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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b3f538 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50731 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50731) diff --git a/old/50731-0.txt b/old/50731-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7e5a846..0000000 --- a/old/50731-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9644 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boys' Nelson, by Harold F. B. Wheeler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Boys' Nelson - The Story of Nelson - -Author: Harold F. B. Wheeler - -Release Date: December 20, 2015 [EBook #50731] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOYS' NELSON *** - - - - -Produced by Shaun Pinder, Charlie Howard, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber’s Note: Boldface text is enclosed in =equals signs=; -italics text is enclosed in _underscores_. - - - - - THE STORY - OF NELSON - - - - -_Uniform with this Volume_ - - -THE STORY OF NAPOLEON - - By HAROLD F. B. WHEELER, F.R.Hist.S. With 16 full-page Illustrations. - - -FAMOUS VOYAGES OF THE GREAT DISCOVERERS - - By ERIC WOOD. With 16 full-page Illustrations. - - -THE STORY OF THE CRUSADES - - By E. M. WILMOT-BUXTON, F.R.Hist.S. With 16 full-page Illustrations - by M. MEREDITH WILLIAMS. - - -STORIES OF THE SCOTTISH BORDER - - By Mr and Mrs WILLIAM PLATT. With 16 full-page Illustrations by M. - MEREDITH WILLIAMS. - - -[Illustration: The “Belleisle” went into action at Trafalgar with the -words “Victory or Death” chalked on her guns - -Frank Craig, from a sketch by C. W. Cole - -_Fr._] - - - - - THE BOYS’ - NELSON - - _BY_ - HAROLD F. B. WHEELER F.R.Hist.S. - - MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION - JOINT-AUTHOR OF - ‘NAPOLEON AND THE INVASION OF ENGLAND’ AND - ‘THE WAR IN WEXFORD 1798’ - AUTHOR OF - ‘THE MIND OF NAPOLEON’ ‘THE BOYS’ NAPOLEON’ AND - ‘THE MAXIMS OF NAPOLEON’ - - - ‘_He is the only man who has ever lived - who, by universal consent, is without a peer_’ - - ADMIRAL SIR CYPRIAN BRIDGE G.C.B. - - - NEW YORK - THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - -_Printed by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_ - - - - -DEDICATED TO - -MY FATHER AND MOTHER - - - - -Foreword - - -The career of the little one-eyed, one-armed man who frustrated -Napoleon’s ambitious maritime plans for the subjugation of England, -who is to sailors what Napoleon is to soldiers, who represented in -his person all that sea power meant when the very existence of our -forefathers was threatened in the latter days of the eighteenth century -and the first half-decade of its successor, must ever appeal to those -for whom Great Britain means something more than a splash of red on a -coloured map. - -I do not wish to suggest that his fame is insular. On the contrary, it -is universal. Other lands and other peoples share in our admiration -of him. We must not forget that it was an American naval officer, -Admiral Mahan, who first gave us a really great book about this truly -great man. In his “Life of Nelson,” we have the hero’s career reviewed -by an expert whose knowledge of tactics has not blinded him to the -more romantic aspects of Nelson’s forty-seven years of life. Before -its appearance readers were dependent upon the facts and fancies of -the biography by Clarke and McArthur, the “Memoirs” of Pettigrew, -or the stirring but often inaccurate pictures of Southey. The seven -substantial tomes of “Nelson’s Letters and Despatches,” edited with -indefatigable industry by Sir Harris Nicolas, were not compiled for the -general public, although they have furnished much material for later -historians and must necessarily be the foundation of every modern book -on Nelson. - -On our own side of the Atlantic there is no more eminent authority -than Sir J. Knox Laughton, Litt.D., Professor of Modern History at -King’s College, London. He has not only epitomised Nicolas’s work, -but added to our knowledge by his excellent “Nelson” (English Men of -Action Series), “Nelson and his Companions in Arms,” and “From Howard -to Nelson.” His numerous miscellaneous contributions to the subject are -also of great interest to the serious student. - -Although there is no Nelson cult like that which is associated with the -memory of Napoleon, England’s great sailor has inspired a considerable -literature, as even the shelves of my own library bear witness. There -are works on his career as a whole, the campaigns associated with his -name, his relations with Lady Hamilton, and so on. The only excuse I -can offer for adding to the list is, I hope, a valid one. It seems to -me that Nelson’s life, told in his own words as much as possible, would -specially appeal to the young, and there is, so far as I am aware, no -book which does this in the simple manner which I deem to be necessary. -For help in carrying out my plan of writing a volume of the kind -indicated I am particularly indebted to Nicolas’s “Letters” and Prof. -Sir J. Knox Laughton’s edition of them. - -For good or evil the name of Emma, Lady Hamilton, is inextricably -associated with that of Nelson. Many and varied have been the attempts -to whitewash the character of her whom he regarded as “one of the -very best women in the world.” While it is difficult to associate the -possessor of the beauty which appealed with such irresistible force to -such painters as Romney, Reynolds, Lawrence, and Madame Vigée Le Brun, -with “a most inherent baseness,” it is an indisputable fact that she -exercised an adverse influence on Nelson’s career. Her humble origin, -her loveliness, her poses, her attempts at statecraft, above all, her -connection with the great sailor, have made her the subject of almost -innumerable volumes. For those who wish to read an impartial study I -would recommend Mr Walter Sichel’s “Emma, Lady Hamilton.” - -Nelson’s written communications are not studied literary efforts, but -spontaneous expressions of his inmost thoughts. For these reasons they -are of inestimable value in an attempt to sum up his life and aims. -The kindest of men, he sometimes chose to mix vitriol with his ink. He -wrote what he meant, and it was always very much to the point. Less -eminent folk have sometimes disguised what they thought and written -what they imagined would please. Such was never Nelson’s way. - -“This high man with a great thing to pursue,”[1] was never a trifler. -He recognised the importance of a supreme navy and the supreme -importance of its _personnel_. He watched the health of his men as a -loving mother watches that of her children. Proof of this is furnished -in a Report of the Physician to the Fleet, dated the 14th August -1805.[2] In it Dr Leonard Gillespie says that “the high state of -health” was “unexampled perhaps in any fleet or squadron heretofore -employed on a foreign station.” He attributes this to such causes as -the attention paid to the victualling and purveying for the ships; -a sane system of heating and ventilation; lack of idleness and -intemperance, due to “the constant activity and motion in which the -fleet was preserved”; the promotion of cheerfulness by means of music, -dancing, and theatrical amusements; comfortable accommodation of the -sick; and by the serving of Peruvian bark, mixed in wines or spirits, -to men “employed on the service of wooding and watering,” which -obviated any ill effects. - -Nelson was quite able to “stand on his dignity,” to use a colloquial -and comprehensive phrase, and several instances will be discovered by -the reader as he peruses the following pages, but it is quite wrong -to think that he was in the least a martinet. For instance, during -the trying period when he was hungering for the French fleet to leave -Toulon, he wrote to an officer: “We must all in our several stations -exert ourselves to the utmost, and not be nonsensical in saying, ‘I -have an order for this, that, or the other,’ if the king’s service -clearly marks what ought to be done.” Everyone has heard how Nelson -referred to his captains and himself as “a band of brothers.” You have -only to turn to the memoirs of these gallant officers to learn the -truthfulness of this remark. They loved him: that is the only term that -exactly meets the case. - -What of the humbler men who worked the ships? Read the following, -which was sent home by a rough but large-hearted sailor of the _Royal -Sovereign_, Collingwood’s flagship at Trafalgar, when he heard that the -Master Mariner lay cold in the gloomy cockpit of the _Victory_: “Our -dear Admiral is killed, so we have paid pretty sharply for licking ’em. -I never set eyes on him, for which I am both sorry and glad; for to be -sure I should like to have seen him--but then, all the men in our ship -who have seen him are such soft toads, they have done nothing but blast -their eyes and cry ever since he was killed. God bless you! Chaps that -fought like the Devil sit down and cry like a wench.” - -This spontaneous and perhaps unconscious tribute is worth more than the -encomiums of all modern historians and biographers put together. - -In studying the life of one who has played a leading rôle on the stage -of history there are always a number of subsidiary authorities which -will repay perusal. The memoirs of the men who were associated with -him, of those of his contemporaries who occupied official or high -social positions, even of much humbler folk who have transferred their -opinions to paper or had it done for them, are oftentimes extremely -important. To print a bibliography of the works of this kind which -I have consulted would be inadvisable in such a volume as this, -necessarily limited as it is to a certain number of pages. I need only -say that the nooks and crannies have been explored besides the main -thoroughfare. - -In the Foreword to my companion volume upon Napoleon, I endeavoured -to show that periods of history are merely make-believe divisions for -purposes of clearness and reference. I wish to still further emphasise -this extremely important point, because I find that one of our most -cherished delusions is that history is largely a matter of dates. -Nothing of the kind! Those who think thus are confusing history with -chronology--in other words, mistaking one of the eyes for the whole -body. Dates are merely useful devices similar to the numerals on the -dial of a clock, which enable us to know the hour of the day without -abstruse calculations. The figures 1805 help us to memorise a certain -concrete event, such as the battle of Trafalgar, but they do not tell -us anything of the origin of that event any more than a clock defines -the meaning of time. - -The age in which Nelson lived was not conspicuous for its morals. This -is a factor which must be taken into consideration when we attempt to -sum up his character. The standards of 1911 are scarcely the standards -of over a century ago. The code of virtue varies, although the law does -not. The grave of Nelson’s moral reputation was dug in Sicily, where he -had every provocation, but he certainly never attempted to extricate -himself from the pit into which he had fallen. “_De mortuis nil nisi -bonum_” is a good maxim for the Gospel of Things as they Ought to Be, -but cannot apply to the Testament of Things as they Were. The vanity -of both Nelson and Lady Hamilton contributed to their downfall, the -sordid story of which is necessarily referred to in later pages of this -work. I am of opinion that the lack of sympathy shown to the Admiral, -particularly during Pitt’s administrations, was largely due to Court -influence. George III. was a man of frigid austerity, and Nelson’s -private life was too well known for the King to countenance it by -showing him favours. He recognised the value of the man’s services, but -preferred to take as little notice as possible of the man himself. In -this he was unjust. - -Although Nelson hated the French so vehemently, I cannot help thinking, -after a prolonged study of his career, that he had many of their -characteristics. His vivacity, his imagination, his moods tend to -confirm me in this. A less typical specimen of John Bull would be -difficult to find. - -A word or two concerning Nelson’s crowning victory and then I must -bring my lengthy introduction to a conclusion. It has a literature all -its own. A wordy warfare, which was indulged in the correspondence -columns of the _Times_ from July to October 1905, made one almost -believe that it is easier to fight a battle than to describe it -accurately. To use Prof. Sir J. Knox Laughton’s terse phrase, “the -difficulty is that the traditional account of the battle differs, in -an important detail, from the prearranged plan.” The late Admiral -Colomb held a brief for the theory that the two columns of the British -fleet moved in line abreast, or in line of bearing, as against the -old supposition of two columns, line ahead. In this contention, he is -supported by Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, G.C.B., whose ideas are set -forth in a pamphlet issued by the Navy Records Society, an institution -which is doing excellent work in rescuing historical documents relating -to the service from ill-deserved oblivion. To add further to the -discussion would probably serve no useful purpose. The second volume of -“Logs of the Great Sea-fights (1794-1805),” and “Fighting Instructions, -1530-1816,” both published by the Society already mentioned, will be -found extremely useful to those who would pursue the subject in detail. - -Tennyson’s “Mighty Seaman” has been apotheosised in poetry as well as -in prose, - - “_For he is Britain’s Admiral - Till setting of her sun,_” - -to quote Meredith’s superb lines. Wordsworth, Scott, Rossetti, Henley, -Swinburne, Newbolt and others have said noble things of the Man of -Duty, while Nelson looms large in Thomas Hardy’s magnificent epic, “The -Dynasts.” No one who has read it is likely to forget: - - “_In the wild October night-time, when the wind raved round the land, - And the Back-Sea met the Front-Sea, and our doors were blocked with - sand, - And we heard the drub of Deadman’s Bay, where the bones of thousands - are, - We knew not what the day had done for us at Trafalgar._ - - (ALL) _Had done, - Had done, - For us at Trafalgar!_ - - * * * * * - - _The victors and the vanquished then the storm it tossed and tore, - As hard they strove, those worn-out men, upon that surly shore; - Dead Nelson and his half-dead crew, his foes from near and far, - Were rolled together on the deep that night at Trafalgar._ - - (ALL) _The deep, - The deep, - That night at Trafalgar!_” - - - - -Contents - - - PAGE - - FOREWORD 7 - - CHAP. - - I. BOYHOOD AND FIRST YEARS AT SEA 19 - - II. A HERO IN THE MAKING 29 - - III. PLEASURE IN FRANCE AND WORK IN THE WEST INDIES 42 - - IV. THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT WAR 52 - - V. “I WISH TO BE AN ADMIRAL” 66 - - VI. NELSON’S FIRST GREAT FIGHT: THE BATTLE OF CAPE ST VINCENT 74 - - VII. FROM TRIUMPH TO FAILURE: THE ATTEMPT ON SANTA CRUZ 87 - - VIII. IN CHASE OF THE FRENCH FLEET 96 - - IX. THE BATTLE OF THE NILE 102 - - X. THE NEAPOLITAN COURT AND LADY HAMILTON 112 - - XI. THE NEAPOLITAN REBELS AND THEIR FRENCH ALLIES 125 - - XII. NELSON IN TEMPORARY COMMAND 139 - - XIII. DISOBEDIENCE TO ORDERS 148 - - XIV. THE CAMPAIGN OF THE BALTIC 162 - - XV. THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN 171 - - XVI. THE THREATENED INVASION OF ENGLAND 182 - - XVII. THE VIGIL OFF TOULON 195 - - XVIII. TWELVE WEARY MONTHS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 207 - - XIX. THE CRISIS 215 - - XX. NELSON’S LAST COMMAND 225 - - XXI. THE ROUT IN TRAFALGAR BAY 232 - - - - -Illustrations - - - PAGE - - THE “BELLEISLE” AT TRAFALGAR (_Frank Craig_) _Frontispiece_ - - NELSON AND THE BEAR (_Stephen Reid_) 26 - - “HE HAD THE ILL-LUCK TO FALL UPON HARD STONES” - (_Stephen Reid_) 44 - - COMPARISON OF THE “VICTORY” WITH THE “HERCULES” 64 - - “I’LL NOT LOSE HARDY!” (_H. C. Seppings Wright_) 76 - - NELSON WOUNDED AT SANTA CRUZ (_R. Caton Woodville_) 90 - - “THE FLAME THAT LIT THE BATTLE’S WRECK” (_Chas. Dixon, R.I._) 106 - - THE EXECUTION OF CARACCIOLO (_Stephen Reid_) 136 - - LADY HAMILTON (_Romney_) 156 - - NELSON LANDING AT YARMOUTH (_Stephen Reid_) 160 - - “I REALLY DO NOT SEE THE SIGNAL” (_Stephen Reid_) 172 - - LORD NELSON 192 - - HOISTING THE FAMOUS SIGNAL (_C. M. Padday_) 234 - - NELSON AND COLLINGWOOD CUTTING THE ENEMY’S LINES - (_H. C. Seppings Wright_) 238 - - THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR (_W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A._) 242 - - HOW THE NEWS OF TRAFALGAR WAS CARRIED TO LONDON - (_Frank Dadd, R.I._) 246 - - - - - _For ages past our admirals brave - Pre-eminent have stood; - And, spite of all the world, have held - The mast’ry of the flood, - Howe, Duncan, Hood, - And Collingwood, - Long triumphed o’er the main; - While Nelson’s name, - So dear to Fame!-- - We may never see their like again_ - - - - -[Illustration: The headpiece, a sketch by Mr W. L. Wyllie, R.A., is -printed by permission of the Art Union of London, 112 Strand.] - - - - -Chapter I--Boyhood and First Years at Sea (1758-1773) - - -Thus[3] runs one of the verses of a song dear to the British sailor -for many a long year. Nelson, dead over a century, is still revered in -the King’s Navy. To the landsman there is no more popular hero. The -_Victory_, riding at anchor in the placid waters of the Solent and in -view of the cobble-covered sally port through which the Hero walked -to his barge, still flies an admiral’s flag. One of the most modern -battleships in the service bears his name, the most famous of London’s -many columns is crowned by his effigy. Canvas sails have given place -to steam turbines, the days of oak and hemp are gone, but the memory -of “the greatest sea captain of all time” is at once an incentive and -an inspiration to every true patriot. His ashes lie in the crypt of St -Paul’s Cathedral; his spirit lives in the nation for whom he sacrificed -his life. Perhaps we should not be far wrong in venturing the apparent -paradox that the further we recede from his life and times the more -clearly we understand his consummate genius and appreciate the value -of his achievements. There is no sunset, only an added glory with the -passing of the years. - -Horatio Nelson was born in the quaint old parsonage house of Burnham -Thorpe, a Norfolk Sleepy Hollow, on the 29th September 1758. His -father, the Rev. Edmund Nelson, M.A., was rector of the parish, and as -a clergyman was following the profession of his immediate ancestor. -His mother, Catherine Nelson, was the daughter of the Rev. Dr Maurice -Suckling, Rector of Wooton, Norfolk, Prebendary of Westminster, and -grandnephew of Sir John Suckling, whose name is known to all students -of English literature and of history. Galfridus Walpole, another of -Mrs Nelson’s relatives, had displayed considerable bravery in an -engagement with the French in Vado Bay in 1711. It was through Captain -Maurice Suckling, Nelson’s uncle, that the young son of the parsonage -eventually entered the Navy. In addition, his mother was a grandniece -of Sir Robert Walpole, the famous Whig statesman, and could therefore -boast a distinguished lineage. - -Horatio was the sixth child of a constantly growing family, and early -caused anxiety owing to his delicate constitution. In later years his -letters and despatches teem with reference to his ill-health, which -was accentuated, of course, by injuries which he received in the -performance of his duty. However, he breathed deeply of the North Sea -air which wafted through his native village, was tenderly cared for -by loving parents, and became sufficiently robust to be sent to the -High School at Norwich. The venerable building, endowed by Edward VI., -stands within the cathedral precincts. It is now fronted by a statue of -its illustrious scholar. Later he attended a school at North Walsham, -now one of the yachting centres of the Norfolk Broads, where the -curious will find a brick on which the letters H. N. are scratched. - -It is somewhat remarkable that so few boys who become great men -ever attract sufficient notice during their early scholastic career -for their comrades to remember anecdotes about them likely to be of -assistance to the biographer. Few anecdotes of Nelson in his younger -days have been handed down to posterity, but the following have -probably some basis of fact. - -When quite a small boy he stayed for a time with his grandmother. On -one occasion he did not return at the accustomed dinner-hour, thereby -causing the good dame considerable anxiety, especially as gipsies -were in the neighbourhood and kidnapping was by no means unknown. He -was eventually found seated on the banks of a brook examining with -considerable interest a number of birds’ eggs he had secured in company -with a chum. “I wonder, child, that fear did not drive you home!” the -old lady said when the missing Horatio was restored to her. “Fear, -grandmamma!” he replied in a tone of disgust, “I never saw fear--what -is it?” - -There you have the secret of Nelson’s life summed up in a single -pregnant sentence. His total lack of fear carried him through many a -trying ordeal, enabled him at times to defy the command of a senior -officer when he was convinced that his own plan of operations was -better, and helped him to bear the heat and burden of the day when his -physical energy was almost exhausted. - -On another occasion he was “dared” by some companions to visit the -graveyard unattended at night. As a token of good faith he was to -bring a twig from a certain yew tree at the south-west corner of All -Saints’ Church. The uncanny task was successfully accomplished. From -thenceforth he was a hero, as he deserved to be. - -A further instance of Nelson’s early lack of fear is afforded us. His -master at North Walsham was particularly proud of a certain pear-tree, -and his scholars were equally covetous of the delicious fruit which -it bore. Each preferred the other in the task of picking any of the -pears because of the speedy retribution which they knew would follow. -One night Horatio volunteered the task. His friends tied several sheets -together and lowered him from the dormitory to the garden. He swarmed -up the tree, secured the forbidden and therefore much prized fruit, and -was hauled up again. On distributing the booty, he justified his action -in his own mind by assuring the recipients that he had only taken the -pears “because every other boy was afraid.” Few hours passed before -the schoolmaster found that his tree had been plundered. It redounds -to the credit of the boys that they refused to “split” on their -comrade, although it is said that a tempting reward was offered for the -discovery of the culprit. - -One winter morning Horatio and his brother William set out for school -on their ponies. They had not gone very far before they found the snow -so deep as to be almost impassable. They returned to the Parsonage and -told their father of the great drifts. He persuaded them to try again, -adding that he left it to their honour not to turn back unless it was -absolutely necessary. - -The snow was falling in heavy flakes when they made their second -attempt. William’s heart soon failed him. He suggested that they had -sufficient reason to return. Horatio was as adamant. “Father left it -to our honour. We must go forward,” he replied, and in due course they -arrived at the school. - -William, who was the elder by seventeen months, had the greatest -affection and esteem for his brother. In later years he was his -constant correspondent, and after Horatio’s death he was created Earl -Nelson of Trafalgar. Like his father and grandfather, William became a -clergyman, in which profession he rose to the dignity of Prebendary and -Vice Dean of Canterbury. - -It was during the Christmas vacation of 1770 that Nelson casually -picked up a newspaper and read of Captain Maurice Suckling’s -appointment to the _Raisonnable_, a ship of sixty-four guns. The -announcement seems to have had an instant effect upon Horatio. “Oh, -William,” he exclaimed to his brother, who was standing near, “do, _do_ -write to father, and tell him that I want to go to sea with uncle!” - -The Rev. Edmund Nelson was staying at Bath owing to ill-health. When he -received his son’s letter he was inclined to dismiss the proposition -as a mere boyish whim. On thinking it over a little more carefully he -decided that perhaps the youngster really desired what he asked, and -he accordingly consulted his brother-in-law on the matter. The officer -replied in the easy-going manner of sailors, “Well, let him come and -have his head knocked off by the first cannon-ball--that will provide -for him.” He was afraid Horatio would never be able to stand the -rough-and-ready life, but he had the good sense to know that there is -nothing like putting a theory to a practical test. - -The Navy was not then the skilfully-organised machine it has since -become. It was one of the privileges of a captain that he might take -two or three lads to sea with him as midshipmen or to serve in some -subordinate position. Captain Suckling accordingly sent for Horatio, -and we find his name on the ship’s books under date of the 1st January -1771. The _Raisonnable_ was then anchored in the Medway. - -The lad’s father accompanied his twelve-year-old son as far as London, -put him into the Chatham stagecoach, and then left him to his own -resources. It was neither a pleasant journey in the rambling old -carriage, nor were the streets of Chatham particularly inviting when -he set foot in them. Nobody met the adventurer, and for some time he -wandered about until he met an officer who directed him to the ship -which was to be his temporary home. When he was safely on board it was -to find that his uncle had not arrived.[4] - -The _Raisonnable_ was one of the vessels commissioned when hostilities -between Great Britain and Spain appeared imminent owing to trouble -respecting the Falkland Islands, a group in the South Atlantic. In -1770 Spain had insulted the British colonists there by compelling the -garrison at Fort Egmont to lower their flag. The matter was settled -amicably, for the all-sufficient reason that Spain did not feel strong -enough to come to blows with Great Britain unless she was assisted -by France, and as the support of that Power was not forthcoming, she -climbed down. Consequently Nelson was not introduced to the horrors of -naval warfare at this early stage, and the cannon-ball which his uncle -prophesied would knock off the lad’s head did not leave the cannon’s -mouth. - -When the _Raisonnable_ was paid off Captain Suckling was given command -of the guard-ship _Triumph_ (74), stationed in the Medway, and -recognising that no good could come to his nephew by staying on such a -vessel, he secured a position for him shortly afterwards in a merchant -ship bound for the West Indies. This was not a difficult matter, -because the Master was John Rathbone, who had served with Suckling -on the _Dreadnought_ during part of the Seven Years’ War, that great -struggle in which Louis XV. of France had been forced to cede Canada to -Great Britain. - -Nelson seems to have enjoyed the experience. In a sketch of his life, -which he wrote several years later for the _Naval Chronicle_, he says: - -“From this voyage I returned to the _Triumph_ at Chatham in July 1772; -and, if I did not improve in my education, I returned a practical -seaman, with a horror of the Royal Navy, and with a saying, then -constant with the seamen, ‘Aft the most honour, forward the better -man!’ It was many weeks before I got in the least reconciled to a -man-of-war, so deep was the prejudice rooted; and what pains were taken -to instil this erroneous principle in a young mind! However, as my -ambition was to be a seaman, it was always held out as a reward, that -if I attended well to my navigation, I should go in the cutter and -decked longboat, which was attached to the commanding officer’s ship -at Chatham. Thus by degrees I became a good pilot, for vessels of that -description, from Chatham to the Tower of London, down the Swin, and to -the North Foreland; and confident of myself amongst rocks and sands, -which has many times since been of the very greatest comfort to me. -In this way I was trained, till the expedition towards the North Pole -was fitted out; when, although no boys were allowed to go in the ships -(as of no use), yet nothing could prevent my using every interest to -go with Captain Lutwidge in the _Carcass_; and, as I fancied I was to -fill a man’s place, I begged I might be his coxswain: which, finding my -ardent desire for going with him, Captain Lutwidge complied with, and -has continued the strictest friendship to this moment. Lord Mulgrave, -who I then first knew, continued his kindest friendship and regard to -the last moment of his life. When the boats were fitted out to quit the -two ships blocked up in the ice, I exerted myself to have the command -of a four-oared cutter raised upon, which was given me, with twelve -men; and I prided myself in fancying I could navigate her better than -any other boat in the ship.” - -In this cold, matter-of-fact way, Nelson dismisses a phase of his life -fraught with peril and adventure. When the majority, if not all, of his -former school-fellows were reading of the doings of gallant seamen and -brave soldiers he was undergoing actual experiences. The expedition in -question had been suggested by the Royal Society, and was commanded -by Captain Constantine John Phipps, eldest son of Lord Mulgrave. The -_Racehorse_ and _Carcass_, heavy ships known as bombs because they -mounted one or more mortars for use in bombardments when on ordinary -service, sailed from the Nore on the 4th June 1773. All went well -until the 31st July, when the ice closed upon the vessels, and further -progress became impossible. - -[Illustration: Nelson and the Bear - -Stephen Reid] - -“The following day,” says Colonel J. M. Tucker in his “Life and Naval -Memoirs of Lord Nelson,” “there was not the smallest opening, the -ships were within less than two lengths of each other. 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 the 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 quarter. By the pilot’s advice, the men were set to -cut a passage and warp[5] through the small openings to the westward. -They sawed through pieces of ice twelve feet thick; and this labour -continued the whole day, during which their utmost efforts did not move -the ships above three hundred yards, while they were driven together, -with the ice, far to the north-east and east by the current. Sometimes -a field of several acres square would be lifted up between two larger -islands, and incorporated with them; and thus these larger pieces -continued to grow by cohesive aggregation. Another day passed, and -there seemed no probability of getting the ships out, without a strong -east or north-east wind. - -“The season was far advanced, and every hour lessened the chance of -extricating themselves. Young as he was, Nelson was appointed to -command one of the boats which were sent out to explore a passage 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.... The wounded animal dived -immediately, and brought up a number of its companions; and they all -joined in an attack upon the boat. They wrested an oar from one of the -men; and it was with the utmost difficulty that the crew could prevent -them from staving or upsetting her, till the _Carcass’s_ boat, under -Nelson, came up. The walrusses, finding their enemies thus reinforced, -dispersed. - -“A short time after this occurrence, young Nelson exposed himself -in a more daring manner. One night, during the mid-watch, he stole -from the ship with one of his comrades, taking advantage of a rising -fog, and set out over the ice in pursuit of a bear. Nelson, in high -spirits, led the way over the frightful chasms in the ice, armed with -a rusty musket, as was his companion. It was not, however, long before -the adventurers were missed by those on board; and, as the fog had -much increased, the anxiety of Captain Lutwidge and his officers for -them was very great. Between three and four in the morning, the mist -having nearly dispersed, the hunters were discovered at a considerable -distance, attacking a large bear. The signal for their return was -instantly made; but it was in vain that Nelson’s companion urged him -to obey it. He was at this time divided by a rent in the ice from his -shaggy antagonist, which probably saved his life; for the musket had -flashed in the pan, and their ammunition was expended. ‘Never mind,’ -exclaimed Horatio, ‘do but let me get a blow at this devil with the -butt end of my musket, and we shall have him.’ His companion, finding -that entreaty was in vain, left him, and regained the ship. The -Captain, seeing the young adventurer’s danger, ordered a gun to be -fired to terrify the enraged animal; this had the desired effect; but -Nelson was obliged to return without his bear. Captain Lutwidge, though -he could not but admire so daring a disposition, reprimanded him rather -sternly for such rashness, and for conduct so unworthy of the situation -he occupied; and desired to know what motive he could have for hunting -a bear. ‘Sir,’ he replied, pouting his lip, as he was wont to do when -agitated, ‘I wished to kill a bear, that I might carry its skin to my -father.’” - -Towards the middle of August the two ships were able to forge their way -through the ice, although not without considerable difficulty, and duly -sailed for home waters. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -A Hero in the Making - -(1773-1783) - - “_True honour, I hope, predominates in my mind far above riches_” - --NELSON. - - -We are fortunate in having an account of Nelson’s early career at sea -penned by himself, otherwise the material at our disposal would be -extremely scanty. The story of the next few years is therefore told -in his own words. What it lacks in picturesqueness is made up for in -authenticity: - -“On our arrival in England,” he says, “and paid off, 15 October [1773], -I found that a squadron was fitting out for the East Indies; and -nothing less than such a distant voyage could in the least satisfy my -desire of maritime knowledge: and I was placed in the _Seahorse_ of 20 -guns, with Captain Farmer, and watched in the foretop; from whence in -time I was placed on the quarter-deck: having, in the time I was in -this ship, visited almost every part of the East Indies, from Bengal to -Bussorah. Ill-health induced Sir Edward Hughes, who had always shown -me the greatest kindness, to send me to England in the _Dolphin_ of -20 guns, with Captain James Pigot, whose kindness at that time saved -my life. This ship was paid off at Woolwich on 24 September, 1776. On -the 26th I received an order from Sir James Douglas, who commanded -at Portsmouth, to act as lieutenant of the _Worcester_, 64, Captain -Mark Robinson, who was ordered to Gibraltar with a convoy.[6] In this -ship I was at sea with convoys till 2 April, 1777, and in very bad -weather. But although my age might have been a sufficient cause for not -entrusting me with the charge of a watch, yet Captain Robinson used to -say, ‘he felt as easy when I was upon deck, as any officer in the ship.’ - -“On [the 9th] April, 1777, I passed my examination as a lieutenant; -and received my commission the next day, as second lieutenant of the -_Lowestoffe_ frigate of 32 guns, Captain (now Lieutenant-Governor of -Greenwich Hospital) William Locker. In this ship I went to Jamaica; but -even a frigate was not sufficiently active for my mind, and I got into -a schooner, tender to the _Lowestoffe_. In this vessel I made myself a -complete pilot for all the passages through the (Keys) Islands situated -on the north side [of] Hispaniola. Whilst in this frigate, an event -happened which presaged my character; and, as it conveys no dishonour -to the officer alluded to, I shall relate it. - -“Blowing a gale of wind, and very heavy sea, the frigate captured an -American letter of marque.[7] The first lieutenant was ordered to board -her, which he did not, owing to the very high sea. On his return on -board, the captain said, ‘Have I no officer in the ship who can board -the prize?’ On which the master ran to the gangway, to get into the -boat; when I stopped him, saying, ‘It is my turn now; and if I come -back, it is yours.’ This little incident has often occurred to my mind; -and I know it is my disposition, that difficulties and dangers do but -increase my desire of attempting them. - -“Sir Peter Parker, soon after his arrival at Jamaica, 1778, took me -into his own flag-ship, the _Bristol_, as third lieutenant; from which -I rose by succession to be first. Nothing particular happened whilst I -was in this ship, which was actively employed off Cape François, being -the commencement of the French war.” - -A few words with reference to the hostilities mentioned are needed as -explanation. The war between Great Britain and her colonists in North -America, which culminated in the birth of a new World-Power, now known -as the United States, had broken out in 1775, although the seeds of -dissension had been sown much earlier. This unfortunate and disastrous -quarrel had also embroiled “the mother of nations” in a strife with -France and Spain, whose help the New Englanders secured in 1778 and -1779 respectively. In 1780 Holland became involved. The foolishness of -not having sufficiently watched the doings of a potential enemy now -became apparent. For several years “resolute Choiseul, the abrupt proud -man” of Carlyle, had bent his energies on increasing the French navy, -and when the Brest fleet of thirty-two sail-of-the-line, under Count -D’Orvilliers, met the British fleet of thirty sail, under Vice-Admiral -the Hon. A. Keppel, off Ushant on the 27th July 1778, the action was -indecisive. In American waters Lord Howe hove in sight of the fleet -under D’Estaing, the French commander having better ships and heavier -metal, but while Howe was manœuvring to attack the enemy a storm parted -the would-be contestants. Both suffered considerable damage by wind and -not by shot as had been anticipated. Shortly afterwards Admiral Byron -took over Howe’s command and endeavoured to come up with D’Estaing’s -ships. Unfortunately the Frenchman had sailed to the West Indies, which -“in this protracted contest,” to use the words of Admiral Mahan, was to -be “the chief scene of naval hostilities....” “The West Indies is the -Station for honour,” said Nelson sometime later. Froude, the historian, -predicted that “If ever the naval exploits of this country are done -into an epic poem--and since the _Iliad_ there has been no subject -better fitted for such treatment or better deserving it--the West -Indies will be the scene of the most brilliant cantos.” We shall have -occasion to refer to this great strategic point many times in these -pages, especially in the great game of hide-and-seek between Napoleon’s -captains and Nelson immediately preceding the Trafalgar campaign.[8] -The year 1778 was not a brilliant one in British naval annals, although -it closed by Hotham and Barrington attacking D’Estaing off St Lucia and -preventing him from landing more than half the troops intended for the -subjugation of that island. As a consequence the force under Chevalier -de Michaud surrendered, and St Lucia was won. - -“On 8 December, 1778,” Nelson continues, “I was appointed commander -of the _Badger_ brig; and was first sent to protect the Mosquito -shore, and the Bay of Honduras, from the depredations of the American -privateers. Whilst on this service, I gained so much the affections -of the settlers, that they unanimously voted me their thanks, and -expressed their regret on my leaving them; entrusting to me to describe -to Sir Peter Parker and Sir John Dalling their situation, should -a war with Spain break out. Whilst I commanded this brig, H.M.S. -_Glasgow_, Captain Thomas Lloyd, came into Montego Bay, Jamaica, where -the _Badger_ was laying: in two hours afterwards she took fire by a -cask of rum; and Captain Lloyd will tell you, that it was owing to my -exertions, joined to his, that her whole crew were rescued from the -flames.” - -This stirring incident merits a more detailed description than the bare -facts which Nelson chose to set forth. The crew was in a panic when he -and his men set foot on the deck of the doomed vessel, and by almost -superhuman exertions managed to throw all the gunpowder in the magazine -overboard before the flames reached it. He also ordered that the loaded -cannon should be directed upward, so that when they exploded, owing to -the intense heat, no damage would result. Thus early in his career did -Nelson show that he was not at a loss when the unusual and unexpected -happened. In a letter to Captain Locker, who was ill, the young officer -describes the fate of the _Glasgow_ as “a most shocking sight; and had -it happened half an hour later, in all probability a great many people -would have been lost.” He also notes that the company of the derelict -were falling ill very fast owing to the constant tropical rains to -which the men were exposed, there being no room for them on the -_Badger_. - -“On 11 June, 1779,” Nelson continues, “I was made post into the -_Hinchinbrook_. When, being at sea, and Count d’Estaing arriving at -Hispaniola (Haïti) with a very large fleet and army from Martinique, an -attack on Jamaica was expected. In this critical state, I was by both -admiral and general entrusted with the command of the batteries at Port -Royal; and I need not say, as the defence of this place was the key to -the port of the whole naval force, the town of Kingston, and Spanish -Town, it was the most important post in the whole island.” - -D’Estaing’s fleet consisted of twenty-two sail-of-the-line, excluding -transports and privateers which had attached themselves to him, and it -was commonly reported that he had no fewer than 20,000 troops on board. -Nelson, as noted above, was now Post-Captain, and although he had no -occasion to prove his ability as a commander of land batteries, he -seems to have taken kindly to the situation. In a letter to his friend -Captain Parker, dated the 12th August 1779, he states that “Jamaica is -turned upside down since you left it,” and furnishes particulars of the -measures made for the defence of the island. “You must not be surprised -to hear of my learning to speak French,” he remarks as a humorous aside. - -To help to achieve the downfall of the wily d’Estaing was not to fall -to Nelson’s lot. That worthy hastened to Savannah, which was attacked -by troops under General Lincoln and himself. They were routed by the -British lines, whereupon d’Estaing sailed away. - -Great Britain was now at war with Spain, which had thrown in her lot -with France, and was soon to feel the effects of the Armed Neutrality, -consisting of Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Prussia. They -resented England’s right to search neutral ships, with the result -that the latter Power could not retain her supremacy at sea, a cause -of Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown and the consequent loss of the -American Colonies. In January 1780 it was resolved to make an attempt -to take the important post of Fort San Juan, on the river of that name. -This would materially aid the British to secure the city of Granada, -on Lake Nicaragua, and to sever the communications of the enemy -between their northern and southern dominions. The idea originated -with Dalling, Governor of Jamaica, to whom history has scarcely done -justice. The naval force was entrusted to Nelson, the command of the -troops to Captain John Polson. - -The soldiers at the disposal of the intrepid adventurers were a mere -handful, scarcely 500 in all, but perhaps that fact added the necessary -spice of danger. Nelson left his ship, and “carried troops in boats one -hundred miles up a river, which none but Spaniards since the time of -the buccaneers had ever ascended,” to use his own words. He “boarded” -an outpost of the enemy, situated on an island in the river; “made -batteries, and afterwards fought them, and was a principal cause of -our success.” When the miniature expedition arrived at Fort San Juan -the rainy season had commenced, bringing malaria in its train. Nelson -was all for making an immediate attack, but Polson ruled the slower, -and perhaps surer, method of erecting batteries and so forth, in which -Nelson lent a willing hand. “I want words to express the obligations I -owe to Captain Nelson,” Polson told Governor Dalling. “He was the first -on every service, whether by day or night. There was not a gun fired -but was pointed by him, or by Captain Despard, Chief Engineer.” Fever -played havoc with the men; of the 200 sailors of the _Hinchinbrook_, -no fewer than “eighty-seven took to their beds in one night; and of -the two hundred, one hundred and forty-five were buried in mine and -Captain Collingwood’s[9] time: and I believe very few, not more than -ten, survived of that ship’s crew; a proof how necessary expedition is -in those climates.” Nelson’s own health was undermined by dysentery. -A few hours before the Spanish flag gave place to the Union Jack he -left the region of the fort in order to join the _Janus_ (44 guns), of -which he had been given command. The ship being stationed at Jamaica, -he was taken to Port Royal in a sloop. Here he met with a good and -tender-hearted friend in Lady Parker, the wife of Sir Peter Parker, -Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica, but he gained so little in strength that -he was compelled to ask leave of absence and leave the West Indies for -England. Had he stayed it is improbable that he could have rendered -useful service while in such a low condition. The expedition eventually -ended in failure. He sailed on the 4th September 1780 in the _Lion_, -commanded by Captain the Hon. William Cornwallis, a younger son of -Earl Cornwallis, who acted the part of nurse to the patient’s entire -satisfaction, and cemented a friendship which lasted until Nelson’s -death. - -Having to resign the _Janus_ probably caused Nelson more torture than -his physical suffering, for he was intensely ambitious. It is stated -that when he arrived in England he would not proceed to Bath to drink -the waters until he had been conveyed to the Admiralty to beg for -another vessel. “This they readily promised me,” he observed in a -humorous way, “thinking it not possible for me to live.” At Bath he -stayed with Mr Spry, an apothecary, who resided at 2 Pierrepont Street; -his medical adviser was Dr Woodward. - -On the 23rd January 1781 Nelson was able to inform Captain Locker that -he was “now upon the mending hand,” although he had been “obliged to -be carried to and from bed, with the most excruciating tortures.” Some -three weeks later further progress was reported; “My health, thank -God, is very near perfectly restored; and I have the perfect use of -all my limbs, except my left arm, which I can hardly tell what is the -matter with it. From the shoulder to my fingers’ ends are as if half -dead; but the surgeon and doctors give me hopes it will all go off. I -most sincerely wish to be employed, and hope it will not be long.” - -Again the flicker of ambition is evident, always a good sign in a -patient. “I never was so well in health that I can remember,” he writes -on the 5th March. On Monday of the following week he began his return -journey to London. Unfortunately his progress was intermittent. He had -“good” days and “bad” days. Two months later we find Nelson telling his -beloved brother William that he has entirely lost the use of his left -arm and nearly of his left leg and thigh. However, the surgeon who was -attending him gave him hopes of recovery, “when I will certainly come -into Norfolk, and spend my time there till I am employed.” - -At this period Nelson did not have to eat out his heart in chagrin and -disappointment owing to neglect as some of our modern naval officers -have had to do. In August 1781, when his health had improved, he was -given command of the _Albemarle_, a frigate of 28 guns, and on the 23rd -of that month he hoisted his pennant at Woolwich. The appearance of -the little vessel pleased him considerably, his officers and men even -more so, as his letters abundantly testify. “My quarter-deck is filled, -much to my satisfaction, with very genteel young men and seamen”; “I -have an exceeding good ship’s company. Not a man or officer in her I -would wish to change”; “I am perfectly satisfied with both officers -and ship’s company. All my marines are likewise old standers,” are -some of his remarks to correspondents. We must not imagine that Nelson -necessarily had a pattern-ship and a pattern-crew because of the kind -things he said of them. His recent recovery from serious illness has -doubtless to be taken into consideration. We all see the world and its -inhabitants through rose-coloured glasses after an enforced absence -from the ordinary duties and modes of life. A natural sweetness of -disposition may also partly account for his optimism. In later years -Samuel Rogers, the Banker-poet, recorded in his entertaining “Table -Talk” that “Lord Nelson was a remarkably kind-hearted man. I have seen -him spin a teetotum with his _one_ hand, a whole evening, for the -amusement of some children.” - -The young captain’s first voyage in the _Albemarle_ was not unattended -by adventures. His reference to his experiences in the Autobiography is -slightly tinged with a semi-humorous cynicism one can readily forgive, -although it contrasts oddly with the remarks just quoted. “In August, -1781,” he writes, “I was commissioned for the _Albemarle_; and, it -would almost be supposed, to try my constitution, was kept the whole -winter in the North Sea.” He cruised to Elsinore, where he found a -number of vessels waiting for convoy to Portsmouth and Plymouth. “We -have not had any success;” he complains, “indeed, there is nothing you -can meet, but what is in force: the Dutch have not a single merchantman -at sea. One privateer was in our fleet, but it was not possible to lay -hold of him. I chased him an hour, and came fast up with him, but was -obliged to return to the fleet. I find since, it was the noted Fall, -the pirate.... What fools the Dutch must have been not to have taken us -into the Texel. Two hundred and sixty sail the convoy consisted of.” - -On another occasion the British ships in the Downs mistook Nelson and -his motley collection for a Dutch fleet. Many of the sail-of-the-line -prepared for action and would have chased their friends had not Nelson -sent a cutter to inform the officers of their ludicrous error. In -the early days of 1782 the _Albemarle_ was ordered to Portsmouth to -take in eight months’ provisions, “and I have no doubt was meant to -go to the East Indies with Sir Richard Bickerton,[10] which I should -have liked exceedingly, but alas, how short-sighted are the best of -us.” The young captain then goes on to tell his brother William of -the fate which overtook him. During a fierce gale an East India store -ship collided with the _Albermarle_. “We have lost our foremast, and -bowsprit, mainyard, larboard cathead, and quarter gallery, the ship’s -[figure] head, and stove in two places on the larboard side--all done -in five minutes. What a change! but yet we ought to be thankful we did -not founder. We have been employed since in getting jury-masts, yards, -and bowsprit, and stopping the holes in our sides. What is to become of -us now, I know not. She must go into dock, and I fear must be paid off, -she has received so much damage.” - -A letter to the same correspondent, dated the 8th February 1782, -reveals something of Nelson’s philosophy of life. “We all rise by -deaths,” he asserts. “I got my rank by a shot killing a post-captain, -and I most sincerely hope I shall, when I go, go out of [the] world -the same way; then we go all in the line of our profession--a parson -praying, a captain fighting.” He had his wish gratified, as we all -know. There was something more than a suspicion of the Stoic in Nelson, -for while it cannot be said that he was unaffected by passion, he -certainly displayed praiseworthy indifference to creature comforts -when at sea. That he grumbled to the authorities proves nothing to the -contrary. It was usually with reference to half-unseaworthy ships, -which added to the trials and troubles of his men and oftentimes -precluded him from doing himself justice where the enemy was concerned. -His letters prove conclusively that he had the utmost faith in God, -whom he regarded as a powerful Ally. - -Shortly afterwards Nelson sailed with a convoy to Newfoundland and -Quebec. The experience was anything but pleasant, and when he returned -to the latter place in the middle of September he was “knocked up -with scurvy,” the old-time sailor’s curse, owing to a diet of salt -beef for eight weeks. “In the end,” he says, “our cruise has been an -unsuccessful one; we have taken, seen, and destroyed more enemies than -is seldom done in the same space of time, but not one arrived in port. -But, however, I do not repine at our loss: we have in other things been -very fortunate, for on 14 August we fell in with, in Boston Bay, four -sail-of-the-line,[11] and the _Iris_, French man-of-war, part of M. -Vaudreuil’s squadron, who gave us a pretty dance for between nine or -ten hours; but we beat all except the frigate, and though we brought -to for her, after we were out of sight of the line-of-battle ships, -she tacked and stood from us. Our escape I think wonderful: they were, -upon the clearing up of a fog, within shot of us, and chased us the -whole time about one point from the wind....” Nelson managed to avoid -the enemy by “running them amongst the shoals of St George’s Bank,” -a manœuvre which caused the larger ships to stop pursuit. When he -prepared for action the commander of the frigate, deeming discretion -the better part of valour, wisely decided to rejoin his comrades. - -After taking another convoy from Quebec to New York, Nelson sailed -under the command of Lord Hood for the West Indies, “the grand theatre -of actions.” Here he captured a French vessel attached to Vaudreuil’s -fleet, thereby getting some compensation for the loss of the frigate. -Her cargo consisted of naval material, and as some of the British ships -were urgently in want of topmasts the prize was more than usually -valuable. - -He also attempted to recapture Turk’s Island, which had been taken by -the French. The proceeding was audacious in the extreme, as he had very -few ships at his disposal. An officer was sent on shore, under cover -of a flag of truce, to demand surrender. This proving abortive, a -little band of 167 seamen and marines, under Captain Charles Dixon, was -landed. The _Admiral Barrington_ then came up, and together with the -_Drake_, was about to bombard the town, when a concealed battery opened -upon them. A steady fire was maintained for an hour before Captain -Dixon, who had hoped to reach the enemy’s works while the ships were -engaging some of the French defenders, decided that the experiment was -too dangerous. The enemy’s guns were fought by seamen, the troops had -several field-pieces at their disposal, and two pieces of cannon were -mounted on a hill, consequently continued persistence would have been -foolhardy. “With such a force,” says the instigator of this expedition, -“and their strong position, I did not think anything further could be -attempted.” - -Nelson succeeded in making himself thoroughly acquainted with Lord -Hood, who in his turn introduced him to Prince William, then a -midshipman and afterwards William IV., “our Sailor King.” There was -mutual admiration. “He will be, I am certain, an ornament to our -Service,” Nelson tells Locker. “He is a seaman, which you could hardly -suppose. Every other qualification you may expect from him. But he will -be a disciplinarian, and a strong one: he says he is determined every -person shall serve his time before they shall be provided for, as he -is obliged to serve his.” Such is Nelson’s comment. That of the future -monarch was not made at the time, but when Nelson went on board the -_Barfleur_ the incident made such an impression on the Prince that he -was able to paint a graphic word-picture of the event many years after. -Nelson “appeared to be the merest boy of a captain I ever beheld.... -He had on a full-laced uniform; his lank, unpowdered hair was tied in -a stiff Hessian tail, of an extraordinary length; the old-fashioned -flaps of his waistcoat added to the general quaintness of his figure, -and produced an appearance which particularly attracted my notice; for -I had never seen anything like it before, nor could I imagine who he -was, nor what he came about. My doubts were, however, removed when Lord -Hood introduced me to him. There was something irresistibly pleasing -in his address and conversation; and an enthusiasm when speaking on -professional subjects that showed he was no common being.... Throughout -the whole of the American War the height of Nelson’s ambition was to -command a line-of-battle ship; as for prize-money, it never entered his -thoughts: he had always in view the character of his maternal uncle.” - -On the 25th June 1783 Nelson was again at Portsmouth. After seeing to -the well-being of his sailors he travelled on the leisurely stage-coach -to London, where he was presented to the King by Lord Hood. In the -following September hostilities were concluded between Great Britain, -America, France, Spain, and Holland by the signature of the Treaty of -Versailles. The officer, therefore, found no difficulty in obtaining -six months’ leave to visit France. There he realised that perhaps there -might be some truth in the old adage to the effect that Jack has a -sweetheart in every port. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -Pleasure in France and Work in the West Indies - -(1783-1793) - - _Admirals all, for England’s sake - Honour be theirs, and fame; - And honour, so long as waves shall break, - To Nelson’s peerless name._ - - HENRY NEWBOLT. - - -Nelson took the greatest possible interest in everything he saw in -France: “Sterne’s ‘Sentimental Journey’ is the best description I can -give of our tour.” He travelled in a chaise without springs, slept on -a straw bed--“O what a transition from happy England!”--but had less -fault to find with the scenery about Montreuil, which he describes as -“the finest corn country that my eyes ever beheld, diversified with -fine woods, sometimes for two miles together through noble forests. The -roads mostly were planted with trees, which made as fine an avenue as -to any gentleman’s country seat.” At St Omer he lodged with “a pleasant -French family,” and incidentally made the acquaintance of “two very -agreeable young ladies, daughters, who honour us with their company -pretty often.... Therefore I must learn French if ’tis only for the -pleasure of talking to them, for they do not speak a word of English.” -Soon all thoughts of study and of the “very agreeable” maidens were -banished from his impressionable mind by his introduction to a Miss -Andrews, the daughter of an English clergyman. The affair rapidly -ripened into something more than friendship. - - _Her faults he knew not, Love is always blind, - But every charm resolved within his mind._ - -Nelson’s letters go far to prove the truth of Pope’s couplet. Miss -Andrews was, according to him, “the most accomplished woman my eyes -ever beheld.” Unfortunately marriage is necessarily based on that -mundane and concrete thing, money. When the ardent young officer came -to look into the financial aspect of the matter he found that his -income did not exceed £130 a year. His lady-love’s dowry was “1,000_l._ -I understand.” He therefore appealed to his uncle, William Suckling, -to allow him £100 per annum until he could earn that sum for himself. -Failing this source of supply, would his relative “exert” himself “to -get me a guard-ship, or some employment in a public office where the -attendance of the principal is not necessary...? In the India Service I -understand (if it remains under the Directors) their marine force is to -be under the command of a captain in the Royal Navy: that is a station -I should like.” He prays that his uncle and his family “may never know -the pangs which at this instant tear my heart.” - -Cupid’s shaft neither proved deadly nor barbed. On his return to -England Nelson dismissed his love affair, and was soon “running at -the ring of pleasure” in London. He visited Lord Howe, First Lord -of the Admiralty, “who asked me if I wished to be employed, which I -told him I did”; dined with Lord Hood, who made him feel quite at -home, and told him “that the oftener I came the happier it would make -him.” In January 1784 he was at Bath, and wrote to his brother that -he thought of paying a second visit to the Continent till autumn and -then spending the winter with him at Burnham Thorpe. “I return to many -charming women, _but no charming woman_ will return with me,” is the -plaint. “I want to be a proficient in the language, which is my only -reason for returning. I hate their country and their manners,” which -hatred, it may be said, increased with the passing of the years. This -pessimistic strain is doubtless due to Nelson’s undesirable position as -a half-pay officer, but in the middle of March his somewhat mercurial -temperament underwent a change to “set fair” on his appointment to the -_Boreas_, a frigate of 28 guns, under orders for the Leeward Islands. -The passengers included Lady Hughes, wife of Rear-Admiral Sir Richard -Hughes, Bart., the Commander-in-Chief, and her daughter, whom he very -ungallantly described as “lumber.” His brother, the Rev. William -Nelson, accompanied him as chaplain of the _Boreas_, but returned on -the last day of September 1784 owing to ill-health. - -Before leaving Spithead Nelson had an alarming adventure. He was riding -what he describes as a “_blackguard_ horse” in company with a lady, -when both animals bolted. In order to save his legs from being crushed -in a narrow road blocked by a waggon the young gallant was obliged to -throw himself, and he had the ill-luck to fall upon hard stones, which -injured his back and one of his limbs. His fair companion was only -saved from death by the presence of mind of a passer-by who pluckily -seized the bridle of the terrified animal to which she was frantically -clinging. - -[Illustration: “He had the ill-luck to fall upon hard stones” - -Stephen Reid] - -The voyage to Antigua was devoid of incident. It was monotonous, and -Nelson hated nothing so much as monotony. Lady Hughes bored him, -although it is only just to add that he does not appear to have let her -know it. The lady herself was certainly impressed with the kindly way -Nelson treated “the young gentlemen who had the happiness of being on -his Quarter-Deck,” to quote a letter written by her in 1806. “It may -reasonably be supposed,” she goes on, “that among the number of thirty, -there must be timid as well as bold: the timid he never rebuked, but -always wished to show them he desired nothing of them that he would -not instantly do himself: and I have known him say--‘Well, sir, I am -going a race to the masthead, and I beg I may meet you there.’ No -denial could be given to such a wish, and the poor fellow instantly -began his march. His Lordship never took the least notice with what -alacrity it was done, but when he met in the top, instantly began -talking in the most cheerful manner, and saying how much a person was -to be pitied that could fancy there was any danger, or even anything -disagreeable, in the attempt.... In like manner he every day went to -the schoolroom and saw them do their nautical business, and at twelve -o’clock he was first upon the deck with his quadrant. No one there -could be behindhand in his business when their Captain set them so -good an example. One other circumstance I must mention which will -close the subject, which was the day we landed at Barbadoes. We were -to dine at the Governor’s. Our dear Captain said, ‘You must permit me, -Lady Hughes, to carry one of my aides-de-camp with me,’ and when he -presented him to the Governor, he said, ‘Your Excellency must excuse -me for bringing one of my midshipmen, as I make it a rule to introduce -them to all the good company I can, they have few to look up to besides -myself during the time they are at sea.’ This kindness and attention -made the young people adore him; and even his wishes, could they have -been known, would have been instantly complied with.” - -When Nelson made the acquaintance of Sir Richard Hughes he disliked -him as much as he did her ladyship. Probably the officer’s methods -rather than the man aroused this feeling of antagonism. “The Admiral -and all about him are great ninnies,” he writes, and he soon showed -in no vague way that he refused to support the Commander-in-chief’s -happy-go-lucky policy. Truth to tell, Nelson had no love of authority. -He preferred to be a kind of attached free-lance, although he was a -strict disciplinarian in all relations between his junior officers -and himself. “I begin to be very strict in my Ship,” is an expression -he used while in the _Boreas_. In particular he fell foul of Hughes -in the matter of putting the Navigation Act into force. This law had -been passed by the Rump Parliament in 1651, when the Dutch held the -proud position of the world’s maritime carriers. It was enacted that -only English ships, commanded by an Englishman and manned by a crew -three-fourths of whom were also of the same nationality, should be -allowed to carry the products of Asia, Africa, and America to home -ports. In a similar manner, European manufactures had to be brought in -English vessels or those of the countries which produced the goods. In -the latter case the duties were heavier. It was Protection pure and -simple. - -The Government of Charles II. and the Scottish Parliament passed -similar Acts in later years, thereby fostering the trading companies -which helped to lay the foundations of our colonial empire. Such -measures were a constant “thorn in the flesh” to foreign statesmen. -Several of the statutes were repealed in 1823, but the Navigation -Act was not entirely abandoned by Great Britain until 1848, after an -existence of nearly two hundred years. - -Owing to their separation from the Motherland, the former British -colonists of America were, technically, “foreigners,” and should have -been subject to restrictions in their commercial intercourse with the -West Indies. “I, for one,” Nelson confides to Locker, “am determined -not to suffer the Yankees to come where my Ship is; for I am sure, -if once the Americans are admitted to any kind of intercourse with -these Islands, the views of the Loyalists in settling Nova Scotia are -entirely done away. They will first become the Carriers, and next have -possession of our Islands, are we ever again embroiled in a French -war. The residents of these Islands are Americans by connexion and -by interest, and are inimical to Great Britain. They are as great -rebels as ever were in America, had they the power to show it.... I am -determined to suppress the admission of Foreigners all in my power.” - -“The Americans,” Nelson tells us in his Autobiography, “when colonists, -possessed almost all the trade from America to our West India Islands; -and on the return of peace, they forgot, on this occasion, that they -became foreigners, and of course had no right to trade in the British -Colonies. - -“Our governors and custom-house officers pretended that by the -Navigation Act they had a right to trade; and all the West Indians -wished what was so much for their interest. Having given governors, -custom-house officers, and Americans, notice of what I would do, I -seized many of their vessels, which brought all parties upon me; and I -was persecuted from one island to another, so that I could not leave -my ship.” In this matter it may be said that Nelson found it necessary -to keep himself “a close prisoner” to avoid being served with writs -which had been issued against him by the owners of certain vessels -which he had taken, and who assessed their damages at several thousands -of pounds. “But conscious rectitude,” he adds, “bore me through it; -and I was supported, when the business came to be understood, from -home; and I proved (and an Act of Parliament has since established it) -that a captain of a man-of-war is in duty bound to support all the -maritime laws, by his Admiralty commission alone, without becoming a -custom-house officer.” - -The ardent captain also fell foul of Hughes in another matter. The -commissioner of the dockyard at Antigua was Captain Moutray, a -half-pay officer whom Hughes, going beyond his powers, made commodore. -Nelson refused to recognise him as such. The case was investigated -by the Admiralty at the instigation of both parties, with the result -that Nelson was reprimanded for taking the law into his own hands. -Professor Sir J. Knox Laughton, while admitting that “In both cases -Nelson was right in his contention,” is forced to add that “The first -duty of an officer is to obey orders, to submit his doubts to the -Commander-in-chief, and in a becoming manner to remonstrate against -any order he conceives to be improper; but for an officer to settle -a moot-point himself, and to act in contravention of an order given -under presumably adequate knowledge of the circumstances, is subversive -of the very first principles of discipline. And these were not, it -will be noticed, questions arising out of any sudden and unforeseen -emergency, in providing for which Nelson was forced to depart from his -instructions. Such emergencies do arise in the course of service, and -the decision of the officer may be a fair test of his personal worth; -but neither at St Kitts nor at Antigua was there anything calling for -instant decision, or any question which might not have waited, pending -a reference to the Commander-in-chief or to the Admiralty. And this was -the meaning of the Admiralty minute on Nelson’s conduct at Antigua, a -most gentle admonition for what might have been punished as a grave -offence.” - -It must not be inferred that there was any personal bitterness on -Nelson’s part regarding the Moutray affair. He conceived it to be -a question of principle, of doing right and shunning wrong: “The -character of an Officer is his greatest treasure: to lower that, is to -wound him irreparably.” He was certainly on excellent terms with the -Commissioner’s wife, for whom he cherished the most friendly feelings. -Indeed, in one of his letters he calls her his “dear, sweet friend.... -Her equal I never saw in any country, or in any situation.” Let it be -frankly admitted, however, that Nelson sometimes wore his heart on -his sleeve, and readily betrayed a state of feeling approaching deep -affection for any member of the gentler sex who showed by her ready -sympathy that she possessed a kindly disposition. In the communication -in which the above passage occurs he notes that several of his comrades -had similar amorous tendencies. One officer has proposed and been -refused, another is forestalled in proposing to the lady of his choice -by a more venturesome lover, a third is “attached to a lady at Nevis,” -the said lady being a relation of the future Mrs Nelson. He concludes -with a reference to a niece of Governor Parry, who “goes to Nevis in -the _Boreas_; they trust any young lady with me, being an old-fashioned -fellow.” - -On the 12th May 1785 Nelson confides to his brother William that he has -made the acquaintance of “a young Widow,” and towards the end of the -following month he tells the same correspondent, “between ourselves,” -that he is likely to become a “_Benedict_.... Do not tell.” The lady -of his choice was Mrs Nisbet, then twenty-seven years of age and the -mother of a boy. We are fortunate in having copies of many of his -letters to her, for there is a wealth of affection--scarcely love--and -much sage philosophy in them. “My greatest wish is to be united to -you;” he writes on the 11th September 1785, “and the foundation of -all conjugal happiness, real love and esteem, is, I trust, what you -believe I possess in the strongest degree towards you.... We know that -riches do not always insure happiness; and the world is convinced that -I am superior to pecuniary considerations in my public and private -life; as in both instances I might have been rich.” “You are too good -and indulgent;” he avers on another occasion, “I both know and feel -it: but my whole life shall ever be devoted to make you completely -happy, whatever whims may sometimes take me. We are none of us perfect, -and myself probably much less so than you deserve.” “Fortune, that -is, money, is the only thing I regret the want of, and that only for -the sake of my affectionate Fanny. But the Almighty, who brings us -together, will, I doubt not, take ample care of us, and prosper all our -undertakings. No dangers shall deter me from pursuing every honourable -means of providing handsomely for you and yours....” - -The messages lack the passionate fire of Napoleon’s notes to Josephine, -and on occasion are apt to be rather too business-like for love -letters. The romance did not end like the fairy stories, they did not -live “happily ever after,” but there is no reason to doubt that Nelson -cherished a fond affection for the young widow. “Her sense,” he informs -his brother, “polite manners, and to you I may say, beauty, you will -much admire: and although at present we may not be a rich couple, yet -I have not the least doubt but we shall be a happy pair:--the fault -must be mine if we are not.” Subsequent events proved the truth of the -latter remark. - -In due course Sir Richard Hughes was succeeded in the command of the -Leeward Islands by Sir Richard Bickerton. Nelson complains towards the -end of 1786 that “A total stop is put to our carrying on the Navigation -Laws,” thereby showing that the old problem had by no means been solved -so far as he was concerned. - -On the 12th March 1787 Nelson and Mrs Nisbet were married at Nevis. -Prince William Henry, then captain of the _Pegasus_ and under Nelson’s -command, gave away the bride. Three months later the newly-wedded -captain was at Spithead, the almost unseaworthy condition of the -_Boreas_ making it impossible for her to stand another hurricane season -in the West Indies. - -Nelson was placed on half-pay, a state which he by no means liked. In -May 1788 he had reason to believe that he would be employed again. “I -have invariably laid down,” he tells a friend, “and followed close, a -plan of what ought to be uppermost 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: a uniform conduct of honour and -integrity seldom fails of bringing a man to the goal of Fame at last.” - -Nelson visited Plymouth, Bath, and London, and finally settled down at -Burnham Thorpe. His letters reveal the keenness with which he desired -to obtain employment. He applied to both Viscount Howe, First Lord -of the Admiralty, and to Lord Hood, but all his overtures came to -nought. In September 1789 he tells his old friend Locker that “I am -now commencing Farmer, not a very large one, you will conceive, but -enough for amusement. Shoot I cannot, therefore I have not taken out a -license; but notwithstanding the neglect I have met with, I am happy, -and now I see the propriety of not having built my hopes on such sandy -foundations as the friendships of the Great.” - -Not until January 1793 were his dearest wishes granted. “After clouds -comes sunshine,” he writes to his wife from London. “The Admiralty -so smile upon me, that really I am as much surprised as when they -frowned. Lord Chatham yesterday made many apologies for not having -given me a Ship before this time, and said, that if I chose to take a -Sixty-four to begin with, I should be appointed to one as soon as she -was ready; and whenever it was in his power, I should be removed into a -Seventy-four. Everything indicates War....” - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -The Beginning of the Great War - -(1793-1794) - - “_Duty is the great business of a sea officer_” - - NELSON. - - -So far back as 1753 Lord Chesterfield prophesied a revolution in -France. “All the symptoms,” he said, “which I have ever met with in -history, previous to great changes and revolutions in government, now -exist and daily increase in France.” Warning rumbles heralded the -storm, disregarded and thought of no account by some, full of grave -portent to others. It burst in 1789. - -At first William Pitt, First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of -the Exchequer, steadily refused to believe that England was menaced by -the Power which Fox had termed “the natural enemy of Great Britain.” -In January 1792 he assured Parliament that “unquestionably there never -was a time in the history of this country when, from the situation -of Europe, we might more reasonably expect fifteen years of peace -than we may at the present moment.” Either he was over anxious to -persuade himself that things were as he would like them to be, or he -was sadly mistaken. Pitt had by no means the pugnacious disposition -of his father, the famous first Earl of Chatham. He thought that -the fire would burn itself out, that it would be of short duration, -whereas it steadily gained strength and eventually involved practically -every country in Europe. Not until he was convinced that war was -inevitable did the youngest Premier who ever handled the reins of a -British government accept the French Revolution as of more than local -consequence. Hitherto domestic and financial questions had occupied his -attention and absorbed his energies. If France ignored the nation which -he represented, if she refrained from poaching on British preserves or -those of her allies, he was quite content to return the compliment. -Then came the decree that the navigation of the river Scheldt should -be thrown open. It had previously been guaranteed to the Dutch by -Great Britain as well as by other Powers, including France. The -execution of Louis XVI. followed, which led to Chauvelin, the French -Ambassador, being given his passports. If Pitt had been slumbering he -had wooed somnolence with one eye open since the annexation of Savoy. -He was now fully awake, calm and self-reliant, for he recognised the -inevitable. It came in a declaration of war by the French Convention -against Holland and Great Britain on the 1st February 1793. Macaulay, -writing from an essentially Whig point of view, states that Pitt’s -military administration “was that of a driveller,” but to the impartial -historian nothing is further from the truth. He abandoned his schemes -of social reform to plunge whole-heartedly into the titanic struggle -which was to cost him his life. That he made mistakes is obvious--what -statesman has not?--but he fell in his country’s cause as nobly as -Nelson at Trafalgar and Moore at Coruña. - -When Nelson joined the _Agamemnon_ he was immensely pleased with -her. He describes the vessel as “without exception, the finest 64 in -the service, and has the character of sailing most remarkably well.” -She was a unit of the fleet under Lord Hood, her destination the -Mediterranean. The captain was accompanied by his step-son, Josiah, -whose first experience of life at sea cannot have been pleasant. Off -the Nore the _Agamemnon_ encountered a gale, with the result that -Josiah was “a little sea-sick.” However, “he is a real good boy, and -most affectionately loves me,” as his mother was informed. Off Cadiz -Nelson is able to report, “My Ship is remarkably healthy; myself and -Josiah never better.” - -While part of the fleet was watering at Cadiz, Nelson dined on -board the _Concepcion_ (112), a huge Spanish sail-of-the-line. The -experience afforded him food for thought as well as for physical -sustenance. He relates the incident to his wife, criticises the four -Spanish first-rates in commission at the port as “very fine Ships, -but shockingly manned,” and adds that if the crews of the six barges -attached to the British vessels had boarded one of these great vessels -they could have taken her: “The Dons may make fine Ships,--they cannot, -however, make men.” This summing-up of the _morale_ of the Spanish -Navy is particularly valuable. A dozen years later, when Napoleon was -planning his wonderful combinations to elude the prowess of Nelson, -the lack of skill displayed by the Spaniards was a constant source of -annoyance both to the Emperor and his naval officers. Their bravery -in action during the Trafalgar Campaign is not questioned; their -happy-go-lucky code of discipline is on record in documentary evidence. -A bull fight which Nelson saw sickened and disgusted him. “We had what -is called a fine feast, for five horses were killed, and two men very -much hurt: had they been killed, it would have been quite complete.” - -The royalists at Toulon had not only openly rebelled against the -National Convention, but had requested the assistance of the British -fleet, then blockading the harbour of the great southern arsenal, under -Hood, who was shortly afterwards joined by Langara in command of a -number of Spanish vessels. Nelson’s _Agamemnon_ was a fast sailer. He -was therefore sent to Naples with despatches to the courts of Turin and -Naples requesting 10,000 troops for the assault of Toulon. The ardent -young officer, proud of the service which had been delegated to him, -was a little too sanguine as to Hood’s triumph, yet his cheery optimism -is tinged with cynicism when he writes to his wife: “I believe the -world is convinced that no conquests of importance can be made without -us; and yet, as soon as we have accomplished the service we are ordered -on, we are neglected. If Parliament does not grant something to this -Fleet, our Jacks will grumble; for here there is no prize-money to -soften their hardships: all we get is honour and salt beef. My poor -fellows have not had a morsel of fresh meat or vegetables for near -nineteen weeks; and in that time I have only had my foot twice on shore -at Cadiz. We are absolutely getting sick from fatigue. No Fleet, I am -certain, ever served their Country with greater zeal than this has -done, from the Admiral to the lowest sailor.” - -At Naples Nelson was received by the King “in the handsomest manner,” -and a promise of troops was exacted without delay. He also made the -acquaintance of Lady Hamilton, wife of the British Minister, but the -romantic attachment between them did not begin until several years -later. His Majesty was on the point of visiting the _Agamemnon_ when -the Captain received intelligence from the Prime Minister--Sir John -Acton, an English baronet--that a French sail-of-the-line convoying -three vessels had anchored under Sardinia. Nelson acknowledges to his -brother, on the 27th September 1793, that “Fortune has not crowned my -endeavours with success. The French have either got into Leghorn, or -are housed in some port of Corsica.... I purpose staying three days -in Port, when I shall get to Toulon, for I cannot bear the thought of -being absent from the scene of action.” His unsuccessful search for -the enemy had precluded him from accompanying such Neapolitan troops -as were ready to be sent to the scene of conflict. In addition a large -French frigate had put into the neutral port of Leghorn, which gave -him further anxiety. As her commander did not think it wise to attempt -an issue with the _Agamemnon_ Nelson left him to his own devices. He -anchored off Toulon, on the 5th October, to find Lord Hood “very much -pleased” with him. This must have been particularly gratifying after so -luckless a voyage, but what he most desired was action. - -Within a few days of his arrival he received sealed orders from -the Admiral directing him to join Commodore Linzee off Cagliari, -the capital of Sardinia. His longing to get at the enemy was to be -satisfied in an unexpected manner. When he was nearing the island just -before dawn on the morning of the 22nd October, five strange sail made -their appearance. Later they resolved themselves into four of the -enemy’s frigates and a brig. After an engagement which lasted nearly -four hours and was ably contested on both sides, the action terminated -in the French _Melpomène_ being reduced to “a shattered condition,” -and the _Agamemnon_ having her “topmast shot to pieces, main-mast, -mizen-mast, and fore-yard badly wounded”--the last expression is -typically Nelsonian. The Frenchmen did not attempt to renew the fight; -Nelson was prevented from doing so because “The _Agamemnon_ was so cut -to pieces, as to be unable to haul the wind towards them.” The enemy’s -squadron made for Corsica, Nelson for Cagliari, according to orders, -with one man killed and six wounded. - -When Nelson joined hands with Linzee he found that the immediate -business in hand was to endeavour to bring the Bey of Tunis to reason, -in other words, to the British side. The Bey was an exceedingly crafty -individual who, believing that the best time for making hay is when -the sun shines, had sided with the French because he saw an immediate -financial return. Another object was to secure a convoy which had put -in at Tunis under a sail-of-the-line, the _Duquesne_ (84) and four -frigates, the force with which Nelson had already dealt. As the Bey had -purchased the cargoes of the merchantmen at a handsome profit, he was -not disposed to change his policy. Nelson hated pacific overtures; he -was all for contest on the open sea. “Thank God,” he is able to write -to William Suckling, his uncle, on the 5th December 1793, “Lord Hood, -whom Linzee sent to for orders how to act, after having negotiated, -ordered me from under his command, and to command a Squadron of -Frigates off Corsica and the Coast of Italy, to protect our trade, and -that of our new Ally, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and to prevent any -Ship or Vessel, of whatever Nation, from going into the port of Genoa. -I consider this command as a very high compliment,--there being five -older Captains in the Fleet.... - -“Corsica, December 8th:--I have been in sight of the French Squadron -all day, at anchor; they cannot be induced to come out, notwithstanding -their great superiority....” - -On the 19th of the same month Lord Hood vacated Toulon.[12] The -troops of the National Convention, aided by the consummate skill -of Napoleon Bonaparte, a young officer then beginning his amazing -career, had proved too powerful for the British, Spanish, Piedmontese -and Neapolitan forces. The British fleet carried away no fewer than -14,000 fugitives from the doomed city, which for hours afterwards was -given up to pillage. “Everything which domestic Wars produce usually, -is multiplied at Toulon,” Nelson writes to his wife. “Fathers are -here [_i.e._ Leghorn] without their families, families without their -fathers. In short, all is horror.... Lord Hood put himself at the head -of the flying troops, and the admiration of every one; but the torrent -was too strong. Many of our posts were carried without resistance; -at others, which the English occupied, every one perished. I cannot -write all: my mind is deeply impressed with grief. Each teller makes -the scene more horrible. Lord Hood showed himself the same collected -good Officer which he always was.” The siege of Toulon was a qualified -success. The place was lost, but a dozen French ships and the naval -stores were set on fire, and four sail-of-the-line, three frigates, -and several smaller vessels were secured as prizes. To cripple the -French navy was the most desired of all objects. - -Meanwhile Nelson’s division was blockading Corsica, which had passed -from the Republic of Genoa into the hands of the French in 1768, to -the disgust of the patriotic party headed by Pascal Paoli. It was -arranged that Hood should assist the latter to rid the island of the -hated “tyrants,” and that in due course it should be ceded to Great -Britain. In the preliminary negotiations Nelson was represented by -Lieutenant George Andrews, brother of the young lady to whom Nelson -had become attached during his visit to France in 1783;[13] the final -arrangements were made by a commission of which the gallant Sir John -Moore was a member. Hood joined Nelson on the 27th January 1794, and -on the following day the fleet encountered “the hardest gale almost -ever remembered here.” The _Agamemnon_ “lost every sail in her,” her -consorts were dispersed “over the face of the waters.” This delayed the -landing of the troops Hood had brought with him, but Nelson had already -made a preliminary skirmish on his own account near San Fiorenzo, -the first object of the admiral’s attack. He landed 120 soldiers and -seamen, emptied a flour storehouse, ruined a water-mill, and returned -without the loss of a man, notwithstanding the efforts of the French -gunboats to annihilate the little force. Similar expeditions were -undertaken at the beginning of February, when four polaccas, loaded -with wine for the enemy’s fleet, were burned, four other vessels set -on fire, a similar number captured, and about 1,000 tuns of wine -demolished. - -On the 7th of the same month the inhabitants of Rogliani showed -National colours, and the Tree of Liberty--the emblem of the French -Revolution--was planted. Nelson struck a flag flying on the old castle -with his own hand, and ordered the tree to be cut down. More craft and -wine were destroyed. Paoli was highly gratified by this performance, -carried out in the true Nelson spirit, and shortly afterwards the -Captain tells his wife with conscious pride, “I have had the pleasure -to fulfil the service I had been employed upon, since leaving Tunis, -neither allowing provisions nor troops to get into Corsica,”--which he -describes later as “a wonderfully fine Island”--“nor the Frigates to -come out.” - -Hood now took over the command at San Fiorenzo and sent Nelson to -blockade Bastia. The latter calculated that “it would require 1000 -troops, besides seamen, Corsicans, etc., to make any successful -attempt” against the place. Lieutenant-General David Dundas, the -commander of the military forces, refused his aid unless considerable -reinforcements came to hand, although he had at his disposal over -1700 regulars and artillerymen. Hood, relying on Nelson’s statements -to a certain extent, endeavoured to persuade Dundas that the task was -by no means so difficult as he imagined, but the military authority -positively refused to listen to the project. The General entered into -the arrangements for the capture of San Fiorenzo with more goodwill, -for in his opinion it was a less formidable undertaking. Without in -any way disparaging the exertions of the troops it must be admitted -that the gallant conduct of the sailors, who dragged heavy guns up the -heights in order to place them in a position to cannonade the tower of -Mortello, which commanded the situation, contributed largely to the -success of the operation. Dundas and Linzee attacked this formidable -fortification from the bay with a sail-of-the-line and a frigate on -the 8th February with ill success. Its defenders hurled hot shot at -the vessels with such precision that they were obliged to move to a -less dangerous position. The tower was bombarded from the steeps for -two days before its garrison surrendered. Meanwhile Lieutenant-Colonel -John Moore had carried the batteries of Fornelli, which led directly -to the fall of San Fiorenzo on the 17th instant. The French retreated -to Bastia, on the opposite side of the promontory, where Nelson was -exerting himself to the utmost. The British troops marched to within -three miles of the town, as noted below, and were then ordered to -return to San Fiorenzo. - -On the 23rd February the _Agamemnon_ and two frigates dislodged the -French from a battery of six guns; “they to a man quitted the works.” -For Lord Hood’s encouragement he sent him word that shot and shells had -been hurled at the vessels “without doing us any damage of consequence: -our guns were so exceedingly well pointed, that not one shot was fired -in vain.... Indeed, my Lord, I wish the troops were here: Bastia, I am -sure, in its present state, would soon fall.” - -In describing “our little brush” to his wife, he says it “happened at -the moment when part of our Army made their appearance on the hills -over Bastia, they having marched over land from St Fiorenzo, which is -only twelve miles distant. The General sent an express to Lord Hood -at Fiorenzo to tell him of it. What a noble sight it must have been! -indeed, on board it was the grandest thing I ever saw. If I had carried -with me five hundred troops, to a certainty I should have stormed the -Town, and I believe it might have been carried.... You cannot think how -pleased Lord Hood has been with my attack on Sunday last, or rather my -repelling of an attack which the Enemy made on me.” - -Nelson’s ardent temperament, his longing to be up and doing, made him -think bitter things of Dundas. He confides to his Journal on the 3rd -March 1794 that it is his firm opinion that if the _Agamemnon_ and the -attendant frigates could batter down the sea-wall and then land 500 -troops they would “to a certainty carry the place.” “God knows what -it all means,” he writes to his wife with reference to the general’s -retreat. “Lord Hood is gone to St Fiorenzo to the Army, to get them -forward again.... My seamen are now what British seamen ought to be, -to you I may say it, almost invincible: they really mind shot no more -than peas.” - -The delay was simply playing into the hands of the enemy, who occupied -the time in adding to the defences of the town. One can imagine with -what glee Nelson scribbled in his Journal, under date of the 11th -March, “_Romney_ joined me from Lord Hood: brought me letters to say -that General Dundas was going Home, and that he hoped and trusted the -troops would once more move over the Hill.” The crew of the _Agamemnon_ -suffered no little privation. “We are absolutely without water, -provisions, or stores of any kind, not a piece of canvas, rope, twine, -or a nail in the Ship; but we cheerfully submit to it all, if it but -turns out for the advantage and credit of our Country.” - -Dundas was succeeded by General Abraham D’Aubant, an appointment -which gave the Captain of the _Agamemnon_ no satisfaction, for he -also thought it improper to attack Bastia. Not to carry to a finish a -project already begun was considered by Nelson “a National disgrace.” -Hood determined to act contrary to the opinions of his military -colleague. “I am to command the Seamen landed from the Fleet,” Nelson -tells his brother. “I feel for the honour of my Country, and had -rather be beat than not make the attack. If we do not try we never -can be successful. I own I have no fears for the final issue: it will -be conquest, certain we will deserve it.” “When was a place ever yet -taken without an attempt?” he asks Sir William Hamilton. “We must -endeavour to deserve success; it is certainly not in our power to -command it.... My dear Sir, when was before the time that 2,000 British -troops, as good as ever marched, were not thought equal to attack 800 -French troops, allowing them to be in strong works? What would the -immortal Wolfe have done? as he did, beat the Enemy, if he perished in -the attempt. Our Irregulars are surely as good as the Enemy’s; and in -numbers we far exceed them. I truly feel sorrow, but I have hope and -confidence that all will end well.” Again, “We are but few, but of the -right sort: our General at San Fiorenzo not giving us one of the five -Regiments he has there lying idle.” - -On the 4th April 1794 a definite start was made. Some 1400 troops -and sailors, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Villettes and Nelson -respectively, landed at the tower of Miomo, some three miles to the -north of the town. “At noon the Troops encamped about 2,500 yards from -the citadel of Bastia, near a high rock.” The night was employed in -felling trees for the purpose of constructing an abattis, a temporary -defence formed by placing trees with their boughs sharpened to a point -in such a position as to obstruct the enemy and at the same time afford -a certain amount of cover for the riflemen. The getting up of the -guns and ammunition “was performed with an activity and zeal seldom -exceeded.” The French began firing on the night of the 9th and kept it -up until daylight without inflicting injury on a single man, although -the tents were considerably damaged. After sending a flag of truce to -no effect, Hood began the siege in earnest on the 11th. On that day the -frigate _Proselyte_ was set on fire by the enemy’s red-hot shot, and as -her captain could not get her off the shore, he set his ship on fire in -several places and burnt her to the water’s edge so that she might not -fall into the hands of the hated Frenchmen. - -“Only recollect that a brave man dies but once, a coward all his -life long,” Nelson writes to his wife at the beginning of May, when -fighting was of daily occurrence and many a brave man fell on either -side. His only fear was that D’Aubant might alter his mind and advance -with his troops “when Bastia is about to surrender, and deprive us -of part of our glory.” This is exactly what happened. On the 19th -May the troops from San Fiorenzo were seen marching over the hills. -Three days later, as the result of negotiations begun by the enemy, -the French colours were struck and the Union Jack hoisted, and on the -24th “the most glorious sight that an Englishman can experience, -and which, I believe, none but an Englishman could bring about, was -exhibited;--4,500 men laying down their arms to less than 1,000 British -soldiers, who were serving as Marines.” Nelson gives the number of -British killed at 19, wounded 37, and of the enemy 203 killed, wounded -540, “most of whom are dead.” He himself received “a sharp cut in the -back.” Not until the end of January 1795 did he confess to his wife -that he had information given to him “of the enormous number of Troops -we had to oppose us; but my own honour, Lord Hood’s honour, and the -honour of our Country, must have all 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 -by men, now rewarded, to write to Lord Hood to raise the Siege.” - -Calvi, in the north-west of Corsica, was next attacked. “Dragging -cannon up steep mountains, and carrying shot and shells, has been our -constant employment”; “I am very busy, yet own I am in all my glory: -except with you, [Mrs Nelson] I would not be any where but where I am, -for the world”; “Hallowell[14] and myself take, each one, twenty-four -hours of duty at the advanced battery,” are extracts from some of -Nelson’s letters and despatches at this period. On the 12th July 1794 -he modestly confesses to Hood that “I got a little hurt this morning: -not much, as you may judge by my writing,” but in his Journal he notes, -“at seven o’clock, I was much bruised in the face and eyes by sand from -the works struck by shot.” The “little hurt” proved far otherwise, -and Nelson subsequently became permanently blind in the right eye. -At the moment he attached little or no importance to the injury: -“Hallowell and myself are both well, except my being half blinded by -these fellows, who have given me a smart slap in the face, for which I -am their _debtor_, but hope not to be so long”; “My right eye is cut -entirely down; but the Surgeons flatter me I shall not entirely lose -my sight of that eye. At present I can distinguish light from dark, -but no object: it confined me one day, when, thank God, I was enabled -to attend to my duty. I feel the want of it; but, such is the chance -of War, it was within a hair’s breadth of taking off my head.” To Mrs -Nelson he tones down the news considerably: “Except a very slight -scratch towards my right eye, I have received no hurt whatever: so you -see I am not the worse for Campaigning: but I cannot say I have any -wish to go on with it. This day [4th August 1794] I have been four -months landed, except a few days when we were after the French Fleet, -and I feel almost qualified to pass my examination as a besieging -General.” - -Nelson not unnaturally felt himself slighted when his name did not -appear in the list of wounded. However, he consoled himself by saying, -“Never mind, I’ll have a _Gazette_ of my own.” - -As the result of negotiations between the enemy and General Stuart, the -commander of the 1500 soldiers who had taken part in the siege, the -French garrison marched out with the honours of war on the 10th August, -a proceeding not at all in keeping with Nelson’s ideas. However, it was -not for him to decide, and he had the satisfaction of knowing that he -had materially assisted in the conquest of Corsica. He was specially -delighted with the thought that in future the enemy’s navy would -be deprived of the pine, tar, pitch, and hemp which the island had -formerly sent to Toulon. - -[Illustration: 1765-1911 - -Comparison of the “Victory” with the “Hercules” - -=Photo Stephen Cribb, Southsea=] - -Nelson now looked forward to reaching the quiet waters of Spithead -before the end of the year. In this he was disappointed. Hood returned -to Toulon, where French naval preparations were going on apace, and -Nelson was sent with the _Agamemnon_ to Leghorn in order that his -ship might refit and his men have a little rest after their arduous -exertions in Corsica. On his own showing, he was “the best in health, -but every other Officer is scarcely able to crawl.” When ready for -further service Nelson joined the admiral off Toulon, from whence he -proceeded to Genoa “to keep peace and harmony” with that Republic by -enforcing its neutrality. This mission was not of long duration, and on -the last day of September 1794 he was directed to proceed off Gourjean -and place himself under the orders of Vice-Admiral Hotham, Hood’s -successor as Commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean. - -At this stage of our story it may not be unfitting to study the -accompanying table,[15] which reveals at a glance the active list -of ships, exclusive of harbour and stationary vessels, troop and -storeships, ships building, etc., in the British Navy, at the beginning -of the Great War and in 1805: - -Year. Sail-of- Total of Total Total Naval Seamen and - the-line. Vessels. tonnage. Supplies Marines employed. - granted. - -1793 113 304 295,409 £4,003,984 45,000 -1805 116 534 407,814 £15,035,630 120,000 - -When we come to compare the Navy of Nelson’s day with that of our -own, the result is astounding. The estimates for 1910-11 amount to -£40,603,700. Of this sum, £13,279,830 is for ships either under -construction or about to be laid down. There are 95 battleships and -first-class cruisers afloat or building, and there is a total strength -of 710 vessels, including torpedo gunboats, destroyers, torpedo boats, -and submarines.[16] The entire _personnel_, exclusive of the reserves, -numbers 131,000. - -The accompanying illustration gives an exact idea of the enormous -difference in size between the _Victory_ and the _Hercules_. The -former, launched in 1765, has a gross tonnage of 2,164; the latter--at -the time of writing, the largest British battleship afloat--has a -displacement of 20,250 tons, over nine times that of the _Victory_. -Nelson’s flagship is still afloat, but who can tell when the _Hercules_ -will be obsolete? Progress demands many and costly victims. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -“I wish to be an Admiral” - -(1795-96) - - “_A brave man runs no more risk than a coward_” - - NELSON. - - -The French fleet at Toulon mustered fifteen ships; Hotham had fourteen -at his disposal, including one Neapolitan sail-of-the-line. On the -8th March 1795 it was known that the enemy was at sea with the -object of retaking Corsica, but it was not until the morning of the -13th, that the Admiral flew the signal for a general chase. While -this was proceeding the _Ça-Ira_ (84) collided with the _Victorie_, -which precluded her from keeping up with her consorts. Seizing his -opportunity, the captain of the British frigate _Inconstant_ (36) -pounced down upon the huge battleship and immediately brought her to -action. A French frigate, the _Vestale_, then went to the assistance of -the _Ça-Ira_, and took her in tow. Considerable damage had been done -on board the _Inconstant_ owing to the double fire to which she was -subjected. Nelson, keenly alert to the slightest advantage, got abreast -of the two Frenchmen, and continued to wage a gallant fight for nearly -two hours until called off by Hotham because of the near approach -of several of the enemy’s ships. The action was thereby rendered -indecisive. Nelson describes the _Ça-Ira_ as “absolutely large enough -to take _Agamemnon_ in her hold. I never saw such a ship before.” - -During the night the _Sans Culottes_ (120) separated from her consorts, -and the _Censeur_ (74), with the damaged _Ça-Ira_ in tow, was also -unable to keep up with the remainder of the French fleet. This enabled -the _Bedford_ (74) and the _Captain_ (74) to attempt to capture them -on the following morning. The British ships, as they bore down on -the enemy, were received by a tremendous fire, which they could not -return. For nearly an hour and a half the fight was sustained until the -_Captain_ was little more than a floating wreck, and the distressed -state of the _Bedford_ made her recall imperative. Eventually the -_Ça-Ira_ and the _Censeur_ surrendered to other vessels of the fleet. -“On the 14th,” Nelson relates with reference to the _Agamemnon_, -“although one of the Van-ships, and in close Action on one side and -distant Action on the other for upwards of three hours, yet our -neighbours suffered most exceedingly, whilst we comparatively suffered -nothing. We had only six men slightly wounded. Our sails were ribbons, -and all our ropes were ends. Had our good Admiral have followed the -blow, we should probably have done more, but the risk was thought too -great.” His ambition is aflame when he considers the possibilities of -the day. “In short, I wish to be an Admiral, and in the command of the -English Fleet; I should very soon either do much, or be ruined. My -disposition cannot bear tame and slow measures.... At one period I am -‘the dear Nelson,’ ‘the amiable Nelson,’ ‘the fiery Nelson’: however -nonsensical these expressions are, they are better than censure, and we -are all subject and open to flattery.” - -Several weeks were spent in refitting, a necessary process too slowly -carried out. Meanwhile six French vessels slipped out of Brest -harbour and made their way to Toulon. Then there was delay in sending -reinforcements not at all to Nelson’s liking. He desires “a complete -victory,” and his correspondence betrays his anxiety for the appearance -of Hood, “the best Officer, take him altogether, that England has to -boast of.” His absence was “a great national loss;” Hotham’s continued -appearance, although he did not definitely say so, a calamity. - -On the 6th June 1795 Nelson was appointed a Colonel of Marines, the -welcome intelligence being conveyed to him by his father. This meant -an increase of income not to be despised, as well as “an appointment -certainly most flattering to me, as it marks to the world an -approbation of my conduct.” - -Nelson, with the _Agamemnon_ and a small squadron of frigates, was now -sent “to co-operate with the Austrian General de Vins, in driving the -French out of the Riviera of Genoa,” and “to put an actual stop to all -trade between Genoa, France, and the places occupied by the armies of -France,” the invasion of Italy then being an object much to be desired -by the Republicans. On the 6th of July he sighted a French fleet of -seventeen sail and six frigates, an overpowering force it would have -been madness to attack had the opportunity been given to him. His -little squadron was chased to San Fiorenzo, where Hotham was stationed -but unable to get out owing to contrary winds. It was not until the -13th that the enemy was again seen. There was a general chase and a -partial action: “Hotham has no head for enterprise, perfectly satisfied -that each month passes without any losses on our side,” is Nelson’s -criticism. - -He still endeavoured to be more or less of a freelance. “I am acting, -not only without the orders of my Commander-in-chief,” he tells his -wife, “but in some measure contrary to them. However, I have not only -the support of his Majesty’s Ministers, both at Turin and Genoa, but a -consciousness that I am doing what is right and proper for the service -of our King and Country. Political courage in an Officer is as highly -necessary as military courage.” His position was difficult in the -extreme, for while Genoa posed as a neutral the French did very much as -they pleased, and the Austrian Army, subsidised by England, was “slow -beyond all description.” He found it impossible to patrol the coast as -he would have done had he been able to procure sufficient cruisers and -transports. However, he managed to secure a convoy of provisions and -ammunition, various attacks were made, and for more than a year his -service was one of continual worry and dissatisfaction. - -With the resignation of Hotham and the coming of Sir John Jervis in -November 1795 the naval policy in the Mediterranean underwent a change. -The latter officer believed in watching an enemy’s port at a convenient -distance so as to render pursuit easy if necessary. With the exception -of two or three squadrons on special service the fleet therefore took -up its station off Toulon. - -The victory of the French at the battle of Loano, on the 24th November -1795, was followed by their occupation of the Riviera of Genoa as a -matter of course, the Austrians retreating into Piedmont. A certain -amount of blame was laid on Nelson, who, as already noted, was in the -neighbourhood of Genoa in order to see that the pretended neutrality -was observed. Rumour had it that he and his officers had connived at -the landing of supplies for the French army. This drew from him an -indignant letter to Lord Grenville. It was certain that Genoa was a -hot-bed of sedition and French partisanship. An Austrian commissary -had been robbed, and Voltri temporarily captured; it was said that -an insurrection of the peasantry was imminent and that men were -publicly enlisted for service in the French army. The recruits were -to embark in French ships lying in the port of Genoa and in coasters -at Borghetto and to proceed to a landing-place near Voltri. Nelson, -far from sympathising with the malcontents, prevented the sailing of -the expedition by leaving Vado Bay and proceeding to the scene of the -trouble. He placed the _Agamemnon_ across the harbour-mouth and allowed -none of the enemy’s vessels to leave. - -It is a mournful letter which he pens to Sir Gilbert Elliot, Viceroy -of Corsica, on the 4th December 1795. “My campaign is closed,” he -begins, “by the defeat of the Austrian Army, and the consequent loss -of Vado and every place in the Riviera of Genoa, and I am on my way to -refit poor _Agamemnon_ and her miserable Ship’s company at Leghorn. We -are, indeed, Sir, worn out; except six days I have never been one hour -off the station.” The despatch is too lengthy to quote in full, but it -is significant that he adds, “My being at Genoa, although contrary to -my inclination, has been the means of saving from 8000 to 10,000 men, -and amongst others, General de Vins himself, who escaped by the road, -which, but for me, the Enemy would have occupied. I must, my dear Sir, -regret not having more force.” - -Nelson, who now made the acquaintance of Jervis, early discerned that -his senior officer was a man more after his own heart than either -Hotham or Sir Hyde Parker, who had held the command during the interim. -He was offered either a 90-gun or a 74-gun ship, but preferred to -keep to the well-tried _Agamemnon_, for whose crew he cherished a -fond affection. He was confident that in the succeeding Spring the -victorious French would “make a great exertion to get into Italy.” -This they did, but by land and not by sea as Nelson anticipated. After -refitting Nelson was still kept on the lookout, descents on Italy being -thought not improbable, but in February 1796 he was off Toulon for a -short time to spy on the doings of the French fleet. His health was -by no means good: “I am grown old and battered to pieces, and require -some repairs. However, on the whole, I have stood the fag better than -could be expected.” In the following month Nelson became a Commodore, -hoisting his distinguishing pennant on the _Captain_ (74) a little -later, the condition of the ship which had served him so long and so -well being such that she could no longer be patched up to withstand the -gales without being overhauled in England. - -The war was going from bad to worse so far as the allies were -concerned. The armies of the King of Sardinia and Piedmont and of the -Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire acted in separate bodies, whereas -they would have been superior to the enemy had they concentrated. The -battle of Montenotte, fought on the 12th April 1796, took the Austrians -completely by surprise, and enabled Napoleon to boast that his “title -of nobility” dated from this great victory. Millesimo, Dego, Mondovi, -and Cherasco fell, France and Sardinia made peace, followed by an -armistice between Naples and the Republic which preluded a cessation of -hostilities in the following October. - -Although Nelson was gradually rising in the service he was by no means -a wealthy man. “If we have a Spanish war,” he confides to his brother -on the 20th June 1796, “I shall yet hope to make something this war. -At present, I believe I am worse than when I set out--I mean in point -of riches, for if credit and honour in the service are desirable, I -have my full share. Opportunities have been frequently offered me, and -I have never lost one of distinguishing myself, not only as a gallant -man, but as having a head; for, of the numerous plans I have laid, not -one has failed, nor of opinions given, has one been in the event wrong. -It is this latter which has perhaps established my character more than -the others; and I hope to return in as good health as I set out with.” - -The French having taken possession of Leghorn, Nelson was ordered to -blockade that important port. At the same time he received intelligence -from Sir Gilbert Elliot that there was a likelihood of the enemy making -an attempt on the fortress of Porto Ferrajo in order that Elba might -be used as a stepping-stone to Corsica. The place was secured by the -British without resort to the sword, the good understanding between -the military and naval forces being in marked contrast to Nelson’s -previous experience at Bastia, “a farther proof of what may be effected -by the hearty co-operation of the two services.” He was soon back at -his former station, carrying out his work efficiently and to Jervis’s -complete satisfaction. The Commodore’s letter to his wife, dated the -2nd August 1796, reflects his high spirits and relates two anecdotes of -more than ordinary interest. After telling Mrs Nelson that “Wherever -there is anything to be done, there Providence is sure to direct my -steps. Credit must be given me in spite of envy,” he proceeds as -follows: - -“Even the French respect me: their Minister at Genoa, in answering -a Note of mine, when returning some wearing apparel that had been -taken, said, ‘Your Nation, Sir, and mine, are made to show examples of -generosity, as well as of valour, to all the people of the earth.’... - -“I will also relate another anecdote, all vanity to myself, but you -will partake of it: A person sent me a letter, and directed as follows, -‘Horatio Nelson, Genoa.’ On being asked how he could direct in such -a manner, his answer, in a large party, was ‘Sir, there is but one -Horatio Nelson in the world.’ The letter certainly came immediately. -At Genoa, where I have stopped all their trade, I am beloved and -respected, both by the Senate and lower Order. If any man is fearful of -his Vessel being stopped, he comes and asks me; if I give him a Paper, -or say, ‘All is right,’ he is contented. I am known throughout Italy; -not a Kingdom, or State, where my name will be forgotten. This is my -Gazette.” - -Towards the end of September Jervis was directed by the Home -Authorities to assist the Viceroy in the evacuation of Corsica, “and -with the fleet to retreat down the Mediterranean.” This was deemed -advisable by the knowledge that war was likely to be declared against -Great Britain by Spain, that Power having entered into an offensive and -defensive alliance with the ever victorious French Republic on the 12th -September 1796. Nelson, who had but recently assisted at the capture -of the little island of Capraja, which he hoped with some reason would -“give additional security to the Kingdom of Corsica,” was not pleased -when duty called him to undertake the evacuation of the country so -inseparably associated with Napoleon. “God knows what turn the minds of -the Corsicans may take when the measure comes to be known,” he tells -Jervis. Leaving the Mediterranean was a sore trial, “a measure which I -cannot approve. They at home do not know what this Fleet is capable of -performing; anything, and everything. Much as I shall rejoice to see -England”--he was writing to his wife--“I lament our present orders in -sackcloth and ashes, so dishonourable to the dignity of England, whose -Fleets are equal to meet the World in arms; and of all the Fleets I -ever saw, I never beheld one in point of officers and men equal to Sir -John Jervis’s, who is a Commander-in-chief able to lead them to glory.” - -The Commodore was next instructed to embark the garrison of Porto -Ferrajo preparatory to the abandonment of Elba. Certain of the troops -were then to be landed at Gibraltar and the remainder at Lisbon: “The -object of our Fleet in future is the defence of Portugal, and keeping -in the Mediterranean the Combined Fleets,” namely those of Spain and -France. While on his way to carry out his important mission Nelson was -to meet with a surprising adventure. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -Nelson’s First Great Fight: The Battle of Cape St Vincent - -(1797) - - “_To have had any share in it is honour enough for one man’s life, - but to have been foremost on such a day could fall to your share - alone_” - - SIR GILBERT ELLIOT. - - -Sir John Jervis had concentrated his fleet in Gibraltar Bay. Nelson -was making his way from thence to Elba in the _Minerve_, accompanied -by the _Blanche_, both 32-gun frigates. All went well until late in -the evening of the 19th December 1796, when they fell in with two -Spanish frigates named the _Santa Sabina_ (40) and the _Ceres_ (40) -off Cartagena. The Commodore at once instructed Captain Cockburn to -bring the _Minerve_ to close action with the former. The struggle which -ensued lasted for nearly three hours. The lengthy resistance of the -enemy is proof that there were still gallant officers in the naval -service of what was once the mightiest Sea Power in the world, now long -since fallen from her high estate. Captain Don Jacobo Stuart fought his -ship with praiseworthy calm and daring. Not until 164 of the 286 men -who comprised the crew of the _Santa Sabina_ had been killed or wounded -did the Don strike his colours. The vessel had then lost both main and -fore-masts, and the deck must have resembled a shambles. The _Blanche_ -had also behaved well, although the action was trifling compared with -the determined encounter between the other vessels. The approach of -three additional ships prevented the captain of the _Blanche_ from -following up his advantage and capturing the _Ceres_, which had hauled -down her colours and sustained considerable damage to her sails and -rigging. - -Nelson’s prize was put in charge of Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy -and taken in tow by the _Minerve_. They had not proceeded far before a -third Spanish frigate came up and engaged the _Minerve_, necessitating -the casting-off of the _Santa Sabina_, thereby leaving the two young, -but able, junior officers to their own resources. The encounter lasted -a little over half-an-hour, when the frigate having had enough of -Nelson’s pommelling hauled off. The vessels from which Captain D’Arcy -Preston of the _Blanche_ had escaped were now approaching, their -commanders having been attracted by the sound of distant firing. -Dawn revealed them to Nelson as two sail-of-the-line and a frigate. -By hoisting English colours above the Spanish flag on the prize -the enemy’s Admiral was attracted to her, a ruse which enabled the -_Minerve_ and the _Blanche_ to escape, for it would have been foolish -for Nelson to run the risk of sacrificing them because of the prize -crew. Indeed, the situation was so perilous that Nelson afterwards -wrote to Sir Gilbert Elliot, “We very narrowly escaped visiting a -Spanish prison.” Neither before nor since have British Tars behaved in -finer fashion. They sailed the _Santa Sabina_ until she was practically -a hulk, when she was recaptured. - -“The merits of every officer and man in the _Minerve_ and her Prize,” -Nelson reports to Jervis, “were eminently conspicuous through the -whole of this arduous day.” He likewise said the kindest things of his -antagonist: “My late prisoner, a descendant from the Duke of Berwick, -son of James II., was my brave opponent; for which I have returned him -his sword, and sent him in a Flag of truce to Spain ... he was reputed -the best Officer in Spain, and his men were worthy of such a Commander; -he was the only surviving Officer.” He reserved more picturesque -details for his brother. - -“When I hailed the Don,” he relates, “and told him, ‘This is an English -Frigate,’ and demanded his surrender or I would fire into him, his -answer was noble, and such as became the illustrious family from which -he is descended--‘This is a Spanish Frigate, and you may begin as soon -as you please.’ I have no idea of a closer or sharper battle: the -force to a gun the same, and nearly the same number of men; we having -two hundred and fifty. I asked him several times to surrender during -the Action, but his answer was--‘No, Sir; not whilst I have the means -of fighting left.’ When only himself of all the Officers were left -alive, he hailed, and said he could fight no more, and begged I would -stop firing.” Culverhouse and Hardy, after having been conveyed to -Carthagena, were subsequently exchanged for the unlucky but brave Don, -and returned to the _Minerve_. - -[Illustration: “I’ll not lose Hardy!” - -H. C. Seppings Wright] - -Nelson duly anchored at Porto Ferrajo, and met with a lack of -co-operation on the part of the military authority similar to some of -his previous experiences. Lieutenant-General de Burgh, in command of -the troops, declined to evacuate the town. Nelson, having no other -alternative, removed the naval stores, left a number of sloops and -gunboats for use in emergency, and sailed for Gibraltar, which he -reached on the 9th February 1797, having looked into the enemy’s ports -of Toulon and Cartagena on the way. Two days later the Commodore -again set out in his endeavour to join Jervis, and was chased by two -Spanish ships. It was then that a memorable incident occurred in the -lives of both Nelson and Hardy, names inseparably associated. A man -fell overboard, and Hardy and a crew in the jolly-boat hastened to the -rescue. The current was strong, the poor fellow sank, and the boat -rapidly drifted in the direction of one of the oncoming vessels, so -that Hardy stood a very good chance of again falling into the hands -of the enemy. “I’ll not lose Hardy; back the mizen topsail,” shouted -Nelson without a moment’s hesitation. This was done, and the -lieutenant and his sailors were rescued. The Spaniards were completely -put off their guard. Led to imagine by the peculiar manœuvre of the -_Minerve_ that other British ships had been sighted, they gave up the -chase. No further exciting incidents occurred as the doughty frigate -ploughed the blue waters of the Mediterranean, although the Spanish -fleet was passed at night. On the 13th Nelson joined Jervis, off Cape -St Vincent, and was able to assure him that a battle appeared imminent. -“Every heart warmed to see so brave and fortunate a warrior among us,” -says Lieutenant G. S. Parsons, then not quite thirteen years of age -and a first-class volunteer on board the _Barfleur_ (98). During the -succeeding hours of darkness the low and distant rumble of signal guns -proved the truth of the Commodore’s assertion. The enemy’s fleet of -twenty-seven sail-of-the-line and twelve 34-gun frigates was certainly -hastening in the direction of Jervis. It had sailed from Cadiz for a -very important purpose. After concentrating with the Toulon fleet the -allies were to attempt to raise the English blockade of Brest, thus -releasing the important armament there, gain command of the Channel, -and invade Ireland. We shall have occasion to notice that in later -years Napoleon conceived a similar idea. It is open to question whether -Admiral Don Josef de Cordova would have been quite so eager for the -fray had he known the full British strength. He believed it to be -nine sail-of-the-line, whereas fifteen battleships and seven smaller -vessels were awaiting his coming. When the signal-lieutenant of the -_Barfleur_ exclaimed of the oncoming leeward line of vessels, “They -loom like Beachy Head in a fog! By my soul, they are thumpers, for I -distinctly make out _four_ tier of ports in one of them, bearing an -admiral’s flag,” he expressed plain, honest fact. “Don Cordova, in -the _Santissima Trinidad_,” Jervis correctly surmised, “and I trust -in Providence that we shall reduce this mountain into a mole hill -before sunset.” The Spanish flag-ship was the largest vessel afloat, -and carried 130 guns. She must have towered above the insignificant -_Captain_ (74), to which Nelson had transferred his broad pennant, -much like an elephant over a Shetland pony. Nor was the _Santissima -Trinidad_ the only vessel built on what was then considered to be -colossal lines. No fewer than six of the Spanish three-deckers carried -112 guns each; two of them had 80 guns each, and seventeen were 74-gun -ships. England was represented by two sail-of-the-line of 100 guns -each, two of 98 each, ten of 74 each, and one of 64. - -“The British had formed one of the most beautiful and close lines -ever beheld,” Parsons tells us. “The fog drew up like a curtain, and -disclosed the grandest sight I ever witnessed. The Spanish fleet, -close on our weather bow, were making the most awkward attempts to -form their line of battle, and they looked a complete forest huddled -together; their commander-in-chief, covered with signals, and running -free on his leeward line, using his utmost endeavours to get them into -order; but they seemed confusion worse confounded. I was certainly very -young, but felt so elated as to walk on my toes, by way of appearing -taller, as I bore oranges to the admiral and captain, selecting some -for myself, which I stored in a snug corner in the stern-galley, as a -_Corps de réserve_. The breeze was just sufficient to cause all the -sails to sleep, and we were close hauled on the starboard tack, with -royals set, heading up for the Spanish fleet. Our supporting ship, in -the well-formed line, happened to be the _Captain_, and Captain Dacres -hailed to say that he was desired by the vice-admiral to express his -pleasure at being supported by Sir Horatio Nelson.”[17] - -Men famous in British naval annals were present at this memorable -contest, fought on St Valentine’s Day, 1797. Jervis was in the -_Victory_ (100), Troubridge in the _Culloden_ (74), Collingwood in the -_Excellent_ (74), and Saumarez in the _Orion_ (74). Twenty-four years -before Troubridge and Nelson had sailed together in the _Seahorse_; -Collingwood was the Commodore’s life-long friend, and Saumarez, whom -the great little man did not like, was to become second in command at -the battle of the Nile eighteen months later. - -“England,” the Admiral averred, “was in need of a victory,” and he gave -her one. Jervis was indeed a doughty champion of his country’s rights -at sea. “The British Admiral made the signal to prepare for battle,” -says an eye-witness. “As he walked the quarter-deck the hostile numbers -were reported to him, as they appeared, by signal. ‘There are eight -sail-of-the-line, Sir John.’ ‘Very well, sir.’ ‘There are twenty-five -sail-of-the-line.’ ‘Very well, sir.’ ‘There are twenty-seven sail, Sir -John,’ and this was accompanied by some remark on the great disparity -of the forces. ‘Enough, sir--no more of that: the die is cast; and -if there were fifty sail-of-the-line, I would go through them.’” Sir -Benjamin Hallowell-Carew, then a supernumerary on the quarter-deck -of the _Victory_, disregarding the austerity of naval etiquette and -thinking only of the determined utterance of the grim old veteran, so -far forgot himself as to give the Admiral a hearty slap on the back. - -The Spanish fleet was in two divisions of twenty-one and six -sail-of-the-line respectively, separated by a distance of some miles. -Three of the main squadron joined the latter a little later, while one -“sailed away.” Jervis’s fleet, in single column, separated the two -lines. By a skilful manœuvre he held in check the smaller division -and brought his ships to bear on the larger, the _Culloden_ being the -first vessel to attack, which elicited warm praise of Troubridge from -Jervis. The fight at once became general and was waged for some time -without decisive results. Then several of the leading Spanish ships -endeavoured to get round the rear of the British. Had they succeeded -in doing so it would have enabled them to join the detached leeward -division and escape to Cadiz. Nelson at once discerned the project, -and without hesitation placed the _Captain_ in the path of the oncoming -ships. He “dashed in among the Spanish van,” to quote Parsons, “totally -unsupported, leaving a break in the British line--conduct totally -unprecedented, and only to be justified by the most complete success -with which it was crowned....” - -The _Captain_, the smallest 74 in the fleet, stood a good chance -of being annihilated by the oncoming squadron of Spanish ships, -which included the _Santissima Trinidad_, a gigantic four-decker. -Lieutenant-Colonel Drinkwater, who was an eye-witness, tells us that -for a considerable time Nelson “had to contend not only with her, -but with her seconds ahead and astern, of three decks each. While he -maintained this unequal combat, which was viewed with admiration, mixed -with anxiety, his friends were flying to his support: and the enemy’s -attention was soon directed to the _Culloden_, Captain Troubridge; -and, in a short time after, to the _Blenheim_, of 90 guns, Captain -Frederick; who, very opportunely, came to his assistance. - -“The intrepid conduct of the Commodore staggered the Spanish admiral, -who already appeared to waver in pursuing his intention of joining the -ships cut off by the British fleet; when the _Culloden’s_ arrival, -and Captain Troubridge’s spirited support of the _Captain_, together -with the approach of the _Blenheim_, followed by Rear-Admiral Parker, -with the _Prince George_, _Orion_, _Irresistible_, and _Diadem_, not -far distant, determined the Spanish admiral to change his design -altogether, and to make the signal for the ships of his main body to -haul their wind, and make sail on the larboard tack. - -“Advantage was now apparent, in favour of the British squadron, and -not a moment was lost in improving it. As the ships of Rear-Admiral -Parker’s division approached the enemy’s ships, in support of the -_Captain_, and her gallant seconds, the _Blenheim_ and _Culloden_, -the cannonade became more animated and impressive. The superiority -of the British fire over that of the enemy, and its effects on the -enemy’s hulls and sails, were so evident that there was no longer any -hesitation in pronouncing a glorious termination of the contest. - -“The British squadron at this time was formed in two divisions, both -on the larboard tack[18]: Rear-Admiral Parker, with the _Blenheim_, -_Culloden_, _Prince George_, _Captain_, _Orion_, and _Irresistible_, -composed one division, which was engaged with the enemy’s rear; Sir -John Jervis, with the other division, consisting of the _Excellent_, -_Victory_, _Barfleur_, _Namur_, _Egmont_, _Goliath_, and _Britannia_, -was pressing forward in support of his advanced squadron, but had not -yet approached the real scene of action. - -“While the British advanced squadron warmly pressed the enemy’s centre -and rear, the Admiral meditated, with his division, a co-operation -which must effectually compel some of them to surrender. - -“In the confusion of their retreat, several of the enemy’s ships had -doubled on each other; and, in the rear, they were three or four -deep. It was, therefore, the British admiral’s design to reach the -weather-most of these ships; and, then, to bear up, and rake them all -in succession, with the seven ships composing his division. His object, -afterwards, was to pass on to the support of his van division; which, -from the length of time they had been engaged, he judged might be in -want of it. The casual position, however, of the rear ships of his van -division, prevented his executing this plan. The admiral, therefore, -ordered the _Excellent_, the leading ship of his own division, to -bear up; and, with the _Victory_, he himself passed to leeward of the -enemy’s rearmost and leewardmost ships; which, though almost silenced -in their fire, continued obstinately to resist the animated attack of -all their opponents. - -“Captain Collingwood, in the _Excellent_, in obedience to the admiral’s -orders, passed between the two rearmost ships of the enemy’s line; -giving to the one most to windward, a 74, so effectual a broadside, in -addition to what had been done before, that her captain was induced to -submit. The _Excellent_ afterwards bore down on the ship to leeward, -a three-decker: but, observing the _Orion_ engaged with her, and the -_Victory_ approaching her, he threw into her only a few discharges of -musquetry, and passed on to the support of the _Captain_, at that time -warmly engaged with a three-decker, carrying a flag. His interference -here was opportune, as the continual and long fire of the _Captain_ had -almost expended the ammunition she had at hand, and the loss of her -fore-topmast, and other injuries she had received in her rigging, had -rendered her nearly ungovernable. - -“The Spanish three-decker had lost her mizen-mast; and, before the -_Excellent_ arrived in her proper station to open on this ship, the -three-decker dropped astern aboard of, and became entangled with, a -Spanish two-decker, that was her second. Thus doubled on each other, -the _Excellent_ gave the two ships her fire; and then moved forwards to -assist the headmost ships in their attack on the Spanish admiral, and -the other ships of the enemy’s centre. - -“Meanwhile, Sir John Jervis, disappointed in his plan of raking the -enemy’s rear ships, and having directed, as before observed, the -_Excellent_ to bear up, ordered the _Victory_ to be placed on the -lee-quarter of the rearmost ship of the enemy, a three-decker; and -having, by signal, ordered the _Irresistible_ and _Diadem_ to suspend -their firing, threw into the three-decker so powerful a discharge, that -her commander, seeing the _Barfleur_ ... ready to second the _Victory_, -thought proper to strike to the British Commander-in-chief. Two of -the enemy’s ships had now surrendered; and the _Lively_ frigate, and -_Diadem_, had orders to secure the prizes. The next that fell were the -two with which Commodore Nelson was engaged. - -“While Captain Collingwood so nobly stepped in to his assistance, as -already mentioned, Captain R. W. Miller, the Commodore’s captain, was -enabled to replenish his lockers with shot, and prepare for a renewal -of the fight. No sooner, therefore, had the _Excellent_ passed on, than -the gallant Commodore renewed the battle. - -“The three-decker with which he was before engaged having fallen -aboard her second, that ship, of 84 guns, became now the Commodore’s -opponent. To her, therefore, he directed a vigorous fire; nor was it -feebly returned, as the loss on board the _Captain_ evinced, nearly -twenty men being killed and wounded in a very few minutes. It was now -that the various damages already sustained by that ship, through the -long and arduous conflict which she had maintained, appearing to render -a continuance of the contest in the usual way precarious, or perhaps -impossible, that Commodore Nelson, unable to bear the idea of parting -with an enemy of which he had so thoroughly assured himself, instantly -resolved on a bold and decisive measure; and determined, whatever might -be the event, to attempt his opponent sword in hand. The boarders were -accordingly summoned, and orders given to lay his ship, the _Captain_, -on board the enemy.” - -“At this time,” says Nelson, “the _Captain_ having lost her -fore-topmast, not a sail, shroud, or rope left, her wheel shot away, -and incapable of further service in the line, or in chase, I directed -Captain Miller to put the helm a-starboard, and calling for the -Boarders, ordered them to board. The Soldiers of the 69th Regiment, -with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, and Lieutenant Pierson -of the same Regiment, were amongst the foremost on this service. -The first man who jumped into the Enemy’s mizen-chains was Captain -Berry, late my First Lieutenant (Captain Miller was in the very act of -going also, but I directed him to remain); he was supported from our -spritsail-yard, which hooked in the mizzen-rigging. A soldier of the -69th Regiment having broke the upper quarter-gallery window, jumped -in, followed by myself and others as fast as possible. I found the -cabin-doors fastened, and some Spanish Officers fired their pistols; -but having broke open the doors, the soldiers fired, and the Spanish -Brigadier (Commodore with a Distinguishing Pendant) fell, as retreating -to the quarter-deck, on the larboard side, near the wheel. Having -pushed on the quarter-deck, I found Captain Berry in possession of the -poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. I passed with my people and -Lieutenant Pierson on the larboard gangway to the forecastle, where -I met two or three Spanish Officers prisoners to my seamen, and they -delivered me their swords. - -“At this moment, a fire of pistols or muskets opened from the Admiral’s -stern gallery of the _San Josef_, I directed the soldiers to fire into -her stern; and, calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send more men -into the _San Nicolas_, and directed my people to board the First-rate, -which was done in an instant, Captain Berry assisting me into the main -chains. At this moment a Spanish Officer looked over the quarter-deck -rail, and said--‘they surrendered;’ from this most welcome intelligence -it was not long before I was on the quarter-deck, when the Spanish -Captain, with a bow, presented me his Sword, and said the Admiral was -dying of his wounds below. I asked him, on his honour, if the Ship were -surrendered? he declared she was; on which I gave him my hand, and -desired him to call to his Officers and Ship’s company, and tell them -of it--which he did; and on the quarter-deck of a Spanish First-rate, -extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive the Swords of -vanquished Spaniards: which, as I received, I gave to William Fearney, -one of my bargemen, who put them with the greatest _sangfroid_ under -his arm.” - -Nelson afterwards went on board the _Irresistible_. It was then late -in the afternoon, and he did not think it advisable to take possession -of the _Santissima Trinidad_ because he was convinced that “a night -Action with a still very superior Fleet” must inevitably follow. -Jervis received the Commodore with great affection and was not sparing -with well-deserved praise. The hero of the day was no less generous in -acknowledging the services of Collingwood. He described his conduct -as “noble and gallant.” Nelson had no truer friend than the commander -of the _Excellent_, whose admiration for the Commodore’s genius knew -no bounds. “The highest rewards are due to you and _Culloden_:” -Collingwood replied, “you formed the plan of attack--we were only -accessories to the Dons’ ruin; for had they got on the other tack, they -would have been sooner joined, and the business would have been less -complete.” - -While the interest of the fight centres about the _Captain_, each -ship contributed to the victory. In addition to Nelson’s vessel, the -_Colossus_ and _Culloden_ were badly battered but fortunately the loss -in men was remarkably small. Four prizes fell to the British fleet on -St Valentine’s Day, 1797. - -To his wife, Nelson confesses that “the more I think of our late -action, the more I am astonished; it absolutely appears a dream.... -The Spanish war will give us a cottage and a piece of ground, which -is all I want. I shall come one day or other laughing back, when we -will retire from the busy scenes of life: I do not, however, mean to -be a hermit; the dons will give us a little money.” This must not be -taken too seriously, for within forty-eight hours of the battle he -had confided to Sir Gilbert Elliot that “to take hereditary Honours -without a fortune to support the Dignity, is to lower that Honour it -would be my pride to support in proper splendour.” He did not wish a -“baronetage,” but on the other hand, “There are Honours, which die -with the possessor, and I should be proud to accept, if my efforts are -thought worthy of the favour of my King.” George III. created him a -Knight of the Bath; Jervis became Earl of St Vincent. Six days after -the battle Nelson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue, -not as a reward for his meritorious conduct but as his due according to -seniority. - -A beautiful gold casket containing the much-coveted Freedom of the -City and a sword of honour was given to Sir Horatio, as we must now -call him, by the Corporation of London, and Norwich, where some of -his school days were spent, likewise conferred its Freedom upon him. -Nelson on his part presented the county town of Norfolk with the sword -of the Spanish Rear-Admiral who had died of his wounds on board the -_San Josef_. Other cities extended “the right hand of friendship” to -the hero, including Bath and Bristol. Nelson’s father was overcome when -he heard of his son’s brilliant success: “The height of glory to which -your professional judgment, united with a proper degree of bravery, -guarded by Providence, has raised you, few sons, my dear child, attain -to, and fewer fathers live to see. Tears of joy have involuntarily -trickled down my furrowed cheek. Who could stand the force of such -general congratulation? The name and services of Nelson have sounded -throughout the City of Bath, from the common ballad-singer to the -public theatre. Joy sparkles in every eye, and desponding Britain draws -back her sable veil, and smiles.” - -Although he had clearly disobeyed Jervis’s order for the ships to -attack in succession, the Commodore’s daring action had rendered the -battle decisive. Sir Robert Calder, the Captain of the Fleet, is said -to have protested against Nelson’s conduct, but the Admiral’s reply, -“If you ever commit such a breach of orders I will forgive you,” -was entirely worthy of the stern old disciplinarian. Jervis was not -one of those officers who bestow praise on every possible occasion, -both in and out of season. He was just, and therefore recognised the -extremely valuable service which Nelson had rendered to him. We shall -have occasion to see how Calder himself behaved at a certain critical -period, when a stroke of genius such as had been displayed at St -Vincent would have robbed Nelson of the glory of Trafalgar.[19] - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -From Triumph to Failure: The Attempt on Santa Cruz - -(1797) - - “_I have had flattery enough to make me vain, and success enough to - make me confident._” - - NELSON. - - -All hopes on the part of Britain’s enemies for the invasion of the -British Isles were quashed for a time by the victory off Cape St -Vincent. Although the distressed Spanish fleet reached Cadiz safely, -minus four sail-of-the-line which the British had captured, there was -no likelihood at the moment of the ships showing their “noses” out of -port, many of the aforesaid noses being much out of joint. For several -weeks Nelson was engaged in a fruitless search for a treasure-ship, -convoyed by three sail-of-the-line, supposed to be making for Spain; -but in April 1797 he was directed by the Admiral to blockade Cadiz, -a task not altogether devoid of incident if for no other reason than -that no neutral vessel was permitted to enter or leave the port without -his permission. He was particularly concerned as to the welfare of the -garrison at Elba. The Commander-in-Chief believed that the soldiers -were on their way to Gibraltar; Nelson was of opinion that “If the -French get out two sail-of-the-line, which I am confident they may do, -our Troops are lost, and what a triumph would that be to them!” At his -own suggestion he was sent to Porto Ferrajo to make enquiries about -the luckless little army. The convoy had started, and he met it off -the south of Corsica. He learned of Napoleon’s wonderful success in -the subjugation of Italy and the humbling of Austria, admitting that -“there seems no prospect of stopping these extraordinary people,” the -French. Shifting from the _Captain_, which required to be docked, he -hoisted his rear-admiral’s flag on the _Theseus_, and was given command -of the inshore squadron of the fleet blockading the great seaport, “in -sight of the whole Spanish Fleet. I am barely out of shot of a Spanish -Rear-Admiral.” The citizens not unnaturally dreaded a bombardment; -Nelson confessed, “I long to be at them.” At the same time he reverted -to the old idea of a cottage in Norfolk. “The imperious call of honour -to serve my Country,” and a not ignoble desire to add to his prize -money in order to give his wife “those little luxuries which you so -highly merit,” did not, however, permit him to give more than a passing -thought to retirement. - -On the night of the 3rd July 1797 all the barges and launches of -the British blockading fleet, carrying carronades, ammunition and -pikes, were placed at Nelson’s disposal by the Earl of St Vincent for -the bombardment of Cadiz. A spirited action took place between the -British and Spanish sailors, the latter using mortar gunboats and -armed launches. The Spanish met with a repulse and three prizes were -taken. Referring to the blockade in his Autobiography, Nelson says: -“It was during this period that perhaps my personal courage was more -conspicuous than at any other part of my life,” the remark obviously -referring to the following incident. The barge of the Commander of the -enemy’s gunboats came up alongside Nelson’s little craft, containing -thirteen persons in all, and a desperate hand-to-hand fight ensued. -The Rear-Admiral would have lost his life had it not been for the good -services of John Sykes, the coxswain, one of those humble heroes of -whom one hears too little, so predominant are the greater figures -of history. The enemy paid dearly for the exploit. Eighteen of the -crew were killed, several wounded, the Commander was taken prisoner, -and the boat captured. On the 5th of the same month Cadiz was again -bombarded, and according to the official despatch, the cannonade -“produced considerable effect in the Town and among the Shipping.” The -Earl of St Vincent now proved how strict a disciplinarian he was. The -crews of some of the ships had shown unmistakable signs of mutiny, and -the Court Martial having passed sentence on four of the ringleaders, -the Commander-in-Chief saw no reason for delaying the execution of -the sentence. He had the men hanged on a Sunday, a few hours after -they had been found guilty. Nelson strongly approved of the execution, -“even although it is _Sunday_. The particular situation of the service -requires extraordinary measures.” It is significant that no signs of -dissatisfaction made themselves felt in any of the Rear-Admiral’s -ships, but Nelson’s words show that he would not have condoned anything -of the kind. - -An attack on Santa Cruz, where it was believed that the _Principe -d’Asturias_, a ship of considerable value belonging to the Philippine -Company, had taken shelter, next fell to Nelson’s lot. He had already -hinted to the Admiral that the conquest of Teneriffe was an object -very dear to him, which he was confident “could not fail of success, -would immortalize the undertakers, ruin Spain, and has every prospect -of raising our Country to a higher pitch of wealth than she has ever -yet attained....” His plan was to utilise the 3700 soldiers from -Elba; “I will undertake with a very small Squadron to do the Naval -part.” The scheme fell through, to be revived by the Earl himself, -but it was to be carried out without the assistance of the troops. -Three sail-of-the-line and the same number of frigates were placed at -Nelson’s disposal. Ladders, sledge-hammers, wedges, axes, additional -iron ram-rods, and a sleigh for dragging cannon formed a necessary -part of the equipment. A perusal of the regulations recommended by -the Rear-Admiral shows that he took the most elaborate precautions to -ensure success. Captain Thomas Troubridge, of the _Culloden_, was given -command of the entire force, Captain Oldfield directing the Marines, -Lieutenant Baynes his detachment of the Royal Artillery. The first -attempt was made on the night of the 21st and failed, largely owing to -adverse weather. As a consequence the spot which Nelson had indicated -as most suitable for landing was not reached, and dawn disclosed the -whereabouts of the little expedition to the Spaniards. It was also -found impossible to get the battle-ships close enough to the fort to -create a diversion by bombardment while the storming party attempted to -gain the heights. - -Any blame which may have been attributable to Troubridge was minimised -by Nelson in his despatch to the Admiral, “all has hitherto been done -which was possible, without effect.” He therefore decided to command -in person, “and to-morrow my head will probably be crowned with either -laurel or cypress.” Did some premonition of disaster lead him to write -to the Earl of St Vincent to recommend his step-son “to you and my -Country,” and to add that “should I fall in the service of my King and -Country” the Duke of Clarence would “take a lively interest” in Josiah -Nisbet? It was certainly not his way of saying things at this stage -of his career, although we know that in 1805 he avowed that Trafalgar -would be his last battle. - -[Illustration: Nelson wounded at Santa Cruz - -R. Caton Woodville] - -On the 24th Nelson was able to get his ships nearer land than on the -previous occasion. He and nearly a thousand men set out in small boats -at about eleven o’clock at night for the Mole, where they were to -disembark. The oars being muffled and dead silence enjoined, the enemy -did not discover their approach till they were within half gun-shot of -the appointed _rendez-vous_. Immediately thirty or forty cannon blazed -out, the sharp ping of musket shots rent the air, but, says Nelson, -“nothing could stop the intrepidity of the Captains leading the -divisions. Unfortunately, the greatest part of the Boats did not see -the Mole, but went on shore through a raging surf, which stove all the -Boats to the left of it.” - -With the companies of four or five boats and two Captains, the -Rear-Admiral stormed the landing-place in the darkness and took -possession of it in the presence of several hundred of the enemy. They -then proceeded to spike the guns, but were driven back by the heavy -fire which seemed to issue from every available point. Scarcely a man -escaped death or a wound. Nelson was shot through the right elbow as -he was stepping from the boat. With rare presence of mind he quietly -transferred the sword he carried to his left hand. This weapon, once -the property of his uncle Maurice Suckling, was treasured by him -almost more than any other possession. He was not going to leave that -of all things on Spanish soil! Young Nisbet happened to be near his -step-father at the moment he received his wound, and placed him in the -bottom of the boat. He then held the arm so as to staunch the blood, -untied the silk handkerchief round his neck and bound up the injury -as best he could. After passing under the enemy’s batteries the few -men who had regained the little craft bent to the oars and eventually -pulled out of range of the guns, but not before some of the crew of the -_Fox_, who had been flung into the sea owing to the sinking of that -cutter, had been rescued by them. Someone suggested that Nelson should -be taken to the nearest vessel for surgical treatment. He would not -hear of this because the captain’s wife happened to be on board and -he had no intelligence of her husband’s fate. Whatever agonies Nelson -suffered, as the sadly denuded crew made their way to the _Theseus_, -were kept to himself; scarcely a groan escaped his lips. - -“At two o’clock [A.M.],” says a midshipman who saw the sorrowful -boatload, “Admiral Nelson returned on board, being dreadfully wounded -in the right arm with a grape-shot. I leave you to judge of my -situation, when I beheld our boat approach with him who I may say -has been a second father to me, his right arm dangling by his side, -whilst with the other he helped himself to jump up the Ship’s side, -and with a spirit that astonished every one, told the surgeon to get -his instruments ready, for he knew he must lose his arm, and that the -sooner it was off the better. He underwent the amputation with the same -firmness and courage that have always marked his character.” - -Captain Troubridge and his men landed near the citadel after most of -the ammunition had been soaked by the surf, which was so violent that -it filled the boats and stove them against the treacherous rocks. With -a handful of heroes he proceeded to the Square, previously appointed -as the meeting-place of the various parties before the final attack. -The scaling ladders having been lost, and no further men making their -appearance after an hour’s wait, he set out to meet Captains Hood -and Miller, whom he believed had effected a landing elsewhere. “By -day-break,” runs his official report to Nelson, “we had collected about -eighty Marines, eighty Pike-men, and one hundred and eighty small-arm -Seamen. These, I found, were all that were alive that had made good -their landing. With this force, having procured some ammunition from -the Spanish prisoners we had made, we were marching to try what could -be done with the Citadel without ladders; but found the whole of the -streets commanded by field-pieces, and upwards of eight thousand -Spaniards and one hundred French under arms, approaching by every -avenue. As the boats were all stove, and I saw no possibility of -getting more men on shore--the ammunition wet, and no provisions--I -sent Captain Hood with a Flag of Truce to the Governor, to say I was -prepared to burn the Town, which I should immediately put in force -if he approached one inch further; and, at the same time, I desired -Captain Hood to say it would be done with regret, as I had no wish to -injure the inhabitants; that if he would come to my terms, I was ready -to treat, which he readily agreed to....” - -The terms were, “That the Troops, etc., belonging to his Britannic -Majesty shall embark with all their arms of every kind, and take their -Boats off, if saved, and be provided with such other as may be wanting; -in consideration of which it is engaged on their part they shall not -molest the Town in any manner by the Ships of the British Squadron now -before it, or any of the Islands in the Canaries; and prisoners shall -be given up on both sides.” - -Troubridge’s game of bluff succeeded. His Excellency Don Antonio -Gutierrez, Commandant-General of the Canary Islands, rid himself of the -invaders and was rewarded by Nelson with a cask of English beer and a -cheese! - -It says much for Nelson’s indomitable pluck and recuperative powers, -as well as for his keen interest in the service, that he allowed only -two days to intervene before he penned a letter with his left hand to -the Admiral. That he was depressed is obvious, that he still had a -fund of grim humour is equally evident by the quaint postscript. The -communication runs as follows: - - _Theseus, July 27th, 1797._ - - “MY DEAR SIR, - - “I am become a burthen to my friends, and useless to my Country; - but by my letter wrote the 24th,[20] you will perceive my anxiety - for the promotion of my son-in-law, Josiah Nisbet.[21] 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,[22] you think it proper - to oblige me, I rest confident you will do it; the Boy is under - obligations to me, but he repaid me by bringing me from the Mole - of Santa Cruz. - - “I hope you will be able to give me a frigate, to convey the - remains of my carcase to England. God bless you, my dear Sir, and - believe me, your most obliged and faithful, - - “HORATIO NELSON. - - “You will excuse my scrawl, considering it is my first attempt. - - “Sir John Jervis, K.Bth.” - -In another despatch to his senior officer the leader of the ill-fated -expedition avers that “A left-handed Admiral will never again be -considered as useful, therefore the sooner I get to a very humble -cottage the better, and make room for a better man to serve the -State.” The noble Earl’s reply must have been as healing balm to the -wounded body and depressed spirit of the man whose brilliant success -had been followed so quickly by disastrous failure. “Mortals cannot -command success;” he begins, “you and your Companions have certainly -deserved it, by the greatest degree of heroism and perseverance that -ever was exhibited.” Such praise from St Vincent was praise indeed, -and he whimsically concludes by saying that he will “bow to your stump -to-morrow morning, if you will give me leave.” - -On the 20th August 1797, Nelson struck his flag on the _Theseus_ and -hoisted it on the _Seahorse_, in which ship he made “a very miserable -passage home.” He arrived at Spithead on the 1st September and -proceeded to Bath. To his brother he reported that his health “never -was better, and my arm is in the fairest way of soon healing.” He -intended to journey to London, perhaps pay a short visit to Norfolk -“for a few days, especially if a decent house is likely to be met with -near Norwich; but Wroxham very far indeed exceeds my purse. Bath will -be my home till next spring.” On the other hand Lady Nelson wrote on -the same date that her husband suffered “a good deal of pain--the arm -is taken off very high, near the shoulder,” and he only obtained rest -by resorting to opium. - -If he never minimised a victory in his communications Nelson certainly -did not remark unduly on his wounds. In writing to the Duke of Clarence -he merely referred to “my accident,” and passed on to assure his royal -friend “that not a scrap of that ardour with which I have hitherto -served our King has been shot away.” It is only right, however, to add -that in communicating with the Comptroller of the Navy he was perhaps -a little unjust to Troubridge in the matter of the initial attempt on -Santa Cruz: “Had I been with the first party, I have reason to believe -complete success would have crowned our endeavours.[23] My pride -suffered; and although I felt the second attack a forlorn hope, yet the -honour of our Country called for the attack, and that I should command -it. I never expected to return, and am thankful.” - -On the 27th September, Nelson was invested with the Ensigns of the -Order of the Bath by George III. at St James’s Palace. In addition he -was granted a pension of £1000 a year, having been “engaged against the -Enemy upwards of one hundred and twenty times.” He became a popular -hero, but as he himself said, “Success covers a multitude of blunders, -and the want of it hides the greatest gallantry and good conduct.” -Compared to the victory off Cape St Vincent the Santa Cruz fiasco was -of little moment. Kind-hearted John Bull dismissed the latter incident -and thought only of the former. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -In Chase of the French Fleet - -(1798) - - “_No Frigates!--to which has been, and may again, be attributed the - loss of the French Fleet._” - - NELSON. - - -The year 1797 had been a particularly trying one for Nelson both as -regards health and reputation; the succeeding twelve months were to -test his powers of endurance and his skill even more. The services of -the one-eyed, one-armed little man were not to be dispensed with, as -he had suggested in a moment of despondency. He neither retired to “a -very humble cottage,” although he had purchased a small property known -as Round Wood, near Ipswich, nor made room for “a better man.” Truth -to tell, there was no better man, and for once the Admiralty knew -its business. Nelson hoisted his flag as Rear-Admiral of the Blue on -board the _Vanguard_ (74) at Spithead on the 29th March 1798, sailed -for Lisbon with a convoy on the 10th April, and joined his old fleet -off Cadiz on the last day of that month, the times “big with events.” -Within forty-eight hours he was ordered by St Vincent to ascertain the -destination of an immense armament which was preparing at Toulon and -other ports in the Mediterranean. For this important service a squadron -of three sail-of-the-line, including his own ship, three frigates -and a sloop were placed at his disposal. A small French corvette was -captured, and by closely examining each member of the crew it was -ascertained that although Bonaparte had appeared at the great French -port it was not believed he would embark. The most important point of -all, namely, the destination of the expedition, was not revealed: “all -is secret.” - -While off Toulon, Nelson encountered one of the worst gales he -ever experienced. His own account of the fight with this universal -enemy lacks the picturesque details given by Captain Berry, of the -_Vanguard_, and we shall therefore quote from Berry’s letter. Nelson -tells his wife that “it was the Almighty’s goodness, to check my -consummate vanity”; his more matter-of-fact captain sees only a natural -cause. Just before sunset on Sunday, the 20th of May, it became evident -that the spell of fine weather, which had been enjoyed hitherto, was -over. The wind increased in violence so much that it became necessary -to furl all the sails with the exception of a main storm-staysail. -“At about two,” says Berry, “the main-topmast went over the side, -with the top-sailyard full of men. I dreaded the inquiry of who were -killed and drowned; fortunately only one man fell overboard, and -one fell on the booms, and was killed on the spot. At half-past two -the mizen-topmast went over the side; the foremast gave an alarming -crack, and at a quarter past three went by the board with a most -tremendous crash, and, what was very extraordinary, it fell in two -pieces across the forecastle. Our situation was really alarming: the -wreck of the fore-topmast and foremast hanging over the side, and -beating against the Ship’s bottom; the best bower-anchor was flung -out of its place, and was also thumping the bottom; the wreck of the -main topmast swinging violently against the main-rigging, every roll -endangering the loss of the mainmast, which we expected to fall every -moment: thus circumstanced, we endeavoured, though with but little -hopes of success, to wear,[24] having no head-sail, and knowing we -were driving on an Enemy’s shore. Fortunately there was a small rag -of the sprit-sail left, and by watching a favourable moment, we got -her on the other tack. The bowsprit did not go, though it was sprung -in three different places. The Ship rolled and laboured dreadfully, -but did not make any water, more than we shipped over all. We cut the -anchor from the bows, and got clear of the wreck, with the loss of a -boat and top-sailyard, etc., and were not apprehensive of our bottom -being damaged.... For want of masts we rolled dreadfully. The storm -did not abate till Tuesday afternoon, which enabled the _Alexander_ to -take us in tow. Our situation on Tuesday night was the most alarming -I ever experienced....” At one time Nelson was of opinion that both -ships would go down, and wished the _Vanguard_ to be cast off. Captain -Alexander Ball, with whom the Rear-Admiral had struck up a slight -acquaintance at St Omer on the occasion of his visit to France in -1783, would not hear of it, and brought the vessels safely to the -shelter of the islands of San Pietro. After being patched up the three -sail-of-the-line again proceeded on their way to Toulon, minus the -smaller craft which had parted company long since, and eventually -returned to St Vincent’s fleet. - -Fortune had played Nelson false. The Toulon fleet had escaped on the -19th May. While the three English battle-ships were riding out the -gale it was making for Genoa, Ajaccio, and Civita Vecchia to rally -transports. The destination of the expedition was Egypt; Malta the -first object of prey. Shortly after the signature of the Treaty of -Campo Formio on the 17th October 1797, which pacified the Continent for -a time, Napoleon had returned in triumph to Paris from his victorious -Italian Campaign. He was then appointed by the French Directory -Commander of the Army of England, so called because the purpose for -which it was brought into being was the subjugation of that country. -Napoleon certainly devoted much of his time to the project, but -soon came to the conclusion that the plan was not practicable at -the moment. He dreamed of Oriental conquest, of occupying Egypt and -invading India: “We may change the face of the world!” How could the -command of the Channel be secured when Admiral Lord Bridport commanded -a formidable fleet in those waters and frequently appeared off Brest, -when Admiral Lord Duncan patrolled the North Sea, and the naval -highways of Spithead, the Downs, the Nore, St George’s Channel, and the -Bay of Biscay were strongly guarded by British fleets or divisions? -The Mediterranean seemed the only vulnerable point, for the Earl of St -Vincent’s fleet was alone stationed within striking distance of that -great inland sea. - -It is necessary at this point to briefly refer to the naval strength of -Great Britain as compared with that of France. At the beginning of 1798 -the Republic possessed fifty-seven sail-of-the-line, forty-six frigates -and seventy-two smaller vessels, to which must be added nine remnants -of the Venetian navy and whatever forces could be commanded from Spain -and Holland. Fourteen sail-of-the-line, seventeen frigates, and three -cutters were on the stocks in French shipyards. During the same year -England had no fewer than one hundred and twenty line-of-battle ships -and over five hundred smaller vessels at her disposal. The recent -mutiny at the Nore had shown that there was some dissatisfaction in -the British naval service, but the ships were not undermanned as in -France, they were in finer condition, and the victories off Cape St -Vincent and Camperdown had acted as a stimulant. If those before the -mast occasionally grumbled, nothing further was heard of organised -insubordination. - -The Admiralty had now sent a reinforcement of eight battle-ships -and two fire-ships to the Admiral, who was told “to lose no time -in detaching from your Fleet a Squadron, consisting of twelve -Sail-of-the-line, and a competent number of Frigates, under the -command of some discreet Flag-Officer, into the Mediterranean, with -instructions to him to proceed in quest of the said Armament;[25] and -on falling in with it, or any other Force belonging to the Enemy, to -take or destroy it.” The officer was also “to remain upon this service -so long as the provisions of the said Squadron will last, or as long -as he may be enabled to obtain supplies from any of the ports in the -Mediterranean.” According to later orders supplies were to be exacted -“from the territories of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the King of the -Two Sicilies, the Ottoman Territory, Malta, and ci-devant Venetian -Dominions now belonging to the Emperor of Germany.” The Dey of Algiers, -the Bey of Tunis, and the Bashaw of Tripoli were also believed to -be friendly. Lord Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty, suggested -Nelson as the most likely man for this extremely important service. -Several eminent personages claimed to have aided him in his selection, -including Sir Gilbert Elliot and the King. - -Sir Horatio was accordingly given command of a squadron which numbered -thirteen line-of-battle ships, all carrying seventy-four guns, and -one fifty-gun ship, the _Leander_. St Vincent’s selection awoke the -ire of Nelson’s two seniors in the Earl’s fleet, namely, Sir William -Parker and Sir John Orde. As we have seen, the Admiral had scarcely a -voice in the matter, and subsequent events abundantly confirmed the -wisdom of the appointment. Unfortunately there were no frigates, “the -eyes of a fleet.” As to the destination of Napoleon and his army of -adventurers, the Rear-Admiral was not far wrong when he wrote to Lord -Spencer on the 15th June, after interrogating the captain of a Tunisian -cruiser who had seen them on the 4th off Trapani, that “If they pass -Sicily, I shall believe they are going on their scheme of possessing -Alexandria, and getting troops to India--a plan concerted with Tippoo -Saib, by no means so difficult as might at first view be imagined; but -be they bound to the Antipodes, your Lordship may rely that I will not -lose a moment in bringing them to Action, and endeavour to destroy -their Transports.” Off Messina he heard that the French had taken -possession of Malta. After discussing the matter with his captains he -decided to sail for Alexandria, which he reached two days before the -enemy’s arrival. He then “stretched the Fleet over to the Coast of -Asia,” and “passed close to the southern side of Candia, but without -seeing one Vessel in our route.” This was the position on the 12th -July, when he was still “without the smallest information of the French -Fleet since their leaving Malta.” A week later the squadron anchored -in Syracuse harbour to obtain water and provisions, set off again on -the 25th, and on the 28th the important news was obtained that about a -month before the French fleet had been seen sailing in the direction of -the south-east from Candia. To Nelson this intelligence meant but one -destination--Alexandria. His surmise was correct: “I attacked at sunset -on the 1st of August, off the Mouth of the Nile.” - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -The Battle of the Nile - -1798 - - _As long as Egypt’s pyramids shall stand, - Long as the Nile shall fertilize her land; - So long the voice of never-dying fame - Shall add to England’s glory Nelson’s name!_ - - W. T. FITZGERALD. - - -It is difficult for a landsman to appreciate the joy with which -Nelson’s captains, his “Band of Brothers,” as he called them, as -well as the men of lower rank, beheld the enemy moored in line of -battle parallel with the shore in Aboukir Bay on what might well be -termed “the glorious first of August.” They had been searching the -Mediterranean for long, weary weeks, anxious to try conclusions with -Napoleon’s fleet, but thwarted at every turn by lack of information. At -last they were face to face, led by an admiral of unequalled resolution -in whom they placed implicit confidence. - -“The utmost joy,” says Berry,[26] “seemed to animate every breast on -board the Squadron, at sight of the Enemy; and the pleasure which the -Admiral himself felt, was perhaps more heightened than that of any -other man, as he had now a certainty by which he could regulate his -future operations. The Admiral had, and it appeared most justly, the -highest opinion of, and placed the firmest reliance on, the valour -and conduct of every Captain in his Squadron. It had been his practice -during the whole of the cruize, whenever the weather and circumstances -would permit, to have his Captains on board the _Vanguard_, where he -would fully develop to them his own ideas of the different and best -modes of attack, and such plans as he proposed to execute upon falling -in with the Enemy, whatever their position or situation might be, by -day or by night. There was no possible position in which they could -be found, that he did not take into his calculation, and for the most -advantageous attack of which he had not digested and arranged the -best possible disposition of the force which he commanded. With the -masterly ideas of their Admiral, therefore, on the subject of Naval -tactics, every one of the Captains of his Squadron was most thoroughly -acquainted; and upon surveying the situation of the Enemy, they could -ascertain with precision what were the ideas and intentions of their -Commander, without the aid of any further instructions; by which -means signals became almost unnecessary, much time was saved, and the -attention of every Captain could almost undistractedly be paid to -the conduct of his own particular Ship, a circumstance from which, -upon this occasion, the advantages to the general service were almost -incalculable.” - -We must now try to understand the strength and position of the French -fleet. It consisted of thirteen line-of-battle ships, three carrying -eighty guns and one one hundred and twenty guns, and four frigates. -Napoleon, who was far away adding triumph to triumph, had left Admiral -Brueys with three alternative plans. He could enter the port of -Alexandria, Aboukir Roads, or sail for Corfu, leaving the transports at -Alexandria. Brueys soon found that the harbour scarcely held sufficient -water for the navigation of his largest ships. Once inside, it would -be next to impossible to get them out in front of a hostile fleet on -account of the narrow exit. He chose Aboukir Bay, in a position some -ten miles from the Rosetta mouth of the Nile. Here he anchored his -thirteen battle-ships, with great gaps between them, in a line roughly -parallel with the shore, and flanked by gunboats and frigates. His van -was placed as close to Aboukir Island as was practicable. Dr Fitchett -has rather overstated the case in saying that “a battery of mortars -on the island guarded, as with a sword of fire, the gap betwixt the -headmost ship and the island.”[27] In another place he also refers -to the head of the French line being “protected by a powerful shore -battery.”[28] There were certainly a few guns, but “a sword of fire” -suggests a heavy armament, and Napoleon had occasion later to severely -criticise the Admiral’s arrangement in this matter.[29] Brueys was ill, -his marines had almost got out of hand, many of the sailors were raw -recruits, and subversive of discipline, and some of the vessels were -scarcely seaworthy. In tonnage and guns the French had the advantage, -in _morale_ and fighting capacity, the British were first. - -Nelson determined to sail between Brueys’ line and the shallows. Five -British ships, led by the _Goliath_, crossed the bows of the first ship -of the French van, inshore of the enemy’s line, and anchored abreast of -one of the Frenchmen, while three more, including Nelson’s _Vanguard_, -stationed themselves on the outer side. Some of the captains for -various reasons were unable to take up their correct fighting -positions, the _Culloden_, for instance, struck a shoal and took no -part in the battle. The enemy’s van was surrounded and conquered; -the centre became engaged; the rear alone escaped, Villeneuve, its -commander, making off with two battleships and two frigates without -attempting to fight. - -“The actions,” Captain Berry relates, “commenced at sunset, which was -at thirty-one minutes past six, p.m., with an ardour and vigour which -it is impossible to describe. At about seven o’clock total darkness -had come on, but the whole hemisphere was, with intervals, illuminated -by the fire of the hostile Fleets. Our Ships, when darkness came on, -had all hoisted their distinguishing lights, by a signal from the -Admiral. The Van ship of the Enemy, _Le Guerrier_, was dismasted in -less than twelve minutes, and, in ten minutes after, the second ship, -_Le Conquérant_, and the third, _Le Spartiate_, very nearly at the same -moment were almost dismasted. _L’Aquilon_ and _Le Peuple Souverain_, -the fourth and fifth Ships of the Enemy’s line, were taken possession -of by the British at half-past eight in the evening. Captain Berry, -at that hour, sent Lieutenant Galwey, of the _Vanguard_, with a party -of marines, to take possession of _Le Spartiate_, and that officer -returned by the boat, the French Captain’s sword, which Captain -Berry immediately delivered to the Admiral, who was then below, in -consequence of the severe wound which he had received in the head -during the heat of the attack. At this time it appeared that victory -had already declared itself in our favour, for, although _L’Orient_, -_L’Heureux_, and _Tonnant_ were not taken possession of, they were -considered as completely in our power, which pleasing intelligence -Captain Berry had likewise the satisfaction of communicating in person -to the Admiral. At ten minutes after ten, a fire was observed on board -_L’Orient_, the French Admiral’s Ship, which seemed to proceed from -the after part of the cabin, and which increased with great rapidity, -presently involving the whole of the after part of the Ship in flames. -This circumstance Captain Berry immediately communicated to the -Admiral, who, though suffering severely from his wound, came up upon -deck, where the first consideration that struck his mind was concern -for the danger of so many lives, to save as many as possible of whom he -ordered Captain Berry to make every practicable exertion. A boat, the -only one that could swim, was instantly dispatched from the _Vanguard_, -and other Ships that were in a condition to do so, immediately followed -the example; by which means, from the best possible information, the -lives of about seventy Frenchmen were saved.[30] The light thrown by -the fire of _L’Orient_ upon the surrounding objects, enabled us to -perceive with more certainty the situation of the two Fleets, the -colours of both being clearly distinguishable. The cannonading was -partially kept up to leeward of the Centre till about ten o’clock, when -_L’Orient_ blew up with a most tremendous explosion. An awful pause and -death-like silence for about three minutes ensued, when the wreck of -the masts, yards, etc., which had been carried to a vast height, fell -down into the water, and on board the surrounding Ships. A port fire -from _L’Orient_ fell into the main royal of the _Alexander_, the fire -occasioned by which was, however, extinguished in about two minutes, by -the active exertions of Captain Ball. - -[Illustration: “The flame that lit the battle’s wreck” - -Charles Dixon, R.I., from a sketch by C. W. Cole] - -“After this awful scene, the firing was recommenced with the Ships to -leeward of the Centre, till twenty minutes past ten, when there was a -total cessation of firing for about ten minutes; after which it was -revived till about three in the morning, when it again ceased. After -the victory had been secured in the Van, such British ships as were in -a condition to move, had gone down upon the fresh Ships of the Enemy, -which occasioned these renewals of the fight, all of which terminated -with the same happy success in favour of our Flag. At five minutes past -five in the morning, the two Rear ships of the Enemy, _Le Guillaume -Tell_ and _Le Généreux_, were the only French ships of the Line that -had their colours flying. At fifty-four minutes past five, a French -frigate, _L’Artemise_, fired a broadside and struck her colours; but -such was the unwarrantable and infamous conduct of the French Captain, -that after having thus surrendered, he set fire to his Ship, and with -part of his crew, made his escape on shore. Another of the French -frigates, _La Sérieuse_, had been sunk by the fire from some of our -Ships; but as her poop remained above water, her men were saved upon -it, and were taken off by our boats in the morning. The _Bellerophon_, -whose masts and cables had been entirely shot away, could not retain -her situation abreast of _L’Orient_, but had drifted out of the line -to the lee side of the Bay, a little before that Ship blew up. The -_Audacious_ was in the morning detached to her assistance. At eleven -o’clock, _Le Généreux_ and _Guillaume Tell_, with the two frigates, _La -Justice_ and _La Diane_, cut their cables and stood out to sea, pursued -by the _Zealous_, Captain Hood, who, as the Admiral himself has stated, -handsomely endeavoured to prevent their escape; but as there was no -other Ship in a condition to support the _Zealous_, she was recalled. -The whole day of the 2nd was employed in securing the French ships -that had struck, and which were now all completely in our possession, -_Le Tonnant_ and _Timoleon_ excepted; as these were both dismasted, -and consequently could not escape, they were naturally the last of -which we thought of taking possession. On the morning of the third, -the _Timoleon_ was set fire to, and _Le Tonnant_ had cut her cable -and drifted on shore, but that active officer, Captain Miller, of the -_Theseus_, soon got her off again, and secured her in the British line.” - -It was a decisive victory, the only kind of victory that appealed to -Nelson, who styled it a “conquest.” Of the thirteen French battleships, -nine were taken, one was blown up, one was burnt, and two escaped; -one frigate sank, another was destroyed by fire, and two got away. -Napoleon had been deprived of his only means of communication with -France. Thus the sea swallowed his triumphs. From a political point -of view the battle of the Nile paved the way for the formation of the -Second Coalition against France, in which six Powers took part, namely, -England, Russia, Austria, Turkey, Naples, and Portugal. - -Nelson received his wound by being struck in the forehead by a piece -of iron. The skin was torn so badly that it hung over his face, the -blood streaming down with such profusion that he was afraid his left -eye had gone like the right. “I am killed”; he cried to Captain Berry, -“remember me to my wife.” But the Admiral had been “killed” in battle -before, and the intense pain of the wound sufficiently justified the -exclamation. He was carried to the cockpit, the cut bound up, and -strict quiet enjoined. This was easier said than done with a patient -such as Nelson. His abnormal mentality speedily gained ascendancy over -his physical infirmities. He soon declared that he felt better, and -shortly afterwards had so far recovered as to begin a dictated despatch -to the Admiralty. On the Captain informing him that _L’Orient_ was -ablaze he insisted on clambering to the deck, as we have seen. Berry -gave him his arm, and together they witnessed the disaster. Nelson was -certainly more fortunate than Brueys, who was shot almost in two. - -On the 2nd August the Admiral returned Public Thanksgiving on the -_Vanguard_, an example he desired to be followed on every ship “as -soon as convenient.” He also took the opportunity to thank the men of -the squadron for the part they had played in the late action: “It must -strike forcibly every British Seaman, how superior their conduct is, -when in discipline and good order, to the riotous behaviour of lawless -Frenchmen.” - -In those days precedent was a fetish. To depart from what had -previously obtained was not to be thought of, much less suggested. -For this reason Nelson was created a Baron, the lowest rank in the -peerage, but the highest that had been conferred “on an officer of your -standing,” as he was informed. In addition he was voted a pension of -£2000 a year, which was also to be paid to his two next heirs. - -Mention of the “great and brilliant Victory” was made in the King’s -Speech at the opening of Parliament, its organiser received the thanks -of both Houses, as well as of the Parliament of Ireland, and many -foreign potentates and British Corporations paid him honour. Among -the numerous presents he received were two boxes set with diamonds, a -superb diamond aigrette, a gold-headed cane, pieces of valuable plate, -and a coffin. The latter, made of wood and iron from the ill-fated -_L’Orient_, was sent to him by Captain Hallowell. By a strange -coincidence Thanksgiving services were held in the churches of the -United Kingdom on the 21st October, a date ever associated with Nelson, -because of Trafalgar. It may be thought that there was unnecessary -delay, but it must be remembered that the wonders of telegraphy were -then undreamed of. News of the victory was not received in London -until the fifty-seventh day after the event. “God be praised,” writes -the Earl of St Vincent, “and you and your gallant band rewarded by a -grateful Country, for the greatest Achievement the history of the world -can produce.” Perhaps this noble sentiment from the Commander-in-chief -was valued above the insignificant rewards of the Government. - -To “Fighting” Berry Nelson entrusted the charge of his despatches for -the Admiral, for which purpose he was given the _Leander_ (50). With -grim irony Fate played a trick entirely unworthy so gallant an officer. -On the 18th August, off Gozo, near Candia, the _Généreux_, which -it will be remembered escaped from Nelson’s vengeance at the Nile, -appeared on the horizon. The frigate attempted to show “a clean pair of -heels,” but recognising that the enemy was gaining in the race, sail -was shortened and the decks cleared for action. The brave defenders of -the _Leander_ resisted manfully for over six hours until the mastless, -rudderless hulk could be fought no longer. Berry, who was wounded, -together with the officers and crew were landed at Corfu and thence -sent to Trieste, where the officers were released on _parole_, and -the crew kept prisoners. On being exchanged, the captain received the -honour of knighthood, a reward richly deserved and valiantly won. Berry -got even with the French after all, for in 1799 he turned the tables -on the victors by capturing the _Généreux_ with Nelson’s flagship, the -_Foudroyant_. - -Captain Sir James Saumarez, with twelve ships of the squadron, was -directed to convoy the best of the prizes to Gibraltar, the remainder, -being valueless, were set on fire. Hood was called upon to blockade -Alexandria, and two of the battleships were sent to Naples for very -necessary repairs. To this port the _Vanguard_ laboriously followed. -Nelson was “taken with a fever, which has very near done my business: -for eighteen hours, my life was thought to be past hope; I am now -up, but very weak both in body and mind, from my cough and this -fever.” This was on the 20th September, two days before “the wreck of -_Vanguard_ arrived in the Bay of Naples.” The occasion was one of great -rejoicing on the part of the Sicilian Court. Miss Knight, the daughter -of Rear-Admiral Sir Joseph Knight, who was present, thus records the -events of the 22nd inst.: - -“In the evening, went out with Sir William and Lady Hamilton, music, -&c., to meet Admiral Nelson, who in the _Vanguard_, with the _Thalia_ -Frigate (Captain Newhouse) was seen coming in. We went on board, about -a league out at sea, and sailed in with him: soon after us, the King -came on board, and staid till the anchor was dropped. He embraced the -Admiral with the greatest warmth, and said he wished he could have -been in the engagement,[31] and served under his orders; and that he -likewise wished he could have been in England, when the news of the -victory arrived there. He went down to see the Ship, and was delighted -to perceive the care taken of a wounded man, who had two to serve -him, and one reading to him. He asked to see the hat which saved the -Admiral’s life, when he was wounded in the head with a splinter. The -Queen was taken with a fit of the ague when she was coming on board -with the Princesses. Commodore Caraccioli came soon after the King, and -many of the Neapolitan nobility, bands of music, &c. It happened to be -the anniversary of our King’s coronation. The Admiral came on shore -with us, and said, it was the first time he had been out of his Ship -for six months, except once on board Lord St Vincent.[32] The Russian -Ambassador and all the Legation came out to meet him. When we landed at -the Health Office, the applauses and the crowd of people were beyond -description. Admiral Nelson is little, and not remarkable in his person -either way; but he has great animation of countenance, and activity -in his appearance: his manners are unaffectedly simple and modest. -He lodges at Sir William Hamilton’s, who has given him the upper -apartment. The whole City is mad with joy.” - -There was indeed every reason for this jubilation. A starless night -seemed about to give place to a golden dawn. Towards the end of 1796 -Napoleon’s astounding successes had obliged Ferdinand, King of the Two -Sicilies, to agree to terms of peace, especially as the English had -decided to evacuate the Mediterranean.[33] The situation became more -and more ominous. Consequently when Queen Maria Carolina, Ferdinand’s -energetic consort, heard that the King of Spain was about to ally -himself to the hated Republic, she speedily informed Sir William -Hamilton, the English Ambassador.[34] She realised that the hope of the -kingdom depended not in half-measures of friendship towards England, -but in securing her definite assistance and casting off the French -yoke. Hamilton in his turn warned his Government of the proposed -arrangement, which seemed likely to have far-reaching consequences and -to threaten England in the Mediterranean. Her Majesty also kept up -a secret correspondence with London. She was therefore particularly -relieved when information arrived that the protection of the Two -Sicilies against potential French despoilers was to be entrusted to the -Hero of the Nile. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -The Neapolitan Court and Lady Hamilton - - “_‘Down, down with the French!’ is my constant prayer._” - - NELSON. - - -Truth has no secrets. It is the duty of the historian to reveal all and -to hide nothing. The archæologist with pick and spade unearths a buried -city, disclosing alike the mansions of the wealthy and the hovels of -the poor. In describing the result of his researches the investigator -would betray his science were he merely to mention the beauties of -the king’s palace, the tesselated pavements, the marble columns. The -hideous back street must also tell its drab story, for aristocrat and -plebeian are alike members of the Commonwealth. - -The pen is the scalpel of history. It must neither condone nor -palliate, although justice may be tempered with mercy. - -Temptation came to Nelson at Naples, and he fell. Physically frail, he -proved morally frail as well, but we must not unhesitatingly condemn -him. Vanity caused him to stumble, and before he had time to realise -the consequences a woman had sullied his reputation and tarnished his -glory. Probably no reputable biographer of the great Admiral has penned -the chapter dealing with this phase of his life without a wish that he -could be excused from the necessity of doing so. - -No sooner do we begin to investigate the relations between Nelson -and Lady Hamilton than we are in a maze of perplexities. He was ill -and she nursed him, he was victorious and she praised him, she was -beautiful and he admired loveliness, she had a warm heart and he was -susceptible, his wife was reserved and his “friend” was vivacious. -The spider and the fly have their counterpart in real life. Once in -the entangled meshes of the web Nelson never found his way out, even -supposing he had wished to do so, which his passionate letters do not -for a moment suggest. - -When the _Vanguard_ hove in sight off Naples, King Ferdinand, Sir -William Hamilton, Lady Hamilton, and others went to meet “our -liberator.” In writing to Earl Spencer, Nelson says, “You will not, my -Lord, I trust, think that one spark of vanity induces me to mention -the most distinguished reception that ever, I believe, fell to the -lot of a human being, but that it is a measure of justice due to his -Sicilian Majesty and the Nation. If God knows my heart, it is amongst -the most humble of the creation, full of thankfulness and gratitude!” -No one doubts the latter portion of the remark. Nelson always exhibited -a lively trust in an All-wise Providence. The “one spark of vanity” -was self-deception, although perhaps “pride” would be more correct -than “vanity,” for the vain man usually distrusts his own opinion in -setting great store by himself and wishes it to be confirmed by others. -The Admiral was nothing if not self-reliant. Those who have read his -voluminous correspondence and the memoirs of those with whom he came -in contact cannot be blind to the fault of which he was seemingly in -ignorance. - -For instance, the writer of the “Croker Papers” furnishes us with the -following particulars of the one and only occasion on which Nelson and -Wellington had conversation. The latter noted the Admiral’s weak point -at once: - -“We were talking of Lord Nelson, and some instances were mentioned -of the egotism and vanity that derogated from his character. ‘Why,’ -said the Duke, ‘I am not surprised at such instances, for Lord Nelson -was, in different circumstances, two quite different men, as I myself -can vouch, though I only saw him once in my life, and for, perhaps, -an hour. It was soon after I returned from India.[35] I went to the -Colonial Office in Downing Street, and there I was shown into the -little waiting-room on the right hand, where I found, also waiting -to see the Secretary of State, a gentleman, whom from his likeness -to his pictures and the loss of an arm, I immediately recognised as -Lord Nelson. He could not know who I was, but he entered at once into -conversation with me, if I can call it conversation, for it was almost -all on his side and all about himself, and in, really, a style so vain -and so silly as to surprise and almost disgust me. I suppose something -that I happened to say may have made him guess that I was _somebody_, -and he went out of the room for a moment, I have no doubt to ask the -office-keeper who I was, for when he came back he was altogether a -different man, both in manner and matter. All that I had thought a -charlatan style had vanished, and he talked of the state of this -country and of the aspect and probabilities of affairs on the Continent -with a good sense, and a knowledge of subjects both at home and abroad, -that surprised me equally and more agreeably than the first part of our -interview had done; in fact, he talked like an officer and a statesman. -The Secretary of State kept us long waiting, and certainly, for the -last half or three-quarters of an hour, I don’t know that I ever had a -conversation that interested me more. Now, if the Secretary of State -had been punctual, and admitted Lord Nelson in the first quarter of -an hour, I should have had the same impression of a light and trivial -character that other people have had, but luckily I saw enough to be -satisfied that he was really a very superior man; but certainly a more -sudden and complete metamorphosis I never saw.’” - -To sum up the whole matter. Pride, or vanity if you prefer it, laid -Nelson open to the great temptation of his life, and it assailed him -at a time when he was ill and suffering. He was by nature sympathetic -and grateful, and could not fail to be impressed by the ministrations -of Lady Hamilton during his sickness, any less than by her flattery--a -hero-worship which may, or may not, have been sincere on her part. - -Josceline Percy, who was on the _Victory_ in the trying times of 1803, -has some sage remarks to offer in this matter. Though the Christian -faith “did not keep him from the fatal error of his life,” Percy says, -“it ought to be remembered that few were so strongly tempted, and I -believe it may safely be affirmed that had Nelson’s home been made to -him, what a wife of good temper and judgment would have rendered it, -never would he have forsaken it.” - -The candid friend, though seldom loved, is oftentimes the best friend. -Nelson was warned of his mad infatuation for Lady Hamilton by more than -one person who desired to save him from himself, but the fatal spell -which she exerted upon him held him beyond reclamation. - -On meeting the Admiral Lady Hamilton fainted away, and we find the hero -writing to his wife that “she is one of the very best women in this -world; she is an honour to her sex. Her kindness, with Sir William’s, -to me, is more than I can express: I am in their house, and I may now -tell you, it required all the kindness of my friends to set me up.” A -week or so later, he says, “The continued kind attention of Sir William -and Lady Hamilton must ever make you and I love them, and they are -deserving the love and admiration of all the world.” - -We must now return to the scene of the tragedy. Italy was in a -turmoil. Berthier had appeared before Rome, the aged Pontiff had been -dragged from his palace and sent into Tuscany, a Republic set up, and -an offensive and defensive alliance entered into with Revolutionary -France. By his placing the citadel of Turin in the hands of the -all-conquering nation for “security” the King of Sardinia became a mere -State-prisoner. These events in the North naturally caused trepidation -in the kingdom of Naples, and Ferdinand wisely secured the assistance -of Austria. The news of the French defeat at the Nile, more especially -the presence of the victor, caused the war party--of which Queen Maria -Carolina and Lady Hamilton were the leaders--to forget that mere -enthusiasm, although a valuable asset, was not the sole requisite in -a campaign, especially when the enemy to be met was one so formidable -as the victorious French. Naples was for up and doing, regardless of -the consequences. She sowed the storm and reaped the whirlwind by -reason of her undue haste in taking up arms before everything was -ready for the conflict. There is perhaps some excuse for her Majesty’s -eagerness. Sister of the ill-fated Marie Antoinette, who had perished -on the scaffold, and “truly a daughter of Maria Theresa,”[36] as Nelson -averred, she wished to be avenged. Lady Hamilton on her part had -become the confidential friend of Her Majesty and had rendered certain -services to the Neapolitan and English Courts which she afterwards -grossly exaggerated in an endeavour to secure a competence for herself. -Nelson is not undeserving of censure for having forced the issue. He -quoted Chatham’s dictum, “The boldest measures are the safest,” to -Lady Hamilton, and told her that should “this miserable ruinous system -of procrastination be persisted in, I would recommend that all your -property and persons are ready to embark at a very short notice.” - -Nelson’s instructions were to provide for the safety of the Sicilian -kingdom, “the cutting off all communication between France and Egypt,” -and “the co-operating with the Turkish and Russian Squadrons which are -to be sent into the Archipelago.” In addition he was to blockade Malta. -He delegated the last duty to Captain Ball, who, with four ships, was -to cruise off the island in company with a Portuguese squadron under -the Marquis de Niza. Of General Mack, who commanded the Neapolitan -army, Nelson at first entertained a favourable opinion. With delightful -_naïveté_ he informed St Vincent, “I have endeavoured to impress the -General with a favourable impression of me, and I think have succeeded. -He is active and has an intelligent eye, and will do well, I have -no doubt.” But something more than these estimable qualities was -necessary, as the total failure of the campaign was to prove. - -Mack was then forty-six years of age, and had served under -Field-Marshal Loudon, the most formidable soldier against whom -Frederick the Great had fought. He was not a brilliant soldier, -although he had acquitted himself with honour in the campaign of -1793. The son of a minor official, Mack had found it difficult to -obtain promotion in a service dominated by the aristocracy, and he -was certainly unpopular, which was not to his advantage in the field. -He had accepted his present service in an army which he called “the -finest in Europe,” but which was scarcely more than a rabble, at the -request of the Empress. Nelson, in a burst of enthusiasm, referred to -it as “composed of 30,000 healthy good-looking troops,” and “as far as -my judgment goes in those matters, I agree, that a finer Army cannot -be.” The optimistic told themselves that Nelson had banished Napoleon -and the finest warriors of France, which was correct, and prophesied -that the scattered Republican army in Italy would be as completely -overwhelmed as was the French fleet in Aboukir Bay. In this they were -grievously mistaken. Instead of concentrating his forces and striking a -decisive blow, the Austrian commander saw fit to divide them, with the -result that although the Eternal City was occupied and Tuscany entered, -the French succeeded in defeating three of the five columns. After -a series of reverses, Mack retreated, Ferdinand fled, and Rome was -retaken. - -Nelson’s part in this unfortunate undertaking was to convey some -5,000 troops to Leghorn and effect a diversion in the rear of the -enemy by taking possession of the aforementioned port. When this was -done, and the cannon and baggage landed, Nelson returned to Naples. -The story of the campaign, which ended in disaster and the creation -of the Parthenopeian Republic[37] at Naples, does not concern us. -Suffice it to say that in the last month of 1798 King Ferdinand and -his Court concluded that they would be safer under Nelson’s protection -than in the Capital. They therefore embarked in the British fleet on -the night of the 21st December, whence they were taken to Palermo. -The circumstances and manner of the enforced retreat are described at -length in the Admiral’s despatch to the Earl of St Vincent, which runs -as follows:-- - -“... For many days previous to the embarkation it was not difficult -to foresee that such a thing might happen, I therefore sent for the -_Goliath_ from off Malta, and for Captain Troubridge in the _Culloden_, -and his Squadron from the north and west Coast of Italy, the _Vanguard_ -being the only Ship in Naples Bay. On the 14th, the Marquis de Niza, -with three of the Portuguese Squadron, arrived from Leghorn, as -did Captain Hope in the _Alcmene_ from Egypt: from this time, the -danger for the personal safety of their Sicilian Majesties was daily -increasing, and new treasons were found out, even to the Minister of -War. The whole correspondence relative to this important business was -carried on with the greatest address by Lady Hamilton and the Queen, -who being constantly in the habits of correspondence, no one could -suspect. It would have been highly imprudent in either Sir William -Hamilton or myself to have gone to Court, as we knew that all our -movements were watched, and even an idea by the Jacobins of arresting -our persons as a hostage (as they foolishly imagined) against the -attack of Naples, should the French get possession of it. - -“Lady Hamilton, from this time to the 21st, every night received the -jewels of the Royal Family, &c., &c., and such clothes as might be -necessary for the very large party to embark, to the amount, I am -confident, of full two millions five hundred thousand pounds sterling. -On the 18th, General Mack wrote that he had no prospect of stopping -the progress of the French, and entreated their Majesties to think -of retiring from Naples with their august Family as expeditiously as -possible. All the Neapolitan Navy were now taken out of the Mole, -consisting of three Sail of the Line and three Frigates: the seamen -from the two Sail of the Line in the Bay left their Ships and went -on shore: a party of English seamen with Officers were sent from the -_Vanguard_ to assist in navigating them to a place of safety. From the -18th, various plans were formed for the removal of the Royal Family -from the palace to the water-side; on the 19th, I received a note -from General Acton,[38] saying, that the King approved of my plan for -their embarkation; this day, the 20th and 21st, very large assemblies -of people were in commotion, and several people were killed, and one -dragged by the legs to the palace. The mob by the 20th were very -unruly, and insisted the Royal Family should not leave Naples; however, -they were pacified by the King and Queen speaking to them. - -“On the 21st, at half-past 8 P.M., three Barges with myself and Captain -Hope, landed at a corner of the Arsenal. I went into the palace and -brought out the whole Royal Family, put them into the Boats, and at -half-past nine they were all safely on board the _Vanguard_, when I -gave immediate notice to all British Merchants that their persons would -be received on board every and any Ship in the Squadron, their effects -of value being before embarked in the three English transports who were -partly unloaded, and I had directed that all the condemned provisions -should be thrown overboard, in order to make room for their effects. -Sir William Hamilton had also directed two Vessels to be hired for -the accommodation of the French emigrants,[39] and provisions were -supplied from our Victuallers; in short, everything had been done for -the comfort of all persons embarked. - -“I did not forget in these important moments that it was my duty not -to leave the chance of any Ships of War falling into the hands of the -French, therefore, every preparation was made for burning them before I -sailed; but the reasons given me by their Sicilian Majesties, induced -me not to burn them till the last moment. I, therefore, directed -the Marquis de Niza to remove all the Neapolitan Ships outside the -Squadron under his command, and if it was possible, to equip some of -them with jury masts and send them to Messina; and whenever the French -advanced near Naples, or the people revolted against their legitimate -Government, immediately to destroy the Ships of War, and to join me -at Palermo, leaving one or two Ships to cruize between Capri and -Ischia in order to prevent the entrance of any English Ship into the -Bay of Naples. On the 23rd, at 7 P.M., the _Vanguard_, _Sannite_, and -_Archimedes_, with about twenty sail of Vessels left the Bay of Naples; -the next day it blew harder than I ever experienced since I have been -at sea. Your Lordship will believe that my anxiety was not lessened by -the great charge that was with me, but not a word of uneasiness escaped -the lips of any of the Royal Family. On the 25th, at 9 A.M., Prince -Albert, their Majesties’ youngest child, having eat a hearty breakfast, -was taken ill, and at 7 P.M. died in the arms of Lady Hamilton; and -here it is my duty to tell your Lordship the obligations which the -whole Royal Family as well as myself are under on this trying occasion -to her Ladyship.... Lady Hamilton provided her own beds, linen, &c., -and became _their slave_, for except one man, no person belonging -to Royalty assisted the Royal Family, nor did her Ladyship enter a -bed the whole time they were on board. Good Sir William also made -every sacrifice for the comfort of the august Family embarked with -him. I must not omit to state the kindness of Captain Hardy and every -Officer in the _Vanguard_, all of whom readily gave their beds for the -convenience of the numerous persons attending the Royal Family. - -“At 3 P.M., being in sight of Palermo, his Sicilian Majesty’s Royal -Standard was hoisted at the main-top gallant-mast head of the -_Vanguard_, which was kept flying there till his Majesty got into the -_Vanguard’s_ barge, when it was struck in the Ship and hoisted in the -Barge, and every proper honour paid to it from the Ship. As soon as -his Majesty set his foot on shore, it was struck from the Barge. The -_Vanguard_ anchored at 2 A.M. of the 26th; at 5, I attended her Majesty -and all the Princesses on shore; her Majesty being so much affected by -the death of Prince Albert that she could not bear to go on shore in a -public manner. At 9 A.M., his Majesty went on shore, and was received -with the loudest acclamations and apparent joy.” - -Alas, that one has to admit that while Lady Hamilton was the “slave” of -the Sicilian Royal Family, Nelson was rapidly becoming so infatuated -that the same word might be used to describe his relationship with -“our dear invaluable Lady Hamilton”! He also seems to have had an -exaggerated sense of the importance of the princely personages who -had placed themselves under his protection. In his letters he speaks -of “The good and amiable Queen,” “the great Queen,” and so on. “I am -here,” he writes to Captain Ball, of the _Alexander_, dated Palermo, -January 21st, 1799, “nor will the King or Queen allow me to move. I -have offered to go to Naples, and have wished to go off Malta in case -the Squadron from Brest should get near you, but neither one or the -other can weigh with them.” To Earl Spencer he confides on the 6th -March, “In Calabria the people have cut down the Tree of Liberty; but I -shall never consider any part of the Kingdom of Naples safe, or even -Sicily, until I hear of the Emperor’s entering Italy, when all my Ships -shall go into the Bay of Naples, and I think we can make a Revolution -against the French--at least, my endeavours shall not be wanting. I -hope to go on the service myself, but I have my doubts if the King and -Queen will consent to my leaving them for a moment.” On the 20th of -the same month he tells St Vincent very much the same thing. “If the -Emperor moves, I hope yet to return the Royal Family to Naples. At -present, I cannot move. Would the Court but let me, I should be better, -I believe; for here I am writing from morn to eve: therefore you must -excuse this jumble of a letter.” - -And after evening what? Rumour, not altogether devoid of fact, told -strange tales of gambling continued far into the night, of money -made and money lost, of an insidious enchantment which was beginning -to sully the fair soul of Britain’s greatest Admiral. How far the -influence of Lady Hamilton led Nelson to neglect his duty is a -debatable point. Admiral Mahan points out that on the 22nd October -1798, Nelson wrote to Lord St Vincent to the effect that he had given -up his original plan, “which was to have gone to Egypt and attend to -the destruction of the French shipping in that quarter,” owing to the -King’s desire that he should return to Naples, after having arranged -the blockade of Malta. This and similar expressions, says Mahan, “show -the anxiety of his mind acting against his judgment.” The late Judge -O’Connor Morris, commenting on this phase of the Hero’s career, is -most emphatic in his condemnation. His connection with Emma Hamilton -“kept him at Naples when he ought to have been elsewhere; it led him -to disobey a superior’s orders, on one occasion when there was no -excuse; it perhaps prevented him from being present at the siege of -Malta. It exposed him, too, to just censure at home, and gave pain -and offence to his best friends; and the consciousness that he was -acting wrongly soured, in some degree, his nature, and made him morose -and at odds with faithful companions in arms.” For the defence there -are no more able advocates than Professor Sir J. Knox Laughton and Mr -James R. Thursfield, M.A. Nelson, the former asserts, “in becoming -the slave of a beautiful and voluptuous woman, did not cease to be a -great commander. There is a common idea that his passions detained -him at Naples to the neglect of his duty. This is erroneous. He made -Naples his headquarters because he was ordered to do so, to provide -for the safety of the kingdom and to take measures for the reduction -of Malta.” “The point to be observed and insisted on,” Mr Thursfield -says, “is that the whole of this pitiful tragedy belongs only to the -last seven years of Nelson’s life.” He asks, “Why should the seven -years of private lapse be allowed to overshadow the splendid devotion -of a lifetime to public duty?” This authority does not deny that -during the two years following the victory of the Nile Nelson’s genius -“suffered some eclipse,” that his passion for Lady Hamilton was then -“in its first transports, when he seemed tied to the Court of the -Two Sicilies by other bonds than those of duty, when he annulled the -capitulation at Naples and insisted on the trial and execution of -Caracciolo,[40] and when he repeatedly disobeyed the orders of Lord -Keith.” He further points out that the period is the same “during -which his mental balance was more or less disturbed by the wound he -had received at the Nile, and his _amour-propre_ was deeply and justly -mortified by the deplorable blunder of the Admiralty in appointing Lord -Keith to the chief command in succession to Lord St Vincent.” At the -time with which we are now dealing the latter disturbing element was -not present, although he was considerably worried by the appointment -of Captain Sir Sidney Smith as commander of a squadron in the Levant, -“within the district which I had thought under my command.” “The Knight -forgets the respect due to his superior Officer”: Nelson tells Lord -St Vincent, “he has no orders from you to take my Ships away from my -command; but it is all of a piece. Is it to be borne? Pray grant me -your permission to retire, and I hope the _Vanguard_ will be allowed to -convey me and my friends, Sir William and Lady Hamilton, to England.” -Mr Thursfield makes no mention of this vexation, perhaps because the -matter distressed the Admiral less than Lord Keith’s appointment. On -the other hand, Nelson’s correspondence contains frequent reference to -the gratuitous snub, which shows how deeply the iron had entered into -his soul. “_I do feel, for I am a man_, that it is impossible for me to -serve in these seas, with the Squadron under a junior Officer:--could -I have thought it!