to overcome in
this siege, from the character of the Neapolitans
who pretended to assist him, and whom he made
useful, than even from the strength of the place and
the skill of the French. ** Such damned cowards
and villains,'' he declared, ** he had never seen be-
fore." The men at the advanced posts carried on,
what he called, " a diabolical good understanding"
with the enemy, and the workmen would sometimes
take fright and run away. *' I make the best I can,**
said he, *'of the degenerate race I have to deal
with ; the whole means of guns, ammunition, pio-
neers, &c. with all materials, reist with them. With
fair promises to the men, and threats of instant
death if I find any one erring, a little spur has been
given." Nelson said of him, with truth, upon this
occasion, that hb was a first-rate general. *• I find,
sir," said he afterward, in a letter to the Duke of
Clarence, " that GAieral Koehler does not approve
of such irregular proceedings as naval oflSicers at-
tacking and defending fortifications. We have but
one idea, — ^to get close alongside. None but a
sailor would have placed a battery only one htm*
1799.] LIVE OF KELSON. 185
dred and eighty yards from the castle of St. Elmo:
a soldier viusi have gone adcording to art, and the
^^^^>^ way. My brave Trowbridge went straight
on, for we had no time to spare."
Trowbridge then proceeded to Capua, and tpok
the command of the motley besieging force. One
thousand of the best men in the fleet were sent to
assist in the siege. Just at this time Nelson re-
ceived a peremptory order from Lord Keith, to sail
with the whole of ^his force for the protection of
Minorca ; or, at least, to retain no more than was
absolutely necessary at Sicily. " You will easily
conceive my feelings,*' said he, in communicating
this to earl St. Vincent : " but my mind, as your
lordship knows, was perfectly prepared for this
order; and it is now, more than eVer, made up.
At this moment I will not part with a single ship;
as I cannot do that without drawing a hundred and
twenty men from each ship, now at the siege of
Capua. I am fully aware of the act I have com-
mitted ; but I am prepared for any fate which may
await my disobedience. Capua and Gaieta will soon
fall ; and the moment the scoundrels of French are
out of this kingdom I shall send eight or nine ships
of the line to Minorca. I have done what I thought
tight : others may think differently : but it will be
my consolation that I have gained a kingdom,
seated a faithful ally of his majesty firmly on his
throne, and restored happiness to millions.''
At Capua, Trowbridge had the same difficulties
as at St. Elmo ; and be*ng farther from Naples, and
from the fleet, was less able to overcome them.
The powder was so bad that he isuspected treachery :
and when he asked Nelson to spare him forty casks
from the ships, he told him it would be necessary
that some Englishmen should accompany it, or
they would steal one-half, and change the other.
** Every man you B^e" said he, ** gentle and simple,
•are such notohous villains, that it is misery to be
Q3
186 UFE OF msjJBOTf. [t799m
with them." Capua, however, soon fell: Gaieta
immediately afterward surrendered to Capt. Louis
of the Minotaur. Here the commandihgr officer
aeted more unlike a Frenchman, Capt. Louis said,
than any one he had ever met; meaning thai he
acted like a man of honour. He required, however,
that the garrrson should carry away their horses,
and other pillaged property : to which Nelson re-
plied, " That no property which they did not bring
with them into the country could be theirs; and
that the greatest care should be taken to prevent
them Trom carrying it away.** — " I am sorry,** said
he to Capt. Louis, *' that ypu have entered into any
altercation. There is no way of dealing with a
Frenchman but to knock hun down : to be civil to
them is only to be laughed at, when they are
enemies."
The whole kingdom of Naples was thus delivered
by Nelson from the French. The Admiralty, how-
ever, thought it expedient to censure him for dis-
obeying hord Keith's orders, and thus hazarding
Minorca, without, as it appeared to them, any su£
ficient reason ; and also frooi having landed seamen
for the siege of Capua, to form part of an army em-
ployed in operations at a aistamse frpm the coast :
where, in case of defeat, they might have been pre-
vented from returning to their ships ; and they en-
joined him not to employ the seamen in like manner
in future." This reprimand was issued before the
event '>vas knqwn ; though,' indeed, the event could
tiot affect the principle upon which it proceeded.
When Nelson communicated the tidings of his com-
plete success, he said, in his public letter, '* that it
would not be the less acceptable for having been
principall3r1>rought about by British sailors." His
judgment in thus employing them had been justified
by tne result ; and his joy was evidently heightened
by the gratification of a professional and becoming
pride. To the firsi lord he saldf at the same timet
ITdd.] LitE OF msXiSON. 187
*• I certainly, from having only a left hand, cannot
enter into details which may explain the motives
that actuated niy conduct. My principle is, to assist
in driving the French to the devil, and in restoring
peace and happiness to mankind. I feel that I am
fitter to do the action than to describe it.** . He then
added, that he would take care of Minorca.
In expelling the French from Naples, Nelson had,
with characteristic zeal and ability, discharged his
duty ; but he deceived himself when he imagined
that he had seated Ferdinand firmly on his throne,
and that he had restored happiness to mlUions.
These objects might have been accomplished if it
had been possible to inspire virtue and wisdom into
a vicious and infatuated court ; and if Nelson ^s eyes
had not been, as it were, spell-bound, by that unJiappy
attachment which had now completely mastered
him, he would have seen things as they were ; and
might, perhaps, have awakened the Sicilian court
to a sense of their interest, if not of their duty.
That court employed itself in a miserable round of
folly and festivity, while the prisons of Naples were
filled with groans, and the scaffolds streamed with
blood. St. Januarius was solemnly removed from
his rank as patron saint of the kingdom, having been
convicted of jacobinism; and St. Antonio as so-
lemnly installed in his place. The king, instead of
re-establishing order at Naples by his presence,
speedily returned to Palermo, to indulge in his
favourite amusements. Nelson, and the ambassa-
dor's family, accompanied the court; and Trow-
bridge remained, groaning over the villany and fri-
volity of those with whom he was compelled to
deal. A party ^of officers applied to him for a pas-
sage to Palermo, to see the procession of St. Ro-
salia: — ^he recommended them to exercise their
troops, and not behave like children. It was grief
enough for him that the court should be busied in
these follies, and Nelson involved in theoL **I
188 LIFE OF NELSOH. [1799.
dread* my lord,'* said he, **all the feasting, &c. at
Palermo. I am sure your health will be hurt. If
so, all their saints will be damned by the navy. The
king would be better employed digesting a good
government ; every thing gives way to their plea-
sures. The money spent at Palermo gives discon-
tent here: fifty thousand people are unemployed,
trade discouraged, manufactures at a stand. It is
the interest of many here to keep the king away ; —
they all dread reform :— their villanies are so deeply
rooted, that, if some method is not taken to dig them
out, this government cannot hold together. Out of
twenty millions of ducats, collected as the revenue,
only thirteen millions reach the treasury ; and the
king pays four ducats where he should pay one.
He is surrounded by thieves; and none of them
have honour or honesty enough to tell him the real
and true state of things.'* In another letter he ex-
pressed his sense of the miserable state of Naples.
"There are upwards of forty thousand families,"
said he, " who have relations confined. If some
act of oblivion is not passed, there will be no end of
persecution; for the people of this country have
no idea of any thing bat revenge ; and, to gain a
point, would swear ten thousand fals^ oaths. Con-
stant efforts are made to get a man taken up in order
to rob him. The confiscated property does not
reach the king's treasury. — All thieves ! It is sell-
ing for nothing. His own people, whom he em-
ploys, are buying it up, and the vagabonds pocket
the whole. I should not be surprised to hear that
they brought a bill of expenses against him for the
sale."
The Sicilian court, however, were at this time
duly sensible of the services which had been ren-
dered them by the British fleet, and their gratitude
to Nelson was shown with proper and princely
munificence. They gave him the dukedom and
domain of Bronte, worth about £3000 a year. U
1799.] UFB OF nxLSoir, 189
was some days before he could be persuaded to
accept it : the argument which finally prevailed, is
said to have been suggested by the queen, and urged,
at her re<)uest, by Lady Hamilton upon her knees.
*' He considered his own honour too much," she said,
^if he persisted in refusing what the king and
queen felt to be absolutely necessary for the pre-
servation of theirs." The king himself, also, is
said to have addressed him in words which show
that the sense of rank will sometimes confer a'virtue
upon those who seem to be most unworthy of the
lot to which they have been born : " Lord Nelson^
do you wish that your name alone should pass with
honour to posterity, and that I, Ferdinand Bourbon,
should appear ungrateful?" He gave him also,
when the dukedom was accepted, a diamond-hilted
sword, which his father, Charles IH. of Spain, had
given him, on his accession to the throne of the Two
Sicilies. Nelson said, "The reward was miagnifi-
cent, and worthy of a king, and he was determinea
that the inhabitants on the domain should be the
happiest in all his Sicilian majesty's dominions. —
Yet," said he, speaking of these and the other remu-
nerations whicn were made him for his services,
** these presents, rich as they are, do not elevate me.
My pride is, that, at Constantinople, from the grand
seignior to the lowest Turk, the name of Nelson is
familiar in their mouths ; and in this country 1 am
every thing which a grateful monarch and people
can« call me." Nelson, however, had a pardonable
pride in the outward and visible signs of honour,
which he had so fairly won. He was fond of his
Sicilian title; the significatipn, perhaps, pleased
him ; — Duke of Thunder was what in Dahomy would
be called a strong name; it was to a sailor^s taste;
and, certainly, to no man could it ever be more ap-
plicable. But a simple offering, which he received,
not long afterward, from the island of Zante, af-
fected mm with a deeper and finer feeling. The
190 UFE OF HBLSOH. [1799.
Greeks of that little community eent him a golden-
headed sword and a truncheon, set round with all
the diamonds that the island could furnish, in a
single row. They thanked him " for having, by his
victory, preserved that part of Greece from the hor-
rors of anarchy ; and prayed that his exploits might
accelerate the day, in which, amid the glory and
peace of thrones, the miseries of the human race
would cease.'' This unexpected tribute touched
Nelson to the heart. '^No officer," he said, ^^had
ever received from any country a higher acknow-
ledgment of his services."
The French still occupied the Roman states ; from
which, according to their own admission, they had
extorted in jewels, plate, specie, and requisitions of
every kind, to the enormous amount of eight mil-
lions sterling : yet they affected to appear- as de-
liverers among 4he people whom they were thus
cruelly plundering; and they distributed portraits
of Buonaparte, with the blasphemous inscription—
*' This is the true likeness of the holy saviour of the
world !" The people, detesting the impiety, and
groaning beneath the exactions, of these perfidious
robbers, were ready to join any regular force that
should come to their assistance ; but they dreaded
Cardinal Ruffo's rabble, and declared they would re-
sist him as a banditti, who came only for the pur-
pose of pillage. Nelson perceived that no object
was now so essential for the tranquillity of Naples
as the recovery of Rome; which, in the present
state of things, when Suvarof was driving the French
before him* would comi^ete the deliverance of Italy.
He applied, therefore, to Sir James St. Clair £rs-
kine, who, in the absence of General Fox, com-
manded at Minorca, to assist in this great object
with twelve hundred men. "The field of glory,"
said he, " is a large one, and was never more open
to any one, than at this moment to you.. Rome
would throw opea her gates and receive you as her
179.9.] LiF£ oy NBLson « 10}
deliverer; and tbt pope would owe his restoration
to a heretic." But Sir James Erskine looked only
at the difficulties of the undertaking. "Twelve
hundred men, he thought, would be too small a
force to be committed in such an enterprise ; for
Civita Vecchia was a regular fortress ; — the local
situation and climate also were such, that, even if
this force were adequate, it would be proper to de-
lay the expedition till October. General Fox, too,
Wjas soon expected; and during his absence, and
under existing circumstances, he did not feel justi*
fied in sending away such a detachment.
What this general thought it imprudent to at-
tempt. Nelson and Trowbridge effected without his
assistance, by a small detachment from the fleet.
Trowbridge first sent Capt. Hallowell to Civita
Vecchia, to offer the garrison there, and at Castle
St. Angelo, the same terms which had been granted
to Gaieta. Hallowell perceived, by the overstrained
civility of the officers who came off to him, and the
compliments which they paid to the English nation,
that they were sensible of their own weakness, and
their inability to offer any effectual resistance ; but
the French know, that while they are in a condition
to serve theiir govern laent, they can rely upon it for
every possible exertion in their support; and this
reliance gives them hope and confidence to the last..
Upon Hallowell's report, Trowbridge, who had now
been made Sir Thomas for his services, sent Capt.
Louis with a squadron, to enforce the terms which
he had offered ; and as soon as he could leave Na-
ples, he himself followed. The French, who had
no longer any hope frona the fate of arms, re-
lied upon their skill in negotiatipn, and proposed
terms to Trowbridge with that effrotitery which cha*
racterizes their public proceedings ; but which is
Sis often successful as it is impudent. They had a
man of the right stamp to deal with. Their am-
bassador at Rome began by^ayin^ that the Bomaa
192 UVB OF HsiaoN. [1799.
territory was the property of the French by right
of conquest. The British commodore settled that
point, by replying, •* It is mine by re-conquest." A
capitulation was soon concluded for all tne Roman
states, and Capt. Louis rowed up Tiber in his barge,
hoisted English colours on the Capitol, and acted,
for the time, as governor of Rome. The prophecy
of the Irish poet was thus accomplished, and the
friar reaped trie fruits ; for Nelson, who was struck
with the oddity of the circumstance, and not a little
pleased with it, obtained preferment for him from
the king of Sicily, and recommended him to the
pope. ,
Hayinjr thus completed his work upon the conti-
nent of Italy, Nelson's whole attention waa directed
towards Malta ; where Capt. Bail, with most inade-
quate means, was besieging the French garrison.
Never was any officer engaged in a more anxious
and painful service: the smallest reinforcement
from France would, at any moment, have turned
the scale against him : and had it not been for his
consummate ability, and the love and veneration
with which the Maltese regarded him, Malta must
have remained in the hands of the enemy. Men,
money, food ; all things were wanting. The garri-
son consisted of five thousand troops; — ^the be-
sieging force of five hundred English and Portu-
guese marines, and about fifteen hundred armed
peasants. Long and repeatedly did Nelson solicit
troops to effect the reduction of this important
|dace. ^ It has been no fault of the navy," said he,
'* that Malta has not been attacked by land: but we
have neither the means ourselves, nor influence
with those who have." The same causes of de-
murrer existed which prevented British troops from
assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome.
Sir James Erskme was expecting General Fox ; he
oould not act without orders ; and not having, like
Nelson, that lively spring of hope within him, which
1799.] LIFB OF NXLSOK. 193
partakes enough of the nature of faith to work mi-
racles in war, -he thought it " evident, that unless a
respectable land force, in numbers sufficient to un-
deitake the siege of such a garrison, in one of the
strongest places of Europe, and supplied with pro-
portionate artillery and stores, were sent against it,
no reasonable hope could be entertained of its stir-
render."— Nelson groaned 'over the spirit of over-
reasoning caution and unreasoning obedience.
"My heart," said he, "is almost broken. If the
enemy gets supplies in, we may bid adieii to Malta:
— all the force we can collect would then be of little
use against thedBtrongest place in Europe. — To say
that an officer is never, for any object, to alter his
orders, is what I cannot contprehend. The circum-
stances of this war so often vary, that an officer has
almost every moment to consider, what i«rould my
superiors direct, did they know What is passing
under my nose. But, sir,'* said he, writing to the
Duke of Clarence, " I find few think as I do. To
obey orders is all perfection. To serve my king,
and to destroy the French, I cctosider as the great
order of all, from' which little ones spring : and if
one of these militate against it (for who can tell ex-
actly at, a distance), I go back, and obey the great
order and object, to down, down With the damned
French villains ! — My blood boils at the name of
Frenchman !"'
At length. Gen. Fox arrived at Minorca, — arid, at
length, permitted OoL Graham to go to Malta, but
with means miserably limited. In fact, the expedi-
tkKi was at a stand for want of money ; when Tfow-
bndge, arriving at Messina, to co-operate in it, and
finding this fresh delay, immediately offered all that
he could command of his own. "I procured him,
my lord," said he to Nelson, " fifteen thousand of
my cobs : — every farthing and every atom of me
shall be devoted to the cause.''— " What can this
mean^" said Nelson, when he learned that Col. Gra-
R
194 ura or nkisoit. [1800.
ham was ordered hot to incur any expense for
stores, or any articles except provisions! — ^"the
' cause cannot stand still for want of a little money.
If nobody will pay it, I will sell Bronte, and the Em-
peror of Russia's box/' And he actually pledged
Bronte for £6600, if there should be any difficulty
about paying the bills. The long-delayed expedi-
tion was thus, at last, sent forth : but Trowbridgt
little imagined in what scenes of misery he was to
bear his part. He looked to Sicily foi^ supplies : it
was fhe interest, as well as the duty, of the Sicilian
government to use every exertion for furnishing
them: and Nelson and the British ambassador
were on the spot to press upon them the necessity
of exertion. But , though Nelson saw with what a
knavish crew the Sicilian court was surrounded, he
was blind to. the vices of the court itself; and re-
signing himself wholly to Lady Han^ilton's influence^
never even suspected the crooked policy which it
was remorselessly pursuing. The Maltese and the
British in Malta severely felt it. Trowbridge,
who had the truest affection for Nelson, knew his
infatuation, and feared that it might prove injurious
to his character, as well as fatal to an enterprise
which had begun so well, and been carried on so pa-
tiently.
'* My lord," said he, writing to him from Ihe siege,
" we are dyin^ off fast for want. I learn that Sir
William Hamilton says Prince Luzzi refused com
some time ago, and Sir William does not think it
worth while making another application. If that
be the case, I wish he commanded this distressing
scene instead of me. Puglia had an immense har-
vest ; near thirty sail left Messina, before I did, to
load com. Will they let us have any? if not, a
short time will decide the business. The German
Interest prevails. I wish I was at your lordship'9
elbow for an hour. — Ml, all will be thrown on you I
— ^I will parry the bk>w as much as in my power : i
ISOO.] Lira 0p heuok. 195
foresee mach misehief brewing.— God Wess your
lordship ; I am miserable, I cannot assist your ope-
rations more. Many happy. returns of the day to
yoU'— (it was the first of the new year) — ^I never
spent so niiserable a one. I am not very tender
hearted; but really the distress here would even
move a Neapolitan." Soon afterward he wrote:
** I have this day saved thirty thousand people from
starving ; but with this day my ability ceases. As
the government- are bent on starving us, I see no al"
temative, but tq leave these poor unhappy people to
rirish, without our being witnesses of their distress
curse the day I ever served the Neapolitan go-
remment. — ^We have characters, my lord, to lose
these people have none. Do not suffer their infa>
mous conduct to fall on us. Our country is just«
but severe. S>uch is the* fever of my brain this
minute, that J assure you, on myhonpur, if the Pa-
lermo traitors were here, I would shoot them first,
and then myself. Girgenti is full of corn; the
money is ready to pay for it ; we do not ask it as a
gift. . Oh ! could you see the horrid distress I daily
experience, something would be done. — Some en-
gine is at work against us at Naples ; and I believe
I hit on the proper person.' If you (complain, he
wUl be immediately promoted, agreeably to the
Neapolitan custom. All I write to you is known at
the queen's.— For my own partj I look upon the
Neapolitans as Uie worst of intriguing enemies •
eveiy hour shows me their infamy and duplicity
1 pray your lordship be cautious : your honest, open
manner of acting will be made a handle of. When
I see you, and tell of their infamous tricks, you
will be >as much surprised as I am. The whole will
fall oh you."
Nelson was not, and could not be, insensible to
the distress which his friend so earnestly repre-
sented. He begged, almost on liis knees, he said,
f mall supplies of money and corny to keep the MaU
196 LIFB OF ITBUOJT. [IBOO.
tese from fttarring. And when the eourt granted a
small supply, protesting their poverty, he believed
their protestations, and was satisfied with their pro-
fessions, instead of insisting that the restrictions
upon the exportation Of com should be withdrawn*
The anxiety, however, which he endured, affected
him so deeply, that he said it had broken his spirit
for ever. . Happily, all that . Trowbridge, with so
much reason, ibreboded, did not come to pass. For
Oapt. Ball, with more decision than Nelson himself
would have shown at that time, and upon that ocea*
sion, ventured upon a resolute measure, for which
his name woul(l deserve always to be held in vene-
ration bv the Maltese, even' if it had no other claims
to the love and reverence of a grateful people.
Finding it hopeless longer to ' look for succour or
common humanity from the deceitful and infatuated
court of Sicily, which persisted in prohibiting, by
sanguinary edicts, the exportation of (supplies, at
his own risk he sent his first lieutenant to the port
of Girgenti, with orders to seize^and bring with him
to MaUa, the ships which were there lying laden
with com ; of the number of which he had received
accurate information. These orders- were executed,
to the great delight and advantage of the ship-owners
and proprietors ; the necessity of raising the siege
was removed, and Capt. Ball waited, in calmness,
for the consequences to himself. The' Neapolitan
government complained to the English ambassador,
and the complaint was communicatad to Nelson,
who, in return, requested Sir William Hamilton
would fully and plainly state that the act ought not
to be considered as any intended disrespect to his
Sicilian majesty, but as of the most' absolute and im-
perious necessity; the alternation being either of
abandoning Malta to the French, or of anticipating
the king's orders for carrying the corn in those ves-
sels to Malta. " I trast," he added, " that the go-
vernment of the country will neve^ again foice any
1800.] UfFB OF NBXAOir. 197
of our royal master's servants to so unpleasant an
aJtematLve.'* Thus ended the complaint of the Nea-
politan court. "The sole result was," says Mr.
Coleridge, " that the governor of Malta became an
especial object of its hatred, its fear, and its re-
spect."
Nelson himself, at the beginning of February,
sailed for that island. On the way, he fell in with a
French 8quadron,'bound for its relief, and consisting
of the G6n^reux seventy-four, three frigates, and a
corvette. One of these frigates, and the line*of-
battle-ship, were tuken; the others escaped, but
failed in their purpose of reaching La Valette. This
-success was peculiarly gratifying to Nelson for
* many reasons. Duringsome months he had acted
as commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, while
- Lord Keith was in England. Lord Keith was now
returned; and Nelson had, upon his own plan, and
Bt his own risk, left him, to sail for Malta, — ^" for
•which," said he, ***if I had not succeeded, I might
iiave been broke ; — and, if I had not acted thus, the
"G^n^reux never would have been taken." This
ship was one of those which had escaped from
Aboukir. Two fVigates, and the Guillaume Tell,
•eightv-sii:, were all that now. remained of the fleet
which Buonaparte, had conducted to Eg3rpt. The
Ouillanme Tell was at this time closely watehed in
the harbour of La Valette : and shortly afterward, at-
tempting to make, her escape from thence, was taken*
after an action in which greater skill was never dis-
played by British ships, nor greater gallantry b3r an
enemy. She was taken by the Foudroyant, Lion,
and Penelope frigate. Nelson, rejoicing at what he
•called this glorious finish to the whole French Me-
<literninean fieet, rejoiced also that he was not pre-
sent to have taken a sprig of these brave men's lau-
rels. " They are," said he, " and I glory in them,
-iny children i they served in my school ; and all of
«ui caught our professional zeal and fire from the
R9
' 198 Lint ov vmsjsont^ [ 1809.
great and good Eail St. Vincent. What a plaa8ine»
what happiness, to have the Nile fleet aUtaken^
under my orders and regulations !"— The two fri-
gates still remained in La Valette: before its sur-
render they stole out : one was taken in the attempt;
the other was the only ship of the whole fleet which
escaped capture or destruction.
Letters were found on board the Guillaume Tell,
showing that the French were now become hopeless
of preserving the conquest which they had so foully
acquired. Trowbridge and his brother-oflficers were
anxious that Nel6on should have the honomr of
signing the capitulation. They told him, that they
absolutely, as far as they dared, insisted on his stay-
ing to do this X- but their earnest and afiectionate en-
treaties were vain. Sir William Hamilton had just
been superseded: Nelson had no feeling of eor-
diality towards Lord Keith; and thinkii^ that, after
Earl St; Vincent, no man had so good a claim to the
command in the Mediterranean as himself, he ap-
plied for permission to return^ to England, telling
the first lord of the Admiralty^ that his spirit coukt
not submit patiently^ and that he was a broken-
hearted man. From the time of his return from
Egypt, amid all the honours- which were showered
upon him, he had suffered many mortifications.
Sir Sidney Smith had been sent to Egypt, with or-
ders to tdke under his command the squadrofi which
Nelson had left there. Sir Sidney appears to have
thought that this command was to be independent
of Nelson : and Nelson himself « thinking so, deter-
mined to return, saying to Earl St. Vincent, " I do
feel, for I am a man, that it is impossible for me to
serve in these seas with a squadron under a junior
officer.^' Earl St. Vincent seems to have dissuaded
him from this resolution: some heart-burnings,
however, still remained, and some incautious ex*
pressions of Sir Sidney's were noticed by him in
tomw of evident displeasure. But this did not con-
1600.] IXFB OP vmiM&Sf. 199
tinue long, as no naan bore more wilHng testinMiiy
than Nelson to the admirable defence of Acre.
He differed from Sir Sidney as to the policy
which ought to be pursued towards the t^neh in
tigypt ; and strictly commanded him, in the strong-
est language, not, on any pretence, to permit a single
Frenchman to leave the countiy, saying, that he
considered it nothing short of madness to permit that
band of thieves to return to Europe. *' No,'* said
he, ^'tofiffypt they went with their own consent,
and there* they shall remain, while Nelson command
this squadron : for never^ never will he consent to
the return of one ship or Frenchman. — ^I wish them
to perish in Ep^^pt, and give an awful lesson^to the
world of the justice of the Almighty." If Nelson
had not thoroughly understood the character of the
enemy against whom he was engaged^ their oonduet
in Egypt wpuld have disclosed it. After the battle
of the Nile he had landed all his prisoners, upon a
solemn engagement made between TrowMdge on
one side, and Capt. Barr6 on the other; that none of
them should serve till regularly exchanged* They
were no sooner on shore, than part of them were
drafted into the different regiments, and the re-
mainder formed into a corps, csdled the nautic legion.
This occasioned Capt. Hallowell to say, that the
French had forfeited all claim to respect from ns.
*** The army of Buonaparte,'^ said he, " are entirely
destitute qf every principle of honour : they have
always acted like licentious thieves." Bnonaparte's
escape was the more regretted by Nelson, because,
if he had had sufficient force, 'he thought it would
certainly have been prevented. He wished to keep
«hips upon the watch, to intercept any thing coming
ffom Egypt : but thr Admiralty calculated upon the
assistance of the Russian fleet, which failed when it
was most wanted. The ships which should have
been thus employed were then required for more
^Nresfling services; and the bloody Goroicaii waf
fiOO ura or toomov. [)800«
thus enabled to reach Europe in safety ; there to be*
come the guilty instrument of a wider-spreading de-
struction than any with which the wond 'had ever
before been visited.
Nelson had other causea of chagrin. Earl St
Vincent, for whom he felt such high respect, and
whom Sir John Orde had challenged, for having
nominated Nelson instead of himself to the com-
mand of the Nile squadron, laid claim to prize mo-
ney, as commander-in-chief, after he had quitted the
station. The point was contested, .and decided
against hun. Nelson, perhaps, felt this the more,
because his own feeUngs, with regard to money,
were so different. An opinion had been given by
Dr. Lawrence, which would have excluded the junior
flag officers from prize money. When this was
made known to him, his reply was in these words :
^ Notwithstanding Dr. Lawrence^s opinion, I do not
believe I have any right to exclude the junior flag
officers : and if I have, I desire that no such claim
may be made :— no, not if it were, sixty times the
sum, — and^ poor as I am, I were never to. see prize
money."
• A snip could not be spared to convey him to Eng-
land ; ne therefore travelled through Germany to
Hamburgh, in company with his inseparable Jriends,
Bir William and Lady Hamilton. The queen of
Naples went with then; to Vienna. While they
were at Leghorn, upon a report that ^ the Frenca
were. approaching (for, through the folly of weak
courts, and the treachery of venal cabinets, they
had now recovered their ascendency in Italy), the
people rose tumultuously, and wouTd.fain have per-
suaded Nelson to lead them against tlie enemy.
Public honours, aud yet more gratifying testimonials
of public admiration, awaited Nelson wherever
he went. The prince of Esterhazy entertained him
in a style of Hungarian magniflcenqe — a hundied
grenadiersv each six feet in height, constantly wait-
1000.] UVE OF vwiiMmi 201
ing at table. At Magdeburgh, the master of the hotel
where he was entertained, contrived to show him
for money ; admitting the curious to mount a ladder,
and peep at him through a small window. A wine
merchant at Hamburgh, who was above seventy years
of a:ge, requested to speak with Lady Hamilton,
and told her be had some Rhenish wine, of the vin-
tage of 1625, which, had been in his own possession
more than half a eentury : he bad preserved it for
some e!;araordinary occasion ; and that which had
now arrived was far beyond any that he could evei?
have expected. His request was, that her ladyship
would pireyail upon Lord Nelson to accept six dozen
of this incomparable wine ; part of it would, then
have the honour to flow into the heart's blood of that
immortal hero ; and this thought would make him
happy during the remainder of his life. Nelso^,
when this singular request was reported to him,
went into the room, and taking the worthy old gen-
tleman kindly by the hand, consented to receive six
bottles, provided the donor would dine with him
next day. Twelve were sent ; and Nelson, saying,
that he hoped yet to win half a dozen more great
victories,' promised to layby six bottles of his Ham-
burgh friend's wine, for the piiirpose of drinking one
aft^f eft^h. — A German pastor, between seventy and
eighty years of age^ travelled forty miles, with the
Bible of his parish church, to request that Nelson
would write his name on the first leaf of it. He
called him the saviour of the Christian world. The
old man's hope deceived him. There was na Nelson
upon shore, or Europe would) have been saved ; but,
in his foresight of the horrors with which all Ger-
many and all Christendom were threatened by
France, the pastor could not possibly have appre-
liended more than has actually taken place*
20S ura OF HBUOH. [1800.
CHAPTER VIL
.;
MI#M«9arcte« kiwutlf from hi9 Wif9—If«rthnrn Confedtraep^m
goet to UU Baltic^ under Sir Hydt Parker^Baitle of CopenMagoa^
and suboequent Jfegotiation — J^elson ii. made a P'iaeounL.
NtLsoN was welcomed in England with every
mark of popular honour. At Yarmouth, where he
landed, every ship in the harbour hoisted her. co-
lours. The mayor and corporation waited upon him
with the freedom ef the town, and accompanied hiin
in procession to church, with all the naval officers
on shore, and the principal inhabitants. Bonfires
and illuminations concluded the day; and, on the
morrow, the volunteer cavalry drew^up and saluted
him as he departed, and followed the carriage to the
borders 6f the county. At Ipswich, the people
came out to meet him, drew him a mile into the
town, and three miles out. When he was in the
Agamemnon, he wished to represent thi^ place in
parhament, and some of his friends had consulted
the leading men of tMe corporation ; the result was
not successful, and Nelson, observing that he would
endeavour to find 6ut a preferable path into parlia-
ment, said there might coftie a time when the peo-
ple of Ipswich would think it an honour to have
had him for their representative. In London, he
was feasted by the city^ drawn by the -populace
from Ludgate-hill to Guildhall, and received the
thanks of the common council for his great victory,
and a golden-hilted sword, studded with diamonds.
Nelson had every earthly blessing, except domestic
happiness : he had forfeited that for ever. Before
he had been three months in England he separated
from Lady Nelson. Some of his last words to
bar were: ''I call God to witness, there is notbiiig
IBOO.] UFB or nsMov. 909
in you or your conduct, that I wish otherwise."
This was the consequence of his infatuated attach-
ment to Lady Hamilton. It had before caused a
quarrel with his son-in-law, and occasioned remon-
strances from his truest friends, whieh produced no
other effect than, that of making him displeased
with them, and more dissatisfied with himself.
The Addington administration was just at this
time formed; and Nelson, who had solicited em-
plo3'ment, and been made vice-admiral of the blue,
was sent to the Baltic, as second, in command^ under
Sir Hyde Parker, by Earl St, Vincent, the new first
lord of the Admiralty. The three northern courts
bad formed a confederacy for making England re-
siipi her naval rights. Of these courts, Russia was
guided by the passions of its emperor, Paul, a man nol
without fits of generosity, and some natural good-
ness, but subject to the wildest humours of caprice*
and crazed by the possesion of greater power than
can ever be safely, or perhaps innocently, possessed
by weak humanity. Denmark was French at heart :
ready to co-operate in all the views of France, to
recognise all her usurpations, and obey all her in-
junctions. Sweden, under a king whose princij^es
were right, and who^e feelings were generous, but
who had a taint of hereditary insanity, acted in ac-
quiescence with the dictates of two powers whom
it feared to offend. The Danish u navy, at this time,
consisted of twenty-three ships of the line, with
about thirty-one frigates and smaller vessels, exclu-
sive of guard-ships. The Swedes had eighteen
ships of the line, fourteen frigates and sloops, se-
venty-four galleys and smaller vessels, besides gun-
boats ; and this force was in a far better state' of
equipment than the Danish. The Russians had
eighty-two sail of the line and forty frigates. Of
these there were forty-seven sail of the line at Cron-
stadt. Revel, Petersburg, and Archangel: but the
Russian fleet was ill-manned, ill-officered, and ill-
.1801.] XETB OP* jtbimm; 90B
The teet sailed on the 13th of Marcfti. Mr. Van*
•ittart sailed in it ; the British cabinet still hoping
to obtain its end by negotiation. It was well for
England that Sir. Hyde Parker placed a fcdler confi-
dence in Nelson than the govemment seems to have
done at this most important crisis. Her enemies
might well tiave been astonished at learning, that
any other man should for a moment have been
ihonght of for the command. Bnt so little defe-
Tence was paid, even at this time, to his intuitive
and all-oommanding genius, that when the fleet had
reached its first rendezvous, at the entrance of the
Cattegat, he had received no ofiSieial communication
whatever of the intended operations. His own
mind had been made up upon them with its accus*
tomed decision. " All I have gathered of our first
plans,'' said he, ^'I disapprove most exceedingly.
Honour may arise from them ; good cannot. 1 hear
we are likely to anchor outside of Oronenburg
Castle, instead of Copenhagen, which woiild give
weight to our negotiation. A Danish minister
wotdd think twice before he would put his name to
war with England, when the next moment he would
probably see his master's fleet in flames, and his ca«
pital in ruins. The Dane should see our flag every
moment he lifted up his head."
Mr. Yansittart left the fleet at the Scaw, ahd pre-
ceded it in a frigate with a flag of truce. Precioua
time was lost by this delay, which was to be pur*
chased by the dearest blood of Britain and Den-
mark: according to the Danes. themsielves,* th'e in-
telligence that a British fleet was seen off the Sound
produced a much more general alarm m Copenhagen
than its actual arrival in the Roads ; for their means
of defence were at that time in such a state, that
they could hardly hope to resist, still less to repel,
an enemy. On the 21st Nelson had a lone confer-
ence with Sir Hyde ; and the next day adoressed a
letter to him, worthy of himself and of the ooca-
S
•
-. had then been »-^
•km. Mr. VMWtttarfs wp^„^t govetnmcnt ^
ceived. It represeated the ^^l%^% state of V^
in the highew'degree hostile; ^, cabtoet^^ad 9«^
paiaUon a« exceeding **>«' had profited, witV»^
poUd possible: for D«n™"^Id so impoWw^^ ^V-
ictiWtyVof the leisure whichhad so v^„ ««'l^t<f
giren fer. « The more I h*'" T!^ 1 am <=°^y^ft
ton to his commander, " t^« "^^ould be \o»i » «!
in opinion, that not a moment snom ^^ ^T^^
tacking thi enemy. Theyw»Ueve^^ ^^ ,^»^^
hour L stronger: ^e "ha^^^^ The only /^
match for them as at this «>««^;,ith the l«»f*fS^.
sideration is, how to get »l.**'*^v, almost the s^e^^
to our 8hip8.-Hereyou are. ^J England, ^more m
certainly with the honour, of E^i^B^ ^^^ Vot <!^^
trusted to you, than ever r* if '^ depend8/wl>«^
British ofl^er. On vour decision P ^^ of Europe,
our country shall be degraded «^5\i|fcet tha» ^J^J^
or whether she shall rear her b^«« "^tty depends^
Again I do repeat, nerer did <»t c ^g on thw-
much upon the suciJesB *^ ^^g the pride of hw
How best to honour her, and abate ^ ^^ ^n«-
enemies, must be the subject ot you
deration." i , ♦i,^ oassage of the Soi»a«
^ Supposing him to force «>« ^'^t be done amo^
Nelso^Tthought some damagem^w ^^^ ^^^
the maats aid yards; *OUgH pernap „j{thev™»»
them but would be serviceable again- ^ ^^^^^s.«a
bef^ir,^ slwhe, " and you determine to ^^
fhips aiid Crown Islands, youW»te»v ^^^
turaj issue of such a b^^^^rX^^nd which ctf-
Perhaps, one or. two lost ; ft^r *«« l^™ o^ a cnp-
nea you^in. will most probably not brmg ^
pled ship. This mode I. °*"„f ^^t the Verj
horns. it, however, will »*»*.P^!^ Danes : «>*
ihipa or tte Swedes from JOl™"*S.*f« "^^easnW
o prevent this is, in my humWf ^P^J^Vcopeflfe*-
l>8oIutelv- necessary ; and atOl to attacK "^^„,
«!»•'* :F*br this he proposed two mode*. "•"
1801.] MPE OP NELSON. 20r
to pass Cronenbtirg, taking the risk of danger ^
taking* thie deepest and straightest channel along:
the Middle Grounds ; and then coming down the
Garbar or King's Channel, attack the Danish line
of floating batteries and ships, as might be found
convenient. This would prevent a junction, and
might give an opportunity of bombarding Copen-
hagen. Or to take the passage of the Belt, which
might be accomplished in four or five days ; and
then the attack by Draco might be made, and the
junction of the Russians prevented. Supposing
item through the Belt, he proposed that a detach-
ment of the fleet should be sent to destroy the Rus-
sian squadron at Revel ; and that the business at
Copenhagen should be attempted with the remainder.
** The measure," he said, " might be thought bold :
but the boldest measures are the safest."
The pilots, as men who had nothing but safety to
think of, were terrified by the formidable report of
the batteries of Elsinofe, and the tremendous pre-
parations which our negotiators, who? were now re-
turned from their fruitless mission, had witnessed.
They therefore persuaded Sir Hyde to prefer the
passage of the Belt. ** Let it be by the Sound, by
the Belt, or any how^" cried Nelson, " only lose hot
an hour!" On the 26th they sailed for the Belt:
fiuch was the habitual reserve of Sir Hyde, that hii
own captain, the captain of the fleet, did not know
Dirhieh course he had resolved to take till the fleet
were getting under way. . When Capt. Domett was
thus apprized of it, hie felt it his duty tp represent to
% the admiral his belief that if that course were per-
severed in, th'e ultimate object would be totally de-
feated : it was liable to long delays, and to acciaents
of ships' grounding ; in the whole fleet there were
. only one captain and one pilot who knew anything
of this formidable passage (as it was then deemed),
and their knowledge was very slight : their instruc-
tiOQS did not authorize them to attempt it $ — supposing
t08 UFB or HEUOlf. [tdOt.
them safe through the Belts, the heavy ships eould
not come over the Grounds to attack Copenhagen;
and light vessels would have no effect on such a line
of defence as hajd been prepared against them.
Domett urged these reasons so forcibly that Sir
Hyde's opinion was shaken, and he consented to
bring the fleet to, and send for Nelson on board.
There can be little doubt but that the expedition
would have failed, if Capt* Domett, had not thus
timely and earnestly given his advice. — Nelson en-
tirely agreed with him ; and it was finally determined
to take the passage of the Sound, — and, the deet re-
turned to its former anchorage.
The next day was more idly expended in des-
patching a flag of truce to the governor of Cronen-
Durg Castle, to ask whether he had received orders
to fire at the JBritish fleet ; as the admiral must con-
sider the first gun to be a declaration of war on the
part of Denmark. A soldier-like and becoming an-
swer was returned to this formality. The governor
said, that the British minister had not been sent away
from Copenhagen, but had obtained a passport at his
own deniand. He himself, as a soldier, could not
meddle with politics ; but he was not at liberty to
suffer a fleet, of which the intention was not yet
known, to approach the gims of the castle which he
had the honour to command : and he requested, if
.the British admiral should think proper to make any
proposals to the king of IXenmark, that he might
be apprized of it before the fleet approached nearer.
During this intercourse, a Dane, who came onboard
the commander's ship, having occasion to express
his business in writing, found the pen blunt ; and,
holding It up, sarcastically said, « If your guns are
not better pomted than your pens, you will make
little impression on Copenhagen »"
On that day intelligence reached the admiral of
the loss of one of his fleet, the Invincible, seventy-
four, wrecked on a sand-bank, as she wi C9S
tSOK] X.IFB OF KELflOK. 209
out of Yannouth; four hundred of her men pe-
Tished in her. Nelson, who was now appomted to
lead the van, shifted his flaff to the Elephant, Capt.
Foley— 'a lighter ship than the St. George, and there-
fore fitter for the expected operations. Tlie two
following days Avere calm. Orders had been ^iven
to pass the Sound as soon as the wind would per-
mit ; and on the afternoon of the 29th,. the ships
•were cleared for action, with an alacrity characteris-
tic of British seamen. At daybreak on the 30th, it
blew a topsail breeze from the north-west. The
signal was made, and the fleet moved on in order of
l)attle ; Nelson's division in the van. Sir Hyde's in
the centre, and Admiral Graves's in the rear.
Great actions, whether -military or naval, have
^nerally given celebrity to the scenes from whence
they are denominated ; and thus petty villages, and
capes, and bays, known only to tiie coasting trader,
become associated with migiity deeds, and their
names are made conspicuous in the history of the
world. Here, however, the scene was every way
"worthy of the drama. The political importance of
the Sound is such, that grand objects are not needed
there to impress the imagination ; yet la the channel
full of gt'and and interesting objects, both of art and
^nature. This passage, which Denmark had so long
considered as the key of the Baltic, is^ in its narrow-
est part, about three miles wide ; and here the citj'
of ElsinOre is situated; except Copenhagen, the
most flourishing of the Danish towns. Every vessel
which passes lowers her top-galhint-sails, and pays
toll at Elslnore : a toll which is believed to have had
its origin in the c*)nsent of the traders to that sea,
Denmark taking upon itself the charge of construct-
ing lighthouses, and erecting sign^s, to mark the
flhoals and rocks from the Cattegat to the Baltic :
and they, on their part, agreeing that all ships should
pass this way, in order that all might pay their
•haree : none from that time asing tl^e pus^ge of tbe
S3
f 10 im OP sisiaov. [1801
Belt ; because it was not fitting that they who ev^
J03redthe benefit of the beacons in dark and stormy
weather, should evade coDtributiofir to them in fair
seasons and summer nig^hts. Of late years, about
ten thousand vessels had annually paid this contri-
bution in time of peace. Adjoining Elsinore, and
at the edge of the peninsular promontory, upon the
nearest point of land to the Swedish coast, stands
Cronenburg Castle, built after Tycho, Brahe's de-
sign ; a magnificent pile* — ^at once a palace, and for- '
tress, and state-prison, with, its spires and towers,
and batUemeuts and batteries. On the left of the
•trait is the old Swedish city of Helsinburg ; at the
foot, and on the side of a hiU. To the north of Hel-
sinburg the chores are steep and rocky ; they lower
to the south, ^uid the distant spires of Landscrona,
Lund, and Malmoe are seen in the fiat country. The
Banish shores consist partly of ridges of sand ; but
more frequently they are diversified with corn-fields,
meadows, slopes, and are covered with rich wood
and villages and villas, and sum;ner palaces be-
longing to the king and the nobility, and denoting U^
vicinity of a great capital. The isles of Huen,
Statholm, and Amak, appear in the widening chan-
nel ; and at the distance of twenty miles from Elsi-
nore, stands Copenhagen, in full view ; the best city
of the north, aiid one of the finest capitals of Eu-
rope ; visible, with its stately spires, far off. Amid
these magnificent objects, there are some which pos-
sess a peculiar interest for the recollections which
they cadi forthi The Isle of Huen, a lovely domain,
about six. miles in circumference, had been the mu-
nificent gift of Frederick the Second to Tycho Brahe.
It has higher shores than the near coast of Zealand,
or than the Swedish coast in that part. Here most
of his discoveries were made ; and here the ruins
are to be seen of his observatory, and of the man-
sion where he was visited by princes ; and where,
«rith ft princely spiiit, he received and Mxtertained
1801.] UFB OF KSL80N.- 211,
all coiners from all partg, and promoted science by
his liberality, as well as by his labours. Elsinore is
a name familiar to English ears, being inseparably
associated with Hamlet, and one of the noblest worka
of human geniys. Cronenburg had been the scene
of deeper tragedy: here Queen Matilda was con-
fined, the victim of a foul and murderous . court
intrigue. Here, amid heart-breaking griefs, she found
consolation in nursing her infant. > Here she took
her everlasting leave of that infant, when, by the
interference of England, her own deliverance was
obtained ; and, as the ship bore her away from a
country, where the venial indiscretions of youth
and unsuspicious gayety had been so cruelly pu-
nished, upon these towers she fixed her eyes, and
stood upon the deck, obstinately . gazing towards
them till the last speck had disappeared.
The Sound being the only frequented entrance to
the Baltic, the great Mediterranean of the North, few
fiarts of the sea display so frequent a navigation,
n the height of the season not fewer than a hun-
dred vessels pass every four-and-twenty hours, for
many weeks in succession : but never had so busy
or 80 splendid a scene b^en exhibited there as on
this day, when the British fieet prepared to force
that passage, where, till now, all ships had veiled
their topsails to the fiag of Deiims^rk, The
whole force consisted of fifty-one sail of various
descriptions; of which sixteen were of the line.
The greater part of the bomb and 'gun vessels took
their stations off Oronenburg Castle^ to cover the
fleet ; while others on the larboard were ready to
engage the Swedish shore. The Banes, having im-
proved every moment which ill-timed negotiation
and baffling weather gave them, had lined their shore
with batteries ; and as soon as the Monarch, which
was the leading ship, came abreast of them, a fire
was opened from about a hundred pieces of cannon
andmortan: our light vesftelsiinmediatdyiinretunii
212 I.IFS Ot IVBTAOlf. [180 •
opened their fire upon the castle. Here was all the
pompous circumstance, and exciting reality of war,
without its effects ; for thi^ ostentatious display was
but a bloodless prelude to the wide and sweeping'
destruction which was soon to follow. The ene-
mies^ shot fell near enough to splash the water on
board our ships : not relying upon a:ny forbearance
of the Syredes, they meant to have kept the mid-
channel ; but, when they perceived that not a shot
was fired from Helsingburg, and that no .batteries
were to be seen, on the Swedig(h shore, they inclined
to that side, so as completely to get out of reach of
the Danish guns. The uninterrupted blaze which
was kept up from them till the fleet had passed,
served only to exhilarate our sailors, and afford them
matter for jest, a? the shot fell in showers a full ca-
ble's length short of its destined aim. A few rounds
were returned from some of X)ur leading ships till
they perceived its inutility ;-^this, however, occa*
flioned the only bloodshed of the day, some of our
men being killed and wounded by the bursting of a
gun. As soon as the main body had passed, the gun
vessels followed, desisting from thisir bombardment,
which had been as innocent as that of the. enemy ;
and, aboiit midday, the whole fleet anchored
between the island of Hiien and Copenhagen. Sir
Hyde, with. Nelson, Admiral Graves, some of the
senior captains, and the commanding officers of the
artillery and the troops, then proceeded in a lugger,
to reconnoitre the enemy*s means of defence ; a
formidable line of ships, nideaus, pontoons, galleys,
fireships, and gun-boats, flanked and supported by
extensive batteries, and occupying, from one ex-
treme point to the other, an extent of nearly four
miles.
A council of war was held in the afternoon. It
was apparent that the Danes could not be attacked
without great difficulty and risk ; and some of the
uaembers of the council spoke oif the number of the
1801,] Un OF MBL80N. 915
Swedes and the Russians whom they should after-
ward have io engage, as a consideration which ought
to be borne in mind. Nelson, who kept pacing the
cabin, impatient as he ever was of any thing which
savoured of inresolution, repeatedly said, "The
more numerous the better ; I wish they were twicQ
as many, — the easier the victory, depend on it."
The plan upon which he had determined, if ever it
should be his fortune to bring. a Baltic fleet to ac-
tion, was, to attack the head of their line, and con-
fuse their movements. — " Close with a Frenchnaan,"
he used to say, " but out-manoeuvre a Russian." He
offered his services for the attack, requiring ten sail
of the line, and the whole of the smaller craft. Sir
Hyde gave him two more line-of-battle ships than
he asked, and left every thing to his judgment.
The enemy's force was not ^the only, nor the
greatest, obstacle with which the British fleet had
contend: there was another to be overcome b&>
fore they could come in contact with it. The chan-
nel was little known, and extremely intricate ; all
the buoys had been removed, and the Danes con-
sidered this difficulty as almost insuperable, think-
ing the channel impracticable for so large a fleet.
Nelson himself saw the soundings made, and the
buoys laid down, boating it upon this exhausting
service, day and night, till it was effected. When
this was done, he thanked God for having enabled
him to get through this difficult part of his duty*
^'Ithad worn him down," he said, '^and was infi-
nitely more grievous to him than any resistance
which he could experience from the enemy."
At the first council of war, opinions inclined to
an attack from the eastward: but ^he next day, the
wind being southerly, after a second examination
of the Danish position, it was determined to attack
from the south, approaching in the manner which
Nelson had suggested in his first thoughts. On the
jDonung of the 1st of Aprils the whole fleet removal
f 14 UVB OF HEUdN [1801.
to an anchorage within two leagnea of the town,
and off the N. W. end of the Middle Ground : a
shoal l3dng exactly before the town, at about three-
quarters of a mile distance, and extending along its
whole sea front. The King's Channel, where there
is deep water, is between this shoal and the town ;
and here the Danes had arranged their line of de-
fence, as near the vhore as possible ; nineteen ships
and floating batteries, flanked at the end nearest
the town by the Crown Batteries, which were two
artificial islands, at the mouth of the harbour — most
formidable works; the larger one having, by the
Danish account, sixty-six guns ; but, as Nelson be-
lieved, eighty-eight. The fleet having anchored,
Nelson, with Riou, in the Amazon, made his last
examination of the ground ; and about one o^clock,
returning to his own ship, threw out the signal to
weigh. It was received with a shout throughout
the whole division ; they weighed with a light and
favourable wind : the narrow channel between the
island of Saltholm and the Middle Ground had been
accurately buoyed ; the small craft pointed out the
course distinctly ; Rioii led the wav ; the whole dL>
vision coasted along the outer edge of the shoal,
doubled its farther extremity, and anchored there
off Draco Point, just^ as the darkneiss closed — ^tht
headmost of the enemy> line not being more than
two miles distant. The signal to prepare for aetion
had been made early in the evening; and, as his own
anchor dropped, Nelson called out, •*! will fight
them the moment I have a fair wind." It had been
apeed that Sir Hyde, with the remaining ships,
should weigh on the following momihgj at the same
time as Nelson, to menace the Crown Batteries on
his side, and the four ships of the line which lay at
the entrance of the arsenal ; and to cover oar own
disabled ships as they came out of action.
The Danes, meantime, had not been idle : no
•ooner did theguns of Cronenburg make it known
1801 <] UFS OF IfELSONtf 215
to the whole city that all negotiation was at an end,
that the British fleet was passing the Sound, and
that the dispute between the two crowns must now
be decided by arms, than a spirit displayed itself
most honourable to the Danish character. All
ranks offered themselves to the service^ of their
country ; the university furnished a corps of twelve
hundred youths, the flower of Denmark: — it was
one of those emergencies in which little drilling or .
discipline iff necessary to render courage available ;
they had nothing to learn but how to manage the
guns, and day and night were employed in prac-
tising them. When the movements of Nelson^s
squadron were perceived, it was known when and
where the attack was to be expected, and the line
of defence was manned indiscriminately by soldiers,
sailors, and citizens. Had not the whole attention
of the Danes been directed to strengthen their own
means of defence, they might most materially have
annoyed the iavading squadron, and, perhaps, frus-
trated the impending attack; for the British ships
were crowded in an anchoring ground of little ex-
tent :— it was calm, so that mortar-boats might have
acted against them to the utmost advantage ; and they
.were within range of shells from Amak Island. A
few fell among them ; but the enemy soon ceased
to Are. It was learned afterward, that, fortunately
for the fleet, the bed of the mortar had given way ;
and the Danes either could not get it replaced, (Ht,
in the darkness, lost the direction.
This was an awful night for Copenhagen,— far
more so than for the British fleet, where the men
were accustomed to battle and victory, and had
none of those objects before their eyes which ren-
der death terrible. Nelson sat down to table with
a large party of his ofiicers : he was, as he was ever
wont to be when on the eve of action, in high spi-
rits, and drank to a leading wind, and to the sue*
cess of the morrow. After supper they returned to
216 LIFB OF iTELSOlf. [1801.
their reepectiTe ships, except Riou, who remained
to an»nge theiforder of battle with Nelson and
Foley, and to draw up instractions : Hardy, mean-
time, went in a small boat to examine the channel
between them and the enemy; approaching so
near, that he sounded round their leading ship with
a pole, lest the noise of throwing the lead should
discover him. The incessant fatigue of body, as
well as mind, which Nelson had undergone during
the last three days, had so exhausted him, that he
was earnestly urged to go to his cot ; and his old
servant, Allen, using that kind of authority, which
long and affectionate services entitled and enabled
him to assume on such occasions, insisted upon his
complying. The cot was placed on the floor, and
he continued to dictate from it. About eleven.