--and from Earl Spencer!” is a typical instance. In -the opinion of the same biographer, “the influence of Lady Hamilton, -which ceased only with Nelson’s life, cannot have been the sole cause, -even if it was a contributory cause, of an attitude and temper of mind -which lasted only while other causes were in operation and disappeared -with their cessation. The evil spirit which beset him, whatever it may -have been, had been exorcised for ever by the time that he entered the -Sound.[41]... Yet the influence of Lady Hamilton was not less potent -then and afterward than it was during the period of eclipse. There -are no letters in the Morrison Collection more passionate than those -which Nelson wrote to Lady Hamilton at this time, none which show more -clearly that, as regards Lady Hamilton, and yet only in that relation, -his mental balance was still more than infirm, his moral fibre utterly -disorganized.” - -With this verdict the present writer is in complete accord. Nelson -is to be censured for his moral breach and any neglect of duty which -may be traceable to it, but to condemn him to infamy is to forget his -subsequent career and to consign to the flames many other great figures -of history. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -The Neapolitan Rebels and their French Allies - -(1799) - - “_Speedy rewards and quick punishments are the foundation of good - government._” - - NELSON. - - -In the middle of March 1799 Troubridge returned from the Levant, his -command there having been given to Sir Sidney Smith. Vexatious as was -the arrangement to both Nelson and Lord St Vincent, it had one point -of importance in its favour--and was to have far-reaching results -later--in that it enabled the Admiral to send the trusted captain with -several vessels to blockade Naples. Troubridge was to “seize and get -possession” of the islands of Procida, Ischia, and Capri, to use his -influence with the inhabitants there and elsewhere, “in order to induce -them to return to their allegiance to his Sicilian Majesty, and to -take arms to liberate their Country from French tyranny and oppressive -contributions.” On the 3rd April, Troubridge was able to tell Nelson -that “All the Ponza Islands have the Neapolitan flag flying. Your -Lordship never beheld such loyalty; the people are perfectly mad with -joy, and are asking for their beloved Monarch.” That Nelson’s hands -were “full,” as he wrote to his brother, is sufficiently evident. He -had become “a Councillor and Secretary of State,” to use his own words, -and his public correspondence, “besides the business of sixteen Sail -of the Line, and all our commerce, is with Petersburg, Constantinople, -the Consul at Smyrna, Egypt, the Turkish and Russian Admirals, Trieste, -Vienna, Tuscany, Minorca, Earl St Vincent and Lord Spencer.” Moreover, -he was now Commander-in-Chief of the Neapolitan Navy, and had been -promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Red. His health during this trying -period was far from good. He complained to his friend the Duke of -Clarence of being “seriously unwell,” and he told Lord St Vincent, “I -am almost blind and worn out, and cannot, in my present state, hold out -much longer.” He seemed to be growing more despondent daily, the good -news of the success of the Austrian arms in Italy “does not even cheer -me.” - -Victory no longer attended the French cause in the northern part of -the peninsula, and the forces of the Republic were to evacuate it and -to join the main French army. On the 7th May, Ferdinand’s kingdom was -relieved of its unwelcome visitors, save only the garrisons which were -left at Capua and Caserta, and at the Castle of St Elmo. The internal -condition of the State, however, was still far from settled. Commodore -Caracciolo, representing the Jacobins, commanded a miniature fleet -in Naples Bay; Cardinal Ruffo led a nondescript band called by the -high-sounding title of “the Christian Army,” against the Neapolitan -republicans, who were in some force. The unhappy position of the Royal -Family at this time is well described by the Queen in a letter to the -Marquise d’Osmond, mother of the Comtesse de Boigne. It is from the -Appendix to the first volume of the “Recollections” of the last-named -that the extract is taken. The communication is dated from Palermo, the -2nd May 1799. - -“We continue to live between hope and dread:” she says, “the news -varies every day. We are expecting help from Russia: if it comes -it will be of the greatest service to us. The English render us -the greatest services. Were it not for them both Sicilies would be -democratised, I should be dead of grief or drowned in the sea, or -else, with my dear family, imprisoned in a castle by our rebellious -subjects. You can read in the gazettes, without my naming them to you, -how many ungrateful subjects we have. It suffices to tell you that -in their writings and their ingratitude they have surpassed their -foster-mother France, but with us the classes are different. Here it is -the class which has the most to lose which is the most violent; nobles, -bishops, monks, ordinary lawyers, but not the high magistracy, nor the -people. The latter are loyal, and show it on every occasion.... My dear -children have behaved like angels in all our unfortunate circumstances. -They suffer every kind of privation they did not know before, without -complaining, out of love for me, so that I may notice nothing. They are -always good-humoured, though they have no amusements.” - -While Troubridge was clearing the way for the return of the royal -exiles to Naples, Nelson received the startling intelligence that the -Brest fleet of nineteen sail-of-the-line had not only escaped but had -been seen off Oporto making for the Mediterranean. So far as it went, -the news was correct enough, but the French ships numbered twenty-five -instead of nineteen. Nelson’s despondency and ill-health vanished; -he lost not an instant in making his arrangements. Troubridge was -recalled from Naples, and the “band of brothers” were ordered to join -Rear-Admiral Duckworth off Port Mahon, Nelson’s belief being that the -first item on the French naval programme was the recovery of Minorca. -Shortly afterwards he came to think that Sicily was the object of the -enemy, whereupon he cancelled his former instructions and made the -island of Maritimo the _rendez-vous_. This station he reached on the -23rd May with seven ships, which he hoped to bring up to sixteen, -Duckworth having decided to wait for Lord St Vincent and not to -reinforce Nelson. Ball, who had been ordered to abandon the blockade of -Malta, had not arrived, and the delay filled the Admiral with anxiety. -“I can only have two queries about him--either that he has gone round -to Messina, imagining that the French Fleet were close to him, or he is -taken. Thus situated,” he writes to Lord St Vincent, “I have only to -remain on the north side of Maritimo, to keep covering Palermo, which -shall be protected to the last, and to wait intelligence or orders for -regulating my further proceedings. - -“Your Lordship,” he adds, “may depend that the Squadron under my -command shall never fall into the hands of the Enemy; and before we are -destroyed, I have little doubt but the Enemy will have their wings so -completely clipped that they may be easily overtaken.” - -On the 28th May, Nelson heard from the Commander-in-chief that Bruix -and the French fleet had been sighted off Cadiz on the 4th inst. by -Keith’s blockading squadron, the intention being to form a junction -with the Spanish fleet. In reply to Lord St Vincent’s despatch, Nelson -was able to tell his senior officer that “we are completely on our -guard,” that he had determined to go to Palermo to get provisions and -wine for six months, and to hold his vessels “in momentary readiness -to act as you may order or the circumstances call for. My reason for -remaining in Sicily is the covering the blockade of Naples, and the -certainty of preserving Sicily in case of an attack, for if we were to -withdraw our Ships, it would throw such a damp on the people that I am -sure there would be no resistance. But from the favourable aspect of -affairs in Italy, I am sure no attack will be made here, whilst the -French know we have such a force to act against them. If Captain Ball -has not entirely given up the blockade of Malta, and the poor Islanders -have not given up to the French, I intend to continue the blockade...; -for as the danger from your happy arrival is not so great, I will run -the risk of the Ships for a short time. The Russians will, I am told, -be off there in a week or fortnight. In all this plan I am subject to -your Lordship’s more able judgment. I shall send a Frigate off Cape -Corse, in case the French Fleet should come to be eastward of Corsica, -and if I can find a small craft, one shall be on the west side of -Sardinia, but the Bay of Naples draws me dry.” Two days later, in -writing to the same correspondent to announce the safe arrival of the -_Vanguard_ at Palermo, Nelson makes his usual acknowledgments of the -services of those under his command: “I have our dear Troubridge for -my assistant; in everything we are brothers. Hood and Hallowell are as -active and kind as ever: not that I mean to say any are otherwise; but -you know these are men of resources. Hardy was bred in the old school, -and I can assure you, that I never have been better satisfied with the -real good discipline of a Ship than the _Vanguard’s_. I hope from my -heart that you will meet the Dons alone: if the two Fleets join, I am -ready, and with some of my Ships in as high order as ever went to sea.” - -As it happened, Keith was able to prevent the junction of the enemy’s -fleets. His position was between them--between “the devil and the deep -sea,” as he termed it. When the look-out frigates of the French fleet -were sighted between Corsica and Genoa, orders were received from Lord -St Vincent for Keith to return to Port Mahon, which the former thought -might be the object of attack. Further despatches came to hand a little -later, urging Keith to proceed to Minorca. The Commander-in-chief and -Keith were really playing at cross-purposes, for while St Vincent was -acting only on supposition, Keith was in touch with the enemy. It is -probable in such a case that Nelson would have led his squadron into -action, but Keith was not the type of man to risk acting on his own -initiative to any great extent, and left the Frenchmen to proceed to -Spezia. - -On the 8th June, Nelson vacated the _Vanguard_, hoisted his flag on -the _Foudroyant_ (80), and was strengthened by the arrival of two -ships from Lord St Vincent’s fleet. He also heard of the impending -resignation of the Commander-in-chief, his indifferent health making -him “literally incapable of any service,” as he afterwards wrote to -Nelson. The unexpected news considerably distressed the Admiral. He -felt sincere admiration and regard for the gallant old sailor, who had -served his King so long and so faithfully, sentiments recorded in a -letter dated from Palermo, the 10th June 1799, as follows:-- - - “We have a report that you are going home. This distresses us most - exceedingly, and myself in particular; so much so, that I have - serious thoughts of returning, if that event should take place. - But for the sake of our Country, do not quit us at this serious - moment. I wish not to detract from the merit of whoever may be - your successor; but it must take a length of time, which I hope - the war will not give, to be in any manner a St Vincent. We look - up to you, as we have always found you, as to our Father, under - whose fostering care we have been led to fame. If, my dear Lord, I - have any weight in your friendship, let me entreat you to rouse the - sleeping lion. Give not up a particle of your authority to any one; - be again our St Vincent, and we shall be happy. Your affectionate - - NELSON.” - -To the Admiral’s supreme disgust his own claims to the appointment were -disregarded. Lord St Vincent’s command was given to Lord Keith, who -had the additional good fortune to find that the French fleet was in -Vado Bay. Nelson, urged on by Ferdinand and perhaps by Lady Hamilton, -was on his voyage to Naples with a body of troops to render assistance -to the royalists, when two British sail-of-the-line hove in sight. One -of them bore an important despatch from Keith, to the effect that not -only was the enemy at sea but likely to be bound towards Nelson. The -latter immediately returned to Palermo, disembarked the soldiers and -their munitions, and cruised off Maritimo. Here he hoped to be joined -by the _Alexander_ and _Goliath_, which he had ordered to proceed -from Malta some days before. Provided they arrived his force would -be raised to eighteen battleships, including three Portuguese--four -less than the enemy. “I shall wait off Maritimo,” he says, in reply -to Keith, “anxiously expecting such a reinforcement as may enable me -to go in search of the Enemy’s fleet, when not one moment shall be -lost in bringing them to battle; for I consider the best defence for -his Sicilian Majesty’s Dominions, is to place myself alongside the -French.” No further ships arrived, and Nelson therefore returned to -Palermo. Keith’s neglect aroused Nelson’s wrath to such an extent, that -while he was at sea he sent a copy of the above letter to the Earl -of St Vincent, complaining that the Commander-in-chief had not sent -him “a force fit to face the Enemy: but, as we are, I shall not get -out of their way; although, as I am, I cannot think myself justified -in exposing the world (I may almost say), to be plundered by these -miscreants. I trust your Lordship will not think me wrong in the -painful determination I conceived myself forced to make, for agonized -indeed was the mind of your Lordship’s faithful and affectionate -servant.” - -Mahan remarks that Nelson’s station off Maritimo was strategically -sound, enabling him to intercept the approach of the enemy “to either -Naples or Sicily,” and it was while he was cruising here that he -received a despatch from his former Commander-in-chief to the effect -that Keith was searching for the French, and that reinforcements were -making their way to Port Mahon. Nelson was convinced that the enemy was -steering for Naples. After a brief visit to the King at Palermo and -receiving Sir William and Lady Hamilton on board the _Foudroyant_, he -sailed for the capital. - -On Troubridge’s withdrawal from Naples, the blockade had been placed in -the hands of Captain Foote of the _Seahorse_, a frigate of thirty-eight -guns, who concerted with Ruffo and his Russian and Turkish allies -to rid the city of the insurgents. Fort St Elmo, garrisoned by the -few remaining French, and the castles of Uovo and Nuovo, held by -the rebels, alone held out. The Cardinal arranged an armistice with -the insurgents, and although there was further trouble, the matter -was patched up and negotiations were again begun. Subsequently a -capitulation was signed on the 23rd June. Nelson received the news -before his squadron anchored in the Bay of Naples on the following -day, and, not knowing the exact terms on which it had been granted, -characterised them as “infamous.” - -The main conditions were that the forts Nuovo and Uovo should be -delivered up with their effects; that the troops should keep possession -of the places until the ships which were to be provided for those who -wished to proceed to Toulon were ready to sail; that the garrisons -should march out with the honours of war; that “Persons and Property, -both movable and immovable, of every individual of the two Garrisons, -shall be respected and guaranteed,” a clause applicable also to -prisoners which the allies had made during the blockade of the forts; -and that “All the other hostages and State prisoners, confined in the -two Forts, shall be set at liberty, immediately after the present -Capitulation is signed.” Nelson at once ordered Foote to haul down -the flag of truce flying from the _Seahorse_. Sufficient of his story -has been told to show that the Admiral had little or no pity for -rebels. So far back as the 6th June, he had written to Foote that the -intelligence sent to him by that officer of the hanging of thirteen -Jacobins “gave us great pleasure,” and he also expressed the hope -that three priests who had been condemned would “dangle on the tree -best adapted to their weight of sins.” Without further ado he sent a -declaration to “the Rebellious Subjects” in the two forts that “They -must surrender themselves to His Majesty’s Royal mercy,” and addressed -a summons to the Commanding Officer of the French at the Castle of St -Elmo, that he must either accede to the terms made by Ruffo and the -Russian Commander, or “take the consequences, as I shall not agree -to any other.” A paper signed by Nelson and explained to Ruffo, but -rejected by him, announced that “the British Admiral proposes to the -Cardinal to send, in their joint names, to the French and Rebels, -that the arrival of the British fleet has completely destroyed the -compact, as would that of the French if they had had the power (which, -thank God, they have not) to come to Naples.... That as to Rebels and -Traitors, no power on earth has a right to stand between their gracious -King and them: they must instantly throw themselves on the clemency of -their Sovereign, for no other terms will be allowed them; nor will the -French be allowed even to name them in any capitulation. If these terms -are not complied with, in the time ... viz., two hours for the French, -and instant submission on the part of the Rebels--such very favourable -conditions will never be again offered.” - -Nelson knew the man with whom he was dealing, and as the following -characteristic letter to Rear-Admiral Duckworth shows, he was quite -prepared for any eventuality. With insurgents on land and the -possibility of a French fleet at sea in the near vicinity, it was -incumbent on the British Admiral not to run unnecessary risks:-- - -“As you will believe, the Cardinal and myself have begun our career by -a complete difference of opinion. He will send the Rebels to Toulon,--I -say they shall not go. He thinks one house in Naples more to be prized -than his Sovereign’s honour. Troubridge and Ball are gone to the -Cardinal, for him to read my declaration to the French and Rebels, whom -he persists in calling patriots--what a prostitution of the word! I -shall send Foote to get the Gun-boats from Procida. I wish the Fleet -not to be more than two-thirds of a cable from each other. I shall send -you a sketch of the anchorage, in forty fathom water. The _Foudroyant_ -to be the Van-ship. If the French fleet should favour us with a visit, -I can easily take my station in the centre.” - -The Cardinal positively refused to entertain Nelson’s opinions, but -after some hesitation decided to discuss affairs with him on the -_Foudroyant_. The interview, which was stormy on both sides and -somewhat protracted, owing to the necessity of employing Lord and Lady -Hamilton as interpreters, took place on the afternoon of the 25th. Both -of them held steadfastly to his own point of view. Nelson therefore -wrote that “in his opinion” the Treaty with the rebels “cannot be -carried into execution, without the approbation of his Sicilian -Majesty.” - -Uovo and Nuovo were taken possession of by British seamen under -Troubridge on the evening of the 26th inst., and on the following day, -Nelson communicated the fact to the Admiralty, adding: “This morning I -am going to send a detachment under Captain Troubridge, to cut down the -dangerous Tree of Anarchy, and to burn it before the King’s palace. The -moment I can find the City a little quieted, guns shall be got against -St Elmo, when, I am sure, the French will be glad to surrender.... In -my present position, I have not the smallest alarm should the Enemy -favour us with a visit, inferior as my force is to oppose them.” The -castle capitulated on the 12th July 1799, to Nelson’s “brave friend” -Troubridge, whose “great character,” “ability and resources” were duly -detailed to Lord Keith, while the Admiral told Earl Spencer that, -“On land the captain of the _Culloden_ is a first-rate general!” -Troubridge’s reward was a baronetcy, to which no one ever had a clearer -title. - -Was Nelson justified in cancelling the agreement entered into by Ruffo -and his allies and the enemy? The question has been discussed with -great vehemence and at prodigious length. Mahan’s opinion is that “his -conduct throughout was open and consistent.” He is convinced that the -Admiral acted up to his firm belief “that he not only had a right to -suspend the Capitulation, because, though signed, it had not been -executed, but that it was his bounden duty so to do; having both legal -power and adequate force to prevent its execution.” Nelson “regarded -himself as, and for the time being actually was, the representative of -the King of the Two Sicilies, as well as the admiral of the British -fleet. As representative, he was charged with the interests and honour -of the Sovereign and had authority over all Neapolitan officials; -as admiral, he wielded power to enforce obedience, if refused. -Considering the terms of the Capitulation to be contrary to the -interests and the honour of the Kingdom, he was under an obligation to -prevent their going into effect, until the King’s decision, becoming -known, should supersede his own discretion.” - -Laughton, whose biography of Nelson is much shorter than Mahan’s, and -is therefore not so comprehensive, dismisses the matter by saying, -“it is perfectly well established as the usage of civilised war that -terms granted by a military officer are conditional on the approval -of his superiors, unless he has distinct authority to negotiate, or -the capitulation has been effected wholly or in part. In the present -instance Cardinal Ruffo had not only no authority to negotiate, but -he had express orders from the King not to do so.” By the fourth -Article of the “Instructions to the troops of his Majesty, ordered to -repair to the Bay of Naples,” dated Palermo, June 10th, 1799, “All the -military and political operations shall be agreed upon by the Prince -Royal and Admiral Lord Nelson. The opinion of this latter always to -have a preponderance, on account of the respect due to his experience, -as well as to the forces under his command, which will determine the -operations; and also because we are so deeply indebted to him for the -zeal and attachment of which he has given so many proofs.” By the tenth -Article, “The acts of clemency concerning the noted offenders, and -the pardoning of the same, are reserved for the King, excepting those -stipulated in the articles of capitulation.” - -[Illustration: The Execution of Caracciolo - -Stephen Reid] - -About seventy Jacobins were executed for their misdeeds, but Nelson -was only concerned in the death of one of them. Commodore Francesco -Caracciolo, the commander of the Republican Navy, had previously -accompanied the Sicilian Court to Palermo, but when an edict was issued -by the French that the property of all absentees would be confiscated, -he had obtained King Ferdinand’s permission to return. Marshal -Macdonald, then Commander-in-chief of the French Army of Naples, refers -to the matter in his “Recollections.” “I had resolved,” he writes, -“to induce Admiral Caracciolo to take service in the new fleet; he -equipped a flotilla which secured respect for the port and coasts of -Naples, frequently threatened by attempts of the English, who occupied -the islands and were stationed in the roads.”[42] When Caracciolo’s -position on sea became untenable, he sought a safer asylum in one of -the forts, whence he eventually fled to the mountains disguised as a -peasant. Here he was discovered and captured. The refugee was brought -on board the _Foudroyant_ on the morning of the 29th June. Nelson at -once instructed Count Thurn, Commander of the Sicilian frigate _La -Minerva_, who had been in action with Caracciolo, to assemble five of -the senior officers under his command to inquire if the prisoner were -guilty of rebellion against his lawful Sovereign, and having fired at -his Sicilian Majesty’s colours on board _La Minerva_. The trial duly -took place; the sentence was death. This was to be carried out “by -hanging him at the fore yard-arm of His Sicilian Majesty’s Frigate _La -Minerva_, under your command, at five o’clock this evening; and to -cause him to hang there until sunset, when you will have his body cut -down, and thrown into the sea.” Such were Nelson’s instructions, which -were obeyed. Parsons, who had charge of Caracciolo, describes him as “a -short, thick-set man, of apparent strength, but haggard with misery and -want; his clothing in wretched condition, but his countenance denoting -stern resolution to endure that misery like a man.” The sympathetic -narrator persists in calling him “veteran” and “old man.” The Commodore -was only forty-seven years of age, although his wan appearance may have -made him look considerably older. “At two o’clock in the afternoon,” -Parsons adds, “the veteran, with a firm step, walked into Lord Nelson’s -barge, and with a party of thirty of our seamen, under one of our -lieutenants, was taken to his [Count Thurn’s] flagship, the gun fired, -and the brave old man launched into eternity at the expiration of -the two hours from the time the sentence had passed. The seamen of our -fleet, who clustered on the rigging like bees, consoled themselves that -it was only an Italian prince, and the admiral of Naples, that was -hanging--a person of very light estimation compared with the lowest -man in a British ship. His Majesty of Naples, the Prime Minister, Sir -John Acton, and many of the foreign ambassadors, joined and took up -their quarters in the _Foudroyant_ two days after the execution; and -my Lord Nelson removed to the first lieutenant’s cabin as his sleeping -apartment, giving his cabin to the king’s use, and the larboard side of -the maindeck for his cooks, who condescended to officiate as ours; and -never did midshipmen fare so sumptuously as during the king’s long stay -on board the _Foudroyant_. The day was passed in administering justice -(Italian fashion) to the wretches who fell into the grasp of Cardinal -Ruffo’s lambs, enlivened by the bombardment of St Elmo, which we were -battering in breach. At noon, dinner was served to the royal party and -their guests on the quarter-deck; Lady Hamilton’s graceful form bending -over her harp, and her heavenly music gave a gusto to the dessert. As -the sun went down, the opera singers, in a large, decked galley, came -alongside, and all that could delight the ear or please the eye was -there to fascinate and charm.” - -There is more than a suspicion of irony in the above passage. It is -useful because one can readily believe that it was the point of view -of the majority of the British petty officers and seamen. They failed -to understand why so much deference should be shown to King Ferdinand -and his Queen, who doubtless in their opinion would have shown more -royal qualifications had they remained in their capital instead of -making a hasty flight to Palermo. This is not the place to discuss the -merits and demerits of monarchy and republic, both of which have their -advantages. Certainly the foreign policy of Great Britain at the end of -the eighteenth century did not allow an ally to be dethroned without -making an effort on his behalf. - -Southey, when dealing with the execution of Caracciolo, has seen fit to -introduce Nelson’s relations with Lady Hamilton into the matter, which -may be forgiven a man who published his narrative in 1813, when current -scandal and gossip were often the chief “authorities” of the historian. -“Doubtless” he remarks, “the British Admiral seemed to himself to be -acting under a rigid sense of justice, but to all other persons it -was obvious that he was influenced by an infatuated attachment--a -baneful passion, which destroyed his domestic happiness, and now, in -a second instance, stained ineffaceably his public character.” Now -Lady Hamilton, as a matter of actual fact, had nothing whatever to do -with the hanging of the traitor and did not converse with the Admiral -during Caracciolo’s detention. The rebel was tried by those of his own -nationality, and according to Mahan, “there is no ground for doubting -that he (Nelson) had authority to order a court-martial, and to carry -its sentence into execution, nor that Caracciolo came within the -jurisdiction of a court-martial properly constituted.” It is only just -to add, however, that in the opinion of the same eminent authority -there was no real necessity for such undue haste on Nelson’s part. “He -should have remembered that the act would appear to the world, not as -that of the Neapolitan plenipotentiary, but of the British officer, -and that his nation, while liable like others to bursts of unreasoning -savagery, in its normal moods delights to see justice clothed in -orderly forms, unstained by precipitation or suspicion of perversion, -advancing to its ends with the majesty of law, without unseemly haste, -providing things honest in the sight of all men. That he did not do -so, when he could have done so, has been intuitively felt; and to the -instinctive resentment thus aroused among his countrymen has been due -the facility with which the worst has been too easily believed.” - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -Nelson in Temporary Command - -(1799-1800) - - “_The great object of the war is_--Down, down with the French.” - - NELSON. - - -King Ferdinand was again on board the _Foudroyant_, holding his Levées -on the quarter-deck, and making himself as affable as was possible to -a man of his morose temperament. Nelson’s infatuation for the welfare -of his Majesty and his kingdom seemed growing. The castle of St Elmo -had fallen, thereby completing the conquest of Naples, but the Admiral -saw fit to order Troubridge to march against Capua, thereby denuding -the fleet of a thousand men, who were to act in concert with four times -that number of troops. This was done after the receipt of a warning -from Keith that it might be necessary to withdraw the squadron for the -protection of Minorca. - -“Should such an order come at this moment,” Nelson writes to Earl -Spencer, “it would be a cause for some consideration whether Minorca -is to be risked, or the two Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily? I rather -think my decision would be to risk the former.” In other words, -Nelson placed the interests of an allied Power before those of his -own country, although of course his services to the Sicilies were of -importance to the latter. One cannot help thinking that there is more -than a suspicion of ulterior motives in what was to lead to a flagrant -disobedience of orders. The letter concludes with the most affectionate -references to Sir William and Lady Hamilton, who were assuredly his -evil genii at the moment. According to Nelson they were with him to -his “great comfort,” without them “it would have been impossible I -could have rendered half the service to his Majesty which I have now -done: their heads and their hearts are equally great and good.” Writing -to Keith on the same day--13th July 1799--he refers solely to King -Ferdinand: “It has been and is my study to treat his Majesty with all -the respect due to so great a personage, and I have the pleasure to -believe that my humble endeavours have met with the Royal approbation.” - -After penning this communication the Admiral received a despatch from -Keith, dated the 27th June, implicitly requiring him “to send such -Ships as you can possibly spare off the Island of Minorca to wait my -orders.” This he acknowledged by saying that “as soon as the safety of -His Sicilian Majesty’s Kingdoms is secured, I shall not lose one moment -in making the detachment you are pleased to order. At present, under -God’s Providence, the safety of His Sicilian Majesty, and his speedy -restoration to his Kingdom, depends on this Fleet, and the confidence -inspired even by the appearance of our Ships before the City is beyond -all belief; and I have no scruple in declaring my opinion that should -any event draw us from the Kingdom, that if the French remain in any -part of it, disturbances will again arise, for all order having been -completely overturned, it must take a thorough cleansing, and some -little time, to restore tranquillity.” In order to justify his conduct, -Nelson next sent a second note to Earl Spencer. After referring to his -previous letter, which showed that he was prepared for Keith’s order, -he adds, “more than ever is my mind made up, that, 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, where -an Army is gone this day. I am fully aware of the act I have committed; -but, sensible of my loyal intentions, I am prepared for any fate which -may await my disobedience. Capua and Gaeta 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 -right; 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. Do not think, -my dear Lord, that my opinion is formed from the arrangements of any -one. _No_; be it good, or be it bad, it is all my own.” The writer -concludes with an appeal for Earl Spencer’s interest with the Board -of the Admiralty, which was not vouchsafed. His having proceeded to -the Bay of Naples and of the operations against the castle of St Elmo -were approved, but not of the land warfare carried on by the seamen -against Capua. Their Lordships did not see “sufficient reason to -justify your having disobeyed the orders you had received from your -Commanding-Officer, or having left Minorca exposed to the risk of being -attacked, without having any Naval force to protect it.” - -On the 19th July, Nelson was handed a second urgent despatch from -Keith, ordering him either to leave Sicily and repair to Minorca with -his whole force or to detach the greater part of his squadron and -place it under Duckworth. Keith’s “repeated information” led him to -believe that the enemy was not making for Sicily or Egypt, as had -been thought probable, but for Ireland. Nelson again refused to obey -his Commander-in-chief. Not until the 22nd inst., when Keith informed -Nelson that the French fleet was off Cape Tres Forcas, did he see fit -to dispatch Duckworth with four vessels to Minorca. - -The Frenchmen succeeded in joining their Spanish allies at Cartagena -and arriving safely at Brest, from which port they did not issue -for some months, an event which does not therefore concern us at -the moment. Capua and Gaeta eventually surrendered, the articles of -capitulation being signed by Acton and Nelson on behalf of King -Ferdinand on the 31st July 1799, thus liberating “the Kingdom of Naples -from a band of robbers,” as the Admiral informed Keith. - -So far this portion of the narrative has been necessarily confined -to cold, matter-of-fact details. Mention must now be made of the -celebrations held on the first anniversary of the battle of the -Nile. Well might Nelson be fêted on such an occasion; he had served -their Sicilian Majesties all too faithfully. He thus describes the -picturesque scene for the benefit of his wife:-- - -“Thank God all goes well in Italy, and the Kingdom of Naples is -liberated from thieves and murderers. But still, it has so overthrown -the fabric of a regular Government, that much time and great care are -necessary to keep the Country quiet. The 1st of August was celebrated -here with as much respect as our situation would admit. The King -dined with me; and, when His Majesty drank my health, a Royal salute -of twenty-one guns was fired from all his Sicilian Majesty’s Ships -of War, and from all the Castles. In the evening there was a general -illumination. Amongst other representations, a large Vessel was fitted -out like a Roman galley; on its oars were fixed lamps, and in the -centre was erected a rostral column with my name: at the stern were -elevated two angels supporting my picture. In short, my dear Fanny, -the beauty of the whole is beyond my powers of description. More than -2000 variegated lamps were suspended round the Vessel. An orchestra -was fitted up, and filled with the very best musicians and singers. -The piece of music was in a great measure to celebrate my praise, -describing their previous distress, ‘but Nelson came, the invincible -Nelson, and they were preserved, and again made happy.’ This must -not make you think me vain; no, far, very far from it, I relate it -more from gratitude than vanity. I return to Palermo with the King -to-morrow.”[43] - -It was characteristic of Nelson’s fond regard for his father that when -King Ferdinand created him Duke of Bronté, which he believed would -mean an increase of some £3000 a year to his income, he taxed the -estate to the extent of £500 per annum on behalf of the Rev. Edmund -Nelson as “a mark of gratitude to the best of parents.” - -Keith being on the look-out for the forty ships of the allied -fleets--for Bruix had been joined by the Spanish fleet at Cartagena -as previously mentioned--the chief command devolved upon Nelson. -Unfortunately Keith was unable to come up with the enemy, who entered -Brest without being brought to battle. He then returned to England. -Nelson hoped that the Lords of the Admiralty would make his temporary -command permanent. Why they failed to do so is not quite clear. Keith -was sent back, and resumed command in the following January. The -situation was a most difficult one for Nelson, especially as the King -of the Two Sicilies invariably showed the white feather when Nelson -wished to conduct him to Naples: “nothing can move him.” The Admiral’s -health was still unsatisfactory. “I am almost blind, and truly very -unwell.” He was worried because the naval force had been withdrawn -from the coast of Italy, worried about the siege of Malta, and worried -by the stupidity of his Russian and Turkish allies. But he maintained -a bold front, and never let the respective commanders know what he -thought of them. Instead, he wrote the most reassuring messages to -everybody, knowing and appreciating full well the value of optimism. - -In September 1799, we find his squadron disposed at six different -points, namely off Alexandria and the coast of Egypt, under Sir Sidney -Smith; off Malta, under the Portuguese Rear-Admiral the Marquis de -Niza; at Palermo; on the coast of Naples and the Roman coast, under -Troubridge; on the north coast of Italy; and blockading Cadiz and -protecting the Straits of Gibraltar, Minorca, etc., which is sufficient -to show that his task was an arduous one. He endeavoured to stir up -enthusiasm in the land forces on behalf of Malta, Civita Vecchia, -and Rome. To Sir James Erskine, at Port Mahon, he wrote with all the -eloquence he could command to incite him to effort: “The field of glory -is a large one, and was never more open to any one than at this moment -to you. Rome would throw open her gates and receive you as a deliverer; -and the Pope[44] would owe his restoration to the Papal Chair to an -_heretic_. This is the first great object, as it would not only be the -complete deliverance of Italy, but restore peace and tranquillity to -the torn-to-pieces Kingdom of Naples.... The next great object is the -reduction of Malta, and in any other moment than the present, it would -be a most important one.... To return to the first object, I can take -upon me to say, that our King would be much gratified that _Britain_ -not _Austria_ should re-instate the Pope. You are at perfect liberty to -say this from me; for the world sees the ambition of Austria, and her -eagle wants to extend her wings from the Adriatic to the Mediterranean. -I will not say more, but that I will support you to the utmost of my -abilities.” Succour did not come from Erskine but from a division of -troops sent by the veteran Russian commander Suwarrow, and, on the -1st October, Nelson was able to inform the Admiralty of the terms -entered into with the French by Troubridge for the evacuation of Rome -and Civita Vecchia, “on which event I sincerely congratulate their -Lordships.” - -On the 15th of the same month Nelson sent the “Sketch of my Life,” -already remarked upon,[45] to Mr John McArthur of the “Naval -Chronicle,” in which he says that when the terms of capitulation were -signed on board the _Culloden_, “a prophecy, made to me on my arrival -at Naples, was fulfilled, viz., ‘_that I should take Rome with my -Ships_.’” - -“Thus,” he concludes, “may be exemplified by my Life that perseverance -in my profession will most probably meet its reward. Without having any -inheritance, or being fortunate in prize money, I have received all -the honours of my profession, been created a Peer of Great Britain, and -I may say to thee, reader: - - “‘_Go thou and do likewise._’” - -Nelson’s enthusiasm in the matter of Italy was due partly to the -magnificent series of victories which the armies of the coalition had -won. Alessandria and Mantua had fallen, Moreau had retreated near Novi, -and Tortona had surrendered. So far everything seemed to be pitched -in a major key, but the minor element entered when the Russians were -sent into Switzerland instead of being allowed to finish their task -in Italy. Masséna won the battle of Zurich, thereby severing the -communications between the Austro-Russian forces in Switzerland and in -Italy. In October the intrepid Suwarrow, crossing the Alps, withdrew -his forces to Bavaria for the purpose of taking up winter quarters, -declining to further expose his worn-out troops. - -In the same month another and more important event happened, which was -to be far-reaching in its results. On the 9th of that month Napoleon, -having been fortunate enough to escape the vigilance of British -cruisers during his long and tedious voyage from Alexandria, landed -in France. Nelson did not hear the news until the 24th, when he told -Sir Sidney Smith, “I have just got a report that appears to have some -foundation, that Buonaparte has passed Corsica in a Bombard, steering -for France. No Crusader ever returned with more humility--contrast -his going in _L’Orient_, &c., &c.” Nelson was not on intimate terms -with Smith, and was therefore not likely to relieve his mind “against -French villany” as he did to Earl Spencer: “The great object of the war -is--_Down, down with the French!_” “If I could have any Cruisers,” he -said in another letter, “as was my plan, off Cape Bon, in Africa, and -between Corsica and Toulon, Mr Buonaparte could not probably have got -to France; but if it bring on a confusion at Paris, I hope it will be -for the best.” “I have regretted sincerely the escape of Buonaparte”; -he tells the Earl of Elgin, British ambassador at Constantinople; “but -those Ships which were destined by me for the two places where he would -certainly have been intercepted, were, from the Admiralty thinking, -doubtless, that the Russians would do something at sea, obliged to be -at Malta, and other services which I thought the Russian Admiral would -have assisted me in--therefore, no blame lays at my door.” Again, “Our -news here is of a civil war in France--Buonaparte against Barras. May -God increase their confusion.” - -While Sir Sidney Smith had been eminently successful at the siege of -Acre, which made Napoleon miss his “destiny” and precluded him from -changing “the face of the world,” as he himself stated, the defeat of -the Turks after their disembarkation at Aboukir in July considerably -altered the condition of affairs. Smith and the Turkish Government -were for allowing the French to return to their native country, an -arrangement not at all in accord with Nelson’s wishes. “I own my hope -yet is,” he confesses to the Earl of Elgin, “that the Sublime Porte -will never permit a single Frenchman to quit Egypt; and I own myself -wicked enough to wish them all to die in that Country they chose to -invade. We have scoundrels of French enough in Europe without them.... -I again take the liberty of repeating that it is contrary to my -opinion, allowing a single Frenchman from Egypt to return during the -war to France. It would [be a] paper I never would subscribe to; but I -submit to the better judgment of men.” To Spencer Smith, Secretary of -Embassy, Constantinople, he says much the same thing: “I cannot bring -myself to believe they would entirely quit Egypt; and, if they would, I -never would consent to one of them returning to the Continent of Europe -during the war. I wish them to _perish_ in Egypt, and give a great -lesson to the world of the justice of the ALMIGHTY.” “I would have kept -up a more constant communication with Egypt;” he tells Keith on the -7th January 1800, “but I have never had the benefit of small Vessels.” -When the Admiral heard of the Convention of El Arish, concluded by -Smith and Kléber--Napoleon’s successor in Egypt--Nelson was furious. -By its terms the army and its munitions were to be allowed to return -to France. Had Nelson been Commander-in-chief, he would have refused -“to ratify any consent or approbation of Sir Sidney Smith,” and would -never “for a moment have forgot my text--that at all risks of giving -offence, _not one Frenchman should be allowed to quit Egypt_.” Keith -showed a firm hand when the intelligence reached him. He would consent -to “no Capitulation with the French Army in Egypt, except as prisoners -of war,” and he insisted on the abandoning of all ships and munitions. -Moreover, no troops were to return until they were exchanged. In due -course the British Government consented to the terms which had been -made, although it disapproved of Sir Sidney Smith’s high-handed policy. -On Kléber being informed of the conditions imposed on him by Keith, -he refused to entertain them. Hostilities were renewed before the -receipt of the Order from England confirming the capitulation, and the -negotiations came to nothing. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -Disobedience to Orders - - “Pray God we may get alongside of them, the event I leave to - Providence” - - NELSON. - - -Malta was in a pitiful, half-starved condition. Nelson urged Sir -James Erskine at Mahon, and Brigadier-General Graham at Messina, -to send troops to its relief. They were as adamant and refused. He -was therefore kept “in desperation about Malta” until General Fox -arrived at Minorca and released the garrison there for the more urgent -necessities of the unhappy island. The Russians upon whom the Admiral -had also depended were sent elsewhere in pursuance of the Czar’s plan -to withdraw from the enfeebled coalition. - -The Portuguese having withdrawn their ships from the blockade, it -was eminently necessary to fill their place, especially as it was -understood that a French squadron was likely to be sent to the relief -of the beleaguered. Keith was back at his post in January 1800, and was -off Leghorn with Nelson on the 20th of that month. After proceeding to -Palermo they both went to Malta, where the exciting news was received -that the enemy had not only left port but had been seen off the west -end of Sicily. - -The Commander-in-chief remained at Malta ready to give the Frenchmen a -warm welcome should they come his way; Nelson was dispatched to capture -the Republican squadron. This consisted of the famous _Généreux_, -the 74-gun ship, which had escaped after the battle of the Nile, -three corvettes, and an armed store-ship. The Admiral had three -sail-of-the-line at his service, when he came up with Rear-Admiral -Perrée on the 18th February 1800, but the chase had already been -started by the _Alexander_, which happened to be cruising near. The -French store-ship struck her tricoloured ensign after a few shots had -been fired, and was promptly secured. The _Généreux_ was then raked -with several broadsides by the _Success_ frigate, a compliment returned -by the Frenchman to the disadvantage of the British crew, of which -one man was killed and the Master and seven men wounded. When the -_Foudroyant_ and the _Northumberland_ approached, and began to fight in -real earnest, the enemy’s flagship fired her broadside and surrendered. -The corvettes made good their escape. Perrée died of his wounds on the -following day. His flag was sent by the Admiral to Leopold, Prince of -Salerno, through Sir John Acton, who described King Ferdinand’s son as -being “in raptures” at the present. - -On the 24th, the blockade of Malta was entrusted to Nelson by Keith, -the Commander-in-chief sailing for Genoa to assist the Austrians in -the siege of that place, which eventually fell in the first week of -the following June. The position was an ignominious one from Nelson’s -point of view, as his letters testify. He told his superior that -“Without some rest, I am gone,” and that he was “absolutely exhausted.” -In referring to Keith in a note to Lord Minto he underlines “_my -Commander-in-chief_,” for a reason which is fairly obvious. “Ought I to -trust Dame Fortune any more?” he asks, “her daughter may wish to step -in and tear the mother from me. I have in truth serious thoughts of -giving up active service--Greenwich Hospital seems a fit retreat for me -after being _evidently_ thought unfit to command in the Mediterranean.” -“_We of the Nile_ are not equal to Lord Keith in his (Acton’s) -estimation, and ought to think it an honour to serve under such a -_clever_ man,” he tells Troubridge. “I can say little good of myself: -I am far from well”; “My state of health is very precarious. Two days -ago I dropped with a pain in my heart, and I am always in a fever”; -“my very ill state of health”; “I believe I am almost finished,” are -passages to be found in his correspondence at this period. He informed -Keith that his health was “so very indifferent,” that he was obliged -“in justice to myself, to retire to Palermo for a few weeks, and to -direct Troubridge to carry on the service during my necessary absence. -I shall quit this station when matters are all put in a right way.” - -Troubridge heard of Nelson’s decision with unfeigned sorrow. “I beseech -you,” he says in a note of such sincere regard and affection that it -is worthy of place in any “Life of Nelson,” “hear the entreaties of a -sincere friend, and do not go to Sicily for the present.” - -Nelson paid no heed to the warning, and proceeded to Palermo. While -returning to Malta the _Foudroyant_ was able to render assistance -to the _Penelope_ (36) frigate, which was following the _Guillaume -Tell_ (86) in much the same way as a sturdy little terrier sometimes -follows a much larger dog. After some hours the _Lion_ (64) came up, -followed by the _Foudroyant_. The _Guillaume Tell_--the sole remaining -sail-of-the-line which had escaped at the Nile--was endeavouring to -break the blockade of Valetta, but the time had come for her last fight -with the undaunted foe. She surrendered after a splendid resistance -on Sunday morning, the 30th March, and was towed in a very crippled -and dismasted state to Syracuse. In due course she was refitted and -rendered good service in the British navy as the _Malta_. Rear-Admiral -Decrès was wounded and taken prisoner, and some 200 of the 1220 men on -his flagship were either killed or rendered _hors de combat_. - -Sir Edward Berry, who commanded the _Foudroyant_, wrote a hasty letter -giving Nelson a few particulars. “I had but one wish this morning--it -was for you,” is the opening sentence, “How we prayed for you, God -knows, and your sincere and faithful friend,” are the concluding -words. Could better evidence be produced of the love which animated -Nelson and his “band of brothers”? “My task is done, my health is -lost, and the orders of the great Earl of St Vincent are completely -fulfilled--thanks, ten thousand thanks, to my brave friends!” Thus he -wrote to Berry on the 5th April 1800, and on the following day he made -similar remarks to Lord Minto: “Our dear great Earl of St Vincent’s -orders to me were to follow the French Mediterranean fleet, and to -annihilate them: it has been done, thanks to the zeal and bravery of -my gallant friends! My task is done, my health lost, and I have wrote -to Lord Keith for my retreat. May all orders be as punctually obeyed, -but never again an Officer at the close, of what I must, without -being thought vain, (for such I am represented by my enemies,) call a -glorious career, be so treated! I go with our dear friends Sir William -and Lady Hamilton; but whether by water or land depends on the will -of Lord Keith.” Again and again Nelson refers to the prowess of his -comrades in arms. “The happy capture of the _William Tell_,” he writes -to the Capitan Pacha, “is the finish to the whole French fleet, which -my Royal Master desired me to destroy. Having, by the bravery of the -Officers and Men under my command, accomplished my task, I am going to -England for the benefit of my health; but I can assure you, and beg of -your Excellency to assure the Grand Signior of the same, that should -the Enemy again send a Naval force to attack his Dominions, I shall -hold myself ready to come forth again for their destruction.” To the -Caimakan Pacha he says, “It was my orders, in May 1798, to destroy the -French Mediterranean fleet. By the happy capture of the _Généreux_ and -_William Tell_, (the last on the 30th March,) thanks to the Almighty, -and the bravery of the Officers and Men under my command, _all_, _all_, -are taken, burnt, or sunk. Of the thirteen Sail of the Line, not one -remains; and I trust that very soon the same may be told of their Army, -who dared to land on the Territory of the Sublime Porte. Perish all the -enemies of his Imperial Majesty the Grand Signior! Having completely -obeyed my orders, with great injury to my health, I am going to England -for the benefit of it.” He adds that he will not fail his ally, should -another French fleet menace the Turkish dominions. “I shall hold -myself ready, if I am thought fit for such a service, to come forth, -and be the instrument of God’s vengeance on such miscreant infernal -scoundrels.” He writes to Earl Spencer, enclosing Berry’s account -of the capture of the French battleship, and assures himself that -his Lordship “will not be sparing of promotion to the deserving. My -friends wished me to be present. I have no such wish; for a something -might have been given me, which now cannot. Not for all the world -would I rob any man of a sprig of laurel--much less my children of the -_Foudroyant_! I love her as a fond father, a darling child, and glory -in her deeds. I am vain enough to feel the effects of my school. Lord -Keith sending me nothing, I have not, of course, a free communication. -I have wrote to him for permission to return to England, when you -will see a broken-hearted man.... My complaint, which is principally -a swelling of the heart, is at times alarming to my friends....” -“My mind is fixed for retreat at this moment,” he informs “fighting -Berry.” “Assure all the Foudroyants of my sincere regard and affection -for them. _They may depend upon me._” “I glory in them, my darling -children, served in my school, and all of us caught our professional -zeal and fire from the great and good Earl of St Vincent”--thus he -writes to Keith. None of his hundreds of letters more fully reveals the -charming nature of the man, than those quoted above. While Nelson was -fond enough of glory for himself, he was too large-hearted to deprive -others of it. - -We have now to return to his unhappy and miscalculated transactions -with the people whom he served not wisely but too well, to show him -again “a vehement partisan of the Court of Naples,” as Judge O’Connor -Morris expresses it. “I purpose going in the _Foudroyant_,” he tells -Keith, on the 12th May, “in a few days, to Palermo, as I am under -an old promise to her Sicilian Majesty, that whenever she returned -to the Continent, I would escort her over. Her Majesty has now made -application to me for that purpose; and, as it may be necessary to -take another Ship for the escort, I purpose taking the _Alexander_ -with me.” It is clear that Nelson had no right to enter into any such -arrangement, especially as there were too few rather than too many -ships for the blockade of Malta. Before Keith’s despatch was received -forbidding Nelson to use the vessels, the Admiral had left Malta for -Palermo, which he reached on the 31st May. But he _did_ get a despatch -ordering him to take the ships then at Leghorn to Spezia, which Nelson -only partly obeyed, and stationed himself at the former port to await -the convenience of the Queen and family. There he was met on the 24th -June by his Commander-in-chief, whose feelings may be gauged by his -letter to the Hon. A. Paget, Sir William Hamilton’s successor as Envoy -Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of the Two -Sicilies. It was written at Leghorn on the 16th July, two days after -the disastrous defeat of the Austrians by Napoleon at Marengo. - -He says: “I was so displeased by the withdrawing of the Ships from -before Malta, and with other proceedings that Her Majesty did not -take any notice of me latterally which had no effect on my attention -to Her Rank, what a Clamour to letting in the Ships to Malta will -occasion I assure you nothing has given me more real concern it was -so near exhausted.”[46] “The Paget Papers” make it quite clear that -Queen Caroline did not go out of her way to impress Keith, but rather -exhibited a fondness for snubbing him. He writes to Paget on another -occasion to the effect that “the Queen expected the Whole Squadron to -attend on Her Court which was impossible a Riot happened in the Square -the Queen desired I would go to the people, I declined having no -Authority to do so and disapproving of all tumults on every pretence -in short Her Majesty took leave of Every one in Public but me....” -An extremely important letter[47] will also be found in the same -collection of documents which sheds much light on the personalities -of the Royal folk with whom Nelson had so much to do in this phase of -his career. Paget is writing to Lord Grenville, Secretary of State for -Foreign Affairs: - -“The King, whose real character has from circumstances shown itself -during and since the revolution more than at any former period, is -timid and bigoted and, as is often the case in the same disposition, -cruel and revengeful. He has no natural turn for, nor do his habits -allow him to attend to business. He has no guide for his Conduct but -that of private consideration, and to take the present Instance, -whatever plea he may set forth for delaying his return to Naples, I am -in my own mind convinced, and I should not utter these opinions but -upon the surest grounds, that His Sicilian Majesty labours under the -strongest apprehensions for his own personal safety. - -“The Queen’s character generally is too well known to Your Lordship to -require any comment upon it from me. I have every reason to suppose -that not from principles but from pique, Her Sicilian Majesty has -been very violent in opposing the King’s return since my arrival. She -had been taught to believe that I was sent here to Dictate and to use -haughty language upon the Subject, at which idea I know from _undoubted -authority_ she was most violently irritated.... But I have reason to -think that She has entirely lost her Influence, though she meddles as -much as ever in business. She assists at every Council that is held.... - -“The King and Queen of Naples are, as I have already mentioned, -upon the worst terms.... His Sicilian Majesty considers the former -intrigues of the Queen as the principal cause of the misfortunes that -have befallen Him. He has made a solemn vow not to return with Her -to Naples, on which account he is anxious that she should take this -Journey to Vienna.” He adds that he has been led to suppose that Queen -Caroline’s visit to Vienna “is to endeavour to produce a change in the -disposition of that Court which is thought to be extremely unfriendly,” -and that her Majesty’s uneasiness was due to a suspicion that the -Emperor might be led to take advantage of the defenceless state of the -Sicilian dominions. In a “Private and Confidential” note to Grenville -of the same date dealing with the intrigues of Lady Hamilton who, -according to Paget, had represented him as a Jacobin and coxcomb, he -mentions Nelson’s health as “I fear sadly impaired, & I am assured -that his fortune is fallen into the same state in consequence of great -losses which both His Lordship & Lady Hamilton have sustained at Faro & -other Games of Hazard. They are expected back from Malta every day, & -are then I understand to proceed by Sea to England.” - -The Earl of Dundonald affords us an intimate glimpse of Nelson at this -time in his “Autobiography.” He was then serving under Keith, and had -several conversations with the great sailor during the visit of the -Commander-in-chief to Palermo. “From one of his frequent injunctions, -‘Never mind manœuvres, always go at them,’ I subsequently had reason,” -he says, “to consider myself indebted for successful attacks under -apparently difficult circumstances. - -“The impression left on my mind during these opportunities of -association with Nelson was that of his being an embodiment of dashing -courage, which would not take much trouble to circumvent an enemy, but -being confronted with one would regard victory so much a matter of -course as hardly to deem the chance of defeat worth consideration.” - -Permission for Nelson’s return home, either by land or sea, was -duly granted by the Admiralty. Earl Spencer took occasion to mildly -rebuke the Admiral in a private letter, stating that in his opinion -it appears “more advisable for you to come home at once, than to be -obliged to remain inactive at Palermo, while active service was going -on in other parts of the station. I should still much prefer your -remaining to complete the reduction of Malta, which I flatter myself -cannot be very far distant.” At the time of writing, news of the -capture of the _Guillaume Tell_ had not been received. After hoping -that she might strike to Nelson’s flag, Spencer adds: “I am quite -clear, and I believe I am joined in opinion by all our friends here, -that you will be more likely to recover your health and strength in -England than in an inactive situation at a Foreign Court, however -pleasing the respect and gratitude shown to you for your services may -be, and no testimonies of respect and gratitude from that Court to you -can be, I am convinced, too great for the very essential services you -have rendered it.” - -[Illustration: Lady Hamilton - -Romney - -=Photo W. A. Mansell & Co.=] - -Nelson struck his flag on the 11th July, and proceeded to England by -way of Florence, Ancona, Trieste, and Vienna. The journey was made by -land so far as Ancona, where the Queen, Nelson, Lord and Lady Hamilton, -and Miss Knight were taken on board a Russian vessel and landed at -Trieste on the 2nd August. The last-mentioned lady, to whom we have -been introduced on a previous page, was intimately acquainted with her -more eminent companions. The journey was of a very adventurous nature, -as the following extracts from her letters to “fighting Berry,” printed -by Nicolas, will prove:-- - -“July 16th.-- ... Lord Nelson is going on an expedition he disapproves, -and against his own convictions, because he has promised the Queen, and -that others advise her. I pity the Queen. Prince Belmonte directs the -march; and Lady Hamilton, though she does not like him, seconds his -proposals, because she hates the sea, and wishes to visit the different -Courts of Germany. Sir William says _he_ shall die by the way, and he -looks so ill, that I should not be surprised if he did. I am astonished -that the Queen, who is a sensible woman,[48] should consent to -run so great a risk; but I can assure you, that neither she nor the -Princesses forget their great obligations to you.... - -“ANCONA, _24th July_, 1800.--As I find delays succeed each other, and -England still recedes from us, I will not omit, at least, informing you -of our adventures. We left Leghorn the day after I wrote to you, ... -and owing more to good fortune than to prudence, arrived in twenty-six -hours at Florence, after passing within _two miles_ of the French -advanced posts. After a short stay, we proceeded on our way to this -place. At Castel San Giovanni, the coach, in which were Lord Nelson, -and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, was overturned; Sir William and Lady -Hamilton were hurt, but not dangerously. The wheel was repaired, but -broke again at Arezzo--the Queen two days’ journey before them, and -news of the French Army advancing rapidly, it was therefore decided -that they should proceed, and Mrs Cadogan[49] and I remain with the -broken carriage, as it was of less consequence we should be left -behind, or taken, than they.... Just as we were going to set off, we -received accounts of the French being very near the road where we had -to pass, and of its being also infested with Neapolitan deserters; -but at the same moment arrived a party of Austrians, and the Officers -gave us two soldiers as a guard. We travelled night and day; the roads -are almost destroyed, and the misery of the inhabitants is beyond -description. At length, however, we arrived at Ancona, and found that -the Queen had given up the idea of going in the _Bellona_, an Austrian -Frigate, fitted up with silk hangings, carpets, and eighty beds for -her reception, and now meant to go with a Russian Squadron of three -Frigates and a Brig. I believe she judged rightly; for there had been a -mutiny on board the _Bellona_, and, for the sake of accommodation, she -had reduced her guns to twenty-four, while the French, in possession -of the Coast, arm Trabaccoli, and other light Vessels, that could -easily surround and take her. This Russian Squadron is commanded by -Count Voinovitsch, a Dalmatian, who having seen his people ill-treated, -and their colours destroyed by the Germans last year at the Siege of -Ancona, made a vow never to come ashore, and keeps it religiously, -for he has not returned the Queen’s visit.... Lord Nelson talks often -of the _Foudroyant_, whatever is done to turn off the conversation; -and last night he was talking with Captain Messer of the manœuvres he -intended to make in case he accepted of another command. In short, -I perceive that his thoughts turn towards England, and I hope, and -believe he will be happy there.... Lord Nelson has been received with -acclamations in all the towns of the Pope’s States.... - -“TRIESTE, _9th of August_, 1800.--... I told you we were become humble -enough to rejoice at a Russian Squadron conveying us across the -Adriatic; but had we sailed, as was first intended, in the Imperial -Frigate, we should have been taken by eight Trabaccoli, which the -French armed on purpose at Pisaro. Sir William and Lady Hamilton, and -Lord Nelson, give a miserable account of their sufferings on board -the Commodore’s Ship, (Count Voinovitsch).[50] He was ill in his cot; -but his First Lieutenant, a Neapolitan, named Capaci, was, it seems, -the most insolent and ignorant of beings. Think what Lord Nelson must -have felt! He says a gale of wind would have sunk the Ship.... Poor -Sir William Hamilton has been so ill, that the physicians had almost -given him up: he is now better, and I hope we shall be able to set off -to-morrow night for Vienna. The Queen and thirty-four of her suite have -had fevers: you can form no idea of the _helplessness_ of the party. -How we shall proceed on our long journey, is to me a problem; but we -shall certainly get on as fast as we can; for the very precarious state -of Sir William’s health has convinced everybody that it is necessary he -should arrange his affairs.... Poor Lord Nelson, whose only comfort -was in talking of ships and harbours with Captain Messer, has had a bad -cold; but is almost well, and, I think, anxious to be in England. He is -followed by thousands when he goes out, and for the illumination that -is to take place this evening, there are many _Viva Nelsons_, prepared. -He seems affected whenever he speaks of _you_, and often sighs out, -‘Where is the _Foudroyant_?’” - -The party arrived at Vienna in the third week of August 1800. Nelson -became the hero of the hour. He was entertained in the most sumptuous -way. The composer Haydn played to him while the Admiral--played -at cards! Nelson was surfeited by attentions for a month, before -proceeding to Prague and Dresden. The beautiful and clever Mrs St -George, who afterwards changed her name a second time and became Mrs -Trench, and the mother of a celebrated Archbishop of Dublin, happened -to be at the latter Court during the visit, and she confides to her -Diary many interesting little happenings connected with Nelson and Lady -Hamilton. The picture she paints of Sir William’s wife is by no means -so prepossessing as others, but at a certain dinner she was _vis-a-vis_ -“with only the Nelson party,” which gives her a right to speak. - -“It is plain,” she writes, “that Lord Nelson thinks of nothing but -Lady Hamilton, who is totally occupied by the same object. She is -bold, forward, coarse, assuming, and vain. Her figure is colossal, -but, excepting her feet, which are hideous, well-shaped. Her bones are -large, and she is exceedingly _embonpoint_. She resembles the bust of -Ariadne; the shape of all her features is fine, as is the form of her -head, and particularly her ears; her teeth are a little irregular, but -tolerably white; her eyes light blue, with a brown spot in one, which, -though a defect, takes nothing away from her beauty or expression. -Her eyebrows and her hair are dark, and her complexion coarse. Her -expression is strongly marked, variable, and interesting; her movements -in common life ungraceful; her voice loud, yet not disagreeable. Lord -Nelson is a little man, without any dignity, who, I suppose, must -resemble what Suwarrow was in his youth, as he is like all the pictures -I have seen of that General. Lady Hamilton takes possession of him, and -he is a willing captive, the most submissive and devoted I have seen. -Sir William is old, infirm, and all admiration of his wife, and never -spoke to-day but to applaud her. Miss Cornelia Knight seems the decided -flatterer of the two, and never opens her mouth but to show forth their -praise; and Mrs Cadogan, Lady Hamilton’s mother, is--what one might -expect. After dinner we had several songs in honour of Nelson, written -by Miss Knight, and sung by Lady Hamilton. She puffs the incense full -in his face, but he receives it with pleasure, and snuffs it up very -cordially.” - -In another passage Mrs Trench refers to Lady Hamilton’s representations -of statues and paintings which Romney painted so delightfully. “She -assumes their attitude, expression, and drapery with great facility, -swiftness, and accuracy.” When she sang she was frequently out of tune, -and her voice had “no sweetness.” Mrs Trench sums up the character of -her subject as “bold, daring, vain even to folly, and stamped with the -manners of her first situation[51] much more strongly than one would -suppose, after having represented Majesty, and lived in good company -fifteen years. Her ruling passions seem to me vanity, avarice, and -love for the pleasures of the table. She showed a great avidity for -presents, and has actually obtained some at Dresden by the common -artifice of admiring and longing.” - -[Illustration: Nelson landing at Yarmouth - -Stephen Reid] - -It is not a pleasant picture, and is perhaps a little overdrawn, but -even allowing a certain amount of latitude for the severity of a woman -criticising a member of her sex with whom she has little in common, it -must be confessed that contemporary opinion is very largely on the -side of the young and beautiful widow who thus confided her opinion so -emphatically in the pages of her private journal. - -Hamburg was reached on the 21st of October. Here Nelson met Dumouriez, -the veteran hero of the battle of Jemappes, and according to Miss -Cornelia Knight, “the two distinguished men took a great fancy to one -another.... Dumouriez at that time maintained himself by his writings, -and Lord Nelson forced him to accept a hundred pounds, telling him he -had used his sword too well to live only by his pen.” Ten days after -the arrival of the party at Hamburg they embarked for England. When -Nelson stepped on shore at Yarmouth on the 6th November 1800, the -crowd which had assembled greeted him with all the enthusiasm of such -gatherings when a great and popular man is in their midst. Some of the -more boisterous spirits unharnessed the horses of the carriage awaiting -the Admiral and his friends and drew them to their destination, a -certain well-known hostelry in the town. - -Thus England welcomed back the hero of the Nile and a pillar of the -Sicilian Kingdom after an absence of nearly three years, every day of -which had been lived to the full. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -The Campaign of the Baltic - -(1800-1) - - “_The service of my King and Country is the object nearest my - heart._” - - NELSON. - - -Ostensibly Nelson had come back to England because of illness. That -his health was improved by the prolonged journey home via the overland -route is quite possible. The relief from worry as to the Mediterranean -in general and to Keith in particular no doubt conduced largely to so -desirable a result. It is evident that he had returned to a normal -condition of mind and of body; otherwise we should not find him writing -to the Secretary of the Admiralty on the day of his arrival in England -that his health was “perfectly re-established” and that he wished “to -serve immediately.” - -Nelson did not have to wait long for his wishes to be fulfilled. On -the first day of the new year he was made a Vice-Admiral of the Blue, -not as a reward for his services but in a general promotion. A little -over a fortnight later he hoisted his flag on the _San Josef_ (112), -one of the prizes of the battle off Cape St Vincent, commanded by -the devoted Hardy. Nelson then made the request, apparently on the -principle of “nothing venture nothing have,” that the Lords of the -Admiralty would not consider his “necessary coming from Italy as a -dereliction of the service, but only a remove from the Mediterranean to -the Channel.” Although he was a favourite of the rank and file of the -Navy, he was certainly not esteemed so highly by “the powers that be.” -No doubt he was himself partly responsible. His friend Collingwood’s -“Correspondence” at the time affords a little sidelight on the matter. -“We are at present lying completely ready,” he writes on the 25th -January, “and, on the least motion made by the enemy, should sail; -so you may conceive what an anxious time I have of it. Lord Nelson -is here; and I think he will probably come and live with me when the -weather will allow him; but he does not get in and out of ships well -with one arm. He gave me an account of his reception at Court, which -was not very flattering, after having been the admiration of that of -Naples. His Majesty merely asked him if he had recovered his health; -and then, without waiting for an answer, turned to General ----, and -talked to him near half an hour in great good humour. It could not be -about his successes.” - -The early days of the nineteenth century were overshadowed by a -storm-cloud which burst with sudden fury and dispersed almost as -rapidly, giving place to a short-lived peace followed by twelve years -of incessant tempest. So far back as 1780 Russia, Sweden and Denmark -had entered into a league of Armed Neutrality by which, in the terse -summing-up of Laughton, they had “bound themselves to resist the right -of ‘visit and search’ claimed by the belligerents, and to enforce -the acceptance of certain principles of so-called international law; -among others, the security of a belligerent’s property under a neutral -flag,--‘a free ship makes free goods’; that a blockade to be binding -must be maintained by an adequate force; and that ‘contraband of war’ -must be distinctly defined beforehand. As these principles, if admitted -by England, amounted to the import by France of naval stores,--masts, -hemp, tar--from the Baltic, to be paid for by French exports, the -English Government was resolved to contest them.” From 1793 to 1800 -Sweden and Denmark were neutral, but Great Britain, secure in her -maritime supremacy, had continued to search merchant-ships, whether -convoyed by a vessel of war or not. Matters were brought to a crisis -by the capture of the Danish frigate _Freya_ on the 25th July 1800, -and the subsequent passage of the Sound by a British squadron. At the -moment Denmark was not prepared for hostilities, and entered into a -convention with Great Britain, which admitted the right of search. - -When, a little later, the half-crazy Czar, Paul I., dissatisfied -with England as an ally, and led on by specious promises on the part -of Napoleon, definitely renewed the League, the two Baltic Powers -willingly joined him. He laid an embargo on all British ships in -Russian ports, and generally showed that it was a case of “off with the -old love and on with the new.” - -It was thought in England that negotiations, backed by a strong fleet, -would be sufficient to sever Denmark from the alliance. With this -object in view fifteen sail-of-the-line[52] having a considerable -number of soldiers on board for use if necessary, and attended by a -collection of smaller vessels, sailed early in March. When Nelson heard -of Sir Hyde Parker’s appointment as Commander-in-chief, he was no more -pleased than when Keith had returned to his former station in the -previous year, but he wisely smothered his disappointment. His “sole -object,” he informs Lord St Vincent, “and to which all my exertions and -abilities tend, is to bring this long war to an honourable termination; -to accomplish which, we must all pull in the collar, and, as we have -got such a driver who will make the lazy ones pull as much as the -willing, I doubt not but we shall get safely, speedily, and honourably -to our journey’s end.” This is Nelson at his best, the Nelson who -could sacrifice himself for King and Country. It was not until the -17th February that he received definite instructions to “put himself -under the command” of Parker. Shortly afterwards he changed his ship -for the _St George_ (98). “The _St George_ will stamp an additional -ray of glory to England’s fame, if Nelson survives;” he writes to Lady -Hamilton, “and that Almighty Providence, who has hitherto protected -me in all dangers, and covered my head in the day of battle, will -still, if it be his pleasure, support and assist me.” To his old friend -Berry he says, “I hope we shall be able as usual to get so close to -our Enemies that our shot cannot miss their object, and that we shall -again give our Northern Enemies that hail-storm of bullets which is so -emphatically described in the ‘Naval Chronicle,’ and which gives our -dear Country the Dominion of the Seas. We have it, and all the Devils -in Hell cannot take it from us, if our Wooden walls have fair play.” -As this letter was penned on the 9th March, before the armament left -Yarmouth, it is clear that the Admiral did not set much store by the -proposed negotiations, for which purpose Mr Vansittart,[53] reputed to -be a skilful diplomatist, sailed with the fleet when it weighed anchor -three days later. - -The first general rendezvous was the Skaw, which was made on the 19th. -A period of heavy weather--bad winds, sleet, snow, frost, and rain--had -set in. Believers in omens not unnaturally predicted the ill-success of -the expedition, which was intensified by the loss of the _Invincible_ -(74) with some 400 souls. She struck a sandbank, floated off into deep -water, and then went down. Nelson’s own ship was not in the best of -condition; she was both leaky and uncomfortable. However, a vessel -is but a means to an end, and so long as the _St George_ could float -and her men could fire a broadside Nelson was content. In his eager, -passionate way, the Admiral strongly disapproved of what he had been -able to ascertain of Parker’s plans: “honour may arise from them, good -cannot. I hear we are likely to anchor outside Cronenburg Castle, -instead of Copenhagen, which would give weight to our negotiation: a -Danish Minister would 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 Capital in ruins; but ‘out of sight out of -mind,’ is an old saying. The Dane should see our Flag waving every -moment he lifted up his head.” - -A council of war was held on the 23rd. On the following day Nelson -wrote a lengthy letter to the Commander-in-chief detailing his opinion -of what should be done, Vansittart’s latest report being to the effect -that the Danish Government was hostile “in the greatest possible -degree.” He urged that not a moment should be lost in attacking the -enemy. He brings all the persuasiveness of which he was capable to bear -on Parker. “Here you are,” he says, “with almost the safety, certainly -with the honour of England more intrusted to you, than ever yet fell -to the lot of any British Officer.” This is exaggerating somewhat, but -doubtless the writer felt deeply the urgency of the matter. “On your -decision depends,” he adds with nearer approach to truth, “whether -our Country shall be degraded in the eyes of Europe, or whether she -shall rear her head higher than ever: again do I repeat, never did our -Country depend so much on the success of any Fleet as on this.” He then -proceeds to sketch a plan of campaign, starting with the supposition -that the fleet enters by the Passage of the Sound. He allows for a -certain amount of damage “amongst our masts and yards” taking place -before Cronenburg is reached. There the ships and Crown Island are -attacked, “Ships crippled, and perhaps one or two lost.” This mode -Nelson calls “taking the bull by the horns,” and does not prevent the -ships from Revel, or the Swedish squadron, from joining their allies. -He therefore proposes passing Cronenburg, “taking the risk of damage,” -to “pass up the deepest and straightest Channel above the Middle -Grounds; and coming down the Garbar or King’s Channel, to attack their -Floating batteries, &c., &c., as we find it convenient. It must have -the effect of preventing a junction between the Russians, Swedes, and -Danes, and may give us an opportunity of bombarding Copenhagen.” He -also suggests a passage to the northward of Southolm. An alternative -mode of attack is by the passage of the Belt, an attack on Draco, thus -preventing the junction of the Russians, and “with every probability of -success against the Danish Floating batteries.” His concluding words -are in the true Nelson spirit: “Supposing us through the Belt with -the wind first westerly, would it not be possible to either go with -the Fleet, or detach ten Ships of three and two decks, with one Bomb -and two Fire-Ships, to Revel, to destroy the Russian Squadron at that -place? I do not see the great risk of such a detachment, and with the -remainder to attempt the business at Copenhagen. The measure may be -thought bold, but I am of opinion the boldest measures are the safest; -and our Country demands a most vigorous exertion of her force, directed -with judgment.” Nelson concludes with the assurance that “no exertion -of head or heart” shall be wanting on his part. - -The proposed terms were definitely refused by Denmark, but Nelson’s -“bold measure” of detaching part of the British fleet to attack the -Russian squadron at Revel while the other attacked the Capital did not -appeal to the unimaginative Parker. Copenhagen must first be overcome. -The pilots also assured the Commander-in-chief that the passage of the -Belt was the safest, which drew from Nelson the abrupt but thoroughly -characteristic reply, “Let it be by the Sound, by the Belt, or any how, -only lose not an hour!” Eventually the Sound was chosen. - -Having shifted his flag from the _St George_ to the _Elephant_ (74), -a more serviceable ship for the difficult passage, the British fleet, -in order of battle, slowly threaded its way through the shoals on the -30th March, Nelson commanding the van, Parker the centre, and Graves -the rear. The guns of Cronenburg Castle, dominating the Sound, blazed -away, as did those on the armed hulks with which the Danes had hoped -to defend the narrow channel, but the Swedish guns maintained a stolid -silence. The fleet then anchored a few miles below Copenhagen. Parker, -Nelson, and several other officers boarded a lugger to reconnoitre the -enemy’s defences. Various soundings were made to the accompaniment of -gun-firing, and it was found that the enemy had placed a formidable -flotilla, including two 70-gun ships, a frigate, and two dismasted -64-gun ships, in the front of the harbour and arsenal. The Trekroner -Battery had also been strengthened. A second council of war was held -on the 31st, some interesting particulars of which are furnished by -Colonel William Stewart, who was in command of some of the troops. -After some difficulties had been stated anent “the three Powers we -should either have to engage, in succession or united, in those seas,” -Stewart tells us that “Lord Nelson kept pacing the cabin, mortified -at everything that savoured either of alarm or irresolution. When the -above remark was applied to the Swedes, he sharply observed, ‘The more -numerous the better’; and when to the Russians, he repeatedly said, -‘So much the better, I wish they were twice as many, the easier the -victory, depend on it.’” - -“At the battle of Copenhagen,” writes Mr Ferguson, surgeon of the -_Elephant_, “I was amongst the companions of the hero. The attempt was -arduous in the extreme: no common mind would have dared to conceive it; -but it was suited to the exalted enterprise of Lord Nelson. As _his_ -was the invigorating spirit of the council that planned the attack, so -in the execution _he_ only could have commanded success. During the -interval that preceded the battle, I could only silently admire when -I saw the first man in all the world spend the hours of the day and -night in boats, amid floating ice, and in the severest weather; and -wonder when the light shewed me a path marked by buoys, which had been -trackless the preceding evening. - -“On the first day of April, in the afternoon, we took our departure -with twelve sail-of-the-line, and a proportionate number of smaller -vessels, from the main body of the fleet, then lying about four miles -below Copenhagen; and coasted along the outer edge of the shoal called -the middle ground, until we doubled its farthest extremities, when the -fleet cast anchor. This shoal, of the same extent as the sea front of -the town, lies exactly before it, at about three-quarters of a mile in -distance; the interval between it and the shore had deep water, and is -called the King’s Channel. - -“In this channel the Danes had arranged their defence, as near the town -as possible. It consisted of nineteen ships and floating batteries, -flanked at the town’s extremity by two artificial islands at the mouth -of the harbour, called the Crown batteries, and extending for a mile -along the whole front of the town, leaving intervals for the batteries -on shore to play. - -“As our anchor dropped at eight in the evening, Nelson emphatically -called out, ‘I will fight them the moment I have a fair wind.’ He spent -the whole night in consultation. - -“About half-past nine a.m. of the 2nd of April, the signals of the -different ships having been made, repeated, and answered, we had the -mortification to see the _Agamemnon_ get upon the shoal on the first -attempt to leave her anchorage, where she remained immovable. A similar -misfortune followed in succession to the _Russell_ and _Polyphemus_; -and in addition to all this, the _Jamaica_ frigate, with a convoy of -gunboats and the small craft having fallen in with the counter current, -and being unable to stem it, made the signal of inability to proceed. A -mind less invincible than Nelson’s might have been discouraged: though -the battle had not commenced, yet he had approached the enemy; and he -felt that he could not retreat or wait for reinforcements, without -compromising the glory of his country. The signal to bear down was -still kept flying. His agitation during these moments was extreme; I -shall never forget the impression it made on me. It was not, however, -the agitation of indecision, but of ardent animated patriotism, panting -for glory, which had appeared within his reach, and was vanishing from -his grasp.” - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -The Battle of Copenhagen - -(1801) - - “_I have a right to be blind sometimes._” - - NELSON. - - -Admiral Mahan, the most scientific of biographical historians, assures -us that the fullest and most interesting account of the Battle of -Copenhagen is that of Colonel William Stewart, an eye-witness of the -thrilling scene and “a very fine gallant man” according to Nelson. -The following particulars are therefore extracted from his graphic -narrative: - -“The Action began at five minutes past ten. In about half an hour -afterwards, the first half of our Fleet was engaged, and before -half-past eleven, the Battle became general. The _Elephant’s_ station -was in the centre, opposite to the Danish Commodore.... The judgment -with which each Ship calculated her station in that intricate Channel, -was admirable throughout. The failure of the three Ships that were -aground, and whose force was to have been opposed to the Trekroner -battery, left this day, as glorious for seamanship as for courage, -incomplete.... The gallant Riou, perceiving the blank in the original -plan for the attack of the Crown Battery, proceeded down the Line with -his Squadron of Frigates, and attempted, but in vain, to fulfil the -duty of the absent Ships of the Line. His force was unequal to it; and -the general signal of recall, which was made about mid-action by the -Commander-in-Chief, had the good effect of, at least, saving Riou’s -Squadron from destruction. - -“About one P.M., few if any of the Enemy’s heavy Ships and Praams had -ceased to fire. The _Isis_ had greatly suffered by the superior weight -of the _Provestein’s_ fire; and if it had not been for the judicious -diversion of it by the _Desirée_, Captain Inman, who raked her, and -for other assistance from the _Polyphemus_, the _Isis_ would have been -destroyed. Both the _Isis_ and _Bellona_ had received serious injury by -the bursting of some of their guns. The _Monarch_ was also suffering -severely under the united fire of the _Holstein_ and _Zealand_; and -only two of our Bomb-vessels could get to their station on the Middle -Ground, and open their mortars on the Arsenal, directing their shells -over both Fleets. Our Squadron of Gun-brigs, impeded by currents, -could not, with the exception of one, although commanded by Captain -Rose in the _Jamaica_, weather the eastern end of the Middle Ground, -or come into Action. The Division of the Commander-in-chief acted -according to the preconcerted plan; but could only menace the entrance -of the Harbour. The _Elephant_ was warmly engaged by the _Dannebrog_, -and by two heavy Praams on her bow and quarter. Signals of distress -were on board the _Bellona_ and _Russell_, and of inability from the -_Agamemnon_. The contest, in general, although from the relaxed state -of the Enemy’s fire, it might not have given much room for apprehension -as to the result, had certainly, at one P.M., not declared itself in -favour of either side. About this juncture, and in this posture of -affairs, the signal was thrown out on board the _London_,[54] for the -Action to cease. - -[Illustration: “I really do not see the signal” - -Stephen Reid] - -“Lord Nelson was at this time, as he had been during the whole Action, -walking the starboard side of the quarter-deck; sometimes much -animated, and at others heroically fine in his observations. A shot -through the mainmast knocked a few splinters about us. He observed to -me, with a smile, ‘It is warm work, and this day may be the last -to any of us at a moment’; and then stopping short at the gangway, he -used an expression never to be erased from my memory, and said with -emotion, ‘but mark you, I would not be elsewhere for thousands.’ When -the signal, No. 39, [to discontinue the engagement], was made, the -Signal Lieutenant reported it to him. He continued his walk, and did -not appear to take notice of it. The Lieutenant meeting his Lordship -at the next turn asked, ‘whether he should repeat it?’ Lord Nelson -answered, ‘No, acknowledge it.’ On the Officer returning to the poop, -his Lordship called after him, ‘Is No. 16 [for close action] still -hoisted?’ the Lieutenant answering in the affirmative, Lord Nelson -said, ‘Mind you keep it so.’ He now walked the deck considerably -agitated, which was always known by his moving the stump of his right -arm. After a turn or two, he said to me, in a quick manner, ‘Do you -know what’s shown on board of the Commander-in-chief, No. 39?’ On -asking him what that meant, he answered, ‘Why, to leave off Action.’ -‘Leave off Action!’ he repeated, and then added, with a shrug, ‘Now, ----- me if I do.’ He also observed, I believe, to Captain Foley, -‘You know, Foley, I have only one eye--I have a right to be blind -sometimes’; and then with an archness peculiar to his character, -putting the glass to his blind eye, he exclaimed, ‘I really do not -see the signal.’[55] This remarkable signal was, therefore, only -acknowledged on board the _Elephant_, not repeated. Admiral Graves did -the latter, not being able to distinguish the _Elephant’s_ conduct: -either by a fortunate accident, or intentionally, No. 16 was not -displaced. The Squadron of Frigates obeyed the signal, and hauled -off. That brave Officer, Captain Riou, was killed by a raking shot, -when the _Amazon_ showed her stern to the Trekroner. He was sitting -on a gun, was encouraging his men, and had been wounded in the head -by a splinter. He had expressed himself grieved at being thus obliged -to retreat, and nobly observed, ‘What will Nelson think of us?’ His -Clerk was killed by his side; and by another shot, several of the -Marines, while hauling on the main-brace, shared the same fate. Riou -then exclaimed, ‘Come then, my boys, let us die all together!’ The -words were scarcely uttered, when the fatal shot severed him in two. -Thus, and in an instant, was the British service deprived of one of -its greatest ornaments, and society of a character of singular worth, -resembling the heroes of romance. - -“The Action now continued with unabated vigour. About two P.M., the -greater part of the Danish Line had ceased to fire: some of the -lighter Ships were adrift, and the carnage on board of the Enemy, -who reinforced their crews from the Shore, was dreadful. The taking -possession of such Ships as had struck, was, however, attended with -difficulty; partly by reason of the batteries on Amak Island protecting -them, and partly because an irregular fire was made on our Boats, as -they approached, from the Ships themselves. The _Dannebrog_ acted -in this manner, and fired at our boat, although that Ship was not -only on fire and had struck, but the Commodore, Fischer, had removed -his Pendant, and had deserted her. A renewed attack on her by the -_Elephant_ and _Glatton_, for a quarter of an hour, not only completely -silenced and disabled the _Dannebrog_, but, by the use of grape, -nearly killed every man who was in the Praams, ahead and astern of -that unfortunate Ship. On our smoke clearing away, the _Dannebrog_ -was found to be drifting in flames before the wind, spreading terror -throughout the Enemy’s Line. The usual lamentable scene then ensued; -and our Boats rowed in every direction, to save the crew, who were -throwing themselves from her at every port-hole; few, however, were -left unwounded in her after our last broadsides, or could be saved. -She drifted to leeward, and about half-past three blew up. The time -of half-past two, brings me to a most important part of Lord Nelson’s -conduct on this day, and about which so much discussion has arisen: -his sending a Flag of Truce on shore. To the best of my recollection, -the facts were as follow. After the _Dannebrog_ was adrift, and had -ceased to fire, the Action was found to be over, along the whole of -the Line astern of us; but not so with the Ships ahead and with the -Crown batteries. Whether from ignorance of the custom of war, or from -confusion on board the Prizes, our Boats were, as before mentioned, -repulsed from the Ships themselves, or fired at from Amak Island. Lord -Nelson naturally lost temper at this, and observed, ‘That he must -either send on shore, and stop this irregular proceeding, or send -in our Fire-ships and burn them.’ He accordingly retired into the -stern gallery, and wrote, with great dispatch, that well-known Letter -addressed to the Crown Prince,[56] with the address, ‘To the Brothers -of Englishmen, the brave Danes, &c.’:[57] and this Letter was conveyed -on shore through the contending Fleets by Captain Sir Frederick -Thesiger, who acted as his Lordship’s Aid-de-camp; and found the Prince -near the Sally-port, animating his people in a spirited manner. - -“Whether we were actually firing at that time in the _Elephant_ or -not, I am unable to recollect; it could only have been partially, at -such of the farther Ships as had not struck. The three Ships ahead -of us were, however, engaged; and from the superiority of the force -opposed to them, it was by no means improbable that Lord Nelson’s -observing eye pointed out to him the expediency of a prudent conduct. -Whether this suggested to him the policy of a Flag of Truce or not, two -solid reasons were apparent, and were such as to justify the measure: -viz., the necessity of stopping the irregular fire from the Ships which -had surrendered--and the singular opportunity that was thus given, of -sounding the feelings of an Enemy, who had reluctantly entered into -the war, and who must feel the generosity of the first offer of amity -coming from a conquering foe. If there were a third reason for the -conduct of the noble Admiral, and some of his own Officers assert this, -it was unnecessary that it should have been expressed; it was certainly -not avowed, and will for ever remain a matter of conjecture.[58] -While the Boat was absent, the animated fire of the Ships ahead of -us, and the approach of two of the Commander-in-chief’s division, -the _Ramilies_ and _Defence_, caused the remainder of the Enemy’s -Line to the eastward of the Trekroner to strike: that formidable Work -continued its fire, but fortunately at too long a range to do serious -damage to any one except the _Monarch_, whose loss in men, this day, -exceeded that of any Line-of-Battle Ship during the war. From the -uninjured state of this Outwork, which had been manned at the close of -the Action with nearly 1500 men, it was deemed impracticable to carry -into execution the projected plan for storming it; the Boats for this -service had been on the starboard side of each Ship during the Action. -The firing from the Crown Battery and from our leading Ships did not -cease until past three o’clock, when the Danish Adjutant-General, -Lindholm, returning with a Flag of Truce, directed the fire of the -battery to be suspended. The signal for doing the same, on our part, -was then made from our Ship to those engaged. The Action closed after -five hours’ duration, four of which were warmly contested. - -“The answer from the Prince Regent was to inquire more minutely into -the purport of the message. I should here observe, that previous to -the Boat’s getting on board, Lord Nelson had taken the opinion of his -valuable friends, Fremantle and Foley, the former of whom had been -sent for from the _Ganges_, as to the practicability of advancing with -the Ships which were least damaged, upon that part of the Danish Line -of Defence yet uninjured. Their opinions were averse from it; and, -on the other hand, decided in favour of removing our Fleet, whilst -the wind yet held fair, from their present intricate Channel. Lord -Nelson was now prepared how to act when Mr Lindholm came on board, and -the following answer was returned to the Crown Prince by Captain Sir -Frederick Thesiger: ‘Lord Nelson’s object in sending the Flag of Truce -was humanity’; etc.[59] His Lordship, having finished this letter, -referred the Adjutant-General to the Commander-in-chief, who was at -anchor at least four miles off, for a conference on the important -points which the latter portion of the message had alluded to; and to -this General Lindholm did not object, but proceeded to the _London_. -Lord Nelson wisely foresaw, that, exclusive of the valuable opportunity -that now offered itself for a renewal of Peace, time would be gained -by this long row out to sea, for our leading Ships, which were much -crippled, to clear the shoals, and whose course was under the immediate -fire of the Trekroner. The Adjutant-General was no sooner gone to the -_London_, and Captain Thesiger despatched on shore than the signal -was made for the _Glatton_, _Elephant_, _Ganges_, _Defiance_, and -_Monarch_, to weigh in succession. The intricacy of the Channel now -showed the great utility of what had been done; the _Monarch_, as -first Ship, immediately hit on a shoal, but was pushed over it by the -_Ganges_ taking her amid-ships. The _Glatton_ went clear, but the -_Defiance_ and _Elephant_ ran aground, leaving the Crown Battery at -a mile distance; and there they remained fixed, the former until ten -o’clock that night, and the latter until night, notwithstanding every -exertion which their fatigued crews could make to relieve them. Had -there been no cessation of hostilities, their situation would certainly -have been perilous; but it should be observed, on the other hand, that -measures would in that case have been adopted, and they were within our -power, for destroying this formidable Work. - -“The _Elephant_ being aground, Lord Nelson followed the -Adjutant-General, about four o’clock, to the _London_, where that -negotiation first began, which terminated in an honourable Peace. -He was low in spirits at the surrounding scene of devastation, and -particularly felt for the blowing up of the _Dannebrog_. ‘Well!’ he -exclaimed, ‘I have fought contrary to orders, and I shall perhaps be -hanged: never mind, let them.’ Lindholm returned to Copenhagen the same -evening, when it was agreed that all Prizes should be surrendered, and -the suspension of hostilities continue for twenty-four hours; the whole -of the Danish wounded were to be received on shore. Lord Nelson then -repaired on board the _St George_, and the night was actively passed -by the Boats of the Division which had not been engaged, in getting -afloat the Ships that were ashore, and in bringing out the Prizes. The -_Desirée_ frigate, towards the close of the Action, going to the aid of -the _Bellona_, became fast on the same shoal; but neither these Ships, -nor the _Russell_, were in any danger from the Enemy’s batteries, as -the world has frequently since been led to suppose.” - -In sending a copy of Nelson’s Report to the Admiralty, Sir Hyde Parker -paid a worthy tribute to the conduct of his second-in-command and of -his “entire acquiescence and testimony of the bravery and intrepidity -with which the Action was supported throughout the Line. Was it -possible,” he continues, “for me to add anything to the well-earned -renown of Lord Nelson, it would be by asserting, that his exertions, -great as they have heretofore been, never were carried to a higher -pitch of zeal for his Country’s service. - -“I have only to lament that the sort of attack, confined within an -intricate and narrow passage, excluded the Ships particularly under my -command from the opportunity of exhibiting their valour; but I can with -great truth assert, that the same spirit and zeal animated the whole of -the Fleet; and I trust that the contest in which we were engaged, will -on some future day afford them an occasion of showing that the whole -were inspired with the same spirit, had the field been sufficiently -extensive to have brought it into action.” - -Sentiments so ably expressed are delightful reading. Nelson, if less -dignified in his language, never failed to show his warm appreciation -of those who worked under him. Caring little for literary form, he -invariably blurted out the naked truth. His despatches were marked -by the same forcible characteristics exhibited in his conduct when -engaging the enemy. “The spirit and zeal of the Navy,” he tells a -correspondent who had congratulated him on the victory, “I never saw -higher than in this Fleet, and if England is true to herself, she may -bid defiance to Europe. The French have always, in ridicule, called us -a Nation of shopkeepers--_so_, I hope, we shall always remain, and, -like other shopkeepers, if our goods are better than those of any other -Country, and we can afford to sell them cheaper, we must depend on our -shop being well resorted to.” - -An armistice for a term of fourteen weeks was agreed upon on the 9th -April 1801. This period would allow Nelson to settle with the Russian -fleet and return to Copenhagen, as he himself bluntly admitted during -the negotiations. Unused to such “straight talk” in diplomatic -overtures, one of the Danish Commissioners began to speak of a renewal -of hostilities. It merely added fuel to Nelson’s fire, and drew from -him the comment, made to one of his friends who was standing near, -“Renew hostilities! Tell him we are ready at a moment; ready to bombard -this very night.” The remark was quite sufficient to silence the man -who talked thus lightly of war. - -An opportunity to teach the Russians a lesson did not come in Nelson’s -way. Scarcely more than a week passed from the time the signatures -had dried on the parchment when to Parker was sent news of the murder -of Paul I. With the death of the monarch Russian policy underwent a -complete change so far as Great Britain was concerned. The castles in -the air for the overthrow of the British rule in India, which the Czar -and Napoleon had hoped to place on solid foundations, melted away as -mist before the sun. Paul’s successor, Alexander I., knowing full well -the enormous importance of the British market for Russian goods, lost -no time in coming to terms with England. Shortly afterwards Sweden, -Denmark, and Prussia followed his example. The much-boasted Maritime -Confederacy was quietly relegated to the limbo of defeated schemes for -the downfall of the great Sea Power. - -Meanwhile Sir Hyde Parker had been recalled from the Baltic, and had -placed his command in the hands of Nelson on the 5th May. The latter -proceeded from Kiöge Bay, his station since the birth of amicable -arrangements with the Danes, to Revel, where he hoped to meet the -Russian squadron he had been so anxious to annihilate before the battle -of Copenhagen. - -“My object was to get to Revel before the frost broke up at Cronstadt, -that the twelve Sail of the Line might be destroyed,” he writes to -Addington, Pitt’s successor as Prime Minister, on the 5th May. “I shall -now go there as a friend, but the two Fleets shall not form a junction, -if not already accomplished, unless my orders permit it.” “My little -trip into the Gulf of Finland,” he tells Lord St Vincent, “will be, I -trust, of National benefit, and I shall be kind or otherwise, as I find -the folks.” Revel harbour was bare when he entered it, the squadron -having sailed for Cronstadt a few days before. However, on the 17th -May, he was able to inform Vansittart, “I left Revel this morning -where everybody has been kind to us.” He eventually returned to Kiöge -Bay, where he remained until he was relieved at his own request owing -to ill-health. “I have been even at _Death’s_ door, apparently in a -consumption,” he tells Ball, probably with a touch of exaggeration. -On the 19th June he set sail in a brig for home, arriving at Yarmouth -on the first day of the following month. His last act before he -quitted the fleet was to congratulate the men on the work they had -accomplished; his first act when he stepped on shore was to visit the -hospitals to which the wounded had been conveyed after the battle of -Copenhagen. As for his own reward, the King had seen fit to create him -Viscount Nelson of the Nile and Burnham Thorpe. - - “_Let us think of them that sleep - Full many a fathom deep - By thy wild and stormy deep - Elsinore!_” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -The Threatened Invasion of England - -(1801) - - “_Our Country looks to its Sea defence, and let it not be - disappointed._” - - NELSON. - - -However much Nelson may have appreciated the visits to London, Box -Hill, and Staines, which he now made in the company of Sir William and -Lady Hamilton, it was soon evident that his stay on shore would be -short. No home ties were severed when he was appointed to a special -service on the 24th July 1801, for he had finally separated from his -wife six months before. It was a mistaken match in every way. Although -it is often said that people of opposite temperaments make the best -partners in marriage, it certainly was not so in the case of Nelson and -Mrs Nisbet. Some of the reasons for the unhappiness of both have been -given in a previous chapter, the prime cause was Lady Hamilton, for -whom Nelson continued to entertain a mad infatuation until the day he -died. Quite naturally and legitimately Lady Nelson resented the conduct -of her husband. Any woman would have done the same. Angry words were -spoken on both sides, leading to the final and irrevocable breach, -but it is characteristic of Nelson’s generous nature that on their -last interview he said: “I call God to witness there is nothing in -you or your conduct I wish otherwise.” He was no less generous in the -allowance which he made to her. - -For some months Napoleon had been intent on the building of a -flotilla for the invasion of England. All manner of wild rumours -had spread throughout the country as to the imminent peril of the -United Kingdom, but we now know that the First Consul’s scheme was -comparatively insignificant when compared to his enormous ship-building -programme of 1803-5 for the same purpose.[60] Indeed, a month before -Lord St Vincent, then First Lord of the Admiralty, communicated to -Admiral Lutwidge, the Commander-in-chief in the Downs, that his -command would be impinged upon to some extent by Nelson’s new post, -and that the enemy’s preparations were “beginning to wear a very -serious appearance,” Napoleon had already postponed his plan. This is -made abundantly clear by the First Consul’s order of the 23rd June -to Augereau, in command of the Army of Batavia: “You will receive -instructions for the formation at Flushing of five divisions of -gunboats, which, added to the sixteen divisions in Channel ports, will -impose on England.” Napoleon perfectly understood that the moment for -“leaping the ditch” had not yet arrived. Of the Navy proper at the -beginning of 1801 Great Britain had no fewer than 127 sail-of-the-line -in commission; France had forty-nine, many in an almost unseaworthy -condition. The Admiralty was not to know of the letter to Augereau or -of the exact state of the French marine. Boulogne, Calais, and Dunkirk, -the ports of concentration, sheltered some 150 boats of various -descriptions for the purpose of the projected expedition, and England -could afford to run no risks. - -Nelson’s command extended from Orfordness, in Suffolk, to Beachy -Head, in Sussex. The specific purpose of his squadron was to defend -the mouths of the Thames and Medway, and of the coasts of Sussex, -Kent, and Essex. He speedily grasped the situation, and surmising -that London _ought_ to be the enemy’s object, informed the Admiralty -that not only should “A great number of Deal and Dover Boats” be -available off Boulogne to “give notice of the direction taken by the -enemy,” but that gunboats and flat boats should be kept near Margate -and Ramsgate, between Orfordness and the North Foreland, and in -Hollesley Bay, these to be aided by floating batteries. “If it is calm -when the Enemy row out, all our Vessels and Boats appointed to watch -them, must get into the Channel, and meet them as soon as possible: -if not strong enough for the attack, they must watch, and keep them -company till a favourable opportunity offers. If a breeze springs up,” -he goes on, “our Ships are to deal _destruction_; no delicacy can be -observed on this great occasion. But should it remain calm, and our -Flotilla not fancy itself strong enough to attack the Enemy on their -passage, the moment that they begin to touch our shore, strong or weak, -our Flotilla of Boats must attack as much of the Enemy’s Flotilla as -they are able--say only one half or two-thirds; it will create a most -powerful diversion, for the bows of our Flotilla will be opposed to -their unarmed sterns, and the courage of Britons will never, I believe, -allow one Frenchman to leave the Beach.” When the enemy comes in sight -the various divisions of the flotilla “are to unite, but not intermix.” -“_Never fear the event._” These notions, embodied in a lengthy -Memorandum to the Admiralty, are remarkable because Nelson prophesies -“a powerful diversion by the sailing of the Combined Fleet,” a plan -developed by Napoleon in the later phase of his gigantic preparations -for the invasion of our country. Whatever may have been in his mind in -1801 regarding this scheme he certainly did not confide to any of his -admirals or military commanders. - -Nelson hoisted his flag on the _Unité_ frigate at Sheerness on the 27th -July. Additional evidence of the humorous turn of his mind is afforded -in a note bearing the same date addressed to Lady Hamilton. “To-day,” -he writes, “I dined with Admiral Græme, who has also lost his right -arm, and as the Commander of the Troops has lost his leg, I expect -we shall be caricatured as the _lame_ defenders of England.” Most -people who have the misfortune to lose a limb are inclined to resent -any reference to the fact on the part of another and to rigidly ignore -the misfortune in their own remarks, but Nelson rather gloried in his -dismembered state than otherwise. It was visible proof of his service -to his country. - -Lord St Vincent did not altogether agree with Nelson’s plans. In his -opinion, “Our great reliance is on the vigilance and activity of our -cruisers at sea.” When Nelson urged upon the Sea Fencibles[61] to man -the coast-defence vessels he was speedily disillusioned. Of the 2600 -men enrolled on that part of the coast under his jurisdiction only -385 offered themselves for active service. However, he determined -to do his best with the raw material at hand, and went so far as to -tell the First Lord of the Admiralty that: “Our force will, by your -great exertions, soon get so formidable, that the Enemy will hardly -venture out.” A week after he had assumed command, he says: “It is -perfectly right to be prepared against a mad Government; but with the -active force your Lordship has given me, I may pronounce it almost -impracticable.” - -On the 2nd August Nelson was off the coast of France, “looking at -Boulogne,” and observed the soldiers erecting guns and mortars “as if -fearful of an attack.” Forty-eight hours later a number of bomb-vessels -were anchored abreast of the port, and the shipping was fired on -without much loss on either side, although several French gunboats were -destroyed. He himself admitted: “The whole of this business is of no -further moment than to show the Enemy, that, with impunity, they cannot -come outside their Ports. I see nothing but a desire on the part of -our Officers and men to get at them.” A vast crowd of people collected -on the cliffs at Dover and watched the spectacle. The _Moniteur_, the -official organ of the French Government, reported the occurrence as -follows: - -“At dawn Nelson with thirty vessels of all sizes appeared before -Boulogne. A division of our flotilla was at anchor slightly in front -of the harbour. Their bomb-ketches opened fire and ours returned it. -Several times the enemy’s line tried to advance and our soldiers asked -to be allowed to board, but the flotilla’s fire prevented the forward -movement and ultimately compelled the enemy to retire. Nine hundred -bombs were fired during the day without killing or wounding any one. -Two gun-sloops were slightly damaged but returned to service without -loss of time.... This is the first fight in sight of _both_ shores.” -Nelson reported that three of the flat-bottom boats and a brig were -sunk, and that six went on shore “evidently much damaged,” of which -five were eventually salved. A captain of the Royal Artillery and three -British seamen were wounded. - -Having had the opportunity to see the preparations of the enemy Nelson -was inclined to believe that Napoleon really meant business. “There can -be no doubt of the intention of the French to attempt the Invasion of -our Country,” he tells four of the captains under his command. “I have -now more than ever reason to believe,” he confides to Lord St Vincent, -“that the Ports of Flushing and Flanders are much more likely places -to embark men from, than Calais, Boulogne, or Dieppe; for in Flanders -we cannot tell by our eyes what means they have collected for carrying -an Army.” “My Flotilla, I hope, will be finished by Wednesday,” he -writes to the worthy Sea Lord, under date of the 7th August, “and I -am vain enough to expect a great deal of mischief to the Enemy from -it. I am sure that the French are trying to get from Boulogne; yet the -least wind at W.N.W. and they are lost. I pronounce that no embarkation -can take place at Boulogne; whenever it comes forth, it will be from -Flanders, and what a forlorn undertaking! consider cross tides, etc., -etc. As for rowing, that is impossible.” This communication was shortly -followed by another: “We are so prepared at this moment, on the Enemy’s -Coasts, that I do not believe they could get three miles from their -own shore.” Again, “Our active force is perfect, and possesses so much -zeal, that I only wish to catch that Buonaparte on the water, either -with the _Amazon_ or _Medusa_; but himself he will never trust.” The -Admiral was far from enjoying his new post. He was “half sea-sick,” -and his one desire was “to get at a proper time clear of my present -command, in which I am sure of diminishing my little fortune, which -at this moment does not reach 10,000 _l._; and never had I an idea of -gaining money by accepting it.” It would be wrong to infer from this -isolated passage that Nelson was particularly fond of money. He was -not, and the present writer is convinced that whenever he grumbled -about financial matters he thought considerably more of justice than -lucre. He could not bear to think he was being “done.” In the present -instance it is clear that he found his command trivial and unprofitable -from a national point of view. Nelson was essentially the man for a -big theatre of action; if he did not actually despise a confined stage -he hated it as paltry and beneath him. He gloried in a battle, not in -a sham-fight; as he himself complained, “there is nothing to be done -on the great Scale.” He appeals pathetically to Lord St Vincent in the -letter from which the above extract is taken: “Do you still think of -sending me to the Mediterranean? If not, I am ready to go, for the spur -of the occasion, on the Expedition which is in embryo, but to return -the moment it is over, for I am afraid of my strength. I am always -ready, as far as I am able.” “As far as September 14th, I am at the -Admiralty’s disposal;” he tells Lady Hamilton, “but, if Mr Buonaparte -does not choose to send his miscreants before that time, my health will -not bear me through equinoctial gales.” The Admiral is just a little -uncertain as to the fate of Napoleon’s flotilla. “I do not believe -they could get three miles from their own shore,” he says on the 9th -August; on the 10th his “well-grounded hope” is that the enemy will be -“annihilated before they get ten miles from their own shores.” - -Nelson considered Flushing as his “grand object” of attack, but -hesitated to venture before consulting the Admiralty because “the -risk is so great of the loss of some Vessels.” It would be “a week’s -Expedition for 4000 or 5000 troops.” To aid his own arguments he -appeals to history: “To crush the Enemy at home was the favourite plan -of Lord Chatham, and I am sure you think it the wisest measure to -carry the war from our own doors.... I own, my dear Lord, that this -Boat warfare is not exactly congenial to my feelings, and I find I get -laughed at for my puny mode of attack. I shall be happy to lead the way -into Helvoet or Flushing, if Government will turn their thoughts to -it: whilst I serve, I will do it actively, and to the very best of my -abilities. I have all night had a fever, which is very little abated -this morning; my mind carries me beyond my strength, and will do me up; -but such is my nature. I have serious doubt whether I shall be able, -from my present feelings, to go to the Mediterranean; but I will do -what I can--I require nursing like a child. Pray God we may have peace, -and with honour, and then let us start fair with the rest of Europe.” -To other correspondents he says, “I am very much fagged”; “I am still -very unwell, and my head is swelled.” - -Notwithstanding the weighty arguments brought forward by Nelson to -support his projected attempt on Flushing, the Lords of the Admiralty -could not see their way to grant the requisite permission. Nelson was -so confident in his belief that he appealed to the Prime Minister. -“Lord St Vincent,” he writes, “tells me he hates Councils, so do I -between Military men; for if a man consults whether he is to fight, -when he has the power in his own hands, _it is certain that his -opinion is against fighting_; but that is not the case at present, and -I own I do want good council. Lord St Vincent is for keeping the Enemy -closely blockaded; but I see that they get along shore inside their -Sandbanks, and under their guns, which line the Coast of France. Lord -Hood is for keeping our Squadrons of Defence stationary on our own -shore, (except light Cutters, to give information of every movement of -the Enemy;) for the time is approaching when a gale of westerly wind -will disperse our light Squadrons.... When men of such good sense, -such great Sea Officers, differ so widely, is it not natural that I -should wish the mode of defence to be well arranged by the mature -considerations of men of judgment? I mean not to detract from my -judgment; even as it is, it is well known: but I boast of nothing but -my zeal; in that I will give way to no man upon earth.” - -On the night of the 15th August Nelson renewed his attempt on the -Boulogne flotilla. His plan of attack shows that he took elaborate -precautions to preclude the possibility of failure. La Touche Tréville, -in command at Boulogne, had also profited by his recent experience with -the British, and had fitted out additional bomb-ketches and placed -mortars on smacks for the purpose of defence. Nelson arranged that -four divisions of ships’ boats should be employed, each accompanied -by one or two flat boats armed with either an 8-inch howitzer or a -24-pound carronade. Two boats of each division were to be prepared for -cutting the enemy’s cable and sternfast and to be provided with stout -hook-ropes for the purpose of towing the prizes. “When any Boats have -taken one Vessel, the business is not to be considered as finished; -but a sufficient number being left to guard the Prize, the others are -immediately to pursue the object, by proceeding on to the next, and so -on, until the whole Flotilla be either taken, or totally annihilated; -for there must not be the smallest cessation until their destruction is -completely finished.” - -Pikes, cutlasses, tomahawks, axes, and all the paraphernalia of war -were to be placed on the boats. Fast-sailing cutters were to keep -close in shore so as to be ready to tow out any vessels which might be -captured. “The greatest silence is to be observed by all the people in -the Boats, and the oars to be muffled.” The watchword was “Nelson,” the -answer “Bronté.” - -The attack was a failure. The brave fellows found the vessels not only -full of soldiers but defended by sharp spikes of iron and netting -placed round the hulls in a similar manner to the torpedo netting of -modern naval warfare. It was said by the attacking party that the -French boats were secured to the shore by stout cables, a belief -entertained by Nelson, but La Touche Tréville indignantly denied the -accusation in his official report. The British seamen went into a -veritable halo of fire, the soldiers on the boats being assisted by -comrades stationed on the heights. It was an unequal contest in every -way, and when the second division of boats, under Captain Parker, -closed with the enemy, it is stated that the French commander plainly -said so. “You can do nothing here,” he shouted, “and it is only useless -shedding the blood of brave men to make the attempt.”[62] Parker’s -thigh was shattered while attempting to board the French Commodore’s -boat, another officer was shot through the leg, and the killed and -wounded were numbered at 172. Officially the French casualties were -returned at ten killed and thirty wounded, probably a low estimate. “No -person can be blamed for sending them to the attack but myself;” the -Commander-in-chief writes to Lord St Vincent, “I knew the difficulty -of the undertaking, therefore I ventured to ask your opinion.” He -attributed the failure to the divisions not having arrived “at the -same happy moment with Captain Parker.” “More determined, persevering -courage, I never witnessed.” “I long to pay them, for their tricks -t’other day,” he writes to Lady Hamilton, “the debt of a drubbing, -which, surely, I’ll pay: but _when, where, or how_, it is impossible, -your own good sense must tell you, for me or mortal man to say.” - -Nelson was deeply attached to Captain Parker, whom he calls “my -child, for I found him in distress.” His correspondence at this time -is replete with references to the condition of the patient. “Would I -could be useful,” he tells the doctor, “I would come on shore and nurse -him.” When the gallant officer died at Deal on the 28th September, -the Admiral begged that his friend’s hair might be cut off; “it shall -remain and be buried with me.” Again we see the wistful, woman-like -emotionalism of Nelson’s nature. He calls it “a happy release,” and -says in the same sentence, “but I cannot bring myself to say I am glad -he is gone; it would be a lie, for I am grieved almost to death.” When -“the cleverest and quickest man and the most zealous in the world” -was buried at Deal, Nelson attended the ceremony. It is recorded that -the man who could stare Death in the face without flinching, who was -“in perils oft” and enjoyed the experience, was visibly affected. -The Admiral’s grief was expressed in a practical way. Finding that -the deceased Captain had left his finances in a most unsatisfactory -condition he paid the creditors in full. - -The war with France had lasted eight weary years. Great Britain had -more than maintained her own on the sea; Napoleon had proved his -consummate skill in the manipulation of land forces. Overtures for -peace were mooted, then definitely made through M. Otto, a French -agent in London for the exchange of prisoners. The cessation of -hostilities became the topic of the hour. After innumerable delays the -preliminaries were signed in London on the 1st October 1801, to the joy -of the populace on both sides of the Channel. Nelson was not convinced -as to Napoleon’s _bonâ fides_. He loathed the French and took no pains -to disguise the fact. In writing to a friend a fortnight or so before -he received news of the event mentioned above, he admits, “I pray God -we may have Peace, when it can be had with honour; but I fear that the -scoundrel Buonaparte wants to humble us, as he has done the rest of -Europe--to degrade us in our own eyes, by making us give up all our -conquests, as proof of our sincerity for making a Peace, and then he -will condescend to treat with us.” The Admiral was not far wrong, as -subsequent events proved. In a letter dated the 14th September, two -days later than the one from which the above quotation is made, he -looks forward “with hope but will not be too sanguine. I yet hope the -negotiation is not broken entirely off, for we can never alter the -situation of France or the Continent, and ours will become a War of -defence; but I hope they will do for the best.” Three days after the -signature of the preliminaries of peace he warns the commanders of the -various squadrons that they are to be “very vigilant in watching the -Enemy, and, on no account to suffer them to put into the Channel, as -hostilities have not yet ceased.” Napoleon confirmed the treaty on the -5th October, the ratifications were exchanged on the 10th, - - “_And London, tho’ so ill repaid, - Illuminations grand display’d_,” - -as a poetaster sang in a contemporary periodical. Nelson referred to it -as “good news,” but received a note from Addington warning him that his -flag must be kept flying until the Definitive Treaty had been signed. - -[Illustration: Lord Nelson] - -When he heard that the mob had unharnessed the horses and drawn the -carriage of General Lauriston, Napoleon’s first _aide-de-camp_ who had -brought the document to London, the Admiral was furious. “Can you cure -madness?” he asks Dr Baird, “for I am mad to read that ... scoundrels -dragged a Frenchman’s carriage. I am ashamed for my Country.” On the -14th October he formally asked the Admiralty to give him permission -to go on shore. He was then suffering from “a complaint in my stomach -and bowels,” probably caused by sea-sickness and cold. This request -was not immediately complied with, but towards the end of the month -he was released, and wrote to Lady Hamilton, “I believe I leave this -little Squadron with sincere regret, and with the good wishes of every -creature in it.” One wonders whether there could be a more restless -nature than Nelson’s, which made him yearn for the land when at sea, -and for the sea when on land. - -He retired to Merton Place, a little estate in Surrey and “exactly one -hour’s drive from Hyde Park.” This had been purchased on his behalf by -Lady Hamilton, who took up her quarters there with her husband. The -first mention of it in Nelson’s “Dispatches and Letters,” as edited by -Sir Harris Nicolas, is in a note to his friend Alexander Davison of -Morpeth, on the last day of August 1801. “So far from making money, -I am spending the little I have,” he tells him. “I am after buying -a little Farm at Merton--the price £9000; I hope to be able to get -through it. If I cannot, after all my labours for the Country, get such -a place as this, I am resolved to give it all up, and retire for life.” -In thanking Mr Davison for his offer of assistance in purchasing “the -Farm,” Nelson goes a little deeper into the question of his personal -expenditure. It will “take every farthing I have in the world,” and -leave him in debt. “The Baltic expedition cost me full £2000. Since -I left London it has cost me, for Nelson cannot be like others, near -£1000 in six weeks. If I am continued here (_i.e._ in the Downs) ruin -to my finances must be the consequence, for everybody knows that Lord -Nelson _is amazingly rich_!” - -The Admiral took his seat in the House of Lords as a Viscount on the -29th October, and made his maiden speech in the upper chamber on the -following day. Appropriately enough it was to second the motion “That -the Thanks of this House be given to Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, -K.B., for his gallant and distinguished conduct in the Action with the -Combined Fleet of the Enemy, off Algeziras, on the 12th and 13th of -July last.” The battle was fought with a French and Spanish squadron -in the Gut of Gibraltar, details of which were entered into by Nelson, -doubtless to the considerable enlightenment of the House. During the -following month he was also able to pay a similar tribute to Keith -and his officers for their services in Egypt. With characteristic -thoroughness he also remarked on the part the Army had played in the -defeat of Napoleon’s expedition. - -He was feasted and feted for his own splendid work, but he fell foul of -the Corporation of the City of London, because that body had seen fit -to withhold its thanks for the victory of Copenhagen, conduct which he -deemed “incomprehensible.” He certainly never forgave the Government -for refusing to grant medals for the same battle. Nelson brought up the -question before the authorities with pugnacious persistence, and some -of the officers renewed their application over a quarter of a century -later, but the Copenhagen medal still remains to be struck. “I am fixed -never to abandon the fair fame of my Companions in dangers,” he avers. -“I may offend and suffer; but I had rather suffer from that, than my -own feelings.” He fought for pensions and appointments for all manner -of officers and men, watched the list of vacancies and appealed that -they might be filled by those who deserved well of their country. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -The Vigil off Toulon - -(1803) - - “_I shall follow them to the Antipodes._” - - NELSON. - - -For over a year Nelson spent the greater part of his time at Merton -Place or at 23 Piccadilly, Sir William Hamilton’s town house. Any -monotony there may have been was relieved by a tour of beautiful Wales, -made in the months of July and August 1802, when Nelson’s spirits had -recovered somewhat from the news of his father’s death at Bath on the -26th of the previous April. The old clergyman’s distinguished son was -ill at the time and did not attend the last sad ceremony in the quiet -churchyard of Burnham Thorpe, where Nelson said he hoped his bones -would eventually be laid to rest, a wish never to be fulfilled. His -father, who called Merton “the Mansion of Peace,” had entertained the -idea of becoming “one of its inhabitants,” and rooms had been prepared -for him. “Sir William and myself are both old men, and we will witness -the hero’s felicity in retirement.” Such was his desire. - -On their journey to the Principality Nelson was presented with -the freedom of Oxford, and both Sir William and the Admiral had -the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws conferred upon them by the -University. A visit was also paid to Blenheim, the ancestral seat of -the Dukes of Marlborough. Gloucester, Ross, Monmouth, Brecon, Milford, -Haverfordwest, Swansea, Worcester, Birmingham, Warwick and other -provincial cities and towns each accorded its distinguished visitor a -most enthusiastic welcome. He afterwards drew up an elaborate report on -the Forest of Dean for Mr Addington’s inspection. Properly cultivated -it would, in Nelson’s opinion, “produce about 9200 loads of timber, -fit for building Ships-of-the-line, every year.” Collingwood, it may -be added, was also deeply interested in afforestation. During the rare -occasions he was on shore he would walk about his estate and stealthily -take an acorn from his pocket and drop it in the earth for later -service in his Majesty’s Navy. - -On his return to Surrey Nelson vegetated. “I am really so very little -in the world,” he tells Davison in October, “that I know little, if -anything, beyond [what] Newspaper reports say respecting our conduct -on the affairs of the Continent. It is true, I have seen Mr Addington -and Lord St Vincent several times; but our conversations were like -Swift’s and Lord Oxford’s. Yet it was not difficult to discover, that -_we_ felt our importance in the scale of Europe degraded, if Buonaparte -was allowed to act as he has lately done; and that it was necessary for -us to speak a dignified language.... By the meeting of Parliament many -things must come forth.” - -The Hamilton-Nelson family forsook Merton for Piccadilly at the -beginning of 1803, and there Sir William died on the 6th April, after -having been tenderly nursed by his wife and her more than intimate -friend. It is impossible to think that the Admiral had any heartfelt -sorrow when the former Ambassador breathed his last, but his emotional -nature led him to write the kindest things of the dead man. “The world -never, never lost a more upright and accomplished gentleman” is one of -his expressions at the event. - -The Truce of Amiens, for it was nothing more, was described by George -III. as “an experimental peace.” Neither side kept strictly to the -letter of the Treaty. Before the brilliant illuminations on both -sides of the Channel had been entirely forgotten statesmen began to -shake their heads and to prophecy the withdrawing of the sword from -the scabbard. Napoleon’s continued aggressions on the Continent, his -great colonial schemes, his restless activity in matters which did not -directly concern him, his threat to invade England showed how unreal -were his wishes for a settled understanding. Great Britain declared -war on the 16th May 1803, thus ending a peace which had lasted one -year and sixteen days. An embargo was immediately laid on French ships -and those of her allies in British ports or on the sea; Napoleon had -been forestalled, an unusual occurrence. He had admitted to Decaen, -who had been sent to India to sum up the political situation and -to ascertain the number of troops necessary for the subjugation of -England’s oriental Empire, that he anticipated war would not break out -before September 1804. He was annoyed, intensely annoyed, and ordered -the seizure of every Briton in France on the pretext that two merchant -vessels had been captured by English frigates before the declaration of -war. This was a gross misrepresentation of facts; the ships mentioned -were taken on the 18th May, the day Nelson hoisted his flag on the -_Victory_ at Portsmouth as Commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean. -Within forty-eight hours he was at sea. His was a tremendous programme, -and it is only possible to give an epitome of it here. He was to -proceed to Malta, where he would probably find Rear-Admiral Sir Richard -Bickerton and his squadron, which were to join him. After having made -arrangements with Sir Alexander Ball for the protection and security of -the island, Nelson was to take up such a position off Toulon as would -enable him to destroy the enemy’s vessels and to detain those belonging -to the allied Batavian Republic. Particular attention was to be paid -to the proceedings of the French at Genoa, Leghorn, and other ports of -western Italy, “for the purpose of gaining the most early information -of any armaments that may be formed there, either with a view to an -attack upon Egypt or any other port of the Turkish dominions, or -against the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, or the islands of Corfu.” -Should such a plan be in contemplation Nelson was to do his best to -counteract it, “as well as to afford to the Sublime Porte, and his -Sicilian Majesty and their subjects, any protection or assistance which -may be in your power, consistently with a due attention to the other -important objects entrusted to your care.” - -There were good reasons for watching the conduct of Spain, which -purported to be a neutral. The Admiral was therefore to watch for any -sign of naval preparations by that Power in the Mediterranean and at -Cadiz. No Spanish ships were to be allowed to form a junction with -those of France or Batavia. As certain French sail-of-the-line recently -employed in conveying troops to San Domingo might attempt to make for a -southern port, Nelson was to detach part of his squadron to intercept -them. - -We must now turn our attention for a moment to the other admirals who -watched the movements of the enemy’s squadrons, or guarded our shores. -Cornwallis was off Ushant, where he could mask the Brest fleet, Keith -was in the Downs, Lord Gardner was at Portsmouth, Admiral George -Montagu--shortly afterwards succeeded by Admiral Sir John Colpoys--was -at Plymouth. Squadrons were detached from these fleets to watch off -such important harbours as Ferrol and Rochefort, and also off the -coast of Holland. The British colonies were not neglected. “Floating -bulwarks” guarded them, for there was no knowing what deep-laid -manœuvres Napoleon might evolve when once his super-active brain was -bent on the problem of how to checkmate England on her own native -element. - -Meanwhile Nelson had reached Ushant and was searching for Cornwallis, -with whom he was to leave the _Victory_, should the former think an -additional sail-of-the-line necessary. As he did not find the Admiral -he left the ship, shifted his flag to the _Amphion_ frigate, called -at Malta, and joined the fleet off Toulon on the 8th July. “With -the casual absence of one or two ships, we shall be always seven -sail-of-the-line,” a none too formidable force to watch the “goings on” -in the great southern arsenal, but he stuck to it with grim tenacity -in fair weather and foul. He soon found that to all appearances from -seven to nine French battle-ships and a considerable number of frigates -and corvettes were sheltered in the harbour. Unfortunately Nelson’s -vessels were far from being in the best of condition; several of them -were scarcely water-tight. His correspondence teems with reference to -their bad state, as, for instance: “It is not a store-ship a week which -could keep them in repair”; they had “crazy masts”; “their hulls want -docking”; “I never saw a fleet altogether so well officered and manned. -Would to God the ships were half as good, but they are what we call -crazy”; “I do not believe that Lord St Vincent would have kept the sea -with such ships,” and so on. - -With the _personnel_ of the fleet Nelson had little fault to find, -although he had occasion to issue a General Memorandum respecting the -desertion of certain seamen or marines to the service of Spain. In his -eyes nothing could atone for such conduct: “A Briton to put himself -under the lash of a Frenchman or Spaniard must be more degrading to any -man of spirit than any punishment I could inflict on their bodies.” -With this exception all was well. While “miserably short of men,” he -was able to declare, towards the end of September 1803: “We are at -this moment the healthiest squadron I ever served in, for the fact is -we have no sick, and are all in good humour,” moreover they were “in -fine order to give the French a dressing.” Again: “The squadron has -health beyond what I have almost ever seen, except our going to the -Nile; and I hope, if the French will give us the opportunity, that -our beef and pudding will be as well applied.” No Admiral, before or -since, has ever paid more attention to the health and comfort of the -men who served under him. In the Memorandum to which we have just -referred he contrasts the “one shilling per day, and plenty of the -very best provisions, with every comfort that can be thought of,” -with the “twopence a day, black bread, horse-beans, and stinking oil” -allotted to those in the service of the enemy. Scurvy was rife when he -joined the fleet, but Nelson obtained onions and lemons, recognised -aids to the cure of the disorder, “and a sight of the French squadron -twenty leagues at sea will cure all our complaints.” Writing in August -to his friend Dr Baird he seeks to entertain the physician by relating -particulars of his treatment for scurvy. “I am now at work in Spain,” -he remarks, “and have procured some bullocks and a good supply of -onions--the latter we have found the greatest advantage from.” He -adds: “The health of our seamen is invaluable; and to purchase that, -no expense ought to be spared.” He even managed to secure cattle and -vegetables from France. The fleet was watered at the Madalena Islands. - -At the end of July the _Victory_, having been returned to the fleet -by Cornwallis, again became Nelson’s flagship. As to the ultimate -destination of the Toulon fleet Nelson was in doubt; that it was to -sail before long he felt convinced owing to the activity manifest in -the harbours. He rightly judged Napoleon’s character: “We know he -is not very scrupulous in the honourable means of accomplishing his -darling object.... My firm opinion is, that the Mediterranean will -again be an active scene; and if Ministers do not look out, I shall -have the Brest fleet to pay me a visit; for as the army can only be -moved by the protection of a superior fleet, that fleet they will try -to have, and a month’s start of us would do all the mischief.” At that -time (July) he believed that Napoleon would make an attempt on the -Morea, perhaps in concert with Russia, the downfall of the Turkish -Empire in Europe would follow, and “Candia and Egypt would, of course, -if this plan is followed, be given to the French, when, sooner or -later, farewell India!” Of the enormous flotilla which Napoleon was -building at Boulogne and elsewhere, Nelson thought little, if at all. -“What! he begins to find excuses!” he writes to Ball. “I thought he -would invade England in the face of the sun! Now he wants a three-days’ -fog, that never yet happened! and if it did, how are his craft to be -kept together? He will soon find more excuses or there will be an end -of Bonaparte, and may the devil take him!” He was more concerned, and -with reason, as to the whereabouts of the fleet returning from San -Domingo, which he thought would “come to the Mediterranean--perhaps, -first to Cadiz, to get the Spaniards to escort them. If so, I may have -two fleets to fight; but if I have the ships, the more the merrier.” -In August the Admiral tells Addington: “I am looking out for the -French squadron--perhaps you may think impatiently; but I have made up -my mind never to go into port till after the battle, if they make me -wait a year, provided the Admiralty change the ships, who cannot keep -the sea in the winter, except _Victory_, _Canopus_, _Donegal_, and -_Belleisle_.” The fitting out of an expedition at Marseilles led Nelson -to think that the invasion of Sardinia was contemplated. He therefore -detached the only two frigates he had with him at the moment to cruise -off Ajaccio to endeavour to intercept the enemy should they come that -way. “Of course they will say that we have broken the neutrality if -we attack them in the ports of Sardinia before their conquest, and if -we do not I shall be laughed at for a fool. Prevention is better than -cure.... My station to the westward of Toulon, an unusual one, has been -taken upon an idea that the French fleet is bound out of the Straits, -and probably to Ireland. It is said 10,000 men are collecting at -Toulon. I shall follow them to the Antipodes.” - -To Sir Richard Strachan he thus sums up the situation on the 26th -August: “The French fleet being perfectly ready for sea, seven of the -line, six frigates, and some corvettes--two sail-of-the-line are now -rigging in the arsenal--I think it more than probable that they are -bound to the westward, out of the Mediterranean. Therefore, as I am -determined to follow them, go where they may, I wish you, in case they -escape me, to send a frigate or sloop after them to find out their -route, giving her a station where I may find her, and keep yourself -either at the mouth of the Straits or off Europa Point, for I certainly -shall not anchor at Gibraltar.” In the middle of October he is still -as uncertain as ever as to the destination of the French. Some folk -favoured the Morea, others Egypt, “and they may be bound outside the -Mediterranean.” “Is it Ireland or the Levant?” he asks Ball in the -early days of dreary November. - -Think for one moment, as you sit reading this book in a comfortable -room or on a little hillock in the open country, of the ceaseless vigil -of Nelson as his weather-beaten vessels lay off Toulon. When a sea fog -obscured his quarry he was in a fever of anxiety. “It was thick for two -days,” he tells his brother William on one occasion, “and our frigates -could not look into Toulon; however, I was relieved, for the first time -in my life, by being informed the French were still in port.” Then -there was always the possibility that the Brest fleet might escape and -make its appearance at an awkward moment, and the likelihood of a visit -from the returning squadron from the West Indies. He early discerned -the outbreak of war with Spain. Pretending to be a neutral, that Power -most assuredly exhibited the most flagrant favouritism for France. We -have noted that Nelson anticipated the aid of the Dons to the French -in the matter of the ships from San Domingo, help that was readily -given when the vessels, evading Rear-admiral Campbell, stole into -Coruña. This, of course, necessitated a strict blockade of the port, -and Pellew was sent there instead of stationing himself off Rochefort -as had been originally intended. References to them are frequent in his -correspondence. Writing to the British Consul at Barcelona under date -of the 13th September Nelson claimed “every indulgence which is shown -to the ships of our enemies. The French squadron at Coruña are acting -almost as they please; the _Aigle_ French ship of war is not turned -out of Cadiz,[63] the French frigate _Revenge_ is permitted to go out -of that port, cruise, and return with prizes, and sell them. I will -not state that every Spanish port is a home for French privateers, for -this is well known; and I am informed that even at Barcelona English -vessels captured by the French have been sold there. You will acquaint -his Excellency [the Captain-general] that I claim for every British -ship, or squadron, the right of lying as long as I please in the ports -of Spain, whilst it is allowed to other powers; that I claim the rights -of hospitality and civility, and every other right which the harmony -subsisting between our sovereigns entitles us to.” This communication -was followed thirteen days later by a despatch to Strachan in which -Nelson is not only prophetic, but exhibits a cautious mood not usually -associated with “the Nelson whom Britons love.” In this respect he has -been much maligned. In battle his genius enabled him to see a little -ahead of more ordinary men, but he never overstepped the bounds of -prudence. “The occurrences which pass every day in Spain forebode, I -fancy, a speedy war with England; therefore it becomes proper for me -to put you upon your guard, and advise you how to act under particular -circumstances. By looking at the former line of conduct on the part of -Spain, which she followed just before the commencement of the last war, -we may naturally expect the same events to happen. The French Admiral -Richery was in Cadiz, blocked up by Admiral Man: on 22 August they -came to sea attended by the Spanish fleet, which saw the French safe -beyond St Vincent, and returned into Cadiz. Admiral Man very properly -did not choose to attack Admiral Richery under such an escort. This is -a prelude to what I must request your strict attention to; at the same -time, I am fully aware that you must be guided, in some measure, by -actual circumstances. - -“I think it very probable, even before Spain breaks with us, that -they may send a ship or two of the line to see _l’Aigle_ round Cape -St Vincent; and that if you attack her in their presence, they may -attack you; and giving them possession of the _Donegal_ would be more -than either you or I should wish, therefore I am certain it must be -very comfortable for you to know my sentiments. From what you hear -in Cadiz, you will judge how far you may venture yourself in company -with a Spanish squadron; but if you are of opinion that you may trust -yourself near them, keeping certainly out of gun-shot, send your boat -with a letter to the Spanish commodore, and desire to know whether he -means to defend the French ships; and get his answer in writing, and -have it as plain as possible. If it be ‘yes, that he will fire at you -if you attack the French under his protection,’ then, if you have force -enough, make your attack on the whole body, and take them all if you -can, for I should consider such an answer as a perfect declaration of -war. If you are too weak for such an attack, you must desist; but you -certainly are fully authorised to take the ships of Spain whenever -you meet them. Should the answer be ambiguous, you must then act as -your judgment may direct you, and I am sure that will be very proper. -Only recollect, that it would be much better to let the French ships -escape, than to run too great a risk of losing the _Donegal_, yourself, -and ship’s company.” To Addington he states that “The Spaniards are -now so very uncivil to our ships, that I suppose we shall not be much -longer friends.” To John Hookham Frere, _Chargé d’Affaires_ at Madrid, -he admits, “We have given up French vessels taken within gun-shot 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 whatever place the Spaniards allow the French to -attack us, in that place I shall order the French to be attacked. The -old order of 1771, now put in force against us, is infamous; and I -trust your Excellency will take proper steps that the present mode of -enforcing it be done away. It is gross partiality, and not neutrality.” - -There is a pathetic letter dated the 12th December 1803 in which -Nelson confides to his old friend Davison some of the perils which he -encountered daily. “My crazy fleet,” he writes, “are getting in a very -indifferent state, and others will soon follow. The finest ships in the -service will soon be destroyed. I know well enough that if I was to go -into Malta, I should save the ships during this bad season. But if I -am to watch the French, I must be at sea, and if at sea, must have bad -weather; and if the ships are not fit to stand bad weather, they are -useless.... But my time of service is nearly over. A natural anxiety, -of course, must attend my station; but, my dear friend, my eyesight -fails me most dreadfully. I firmly believe that, in a very few years, I -shall be stone-blind. It is this only, of all my maladies, that makes -me unhappy; but God’s will be done.” - -Nelson had taken up his station “to the westward of Sicie,” a -position enabling him “to prevent the junction of a Spanish fleet -from the westward,” and also “to take shelter in a few hours either -under the Hières Islands or Cape St Sebastian; and I have hitherto -found the advantage of the position. Now Spain, having settled her -neutrality”--he is writing on the 12th December to Lord St Vincent--“I -am taking my winter’s station under St Sebastian, to avoid the heavy -seas in the gulf, and keep frigates off Toulon. From September we have -experienced such a series of bad weather that is rarely met with, and -I am sorry to say that all the ships which have been from England in -the late war severely feel it.... I know no way of watching the enemy -but to be at sea, and therefore good ships are necessary.” On the same -day he informs a third correspondent that the enemy at Toulon “are -perfectly ready to put to sea, and they must soon come out, but who -shall [say] where they are bound? My opinion is, certainly out of the -Mediterranean.” - -“We have had a most terrible winter: it has almost knocked me up,” he -tells Elliot within a few days of the close of this anxious year. “I -have been very ill, and am now far from recovered, but I hope to hold -out till the battle is over, when I must recruit myself for some future -exertion.” - -An Indomitable Spirit this, the greatest sailor of all time! - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -Twelve weary Months in the Mediterranean - -(1804) - - “_My wish is to make a grand_ coup.” - - NELSON. - - -A new year had dawned. “The storm is brewing,” Nelson wrote, and he -thought Sardinia “one of the objects of its violence.” If that island -were captured or ceded to the enemy, “Sicily, Malta, Egypt, &c., &c., -is lost, sooner or later.” The Madalena Islands, to the north of -Sardinia, not only afforded the ships a safe anchorage but ensured -plenty of fresh water and provisions: “Sardinia is the most important -post in the Mediterranean. It covers Naples, Sicily, Malta, Egypt, -and all the Turkish dominions; it blockades Toulon; the wind which -would carry a French fleet to the westward is fair from Sardinia; and -Madalena is the most important station in this most important island. I -am told that the revenues, after paying the expenses of the island, do -not give the king 5000 _l._ sterling a year. If it is so, I would give -him 500,000 _l._ to cede it, which would give him 25,000 _l._ a year -for ever. This is only my conversation, and not to be noticed--but the -king cannot long hold Sardinia.” On the 11th February 1804 he assures -“my dear friend” Ball that “we are ... on the eve of great events; the -sooner they come the better.” Private letters led him to believe that -the squadrons at Brest and Ferrol were to form a junction with that at -Toulon. Should his surmise prove correct he inferred an invasion of -both the Morea and Egypt, a belief fostered by the wily Napoleon by -means of a camp under General St Cyr at Taranto, in the heel of Italy. - -Nelson communicated his notions to the Grand Vizier. “Your Highness,” -he adds, “knows them too well to put any confidence in what they say. -Bonaparte’s tongue is that of a serpent oiled. Nothing shall be wanting -on my part to frustrate the designs of this common disturber of the -human race.” - -He pens a little grumble to Dr Moseley in March, complaining that the -Mediterranean fleet seems “forgotten by the great folks at home,” but -adding with pardonable pride that although the vessels have been at sea -a week short of ten months, “not a ship has been refitted or recruited, -excepting what has been done at sea. You will readily believe that all -this must have shaken me. My sight is getting very bad, but _I_ must -not be sick until after the French fleet is taken.” He includes some -facts regarding his manifold interests as Commander-in-chief. He always -had good mutton for invalids, gave half the allowance of grog instead -of all wine in winter, changed the cruising ground so as not to allow -“the sameness of prospect to satiate the mind,” obtained onions, “the -best thing that can be given to seamen,” by sending a ship for them to -Corsica, and always had “plenty of fresh water.” In the stirring days -of the first decade of the nineteenth century a British Admiral was in -very truth “shepherd of his flock.” He thought for the men and their -officers, saw to their creature comforts, even provided amusement for -them. Moreover, he had to be a diplomatist, something of a soldier, -and a man of resource and reliance. The sailors of England alone -made invasion impossible and nullified the superhuman efforts of the -greatest soldier of recorded history to subjugate the Island Kingdom. -Unpreparedness is peculiarly characteristic of British policy. It -will not surprise students to be told at the beginning of 1804 there -were ten fewer sail-of-the-line than had been available before the -Peace of Amiens. Weight of brain has won more battles than weight of -metal, although it is safer and wiser to have a preponderating supply -of both. We shall see what a dearth of frigates, which are “the eyes of -a fleet,” to use Nelson’s apt expression, meant to the Admiral in the -prelude to the Trafalgar campaign. He was already complaining of their -absence. - -La Touche Tréville was now in command at Toulon. Nelson disliked the -man as sincerely as he loathed the nation whom he represented; he -could “never trust a Corsican or a Frenchman.” La Touche Tréville had -been commodore, it will be remembered, of the Boulogne flotilla when -Nelson had made his abortive attacks on it. These were lauded all over -France as “glorious contests.” Nelson was what is usually called, by -a strange misnomer, “a good hater.” Thus to duty was added a personal -rivalry that filled him with an ardent longing to “get even” with his -antagonist. - -Napoleon had now a sufficient number of small boats at Boulogne and -neighbouring ports for the conveyance of his 130,000 troops to England. -He had abandoned his original plan and was determined that the Navy -proper should play an important part in the perilous project. The -Toulon fleet, after releasing the French _l’Aigle_ at Cadiz, was to be -joined by five ships off Rochefort under Villeneuve, and then hasten -to Boulogne to convoy the flotilla. The rôle of the squadron at Brest -was to be passive, although reports were spread far and wide that the -ships there were to take an army to Ireland. This was done so that -Cornwallis, blockading that port, might not form a junction with the -squadron in the Downs for the purpose of opposing the crossing of the -vast armament from the northern seaport. If all these combinations were -successfully carried out Napoleon would have sixteen sail-of-the-line -ready for the master-stroke. Everything depended on whether the English -blockading squadrons off Toulon, Cadiz, Rochefort, and in the Downs -could be eluded. - -On the 8th April Nelson again wrote, “We are on the eve of -great events,” and proceeded to tell his correspondent that two -sail-of-the-line had “put their heads outside Toulon,” and a little -later “they all came out. We have had a gale of wind and calm since; -therefore I do not know whether they are returned to port or have kept -the sea. I have only to wish to get alongside of them with the present -fleet under my command; so highly officered and manned, the event ought -not to be doubted.” - -“If we go on playing out and in, we shall some day get at them,” he -tells Frere. - -Monsieur La Touche was merely exercising his ships; the time for the -grand coup was not yet come. Nelson’s opinion now was that the Brest -fleet and a squadron he does not name, but probably that at Rochefort, -were destined for the Mediterranean “either before or after they may -have thrown their cargo of troops on shore in Ireland. Egypt and the -Morea supposed to be their next object after their English and Irish -schemes.” On the 24th May the French made a further excursion, five -sail-of-the-line, three frigates, and several smaller vessels came -out of the harbour, which was being watched by a small squadron under -Rear-Admiral Campbell. Nelson did not believe in showing the whole of -his available resources to the enemy. By being out of sight he hoped -to entice the enemy to leave their safe anchorage: “My system is the -very contrary of blockading.” He was delighted that Campbell did not -allow the French to bring him to action with the small resources at -his disposal, which is another example of Nelson’s cautious methods. -He thanked the admiral by letter, and concluded by saying, “I have no -doubt but an opportunity will offer of giving them fair battle.” - -Nelson continued to complain of ill health. “A sort of rheumatic -fever,” “blood gushing up the left side of my head, and the moment it -covers the brain, I am fast asleep,” a “violent pain in my side, and -night-sweats”--this is his condition as he diagnosed it to Dr Baird -on the 30th May. A week later he is buoyant at the thought of battle: -“Some happy day I expect to see his (La Touche Tréville’s) eight sail, -which are in the outer road, come out; and if he will get abreast of -Porquerolle, I will try what stuff he is made of; therefore you see I -have no occasion to be fretful; on the contrary, I am full of hopes, -and command a fleet which never gives me an uneasy moment.” - -Eight French sail-of-the-line, accompanied by half a dozen frigates, -made an excursion on the 14th June, and Campbell was again chased. The -latter sailed towards the main fleet, but La Touche Tréville was by -no means anxious to try conclusions with his old enemy. After sailing -about four leagues, he crept back to safer quarters. The British -Admiral afterwards referred to this little excursion as a “caper.” “I -was off with five ships-of-the-line,” he adds, “and brought to for his -attack, although I did not believe that anything was meant serious, but -merely a gasconade.” With this conclusion La Touche Tréville begged -to differ. He saw in the “caper” a bold manœuvre and an excellent -opportunity for currying favour in the eyes of his exacting chief, -who by no means overrated the commander’s abilities. His despatch to -Napoleon runs as follows:[64] - -“I have the honour to give you an account of the _sortie_ of the whole -of the squadron under my orders. Having been advised that several -English privateers were infesting the coast and the Islands of Hyères, -I gave orders, three days ago, to the frigates _Incorruptible_ and -_Siren_ and the brig _Ferret_ to proceed to the Bay of Hyères. The -Easterly wind being against them they anchored under the Castle -of Porqueroles. Yesterday morning the enemy became aware of their -presence. Towards noon they detached two frigates and another vessel, -which entered by the broad passage with the intention of cutting off -the retreat of our frigates. As soon as I saw this manœuvre I signalled -to the whole squadron to make sail, and this was done. In fourteen -minutes all were under sail and I made for the enemy in order to cut -him off from the narrow passage and to follow him up if he attempted -it. But the English Admiral soon gave up his design, recalled his -vessel and his two frigates engaged amongst the Islands and took to -flight. I pursued him till nightfall; he was heading for the S.E. At -daybreak I had lost sight of him.” - -When Nelson heard of this communication he was furious. “You will -have seen his letter of how he chased me and how I ran,” he tells his -brother, the Rev. W. Nelson. “I keep it; and, by ----, if I take him he -shall eat it!” - -Nelson continued to fear the loss of Sardinia, which “will be great -indeed.” In this matter he was wrong, for Napoleon entertained no idea -of conquest in that direction. There was every indication, on the other -hand, that he might do so, and the Admiral is not to be blamed but -praised for his zeal in behalf of the island which meant so much to the -fleet under his command. When he heard that Vice-Admiral Ganteaume had -hoisted his flag at Brest he was sure that an attempt would be made to -reach the Mediterranean. “The French navy is daily increasing, both -at Toulon and Brest, whilst ours is as clearly going down-hill,” is -Nelson’s summing-up of the situation in the early days of July 1804. -He then pours out the vials of his wrath on Addington’s administration -because it had not taken sufficiently to heart the old adage, “in times -of peace prepare for war”: “We made use of the peace, not to recruit -our navy, but to be the cause of its ruin. Nothing but a speedy battle, -a complete annihilation of the enemy’s fleets, and a seven years’ -peace, can get our fleet in the order it ought to be; therefore I, -for one, do not wish to be shackled with allies. I am for assisting -Europe to the utmost of my power, but no treaties, which England only -keeps.” This was with reference to a suggested treaty with Russia: -“Such alliances have never benefited our country.” Europe, he says, is -“degenerate.” A month later he refers to his “shattered carcase,” which -“requires rest.” Then he bows to Fate, says he submits, and states that -all his wishes “now rest that I may meet Monsieur La Touche before -October is over.” - -La Touche Tréville died on the 18th August 1804. He was buried on Cape -Sepet, his successor, Villeneuve, making a funeral oration. Unaware -that his enemy was vanquished, we find Nelson writing on the 19th that -“Such a liar is below my notice, except to thrash him, which will be -done,” if in his power. “I never heard of his acting otherwise than -as a poltroon and a liar,” is another of his remarks, which scarcely -soften when he heard the “miscreant” was in his coffin: “La Touche has -given me the slip--he died of the colic; perhaps Bonaparte’s, for they -say he was a rank republican.” With misplaced humour the French press -asserted that the Admiral had died of over-exertion due to “walking so -often up to the signal-post upon Sepet to watch the British fleet.” - -War with Spain, which Nelson had predicted, was formally declared by -that Power on the 12th December 1804. Napoleon had already exacted -a handsome annual sum from her treasury, a matter overlooked by -the British Government for reasons of policy. When he secured the -assistance of the Spanish navy, Pitt, who was again in office, refused -to be hoodwinked, and warned the traitorous neutrals. As this was -unheeded, four frigates, two of which belonged to Nelson’s fleet, were -sent to intercept four treasure ships from South America off Cadiz. -The two forces came in sight on the 5th October. Although the Spanish -vessels were not prepared to fight, an action took place consequent on -the commander refusing to surrender. The Spanish _Mercedes_ blew up, -and the others were seized as prizes. A declaration of war, prompted by -Napoleon, was the result. The ruler of France was playing into his own -hands with his usual unscrupulous skill. - -The command off Cadiz had now been given to Sir John Orde. Nelson, -quite naturally, did not approve this apportioning out of what he -regarded as his own preserves. “I almost begin to think,” he says, -with reference to Orde, “that he is sent off Cadiz to reap the golden -harvest, as Campbell was sent off Cadiz by Cornwallis (by orders from -England) to reap my sugar harvest. It’s very odd, two Admiralties to -treat me so: surely I have dreamt that I have ‘done the State some -service.’ But never mind; I am superior to those who could treat me so. -When am I to be relieved?” - -Not yet! There was much to do and darker days to be lived through -before the Master Mariner could sleep peacefully ashore. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -The Crisis - -(1805) - - “_We know the success of a man’s measures is the criterion by which - we judge of the wisdom or folly of his measures. I have done my - best._” - - NELSON. - - -Napoleon had now completed further plans. These he fondly hoped -would lead to the downfall of British rule in the United Kingdom and -the eventual dismemberment of the Empire. His strategy, if somewhat -involved, was deeply laid. Instead of concentrating his fleet in -European waters, that very essential part of the programme was to be -undertaken in the Atlantic. By means of feints and false intelligence -it was anticipated that Nelson would again suppose that the East -was the destination of the French armament. Again much depended on -whether Napoleon’s commanders at Rochefort and Toulon would prove -sufficiently clever to elude the blockading squadrons and to carry out -the subsequent junction. The former was to make for Martinique, the -latter for Cayenne. Having spread ruin and disaster in the British West -Indies, they were to unite, release the squadron at Ferrol, and return -to Rochefort to threaten Cornwallis, who would thus be precluded from -lending assistance elsewhere. Ganteaume at Brest was to play the chief -part. He was to make a descent on Ireland while his colleagues were -crossing the Atlantic and then cover the invading army from Boulogne. - -On the 11th January 1805 Missiessy, in command at Rochefort, made good -his escape, and eventually reached the West Indies. A week after his -colleague had left port Villeneuve was also at sea. The great war game -had begun. “Our frigates saw part of them all day, and were chased by -some of the ships,” Nelson informs Sir John Acton. The Admiral received -the report of the enemy’s sailing at Madalena at 3 P.M. on the 19th. -Three hours later “the whole fleet was at sea,” steering for the south -end of Sardinia, “where I could have little fear but that I should meet -them; for, from all I have heard from the captains of the frigates, -the enemy must be bound round the south end of Sardinia, but whether -to Cagliari, Sicily, the Morea, or Egypt, I am most completely in -ignorance.” He warns Acton to be on his guard for Sicily and to send -information to Naples. On the 21st a French frigate was discerned off -the south end of Sardinia, but became lost in the fog, and a little -later Nelson heard that one of the French sail-of-the-line had put in -at Ajaccio in a distressed condition. On the 27th he was off Palermo. -“One of two things must have happened,” he conjectures, “that either -the French fleet must have put back crippled, or that they are gone -to the eastward, probably to Egypt, therefore I find no difficulty in -pursuing the line of conduct I have adopted. If the enemy have put back -crippled, I could never overtake them, and therefore I can do no harm -in going to the eastward; and if the enemy are gone to the eastward, I -am right.” He sent vessels to call at Elba, San Fiorenzo, Malta, Tunis, -Pantellaria, Toro and other places to obtain information. He believed -that eleven sail-of-the-line and nine smaller vessels were at sea. “I -shall only hope to fall in with them.” - -On the 11th February Nelson was still in “total ignorance” regarding -the whereabouts of the French fleet, but was more than ever confirmed -in his opinion that Egypt was its destination. He had set off for the -Morea, and then proceeded to Egypt, but the enemy had eluded him. -It was not until he arrived off Malta on the 19th that he received -authentic information that the Toulon fleet had put back to port “in a -very crippled state.” He himself was able to report that the health of -his men was excellent, and “although we have experienced a great deal -of bad weather, have received no damage, and not a yard or mast sprung -or crippled, or scarcely a sail split.” “I have consulted no man,” he -had written to Lord Melville on the anniversary of the battle of Cape -St Vincent, “therefore the whole blame in forming 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 I desire any man to partake of -any of the responsibility--all is mine, right or wrong.” - -Misfortune had dogged Villeneuve almost from the moment he had left -Toulon. After encountering a gale in the Gulf of Lyons his ships were -in such a pitiful state that there was no alternative but to return. -He complained bitterly, and not without reason, to the Minister of -Marine about the wretched condition of the fleet at his disposal. The -vessels, according to his report, were built of superannuated or bad -materials, and lost masts or sails “at every puff of wind.” In addition -they were short-handed, the sailors were inexperienced, and the decks -were encumbered with troops. Napoleon, who never appreciated the many -difficulties of navigation, let alone of naval warfare, entertained the -notion that the Navy could be run with practically as much precision as -the Army; conditions of weather he almost contemptuously dismissed as -of little account. He abruptly tells Villeneuve the plain unvarnished -truth, namely that the great evil of the service “is that the men who -command it are unused to all the risks of command.” Almost in despair -he asks, “What is to be done with admirals who allow their spirits -to sink, and determine to hasten home at the first damage they may -receive?” - -Villeneuve was not a courageous commander. He hated taking risks. It -may be that he realised his own personal limitations to some extent; it -is certain that he fully appreciated those of his men and of his ships. -The only training-place for sailors is the sea, and such excursions as -had been made were as nothing compared to the daily encounters with -storm, wind and tide which fell to the lot of the blockading squadron -below the horizon. - -Such obvious facts appealed to that sense of grim humour which is -so essentially characteristic of Nelson. He thoroughly enjoyed his -adversary’s discomfiture, and poked fun at Napoleon, his men and -his methods, on every possible occasion. “Bonaparte,” he writes to -Collingwood on the 13th March, “has often made his brags that our fleet -would be worn out by keeping the sea; that his was kept in order and -increasing by staying in port; but he now finds, I fancy, if _Emperors_ -hear truth, that his fleet suffers more in one night than ours in a -year.” - -Napoleon, now the Imperial Incarnation of the Revolution, for he had -crowned himself Emperor of the French on the 2nd December 1804, was -not to be thwarted because his subordinates had failed to bring his -giant schemes to a successful issue on two distinct occasions. He was -obsessed by a desire to “leap the ditch.” To humble that Island Power -which was ever in his way, to strike at the very heart of that England -whose wealth was lavished in fostering coalition after coalition, were -now his fondest hopes. He thought, talked, and wrote of little else. - -While his third plan was more involved than the others, it had the -advantage of calling a greater number of ships into service. Villeneuve -was to start from Toulon with eleven ships, release the Spanish -squadron of six sail-of-the-line under the command of Admiral Gravina, -and one French ship, at Cadiz, and then make for Martinique, where he -would find Missiessy’s squadron of five sail. In a similar manner the -twenty-one ships of Ganteaume’s fleet at Brest were to rally Gourdon’s -fifteen vessels at Ferrol and also proceed to the West Indies. Thus -no fewer than fifty-nine sail and many smaller vessels would be -congregated for the final effort. While Nelson was searching for them, -this immense armament, with Ganteaume in supreme command, would recross -the Atlantic, appear off Boulogne, and convoy the flotilla to England. -It is unnecessary to give the alternative plans furnished to the -admirals. To do so would only tend to involve the broad outline of the -manœuvre as detailed above and serve no essential purpose. - -Spurred on by Napoleon’s displeasure, Villeneuve put to sea on the -night of the 30th March 1805, and was sighted “with all sail set” by -two British frigates on the following morning. It was not until the -4th April that Nelson, then off Toro, received this useful if vague -intelligence, for the frigate which had followed in the tracks of -the Toulon fleet had lost sight of the enemy. Her captain “thinks -they either bore away to the eastward or steered S.S.W., as they were -going when first seen,” Nelson informs the Admiralty. He “covered -the Channel from Barbary to Toro with frigates and the fleet” in the -hope of discovering them or obtaining reliable information as to -their whereabouts. On the 18th April he says, “I am going out of the -Mediterranean after the French fleet. It may be thought that I have -protected too well Sardinia, Naples, Sicily, the Morea, and Egypt, from -the French; but I feel I have done right, and am therefore easy about -any fate which may await me for having missed the French fleet. I have -left five frigates, besides the sloops, &c., stationed at Malta for the -present service of the Mediterranean, and with the Neapolitan squadron -will, of course, be fully able to prevent any force the French have -left to convoy troops to Sicily.” - -Nelson only succeeded in making sixty-five leagues in nine days “owing -to very bad weather.” It was not until the 18th April, when Villeneuve -had been at sea nearly three weeks, that he had news of the enemy -having passed through the Straits on the 8th. “I am proceeding with the -fleet under my command as expeditiously as possible to the westward in -pursuit of them.” Sir John Orde had so far forgotten or neglected his -duty that when Villeneuve made his appearance at Cadiz the commander of -the blockading squadron made off without either sending word to Nelson -or leaving a frigate to keep in touch with the enemy. Consequently -Nelson was still uncertain as to their destination. “The circumstance -of their having taken the Spanish ships which were [ready] for sea -from Cadiz, satisfies my mind that they are not bound to the West -Indies (nor probably the Brazils); but intend forming a junction with -the squadron at Ferrol, and pushing direct for Ireland or Brest, as I -believe the French have troops on board.” When off Tetuan on the 4th -May he rightly observes, “I cannot very properly run to the West Indies -without something beyond mere surmise; and if I defer my departure, -Jamaica may be lost. Indeed, as they have a month’s start of me, I see -no prospect of getting out time enough to prevent much mischief from -being done.” Gibraltar Bay was reached on the 6th May, and at 6 P.M., -Nelson was making his way through the Gut owing to there being “every -appearance of a Levanter coming on.” Off Cape St Vincent he hoped to be -met by a frigate from Orde with intelligence of the enemy’s route and -also by a frigate from Lisbon. “If nothing is heard of them from Lisbon -or from the frigates I may find off Cape St Vincent, I shall probably -think the rumours which are spread are true, that their destination -is the West Indies, and in that case think it my duty to follow them, -or to the Antipodes, should I believe that to be their destination. I -shall detach a sloop of war to England from off the Cape, when my mind -is made up from either information or the want of it.” - -Nelson’s idea as to the destination of the allied fleet was -corroborated by Commodore Donald Campbell, a Scotsman who had entered -the Portuguese navy. After clearing transports and taking on board -sufficient provisions for five months, he set out from Lagos Bay with -ten sail-of-the-line and a number of smaller craft on his long chase. -“My lot is cast,” he hurriedly informs Ball, “and I am going to the -West Indies, where, although I am late, yet chance may have given them -a bad passage and me a good one. I must hope the best.” - -Many minds, many opinions. What had become of the Allied fleet? Even -more important, what had it accomplished? Such questions must have been -ever present in the mind of Nelson and his officers. Everything about -the enemy was so vague as almost to suggest a phantom fleet. “I still -think Jamaica is their object,” is Nelson’s comment on the 27th of May -when making for Barbadoes, “but many think Surinam or Trinidad; and -Bayntun, that they will land their troops at the city of San Domingo. -In short, everyone has an opinion, but it will soon be beyond doubt. -Our passage, although not very quick, has been far from a bad one. They -started from Cadiz thirty-one days before we did from St Vincent, and I -think we shall gain fourteen days upon them in the passage; therefore -they will only arrive seventeen days before us at Martinique, for I -suppose them bound there. I shall not anchor at Barbadoes.... I have -prayed Lord Seaforth to lay an embargo, that the French may not know of -my approach, and thus again elude our vigilance. My mind is not altered -that Egypt was their destination last January.” Eight days later, -when the fleet was in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, and Nelson’s force had -been augmented by the addition of two battleships under Cochrane, we -are informed that “There is not a doubt in any of the admirals’ or -generals’ minds, but that Tobago and Trinidad are the enemy’s objects; -and although I am anxious in the extreme to get at their eighteen -sail-of-the-line, yet, as Sir William Myers has offered to embark -himself with 2000 troops, I cannot refuse such a handsome offer; and, -with the blessing of God on a just cause, I see no cause to doubt of -the annihilation of both the enemy’s fleet and army.” - -It happened that the general had received a letter on the previous -night from Brigadier-General Brereton, stationed at St Lucia, informing -him that the enemy’s fleet, “steering to the southward,” had been -reported as passing that island during the late hours of the 28th May. -According to Brereton’s supposition its destination “must be either -Barbadoes or Trinidad.” - -Knowing full well that if the intelligence proved false it would lose -him the French fleet, but having no alternative, Nelson set off for -Tobago, where he learnt from the captain of an American vessel that -his ship had been boarded by a French sail-of-the-line the day before. -Then he received a signal from a passing ship that the enemy was at -Trinidad, where he anchored on the 7th June. Another report came to -land that on the 4th the enemy had been at Fort Royal and was likely -to sail during the night for the attack of Grenada. He was at the -latter island on the 9th, and heard that the enemy had not only passed -Dominica three days before, “standing to the northward,” but had been -lucky enough to capture a convoy of ships laden with sugar. Nelson -peeped in at Montserrat on the 11th; on the 13th the troops were being -disembarked at St John’s, Antigua, at which place the fleet had arrived -the previous evening. “At noon I sailed in my pursuit of the enemy; -and I do not yet despair of getting up with them before they arrive at -Cadiz or Toulon, to which ports I think they are bound, or at least -in time to prevent them from having a moment’s superiority. I have no -reason to blame Dame Fortune. If either General Brereton could not have -wrote, or his look-out man had been blind, nothing could have prevented -my fighting them on 6 June; but such information, and from such a -quarter, close to the enemy, could not be doubted.” He had already -sent a fast-sailing brig with despatches to the Admiralty informing -them of the probable return of the combined fleet to Europe, although -so late as the 18th July he was not sure that the enemy had not tricked -him and gone to Jamaica. With commendable alacrity Admiral Stirling was -told to form a junction with Sir Robert Calder off Ferrol, and to await -the enemy, for the commander of the brig has sighted the quarry and -was of opinion from the course they were making that the neighbourhood -of Cape Finisterre was their desired haven. It has remained for two -modern historians to point out that Nelson had discerned the likelihood -of Ferrol as an anchorage for Villeneuve’s fleet, and had forwarded a -warning to the Admiral stationed off that port.[65] - -On the date just mentioned Nelson joined Collingwood off Cadiz, but -no accurate news awaited him. Indeed, the former pinned his faith -to an attack on Ireland as the grand _finale_ of Napoleon’s naval -manœuvres. At Gibraltar the Admiral went on shore for the first time -since the 16th June, 1803--over two years. From thence he proceeded to -Cornwallis’s station off Ushant, and received orders from the Admiral -to sail with the _Victory_ and the _Superb_ for Spithead. He struck his -flag on the 19th August 1805 and set off for Merton. - -To what extent had Napoleon’s plans succeeded? Villeneuve had reached -Martinique on the 14th May, only to find that Missiessy had not awaited -his coming according to instructions. Ganteaume was also unable to -carry out his part of the plan, consequently Villeneuve was alone in -the West Indies and might become Nelson’s prey at any moment. The -prospect did not please him. When he heard that the great British -commander had not only arrived at Barbadoes but had been reinforced -by Cochrane he set the bows of his ships in the direction of home, -contrary to the Emperor’s orders to wait for a stated period for -Ganteaume’s arrival. So far from raiding the British West Indies, -Villeneuve only succeeded in capturing the Diamond Rock at Martinique -and Missiessy in taking Dominica, although the latter had reinforced -the French colonies. - -After a perilous voyage Villeneuve was approaching Ferrol in thick -weather on the 22nd July when he came face to face with the squadron of -fifteen battleships and four smaller vessels which had been sent by the -Admiralty to await his coming. The action which followed was anything -but decisive. The fleet Nelson had longed to annihilate was allowed to -escape by Calder, whose only prizes were the Spanish _San Rafael_ (84) -and _El Firme_ (74). After leaving three of his less seaworthy ships at -Vigo, the French commander eventually reached Coruña. - -Another Act of the great Atlantic Drama was over. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -Nelson’s Last Command - -(1805) - - “_May the God of Battles crown my endeavours with success._” - - NELSON. - - -In the previous chapter we left Nelson at Portsmouth after having -chased the enemy nearly seven thousand miles, and been absent from -home twenty-seven months. When “England’s darling” set foot on the -landing-stage he received an immense ovation from the crowds of people -who had assembled to show their appreciation of his services. “It is -really quite affecting to see the wonder and admiration and love and -respect of the whole world,” writes Lord Minto, referring to a mob in -Piccadilly a little later, “and the general expression of all these -sentiments at once, from gentle and simple, the moment he is seen. It -is beyond anything represented in a play or poem.” - -It was characteristic of the man that, before leaving his ship, -he communicated with the Admiralty regarding the companies of the -_Victory_ and the _Superb_. He said they were in “most perfect health, -and only require some vegetables and other refreshments to remove the -scurvy.” Nelson at once proceeded to Merton, where he lived in quiet -retirement with Lady Hamilton, playing with their beloved Horatia, or -having a mental tussle with the French as he walked the garden-paths -for hours without noticing either the passing of time or the presence -of fatigue. Perhaps he pondered over the irony of Fate in giving -the allied fleet into the hands of Calder, who had let the golden -opportunity slip by him so easily, but more probably he wondered if the -fickle goddess would yet allow him to break the yoke of Napoleon on the -seas. - -The Emperor had made a final effort to unite his scattered ships. -When the combined fleet was on its way to Europe the blockades of -Rochefort and Ferrol had been abandoned so that Calder might intercept -the enemy. He was but partially successful, as already explained. The -squadron of five sail-of-the-line at Rochefort, commanded by Allemand, -Missiessy’s successor, had taken advantage of the temporary absence -of the British squadron and was making its way to Vigo, where there -were three sail.[66] Villeneuve had put into Coruña with fifteen -battle-ships, and found fourteen Spanish and French sail-of-the-line -awaiting him. This brought the total of his available resources to -thirty-four sail, provided all were united. If Villeneuve were able to -join Ganteaume at Brest the number would be fifty-five. Cornwallis, -with either thirty-four or thirty-five, was a dangerous menace, but -when that commander detached eighteen sail to blockade Ferrol it did -not seem insurmountable, even supposing that the five ships under -Calder, then stationed off Rochefort, joined him, which they did on the -14th August. After considerable delay Villeneuve weighed anchor on the -13th August 1805, and hoped to reach Brest. He encountered bad weather, -mistook Allemand’s ships for the enemy’s vessels, and, to make matters -worse, was informed that a large British fleet was on the alert. With -this he altered his course and put in at Cadiz a week later. Here he -was watched by Collingwood with three sail-of-the-line and two smaller -vessels, until the latter was reinforced by twenty-two battleships, -four of which were under Sir Richard Bickerton and the remainder under -Calder. When Napoleon heard of Villeneuve’s retirement to Cadiz he knew -that his gigantic exertions for the invasion of the United Kingdom -had been completely shattered. With marvellous facility he shifted his -horizon from the white cliffs of England to the wooded banks of the -Danube. The so-called Army of England was marched from Boulogne to win -fresh conquests in the Austerlitz Campaign and to crush yet another -coalition. - -At five o’clock on the morning of the 2nd September 1805, Captain -Blackwood presented himself at Merton. “I am sure you bring me news -of the French and Spanish fleets,” Nelson exclaimed in his eager, -boyish way, “and I think I shall yet have to beat them.” Blackwood -was the bearer of the important intelligence that Villeneuve, largely -augmented, was at Cadiz. For a time it would appear as if Nelson -hesitated, not on his own account but because of those whom he loved. -His health was bad, he felt the country very restful after his trying -cruise, and he disliked to give Lady Hamilton cause for further -anxiety. He walked the “quarter-deck” in his garden weighing the pros -with the cons, then set off for the Admiralty in Whitehall. - -“I think I shall yet have to beat them.” His mistress was apparently no -less valiant, at least in her conversation. “Nelson,” she is stated to -have said, “however we may lament your absence, offer your services; -they will be accepted, and you will gain a quiet heart by it; you will -have a glorious victory, and then you may return here, and be happy.” - -Eleven days after Captain Blackwood’s call Nelson left Merton for ever. -It was a fearful wrench, but he was prepared to sacrifice everything -to his King and his country. The following night he wrote in his -Diary, little thinking that the outpourings of his spirit would ever -be revealed in the lurid light of publicity, a prayer which shows very -clearly that he had a premonition he would never open its pages again -under the roof of Merton Place: - -“May the 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 those so -dear to me, that I may leave behind. His will be done. Amen, Amen, -Amen.” - -The _Victory_, on which he hoisted his flag, had been hastily patched -up and put in fighting trim. As her escort went the _Euryalus_ frigate, -joined later by the _Ajax_ and _Thunderer_. - -Collingwood and Calder “sat tight” outside Cadiz harbour with one eye -on the enemy and the other searching for signs of the British ships, -for they had heard that Nelson would be with them ere long. Later, -“my dear Coll” received further tidings by the _Euryalus_ requesting -that “not only no salute may take place, but also that no colours may -be hoisted: for it is as well not to proclaim to the enemy every ship -which may join the fleet.” The supreme modesty of Nelson stands out -clearly in the last words of the note: “I would not have any salute, -even if you are out of sight of land.” - -The day before his forty-seventh birthday, Nelson hove in sight -of Cadiz and assumed command. On the 29th the officers came to -congratulate him. “The reception I met with on joining the fleet,” -he declares, “caused the sweetest sensation of my life. The -officers who came on board to welcome my return, forgot my rank as -Commander-in-chief in the enthusiasm with which they greeted me. As -soon as these emotions were past, I laid before them the plan I had -previously arranged for attacking the enemy; and it was not only my -pleasure to find it generally approved, but clearly perceived and -understood.” Again: “Some shed tears, all approved,” he writes, “it -was new, it was singular, it was simple; and from Admirals downwards -it was repeated, ‘It must succeed if ever they will allow us to get at -them! You are, my Lord, surrounded by friends whom you inspire with -confidence.’”[67] In due course the complete plan of attack was issued. - -On October 19th the signal, “The enemy are coming out of port,” flew -from the mastheads of the frigates stationed to watch the goings-on in -the harbour. Thirty-three ships-of-the-line, with five frigates and -two brigs, had passed out by the following day. They were certainly -“painted ships,” with their vividly-coloured hulls of red and black, -yellow and black, and black and white. Their mission was to support -Napoleon’s army in the south of Italy. - -Once at sea the combined fleet sailed in two divisions, as had been -agreed upon by Villeneuve and Gravina, the commander of the Spanish -vessels. The French Admiral’s own squadron, the _Corps de bataille_, -was made up of twenty-one sail-of-the-line, the centre under Villeneuve -himself, the van under Alava, and the rear under Dumanoir. The _Corps -de réserve_, or Squadron of Observation, consisted of twelve ships -divided into two squadrons of equal strength, each commanded by Gravina -and Magon respectively. The duty of the _Corps de réserve_ was to watch -the battle and to reinforce any weak point as opportunity occurred. - -Nelson’s force consisted of twenty-seven men-o’-war, four frigates, -a schooner, and a cutter. The enemy, therefore, had the advantage -as regards heavy ships, of six sail-of-the-line. In armament the -combatants were nearly equal,[68] as in bravery and daring, but very -inferior in seamanship and general _morale_. It was very necessary to -prevent the enemy from entering the Mediterranean, as Napoleon’s orders -strictly enjoined them to do, therefore the signal was made for a -“general chase S.E.,” namely, towards the Straits of Gibraltar. - -Napoleon had resolved to supersede Villeneuve by Rosily. This decision -probably carried more weight with the French Admiral than any other, -and had determined his course of action, although at a council of war, -held before anchors were weighed, a resolution was passed to avoid an -engagement with the British if possible. Of personal courage he had no -lack, for he wrote to Decrès, the Minister of Marine, “if the French -navy has been deficient in nothing but courage, as it is alleged, -the Emperor shall soon be satisfied, and he may reckon upon the most -splendid success.” His great hope was that he might elude detection and -land the troops he had on board at Naples. He was without faith in his -ships. - -Having seen that his orders were carried out, Nelson went to his cabin -and began the last letter he was destined to write to Lady Hamilton. -Here it is in full: - - “_Victory_, October 19th 1805. Noon. - “CADIZ, E.S.E. 16 Leagues. - - “MY DEAREST BELOVED EMMA, THE DEAR FRIEND OF MY BOSOM,--The signal - has been made that the Enemy’s Combined Fleet are coming out of - Port. We have very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing - them before to-morrow. May the God of Battles crown my endeavours - with success; at all events, I will take care that my name shall - ever be most dear to you and Horatia, both of whom I love as much - as my own life. And as my last writing before the Battle will be to - you, so I hope in God that I shall live to finish my letter after - the Battle. May Heaven bless you, prays your - - “NELSON AND BRONTÉ. - - “October 20th.--In the morning, we were close to the Mouth of the - Straits, but the wind had not come far enough to the Westward to - allow the Combined Fleets to weather the Shoals of Trafalgar; but - they were counted as far as forty Sail of Ships of War, which I - suppose to be thirty-four of the Line, and six Frigates. A group - of them was seen off the Lighthouse of Cadiz this morning, but it - blows so very fresh and thick weather, that I rather believe they - will go into the Harbour before night. May God Almighty give us - success over these fellows, and enable us to get a Peace.” - -After Trafalgar had been fought and won, the above letter was found -open on Nelson’s desk. - -The 20th was cold, damp, and miserable, but the fleet had made good -speed and was between Capes Trafalgar and Spartel. By noon the -_Victory_ was within eight or nine leagues of Cadiz. - -Dr Beatty, surgeon of Nelson’s flagship, thus records how the day was -spent: - -“At 8 o’clock in the morning of the 20th, the _Victory_ hove to, and -Admiral Collingwood, with the captains of the _Mars_, _Colossus_, and -_Defence_, came on board to receive instructions from his Lordship: -at eleven minutes past nine they returned to their respective ships, -and the fleet made sail again to the Northward. In the afternoon the -wind increased, and blew fresh from the S.W., which excited much -apprehension on board the _Victory_, lest the enemy might be forced to -return to port. The look-out ships, however, made several signals for -seeing them, and to report their force and bearings. His Lordship was -at that time on the poop; and turning round, and observing a group of -midshipmen assembled together, he said to them with a smile, ‘This day, -or to-morrow, will be a fortunate one for you, young men,’ alluding to -their being promoted in the event of a victory. A little before sunset -the _Euryalus_ communicated intelligence by telegraph[69] that ‘the -enemy appeared determined to go to the Westward.’ His Lordship, upon -this, ordered it to be signified to Captain Blackwood by signal, that -‘he depended on the _Euryalus_ for keeping sight of the enemy during -the night.’ The night signals were so clearly and distinctly arranged -by his Lordship, and so well understood by the respective Captains, -that the enemy’s motions continued to be known to him with the greatest -facility throughout the night: a certain number of guns with false -fires and blue lights, announcing their course, wearing and making or -shortening sail; and signals communicating such changes were repeated -by the look-out ships, from the _Euryalus_ to the _Victory_.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -The Rout in Trafalgar Bay - -(1805) - - “_Thank God, I have done my duty._” - - NELSON. - - -The 21st October 1805 is a red-letter day in the history of England. -Dawn had scarcely succeeded night ere Nelson was up and doing. He wore -his Admiral’s frock-coat, the only decoration being four stars of -different Orders which were pinned on his left breast. “In honour I -gained them,” he said, “and in honour I will die with them.” He had not -buckled on his sword, and this is the only action he fought without it. - -The previous night Villeneuve had signalled for the columns of his -fighting squadron to form in close line of battle without regard -to priority of place, his former intention having been to give the -three-deckers the more important positions. Captain Lucas of the -_Redoutable_ states that the ships “were all widely scattered” in -consequence of this order. “The ships of the battle squadron and -those of the squadron of observation were all mixed up,” although -the commanders of the latter did their best to get into something -approaching order. - -Early the following morning--the glorious 21st--the French Admiral -signalled to “clear for action!” and in response to the _Hermione’s_ -message, “The enemy number twenty-seven sail-of-the-line,” he ordered -each ship to leave but one cable’s length between its immediate -neighbour. They were now on the starboard tack. Almost before these -instructions had been completely carried out Villeneuve decided to -alter their position, signalling them to form in line of battle on the -port tack. The manœuvre was not easily effected. The wind was light, -with a heavy swell, many ships missed their station, and there were -several gaps and groups of ships along the line instead of vessels -at regular intervals. The newly-formed line was consequently very -irregular and almost crescent-shaped. Villeneuve, prudent to a fault, -wished to have Cadiz harbour under his lee; he was apparently already -lending his mind to thoughts of disaster. - -Gravina, with the twelve reserve ships, seems to have pursued his own -tactics. Instead of keeping to windward of the line, so that he might -bring succour to Villeneuve if need should arise, the Vice-Admiral -“moved to the rear to prolong the line”--now extending some five -miles--“without having been signalled to do so.” Whether Villeneuve -took particular notice of this false move at the time is uncertain, -but later, on his attempt to get his colleague to take up the position -previously arranged for him and which would have enabled Gravina “to -reinforce the centre of the line against the attack of the enemy,” no -attention was paid to the command. Never was there a more fatal error -of policy. Had the Spanish Admiral been able to bring twelve ships to -bear upon the battle when it was at its height he might have rendered -valuable assistance. - -Scarcely less reprehensible was the behaviour of Rear-Admiral Dumanoir -Le Pelley, who with ten ships fell to leeward and formed a rear -squadron.[70] Not until it was too late did he attempt to take any part -in the battle. - -The British fleet was formed into two columns, eleven ships following -the _Victory_ (100), and fourteen in the rear of the _Royal Sovereign_ -(100), under Collingwood. Nelson’s idea was to bear down upon the -enemy with these two divisions and break the centre of the combined -fleet in two places at once, Nelson leading the weather line, and -Collingwood the lee. While Villeneuve was issuing his last order before -the struggle, “Every ship which is not in action is not at its post,” -the British Commander-in-chief was committing to paper the following -prayer: - -“May the great God whom I worship grant to my country and for the -benefit of Europe in general a great and glorious victory, and may no -misconduct in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity 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 entrusted me to defend.” - -Nelson also made his will, heading it, “October 21st 1805, then in -sight of the Combined Fleets of France and Spain, distant about ten -miles.” Blackwood and Hardy attached their signatures as witnesses. He -left Emma, Lady Hamilton, “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 my country my adopted daughter, Horatia -Nelson Thompson; and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson -only.” - -[Illustration: Hoisting the Famous Signal - -C. M. Padday] - -Blackwood had gone on board the flag-ship at six o’clock in the -morning, and found the admiral “in good, but very calm spirits.” He -tells us in his “Memoirs” that “during the five hours and a half that -I remained on board the _Victory_, in which I was not ten minutes from -his side, he frequently asked me, ‘What I should consider a victory?’ -the certainty of which he never for an instant seemed to doubt, -although, from the situation of the land, he questioned the possibility -of the subsequent preservation of the prizes. My answer was, that -considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the enemy, -their apparent determination for a fair trial of strength, and the -proximity of the land, I thought if fourteen ships were captured, it -would be a glorious result; to which he always replied, ‘I shall not, -Blackwood, be satisfied with anything short of twenty.’ A telegraphic -signal had been made by him to denote, ‘that he intended to break -through the rear of the enemy’s line, to prevent them getting into -Cadiz.’ I was walking with him on the poop, when he said, ‘I’ll now -amuse the fleet with a signal;’ and he asked me ‘if I did not think -there was one yet wanting?’ I answered, that I thought the whole of -the fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about, and -to vie with each other who should first get nearest to the _Victory_ -or _Royal Sovereign_. These words were scarcely uttered, when his last -well-known signal was made, ‘ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS -DUTY.’ The shout with which it was received throughout the fleet was -truly sublime. ‘Now,’ said Lord Nelson, ‘I can do no more. We must -trust to the Great Disposer of all events, and justice of our cause. I -thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty.’” - -It has been pointed out that Blackwood is wrong in the matter of -the cheer “throughout the fleet,” for several of the crews were not -informed as to the purport of the signal. The Admiral’s first idea was -to flag “Nelson confides that every man will do his duty.” Captain -Blackwood suggested “England” in place of “Nelson,” which the Admiral -told Pasco, the signal officer, to hoist, adding that he “must be -quick” as he had “one more signal to make, which is for close action.” - -“Then, your Lordship,” ventured Pasco, “if you will permit me to -substitute ‘expects’ for ‘confides’ the signal can be more quickly -completed, because we have ‘expects’ in the vocabulary, while -‘confides’ must be spelled.” The code-book therefore won the day, and -a message which has inspired the Navy for over a century was soon -floating on the breeze. - -In this connection there is a tradition that a Scottish sailor -complained to a fellow-countryman: “Not a word o’ puir auld Scotland.” -“Hoots, Sandy,” answered his comrade, “the Admiral kens that every -Scotsman will do his duty. He’s just giving the Englishers a hint.” - -To continue Blackwood’s narrative: “The wind was light from the S.W., -and a long swell was setting into the Bay of Cadiz, so that our ships, -like sovereigns of the ocean, moved majestically before it; every one -crowding all the sail that was possible, and falling into her station -according to her rate of going. The enemy wore at about seven o’clock, -and then stood in a close line on the larboard tack towards Cadiz. At -that time the sun shone bright on their sails; and from the number of -three-deckers amongst them, they made a most formidable appearance; -but this, so far from appalling our brave countrymen, induced them to -observe to each other, ‘what a fine sight those ships would make at -Spithead.’