Hardy returned, and reported the practicability of
the channel, and the depth of water up to the
enemy's line. About one, the orders were com-
pleted; and half a dozen clerks, in the foremost
cabin, proceeded to transcribe them: Nelson fre-
quently calling out to them from his cot to hasten
tneir work, for the wind was becoming fair. In-
stead of attempting to get a few hours' sleep, he
was constantly receiving reports on this important
point. At daybreak, it was announced ^s becoming
perfectly fair. The clerks finished their work ^bout
six. Nelson, who was already up, breakfasted, and
made signal for all captains. The land forces, and
five hundred seamen, under Captain Freemantle and
the Hon. Col. Stewart, were to storm the Crown
Battery as soon as its fire should^ be silenced : and
Riou — whom Nelson had never seen till this expe-
dition, but whose worth he had instantly perceived,
and appreciated as it deserved — had the filanche and
Alcmene frigates, the Dart and Arrow sloops, and
the Zeph3n: and Otter fireships, given him, with a
apecial command to act as circumstances might
1801.] LI^ OF 19BL0OIf. 817
require :«*^Tery other ship had its statiop ap^
pointed.
Between eight and niae* the pUots and masteEf
were ordered on board the admiral's ^p8. Th«
pilots were nuwiiy men who hi^d been mates in Bal-
tic traders ; and their hesitation about the beanng
of the east end of the shoal» and the c^xact line o?
deep water, gave ominous warning of how little
their knowledge was to be treated- The signal for
action had been made, the wind waa lisuiwu^t i^
moment to be lost Nelson unged theiti to be
steady,— to be resolute^ aad to decide : but they
wanted the only ground for eteadiness and decision
m such cases; and Nelson had reason .to regre$
that he had not trusted to Hardy's single repost*
This was one of the most painful moments oi hii
life ; and he always spoke of it with bitterness*
^ I experienced in the Sound," said he, *^ the misery
of having ^e honour of our country intrusted to a
set of pilots, who have no o^er thought than to
keep the ships clear of danger, and their own silly
heads clear of shot. £veiy body knows what I
must have suffered : and if any merit attaches it*
self to me, it was for combating the dangers of the
shallows in defiance of them.'* At lenrth, Mr. Bry-
erly, the master of the Bellona, declared that he was
prepared to lead the fleets his judgment was «c-
oeded to by the rest; they returned to their ships;
and, at half-past nine, the signal was ipade to wedgh
in succession.
Captain Murray, in the ^dgar, led the way; the
Agamemnon was next in order; but, on the first at**
tempt to leave her anchorage, she coold not weather
the edge of the shoal; and Nelson had the grief to
see his old ship, in which he had performed so many
jrears' gallant services, immoveably aground, at a
moment when her help was so greatly required.
SignaJ was then made for the Poljqphemus: and
this change in the order of sailing was executed
T
\
218 lira or helsoji* [180I.
with the utmost promptitude : yet so much delay
had thus been unavoidably occasioned, that the Ed-
gar was for some time unsupported : and the Poly-
phemus, whose place should have been at the end
of the enemy's une, where their sttength was the
greatest, coidd get no farther than the ttegioning,
owing to the difficulty of the channel: tMre bS&
occupied^ indeed, an efficient station, but one where
her presence was less required. The Isis followed,
with better fortune, and took her own birth. The
Bellona, Sir Thomas Boulde Thompson, kept too
close on the staibosrd shoal, and grounded abreast
q( the outer ship of the enemy: this was the more
▼ezatious, inasmuch as the wind was fair, the room
ample, and three ships had led the wB.y. The Rus-
sell, following the Bellona, grounded in like man-'
ner: both were within reach of shot; but their ab-
sence from their intended stations was severely
felt. Each ship had been ordered to pass her leader
on the starboaitl side, because the water was sup-
posed to shoal on the larboard shore. Nelson, who
came next after these two ships, thought they had
kept too far on the starboard direction, and made
signal for them to close with the enemy, not know-
ing that they were aground : but when he perceived
that they did not obey the signal, he ordered the
Elephant's helm to starboard, and went within these
ships : thus quitting the appointed order of sailing,
ana guiding those which were to follow. The
greater part of the fleet were probably, by this act
of promptitude on' his part, saved from going on
shore. Each ship, as she arrived nearly opposite
to her appointed station, let her anchor go by the
stem, and presented her broadside to the Danes*
The distapce between each was about half a cable.
The action was foi^ht nearly at the distance of a
cable's length from the enemy. This, which ren-
dered its continuance so long, was owing to the
ignorance sad consequent indecision of ihe pilots.
ISOl.] tlFB OF IfELSON. itt9
In pursuance of the same error which had led the
fiellotra and the Russell aground^ they» when the
lead was at a quarter less five, refused to i^mroach
neisirer, in dread of shoaling their water on we lar-
board shore: a fear altogether erroneooa, for the
water deepened up to the very side of the enemy's
line.
At five minutes after ten the action began. The
^rst half of our fleet was engaged in about half an
hour; and, by half^-past eleven, the battle became
general. The plan of the attack had be^n complete :
but seldom has any plan been more disconcerted
by untoward accidents. Of twelve ships of the line,
one was entirely useless, and two others in a situa-
tion where they could not render half the service
which was required of thetn. Of the squadron of
gun-brigs, only one' could get into action ; the rest
were prevented by baffling currents from weather-
ing the eastern end of the shoal ; and only two of
the bomb-vessels could reach their station on the
Middle Ground, and open their mortars on the arse-
nal, firing over both fleets. Riou took the vacant
station against the Crown Battery, with his frigates;
attempting, with that unequal force, a service in
which three sail of the line had been directed to
assist.
Nelson^s agitation had been ettreme when he
saw himself, before the action begun, deprived of a
fourth part of his ships of the line ; but no sooner
was he in battle, where his squadron was received
with the fire of more than a thousand guns, than»
as if that artillery, like music, had driven away aU
care and painful thoughts, his countenance bright*
ened ; and, as a bystander describes him, his con«>
versation became joyous, animated, elevated, and
delightful. The commander-in-chief, meantime^
near enough to the scene of action to know the un-
favourable accidents which had so materially weak-
ened Nelson, and yet too distant to know the real
fdO ura OF vEismsu [1001.
0tate of the contendingr parties, sttffered the most
^adful anxiety. To get to his assistaxice was im-
possible ; both wind and current were against him.
Fear for the event, in such circumstances, would
naturally preponderate in the bravest mind ; and, at
one o'clock, perceiving that, after three hours' en-
durance, the enemy's fire was unslackened, he began
to despair of success. *^ I will make the ^gnal of
recall,'' said he to his captain, '* for Nelson's sake.
If he is in a condition to continue the action suc-
cessfully, he will disregard it; if he is not, it ^ ill
be an excuse for his retreat, and no blame can be
imputed to him." Captain Domett urged him at
least to delay the signal, till he could communicate
with NelfK>n ; but, in Sir Hyde's m)inion, the danger
was too pressinjpr for delay r-f^-** The fire," he saud,
'^was too hot for Nelson to oppose; a retreat he
thought must be made, — he was aware of the cou-
flequences to his own personal reputation, but it
would be cowardly in him to leave Nelson to beiur
the whole shame of the faili»re, if shame it should
be deemed." Under a mistaken judgment,* there-
fore,,but with this disinterested and generous feelings
he miade the signal for retreat.
Nelson was at tbis time, in all the excitement of
action, pacing the quarter-deck. A shot through
the mainmast knocked the splinters about; and he
l^bserved to one of his officers with a smile, ^It is
warm work ; and this day naay be the last to a»y of
Qs at a moment *." — and then, stopping short at the
gangway, added, with emotion—^ But mark you ! I
womd not be elsewhere for thousands*" About this
time the signal lieutenant called out, that pumber
thirty*nine (the signal for discontinuing the action),
was thrown out by the commander-in-chief. He
continued to walk the deck, and appeared to take
•' I Iwv« mnBt pieMore In rendering tills Juetlee to Sir Hyde Parkerii
VMMMiing. Tbe flMt ii bere tuiad apon ihe blgbert and moet unauA*
llQiugbie Bittbority. .r ■• ^ .
1801.] ' LIFB 09 Nx&soir. 221
no notice of it. l*he signal officer met him at the
next turn, and asked if he should repeat it. ** No,"
he replied ; ** acknowledge it." Fluently he caUed
after him to know if the Signal for close action waf
still hoisted ; and being answered in the affirmative,
said, ^ Mind you keep it so." He now paced, the
deck, moving ^e stump of fiis lost arm in a manner
which always indicated p^reat emotion. * ** Do you
kno\e," said he to Mr. Ferguson, *' what is shown on
board the commander-in-chief ! Number thirty-
nine!" Mr. Ferguson asked what that meant.^-
** Why^ to leave o'ff action !" Then, shrugging iro
his shoulders, he repeated the words — " Lettve off
action? Now, damn me if I do! You know,
Foley," turning to the Captain, ** I have on]y one
eye, — ^I have a right to'be blind sometimes :" — ^and
then, putting the glass to hi« blind eye, in that mood
of mind which sports with bitterness, he exclaimed*
** I resdly do not see the signal !" Presently he ex-
claimed, ^*Damn the signal.- Keep mine for closer
battle flyingl That ^s the way I answer such signals !
Nail mine to the mast T Admiral Graves', who wa«
so situated that he could not discern what was done
on board the Elephant, disobeyed Sir Hyde's signal
in like manner : whether by fortunate mistake, or
by a like ht&ye^ intention, has not been! made
known. The other ships of the line, looking only
to Nelson, continued the action. The signal, how-
ever, saved Riou's little squadron, but did not save
its heroic leader. This squadron, which was nearest
the commander-in-chief, obeyed, and hauled off.
It had suffered severely in its most unequal contest*
For a long time the Amazon had been firing,
enveloped in smoke, when Riou desired his men to
stand last, and let the' smoke clear off, that they
might see what they were about. A fatal order;
for the panes then got clear sight of her from the .
batteries, and pointed their guns with such tremen<-
dous effect, that nothing bu( the sigM for retreal
T9
.»«! thi< HjiM from ''"•"S;" „o»mful ei-ote-
iDlion iluDl of ««:" )'" "V „? He had •>«"
ution, when be unwiUingly ««« o""- ^ ^^ sitting
.oiu.d.dintoheiidl.y.Wl.o-^^^^j'J.t „ «>«
B.p.ii,«ncoungmsi»' ™°' ^J "i„ier buttery.
tnuon diowed liei .tem '? ."» J/, . md another
i> deik w» killed by •"". ''*Jm ,e«e hail;
lot .w,pl .way »«nl ■"?""•' ,S my boy" ^
Ski Hiou, "ltf™di..llloge;te'-^'^„g .hot
«1. «»pcdy been ottei^ K^SeaSioS'^him-
it hin ia two. Except ''■'"'.'"S,, Offered a
If, the BtBI* nayy poali "»' """
vererloef. , .v„ iinn with unabated
iolnlio. on the p^ of tb. D.™., ^bjj '" J!j„
ffre«t adrantage, beoauee most of "^e ve»
S- lliK of defenoo were wKboM "»■'•■ '»f„ei,
ioh h.d my .ending h.d tbeit "?!»»",, TM
I the taOl. xould not be .ee» at "»""?J-„i,iii
. >ii«t ha.e been drnttroyed by the •"Pn^'J^Jto
.«r enemy-, lire, if Capt. Inman. "■ '"".^"gcb
■ate. h«l ml Judioioa.iy taken a •>"S""^„S»
»l«d him 10 rake the Dime, imd it tbo ™yj™'25
not al>o relieved lier. Uolh to tbe »»»»?,???
fsia many men were lost by the butaluig oi i"p,
«- The former aliip wan about forty years oio,
thene iranB were believed to be the eame wmj-"
l^aad flrat taken to aeai they were. prebabj£
naUy fauliy, for the fragments were full of bw
cales. The Bellona lost seventy-live ineni i""
one huadred and ten ; the Monarch, t**
r0<i and ten. Sho was. more than any olhC'
.*^i>aiil« Hhip. exposed to the great batlery-
Eujaporting at the same time the united fire ot
Eolstein and the Zealand. l»er loss this toy
«l«id that of any single ship during the whola
' .A.mid the tremendous carnage in thia veMd"
f 861.1
ZJFB Of foajamsi - $t9
fiome of the men displayed a siiignlar instance of
coolness ; the pork and pease happened to be in the
kettle; a shot knocked its contents about ^—4hey
picked up the pieces, and ate and fought at the saine
time. ,' ' ,
The prince to^ad had taken his station upon one
of the bakeries,' from whence he beheld the action*
and issued his orders, Denmark h^d never been
engaged in so arduous a contest, and never did the
Danes more nobly display their national courage:
<^a courage not more unhappily, than impoliticly
exerted in subserviency to the interest of France*
€apt. Thura, of -the Indfoedsretten, fell early in the
action ; and all his officers, excqit one lieutenant
and one marine officer, were either killed or
wounded. In the confusion, the colours were
ieither struck, or shot away ; but she was moored
athwart one of the batteries, in such a situation
^hat the British made no attempt to board her ; and
a boat was despatched to the prince, 46 inform him
of her situation* He turned to those about him«
and saidi '* Gentlemen, Thura is killed; which. ol
you will take the command 1" Schroeders^, a
eaptain who had lately resided, on account of
extreme ill-health, answered, m a f^ble voice, '^ I
will !** and hastened oh board.- The crew, perceiving
a new commander coming alongside, hoisted their
colours again, and fired » broadside. Sahroedersee*
when he came on dedL, found himself sur^unded
by the^dead and wounded, and called to those in the
boat to get quickly on boArd : a ball struck him at that
moment. A lieutenant, who had accompanied him,
then took the command, and continued to fight the
#hip. A youth of seventeen, by name Yillemoes,
particularly distinguished himself on this memora-
ble day. He had volunteered to take the.<M>mmand
of a floating battery ; which was b rait, consisting
merely of a number of beams nailed together, witfi
a flooiing to support the guns: it was square, with
tt4 UFB 09 HSUfMI. [IBOl*
a brmstwoik full of port-holes, and without masts,
-"-canryindr twen^-four guns, and one hundred and
twenty men. With this he got under the stem of
the Elephant, helow the reach of the stem-chasers ;
and, under a heavy fire of small arms from the
marines, fought his raft, till the trace was announced,
with sudr skill, as well as courage, as to excite
Nelson's warmest admiration.
Between one and two the fire of the Danet
slackened; about two it ceased from the greater
part of their line, and some of their lighter ships
were adrift. It was, however, difBlcidt to take
possession of those who strack, because the bat-
teries on Amak Island protected them ; and because
an irregular fire waDskept uf^from the ships them-
selves as the boats approached. This arose from
the nature of the action ; the crews were continu-
ally reinforoed .from the shore; and fresh men
coming on board, did not inquire whether the flag
had been strack, or, perhaps, did not heed it;—
many, or most of them,7iever having ^en engaged
in war before,— knowing nothing, therefore, of its
laws, and tiiinkin|^ only of defending their country
to the last extremity. The Danbrog fired upon im
Elephant's boats in this manner,. though her cora-
moGore had removed her pennant and deserted bet,
though she Imd strack, and 'though she was in
fiames. After she had been abandoned by the com-
modore, Braun fought her tifl he lost his right hand,
and then Oaptaih Lemming took the command*
This unexpected renewal at her fire, made the Ele
phant and Glatton reirew theirs, till she was not
only silenced, but nearly every man iki the prames,
ahead and astern of her, were killed. When the
smoke of their guns died away, she was seen drift-
ing in flames l»efere the wind: those of her crew
who remained alive, and able to. exert themselves*
throwing themselves out at her port-hole«. Captain
ISat.] UFB oF*sxuotr« tSSS
Bertie of the Ardent sent his launch to their awist-
ance, and savfed three-and-twentj of them.
Captain Rothe commanded tiie Nyeborg prame ;
and, perceiving that she coMd not much longer be
kept afloat, made for the inner road. As he passed
the line, he found the Aggershuus prame in a more
miserable condition than his own ; her masts had
all gone by the board, and she was on the point of
sinking. Rothe made fast a cable to her stem, and
towed her off: but he covdd ifet her no farter than '
a shoal called Stubben, when she sunk : and soon
after he had worked the Nyeborg up to the landing
I^ace, that vessel also sunk to the gunwale. Never
did any vessel come out of action in a more dread*
Ail plight. The stump of her foremast was the only
stick standing ; her cabin had been stove in ; every
ffun, except a single one, was dismounted ; and her
deck was coven^ with shattered limbs and dead
bodies.
By half-past two the action had ceased along that
part of the line which was astern of the EleMiant,
but not with the ships ahead and the Crown Batte*
ries. Nelson, seeing the manner in which his boats
were fired upon, when they went to take possession
of the prizes, became angry, and said, he must
either send on shore to have this irregular proceed*
ing stopped, or send a fireship and bum them. Half
the shot from the Trekroner, and from the batteries
at Amak, at this time strack the surrendered ships,
four of which had got dose together: and the fire
of the English, in return, waseonudly, or even
more, destructive to these poor oevoted Danes.
Nelson, who was as humane as he was brave, was
shocked at this massacre, — ^for such he called it :
and, with a presence of mind peculiar to himself,
and never more signally displayed than now, he
retired into the stem-gallery, and wrote thus to the
Crovm Prince: ^'Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson has
b^en commanded to spore Denmark, when she no
tS6 UFB OF KCXldK. [iSOt.
longer resistfl. The line of defericc which covered
her shoreB has strack to the British flag; but if the
Uring is continued on the part of Denmark, he must
-set on fire all the prizes that he has taken, without
having the power of saving the men who have so
nobly defended them, the brave Danes are the
brothers, and shocdd never be the enemies, of the
English.'* A wafer was given him ; but he ordered
a candle to be brought from the cockpit, and sealed
the letter with wax, affixing a larger seal than he
ordinarily used. *♦ This," said he, " is no time to
appesur hurried and informal." Capt. Sir Frederic
Thesiger, who acted as his aid-de-camp, carried
ihis letter with a flag of truce. Meantime, the fire
of the ships ahead, and the approach of the Ramil-
lies and Defence, from Sir Hyde's division, which
had now worked near enough to- alarm the enemy,
though not to injure them, silenced the remainder
of the Danish line to the eastward of the Trekroner.
That battery, however, continued its fire. This for-
midable work, owing to the want of the ships which
had been destined to attack it, and the inadequate
force of Riou*8 little squadron, was comparatively
uninjured : towards the elose of the Action it had
been manned with nearly fifteen hundred men ; and
the intention of storming it, for which every prepa-
ration had been made, waa abandoned as imprac-
ticable.
During Thewger's absence. Nelson sent for Free-
mantle, from the Oanges, and consulted with him
and Foley, whether it was advisaUe to advance,
with those ships which had sustained least damage,
ag^mst the yet uninjured part of the Danish line.
They were decidedly of opinion, that the best thing
whi«* could be done was, while the wind continued
J**'''^wTTf ^^^^^ ^'^^^^ ^e intricate channel,
fi;^« h^if ««hl^''^ *^ ^^*'«^^- In somewhat mon^
1801.] uafE or kslsoh. If 7
lag a flag of truce; upon which the l^rekroner
ceased to fire, and the action closed, after four
hours' continuance. He brongtit an inquiry from
the prince, What was the object of Nelson's note f
The British admiral wrote in reply: "Lord Nel-
son's object in sending the flag of truce was hu-
manity : he therefore consents that hostilities shall
cease, and that the wounded Danes may be taken
on shore. And Lord Nelson will take his prisoners'
out of the Tessels, and burn or carry off his prizes
as he shall think fit. Lord Nelson, with humble
duty to his royal highness the prince, will consider
this the greatest victory he has ever gained, if it
may be the cause of a happy reconciliation and
union between his own most gracious sovereign and
his majesty the king of Denmark."^— Sir Frederic
Thesiger was despatched a second tinie with the
reply ; and the Danish adjutant-general was referred
to the commander-in-chief for a conference upon
this overture. Xindholm assenting to this, pro-
ceeded to the London, which was riding at anchor
full four miles ofl"; and Nelson, losing not one of
the critical moments which he had thus gained,
made signal for his leading ships to weigh in suc-
cession: they had the shoal to clear, they were
much crippled, and their course was immediately
under the guns of the Trekroner.
The Monarch led the way. This ship had re-
ceived six-and-twenty shot between wind and water.
She had not a shroud standing ; there was a double-
headed shot in the heaH of her foremast, and the
slightest wind would have sent every mast,* over
*lt would have been wfell if the fleet, before they went under the
batteries, had left their spare spars moored out of reach of shot. Many
would have been saved which were destroyed lying on the booms, and
the hurt done by their-epiintere would have been saved also. Small
craft could have towed them up when they were reguired: and, after
euch an action, so many must necessarily be wanted, that, if those
which were not in use were wounded, it might thus have rendered it
ivpossilUe to refit tbe ships.
herflide. The immliient danger from wbieh Ncison
had exiricated himself soon became a^iparent : the
Monarch touched immediately npon a shoal, over
which she was pushed by the Ganges taking her
amid ships ; the Glatton went clear ; but the other
two, the Defiance and the Elej^ant, growided alnnit
a xnile from the Trekioner, and tixere remained
fixed for many hours, in spite of all the exertions
of their wearied crews. . The Desir^e frigate also,
at the other end of the- line, having gone, towards
the close <^ the action, to assist the Bellona, became
fast on the same shoaL Nelson left the Elephant,
soon after she took the ground, to follow lindholm.
The heat of, action was over; and that kind of feel-
ing which tlie surrounding «cene of havoc was so
well fitted to produce, pressed heavily upon his ex-
hausted spirits. The sky. had suddenly bieoome
overcast ; white flafs were wavjdag from the mast-
heads of so many shattered ships : — the slaughter
had ceased, but the grief was to come; for the ac-
count of the dead was not yet made up* and no man
oould tell for what friends he might have to mourn.
The very silence which foUows the cessation of
such a battle becomes a weight upon the heart at
first, rather than a relief; and though the work of
mutual destruction was at an end, the Danbrog was,
at this time, drifting about in flames < presentl;^ She
blew up ; while our boats^ ^wYkich had put off m all
directions to assist her, were endeavouiing to pick
m) her devoted crew, few of. whom could be saved.
The fate of these men, after the gallantry which
they had displayed, particularly affected Nelson :
for there was nothing in this action of that indigna-
tion against the enemy, and that ihipression of
retributive justice, which at the Nile had given a
sterner temper' to his mind, and a sense of austere
delight, in beholding the vengeance of which he
was the appointed minister. The Danes were an
honourable foe; they were of .English mould
1801.] uwB OF nsLsoir. H9
well as Engiith blood ; and now that the battle had
ceased* he regarded them rather as brethren than
as enemies. There was another reflection, also«
which mingled with these melancholy thooghtSy
and. predisposed him to receive them. He was
not h^re master of his own movements, as at Egypt;
he had won the day by disobeying his orders; and
in so far as' he had been sdccessuil, had convicted
the commander-in-chief of sin error in judgment
**WelV said he, as he lefl the Elephant,^! have
fought contrary to orders, and I shall perhaps be
hanged. Nevermind: let them!" •
l^is was the language of a man who, while he is
ffivinjs: utterance to an uneasy thought, clothes it
half in jest, becanse he half repents that it has been
disclosed. His services had been too eminent on
that day;->his judgment too conspicuous, his suc^
cess too signal, for any eommander, however jealous
of his own authority, or envious of another's merits*
to express any thinf hut satisfaction, and gratitude :
which Sir Hyde heartily felt, and sincerely ex-
pressed. It was speedily a^greed that there should
be a suspension of hostilities for fourtand-twenty
hours ; that all the prizes should be surrendered, and
the wounded! l)anes carried on^ shore. There was a
pressing necessity for this; for the Danes, either
from too much confidence in the^ strength of their
position* and the difficulty of the channel ; or,* sup-
attack excited/ had provided no surgeons : so that
when odr men boarded the captured ships, they
found many of the mangled and mutilated Danes
bleeding, to death* for want of proper assistance r a
scene, of all othei«, the inost shocking to a brave
man^s feelings..
' The boats of Sir Hyde's division were actively
employed all night in bringing out the prizes* and in
£90 lOFK tXP KKUmUL [1801.
ffeUinif afloat the ships T^ich were on shore. At
daybreak. Nelson who had slept in his own ship, the
St. George, rowed to the Elephant ; and his deligfht
at finding her afloat seemed to give him new life.
There he took a hasty breakfast, praised the men for
their exertiotis, and then poshed ofl* to the prizes,
which had not yet been removed. The Zealand,
9eventy<four, the last which struck, had drifted on
the irtioal under the Trekroner; and relying, as it
seems, upon the protection which that battery might
have aflbrded, refused to acknowledge herself cap-
tured; sayjng,-that though it was true her flag' was
not to be seen, her pennant was still flying. Nelson
ordered one of our brigs and three long-boats to
approach her, and rowed up hijnself to one of the
enemy's ships, to communicate with the commodore.
This officer proved to be an old acquaintance, whom
he had -known in the West Inilies : so he invited
himself on board; and with that urbanity,- as well
as decisionf which always characterized him, urged
his claim to the Zealand so well, that it was admitted.
The men from the boats lashed a cable round her
bowsprit, and the gun-vessel towed her away. It is
affirmed^ arid probably with truth, that the Danes
felt more pain at beholding this, than at all their mis-
fortunes on the preceding day: and one of the ofll-
cers, Commodore Steen Bille, went to the Tre-
kroner battery, and aisked the commander why he
had not sunk the Zealand, rather than sufler her tbos
to be carried off by the enemy 1
This was, indeed,' a mournful day for Copen-
hagen ! It was- Good Friday ; but the general agfi-
tation, and the mourning which was in every house,
made all distinction of days be forgotten. There
were, at that hour, thousands in that eity who felt,
and more, perhaps; who needed^ the conisolations of
Christianity; but few or none who could 'be calm
enough to think of its observances. The Englisli
were actively employed in refitting their own ships.
1801.] UFB OF NELSOK. 231
securing' the prizes^ and distributing the prisoners;
the Danes, in carrying on shore and- disposing of
the wounded and the dead. — ^It had been a mur-
derous potion. Our loss, in killed and wounded,
was nine hundred and fifty-three. Part 6i this
slaughter might have been spared. The command-
ing officer of the troops on board one of our ships
asked where his men should be stationed ? He was
told that they could be of no use ; that they were not
near enough for.miisketry, and were not ^wanted at
the gu^s; they had, therefore, better go below.