[71] About ten o’clock, Lord Nelson’s anxiety to close with -the enemy became very apparent. He frequently remarked to me, that they -put a good face upon it; but always quickly added, ‘I’ll give them such -a dressing as they never had before,’ regretting at the same time the -vicinity of the land. At that critical moment I ventured to represent -to his lordship the value of such a life as his, and particularly in -the present battle; and I proposed hoisting his flag in the _Euryalus_, -whence he could better see what was going on, as well as what to order -in case of necessity. But he would not hear of it, and gave as his -reason the force of example; and probably he was right.” - -A sailor who rejoiced in the nickname of Jack Nasty-Face gives us an -excellent view of the proceedings as the sail-of-the-line were got -ready for action: “During this time each ship was making the usual -preparations, such as breaking away the captain and officers’ cabins, -and sending the lumber below--the doctors, parson, purser, and loblolly -men were also busy, getting the medicine chests and bandages and sails -prepared for the wounded to be placed on, that they might be dressed -in rotation as they were taken down to the after-cockpit. In such -bustling, and, it may be said, trying as well as serious time, it is -curious to notice the different dispositions of the British sailor. -Some would be offering a guinea for a glass of grog, while others -were making a sort of mutual verbal will--such as, if one of Johnny -Crapeau’s shots (a term given to the French) knocks my head off, you -will take all my effects; and if you are killed, and I am not, why, I -will have yours; and this is generally agreed to....” - -Another intimate word-picture of what happened just before the contest -of giants began is furnished by General Sir S. B. Ellis, K.C.B., who -was a second lieutenant of Marines in the _Ajax_. “I was sent below -with orders,” he writes, “and was much struck with the preparations -made by the bluejackets, the majority of whom were stripped to the -waist; a handkerchief was tightly bound round their heads and over the -eyes, to deaden the noise of the cannon, many men being deaf for days -after an action. The men were variously occupied; some were sharpening -their cutlasses, others polishing the guns, as though an inspection -were about to take place instead of a mortal combat, whilst three or -four, as if in mere bravado, were dancing a hornpipe; but all seemed -deeply anxious to come to close quarters with the enemy. Occasionally -they would look out of the ports, and speculate as to the various ships -of the enemy, many of which had been on former occasions engaged by our -vessels.” - -At about noon the first shot was fired. It came from the _Fougueux_, a -French ship of 74 guns, under the command of Captain Louis Baudoin. - -The _Royal Sovereign_, with the _Belleisle_ (74), _Mars_ (74), and -_Tonnant_ (80) just behind her, forged ahead. Nelson had signalled -Collingwood to break the enemy’s line at the twelfth ship from the -rear, but on seeing that she was only a two-decker Collingwood changed -his course and steered straight for the _Santa Ana_, a huge Spanish -ship of 112 guns, commanded by Vice-Admiral Alava. The _Fougueux_ -(74) then came up and endeavoured to prevent Collingwood from getting -through the line. This caused the English Admiral to order his captain -to make a target of the bowsprit of the Frenchman and steer straight -for it. Fortunately for the enemy she altered her course, but although -she saved herself she did not prevent the _Royal Sovereign_ from -breaking the line. - -Collingwood was in his element; his usual silent ways gave place to -enthusiasm. “What would Nelson give to be here!” he observed, the -while his double-shotted guns were hurling death into the hold of his -adversary and raking her fore and aft. A broadside and a half tore down -the huge stern gallery of the _Santa Ana_ (112), and killed and wounded -a number of her crew, all of whom showed by deed and daring that they -were worthy of their famous ancestors. - -Both ships were soon in a pitiable condition, but they hugged each -other in a last desperate struggle. A terrific cannonade ensued, the -_Fougueux_ and the _San Leandro_ (64) raking the _Royal Sovereign_, and -the _San Justo_ (74) and _Indomptable_ (80) lending their assistance -some distance away, although it was difficult for them to distinguish -between the two chief contestants, so dense was the smoke from the -guns. Some fifteen or twenty minutes after Collingwood had maintained -the unequal contest alone, several British ships came up and paid -attention to those of the enemy which had gone to Alava’s assistance. -At about a quarter past two the mammoth _Santa Ana_ struck her flag. -On the captain delivering up his sword as deputy for the Vice-Admiral, -who lay dreadfully wounded, he remarked that he thought the conquering -vessel should be called the _Royal Devil_! - -[Illustration: Nelson and Collingwood cutting the Enemy’s Lines at -Trafalgar - -H. C. Seppings Wright] - -Nelson, steering two points more to the north than Collingwood, -so as to cut off the enemy’s way of retreat to Cadiz, came up about -half an hour after the latter had begun his engagement. As the stately -flagship entered the zone of fire a number of Villeneuve’s vessels -poured a perfect avalanche of shot upon her decks. Down went a score -or more of brave fellows, the wheel was smashed, necessitating the -ship being steered in the gun-room, and a topmast dropped on the deck -from aloft. A shot struck one of the launches, a splinter tearing a -buckle from one of the shoes of either Nelson or Hardy, which is not -quite clear. “They both,” writes Doctor Beatty, in his “Narrative,” -“instantly stopped, and were observed by the officers on deck to -survey each other with inquiring looks, each supposing the other to be -wounded. His Lordship then smiled and said, ‘This is too warm work, -Hardy, to last long’; and declared that, through all the battles he had -been in, he had never witnessed more cool courage than was displayed by -the _Victory’s_ crew on this occasion.” - -Steering for the _Santissima Trinidad_ (130), at that time the biggest -floating arsenal ever built in Europe, Nelson sought to engage her, -but an alteration in position precluded this, and he tackled the -_Bucentaure_ (80), Villeneuve’s flagship. The French Admiral was at -last face to face with the man whose spirit had haunted him since he -assumed command. - -Crash went the 68-pounder carronade into the 80-gun Frenchman, and down -came the greater part of the _Bucentaure’s_ stern. The _Victory_ then -grappled with the _Redoutable_, at the same time receiving a hurricane -of fire from the French _Neptuno_ (80). - -Up in the fighting-tops of the _Redoutable_ (74) were riflemen trying -to pick off the officers of the _Victory_. One marksman, a little -keener sighted or more fortunately placed than the others, saw Nelson -walking up and down with Hardy. There was a flash of fire, a sharp -crack as the bullet sped through the air, and the master mariner of -England, of the world, of all time, fell in a heap upon the deck. - -The fatal ball entered his left shoulder by the edge of the epaulet, -cut through the spine, and finally buried itself in the muscles of the -back. - -Three fellows rushed forward to his assistance. - -“They have done for me at last, Hardy,” he murmured, as they carried -him below. - -“I hope not,” was the Captain’s reply, not knowing the extent of -Nelson’s injuries, and probably thinking that it might be possible to -remove the missile. - -“Yes, my backbone is shot through,” and then Nelson placed a -handkerchief over his face that the crew might not know who formed the -central figure of the solemn little procession. Some sailors on the -_Santissima Trinidad_, however, could see from the stars on his coat -that an important officer had fallen, and cheered. - -They laid him in a midshipman’s berth in the dimly-lit cockpit. He -looked into the face of Death as he had looked into the face of the -enemy, without flinching but not without hope. Sometimes a sentence -would escape his lips. “Ah, Mr Beatty,” he said to the surgeon, “you -can do nothing for me; my back is shot through,” and to Dr Scott, the -chaplain, “Doctor, I am gone: I have to leave Lady Hamilton and my -daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country.” - -Very little relief could be afforded him. He sipped lemonade -frequently, his breast was rubbed, and constant fanning helped to -soothe his agonies a little. Nelson sent for Hardy, whom he valued as -an able officer and friend, but as the Captain could not leave his post -at once the dying man feared for his safety. “Will no one bring Hardy -to me? He must be killed! He is surely dead!” - -The cheers of the British tars were borne down to the cockpit as often -as an enemy’s ship struck her flag, and a smile played over the pallid -features. At last Hardy appeared and took his chief’s hand. “How goes -the day with us?” was the eager question. - -“Very well, my Lord. We have taken twelve or fourteen ships; but five -of their van have tacked and mean to bear down on us; but I have called -two or three of our fresh ships round, and have no doubt of giving them -a drubbing.” - -“I hope none of _our_ ships have struck?” Nelson hastened to ask, -seeing that Hardy was anxious to return to his post. - -“There is no fear of that,” was the reassuring answer. - -Hardy, unable to restrain his tears, ascended the companion ladder. As -the guns were fired into the passing squadron of Rear-Admiral Dumanoir, -the ship shook violently, thereby causing the dying man intense agony. -“Oh, _Victory_, _Victory_,” he cried, “how you distract my poor brain,” -followed by “how dear is life to all men.” Then his wandering thoughts -turned homeward, and the memory of happy hours at Merton made him add, -“Yet one would like to live a little longer, too.” Hardy again entered -the cockpit with the good news that fourteen or fifteen ships had -struck. “That is well,” Nelson breathed, “but I bargained for twenty. -Anchor, Hardy, anchor.” The Captain then asked whether Collingwood -should not take the post of Commander-in-chief. The Admiral answered -with all the force he could muster, “Not whilst I live, Hardy--no other -man shall command whilst I live. Anchor, Hardy, anchor; if I live I’ll -anchor.” - -Nelson was sinking: the moment for taking his long farewell of his -Captain had come. “Don’t throw me overboard, Hardy. Take care of my -dear Lady Hamilton; take care of poor Lady Hamilton. Kiss me, Hardy.” -As the sorrowful officer bent over him consciousness began to fade. -“Who is that?” he asked. On being told that it was Hardy, he whispered, -“God bless you, Hardy.” - -His life flickered like the candle fixed on the beam above, and then -slowly went out. He murmured that he wished he had not left the deck, -that he had _not_ been a _great_ sinner, and said with deliberation, -“Thank God, I have done my duty.” “God and my country” were the last -words heard by the sorrowful little group gathered round their beloved -master. In the arms of Mr Walter Burke, the purser of the ship, Nelson -lay dead. - -And above, the heavy guns thundered a funeral dirge. - -As we have already seen, the _Victory_ was engaged in a duel with the -_Redoutable_ when Nelson received his death wound. For a short period -the Frenchman did not return the fire, and thinking that Captain Lucas -was about to surrender, the _Victory’s_ guns also kept silence. But -the interval had been used for another purpose. The French crew were -swarming over the bulwarks of the British flagship, climbing chains, -and even clambering over the anchor in their attempt to get on board. A -desperate resistance was offered, Captain Adair was killed by a musket -ball, as well as eighteen marines and twenty seamen. - -Help came from a sister ship. The _Téméraire_ (98)--the fighting -_Téméraire_ of Turner’s glorious picture--was now astern of the -_Redoutable_. Had she possessed the machine guns of to-day she could -hardly have swept the decks of the enemy with more deadly effect. The -men who were attempting to board went down like ninepins. The carnage -was awful; the sight sickening. When the smoke cleared, little heaps of -corpses were seen piled up on the decks, while the bodies of other poor -fellows floated on the sea, now tinged with the blood of victor and -vanquished. Five hundred and twenty-two of the _Redoutable’s_ crew fell -that day before she struck her colours. - -[Illustration: The Battle of Trafalgar (the “Victory” in centre of -foreground) - -W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A. - -=By permission of the Art Union of London, 112 Strand, Publishers of -the Etching=] - -The _Bucentaure_ and the _Santissima Trinidad_ were together throughout -the battle and received a succession of attacks from various ships -until they surrendered. Both of them were then little more than -dismasted hulks. Villeneuve fought with the strength of despair, -but the case was hopeless, and resistance only prolonged the agony. -No assistance came to him despite his frantic efforts to attract -attention. “My part in the _Bucentaure_ is finished!” he cried at last, -and so the gallant but weak-willed officer was taken. - -In appearance Villeneuve was “a tallish, thin man, a very tranquil, -placid, English-looking Frenchman; he wore a long-tailed uniform coat, -high and flat collar, corduroy pantaloons of a greenish colour, with -stripes two inches wide, half-boots with sharp toes, and a watch-chain -with long gold links.”[72] - -Other ships surrendered as the day wore on, the _Algéçiras_ (74) to -the _Tonnant_ (80), the _Swiftsure_ (74) and the _Bahama_ (74) to the -_Colossus_ (74), the _San Juan Nepomuceno_ (74) to the _Dreadnought_ -(98). Eighteen ships of the Allied Fleet were captured; one, the -_Achille_ (74), blew up with a terrific explosion. - -The _Victory_ had been roughly handled by her adversaries. In Hardy’s -report of the 5th December 1805, he says: - -“The hull is much damaged by shot in a number of different places, -particularly in the wales, strings, and spurketing, and some between -wind and water. Several beams, knees, and riders, shot through and -broke; the starboard cathead shot away; the rails and timbers of the -head and stem cut by shot, and the falling of the mizen-mast; the -principal part of the bulkheads, halfports, and portsashes thrown -overboard in clearing ship for action. - -“The mizen-mast shot away about 9 feet above the deck; the main-mast -shot through and sprung; the main-yard gone; the main-topmast and cap -shot in different places and reefed; the main-topsail yard shot away; -the foremast shot through in a number of different places, and is at -present supported by a topmast, and a part of the topsail and crossjack -yards; the fore-yard shot away; the bowsprit jibboom and cap shot, and -the spritsail and spritsail topsail yards, and flying jibboom gone; -the fore and main-tops damaged; the whole of the spare topmast yards, -handmast, and fishes in different places, and converted into jury geer. - -“The ship makes in bad weather 12 inches water an hour.”[73] - -At five o’clock Gravina made the signal for retreat. What a sorry lot -they were, those eleven ships--six Spanish and five French--which with -their consorts had attempted to dethrone the Mistress of the Seas. -Another four under the command of Dumanoir had also made good their -escape, but only to be captured off Cape Ortegal on November 4th, by -Sir Richard Strachan. - -An eye-witness on board the _Belleisle_ graphically describes the -scene after the last shot had been fired: “The view of the fleet at -this period was highly interesting, and would have formed a beautiful -subject for a painter. Just under the setting rays were five or six -dismantled prizes; on one hand lay the _Victory_ with part of our fleet -and prizes, and on the left hand the _Royal Sovereign_ and a similar -cluster of ships. To the northward, the remnant of the combined fleets -was making for Cadiz. The _Achille_, with the tricoloured ensign still -displayed, had burnt to the water’s edge about a mile from us, and our -tenders and boats were using every effort to save the brave fellows who -had so gloriously defended her; but only two hundred and fifty were -rescued, and she blew up with a tremendous explosion.” - -The battle was over, but much yet remained to be done. Eighteen -sail-of-the-line of the Allied Fleet had struck their flag, and it -was Collingwood’s difficult task to secure the prizes. “A continued -series of misfortunes,” to use the Admiral’s own words, “... of a kind -that human prudence could not possibly provide against, or my skill -prevent,” alone precluded him from keeping more than four trophies of -Trafalgar. - -“On the 22nd, in the morning,” he states in a despatch to the -Admiralty, “a strong southerly wind blew, with squally weather, which, -however, did not prevent the activity of the officers and seamen of -such ships as were manageable from getting hold of many of the prizes -(thirteen or fourteen), and towing them off to the westward, where I -ordered them to rendezvous round the _Royal Sovereign_, in tow by the -_Neptune_. But on the 23rd the gale increased, and the sea ran so high -that many of them broke the tow-rope, and drifted far to leeward before -they were got hold of again; and some of them, taking advantage of -the dark and boisterous night, got before the wind, and have perhaps -drifted upon the shore and sunk. On the afternoon of that day, the -remnant of the combined fleet, ten sail of ships,[74] which had not -been much engaged, stood up to leeward of my shattered and straggling -charge, as if meaning to attack them, which obliged me to collect a -force out of the least injured ships, and form to leeward for their -defence. All this retarded the progress of the hulks; and the bad -weather continuing, determined me to destroy all the leewardmost that -could be cleared of the men, considering that keeping possession of the -ships was a matter of little consequence, compared with the chance of -their falling again into the hands of the enemy; but even this was an -arduous task in the high sea which was running. I hope, however, it has -been accomplished to a considerable extent. I intrusted it to skilful -officers, who would spare no pains to execute what was possible. The -Captains of the _Prince_ and _Neptune_ cleared the _Trinidad_, and sunk -her. Captains Hope, Bayntun, and Malcolm, who joined the fleet this -morning, from Gibraltar, had the charge of destroying four others. The -_Redoutable_ sunk astern of the _Swiftsure_, while in tow. The _Santa -Ana_ I have no doubt is sunk, as her side is almost entirely beat in; -and such is the shattered condition of the whole of them, that, unless -the weather moderates, I doubt whether I shall be able to carry a ship -of them into port....” - -In a later letter Collingwood says, “There never was such a combat -since England had a fleet.” Three of the prizes, the _Santa Ana_, the -_Neptuno_, and the _Algéçiras_ escaped in the gale and entered Cadiz -harbour, the former two having been retaken by Cosmao Kerjulien, who -lost three ships over the transaction. The _Swiftsure_ (French), the -_San Ildefonso_, the _San Juan Nepomuceno_, and the _Bahama_ were the -only Trafalgar prizes saved; these were taken to Gibraltar. - -Villeneuve was sent to England and afterwards exchanged, Alava was -fortunate enough to reach Cadiz on board the shattered _Santa Ana_. -Although severely wounded, he recovered and lived for many years. -Cisneros, after a gallant resistance, also escaped, and was promoted -Vice-Admiral in return for his distinguished services, later taking -up the important positions of Captain-General and Minister of Marine. -Magon, who fought his flagship the _Algéçiras_ until he was struck dead -after receiving several wounds, is one of the most glorious names in -the naval annals of France. Three officers in turn were dangerously -wounded before the tattered flag of the battered hulk was finally -lowered. Of the other admirals, Cosmao retook the _Santa Ana_ and the -_Neptuno_, already noted, Dumanoir was court-martialed, and Gravina -succumbed to his wounds as these words formed themselves on his almost -nerveless lips: “I am a dying man, but I die happy; I am going, I hope -and trust, to join Nelson, the greatest hero that the world perhaps has -produced.”[75] Escano was injured in the leg, but reached Spain safely. -Napoleon’s officers paid dearly for the fight in Trafalgar Bay, but -Villeneuve was the scapegoat of Napoleon’s ambition. On his return to -France he took his own life. - -[Illustration: How the news of Trafalgar was carried to London - -Frank Dadd, R.I., from a sketch by C. W. Cole] - -Collingwood gave the number of prisoners as 20,000, and the monetary -loss of the enemy nearly £4,000,000, “most of it gone to the bottom.” -The British loss was 1690 killed and wounded; that of the allies 5860, -although no exact figures are obtainable. The captives were taken -to England, and the officers allowed on parole, but the seamen and -soldiers of the extinguished Allied Fleet were sent to the prisons of -Porchester, Forton, Weedon, Norman Cross, Mill Bay, and Stapleton, -locked up in local gaols, or interned in hulks. By a cruel fate the -_Bahama_ and the _Swiftsure_ were added to the number of the latter. -Few exchanges were made, and so the poor fellows either died in exile -or remained until the downfall of Napoleon secured them liberty. - -Thus ended the battle of Trafalgar--Napoleon’s maritime Waterloo. The -idea of a great military commander conducting operations at sea was -proved to be impracticable, while the superior qualities of British -seamanship were once more evident. The method of warfare practised -by the combined fleet, that of aiming at the rigging and picking -off combatants by sharp-shooting, was less successful than our own -principle of aiming at the vital parts of the hull. Whereas the British -succeeded in firing a gun nearly once a minute, it took three minutes -for the Allied Fleet to do so. The total armament on the English -vessels numbered 2148 guns, while the French had 1356, and the Spanish -1270, bringing the combined force to 2626. - -Great Britain gained enormously in prestige as a result of Nelson’s -overwhelming victory. Amongst other important consequences Trafalgar -led Napoleon to enforce his disastrous Continental System, by means -of which he hoped to exclude from the Continent the goods of his -persistent enemy. This, in its turn, brought on the war with Russia, a -big step towards the final catastrophe of Waterloo. - -More than two weeks passed before the people of England received -certain intelligence of the great rout of the enemy in Trafalgar Bay. -On the 6th November 1805, guns at the Tower and elsewhere announced -the victory, and the glad tidings flashed through the length and -breadth of the land-- - - _The heart of England throbbed from sea to sea._ - -But, alas! the idol of the nation lay dead in the keeping of his -comrades and sorrowing England could never again greet in life the son -who had loved her so well. - -Nelson had touched the imagination of high and low, and only the sad -circumstance of an early death in the moment of glorious victory was -wanted to ensure him the proudest place in all the long annals of -British naval history. - -Mr William Canton has written an exquisite poem[76] which well -expresses the mingled feelings of elation and grief with which the -nation received the great news. He imagines a “glittering autumn -morning” in Chester, the Cathedral bells clashing a jubilant peal for -the victory. But while yet the air is filled with the glad tongues of -the joy-bells-- - - _Hark, in pauses of the revel--sole and slow-- - Old St Werburgh swung a heavy note of woe! - Hark, between the jocund peals a single toll, - Stern and muffled, marked the passing of a soul! - English hearts were sad that day as sad could be; - English eyes so filled with tears they scarce could see; - And all the joy was dashed with grief in ancient Chester on the Dee!_ - -After Nelson’s remains had been embalmed at Gibraltar they were -conveyed in the _Victory_ to Portsmouth, which was reached on the -2nd December 1805. In the early days of the New Year there was a -lying-in-state in the beautiful Painted Hall of Greenwich Hospital, but -comparatively few of the many thousands of people who wished to pay a -last tribute of respect to the Admiral’s memory were able to do so. -The coffin, made out of the mainmast of the famous _l’Orient_ which -blew up at the Nile, enclosed in an outer case, was then removed to the -Admiralty, where it remained until the 9th January 1806, the day of -the public funeral. The Prince of Wales, Dukes of the realm, prelates, -statesmen, admirals, aristocrats and plebeians crowded into St Paul’s -Cathedral, a fitting shrine for the dust of the greatest sailor of the -country-- - - _Whose flag has braved a thousand years - The battle and the breeze._ - -An Earldom was conferred upon the Rev. William Nelson, a large sum -of money was voted by Parliament for the purchase of an estate to -be named after Trafalgar, and certain monies were given to the dead -Admiral’s two sisters. By such means the country sought to discharge -its heavy debt to the glorious memory of Nelson. Nothing was done for -Lady Hamilton, and although, at the time of Nelson’s death, her income -amounted to about £2000 a year she died in very reduced circumstances -at Calais in the year of Waterloo. Her daughter, and in all probability -Nelson’s, was married on the 24th February 1822 at Burnham, Norfolk, -to the Rev. Phillip Ward, M.A. She is described as both witty and -fascinating, and her portrait by Sir William Charles Ross makes one -believe that she was so. - -More than a century has passed since the great battle was fought “in -Trafalgar’s Bay,” but the memory of the little, one-eyed, one-armed -man is still treasured by those who believe, as he believed, that the -strength of Great Britain rests upon her command of the sea. - - _For he is England’s admiral, - Till setting of her sun._ - - - - -Index of Proper Names - - - Aboukir Bay, 102, 103 - - Acre, Siege of, 146 - - Acton, Sir John, 55, 119, 137, 141, 149, 216 - - Adair, Captain, 242 - - _Achille_, the, 244 - - Addington, 176, 180, 192, 196, 201, 204, 212 - - _Aigle_, the, 203, 204, 209 - - _Admiral Barrington_, the, 40 - - Africa, 46, 145 - - _Agamemnon_, the, 53, 54, 55, 56, 60, 61, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, - 70, 169, 172 - - Ajaccio, 98, 201, 216 - - _Ajax_, the, 228, 237 - - Alava, Vice-Admiral, 238 - - _Albemarle_, the, 36, 37, 38 - - Albert, Prince, 120, 121 - - _Alcmene_, the, 118 - - Alexandria, 100, 101, 103, 110 - - _Alexander_, the, 98, 106, 121, 130, 149, 153 - - Alexander I., 180 - - _Algéçiras_, the, 243 - - Algeziras, 194 - - Allemand, 226 - - Alessandria, 145 - - Ancona, 156, 157 - - Ancona, Siege of, 158 - - Andrews, Miss, 43, 58 - - Andrews, Lieutenant George, 58 - - Antigua, 44, 47, 48, 222 - - Antipodes, the, 201, 220 - - _Amazon_, the, 173, 187 - - America, 41, 46, 47 - - Amiens, Truce of, 196, 209 - - _Amphion_, the, 198 - - _Archimedes_, the, 120 - - Arezzo, 157 - - Asia, 46 - - _Audacious_, the, 107 - - Augereau, 183 - - Austria, 107, 116, 144 - - - _Badger_, the, 32 - - _Bahama_, the, 243, 247 - - Baird, Dr, 192, 200, 211 - - Ball, Captain Alexander, 98, 106, 116, 121, 128, 133, 181, 197, 201 - - Barbadoes, 45, 221, 222, 223 - - Barcelona, 202, 203 - - _Barfleur_, the, 44, 77, 81, 82 - - Barras, 146 - - Barrington, 32 - - Bastia, 59, 60, 61, 62, 71 - - Batavia, 198 - - Batavia, Army of, 183 - - Bath, 35, 43, 50, 86, 94 - - Baudoin, Captain Louis, 237 - - Bavaria, 145 - - Baynes, Lieutenant, 90 - - Bayntun, Captain, 221, 245 - - Beachy Head, 183 - - Beatty, Dr, 239, 240 - - _Bedford_, the, 67 - - _Belleisle_, the, 201, 244, 248 - - _Bellerophon_, the, 107 - - _Bellona_, the, 157, 172, 178 - - Belmonte, Prince, 156 - - Berry, Captain, 83, 84, 97, 102, 104, 105, 108, 109, 150, 151, 152, - 156 - - Berthier, 115 - - Bey of Tunis, the, 56 - - Bickerton, Sir Richard, 38, 50, 197, 226 - - Boigne, Comtesse de, 126 - - Birmingham, 196 - - Blackwood, Captain, 227, 231, 234, 235 - - _Blanche_, the, 74, 75 - - Blenheim, 195 - - _Blenheim_, the, 80, 81 - - Bonaparte, Napoleon, 57, 97, 145, 187, 192, 213, 218 - - _Boreas_, the, 44, 46, 49, 50 - - Borghetto, 69 - - Boulogne, 183, 184, 185, 186, 189, 200, 209, 215 - - Bowen, Captain Richard, 93 - - Box Hill, 182 - - Brecon, 195 - - Brereton, Brigadier-General, 222 - - Brest, 66, 67, 121, 127, 141, 143, 198, 202, 208, 209, 210, 212, 215, - 219, 226 - - Bridport, Admiral Lord, 99 - - _Bristol_, the, 30 - - _Britannia_, the, 81 - - Bronté, 143 - - Brueys, Admiral, 103, 104, 108 - - Bruix, 128, 143 - - _Bucentaure_, the, 239, 242 - - Burke, Walter, 242 - - Burgh, de, Lieutenant-General, 76 - - Burnham Thorpe, 20, 43, 50 - - Bussorah, 29 - - Byron, Admiral, 31 - - - Cadiz, 54, 55, 77, 79, 87, 88, 89, 96, 128, 143, 201, 203, 204, 209, - 210, 213, 214, 218, 220, 222, 223, 226, 230, 231, 233-236, 239, - 245 - - Cadogan, Mrs, 157, 160 - - Cagliari, 56, 216 - - Caimakan Pacha, the, 151 - - _Ça-Ira_, the, 66, 67 - - Calabria, 121 - - Calais, 183, 186 - - Campbell, Rear-Admiral, 202, 210, 214 - - Campbell, Commodore Donald, 221 - - Canada, 24 - - Candia, 109, 200 - - _Canopus_, the, 201 - - Canterbury, 23 - - Canton, William, 248 - - _Captain_, the, 67, 70, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 88 - - Capaci, 158 - - Capraja, island of, 72 - - Capri, 120, 125 - - Capua, 126, 139, 141 - - Capua, Siege of, 140 - - Caracciolo, Commodore, 110, 123, 126, 135, 136, 138 - - _Carcass_, the, 25, 26, 27 - - Carlyle, 31 - - Caroline, Queen, 126, 153, 154 - - Carthagena, 76, 141, 143 - - Caserta, 126 - - Castel San Giovanni, 157 - - Cayenne, 215 - - _Censeur_, the, 67 - - _Ceres_, the, 74, 75 - - Chatham, 23, 24, 25 - - Chatham, First Earl of, 188 - - Chatham, Second Earl of, 51 - - Cherasco, 71 - - Chesterfield, Lord, 52 - - Chevalier de Michaud, 32 - - Choiseul, 31 - - Cisneros, 246 - - Civita Vecchia, 98, 144 - - Clarence, Duke of, 90, 95, 126 - - Cochrane, 221, 223 - - Cockburn, Captain, 74 - - Collingwood, Captain, 35, 78, 79, 81, 82, 85, 196, 218, 223, 226, - 228, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, 244, 246 - - Colomb, Admiral, 12 - - _Colossus_, the, 85, 231, 243 - - Colpoys, Sir John, 198 - - _Concepcion_, the, 54 - - Constantinople, 126, 146 - - Copenhagen, 165, 167, 168, 169, 171, 179, 181, 194 - - Copenhagen, battle of, 168, 171, 180, 181 - - Cordova, Don Josef de, 77 - - Corfu, 103, 109, 198 - - Cornwallis, Earl, 34, 35 - - Cornwallis, Sir William, 35, 198, 200, 209, 214, 215, 223, 226 - - Corsica, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64, 66, 71, 72, 73, 88, 128, 129, 145, - 208 - - Coruña, 53, 202, 203 - - Cosmao, 246 - - Cronstadt, 180, 181 - - _Culloden_, the, 78, 79, 80, 81, 85, 90, 104, 118, 134, 144 - - Culverhouse, Lieutenant, 75, 76 - - - Dacres, Captain, 78 - - Dalling, Sir John, 32, 34 - - _Dannebrog_, the, 172, 174, 175, 178 - - D’Aubant, General Abraham, 61, 62 - - Davison, Alexander, 193, 196, 205 - - Deal, 184, 191 - - Decaen, 197 - - Decrès, 230 - - _Defence_, the, 176, 231 - - _Defiance_, the, 178 - - Dego, 71 - - Denmark, 34, 163, 164, 167, 180 - - _Desirée_, the, 172, 178 - - Despard, Captain, 34 - - D’Estaing, Count, 31, 32, 33 - - _Diadem_, the, 80, 82 - - Diamond Rock, 223 - - Dieppe, 186 - - Dixon, Captain Charles, 40 - - _Dolphin_, the, 29 - - Dominica, 222, 223 - - _Donegal_, the, 201, 204 - - D’Orvilliers, Count, 31 - - Dover, 184, 185 - - Downs, the, 99 - - Draco, 167 - - _Drake_, the, 40 - - _Dreadnought_, the, 24, 243 - - Dresden, 159, 160 - - Drinkwater, Lieutenant-Colonel, 80 - - Duckworth, Rear-Admiral, 127, 141 - - Dumanoir, 229, 241, 244, 246 - - Dumouriez, 161 - - Dundas, Lieutenant-General David, 59, 60, 61 - - Dundonald, Earl of, 155 - - Dunkirk, 183 - - _Duquesne_, the, 56 - - - _Egmont_, the, 81 - - Egypt, 98, 116, 118, 126, 143, 146, 194, 198, 202, 207, 208, 216, 219 - - Elba, 71, 73, 74, 87, 89, 216 - - El Arish, Convention of, 147 - - _Elephant_, the, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 178 - - Ellis, Sir S. B., K.C.B., 237 - - Elgin, Earl of, 146 - - Elliot, Sir Gilbert, 70, 71, 75, 85, 100, 206 - - Elsinore, 37 - - England, 29, 34, 35, 42, 43, 52, 70, 73, 78, 79, 107, 111, 155, 156, - 161, 163, 179, 180, 183, 185, 197, 201, 203, 205, 208, 209, - 213, 227, 232, 246 - - Erskine, Sir James, 144, 148 - - Essex, 183 - - Europe, 52, 117, 166, 179, 192, 213, 223 - - _Euryalus_, the, 228, 231, 236 - - _Excellent_, the, 78, 81, 82, 83 - - - Fall, the pirate, 37 - - Farmer, Captain, 29 - - Fearney, William, 84 - - Ferdinand, King, 113, 117, 118, 126, 130, 137, 139, 140, 142, 149 - - Ferguson, Mr, 168 - - Ferrol, 198, 208, 219, 223, 224, 226 - - _Ferret_, the, 211 - - Finland, Gulf of, 181 - - Fischer, Commodore, 174 - - Fitchett, Dr, 104 - - Flanders, 186 - - Florence, 156, 157 - - Flushing, 183, 186, 188 - - Foley, Captain, 173, 177 - - Foote, Captain, 131, 132 - - Fornelli, 59 - - _Fougueux_, the, 237, 238 - - _Foudroyant_, the, 109, 129, 131, 133, 136, 137, 139, 149, 150, - 152, 158, 159 - - Fox, General, 148 - - _Fox_, the, 91 - - France, 24, 31, 34, 41, 52, 53, 58, 68, 71, 73, 115, 116, 127, 145, - 147, 163, 189, 192, 197, 198, 200, 202, 209 - - Frederick, Captain, 80 - - Frederick the Great, 117 - - Fremantle, 177 - - Frere, John Hookham, 204 - - _Freya_, the, 164 - - Froude, J. A., 31 - - - Gaeta, 141 - - Galwey, Lieutenant, 105 - - _Ganges_, the, 177, 178 - - Ganteaume, Vice-Admiral, 212, 215, 219, 223, 226 - - Gardner, Lord, 198 - - Genoa, 65, 68, 69, 72, 98, 129, 149, 197 - - George III., 85, 95, 196 - - Gibraltar, 30, 87, 110, 202, 229, 231, 248 - - _Glasgow_, the, 32, 33 - - _Glatton_, the, 174, 178 - - Gloucester, 195 - - _Goliath_, the, 81, 104, 118, 130 - - Gourdon, 219 - - Gourjean, 65 - - Gozo, 109 - - Graham, Brigadier-General, 148 - - Græme, Admiral, 184 - - Graves, Admiral, 167, 173 - - Gravina, 218, 229, 233, 244 - - Great Britain, 24, 31, 33, 41, 46, 52, 53, 58, 72, 137, 145, 163, - 164, 180, 183, 191, 197, 247, 249 - - Grenville, Lord, 69, 154, 155 - - Gutierrez, Don Antonio, 93 - - - Haïti, 33 - - Hallowell (is Carew, Sir Benjamin), 63, 79, 109, 129 - - Hamburg, 161 - - Hamilton, Lady, 110, 112, 113, 115, 116, 118, 120, 121, 122, 123, - 130, 131, 133, 137, 138, 140, 151, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, - 160, 165, 182, 184, 187, 190, 193, 225, 227, 230, 234, 240, - 241, 249 - - Hamilton, Sir William, 61, 110, 111, 113, 115, 118, 121, 124, 131, - 133, 140, 151, 153, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 182, 195 - - Hardy, Thomas, Masterman, etc., 75, 76, 121, 129, 162, 234, 239, 240, - 241, 243 - - Haverfordwest, 195 - - Haydn, 159 - - Helvoet, 188 - - _Hermione_, the, 232 - - Hières, Islands of, 205, 211 - - _Hinchinbrook_, the, 33, 34 - - Hispaniola, 30, 33 - - Holland, 31, 34, 41, 53, 99, 198 - - Hood, Lord, 39, 40, 41, 50, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, - 65, 67, 92, 110, 129, 189 - - Hope, Captain, 118, 119, 245 - - _Holstein_, the, 172 - - Hotham, 32, 65, 66, 68, 70 - - Howe, Lord, 31, 43, 50 - - Hughes, Sir Richard, 45, 47, 50 - - Hughes, Sir Edward, 29 - - Hughes, Lady, 44 - - Hyde Park, 193 - - - _Inconstant_, the, 66 - - _Incorruptible_, the, 211 - - _Indomptable_, the, 238 - - India, 100 - - Inman, Captain, 172 - - _Invincible_, the, 165 - - Ipswich, 96 - - Ireland, 77, 108, 202, 209, 223 - - _Iris_, the, 39 - - _Irresistible_, the, 80, 81, 82 - - Ischia, 120, 125 - - _Isis_, the, 172 - - Italy, 57, 88, 118, 122, 126, 143, 145, 162, 229 - - - _Jamaica_, the, 169, 172 - - Jamaica, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 221, 223 - - James II., 75 - - _Janus_, the, 35 - - Jervis, Sir John, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 82, 85, 86, 94 - (see St Vincent). - - Josephine, 49 - - Juan, Fort San, 34 - - - Keith, Lord, 123, 128, 129, 130, 131, 134, 139, 140, 141, 143, 146, - 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 155, 164, 194, 198 - - Kent, 183 - - Keppel, the Hon. Vice-Admiral A., 31 - - Kiöge Bay, 180, 181 - - Kléber, 147 - - Knight, Miss Cornelia, 110, 156, 160, 161 - - Knight, Sir Joseph, 110, 156 - - - _La Diane_, 107 - - _La Justice_, 107 - - _La Minerva_, 136 - - Langara, 54 - - _L’Aquilon_, 105 - - _L’Artemise_, 106 - - _La Sérieuse_, 106 - - La Touche Tréville, 189, 190, 209, 210, 211, 213 - - Laughton, Sir J. Knox, 123, 135, 163 - - Lauriston, General, 192 - - _Leander_, the, 100, 109 - - _Le Conquérant_, 105 - - _Le Généreux_, 106, 107, 109, 148, 149, 151 - - Leghorn, 55, 64, 71, 117, 118, 148, 153, 197 - - _Le Guerrier_, 105 - - _Le Guillaume Tell_, 106, 107, 150, 156 - - Leopold, Prince of Salerno, 149 - - _Le Souverain Peuple_, 105 - - _Le Spartiate_, 105 - - _Le Timoleon_, 107 - - _Le Tonnant_, 107 - - Levant, the, 202 - - _L’Heureux_, 105 - - Lincoln, 33 - - Lindholm, Adjutant-General, 177 - - Linzee, Commodore, 56, 57, 59 - - _Lion_, the, 35, 150 - - Lisbon, 96 - - _Lively_, the, 82 - - Lloyd, Sir Thomas, 32 - - Locker, William, 30, 33, 35, 46, 51 - - London, 19, 36, 43, 50, 86, 94, 182, 183, 191, 194 - - _London_, the, 172, 177, 178 - - _L’Orient_, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 145, 248 - - Loudon, Field-Marshal, 117 - - Louis XV. of France, 24, 126 - - Louis XVI., 53 - - _Lowestoffe_, the, 30 - - Lucas, Captain, 232 - - Lutwidge, Admiral, 25, 27, 183 - - - Macaulay, 53 - - Mack, General, 117, 119 - - Macdonald, Marshal, 135 - - Madalena Islands, 200, 207, 216 - - Madrid, 204 - - Magon, Admiral, 229, 246 - - Mahan, Admiral, 31, 122, 131, 134, 138, 171 - - Mahon, 148 - - Malcolm, Captain, 245 - - _Malta_, the, 150 - - Malta, 98, 100, 101, 116, 118, 121, 122, 123, 127, 128, 130, 144, - 148, 149, 150, 153, 156, 197, 207, 216, 217, 219 - - Malta, Siege of, 143 - - Man, Admiral, 203 - - Mantua, 145 - - Margate, 184 - - Marlborough, Duke of, 195 - - Maria Antoinette, 116 - - Maria Carolina, Queen, 111, 116 - - Maria Theresa, 116 - - Maritimo, 128, 130, 131 - - Marquis de Niza, 117, 118 - - Marquis d’Osmond, 126 - - Marseilles, 201 - - _Mars_, the, 231 - - Martinique, 33, 215, 218, 221, 223 - - McArthur, Mr John, 144 - - Masséna, 145 - - _Medusa_, the, 187 - - _Melpomène_, the, 56 - - Melville, Lord, 217 - - _Mercedes_, the, 214 - - Merton Place, 193, 195, 196, 227, 241 - - Messer, Captain, 158, 159 - - Messina, 100, 128, 148 - - Milford, Duke of, 195 - - Miller, Captain R. W., 83, 84, 92, 107 - - Millesimo, 71 - - _Minerve_, the, 74, 75, 76, 77 - - Minto, Lord, 149, 151, 225 - - Minorca, 126, 139, 141, 143, 148 - - Miomo, 62 - - Missiessy, Admiral, 215, 218, 223, 226 - - _Monarch_, the, 172, 176, 178 - - Mondovi, 71 - - Monmouth, 195 - - Moore, Sir John, 53, 58, 59 - - Montague, Admiral George, 198 - - Montenotte, battle of, 71 - - Montreuil, 42 - - Montserrat, 222 - - Morea, the, 200, 202, 208, 210, 216 - - Moreau, 145 - - Morpeth, 193 - - Morris, Judge O’Connor, 122 - - Mortello, tower of, 59 - - Moseley, Dr, 208 - - Moutray, Captain, 47 - - Mulgrave, Lord, 25 - - Myers, Sir William, 222 - - - _Namur_, the, 81 - - Naples, 54, 55, 71, 107, 110, 112, 113, 116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, - 125, 127, 130, 131, 133, 139, 142, 143, 154, 163, 198, 216, 219 - - Napoleon, 32, 57, 71, 73, 88, 98, 102, 107, 111, 117, 145, 146, 180, - 183, 184, 186, 188, 191, 194, 200, 208, 209, 211, 212, 214, - 215, 218, 226, 229, 247 - - Nelson, Catherine, 20 - - Nelson, Edmund, 20, 23, 143 - - Nelson, William, 22, 202, 212, 249 - - _Neptune_, the, 245 - - _Neptuno_, the, 239, 246 - - Nevis, 49, 50 - - Newfoundland, 39 - - Newhouse, Captain, 110 - - New York, 39 - - Nicolas, Sir Harris, 156, 193 - - Nile, battle of, 102, 142, 148 - - Nisbet, Josiah, 53, 54, 90, 91, 93 - - Nisbet, Mrs, 49, 182 - - Nore, the, 99 - - _Northumberland_, the, 149 - - Norfolk, 20, 36, 86, 88, 94 - - North America, 31 - - North Walsham, 20, 22 - - Norwich, 20, 86, 94 - - Nuovo, fort of, 132, 134 - - Nova Scotia, 46 - - Novi, 145 - - Nuovo, fort of, 132, 134 - - - Otto, M., 191 - - Oldfield, Captain, 90 - - Oporto, 127 - - Orde, Sir John, 214, 220 - - Orfordness, 183 - - _Orion_, the, 78, 80, 81, 82 - - Oxford, 195 - - - Paget, the Hon. A., 153, 154, 155 - - Palermo, 118, 120, 121, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 135, 137, 142, 148, - 150, 153, 155, 216 - - Pantellaria, 216 - - Paoli, 58 - - Paris, 98, 145 - - Parker, Captain, 33, 190, 191 - - Parker, Lady, 35 - - Parker, Sir Peter, 30, 32, 35 - - Parker, Sir Hyde, 70, 80, 81, 164, 166, 167, 168, 178, 180 - - Parker, Sir William, 100 - - Parsons, Lieutenant G. S., 77, 78, 80, 136 - - Pasco, 235 - - Paul I., 164, 180 - - _Pegasus_, the, 50 - - Pellew, 202 - - _Penelope_, the, 150 - - Percy, Josceline, 115 - - Perrée, Rear-Admiral, 149 - - Petersburg, 126 - - Pettigrew, 7 - - Phipps, Captain Constantine John, 26 - - Piccadilly, 195, 196 - - Piedmont, 69, 71 - - Pierson, Lieutenant, 83, 84 - - Pigot, Captain James, 29 - - Pisaro, 158 - - Pitt, William, 52, 53, 180, 213 - - Plymouth, 37, 50 - - Polson, Sir John, 35 - - _Polyphemus_, the, 169 - - Ponza Islands, 125 - - Pope, 43 - - Porqueroles, castle of, 212 - - Port Mahon, 127, 129, 144 - - Porto Ferrajo, 71, 73, 76, 87 - - Port Royal, 33 - - Portsmouth, 29, 37, 41, 197 - - Portugal, 73, 107 - - Prague, 159 - - Preston, Captain D’Arcy, 75 - - Prince Regent, the, 177 - - _Prince George_, the, 80, 81 - - _Principe d Asturias_, the, 89 - - Procida, Islands of, 125, 133 - - _Proselyte_, the, 62 - - Prussia, 34, 180 - - - Quebec, 39 - - - _Racehorse_, the, 26 - - _Raisonnable_, the, 23, 24 - - _Ramilies_, the, 176 - - Ramsgate, 184 - - Rathbone, John, 24 - - _Redoutable_, the, 232, 239, 242, 245 - - _Revenge_, the, 203 - - Richery, Admiral, 203 - - Riou, Captain, 172, 173, 174 - - Robinson, Captain Mark, 29, 30 - - Rochefort, 198, 202, 209, 210, 215, 216, 226 - - Rogers, Samuel, 37 - - Rogliani, 58 - - Rome, 117, 144 - - Romney, 61, 160 - - Rose, Captain, 172 - - Rosily, 229 - - Ross, 195 - - Ross, Sir William Charles, 249 - - _Royal Sovereign_, the, 233, 235, 237, 238, 244, 245 - - Ruffo, Cardinal, 126, 131, 132, 134, 135, 137 - - _Russell_, the, 169, 172, 178 - - Russia, 34, 107, 126, 163, 200, 213, 247 - - - _Santissima Trinidad_, the, 77, 78, 80, 84, 239, 240, 242 - - Sardinia, King of, 115 - - Sardinia, 55, 56, 71, 129, 201, 207, 212, 216 - - Saumarez, Captain Sir James, 78, 79, 109, 193 - - Savannah, 33 - - Scott, Dr, 240 - - _Seahorse_, the, 29, 79, 94, 131, 132 - - Sheerness, 184 - - Sicily, 100, 122, 127, 131, 139, 148, 150, 198, 207, 216, 219 - - _Siren_, the, 211 - - Smith, Sir Sidney, 123, 125, 143, 145, 146, 147 - - Smith, Spencer, 146 - - Smyrna, 126 - - Southey, 7, 138 - - Southolm, 167 - - Spain, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 72, 73, 89, 99, 199, 203, 204, 242, 246 - - Spencer, Lord, 100, 113, 124, 126, 134, 139, 140, 141, 145, 152, 155 - - Spezia, 129, 153 - - Spithead, 50, 64, 94, 96, 99, 223, 236 - - St Cyr, General, 208 - - St George, Mrs, 159 - - _St George_, the, 164, 165, 167, 178 - - St Kitts, 48 - - St Lucia, 32, 222 - - St Omer, 42 - - St Vincent (see Jervis), 85, 88, 89, 93, 96, 98, 99, 109, 118, 122, - 123, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 151, 152, 164, 177, 181, 183, - 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 205 - - San Domingo, 198, 201, 202 - - San Fiorenzo, 58, 59, 60, 62, 68 - - _San Josef_, the, 84, 86, 162 - - _San Juan Nepomuceno_, the, 243, 246 - - _San Justo_, the, 238 - - _San Leandro_, the, 238 - - _San Nicholas_, the, 84 - - _Sannite_, the, 120 - - _Sans Culottes_, the, 67 - - _Santa Ana_, the, 238, 246 - - Santa Cruz, 89, 94, 95 - - _Santa Sabina_, the, 74, 75 - - Spry, Mr, 35 - - Staines, 182 - - Sterne, 42 - - Stewart, Colonel William, 168 - - Stirling, Admiral, 223 - - Strachan, Sir Richard, 201, 203, 244 - - Stuart, Captain Don Jacobo, 74, 76 - - Stuart, General, 64 - - _Success_, the, 149 - - Suckling, John, 20 - - Suckling, Captain Maurice, 20, 23, 24, 91 - - Suckling, William, 36, 43, 56 - - Suffolk, 183 - - _Superb_, the, 223, 225 - - Surrey, 193, 196 - - Sussex, 183 - - Suwarrow, 144, 145, 160 - - Swansea, 195 - - Sweden, 34, 163, 168, 180 - - _Swiftsure_, the, 243, 245 - - Switzerland, 145 - - Sykes, John, 88 - - Syracuse, 101, 150 - - - Taranto, 208 - - _Téméraire_, the, 242 - - Teneriffe, 89 - - Tetuan, 220 - - _Thalia_, the, 110 - - _Theseus_, the, 88, 91, 94, 107 - - Thesiger, Captain Sir Frederick, 175, 177 - - Thompson, Horatia Nelson, 234, 240, 249 - - _Thunderer_, the, 228 - - Thurn, Count, 136 - - Thursfield, James R., 123, 124 - - Tippoo Saib, 100 - - Tobago, 221 - - _Tonnant_, the, 105, 237, 243 - - Toro, 216, 219 - - Toulon, 54, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 76, 77, 96, 97, 98, 132, 133, - 145, 197, 201, 202, 205, 207, 208, 210, 215, 217, 218, 222 - - Trabaccoli, 157 - - Trafalgar, 53, 86, 90, 109, 230, 246, 247 - - Trench, Mrs, 159, 160 - - Trench, R. C, Archbishop of Dublin, 159 - - Trieste, 109, 126, 156, 158 - - _Triumph_, the, 24 - - Trinidad, 221, 222 - - Troubridge, Captain, 78, 79, 80, 90, 92, 93, 95, 127, 129, 131, 133, - 139, 143, 144, 149, 150 - - Tucker, Colonel J. M., 26 - - Tunis, 56, 59, 216 - - Turin, 54, 68, 115 - - Turkey, 107 - - Tuscany, Grand Duke of, 57 - - Tuscany, 115, 117, 118, 126 - - - _Unité_, the, 184 - - Ushant, 31, 198, 223 - - - Vado Bay, 130 - - Valetta, 150 - - _Vanguard_, the, 96, 97, 98, 103, 104, 105, 110, 113, 119, 120, - 121, 129 - - Vansittart, Mr, 165, 166, 181 - - Vaudreuil, M., 39 - - _Vestale_, the, 66 - - _Victory_, the, 19, 65, 66, 78, 79, 81, 82, 115, 197, 198, 200, - 201, 223, 225, 228, 231 - - Vienna, 126, 155, 156, 159 - - Vigo, 224, 226 - - Villeneuve, 209, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 223, 229, 232, 234, 239, - 242, 243 - - Villettes, Lieutenant-Colonel, 62 - - Vincent, Earl of St (see Jervis) - - Voinovitsch, Count, 158 - - Voltri, 69 - - - Wales, 195 - - Walpole, Galfridus, 120 - - Walpole, Sir Robert, 20 - - Ward, Rev. Phillip, 249 - - Warwick, 196 - - Waterloo, 247 - - Wellington, Duke of, 113 - - West Indies, 24, 31, 39, 46, 202 - - Whitehall, 227 - - William, Prince (or William IV.), 40, 50 - - _William Tell_, the, 151 - - Wolfe, 61 - - Woodward, Dr., 35 - - Woolwich, 29, 36 - - Wooton, 20 - - Worcester, 196 - - _Worcester_, the, 29 - - Wroxham, 94 - - - Yarmouth, 161, 165, 181 - - Yorktown, 34 - - - _Zealand_, the, 172 - - _Zealous_, the, 107 - - Zurich, battle of, 145 - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] Robert Browning. - -[2] The Report is given in full in Laughton’s edition of “Nelson’s -Letters and Despatches,” pp. 409-11. The editor discovered it in the -Record Office, Admiral’s Despatches, Mediterranean, xxxi. 272. - -[3] See lines on page opposite. - -[4] A Chippendale arm-chair, which was given to Nelson by his great -grandfather, was presented by the boy to Mrs Luckins, his nurse, when -he left home to join the Navy. It appeared in an auction room so -recently as 1908. - -[5] In other words, tow the vessels. - -[6] Ships of war sent to accompany merchantmen during hostilities so as -to protect them from the enemy. - -[7] A private vessel commissioned to attack and capture the vessels of -an enemy. - -[8] See _post_, Chapter xix. - -[9] Nelson’s successor and friend. - -[10] Sir Richard Bickerton (1727-92) sailed from England with a convoy -on the 6th February 1782. He took part in an indecisive engagement -with Suffrein, off Pondicherry, on the 20th June 1783. Not more than -two-thirds of the British crews were effective owing to scurvy. - -[11] In his Autobiography Nelson gives the number as three. - -[12] More detailed particulars of this thrilling siege will be found in -the author’s companion volume, “The Story of Napoleon,” pp. 60-64. - -[13] See _ante_, page 43. - -[14] Captain Benjamin Hallowell (1760-1834). He afterwards assumed the -name of Carew, and became a Vice-Admiral in 1819. - -[15] “The Royal Navy,” by Wm. Laird Clowes, vol. iv., p. 153, vol. v., -pp. 9-10. - -[16] “The Navy League Annual, 1910-11,” p. 226. - -[17] Parsons gives Nelson the title which he had not then won. See -_post_, p. 85. - -[18] “Larboard” has now been superseded by “port,” _i.e._ the left. - -[19] See _post_ p. 224. - -[20] See _ante_, p. 90. - -[21] The Earl of St Vincent appointed him a Master and Commander. - -[22] Captain Richard Bowen, of H.M.S. _Terpsichore_, who was killed at -Santa Cruz. - -[23] This is in marked contrast to the generous words he wrote to the -Earl of St Vincent on the 24th July.--See _ante_, p. 90. - -[24] To bring the vessel round with her stern to the wind. - -[25] _i.e._ the Toulon fleet. - -[26] His “Authentic Narrative” of the battle was published in 1798, -and is a plain, straightforward account of Nelson’s first great naval -action without a superior in command. We shall have occasion to quote -it freely in this chapter. Berry was Nelson’s captain. - -[27] See “Deeds that Won the Empire,” p. 100. - -[28] _Ibid._ p. 103. - -[29] See _Comment_, ii. 341-2, also Mahan’s “Sea Power,” i. 269. - -[30] Among those who perished were Commodore Casabianca and his young -son, whose bravery is immortalised in the well-known poem by Mrs Hemans. - -[31] Battle of the Nile. - -[32] Miss Knight is referring to the Earl of St Vincent’s flagship, and -not to a vessel named after him. - -[33] See _ante_, pp. 72-3. - -[34] He had held the position since 1765. - -[35] In 1804. - -[36] Maria Theresa (1717-1780), Archduchess of Austria, Queen of -Hungary and Bohemia, and Empress of Germany. She crossed swords with -Frederick the Great on more than one occasion, and participated in the -partition of Poland, 1772. - -[37] Parthenopeia was the ancient name of Naples. - -[38] Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. - -[39] After the fall of the Bastille on the 14th July 1789, many of the -French nobility left the country. In 1790, hereditary nobility was -abolished by the National Assembly. _Émigrés_ who had not returned to -France by the 1st January 1792 were declared traitors. - -[40] See _post_, pp. 131-8. - -[41] See _post_, Chapters xiv. and xv. - -[42] This additional corroborative evidence has not been noticed by -many of Nelson’s recent biographers. - -[43] The squadron in Naples Bay was placed under Troubridge. - -[44] Pius VI. - -[45] See _ante_, p. 24. - -[46] The arrival of _La Marguerite_ on the 14th June, with provisions -for the French garrison. Keith’s letters are printed as he wrote them. - -[47] Vol. i., pp. 212-7. Dated Palermo, May 13, 1800. - -[48] Compare this statement with that of Paget, given on p. 154. - -[49] Lady Hamilton’s mother. - -[50] Miss Knight and Mrs Cadogan sailed on one of the frigates, -commanded by Captain Messer, an Englishman. - -[51] She was the daughter of a domestic servant, and at the age of -thirteen became a children’s nurse. - -[52] Afterwards increased to eighteen. - -[53] Subsequently Lord Bexley. - -[54] Parker’s flag-ship. - -[55] This incident is bereft of much of its romance by the knowledge -that Sir Hyde Parker sent a verbal message to the effect that the -question of discontinuing the action was left to the discretion of -Nelson. - -[56] TO THE GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK. _Elephant, 2nd April, 1801_: Lord -Nelson’s object in sending on shore a Flag of Truce is humanity: he, -therefore, consents that hostilities shall cease till Lord Nelson can -take his prisoners out of the Prizes, and he consents to land all the -wounded Danes, and to burn or remove his Prizes. Lord Nelson, with -humble duty to His Royal Highness, begs leave to say, that he will ever -esteem it the greatest victory he ever gained, if this Flag of Truce -may be the happy forerunner of a lasting and happy union between my -most gracious Sovereign and his Majesty the King of Denmark. - -[57] TO THE BROTHERS OF ENGLISHMEN, THE DANES. Lord Nelson has -directions to spare Denmark, when no longer resisting; but if the -firing is continued on the part of Denmark, Lord Nelson will be obliged -to set on fire all the Floating-batteries he has taken, without having -the power of saving the brave Danes who have defended them. Dated on -board his Britannic Majesty’s ship _Elephant_, Copenhagen Roads, _April -2nd, 1801_. - -[58] Nelson afterwards found it necessary to address the Rt. Hon. Henry -Addington, then Prime Minister, on the subject. In a letter written on -the 8th May 1801, he refers to those who thought the sending of a flag -of truce a _ruse de guerre_, to others who “attributed it to a desire -to have no more fighting, and few, very few, to the cause that I felt, -and which I trust in God I shall retain to the last moment, _humanity_.” - -[59] The letter will be found in full in footnote 1, p. 175. - -[60] See “Napoleon and the Invasion of England,” by H. F. B. Wheeler -and A. M. Broadley, especially vol. i. pp. 159-194. - -[61] A volunteer corps enrolled for the purpose of defending the coast. - -[62] See “Annual Register,” for 1801, p. 269. - -[63] The _Aigle_ had taken refuge in Cadiz harbour. - -[64] The despatch is quoted in French by Professor Sir W. Knox Laughton -in his edition of Sir N. Harris Nicolas’s great work (pp. 354-5). - -[65] See Mahan’s “Nelson,” p. 661, and Laughton, p. 202. - -[66] These were crippled ships detached by Villeneuve. - -[67] Mahan accepts this, but Laughton discredits it. - -[68] The total British broadside was 1000 lbs. less. - -[69] Not by telegraph as we understand it, but by semaphore. - -[70] De la Gravière, p. 252. - -[71] Blackwood is, of course, generalising. - -[72] “Seadrift,” p. 253. - -[73] “The Three Dorset Captains at Trafalgar.” By A. M. Broadley and -R. G. Bartelot, M.A., p. 286. - -[74] Eleven ships in all escaped into Cadiz. - -[75] “Diary of the first Earl of Malmesbury,” vol. iv., p. 354. - -[76] _Trafalgar_ in “W. V. Her Book and Various Verses.” - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes - - -Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a -predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not -changed. - -Simple typographical errors were corrected. - -Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. - -Index entries were not checked for proper alphabetization or correct -page references. They were not systematically compared with their -spellings on the pages they reference, but when differences were found, -the Index entries were changed to match the references. - -In the Index, ships’ names were printed in italics and all other -entries were printed in boldface. To improve readability in this eBook, -the boldface entries are shown in normal weight. - -Page 27: “walrusses” was printed that way. - -Page 33: “Haïti” was printed that way; in the Index, it is printed as -“Häiti”. - -Page 149: Closing quotation mark added after “command in the -Mediterranean.” - -Page 246: “court-martialed” originally was printed as -“court-marshalled”. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Boys' Nelson, by Harold F. B. 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padding-left: 2em;} - .poem .attrib {max-width: 25em; margin-right: 0;} - .poem .stanza {page-break-inside: avoid;} - - .transnote { - page-break-inside: avoid; - margin-left: 2%; - margin-right: 2%; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - padding: .5em; - } -} - </style> - </head> - -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boys' Nelson, by Harold F. B. Wheeler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Boys' Nelson - The Story of Nelson - -Author: Harold F. B. Wheeler - -Release Date: December 20, 2015 [EBook #50731] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOYS' NELSON *** - - - - -Produced by Shaun Pinder, Charlie Howard, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<h1 class="vspace wspace"> -THE STORY<br /> -OF NELSON</h1> - -<hr /> - -<div id="ad" class="newpage p4 center"><div class="center-block"> -<p class="center larger"><i>Uniform with this Volume</i></p> - -<p class="p1 in0">THE STORY OF NAPOLEON</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="p0 in0 in2">By <span class="smcap">Harold F. B. Wheeler</span>, -F.R.Hist.S. With 16 full-page Illustrations.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="in0">FAMOUS VOYAGES OF THE<br /> -<span class="in4">GREAT DISCOVERERS</span></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="p0 in0 in2">By <span class="smcap">Eric Wood</span>. With 16 full-page -Illustrations.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="in0">THE STORY OF THE CRUSADES</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="p0 in0 in2">By <span class="smcap">E. M. Wilmot-Buxton</span>, -F.R.Hist.S. With 16 full-page Illustrations -by <span class="smcap">M. Meredith Williams</span>.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="in0">STORIES OF THE<br /> -<span class="in4">SCOTTISH BORDER</span></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="p0 in0 in2">By Mr and Mrs <span class="smcap">William Platt</span>. -With 16 full-page Illustrations by -<span class="smcap">M. Meredith Williams</span>.</p></blockquote> -</div></div> - -<hr /> - -<div id="i_frontis" class="newpage p4 figcenter" style="width: 441px;"> - <img src="images/i_004.jpg" width="441" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>The “Belleisle” went into action at Trafalgar with the words - “Victory or Death” chalked on her guns</p></div> - -<p class="notbold center">Frank Craig, from a sketch by C. W. Cole</p> -<p class="p0 in0 up1"><i>Fr.</i></p> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"> -<span class="large">THE BOYS’<br /> -<span class="gesperrt larger">NELSON</span></span></h2> - -<p class="p2 center vspace"><i>BY</i><br /> -<span class="larger"><span class="smcap">Harold F. B. Wheeler</span> F.R.Hist.S.</span></p> - -<p class="p1 center small vspace">MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION<br /> -JOINT-AUTHOR OF<br /> -‘NAPOLEON AND THE INVASION OF ENGLAND’ AND<br /> -‘THE WAR IN WEXFORD 1798’<br /> -AUTHOR OF<br /> -‘THE MIND OF NAPOLEON’ ‘THE BOYS’ NAPOLEON’ AND<br /> -‘THE MAXIMS OF NAPOLEON’</p> - -<p class="p2 center smaller vspace">‘<i>He is the only man who has ever lived<br /> -who, by universal consent, is without a peer</i>’<br /> -<span class="in2">ADMIRAL SIR CYPRIAN BRIDGE G.C.B.</span></p> - -<p class="p2 center vspace wspace larger">NEW YORK<br /> -<span class="larger">THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY</span><br /> -PUBLISHERS</p> - -<p class="p2 center small"><i>Printed by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh</i></p> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p class="newpage p4 center vspace"><span class="smaller">DEDICATED TO</span><br /> -<span class="larger">MY FATHER AND MOTHER</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7">7</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a id="Foreword"></a>Foreword</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">The</span> career of the little one-eyed, one-armed -man who frustrated Napoleon’s ambitious -maritime plans for the subjugation of England, -who is to sailors what Napoleon is to soldiers, who -represented in his person all that sea power meant -when the very existence of our forefathers was threatened -in the latter days of the eighteenth century and the -first half-decade of its successor, must ever appeal to -those for whom Great Britain means something more -than a splash of red on a coloured map.</p> - -<p>I do not wish to suggest that his fame is insular. -On the contrary, it is universal. Other lands and -other peoples share in our admiration of him. We -must not forget that it was an American naval officer, -Admiral Mahan, who first gave us a really great book -about this truly great man. In his “Life of Nelson,” -we have the hero’s career reviewed by an expert whose -knowledge of tactics has not blinded him to the more -romantic aspects of Nelson’s forty-seven years of life. -Before its appearance readers were dependent upon -the facts and fancies of the biography by Clarke and -McArthur, the “Memoirs” of Pettigrew, or the stirring -but often inaccurate pictures of Southey. The seven -substantial tomes of “Nelson’s Letters and Despatches,” -edited with indefatigable industry by Sir Harris Nicolas, -were not compiled for the general public, although -they have furnished much material for later historians -and must necessarily be the foundation of every modern -book on Nelson.</p> - -<p>On our own side of the Atlantic there is no more<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8">8</a></span> -eminent authority than Sir J. Knox Laughton, Litt.D., -Professor of Modern History at King’s College, -London. He has not only epitomised Nicolas’s work, -but added to our knowledge by his excellent “Nelson” -(English Men of Action Series), “Nelson and his -Companions in Arms,” and “From Howard to Nelson.” -His numerous miscellaneous contributions to the -subject are also of great interest to the serious -student.</p> - -<p>Although there is no Nelson cult like that which is -associated with the memory of Napoleon, England’s -great sailor has inspired a considerable literature, as -even the shelves of my own library bear witness. There -are works on his career as a whole, the campaigns -associated with his name, his relations with Lady -Hamilton, and so on. The only excuse I can offer for -adding to the list is, I hope, a valid one. It seems to -me that Nelson’s life, told in his own words as much -as possible, would specially appeal to the young, and -there is, so far as I am aware, no book which does this -in the simple manner which I deem to be necessary. -For help in carrying out my plan of writing a volume -of the kind indicated I am particularly indebted to -Nicolas’s “Letters” and Prof. Sir J. Knox Laughton’s -edition of them.</p> - -<p>For good or evil the name of Emma, Lady Hamilton, -is inextricably associated with that of Nelson. Many -and varied have been the attempts to whitewash the -character of her whom he regarded as “one of the -very best women in the world.” While it is difficult -to associate the possessor of the beauty which appealed -with such irresistible force to such painters as Romney, -Reynolds, Lawrence, and Madame Vigée Le Brun, with -“a most inherent baseness,” it is an indisputable fact -that she exercised an adverse influence on Nelson’s -career. Her humble origin, her loveliness, her poses, -her attempts at statecraft, above all, her connection -with the great sailor, have made her the subject of -almost innumerable volumes. For those who wish to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9">9</a></span> -read an impartial study I would recommend Mr Walter -Sichel’s “Emma, Lady Hamilton.”</p> - -<p>Nelson’s written communications are not studied -literary efforts, but spontaneous expressions of his -inmost thoughts. For these reasons they are of inestimable -value in an attempt to sum up his life and aims. -The kindest of men, he sometimes chose to mix vitriol -with his ink. He wrote what he meant, and it was -always very much to the point. Less eminent folk -have sometimes disguised what they thought and -written what they imagined would please. Such was -never Nelson’s way.</p> - -<p>“This high man with a great thing to pursue,”<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">1</a> was -never a trifler. He recognised the importance of a -supreme navy and the supreme importance of its <em>personnel</em>. -He watched the health of his men as a loving -mother watches that of her children. Proof of this is -furnished in a Report of the Physician to the Fleet, -dated the 14th August 1805.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">2</a> In it Dr Leonard -Gillespie says that “the high state of health” was -“unexampled perhaps in any fleet or squadron heretofore -employed on a foreign station.” He attributes -this to such causes as the attention paid to the victualling -and purveying for the ships; a sane system of heating -and ventilation; lack of idleness and intemperance, -due to “the constant activity and motion in which the -fleet was preserved”; the promotion of cheerfulness -by means of music, dancing, and theatrical amusements; -comfortable accommodation of the sick; and -by the serving of Peruvian bark, mixed in wines or -spirits, to men “employed on the service of wooding -and watering,” which obviated any ill effects.</p> - -<p>Nelson was quite able to “stand on his dignity,” -to use a colloquial and comprehensive phrase, and -several instances will be discovered by the reader as he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10">10</a></span> -peruses the following pages, but it is quite wrong to -think that he was in the least a martinet. For instance, -during the trying period when he was hungering for the -French fleet to leave Toulon, he wrote to an officer: -“We must all in our several stations exert ourselves -to the utmost, and not be nonsensical in saying, ‘I have -an order for this, that, or the other,’ if the king’s -service clearly marks what ought to be done.” Everyone -has heard how Nelson referred to his captains and -himself as “a band of brothers.” You have only to -turn to the memoirs of these gallant officers to learn -the truthfulness of this remark. They loved him: that -is the only term that exactly meets the case.</p> - -<p>What of the humbler men who worked the ships? -Read the following, which was sent home by a rough -but large-hearted sailor of the <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, Collingwood’s -flagship at Trafalgar, when he heard that the -Master Mariner lay cold in the gloomy cockpit of the -<i>Victory</i>: “Our dear Admiral is killed, so we have paid -pretty sharply for licking ’em. I never set eyes on -him, for which I am both sorry and glad; for to be -sure I should like to have seen him—but then, all the -men in our ship who have seen him are such soft -toads, they have done nothing but blast their eyes and -cry ever since he was killed. God bless you! Chaps -that fought like the Devil sit down and cry like a wench.”</p> - -<p>This spontaneous and perhaps unconscious tribute -is worth more than the encomiums of all modern historians -and biographers put together.</p> - -<p>In studying the life of one who has played a leading -rôle on the stage of history there are always a number -of subsidiary authorities which will repay perusal. -The memoirs of the men who were associated with him, -of those of his contemporaries who occupied official -or high social positions, even of much humbler folk -who have transferred their opinions to paper or had it -done for them, are oftentimes extremely important. -To print a bibliography of the works of this kind which -I have consulted would be inadvisable in such a volume<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11">11</a></span> -as this, necessarily limited as it is to a certain number -of pages. I need only say that the nooks and crannies -have been explored besides the main thoroughfare.</p> - -<p>In the Foreword to my companion volume upon -Napoleon, I endeavoured to show that periods of -history are merely make-believe divisions for purposes -of clearness and reference. I wish to still further -emphasise this extremely important point, because I -find that one of our most cherished delusions is that -history is largely a matter of dates. Nothing of the -kind! Those who think thus are confusing history -with chronology—in other words, mistaking one of -the eyes for the whole body. Dates are merely useful -devices similar to the numerals on the dial of a clock, -which enable us to know the hour of the day without -abstruse calculations. The figures 1805 help us to -memorise a certain concrete event, such as the battle -of Trafalgar, but they do not tell us anything of the -origin of that event any more than a clock defines the -meaning of time.</p> - -<p>The age in which Nelson lived was not conspicuous -for its morals. This is a factor which must be taken -into consideration when we attempt to sum up his -character. The standards of 1911 are scarcely the -standards of over a century ago. The code of virtue -varies, although the law does not. The grave of -Nelson’s moral reputation was dug in Sicily, where he -had every provocation, but he certainly never attempted -to extricate himself from the pit into which he had -fallen. “<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">De mortuis nil nisi bonum</i>” is a good maxim -for the Gospel of Things as they Ought to Be, but cannot -apply to the Testament of Things as they Were. The -vanity of both Nelson and Lady Hamilton contributed -to their downfall, the sordid story of which is necessarily -referred to in later pages of this work. I am of opinion -that the lack of sympathy shown to the Admiral, -particularly during Pitt’s administrations, was largely -due to Court influence. George III. was a man of -frigid austerity, and Nelson’s private life was too well<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12">12</a></span> -known for the King to countenance it by showing him -favours. He recognised the value of the man’s services, -but preferred to take as little notice as possible of the -man himself. In this he was unjust.</p> - -<p>Although Nelson hated the French so vehemently, -I cannot help thinking, after a prolonged study of his -career, that he had many of their characteristics. His -vivacity, his imagination, his moods tend to confirm -me in this. A less typical specimen of John Bull would -be difficult to find.</p> - -<p>A word or two concerning Nelson’s crowning victory -and then I must bring my lengthy introduction to a -conclusion. It has a literature all its own. A wordy -warfare, which was indulged in the correspondence -columns of the <cite>Times</cite> from July to October 1905, -made one almost believe that it is easier to fight a battle -than to describe it accurately. To use Prof. Sir J. -Knox Laughton’s terse phrase, “the difficulty is that -the traditional account of the battle differs, in an important -detail, from the prearranged plan.” The late -Admiral Colomb held a brief for the theory that the -two columns of the British fleet moved in line abreast, -or in line of bearing, as against the old supposition of -two columns, line ahead. In this contention, he is -supported by Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, G.C.B., -whose ideas are set forth in a pamphlet issued by the -Navy Records Society, an institution which is doing -excellent work in rescuing historical documents relating -to the service from ill-deserved oblivion. To add further -to the discussion would probably serve no useful purpose. -The second volume of “Logs of the Great Sea-fights -(1794–1805),” and “Fighting Instructions, 1530–1816,” -both published by the Society already mentioned, will -be found extremely useful to those who would pursue -the subject in detail.</p> - -<p>Tennyson’s “Mighty Seaman” has been apotheosised -in poetry as well as in prose,</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="iq">“<i>For he is Britain’s Admiral</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Till setting of her sun,</i>”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p class="in0"><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13">13</a></span> -to quote Meredith’s superb lines. Wordsworth, Scott, -Rossetti, Henley, Swinburne, Newbolt and others have -said noble things of the Man of Duty, while Nelson -looms large in Thomas Hardy’s magnificent epic, -“The Dynasts.” No one who has read it is likely to -forget:</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="iq">“<i>In the wild October night-time, when the wind raved round the land,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>And the Back-Sea met the Front-Sea, and our doors were blocked with sand,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>And we heard the drub of Deadman’s Bay, where the bones of thousands are,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>We knew not what the day had done for us at Trafalgar.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i18">(<span class="smcap">All</span>) <i>Had done,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i24"><i>Had done,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i24"><i>For us at Trafalgar!</i><br /></span> -</div> - -<div class="tb">* <span class="in2">* </span><span class="in2">* </span><span class="in2">* </span><span class="in2">*</span></div> - -<div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>The victors and the vanquished then the storm it tossed and tore,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>As hard they strove, those worn-out men, upon that surly shore;</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Dead Nelson and his half-dead crew, his foes from near and far,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Were rolled together on the deep that night at Trafalgar.</i><br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i18">(<span class="smcap">All</span>) <i>The deep,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i24"><i>The deep,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i24"><i>That night at Trafalgar!</i>”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15">15</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2> -</div> - -<table id="toc" summary="Contents"> - <tr class="small"> - <td> </td> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> - <tr> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Foreword</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Foreword">7</a></td></tr> - <tr class="small"> - <td class="tdr">CHAP.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">I.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Boyhood and First Years at Sea</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_I">19</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">II.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Hero in the Making</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_II">29</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">III.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Pleasure in France and Work in the West Indies</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_III">42</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">IV.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Beginning of the Great War</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_IV">52</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">V.</td> - <td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">I Wish to be an Admiral</span>”</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_V">66</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">VI.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nelson’s First Great Fight: The Battle of Cape St Vincent</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_VI">74</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">VII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">From Triumph to Failure: The Attempt on Santa Cruz</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_VII">87</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">VIII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">In Chase of the French Fleet</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_VIII">96</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">IX.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Battle of the Nile</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_IX">102</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">X.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Neapolitan Court and Lady Hamilton</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_X">112</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XI.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Neapolitan Rebels and their French Allies</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XI">125</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nelson in Temporary Command</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XII">139</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XIII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Disobedience to Orders</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XIII">148</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XIV.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Campaign of the Baltic</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XIV">162</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XV.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Battle of Copenhagen</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XV">171</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XVI.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Threatened Invasion of England</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XVI">182</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XVII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Vigil off Toulon</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XVII">195</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16">16</a></span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XVIII.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Twelve weary Months in the Mediterranean</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XVIII">207</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XIX.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Crisis</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XIX">215</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XX.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nelson’s Last Command</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XX">225</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr chap">XXI.</td> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Rout in Trafalgar Bay</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXI">232</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17">17</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a id="Illustrations"></a>Illustrations</h2> -</div> - -<table id="loi" summary="Illustrations"> - <tr class="small"> - <td colspan="3"> </td> - <td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The “Belleisle” at Trafalgar</span></td> - <td class="tdr rpad">(<i>Frank Craig</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2"><a href="#i_frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nelson and the Bear</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Stephen Reid</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_26">26</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">He had the ill-luck to fall upon hard stones</span>”</td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Stephen Reid</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_44">44</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl" colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Comparison of the “Victory” with the “Hercules”</span></td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_64">64</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">I’ll not lose Hardy!</span>”</td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>H. C. Seppings Wright</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_76">76</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nelson Wounded at Santa Cruz</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>R. Caton Woodville</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_90">90</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">The Flame that lit the Battle’s Wreck</span>”</td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Chas. Dixon, R.I.</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_106">106</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Execution of Caracciolo</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Stephen Reid</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_135">136</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Lady Hamilton</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Romney</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_156">156</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nelson Landing at Yarmouth</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Stephen Reid</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_160">160</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">I really do not see the Signal</span>”</td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Stephen Reid</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_172">172</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl" colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Lord Nelson</span></td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_192">192</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Hoisting the Famous Signal</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>C. M. Padday</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_234">234</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Nelson and Collingwood Cutting the Enemy’s Lines</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>H. C. Seppings Wright</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_238">238</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Battle of Trafalgar</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A.</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_242">242</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">How the News of Trafalgar was Carried to London</span></td> - <td class="tdr" colspan="2">(<i>Frank Dadd, R.I.</i>)</td> - <td class="tdr pgnum"><a href="#ip_246">246</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18">18</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="newpage p4 poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"><i> -<span class="i0">For ages past our admirals brave<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Pre-eminent have stood;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And, spite of all the world, have held<br /></span> -<span class="i2">The mast’ry of the flood,<br /></span> -<span class="i4">Howe, Duncan, Hood,<br /></span> -<span class="i4">And Collingwood,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Long triumphed o’er the main;<br /></span> -<span class="i4">While Nelson’s name,<br /></span> -<span class="i4">So dear to Fame!—<br /></span> -<span class="i0">We may never see their like again</span></i> -</div></div> -</div> -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19">19</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter" id="Chapter_I"> - -<div id="ip_19" class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> - <img src="images/i_021.jpg" width="600" height="279" alt="" /> - <div class="captionl"><p>The headpiece, a sketch by Mr W. L. Wyllie, R.A., is printed by -permission of the Art Union of London, 112 Strand.</p></div></div> - -<h2 class="nobreak">Chapter I—Boyhood and First Years -at Sea (1758–1773)</h2> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">Thus</span><a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">3</a> runs one of the verses of a song dear -to the British sailor for many a long year. -Nelson, dead over a century, is still revered -in the King’s Navy. To the landsman there is no -more popular hero. The <i>Victory</i>, riding at anchor in -the placid waters of the Solent and in view of the cobble-covered -sally port through which the Hero walked to -his barge, still flies an admiral’s flag. One of the most -modern battleships in the service bears his name, the -most famous of London’s many columns is crowned -by his effigy. Canvas sails have given place to steam -turbines, the days of oak and hemp are gone, but the -memory of “the greatest sea captain of all time” is -at once an incentive and an inspiration to every true -patriot. His ashes lie in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral; -his spirit lives in the nation for whom he sacrificed his -life. Perhaps we should not be far wrong in venturing -the apparent paradox that the further we recede from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20">20</a></span> -his life and times the more clearly we understand his -consummate genius and appreciate the value of his -achievements. There is no sunset, only an added -glory with the passing of the years.</p> - -<p>Horatio Nelson was born in the quaint old parsonage -house of Burnham Thorpe, a Norfolk Sleepy Hollow, -on the 29th September 1758. His father, the Rev. -Edmund Nelson, M.A., was rector of the parish, and -as a clergyman was following the profession of his -immediate ancestor. His mother, Catherine Nelson, -was the daughter of the Rev. Dr Maurice Suckling, -Rector of Wooton, Norfolk, Prebendary of Westminster, -and grandnephew of Sir John Suckling, whose name is -known to all students of English literature and of -history. Galfridus Walpole, another of Mrs Nelson’s -relatives, had displayed considerable bravery in an -engagement with the French in Vado Bay in 1711. -It was through Captain Maurice Suckling, Nelson’s -uncle, that the young son of the parsonage eventually -entered the Navy. In addition, his mother was a -grandniece of Sir Robert Walpole, the famous Whig -statesman, and could therefore boast a distinguished -lineage.</p> - -<p>Horatio was the sixth child of a constantly growing -family, and early caused anxiety owing to his delicate -constitution. In later years his letters and despatches -teem with reference to his ill-health, which was accentuated, -of course, by injuries which he received in the -performance of his duty. However, he breathed -deeply of the North Sea air which wafted through his -native village, was tenderly cared for by loving parents, -and became sufficiently robust to be sent to the High -School at Norwich. The venerable building, endowed -by Edward VI., stands within the cathedral precincts. -It is now fronted by a statue of its illustrious scholar. -Later he attended a school at North Walsham, now -one of the yachting centres of the Norfolk Broads, -where the curious will find a brick on which the letters -H. N. are scratched.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21">21</a></span> -It is somewhat remarkable that so few boys who -become great men ever attract sufficient notice during -their early scholastic career for their comrades to remember -anecdotes about them likely to be of assistance -to the biographer. Few anecdotes of Nelson in his -younger days have been handed down to posterity, -but the following have probably some basis of fact.</p> - -<p>When quite a small boy he stayed for a time with his -grandmother. On one occasion he did not return at -the accustomed dinner-hour, thereby causing the good -dame considerable anxiety, especially as gipsies were -in the neighbourhood and kidnapping was by no -means unknown. He was eventually found seated -on the banks of a brook examining with considerable -interest a number of birds’ eggs he had secured in -company with a chum. “I wonder, child, that fear -did not drive you home!” the old lady said when -the missing Horatio was restored to her. “Fear, -grandmamma!” he replied in a tone of disgust, “I -never saw fear—what is it?”</p> - -<p>There you have the secret of Nelson’s life summed up -in a single pregnant sentence. His total lack of fear -carried him through many a trying ordeal, enabled -him at times to defy the command of a senior officer -when he was convinced that his own plan of operations -was better, and helped him to bear the heat and -burden of the day when his physical energy was almost -exhausted.</p> - -<p>On another occasion he was “dared” by some -companions to visit the graveyard unattended at -night. As a token of good faith he was to bring a -twig from a certain yew tree at the south-west corner -of All Saints’ Church. The uncanny task was successfully -accomplished. From thenceforth he was a hero, -as he deserved to be.</p> - -<p>A further instance of Nelson’s early lack of fear is -afforded us. His master at North Walsham was particularly -proud of a certain pear-tree, and his scholars -were equally covetous of the delicious fruit which it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22">22</a></span> -bore. Each preferred the other in the task of picking -any of the pears because of the speedy retribution -which they knew would follow. One night Horatio -volunteered the task. His friends tied several sheets -together and lowered him from the dormitory to the -garden. He swarmed up the tree, secured the forbidden -and therefore much prized fruit, and was hauled up -again. On distributing the booty, he justified his -action in his own mind by assuring the recipients that -he had only taken the pears “because every other boy -was afraid.” Few hours passed before the schoolmaster -found that his tree had been plundered. It -redounds to the credit of the boys that they refused -to “split” on their comrade, although it is said that a -tempting reward was offered for the discovery of the -culprit.</p> - -<p>One winter morning Horatio and his brother William -set out for school on their ponies. They had not gone -very far before they found the snow so deep as to be -almost impassable. They returned to the Parsonage -and told their father of the great drifts. He persuaded -them to try again, adding that he left it to their -honour not to turn back unless it was absolutely -necessary.</p> - -<p>The snow was falling in heavy flakes when they -made their second attempt. William’s heart soon -failed him. He suggested that they had sufficient -reason to return. Horatio was as adamant. “Father -left it to our honour. We must go forward,” he -replied, and in due course they arrived at the -school.</p> - -<p>William, who was the elder by seventeen months, -had the greatest affection and esteem for his brother. -In later years he was his constant correspondent, and -after Horatio’s death he was created Earl Nelson of -Trafalgar. Like his father and grandfather, William -became a clergyman, in which profession he rose -to the dignity of Prebendary and Vice Dean of -Canterbury.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23">23</a></span> -It was during the Christmas vacation of 1770 that -Nelson casually picked up a newspaper and read of -Captain Maurice Suckling’s appointment to the <i>Raisonnable</i>, -a ship of sixty-four guns. The announcement -seems to have had an instant effect upon Horatio. -“Oh, William,” he exclaimed to his brother, who was -standing near, “do, <em>do</em> write to father, and tell him that -I want to go to sea with uncle!”</p> - -<p>The Rev. Edmund Nelson was staying at Bath owing -to ill-health. When he received his son’s letter he -was inclined to dismiss the proposition as a mere boyish -whim. On thinking it over a little more carefully he -decided that perhaps the youngster really desired -what he asked, and he accordingly consulted his -brother-in-law on the matter. The officer replied in -the easy-going manner of sailors, “Well, let him come -and have his head knocked off by the first cannon-ball—that -will provide for him.” He was afraid -Horatio would never be able to stand the rough-and-ready -life, but he had the good sense to know that -there is nothing like putting a theory to a practical -test.</p> - -<p>The Navy was not then the skilfully-organised -machine it has since become. It was one of the privileges -of a captain that he might take two or three lads -to sea with him as midshipmen or to serve in some -subordinate position. Captain Suckling accordingly -sent for Horatio, and we find his name on the ship’s -books under date of the 1st January 1771. The <i>Raisonnable</i> -was then anchored in the Medway.</p> - -<p>The lad’s father accompanied his twelve-year-old -son as far as London, put him into the Chatham stagecoach, -and then left him to his own resources. It was -neither a pleasant journey in the rambling old carriage, -nor were the streets of Chatham particularly inviting -when he set foot in them. Nobody met the adventurer, -and for some time he wandered about until he -met an officer who directed him to the ship which -was to be his temporary home. When he was safely<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24">24</a></span> -on board it was to find that his uncle had not -arrived.<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">4</a></p> - -<p>The <i>Raisonnable</i> was one of the vessels commissioned -when hostilities between Great Britain and Spain -appeared imminent owing to trouble respecting the -Falkland Islands, a group in the South Atlantic. In -1770 Spain had insulted the British colonists there by -compelling the garrison at Fort Egmont to lower their -flag. The matter was settled amicably, for the all-sufficient -reason that Spain did not feel strong enough -to come to blows with Great Britain unless she was -assisted by France, and as the support of that Power -was not forthcoming, she climbed down. Consequently -Nelson was not introduced to the horrors of -naval warfare at this early stage, and the cannon-ball -which his uncle prophesied would knock off the lad’s -head did not leave the cannon’s mouth.</p> - -<p>When the <i>Raisonnable</i> was paid off Captain Suckling -was given command of the guard-ship <i>Triumph</i> (74), -stationed in the Medway, and recognising that no good -could come to his nephew by staying on such a vessel, -he secured a position for him shortly afterwards in a -merchant ship bound for the West Indies. This was -not a difficult matter, because the Master was John -Rathbone, who had served with Suckling on the <i>Dreadnought</i> -during part of the Seven Years’ War, that great -struggle in which Louis XV. of France had been forced -to cede Canada to Great Britain.</p> - -<p>Nelson seems to have enjoyed the experience. In a -sketch of his life, which he wrote several years later -for the <cite>Naval Chronicle</cite>, he says:</p> - -<p>“From this voyage I returned to the <i>Triumph</i> at -Chatham in July 1772; and, if I did not improve in -my education, I returned a practical seaman, with a -horror of the Royal Navy, and with a saying, then<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25">25</a></span> -constant with the seamen, ‘Aft the most honour, -forward the better man!’ It was many weeks before -I got in the least reconciled to a man-of-war, so deep -was the prejudice rooted; and what pains were taken to -instil this erroneous principle in a young mind! However, -as my ambition was to be a seaman, it was always -held out as a reward, that if I attended well to my -navigation, I should go in the cutter and decked longboat, -which was attached to the commanding officer’s -ship at Chatham. Thus by degrees I became a good -pilot, for vessels of that description, from Chatham -to the Tower of London, down the Swin, and to the -North Foreland; and confident of myself amongst -rocks and sands, which has many times since been of -the very greatest comfort to me. In this way I was -trained, till the expedition towards the North Pole -was fitted out; when, although no boys were allowed -to go in the ships (as of no use), yet nothing could -prevent my using every interest to go with Captain -Lutwidge in the <i>Carcass</i>; and, as I fancied I was to -fill a man’s place, I begged I might be his coxswain: -which, finding my ardent desire for going with him, -Captain Lutwidge complied with, and has continued -the strictest friendship to this moment. Lord Mulgrave, -who I then first knew, continued his kindest friendship -and regard to the last moment of his life. When the -boats were fitted out to quit the two ships blocked up -in the ice, I exerted myself to have the command of a -four-oared cutter raised upon, which was given me, -with twelve men; and I prided myself in fancying I -could navigate her better than any other boat in the -ship.”</p> - -<p>In this cold, matter-of-fact way, Nelson dismisses -a phase of his life fraught with peril and adventure. -When the majority, if not all, of his former school-fellows -were reading of the doings of gallant seamen -and brave soldiers he was undergoing actual experiences. -The expedition in question had been suggested by -the Royal Society, and was commanded by Captain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26">26</a></span> -Constantine John Phipps, eldest son of Lord Mulgrave. -The <i>Racehorse</i> and <i>Carcass</i>, heavy ships known as bombs -because they mounted one or more mortars for use in -bombardments when on ordinary service, sailed from -the Nore on the 4th June 1773. All went well until -the 31st July, when the ice closed upon the vessels, -and further progress became impossible.</p> - -<div id="ip_26" class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"> - <img src="images/i_029.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>Nelson and the Bear</p> - -<p class="notbold">Stephen Reid</p></div></div> - -<p>“The following day,” says Colonel J. M. Tucker in -his “Life and Naval Memoirs of Lord Nelson,” “there -was not the smallest opening, the ships were within -less than two lengths of each other. 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 the 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 quarter. -By the pilot’s advice, the men were set to cut a passage -and warp<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">5</a> through the small openings to the westward. -They sawed through pieces of ice twelve feet thick; -and this labour continued the whole day, during which -their utmost efforts did not move the ships above three -hundred yards, while they were driven together, with -the ice, far to the north-east and east by the current. -Sometimes a field of several acres square would be -lifted up between two larger islands, and incorporated -with them; and thus these larger pieces continued to -grow by cohesive aggregation. Another day passed, -and there seemed no probability of getting the ships -out, without a strong east or north-east wind.</p> - -<p>“The season was far advanced, and every hour -lessened the chance of extricating themselves. Young -as he was, Nelson was appointed to command one of -the boats which were sent out to explore a passage into -the open water. It was the means of saving a boat -belonging to the <i>Racehorse</i> from a singular but imminent -danger. Some of the officers had fired at, and wounded,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27">27</a></span> -a walrus.... The wounded animal dived immediately, -and brought up a number of its companions; and they -all joined in an attack upon the boat. They wrested -an oar from one of the men; and it was with the utmost -difficulty that the crew could prevent them from staving -or upsetting her, till the <i>Carcass’s</i> boat, under Nelson, -came up. The walrusses, finding their enemies thus -reinforced, dispersed.</p> - -<p>“A short time after this occurrence, young Nelson -exposed himself in a more daring manner. One night, -during the mid-watch, he stole from the ship with one -of his comrades, taking advantage of a rising fog, and -set out over the ice in pursuit of a bear. Nelson, in -high spirits, led the way over the frightful chasms in -the ice, armed with a rusty musket, as was his companion. -It was not, however, long before the adventurers were -missed by those on board; and, as the fog had much -increased, the anxiety of Captain Lutwidge and his -officers for them was very great. Between three -and four in the morning, the mist having nearly dispersed, -the hunters were discovered at a considerable -distance, attacking a large bear. The signal for their -return was instantly made; but it was in vain that -Nelson’s companion urged him to obey it. He was at -this time divided by a rent in the ice from his shaggy -antagonist, which probably saved his life; for the -musket had flashed in the pan, and their ammunition -was expended. ‘Never mind,’ exclaimed Horatio, -‘do but let me get a blow at this devil with the butt -end of my musket, and we shall have him.’ His companion, -finding that entreaty was in vain, left him, -and regained the ship. The Captain, seeing the young -adventurer’s danger, ordered a gun to be fired to terrify -the enraged animal; this had the desired effect; but -Nelson was obliged to return without his bear. Captain -Lutwidge, though he could not but admire so daring -a disposition, reprimanded him rather sternly for such -rashness, and for conduct so unworthy of the situation -he occupied; and desired to know what motive he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28">28</a></span> -could have for hunting a bear. ‘Sir,’ he replied, -pouting his lip, as he was wont to do when agitated, -‘I wished to kill a bear, that I might carry its skin to -my father.’”</p> - -<p>Towards the middle of August the two ships were -able to forge their way through the ice, although not -without considerable difficulty, and duly sailed for -home waters.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29">29</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_II"></a>CHAPTER II<br /> - -<span class="subhead">A Hero in the Making<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1773–1783)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>True honour, I hope, predominates in my mind far above riches</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -—<span class="smcap">Nelson</span>. -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">We</span> are fortunate in having an account of -Nelson’s early career at sea penned by -himself, otherwise the material at our disposal -would be extremely scanty. The story of the -next few years is therefore told in his own words. -What it lacks in picturesqueness is made up for in -authenticity:</p> - -<p>“On our arrival in England,” he says, “and paid -off, 15 October [1773], I found that a squadron was -fitting out for the East Indies; and nothing less than -such a distant voyage could in the least satisfy my -desire of maritime knowledge: and I was placed in -the <i>Seahorse</i> of 20 guns, with Captain Farmer, and -watched in the foretop; from whence in time I was -placed on the quarter-deck: having, in the time I was -in this ship, visited almost every part of the East Indies, -from Bengal to Bussorah. Ill-health induced Sir -Edward Hughes, who had always shown me the greatest -kindness, to send me to England in the <i>Dolphin</i> of -20 guns, with Captain James Pigot, whose kindness -at that time saved my life. This ship was paid off at -Woolwich on 24 September, 1776. On the 26th I -received an order from Sir James Douglas, who commanded -at Portsmouth, to act as lieutenant of the -<i>Worcester</i>, 64, Captain Mark Robinson, who was ordered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30">30</a></span> -to Gibraltar with a convoy.<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">6</a> In this ship I was at sea -with convoys till 2 April, 1777, and in very bad weather. -But although my age might have been a sufficient -cause for not entrusting me with the charge of a watch, -yet Captain Robinson used to say, ‘he felt as easy -when I was upon deck, as any officer in the ship.’</p> - -<p>“On [the 9th] April, 1777, I passed my examination -as a lieutenant; and received my commission the next -day, as second lieutenant of the <i>Lowestoffe</i> frigate of -32 guns, Captain (now Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich -Hospital) William Locker. In this ship I went -to Jamaica; but even a frigate was not sufficiently -active for my mind, and I got into a schooner, tender -to the <i>Lowestoffe</i>. In this vessel I made myself a -complete pilot for all the passages through the (Keys) -Islands situated on the north side [of] Hispaniola. -Whilst in this frigate, an event happened which presaged -my character; and, as it conveys no dishonour to the -officer alluded to, I shall relate it.</p> - -<p>“Blowing a gale of wind, and very heavy sea, the -frigate captured an American letter of marque.<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">7</a> The -first lieutenant was ordered to board her, which he did -not, owing to the very high sea. On his return on -board, the captain said, ‘Have I no officer in the ship -who can board the prize?’ On which the master ran -to the gangway, to get into the boat; when I stopped -him, saying, ‘It is my turn now; and if I come back, -it is yours.’ This little incident has often occurred -to my mind; and I know it is my disposition, that -difficulties and dangers do but increase my desire of -attempting them.</p> - -<p>“Sir Peter Parker, soon after his arrival at Jamaica, -1778, took me into his own flag-ship, the <i>Bristol</i>, as -third lieutenant; from which I rose by succession to -be first. Nothing particular happened whilst I was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31">31</a></span> -in this ship, which was actively employed off Cape -François, being the commencement of the French war.”</p> - -<p>A few words with reference to the hostilities mentioned -are needed as explanation. The war between Great -Britain and her colonists in North America, which -culminated in the birth of a new World-Power, now -known as the United States, had broken out in 1775, -although the seeds of dissension had been sown much -earlier. This unfortunate and disastrous quarrel had -also embroiled “the mother of nations” in a strife -with France and Spain, whose help the New Englanders -secured in 1778 and 1779 respectively. In 1780 -Holland became involved. The foolishness of not having -sufficiently watched the doings of a potential enemy -now became apparent. For several years “resolute -Choiseul, the abrupt proud man” of Carlyle, had -bent his energies on increasing the French navy, and -when the Brest fleet of thirty-two sail-of-the-line, under -Count D’Orvilliers, met the British fleet of thirty sail, -under Vice-Admiral the Hon. A. Keppel, off Ushant -on the 27th July 1778, the action was indecisive. In -American waters Lord Howe hove in sight of the fleet -under D’Estaing, the French commander having better -ships and heavier metal, but while Howe was manœuvring -to attack the enemy a storm parted the would-be -contestants. Both suffered considerable damage by -wind and not by shot as had been anticipated. Shortly -afterwards Admiral Byron took over Howe’s command -and endeavoured to come up with D’Estaing’s ships. -Unfortunately the Frenchman had sailed to the West -Indies, which “in this protracted contest,” to use the -words of Admiral Mahan, was to be “the chief scene -of naval hostilities....” “The West Indies is the -Station for honour,” said Nelson sometime later. -Froude, the historian, predicted that “If ever the naval -exploits of this country are done into an epic poem—and -since the <i>Iliad</i> there has been no subject better -fitted for such treatment or better deserving it—the -West Indies will be the scene of the most brilliant<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32">32</a></span> -cantos.” We shall have occasion to refer to this great -strategic point many times in these pages, especially -in the great game of hide-and-seek between Napoleon’s -captains and Nelson immediately preceding the Trafalgar -campaign.<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">8</a> The year 1778 was not a brilliant one in -British naval annals, although it closed by Hotham -and Barrington attacking D’Estaing off St Lucia and -preventing him from landing more than half the troops -intended for the subjugation of that island. As a -consequence the force under Chevalier de Michaud -surrendered, and St Lucia was won.</p> - -<p>“On 8 December, 1778,” Nelson continues, “I was -appointed commander of the <i>Badger</i> brig; and was -first sent to protect the Mosquito shore, and the Bay -of Honduras, from the depredations of the American -privateers. Whilst on this service, I gained so much -the affections of the settlers, that they unanimously -voted me their thanks, and expressed their regret on -my leaving them; entrusting to me to describe to Sir -Peter Parker and Sir John Dalling their situation, -should a war with Spain break out. Whilst I commanded -this brig, H.M.S. <i>Glasgow</i>, Captain Thomas -Lloyd, came into Montego Bay, Jamaica, where the -<i>Badger</i> was laying: in two hours afterwards she took -fire by a cask of rum; and Captain Lloyd will tell -you, that it was owing to my exertions, joined to his, -that her whole crew were rescued from the flames.”</p> - -<p>This stirring incident merits a more detailed description -than the bare facts which Nelson chose to set -forth. The crew was in a panic when he and his -men set foot on the deck of the doomed vessel, and -by almost superhuman exertions managed to throw -all the gunpowder in the magazine overboard before -the flames reached it. He also ordered that the loaded -cannon should be directed upward, so that when they -exploded, owing to the intense heat, no damage would -result. Thus early in his career did Nelson show that -he was not at a loss when the unusual and unexpected<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33">33</a></span> -happened. In a letter to Captain Locker, who was ill, -the young officer describes the fate of the <i>Glasgow</i> as -“a most shocking sight; and had it happened half -an hour later, in all probability a great many people -would have been lost.” He also notes that the company -of the derelict were falling ill very fast owing to the -constant tropical rains to which the men were exposed, -there being no room for them on the <i>Badger</i>.</p> - -<p>“On 11 June, 1779,” Nelson continues, “I was -made post into the <i>Hinchinbrook</i>. When, being at -sea, and Count d’Estaing arriving at Hispaniola (Haïti) -with a very large fleet and army from Martinique, an -attack on Jamaica was expected. In this critical -state, I was by both admiral and general entrusted -with the command of the batteries at Port Royal; -and I need not say, as the defence of this place was the -key to the port of the whole naval force, the town of -Kingston, and Spanish Town, it was the most important -post in the whole island.”</p> - -<p>D’Estaing’s fleet consisted of twenty-two sail-of-the-line, -excluding transports and privateers which -had attached themselves to him, and it was commonly -reported that he had no fewer than 20,000 troops on -board. Nelson, as noted above, was now Post-Captain, -and although he had no occasion to prove his ability -as a commander of land batteries, he seems to have -taken kindly to the situation. In a letter to his friend -Captain Parker, dated the 12th August 1779, he states -that “Jamaica is turned upside down since you left -it,” and furnishes particulars of the measures made for -the defence of the island. “You must not be surprised -to hear of my learning to speak French,” he -remarks as a humorous aside.</p> - -<p>To help to achieve the downfall of the wily d’Estaing -was not to fall to Nelson’s lot. That worthy hastened -to Savannah, which was attacked by troops under -General Lincoln and himself. They were routed by the -British lines, whereupon d’Estaing sailed away.</p> - -<p>Great Britain was now at war with Spain, which had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34">34</a></span> -thrown in her lot with France, and was soon to feel the -effects of the Armed Neutrality, consisting of Russia, -Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Prussia. They resented -England’s right to search neutral ships, with -the result that the latter Power could not retain her -supremacy at sea, a cause of Cornwallis’s surrender -at Yorktown and the consequent loss of the American -Colonies. In January 1780 it was resolved to make -an attempt to take the important post of Fort San -Juan, on the river of that name. This would materially -aid the British to secure the city of Granada, on Lake -Nicaragua, and to sever the communications of the -enemy between their northern and southern dominions. -The idea originated with Dalling, Governor of Jamaica, -to whom history has scarcely done justice. The naval -force was entrusted to Nelson, the command of the -troops to Captain John Polson.