This, he said, was impossibIe,-^it would be^ a dis-
grace that could never be wiped aWay. They Were,
therefore, drawn up upon the gangway, to satisfy
this cruel point of honour ; and there, without the
possibility of annoying the enemy, they were mowed
down ! The loss of the Danes, including prisoners,
an^ounted to about six thousand. I'he negotiations,
meantime, went on ; and it was agreed that Nelson
shoijd have an interview with the prince the follow-
ing day. ^ Hardy and Freemantle landed with him
This was a thin? as unexampled as the other cir-
cumstances of the battle. A strong ^ard was ap-
piOinted to eiscort him to 'the palace, as much for the
purpose of security as of honotfr. The populace,
according to the British account, showed a mixture
of admiration^ curiosity, and displeasure, at behold-
ing that man in the midst of them who had inflicted
Buch wounds upon Denmark. But there were
neither aoclamatiohs nor murmurs. ^ The people,**
Bays a Dane, **didiiot degrade themselves with the
form^F) nor disgrace themselvei^ with the tatter : the
admiral was teceived aB one brave enemy ever ought
to receive another :— he was received with respect"
The preliminaries of the negotiation were adjusted
at this interview. During the Tepast which fol-
lowed, Nelson, with aH the sincerity of his character,
bore willing testimony to the valour of his foes.
He told U:ie prince that he hsrd been in & hundred and
1232 LIFIS OF KE10QN; [1801
five engagements, but that this was the most tre-
mendous of all. ♦' The French," he said, " fought
bravely ; but they could not have stood for one hour
the fight which the Danes had supported forfdur.*'
He Requested that Yillemoes might be introduced to I
him; and, shaking hands with the youth, told the
prince that he ought to be made an admiral. The
Erince replied; *'If, my lord, I. am to make all my
rave, officers admirals, 1 should have no captains or
lieutenants in my service."
The sympathy of the Danes for their countrymen \
who had bled in their defence was not weakened by ^
distance of time or place in this instance. Things
needCul for the service, o^. the comfort of the
wounded, were sent in profusions icy the hospitals,
tiJl the superintebdents g-aVe public notice that they
could receive no more. Onihe third day after the
action the dead were buried iii the naval churchyard : i
the ceremonjf was made as public and as solemn as
the occasion xequired ;-^-«uch a procession had never
before been seen in that, or, perhaps, in any other
city. • A public monument was ei^ected upon the
8fk)t where the slain were gatheried together, r A
•ubscriptioa was opened on the day of the funeral
for the relief of the sufferers, and collections in aid
of it mi^de throughout all the>churches in the king-
dom. This appeal to the feelings of the people was
made with circiimstances which gave it full effect.
A monument was raised in the miost'of the charoh,
surmounted by the Danish colours : young maidens,
dressed in white, stood round it, with either one who
had been wounded in the battle, or the widow and
orphans of some one' who had fallen : a suitable
oration was 4elive^d from the pulpit, and patriotic
hymns and songs were afterward performed. Me-
dals were distributed to all the officers, and to the
men who had distinguished themselves. Poets and
painters vied with each other in celebrating a battle.
whieh« disastrous as it wa«t had ye^ been honourable
1801.] UFB OF IfSLSOn* ^ tJ^S
to their country : some, with pardonable sophistry,
represented the advantage of the day as on their
own side. One writer discovered a more curious,
but less disputable ground of satisfaction, in the re-
flection, that Nelson, as may be inferred, from his
name, .was of Danish descent, and his actions,
therefore, the Dane argued, were attributable to
I)anish valour.
The negotiation was continued during the five fol-
lowing days; and, in that interval, the prizes were
disposed of, in a manner which was tittle approved
by Nelson. Six iine-of-battle ships and eight
frames had been taken. Of these the Holstein,
sixty-four, was the only one which was sent home.
The Zealand was a finer ship: but the Zealand^ and
all the others, were burned, and their brass battering
cannon sunk with the hulls in such shoal water, •
that, when the fleet returned from Revel, they found
the Danes, with craft over the wrecks, employed in
getting the guns up again. Nelson, though he for-
bore from any public expression of displeasure at
seeing the proofs and trophies of his victorjr de-
stroyed, did not forget to repiresent to the Admiralt)r
the case of those who were thus deprived of their
prize money. " Whether," said he to Earl St. Vin-
cent, " Sir Hyde Parker may mention the subject to
^u, I know not ; for he is rich and does' not want
It : nor is it, you will believe me, any desire- to get
a few hundred pounds that actuates me to address
this letter to you ; but jhstice to the brave officers
and men who foiiffht on that day. It is true, our op-
ponents were in nulks and floats, oidy adapted for
th6 position they were in ; but that made our battle
so much the hai'der, and victory so much the more
difficult to obtain. Believe me, I have weighed all
circumstances ; and, in my consdience, I think that
the king should send a gracious message io the
house of commons for a gift to this fleet : for what
must be the natural feelings of the officers and men
U3
S54 ^ LI9B 09 WMOHf. [1801«
belonging' to it, to see their rich commander-in-chief
burn all the fruits of their victory,— which, if fitted
up and sent to England (as many of them might
haye been by dismantling part of oui^ fleet), would
baye sold for a good round siim.^
On the 9th Nelson landed again, to 'conclude
the terms of the armistice. During its continuance
the armed ships and vessels of Denmark were to
remain in their then actual situation, as to arma-
ment, equii^mentt and hostile position; and the
treaty of armed neutrality, as far «9 related to the
co-operation of Denmieu-k, was. suspended. The
prisoners were to be sent on shored an acknow-
ledgment being given.ibr them, and for the wounded
also, that they might be carried to Great Britain^s
credit in the account of war in case hostilities
should be renewed. The British fleet. Was allowed
to provide itself with all things requisite for the
health and comfort of its men. A difficulty arose
respecting the duration of the arihisticcr The
Danish commissioners fairly stated their fears of
Russia; and Kelsdn, widi that frankness which
sound policy and the sense ^f power seem often to
require as .Veil as Justify in diplomacy, told them,
his reason for demanding a long term was, that he
might have time to act a^nst the Russian fleet, and
then return to Copenhagen. Neither party would
yield upon tius point ; aiid one of the Dapes hinted
at the renewal of hostilities. " Renew hostilities !**
' cried Nelson to one of his friends,^— for he Under-
stood French enough to comprehend what was
said, though not to answer it in the same language ;
— **j tell him wfe are ready at a moment ! — Ready to
boml>ard this very night T— The coiiferettce,* how-
ever, proceeded amicably on both sides ; and as the
commissioners cocdd not agree upon this head, they
broke up, leaving Nelson to settle it with the prince.
A levee was held forthwith in oneof the state jrooms ,
a jieene vreU suited for such a consultation : for all
IBOl.] UFE OF nXXJBQUt. t35
these rooms ha4 been strippedof their furniture, in
fear of a bombardment. To a bombardment also
Nelson was looking at this time: fatigue and
anxiety, and vexation at the dilatory measures of
the commander-in-chief, combined to voBke him
irritable : and as he was on the way to the prince's
dining-room, he whispered to the officer on whose
arm he was leaning, ,*' Though I have only one
eye, I can see . th^t all this will bum well.*" After
dinner he was closeted with the prince ; and they
agreed that the armistice should continue fourteen
weeks ; and that, at its termination, fourteen days'
notice should be given before the recommencement
of hostilities.
An official account of the battle was published
by Olfert Fischer, the Danish cominander-in-chie^
in which it was asserted that our force was gteztly
superior; nevertheless, that iwo ojf .our ships of
the line ha^ struck, that^ the others were ao weak-
ened, and especially Lord Nelson's own ship, as to
fire only single shots for an hour before the end of
the action ; and that this hero himself, in the middle
and very heat of the conflict, sent a flag of truce on
shore, to propose a cessation of hostilities. For
the truth of this account the Dane appealed to the
prince, and all those who, like him, had been eye-
witnesses of the scene. Nelson was exceedingly
indignant at such a statement, and addressed iai
letter, in confutation of it,, to the adjutant-general
Jiindholm ; thinking this incumbent upon him, for
the information of the prince, since his toynl high-
ness had been appealed to as a witness : ^ Other-
wise," said he, ^ had Commodore Fischer confined
himself to his own veracity,. I should have treated
his official letter with the contempt it deserved, and
allowed the world to appreciate the merits of the
two contending officers." After pointing out and
detecting some of the misstateiiients in the account,
he proceeds: '^As to his nonsense about victory#
"236 IIFB (MP NSLSOIff. [180t.
his royal highness vnH not much credit him. I
sunk, bamed, oaptared, or drove into the harbour,
the whole hne of defence to the southward of the
Crown Islands. He says he is told that two British
ships struck. Why did he not take possession of
them 1 I took possession of his as fast as they
struck. The reason is clear, that he did not believe
it ; he must have known the falsity of the report. —
He states, that the ship in. which I had the honour
to hoist my flag, fired latterly only single guns. It
is true: for steady and cool were my brave fellows,
and did not wish to throw away a single shot.
He seems to exult that I sent on shore a flag of
truce.— You know, and his royal highness knows,
that the guns fired from the shore could oiily fire
tfarouffh the .Danish ships wluch had surrendered ;
and that, if 1 fired at. the shore, it could only be in
the same manner. God forbid that I should destroy
an unresisting Dane ! When they became my
prisoners I became their protector."'
This letter was written in terms of great asperity
against the Danish commander. Lindholm replied
in a manner every way honourable to himself. Re
vindicated the commodore in some ^points, and ex-
cused him in others ; reminding Nelson, that every
commander-in-chief was liable to receive incorrect
reports. With a natural desire to represent the
action in a most favourable light to Denmark, he
took into the comparative strength of ^the two par-
ties the ships which were aground, and which could
not get into action ; and omitted the Trekroner and
the batteries upon Amak Island. He disclaimed aR
idea of claiming as a victory ** what to every intent
and purpose^" said he,^ '* was a defeat,— but not an
inglorious one. As to your lordship?s motive for
sending a flag of truce, it never can be miscon-
strued; and your subsequent conduct has suffi-
ciently shown that humanity is always the com-
panion of true valour. You have done more ; you
1801.] UFX or KKL801I. 837
have shown yoarself a friend to the re-establish-
ment of peace and good harmony between this
country and Qreat Britain^ It is, therefore, with
the sincerest esteem I shall always feel myself
attached to your lordship.** Thus handsomely
winding up his reply he soothed and contented
Nelson ; who, drawing^ up a memorandum of the
comparative force of the two parties, for his own
satisfaction, assured Lindholm, that if the com-
modore^s statement had been in the same manly
and honourable strain, he would have been the last
man to have noticed any little inaccuracies which
might get into a commander-in*chief*s public letter.
For the battle of Copenhagen, Nelson was raised
to the rank of viscount z-^an inadequate- mark of
reward for services- so splendid and of such parti-
mount importance to the dearest interests of Eng-
land. There was, however, some prudence in
dealing out honours to him step by step:, had he
lived long enough, he would have fought his way up
to a dukedom*
GHAPTEB VIZI.
Bit Hfd» Park0r U reeoiftd, and JTehpn Ofpointai Cmmmiar^Bf
got$ to R§vd,—ISettlfnt»nt of Afair$_ in tie Baltic— Unsneeeooful
JSttempt upon the Flotitta at Bologne— Peace of Amiene^Jfehon
tak^ the Command in Ike Mediterranean on thi Renewal af the fVar
—Eeeape of the TolUon Fieet—Mlsen chaeee them to the Weei
Indiegj and back — Delipere vp hie Squadron to Jidmirdl OomwaUiet
and lande in Mingland.
Whik Nelson informed Earl St. Vincent that the
armistice had been concluded, he told him also,
without reserve, his own discontent at the dilatofi-
ness and indecision which he witnessed^ and could
not remedy. " No* man," said he, *• but those who
[1801.
uteamibe spot, can tdl what I hsre gonie tfaroogfa,
and do sidfer. I make do scruple in saying, that I
would have been mt Revd fourteen days ago ! that,
wii h a ut this aimistice, the fleet would never have
|one, bnt by order of the Admiralty ; and with it,
I dare say, we shall not go this week. I wanted
Sir Hyde to let me, at least, go and cruise off
Cailserona, to prevent the Revel ships from getting
in. I said 1 wonld not go to Revel to take anjr of
those lanrels, which I was sore he would reap there.
Think for me, my dear lord;— and if I have deserved
well, let me return: if ill, for heaven^s sake saper-
aede me,— for I cannot exist in this state."
Fatigue, incessant imxiety, and a climate little
sailed to ' one of a tender constitution, which had
now for many years been accustomed to more
genial latitudes, made him at this time serious^
determine upon returning home. '* If the northern
business were not settted," he said, *' they must
send mdre admirals ; for the keen air of the north
had cut him to the heart.** He felt the want of
activity and decision in the commander-in-chief
more keenly ; and this affected his spirits, and, con-
sequently his health, more than the inclemency of
the Baltic. Soon after the armistice was signed.
Sir Hyde proceeded to the eastward, with such ships
as were fit for service, leaving -Nelson to follow
with the rest, as- soon as those which had received
flight damages shoald be repaired, and the rest
sent to England. In passing between the isles of
^mak and Saltholm, most of the ships touched the
ground, and some of thenfi btuck fast for awhile :
00 serious injury, however, was sustained.. It was
mtended to act ajp^ainst the Russians fireit, before
the breaking up of the frost sl^ould enable them to
leave ReveM out learning on the way, that the
Swedes had put to sea to effeet a junction with
them, Sir Hyae altered his course^ in hopes of in-*
teraepting this part of the enemy's force. Nelson
J 801.] LIFE OF, NEL80N. 239
had, at this time, provided for the more pressisf
emergencies of the service, and prepared,, on the
18th, to follow the fleet. The St. George drew too
much water to pass the channel between ihe isles
\irithout being lightened: the guns were therefore
taken out, and put on board an American vessel :
a contrary wind, however, prevented Nelson from
moving ; and on that saipe evening while he was
thus delayed, information reached him of the rela*
tive situation c^f the Swedish and British fleets, and
the probability of an action. The fleet was nearly
ten .league^ distant; and both wind and current
contrary ; but it was not possible that Nelson could
wait for a favourable season under such an expect-
ation. He ordered his boat immediately, and
stepped into it. Night "was setting in, — one of the
cold spring nights of the north, and it was dis-
covered soon at'ter they had Jeft the ship, th^t in
their haste, they had forgotten to provide him with
a boat-cloak. He, however, forbade them to return
for one : and when one of his companions offered
his. own great coat, and urged him to make use of
it, he replied, <* I thank you very much, — ^but, to tell
yoa the truth, my aip^iety keeps me sufllciently
wann at present."
** Do you think," 4said he, presently, '* that our
fleet has quitted Bornholm I If it has, we must fol-
low it to Carlscrona." About midnight he reached
it, and once more got on board the Elephant. On
the following morning the Swedes were discovered ;
as soon« however, as they perceived the English
approaching, they retired^ and took shelter in Carl-
scrona,'behmd the batteries on the island, at the en-
trance of that |k)rt. Sir Hyde sent in a flag of truce,
stating,^ that Denmark had concluded an sirmistice,
and requiring sin explicit declaration from the court
of Sweden, whether it would adhere to or abandoQ
the hostile measures which it had taken against the
rights and interests of Great Britain t The com*
S40 ttFR OV KEL809. [1801.
nutnder, Vice* Admiral Cronstadt, replied, **That
he could not answer a question whieh did not come
within the particular circle of his duty; but that the
king was then at Maloe, aind would soon be at Carl*
scrona." Gustayus shortly afterward arrived, and
an answer was then returned to this effect : '* T%at
his Swedish majesty would not; for a moment, fail
to fulfil, with fidelity and sincerity, the eng^agements
he had etitered into with his allies; but he would
not refuse to listen to equitable proposals made by
deputies furnished with proper authority by the
kiUff of Great Britain to the united northern pow-
ers.** Satisfied with this answer, and with the
known disposition of the. Swedish court, Sir Hyde
sailed for the Gulf of Finland; but he had not pro-
ceeded far, before a despatch boat, from the Russian
ambassador at Copenhagen, arrived, bringing intel-
lip^ence of the death of the emperor Paul: and that
his successor, Ale:fi:ander, had accepted the offer
made by England to his father, of terminating the
dispute by ^ convention; the British admiral was
tlherefore required to desi«t from, all farther hos-
tilities.
. It was Nelson^s maxim, that, to negotiate with
effect, fbrce should be at hand, and in a situation to
act. The Heet,, having been rehiforced from Eng-
land, ahiounted to eighteen saU of the line ;' and the
wind was fair for Revel, There he would have
sailed imihediately to place himself between that
division of the Russian fleet and the squadron at
Cronstadt, in case thia offer should prove insincere.
Sir Hyde, on the other hand, believed that the death
of Paul had' effected all which was* necessary. The
manner of that death, indeed^ rendered it apparent,
that a change of policy would take place in the ca-
binet of Petersburg :— hut Nelson never trusted
any thing to the uncertain events of time, which
, could possibly be secured by promptitude or reso-
lution. H was not, therefore, without severe mor-
1001.] I2PB OF HBLSOll. t41
iification» that he saw the commandeNui'chief
return to the coast of Zealand, and anchor in Kioge
Bay ; there to wait patiently for what might happen.
There the fleet remained, till despatches amved
from home, on the 5th of May, recalling Sir Hyde,
and appointing Nelson comniander-in-chief.
Nelson wrote to Earl St. Vincent that he was
nnable to hold this honoaraUe station. Admiral
Graves also was so ill, as to be copfined to his bed;
and he entreated that some person might come out
and take the command. '* I will endeavour," said
he, ^ to do^ my best while I remain : but, my dear
lord, I shall either soon. go to heaven I hope, or
mustiest iquiet for a* time. If Sir Hyde were gone,
I would now be under sail." On the day when
this was written he received news of his appoint-
ment. Not a moment was now lost. His fir^
signal, as commander-in-chief, was to hoist in all
launches, and prepare to weigh : fund on the 7th he
sailed from Kioge. Part of his. fleet was left at
fiornholm, to watch the Swedes: from whom he
required and obtamed an assurance, that the British
trade in the Cattegat, and m the Baltic, should not
be molested ; and saying how unpleasant it would
be to him if any thine should happen which might,
for a moment, disturb -the returning harmony be»
tween Sweden- an]d Great Britain, he apprized them
that he was not directed to abstain from hostilities
should he meet with! the Swedish fleet at sea. —
Meantime, he himself^ with ten sail of the line, two
frigates, a brig, and a schooner, made for the Gulf
of Finland. Paul, in one of the freaks of his ty-
ranny, had seized upon all the British effects in .
Russia, and even considered British subjects as his
prisoners. " I will have all the English shipping
and property restored," said Nelson, *^ but I will do
nothing violently, — ^neither commit, the afiairs of my
country, nor suffer Russia to mix the affairs of Den-
mark or Sweden with the detention of our ships^*^
X
249 un ov nsLBOK. [1801.
The wind was fair* and canied him in four days to
Revel Roads. But the bay had .been clear of inn
ice ou the Xhh of AfHil, while the Enfflish were
Irin^ idly at Kioge. The Russians had cut
Corough the ice in the mole six feet thick, and their
whole squadron had sailed for Cronstadt on the
third, fiefore that time it had laid at the mercy
of the English. «' Nothing,** Nelson said, «« if it
had been right to make the attack, could have saved
one ship of them in two hours after our entering the
bay***
U so happened that there was no cause to. regret
the opportunity Which had been lost, and Nelson
immediately put the v intentions of Russia to the
proof. He sent on shore, to say, that he came with
friendly views, and was- ready to return a salute* —
On their part the salute was delayed, till a message
was sent to them, to inquire ibr what re^ison i and
the officer, whose neglect had occasioned the delay^
was put under arrest. Nelson wrote to the ein-
peror, proposing to wait on him personally, and con<
gratulate nim on his accession, and urged the imme-'
diate release of British subjects^ and restoration of
British property.
The answer arrived on the 16th : Nelson, mean*
time, had exchanged visits with the ^vembr, and
the most friendly mtercoorse had subsisted between
the ships and the shore. Alexander's ministers, in
their reply, expressed their aurprise at the arrival
of a British fleet in a Russian port, and their wish
that it should return : they professed, on the part of
Russia, the most friendly disposition towards Great
Britain; but. declined tne personal visit of Lord
Nelson, unless hie came in a single ship. There
was a suspicion implied in this, which stung Nel-
son : and he said, the Russianoninisters would never
have written thus if their fleet had been at Revel« —
He wrote an iminediajte reply, expressing what he
felt : he told the court of Petersburg, ** that the
1801.] XilFE OF NELSON. i4i
Word of a British admiral, when given in explana-
tion of any part of his conduct, was as sacred as that
of any sovereign's in Europe." . And he repeated,
''that, under other circumstances, it would have
been his anxious wish to have paid his personal
respects to the' emperor, and signed with his own
hand the act of amity between the two. countries."
Having despatched this, h^ stood out to sea irnme*
diately, leaving a brig to bring off the provisions
which had been contracted for, and to settle the
accounts. *^ I hope all is right," said he, writing
to our ambassador at Berlin ; but seamen are but
bad negotiators; for 'we put to issue in iite mi-
nutes what diplomatic forms would be five months
doing."
. On his way down the Baltic, however, he met the
Russian add:iiral Tchitchagof, whom the emperor,
in reply to Sir Hyde^s overtures, had sent to com-
Biuiiicate personally with the British, commander-
in-chief. The reply was such ^^ bad been wished
and expected: and these negotiators going, sea-
men-like, straight to their object, satisfied each
other of the frien41y intentions of their respective
governments. Nelson then anchored off Rostock :
and there he received an answer to his last desr
patch from Revel, in which the Russian court ex-
pressed their regret that there should have b^en
any misconception between them ; informed him,
that the British vessels which Paul had detained
were ordered to be liberated, and invited him to
Petersburg in whatever . mode might be most
agreeskble to himself. Other honours awaited him :
— the Duke of Mecklenburgh StreUtz, the queen's
brother, came to visit him on board his ship ; and
towns of the inland parts of Mecklenburgn sent
depiltations, with their public hooka of record, that
they might have the name of Nelson in them written
hf his own hand.
From Rostock the fleet returned .to Kioge Bay.
244 UFSOP iisuoK< (t801;
Nelson saw that the temper of the Danes towards
England was such aft naturally arose from the ehafl«
tisement which they had so recently received. " In
this nation," said he, " we shall not be forgiven for
having the upp^r hand of them .^-^I only thank God
we have, or they woold try to hamble us to the
dust" He saw also that the Danish cabinet wail
completely subservient to France : a French officer
was at this time the companion and counsellor of
the crown prince ; and things were done in such
open violation of the armistice, that N^on thought
a second infliction of Vengeance would soon be no*
cessary. He wrote to the Admiralty, requesting a
dear and eitplicit reply to his inquiry, whether
the commander-in-chief was at liberty to hold the
language becoming a British admiradi — '* Which,
very probably^'' said he, ^ if I aim here, will break
the armistice, and set Copenhagen in a blaze.^ I
see every thing' which is d&rty and mean going on*
and the prince royal at the head of it. Ships have
been masted, guns taken on board, floating batteries
prepared, and, except hauling out and completing
their rigging, every thing is done in defiance of the
treaty. My heart bums at seeing the word of a
prince^ nearly allied to our good king, so falsified:
but hicT ccmduct is such^ that he will lose his king-*
dom if he^ goes on ; for jacobins rule in Denmark*
I have niade no representations yet, as it would be
useless to do so until I have the power of correct
tion. All I beg, in the nami^ of the future com«
mander-in-chief, is, that the orders inay be clear;
for enough is done to break twenty treaties, if it
should be wished, or to make the prince royal
humble himself before British generosity."
Nelson was not deceived in his judgment of the
Danish cabinet, but the battle of Copenhagen "had
cnppled Its power. The death of the czar Paul
bad broken the confederacy.- and that cabinet, there-
tow, was compeUed to defer, tUl a more conventot
1801.] XJVB or HSL80K. 245
season, the indulgence of its enmity towards Great
Britain. Soon afterward, Admiral Sir Charles Mau-
rice Pole arrived to take the command. The
business, military and political, had by that time
been so far completed, that the presence of the Bri-
tish fleet soon beclime no longer necessary. Sir
Charles, however, made the short time of his com-
mand memorable, by passing the Great Belt, for the
first time, with line-of-battle ships ; working through
the channel against adverse winds. When Nelson
left the fleet, this ispeedy termination of the expe-
diticHi, though confidently expected, was not certain;
and he, in his unwillingness to weaken the British
force, thought at one time of traversing Jutland in
his boat, by the canal, to Tonningen on the Eyder,
and finding his way home from thence. This in-
tention was not executed : but he returned in a brig,
declining to accept a frigate ; which few admirala
would have done ; especially if, like him, they suf-
fered from sea-sickness in a small vessel. On his
arrival at Yarmouth, the first thing he did was to visit
the hospital, and see the men who had been wounded
in the late battle ; — ^that victory, which had added
new glory to the name of Nelson, and which was of
more importance even than the battle of the Nile, to
the honour, the strength, and security of England*
The feelings of Nelson's friends, upon the news
of his ffreat victory at Copenhagen, were highly de-
scribed by Sir William Hamilton, in a letter to him*
•«We can only expect," he says, "what we know
well, and often said before, that Nelson wc», t«, and
to the hut wili ever he the first, Emma did not know
whether she was on her head or heels, — in such a
hurry to tell your great news, that she could utter
nothing but tears of joy and tenderness. 1 went to
Davison, and found him still in bed, having had a
severe fit of the gout, and with your letter, which he
bad just received; and he cried like a child: but
vbat was very extraordinary, assured me that, from
X3
246 ura (XT vsxMor. [1801
ttie instant he had read your letter, all pain had left
him, and that he felt himself able to get up and wsiSk
about. Your brother, Mrs. Nelson, and Horace
dined with us. Your brother was more extraordi-
nary than ever. He would get up suddenly and cut
a caper; rubbing his hands every time that the
thought of your fresh laurels came into his head.
Li short, except myself (and your lordship knows
that 1 have some phlegm), all the company, which
was considerable after dinner, were mad with joy.
But I am sure that no one really rejoiced more at
heart than I did. I have lived too long to have
ecstasies ! But with calm reflection, I fSt for my
friend having got to the very summit of glory ! the
nepluiuHra! that he has had another opportunity
of rendering his country the most important service ;
and manifesting again his judgment, his intrepidity,
and humanity.^
He had not been many weeks on shore before he
was called upon to undertake a service, for which
no Nelson was required. Buonaparte, who was
now first consul, and in reality sole ruler of France,
was making preparations, upon a great scale, for
invading' England ; but his schemes in the Baltic
had been baffled ; fleets could not be created as th^
were wanted; and his armies, therefore, were to
come over in gun-boats, and such small craft, as
could be rapidly built or collected for the occasion.
From the former governments of France such threats
have only been matter of insult and policy : in Buo-
naparte they were sincere : for this adventurer, in-
toxicated with success, already began to imagine
that all things were to be submitted to his fortune.
We had not at that time proved the superiority of
our soldiers over the French ; and the unreflecting
multitude were not to be persuaded that an invasion
could only be effected by numerous and powerful
fleets. A general alarm was excited ; and, in con-
descension to this unworthy feeling, Nel8<m waf
1801.] tOFE 0P nszMH. 24t
appointed to vl command, extending from Orford-
nesa to Beachy Head, on both shores : — ^a sort of
service, he said, for which he felt no other ability
than what might be fomid in his zeal.
To this service, however, such as it was, he ap*
{died with his wonted alacrity ; thott|fh in no cheer-
ful frame of mind. To Lady Hamilton, his only
female correspondent, he says, at this time, — ** I am
not in very good spirits ; and except that our coun-
try demands all our services and abilities to bring
about an honourable peace, nothing should prevent
my being the bearer of my own letter. But, my
dear frieiid, I know you are so true and loyal an
Englishwoman, that you would hate those who
would not stand forth m defence of our king, laws,
religion, and all that is dear to us.^-It is your sex
that make ns eo forth, and seem to tell us, * None
but the brave deserve the fair ;' — and if we fall, we
still live in the hearts of those females. It is your
sex that reward us, it is your sex who cherish our
memories ; and you, my dear, honoured friend, are,
believe me, the Jirst, the best of your sex. I have
been the world around, and in every corner of it,
and never yet saw your equal, or even one who
could be put in comparison with you. You know
hew to reward virtue, honour, and courage, and
never to ask if it is placed in a prince, duke, lord, or
peasant Having hoisted his flag in the Medusa
frigate, he went to reconnoitre Boulogne ; the point
from which it was supposed the great attempt would
be made, and which the French, in fear of an attack
themselves, were fortifying with all care. He ap-
Eroached near enough to sink two of their floating
atteries, and destroy a few gun-boats, which were
without the pier: what damage was done within
could not be ascertained. "Boulogne," he said,
** was certainly not a very pleasant place that morn-
ing:— -but," he added, " it is not my wish to injure
the poor ihhalntants ; and the town is spared as
248 UF8 or miAnf. (ISOt
much as the nature of the semce win adnuf
Enough was done to show the enemy that they
could not, with impunity, come outside their own
ports. Nelson was satisfied, by what he saw, that
they meant to make an attempt from this {dace, but
that it was impracticable; for the least wind at
W. N. W., and they were lost. The ports of Flush-
ing and Flanders were better points : there we could
not tell by our eyes what means of transport were
provided. From thence, therefore, if it caone fordi
at all, the expedition would come : — ^ And what a
forlorn undertaking r said he: "consider cross
tides, &;e. As for rowing, that is impossible. It is
periectly right to be prepared for a mad gpyem«
ment; out with the active force which has. been
given me, I may pronounce it almost impracticable.**
That force had been got together with an alacrity
which has seldom been equalled. On the twenty-
eighth of July, we were, m Nelson's own words,
literally at the foundation of our fabric of defence:
mid twelve days afterward we were so prepared on
the enemy's coast, that he did not believe they
could get three miles from their ports. The Medusa,
returning to our own shores, anchored in the rolling
ground oi[ Harwich; and when Nelson wished to
get to the Nore in her, the wind rendered it impos-
sible to proceed there by the usual channel. In
haste to be at the Nore, remembering that he had
heef^ a tolerable pilot for the mouth of we Thames in
his younger davs, and thinking it necessary that he
should know all that should be known of the navi-
gation, he requested the maritime surveyor of the
coast, Mr* ^pence, to get him into the Swin, by any.
channel; for neither the pilots which he liad on
board, nor the Harwich ones, would take charge of
the shia No vessel drawing more than fourteen
ftet had ever before ventured over the Naze. Mr.
Spence, however, who had surveyed the channel^
cArri^d her safely through^. The channel ha« sinco
1801.] 2,IFB OF iqSLBON; 246
been ealled Nelson^s, though he himself wished H
to be named after the Medusa : his name needed no
new memorial.
Nelson's eye was upon Flushing. — ^** To take pos-
session of that place,''- he said, *' would be a week's
expedition for four or five thousand troops." This,
however, required a consultation with the Admi-
ralty ; and that something might be done, meantime,
he resolved upon attacking, the flotilla in the mouth
of Boulogne harbour. This resolution was made
in deference to the opiuion of oihersy and to the
public feeling, which was so preposterously excited.
He himself scrupled not to assert, that the French
army would never embark at Boulogne for the inva*
sion of £ngland; and he owned, that this boat-
warfare was not exactly congenial to his feelings.
Into HeWoet or Flushing, he should be happy to
lead, if government turned their thoughts that way.
" While 1 serve," said he, ** I will do it actively, and
to the veiy best of my abilities. — I require nursing
like a child," he added; *'my mind carries me be-
yond my strength, and will do me up : — ^but such is
my nature."
The attack was made by, the boats of the squa^
dron in five divisions^ under Captains Somervdle,
Parker, Cotgrave, Jones, and Conn. The previous
essay had taught tl^e French the weak parts of theur
position; and they omitted no means of strengthen-
mg it,. and of guarding against the expected attempt.
The boats put- olf aboiit half an hour before mid-
night; but,t>wing tO'the darkness»and tide and half
tide, which must always make night attacks so un-
certain on the coasts of the channel, thtf divisions
separated. On^ could not arrive at all ; another not
till near daybreak. The others made their attack
gallantly; but the enemy were fully prepared: every
vessel was defended by long poles, headed with iron
spikes, projecting from their sides ; strong nettings
were braeed up to their lower yards; they were
990 LIFE OF TTXL90N. [1801.
moored by the bottom to the shore:* they were
ctrong^ly manned with soldiers, and protected by
land batteries, and the shore was lined with troops.
Many were taken possession of ; and, though they
could not have been brought out, would have been
burned, had not the French resorted to a mode of
offence, which they have often used, but which no
oth^r people have ever been wicked enough to em-
ploy. The moment the firing ceased on board one
of their own vessels they fired upon it from the
«hore, perfectly regardless of their own men-
The commander of one of the French divisions
Acted like a generous enemy. He hailed the boats
as they approached, and cried out in Ekiglish : ^ Let
me advise you, my brave Englishmen, to keep your
distance : you can do nothing here ; and it is only
uselessly shedding the blood of brave men to make
the attempt.'* . The French official account boasted
of the victory. •• The combat,** it said, ** took place
ia sight of both countries ; it was the first of the
kind, and the historian woidd have cause to make
this remark.'* They guessed our loss at four or
five hundred : — it amounted to one hundred and
Beventy-two. In his private letters to the Admiralty
Nelson affirmed, that had our force arrived as he in-
tended, it was not all the eitiains in^ Prance which
could have prevented our men from bringing off the
whole of the vessels. There had been no ei^r
committed, and never did Ensi^lishmen display more
courage. Upon this point Nelson was fully satis-
fied ; but he said he should never bring himself
* In the fornwr editions I had M^ted, ap6B vrhtx ippeared autiientle
InforfnaUoii, that the boats lyere chained one to another. Nelson bim-
Mlf believed this. But 1 have been assured that it waf not the can,
by M. de Beroet, who, when I had the pleasure of seeing him in 1835,
was (and I hope still is) con^nandant or Boulogne. The word of this
hrave and loyal soldier is as little to be doubted as his worth. He is
the lastaurvivorof Charette's baud ; and hit own memoirs, could he be
penuaded to write tbem (a duty which he owes to his country as w(A
as to hisnselO, would fbrm a redeeming episode in the hittocy of tbs
rsench revcriation.
1801.] UFB or KEIAOn. 251
again to allow any attack, whezein he was not per-
sonally concerned; and tliat his mind suffered more
than if he had had a leg shot off in the affair* He
grieved particularly for Captain Parker, — an excel-*
lent officer, to whom he was greatly attached, and
who had an aged father looking to him for assist-
ance. His thigh was shattered in the action ; and
the wound proved mortal, after some weekiB of suf-
fering and manly resignation. During this interval.
Nelson's anxiety was very great. — •* Dear Parker is
my child," said he ; " for I found him in distress.**
And when be received the tidings of his deatl^ he
relied:— *' You will judge of my feelings: God's
^ill be done. I beg that his hair may be cut off and
S'vdn me; — ^it shall be buried in my grave. Poor
r. Parker ! What a son has he lost ! If I were to
say I was content, I should lie ; but I shall endea-
TOur to submit with all the fortitude in mypower.—r
His loss has made a wound in my heart, which time
will hardly heal."
*' You ask me, my dear friend," he says, to Lady
Hamilton, "if I am going on more expeditions I
and even if I was to forfeit your friendship), which is
dearer to me than all the world. Lean tell you no-
thing, tor, I go out.; I see the enemy and can get
at them, it is my duty ; and fon would natundly
hate me, if I kept back one moment.— I Ion? to pay
them, for their tricks t' other day, the debt of a drub^
bing, which surely I'll pay: but r»henj Tvherty or.
bow, it is impossible, your own good sense must tell
you, for me or mortal man. to say.** — ^Yet he now
wished to be relieved from this service. The coun-
try, he said, had attached a confidence to his name,
which he had submitted to, and therefore had cheer-
fully repaired to the .station ;r— but this boat busi-
ness, though it might be part of a^reat plan of in-
vasion, could never be the cmly one, and he did not
think it was a command for a vice-admiral. It was
not that he wanted a more lucrative situation »— lor.
S52 xiVB ov HEUOir. []8a]«
•eriOQsly indispoflod m he was, tiid low-spinted
from private considerations, he did not know, if the
Mediterranean were vacant, that he should be eqaal
to undertadie it. He was offended with the Admi-
ralty for refusing him leave to ffo to town when he
had solicited; in reply to a friendly letter from
Trowbridge he says, ''I am at this moment as
firmly of opinion as ever, that Lord St. Vincent and
yourself should have allowed of my coming to town
for my own affairs, for eveiy one knows I left it
without a thought for myself.^ His letters at this
time breathe an angry feeling towards Trowbridge,
who was now become^ h6 said, one of his lords and
masters.—" I have a ktter from him," he says, " re-
eommending me to wear flannel shirts. Does he
care for me? no: but never mind. They shall
work hard to get me affain.— The cold has setiled
m my bowels. I wish the Admiralty had my com-
Slaint : but they have no bowels, at least for me.-rl
are say Master Trowbridge is ffrown fat. I know
I am grown lean with my complaint,, which, but for
their mdifference about my health, could never have
happened ; or, at least, I should have got well long
ago in a warm room, with a gpod fire anH sincere
friend." In the same tone of bitterness, he com-
Elained that he was not able to promote those whom
e thought deserving: " Trowbridge,^ he says,
"has so completely prevented my ever mentioning
•any body's service, that I am become a cipher, and
he has gained a victory over Nelson's spirit. I am
kept here, for what 1-%e may be able to tell, I can-
not. But long it cannot, shall not be." An end was
put to this uncomfortable state of miiid when, fortu-
nately (on that account) for him, as well as happily
for the nation, the peace of Amiens was, just at this
tnne, signed. Ncflson rejoiced that the experiment
was made, but was well aware that it was an expe-
Sl?r« l^^ ^^"^ '!*'** ^^ ^»1^^^ *e misery of pea^,
unless the utmost vigilance and pmdenci were ex'
IBOi.] XtFE OF 1YJE180K. K9
erted: and he ex^ss^d, in bitter tenns, hit pvoper
indig^Mtion ^t the manner in which the mob of hem*
don welcomed the French generalf who brought the
ratification ; saying, ^ that they made him ashamed
of his country."
He had purchased a house and estate at Merton^
m Surry; meaning to pass his days there in the
society of Sir William and Lady Hamilton. He had
indulged in pleasant dreams when looking on to thia
as his place of residence and rest. *^ To be suie^**
he says, ** we shall employ the tradespeople of our
village in preference to anyothers»in.what we wani
for comqion use^and give them every encourage*
noent to be kind and attentive to us.'^--^ Have we
a nice eburch at Merton j We will set an ezamj^
of goodness to the under^parishioners. I admire
the pigs and poultry. Sheep are certainly most be*
neficial to eat off the grass. Do you get paid for
them* and take care that they are kept on the pte*
miaes all night,, for that is the tioie they do good to
the land. They should be folded. Is your head
man a good person, and true to our interest | I iiH
tend ..to have a farming-book. I expect that ail
animals will increase where you. are, for 1 never ez«
pect that you will suffer any to be killed.— No per*
son can take, amiss our not visiting. The answer
from me will always be very civil thanks, but that
I wish to live retired. We shall have our sea^
friends; and I Jknow Sir William thinks they ars
the best." This place he had never seen, till he
was now welcomed there by the friends to whcmi
he had so passionately devoted himself, and who
were not less sincerely attached to him. The place*
and every thing which Lady Hamilton had done to
it, delighted him; and he declared that the longest
liver should possess it all. Here he amused him*
self with angling in the Wandle, having been a good
flr*fisher in former days, and learning now to prac*
Y
f54 Z.IFV OF NEUON. [ISQl.
tiae with his left hand,* what he could no longer
EUTHue as a solitaiy diversion. His peiunxms f<HP
is victories, ahd for the loss of his eye and arm,
amounted with hi» half-pay to about i^,400 a year.
From this he ^ve JSI98OO to Lady Nelson, £300 to
a brother^s widow, and £150 for the education of
his children; and he paid £500 interest for bor-
fowed money ; so that Nelson w^s comparatively a
Cr man ; and thoupfh much of the pecuniary em-
rassment which he endured wa« occasioned by
the separation from his wife-^-even if that cause had
Hot existed, his income w^uld not have been suffi-
cient for the rank which he held, and the claims
which would necessarily be made upon his bounty.
The depression of spirits under which he had Ion;
laboured, arose parthrfrom this state of his circum-
stances, and partly from the other disquietudes in
which his connexion with Lady Hamilton liad in-
volved him: a connexion which it was not possible
his father could behold without sorrow and displea^
sure. Mn Nelson, however, was soo^ persuaded
that the attachment, which Lady Nelson regarded
with natural jealousy and i^sentment, did not, in
reality, pass the bounds of ardent and romantic ad-
miration : a passion which the nmnners and accom-
plishments of Lady Hamilton^ fascinating- as they
were, would not have been able to excite, if they
had not been accompanied by more uncommon in-
tellectual endowments, and by a character which,
both in its strenffttt and in its weakness, resembled
his'0wn» It did not, therefore, requite much ex^
planation to reconcile him to his son;— -an event
the more essential to Nelson's happiness, because, a
* TMi !■ HMnttonetf on C&e wnhortiy, and by tlie detire oT Sir Hon-
^rey Davy^t whose name I write wkli th^ respect to whicli it ie n
jaedy entitled; andcalUng to mind the time when >re wei« iitliabiti
•r 4$»f anftlBtiaMtt intercoone with aflbbtionate legrab
t BataMMla^l^S^
1801.] XIFB OF 19EL0Cm. S55
few months afterward, the good old man died, at the
age of seventy-nine.
Soon after the oonclnfton of peace, tidings arriyed
of our final tind decisive successes in Egypt : in
consequence of which the common council.voted
their thanks to the aimy and navy for bringing the
campaign to so glorious a conclusion. When Nel-
son, after the action off Cape St. Vincent, had been
entertained at a city feast, he had observed to the
lord-mayor, ^' that, if the city continued its gene-
rosity, the navy would ruin them in gifts." To
which the lord-mayor replied, putting his hand upon
the admiral's shoulder, ** Do you find victories, and
we wilL find rewardip.^' Nelson, as he said, had kept
his word,--had doubly fulfilled his part of the con-
tract,-^but no thanks had been voted for the battle
of Copenhagen ; and, feeling that he and his com-
panions in that day*s glory had a fair and honour-
able claim to this reward, he took the present oppor-
tunity of addrtesing^ a letter to the lord-mayor, com-
plaining of the omission and the injustice. *' The
«mall^t fiervices,** said he, " rendered by^ the array
or navy to the country,' have always been noticed
by the great city of London, whh one exception-^
the glorious 3d of April: — a day, when ^e greatest
dangers of navigation were overcome; and the
Danish force, which they thought impregnable, to-
tally taken or destroyed, by the consummate skijl of
our commanders, and tiy the undaunted bravenr of
as gallant a band as ever defended the ri^ts of this
country. For myself, if I were only persoi^ally
concerned, I should bear the stigma, attempted to
be now first placed upon my brow^ with humility.
But, my lord, 1 am the natural guardian of the fame
of all the officers of the navy, army, and marines,
who fought, and so profusely bled, undier my com-
mand on that day. Again, I disclaim for myself
more merit than naturally falls to a succesiful com-
mander ; but when I am called upon to speak of the
f56 UFB OF KEL0Oir. [184IS.
aieriti of the captains of hia majesty's ships, and ai
the officers and men, whether seamen, marines^ or
soldiers, whom I that day had the happiness to com-
mand, I then say, that never was the glory of this
country upheld with more determined bravery than
on that occasion : and, if I may be allowed to give an
opinion as a Briton, then I say, that more important
service was never rendered to our king and^country.
It is my duty, my lord, to prove to the brave feUows,
my companions in danger, that I have not failed, at
every proper place, to represent, as well as I am
able, their bravery and. meritorious conduct."
Another honour, of greater import, was withheld
from the conquerors. The king had given medals
to those captains who were engaged in the battles
of the 1st of June, of Cape St. Vincent, of Cam-
perdown, and of the Nile. Then came the victory
at Copenhagen ; which Nelson trulv called the most
difficult acluevement, the hardest fought battle, the
most glorious result^ that ever graced the annals of
our country. He< of- eourse, expected the medal :
and, in writing to Earl St. Vincent, said, '^He
longed to have it, and would not give it up to be
made an English duke." The medal, however, was
not given : — ^^ For what reason," said Nelson, **Lord
Bt, Vincent best knows."— Words plainly implyioff
A suspicion, that it was withheld by some feeling of
Jealousy: and that suspicion estranged him,, during
the remaining part of his life« from ope who had at
one time been essentially, as well as sincerely^ his
friend ; and of whose professional abilities he ever
entertained the highest opinion. ,
The happiness which Nelson enjoyed in the so-
ciety of his chosen friends, was of no long conti-
nuance. Sir William Hamilton, who was far ad-
vanced in years, died early in 1803 ; a mild, amiable,
accomplished man, who has thus, in a letter, de«
scribed his own philosophy: — ^^'My study of anti*
quities/' ^e says, *^has kept me, in constant thought
ItOS.] 14FE OF imuov. t&l
of title perpetual fluctuation of every thing. The
whole art is really to live all the day$ of our life ;
and not with anxious care disturb the sweetest hour
that life affords, — ^which is the present. Admire the
Creator^t and all his works, to us incomprehensible ;
and do all the good you can upon earth : and take
theohanceof eternity without dismay.*' He expired
in his wife'4si arms, holding Nelson by the hand ; and
almost in his last words left her to his {protection ;
xequesting him that he would see justice done her
by the government, as he knew what she had done
for her countr^% He left him her portrait in enamel,
calling him his dearest friend; the most virtuous*
lojjrel, and truly brave character he had ever known.*
The oodicil, containing this bequest, concluded wi^
these words : " God blesa him, and shame fall oa
those who do not say amen.'* Sir William's pensioB,
of £1300 a year, ceased with his death. Nelson
^I^ed to, Mr. Addington in Lady Hamilton's behalf,
atating the important service . which she had ren-
dered to the fleet at Syracuse : and Mr. Aadington,
it is said, acknowledged that she had a just claim
upon the gratitude of the country. This barren ac-
knowledgment wacf all that was obtained: but a
sum, equfil to the pension which her husband had
enjoyed, was settled on her by Nelson, and paid in
monthly p^ments during his life. A few weeks
after this event, the war was renewed ; and, the day
after his majesty's message to parliament. Nelson d&-
parted to take the command of tneMediterranean fleet
The war, he thought, could not be long; just enougk
to. make him independent in pecuniary matters.
He took his station immediately off Toulon; and
-there, with incessant vigilance, waited for the
coming out of the enemy. The expectation of ac-
quiring a competent fortune did not last long.
^Somehow," he says, *^my mind is not sharp
■enough for prize-money. Lord Keith would have
jnade £90,000^ and I hare not made £6000." Moi«
ftB6 LIFE OP l^tflOK. { f d09.
than (»cehe says that the prices taken in the MedU
terranean: had not paid his expenses: sfcnd onee he
^xpresseis himself as if it were a consolation to
tiiink that some hall mi|fht soon close ail his ae-
<)ounts with this world of care and vexation. At
this time the widow <!^ his hrother, being then blind
ftnd advanced in years, was distrei^sed fpr money,
and about to sell her plate ; he wrote to- Lady Ha-
milton, requesting of her to find out what her debts
were, and saying, that if the amount was within his
power he would certainly pay it, and rather pinch
«imself than that she should want. Before he had
finished the letter, an account arrived that a sum
was payable to him for some neutral taken four
2 ears before, which enabled him to do this without
eing the poorer : and he seems to have felt at the
moment tnat what is thus disposed of by a cheeifiil
fiver, shall be paid to him again.-*One from whom
• had looked for a very different conduct, had com-
-fiaved his own wealth in no be<soi»ing manner with
Nelson's limited means. '*! know," said he to
Lady Hamilton, ** the full extent of the oi^^tion I
owe him» and he n^&y be useful to me agam ; hnt
I can never forget his uiikin^ess to you. But I
guess many reasons influenced his conduct in breg'-
0ing of his riches and my honourable poverty i but,
«s i have often said, and with honest pride, what I
bave is my own : it never cost the widow a tear, or
the Bation a farthing. I got what I have with my
vue blood, from the enemias^ of my countiy. Our
iipuse, my own Emma, is built upon a solid founda-
tioa; a^ will last to us,^ when his house and lands
may belong t^othere than his children.^
nit hope was that peace might soon be made, or
that he shoiidd be relieved from his command^ tihd
letice to Meiton, where at that (Stance he was
piaaaing and directing improvemejits. On his birth-
day ha writes, "This day, my dearest Emma, i coo^
amr as hioml foctymate than common di^s^ as by
ItOS.] UFB OF NEUOir, £58
tny^ooaung: into this world it has brought meiso Inti^
ioaiely acquainted with you. I well know that you
will keep it, and have my dear Horatio to drink my
liealth. Forty*six years of toil and trouUe ! How
few more the common lot of mankind leads os to
expect! and therefore it is almost time to think of
spending the last few years in peace and quietness."
It is painful to think that this language was not ad-
dressed to his wife, but to one with whom he pro^
Btiaed himself *^ many, many happy years, when that
impediment,*' as he calls her, *' shall be remored, if
God pleased f and they might be surrounded by
tlieir children's children.
When he had been fourteen months off Toulon, ha
received a vote of thanks from the city of LcHidon,
for his skill and perseverance in blockading that
port, so as to prevent the French from putting to sea.
Nelson had not forgotten the wrong which the city
had done to the Baltic fleet by their omission, and
did not lose the opportunity which this vote afforded
of recarring to that point. *' I do assure your lord-
ship,*' said he, in his answer to the lord-mayor,
*' that there is not that man breathing who sets a
higher value upon the thanks of bis fellow-citizens
of London than myself; but I sliould feel as much
ashamed to receive them for a particular service,
marked in the resolution, if I felt that I did. not
come within that line of service, as I should feel
hurt at having a ^at victory passed over without
notice. I beg to mform your lordship, that the port
of Toulon hiui never been blockaded by me: quite
the reverse. Every opportunity has bieen offered
ihe enemy to put to sea : for it is there that we hope
to lealize the hopes and expectations of our
country." Nelson then remarked, that the junior
flag officers of his fleet had been omitted in this vote
of thanks ; and his surprise at the omission was ex-
pressed with more asperity, perhaps, than an
<iliBaeC| so entirely and manifestly unintentionali de*
260 ura OF HBUOK. 1180S.
aerved : but it arose from that generous regard for
the feelings as weU as interests of all who were
under his oommand, which made him as much be-
loved in the fleets of Britain as he was dreaded in
those of the enemy.
Never was any commander more beloved. He
governed men by their reason and their affections :
Siey knew that he was incapable of caprice or ty-
ranny ; and they obeyed him with alacrity and joy,
because he possessed their confidenee as well as
their love. " Our Nel/' they used to say, ** is as brave
as a lion, and as gentle as a lamb.^' Severe dis-
cipline he detested, though he. had been bred in a
severe school : he never inflicted corporal punish-
ment, if it were possible to avoid it, and when com-
pelled to enforce.it, he, who was familiar with
wounds and death, suffered like a woman. In his
whole life Nelson was never known to act unkindly
towards an officer. If he was asked to prosecute
one for Ul-behaviour, he used to answer, ^ That
there was no > occasion for him to ruin a poor devil,
who was sufficiently his own enemy to ruin hiin-
self." But in Nelson there was more Uian the easi-
ness and humanity of a happy nature : he did not
merely abstain from injury ; his was an active and
watchful benevolence, ever desirous not only to ren-
der justice, but to do good. . During the peace, he
had spoken in parliament upon the abuses respect-
ing prize-money;, and haul submitted plans to
government for more easily manning the navy, and
preventing desertion from it, by bettering the condi-
tion of the seamen; He proposed that their certifi-
cates should be registered^ and that every man who
had served, with»a good character, five years in
war, should receive a bounty of two guineas annu-
ally, after that time, and of four guineas after eight
yeaiB. '* This," he said, ** might, at first sight, ap-
pear an enormous sum for the state to pay ; but the
airerage life of seamen is, from hard service, finished
1803.1 txrm or vxlb»v, 261
at foity-five : he cannot, therefore, enjoy the an-
nuity many years ; and the interest of the money
saved by their not deserting, would go far to pay the
whole expense,''
To his midshipmen he ever showed the most win-
ning kindness, encouraging, the difSdent, tempering
the hasty, counselling and befriending both. " Re-
collect," he used to say, '* that you must be a sea-
man to be ah officer^ and also^ that you cannot be
a good officer without^ being a gentleman.'' — ^A
lieutenant wrote to him to say, that he was dissa-
tisfied with his captain. Nelson's answer was in
that spirit of perfect wisdom and perfect goodness,
which regulated hi^ whole- conduct towards those
who were under his command. ** I have just re-
ceived your letter ; and 1 am truly sorry that any
difference should arise between your captain, who
has the reputation of being one of the bright officers
of the service, and yourself, a very young man, and
a very young officer, who must naturally have much
to learn: therefore, the chance is, that you are per-
fectly wrong in the disagreement. However, as
your present situation must be very disagreeable; I
will certainly take an early opportunity of removing
you, provided your conduct to your present captain
be such, that another may not refuse to receive
you." The gentleness and benignity of his disposi-
tion never made him forget what was due to disci-
jfline. Being dn one occasion applied to, to save a
young officer from a court-martial, which he had
provoked by his misconduct, his reply was, ** That
he would do every thing in his power to oblige so
gallant and good an officer as Sir John Warren,"
in whose name the intercession Md been made :—
"But what," he added, ** would he do if he were
here 1— Exactly what I have done, and am still will-
ing to do. The young man must write such a let-
ter of contrition as woilld be an acknowledgment
of his great fault; and, with a sincere promise, if
i^
a^?%
^^ X,e ^^ rfV^^^
xxess
1803.} LiFB OF RKUon. 963
and I are on the eve of quitting the theatre of onr
exploits; but we hold it due to our successoraf
never, while we have a tongue to speak, or a hand
to write, to allow the nav^ to be, in the smallest
degree, injured in its discipline by our conduct.'^
To Trowbridge he wrote in the same spirit. — ^" It
is the old history, trying to do away the act of
parliament; but I trust they will never succeed;
xor, when they do, farewell to our naval superiority.