</p> - -<p>The soldiers at the disposal of the intrepid adventurers -were a mere handful, scarcely 500 in all, but perhaps -that fact added the necessary spice of danger. Nelson -left his ship, and “carried troops in boats one hundred -miles up a river, which none but Spaniards since the -time of the buccaneers had ever ascended,” to use -his own words. He “boarded” an outpost of the -enemy, situated on an island in the river; “made -batteries, and afterwards fought them, and was a -principal cause of our success.” When the miniature -expedition arrived at Fort San Juan the rainy season -had commenced, bringing malaria in its train. Nelson -was all for making an immediate attack, but Polson -ruled the slower, and perhaps surer, method of erecting -batteries and so forth, in which Nelson lent a willing -hand. “I want words to express the obligations I owe -to Captain Nelson,” Polson told Governor Dalling. -“He was the first on every service, whether by day or -night. There was not a gun fired but was pointed by -him, or by Captain Despard, Chief Engineer.” Fever -played havoc with the men; of the 200 sailors of the -<i>Hinchinbrook</i>, no fewer than “eighty-seven took to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35">35</a></span> -their beds in one night; and of the two hundred, one -hundred and forty-five were buried in mine and Captain -Collingwood’s<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">9</a> time: and I believe very few, not more -than ten, survived of that ship’s crew; a proof how -necessary expedition is in those climates.” Nelson’s -own health was undermined by dysentery. A few -hours before the Spanish flag gave place to the Union -Jack he left the region of the fort in order to join the -<i>Janus</i> (44 guns), of which he had been given command. -The ship being stationed at Jamaica, he was taken to -Port Royal in a sloop. Here he met with a good and -tender-hearted friend in Lady Parker, the wife of Sir -Peter Parker, Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica, but he -gained so little in strength that he was compelled to ask -leave of absence and leave the West Indies for England. -Had he stayed it is improbable that he could have -rendered useful service while in such a low condition. -The expedition eventually ended in failure. He sailed -on the 4th September 1780 in the <i>Lion</i>, commanded -by Captain the Hon. William Cornwallis, a younger -son of Earl Cornwallis, who acted the part of nurse to -the patient’s entire satisfaction, and cemented a friendship -which lasted until Nelson’s death.</p> - -<p>Having to resign the <i>Janus</i> probably caused Nelson -more torture than his physical suffering, for he was -intensely ambitious. It is stated that when he arrived -in England he would not proceed to Bath to drink the -waters until he had been conveyed to the Admiralty -to beg for another vessel. “This they readily promised -me,” he observed in a humorous way, “thinking it not -possible for me to live.” At Bath he stayed with -Mr Spry, an apothecary, who resided at 2 Pierrepont -Street; his medical adviser was Dr Woodward.</p> - -<p>On the 23rd January 1781 Nelson was able to inform -Captain Locker that he was “now upon the mending -hand,” although he had been “obliged to be carried -to and from bed, with the most excruciating tortures.” -Some three weeks later further progress was reported;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36">36</a></span> -“My health, thank God, is very near perfectly restored; -and I have the perfect use of all my limbs, except my -left arm, which I can hardly tell what is the matter -with it. From the shoulder to my fingers’ ends are -as if half dead; but the surgeon and doctors give me -hopes it will all go off. I most sincerely wish to be -employed, and hope it will not be long.”</p> - -<p>Again the flicker of ambition is evident, always a -good sign in a patient. “I never was so well in health -that I can remember,” he writes on the 5th March. -On Monday of the following week he began his return -journey to London. Unfortunately his progress was -intermittent. He had “good” days and “bad” -days. Two months later we find Nelson telling his -beloved brother William that he has entirely lost the -use of his left arm and nearly of his left leg and thigh. -However, the surgeon who was attending him gave -him hopes of recovery, “when I will certainly come -into Norfolk, and spend my time there till I am -employed.”</p> - -<p>At this period Nelson did not have to eat out his -heart in chagrin and disappointment owing to neglect -as some of our modern naval officers have had to do. -In August 1781, when his health had improved, he was -given command of the <i>Albemarle</i>, a frigate of 28 -guns, and on the 23rd of that month he hoisted -his pennant at Woolwich. The appearance of the -little vessel pleased him considerably, his officers and -men even more so, as his letters abundantly testify. -“My quarter-deck is filled, much to my satisfaction, -with very genteel young men and seamen”; “I have -an exceeding good ship’s company. Not a man or -officer in her I would wish to change”; “I am perfectly -satisfied with both officers and ship’s company. All -my marines are likewise old standers,” are some of his -remarks to correspondents. We must not imagine -that Nelson necessarily had a pattern-ship and a pattern-crew -because of the kind things he said of them. His -recent recovery from serious illness has doubtless to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37">37</a></span> -be taken into consideration. We all see the world -and its inhabitants through rose-coloured glasses after -an enforced absence from the ordinary duties and -modes of life. A natural sweetness of disposition may -also partly account for his optimism. In later years -Samuel Rogers, the Banker-poet, recorded in his -entertaining “Table Talk” that “Lord Nelson was a -remarkably kind-hearted man. I have seen him spin -a teetotum with his <em>one</em> hand, a whole evening, for -the amusement of some children.”</p> - -<p>The young captain’s first voyage in the <i>Albemarle</i> -was not unattended by adventures. His reference -to his experiences in the Autobiography is slightly -tinged with a semi-humorous cynicism one can readily -forgive, although it contrasts oddly with the remarks -just quoted. “In August, 1781,” he writes, “I was -commissioned for the <i>Albemarle</i>; and, it would almost -be supposed, to try my constitution, was kept the -whole winter in the North Sea.” He cruised to Elsinore, -where he found a number of vessels waiting for convoy -to Portsmouth and Plymouth. “We have not had -any success;” he complains, “indeed, there is nothing -you can meet, but what is in force: the Dutch have -not a single merchantman at sea. One privateer was -in our fleet, but it was not possible to lay hold of him. -I chased him an hour, and came fast up with him, -but was obliged to return to the fleet. I find since, -it was the noted Fall, the pirate.... What fools -the Dutch must have been not to have taken us into -the Texel. Two hundred and sixty sail the convoy -consisted of.”</p> - -<p>On another occasion the British ships in the Downs -mistook Nelson and his motley collection for a Dutch -fleet. Many of the sail-of-the-line prepared for action -and would have chased their friends had not Nelson -sent a cutter to inform the officers of their ludicrous -error. In the early days of 1782 the <i>Albemarle</i> was -ordered to Portsmouth to take in eight months’ provisions, -“and I have no doubt was meant to go to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38">38</a></span> -East Indies with Sir Richard Bickerton,<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">10</a> which I should -have liked exceedingly, but alas, how short-sighted are -the best of us.” The young captain then goes on to -tell his brother William of the fate which overtook him. -During a fierce gale an East India store ship collided -with the <i>Albermarle</i>. “We have lost our foremast, -and bowsprit, mainyard, larboard cathead, and quarter -gallery, the ship’s [figure] head, and stove in two places -on the larboard side—all done in five minutes. What -a change! but yet we ought to be thankful we did not -founder. We have been employed since in getting -jury-masts, yards, and bowsprit, and stopping the -holes in our sides. What is to become of us now, I -know not. She must go into dock, and I fear must be -paid off, she has received so much damage.”</p> - -<p>A letter to the same correspondent, dated the 8th -February 1782, reveals something of Nelson’s philosophy -of life. “We all rise by deaths,” he asserts. “I got -my rank by a shot killing a post-captain, and I most -sincerely hope I shall, when I go, go out of [the] world -the same way; then we go all in the line of our profession—a -parson praying, a captain fighting.” He -had his wish gratified, as we all know. There was -something more than a suspicion of the Stoic in Nelson, -for while it cannot be said that he was unaffected -by passion, he certainly displayed praiseworthy indifference -to creature comforts when at sea. That he -grumbled to the authorities proves nothing to the -contrary. It was usually with reference to half-unseaworthy -ships, which added to the trials and troubles -of his men and oftentimes precluded him from doing -himself justice where the enemy was concerned. His -letters prove conclusively that he had the utmost -faith in God, whom he regarded as a powerful Ally.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards Nelson sailed with a convoy to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39">39</a></span> -Newfoundland and Quebec. The experience was anything -but pleasant, and when he returned to the latter -place in the middle of September he was “knocked -up with scurvy,” the old-time sailor’s curse, owing -to a diet of salt beef for eight weeks. “In the end,” -he says, “our cruise has been an unsuccessful one; -we have taken, seen, and destroyed more enemies -than is seldom done in the same space of time, but not -one arrived in port. But, however, I do not repine -at our loss: we have in other things been very fortunate, -for on 14 August we fell in with, in Boston Bay, -four sail-of-the-line,<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">11</a> and the <i>Iris</i>, French man-of-war, -part of M. Vaudreuil’s squadron, who gave us a pretty -dance for between nine or ten hours; but we beat all -except the frigate, and though we brought to for her, -after we were out of sight of the line-of-battle ships, she -tacked and stood from us. Our escape I think wonderful: -they were, upon the clearing up of a fog, within -shot of us, and chased us the whole time about one -point from the wind....” Nelson managed to avoid -the enemy by “running them amongst the shoals of -St George’s Bank,” a manœuvre which caused the -larger ships to stop pursuit. When he prepared for -action the commander of the frigate, deeming discretion -the better part of valour, wisely decided to rejoin his -comrades.</p> - -<p>After taking another convoy from Quebec to New -York, Nelson sailed under the command of Lord Hood -for the West Indies, “the grand theatre of actions.” -Here he captured a French vessel attached to Vaudreuil’s -fleet, thereby getting some compensation for the loss -of the frigate. Her cargo consisted of naval material, -and as some of the British ships were urgently in want -of topmasts the prize was more than usually valuable.</p> - -<p>He also attempted to recapture Turk’s Island, which -had been taken by the French. The proceeding was -audacious in the extreme, as he had very few ships at -his disposal. An officer was sent on shore, under cover<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40">40</a></span> -of a flag of truce, to demand surrender. This proving -abortive, a little band of 167 seamen and marines, under -Captain Charles Dixon, was landed. The <i>Admiral -Barrington</i> then came up, and together with the <i>Drake</i>, -was about to bombard the town, when a concealed -battery opened upon them. A steady fire was maintained -for an hour before Captain Dixon, who had -hoped to reach the enemy’s works while the ships -were engaging some of the French defenders, decided -that the experiment was too dangerous. The enemy’s -guns were fought by seamen, the troops had several -field-pieces at their disposal, and two pieces of cannon -were mounted on a hill, consequently continued persistence -would have been foolhardy. “With such a force,” -says the instigator of this expedition, “and their strong -position, I did not think anything further could be -attempted.”</p> - -<p>Nelson succeeded in making himself thoroughly -acquainted with Lord Hood, who in his turn introduced -him to Prince William, then a midshipman and afterwards -William IV., “our Sailor King.” There was -mutual admiration. “He will be, I am certain, an -ornament to our Service,” Nelson tells Locker. “He -is a seaman, which you could hardly suppose. Every -other qualification you may expect from him. But he -will be a disciplinarian, and a strong one: he says he -is determined every person shall serve his time before -they shall be provided for, as he is obliged to serve -his.” Such is Nelson’s comment. That of the future -monarch was not made at the time, but when Nelson -went on board the <i>Barfleur</i> the incident made such an -impression on the Prince that he was able to paint a -graphic word-picture of the event many years after. -Nelson “appeared to be the merest boy of a captain -I ever beheld.... He had on a full-laced uniform; -his lank, unpowdered hair was tied in a stiff Hessian -tail, of an extraordinary length; the old-fashioned -flaps of his waistcoat added to the general quaintness -of his figure, and produced an appearance which particularly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41">41</a></span> -attracted my notice; for I had never seen -anything like it before, nor could I imagine who he was, -nor what he came about. My doubts were, however, -removed when Lord Hood introduced me to him. There -was something irresistibly pleasing in his address and -conversation; and an enthusiasm when speaking on -professional subjects that showed he was no common -being.... Throughout the whole of the American -War the height of Nelson’s ambition was to command -a line-of-battle ship; as for prize-money, it never entered -his thoughts: he had always in view the character of -his maternal uncle.”</p> - -<p>On the 25th June 1783 Nelson was again at Portsmouth. -After seeing to the well-being of his sailors -he travelled on the leisurely stage-coach to London, -where he was presented to the King by Lord Hood. -In the following September hostilities were concluded -between Great Britain, America, France, Spain, and -Holland by the signature of the Treaty of Versailles. -The officer, therefore, found no difficulty in obtaining -six months’ leave to visit France. There he realised -that perhaps there might be some truth in the old -adage to the effect that Jack has a sweetheart in every -port.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42">42</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_III"></a>CHAPTER III<br /> - -<span class="subhead">Pleasure in France and Work in the -West Indies<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1783–1793)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza b0"><i> -<span class="i0">Admirals all, for England’s sake<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Honour be theirs, and fame;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And honour, so long as waves shall break,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">To Nelson’s peerless name.</span></i> -</div> -<div class="attrib p0 b1"><span class="smcap">Henry Newbolt.</span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">Nelson</span> took the greatest possible interest -in everything he saw in France: “Sterne’s -‘Sentimental Journey’ is the best description -I can give of our tour.” He travelled in a chaise without -springs, slept on a straw bed—“O what a transition -from happy England!”—but had less fault to find -with the scenery about Montreuil, which he describes -as “the finest corn country that my eyes ever beheld, -diversified with fine woods, sometimes for two miles -together through noble forests. The roads mostly -were planted with trees, which made as fine an avenue -as to any gentleman’s country seat.” At St Omer -he lodged with “a pleasant French family,” and incidentally -made the acquaintance of “two very agreeable -young ladies, daughters, who honour us with their -company pretty often.... Therefore I must learn -French if ’tis only for the pleasure of talking to them, -for they do not speak a word of English.” Soon all -thoughts of study and of the “very agreeable” maidens -were banished from his impressionable mind by his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43">43</a></span> -introduction to a Miss Andrews, the daughter of an -English clergyman. The affair rapidly ripened into -something more than friendship.</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"><i> -<span class="i0">Her faults he knew not, Love is always blind,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">But every charm resolved within his mind.</span></i> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>Nelson’s letters go far to prove the truth of Pope’s -couplet. Miss Andrews was, according to him, “the -most accomplished woman my eyes ever beheld.” -Unfortunately marriage is necessarily based on that -mundane and concrete thing, money. When the ardent -young officer came to look into the financial aspect of -the matter he found that his income did not exceed -£130 a year. His lady-love’s dowry was “1,000<i>l.</i> -I understand.” He therefore appealed to his uncle, -William Suckling, to allow him £100 per annum until -he could earn that sum for himself. Failing this source -of supply, would his relative “exert” himself “to -get me a guard-ship, or some employment in a public -office where the attendance of the principal is not -necessary...? In the India Service I understand -(if it remains under the Directors) their marine force -is to be under the command of a captain in the Royal -Navy: that is a station I should like.” He prays -that his uncle and his family “may never know the -pangs which at this instant tear my heart.”</p> - -<p>Cupid’s shaft neither proved deadly nor barbed. -On his return to England Nelson dismissed his love -affair, and was soon “running at the ring of pleasure” -in London. He visited Lord Howe, First Lord of the -Admiralty, “who asked me if I wished to be employed, -which I told him I did”; dined with Lord Hood, who -made him feel quite at home, and told him “that -the oftener I came the happier it would make him.” -In January 1784 he was at Bath, and wrote to his -brother that he thought of paying a second visit to the -Continent till autumn and then spending the winter -with him at Burnham Thorpe. “I return to many -charming women, <em>but no charming woman</em> will return<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44">44</a></span> -with me,” is the plaint. “I want to be a proficient -in the language, which is my only reason for returning. -I hate their country and their manners,” which hatred, -it may be said, increased with the passing of the years. -This pessimistic strain is doubtless due to Nelson’s -undesirable position as a half-pay officer, but in the -middle of March his somewhat mercurial temperament -underwent a change to “set fair” on his appointment -to the <i>Boreas</i>, a frigate of 28 guns, under orders for -the Leeward Islands. The passengers included Lady -Hughes, wife of Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, -Bart., the Commander-in-Chief, and her daughter, -whom he very ungallantly described as “lumber.” -His brother, the Rev. William Nelson, accompanied -him as chaplain of the <i>Boreas</i>, but returned on the last -day of September 1784 owing to ill-health.</p> - -<p>Before leaving Spithead Nelson had an alarming -adventure. He was riding what he describes as a -“<em>blackguard</em> horse” in company with a lady, when -both animals bolted. In order to save his legs from -being crushed in a narrow road blocked by a waggon -the young gallant was obliged to throw himself, and -he had the ill-luck to fall upon hard stones, which -injured his back and one of his limbs. His fair companion -was only saved from death by the presence of -mind of a passer-by who pluckily seized the bridle -of the terrified animal to which she was frantically -clinging.</p> - -<div id="ip_44" class="figcenter" style="width: 401px;"> - <img src="images/i_049.jpg" width="401" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>“He had the ill-luck to fall upon hard stones”</p> - -<p class="notbold">Stephen Reid</p></div></div> - -<p>The voyage to Antigua was devoid of incident. It -was monotonous, and Nelson hated nothing so much -as monotony. Lady Hughes bored him, although it -is only just to add that he does not appear to have let -her know it. The lady herself was certainly impressed -with the kindly way Nelson treated “the young gentlemen -who had the happiness of being on his Quarter-Deck,” -to quote a letter written by her in 1806. “It -may reasonably be supposed,” she goes on, “that -among the number of thirty, there must be timid as -well as bold: the timid he never rebuked, but always<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45">45</a></span> -wished to show them he desired nothing of them that -he would not instantly do himself: and I have known -him say—‘Well, sir, I am going a race to the masthead, -and I beg I may meet you there.’ No denial -could be given to such a wish, and the poor fellow -instantly began his march. His Lordship never took -the least notice with what alacrity it was done, but -when he met in the top, instantly began talking in the -most cheerful manner, and saying how much a person -was to be pitied that could fancy there was any danger, -or even anything disagreeable, in the attempt.... In like -manner he every day went to the schoolroom and saw -them do their nautical business, and at twelve o’clock -he was first upon the deck with his quadrant. No one -there could be behindhand in his business when their -Captain set them so good an example. One other -circumstance I must mention which will close the -subject, which was the day we landed at Barbadoes. -We were to dine at the Governor’s. Our dear Captain -said, ‘You must permit me, Lady Hughes, to carry one -of my aides-de-camp with me,’ and when he presented -him to the Governor, he said, ‘Your Excellency must -excuse me for bringing one of my midshipmen, as I -make it a rule to introduce them to all the good company -I can, they have few to look up to besides myself -during the time they are at sea.’ This kindness and -attention made the young people adore him; and -even his wishes, could they have been known, would -have been instantly complied with.”</p> - -<p>When Nelson made the acquaintance of Sir Richard -Hughes he disliked him as much as he did her ladyship. -Probably the officer’s methods rather than the man -aroused this feeling of antagonism. “The Admiral -and all about him are great ninnies,” he writes, and -he soon showed in no vague way that he refused to support -the Commander-in-chief’s happy-go-lucky policy. -Truth to tell, Nelson had no love of authority. He -preferred to be a kind of attached free-lance, although -he was a strict disciplinarian in all relations between<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46">46</a></span> -his junior officers and himself. “I begin to be very -strict in my Ship,” is an expression he used while in -the <i>Boreas</i>. In particular he fell foul of Hughes in -the matter of putting the Navigation Act into force. -This law had been passed by the Rump Parliament in -1651, when the Dutch held the proud position of the -world’s maritime carriers. It was enacted that only -English ships, commanded by an Englishman and -manned by a crew three-fourths of whom were also -of the same nationality, should be allowed to carry -the products of Asia, Africa, and America to home -ports. In a similar manner, European manufactures -had to be brought in English vessels or those of the -countries which produced the goods. In the latter -case the duties were heavier. It was Protection pure -and simple.</p> - -<p>The Government of Charles II. and the Scottish -Parliament passed similar Acts in later years, thereby -fostering the trading companies which helped to lay -the foundations of our colonial empire. Such measures -were a constant “thorn in the flesh” to foreign statesmen. -Several of the statutes were repealed in 1823, -but the Navigation Act was not entirely abandoned by -Great Britain until 1848, after an existence of nearly -two hundred years.</p> - -<p>Owing to their separation from the Motherland, the -former British colonists of America were, technically, -“foreigners,” and should have been subject to restrictions -in their commercial intercourse with the West -Indies. “I, for one,” Nelson confides to Locker, -“am determined not to suffer the Yankees to come -where my Ship is; for I am sure, if once the Americans -are admitted to any kind of intercourse with these -Islands, the views of the Loyalists in settling Nova -Scotia are entirely done away. They will first become -the Carriers, and next have possession of our Islands, -are we ever again embroiled in a French war. The -residents of these Islands are Americans by connexion -and by interest, and are inimical to Great Britain.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47">47</a></span> -They are as great rebels as ever were in America, had -they the power to show it.... I am determined to -suppress the admission of Foreigners all in my power.”</p> - -<p>“The Americans,” Nelson tells us in his Autobiography, -“when colonists, possessed almost all the -trade from America to our West India Islands; and -on the return of peace, they forgot, on this occasion, -that they became foreigners, and of course had no right -to trade in the British Colonies.</p> - -<p>“Our governors and custom-house officers pretended -that by the Navigation Act they had a right to trade; -and all the West Indians wished what was so much for -their interest. Having given governors, custom-house -officers, and Americans, notice of what I would do, I -seized many of their vessels, which brought all parties -upon me; and I was persecuted from one island to -another, so that I could not leave my ship.” In this -matter it may be said that Nelson found it necessary -to keep himself “a close prisoner” to avoid being -served with writs which had been issued against him -by the owners of certain vessels which he had taken, -and who assessed their damages at several thousands -of pounds. “But conscious rectitude,” he adds, “bore -me through it; and I was supported, when the business -came to be understood, from home; and I proved (and -an Act of Parliament has since established it) that a -captain of a man-of-war is in duty bound to support -all the maritime laws, by his Admiralty commission -alone, without becoming a custom-house officer.”</p> - -<p>The ardent captain also fell foul of Hughes in another -matter. The commissioner of the dockyard at Antigua -was Captain Moutray, a half-pay officer whom Hughes, -going beyond his powers, made commodore. Nelson -refused to recognise him as such. The case was investigated -by the Admiralty at the instigation of both -parties, with the result that Nelson was reprimanded -for taking the law into his own hands. Professor Sir -J. Knox Laughton, while admitting that “In both -cases Nelson was right in his contention,” is forced<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48">48</a></span> -to add that “The first duty of an officer is to obey -orders, to submit his doubts to the Commander-in-chief, -and in a becoming manner to remonstrate against any -order he conceives to be improper; but for an officer -to settle a moot-point himself, and to act in contravention -of an order given under presumably adequate -knowledge of the circumstances, is subversive of the -very first principles of discipline. And these were not, -it will be noticed, questions arising out of any sudden -and unforeseen emergency, in providing for which -Nelson was forced to depart from his instructions. -Such emergencies do arise in the course of service, -and the decision of the officer may be a fair test of his -personal worth; but neither at St Kitts nor at Antigua -was there anything calling for instant decision, or any -question which might not have waited, pending a -reference to the Commander-in-chief or to the Admiralty. -And this was the meaning of the Admiralty minute on -Nelson’s conduct at Antigua, a most gentle admonition -for what might have been punished as a grave offence.”</p> - -<p>It must not be inferred that there was any personal -bitterness on Nelson’s part regarding the Moutray -affair. He conceived it to be a question of principle, of -doing right and shunning wrong: “The character of -an Officer is his greatest treasure: to lower that, is to -wound him irreparably.” He was certainly on excellent -terms with the Commissioner’s wife, for whom he -cherished the most friendly feelings. Indeed, in one -of his letters he calls her his “dear, sweet friend.... -Her equal I never saw in any country, or in any situation.” -Let it be frankly admitted, however, that -Nelson sometimes wore his heart on his sleeve, and -readily betrayed a state of feeling approaching deep -affection for any member of the gentler sex who -showed by her ready sympathy that she possessed a -kindly disposition. In the communication in which the -above passage occurs he notes that several of his comrades -had similar amorous tendencies. One officer has -proposed and been refused, another is forestalled in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49">49</a></span> -proposing to the lady of his choice by a more venturesome -lover, a third is “attached to a lady at Nevis,” the -said lady being a relation of the future Mrs Nelson. -He concludes with a reference to a niece of Governor -Parry, who “goes to Nevis in the <i>Boreas</i>; they trust -any young lady with me, being an old-fashioned fellow.”</p> - -<p>On the 12th May 1785 Nelson confides to his brother -William that he has made the acquaintance of “a -young Widow,” and towards the end of the following -month he tells the same correspondent, “between -ourselves,” that he is likely to become a “<em>Benedict</em>.... -Do not tell.” The lady of his choice was Mrs Nisbet, -then twenty-seven years of age and the mother of a -boy. We are fortunate in having copies of many of -his letters to her, for there is a wealth of affection—scarcely -love—and much sage philosophy in them. -“My greatest wish is to be united to you;” he writes -on the 11th September 1785, “and the foundation of -all conjugal happiness, real love and esteem, is, I trust, -what you believe I possess in the strongest degree -towards you.... We know that riches do not always -insure happiness; and the world is convinced that -I am superior to pecuniary considerations in my public -and private life; as in both instances I might have been -rich.” “You are too good and indulgent;” he avers -on another occasion, “I both know and feel it: but -my whole life shall ever be devoted to make you completely -happy, whatever whims may sometimes take -me. We are none of us perfect, and myself probably -much less so than you deserve.” “Fortune, that is, -money, is the only thing I regret the want of, and that -only for the sake of my affectionate Fanny. But the -Almighty, who brings us together, will, I doubt not, -take ample care of us, and prosper all our undertakings. -No dangers shall deter me from pursuing every honourable -means of providing handsomely for you and -yours....”</p> - -<p>The messages lack the passionate fire of Napoleon’s -notes to Josephine, and on occasion are apt to be rather<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50">50</a></span> -too business-like for love letters. The romance did not -end like the fairy stories, they did not live “happily -ever after,” but there is no reason to doubt that Nelson -cherished a fond affection for the young widow. “Her -sense,” he informs his brother, “polite manners, and -to you I may say, beauty, you will much admire: and -although at present we may not be a rich couple, yet -I have not the least doubt but we shall be a happy -pair:—the fault must be mine if we are not.” Subsequent -events proved the truth of the latter remark.</p> - -<p>In due course Sir Richard Hughes was succeeded in -the command of the Leeward Islands by Sir Richard -Bickerton. Nelson complains towards the end of -1786 that “A total stop is put to our carrying on -the Navigation Laws,” thereby showing that the old -problem had by no means been solved so far as he was -concerned.</p> - -<p>On the 12th March 1787 Nelson and Mrs Nisbet were -married at Nevis. Prince William Henry, then captain -of the <i>Pegasus</i> and under Nelson’s command, gave -away the bride. Three months later the newly-wedded -captain was at Spithead, the almost unseaworthy -condition of the <i>Boreas</i> making it impossible for her to -stand another hurricane season in the West Indies.</p> - -<p>Nelson was placed on half-pay, a state which he -by no means liked. In May 1788 he had reason to -believe that he would be employed again. “I have -invariably laid down,” he tells a friend, “and followed -close, a plan of what ought to be uppermost 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: a uniform conduct of -honour and integrity seldom fails of bringing a man -to the goal of Fame at last.”</p> - -<p>Nelson visited Plymouth, Bath, and London, and -finally settled down at Burnham Thorpe. His letters -reveal the keenness with which he desired to obtain -employment. He applied to both Viscount Howe, -First Lord of the Admiralty, and to Lord Hood, but all<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51">51</a></span> -his overtures came to nought. In September 1789 he -tells his old friend Locker that “I am now commencing -Farmer, not a very large one, you will conceive, but -enough for amusement. Shoot I cannot, therefore I -have not taken out a license; but notwithstanding the -neglect I have met with, I am happy, and now I see -the propriety of not having built my hopes on such -sandy foundations as the friendships of the Great.”</p> - -<p>Not until January 1793 were his dearest wishes granted. -“After clouds comes sunshine,” he writes to his wife -from London. “The Admiralty so smile upon me, -that really I am as much surprised as when they frowned. -Lord Chatham yesterday made many apologies for not -having given me a Ship before this time, and said, that -if I chose to take a Sixty-four to begin with, I should -be appointed to one as soon as she was ready; and -whenever it was in his power, I should be removed into -a Seventy-four. Everything indicates War....”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52">52</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Beginning of the Great War<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1793–1794)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>Duty is the great business of a sea officer</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap b"><span class="smcap1">So</span> far back as 1753 Lord Chesterfield prophesied -a revolution in France. “All the symptoms,” -he said, “which I have ever met with in history, -previous to great changes and revolutions in government, -now exist and daily increase in France.” Warning -rumbles heralded the storm, disregarded and thought -of no account by some, full of grave portent to others. -It burst in 1789.</p> - -<p>At first William Pitt, First Lord of the Treasury and -Chancellor of the Exchequer, steadily refused to believe -that England was menaced by the Power which Fox -had termed “the natural enemy of Great Britain.” -In January 1792 he assured Parliament that “unquestionably -there never was a time in the history of this -country when, from the situation of Europe, we might -more reasonably expect fifteen years of peace than we -may at the present moment.” Either he was over -anxious to persuade himself that things were as he -would like them to be, or he was sadly mistaken. Pitt -had by no means the pugnacious disposition of his -father, the famous first Earl of Chatham. He thought -that the fire would burn itself out, that it would be -of short duration, whereas it steadily gained strength -and eventually involved practically every country in -Europe. Not until he was convinced that war was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53">53</a></span> -inevitable did the youngest Premier who ever handled -the reins of a British government accept the French -Revolution as of more than local consequence. Hitherto -domestic and financial questions had occupied his -attention and absorbed his energies. If France ignored -the nation which he represented, if she refrained from -poaching on British preserves or those of her allies, -he was quite content to return the compliment. Then -came the decree that the navigation of the river Scheldt -should be thrown open. It had previously been -guaranteed to the Dutch by Great Britain as well as -by other Powers, including France. The execution -of Louis XVI. followed, which led to Chauvelin, the -French Ambassador, being given his passports. If -Pitt had been slumbering he had wooed somnolence -with one eye open since the annexation of Savoy. He -was now fully awake, calm and self-reliant, for he -recognised the inevitable. It came in a declaration -of war by the French Convention against Holland and -Great Britain on the 1st February 1793. Macaulay, -writing from an essentially Whig point of view, states -that Pitt’s military administration “was that of a -driveller,” but to the impartial historian nothing is -further from the truth. He abandoned his schemes -of social reform to plunge whole-heartedly into the -titanic struggle which was to cost him his life. That -he made mistakes is obvious—what statesman has -not?—but he fell in his country’s cause as nobly as -Nelson at Trafalgar and Moore at Coruña.</p> - -<p>When Nelson joined the <i>Agamemnon</i> he was immensely -pleased with her. He describes the vessel -as “without exception, the finest 64 in the service, -and has the character of sailing most remarkably well.” -She was a unit of the fleet under Lord Hood, her -destination the Mediterranean. The captain was -accompanied by his step-son, Josiah, whose first experience -of life at sea cannot have been pleasant. Off -the Nore the <i>Agamemnon</i> encountered a gale, with the -result that Josiah was “a little sea-sick.” However,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54">54</a></span> -“he is a real good boy, and most affectionately loves -me,” as his mother was informed. Off Cadiz Nelson -is able to report, “My Ship is remarkably healthy; -myself and Josiah never better.”</p> - -<p>While part of the fleet was watering at Cadiz, Nelson -dined on board the <i>Concepcion</i> (112), a huge Spanish -sail-of-the-line. The experience afforded him food for -thought as well as for physical sustenance. He relates -the incident to his wife, criticises the four Spanish first-rates -in commission at the port as “very fine Ships, -but shockingly manned,” and adds that if the crews of -the six barges attached to the British vessels had boarded -one of these great vessels they could have taken her: -“The Dons may make fine Ships,—they cannot, however, -make men.” This summing-up of the <em>morale</em> of -the Spanish Navy is particularly valuable. A dozen -years later, when Napoleon was planning his wonderful -combinations to elude the prowess of Nelson, the lack -of skill displayed by the Spaniards was a constant -source of annoyance both to the Emperor and his naval -officers. Their bravery in action during the Trafalgar -Campaign is not questioned; their happy-go-lucky -code of discipline is on record in documentary evidence. -A bull fight which Nelson saw sickened and disgusted -him. “We had what is called a fine feast, for five -horses were killed, and two men very much hurt: had -they been killed, it would have been quite complete.”</p> - -<p>The royalists at Toulon had not only openly rebelled -against the National Convention, but had requested -the assistance of the British fleet, then blockading the -harbour of the great southern arsenal, under Hood, who -was shortly afterwards joined by Langara in command -of a number of Spanish vessels. Nelson’s <i>Agamemnon</i> -was a fast sailer. He was therefore sent to Naples with -despatches to the courts of Turin and Naples requesting -10,000 troops for the assault of Toulon. The ardent -young officer, proud of the service which had been -delegated to him, was a little too sanguine as to Hood’s -triumph, yet his cheery optimism is tinged with cynicism<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55">55</a></span> -when he writes to his wife: “I believe the world is -convinced that no conquests of importance can be made -without us; and yet, as soon as we have accomplished -the service we are ordered on, we are neglected. If -Parliament does not grant something to this Fleet, -our Jacks will grumble; for here there is no prize-money -to soften their hardships: all we get is honour -and salt beef. My poor fellows have not had a morsel -of fresh meat or vegetables for near nineteen weeks; -and in that time I have only had my foot twice on -shore at Cadiz. We are absolutely getting sick from -fatigue. No Fleet, I am certain, ever served their -Country with greater zeal than this has done, from the -Admiral to the lowest sailor.”</p> - -<p>At Naples Nelson was received by the King “in the -handsomest manner,” and a promise of troops was -exacted without delay. He also made the acquaintance -of Lady Hamilton, wife of the British Minister, but -the romantic attachment between them did not begin -until several years later. His Majesty was on the -point of visiting the <i>Agamemnon</i> when the Captain -received intelligence from the Prime Minister—Sir John -Acton, an English baronet—that a French sail-of-the-line -convoying three vessels had anchored under -Sardinia. Nelson acknowledges to his brother, on the -27th September 1793, that “Fortune has not crowned -my endeavours with success. The French have either -got into Leghorn, or are housed in some port of Corsica.... -I purpose staying three days in Port, when I shall get -to Toulon, for I cannot bear the thought of being absent -from the scene of action.” His unsuccessful search -for the enemy had precluded him from accompanying -such Neapolitan troops as were ready to be sent to -the scene of conflict. In addition a large French -frigate had put into the neutral port of Leghorn, which -gave him further anxiety. As her commander did -not think it wise to attempt an issue with the -<i>Agamemnon</i> Nelson left him to his own devices. -He anchored off Toulon, on the 5th October, to find<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56">56</a></span> -Lord Hood “very much pleased” with him. This -must have been particularly gratifying after so luckless -a voyage, but what he most desired was action.</p> - -<p>Within a few days of his arrival he received sealed -orders from the Admiral directing him to join Commodore -Linzee off Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia. His -longing to get at the enemy was to be satisfied in an -unexpected manner. When he was nearing the island -just before dawn on the morning of the 22nd October, -five strange sail made their appearance. Later they -resolved themselves into four of the enemy’s frigates -and a brig. After an engagement which lasted nearly -four hours and was ably contested on both sides, the -action terminated in the French <i>Melpomène</i> being -reduced to “a shattered condition,” and the <i>Agamemnon</i> -having her “topmast shot to pieces, main-mast, -mizen-mast, and fore-yard badly wounded”—the last -expression is typically Nelsonian. The Frenchmen -did not attempt to renew the fight; Nelson was prevented -from doing so because “The <i>Agamemnon</i> was so -cut to pieces, as to be unable to haul the wind towards -them.” The enemy’s squadron made for Corsica, -Nelson for Cagliari, according to orders, with one man -killed and six wounded.</p> - -<p>When Nelson joined hands with Linzee he found -that the immediate business in hand was to endeavour -to bring the Bey of Tunis to reason, in other words, to -the British side. The Bey was an exceedingly crafty -individual who, believing that the best time for making -hay is when the sun shines, had sided with the French -because he saw an immediate financial return. Another -object was to secure a convoy which had put in at -Tunis under a sail-of-the-line, the <i>Duquesne</i> (84) and -four frigates, the force with which Nelson had already -dealt. As the Bey had purchased the cargoes of the -merchantmen at a handsome profit, he was not disposed -to change his policy. Nelson hated pacific overtures; -he was all for contest on the open sea. “Thank God,” -he is able to write to William Suckling, his uncle, on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57">57</a></span> -the 5th December 1793, “Lord Hood, whom Linzee -sent to for orders how to act, after having negotiated, -ordered me from under his command, and to command -a Squadron of Frigates off Corsica and the Coast of -Italy, to protect our trade, and that of our new Ally, -the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and to prevent any Ship -or Vessel, of whatever Nation, from going into the -port of Genoa. I consider this command as a very -high compliment,—there being five older Captains in -the Fleet....</p> - -<p>“Corsica, December 8th:—I have been in sight of -the French Squadron all day, at anchor; they cannot -be induced to come out, notwithstanding their great -superiority....”</p> - -<p>On the 19th of the same month Lord Hood vacated -Toulon.<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">12</a> The troops of the National Convention, -aided by the consummate skill of Napoleon Bonaparte, -a young officer then beginning his amazing career, had -proved too powerful for the British, Spanish, Piedmontese -and Neapolitan forces. The British fleet -carried away no fewer than 14,000 fugitives from -the doomed city, which for hours afterwards was given -up to pillage. “Everything which domestic Wars -produce usually, is multiplied at Toulon,” Nelson writes -to his wife. “Fathers are here [<i>i.e.</i> Leghorn] without -their families, families without their fathers. In short, -all is horror.... Lord Hood put himself at the head -of the flying troops, and the admiration of every one; -but the torrent was too strong. Many of our posts -were carried without resistance; at others, which the -English occupied, every one perished. I cannot write -all: my mind is deeply impressed with grief. Each -teller makes the scene more horrible. Lord Hood -showed himself the same collected good Officer which -he always was.” The siege of Toulon was a qualified -success. The place was lost, but a dozen French ships -and the naval stores were set on fire, and four sail-of-<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58">58</a></span>the-line, -three frigates, and several smaller vessels were -secured as prizes. To cripple the French navy was the -most desired of all objects.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Nelson’s division was blockading Corsica, -which had passed from the Republic of Genoa into the -hands of the French in 1768, to the disgust of the -patriotic party headed by Pascal Paoli. It was arranged -that Hood should assist the latter to rid the island -of the hated “tyrants,” and that in due course it -should be ceded to Great Britain. In the preliminary -negotiations Nelson was represented by Lieutenant -George Andrews, brother of the young lady to whom -Nelson had become attached during his visit to France -in 1783;<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">13</a> the final arrangements were made by a -commission of which the gallant Sir John Moore was a -member. Hood joined Nelson on the 27th January -1794, and on the following day the fleet encountered -“the hardest gale almost ever remembered here.” -The <i>Agamemnon</i> “lost every sail in her,” her consorts -were dispersed “over the face of the waters.” This -delayed the landing of the troops Hood had brought -with him, but Nelson had already made a preliminary -skirmish on his own account near San Fiorenzo, the -first object of the admiral’s attack. He landed 120 -soldiers and seamen, emptied a flour storehouse, ruined -a water-mill, and returned without the loss of a man, -notwithstanding the efforts of the French gunboats -to annihilate the little force. Similar expeditions were -undertaken at the beginning of February, when four -polaccas, loaded with wine for the enemy’s fleet, were -burned, four other vessels set on fire, a similar number -captured, and about 1,000 tuns of wine demolished.</p> - -<p>On the 7th of the same month the inhabitants of -Rogliani showed National colours, and the Tree of -Liberty—the emblem of the French Revolution—was -planted. Nelson struck a flag flying on the old castle -with his own hand, and ordered the tree to be cut down. -More craft and wine were destroyed. Paoli was highly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59">59</a></span> -gratified by this performance, carried out in the true -Nelson spirit, and shortly afterwards the Captain tells -his wife with conscious pride, “I have had the pleasure -to fulfil the service I had been employed upon, since -leaving Tunis, neither allowing provisions nor troops -to get into Corsica,”—which he describes later as -“a wonderfully fine Island”—“nor the Frigates to -come out.”</p> - -<p>Hood now took over the command at San Fiorenzo -and sent Nelson to blockade Bastia. The latter calculated -that “it would require 1000 troops, besides seamen, -Corsicans, etc., to make any successful attempt” -against the place. Lieutenant-General David Dundas, -the commander of the military forces, refused his aid unless -considerable reinforcements came to hand, although -he had at his disposal over 1700 regulars and artillerymen. -Hood, relying on Nelson’s statements to a certain -extent, endeavoured to persuade Dundas that the task -was by no means so difficult as he imagined, but the -military authority positively refused to listen to the -project. The General entered into the arrangements -for the capture of San Fiorenzo with more goodwill, -for in his opinion it was a less formidable undertaking. -Without in any way disparaging the exertions of the -troops it must be admitted that the gallant conduct of -the sailors, who dragged heavy guns up the heights in -order to place them in a position to cannonade the -tower of Mortello, which commanded the situation, -contributed largely to the success of the operation. -Dundas and Linzee attacked this formidable fortification -from the bay with a sail-of-the-line and a frigate on -the 8th February with ill success. Its defenders hurled -hot shot at the vessels with such precision that they -were obliged to move to a less dangerous position. -The tower was bombarded from the steeps for two -days before its garrison surrendered. Meanwhile -Lieutenant-Colonel John Moore had carried the batteries -of Fornelli, which led directly to the fall of San Fiorenzo -on the 17th instant. The French retreated to Bastia,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60">60</a></span> -on the opposite side of the promontory, where Nelson -was exerting himself to the utmost. The British troops -marched to within three miles of the town, as noted -below, and were then ordered to return to San Fiorenzo.</p> - -<p>On the 23rd February the <i>Agamemnon</i> and two -frigates dislodged the French from a battery of six -guns; “they to a man quitted the works.” For Lord -Hood’s encouragement he sent him word that shot -and shells had been hurled at the vessels “without -doing us any damage of consequence: our guns were -so exceedingly well pointed, that not one shot was -fired in vain.... Indeed, my Lord, I wish the troops -were here: Bastia, I am sure, in its present state, -would soon fall.”</p> - -<p>In describing “our little brush” to his wife, he says -it “happened at the moment when part of our Army -made their appearance on the hills over Bastia, they -having marched over land from St Fiorenzo, which is -only twelve miles distant. The General sent an express -to Lord Hood at Fiorenzo to tell him of it. What a -noble sight it must have been! indeed, on board it was -the grandest thing I ever saw. If I had carried with -me five hundred troops, to a certainty I should have -stormed the Town, and I believe it might have been -carried.... You cannot think how pleased Lord -Hood has been with my attack on Sunday last, or -rather my repelling of an attack which the Enemy -made on me.”</p> - -<p>Nelson’s ardent temperament, his longing to be up -and doing, made him think bitter things of Dundas. He -confides to his Journal on the 3rd March 1794 that -it is his firm opinion that if the <i>Agamemnon</i> and the -attendant frigates could batter down the sea-wall and -then land 500 troops they would “to a certainty carry -the place.” “God knows what it all means,” he writes -to his wife with reference to the general’s retreat. -“Lord Hood is gone to St Fiorenzo to the Army, to -get them forward again.... My seamen are now -what British seamen ought to be, to you I may say it,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61">61</a></span> -almost invincible: they really mind shot no more than -peas.”</p> - -<p>The delay was simply playing into the hands of the -enemy, who occupied the time in adding to the defences -of the town. One can imagine with what glee Nelson -scribbled in his Journal, under date of the 11th March, -“<i>Romney</i> joined me from Lord Hood: brought me -letters to say that General Dundas was going Home, -and that he hoped and trusted the troops would once -more move over the Hill.” The crew of the <i>Agamemnon</i> -suffered no little privation. “We are absolutely without -water, provisions, or stores of any kind, not a piece -of canvas, rope, twine, or a nail in the Ship; but we -cheerfully submit to it all, if it but turns out for the -advantage and credit of our Country.”</p> - -<p>Dundas was succeeded by General Abraham D’Aubant, -an appointment which gave the Captain of the <i>Agamemnon</i> -no satisfaction, for he also thought it improper to -attack Bastia. Not to carry to a finish a project already -begun was considered by Nelson “a National disgrace.” -Hood determined to act contrary to the opinions of his -military colleague. “I am to command the Seamen landed -from the Fleet,” Nelson tells his brother. “I feel for the -honour of my Country, and had rather be beat than not -make the attack. If we do not try we never can be -successful. I own I have no fears for the final issue: -it will be conquest, certain we will deserve it.” “When -was a place ever yet taken without an attempt?” -he asks Sir William Hamilton. “We must endeavour -to deserve success; it is certainly not in our power to -command it.... My dear Sir, when was before the -time that 2,000 British troops, as good as ever marched, -were not thought equal to attack 800 French troops, -allowing them to be in strong works? What would -the immortal Wolfe have done? as he did, beat the -Enemy, if he perished in the attempt. Our Irregulars -are surely as good as the Enemy’s; and in numbers -we far exceed them. I truly feel sorrow, but I have -hope and confidence that all will end well.” Again,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62">62</a></span> -“We are but few, but of the right sort: our General at -San Fiorenzo not giving us one of the five Regiments -he has there lying idle.”</p> - -<p>On the 4th April 1794 a definite start was made. -Some 1400 troops and sailors, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel -Villettes and Nelson respectively, landed at -the tower of Miomo, some three miles to the north of -the town. “At noon the Troops encamped about -2,500 yards from the citadel of Bastia, near a high -rock.” The night was employed in felling trees for -the purpose of constructing an abattis, a temporary -defence formed by placing trees with their boughs -sharpened to a point in such a position as to obstruct -the enemy and at the same time afford a certain amount -of cover for the riflemen. The getting up of the guns -and ammunition “was performed with an activity -and zeal seldom exceeded.” The French began firing -on the night of the 9th and kept it up until daylight -without inflicting injury on a single man, although the -tents were considerably damaged. After sending a flag -of truce to no effect, Hood began the siege in earnest on -the 11th. On that day the frigate <i>Proselyte</i> was set on -fire by the enemy’s red-hot shot, and as her captain could -not get her off the shore, he set his ship on fire in several -places and burnt her to the water’s edge so that she -might not fall into the hands of the hated Frenchmen.</p> - -<p>“Only recollect that a brave man dies but once, -a coward all his life long,” Nelson writes to his wife -at the beginning of May, when fighting was of daily -occurrence and many a brave man fell on either side. -His only fear was that D’Aubant might alter his mind -and advance with his troops “when Bastia is about -to surrender, and deprive us of part of our glory.” -This is exactly what happened. On the 19th May the -troops from San Fiorenzo were seen marching over the -hills. Three days later, as the result of negotiations -begun by the enemy, the French colours were struck -and the Union Jack hoisted, and on the 24th “the -most glorious sight that an Englishman can experience,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63">63</a></span> -and which, I believe, none but an Englishman could -bring about, was exhibited;—4,500 men laying down -their arms to less than 1,000 British soldiers, who were -serving as Marines.” Nelson gives the number of -British killed at 19, wounded 37, and of the enemy -203 killed, wounded 540, “most of whom are dead.” -He himself received “a sharp cut in the back.” Not -until the end of January 1795 did he confess to his -wife that he had information given to him “of the -enormous number of Troops we had to oppose us; but -my own honour, Lord Hood’s honour, and the honour -of our Country, must have all 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 by men, -now rewarded, to write to Lord Hood to raise the Siege.”</p> - -<p>Calvi, in the north-west of Corsica, was next attacked. -“Dragging cannon up steep mountains, and carrying -shot and shells, has been our constant employment”; -“I am very busy, yet own I am in all my glory: except -with you, [Mrs Nelson] I would not be any where but -where I am, for the world”; “Hallowell<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">14</a> and myself -take, each one, twenty-four hours of duty at the -advanced battery,” are extracts from some of Nelson’s -letters and despatches at this period. On the 12th -July 1794 he modestly confesses to Hood that “I got -a little hurt this morning: not much, as you may -judge by my writing,” but in his Journal he notes, “at -seven o’clock, I was much bruised in the face and eyes -by sand from the works struck by shot.” The “little -hurt” proved far otherwise, and Nelson subsequently -became permanently blind in the right eye. At the -moment he attached little or no importance to the -injury: “Hallowell and myself are both well, except -my being half blinded by these fellows, who have given -me a smart slap in the face, for which I am their <em>debtor</em>, -but hope not to be so long”; “My right eye is cut<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64">64</a></span> -entirely down; but the Surgeons flatter me I shall -not entirely lose my sight of that eye. At present I -can distinguish light from dark, but no object: it -confined me one day, when, thank God, I was enabled -to attend to my duty. I feel the want of it; but, such -is the chance of War, it was within a hair’s breadth of -taking off my head.” To Mrs Nelson he tones down -the news considerably: “Except a very slight scratch -towards my right eye, I have received no hurt whatever: -so you see I am not the worse for Campaigning: -but I cannot say I have any wish to go on with it. -This day [4th August 1794] I have been four months -landed, except a few days when we were after the -French Fleet, and I feel almost qualified to pass my -examination as a besieging General.”</p> - -<p>Nelson not unnaturally felt himself slighted when -his name did not appear in the list of wounded. However, -he consoled himself by saying, “Never mind, I’ll -have a <cite>Gazette</cite> of my own.”</p> - -<p>As the result of negotiations between the enemy and -General Stuart, the commander of the 1500 soldiers -who had taken part in the siege, the French garrison -marched out with the honours of war on the 10th -August, a proceeding not at all in keeping with Nelson’s -ideas. However, it was not for him to decide, and he -had the satisfaction of knowing that he had materially -assisted in the conquest of Corsica. He was specially -delighted with the thought that in future the enemy’s -navy would be deprived of the pine, tar, pitch, and -hemp which the island had formerly sent to Toulon.</p> - -<div id="ip_64" class="figcenter" style="width: 412px;"> - <img src="images/i_071.jpg" width="412" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>1765–1911</p> - -<p>Comparison of the “Victory” with the “Hercules”</p> - -<p class="smaller"><b>Photo Stephen Cribb, Southsea</b></p></div></div> - -<p>Nelson now looked forward to reaching the quiet -waters of Spithead before the end of the year. In this -he was disappointed. Hood returned to Toulon, where -French naval preparations were going on apace, and -Nelson was sent with the <i>Agamemnon</i> to Leghorn in -order that his ship might refit and his men have a little -rest after their arduous exertions in Corsica. On his -own showing, he was “the best in health, but every -other Officer is scarcely able to crawl.” When ready<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65">65</a></span> -for further service Nelson joined the admiral off Toulon, -from whence he proceeded to Genoa “to keep peace -and harmony” with that Republic by enforcing its -neutrality. This mission was not of long duration, and -on the last day of September 1794 he was directed to -proceed off Gourjean and place himself under the orders -of Vice-Admiral Hotham, Hood’s successor as Commander-in-chief -in the Mediterranean.</p> - -<p>At this stage of our story it may not be unfitting to -study the accompanying <span class="locked">table,<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">15</a></span> which reveals at a -glance the active list of ships, exclusive of harbour and -stationary vessels, troop and storeships, ships building, -etc., in the British Navy, at the beginning of the Great -War and in 1805:</p> - -<table id="navy1805" class="p1 b1" summary="British Navy, 1805"> - <tr class="smaller"> - <td class="tdc">Year.</td> - <td class="tdc">Sail-of-<br />the-line.</td> - <td class="tdc">Total of<br />Vessels.</td> - <td class="tdc">Total<br />tonnage.</td> - <td class="tdc">Total Naval<br />Supplies granted.</td> - <td class="tdc">Seamen and<br />Marines employed.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">1793</td> - <td class="tdc">113</td> - <td class="tdc">304</td> - <td class="tdc">295,409</td> - <td class="tdc"> £4,003,984</td> - <td class="tdc"> 45,000</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">1805</td> - <td class="tdc">116</td> - <td class="tdc">534</td> - <td class="tdc">407,814</td> - <td class="tdc">£15,035,630</td> - <td class="tdc">120,000</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>When we come to compare the Navy of Nelson’s day -with that of our own, the result is astounding. The -estimates for 1910–11 amount to £40,603,700. Of this -sum, £13,279,830 is for ships either under construction -or about to be laid down. There are 95 battleships and -first-class cruisers afloat or building, and there is a total -strength of 710 vessels, including torpedo gunboats, -destroyers, torpedo boats, and submarines.<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">16</a> The entire -<em>personnel</em>, exclusive of the reserves, numbers 131,000.</p> - -<p>The accompanying illustration gives an exact idea of -the enormous difference in size between the <i>Victory</i> and -the <i>Hercules</i>. The former, launched in 1765, has a gross -tonnage of 2,164; the latter—at the time of writing, the -largest British battleship afloat—has a displacement of -20,250 tons, over nine times that of the <i>Victory</i>. -Nelson’s flagship is still afloat, but who can tell when -the <i>Hercules</i> will be obsolete? Progress demands many -and costly victims.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66">66</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_V"></a>CHAPTER V<br /> - -<span class="subhead">“I wish to be an Admiral”<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1795–96)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>A brave man runs no more risk than a coward</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">The</span> French fleet at Toulon mustered fifteen -ships; Hotham had fourteen at his disposal, -including one Neapolitan sail-of-the-line. On -the 8th March 1795 it was known that the enemy was -at sea with the object of retaking Corsica, but it was -not until the morning of the 13th, that the Admiral -flew the signal for a general chase. While this was -proceeding the <i>Ça-Ira</i> (84) collided with the <i>Victorie</i>, -which precluded her from keeping up with her consorts. -Seizing his opportunity, the captain of the British -frigate <i>Inconstant</i> (36) pounced down upon the huge -battleship and immediately brought her to action. -A French frigate, the <i>Vestale</i>, then went to the assistance -of the <i>Ça-Ira</i>, and took her in tow. Considerable -damage had been done on board the <i>Inconstant</i> owing -to the double fire to which she was subjected. Nelson, -keenly alert to the slightest advantage, got abreast -of the two Frenchmen, and continued to wage a gallant -fight for nearly two hours until called off by Hotham -because of the near approach of several of the enemy’s -ships. The action was thereby rendered indecisive. -Nelson describes the <i>Ça-Ira</i> as “absolutely large enough -to take <i>Agamemnon</i> in her hold. I never saw such a -ship before.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67">67</a></span> -During the night the <i>Sans Culottes</i> (120) separated -from her consorts, and the <i>Censeur</i> (74), with the -damaged <i>Ça-Ira</i> in tow, was also unable to keep up -with the remainder of the French fleet. This enabled -the <i>Bedford</i> (74) and the <i>Captain</i> (74) to attempt to -capture them on the following morning. The British -ships, as they bore down on the enemy, were received -by a tremendous fire, which they could not return. -For nearly an hour and a half the fight was sustained -until the <i>Captain</i> was little more than a floating wreck, -and the distressed state of the <i>Bedford</i> made her recall -imperative. Eventually the <i>Ça-Ira</i> and the <i>Censeur</i> -surrendered to other vessels of the fleet. “On the -14th,” Nelson relates with reference to the <i>Agamemnon</i>, -“although one of the Van-ships, and in close Action -on one side and distant Action on the other for upwards -of three hours, yet our neighbours suffered most -exceedingly, whilst we comparatively suffered nothing. -We had only six men slightly wounded. Our sails -were ribbons, and all our ropes were ends. Had -our good Admiral have followed the blow, we should -probably have done more, but the risk was thought -too great.” His ambition is aflame when he considers -the possibilities of the day. “In short, I wish to be -an Admiral, and in the command of the English Fleet; -I should very soon either do much, or be ruined. My -disposition cannot bear tame and slow measures.... -At one period I am ‘the dear Nelson,’ ‘the amiable -Nelson,’ ‘the fiery Nelson’: however nonsensical these -expressions are, they are better than censure, and we -are all subject and open to flattery.”</p> - -<p>Several weeks were spent in refitting, a necessary -process too slowly carried out. Meanwhile six French -vessels slipped out of Brest harbour and made their -way to Toulon. Then there was delay in sending -reinforcements not at all to Nelson’s liking. He desires -“a complete victory,” and his correspondence -betrays his anxiety for the appearance of Hood, “the -best Officer, take him altogether, that England has to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68">68</a></span> -boast of.” His absence was “a great national loss;” -Hotham’s continued appearance, although he did not -definitely say so, a calamity.</p> - -<p>On the 6th June 1795 Nelson was appointed a Colonel -of Marines, the welcome intelligence being conveyed -to him by his father. This meant an increase of income -not to be despised, as well as “an appointment certainly -most flattering to me, as it marks to the world an -approbation of my conduct.”</p> - -<p>Nelson, with the <i>Agamemnon</i> and a small squadron -of frigates, was now sent “to co-operate with the -Austrian General de Vins, in driving the French out -of the Riviera of Genoa,” and “to put an actual stop -to all trade between Genoa, France, and the places -occupied by the armies of France,” the invasion of -Italy then being an object much to be desired by the -Republicans. On the 6th of July he sighted a French -fleet of seventeen sail and six frigates, an overpowering -force it would have been madness to attack had the -opportunity been given to him. His little squadron -was chased to San Fiorenzo, where Hotham was stationed -but unable to get out owing to contrary winds. It -was not until the 13th that the enemy was again -seen. There was a general chase and a partial action: -“Hotham has no head for enterprise, perfectly satisfied -that each month passes without any losses on our -side,” is Nelson’s criticism.</p> - -<p>He still endeavoured to be more or less of a freelance. -“I am acting, not only without the orders of -my Commander-in-chief,” he tells his wife, “but in -some measure contrary to them. However, I have -not only the support of his Majesty’s Ministers, both -at Turin and Genoa, but a consciousness that I am -doing what is right and proper for the service of our -King and Country. Political courage in an Officer is -as highly necessary as military courage.” His position -was difficult in the extreme, for while Genoa posed as -a neutral the French did very much as they pleased, -and the Austrian Army, subsidised by England, was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69">69</a></span> -“slow beyond all description.” He found it impossible -to patrol the coast as he would have done -had he been able to procure sufficient cruisers and -transports. However, he managed to secure a convoy -of provisions and ammunition, various attacks were -made, and for more than a year his service was one of -continual worry and dissatisfaction.</p> - -<p>With the resignation of Hotham and the coming of -Sir John Jervis in November 1795 the naval policy -in the Mediterranean underwent a change. The latter -officer believed in watching an enemy’s port at a convenient -distance so as to render pursuit easy if necessary. -With the exception of two or three squadrons on special -service the fleet therefore took up its station off Toulon.</p> - -<p>The victory of the French at the battle of Loano, on -the 24th November 1795, was followed by their occupation -of the Riviera of Genoa as a matter of course, the -Austrians retreating into Piedmont. A certain amount -of blame was laid on Nelson, who, as already noted, -was in the neighbourhood of Genoa in order to see -that the pretended neutrality was observed. Rumour -had it that he and his officers had connived at the -landing of supplies for the French army. This drew -from him an indignant letter to Lord Grenville. It -was certain that Genoa was a hot-bed of sedition and -French partisanship. An Austrian commissary had -been robbed, and Voltri temporarily captured; it was -said that an insurrection of the peasantry was imminent -and that men were publicly enlisted for service in the -French army. The recruits were to embark in French -ships lying in the port of Genoa and in coasters at -Borghetto and to proceed to a landing-place near -Voltri. Nelson, far from sympathising with the malcontents, -prevented the sailing of the expedition by -leaving Vado Bay and proceeding to the scene of -the trouble. He placed the <i>Agamemnon</i> across the -harbour-mouth and allowed none of the enemy’s vessels -to leave.</p> - -<p>It is a mournful letter which he pens to Sir Gilbert<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70">70</a></span> -Elliot, Viceroy of Corsica, on the 4th December 1795. -“My campaign is closed,” he begins, “by the defeat -of the Austrian Army, and the consequent loss of Vado -and every place in the Riviera of Genoa, and I am on my -way to refit poor <i>Agamemnon</i> and her miserable Ship’s -company at Leghorn. We are, indeed, Sir, worn out; -except six days I have never been one hour off the -station.” The despatch is too lengthy to quote in full, -but it is significant that he adds, “My being at Genoa, -although contrary to my inclination, has been the -means of saving from 8000 to 10,000 men, and amongst -others, General de Vins himself, who escaped by the -road, which, but for me, the Enemy would have occupied. -I must, my dear Sir, regret not having more force.”</p> - -<p>Nelson, who now made the acquaintance of Jervis, -early discerned that his senior officer was a man more -after his own heart than either Hotham or Sir Hyde -Parker, who had held the command during the interim. -He was offered either a 90-gun or a 74-gun ship, but -preferred to keep to the well-tried <i>Agamemnon</i>, for -whose crew he cherished a fond affection. He was -confident that in the succeeding Spring the victorious -French would “make a great exertion to get into -Italy.” This they did, but by land and not by sea as -Nelson anticipated. After refitting Nelson was still -kept on the lookout, descents on Italy being thought -not improbable, but in February 1796 he was off Toulon -for a short time to spy on the doings of the French -fleet. His health was by no means good: “I am -grown old and battered to pieces, and require some -repairs. However, on the whole, I have stood the fag -better than could be expected.” In the following -month Nelson became a Commodore, hoisting his -distinguishing pennant on the <i>Captain</i> (74) a little -later, the condition of the ship which had served him -so long and so well being such that she could no longer -be patched up to withstand the gales without being -overhauled in England.</p> - -<p>The war was going from bad to worse so far as the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71">71</a></span> -allies were concerned. The armies of the King of -Sardinia and Piedmont and of the Emperor of the -Holy Roman Empire acted in separate bodies, whereas -they would have been superior to the enemy had they -concentrated. The battle of Montenotte, fought on -the 12th April 1796, took the Austrians completely -by surprise, and enabled Napoleon to boast that his -“title of nobility” dated from this great victory. -Millesimo, Dego, Mondovi, and Cherasco fell, France -and Sardinia made peace, followed by an armistice -between Naples and the Republic which preluded a -cessation of hostilities in the following October.</p> - -<p>Although Nelson was gradually rising in the service -he was by no means a wealthy man. “If we have a -Spanish war,” he confides to his brother on the 20th -June 1796, “I shall yet hope to make something this -war. At present, I believe I am worse than when I -set out—I mean in point of riches, for if credit and -honour in the service are desirable, I have my full -share. Opportunities have been frequently offered me, -and I have never lost one of distinguishing myself, not -only as a gallant man, but as having a head; for, of -the numerous plans I have laid, not one has failed, nor -of opinions given, has one been in the event wrong. It -is this latter which has perhaps established my character -more than the others; and I hope to return in -as good health as I set out with.”</p> - -<p>The French having taken possession of Leghorn, -Nelson was ordered to blockade that important port. -At the same time he received intelligence from Sir -Gilbert Elliot that there was a likelihood of the enemy -making an attempt on the fortress of Porto Ferrajo -in order that Elba might be used as a stepping-stone -to Corsica. The place was secured by the British -without resort to the sword, the good understanding -between the military and naval forces being in marked -contrast to Nelson’s previous experience at Bastia, -“a farther proof of what may be effected by the hearty -co-operation of the two services.” He was soon back<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72">72</a></span> -at his former station, carrying out his work efficiently -and to Jervis’s complete satisfaction. The Commodore’s -letter to his wife, dated the 2nd August 1796, reflects -his high spirits and relates two anecdotes of more -than ordinary interest. After telling Mrs Nelson that -“Wherever there is anything to be done, there Providence -is sure to direct my steps. Credit must be given -me in spite of envy,” he proceeds as follows:</p> - -<p>“Even the French respect me: their Minister at -Genoa, in answering a Note of mine, when returning -some wearing apparel that had been taken, said, ‘Your -Nation, Sir, and mine, are made to show examples of -generosity, as well as of valour, to all the people of -the earth.’...</p> - -<p>“I will also relate another anecdote, all vanity to -myself, but you will partake of it: A person sent me -a letter, and directed as follows, ‘Horatio Nelson, Genoa.’ -On being asked how he could direct in such a manner, -his answer, in a large party, was ‘Sir, there is but -one Horatio Nelson in the world.’ The letter certainly -came immediately. At Genoa, where I have stopped -all their trade, I am beloved and respected, both by -the Senate and lower Order. If any man is fearful of -his Vessel being stopped, he comes and asks me; if -I give him a Paper, or say, ‘All is right,’ he is contented. -I am known throughout Italy; not a Kingdom, -or State, where my name will be forgotten. This is -my Gazette.”</p> - -<p>Towards the end of September Jervis was directed -by the Home Authorities to assist the Viceroy in the -evacuation of Corsica, “and with the fleet to retreat -down the Mediterranean.” This was deemed advisable -by the knowledge that war was likely to be declared -against Great Britain by Spain, that Power having -entered into an offensive and defensive alliance with -the ever victorious French Republic on the 12th September -1796. Nelson, who had but recently assisted -at the capture of the little island of Capraja, which he -hoped with some reason would “give additional security<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73">73</a></span> -to the Kingdom of Corsica,” was not pleased when -duty called him to undertake the evacuation of the -country so inseparably associated with Napoleon. -“God knows what turn the minds of the Corsicans -may take when the measure comes to be known,” he -tells Jervis. Leaving the Mediterranean was a sore -trial, “a measure which I cannot approve. They -at home do not know what this Fleet is capable of -performing; anything, and everything. Much as I -shall rejoice to see England”—he was writing to his wife—“I -lament our present orders in sackcloth and ashes, -so dishonourable to the dignity of England, whose -Fleets are equal to meet the World in arms; and of -all the Fleets I ever saw, I never beheld one in point -of officers and men equal to Sir John Jervis’s, who is -a Commander-in-chief able to lead them to glory.”</p> - -<p>The Commodore was next instructed to embark -the garrison of Porto Ferrajo preparatory to the abandonment -of Elba. Certain of the troops were then -to be landed at Gibraltar and the remainder at Lisbon: -“The object of our Fleet in future is the defence of -Portugal, and keeping in the Mediterranean the Combined -Fleets,” namely those of Spain and France. -While on his way to carry out his important mission -Nelson was to meet with a surprising adventure.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74">74</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI<br /> - -<span class="subhead">Nelson’s First Great Fight: The Battle -of Cape St Vincent<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1797)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>To have had any share in it is honour enough for one man’s life, but -to have been foremost on such a day could fall to your share alone</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Sir Gilbert Elliot.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap b"><span class="smcap1">Sir John Jervis</span> had concentrated his fleet -in Gibraltar Bay. Nelson was making his way -from thence to Elba in the <i>Minerve</i>, accompanied -by the <i>Blanche</i>, both 32-gun frigates. All -went well until late in the evening of the 19th December -1796, when they fell in with two Spanish frigates named -the <i>Santa Sabina</i> (40) and the <i>Ceres</i> (40) off Cartagena. -The Commodore at once instructed Captain Cockburn -to bring the <i>Minerve</i> to close action with the former. -The struggle which ensued lasted for nearly three -hours. The lengthy resistance of the enemy is proof -that there were still gallant officers in the naval service -of what was once the mightiest Sea Power in the world, -now long since fallen from her high estate. Captain -Don Jacobo Stuart fought his ship with praiseworthy -calm and daring. Not until 164 of the 286 men who -comprised the crew of the <i>Santa Sabina</i> had been killed -or wounded did the Don strike his colours. The vessel -had then lost both main and fore-masts, and the -deck must have resembled a shambles. The <i>Blanche</i> -had also behaved well, although the action was trifling -compared with the determined encounter between the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75">75</a></span> -other vessels. The approach of three additional ships -prevented the captain of the <i>Blanche</i> from following -up his advantage and capturing the <i>Ceres</i>, which had -hauled down her colours and sustained considerable -damage to her sails and rigging.</p> - -<p>Nelson’s prize was put in charge of Lieutenants -Culverhouse and Hardy and taken in tow by the <i>Minerve</i>. -They had not proceeded far before a third Spanish -frigate came up and engaged the <i>Minerve</i>, necessitating -the casting-off of the <i>Santa Sabina</i>, thereby leaving the -two young, but able, junior officers to their own resources. -The encounter lasted a little over half-an-hour, when the -frigate having had enough of Nelson’s pommelling hauled -off. The vessels from which Captain D’Arcy Preston of -the <i>Blanche</i> had escaped were now approaching, their -commanders having been attracted by the sound of -distant firing. Dawn revealed them to Nelson as two -sail-of-the-line and a frigate. By hoisting English -colours above the Spanish flag on the prize the enemy’s -Admiral was attracted to her, a ruse which enabled the -<i>Minerve</i> and the <i>Blanche</i> to escape, for it would have -been foolish for Nelson to run the risk of sacrificing them -because of the prize crew. Indeed, the situation was so -perilous that Nelson afterwards wrote to Sir Gilbert Elliot, -“We very narrowly escaped visiting a Spanish prison.” -Neither before nor since have British Tars behaved in -finer fashion. They sailed the <i>Santa Sabina</i> until she -was practically a hulk, when she was recaptured.</p> - -<p>“The merits of every officer and man in the <i>Minerve</i> -and her Prize,” Nelson reports to Jervis, “were -eminently conspicuous through the whole of this arduous -day.” He likewise said the kindest things of his -antagonist: “My late prisoner, a descendant from -the Duke of Berwick, son of James II., was my brave -opponent; for which I have returned him his sword, and -sent him in a Flag of truce to Spain ... he was reputed -the best Officer in Spain, and his men were worthy of -such a Commander; he was the only surviving Officer.” -He reserved more picturesque details for his brother.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76">76</a></span> -“When I hailed the Don,” he relates, “and told -him, ‘This is an English Frigate,’ and demanded his -surrender or I would fire into him, his answer was noble, -and such as became the illustrious family from which -he is descended—‘This is a Spanish Frigate, and you -may begin as soon as you please.’ I have no idea of -a closer or sharper battle: the force to a gun the same, -and nearly the same number of men; we having two -hundred and fifty. I asked him several times to -surrender during the Action, but his answer was—‘No, -Sir; not whilst I have the means of fighting left.’ -When only himself of all the Officers were left alive, he -hailed, and said he could fight no more, and begged -I would stop firing.” Culverhouse and Hardy, after -having been conveyed to Carthagena, were subsequently -exchanged for the unlucky but brave Don, and returned -to the <i>Minerve</i>.</p> - -<div id="ip_76" class="figcenter" style="width: 436px;"> - <img src="images/i_085.jpg" width="436" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>“I’ll not lose Hardy!”</p> - -<p class="notbold">H. C. Seppings Wright</p></div></div> - -<p>Nelson duly anchored at Porto Ferrajo, and met -with a lack of co-operation on the part of the military -authority similar to some of his previous experiences. -Lieutenant-General de Burgh, in command of the -troops, declined to evacuate the town. Nelson, having -no other alternative, removed the naval stores, left a -number of sloops and gunboats for use in emergency, -and sailed for Gibraltar, which he reached on the 9th -February 1797, having looked into the enemy’s ports -of Toulon and Cartagena on the way. Two days -later the Commodore again set out in his endeavour -to join Jervis, and was chased by two Spanish ships. -It was then that a memorable incident occurred in -the lives of both Nelson and Hardy, names inseparably -associated. A man fell overboard, and Hardy and a -crew in the jolly-boat hastened to the rescue. The -current was strong, the poor fellow sank, and the boat -rapidly drifted in the direction of one of the oncoming -vessels, so that Hardy stood a very good chance of -again falling into the hands of the enemy. “I’ll not -lose Hardy; back the mizen topsail,” shouted Nelson -without a moment’s hesitation. This was done, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77">77</a></span> -the lieutenant and his sailors were rescued. The -Spaniards were completely put off their guard. Led -to imagine by the peculiar manœuvre of the <i>Minerve</i> -that other British ships had been sighted, they gave up -the chase. No further exciting incidents occurred as -the doughty frigate ploughed the blue waters of the -Mediterranean, although the Spanish fleet was passed -at night. On the 13th Nelson joined Jervis, off Cape -St Vincent, and was able to assure him that a battle -appeared imminent. “Every heart warmed to see -so brave and fortunate a warrior among us,” says -Lieutenant G. S. Parsons, then not quite thirteen years -of age and a first-class volunteer on board the <i>Barfleur</i> -(98). During the succeeding hours of darkness the -low and distant rumble of signal guns proved the truth -of the Commodore’s assertion. The enemy’s fleet of -twenty-seven sail-of-the-line and twelve 34-gun frigates -was certainly hastening in the direction of Jervis. It -had sailed from Cadiz for a very important purpose. -After concentrating with the Toulon fleet the allies were -to attempt to raise the English blockade of Brest, thus -releasing the important armament there, gain command -of the Channel, and invade Ireland. We shall have -occasion to notice that in later years Napoleon conceived -a similar idea. It is open to question whether Admiral -Don Josef de Cordova would have been quite so eager -for the fray had he known the full British strength. -He believed it to be nine sail-of-the-line, whereas fifteen -battleships and seven smaller vessels were awaiting -his coming. When the signal-lieutenant of the <i>Barfleur</i> -exclaimed of the oncoming leeward line of vessels, -“They loom like Beachy Head in a fog! By my soul, -they are thumpers, for I distinctly make out <em>four</em> tier -of ports in one of them, bearing an admiral’s flag,” he -expressed plain, honest fact. “Don Cordova, in the -<i>Santissima Trinidad</i>,” Jervis correctly surmised, “and -I trust in Providence that we shall reduce this mountain -into a mole hill before sunset.” The Spanish flag-ship -was the largest vessel afloat, and carried 130 guns.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78">78</a></span> -She must have towered above the insignificant <i>Captain</i> -(74), to which Nelson had transferred his broad pennant, -much like an elephant over a Shetland pony. Nor was -the <i>Santissima Trinidad</i> the only vessel built on what -was then considered to be colossal lines. No fewer -than six of the Spanish three-deckers carried 112 guns -each; two of them had 80 guns each, and seventeen -were 74-gun ships. England was represented by two -sail-of-the-line of 100 guns each, two of 98 each, ten -of 74 each, and one of 64.</p> - -<p>“The British had formed one of the most beautiful -and close lines ever beheld,” Parsons tells us. “The -fog drew up like a curtain, and disclosed the grandest -sight I ever witnessed. The Spanish fleet, close on our -weather bow, were making the most awkward attempts -to form their line of battle, and they looked a complete -forest huddled together; their commander-in-chief, -covered with signals, and running free on his leeward -line, using his utmost endeavours to get them into -order; but they seemed confusion worse confounded. -I was certainly very young, but felt so elated as to walk -on my toes, by way of appearing taller, as I bore oranges -to the admiral and captain, selecting some for myself, -which I stored in a snug corner in the stern-galley, as -a <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Corps de réserve</i>. The breeze was just sufficient to -cause all the sails to sleep, and we were close hauled -on the starboard tack, with royals set, heading up for -the Spanish fleet. Our supporting ship, in the well-formed -line, happened to be the <i>Captain</i>, and Captain -Dacres hailed to say that he was desired by the vice-admiral -to express his pleasure at being supported -by Sir Horatio Nelson.”<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">17</a></p> - -<p>Men famous in British naval annals were present -at this memorable contest, fought on St Valentine’s -Day, 1797. Jervis was in the <i>Victory</i> (100), Troubridge -in the <i>Culloden</i> (74), Collingwood in the <i>Excellent</i> -(74), and Saumarez in the <i>Orion</i> (74). Twenty-four<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79">79</a></span> -years before Troubridge and Nelson had sailed together -in the <i>Seahorse</i>; Collingwood was the Commodore’s -life-long friend, and Saumarez, whom the great little -man did not like, was to become second in command -at the battle of the Nile eighteen months later.</p> - -<p>“England,” the Admiral averred, “was in need of -a victory,” and he gave her one. Jervis was indeed -a doughty champion of his country’s rights at sea. -“The British Admiral made the signal to prepare for -battle,” says an eye-witness. “As he walked the -quarter-deck the hostile numbers were reported to him, -as they appeared, by signal. ‘There are eight sail-of-the-line, -Sir John.’ ‘Very well, sir.’ ‘There are -twenty-five sail-of-the-line.’ ‘Very well, sir.’ ‘There -are twenty-seven sail, Sir John,’ and this was accompanied -by some remark on the great disparity of the -forces. ‘Enough, sir—no more of that: the die is -cast; and if there were fifty sail-of-the-line, I would -go through them.’” Sir Benjamin Hallowell-Carew, -then a supernumerary on the quarter-deck of the -<i>Victory</i>, disregarding the austerity of naval etiquette -and thinking only of the determined utterance of the -grim old veteran, so far forgot himself as to give the -Admiral a hearty slap on the back.</p> - -<p>The Spanish fleet was in two divisions of twenty-one -and six sail-of-the-line respectively, separated by a -distance of some miles. Three of the main squadron -joined the latter a little later, while one “sailed away.” -Jervis’s fleet, in single column, separated the two -lines. By a skilful manœuvre he held in check the -smaller division and brought his ships to bear on the -larger, the <i>Culloden</i> being the first vessel to attack, -which elicited warm praise of Troubridge from Jervis. -The fight at once became general and was waged for -some time without decisive results. Then several of -the leading Spanish ships endeavoured to get round -the rear of the British. Had they succeeded in doing -so it would have enabled them to join the detached -leeward division and escape to Cadiz. Nelson at once<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80">80</a></span> -discerned the project, and without hesitation placed -the <i>Captain</i> in the path of the oncoming ships. He -“dashed in among the Spanish van,” to quote Parsons, -“totally unsupported, leaving a break in the British -line—conduct totally unprecedented, and only to be -justified by the most complete success with which it -was crowned....”</p> - -<p>The <i>Captain</i>, the smallest 74 in the fleet, stood a -good chance of being annihilated by the oncoming -squadron of Spanish ships, which included the <i>Santissima -Trinidad</i>, a gigantic four-decker. Lieutenant-Colonel -Drinkwater, who was an eye-witness, tells us -that for a considerable time Nelson “had to contend -not only with her, but with her seconds ahead and astern, -of three decks each. While he maintained this unequal -combat, which was viewed with admiration, mixed -with anxiety, his friends were flying to his support: -and the enemy’s attention was soon directed to the -<i>Culloden</i>, Captain Troubridge; and, in a short time -after, to the <i>Blenheim</i>, of 90 guns, Captain Frederick; -who, very opportunely, came to his assistance.</p> - -<p>“The intrepid conduct of the Commodore staggered -the Spanish admiral, who already appeared to waver -in pursuing his intention of joining the ships cut off -by the British fleet; when the <i>Culloden’s</i> arrival, and -Captain Troubridge’s spirited support of the <i>Captain</i>, -together with the approach of the <i>Blenheim</i>, followed -by Rear-Admiral Parker, with the <i>Prince George</i>, <i>Orion</i>, -<i>Irresistible</i>, and <i>Diadem</i>, not far distant, determined -the Spanish admiral to change his design altogether, -and to make the signal for the ships of his main body -to haul their wind, and make sail on the larboard tack.</p> - -<p>“Advantage was now apparent, in favour of the -British squadron, and not a moment was lost in improving -it. As the ships of Rear-Admiral Parker’s -division approached the enemy’s ships, in support of -the <i>Captain</i>, and her gallant seconds, the <i>Blenheim</i> -and <i>Culloden</i>, the cannonade became more animated -and impressive. The superiority of the British fire<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81">81</a></span> -over that of the enemy, and its effects on the enemy’s -hulls and sails, were so evident that there was no longer -any hesitation in pronouncing a glorious termination -of the contest.</p> - -<p>“The British squadron at this time was formed in -two divisions, both on the larboard tack<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">18</a>: Rear-Admiral -Parker, with the <i>Blenheim</i>, <i>Culloden</i>, <i>Prince -George</i>, <i>Captain</i>, <i>Orion</i>, and <i>Irresistible</i>, composed one -division, which was engaged with the enemy’s rear; -Sir John Jervis, with the other division, consisting of -the <i>Excellent</i>, <i>Victory</i>, <i>Barfleur</i>, <i>Namur</i>, <i>Egmont</i>, <i>Goliath</i>, -and <i>Britannia</i>, was pressing forward in support of his -advanced squadron, but had not yet approached the -real scene of action.</p> - -<p>“While the British advanced squadron warmly -pressed the enemy’s centre and rear, the Admiral -meditated, with his division, a co-operation which -must effectually compel some of them to surrender.</p> - -<p>“In the confusion of their retreat, several of the -enemy’s ships had doubled on each other; and, in -the rear, they were three or four deep. It was, therefore, -the British admiral’s design to reach the weather-most -of these ships; and, then, to bear up, and rake -them all in succession, with the seven ships composing -his division. His object, afterwards, was to pass on -to the support of his van division; which, from the -length of time they had been engaged, he judged might -be in want of it. The casual position, however, of the -rear ships of his van division, prevented his executing -this plan. The admiral, therefore, ordered the <i>Excellent</i>, -the leading ship of his own division, to bear up; and, -with the <i>Victory</i>, he himself passed to leeward of the -enemy’s rearmost and leewardmost ships; which, -though almost silenced in their fire, continued obstinately -to resist the animated attack of all their opponents.</p> - -<p>“Captain Collingwood, in the <i>Excellent</i>, in obedience -to the admiral’s orders, passed between the two rearmost -ships of the enemy’s line; giving to the one most<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82">82</a></span> -to windward, a 74, so effectual a broadside, in addition -to what had been done before, that her captain was -induced to submit. The <i>Excellent</i> afterwards bore -down on the ship to leeward, a three-decker: but, -observing the <i>Orion</i> engaged with her, and the <i>Victory</i> -approaching her, he threw into her only a few discharges -of musquetry, and passed on to the support -of the <i>Captain</i>, at that time warmly engaged with a -three-decker, carrying a flag. His interference here -was opportune, as the continual and long fire of the -<i>Captain</i> had almost expended the ammunition she -had at hand, and the loss of her fore-topmast, and -other injuries she had received in her rigging, had -rendered her nearly ungovernable.</p> - -<p>“The Spanish three-decker had lost her mizen-mast; -and, before the <i>Excellent</i> arrived in her proper station -to open on this ship, the three-decker dropped astern -aboard of, and became entangled with, a Spanish -two-decker, that was her second. Thus doubled on -each other, the <i>Excellent</i> gave the two ships her fire; -and then moved forwards to assist the headmost ships -in their attack on the Spanish admiral, and the other -ships of the enemy’s centre.</p> - -<p>“Meanwhile, Sir John Jervis, disappointed in his -plan of raking the enemy’s rear ships, and having -directed, as before observed, the <i>Excellent</i> to bear up, -ordered the <i>Victory</i> to be placed on the lee-quarter of -the rearmost ship of the enemy, a three-decker; and -having, by signal, ordered the <i>Irresistible</i> and <i>Diadem</i> -to suspend their firing, threw into the three-decker -so powerful a discharge, that her commander, seeing -the <i>Barfleur</i> ... ready to second the <i>Victory</i>, thought -proper to strike to the British Commander-in-chief. -Two of the enemy’s ships had now surrendered; and -the <i>Lively</i> frigate, and <i>Diadem</i>, had orders to secure -the prizes. The next that fell were the two with which -Commodore Nelson was engaged.</p> - -<p>“While Captain Collingwood so nobly stepped in -to his assistance, as already mentioned, Captain <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83">83</a></span>R. W. -Miller, the Commodore’s captain, was enabled to -replenish his lockers with shot, and prepare for a renewal -of the fight. No sooner, therefore, had the -<i>Excellent</i> passed on, than the gallant Commodore -renewed the battle.</p> - -<p>“The three-decker with which he was before engaged -having fallen aboard her second, that ship, of 84 guns, -became now the Commodore’s opponent. To her, -therefore, he directed a vigorous fire; nor was it feebly -returned, as the loss on board the <i>Captain</i> evinced, -nearly twenty men being killed and wounded in a very -few minutes. It was now that the various damages -already sustained by that ship, through the long and -arduous conflict which she had maintained, appearing -to render a continuance of the contest in the usual -way precarious, or perhaps impossible, that Commodore -Nelson, unable to bear the idea of parting with an -enemy of which he had so thoroughly assured himself, -instantly resolved on a bold and decisive measure; -and determined, whatever might be the event, to -attempt his opponent sword in hand. The boarders -were accordingly summoned, and orders given to lay -his ship, the <i>Captain</i>, on board the enemy.”</p> - -<p>“At this time,” says Nelson, “the <i>Captain</i> having -lost her fore-topmast, not a sail, shroud, or rope left, -her wheel shot away, and incapable of further service -in the line, or in chase, I directed Captain Miller to put -the helm a-starboard, and calling for the Boarders, -ordered them to board. The Soldiers of the 69th -Regiment, with an alacrity which will ever do them -credit, and Lieutenant Pierson of the same Regiment, -were amongst the foremost on this service. The first -man who jumped into the Enemy’s mizen-chains was -Captain Berry, late my First Lieutenant (Captain -Miller was in the very act of going also, but I directed -him to remain); he was supported from our spritsail-yard, -which hooked in the mizzen-rigging. A soldier -of the 69th Regiment having broke the upper quarter-gallery -window, jumped in, followed by myself and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84">84</a></span> -others as fast as possible. I found the cabin-doors -fastened, and some Spanish Officers fired their pistols; -but having broke open the doors, the soldiers fired, -and the Spanish Brigadier (Commodore with a Distinguishing -Pendant) fell, as retreating to the quarter-deck, -on the larboard side, near the wheel. Having -pushed on the quarter-deck, I found Captain Berry in -possession of the poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling -down. I passed with my people and Lieutenant Pierson -on the larboard gangway to the forecastle, where I -met two or three Spanish Officers prisoners to my -seamen, and they delivered me their swords.</p> - -<p>“At this moment, a fire of pistols or muskets opened -from the Admiral’s stern gallery of the <i>San Josef</i>, -I directed the soldiers to fire into her stern; and, -calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send more -men into the <i>San Nicolas</i>, and directed my people to -board the First-rate, which was done in an instant, -Captain Berry assisting me into the main chains. At -this moment a Spanish Officer looked over the quarter-deck -rail, and said—‘they surrendered;’ from this -most welcome intelligence it was not long before I was -on the quarter-deck, when the Spanish Captain, with -a bow, presented me his Sword, and said the Admiral -was dying of his wounds below. I asked him, on his -honour, if the Ship were surrendered? he declared -she was; on which I gave him my hand, and desired -him to call to his Officers and Ship’s company, and tell -them of it—which he did; and on the quarter-deck -of a Spanish First-rate, extravagant as the story may -seem, did I receive the Swords of vanquished Spaniards: -which, as I received, I gave to William Fearney, one -of my bargemen, who put them with the greatest -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">sangfroid</i> under his arm.”</p> - -<p>Nelson afterwards went on board the <i>Irresistible</i>. -It was then late in the afternoon, and he did not think -it advisable to take possession of the <i>Santissima Trinidad</i> -because he was convinced that “a night Action with -a still very superior Fleet” must inevitably follow.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85">85</a></span> -Jervis received the Commodore with great affection -and was not sparing with well-deserved praise. The -hero of the day was no less generous in acknowledging -the services of Collingwood. He described his conduct -as “noble and gallant.” Nelson had no truer friend -than the commander of the <i>Excellent</i>, whose admiration -for the Commodore’s genius knew no bounds. “The -highest rewards are due to you and <i>Culloden</i>:” Collingwood -replied, “you formed the plan of attack—we -were only accessories to the Dons’ ruin; for had they -got on the other tack, they would have been sooner -joined, and the business would have been less complete.”</p> - -<p>While the interest of the fight centres about the -<i>Captain</i>, each ship contributed to the victory. In -addition to Nelson’s vessel, the <i>Colossus</i> and <i>Culloden</i> -were badly battered but fortunately the loss in men -was remarkably small. Four prizes fell to the British -fleet on St Valentine’s Day, 1797.</p> - -<p>To his wife, Nelson confesses that “the more I think -of our late action, the more I am astonished; it absolutely -appears a dream.... The Spanish war will -give us a cottage and a piece of ground, which is all -I want. I shall come one day or other laughing back, -when we will retire from the busy scenes of life: I do -not, however, mean to be a hermit; the dons will give -us a little money.” This must not be taken too seriously, -for within forty-eight hours of the battle he had -confided to Sir Gilbert Elliot that “to take hereditary -Honours without a fortune to support the Dignity, is -to lower that Honour it would be my pride to support -in proper splendour.” He did not wish a “baronetage,” -but on the other hand, “There are Honours, which -die with the possessor, and I should be proud to accept, -if my efforts are thought worthy of the favour of my -King.” George III. created him a Knight of the Bath; -Jervis became Earl of St Vincent. Six days after the -battle Nelson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral -of the Blue, not as a reward for his meritorious conduct -but as his due according to seniority.