We should be prettily commanded! Let them once
gain the step of being independent of the navy on
board a ship, and. they will soon have the other^
and command us. — But, thank <aod ! my dear
Trowbridge, the kiug himself cannot do away the
act of parliament. Although my career is nearly
run, yet it would imbitter my future days and ex«
piring moments, to hear of our navy being sacrificed
to the army.*^ As the surest way of preventing such
disputes, he suggested' that the navy should have
its own corps of artillery ; and a corps of marine
artillery was accordingly established.
Instead of lessening the power of the commander,
Nelson iirould have wished to se^ it increased : it
was absolutely necessary, he thought, that merit
should be rewarded at the moment, and that the
officers of the fleet should look up to the com-
mander-in-chief for their-reward. He himself was
never more happy than when he could promote
those who we're deserving of promotion. Many
were the. servicer which he thus rendered unsoli-
cited: and frequently the officer, in whose behalf
he had interested himself with the Admiralty, did
not know to whose friendly interference he was in-
debted for hir good fortune — He used to say, '*^ I
wish it to appear as a God-send.'' The love which
he bore the navy made him promote the interests,
and honour the memory, of all who had added to
its glories. "The near relations of brother-offi-
cers," he said* '^he considered as legacies to the
264 xjons or nbmqn. [Id03.
service.'' Upon mention being made to him of
a son of Rodney, by the Duke of Clarence, hitf
reply was: "I ag^e with your royal highness
roost entirely, that the son of a Rodney ought to
be iheproi^^^o{ every person in the kingdom, and
particularly of the sea-officers. Had I known that
there had been this claimant, somer. of my own
lieutenants must have given way to such a name^
and he should have -been placed in the Victory : she
is full, and I have twenty on my list ; but, what-
ever numbers I have, the name of Rodney must
cut many of them out." Such was the proper
sense which Nelson felt of what was due to splen-
did services and illustrious names. His feelings
towards the brave men who had served with him, are
shown by a note in his diary, which was probably
not inten^^d for any other eye than his own.-^
"Nov. 7. I had thd comfort of making an old
Agamemnon, George Jones, a gunner inKo the
Chameleon brig."
When Nelson took the command^ it was ex^
pected that the Mediterranean would be^ an active
scene. Nelson well understood the ^character of
the perfidious Corsican, who was now sole tyrant
of France ; and knowing that he was as ready to
attack his friends as his enemies, knew, thereforct
that nothing could be more uncertain than the 4i*
rection of the fleet from Toulon, whenever it should
put to sea: — "It had as many destinations," 'he
said, ** as there were countries." The momentous
revolutions of the last ten years had given him
ample matter for reflection, as well as opportunities*
for observation : the film was cleared from his eyes $
and now, when the French no longer went abroad
with the cry of liberty and equality, he saw that
the oppression and. misrule of the powers which had
been opposed to them had been the main causes of
their success, and that those causes would still pre*
pare the way before them. Even in Sicily, where.
1803.] LIFE OF NBLBON. 266
If it had been possible longer to blind himself,
Nelson would willingly have seen no evil, he per-
ceived that the people wished for a change, and
acknowledged that they had reason to wish for it.
In Sardinia the same burden of misgovemment was
felt ; and the people, like the Sicilians, were im-
poverished by a government so utterly incompetent
to perform its first and most essential duties, that
it did not protect its own coasts from the Barbary
iMrates. He would fain have had us purchase this
island (the finest in the Mediterranean) from its
sovereign, who did not receive £5000 A year from
it, aftorits wretched establishment was paid. There
was reason to think that France was preparing to
possess herself of this important point, which af-
forded our fleet facilities for watchmg Toulon, not
to be obtained elsewhere. An expedition was pre-
gmng at Corsica for the purpose; and all the
ardes lvho had taken part with revolutionary
France were ordered to assemble there. I4 was
certain that, if the attack were made, it would suc-
ceed. Ndson thought that the only mean» to pre-
vent Sardinia from becoming French, was to make
it English, and that half a million would give the
king a rich price, and England a cheap purchase.
A better, and therefore a wiser, policy would have
been to exert our influence in removing the abuses
of the government : for foreign dominion is always,
in some degred, an evil ; and allegiance neither can
nor ought to be made a thing of bargain and sale.
Sardinia, like Sicily and Corsica, is large enough
to form a separate state. Let ^s hope that these
islands may one day 'be made free and independent.
Freedom, and independence will bring with them
industry and prosperity ; <aud wherever these are
found, arts and letters will flourish, and the im-
provement of the human race proceed.*
The proposed attaek was postponed. Views of
wider amhiticm were opting upon Buonaparte, who
Z
£66 LIFE OP Nsisov. [1803^
now almost andisguisedly a8)[)TFed to make huxraelf
master of the contment of Europe ; and Austria
was preparing for another struggle, to be conducted
as weakly and terminated as miserably as the for-
mer. Spain, too, was once more ^o be involved in
war, by the policy of France: that perfidious
government having in view thes double object of
employing the Spanish resources against England,
and exhausting tnem, in order to render Spain her-
self finally its prey. Nelson, who knew that Eng-
land and the Peninsula ought to be in' alliance, for
the common interest of both, frequently expressed
his hopes that Spain might resume her natural rank
among the nations. *'We ought,*' he said, ''by
mutuS consent, to be the very best friends, and
both to be ever hostile to France." But he saw that
Quonaparte was noeditating the destruction of
Spain ; and that, while the wretched court of Ma-
drid professed to remain neutral, the appearances of
neutrality were scarcely preserved. An order of the
year 1771, excluding British ships of war ft'om the
Spanish ports, was revived, and put in force ; while
French privateers, from these very ports, annoyed
the British trade, carried their prizes in, and sold
them even at Barcelona. Nelson complained of
this to the captain-general of Catalonia, informing
him, that he claimed, for every British ship or squa-
dron the right of lying, as long as it pleased;, in the
ports of Spain, while that right was allowed to
other powers. To the British ambassador he said,
*' I am ready to make large allowances for the mise*
rable situation Spayj has placed hersielf in ; but there
is a certain line, beyond which I cannot submit to be
treated with disr^spect. We have given up French
vessels taken within gunshot of the Spanish shore,
and yet French vessels are permitted to attack our
ships from the Spanish shore, Your excellency
may assure the Spanish government, that in what-
ever plaoe the Spaniards allow the French to attack
1803.] LIFE OF NELSOK. 297
US, in that place I shall order the French to be at-
tacked."
DurinjBf this state of things, to which the weak-
ness of Spain, and not her will, consented, the ene-
my's fleet did not venture to put to sea. Nelson
watched it with unremitting and almost unexampled
Eerseverance. The station off Toulon he called
is home. " We are in the right fighting trim," said
he: "let them come as^ soon as they please. I
never saw a fleet, altogether, so well office^d and
manned : would to God the ships were half as good !
—The finest ones in the service would 50on be de-
stroyed by such terrible weather. I know well
enough, that if I were to go into Malta I should save
the ships during this bad season: but if I am
to watch the French, I must \>e at sea ; and, if at
sea, must have bad weather : and if the ships are
not fit to- stand bad weather, they are useless."
Then only he was satisfied, and at ease, when he
had the enemy in view. Mr. Elliot, our minister at*
Naples, seems, at this time, to have proposed to
send a confidential Frenchman to him with informa-
tion. " I should be very happy," he replied, " to re-
ceive authentic intelligence of the destination of the
French squadron, their route,^ and time of sailing. —
Any thing short of this is useless; and I assure
your excellency, that I would not, upon any consi-
deration, have a Frenchman in the fleet, except as a
prisoner. I put no confidence in them. You think
yours good, the queen thinks the same : I believe
they are all alike.- Whatever information you can
get me I shall be very thankful for ; but not a French-
man comes here. Forgive me, but my mother hated
the French."
M. Latouche Treville, who had commanded at
Boulogne, commanded now at Toulon. "He was
«ent for on purpose," said Nelson, " as he beat me at
Boulogne, to beat rne again : but he seems very
loath to try." One day, while the main body oif
268 tlFS OF NEUOK. [180S.
our fleet was out of sight of land, Bear-Adminl
Campbell, reconnoitring with the Canopus, Donne-
Kal, and Amazon, stood in close to the port ; and M.
Latouche, taking advantage of a breeze which
sprung up, pushed out, with four ships of the line
and three heavy frigates, and chased him about four
leagues. The Frenchman, delighted ai having
found himself in so novel a situation, published a
boastful account ; affirming that he hadgiven chase
to the whole British fleet, and that Nelson had fled
before him ! Nelson thought it due to the AdmL-
raltj to send home a copy of the Victory's log upon
this occasion. ^ As for himself,'' he said, *' if his
character was not established by that time for not
being apt to run away, it was not worth his while
to put the world right."-^'^If this fleet gets fairly
up with M« iiatoucli^,'* said he to one of his corresr
pondents, ^ his letter, with all his ingenuity, must be
different from his ^last. We had fancied that we
chased him into To.ulon ; for, blind as I am, I could
see his water line, when he clewed his topsails up,
shuttingin Sepet. But, from the time of his meet-
ing Capt. Hawker, in the Isis, I never heard of his
acting otherwise than as a poltroon and a liar. Con-
tempt is the best mode of treating such a miscreant."
In spite, however, of contempt, the impudence of
this Frenchman half a\igered nim. He said to his
brother: ''You will have seen Latouchc's letter;
how he chased me, and how I ran. I keep it : and
if I take him, by God he. shall eat IL"
Nelson, who used to say, that in sea-affairs no-
thing is impossible, and nothing improbable, feared
the more that this Frenchman might get out and
elude his vigilance ; because he was so especially
desirous of catching him, of administering to him
his own lying letter in a sandwich. M. Latouche,
however, escaped him > in another way. He died,
according to the French papers, in consequence of
walking so often up to the signal post upon Sepet.
10O3,] hum OF NSL801V* S69
to watch the British fleet. ** I always pronounced
that would be his death," said Nelson. *' If he had
come out and fought me, it would, at least, have
added ten years to my life.'' The patience with
which he had watched^ Toulon he spoke of, truly,
ss a perseverence at sea which had never been sur-
passed. From May, 1803, to August, 1805, he him*
self went out of his ship but three times ; each of
those times was upon the king's service, and nei-
ther time of absence exceeded an hour. In 1804,
the Swift cutter going out with despatches was
t^ken, and all the despatches and letters fell into
the hands of the enemy. " A very pretty piece of
work!" says Nelson, '* I am not surprised at the
capture, but am very much so that any despatches
should be sent in a vessel with twenty-three men,
not equal to cope with any row-boat privateer. The
loss of the Hindostan was great enougl^ ; but for
importance, it is lost, in comparison to me probable
knowledge the enemy will obtain of our connexions
with foreign countmes. Foreigners for ever say,
and it is true, we dare not trust England : one way
or other we are sure to be committed." In a sub-
sequent letter, he says, speaking of the same cap*
ture : " I find, my dearest Emma, that your picture
is very much admired by the French Consul at Bar-
celona ; and that he has not sent it to be admired,
which I am sure it would be, by Buonaparte. They
pretend that there were three pictures taken. I wish
I had them : but they are all gone as irretrievably
SL» the despatches ; unless we may read them in a
book, as we printed their correspondance from
Egypt. But from us what can they find out ? That
I love you most dearly, and hate the French moeit
damnably. Dr. Scott went to Barcelona to try to
get the private letters; but I fancy they are all gone
to Paris. The Swedish and American Consuls told
hini, that the French Consul had your pictures and
-read your letters: and the ^ Doctor thinks one o£
Z3
910 LiFS 69 KSUdiv. (t80l
them, probably, vead the lettcm. By the master's
account of the cutter, I would not have trusted an
old pair of shoes in her. He tells me should not
sail, but was a g^ood sea^boat. I hope Mr. Mak'sden
will not trust any more of my private letters in
such a conveyance : if they choose to trust the
affairs of the public in such a thing, I cannot help it.^
While he was on this station, the weather had
been so unusually severe, that he said, the Medi-
terranean seemed altered. It was bis rule never
to contend with the gales; but either run to the
southward, to escape their violence, or furl all the
sails, and make the ships as easy as possible. The
men, though he said flesh and blood could hardly
stand it, continued in excellent healthy which he
ascribed, in great measure, to a plentiful supply -of
lemons ahd onions. For himself, iie thought he
could only last till the battle was over. One battie
mord it was his hope that he might fight.— «*' How-
ever,*' said he, *' whatever happens, I have run a
glorious race." — ^*A few months' rest," he says,
"I must have very soon. If I am in my grave,
what are the mines of Peru to me 1 B'lt to say the
truth, I have no idea of killing m3rse]f. I may,
with care, live yet to do good service to the state.
My cough is very bad, and my side, where I was
struck on the 14th of February, is very much
swelled; at times, a lump as large as my fist,
brought on occasionally by violent coughing. But
I hope and believe my lunffs are yet safe." Re
was afraid of blindness; and this was the only evil
which he could not contemplate without unhappi-
ness. More alarming symptoms he regarded with
less apprehension ; describing his own ** shattered
carcass," as in the worst plight of any in the fleet :
and be says, **l have felt the blood gushing up
the left side of my head; and, the moment it
covers the brain, I am fast asleep." The fleet was
in woise trim than the men : but when he, com*
1803.] UPS OF nsuoir. 271
pared it with the enemy's, it was with a right
Eagliah feeling. "The French fleet yesterday,"
said he, in one of his letters, ^ was to appearance
in high feather, and as fine as paint could make
Ahem: — bat when they may saU, or where they
*nay^p, I am very sorry to say is a secret I am not
acquainted with. Our weather-beaten ships, I have
no fear, will make their sides like a plum-rpud-
ding." " Yesterday," he says, on another occasion,
'* a rear-admiral and seven sail of ships put their
nose outside the harbour. If they go on playing this
game, some day we shall lay salt upon their tails."
Hostilities at length commenced between Great
Britain and Spain. That country, whose miserable
goyemment made her subservient to France, was
once more destined to lavish her resources and her
blood in furtherance of the designs of a perfidious
ally. The immediate occasion of the war was the
seizure of four treasure-ships by the English. — The
act was perfectly justifiable; for those treasures
were intended to furnish means for France ; but the
circumstances which attended it were as unhappy
as they were unforeseen. Four frigates had been
despatched to intercept them. They met with an
equal force. Resistance, therefore, became a point
of honour on the part of the Spaniards, and one of
their ships soon blew up, with all on board. Had
a stronger squadron been sept, this deplorable catas-
trophe might have been spared : a catastrophe which
excited not more indignation in Spain, than it did
p*ief in those who were its .unwilling instruments,
in the English government, and in the English
people. On the 5th of October this unhappy affair
occurred, and Nelson was not apprized of it till
the 13th of the ensuing month. He had, indeed,
sufficient mortification at the breaking out of this
Spanish war ; an event which, it might reasonably
have been supposed, would amply nnrich the officers
of the Mediterranean fleet, and repay them for the
tn UWE QP ItBKBOH. [1804.
severe and anremittiiig duty on which they had
been so long employed. But of this harvest they
were deprived ; for Sir John Orde was sent with a
small squadron, and a separate command, to Cadiz.
Nelson's feelings were never wounded so deeply as
now. *'I had thought," said be, writing in the
first flow and freshness of indignation ; ^ I fancied,
-«l>ut, nay; it must have been a dream, an idle
dream ; — ^yet, I confess it, I did 4ancy that I had
done my country service ; and thus they use me !
— ^A.nd under what circumstances, and with what
pointed aggravation !-^Yet, if 1 know my own
thoughts, it is not for myself, or on my own account
chiefly, that I feel the sting and the disappointment.
No! it is for my brave officers; for my noble-minded
friends and comrades. Such a gallant set of fellows !
Such a band of brothers ! My heart swells at the
thought of them.**
War between Spain and England was now de-
clared; and, on the eighteenm of January, the
Toulon fleet, having the Spaniards to co-operate
with them, put to sea. Nelson was at anchor ofi^
the coast of Sardinia, where the Madalena islands
form one of the finest harbours in the world, when,
at three in the afternoon on the nineteenth, the
Active and Seahorse frigates brought this long-hoped-
for intelligence. They had been close to the enemy
at ten on the preceding night, but lost sight of them
in about four hours. The fleet immediately un-
moored and weighed, and at six in the evening ran
through the strait between Biche and Sardinia : a
passage so narrow, that the ships could only pass
one at a time, each following the stern lights of its
leader. From the position of the enemy, when they
were last seert, it was inferred that they must be
bound round the southern end of Sardinia. Signal
was made the next morning to prepare for battle.
Bad weather ca^ie on, baffling the one fleet in its
object, and the other in its pursuit. Nelson beat
1805.] LIFE OF KELSOlff. 273
about the Sicilian seas for ten dayit, without obtain-
ing any other information of the enemy, than that
one of their ships had put into Ajaccio, dismasted;
and having seen that Sardinia, Naples, and Sicily
were safe, believing Egypt to be their destination,
for £gypt he ran. The disappointment and distress
which he had experienced in his former pursuits of
the French through the same seas were novr re-
newed : but Nelson, while he endured these anxious
and unhappy feelings, was still coiisoled by the
same confidence as on the former occasion — that,
though his judgment might be erroneous, under all
circumstances he was right in having formed it.
** I have consulted no man,*' said he, to the Admi-
ralty; "therefore, the whole blame of ignorance in
fonqing my judgment must rest with me. I would
allow no man to take from me an atom of my glory
had I fallen in with the French fleet ; nor do 1 desire
any man to partake any of the responsibility. All
is mine, right or wrong/' Then stating the grounds
upon which he had proceeded, he added, "At this
moment of sorrow, I still feel that I have acted
right." In the same spirit he said to Sir Alexander
Ball, "When I caU to remembrance all the circum-
Mances, I approve, if nobody else does, of my own
conduct."
Baffled thus, he bore up for Malta, and met intel-
ligence from Naples that the French, having been
dispersed in a gale, had put back to Toulon. From
the same quarter he learned, that a great number of
saddles and muskets had beeii embarked ; and this
confirmed him in his opinion that ^gypi was their
destination. That they should have put back in
consequence of storms, which he had weathered,
gave him a consoling sense of British superiority.—
" These gentlemen," said he, " are not accustomed
to a Gulf of Lyons gale: we have buffeted them
for one-and- twenty months, and not carried away a
spar." He, however, who had so often braved
774 . LIFB OF NELSON. [ 1 805.
these gales, was now, though not mastered by them,
vexatiously thwarted and impeded: and, on Feb-
ruary 27th, he was compelled to anchor in PuUa
Bay, in the Gulf of Cagliari. From the 21st of
January the fleet had remained ready for battle,
without a bulk-head up, night or day. He anchored
here, that he might not be driven to leeward. As
soon as the weather moderated he put to sea again ;
and, after again beating about against contrary
winds, another gale drove him to anchor in the
Gulf of Palmai on the 8th of March. This he
made his rendezvous; he knew that the French
troops still remained embarked, and, wishing to
lead them into a belief that he was stationed upon
the Spanish coast, he made his appearance off Bar-
celona with that ihtent. About the end of the
month, he began to fear that the plan of the expe-
dition was abandoned ; and, sailing once more to-
wards his old station off Toulon, on the 4th of
April, he met the Phebe, with news that Villeneuve
had put to sea on the last of March with eleven
ships of the line, seven frigates, and two brigs.
When last seen, they were steering towards the
coast of. Africa* Nelson first covered the channel
between Sardinia and Barbary, so as to satisfy hini-
self that Villeneuve was not taking the same route
for Egypt which Gantheaume had taken before him,
when he attempted to carry reinforcements there*
Certain of thfs, he bore up on the 7th for Palermo,
lest the French should pass to the north of Corsica,
and he despatched cruisers in all directions. On
the 11th, he felt assured that they were not gone
down the Mediterranean ; and sending off frigates
to Gibraltar, lo Lisbon, and to Admiral Comwallis,
who commanded the squadron off Brest, he endea-
voured to get to the westward^ heating against
westerly winds. After five days, a neutral gave
intellij^ence that the French had been seen off
Cape de Gatte on the 7th. It was soon after ascee
1B05.J UFB OF NEUSOH. £75
tallied, that they had passed the Straitsof pibral«*
tar on the day following; and Nelson, knowinjf
that they might already be half way to Ireland,
or to Jamaica, exclaimed, t^hat he was .miserable.
One gleam of comfort only came across him in the
reflection, that his vigilance had rendered it impos-
sible*^ for them to undertake- any expedition in the
Mediterranean.
Eight days after this certain intelligence had been
obtained, he described his state of mind thus forci-
bly, in writmg to the governor of Malta : " My gootf
forti^ne, my dear Ball, seems flown away. I cannot
get a fair wind, or even a side wind. Dead foul ! —
dead foul !— -But my mind is fully made up what to
do when I leave the Straits, supposing there is no
certain account of the enemy's destination.— 'I
believe this iU luck will go near to kill me ; but,
as these are ^mes for exertion, I must not be cast
down, whatever 1 miay feel.'' In spite of every
exertion which could be made by all the zeal and
all the skill of British seamen, he . did not get in
sight' of Gibraltar till the 30th of April; and the
wind was then so adverse, that it was impossible to
pass the Gut. He anchored in M^zari Bay, on
the Barbary shore ; obtained supplies from Tetuan ;
and when, on the 5th, a breeze from the eastward
sprang up at last, sailed once more, hoping to hear
of the enemy from Sir John Orde, who com-
manded off Cadiz, or from Lisbon. ** If nothing
is heard of them,"' said he, to the Admiralty, **-!
shall probably think the rumours which have been
spread ste true, that their object is the West Indies:
and, in that case, I think it my duty to follQXr
them, — or to the antipodes, should I believe that
to be their destination." At the time when this
resolution was taken, the physician of the fleet had
ordered him to return to England before the hot
months.
Nelson had formed his judgment of their desti-
276 UFB OF ITKUON. [18Q6.
lifttion, and made up his mind accordingly, when
Donsdd Campbell, at that time an admirsd in the
Portuguese service, the same person ivho had given
important tidings to Earl St. Yincent of the move-
ments of that fleet from which he won his title, a
second time gave timely and momentous, intelli*
gence to the fla^ of his country. He went on board
the Victory, and communicated to Nelson Ms
certain knowledge that the combined Spanish and
Friench fleets were bomid for the West Indies.—
Hitherto all things had favoured the enemy. While
the British conmiander was beating up against
strong southerly and westerly ;gales, th^y had wind
to their wish from the N. E.; and had done in nine
days what he was a whole month in accomplishing.
Villeneuve, finding the Spaniards at Carthagena
were not in a state, of equipment to join, him, dared
not wait, but hastened on to Cadiz. Sir John Orde
necessarily retired at his approach^ Admiral Gra-
Vina, with six- Spanish ' ships of the line and two
Frenchy came out to him, and they sailed without a
moment's loss of time. They had about three
thousand French troops on board, and fifteen hun-
dred Spanish ^-^six hundred' were* under orders, ex-
pecting them at Martinique, and one thousand at
Guadaloupe. General Lauriston commanded the
troops. The combined fleet tiow consisted of eigh-
teen sail of the line, six forty-four gun frigates, one
of twenty-six guns, three corvettes, and a brig.
They were joined afterward by two new French
line-of-iiattle ships, and one forty-four. Nelson
pursued them with ten sail of the line and three
irigates; ^^ Take you a Frenchman apiece," said he
to his captains^ ''and leave me the Spaniards: —
when I haul down my colours, I expect yon to do
the same. — and not till then."
The dnemy had five-and-thirty days' start ; but he
calculated that he should gain eight or ten days upon
them by his exertions. May 15th he made Madeira,
IMfc] un OF HEXdoir, ' 277
and on June 4th reached Barfoadoes, whither he had
•ent despatches before him ; and where he found
Admiral Cochrane, with two ships, part of our
squadron in those seas being at Jamaica. He found
here also accounts that the combined fleets had been
seen from St. Lucia on the 28th, standing to the
southward, and that Tobago and Trinidad were
their objects. This Nelson doubted ; but he was
alone in his opinion, and yielded it with these fore-
boding wordd — ** If your intelligence proves false,
you lose me the French fleet.** SirWilliam Myers
offered to embark here with two thousand troops : —
they were taken on board, and the next morning he
sailed for Tobago. Here accident confirmed the
false intelligence which had, whether from intention
or error, misled him. A merchant at Tobago, in the
general alarm, not knowing whether this fleet was
mend or foe, sent out a schooner to reconnoitre, and
acquaint him by signal. The signal which he had
chosen happened to be the very one which had been
appointed by Colonel Shi[dy of the engineers, to
signify that the enemy were at Trinidad ; and as this
was at the close of day, there was no opportunity of
discovering the mistake. An American brig was
met with about the same time; the master of
which, with that propensity to deceive the English
and assist the French in any manner which has
been but too common among his countrymen,
aflirmed, that he had been boarded off Granada, a
few days before by the French, who were standing
towards the Bocas of Trinidad. This fresh intelli-
gence removed all doubts. The ships were cleared
for action before daylight, and' Nelson entered the
Bay of Paria on the 7th, hoping and expecting to
make the mouths of the Orinoco as famous in the
annals of the British navy as those of the Nile.
Not an enemy was there ; and it was discovered
that accident and artifice had combined to lead him
80 far to leeward, that there could have been little
Aa
f7d LIFE OF NBLSOIF. [IBO^
hope of fetching^ to windward of Granada for any
other fleet. Nelson, however, with skill and exer-
tions never exceeded, and almost ilknexampled, bore
for that island.
Advices met him onr the way, that the combined
fleets, having captured the Diamond Rock, were
then at Martinique, on the 4th, and were expected
to sail thatliight for the attack of Granada. On the
9th Nelson arrived off that island ; and theiB learned
that they had passed to leeward of Antigfua the pre^
ceding day, and taken a homeward*bound convoy.
Had it not. been for false information, upon whifch
Nelson had acted reluqtantly, and in opposition to
his own judgment, he would have been off Port
Royal just as they were leaving it, and the battle
would have been fought on the spot where Rodney
defeated de Grasse. I'his he remembered in his
vexation : but he had saved the colonies, aiid above
two hundred ships laden for Europe, which wouldf
else have fallen into the enemy's hands ; and he had
the satisfaction of knowing that the mere terror of
his name had. effected this, and had put to flight the
allied enenwes, whose force nearly doubled that
before which they fled. That they were flying back
to Europe he believed, and for Europe he steered in
pursuit on the 13th, having disembarked the trooper
at Antigua and taking with him the Spartiate^
seventy-four; the only additionto the squadron with? i
which he was pursuing so superior a force. Five I
days afterwaird the Amazon brought intelligence, '
that she had spoke a schooner who had seen them,
on the evening of the I5th, steering to N. ; and, by
computation, eighty-seven leagues off. Nelson's
diary at this time denotes his great anxiety, and hi» '
perpetual and all-observing vigilance.—** June 31^
Midnight, nearly calm, saw three planks, which I
think came from the French fleet. Very miserable,
which is very foolish." On the 17th of July he
came in sight of Cape St. Vincent, and steered for
1805.] JJFE OF riELsoir. S7I
Ciibraltar. — "June ISth," bis diary says, "Cap6
Spartel in sight, but no French fleet, nor any inform
ation about them. How sorrowful this makes me j
but I cannot help myself." The next day he an
chored at Gibraltar; and on the 20th, says he, *H
went on shore for the first time since June 16, 1808
and from havitig my foot out of the Victory, two
years, wanting ten days." '
Here he communicated with his. old friend Col-
ling wood ; who, having been detached witl^ a squa-
-dron, when the disappearance of the combined
fieei^i and of Nelson in their pig-suit, was known in
•England, had taken his station off- Cadiz. He
thought that Ireland was the enemy's ultimate
object, — that they wo'uld now liberate the Ferrol
squadron, which was blocked up by Sir Robert
C alder, — call for the Rochefort ships, and then
.appear off Uahant with three or four-and-thirty sail ;
there to be joined by the Brest fleet. With this
great force he supposed they would make for Ire-
land,^— the real mark and bent of all their opera-
tions : and their flight to the West Indies, he thought,
had been merely undiertaken to take ofl* Nelson's
force, which was the great impediment to their un-
dertaking.
Collingwood was gifted with great political pene-
tration. As yet, however, all was conjecture con-
cerning the enemy ; and Nelson, having victualled
and watered at T€tuan,^tood for Ceuta on the 24th,
«till without information of uieir course. Next day
intelligence arrived that the Curieux brig had seen
them on the 19th, standing to the northward. He
poceeded off Cape. St. Vincent, r^her cruising for
mtelligence than knowing whither to betake himself «
and here a case occurred, that more thap any other
event in real history resembles those whimsical
proofs of sagacity which Vol^taire, in his Zadig, has
borrowed from thp Orientals.- One of our frigates
ispoke ^n American, who, a little to the westward of
280 LIFE OF KELsorr. [laOftr
the Azores, had fallen in with an anned vessel, ap-
pearingf to be a dismasted privateer, deserted by her
crew, which bad been run on board by another ship^
and had been set fire to ; but the fire had gone out*
A log-book and a few seamen^s jackets were found in
the cabin ; and these were brought to Nelson. The
logobook closed with these words ; *' Two . large
vessels in the W« N. W. :*' and this led him to con-
clude that the vessel had been an English privateer,
cruising off the Western Islands. But there was ia
this book a scrap of dirty paper, filled with figures.
Nelson iminediately, upon seeing it, observedt thai
the figures Were written by a Frenchman ; and, after
studying this for a while, said, ** I can explain the
whole. The jackets are of French manufacture,
and prove that the privateer was in possession of the
enemy. She had been chased and taken by the two
ships that were seen in ' the W. N. Wi. The prize-
master, going on board in a hurry, forgot to take
with him his reckoning: there is none in the log-
book; and the dirty paper contains her work for the
number of days since the privateer last left Corvo ;
with an Unaccounted-for run, which I take to have
been the chase, in his endeavour to find out her situ-
ation by back reckonings. By some mismanage-
ment, I conclude, she Was ruh on board of by one of
the enemy's ships, and dismasted. Not liking delay
(for I am satisfied that those two ships were me ad-
vanced ones of the French squadron), and fancying
we were close at their heels, they set fire to the
vessel, and abandoned her in a hurry. If Ihis expla^
nation be correct, I infer from it, that they are gone
more' to the northward ; and more to the northward
I wiJl look for them." This course accordingly he
held, but still without success. Still persevering,
and still disappointed, he returned near enough to
Cadiz to ascertain that they were not there; tra-
versed the Bay of Biscay ; and then, as a last hope,
stood over for the north-west coast of Ireland,
1-80S.] UFE,OF IVXLSON. 281
against adverse winds, till on the evening of the 19th
of August, he learned that they had not been heard of
there. Frustrated thus in all his hopes, after a
pursuit, to which, for its extent, rapidity, and perse-
verance^ no parallel can be produced, he judged it
best to reinforce the channel fleet with his squadron,
lest the enemy, as Colling wood apprehended, should
bear down upon Brest with their whole collected
force, dfn the 16th he joined Admiral Comwallis
off Ushant. No news had yet been obtained of the
enemy ; and on the same evening he received orders
to proceed, with the Victory and Superb, to Ports-
mouth.
CHAPTER IX. .
Sfr Robert Odder falls in toith the combined Fleet* — 7ft«|r form a Juno^
Hon with the Ferrol Sqwutrony and get into Cadit—Jfelson ia reap-
pointed to the CommaM^Battle of Trafalgar— Victory^ andDea^h
of kelson.
At Portsmouth, Nelson, at length, found news of
the combined fleet. Sir Robert Calder, who had
been sent out to intercept their return, had fallen in
with them on the 22d of July, sixty leagues west
orf Cape Finisterre. Their force consisted of twenty
sail of the line, three fifty-gun ships, five frigates,
and two brigs: his, of fifteen line-of-oattle ships,
two frigates, a cutter, and a lugger. After an
action of four hours he had captured an eighty-four
and a seventy-four, and then thought it necessary
to bring-to the squadron, for the purpose of securing
their prizes. The hostile fleets remained in sight
of each other till the 26th, when the enemy bore
away. The capture of two ships from so superior
a force would have been considered as no incon-
Mderable victory a few years earlier ; but Nelson
Aa2
882 UFE or 17SIA0N. [1809J
had introduced a new era in our naval hiatcMry; and
the nation felt, reepecting thi« action, as he had felt
on a somewhat similar occasion. They regretted
that Nelson, with his eleven ships, had not been in
Sir Robert Calder's place ; and their disaf^intment
was generally and kmdly expressed*
Frustrated as his own hopes had been, Nelson
had yet the high satisfaction of knowing that his
judgment had never be^n more conspicuously ap-
proved, and that he had rendered essential service
to his country, by driving the enemy from those
islands, where they expected there could be no
force capable of opposing them. The West India
merchants in London, aa men whose interests were
more immediately benefited, appointed a deputation
to exprws their thanks for his great and judicious
exertions. It was now his intention to rest awhile
from his labours, and recruit himself, after all his
fatigues and cares, in the society of those whom he
loved. AU his stores were brought up from the
Victory ; and he found in his house at Merton the
enjoyment which he had anticipated. Many days
ha4 not elapsed before Captain Blackwood, on his
way to London with despatches, called on him at
five in the morning. Nelson, who was already
dressed, exclaimed, the moment he saw him: ''I
am sure you bring me news of the French and
Spanish fleets! I think I shall yet have to beai
them !" They had refitted at Vigo, after the inde-
cisive action with Sir Robert Calder; then pro-
ceeded to Ferrol, brought out the squadron from
thence, and with it entered Cadiz in safety. *' De-
pend on it, Blackwood,** he repeatedly said, '* I shall
yet give M.Villeneuve a drubbing." But when
Blackwood had left him, he wanted resolution to
declare his wishes to Lady Haimilton and his sisters,
and endeavoured to drive away the thought.-— He
had done enough he efaid,—'* Let the man trudge it
who has lost his budget !'* His countenance belied
180&] UFB OF KBXAON. 2ftS
his lips; and as he was pacing one of the walks in
the gaiden, which he used to call the quarter-deck.
Lady Hamilton came up to him, and told him she
saw he was uneasy. He smiled, and said: ''No,
he was as happy as possible ; he was surrounded by
his family, his health was better since he had been
on shore, and he would not give sixpence to call the
king his uncle." She replied, that she did not be-
lieve him, — ^that she knew he was longing to get at
the combined fleets — that he considered them as his
own property, — that he would be miserable if any
man but himself did the business ; and that he ought
to have them, as the price and reward of his two
years' long watching, and his hard ch'ase. ^ Nel-
son," said she, " however we may lament 3rour ab-
sence, offer vour services ; — they will be accented,
and you will gain a quiet heart by it: you will nave
a glorious victory, and then you may return here
and be happy." He looked at her with tears in his
eyes; — ^** Brave Emma !^ — Grood Emma! — ^If there
were more Emmas there would be more Nelsons."
His services were as willingly acdepted as they
were offered ; and Lord Barham, giving him the Hat
of the navy, desired him to choose his own officers.
^'Choose yourself, my lord," was his reply: "the
same spirit actuates the whole profession: you can^
not choose wrong." Lord Barham then desired
him to say what ships, and how many he would
wish, in addition to the ^eet which he was going to
command, and said they should follow him as soon
as each was ready. No i^pointment was ever
more in unison with the feelings and judgment of
the whole nation. They, like Lady Hamilton,
thought that the destruction of the combined fleets
ought properly to be Nelson^s work; that he, who
had been
" Hair tronnd Uie lea-flrt ball.
The buuter of the recreant Gaul/**
• Ooaft oi Tf«falgar.
£S4 UPE OF NELSON. [1805.
Ottghf to reap the spoils of the chase, which he had
watched so long^, and so perseyeringly parsued.
Unremitting exertions were made to equip the
ships which he had chosen, and especially to refit
the Victory, which was once more to bear his flagf.
Before he left London he called at his upholsterer's,
where the coffin, which Oapt. Hallowell had given
him, was deposited; and aesired that its history
ini^ht be engraven upon the hd, saying, that it was
hi^ly probable he might want it on his return.* He
neeoied, indeed, to have been impressed with an
•expectation that he should fall in the battle. In a
letter to his brother, written immediately after his
return, he had said, ^<We must not talk of Sir
Robert Calder's battle — I might not have done so
much with my small force. If I had fallen in with
them, you might probably have been a lord before I
wished: for I know they meant to make a dead set
«t the Victory.** Nelson had once regarded the
prospect of death with gloomy satisfaction : it was
when he anticipated the upbraidings of his wife,
and the displeasure of his venerable father. The
«tate of his feelings now was expressed, in his pri-
vate journal, in these words :•— '* Friday night (Sept.
13), at half-past ten, I drove from dear, dear Mer-
ion; where 1 left all which I hold dear in this
-woiid, to go to serve ray king and country. May
ihe great God, whom I adore, enable me to fulfil the
expectations of my country! and, if it is His good
pleasure that I should return, my thanks will never
cease being offered up to the throne of His mercy.
if it is His good providence to cut short my days
upon earth, I bow with the greatest submission;
relying that He will protect Siose so^ dear to me,
whom I may leave behuid! His will be done.
Amen! Amen! Amen!"
Eaily on the following morning he reached Ports*
Tnouth ; and, having despatched his business on
shore, endeivoiired to elude the populace by taking
1805.] UFB OF NBLSON. 285
a by-way to the beach; but a crowd collected ift
his train, pressing forward to obtain sight of his
face; many were in tears, and many Imelt down
before him, and blessed him as he passed. England
has had manv heroes ; bat nerer one who so entirely
possessed the love of his fellow-countrymen as
Nelson. All men knew that his heart was as hu-
mane as it was fearless ; that there was not in his
nature the slightest alloy of selfishness or cupidity;
but that, with perfect and entire devotion, he served
his country with all his heart, and with all his soul,
and with all his strength ; and, therefore, they loved
htm as truly and ar fervently as he loved England.
They pressed upon the parapet, to gaze after him
when his barge pushed off, and he was returning
their cheers by waving his hat. The sentinels, who
endeavoi^red to prevent them from trespassing upon
this gfround, were wedjfed among the crowd; and
an (^cer, who, not very prudenth* upon such an
occasion, ordered them to drive the people down
withr their bayonets, was compelled speedily to re*
treat ; for the people would not tj^ debarred from
gazing, till the last moment, upon the hero— the
darling'hero of England !
He arrived off Cadiz on the d9th of September—
his birthday. Fearing that, if the enemy knew his
force, they might be deterred from venturing to sea,
he kept out of sight of land, desired Collingwood
to fire no salute, and hoist no colours ; and wrote
to Gibraltar, to request that the force of the fleet
might not be inserted th^re in the Gazette. His re-
ception in the Mediterranean fleet was as gratifying
as the farewell of his countrymen at Portsmouth:
the officersT, who came on board to welcome him,
forgot his rank as commander, in their joy at seeing
him again. On the day of his arrival, Villeneuve
received orders to put to sea the first opportunity,
Villeneuve, however, hesitated, when he heard that
Nelson had resumed the tsommand^ He called t
286 UFA OF NELSON. [1805.
-council of war ^ and their determination was, that
it would not be expedient to leave Cadiz, unless
they had reason to believe themselves stronger Igr
one-third than th^ British force. In. the publie
measures of this country secrecy is seldom prac-
ticable, and seldomer attempted: here, however,
by the precautions of Nelson, and the wise mea-
sures of the Admiralty, thB enemy were for onte
kept in ig^norance; for, as the ships appointed to
reinforce the Mediterranean fleet were despatched
isingly, — eachias soon as it was ready, — their col-
lected number was not stated in the newspapers,
And their arrival was not known to the enemy.
But the enemy knew that Admiral Louis, with six
flail, had been detached for stores and water to Gib-
raltar. Accident also contributed to make the
French admiral doubt whether Nelson himself had
actually taken the command. An American, lately
arrived from England, maintained that it was im-
po88ible,-^for he had seen him only a few days
oefore in London $ and, at that time, there was no
rumour of his going again to sea.
The station which Nelson had chosen was soma
fifty or sixty miles to the west of Cadiz, near Cape
St. Mary's. At this distance he hoped to decoy the
enemy out, while he guarded against the danger of
being caught with a westerly wind near Cadiz, and
driven within the Straits. The blockade of the port
was rigorously enforced, in hopes that the combined
fleet might be forced to sea by want. Hie Danish
vessels, therefore, which were cartying provisions
from the French ports in the Bay, under the n&me
of Danish property, to all the little ports frora Aya-
monte to Algeziras, from whence they v^re conveyed
in coasting boats tp Cadiz, .were seized. Without
this proper exertion of power, the blockade would
have been rendered nugatory, by the advantage thus
taken of the neutral flag. The supplies from France
were thus effectually cut^oiT. There was now eveiy
1800. J £ZJP£ OF HELSOX. 287
indication that the enemy would speedily venture
out ; officers and men were in the highest spirits ai
the prospect of giving them a decisive blow : such«
indeed, as would put an end to all farther contest
upon the seas. Theatrical amusements were per*!
formed ev«ry evening in most of the ships : and God
Save the King was the hymn with which the sports
concluded. ♦' I verily believe,^' said Nelson (writing
on the 6th of October)* *' that the country will soon
be put to some expense on my account ; either a
monument, or a new pension and honours ; for I
have not the smallest doubt but that a very few daysy
almost hours, will put us. in battle. The. success no
man can ensure $ but for the fighting them^ if they
can be gok at, I pledge myself.*-*-The sooner the bet"
ter : I<lo n't like to have (these things upon my mind.'!
At this time he was not without some cause of
anxiety ; he was in want of frigates, — ^the eyes of
the fleet, as he always called them : — to the want of
which, the eiiemy before were indebted for their es-*
cape* and Buonaparte for his arrival in Egypt. He
had only twenty-three 8hips,-H)thers were on the
way, — but they might come too late ; and, though
Nelson never doubted of yictory, mere victory wa»
not what he looked to, he wanted to annihilate the
enemy's fleet. The Carthagena squadron might
eifect a junction with thissfleet on the one side ; and, on
the other, it was to be expected that a similar attempt
would be made by the French from Brest ; in either
case a formidable contingency to be apprehended
by the blockading force* The Rochefort squadroa
did push out, and had nearly caught the Agamem'
non and I'Aimable, in their way to reinforce the
British admiral. Yet Nelson at this time weakened
his own fleet. He had the unpleasant task to per^
form of sending home Sir Robert Calder, whose con*
duct^was to be made the subject of a court-martial,.
in consequence of the general dissatisfaction which
bad been felt and expressed at his imperfect victory*
f88 UVB OF Ksiaoif. [18011.
8ir fiobert Calder and Sir John Orde, Nelson be-
lieved to be the only two enemies whom he had ever
bad in his profession ;— -and, from that sensitive de-
licacy which distingfttished him, this made him, the
Biore scrupulously anxious to show every possibte
mark of respect and kindness to Sir Rebeit. He
wished to detain him till after the expected action ;
when the services which he might perform, and the
triumphant joy which wotdd be excited, would leave
nothing to be apprehended from an inquiry into the
previous engagement. Sir Robert, however, whose
ntuation was very painful, did not choose to delay
a trialj from the result of which he confidently ex-
pected a comple|te justifioation : and Nelson, histesrd
of sending him home in a frigate, insisted on his re-
turning in his own ninety-gun ship ; ill as such a
ship could at that time be spared. Nothing could
be more honourable than the feeling by which Nelson
was iBfluei|ced ; but, at such a crisis, it ought not to
have been mdulged. '
On the 9th, Nelson sent Collingwood w;hat he
called, in his diary, the Nelson-touch. **I send
you,** said he, ** my plan of attack, as far as a man
dare venture to guess at the very uncertain posKion
tiie enemy may be found in: but it id to place you
perfectly at ease respecting my intention8,and to. give
Ml scope to your judgment for carrying- tjiem into
^fecL We 6an, my de^ Coll, have no little jea-
fettsies« We have only one great object in vie Wf^hat
df annihilating our enemies, and getting a glorious
peace for our country. No man has more confi*
oence in another than I have in you ; and no man
will renderyour services more justice than your veiy
old friend Nelson and Bronte:** ^ The order of sail-
ing was to be the order of bantle : the fleet in two
bnes, with an advanced squadron of eight of the
fastest sailing two-deckers* The second in com-
mand, having the entire direction of his line, was to
braak through the tnemy^ about the twelfth dnp from
idOS.] £tV£ OF MELSOlf. ^9
tlieir rear : he would lead through the centrei and the
adranced squadron was to cut o^f three or four ahead
of the centre. This plan was to be adapted to the
strength of the enemy, so that they should always
be one*fourth superior to those whom they cut off«
Nelson said, ^ That his admirals and captains, know-
ing his precise object to be that of a close and de-
cisive action, would supply any deficiency of signals^
and act accordingly. - In case signals cannot be seen
or cleariy understood, no captain can do wrong if he
places ms ship alongside that of an enemy^" One
of the last orders of this admirable man was, that
the name and family of every officer, seaman, and
marine, who might be killed or wounded in action,
should be as soon as possible returned to him, ift
order to be transmitted to the chairman of the patri-
otic fund, that the case might be taken into consider-
ation, for the benefit of the sufferer or his family.
About half past nine in the morning of the 19th,
the Mars, being the nearest to the fleet of the ships
which formed the line of communication with the
ffigraies in shore, repeated the signal, that the enemy
were commg out of port. The wind was at this time
very light, with partial breezes, mostly from the
S. S. W. Nelson ordered the signal to be made for
a chase in the south-east quarter* About two, the
repeatin| ships announced, that the enemy were at
oea. AU night the British fleet continued under all
sail, steering to the south-east. At daybreak they
were in the entrance of the Straits, but the enemy
were not in sight. About seven, onoof the frigates
made sipn^al that the enemy were bearing north.
Upon this the Victory hove to ^ and shortly after*
ward Nedson made sail again to the northward. la
the aftemooB the wind blew fresh from the south-
west, luid the English began to fear that the foe might
be forced to return to port. A little before sunset,
howevi^r, IMaekwood, in the Euryalus, telegrapihed,
tiuK they appeared determined to go to Ihe wmI*
Bb
^90 UTE OF KELSON. [1805.
ward, — ^ And that,'' ssiid tbe admiral, in his diary,
** they shall not do, if it is in tbe power of Nelson
and Bronte to prevent them.'' Nelson had signified
to Blackwood, that he depended upon him to keep
sight of the enemy. They were observed so well,
that all their motions were made known to him;
and, as they wore twice, he inferred that they Were
saming to keep the port of Cadiz open, and would
ititreat there as soon as they saw the British fleet :
for this reason he was very careful not to approach
near enough to be seen by them during the night.
At daybreak the combined fleets were distinctly seen
from the Victory's deck, formed in a close line of
battle ahead, on the starboard tack, about twelve
miles to leeward, and standing to the south. Our
fleet consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line, and
four frigates ; theirs of thirty-three, and seven Ifrge
frigates. Their superiority was greater in size, and
weight of metal, than in numbers. They had four
thousand troops on board; and the best riflemen who
could be procured, many of them Tjnrolese, were
dispersed through the ships. Little did the Tyrolese,
and little did the Spaniards, at that day, imagine what
horrors the wicked tjnrant whom they served was
preparing for their country.
Soon after daylight, Nelson came upon deck.
The 21^t of October was a festival in his family,
because on that day his uncle, Capt. Suckling, in the
Dreadnought, with two other line-of-battle ships,
had beaten off a French squadron of four sail of the
line, and three frigates. Nelson, with that sort of
superstition from which few persons are. entirely
exempt, had more than once expressed his persua-
sion that this was to be the day of his battle also;
and he wfts well pleased at seeing his prediction
about tQ be verified. The wind Was now from the
west, light breezes, with a long heavy swell. Sig-
nal was made to bear down upon the enemy in two
lines ; and the fleet set all sail. GoUingwood, in the
]
1606.] I.IFB OF nSL0OM. 291
Royal Soverei£[n, led the lee line of thirteen shipi ;
the Victory led the -weather line of fourteen.
Having seen that all was as it should be. Nelson re-
tired to, his cabin, and wrote the following prayer :
•
'* May the great God, whom I worship, grant to
my country, and for the benefit of Europe in ge-
neral, a great and glorious victory, and may no
misconduct in any one tarnish it ; and may human-
ity after victory be the predominant feature in the
British fleet! For myself, individually, I commit
my life to Him that made me ; and may His blessing
alight on my endeavours for serving my country
faithfully \ To Him I resign myself^ and the just
cause which is intrusted to me to defend. Amen,
Amen, Amen."
Having thus disch^ged his devotional duties, he
annexed, in the same, diary, the following remark-
able writing : ,
** October 21, 1805. — Then in sight of the combined
fleets of France and Spatny distant about ten miles.
** Whereas the eminent services of Emma Hamil-
ton, widow of the Right Honourable Sir William Ha-
milton, have been of the very greatest service to my
king and country, to my knowledge, without ever re-
ceiving any reward from either our king or country ;
** First, tjiat she obtained the King of Spain's let-
ter, in 1796, to his brother the King of Naples, ac-
quainting liim of his intention to declare war against
£ngland ; from which letter the ministry sent out
orders to the then Sir John Jervis, to strike a stroke,
if opportunity offered, against either the arsenals of
Spain or her fleets. That neither of these was done
is not the fault of Lady Hamilton ; the opportunity
might have been offered.
** Secondly, the British fleet under my com"
mand coidd never have returned the second. time to
t9t UFB OF ffEL0(m. [1805.
EgTi't, had not Lady Hamilton's influence with the
Queen of Naples cansed letters to be written to the
Sovemor of Syracuse, that he was to encourage the
eet's bein^ supplied with every thin^, should they
put into any port in Sicily. We put into Syracuse,
and received every supply ; went to Egypt, and de-
stroyed the French fleet.
** Could I have rewarded these 'services, I would
not now call upon my country ; but as that has not
been in my power, I leave Emma Lady Hamilton,
therefore, a legacy to my king and country, that
they will give her an ample provision to maintain
her rank in life.
^ I also leave to the beneficence of mv country
my adopted daughter, Horati a Nelson Thompson;
and I desire she will use in future the name of Nel-
son only.
" These are the only favours I ask of my king
and 'country, at this moment when I am going* to
fight their battle. May €od bless my king and
country, and all those I hold dear ! My relations it
is needless to mjention ; they will, of course, be
amply provided for.
« NELSON AND BRONTE.
« Witn0.il J Henry Blackwood.
^"°®"» ) T. M. Hardy.''
The child of whom this writing speaks, was be-
lieved to be his daughter, and so, indeed, he called
her the last time that' he pronounced her name.—
She was then about five years old, living at Merton,
under Lady Hamilton's care. The last minutes
which Nelson passed at Merton were employed in
praying over this child, as she lay sleeping^. A
portrait of Lady Hamilton hung in his cabin : and
no Catholic ever beheld the picture of his patron
saint with devouter reverence. The undisguised
and romantic passion with which he fegurded it,
amounted almost to superstition ; and when the por-
1805.1 LiFB OF KSLsosr. 293
trait was now taken down, in clearing for action,
he desired the men, who removed it, to ^ take care
of his guardian angel." In this manner he fre-
quently spoke of it, as if he believed .there were a
▼irtue in the image. He wore a mini^^ture of her,
also, next his heart.
Blackwood went on board the Victory about six.
He found him in good spirits, but very calm ; not
in that exhilaration which he had felt upon entering
into battle at Aboukir and Copenhagen : he knew
that his own life would be particularly aimed at,
and seems to have looked for death with almost as
sure an expectation as for victory. His whole
attention was fixed upon the enemy. They tacked
to the northward, and formed their line on the lar«
board tack ; thus bringing the shoals of Trafalgar
and St. Pedro under the lee of the British, and keep«
ing the port of Cadiz open for themselves. This
was judiciously done : and Nelson, aware of all the
advantages which it gave them, made signal to pre-
pare to anchor.