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86">86</a></span> -A beautiful gold casket containing the much-coveted -Freedom of the City and a sword of honour was given -to Sir Horatio, as we must now call him, by the Corporation -of London, and Norwich, where some of his school -days were spent, likewise conferred its Freedom upon -him. Nelson on his part presented the county town -of Norfolk with the sword of the Spanish Rear-Admiral -who had died of his wounds on board the <i>San Josef</i>. -Other cities extended “the right hand of friendship” -to the hero, including Bath and Bristol. Nelson’s -father was overcome when he heard of his son’s brilliant -success: “The height of glory to which your professional -judgment, united with a proper degree of -bravery, guarded by Providence, has raised you, few -sons, my dear child, attain to, and fewer fathers live -to see. Tears of joy have involuntarily trickled down -my furrowed cheek. Who could stand the force of -such general congratulation? The name and services -of Nelson have sounded throughout the City of Bath, -from the common ballad-singer to the public theatre. -Joy sparkles in every eye, and desponding Britain -draws back her sable veil, and smiles.”</p> - -<p>Although he had clearly disobeyed Jervis’s order -for the ships to attack in succession, the Commodore’s -daring action had rendered the battle decisive. Sir -Robert Calder, the Captain of the Fleet, is said to have -protested against Nelson’s conduct, but the Admiral’s -reply, “If you ever commit such a breach of orders -I will forgive you,” was entirely worthy of the stern -old disciplinarian. Jervis was not one of those officers -who bestow praise on every possible occasion, both in -and out of season. He was just, and therefore recognised -the extremely valuable service which Nelson -had rendered to him. We shall have occasion to see -how Calder himself behaved at a certain critical period, -when a stroke of genius such as had been displayed -at St Vincent would have robbed Nelson of the glory -of Trafalgar.<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">19</a></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87">87</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII<br /> - -<span class="subhead">From Triumph to Failure: The Attempt -on Santa Cruz<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1797)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>I have had flattery enough to make me vain, and success enough to -make me confident.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">All</span> hopes on the part of Britain’s enemies for -the invasion of the British Isles were quashed -for a time by the victory off Cape St Vincent. -Although the distressed Spanish fleet reached Cadiz -safely, minus four sail-of-the-line which the British -had captured, there was no likelihood at the moment -of the ships showing their “noses” out of port, many -of the aforesaid noses being much out of joint. For -several weeks Nelson was engaged in a fruitless search -for a treasure-ship, convoyed by three sail-of-the-line, -supposed to be making for Spain; but in April 1797 -he was directed by the Admiral to blockade Cadiz, a -task not altogether devoid of incident if for no other -reason than that no neutral vessel was permitted to -enter or leave the port without his permission. He -was particularly concerned as to the welfare of the -garrison at Elba. The Commander-in-Chief believed -that the soldiers were on their way to Gibraltar; Nelson -was of opinion that “If the French get out two sail-of-the-line, -which I am confident they may do, our -Troops are lost, and what a triumph would that be to -them!” At his own suggestion he was sent to Porto<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88">88</a></span> -Ferrajo to make enquiries about the luckless little -army. The convoy had started, and he met it off the -south of Corsica. He learned of Napoleon’s wonderful -success in the subjugation of Italy and the humbling -of Austria, admitting that “there seems no prospect -of stopping these extraordinary people,” the French. -Shifting from the <i>Captain</i>, which required to be docked, -he hoisted his rear-admiral’s flag on the <i>Theseus</i>, and -was given command of the inshore squadron of the -fleet blockading the great seaport, “in sight of the -whole Spanish Fleet. I am barely out of shot of a -Spanish Rear-Admiral.” The citizens not unnaturally -dreaded a bombardment; Nelson confessed, “I long to -be at them.” At the same time he reverted to the old -idea of a cottage in Norfolk. “The imperious call of -honour to serve my Country,” and a not ignoble desire -to add to his prize money in order to give his wife -“those little luxuries which you so highly merit,” -did not, however, permit him to give more than a -passing thought to retirement.</p> - -<p>On the night of the 3rd July 1797 all the barges and -launches of the British blockading fleet, carrying carronades, -ammunition and pikes, were placed at Nelson’s -disposal by the Earl of St Vincent for the bombardment -of Cadiz. A spirited action took place between the -British and Spanish sailors, the latter using mortar -gunboats and armed launches. The Spanish met -with a repulse and three prizes were taken. Referring -to the blockade in his Autobiography, Nelson says: -“It was during this period that perhaps my personal -courage was more conspicuous than at any other part -of my life,” the remark obviously referring to the -following incident. The barge of the Commander of -the enemy’s gunboats came up alongside Nelson’s -little craft, containing thirteen persons in all, and a -desperate hand-to-hand fight ensued. The Rear-Admiral -would have lost his life had it not been for the -good services of John Sykes, the coxswain, one of -those humble heroes of whom one hears too little, so<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89">89</a></span> -predominant are the greater figures of history. The -enemy paid dearly for the exploit. Eighteen of the -crew were killed, several wounded, the Commander -was taken prisoner, and the boat captured. On the -5th of the same month Cadiz was again bombarded, -and according to the official despatch, the cannonade -“produced considerable effect in the Town and -among the Shipping.” The Earl of St Vincent now -proved how strict a disciplinarian he was. The crews -of some of the ships had shown unmistakable signs of -mutiny, and the Court Martial having passed sentence -on four of the ringleaders, the Commander-in-Chief -saw no reason for delaying the execution of the sentence. -He had the men hanged on a Sunday, a few hours -after they had been found guilty. Nelson strongly -approved of the execution, “even although it is <em>Sunday</em>. -The particular situation of the service requires extraordinary -measures.” It is significant that no signs -of dissatisfaction made themselves felt in any of the -Rear-Admiral’s ships, but Nelson’s words show that -he would not have condoned anything of the kind.</p> - -<p>An attack on Santa Cruz, where it was believed -that the <i>Principe d’Asturias</i>, a ship of considerable -value belonging to the Philippine Company, had taken -shelter, next fell to Nelson’s lot. He had already -hinted to the Admiral that the conquest of Teneriffe -was an object very dear to him, which he was confident -“could not fail of success, would immortalize the -undertakers, ruin Spain, and has every prospect of -raising our Country to a higher pitch of wealth than -she has ever yet attained....” His plan was to -utilise the 3700 soldiers from Elba; “I will undertake -with a very small Squadron to do the Naval part.” -The scheme fell through, to be revived by the Earl -himself, but it was to be carried out without the assistance -of the troops. Three sail-of-the-line and the -same number of frigates were placed at Nelson’s disposal. -Ladders, sledge-hammers, wedges, axes, additional -iron ram-rods, and a sleigh for dragging cannon<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90">90</a></span> -formed a necessary part of the equipment. A perusal -of the regulations recommended by the Rear-Admiral -shows that he took the most elaborate precautions to -ensure success. Captain Thomas Troubridge, of the -<i>Culloden</i>, was given command of the entire force, -Captain Oldfield directing the Marines, Lieutenant -Baynes his detachment of the Royal Artillery. The -first attempt was made on the night of the 21st and -failed, largely owing to adverse weather. As a consequence -the spot which Nelson had indicated as most -suitable for landing was not reached, and dawn disclosed -the whereabouts of the little expedition to the Spaniards. -It was also found impossible to get the battle-ships -close enough to the fort to create a diversion by bombardment -while the storming party attempted to gain -the heights.</p> - -<p>Any blame which may have been attributable to -Troubridge was minimised by Nelson in his despatch -to the Admiral, “all has hitherto been done which was -possible, without effect.” He therefore decided to -command in person, “and to-morrow my head will -probably be crowned with either laurel or cypress.” -Did some premonition of disaster lead him to write -to the Earl of St Vincent to recommend his step-son -“to you and my Country,” and to add that “should -I fall in the service of my King and Country” the Duke -of Clarence would “take a lively interest” in Josiah -Nisbet? It was certainly not his way of saying things -at this stage of his career, although we know that in -1805 he avowed that Trafalgar would be his last battle.</p> - -<div id="ip_90" class="figcenter" style="width: 441px;"> - <img src="images/i_101.jpg" width="441" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>Nelson wounded at Santa Cruz</p> - -<p class="notbold">R. Caton Woodville</p></div></div> - -<p>On the 24th Nelson was able to get his ships nearer -land than on the previous occasion. He and nearly -a thousand men set out in small boats at about eleven -o’clock at night for the Mole, where they were to disembark. -The oars being muffled and dead silence enjoined, -the enemy did not discover their approach till they were -within half gun-shot of the appointed <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">rendez-vous</i>. -Immediately thirty or forty cannon blazed out, the -sharp ping of musket shots rent the air, but, says Nelson,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91">91</a></span> -“nothing could stop the intrepidity of the Captains -leading the divisions. Unfortunately, the greatest -part of the Boats did not see the Mole, but went on -shore through a raging surf, which stove all the Boats -to the left of it.”</p> - -<p>With the companies of four or five boats and two -Captains, the Rear-Admiral stormed the landing-place -in the darkness and took possession of it in the presence -of several hundred of the enemy. They then proceeded -to spike the guns, but were driven back by the heavy -fire which seemed to issue from every available point. -Scarcely a man escaped death or a wound. Nelson was -shot through the right elbow as he was stepping from -the boat. With rare presence of mind he quietly transferred -the sword he carried to his left hand. This -weapon, once the property of his uncle Maurice Suckling, -was treasured by him almost more than any other -possession. He was not going to leave that of all -things on Spanish soil! Young Nisbet happened to -be near his step-father at the moment he received his -wound, and placed him in the bottom of the boat. -He then held the arm so as to staunch the blood, untied -the silk handkerchief round his neck and bound -up the injury as best he could. After passing under -the enemy’s batteries the few men who had regained -the little craft bent to the oars and eventually pulled -out of range of the guns, but not before some of the -crew of the <i>Fox</i>, who had been flung into the sea owing to -the sinking of that cutter, had been rescued by them. -Someone suggested that Nelson should be taken to the -nearest vessel for surgical treatment. He would not -hear of this because the captain’s wife happened to be -on board and he had no intelligence of her husband’s -fate. Whatever agonies Nelson suffered, as the sadly -denuded crew made their way to the <i>Theseus</i>, were kept -to himself; scarcely a groan escaped his lips.</p> - -<p>“At two o’clock [<span class="smcap smaller">A.M.</span>],” says a midshipman who -saw the sorrowful boatload, “Admiral Nelson returned -on board, being dreadfully wounded in the right arm<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92">92</a></span> -with a grape-shot. I leave you to judge of my situation, -when I beheld our boat approach with him who -I may say has been a second father to me, his right -arm dangling by his side, whilst with the other he -helped himself to jump up the Ship’s side, and with -a spirit that astonished every one, told the surgeon to -get his instruments ready, for he knew he must lose -his arm, and that the sooner it was off the better. He -underwent the amputation with the same firmness -and courage that have always marked his character.”</p> - -<p>Captain Troubridge and his men landed near the -citadel after most of the ammunition had been soaked -by the surf, which was so violent that it filled the boats -and stove them against the treacherous rocks. With -a handful of heroes he proceeded to the Square, previously -appointed as the meeting-place of the various -parties before the final attack. The scaling ladders -having been lost, and no further men making their -appearance after an hour’s wait, he set out to meet -Captains Hood and Miller, whom he believed had -effected a landing elsewhere. “By day-break,” runs -his official report to Nelson, “we had collected about -eighty Marines, eighty Pike-men, and one hundred -and eighty small-arm Seamen. These, I found, were -all that were alive that had made good their landing. -With this force, having procured some ammunition -from the Spanish prisoners we had made, we were -marching to try what could be done with the Citadel -without ladders; but found the whole of the streets -commanded by field-pieces, and upwards of eight -thousand Spaniards and one hundred French under -arms, approaching by every avenue. As the boats were -all stove, and I saw no possibility of getting more men -on shore—the ammunition wet, and no provisions—I -sent Captain Hood with a Flag of Truce to the Governor, -to say I was prepared to burn the Town, which I should -immediately put in force if he approached one inch -further; and, at the same time, I desired Captain -Hood to say it would be done with regret, as I had no<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93">93</a></span> -wish to injure the inhabitants; that if he would come -to my terms, I was ready to treat, which he readily -agreed to....”</p> - -<p>The terms were, “That the Troops, etc., belonging -to his Britannic Majesty shall embark with all their -arms of every kind, and take their Boats off, if saved, -and be provided with such other as may be wanting; -in consideration of which it is engaged on their part -they shall not molest the Town in any manner by the -Ships of the British Squadron now before it, or any of -the Islands in the Canaries; and prisoners shall be -given up on both sides.”</p> - -<p>Troubridge’s game of bluff succeeded. His Excellency -Don Antonio Gutierrez, Commandant-General of the -Canary Islands, rid himself of the invaders and was -rewarded by Nelson with a cask of English beer and a -cheese!</p> - -<p>It says much for Nelson’s indomitable pluck and -recuperative powers, as well as for his keen interest in -the service, that he allowed only two days to intervene -before he penned a letter with his left hand to the -Admiral. That he was depressed is obvious, that -he still had a fund of grim humour is equally evident -by the quaint postscript. The communication runs -as follows:</p> - -<blockquote> -<p class="sigright"> -<i>Theseus, July 27th, 1797.</i> -</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">My Dear Sir</span>,</p> - -<p class="in4x">“I am become a burthen to my friends, and -useless to my Country; but by my letter wrote the -24th,<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">20</a> you will perceive my anxiety for the promotion -of my son-in-law, Josiah Nisbet.<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">21</a> 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,<a id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">22</a> -you think it proper to oblige me, I rest confident you -will do it; the Boy is under obligations to me, but he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94">94</a></span> -repaid me by bringing me from the Mole of Santa -Cruz.</p> - -<p>“I hope you will be able to give me a frigate, to -convey the remains of my carcase to England. God -bless you, my dear Sir, and believe me, your most -obliged and faithful,</p> - -<p class="sigright"> -“<span class="smcap">Horatio Nelson</span>. -</p> - -<p>“You will excuse my scrawl, considering it is my -first attempt.</p> - -<p>“Sir John Jervis, K.Bth.”</p></blockquote> - -<p>In another despatch to his senior officer the leader -of the ill-fated expedition avers that “A left-handed -Admiral will never again be considered as useful, therefore -the sooner I get to a very humble cottage the -better, and make room for a better man to serve the -State.” The noble Earl’s reply must have been as -healing balm to the wounded body and depressed -spirit of the man whose brilliant success had been -followed so quickly by disastrous failure. “Mortals -cannot command success;” he begins, “you and your -Companions have certainly deserved it, by the greatest -degree of heroism and perseverance that ever was -exhibited.” Such praise from St Vincent was praise -indeed, and he whimsically concludes by saying that -he will “bow to your stump to-morrow morning, if you -will give me leave.”</p> - -<p>On the 20th August 1797, Nelson struck his flag on -the <i>Theseus</i> and hoisted it on the <i>Seahorse</i>, in which -ship he made “a very miserable passage home.” He -arrived at Spithead on the 1st September and proceeded -to Bath. To his brother he reported that his -health “never was better, and my arm is in the fairest -way of soon healing.” He intended to journey to -London, perhaps pay a short visit to Norfolk “for a -few days, especially if a decent house is likely to be met -with near Norwich; but Wroxham very far indeed exceeds -my purse. Bath will be my home till next spring.” -On the other hand Lady Nelson wrote on the same<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95">95</a></span> -date that her husband suffered “a good deal of pain—the -arm is taken off very high, near the shoulder,” -and he only obtained rest by resorting to opium.</p> - -<p>If he never minimised a victory in his communications -Nelson certainly did not remark unduly on his wounds. -In writing to the Duke of Clarence he merely referred -to “my accident,” and passed on to assure his royal -friend “that not a scrap of that ardour with which -I have hitherto served our King has been shot away.” -It is only right, however, to add that in communicating -with the Comptroller of the Navy he was perhaps a -little unjust to Troubridge in the matter of the initial -attempt on Santa Cruz: “Had I been with the first -party, I have reason to believe complete success would -have crowned our endeavours.<a id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">23</a> My pride suffered; -and although I felt the second attack a forlorn hope, -yet the honour of our Country called for the attack, -and that I should command it. I never expected to -return, and am thankful.”</p> - -<p>On the 27th September, Nelson was invested with -the Ensigns of the Order of the Bath by George III. -at St James’s Palace. In addition he was granted -a pension of £1000 a year, having been “engaged -against the Enemy upwards of one hundred and twenty -times.” He became a popular hero, but as he -himself said, “Success covers a multitude of blunders, -and the want of it hides the greatest gallantry -and good conduct.” Compared to the victory off -Cape St Vincent the Santa Cruz fiasco was of little -moment. Kind-hearted John Bull dismissed the latter -incident and thought only of the former.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96">96</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /> - -<span class="subhead">In Chase of the French Fleet<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1798)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>No Frigates!—to which has been, and may again, be attributed the -loss of the French Fleet.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">The</span> year 1797 had been a particularly trying -one for Nelson both as regards health and -reputation; the succeeding twelve months -were to test his powers of endurance and his skill even -more. The services of the one-eyed, one-armed little -man were not to be dispensed with, as he had suggested -in a moment of despondency. He neither -retired to “a very humble cottage,” although he had -purchased a small property known as Round Wood, -near Ipswich, nor made room for “a better man.” -Truth to tell, there was no better man, and for once -the Admiralty knew its business. Nelson hoisted his -flag as Rear-Admiral of the Blue on board the <i>Vanguard</i> -(74) at Spithead on the 29th March 1798, sailed for -Lisbon with a convoy on the 10th April, and joined -his old fleet off Cadiz on the last day of that month, -the times “big with events.” Within forty-eight -hours he was ordered by St Vincent to ascertain the -destination of an immense armament which was preparing -at Toulon and other ports in the Mediterranean. -For this important service a squadron of three sail-of-the-line, -including his own ship, three frigates and a -sloop were placed at his disposal. A small French -corvette was captured, and by closely examining each<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97">97</a></span> -member of the crew it was ascertained that although -Bonaparte had appeared at the great French port it -was not believed he would embark. The most important -point of all, namely, the destination of the expedition, -was not revealed: “all is secret.”</p> - -<p>While off Toulon, Nelson encountered one of the -worst gales he ever experienced. His own account -of the fight with this universal enemy lacks the picturesque -details given by Captain Berry, of the <i>Vanguard</i>, -and we shall therefore quote from Berry’s letter. Nelson -tells his wife that “it was the Almighty’s goodness, to -check my consummate vanity”; his more matter-of-fact -captain sees only a natural cause. Just before sunset -on Sunday, the 20th of May, it became evident that -the spell of fine weather, which had been enjoyed hitherto, -was over. The wind increased in violence so much -that it became necessary to furl all the sails with the -exception of a main storm-staysail. “At about two,” -says Berry, “the main-topmast went over the side, -with the top-sailyard full of men. I dreaded the -inquiry of who were killed and drowned; fortunately -only one man fell overboard, and one fell on the booms, -and was killed on the spot. At half-past two the -mizen-topmast went over the side; the foremast gave -an alarming crack, and at a quarter past three went -by the board with a most tremendous crash, and, what -was very extraordinary, it fell in two pieces across the -forecastle. Our situation was really alarming: the -wreck of the fore-topmast and foremast hanging over -the side, and beating against the Ship’s bottom; the -best bower-anchor was flung out of its place, and was -also thumping the bottom; the wreck of the main -topmast swinging violently against the main-rigging, -every roll endangering the loss of the mainmast, which -we expected to fall every moment: thus circumstanced, -we endeavoured, though with but little hopes -of success, to wear,<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">24</a> having no head-sail, and knowing -we were driving on an Enemy’s shore. Fortunately<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98">98</a></span> -there was a small rag of the sprit-sail left, and by watching -a favourable moment, we got her on the other tack. -The bowsprit did not go, though it was sprung in three -different places. The Ship rolled and laboured dreadfully, -but did not make any water, more than we shipped -over all. We cut the anchor from the bows, and got -clear of the wreck, with the loss of a boat and top-sailyard, -etc., and were not apprehensive of our bottom -being damaged.... For want of masts we rolled -dreadfully. The storm did not abate till Tuesday -afternoon, which enabled the <i>Alexander</i> to take us in -tow. Our situation on Tuesday night was the most -alarming I ever experienced....” At one time -Nelson was of opinion that both ships would go down, -and wished the <i>Vanguard</i> to be cast off. Captain -Alexander Ball, with whom the Rear-Admiral had -struck up a slight acquaintance at St Omer on the -occasion of his visit to France in 1783, would not hear -of it, and brought the vessels safely to the shelter of -the islands of San Pietro. After being patched up the -three sail-of-the-line again proceeded on their way to -Toulon, minus the smaller craft which had parted -company long since, and eventually returned to St -Vincent’s fleet.</p> - -<p>Fortune had played Nelson false. The Toulon fleet -had escaped on the 19th May. While the three English -battle-ships were riding out the gale it was making for -Genoa, Ajaccio, and Civita Vecchia to rally transports. -The destination of the expedition was Egypt; Malta -the first object of prey. Shortly after the signature -of the Treaty of Campo Formio on the 17th October -1797, which pacified the Continent for a time, Napoleon -had returned in triumph to Paris from his victorious -Italian Campaign. He was then appointed by the -French Directory Commander of the Army of England, -so called because the purpose for which it was brought -into being was the subjugation of that country. Napoleon -certainly devoted much of his time to the project, but -soon came to the conclusion that the plan was not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99">99</a></span> -practicable at the moment. He dreamed of Oriental -conquest, of occupying Egypt and invading India: -“We may change the face of the world!” How could -the command of the Channel be secured when Admiral -Lord Bridport commanded a formidable fleet in those -waters and frequently appeared off Brest, when Admiral -Lord Duncan patrolled the North Sea, and the naval -highways of Spithead, the Downs, the Nore, St George’s -Channel, and the Bay of Biscay were strongly guarded -by British fleets or divisions? The Mediterranean seemed -the only vulnerable point, for the Earl of St Vincent’s -fleet was alone stationed within striking distance of -that great inland sea.</p> - -<p>It is necessary at this point to briefly refer to the -naval strength of Great Britain as compared with that -of France. At the beginning of 1798 the Republic -possessed fifty-seven sail-of-the-line, forty-six frigates -and seventy-two smaller vessels, to which must be -added nine remnants of the Venetian navy and whatever -forces could be commanded from Spain and Holland. -Fourteen sail-of-the-line, seventeen frigates, and three -cutters were on the stocks in French shipyards. During -the same year England had no fewer than one hundred and -twenty line-of-battle ships and over five hundred smaller -vessels at her disposal. The recent mutiny at the Nore -had shown that there was some dissatisfaction in the -British naval service, but the ships were not undermanned -as in France, they were in finer condition, and -the victories off Cape St Vincent and Camperdown had -acted as a stimulant. If those before the mast -occasionally grumbled, nothing further was heard of -organised insubordination.</p> - -<p>The Admiralty had now sent a reinforcement of -eight battle-ships and two fire-ships to the Admiral, -who was told “to lose no time in detaching from your -Fleet a Squadron, consisting of twelve Sail-of-the-line, -and a competent number of Frigates, under the command -of some discreet Flag-Officer, into the Mediterranean, -with instructions to him to proceed in quest<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100">100</a></span> -of the said Armament;<a id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">25</a> and on falling in with it, or any -other Force belonging to the Enemy, to take or destroy -it.” The officer was also “to remain upon this service -so long as the provisions of the said Squadron will last, -or as long as he may be enabled to obtain supplies -from any of the ports in the Mediterranean.” According -to later orders supplies were to be exacted “from -the territories of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the King -of the Two Sicilies, the Ottoman Territory, Malta, and -ci-devant Venetian Dominions now belonging to the -Emperor of Germany.” The Dey of Algiers, the Bey -of Tunis, and the Bashaw of Tripoli were also believed -to be friendly. Lord Spencer, First Lord of the -Admiralty, suggested Nelson as the most likely man -for this extremely important service. Several eminent -personages claimed to have aided him in his selection, -including Sir Gilbert Elliot and the King.</p> - -<p>Sir Horatio was accordingly given command of a -squadron which numbered thirteen line-of-battle ships, -all carrying seventy-four guns, and one fifty-gun ship, -the <i>Leander</i>. St Vincent’s selection awoke the ire of -Nelson’s two seniors in the Earl’s fleet, namely, Sir -William Parker and Sir John Orde. As we have seen, -the Admiral had scarcely a voice in the matter, and -subsequent events abundantly confirmed the wisdom of -the appointment. Unfortunately there were no frigates, -“the eyes of a fleet.” As to the destination of Napoleon -and his army of adventurers, the Rear-Admiral was -not far wrong when he wrote to Lord Spencer on the -15th June, after interrogating the captain of a Tunisian -cruiser who had seen them on the 4th off Trapani, that -“If they pass Sicily, I shall believe they are going on -their scheme of possessing Alexandria, and getting troops -to India—a plan concerted with Tippoo Saib, by no -means so difficult as might at first view be imagined; -but be they bound to the Antipodes, your Lordship -may rely that I will not lose a moment in bringing -them to Action, and endeavour to destroy their Transports.”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101">101</a></span> -Off Messina he heard that the French had -taken possession of Malta. After discussing the matter -with his captains he decided to sail for Alexandria, which -he reached two days before the enemy’s arrival. He -then “stretched the Fleet over to the Coast of Asia,” -and “passed close to the southern side of Candia, but -without seeing one Vessel in our route.” This was -the position on the 12th July, when he was still “without -the smallest information of the French Fleet since -their leaving Malta.” A week later the squadron -anchored in Syracuse harbour to obtain water and -provisions, set off again on the 25th, and on the 28th -the important news was obtained that about a month -before the French fleet had been seen sailing in the -direction of the south-east from Candia. To Nelson -this intelligence meant but one destination—Alexandria. -His surmise was correct: “I attacked at sunset on -the 1st of August, off the Mouth of the Nile.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102">102</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Battle of the Nile<br /> - -<span class="smaller">1798</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"><i> -<span class="i0">As long as Egypt’s pyramids shall stand,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Long as the Nile shall fertilize her land;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">So long the voice of never-dying fame<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Shall add to England’s glory Nelson’s name!</span></i> -</div> -<div class="attrib b1"><span class="smcap">W. T. Fitzgerald.</span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">It</span> is difficult for a landsman to appreciate the joy -with which Nelson’s captains, his “Band of -Brothers,” as he called them, as well as the men of -lower rank, beheld the enemy moored in line of battle -parallel with the shore in Aboukir Bay on what might -well be termed “the glorious first of August.” They -had been searching the Mediterranean for long, weary -weeks, anxious to try conclusions with Napoleon’s -fleet, but thwarted at every turn by lack of information. -At last they were face to face, led by an admiral of -unequalled resolution in whom they placed implicit -confidence.</p> - -<p>“The utmost joy,” says Berry,<a id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">26</a> “seemed to animate -every breast on board the Squadron, at sight of the -Enemy; and the pleasure which the Admiral himself -felt, was perhaps more heightened than that of any other -man, as he had now a certainty by which he could -regulate his future operations. The Admiral had, and it -appeared most justly, the highest opinion of, and placed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103">103</a></span> -the firmest reliance on, the valour and conduct of every -Captain in his Squadron. It had been his practice during -the whole of the cruize, whenever the weather and circumstances -would permit, to have his Captains on -board the <i>Vanguard</i>, where he would fully develop to -them his own ideas of the different and best modes of -attack, and such plans as he proposed to execute upon -falling in with the Enemy, whatever their position or -situation might be, by day or by night. There was no -possible position in which they could be found, that he -did not take into his calculation, and for the most -advantageous attack of which he had not digested and -arranged the best possible disposition of the force which -he commanded. With the masterly ideas of their -Admiral, therefore, on the subject of Naval tactics, -every one of the Captains of his Squadron was most -thoroughly acquainted; and upon surveying the situation -of the Enemy, they could ascertain with precision -what were the ideas and intentions of their Commander, -without the aid of any further instructions; by which -means signals became almost unnecessary, much time -was saved, and the attention of every Captain could -almost undistractedly be paid to the conduct of his own -particular Ship, a circumstance from which, upon this -occasion, the advantages to the general service were -almost incalculable.”</p> - -<p>We must now try to understand the strength and -position of the French fleet. It consisted of thirteen line-of-battle -ships, three carrying eighty guns and one one -hundred and twenty guns, and four frigates. Napoleon, -who was far away adding triumph to triumph, had left -Admiral Brueys with three alternative plans. He could -enter the port of Alexandria, Aboukir Roads, or sail for -Corfu, leaving the transports at Alexandria. Brueys -soon found that the harbour scarcely held sufficient water -for the navigation of his largest ships. Once inside, it -would be next to impossible to get them out in front of -a hostile fleet on account of the narrow exit. He chose -Aboukir Bay, in a position some ten miles from the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104">104</a></span> -Rosetta mouth of the Nile. Here he anchored his -thirteen battle-ships, with great gaps between them, in -a line roughly parallel with the shore, and flanked by -gunboats and frigates. His van was placed as close to -Aboukir Island as was practicable. Dr Fitchett has -rather overstated the case in saying that “a battery of -mortars on the island guarded, as with a sword of fire, -the gap betwixt the headmost ship and the island.”<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">27</a> -In another place he also refers to the head of the French -line being “protected by a powerful shore battery.”<a id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">28</a> -There were certainly a few guns, but “a sword of fire” -suggests a heavy armament, and Napoleon had occasion -later to severely criticise the Admiral’s arrangement in -this matter.<a id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">29</a> Brueys was ill, his marines had almost -got out of hand, many of the sailors were raw recruits, -and subversive of discipline, and some of the vessels were -scarcely seaworthy. In tonnage and guns the French -had the advantage, in <em>morale</em> and fighting capacity, the -British were first.</p> - -<p>Nelson determined to sail between Brueys’ line and -the shallows. Five British ships, led by the <i>Goliath</i>, -crossed the bows of the first ship of the French van, -inshore of the enemy’s line, and anchored abreast of one -of the Frenchmen, while three more, including Nelson’s -<i>Vanguard</i>, stationed themselves on the outer side. -Some of the captains for various reasons were unable to -take up their correct fighting positions, the <i>Culloden</i>, -for instance, struck a shoal and took no part in the -battle. The enemy’s van was surrounded and conquered; -the centre became engaged; the rear alone -escaped, Villeneuve, its commander, making off with two -battleships and two frigates without attempting to fight.</p> - -<p>“The actions,” Captain Berry relates, “commenced -at sunset, which was at thirty-one minutes past six, p.m., -with an ardour and vigour which it is impossible to -describe. At about seven o’clock total darkness had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105">105</a></span> -come on, but the whole hemisphere was, with intervals, -illuminated by the fire of the hostile Fleets. Our Ships, -when darkness came on, had all hoisted their distinguishing -lights, by a signal from the Admiral. The Van ship -of the Enemy, <i>Le Guerrier</i>, was dismasted in less than -twelve minutes, and, in ten minutes after, the second -ship, <i>Le Conquérant</i>, and the third, <i>Le Spartiate</i>, very -nearly at the same moment were almost dismasted. -<i>L’Aquilon</i> and <i>Le Peuple Souverain</i>, the fourth and fifth -Ships of the Enemy’s line, were taken possession of by the -British at half-past eight in the evening. Captain -Berry, at that hour, sent Lieutenant Galwey, of the -<i>Vanguard</i>, with a party of marines, to take possession of -<i>Le Spartiate</i>, and that officer returned by the boat, the -French Captain’s sword, which Captain Berry immediately -delivered to the Admiral, who was then below, -in consequence of the severe wound which he had -received in the head during the heat of the attack. At -this time it appeared that victory had already declared -itself in our favour, for, although <i>L’Orient</i>, <i>L’Heureux</i>, -and <i>Tonnant</i> were not taken possession of, they were -considered as completely in our power, which pleasing -intelligence Captain Berry had likewise the satisfaction -of communicating in person to the Admiral. At ten -minutes after ten, a fire was observed on board <i>L’Orient</i>, -the French Admiral’s Ship, which seemed to proceed -from the after part of the cabin, and which increased -with great rapidity, presently involving the whole of the -after part of the Ship in flames. This circumstance -Captain Berry immediately communicated to the -Admiral, who, though suffering severely from his wound, -came up upon deck, where the first consideration that -struck his mind was concern for the danger of so many -lives, to save as many as possible of whom he ordered -Captain Berry to make every practicable exertion. A -boat, the only one that could swim, was instantly -dispatched from the <i>Vanguard</i>, and other Ships that -were in a condition to do so, immediately followed the -example; by which means, from the best possible<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106">106</a></span> -information, the lives of about seventy Frenchmen were -saved.<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">30</a> The light thrown by the fire of <i>L’Orient</i> upon -the surrounding objects, enabled us to perceive with more -certainty the situation of the two Fleets, the colours of -both being clearly distinguishable. The cannonading -was partially kept up to leeward of the Centre till about -ten o’clock, when <i>L’Orient</i> blew up with a most tremendous -explosion. An awful pause and death-like -silence for about three minutes ensued, when the wreck -of the masts, yards, etc., which had been carried to a vast -height, fell down into the water, and on board the surrounding -Ships. A port fire from <i>L’Orient</i> fell into the -main royal of the <i>Alexander</i>, the fire occasioned by which -was, however, extinguished in about two minutes, by -the active exertions of Captain Ball.</p> - -<div id="ip_106" class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> - <img src="images/i_119.jpg" width="600" height="408" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>“The flame that lit the battle’s wreck”</p> - -<p class="notbold">Charles Dixon, R.I., from a sketch by C. W. Cole</p></div></div> - -<p>“After this awful scene, the firing was recommenced -with the Ships to leeward of the Centre, till twenty -minutes past ten, when there was a total cessation of -firing for about ten minutes; after which it was revived -till about three in the morning, when it again ceased. -After the victory had been secured in the Van, such -British ships as were in a condition to move, had gone -down upon the fresh Ships of the Enemy, which occasioned -these renewals of the fight, all of which terminated with -the same happy success in favour of our Flag. At five -minutes past five in the morning, the two Rear ships of -the Enemy, <i>Le Guillaume Tell</i> and <i>Le Généreux</i>, were the -only French ships of the Line that had their colours -flying. At fifty-four minutes past five, a French frigate, -<i>L’Artemise</i>, fired a broadside and struck her colours; -but such was the unwarrantable and infamous conduct -of the French Captain, that after having thus surrendered, -he set fire to his Ship, and with part of his -crew, made his escape on shore. Another of the French -frigates, <i>La Sérieuse</i>, had been sunk by the fire from some -of our Ships; but as her poop remained above water,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107">107</a></span> -her men were saved upon it, and were taken off by our -boats in the morning. The <i>Bellerophon</i>, whose masts -and cables had been entirely shot away, could not retain -her situation abreast of <i>L’Orient</i>, but had drifted out -of the line to the lee side of the Bay, a little before that -Ship blew up. The <i>Audacious</i> was in the morning -detached to her assistance. At eleven o’clock, <i>Le -Généreux</i> and <i>Guillaume Tell</i>, with the two frigates, -<i>La Justice</i> and <i>La Diane</i>, cut their cables and stood out to -sea, pursued by the <i>Zealous</i>, Captain Hood, who, as the -Admiral himself has stated, handsomely endeavoured -to prevent their escape; but as there was no other Ship -in a condition to support the <i>Zealous</i>, she was recalled. -The whole day of the 2nd was employed in securing the -French ships that had struck, and which were now all -completely in our possession, <i>Le Tonnant</i> and <i>Timoleon</i> -excepted; as these were both dismasted, and consequently -could not escape, they were naturally the last -of which we thought of taking possession. On the -morning of the third, the <i>Timoleon</i> was set fire to, and -<i>Le Tonnant</i> had cut her cable and drifted on shore, but -that active officer, Captain Miller, of the <i>Theseus</i>, soon -got her off again, and secured her in the British line.”</p> - -<p>It was a decisive victory, the only kind of victory that -appealed to Nelson, who styled it a “conquest.” Of the -thirteen French battleships, nine were taken, one was -blown up, one was burnt, and two escaped; one frigate -sank, another was destroyed by fire, and two got away. -Napoleon had been deprived of his only means of communication -with France. Thus the sea swallowed his -triumphs. From a political point of view the battle -of the Nile paved the way for the formation of the Second -Coalition against France, in which six Powers took -part, namely, England, Russia, Austria, Turkey, Naples, -and Portugal.</p> - -<p>Nelson received his wound by being struck in the -forehead by a piece of iron. The skin was torn so badly -that it hung over his face, the blood streaming down -with such profusion that he was afraid his left eye had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108">108</a></span> -gone like the right. “I am killed”; he cried to -Captain Berry, “remember me to my wife.” But the -Admiral had been “killed” in battle before, and the -intense pain of the wound sufficiently justified the -exclamation. He was carried to the cockpit, the cut -bound up, and strict quiet enjoined. This was easier said -than done with a patient such as Nelson. His abnormal -mentality speedily gained ascendancy over his physical -infirmities. He soon declared that he felt better, and -shortly afterwards had so far recovered as to begin a -dictated despatch to the Admiralty. On the Captain -informing him that <i>L’Orient</i> was ablaze he insisted on -clambering to the deck, as we have seen. Berry gave -him his arm, and together they witnessed the disaster. -Nelson was certainly more fortunate than Brueys, who -was shot almost in two.</p> - -<p>On the 2nd August the Admiral returned Public -Thanksgiving on the <i>Vanguard</i>, an example he desired -to be followed on every ship “as soon as convenient.” -He also took the opportunity to thank the men of the -squadron for the part they had played in the late -action: “It must strike forcibly every British Seaman, -how superior their conduct is, when in discipline and good -order, to the riotous behaviour of lawless Frenchmen.”</p> - -<p>In those days precedent was a fetish. To depart from -what had previously obtained was not to be thought of, -much less suggested. For this reason Nelson was -created a Baron, the lowest rank in the peerage, but the -highest that had been conferred “on an officer of your -standing,” as he was informed. In addition he was -voted a pension of £2000 a year, which was also to be -paid to his two next heirs.</p> - -<p>Mention of the “great and brilliant Victory” was -made in the King’s Speech at the opening of Parliament, -its organiser received the thanks of both Houses, as -well as of the Parliament of Ireland, and many foreign -potentates and British Corporations paid him honour. -Among the numerous presents he received were two -boxes set with diamonds, a superb diamond aigrette,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109">109</a></span> -a gold-headed cane, pieces of valuable plate, and a -coffin. The latter, made of wood and iron from the ill-fated -<i>L’Orient</i>, was sent to him by Captain Hallowell. -By a strange coincidence Thanksgiving services were held -in the churches of the United Kingdom on the 21st -October, a date ever associated with Nelson, because of -Trafalgar. It may be thought that there was unnecessary -delay, but it must be remembered that the -wonders of telegraphy were then undreamed of. News -of the victory was not received in London until the -fifty-seventh day after the event. “God be praised,” -writes the Earl of St Vincent, “and you and your gallant -band rewarded by a grateful Country, for the greatest -Achievement the history of the world can produce.” -Perhaps this noble sentiment from the Commander-in-chief -was valued above the insignificant rewards of the -Government.</p> - -<p>To “Fighting” Berry Nelson entrusted the charge -of his despatches for the Admiral, for which purpose he -was given the <i>Leander</i> (50). With grim irony Fate -played a trick entirely unworthy so gallant an officer. -On the 18th August, off Gozo, near Candia, the -<i>Généreux</i>, which it will be remembered escaped from -Nelson’s vengeance at the Nile, appeared on the horizon. -The frigate attempted to show “a clean pair of heels,” -but recognising that the enemy was gaining in the race, -sail was shortened and the decks cleared for action. -The brave defenders of the <i>Leander</i> resisted manfully -for over six hours until the mastless, rudderless hulk -could be fought no longer. Berry, who was wounded, -together with the officers and crew were landed at Corfu -and thence sent to Trieste, where the officers were -released on <em>parole</em>, and the crew kept prisoners. On -being exchanged, the captain received the honour of -knighthood, a reward richly deserved and valiantly -won. Berry got even with the French after all, for in -1799 he turned the tables on the victors by capturing -the <i>Généreux</i> with Nelson’s flagship, the <i>Foudroyant</i>.</p> - -<p>Captain Sir James Saumarez, with twelve ships of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110">110</a></span> -squadron, was directed to convoy the best of the prizes -to Gibraltar, the remainder, being valueless, were set -on fire. Hood was called upon to blockade Alexandria, -and two of the battleships were sent to Naples for very -necessary repairs. To this port the <i>Vanguard</i> laboriously -followed. Nelson was “taken with a fever, which has -very near done my business: for eighteen hours, my life -was thought to be past hope; I am now up, but very -weak both in body and mind, from my cough and this -fever.” This was on the 20th September, two days -before “the wreck of <i>Vanguard</i> arrived in the Bay of -Naples.” The occasion was one of great rejoicing on the -part of the Sicilian Court. Miss Knight, the daughter -of Rear-Admiral Sir Joseph Knight, who was present, -thus records the events of the 22nd inst.:</p> - -<p>“In the evening, went out with Sir William and Lady -Hamilton, music, &c., to meet Admiral Nelson, who in -the <i>Vanguard</i>, with the <i>Thalia</i> Frigate (Captain Newhouse) -was seen coming in. We went on board, about -a league out at sea, and sailed in with him: soon after -us, the King came on board, and staid till the anchor -was dropped. He embraced the Admiral with the -greatest warmth, and said he wished he could have been -in the engagement,<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">31</a> and served under his orders; and -that he likewise wished he could have been in England, -when the news of the victory arrived there. He went -down to see the Ship, and was delighted to perceive the -care taken of a wounded man, who had two to serve -him, and one reading to him. He asked to see the hat -which saved the Admiral’s life, when he was wounded -in the head with a splinter. The Queen was taken with -a fit of the ague when she was coming on board with the -Princesses. Commodore Caraccioli came soon after the -King, and many of the Neapolitan nobility, bands of -music, &c. It happened to be the anniversary of our -King’s coronation. The Admiral came on shore with -us, and said, it was the first time he had been out of his -Ship for six months, except once on board Lord St<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111">111</a></span> -Vincent.<a id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">32</a> The Russian Ambassador and all the Legation -came out to meet him. When we landed at the Health -Office, the applauses and the crowd of people were beyond -description. Admiral Nelson is little, and not remarkable -in his person either way; but he has great animation -of countenance, and activity in his appearance: -his manners are unaffectedly simple and modest. He -lodges at Sir William Hamilton’s, who has given him -the upper apartment. The whole City is mad with joy.”</p> - -<p>There was indeed every reason for this jubilation. -A starless night seemed about to give place to a golden -dawn. Towards the end of 1796 Napoleon’s astounding -successes had obliged Ferdinand, King of the Two -Sicilies, to agree to terms of peace, especially as the -English had decided to evacuate the Mediterranean.<a id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">33</a> -The situation became more and more ominous. Consequently -when Queen Maria Carolina, Ferdinand’s -energetic consort, heard that the King of Spain was -about to ally himself to the hated Republic, she -speedily informed Sir William Hamilton, the English -Ambassador.<a id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">34</a> She realised that the hope of the -kingdom depended not in half-measures of friendship -towards England, but in securing her definite assistance -and casting off the French yoke. Hamilton in his -turn warned his Government of the proposed arrangement, -which seemed likely to have far-reaching consequences -and to threaten England in the Mediterranean. -Her Majesty also kept up a secret correspondence with -London. She was therefore particularly relieved when -information arrived that the protection of the Two -Sicilies against potential French despoilers was to be -entrusted to the Hero of the Nile.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112">112</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_X"></a>CHAPTER X<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Neapolitan Court and Lady -Hamilton</span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>‘Down, down with the French!’ is my constant prayer.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">Truth</span> has no secrets. It is the duty of the -historian to reveal all and to hide nothing. -The archæologist with pick and spade unearths -a buried city, disclosing alike the mansions of the wealthy -and the hovels of the poor. In describing the result of -his researches the investigator would betray his science -were he merely to mention the beauties of the king’s -palace, the tesselated pavements, the marble columns. -The hideous back street must also tell its drab story, -for aristocrat and plebeian are alike members of the -Commonwealth.</p> - -<p>The pen is the scalpel of history. It must neither -condone nor palliate, although justice may be tempered -with mercy.</p> - -<p>Temptation came to Nelson at Naples, and he fell. -Physically frail, he proved morally frail as well, but we -must not unhesitatingly condemn him. Vanity caused -him to stumble, and before he had time to realise the -consequences a woman had sullied his reputation and -tarnished his glory. Probably no reputable biographer -of the great Admiral has penned the chapter dealing with -this phase of his life without a wish that he could be -excused from the necessity of doing so.</p> - -<p>No sooner do we begin to investigate the relations -between Nelson and Lady Hamilton than we are in a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113">113</a></span> -maze of perplexities. He was ill and she nursed him, -he was victorious and she praised him, she was beautiful -and he admired loveliness, she had a warm heart -and he was susceptible, his wife was reserved and his -“friend” was vivacious. The spider and the fly have -their counterpart in real life. Once in the entangled -meshes of the web Nelson never found his way out, -even supposing he had wished to do so, which his passionate -letters do not for a moment suggest.</p> - -<p>When the <i>Vanguard</i> hove in sight off Naples, King -Ferdinand, Sir William Hamilton, Lady Hamilton, and -others went to meet “our liberator.” In writing to -Earl Spencer, Nelson says, “You will not, my Lord, I -trust, think that one spark of vanity induces me to -mention the most distinguished reception that ever, I -believe, fell to the lot of a human being, but that it is -a measure of justice due to his Sicilian Majesty and the -Nation. If God knows my heart, it is amongst the most -humble of the creation, full of thankfulness and gratitude!” -No one doubts the latter portion of the remark. -Nelson always exhibited a lively trust in an All-wise -Providence. The “one spark of vanity” was self-deception, -although perhaps “pride” would be more -correct than “vanity,” for the vain man usually distrusts -his own opinion in setting great store by himself -and wishes it to be confirmed by others. The Admiral -was nothing if not self-reliant. Those who have read -his voluminous correspondence and the memoirs of those -with whom he came in contact cannot be blind to the -fault of which he was seemingly in ignorance.</p> - -<p>For instance, the writer of the “Croker Papers” -furnishes us with the following particulars of the one and -only occasion on which Nelson and Wellington had conversation. -The latter noted the Admiral’s weak point -at once:</p> - -<p>“We were talking of Lord Nelson, and some instances -were mentioned of the egotism and vanity that derogated -from his character. ‘Why,’ said the Duke, ‘I -am not surprised at such instances, for Lord Nelson was,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114">114</a></span> -in different circumstances, two quite different men, as I -myself can vouch, though I only saw him once in my life, -and for, perhaps, an hour. It was soon after I returned -from India.<a id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">35</a> I went to the Colonial Office in Downing -Street, and there I was shown into the little waiting-room -on the right hand, where I found, also waiting to -see the Secretary of State, a gentleman, whom from -his likeness to his pictures and the loss of an arm, I -immediately recognised as Lord Nelson. He could not -know who I was, but he entered at once into conversation -with me, if I can call it conversation, for it was almost -all on his side and all about himself, and in, really, a -style so vain and so silly as to surprise and almost -disgust me. I suppose something that I happened to -say may have made him guess that I was <em>somebody</em>, -and he went out of the room for a moment, I have no -doubt to ask the office-keeper who I was, for when he -came back he was altogether a different man, both in -manner and matter. All that I had thought a charlatan -style had vanished, and he talked of the state of this -country and of the aspect and probabilities of affairs -on the Continent with a good sense, and a knowledge -of subjects both at home and abroad, that surprised me -equally and more agreeably than the first part of our -interview had done; in fact, he talked like an officer -and a statesman. The Secretary of State kept us long -waiting, and certainly, for the last half or three-quarters -of an hour, I don’t know that I ever had a conversation -that interested me more. Now, if the Secretary of State -had been punctual, and admitted Lord Nelson in the -first quarter of an hour, I should have had the same -impression of a light and trivial character that other -people have had, but luckily I saw enough to be satisfied -that he was really a very superior man; but -certainly a more sudden and complete metamorphosis -I never saw.’”</p> - -<p>To sum up the whole matter. Pride, or vanity if -you prefer it, laid Nelson open to the great temptation<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115">115</a></span> -of his life, and it assailed him at a time when he was -ill and suffering. He was by nature sympathetic and -grateful, and could not fail to be impressed by the -ministrations of Lady Hamilton during his sickness, any -less than by her flattery—a hero-worship which may, or -may not, have been sincere on her part.</p> - -<p>Josceline Percy, who was on the <i>Victory</i> in the trying -times of 1803, has some sage remarks to offer in this -matter. Though the Christian faith “did not keep -him from the fatal error of his life,” Percy says, “it -ought to be remembered that few were so strongly -tempted, and I believe it may safely be affirmed that -had Nelson’s home been made to him, what a wife of -good temper and judgment would have rendered it, -never would he have forsaken it.”</p> - -<p>The candid friend, though seldom loved, is oftentimes -the best friend. Nelson was warned of his mad infatuation -for Lady Hamilton by more than one person who -desired to save him from himself, but the fatal spell -which she exerted upon him held him beyond reclamation.</p> - -<p>On meeting the Admiral Lady Hamilton fainted -away, and we find the hero writing to his wife that -“she is one of the very best women in this world; -she is an honour to her sex. Her kindness, with Sir -William’s, to me, is more than I can express: I am in -their house, and I may now tell you, it required all the -kindness of my friends to set me up.” A week or so -later, he says, “The continued kind attention of Sir -William and Lady Hamilton must ever make you and I -love them, and they are deserving the love and admiration -of all the world.”</p> - -<p>We must now return to the scene of the tragedy. -Italy was in a turmoil. Berthier had appeared before -Rome, the aged Pontiff had been dragged from his -palace and sent into Tuscany, a Republic set up, and an -offensive and defensive alliance entered into with Revolutionary -France. By his placing the citadel of Turin -in the hands of the all-conquering nation for “security” -the King of Sardinia became a mere State-prisoner.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116">116</a></span> -These events in the North naturally caused trepidation -in the kingdom of Naples, and Ferdinand wisely secured -the assistance of Austria. The news of the French -defeat at the Nile, more especially the presence of the -victor, caused the war party—of which Queen Maria -Carolina and Lady Hamilton were the leaders—to forget -that mere enthusiasm, although a valuable asset, was not -the sole requisite in a campaign, especially when the -enemy to be met was one so formidable as the victorious -French. Naples was for up and doing, regardless of the -consequences. She sowed the storm and reaped the -whirlwind by reason of her undue haste in taking up -arms before everything was ready for the conflict. There -is perhaps some excuse for her Majesty’s eagerness. -Sister of the ill-fated Marie Antoinette, who had perished -on the scaffold, and “truly a daughter of Maria Theresa,”<a id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">36</a> -as Nelson averred, she wished to be avenged. Lady -Hamilton on her part had become the confidential -friend of Her Majesty and had rendered certain services -to the Neapolitan and English Courts which she afterwards -grossly exaggerated in an endeavour to secure a -competence for herself. Nelson is not undeserving of -censure for having forced the issue. He quoted -Chatham’s dictum, “The boldest measures are the -safest,” to Lady Hamilton, and told her that should -“this miserable ruinous system of procrastination be -persisted in, I would recommend that all your property -and persons are ready to embark at a very short notice.”</p> - -<p>Nelson’s instructions were to provide for the safety -of the Sicilian kingdom, “the cutting off all communication -between France and Egypt,” and “the co-operating -with the Turkish and Russian Squadrons which are to -be sent into the Archipelago.” In addition he was to -blockade Malta. He delegated the last duty to Captain -Ball, who, with four ships, was to cruise off the island<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117">117</a></span> -in company with a Portuguese squadron under the -Marquis de Niza. Of General Mack, who commanded the -Neapolitan army, Nelson at first entertained a favourable -opinion. With delightful <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">naïveté</i> he informed St -Vincent, “I have endeavoured to impress the General -with a favourable impression of me, and I think have -succeeded. He is active and has an intelligent eye, -and will do well, I have no doubt.” But something more -than these estimable qualities was necessary, as the -total failure of the campaign was to prove.</p> - -<p>Mack was then forty-six years of age, and had served -under Field-Marshal Loudon, the most formidable -soldier against whom Frederick the Great had fought. -He was not a brilliant soldier, although he had acquitted -himself with honour in the campaign of 1793. The -son of a minor official, Mack had found it difficult to -obtain promotion in a service dominated by the aristocracy, -and he was certainly unpopular, which was not -to his advantage in the field. He had accepted his -present service in an army which he called “the finest -in Europe,” but which was scarcely more than a rabble, -at the request of the Empress. Nelson, in a burst of -enthusiasm, referred to it as “composed of 30,000 -healthy good-looking troops,” and “as far as my -judgment goes in those matters, I agree, that a finer -Army cannot be.” The optimistic told themselves that -Nelson had banished Napoleon and the finest warriors -of France, which was correct, and prophesied that the -scattered Republican army in Italy would be as completely -overwhelmed as was the French fleet in Aboukir -Bay. In this they were grievously mistaken. Instead of -concentrating his forces and striking a decisive blow, the -Austrian commander saw fit to divide them, with the -result that although the Eternal City was occupied -and Tuscany entered, the French succeeded in defeating -three of the five columns. After a series of reverses, -Mack retreated, Ferdinand fled, and Rome was retaken.</p> - -<p>Nelson’s part in this unfortunate undertaking was -to convey some 5,000 troops to Leghorn and effect<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118">118</a></span> -a diversion in the rear of the enemy by taking possession -of the aforementioned port. When this was done, -and the cannon and baggage landed, Nelson returned -to Naples. The story of the campaign, which ended -in disaster and the creation of the Parthenopeian -Republic<a id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">37</a> at Naples, does not concern us. Suffice it -to say that in the last month of 1798 King Ferdinand -and his Court concluded that they would be safer under -Nelson’s protection than in the Capital. They therefore -embarked in the British fleet on the night of the -21st December, whence they were taken to Palermo. -The circumstances and manner of the enforced retreat -are described at length in the Admiral’s despatch to -the Earl of St Vincent, which runs as <span class="locked">follows:—</span></p> - -<p>“... For many days previous to the embarkation -it was not difficult to foresee that such a thing might -happen, I therefore sent for the <i>Goliath</i> from off Malta, -and for Captain Troubridge in the <i>Culloden</i>, and his -Squadron from the north and west Coast of Italy, the -<i>Vanguard</i> being the only Ship in Naples Bay. On the -14th, the Marquis de Niza, with three of the Portuguese -Squadron, arrived from Leghorn, as did Captain Hope -in the <i>Alcmene</i> from Egypt: from this time, the danger -for the personal safety of their Sicilian Majesties was -daily increasing, and new treasons were found out, even -to the Minister of War. The whole correspondence -relative to this important business was carried on with -the greatest address by Lady Hamilton and the Queen, -who being constantly in the habits of correspondence, -no one could suspect. It would have been highly -imprudent in either Sir William Hamilton or myself -to have gone to Court, as we knew that all our movements -were watched, and even an idea by the Jacobins -of arresting our persons as a hostage (as they foolishly -imagined) against the attack of Naples, should the -French get possession of it.</p> - -<p>“Lady Hamilton, from this time to the 21st, every -night received the jewels of the Royal Family, &c., &c.,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119">119</a></span> -and such clothes as might be necessary for the very large -party to embark, to the amount, I am confident, of full -two millions five hundred thousand pounds sterling. -On the 18th, General Mack wrote that he had no prospect -of stopping the progress of the French, and entreated -their Majesties to think of retiring from Naples with -their august Family as expeditiously as possible. All -the Neapolitan Navy were now taken out of the Mole, -consisting of three Sail of the Line and three Frigates: -the seamen from the two Sail of the Line in the Bay -left their Ships and went on shore: a party of English -seamen with Officers were sent from the <i>Vanguard</i> to -assist in navigating them to a place of safety. From the -18th, various plans were formed for the removal of the -Royal Family from the palace to the water-side; on the -19th, I received a note from General Acton,<a id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">38</a> saying, -that the King approved of my plan for their embarkation; -this day, the 20th and 21st, very large assemblies of -people were in commotion, and several people were -killed, and one dragged by the legs to the palace. The -mob by the 20th were very unruly, and insisted the -Royal Family should not leave Naples; however, they -were pacified by the King and Queen speaking to -them.</p> - -<p>“On the 21st, at half-past 8 <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span>, three Barges with -myself and Captain Hope, landed at a corner of the -Arsenal. I went into the palace and brought out the -whole Royal Family, put them into the Boats, and at -half-past nine they were all safely on board the <i>Vanguard</i>, -when I gave immediate notice to all British -Merchants that their persons would be received on board -every and any Ship in the Squadron, their effects of -value being before embarked in the three English transports -who were partly unloaded, and I had directed -that all the condemned provisions should be thrown -overboard, in order to make room for their effects. -Sir William Hamilton had also directed two Vessels -to be hired for the accommodation of the French<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120">120</a></span> -emigrants,<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">39</a> and provisions were supplied from our -Victuallers; in short, everything had been done for -the comfort of all persons embarked.</p> - -<p>“I did not forget in these important moments that -it was my duty not to leave the chance of any Ships -of War falling into the hands of the French, therefore, -every preparation was made for burning them before -I sailed; but the reasons given me by their Sicilian -Majesties, induced me not to burn them till the last -moment. I, therefore, directed the Marquis de Niza -to remove all the Neapolitan Ships outside the Squadron -under his command, and if it was possible, to equip some -of them with jury masts and send them to Messina; -and whenever the French advanced near Naples, or the -people revolted against their legitimate Government, -immediately to destroy the Ships of War, and to join -me at Palermo, leaving one or two Ships to cruize -between Capri and Ischia in order to prevent the entrance -of any English Ship into the Bay of Naples. On the -23rd, at 7 <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span>, the <i>Vanguard</i>, <i>Sannite</i>, and <i>Archimedes</i>, -with about twenty sail of Vessels left the Bay of Naples; -the next day it blew harder than I ever experienced -since I have been at sea. Your Lordship will believe -that my anxiety was not lessened by the great charge -that was with me, but not a word of uneasiness escaped -the lips of any of the Royal Family. On the 25th, at -9 <span class="smcap smaller">A.M.</span>, Prince Albert, their Majesties’ youngest child, -having eat a hearty breakfast, was taken ill, and at -7 <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span> died in the arms of Lady Hamilton; and here it is -my duty to tell your Lordship the obligations which -the whole Royal Family as well as myself are under on -this trying occasion to her Ladyship.... Lady Hamilton -provided her own beds, linen, &c., and became <em>their -slave</em>, for except one man, no person belonging to Royalty -assisted the Royal Family, nor did her Ladyship enter a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121">121</a></span> -bed the whole time they were on board. Good Sir -William also made every sacrifice for the comfort of the -august Family embarked with him. I must not omit -to state the kindness of Captain Hardy and every Officer -in the <i>Vanguard</i>, all of whom readily gave their beds for -the convenience of the numerous persons attending the -Royal Family.</p> - -<p>“At 3 <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span>, being in sight of Palermo, his Sicilian -Majesty’s Royal Standard was hoisted at the main-top -gallant-mast head of the <i>Vanguard</i>, which was kept -flying there till his Majesty got into the <i>Vanguard’s</i> -barge, when it was struck in the Ship and hoisted in the -Barge, and every proper honour paid to it from the Ship. -As soon as his Majesty set his foot on shore, it was struck -from the Barge. The <i>Vanguard</i> anchored at 2 <span class="smcap smaller">A.M.</span> -of the 26th; at 5, I attended her Majesty and all the -Princesses on shore; her Majesty being so much affected -by the death of Prince Albert that she could not bear -to go on shore in a public manner. At 9 <span class="smcap smaller">A.M.</span>, his -Majesty went on shore, and was received with the loudest -acclamations and apparent joy.”</p> - -<p>Alas, that one has to admit that while Lady Hamilton -was the “slave” of the Sicilian Royal Family, Nelson -was rapidly becoming so infatuated that the same word -might be used to describe his relationship with “our -dear invaluable Lady Hamilton”! He also seems to -have had an exaggerated sense of the importance of the -princely personages who had placed themselves under his -protection. In his letters he speaks of “The good and -amiable Queen,” “the great Queen,” and so on. “I -am here,” he writes to Captain Ball, of the <i>Alexander</i>, -dated Palermo, January 21st, 1799, “nor will the King -or Queen allow me to move. I have offered to go to -Naples, and have wished to go off Malta in case the -Squadron from Brest should get near you, but neither -one or the other can weigh with them.” To Earl -Spencer he confides on the 6th March, “In Calabria the -people have cut down the Tree of Liberty; but I shall -never consider any part of the Kingdom of Naples safe,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122">122</a></span> -or even Sicily, until I hear of the Emperor’s entering -Italy, when all my Ships shall go into the Bay of Naples, -and I think we can make a Revolution against the -French—at least, my endeavours shall not be wanting. -I hope to go on the service myself, but I have my doubts -if the King and Queen will consent to my leaving them -for a moment.” On the 20th of the same month he -tells St Vincent very much the same thing. “If the -Emperor moves, I hope yet to return the Royal Family -to Naples. At present, I cannot move. Would the Court -but let me, I should be better, I believe; for here I am -writing from morn to eve: therefore you must excuse -this jumble of a letter.”</p> - -<p>And after evening what? Rumour, not altogether -devoid of fact, told strange tales of gambling continued -far into the night, of money made and money lost, of an -insidious enchantment which was beginning to sully -the fair soul of Britain’s greatest Admiral. How far -the influence of Lady Hamilton led Nelson to neglect his -duty is a debatable point. Admiral Mahan points out -that on the 22nd October 1798, Nelson wrote to Lord St -Vincent to the effect that he had given up his original -plan, “which was to have gone to Egypt and attend -to the destruction of the French shipping in that -quarter,” owing to the King’s desire that he should -return to Naples, after having arranged the blockade of -Malta. This and similar expressions, says Mahan, -“show the anxiety of his mind acting against his judgment.” -The late Judge O’Connor Morris, commenting -on this phase of the Hero’s career, is most emphatic -in his condemnation. His connection with Emma -Hamilton “kept him at Naples when he ought to have -been elsewhere; it led him to disobey a superior’s -orders, on one occasion when there was no excuse; it -perhaps prevented him from being present at the siege of -Malta. It exposed him, too, to just censure at home, -and gave pain and offence to his best friends; and the -consciousness that he was acting wrongly soured, in some -degree, his nature, and made him morose and at odds<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123">123</a></span> -with faithful companions in arms.” For the defence -there are no more able advocates than Professor Sir J. -Knox Laughton and Mr James R. Thursfield, M.A. -Nelson, the former asserts, “in becoming the slave of a -beautiful and voluptuous woman, did not cease to be a -great commander. There is a common idea that his -passions detained him at Naples to the neglect of his -duty. This is erroneous. He made Naples his headquarters -because he was ordered to do so, to provide for -the safety of the kingdom and to take measures for the -reduction of Malta.” “The point to be observed and -insisted on,” Mr Thursfield says, “is that the whole of -this pitiful tragedy belongs only to the last seven years -of Nelson’s life.” He asks, “Why should the seven -years of private lapse be allowed to overshadow the -splendid devotion of a lifetime to public duty?” This -authority does not deny that during the two years -following the victory of the Nile Nelson’s genius -“suffered some eclipse,” that his passion for Lady -Hamilton was then “in its first transports, when he -seemed tied to the Court of the Two Sicilies by other -bonds than those of duty, when he annulled the capitulation -at Naples and insisted on the trial and execution -of Caracciolo,<a id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">40</a> and when he repeatedly disobeyed the -orders of Lord Keith.” He further points out that the -period is the same “during which his mental balance -was more or less disturbed by the wound he had received -at the Nile, and his <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">amour-propre</i> was deeply and justly -mortified by the deplorable blunder of the Admiralty -in appointing Lord Keith to the chief command in succession -to Lord St Vincent.” At the time with which -we are now dealing the latter disturbing element was -not present, although he was considerably worried by -the appointment of Captain Sir Sidney Smith as commander -of a squadron in the Levant, “within the district -which I had thought under my command.” “The -Knight forgets the respect due to his superior Officer”: -Nelson tells Lord St Vincent, “he has no orders from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124">124</a></span> -you to take my Ships away from my command; but -it is all of a piece. Is it to be borne? Pray grant me -your permission to retire, and I hope the <i>Vanguard</i> -will be allowed to convey me and my friends, Sir William -and Lady Hamilton, to England.” Mr Thursfield -makes no mention of this vexation, perhaps because the -matter distressed the Admiral less than Lord Keith’s -appointment. On the other hand, Nelson’s correspondence -contains frequent reference to the gratuitous -snub, which shows how deeply the iron had entered into -his soul. “<em>I do feel, for I am a man</em>, that it is impossible -for me to serve in these seas, with the Squadron under -a junior Officer:—could I have thought it!—and from -Earl Spencer!” is a typical instance. In the opinion of -the same biographer, “the influence of Lady Hamilton, -which ceased only with Nelson’s life, cannot have been -the sole cause, even if it was a contributory cause, of an -attitude and temper of mind which lasted only while -other causes were in operation and disappeared with -their cessation. The evil spirit which beset him, whatever -it may have been, had been exorcised for ever by -the time that he entered the Sound.<a id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">41</a>... Yet the -influence of Lady Hamilton was not less potent then and -afterward than it was during the period of eclipse. -There are no letters in the Morrison Collection more -passionate than those which Nelson wrote to Lady -Hamilton at this time, none which show more clearly -that, as regards Lady Hamilton, and yet only in that -relation, his mental balance was still more than infirm, -his moral fibre utterly disorganized.”</p> - -<p>With this verdict the present writer is in complete -accord. Nelson is to be censured for his moral breach -and any neglect of duty which may be traceable to it, -but to condemn him to infamy is to forget his subsequent -career and to consign to the flames many other -great figures of history.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125">125</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Neapolitan Rebels and their -French Allies<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1799)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>Speedy rewards and quick punishments are the foundation of good -government.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">In</span> the middle of March 1799 Troubridge returned -from the Levant, his command there having been -given to Sir Sidney Smith. Vexatious as was the -arrangement to both Nelson and Lord St Vincent, it -had one point of importance in its favour—and was to -have far-reaching results later—in that it enabled the -Admiral to send the trusted captain with several vessels -to blockade Naples. Troubridge was to “seize and get -possession” of the islands of Procida, Ischia, and Capri, -to use his influence with the inhabitants there and elsewhere, -“in order to induce them to return to their -allegiance to his Sicilian Majesty, and to take arms -to liberate their Country from French tyranny and -oppressive contributions.” On the 3rd April, Troubridge -was able to tell Nelson that “All the Ponza -Islands have the Neapolitan flag flying. Your Lordship -never beheld such loyalty; the people are perfectly mad -with joy, and are asking for their beloved Monarch.” -That Nelson’s hands were “full,” as he wrote to his -brother, is sufficiently evident. He had become “a -Councillor and Secretary of State,” to use his own words, -and his public correspondence, “besides the business<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126">126</a></span> -of sixteen Sail of the Line, and all our commerce, is with -Petersburg, Constantinople, the Consul at Smyrna, -Egypt, the Turkish and Russian Admirals, Trieste, -Vienna, Tuscany, Minorca, Earl St Vincent and Lord -Spencer.” Moreover, he was now Commander-in-Chief -of the Neapolitan Navy, and had been promoted to -Rear-Admiral of the Red. His health during this trying -period was far from good. He complained to his friend -the Duke of Clarence of being “seriously unwell,” and he -told Lord St Vincent, “I am almost blind and worn out, -and cannot, in my present state, hold out much longer.” -He seemed to be growing more despondent daily, the -good news of the success of the Austrian arms in Italy -“does not even cheer me.”</p> - -<p>Victory no longer attended the French cause in the -northern part of the peninsula, and the forces of the -Republic were to evacuate it and to join the main French -army. On the 7th May, Ferdinand’s kingdom was -relieved of its unwelcome visitors, save only the garrisons -which were left at Capua and Caserta, and at the Castle -of St Elmo. The internal condition of the State, however, -was still far from settled. Commodore Caracciolo, -representing the Jacobins, commanded a miniature fleet -in Naples Bay; Cardinal Ruffo led a nondescript band -called by the high-sounding title of “the Christian -Army,” against the Neapolitan republicans, who were -in some force. The unhappy position of the Royal -Family at this time is well described by the Queen -in a letter to the Marquise d’Osmond, mother of the -Comtesse de Boigne. It is from the Appendix to the -first volume of the “Recollections” of the last-named -that the extract is taken. The communication is dated -from Palermo, the 2nd May 1799.</p> - -<p>“We continue to live between hope and dread:” -she says, “the news varies every day. We are expecting -help from Russia: if it comes it will be of the greatest -service to us. The English render us the greatest -services. Were it not for them both Sicilies would be -democratised, I should be dead of grief or drowned in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127">127</a></span> -the sea, or else, with my dear family, imprisoned in a -castle by our rebellious subjects. You can read in the -gazettes, without my naming them to you, how many -ungrateful subjects we have. It suffices to tell you that -in their writings and their ingratitude they have surpassed -their foster-mother France, but with us the classes -are different. Here it is the class which has the most -to lose which is the most violent; nobles, bishops, -monks, ordinary lawyers, but not the high magistracy, -nor the people. The latter are loyal, and show it on -every occasion.... My dear children have behaved -like angels in all our unfortunate circumstances. They -suffer every kind of privation they did not know before, -without complaining, out of love for me, so that I may -notice nothing. They are always good-humoured, -though they have no amusements.”</p> - -<p>While Troubridge was clearing the way for the return -of the royal exiles to Naples, Nelson received the -startling intelligence that the Brest fleet of nineteen sail-of-the-line -had not only escaped but had been seen off -Oporto making for the Mediterranean. So far as it went, -the news was correct enough, but the French ships -numbered twenty-five instead of nineteen. Nelson’s -despondency and ill-health vanished; he lost not an -instant in making his arrangements. Troubridge was -recalled from Naples, and the “band of brothers” were -ordered to join Rear-Admiral Duckworth off Port -Mahon, Nelson’s belief being that the first item on the -French naval programme was the recovery of Minorca. -Shortly afterwards he came to think that Sicily was -the object of the enemy, whereupon he cancelled his -former instructions and made the island of Maritimo -the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">rendez-vous</i>. This station he reached on the 23rd -May with seven ships, which he hoped to bring up to -sixteen, Duckworth having decided to wait for Lord St -Vincent and not to reinforce Nelson. Ball, who had -been ordered to abandon the blockade of Malta, had -not arrived, and the delay filled the Admiral with -anxiety. “I can only have two queries about him—<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128">128</a></span>either -that he has gone round to Messina, imagining -that the French Fleet were close to him, or he is taken. -Thus situated,” he writes to Lord St Vincent, “I have -only to remain on the north side of Maritimo, to keep -covering Palermo, which shall be protected to the last, -and to wait intelligence or orders for regulating my -further proceedings.</p> - -<p>“Your Lordship,” he adds, “may depend that the -Squadron under my command shall never fall into the -hands of the Enemy; and before we are destroyed, I -have little doubt but the Enemy will have their wings -so completely clipped that they may be easily overtaken.”</p> - -<p>On the 28th May, Nelson heard from the Commander-in-chief -that Bruix and the French fleet had been sighted -off Cadiz on the 4th inst. by Keith’s blockading squadron, -the intention being to form a junction with the Spanish -fleet. In reply to Lord St Vincent’s despatch, Nelson -was able to tell his senior officer that “we are completely -on our guard,” that he had determined to go to Palermo -to get provisions and wine for six months, and to hold -his vessels “in momentary readiness to act as you may -order or the circumstances call for. My reason for -remaining in Sicily is the covering the blockade of -Naples, and the certainty of preserving Sicily in case of -an attack, for if we were to withdraw our Ships, it would -throw such a damp on the people that I am sure there -would be no resistance. But from the favourable -aspect of affairs in Italy, I am sure no attack will be -made here, whilst the French know we have such a force -to act against them. If Captain Ball has not entirely -given up the blockade of Malta, and the poor Islanders -have not given up to the French, I intend to continue -the blockade...; for as the danger from your happy -arrival is not so great, I will run the risk of the Ships -for a short time. The Russians will, I am told, be off -there in a week or fortnight. In all this plan I am -subject to your Lordship’s more able judgment. I -shall send a Frigate off Cape Corse, in case the French -Fleet should come to be eastward of Corsica, and if I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129">129</a></span> -can find a small craft, one shall be on the west side of -Sardinia, but the Bay of Naples draws me dry.” Two -days later, in writing to the same correspondent to -announce the safe arrival of the <i>Vanguard</i> at Palermo, -Nelson makes his usual acknowledgments of the services -of those under his command: “I have our dear Troubridge -for my assistant; in everything we are brothers. -Hood and Hallowell are as active and kind as ever: -not that I mean to say any are otherwise; but you know -these are men of resources. Hardy was bred in the old -school, and I can assure you, that I never have been -better satisfied with the real good discipline of a Ship -than the <i>Vanguard’s</i>. I hope from my heart that you -will meet the Dons alone: if the two Fleets join, I am -ready, and with some of my Ships in as high order as -ever went to sea.”</p> - -<p>As it happened, Keith was able to prevent the junction -of the enemy’s fleets. His position was between them—between -“the devil and the deep sea,” as he termed it. -When the look-out frigates of the French fleet were -sighted between Corsica and Genoa, orders were received -from Lord St Vincent for Keith to return to Port Mahon, -which the former thought might be the object of attack. -Further despatches came to hand a little later, urging -Keith to proceed to Minorca. The Commander-in-chief -and Keith were really playing at cross-purposes, for -while St Vincent was acting only on supposition, Keith -was in touch with the enemy. It is probable in such -a case that Nelson would have led his squadron into -action, but Keith was not the type of man to risk acting -on his own initiative to any great extent, and left the -Frenchmen to proceed to Spezia.</p> - -<p>On the 8th June, Nelson vacated the <i>Vanguard</i>, -hoisted his flag on the <i>Foudroyant</i> (80), and was strengthened -by the arrival of two ships from Lord St Vincent’s -fleet. He also heard of the impending resignation of the -Commander-in-chief, his indifferent health making him -“literally incapable of any service,” as he afterwards -wrote to Nelson. The unexpected news considerably<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130">130</a></span> -distressed the Admiral. He felt sincere admiration and -regard for the gallant old sailor, who had served his King -so long and so faithfully, sentiments recorded in a letter -dated from Palermo, the 10th June 1799, as <span class="locked">follows:—</span></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>“We have a report that you are going home. This -distresses us most exceedingly, and myself in particular; -so much so, that I have serious thoughts of returning, -if that event should take place. But for the sake of our -Country, do not quit us at this serious moment. I wish -not to detract from the merit of whoever may be your -successor; but it must take a length of time, which I -hope the war will not give, to be in any manner a St -Vincent. We look up to you, as we have always found -you, as to our Father, under whose fostering care we -have been led to fame. If, my dear Lord, I have any -weight in your friendship, let me entreat you to rouse -the sleeping lion. Give not up a particle of your authority -to any one; be again our St Vincent, and we shall be -happy. Your affectionate</p> - -<p class="sigright"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson</span>.” -</p></blockquote> - -<p>To the Admiral’s supreme disgust his own claims to -the appointment were disregarded. Lord St Vincent’s -command was given to Lord Keith, who had the additional -good fortune to find that the French fleet was -in Vado Bay. Nelson, urged on by Ferdinand and -perhaps by Lady Hamilton, was on his voyage to Naples -with a body of troops to render assistance to the royalists, -when two British sail-of-the-line hove in sight. One -of them bore an important despatch from Keith, to the -effect that not only was the enemy at sea but likely to be -bound towards Nelson. The latter immediately returned -to Palermo, disembarked the soldiers and their -munitions, and cruised off Maritimo. Here he hoped -to be joined by the <i>Alexander</i> and <i>Goliath</i>, which he had -ordered to proceed from Malta some days before. Provided -they arrived his force would be raised to eighteen -battleships, including three Portuguese—four less than -the enemy. “I shall wait off Maritimo,” he says, in reply -to Keith, “anxiously expecting such a reinforcement as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131">131</a></span> -may enable me to go in search of the Enemy’s fleet, when -not one moment shall be lost in bringing them to battle; -for I consider the best defence for his Sicilian Majesty’s -Dominions, is to place myself alongside the French.” -No further ships arrived, and Nelson therefore returned -to Palermo. Keith’s neglect aroused Nelson’s wrath -to such an extent, that while he was at sea he sent a copy -of the above letter to the Earl of St Vincent, complaining -that the Commander-in-chief had not sent him -“a force fit to face the Enemy: but, as we are, I -shall not get out of their way; although, as I am, I -cannot think myself justified in exposing the world (I -may almost say), to be plundered by these miscreants. -I trust your Lordship will not think me wrong in the -painful determination I conceived myself forced to make, -for agonized indeed was the mind of your Lordship’s -faithful and affectionate servant.”</p> - -<p>Mahan remarks that Nelson’s station off Maritimo -was strategically sound, enabling him to intercept the -approach of the enemy “to either Naples or Sicily,” -and it was while he was cruising here that he received -a despatch from his former Commander-in-chief to the -effect that Keith was searching for the French, and that -reinforcements were making their way to Port Mahon. -Nelson was convinced that the enemy was steering for -Naples. After a brief visit to the King at Palermo and -receiving Sir William and Lady Hamilton on board the -<i>Foudroyant</i>, he sailed for the capital.</p> - -<p>On Troubridge’s withdrawal from Naples, the blockade -had been placed in the hands of Captain Foote -of the <i>Seahorse</i>, a frigate of thirty-eight guns, who concerted -with Ruffo and his Russian and Turkish allies to -rid the city of the insurgents. Fort St Elmo, garrisoned -by the few remaining French, and the castles of Uovo -and Nuovo, held by the rebels, alone held out. The -Cardinal arranged an armistice with the insurgents, and -although there was further trouble, the matter was -patched up and negotiations were again begun. Subsequently -a capitulation was signed on the 23rd June.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132">132</a></span> -Nelson received the news before his squadron anchored -in the Bay of Naples on the following day, and, not -knowing the exact terms on which it had been granted, -characterised them as “infamous.”</p> - -<p>The main conditions were that the forts Nuovo and -Uovo should be delivered up with their effects; that -the troops should keep possession of the places until the -ships which were to be provided for those who wished -to proceed to Toulon were ready to sail; that the -garrisons should march out with the honours of war; -that “Persons and Property, both movable and immovable, -of every individual of the two Garrisons, shall -be respected and guaranteed,” a clause applicable also -to prisoners which the allies had made during the blockade -of the forts; and that “All the other hostages and State -prisoners, confined in the two Forts, shall be set at -liberty, immediately after the present Capitulation is -signed.” Nelson at once ordered Foote to haul down -the flag of truce flying from the <i>Seahorse</i>. Sufficient of -his story has been told to show that the Admiral had -little or no pity for rebels. So far back as the 6th June, -he had written to Foote that the intelligence sent to him -by that officer of the hanging of thirteen Jacobins “gave -us great pleasure,” and he also expressed the hope that -three priests who had been condemned would “dangle -on the tree best adapted to their weight of sins.” Without -further ado he sent a declaration to “the Rebellious -Subjects” in the two forts that “They must surrender -themselves to His Majesty’s Royal mercy,” and addressed -a summons to the Commanding Officer of the -French at the Castle of St Elmo, that he must either -accede to the terms made by Ruffo and the Russian -Commander, or “take the consequences, as I shall not -agree to any other.” A paper signed by Nelson and -explained to Ruffo, but rejected by him, announced that -“the British Admiral proposes to the Cardinal to send, -in their joint names, to the French and Rebels, that the -arrival of the British fleet has completely destroyed the -compact, as would that of the French if they had had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133">133</a></span> -the power (which, thank God, they have not) to come -to Naples.... That as to Rebels and Traitors, no power -on earth has a right to stand between their gracious King -and them: they must instantly throw themselves on the -clemency of their Sovereign, for no other terms will be -allowed them; nor will the French be allowed even to -name them in any capitulation. If these terms are not -complied with, in the time ... viz., two hours for the -French, and instant submission on the part of the Rebels—such -very favourable conditions will never be again -offered.”</p> - -<p>Nelson knew the man with whom he was dealing, and -as the following characteristic letter to Rear-Admiral -Duckworth shows, he was quite prepared for any -eventuality. With insurgents on land and the possibility -of a French fleet at sea in the near vicinity, it was -incumbent on the British Admiral not to run unnecessary -<span class="locked">risks:—</span></p> - -<p>“As you will believe, the Cardinal and myself have -begun our career by a complete difference of opinion. He -will send the Rebels to Toulon,—I say they shall not go. -He thinks one house in Naples more to be prized than -his Sovereign’s honour. Troubridge and Ball are gone -to the Cardinal, for him to read my declaration to the -French and Rebels, whom he persists in calling patriots—what -a prostitution of the word! I shall send Foote -to get the Gun-boats from Procida. I wish the Fleet -not to be more than two-thirds of a cable from each other. -I shall send you a sketch of the anchorage, in forty -fathom water. The <i>Foudroyant</i> to be the Van-ship. -If the French fleet should favour us with a visit, I can -easily take my station in the centre.”</p> - -<p>The Cardinal positively refused to entertain Nelson’s -opinions, but after some hesitation decided to discuss -affairs with him on the <i>Foudroyant</i>. The interview, -which was stormy on both sides and somewhat protracted, -owing to the necessity of employing Lord and Lady -Hamilton as interpreters, took place on the afternoon of -the 25th. Both of them held steadfastly to his own<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134">134</a></span> -point of view. Nelson therefore wrote that “in his -opinion” the Treaty with the rebels “cannot be carried -into execution, without the approbation of his Sicilian -Majesty.”</p> - -<p>Uovo and Nuovo were taken possession of by British -seamen under Troubridge on the evening of the 26th inst., -and on the following day, Nelson communicated the -fact to the Admiralty, adding: “This morning I am -going to send a detachment under Captain Troubridge, -to cut down the dangerous Tree of Anarchy, and to burn -it before the King’s palace. The moment I can find the -City a little quieted, guns shall be got against St Elmo, -when, I am sure, the French will be glad to surrender.... -In my present position, I have not the smallest -alarm should the Enemy favour us with a visit, inferior -as my force is to oppose them.” The castle capitulated -on the 12th July 1799, to Nelson’s “brave friend” -Troubridge, whose “great character,” “ability and -resources” were duly detailed to Lord Keith, while the -Admiral told Earl Spencer that, “On land the captain -of the <i>Culloden</i> is a first-rate general!” Troubridge’s -reward was a baronetcy, to which no one ever had a -clearer title.</p> - -<p>Was Nelson justified in cancelling the agreement -entered into by Ruffo and his allies and the enemy? The -question has been discussed with great vehemence and -at prodigious length. Mahan’s opinion is that “his -conduct throughout was open and consistent.” He is -convinced that the Admiral acted up to his firm belief -“that he not only had a right to suspend the Capitulation, -because, though signed, it had not been executed, but -that it was his bounden duty so to do; having both -legal power and adequate force to prevent its execution.” -Nelson “regarded himself as, and for the time being -actually was, the representative of the King of the Two -Sicilies, as well as the admiral of the British fleet. As -representative, he was charged with the interests and -honour of the Sovereign and had authority over all -Neapolitan officials; as admiral, he wielded power to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135">135</a></span> -enforce obedience, if refused. Considering the terms of -the Capitulation to be contrary to the interests and the -honour of the Kingdom, he was under an obligation to -prevent their going into effect, until the King’s decision, -becoming known, should supersede his own discretion.”</p> - -<p>Laughton, whose biography of Nelson is much shorter -than Mahan’s, and is therefore not so comprehensive, -dismisses the matter by saying, “it is perfectly well -established as the usage of civilised war that terms -granted by a military officer are conditional on the -approval of his superiors, unless he has distinct authority -to negotiate, or the capitulation has been effected wholly -or in part. In the present instance Cardinal Ruffo had -not only no authority to negotiate, but he had express -orders from the King not to do so.” By the fourth -Article of the “Instructions to the troops of his Majesty, -ordered to repair to the Bay of Naples,” dated Palermo, -June 10th, 1799, “All the military and political operations -shall be agreed upon by the Prince Royal and -Admiral Lord Nelson. The opinion of this latter always -to have a preponderance, on account of the respect due -to his experience, as well as to the forces under his command, -which will determine the operations; and also -because we are so deeply indebted to him for the zeal -and attachment of which he has given so many proofs.” -By the tenth Article, “The acts of clemency concerning -the noted offenders, and the pardoning of the same, are -reserved for the King, excepting those stipulated in the -articles of capitulation.”</p> - -<div id="ip_135" class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> - <img src="images/i_151.jpg" width="400" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>The Execution of Caracciolo</p> - -<p class="notbold">Stephen Reid</p></div></div> - -<p>About seventy Jacobins were executed for their -misdeeds, but Nelson was only concerned in the death -of one of them. Commodore Francesco Caracciolo, the -commander of the Republican Navy, had previously -accompanied the Sicilian Court to Palermo, but when -an edict was issued by the French that the property of all -absentees would be confiscated, he had obtained King -Ferdinand’s permission to return. Marshal Macdonald, -then Commander-in-chief of the French Army of Naples, -refers to the matter in his “Recollections.” “I had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136">136</a></span> -resolved,” he writes, “to induce Admiral Caracciolo -to take service in the new fleet; he equipped a flotilla -which secured respect for the port and coasts of Naples, -frequently threatened by attempts of the English, who -occupied the islands and were stationed in the roads.”<a id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">42</a> -When Caracciolo’s position on sea became untenable, -he sought a safer asylum in one of the forts, whence he -eventually fled to the mountains disguised as a peasant. -Here he was discovered and captured. The refugee was -brought on board the <i>Foudroyant</i> on the morning of the -29th June. Nelson at once instructed Count Thurn, -Commander of the Sicilian frigate <i>La Minerva</i>, who had -been in action with Caracciolo, to assemble five of the -senior officers under his command to inquire if the -prisoner were guilty of rebellion against his lawful -Sovereign, and having fired at his Sicilian Majesty’s -colours on board <i>La Minerva</i>. The trial duly took place; -the sentence was death. This was to be carried out -“by hanging him at the fore yard-arm of His Sicilian -Majesty’s Frigate <i>La Minerva</i>, under your command, -at five o’clock this evening; and to cause him to hang -there until sunset, when you will have his body cut down, -and thrown into the sea.” Such were Nelson’s instructions, -which were obeyed. Parsons, who had charge of -Caracciolo, describes him as “a short, thick-set man, of -apparent strength, but haggard with misery and want; -his clothing in wretched condition, but his countenance -denoting stern resolution to endure that misery like a -man.” The sympathetic narrator persists in calling -him “veteran” and “old man.” The Commodore was -only forty-seven years of age, although his wan appearance -may have made him look considerably older. -“At two o’clock in the afternoon,” Parsons adds, “the -veteran, with a firm step, walked into Lord Nelson’s -barge, and with a party of thirty of our seamen, under -one of our lieutenants, was taken to his [Count Thurn’s] -flagship, the gun fired, and the brave old man launched<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137">137</a></span> -into eternity at the expiration of the two hours from -the time the sentence had passed. The seamen of our -fleet, who clustered on the rigging like bees, consoled -themselves that it was only an Italian prince, and the -admiral of Naples, that was hanging—a person of very -light estimation compared with the lowest man in -a British ship. His Majesty of Naples, the Prime -Minister, Sir John Acton, and many of the foreign -ambassadors, joined and took up their quarters in the -<i>Foudroyant</i> two days after the execution; and my Lord -Nelson removed to the first lieutenant’s cabin as his -sleeping apartment, giving his cabin to the king’s use, -and the larboard side of the maindeck for his cooks, -who condescended to officiate as ours; and never did -midshipmen fare so sumptuously as during the king’s -long stay on board the <i>Foudroyant</i>. The day was passed -in administering justice (Italian fashion) to the wretches -who fell into the grasp of Cardinal Ruffo’s lambs, -enlivened by the bombardment of St Elmo, which we -were battering in breach. At noon, dinner was served -to the royal party and their guests on the quarter-deck; -Lady Hamilton’s graceful form bending over her harp, -and her heavenly music gave a gusto to the dessert. -As the sun went down, the opera singers, in a large, -decked galley, came alongside, and all that could delight -the ear or please the eye was there to fascinate and -charm.”