Villeneuve was a skilAil seaman; worthy of
serving a better master, and a better cause. His
plan of defence was as well conceived, and as ori-
ginal, as the plan of attack. He formed the fleet in
a double line , eveiy alternate ship being about a
cable's length to windward of her second ahead and
astern. Nelson, certain of a triumphant issue to
the day, asked Blackwood what he should consider
tas a victory. That officer answered, that, consi-
dering the handsome way in which battle was of-
fered by the enemy, their apparent determination
for a fair trial of strength, and the situation of the
land, he thought it would be. a glorious result if
fourteen were captured. He replied, " I shall not
•be satisfied with less than twenty.'* Soon after-
ward he asked him, if he did not think there was a
signal wanting.' Capt. Blackwood made answer,
ihat he thought the whole fleet seemed very clearl^
B b 3
M4 LZrS OP NSLSOR. [180&.
to understand what they were about. These words
were scarcely spoken before that signal was made,
which will be remembered as long as the language,
or even the memory of England shall endure ;—
Nelson's last signal : — Emoland bxpicts bvcrt man
TO DO HIS DUTY T' It WBs received throughout the
fleet with a shout of answering acclamation, made
sublime by the spirit which it breathed, and the feel-
ing which it expressed. ** Now,." said Lord Nelson, *^ 1
can do no more. We must trust to the great Dispo-
ser of all events, and the justice of our cause. I thank
God for this great opportunity of doing my duty."
He wore that day, as usual, his adatiraPs frock
coat, bearing on the left breast four stars, of the
different orders with which he was invested. Or-
naments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark
for the enemy, were beheld with oihinous apprehen»
sions by his officers. It was known that there wsfe
riflemen on board the French ships ; and it could
not be doubted but that his life would be partieu-
lariy aimed at. They communicated their fears to
eacn other; and the surgeon, Mr. Beatty,* spoke to
the chaplain. Dr. Scott^ and to Mr. Scott, the puUie
secretary,, desiring that some person would entreat
him to change his dress, or c^ver the stars : but
they knew that such a request would highly dis-
please him. " In honour I gained them,'' he had
said, when such a thing had been hinted to him for*
merly, «* and in honour I will die with them." Mr.
9eatty^ however, would not have been deterred by
any fear of exciting his displeasure, from speaking
to ihim himself upon a subject, iti which the wesd
of England, as well as the life Qf Nelson, was con*
cemed, — ^but he was ordered from the deck before
he could find an opportunity. This was a point
upon which Nelson's officers knew tiiat it was hope*
* In Uifta part of the work T tkwre chiefly been indebted to this fMK
tiemftn^a Narrative of Lond Ifdfion's JXeaih--B, document as intercmf
1M5.] im OP maOiSOH. 296
less to remonstrate or reason with him ; but both
Blackwood, and his own captain, Hardy, represented
to hina how advantageous to the fleet it would be for
him to keep out of action as long^ as possible ; and
he consented at last to let the Leviathan and the
Tfem^raire, which were sailing abreast of the Vic-
tory be ordered to pass ahead. Yet even here the
last infirmity of this noble mind was indulged, for
these ships could not pass ahead if the Victory con-
tinued to carry all her sail ; and so far was Nelson
trom shortening sail, that it was evident he took
pleasure in pressing on, and rendering it impossible
for them to obey his own orders. A long swell
was setting into the bay of Cadiz : our ships, crowd-
ing all sail, moved majestically before it, with light
winds from the south- west. The sun shone on the
sails of the enemy ; and their well-formed line, with
their numerous three-deckers, made an appearance
which any other assailants would have thought for-
midable ; — ^but the British sailors only admired the
beauty and the splendour of the spectacle.; and, in
fuU confidence of winning what they saw, remarked
to each other, what a fine sight yonder ships woidd
make at Spithead !
The French admiral, fVom the Bucentaure, beheld
the new manner in which his enemy was*advancing
— ^Nelson ^nd CoUingwood each leading his line ;
, and, pointing them out to his officers, he is said to
have exclaimed, that such conduct could not fail to
be successful. Yet Villeneuve had made his own
dispositions with the utmost skill, and the fleets
under his command waited for the attack with per-
fect coolness. Ten minutes before twelve they
opened their fire. Eight or nine of the ships imme-
diately ahead of the Victory, and across her bows,
fired single funs at her, to ascertain whether sHe
was yet within their range. As soon as Nelsoa
perceived that their shot passed over him, he de-
sired Blackwood, and Capt. Prowse, of the Sirius,
1
296 LIFE OF lVEZ4M>lf,' [1803.
to repair to their respective frigates ; and, on their
way, to tell all the captains of the line-of-battle
ships that he depended on their exertions ; and that,
if by the prescribed mode of attack they found it
impracticable to get into action immediately, they
might adopt whatever they thought best, provided
it led them quickly and closely alongside an ene-
my. As they were standing on the front of the
poop, Blackwood took him by the hand, saying, he
hoped soon to return and find him in possession of
twenty prizes. He replied, " God bless you, Black-
wood : I shall never see you again." '
Nelson^s column was steered about two points
more to the north than ColUngwoo4's, in order to
cut off the enemy^s escape into Cadiz : the lee line,
therefore, was first engaged. *' See," cried Nelson,
pointing to the Roysd Sovereign, as she steered
right for the centre of the enemy^s line, cut through
it astern of the Santa Anna, three-decker, and .en-
gaged her at the muzzle of her gims on the starboard
side: "s^ how that noble fellow, Collingwood,
carries his ship into action!" .Collingwood, de-
lighted at being first in the heat of the fire, and
knowing the feelings of his commander and old
friend, turned to his captain, and exclaimed:
f* Rotherham, what would Nelson give to be here I"
Both these brave officers, perhaps, at this monaent
thought of Nelson with gratitude, for a circumstance
which had occurred on the preceding day. Adnfiiraf
Collingwood, with some of the captains, having
gone on. board the Victory, to receive instructions,
Nelson inquired of him, where his captain wasi
and was told, in reply, that they were not upon
good terjns with each other. "Terms!" said
Nelson ; — ^** good terms with each other !" Inune-
diately he sent a boat for Captain Rotherham ; led
him, as soon as he arrived, to Collingwood, and
saying, — "Look; yonder are the enemy!" fnii^
^em shake h^adslil^EnffUs^en. v
1806.] im OF N£LsoN. 297
The enemy continued to fire a gun at a time at
the Victory, till they saw that a shot had passed
through her mainptop-gallant»saii ; then they opened
their broadsides, aiming chiefly at her rigging, in
the hope of disabling her before she could close
with them. Nelson, as usual, had hoisted several
flags, lest one should be shot away. The enemy
Glowed no colours till late in the action, when they
began to feel the necessity of having them to strike.
For this reason, the Santissima Trinidad, Nelson^s
old acauaintance, as he used to call her, was dis-
tinguishable only by her four diecks ; and to the bow
of this opponefiit he ordered the Victory to be steered.
Meantime an incessant raking fire was kept up
upon the Victory. The admiral's' secretary was
one of the first who fell ; he was killed by a cannon-
shot while conversing with Hardy. Capt. Adair Of
the marines, with the help of a sailor, endeavoured
to remove the body from Nelson's sight, who had a
great regard for Mr. Scott : but he anxiously asked :
" Is that poor Scott that 's gone ?" and being in-
formed that it was indeed so, exclaimed, ** Poor
fellow !'* Presently a double-headed shot struck a
party of marines, who were drawn up on the poop,
and killed eight of them :, upon which. Nelson im-
mediately desired Capt. Adair to disperse his men
round the ship, that they might not suffer so much
Jxom being together. A few minutes afterward a
shot struck the fore brace bits on the quarter deck,
and passed between Nelson and Hardy, a splinter
from the bit tearing off Hardy's buckle and bruising
his foot. Both stopped, and Jooked anxiously at
each other, each supposed the other to be wounded.
Nelson then smiled, and said, *'This is too warm
work. Hardy, to last' long."
The Victory had not yet returned a single gun ;
fifty of her men had been by this time killed or
wounded, and her main-topmast, with all her stud-
ding-sails and her booms, shot away. Nelson de«
i
S90 tIFB OF KSLSON. [1805
clared, that, in all his battles, he had seen nothing
which surpassed the cool courage of his crew on
this occasion. At four minutes after twelve, she
opened her fire from both sides of her deck. It
was not possible to break, the Enemy's line without
running on, board one of their ships: Hardy in-
formed him of this, and asked him which he would
prefer. Nelson replied, " Take your choiccj Hardy,
It does not signify much." - The master was ordered
to put the helm to port, and the Victory ran on
board the Redoubtable, just as her tiller ropes were
shot away. The French ship received her with a
broadside ; then instantly let down her lower-deck
ports, for fear of being boarded through thera, and
never afterward fired a great gun during the action.
Her tops, like those of all the enejny's ships, were
filled with riflemen. Nelson never placed musketry
in his tops ; he had a strong dislike to th^ practice ;
not merely because it etidangers setting fire to the
sails, but also because it is a murderous sort of
warfare by which individuals may suffer, arid a
commander now and then be picked off, but which
never can decide the fate of a general engage-
ment.
Capt. Harvey, in the T6m6raire, iell on board
the Redoubtable on the other side. Another enemy
was in like manner on board the Tera^raire : so
that these foifr ships formed as compact a tie'r as if
they had been moored together, their heads lying
all the same way. The lieutenants of the Victory,
seeing this, depressed their guns of the middle and
lower decks, and fired with a dimipished charge,
lest the shot should pass through, and injure the
T6ro^raire. And because there was danger that
the Redoubtable might take fire from the lower-deck
guns, the muzzles of which touched her side when
they were run out, the fireman of each gun stood
ready with a bucket of water; which as soon as
the gun was discharged, he dashed into (be hole
1806. J XJFS Of NELson. 299
made by the shot. An incessant fire was kept up
from the Victory from both sides ; her larboard guns
playing upon the Bucentaure and the huge San-
tissima Trinidad.
It had been part of Nelson's prayer, that the
British fleet might be distinguished by humanity in
the victory which he expected. Setting an example
himself, he twice gave orders to cease firing upon
the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck,
because her great guns were sil(;nt ; for, as she car-
ried no flag, there was no means of instantly ascer-
taining the fact.. From this ship, which he had
thus ti^ioe spared, he received his death. A ball
fired from her mizen-top, which, in the then situation
of the two vessels, was not more than fifteen yards
from that part of the deck where he was standing,
struck the epaulette on his left shoulder, about a
quarter after one, just in the heat of action. He
lell Upon his face, on the spot which was covered
with his poor secretary's blood. Hardy, who was
a few steps from him, turning round, saw three
men raising him up. — ^" They have done for me at
last. Hardy," said he. — " I hope not," cried Hardy.
— ** Yes !" he replied ; " my back-bone is shot
through." Yet even now, not for a moment losing
nis presence of mind, he observed, as they were
carrying him down the ladder, that the tiller ropes,
which had been shot away, were not yet replaced,
and ordered that new ones should be rove imme-
diately: — then, that he might not be seen by the
crew, he took out his handkerchief, and covered his
face and his stars. Had he but concealed these
badges of honour from the enemy, England, per-
haps, would not have had cause to receive with
sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar. The
cockpit was crowded with wounded and dying men ;
over, whose bodies he was with some difilculty con-
yeyed, and laid upon a pallet in the midshipmen's
l^irth. ' It. was soon perceived, upon examinaiioiV'
SOO UFE OF NSL801I. [l805«
that the wcrand was inovtal. This, hovevvr, was
concealed from all, except Capt. flainiy, the chap-
lain, and the medical attendants. He himself being
certain, from the sensation in his back, atid the
gush of blood he felt momently within his breasti
that no hmnan care could avail him, insisted that
the surgeon should leave him^ and attend to those to
whoni he might be useful; **for," said he, "yon
can do pothing for me/' — All that could be done
was to faii^ him with paper, and frequently to give
him lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst. He
was in great pain, and expressed much anxiety for
the event of the acl^oiv which now began to de^*
elare itself. As often as a ship struck, the crew of
ihe Yictoiy huzzaed ; and at every huzza, a visible
expression of jay gleamed in the eyes, and maiked
the countenance, of the dyinghero* But he became
impatient to see . Capt. Hardv ; and as that officer^
though often sent for, could not leave the deck^
Nelscm feared that some fatal cause prevented hmit
and repeatedly cried, '* Will no one bring Hardy to
me ? . He must be killed ! He is surely dead l"-^
An hour and ten minutes^ elapsed from the time
when JN^dson received his wound, before Hardy
could <;ome to him. They shook bands in silence ;
Hardy in vain struggling to suppress the feelings of
that most painfi2 and yet snbllmest moment.
•* Well, Hardy," said Nelson, •* how goes the ^y
with us ?"•?—" Very well," replied Hardy ; ** ten sblps
have struck, but live of the van have tacked, and
show an intention to bear down upon the Victory.
I have called two or three of our fiesh ships roundi
and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing.'*—^ I
hope," said Nelson, ^ none of our ships have
struck ?" Hardy answered, ^ There was no feur
of that." Then, and not till then, Nelson spoke of
himself. '^lam a dead man, Hapdy," said he: ^I
am going fast : — it wiU be all over with me soon.
Gome Bearer to me. Let my dear Lady Hamiltoii
1B06,] UfX OF KXJLBON* 501
have niy hair, and all other things belonging to
me.^ Hardy observed, tliat he hoped Mr. Beatty
could yet hold out some prospect of life. "Oh,
no!** he replied: "it is impossible. My back is
shot through. Beatty will tell you so.** Capt.
Hardy then, once more, shook hands with him ; and
with a heart almost bursting, hastened upon deck.
By this time all feeling below the breast was
gone ; and Nelson, having made the surgeon ascer-
tain ^is, said to him, " You know I am gone ; 1
know it. I feel something rising in my breast,"—
putting his hand on his leK side, — '* which tells me
so." And upon Beatty's inquiring whether his
pain was very great 1 he replied, " So great, that
he wished he was dead. Yet," said he, in a lower
voice, " one would like to live a little longer, too !"
And after a fe^ minutes, in the same under tone,
be added, "What would become of poor Lad^
Hamilton, if she knew my situation !" Next to his
country, she occupied his thoughts. Capt. Hard^,
some fifty minutes after he had left the cockpit,
returned; and, again taking the hand of his dying
friend and commander, congratulated him on having
gained a complete victory. How many of the
enemy were taken be did not know, as it was im-
possible to perceive them distinctly : but fourteen
or fifteen at least. " That 's well," cried Nelson,
"but I bargained for twenty." And then, in 8
stronger voice, he said, " Anchor, Hardy ; anchor."
Hardy, upon this, hinted that Admiral CoUingwood
would take upon himself the direction of affairs.
" Not while I live, Hardy," said the dying NelsoDy
/oeffectually endeavouring to raise himself from
the bed : " do you anchor.'' His previous order
for preparing to anchor had shown how clearlv he
foresaw the necessity of this. Presently, calling
Hardy back, he said to him, in a low voice, "Don't
threw me overboard :" and he desired that he might
be buried by his parents, unless it* shoiild pleaM
Cc
dot XJFB^OF TUtLBOV. [1805.
the king to order otherwise. Then revertine to
Erivale feelings, "Take care of my dear Lady
[amilton. Hardy : take care of poor Lady Hamilton.
—Kiss me, Hardy," said he. Hardy knelt down
and kissed his cheek : and Nelson said, " Now I
am satisfied. Thank God, I have done my duty."
Hardy stood over him in silence for a moment or
two, then knelt again, and kissed his forehead.
"Who is that?" said Nelson; and heing informed,
he replied, " iSod bless you. Hardy." And Hardy
then left him — for ever.
Nelson now desired to be turned upon his right
side, and said, " I wish I had not left the deck ; for
I shaU soon be gone." Death was, indeed, rapidly
approaching. He said to the chaplain, "Doctor,
I have not been AgteoU sinner :" and after a short
pause, "Itemember that I leave Lady Hamilton
and my daughter Horatia as a legacy to my
country." ^is articulation now became difficult ;
but he was distinctly heard to say, *^ Thank God, I
have done my duty." These words he repeatedly
gronounced : and they were the last words which
e uttered. He expired at thirty minutes after
four, — ^three hours and a quarter after he had re-
ceived his wound.
Within a quarter of an hour after Nelson was
wounded, above fifty of the Victory's men fell by
the enemy's musketry.- They, however, on their
part, were not idle ; and it was not long before there
were only two Frenchmen left alive in the mizen-
top of the Redoubtable. One of them was the
man who had given the fatal ivound : he did not
live to boast of what he had done. An old quarter-
master had seen him fire; and easily recognised
him, because he wore a glazed cocked hat and a
white frock. This quarter-master and two midship-
men, Mr. CoUingwood and Mr. Pollard, were the
only pnersons left in the Victory's poop ; — the two
midshipmen kept firing at the top, and ne supplied
1805.] i;iFE OF NELSON. 303
tliem with cartridges. One of the Frenchmen, at-
tempting to make his escape down the rigging, was
shot by Mr. Pollard, and fell on the poop. But the
old quarter-master, as he cried out, " That 's he—
that's he," and pointed at the other, who was
coming forward to fire again, received a shot in his
mouth, and fell dead. Both the midshipmen then
fired at the same time, and the fellow dropped in
the top. When they took possession of the prize,
they w^nt into the mizen-top, and found him dead ;
witii one ball through his head, and another through
his breast.
The Redoubtable struck within twenty minutes
after the fatal ishot had been fired from her. During
that time she had been twice on fire, — ^in her fore-
chains and in her forecastle. The French, as they
had done in other battles, made use, in this, of fire-
balls, and other combustibles; implements of de-
struction, which other nations, from a sense of ho-
nour and humanity, have laid aside ; which add to
the sufferings of the wounded, without determining
the issue of the combat : which hone but the cruel
would employ, and which never can be successful
against the brave. Once they succeeded in setting
fire, from the Redoubtable, to some ropes and can-
vass on the Victory's booms. The cry ran through
the ship an4 reached the cockpit : but even this
dreadful cry produced no confusion : the men dis-
played that perfect self-possession in danger by
which English seamen are characterized ; they ex-
tinguished the tlames on board their own ship, and
then hastened to extinguish them in the enemy, by
throwing buckets of water from tho gangway.
When the Redoubtable had struck, it was not prac-
ticable to board her from the Victory ; for, though
the two ships touched, the upper works of both fell
in so much, that there was a great space between
their gangways: and she could not be boarded
from the lower or middle decks, because her ports
904 UFB or nsLBOR. [1805.
\rere down. Some of our men went to lientenant
Qoilliam, and offered to swim under her bows, and
get up there ; but it was thought unfit to hazard brave
fives in this manner.
What our men would have done from gallantry,
some of the crew of the Santissima Trinidad did
to save themselves. Unable to stand the tremen-
dous fire of the Victory, whose larboard guns played
against this great four-decker, and not knowing how
else to escape them, nor where else to betake them-
selves for protection, many of them leaped overboard,
and swam to the Victory; and were actually helped up
her sides by the English during the action. The Spa-
niards began the battle with less vivacity than their
unworthy allies, but they continued it with greater
firmness. The Argonauta and Bahama were de-
fended till they had each lost about four hundred
men : the St. Juan Nepomuoeno lost three hundred
and fifty. Often as the superiority of British cou-
rage has been proved against France upon the seas,
it was never more conspicuous than in this decisive
conflict. Five of our ships were engaged muzzle
to muzzle with five of the French. In all five, the
Frenchmen lowered their lower-deck ports, and de-
serted their guns ; wMle our men continued delibe-
rately to load and fire, till they had made the victory
secure.
Once, amid his sufferings. Nelson had expressed
a wish that he were dead; but immediately the
spirit subdued the pains of death, and he wished to
live a little longer ;-^oubtless that he might hear
the completion of the victory which he had seen so
gloriously begun. That consolation — that joy — ^that
triumph was afforded him. He lived to know that
the victory was decisive ; and the last guns which
were fired at the flying enemy were heard a minute
or two before he expired. The ships which were
thus flying were four of the enemy's van, all French,
under Rear- Admiral Dumanoir. They had borne no
i805.] hOfM OF MELsoir. 305
part in the action ; and now, when they were seek
ing safety in flight, they fired not only into the Vic-
tory and Royal Sovereign as they passed, but poured
their broadsides into the Spanish captured ships;
and they were seen to back their topsails, for the
purpose of firing with more precision. The indig-
nation of the Spaniards at this detestable cruelty
from their allies, for whom they had fought so
bravely, and so profusely bled, may well be con-
ceived. It was such, that when, two days after the
action, seven of the ships t^hich had escaped into
Cadiz came out, in hopes of retaking some of the
disabled prizes, the prisoners, in the Argonauta, in
a body, offered their services to the British prize-
master, to man the guns against any of the French
fihips : saying, that if a Spanish ship came along-
side, they would quietly go below; but they re-
quested that they might be allowed to fight the
French, in resentmisnt for the murderous usage
which they had suffered at their hands. Such was
their earnestness, and such the implicit confidence
■which could be placed in Spanish honoiir, that the
^ffer was accepted, an^ they were actually stationed
at the lower-deck gifns. Dumanoir and his sqoa-
-dron were not more fortunate than the fleet from
whose destruction they fled ; they fell in with Sir
Richard Strachan, who was cruising for the Roche-
fort squadron, a.nd were all taken. Iii the better
days of France, if such a crime could then have
4)een committed, it would have received an exem-
plary punishment from the French government:
Tinder BuonapartCj it was sure Of impunity, and,
perhaps, might be thought deserving of reward.
Cut, if the Spanish court had been independent, it
would have become us to have delivered Dumanoir
and his captains up to Spain, that they might have
"been brought to trial, and hanged in sight of the re-
mains of the Spanish fleet.
The total British loss in the battle of Trafalgai;
Ce«
906 LIFE OF vmsos. [1805.
kmounted to one thousand five hundred and eighty-
seren. Twenty of the enemy struck ; but it was
not possible* to anchor the fleet, as Nelson had en-
Joined ; — a g^ale came on from the south-west ; some
of the prizes went down, some went on shore ; one
effectea its escape into C^iz; others were de-
stroyed; four only were saved and those by the
greatest exertions. The wounded Spaniards were
sent ashore, an assurance being given that tliey
should not serve till regularly exchanged ; and the
Spaniards, with a generous feeling, which would
ikot, perhaps, have been found in any other people,
offered the use of their hospitals for our wounded,
pledging the honour of Spain that they should be
carefully attended there. When the storm, after
the action, drove some of the prizes upon the coast,
they declared that the English, who were thus
thrown into their hands, should not be considered as
prisoners of war; and the Spanish soldiers gave
up their own beds to their shipwrecked enemies.
The Spanish vice-admiral Alava, died of his wounds.
VUleneuve was sent to England, and permitted to
return to France. The French government say that
he destroyed himself on the way to Paris, dreading
the consequences of a court-martial : but there is
every reason to believe that the tyrant, who never
acknowledged the loss of the battle of Trafalgar,
added Yilleneuve to the numerous victims of his
murderous policy.
It is almost superfluous to add, that all the honours
* In Uie ronner editions it was said j tlial uniiappily tbe fleet did not
anchor : Implyioff an opinion that Nelson'i; orders ought to have been
followed by bis auAeessor. From the recently published Memoirs and
Correspondeoee of Lord CoUingwood, it appears tliat this was not
practicable, and that if it had, and bad \feen done, the consequencjDS
ftom the state of tiic weather (which Nelson could not foresee) woald,
In all likelihood, bhvt been more disastrous tlian they were.
Having thus referred to Lord Collingwood's Life, I may be allowed
to say, that the publication of that volume Is indeed a national good:
—it ought to be in every officer'i caUp, and in every atateainao't ea
Jbiaoc
.1805.] UFs OF ivsusox. 307
which a gnteM country could bestow, wcie heaped
tipon the memory of Nelson. His brother was
made an earl, with a grant of j£6,000 a year; £10,000
were voted to each of his sisters : and £100,000
for the purchase of an estate. A public funeral was
decreed, and a public monument. Statues and mo-
numents also were voted by most of our principal
cities. The leaden coffin, in which he was brought
home, was cut in pieces, which were distributed as
relics of Saint Nelson, — so the gunner of the Vic-
tory called them ^^and when, at his interment, his
fag. was about to be lowered into the grave, the
sailors, who assisted at the ceremony, with one ac-
cord rent it in pieces, that each might preserve a
fragment while he lived.
The death of Nelson was felt in England as
something more than a public calamity : men started
at the intelligence, and turned pale ; as if they had
heard of the loss of a dear friend* An object of
our admiration and affection, of our pride and of
our hopes, was suddenly taken from us ; and it
seemed as if we had never, till then, known how
deeply we loved and reverenced him. What the
country had lost in its great naval hero — the greatest
of our own, and of all former times, was scarcely
taken into the account of grief. Sd perfectly, in-
deed, had he performed his part, that the maritime
war, after the battle of Trafalgar, was considered
at an end : the fleets of the enemy were not merely
defeated, but destroyed : new navies must be built,
and a new race of seamen reared for them, before
the possibility of their invading our shores could
again be contemplated. It was not, therefore, from
any selfish reflection upon the magnitude of oyr
loss that we mourned for him : the general sorrow
was of a higher cTiaracter. The people of England
grieved that funeral ceremonies, and public monu-
ments, and posthumous rewards* were all which
they could now bestow upon hhn, whom the kingn
SOB UFE OF NEXi90N. [1805^
the legislature, and the nation would hav6 alike de*
lighted to honour ; whom every tongue would have
blessed ; whose presence in every village through
which he might have passed, would have wakened
the church bells, have given schoolboys a holyday,
have drawn children from their sports to gaze upon
him, and ** old men from the chimney comer," to
look upon Nelson ere they died. The victory of
Trafalgar was celebrated, indeed, with the usual
forms of rejoicing, but they were without joy ; for
such already was the glory of the British navy,
through Nelson's surpassing genius, that it scarcely
seemed to receive any addition from the most signal
victory that ever was achieved upon the seas : and
the destruction of this mighty fleet, by which all
the maritime schemes of France were totally frus-
trated, hardly appeared to add to our security or
strength ; for while Nelson was living, to watch
the combined squadrons of the enemy, we felt our-
selves as secure as now, when they were no longer
in existence.
There was reason to suppose, from the appear-
ances upon opening the body, that, in the course
of nature, he might have attained, like his father,
to a good old age. Yet he cannot be said to have
fallen prematurely whose work was done ; nor
ought he to be lamented, who died so full of
honours, and at the height of human fame. Tlie
most triumphant death is that of the martyr ; the
most awful that of the martyred patriot ; the most
splendid that of the hero in the hour of victory:
and if the chariot and the horses of fire had been
vouchsafed for Nelson's translation, he could
scarcely have departed in a brighter blaze of glory.
He has left us, not indeed his mantle of inspira-
tion, but a name and an example, which are at \his
hour inspiring t)iousands of the youth of England :
a name which is our pride, and an example which
will eoQtinue to be our shield and our strength.
1805.] LUE OF NELSON. 309
Thus it is that the spirits of the gpreat and the wise
continue to live and to act after them ; verifying,
in this sense, the language of the old my thologist ;
Toe usv Saittȴtf noi, Acof fttyoKti Sia PnXas
THE END*
OCT 1 8 111 I.-
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