</p> - -<p>There is more than a suspicion of irony in the above -passage. It is useful because one can readily believe -that it was the point of view of the majority of the -British petty officers and seamen. They failed to understand -why so much deference should be shown to King -Ferdinand and his Queen, who doubtless in their opinion -would have shown more royal qualifications had they -remained in their capital instead of making a hasty -flight to Palermo. This is not the place to discuss the -merits and demerits of monarchy and republic, both of -which have their advantages. Certainly the foreign -policy of Great Britain at the end of the eighteenth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138">138</a></span> -century did not allow an ally to be dethroned without -making an effort on his behalf.</p> - -<p>Southey, when dealing with the execution of Caracciolo, -has seen fit to introduce Nelson’s relations with Lady -Hamilton into the matter, which may be forgiven a man -who published his narrative in 1813, when current -scandal and gossip were often the chief “authorities” -of the historian. “Doubtless” he remarks, “the -British Admiral seemed to himself to be acting under -a rigid sense of justice, but to all other persons it was -obvious that he was influenced by an infatuated -attachment—a baneful passion, which destroyed his -domestic happiness, and now, in a second instance, -stained ineffaceably his public character.” Now Lady -Hamilton, as a matter of actual fact, had nothing whatever -to do with the hanging of the traitor and did not -converse with the Admiral during Caracciolo’s detention. -The rebel was tried by those of his own nationality, and -according to Mahan, “there is no ground for doubting -that he (Nelson) had authority to order a court-martial, -and to carry its sentence into execution, nor that -Caracciolo came within the jurisdiction of a court-martial -properly constituted.” It is only just to add, however, -that in the opinion of the same eminent authority there -was no real necessity for such undue haste on Nelson’s -part. “He should have remembered that the act would -appear to the world, not as that of the Neapolitan -plenipotentiary, but of the British officer, and that his -nation, while liable like others to bursts of unreasoning -savagery, in its normal moods delights to see justice -clothed in orderly forms, unstained by precipitation or -suspicion of perversion, advancing to its ends with the -majesty of law, without unseemly haste, providing things -honest in the sight of all men. That he did not do so, -when he could have done so, has been intuitively felt; -and to the instinctive resentment thus aroused among -his countrymen has been due the facility with which -the worst has been too easily believed.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139">139</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII<br /> - -<span class="subhead">Nelson in Temporary Command<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1799–1800)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>The great object of the war is</i>—Down, down with the French.”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap b"><span class="smcap1">King Ferdinand</span> was again on board the -<i>Foudroyant</i>, holding his Levées on the quarter-deck, -and making himself as affable as was -possible to a man of his morose temperament. Nelson’s -infatuation for the welfare of his Majesty and his kingdom -seemed growing. The castle of St Elmo had -fallen, thereby completing the conquest of Naples, but -the Admiral saw fit to order Troubridge to march against -Capua, thereby denuding the fleet of a thousand men, -who were to act in concert with four times that number -of troops. This was done after the receipt of a warning -from Keith that it might be necessary to withdraw the -squadron for the protection of Minorca.</p> - -<p>“Should such an order come at this moment,” Nelson -writes to Earl Spencer, “it would be a cause for some -consideration whether Minorca is to be risked, or the -two Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily? I rather think -my decision would be to risk the former.” In other -words, Nelson placed the interests of an allied Power -before those of his own country, although of course his -services to the Sicilies were of importance to the latter. -One cannot help thinking that there is more than a -suspicion of ulterior motives in what was to lead to a -flagrant disobedience of orders. The letter concludes -with the most affectionate references to Sir William and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140">140</a></span> -Lady Hamilton, who were assuredly his evil genii at the -moment. According to Nelson they were with him to -his “great comfort,” without them “it would have been -impossible I could have rendered half the service to -his Majesty which I have now done: their heads and -their hearts are equally great and good.” Writing to -Keith on the same day—13th July 1799—he refers solely -to King Ferdinand: “It has been and is my study to -treat his Majesty with all the respect due to so great a -personage, and I have the pleasure to believe that my -humble endeavours have met with the Royal approbation.”</p> - -<p>After penning this communication the Admiral -received a despatch from Keith, dated the 27th June, -implicitly requiring him “to send such Ships as you can -possibly spare off the Island of Minorca to wait my -orders.” This he acknowledged by saying that “as soon -as the safety of His Sicilian Majesty’s Kingdoms is -secured, I shall not lose one moment in making the -detachment you are pleased to order. At present, under -God’s Providence, the safety of His Sicilian Majesty, and -his speedy restoration to his Kingdom, depends on this -Fleet, and the confidence inspired even by the appearance -of our Ships before the City is beyond all belief; -and I have no scruple in declaring my opinion that should -any event draw us from the Kingdom, that if the French -remain in any part of it, disturbances will again arise, -for all order having been completely overturned, it must -take a thorough cleansing, and some little time, to restore -tranquillity.” In order to justify his conduct, Nelson -next sent a second note to Earl Spencer. After referring -to his previous letter, which showed that he was prepared -for Keith’s order, he adds, “more than ever is my -mind made up, that, 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, where an Army is gone this day. I am -fully aware of the act I have committed; but, sensible -of my loyal intentions, I am prepared for any fate which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141">141</a></span> -may await my disobedience. Capua and Gaeta 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 -right; 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. Do not think, my dear -Lord, that my opinion is formed from the arrangements -of any one. <em>No</em>; be it good, or be it bad, it is all my -own.” The writer concludes with an appeal for Earl -Spencer’s interest with the Board of the Admiralty, -which was not vouchsafed. His having proceeded to -the Bay of Naples and of the operations against the -castle of St Elmo were approved, but not of the land -warfare carried on by the seamen against Capua. Their -Lordships did not see “sufficient reason to justify your -having disobeyed the orders you had received from your -Commanding-Officer, or having left Minorca exposed -to the risk of being attacked, without having any Naval -force to protect it.”</p> - -<p>On the 19th July, Nelson was handed a second urgent -despatch from Keith, ordering him either to leave Sicily -and repair to Minorca with his whole force or to detach -the greater part of his squadron and place it under -Duckworth. Keith’s “repeated information” led him -to believe that the enemy was not making for Sicily or -Egypt, as had been thought probable, but for Ireland. -Nelson again refused to obey his Commander-in-chief. -Not until the 22nd inst., when Keith informed Nelson -that the French fleet was off Cape Tres Forcas, did he -see fit to dispatch Duckworth with four vessels to -Minorca.</p> - -<p>The Frenchmen succeeded in joining their Spanish -allies at Cartagena and arriving safely at Brest, -from which port they did not issue for some months, -an event which does not therefore concern us at the -moment. Capua and Gaeta eventually surrendered, -the articles of capitulation being signed by Acton and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142">142</a></span> -Nelson on behalf of King Ferdinand on the 31st July -1799, thus liberating “the Kingdom of Naples from a -band of robbers,” as the Admiral informed Keith.</p> - -<p>So far this portion of the narrative has been necessarily -confined to cold, matter-of-fact details. Mention must -now be made of the celebrations held on the first anniversary -of the battle of the Nile. Well might Nelson -be fêted on such an occasion; he had served their -Sicilian Majesties all too faithfully. He thus describes -the picturesque scene for the benefit of his <span class="locked">wife:—</span></p> - -<p>“Thank God all goes well in Italy, and the Kingdom -of Naples is liberated from thieves and murderers. But -still, it has so overthrown the fabric of a regular Government, -that much time and great care are necessary to -keep the Country quiet. The 1st of August was celebrated -here with as much respect as our situation would -admit. The King dined with me; and, when His -Majesty drank my health, a Royal salute of twenty-one -guns was fired from all his Sicilian Majesty’s Ships of -War, and from all the Castles. In the evening there was -a general illumination. Amongst other representations, -a large Vessel was fitted out like a Roman galley; on its -oars were fixed lamps, and in the centre was erected a -rostral column with my name: at the stern were -elevated two angels supporting my picture. In short, -my dear Fanny, the beauty of the whole is beyond -my powers of description. More than 2000 variegated -lamps were suspended round the Vessel. An -orchestra was fitted up, and filled with the very best -musicians and singers. The piece of music was in a great -measure to celebrate my praise, describing their previous -distress, ‘but Nelson came, the invincible Nelson, and -they were preserved, and again made happy.’ This -must not make you think me vain; no, far, very far -from it, I relate it more from gratitude than vanity. -I return to Palermo with the King to-morrow.”<a id="FNanchor_43" href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">43</a></p> - -<p>It was characteristic of Nelson’s fond regard for his -father that when King Ferdinand created him Duke of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143">143</a></span> -Bronté, which he believed would mean an increase of -some £3000 a year to his income, he taxed the estate to -the extent of £500 per annum on behalf of the Rev. -Edmund Nelson as “a mark of gratitude to the best of -parents.”</p> - -<p>Keith being on the look-out for the forty ships of the -allied fleets—for Bruix had been joined by the Spanish -fleet at Cartagena as previously mentioned—the chief -command devolved upon Nelson. Unfortunately Keith -was unable to come up with the enemy, who entered -Brest without being brought to battle. He then -returned to England. Nelson hoped that the Lords of -the Admiralty would make his temporary command -permanent. Why they failed to do so is not quite clear. -Keith was sent back, and resumed command in the -following January. The situation was a most difficult -one for Nelson, especially as the King of the Two -Sicilies invariably showed the white feather when Nelson -wished to conduct him to Naples: “nothing can move -him.” The Admiral’s health was still unsatisfactory. -“I am almost blind, and truly very unwell.” He was -worried because the naval force had been withdrawn -from the coast of Italy, worried about the siege of Malta, -and worried by the stupidity of his Russian and Turkish -allies. But he maintained a bold front, and never -let the respective commanders know what he thought of -them. Instead, he wrote the most reassuring messages -to everybody, knowing and appreciating full well the -value of optimism.</p> - -<p>In September 1799, we find his squadron disposed at -six different points, namely off Alexandria and the coast -of Egypt, under Sir Sidney Smith; off Malta, under -the Portuguese Rear-Admiral the Marquis de Niza; -at Palermo; on the coast of Naples and the Roman -coast, under Troubridge; on the north coast of Italy; -and blockading Cadiz and protecting the Straits of -Gibraltar, Minorca, etc., which is sufficient to show -that his task was an arduous one. He endeavoured to -stir up enthusiasm in the land forces on behalf of Malta,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144">144</a></span> -Civita Vecchia, and Rome. To Sir James Erskine, at -Port Mahon, he wrote with all the eloquence he could -command to incite him to effort: “The field of glory is a -large one, and was never more open to any one than at this -moment to you. Rome would throw open her gates -and receive you as a deliverer; and the Pope<a id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">44</a> would -owe his restoration to the Papal Chair to an <em>heretic</em>. -This is the first great object, as it would not only be the -complete deliverance of Italy, but restore peace and -tranquillity to the torn-to-pieces Kingdom of Naples.... -The next great object is the reduction of Malta, and in -any other moment than the present, it would be a most -important one.... To return to the first object, I can -take upon me to say, that our King would be much -gratified that <em>Britain</em> not <em>Austria</em> should re-instate the -Pope. You are at perfect liberty to say this from me; -for the world sees the ambition of Austria, and her eagle -wants to extend her wings from the Adriatic to the -Mediterranean. I will not say more, but that I will -support you to the utmost of my abilities.” Succour did -not come from Erskine but from a division of troops -sent by the veteran Russian commander Suwarrow, -and, on the 1st October, Nelson was able to inform the -Admiralty of the terms entered into with the French by -Troubridge for the evacuation of Rome and Civita -Vecchia, “on which event I sincerely congratulate their -Lordships.”</p> - -<p>On the 15th of the same month Nelson sent the -“Sketch of my Life,” already remarked upon,<a id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">45</a> to Mr -John McArthur of the “Naval Chronicle,” in which he -says that when the terms of capitulation were signed on -board the <i>Culloden</i>, “a prophecy, made to me on my -arrival at Naples, was fulfilled, viz., ‘<em>that I should take -Rome with my Ships</em>.’”</p> - -<p>“Thus,” he concludes, “may be exemplified by my -Life that perseverance in my profession will most -probably meet its reward. Without having any inheritance, -or being fortunate in prize money, I have received<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145">145</a></span> -all the honours of my profession, been created a Peer of -Great Britain, and I may say to thee, reader:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="center">“‘<i>Go thou and do likewise.</i>’”</p></blockquote> - -<p>Nelson’s enthusiasm in the matter of Italy was due -partly to the magnificent series of victories which the -armies of the coalition had won. Alessandria and -Mantua had fallen, Moreau had retreated near Novi, and -Tortona had surrendered. So far everything seemed -to be pitched in a major key, but the minor element -entered when the Russians were sent into Switzerland -instead of being allowed to finish their task in Italy. -Masséna won the battle of Zurich, thereby severing the -communications between the Austro-Russian forces in -Switzerland and in Italy. In October the intrepid -Suwarrow, crossing the Alps, withdrew his forces to -Bavaria for the purpose of taking up winter quarters, -declining to further expose his worn-out troops.</p> - -<p>In the same month another and more important event -happened, which was to be far-reaching in its results. -On the 9th of that month Napoleon, having been -fortunate enough to escape the vigilance of British -cruisers during his long and tedious voyage from Alexandria, -landed in France. Nelson did not hear the news -until the 24th, when he told Sir Sidney Smith, “I have -just got a report that appears to have some foundation, -that Buonaparte has passed Corsica in a Bombard, -steering for France. No Crusader ever returned with -more humility—contrast his going in <i>L’Orient</i>, &c., &c.” -Nelson was not on intimate terms with Smith, and was -therefore not likely to relieve his mind “against French -villany” as he did to Earl Spencer: “The great object -of the war is—<em>Down, down with the French!</em>” “If -I could have any Cruisers,” he said in another letter, -“as was my plan, off Cape Bon, in Africa, and between -Corsica and Toulon, Mr Buonaparte could not probably -have got to France; but if it bring on a confusion at -Paris, I hope it will be for the best.” “I have regretted -sincerely the escape of Buonaparte”; he tells the Earl of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146">146</a></span> -Elgin, British ambassador at Constantinople; “but those -Ships which were destined by me for the two places -where he would certainly have been intercepted, were, -from the Admiralty thinking, doubtless, that the -Russians would do something at sea, obliged to be at -Malta, and other services which I thought the Russian -Admiral would have assisted me in—therefore, no blame -lays at my door.” Again, “Our news here is of a civil -war in France—Buonaparte against Barras. May God -increase their confusion.”</p> - -<p>While Sir Sidney Smith had been eminently successful -at the siege of Acre, which made Napoleon miss his -“destiny” and precluded him from changing “the face -of the world,” as he himself stated, the defeat of the -Turks after their disembarkation at Aboukir in July -considerably altered the condition of affairs. Smith and -the Turkish Government were for allowing the French -to return to their native country, an arrangement not -at all in accord with Nelson’s wishes. “I own my hope -yet is,” he confesses to the Earl of Elgin, “that the -Sublime Porte will never permit a single Frenchman to -quit Egypt; and I own myself wicked enough to wish -them all to die in that Country they chose to invade. -We have scoundrels of French enough in Europe without -them.... I again take the liberty of repeating that -it is contrary to my opinion, allowing a single Frenchman -from Egypt to return during the war to France. -It would [be a] paper I never would subscribe to; -but I submit to the better judgment of men.” To -Spencer Smith, Secretary of Embassy, Constantinople, -he says much the same thing: “I cannot bring myself -to believe they would entirely quit Egypt; and, if they -would, I never would consent to one of them returning -to the Continent of Europe during the war. I wish them -to <em>perish</em> in Egypt, and give a great lesson to the world -of the justice of the <span class="smcap">Almighty</span>.” “I would have kept -up a more constant communication with Egypt;” he -tells Keith on the 7th January 1800, “but I have never -had the benefit of small Vessels.” When the Admiral<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147">147</a></span> -heard of the Convention of El Arish, concluded by Smith -and Kléber—Napoleon’s successor in Egypt—Nelson -was furious. By its terms the army and its munitions -were to be allowed to return to France. Had Nelson -been Commander-in-chief, he would have refused “to -ratify any consent or approbation of Sir Sidney Smith,” -and would never “for a moment have forgot my text—that -at all risks of giving offence, <em>not one Frenchman -should be allowed to quit Egypt</em>.” Keith showed a firm -hand when the intelligence reached him. He would -consent to “no Capitulation with the French Army in -Egypt, except as prisoners of war,” and he insisted on -the abandoning of all ships and munitions. Moreover, -no troops were to return until they were exchanged. In -due course the British Government consented to the -terms which had been made, although it disapproved of -Sir Sidney Smith’s high-handed policy. On Kléber -being informed of the conditions imposed on him by -Keith, he refused to entertain them. Hostilities were -renewed before the receipt of the Order from England -confirming the capitulation, and the negotiations came -to nothing.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148">148</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /> - -<span class="subhead">Disobedience to Orders</span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“Pray God we may get alongside of them, the event I leave to Providence”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">Malta</span> was in a pitiful, half-starved condition. -Nelson urged Sir James Erskine at Mahon, -and Brigadier-General Graham at Messina, -to send troops to its relief. They were as adamant and -refused. He was therefore kept “in desperation about -Malta” until General Fox arrived at Minorca and -released the garrison there for the more urgent necessities -of the unhappy island. The Russians upon whom -the Admiral had also depended were sent elsewhere -in pursuance of the Czar’s plan to withdraw from the -enfeebled coalition.</p> - -<p>The Portuguese having withdrawn their ships from -the blockade, it was eminently necessary to fill their -place, especially as it was understood that a French -squadron was likely to be sent to the relief of the beleaguered. -Keith was back at his post in January -1800, and was off Leghorn with Nelson on the 20th of -that month. After proceeding to Palermo they both -went to Malta, where the exciting news was received that -the enemy had not only left port but had been seen off -the west end of Sicily.</p> - -<p>The Commander-in-chief remained at Malta ready -to give the Frenchmen a warm welcome should they -come his way; Nelson was dispatched to capture the -Republican squadron. This consisted of the famous -<i>Généreux</i>, the 74-gun ship, which had escaped after the -battle of the Nile, three corvettes, and an armed store-<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149">149</a></span>ship. -The Admiral had three sail-of-the-line at his -service, when he came up with Rear-Admiral Perrée -on the 18th February 1800, but the chase had already -been started by the <i>Alexander</i>, which happened to be -cruising near. The French store-ship struck her tricoloured -ensign after a few shots had been fired, and was -promptly secured. The <i>Généreux</i> was then raked with -several broadsides by the <i>Success</i> frigate, a compliment -returned by the Frenchman to the disadvantage of the -British crew, of which one man was killed and the Master -and seven men wounded. When the <i>Foudroyant</i> and -the <i>Northumberland</i> approached, and began to fight -in real earnest, the enemy’s flagship fired her broadside -and surrendered. The corvettes made good their -escape. Perrée died of his wounds on the following -day. His flag was sent by the Admiral to Leopold, -Prince of Salerno, through Sir John Acton, who described -King Ferdinand’s son as being “in raptures” at the -present.</p> - -<p>On the 24th, the blockade of Malta was entrusted to -Nelson by Keith, the Commander-in-chief sailing for -Genoa to assist the Austrians in the siege of that place, -which eventually fell in the first week of the following -June. The position was an ignominious one from -Nelson’s point of view, as his letters testify. He told -his superior that “Without some rest, I am gone,” -and that he was “absolutely exhausted.” In referring -to Keith in a note to Lord Minto he underlines “<em>my -Commander-in-chief</em>,” for a reason which is fairly -obvious. “Ought I to trust Dame Fortune any more?” -he asks, “her daughter may wish to step in and tear the -mother from me. I have in truth serious thoughts of -giving up active service—Greenwich Hospital seems a -fit retreat for me after being <em>evidently</em> thought unfit to -command in the Mediterranean.” “<em>We of the Nile</em> are -not equal to Lord Keith in his (Acton’s) estimation, and -ought to think it an honour to serve under such a <em>clever</em> -man,” he tells Troubridge. “I can say little good of -myself: I am far from well”; “My state of health is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150">150</a></span> -very precarious. Two days ago I dropped with a pain -in my heart, and I am always in a fever”; “my very -ill state of health”; “I believe I am almost finished,” -are passages to be found in his correspondence at this -period. He informed Keith that his health was “so -very indifferent,” that he was obliged “in justice to -myself, to retire to Palermo for a few weeks, and to -direct Troubridge to carry on the service during my -necessary absence. I shall quit this station when -matters are all put in a right way.”</p> - -<p>Troubridge heard of Nelson’s decision with unfeigned -sorrow. “I beseech you,” he says in a note of such -sincere regard and affection that it is worthy of place in -any “Life of Nelson,” “hear the entreaties of a sincere -friend, and do not go to Sicily for the present.”</p> - -<p>Nelson paid no heed to the warning, and proceeded to -Palermo. While returning to Malta the <i>Foudroyant</i> -was able to render assistance to the <i>Penelope</i> (36) frigate, -which was following the <i>Guillaume Tell</i> (86) in much the -same way as a sturdy little terrier sometimes follows -a much larger dog. After some hours the <i>Lion</i> (64) -came up, followed by the <i>Foudroyant</i>. The <i>Guillaume -Tell</i>—the sole remaining sail-of-the-line which had -escaped at the Nile—was endeavouring to break the -blockade of Valetta, but the time had come for her last -fight with the undaunted foe. She surrendered after a -splendid resistance on Sunday morning, the 30th March, -and was towed in a very crippled and dismasted state to -Syracuse. In due course she was refitted and rendered -good service in the British navy as the <i>Malta</i>. Rear-Admiral -Decrès was wounded and taken prisoner, and -some 200 of the 1220 men on his flagship were either -killed or rendered <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">hors de combat</i>.</p> - -<p>Sir Edward Berry, who commanded the <i>Foudroyant</i>, -wrote a hasty letter giving Nelson a few particulars. -“I had but one wish this morning—it was for you,” -is the opening sentence, “How we prayed for you, God -knows, and your sincere and faithful friend,” are the -concluding words. Could better evidence be produced<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151">151</a></span> -of the love which animated Nelson and his “band of -brothers”? “My task is done, my health is lost, and -the orders of the great Earl of St Vincent are completely -fulfilled—thanks, ten thousand thanks, to my -brave friends!” Thus he wrote to Berry on the 5th -April 1800, and on the following day he made similar -remarks to Lord Minto: “Our dear great Earl of St -Vincent’s orders to me were to follow the French Mediterranean -fleet, and to annihilate them: it has been done, -thanks to the zeal and bravery of my gallant friends! -My task is done, my health lost, and I have wrote to Lord -Keith for my retreat. May all orders be as punctually -obeyed, but never again an Officer at the close, of what -I must, without being thought vain, (for such I am -represented by my enemies,) call a glorious career, be so -treated! I go with our dear friends Sir William and -Lady Hamilton; but whether by water or land depends -on the will of Lord Keith.” Again and again Nelson -refers to the prowess of his comrades in arms. “The -happy capture of the <i>William Tell</i>,” he writes to the -Capitan Pacha, “is the finish to the whole French fleet, -which my Royal Master desired me to destroy. Having, -by the bravery of the Officers and Men under my command, -accomplished my task, I am going to England for -the benefit of my health; but I can assure you, and -beg of your Excellency to assure the Grand Signior of the -same, that should the Enemy again send a Naval -force to attack his Dominions, I shall hold myself ready -to come forth again for their destruction.” To the -Caimakan Pacha he says, “It was my orders, in May -1798, to destroy the French Mediterranean fleet. By the -happy capture of the <i>Généreux</i> and <i>William Tell</i>, (the -last on the 30th March,) thanks to the Almighty, and -the bravery of the Officers and Men under my command, -<em>all</em>, <em>all</em>, are taken, burnt, or sunk. Of the thirteen Sail -of the Line, not one remains; and I trust that very -soon the same may be told of their Army, who dared to -land on the Territory of the Sublime Porte. Perish all -the enemies of his Imperial Majesty the Grand Signior!<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152">152</a></span> -Having completely obeyed my orders, with great injury -to my health, I am going to England for the benefit of -it.” He adds that he will not fail his ally, should -another French fleet menace the Turkish dominions. -“I shall hold myself ready, if I am thought fit for such -a service, to come forth, and be the instrument of God’s -vengeance on such miscreant infernal scoundrels.” He -writes to Earl Spencer, enclosing Berry’s account of the -capture of the French battleship, and assures himself -that his Lordship “will not be sparing of promotion to -the deserving. My friends wished me to be present. -I have no such wish; for a something might have been -given me, which now cannot. Not for all the world would -I rob any man of a sprig of laurel—much less my children -of the <i>Foudroyant</i>! I love her as a fond father, a -darling child, and glory in her deeds. I am vain enough -to feel the effects of my school. Lord Keith sending me -nothing, I have not, of course, a free communication. -I have wrote to him for permission to return to England, -when you will see a broken-hearted man.... My complaint, -which is principally a swelling of the heart, is at -times alarming to my friends....” “My mind is -fixed for retreat at this moment,” he informs “fighting -Berry.” “Assure all the Foudroyants of my sincere -regard and affection for them. <em>They may depend upon -me.</em>” “I glory in them, my darling children, served in -my school, and all of us caught our professional zeal and -fire from the great and good Earl of St Vincent”—thus -he writes to Keith. None of his hundreds of letters more -fully reveals the charming nature of the man, than those -quoted above. While Nelson was fond enough of glory -for himself, he was too large-hearted to deprive others -of it.</p> - -<p>We have now to return to his unhappy and miscalculated -transactions with the people whom he served -not wisely but too well, to show him again “a vehement -partisan of the Court of Naples,” as Judge O’Connor -Morris expresses it. “I purpose going in the <i>Foudroyant</i>,” -he tells Keith, on the 12th May, “in a few days, to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153">153</a></span> -Palermo, as I am under an old promise to her Sicilian -Majesty, that whenever she returned to the Continent, -I would escort her over. Her Majesty has now made -application to me for that purpose; and, as it may be -necessary to take another Ship for the escort, I purpose -taking the <i>Alexander</i> with me.” It is clear that Nelson -had no right to enter into any such arrangement, especially -as there were too few rather than too many ships -for the blockade of Malta. Before Keith’s despatch was -received forbidding Nelson to use the vessels, the -Admiral had left Malta for Palermo, which he reached -on the 31st May. But he <em>did</em> get a despatch ordering -him to take the ships then at Leghorn to Spezia, which -Nelson only partly obeyed, and stationed himself at the -former port to await the convenience of the Queen and -family. There he was met on the 24th June by his -Commander-in-chief, whose feelings may be gauged by -his letter to the Hon. A. Paget, Sir William Hamilton’s -successor as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary -to the King of the Two Sicilies. It was -written at Leghorn on the 16th July, two days after the -disastrous defeat of the Austrians by Napoleon at -Marengo.</p> - -<p>He says: “I was so displeased by the withdrawing of -the Ships from before Malta, and with other proceedings -that Her Majesty did not take any notice of me latterally -which had no effect on my attention to Her Rank, what -a Clamour to letting in the Ships to Malta will occasion -I assure you nothing has given me more real concern it -was so near exhausted.”<a id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">46</a> “The Paget Papers” make -it quite clear that Queen Caroline did not go out of her -way to impress Keith, but rather exhibited a fondness -for snubbing him. He writes to Paget on another -occasion to the effect that “the Queen expected the -Whole Squadron to attend on Her Court which was -impossible a Riot happened in the Square the Queen -desired I would go to the people, I declined having no<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154">154</a></span> -Authority to do so and disapproving of all tumults on -every pretence in short Her Majesty took leave of Every -one in Public but me....” An extremely important -letter<a id="FNanchor_47" href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">47</a> will also be found in the same collection of -documents which sheds much light on the personalities -of the Royal folk with whom Nelson had so much to do -in this phase of his career. Paget is writing to Lord -Grenville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs:</p> - -<p>“The King, whose real character has from circumstances -shown itself during and since the revolution -more than at any former period, is timid and bigoted -and, as is often the case in the same disposition, cruel -and revengeful. He has no natural turn for, nor do his -habits allow him to attend to business. He has no -guide for his Conduct but that of private consideration, -and to take the present Instance, whatever plea he may -set forth for delaying his return to Naples, I am in my -own mind convinced, and I should not utter these -opinions but upon the surest grounds, that His -Sicilian Majesty labours under the strongest apprehensions -for his own personal safety.</p> - -<p>“The Queen’s character generally is too well known -to Your Lordship to require any comment upon it from -me. I have every reason to suppose that not from -principles but from pique, Her Sicilian Majesty has been -very violent in opposing the King’s return since my -arrival. She had been taught to believe that I was sent -here to Dictate and to use haughty language upon the -Subject, at which idea I know from <em>undoubted authority</em> -she was most violently irritated.... But I have -reason to think that She has entirely lost her Influence, -though she meddles as much as ever in business. She -assists at every Council that is held....</p> - -<p>“The King and Queen of Naples are, as I have already -mentioned, upon the worst terms.... His Sicilian -Majesty considers the former intrigues of the Queen as -the principal cause of the misfortunes that have befallen -Him. He has made a solemn vow not to return with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155">155</a></span> -Her to Naples, on which account he is anxious that she -should take this Journey to Vienna.” He adds that -he has been led to suppose that Queen Caroline’s visit -to Vienna “is to endeavour to produce a change in -the disposition of that Court which is thought to be -extremely unfriendly,” and that her Majesty’s uneasiness -was due to a suspicion that the Emperor might be led -to take advantage of the defenceless state of the Sicilian -dominions. In a “Private and Confidential” note to -Grenville of the same date dealing with the intrigues of -Lady Hamilton who, according to Paget, had represented -him as a Jacobin and coxcomb, he mentions -Nelson’s health as “I fear sadly impaired, & I am assured -that his fortune is fallen into the same state in consequence -of great losses which both His Lordship & Lady -Hamilton have sustained at Faro & other Games of -Hazard. They are expected back from Malta every -day, & are then I understand to proceed by Sea to -England.”</p> - -<p>The Earl of Dundonald affords us an intimate glimpse -of Nelson at this time in his “Autobiography.” He -was then serving under Keith, and had several conversations -with the great sailor during the visit of the -Commander-in-chief to Palermo. “From one of his -frequent injunctions, ‘Never mind manœuvres, always -go at them,’ I subsequently had reason,” he says, “to -consider myself indebted for successful attacks under -apparently difficult circumstances.</p> - -<p>“The impression left on my mind during these opportunities -of association with Nelson was that of his being -an embodiment of dashing courage, which would not -take much trouble to circumvent an enemy, but being -confronted with one would regard victory so much a -matter of course as hardly to deem the chance of defeat -worth consideration.”</p> - -<p>Permission for Nelson’s return home, either by land -or sea, was duly granted by the Admiralty. Earl -Spencer took occasion to mildly rebuke the Admiral -in a private letter, stating that in his opinion it appears<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156">156</a></span> -“more advisable for you to come home at once, than -to be obliged to remain inactive at Palermo, while active -service was going on in other parts of the station. I -should still much prefer your remaining to complete -the reduction of Malta, which I flatter myself cannot be -very far distant.” At the time of writing, news of the -capture of the <i>Guillaume Tell</i> had not been received. -After hoping that she might strike to Nelson’s flag, Spencer -adds: “I am quite clear, and I believe I am joined in -opinion by all our friends here, that you will be more -likely to recover your health and strength in England -than in an inactive situation at a Foreign Court, however -pleasing the respect and gratitude shown to you -for your services may be, and no testimonies of respect -and gratitude from that Court to you can be, I am convinced, -too great for the very essential services you have -rendered it.”</p> - -<div id="ip_156" class="figcenter" style="width: 417px;"> - <img src="images/i_173.jpg" width="417" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>Lady Hamilton</p> - -<p class="notbold">Romney</p> - -<p class="smaller"><b>Photo W. A. Mansell & Co.</b></p></div></div> - -<p>Nelson struck his flag on the 11th July, and proceeded -to England by way of Florence, Ancona, Trieste, and -Vienna. The journey was made by land so far as -Ancona, where the Queen, Nelson, Lord and Lady -Hamilton, and Miss Knight were taken on board a -Russian vessel and landed at Trieste on the 2nd August. -The last-mentioned lady, to whom we have been introduced -on a previous page, was intimately acquainted -with her more eminent companions. The journey was -of a very adventurous nature, as the following extracts -from her letters to “fighting Berry,” printed by Nicolas, -will <span class="locked">prove:—</span></p> - -<p>“July 16th.— ... Lord Nelson is going on an -expedition he disapproves, and against his own convictions, -because he has promised the Queen, and that -others advise her. I pity the Queen. Prince Belmonte -directs the march; and Lady Hamilton, though she -does not like him, seconds his proposals, because she -hates the sea, and wishes to visit the different Courts of -Germany. Sir William says <em>he</em> shall die by the way, -and he looks so ill, that I should not be surprised if he -did. I am astonished that the Queen, who is a sensible<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157">157</a></span> -woman,<a id="FNanchor_48" href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">48</a> should consent to run so great a risk; but I can -assure you, that neither she nor the Princesses forget -their great obligations to you....</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Ancona</span>, <i>24th July</i>, 1800.—As I find delays succeed -each other, and England still recedes from us, I will not -omit, at least, informing you of our adventures. We left -Leghorn the day after I wrote to you, ... and owing -more to good fortune than to prudence, arrived in -twenty-six hours at Florence, after passing within <em>two -miles</em> of the French advanced posts. After a short stay, -we proceeded on our way to this place. At Castel San -Giovanni, the coach, in which were Lord Nelson, and -Sir William and Lady Hamilton, was overturned; Sir -William and Lady Hamilton were hurt, but not dangerously. -The wheel was repaired, but broke again at -Arezzo—the Queen two days’ journey before them, and -news of the French Army advancing rapidly, it was -therefore decided that they should proceed, and Mrs -Cadogan<a id="FNanchor_49" href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">49</a> and I remain with the broken carriage, as it -was of less consequence we should be left behind, or -taken, than they.... Just as we were going to set off, -we received accounts of the French being very near the -road where we had to pass, and of its being also infested -with Neapolitan deserters; but at the same moment -arrived a party of Austrians, and the Officers gave us -two soldiers as a guard. We travelled night and day; -the roads are almost destroyed, and the misery of the -inhabitants is beyond description. At length, however, -we arrived at Ancona, and found that the Queen had -given up the idea of going in the <i>Bellona</i>, an Austrian -Frigate, fitted up with silk hangings, carpets, and eighty -beds for her reception, and now meant to go with a -Russian Squadron of three Frigates and a Brig. I -believe she judged rightly; for there had been a mutiny -on board the <i>Bellona</i>, and, for the sake of accommodation, -she had reduced her guns to twenty-four, while the -French, in possession of the Coast, arm Trabaccoli, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158">158</a></span> -other light Vessels, that could easily surround and take -her. This Russian Squadron is commanded by Count -Voinovitsch, a Dalmatian, who having seen his people -ill-treated, and their colours destroyed by the Germans -last year at the Siege of Ancona, made a vow never to -come ashore, and keeps it religiously, for he has not -returned the Queen’s visit.... Lord Nelson talks -often of the <i>Foudroyant</i>, whatever is done to turn off -the conversation; and last night he was talking with -Captain Messer of the manœuvres he intended to make -in case he accepted of another command. In short, I -perceive that his thoughts turn towards England, and I -hope, and believe he will be happy there.... Lord -Nelson has been received with acclamations in all the -towns of the Pope’s States....</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Trieste</span>, <i>9th of August</i>, 1800.—... I told you we -were become humble enough to rejoice at a Russian -Squadron conveying us across the Adriatic; but had we -sailed, as was first intended, in the Imperial Frigate, -we should have been taken by eight Trabaccoli, which -the French armed on purpose at Pisaro. Sir William -and Lady Hamilton, and Lord Nelson, give a miserable -account of their sufferings on board the Commodore’s -Ship, (Count Voinovitsch).<a id="FNanchor_50" href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">50</a> He was ill in his cot; but -his First Lieutenant, a Neapolitan, named Capaci, was, -it seems, the most insolent and ignorant of beings. -Think what Lord Nelson must have felt! He says a -gale of wind would have sunk the Ship.... Poor Sir -William Hamilton has been so ill, that the physicians -had almost given him up: he is now better, and I hope -we shall be able to set off to-morrow night for Vienna. -The Queen and thirty-four of her suite have had fevers: -you can form no idea of the <em>helplessness</em> of the party. -How we shall proceed on our long journey, is to me a -problem; but we shall certainly get on as fast as we can; -for the very precarious state of Sir William’s health has -convinced everybody that it is necessary he should<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159">159</a></span> -arrange his affairs.... Poor Lord Nelson, whose only -comfort was in talking of ships and harbours with -Captain Messer, has had a bad cold; but is almost well, -and, I think, anxious to be in England. He is followed -by thousands when he goes out, and for the illumination -that is to take place this evening, there are many -<em>Viva Nelsons</em>, prepared. He seems affected whenever -he speaks of <em>you</em>, and often sighs out, ‘Where is the -<i>Foudroyant</i>?’”</p> - -<p>The party arrived at Vienna in the third week of -August 1800. Nelson became the hero of the hour. He -was entertained in the most sumptuous way. The -composer Haydn played to him while the Admiral—played -at cards! Nelson was surfeited by attentions -for a month, before proceeding to Prague and Dresden. -The beautiful and clever Mrs St George, who afterwards -changed her name a second time and became Mrs Trench, -and the mother of a celebrated Archbishop of Dublin, -happened to be at the latter Court during the visit, and -she confides to her Diary many interesting little happenings -connected with Nelson and Lady Hamilton. The -picture she paints of Sir William’s wife is by no means -so prepossessing as others, but at a certain dinner she was -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">vis-a-vis</i> “with only the Nelson party,” which gives her -a right to speak.</p> - -<p>“It is plain,” she writes, “that Lord Nelson thinks of -nothing but Lady Hamilton, who is totally occupied by -the same object. She is bold, forward, coarse, assuming, -and vain. Her figure is colossal, but, excepting her -feet, which are hideous, well-shaped. Her bones are -large, and she is exceedingly <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">embonpoint</i>. She resembles -the bust of Ariadne; the shape of all her features is fine, -as is the form of her head, and particularly her ears; -her teeth are a little irregular, but tolerably white; -her eyes light blue, with a brown spot in one, which, -though a defect, takes nothing away from her beauty -or expression. Her eyebrows and her hair are dark, -and her complexion coarse. Her expression is strongly -marked, variable, and interesting; her movements in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160">160</a></span> -common life ungraceful; her voice loud, yet not disagreeable. -Lord Nelson is a little man, without any -dignity, who, I suppose, must resemble what Suwarrow -was in his youth, as he is like all the pictures I have -seen of that General. Lady Hamilton takes possession -of him, and he is a willing captive, the most submissive -and devoted I have seen. Sir William is old, infirm, -and all admiration of his wife, and never spoke to-day -but to applaud her. Miss Cornelia Knight seems the -decided flatterer of the two, and never opens her mouth -but to show forth their praise; and Mrs Cadogan, Lady -Hamilton’s mother, is—what one might expect. After -dinner we had several songs in honour of Nelson, written -by Miss Knight, and sung by Lady Hamilton. She puffs -the incense full in his face, but he receives it with -pleasure, and snuffs it up very cordially.”</p> - -<p>In another passage Mrs Trench refers to Lady -Hamilton’s representations of statues and paintings -which Romney painted so delightfully. “She assumes -their attitude, expression, and drapery with great -facility, swiftness, and accuracy.” When she sang she -was frequently out of tune, and her voice had “no -sweetness.” Mrs Trench sums up the character of -her subject as “bold, daring, vain even to folly, and -stamped with the manners of her first situation<a id="FNanchor_51" href="#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">51</a> much -more strongly than one would suppose, after having -represented Majesty, and lived in good company fifteen -years. Her ruling passions seem to me vanity, avarice, -and love for the pleasures of the table. She showed a -great avidity for presents, and has actually obtained -some at Dresden by the common artifice of admiring and -longing.”</p> - -<div id="ip_160" class="figcenter" style="width: 404px;"> - <img src="images/i_179.jpg" width="404" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>Nelson landing at Yarmouth</p> - -<p class="notbold">Stephen Reid</p></div></div> - -<p>It is not a pleasant picture, and is perhaps a little overdrawn, -but even allowing a certain amount of latitude -for the severity of a woman criticising a member of her -sex with whom she has little in common, it must be -confessed that contemporary opinion is very largely on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161">161</a></span> -the side of the young and beautiful widow who thus -confided her opinion so emphatically in the pages of her -private journal.</p> - -<p>Hamburg was reached on the 21st of October. Here -Nelson met Dumouriez, the veteran hero of the battle of -Jemappes, and according to Miss Cornelia Knight, “the -two distinguished men took a great fancy to one another.... -Dumouriez at that time maintained himself by his -writings, and Lord Nelson forced him to accept a hundred -pounds, telling him he had used his sword too well to live -only by his pen.” Ten days after the arrival of the -party at Hamburg they embarked for England. When -Nelson stepped on shore at Yarmouth on the 6th -November 1800, the crowd which had assembled greeted -him with all the enthusiasm of such gatherings when a -great and popular man is in their midst. Some of the -more boisterous spirits unharnessed the horses of the -carriage awaiting the Admiral and his friends and drew -them to their destination, a certain well-known hostelry -in the town.</p> - -<p>Thus England welcomed back the hero of the Nile and -a pillar of the Sicilian Kingdom after an absence of -nearly three years, every day of which had been lived -to the full.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162">162</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Campaign of the Baltic<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1800–1)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>The service of my King and Country is the object nearest my heart.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap b"><span class="smcap1">Ostensibly</span> Nelson had come back to England -because of illness. That his health was -improved by the prolonged journey home -via the overland route is quite possible. The relief -from worry as to the Mediterranean in general and -to Keith in particular no doubt conduced largely to -so desirable a result. It is evident that he had returned -to a normal condition of mind and of body; -otherwise we should not find him writing to the Secretary -of the Admiralty on the day of his arrival in England -that his health was “perfectly re-established” and -that he wished “to serve immediately.”</p> - -<p>Nelson did not have to wait long for his wishes to -be fulfilled. On the first day of the new year he was -made a Vice-Admiral of the Blue, not as a reward for -his services but in a general promotion. A little over -a fortnight later he hoisted his flag on the <i>San Josef</i> -(112), one of the prizes of the battle off Cape St -Vincent, commanded by the devoted Hardy. Nelson -then made the request, apparently on the principle of -“nothing venture nothing have,” that the Lords of the -Admiralty would not consider his “necessary coming -from Italy as a dereliction of the service, but only a -remove from the Mediterranean to the Channel.” -Although he was a favourite of the rank and file of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163">163</a></span> -the Navy, he was certainly not esteemed so highly -by “the powers that be.” No doubt he was himself -partly responsible. His friend Collingwood’s “Correspondence” -at the time affords a little sidelight on the -matter. “We are at present lying completely ready,” -he writes on the 25th January, “and, on the least -motion made by the enemy, should sail; so you may -conceive what an anxious time I have of it. Lord -Nelson is here; and I think he will probably come and -live with me when the weather will allow him; but -he does not get in and out of ships well with one arm. -He gave me an account of his reception at Court, which -was not very flattering, after having been the admiration -of that of Naples. His Majesty merely asked -him if he had recovered his health; and then, without -waiting for an answer, turned to General ——, and -talked to him near half an hour in great good humour. -It could not be about his successes.”</p> - -<p>The early days of the nineteenth century were overshadowed -by a storm-cloud which burst with sudden -fury and dispersed almost as rapidly, giving place to -a short-lived peace followed by twelve years of incessant -tempest. So far back as 1780 Russia, Sweden and -Denmark had entered into a league of Armed Neutrality -by which, in the terse summing-up of Laughton, they -had “bound themselves to resist the right of ‘visit -and search’ claimed by the belligerents, and to enforce -the acceptance of certain principles of so-called international -law; among others, the security of a belligerent’s -property under a neutral flag,—‘a free ship -makes free goods’; that a blockade to be binding -must be maintained by an adequate force; and that -‘contraband of war’ must be distinctly defined beforehand. -As these principles, if admitted by England, -amounted to the import by France of naval stores,—masts, -hemp, tar—from the Baltic, to be paid for -by French exports, the English Government was -resolved to contest them.” From 1793 to 1800 Sweden -and Denmark were neutral, but Great Britain, secure<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164">164</a></span> -in her maritime supremacy, had continued to search -merchant-ships, whether convoyed by a vessel of war -or not. Matters were brought to a crisis by the capture -of the Danish frigate <i>Freya</i> on the 25th July 1800, and -the subsequent passage of the Sound by a British -squadron. At the moment Denmark was not prepared -for hostilities, and entered into a convention -with Great Britain, which admitted the right of search.</p> - -<p>When, a little later, the half-crazy Czar, Paul I., -dissatisfied with England as an ally, and led on by -specious promises on the part of Napoleon, definitely -renewed the League, the two Baltic Powers willingly -joined him. He laid an embargo on all British ships -in Russian ports, and generally showed that it was a -case of “off with the old love and on with the new.”</p> - -<p>It was thought in England that negotiations, backed -by a strong fleet, would be sufficient to sever Denmark -from the alliance. With this object in view fifteen -sail-of-the-line<a id="FNanchor_52" href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">52</a> having a considerable number of soldiers -on board for use if necessary, and attended by a collection -of smaller vessels, sailed early in March. When -Nelson heard of Sir Hyde Parker’s appointment as -Commander-in-chief, he was no more pleased than -when Keith had returned to his former station in the -previous year, but he wisely smothered his disappointment. -His “sole object,” he informs Lord St Vincent, -“and to which all my exertions and abilities tend, is -to bring this long war to an honourable termination; -to accomplish which, we must all pull in the collar, -and, as we have got such a driver who will make the -lazy ones pull as much as the willing, I doubt not but -we shall get safely, speedily, and honourably to our -journey’s end.” This is Nelson at his best, the Nelson -who could sacrifice himself for King and Country. It -was not until the 17th February that he received -definite instructions to “put himself under the command” -of Parker. Shortly afterwards he changed -his ship for the <i>St George</i> (98). “The <i>St George</i> will<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165">165</a></span> -stamp an additional ray of glory to England’s fame, -if Nelson survives;” he writes to Lady Hamilton, “and -that Almighty Providence, who has hitherto protected -me in all dangers, and covered my head in the day of -battle, will still, if it be his pleasure, support and assist -me.” To his old friend Berry he says, “I hope we -shall be able as usual to get so close to our Enemies -that our shot cannot miss their object, and that we -shall again give our Northern Enemies that hail-storm -of bullets which is so emphatically described in the -‘Naval Chronicle,’ and which gives our dear Country -the Dominion of the Seas. We have it, and all the -Devils in Hell cannot take it from us, if our Wooden -walls have fair play.” As this letter was penned on -the 9th March, before the armament left Yarmouth, -it is clear that the Admiral did not set much store -by the proposed negotiations, for which purpose Mr -Vansittart,<a id="FNanchor_53" href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">53</a> reputed to be a skilful diplomatist, sailed -with the fleet when it weighed anchor three days later.</p> - -<p>The first general rendezvous was the Skaw, which -was made on the 19th. A period of heavy weather—bad -winds, sleet, snow, frost, and rain—had set in. -Believers in omens not unnaturally predicted the ill-success -of the expedition, which was intensified by the -loss of the <i>Invincible</i> (74) with some 400 souls. She -struck a sandbank, floated off into deep water, and -then went down. Nelson’s own ship was not in the -best of condition; she was both leaky and uncomfortable. -However, a vessel is but a means to an end, -and so long as the <i>St George</i> could float and her men -could fire a broadside Nelson was content. In his -eager, passionate way, the Admiral strongly disapproved -of what he had been able to ascertain of Parker’s plans: -“honour may arise from them, good cannot. I hear -we are likely to anchor outside Cronenburg Castle, -instead of Copenhagen, which would give weight to -our negotiation: a Danish Minister would think twice -before he would put his name to war with England,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166">166</a></span> -when the next moment he would probably see his -Master’s Fleet in flames, and his Capital in ruins; but -‘out of sight out of mind,’ is an old saying. The Dane -should see our Flag waving every moment he lifted -up his head.”</p> - -<p>A council of war was held on the 23rd. On the -following day Nelson wrote a lengthy letter to the -Commander-in-chief detailing his opinion of what -should be done, Vansittart’s latest report being to the -effect that the Danish Government was hostile “in the -greatest possible degree.” He urged that not a moment -should be lost in attacking the enemy. He brings all -the persuasiveness of which he was capable to bear on -Parker. “Here you are,” he says, “with almost the -safety, certainly with the honour of England more -intrusted to you, than ever yet fell to the lot of any -British Officer.” This is exaggerating somewhat, but -doubtless the writer felt deeply the urgency of the -matter. “On your decision depends,” he adds with -nearer approach to truth, “whether our Country shall -be degraded in the eyes of Europe, or whether she -shall rear her head higher than ever: again do I repeat, -never did our Country depend so much on the success -of any Fleet as on this.” He then proceeds to sketch -a plan of campaign, starting with the supposition that -the fleet enters by the Passage of the Sound. He -allows for a certain amount of damage “amongst our -masts and yards” taking place before Cronenburg -is reached. There the ships and Crown Island are -attacked, “Ships crippled, and perhaps one or two -lost.” This mode Nelson calls “taking the bull by -the horns,” and does not prevent the ships from Revel, -or the Swedish squadron, from joining their allies. -He therefore proposes passing Cronenburg, “taking the -risk of damage,” to “pass up the deepest and straightest -Channel above the Middle Grounds; and coming down -the Garbar or King’s Channel, to attack their Floating -batteries, &c., &c., as we find it convenient. It must -have the effect of preventing a junction between the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167">167</a></span> -Russians, Swedes, and Danes, and may give us an -opportunity of bombarding Copenhagen.” He also -suggests a passage to the northward of Southolm. An -alternative mode of attack is by the passage of the -Belt, an attack on Draco, thus preventing the junction -of the Russians, and “with every probability of success -against the Danish Floating batteries.” His concluding -words are in the true Nelson spirit: “Supposing us -through the Belt with the wind first westerly, would -it not be possible to either go with the Fleet, or detach -ten Ships of three and two decks, with one Bomb and -two Fire-Ships, to Revel, to destroy the Russian -Squadron at that place? I do not see the great risk -of such a detachment, and with the remainder to -attempt the business at Copenhagen. The measure -may be thought bold, but I am of opinion the boldest -measures are the safest; and our Country demands -a most vigorous exertion of her force, directed with -judgment.” Nelson concludes with the assurance that -“no exertion of head or heart” shall be wanting on -his part.</p> - -<p>The proposed terms were definitely refused by Denmark, -but Nelson’s “bold measure” of detaching part -of the British fleet to attack the Russian squadron -at Revel while the other attacked the Capital did -not appeal to the unimaginative Parker. Copenhagen -must first be overcome. The pilots also assured the -Commander-in-chief that the passage of the Belt was -the safest, which drew from Nelson the abrupt but -thoroughly characteristic reply, “Let it be by the -Sound, by the Belt, or any how, only lose not an -hour!” Eventually the Sound was chosen.</p> - -<p>Having shifted his flag from the <i>St George</i> to the -<i>Elephant</i> (74), a more serviceable ship for the difficult -passage, the British fleet, in order of battle, slowly -threaded its way through the shoals on the 30th March, -Nelson commanding the van, Parker the centre, and -Graves the rear. The guns of Cronenburg Castle, -dominating the Sound, blazed away, as did those on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168">168</a></span> -the armed hulks with which the Danes had hoped to -defend the narrow channel, but the Swedish guns -maintained a stolid silence. The fleet then anchored -a few miles below Copenhagen. Parker, Nelson, and -several other officers boarded a lugger to reconnoitre -the enemy’s defences. Various soundings were made -to the accompaniment of gun-firing, and it was found -that the enemy had placed a formidable flotilla, including -two 70-gun ships, a frigate, and two dismasted 64-gun -ships, in the front of the harbour and arsenal. The -Trekroner Battery had also been strengthened. A -second council of war was held on the 31st, some interesting -particulars of which are furnished by Colonel -William Stewart, who was in command of some of the -troops. After some difficulties had been stated anent -“the three Powers we should either have to engage, in -succession or united, in those seas,” Stewart tells us -that “Lord Nelson kept pacing the cabin, mortified -at everything that savoured either of alarm or irresolution. -When the above remark was applied to the -Swedes, he sharply observed, ‘The more numerous -the better’; and when to the Russians, he repeatedly -said, ‘So much the better, I wish they were twice as -many, the easier the victory, depend on it.’”</p> - -<p>“At the battle of Copenhagen,” writes Mr Ferguson, -surgeon of the <i>Elephant</i>, “I was amongst the companions -of the hero. The attempt was arduous in -the extreme: no common mind would have dared to -conceive it; but it was suited to the exalted enterprise -of Lord Nelson. As <em>his</em> was the invigorating -spirit of the council that planned the attack, so in the -execution <em>he</em> only could have commanded success. -During the interval that preceded the battle, I could -only silently admire when I saw the first man in all the -world spend the hours of the day and night in boats, -amid floating ice, and in the severest weather; and -wonder when the light shewed me a path marked -by buoys, which had been trackless the preceding -evening.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169">169</a></span> -“On the first day of April, in the afternoon, we took -our departure with twelve sail-of-the-line, and a proportionate -number of smaller vessels, from the main -body of the fleet, then lying about four miles below -Copenhagen; and coasted along the outer edge of the -shoal called the middle ground, until we doubled its -farthest extremities, when the fleet cast anchor. This -shoal, of the same extent as the sea front of the town, -lies exactly before it, at about three-quarters of a mile -in distance; the interval between it and the shore had -deep water, and is called the King’s Channel.</p> - -<p>“In this channel the Danes had arranged their -defence, as near the town as possible. It consisted of -nineteen ships and floating batteries, flanked at the -town’s extremity by two artificial islands at the mouth -of the harbour, called the Crown batteries, and extending -for a mile along the whole front of the town, leaving -intervals for the batteries on shore to play.</p> - -<p>“As our anchor dropped at eight in the evening, -Nelson emphatically called out, ‘I will fight them -the moment I have a fair wind.’ He spent the whole -night in consultation.</p> - -<p>“About half-past nine a.m. of the 2nd of April, the -signals of the different ships having been made, repeated, -and answered, we had the mortification to see -the <i>Agamemnon</i> get upon the shoal on the first attempt -to leave her anchorage, where she remained immovable. -A similar misfortune followed in succession to the -<i>Russell</i> and <i>Polyphemus</i>; and in addition to all this, -the <i>Jamaica</i> frigate, with a convoy of gunboats and -the small craft having fallen in with the counter current, -and being unable to stem it, made the signal of inability -to proceed. A mind less invincible than Nelson’s -might have been discouraged: though the battle had -not commenced, yet he had approached the enemy; -and he felt that he could not retreat or wait for reinforcements, -without compromising the glory of his -country. The signal to bear down was still kept flying. -His agitation during these moments was extreme; I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170">170</a></span> -shall never forget the impression it made on me. It -was not, however, the agitation of indecision, but of -ardent animated patriotism, panting for glory, which -had appeared within his reach, and was vanishing from -his grasp.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171">171</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Battle of Copenhagen<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1801)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>I have a right to be blind sometimes.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap al"><span class="smcap1">Admiral Mahan</span>, the most scientific of biographical -historians, assures us that the fullest -and most interesting account of the Battle of -Copenhagen is that of Colonel William Stewart, an -eye-witness of the thrilling scene and “a very fine -gallant man” according to Nelson. The following -particulars are therefore extracted from his graphic -narrative:</p> - -<p>“The Action began at five minutes past ten. In -about half an hour afterwards, the first half of our Fleet -was engaged, and before half-past eleven, the Battle -became general. The <i>Elephant’s</i> station was in the -centre, opposite to the Danish Commodore.... The -judgment with which each Ship calculated her station -in that intricate Channel, was admirable throughout. -The failure of the three Ships that were aground, and -whose force was to have been opposed to the Trekroner -battery, left this day, as glorious for seamanship as for -courage, incomplete.... The gallant Riou, perceiving -the blank in the original plan for the attack of the -Crown Battery, proceeded down the Line with his -Squadron of Frigates, and attempted, but in vain, to -fulfil the duty of the absent Ships of the Line. His -force was unequal to it; and the general signal of recall, -which was made about mid-action by the Commander-<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172">172</a></span>in-Chief, -had the good effect of, at least, saving Riou’s -Squadron from destruction.</p> - -<p>“About one <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span>, few if any of the Enemy’s heavy -Ships and Praams had ceased to fire. The <i>Isis</i> had -greatly suffered by the superior weight of the <i>Provestein’s</i> -fire; and if it had not been for the judicious diversion -of it by the <i>Desirée</i>, Captain Inman, who raked her, and -for other assistance from the <i>Polyphemus</i>, the <i>Isis</i> would -have been destroyed. Both the <i>Isis</i> and <i>Bellona</i> had -received serious injury by the bursting of some of their -guns. The <i>Monarch</i> was also suffering severely under -the united fire of the <i>Holstein</i> and <i>Zealand</i>; and only -two of our Bomb-vessels could get to their station on -the Middle Ground, and open their mortars on the -Arsenal, directing their shells over both Fleets. Our -Squadron of Gun-brigs, impeded by currents, could not, -with the exception of one, although commanded by -Captain Rose in the <i>Jamaica</i>, weather the eastern end -of the Middle Ground, or come into Action. The Division -of the Commander-in-chief acted according to the -preconcerted plan; but could only menace the entrance -of the Harbour. The <i>Elephant</i> was warmly engaged by -the <i>Dannebrog</i>, and by two heavy Praams on her bow -and quarter. Signals of distress were on board the -<i>Bellona</i> and <i>Russell</i>, and of inability from the <i>Agamemnon</i>. -The contest, in general, although from the relaxed state -of the Enemy’s fire, it might not have given much room -for apprehension as to the result, had certainly, at one -<span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span>, not declared itself in favour of either side. About -this juncture, and in this posture of affairs, the signal -was thrown out on board the <i>London</i>,<a id="FNanchor_54" href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">54</a> for the Action -to cease.</p> - -<div id="ip_172" class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> - <img src="images/i_193.jpg" width="391" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>“I really do not see the signal”</p> - -<p class="notbold">Stephen Reid</p></div></div> - -<p>“Lord Nelson was at this time, as he had been during -the whole Action, walking the starboard side of the -quarter-deck; sometimes much animated, and at others -heroically fine in his observations. A shot through the -mainmast knocked a few splinters about us. He -observed to me, with a smile, ‘It is warm work, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173">173</a></span> -this day may be the last to any of us at a moment’; -and then stopping short at the gangway, he used an -expression never to be erased from my memory, and -said with emotion, ‘but mark you, I would not be -elsewhere for thousands.’ When the signal, No. 39, -[to discontinue the engagement], was made, the Signal -Lieutenant reported it to him. He continued his walk, -and did not appear to take notice of it. The Lieutenant -meeting his Lordship at the next turn asked, ‘whether -he should repeat it?’ Lord Nelson answered, ‘No, -acknowledge it.’ On the Officer returning to the poop, -his Lordship called after him, ‘Is No. 16 [for close -action] still hoisted?’ the Lieutenant answering in the -affirmative, Lord Nelson said, ‘Mind you keep it so.’ -He now walked the deck considerably agitated, which -was always known by his moving the stump of his right -arm. After a turn or two, he said to me, in a quick -manner, ‘Do you know what’s shown on board of the -Commander-in-chief, No. 39?’ On asking him what -that meant, he answered, ‘Why, to leave off Action.’ -‘Leave off Action!’ he repeated, and then added, -with a shrug, ‘Now, —— me if I do.’ He also observed, -I believe, to Captain Foley, ‘You know, Foley, I have -only one eye—I have a right to be blind sometimes’; -and then with an archness peculiar to his character, -putting the glass to his blind eye, he exclaimed, ‘I -really do not see the signal.’<a id="FNanchor_55" href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">55</a> This remarkable signal -was, therefore, only acknowledged on board the <i>Elephant</i>, -not repeated. Admiral Graves did the latter, not being -able to distinguish the <i>Elephant’s</i> conduct: either by a -fortunate accident, or intentionally, No. 16 was not -displaced. The Squadron of Frigates obeyed the -signal, and hauled off. That brave Officer, Captain -Riou, was killed by a raking shot, when the <i>Amazon</i> -showed her stern to the Trekroner. He was sitting<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174">174</a></span> -on a gun, was encouraging his men, and had been -wounded in the head by a splinter. He had expressed -himself grieved at being thus obliged to retreat, and -nobly observed, ‘What will Nelson think of us?’ -His Clerk was killed by his side; and by another shot, -several of the Marines, while hauling on the main-brace, -shared the same fate. Riou then exclaimed, ‘Come -then, my boys, let us die all together!’ The words were -scarcely uttered, when the fatal shot severed him in -two. Thus, and in an instant, was the British service -deprived of one of its greatest ornaments, and society -of a character of singular worth, resembling the heroes -of romance.</p> - -<p>“The Action now continued with unabated vigour. -About two <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span>, the greater part of the Danish Line -had ceased to fire: some of the lighter Ships were adrift, -and the carnage on board of the Enemy, who reinforced -their crews from the Shore, was dreadful. The taking -possession of such Ships as had struck, was, however, -attended with difficulty; partly by reason of the -batteries on Amak Island protecting them, and partly -because an irregular fire was made on our Boats, as -they approached, from the Ships themselves. The -<i>Dannebrog</i> acted in this manner, and fired at our boat, -although that Ship was not only on fire and had struck, -but the Commodore, Fischer, had removed his Pendant, -and had deserted her. A renewed attack on her by -the <i>Elephant</i> and <i>Glatton</i>, for a quarter of an hour, not -only completely silenced and disabled the <i>Dannebrog</i>, -but, by the use of grape, nearly killed every man who was -in the Praams, ahead and astern of that unfortunate -Ship. On our smoke clearing away, the <i>Dannebrog</i> -was found to be drifting in flames before the wind, -spreading terror throughout the Enemy’s Line. The -usual lamentable scene then ensued; and our Boats -rowed in every direction, to save the crew, who were -throwing themselves from her at every port-hole; few, -however, were left unwounded in her after our last -broadsides, or could be saved. She drifted to leeward,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175">175</a></span> -and about half-past three blew up. The time of half-past -two, brings me to a most important part of Lord -Nelson’s conduct on this day, and about which so much -discussion has arisen: his sending a Flag of Truce on -shore. To the best of my recollection, the facts were as -follow. After the <i>Dannebrog</i> was adrift, and had -ceased to fire, the Action was found to be over, along -the whole of the Line astern of us; but not so with the -Ships ahead and with the Crown batteries. Whether -from ignorance of the custom of war, or from confusion -on board the Prizes, our Boats were, as before mentioned, -repulsed from the Ships themselves, or fired at from -Amak Island. Lord Nelson naturally lost temper at -this, and observed, ‘That he must either send on shore, -and stop this irregular proceeding, or send in our Fire-ships -and burn them.’ He accordingly retired into the -stern gallery, and wrote, with great dispatch, that well-known -Letter addressed to the Crown Prince,<a id="FNanchor_56" href="#Footnote_56" class="fnanchor">56</a> with the -address, ‘To the Brothers of Englishmen, the brave -Danes, &c.’:<a id="FNanchor_57" href="#Footnote_57" class="fnanchor">57</a> and this Letter was conveyed on shore -through the contending Fleets by Captain Sir Frederick -Thesiger, who acted as his Lordship’s Aid-de-camp; and -found the Prince near the Sally-port, animating his -people in a spirited manner.</p> - -<p>“Whether we were actually firing at that time in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176">176</a></span> -<i>Elephant</i> or not, I am unable to recollect; it could only -have been partially, at such of the farther Ships as had -not struck. The three Ships ahead of us were, however, -engaged; and from the superiority of the force opposed -to them, it was by no means improbable that Lord -Nelson’s observing eye pointed out to him the expediency -of a prudent conduct. Whether this suggested to him -the policy of a Flag of Truce or not, two solid reasons -were apparent, and were such as to justify the measure: -viz., the necessity of stopping the irregular fire from the -Ships which had surrendered—and the singular opportunity -that was thus given, of sounding the feelings of -an Enemy, who had reluctantly entered into the war, -and who must feel the generosity of the first offer of -amity coming from a conquering foe. If there were a -third reason for the conduct of the noble Admiral, and -some of his own Officers assert this, it was unnecessary -that it should have been expressed; it was certainly not -avowed, and will for ever remain a matter of conjecture.<a id="FNanchor_58" href="#Footnote_58" class="fnanchor">58</a> -While the Boat was absent, the animated fire -of the Ships ahead of us, and the approach of two of -the Commander-in-chief’s division, the <i>Ramilies</i> and -<i>Defence</i>, caused the remainder of the Enemy’s Line to -the eastward of the Trekroner to strike: that formidable -Work continued its fire, but fortunately at too long -a range to do serious damage to any one except the -<i>Monarch</i>, whose loss in men, this day, exceeded that of -any Line-of-Battle Ship during the war. From the -uninjured state of this Outwork, which had been manned -at the close of the Action with nearly 1500 men, it was -deemed impracticable to carry into execution the projected -plan for storming it; the Boats for this service -had been on the starboard side of each Ship during the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177">177</a></span> -Action. The firing from the Crown Battery and from -our leading Ships did not cease until past three o’clock, -when the Danish Adjutant-General, Lindholm, returning -with a Flag of Truce, directed the fire of the battery -to be suspended. The signal for doing the same, on -our part, was then made from our Ship to those engaged. -The Action closed after five hours’ duration, four of -which were warmly contested.</p> - -<p>“The answer from the Prince Regent was to inquire -more minutely into the purport of the message. I -should here observe, that previous to the Boat’s getting -on board, Lord Nelson had taken the opinion of his -valuable friends, Fremantle and Foley, the former of -whom had been sent for from the <i>Ganges</i>, as to the -practicability of advancing with the Ships which were -least damaged, upon that part of the Danish Line of -Defence yet uninjured. Their opinions were averse -from it; and, on the other hand, decided in favour of -removing our Fleet, whilst the wind yet held fair, from -their present intricate Channel. Lord Nelson was now -prepared how to act when Mr Lindholm came on board, -and the following answer was returned to the Crown -Prince by Captain Sir Frederick Thesiger: ‘Lord -Nelson’s object in sending the Flag of Truce was -humanity’; etc.<a id="FNanchor_59" href="#Footnote_59" class="fnanchor">59</a> His Lordship, having finished this -letter, referred the Adjutant-General to the Commander-in-chief, -who was at anchor at least four miles off, for -a conference on the important points which the latter -portion of the message had alluded to; and to this -General Lindholm did not object, but proceeded to the -<i>London</i>. Lord Nelson wisely foresaw, that, exclusive -of the valuable opportunity that now offered itself -for a renewal of Peace, time would be gained by this -long row out to sea, for our leading Ships, which were -much crippled, to clear the shoals, and whose course -was under the immediate fire of the Trekroner. The -Adjutant-General was no sooner gone to the <i>London</i>, -and Captain Thesiger despatched on shore than the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178">178</a></span> -signal was made for the <i>Glatton</i>, <i>Elephant</i>, <i>Ganges</i>, -<i>Defiance</i>, and <i>Monarch</i>, to weigh in succession. The -intricacy of the Channel now showed the great utility -of what had been done; the <i>Monarch</i>, as first Ship, -immediately hit on a shoal, but was pushed over it by -the <i>Ganges</i> taking her amid-ships. The <i>Glatton</i> went -clear, but the <i>Defiance</i> and <i>Elephant</i> ran aground, leaving -the Crown Battery at a mile distance; and there they -remained fixed, the former until ten o’clock that night, -and the latter until night, notwithstanding every exertion -which their fatigued crews could make to relieve -them. Had there been no cessation of hostilities, their -situation would certainly have been perilous; but it -should be observed, on the other hand, that measures -would in that case have been adopted, and they were -within our power, for destroying this formidable Work.</p> - -<p>“The <i>Elephant</i> being aground, Lord Nelson followed -the Adjutant-General, about four o’clock, to the <i>London</i>, -where that negotiation first began, which terminated in -an honourable Peace. He was low in spirits at the -surrounding scene of devastation, and particularly felt -for the blowing up of the <i>Dannebrog</i>. ‘Well!’ he exclaimed, -‘I have fought contrary to orders, and I shall -perhaps be hanged: never mind, let them.’ Lindholm -returned to Copenhagen the same evening, when it was -agreed that all Prizes should be surrendered, and the -suspension of hostilities continue for twenty-four hours; -the whole of the Danish wounded were to be received -on shore. Lord Nelson then repaired on board the <i>St -George</i>, and the night was actively passed by the Boats -of the Division which had not been engaged, in getting -afloat the Ships that were ashore, and in bringing out -the Prizes. The <i>Desirée</i> frigate, towards the close of -the Action, going to the aid of the <i>Bellona</i>, became fast -on the same shoal; but neither these Ships, nor the -<i>Russell</i>, were in any danger from the Enemy’s batteries, -as the world has frequently since been led to suppose.”</p> - -<p>In sending a copy of Nelson’s Report to the Admiralty, -Sir Hyde Parker paid a worthy tribute to the conduct<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179">179</a></span> -of his second-in-command and of his “entire acquiescence -and testimony of the bravery and intrepidity with -which the Action was supported throughout the Line. -Was it possible,” he continues, “for me to add anything -to the well-earned renown of Lord Nelson, it would -be by asserting, that his exertions, great as they have -heretofore been, never were carried to a higher pitch -of zeal for his Country’s service.</p> - -<p>“I have only to lament that the sort of attack, -confined within an intricate and narrow passage, excluded -the Ships particularly under my command from -the opportunity of exhibiting their valour; but I can -with great truth assert, that the same spirit and zeal -animated the whole of the Fleet; and I trust that -the contest in which we were engaged, will on some -future day afford them an occasion of showing that -the whole were inspired with the same spirit, had the -field been sufficiently extensive to have brought it into -action.”</p> - -<p>Sentiments so ably expressed are delightful reading. -Nelson, if less dignified in his language, never failed to -show his warm appreciation of those who worked under -him. Caring little for literary form, he invariably -blurted out the naked truth. His despatches were -marked by the same forcible characteristics exhibited -in his conduct when engaging the enemy. “The spirit -and zeal of the Navy,” he tells a correspondent who -had congratulated him on the victory, “I never saw -higher than in this Fleet, and if England is true to herself, -she may bid defiance to Europe. The French have -always, in ridicule, called us a Nation of shopkeepers—<em>so</em>, -I hope, we shall always remain, and, like other shopkeepers, -if our goods are better than those of any other -Country, and we can afford to sell them cheaper, we -must depend on our shop being well resorted to.”</p> - -<p>An armistice for a term of fourteen weeks was agreed -upon on the 9th April 1801. This period would allow -Nelson to settle with the Russian fleet and return to -Copenhagen, as he himself bluntly admitted during the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180">180</a></span> -negotiations. Unused to such “straight talk” in diplomatic -overtures, one of the Danish Commissioners began -to speak of a renewal of hostilities. It merely added -fuel to Nelson’s fire, and drew from him the comment, -made to one of his friends who was standing near, -“Renew hostilities! Tell him we are ready at a moment; -ready to bombard this very night.” The remark was -quite sufficient to silence the man who talked thus -lightly of war.</p> - -<p>An opportunity to teach the Russians a lesson did not -come in Nelson’s way. Scarcely more than a week -passed from the time the signatures had dried on the -parchment when to Parker was sent news of the murder of -Paul I. With the death of the monarch Russian policy -underwent a complete change so far as Great Britain -was concerned. The castles in the air for the overthrow -of the British rule in India, which the Czar and Napoleon -had hoped to place on solid foundations, melted away -as mist before the sun. Paul’s successor, Alexander I., -knowing full well the enormous importance of the -British market for Russian goods, lost no time in coming -to terms with England. Shortly afterwards Sweden, -Denmark, and Prussia followed his example. The -much-boasted Maritime Confederacy was quietly relegated -to the limbo of defeated schemes for the downfall -of the great Sea Power.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Sir Hyde Parker had been recalled from the -Baltic, and had placed his command in the hands of -Nelson on the 5th May. The latter proceeded from -Kiöge Bay, his station since the birth of amicable -arrangements with the Danes, to Revel, where he hoped -to meet the Russian squadron he had been so anxious -to annihilate before the battle of Copenhagen.</p> - -<p>“My object was to get to Revel before the frost broke -up at Cronstadt, that the twelve Sail of the Line might -be destroyed,” he writes to Addington, Pitt’s successor -as Prime Minister, on the 5th May. “I shall now go -there as a friend, but the two Fleets shall not form a -junction, if not already accomplished, unless my orders<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181">181</a></span> -permit it.” “My little trip into the Gulf of Finland,” -he tells Lord St Vincent, “will be, I trust, of National -benefit, and I shall be kind or otherwise, as I find the -folks.” Revel harbour was bare when he entered it, -the squadron having sailed for Cronstadt a few days -before. However, on the 17th May, he was able to inform -Vansittart, “I left Revel this morning where -everybody has been kind to us.” He eventually returned -to Kiöge Bay, where he remained until he was relieved -at his own request owing to ill-health. “I have been -even at <em>Death’s</em> door, apparently in a consumption,” -he tells Ball, probably with a touch of exaggeration. -On the 19th June he set sail in a brig for home, arriving -at Yarmouth on the first day of the following month. -His last act before he quitted the fleet was to congratulate -the men on the work they had accomplished; his first -act when he stepped on shore was to visit the hospitals -to which the wounded had been conveyed after the battle -of Copenhagen. As for his own reward, the King had -seen fit to create him Viscount Nelson of the Nile and -Burnham Thorpe.</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="iq">“<i>Let us think of them that sleep</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Full many a fathom deep</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>By thy wild and stormy deep</i><br /></span> -<span class="i16"><i>Elsinore!</i>”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182">182</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Threatened Invasion of England<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1801)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>Our Country looks to its Sea defence, and let it not be disappointed.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">However</span> much Nelson may have appreciated -the visits to London, Box Hill, and Staines, -which he now made in the company of Sir -William and Lady Hamilton, it was soon evident that -his stay on shore would be short. No home ties were -severed when he was appointed to a special service -on the 24th July 1801, for he had finally separated -from his wife six months before. It was a mistaken -match in every way. Although it is often said that -people of opposite temperaments make the best partners -in marriage, it certainly was not so in the case of Nelson -and Mrs Nisbet. Some of the reasons for the unhappiness -of both have been given in a previous chapter, -the prime cause was Lady Hamilton, for whom Nelson -continued to entertain a mad infatuation until the -day he died. Quite naturally and legitimately Lady -Nelson resented the conduct of her husband. Any -woman would have done the same. Angry words -were spoken on both sides, leading to the final and -irrevocable breach, but it is characteristic of Nelson’s -generous nature that on their last interview he said: -“I call God to witness there is nothing in you or your -conduct I wish otherwise.” He was no less generous -in the allowance which he made to her.</p> - -<p>For some months Napoleon had been intent on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183">183</a></span> -building of a flotilla for the invasion of England. All -manner of wild rumours had spread throughout the -country as to the imminent peril of the United Kingdom, -but we now know that the First Consul’s scheme was -comparatively insignificant when compared to his -enormous ship-building programme of 1803–5 for the -same purpose.<a id="FNanchor_60" href="#Footnote_60" class="fnanchor">60</a> Indeed, a month before Lord St Vincent, -then First Lord of the Admiralty, communicated to -Admiral Lutwidge, the Commander-in-chief in the -Downs, that his command would be impinged upon to -some extent by Nelson’s new post, and that the enemy’s -preparations were “beginning to wear a very serious -appearance,” Napoleon had already postponed his -plan. This is made abundantly clear by the First -Consul’s order of the 23rd June to Augereau, in command -of the Army of Batavia: “You will receive -instructions for the formation at Flushing of five -divisions of gunboats, which, added to the sixteen -divisions in Channel ports, will impose on England.” -Napoleon perfectly understood that the moment for -“leaping the ditch” had not yet arrived. Of the -Navy proper at the beginning of 1801 Great Britain -had no fewer than 127 sail-of-the-line in commission; -France had forty-nine, many in an almost unseaworthy -condition. The Admiralty was not to know of the -letter to Augereau or of the exact state of the French -marine. Boulogne, Calais, and Dunkirk, the ports -of concentration, sheltered some 150 boats of various -descriptions for the purpose of the projected expedition, -and England could afford to run no risks.</p> - -<p>Nelson’s command extended from Orfordness, in -Suffolk, to Beachy Head, in Sussex. The specific -purpose of his squadron was to defend the mouths of -the Thames and Medway, and of the coasts of Sussex, -Kent, and Essex. He speedily grasped the situation, -and surmising that London <em>ought</em> to be the enemy’s -object, informed the Admiralty that not only should<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184">184</a></span> -“A great number of Deal and Dover Boats” be available -off Boulogne to “give notice of the direction -taken by the enemy,” but that gunboats and flat boats -should be kept near Margate and Ramsgate, -between Orfordness and the North Foreland, and in -Hollesley Bay, these to be aided by floating batteries. -“If it is calm when the Enemy row out, all our Vessels -and Boats appointed to watch them, must get into the -Channel, and meet them as soon as possible: if not -strong enough for the attack, they must watch, and -keep them company till a favourable opportunity -offers. If a breeze springs up,” he goes on, “our Ships -are to deal <em>destruction</em>; no delicacy can be observed -on this great occasion. But should it remain calm, -and our Flotilla not fancy itself strong enough to attack -the Enemy on their passage, the moment that they -begin to touch our shore, strong or weak, our Flotilla -of Boats must attack as much of the Enemy’s Flotilla -as they are able—say only one half or two-thirds; it -will create a most powerful diversion, for the bows of -our Flotilla will be opposed to their unarmed sterns, -and the courage of Britons will never, I believe, allow -one Frenchman to leave the Beach.” When the enemy -comes in sight the various divisions of the flotilla “are -to unite, but not intermix.” “<em>Never fear the event.</em>” -These notions, embodied in a lengthy Memorandum -to the Admiralty, are remarkable because Nelson -prophesies “a powerful diversion by the sailing of the -Combined Fleet,” a plan developed by Napoleon in the -later phase of his gigantic preparations for the invasion -of our country. Whatever may have been in his mind -in 1801 regarding this scheme he certainly did not -confide to any of his admirals or military commanders.</p> - -<p>Nelson hoisted his flag on the <i>Unité</i> frigate at Sheerness -on the 27th July. Additional evidence of the -humorous turn of his mind is afforded in a note bearing -the same date addressed to Lady Hamilton. “To-day,” -he writes, “I dined with Admiral Græme, who has -also lost his right arm, and as the Commander of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185">185</a></span> -Troops has lost his leg, I expect we shall be caricatured -as the <em>lame</em> defenders of England.” Most people who -have the misfortune to lose a limb are inclined to resent -any reference to the fact on the part of another and -to rigidly ignore the misfortune in their own remarks, -but Nelson rather gloried in his dismembered state -than otherwise. It was visible proof of his service to -his country.</p> - -<p>Lord St Vincent did not altogether agree with Nelson’s -plans. In his opinion, “Our great reliance is on the -vigilance and activity of our cruisers at sea.” When -Nelson urged upon the Sea Fencibles<a id="FNanchor_61" href="#Footnote_61" class="fnanchor">61</a> to man the coast-defence -vessels he was speedily disillusioned. Of the -2600 men enrolled on that part of the coast under his -jurisdiction only 385 offered themselves for active -service. However, he determined to do his best with -the raw material at hand, and went so far as to tell -the First Lord of the Admiralty that: “Our force will, -by your great exertions, soon get so formidable, that -the Enemy will hardly venture out.” A week after -he had assumed command, he says: “It is perfectly -right to be prepared against a mad Government; but -with the active force your Lordship has given me, -I may pronounce it almost impracticable.”</p> - -<p>On the 2nd August Nelson was off the coast of France, -“looking at Boulogne,” and observed the soldiers -erecting guns and mortars “as if fearful of an attack.” -Forty-eight hours later a number of bomb-vessels were -anchored abreast of the port, and the shipping was -fired on without much loss on either side, although -several French gunboats were destroyed. He himself -admitted: “The whole of this business is of no further -moment than to show the Enemy, that, with impunity, -they cannot come outside their Ports. I see nothing -but a desire on the part of our Officers and men to get -at them.” A vast crowd of people collected on the -cliffs at Dover and watched the spectacle. The <i>Moniteur</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186">186</a></span> -the official organ of the French Government, reported -the occurrence as follows:</p> - -<p>“At dawn Nelson with thirty vessels of all sizes -appeared before Boulogne. A division of our flotilla -was at anchor slightly in front of the harbour. Their -bomb-ketches opened fire and ours returned it. Several -times the enemy’s line tried to advance and our soldiers -asked to be allowed to board, but the flotilla’s fire -prevented the forward movement and ultimately compelled -the enemy to retire. Nine hundred bombs were -fired during the day without killing or wounding any -one. Two gun-sloops were slightly damaged but returned -to service without loss of time.... This is -the first fight in sight of <em>both</em> shores.” Nelson reported -that three of the flat-bottom boats and a brig were sunk, -and that six went on shore “evidently much damaged,” -of which five were eventually salved. A captain of -the Royal Artillery and three British seamen were -wounded.</p> - -<p>Having had the opportunity to see the preparations -of the enemy Nelson was inclined to believe that -Napoleon really meant business. “There can be no -doubt of the intention of the French to attempt the -Invasion of our Country,” he tells four of the captains -under his command. “I have now more than ever -reason to believe,” he confides to Lord St Vincent, -“that the Ports of Flushing and Flanders are much -more likely places to embark men from, than Calais, -Boulogne, or Dieppe; for in Flanders we cannot tell -by our eyes what means they have collected for carrying -an Army.” “My Flotilla, I hope, will be finished -by Wednesday,” he writes to the worthy Sea Lord, -under date of the 7th August, “and I am vain enough -to expect a great deal of mischief to the Enemy from -it. I am sure that the French are trying to get from -Boulogne; yet the least wind at W.N.W. and they -are lost. I pronounce that no embarkation can take -place at Boulogne; whenever it comes forth, it will be -from Flanders, and what a forlorn undertaking! consider<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187">187</a></span> -cross tides, etc., etc. As for rowing, that is -impossible.” This communication was shortly followed -by another: “We are so prepared at this moment, on -the Enemy’s Coasts, that I do not believe they could -get three miles from their own shore.” Again, “Our -active force is perfect, and possesses so much zeal, -that I only wish to catch that Buonaparte on the water, -either with the <i>Amazon</i> or <i>Medusa</i>; but himself he -will never trust.” The Admiral was far from enjoying -his new post. He was “half sea-sick,” and his one -desire was “to get at a proper time clear of my present -command, in which I am sure of diminishing my little -fortune, which at this moment does not reach 10,000 <i>l.</i>; -and never had I an idea of gaining money by accepting -it.” It would be wrong to infer from this isolated -passage that Nelson was particularly fond of money. -He was not, and the present writer is convinced that -whenever he grumbled about financial matters he -thought considerably more of justice than lucre. He -could not bear to think he was being “done.” In the -present instance it is clear that he found his command -trivial and unprofitable from a national point of view. -Nelson was essentially the man for a big theatre of -action; if he did not actually despise a confined stage -he hated it as paltry and beneath him. He gloried -in a battle, not in a sham-fight; as he himself complained, -“there is nothing to be done on the great -Scale.” He appeals pathetically to Lord St Vincent -in the letter from which the above extract is taken: -“Do you still think of sending me to the Mediterranean? -If not, I am ready to go, for the spur of the occasion, -on the Expedition which is in embryo, but to return -the moment it is over, for I am afraid of my strength. -I am always ready, as far as I am able.” “As far as -September 14th, I am at the Admiralty’s disposal;” -he tells Lady Hamilton, “but, if Mr Buonaparte does -not choose to send his miscreants before that time, my -health will not bear me through equinoctial gales.” -The Admiral is just a little uncertain as to the fate of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188">188</a></span> -Napoleon’s flotilla. “I do not believe they could get -three miles from their own shore,” he says on the 9th -August; on the 10th his “well-grounded hope” is -that the enemy will be “annihilated before they get -ten miles from their own shores.”</p> - -<p>Nelson considered Flushing as his “grand object” -of attack, but hesitated to venture before consulting -the Admiralty because “the risk is so great of the -loss of some Vessels.” It would be “a week’s Expedition -for 4000 or 5000 troops.” To aid his own arguments -he appeals to history: “To crush the Enemy -at home was the favourite plan of Lord Chatham, and -I am sure you think it the wisest measure to carry the -war from our own doors.... I own, my dear Lord, -that this Boat warfare is not exactly congenial to my -feelings, and I find I get laughed at for my puny mode -of attack. I shall be happy to lead the way into Helvoet -or Flushing, if Government will turn their thoughts -to it: whilst I serve, I will do it actively, and to the -very best of my abilities. I have all night had a fever, -which is very little abated this morning; my mind -carries me beyond my strength, and will do me up; -but such is my nature. I have serious doubt whether -I shall be able, from my present feelings, to go to the -Mediterranean; but I will do what I can—I require -nursing like a child. Pray God we may have peace, -and with honour, and then let us start fair with the -rest of Europe.” To other correspondents he says, -“I am very much fagged”; “I am still very unwell, -and my head is swelled.”</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the weighty arguments brought -forward by Nelson to support his projected attempt -on Flushing, the Lords of the Admiralty could not see -their way to grant the requisite permission. Nelson -was so confident in his belief that he appealed to the -Prime Minister. “Lord St Vincent,” he writes, “tells -me he hates Councils, so do I between Military men; -for if a man consults whether he is to fight, when he -has the power in his own hands, <em>it is certain that his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189">189</a></span> -opinion is against fighting</em>; but that is not the case at -present, and I own I do want good council. Lord -St Vincent is for keeping the Enemy closely blockaded; -but I see that they get along shore inside their Sandbanks, -and under their guns, which line the Coast of -France. Lord Hood is for keeping our Squadrons of -Defence stationary on our own shore, (except light -Cutters, to give information of every movement of the -Enemy;) for the time is approaching when a gale of -westerly wind will disperse our light Squadrons.... -When men of such good sense, such great Sea Officers, -differ so widely, is it not natural that I should wish the -mode of defence to be well arranged by the mature -considerations of men of judgment? I mean not to -detract from my judgment; even as it is, it is well -known: but I boast of nothing but my zeal; in that -I will give way to no man upon earth.”</p> - -<p>On the night of the 15th August Nelson renewed -his attempt on the Boulogne flotilla. His plan of attack -shows that he took elaborate precautions to preclude -the possibility of failure. La Touche Tréville, in command -at Boulogne, had also profited by his recent -experience with the British, and had fitted out additional -bomb-ketches and placed mortars on smacks -for the purpose of defence. Nelson arranged that -four divisions of ships’ boats should be employed, -each accompanied by one or two flat boats armed with -either an 8-inch howitzer or a 24-pound carronade. -Two boats of each division were to be prepared for -cutting the enemy’s cable and sternfast and to be provided -with stout hook-ropes for the purpose of towing -the prizes. “When any Boats have taken one Vessel, -the business is not to be considered as finished; but a -sufficient number being left to guard the Prize, the others -are immediately to pursue the object, by proceeding -on to the next, and so on, until the whole Flotilla be -either taken, or totally annihilated; for there must -not be the smallest cessation until their destruction -is completely finished.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190">190</a></span> -Pikes, cutlasses, tomahawks, axes, and all the paraphernalia -of war were to be placed on the boats. Fast-sailing -cutters were to keep close in shore so as to be -ready to tow out any vessels which might be captured. -“The greatest silence is to be observed by all the people -in the Boats, and the oars to be muffled.” The watchword -was “Nelson,” the answer “Bronté.”</p> - -<p>The attack was a failure. The brave fellows found -the vessels not only full of soldiers but defended by -sharp spikes of iron and netting placed round the hulls -in a similar manner to the torpedo netting of modern -naval warfare. It was said by the attacking party -that the French boats were secured to the shore by -stout cables, a belief entertained by Nelson, but La -Touche Tréville indignantly denied the accusation in -his official report. The British seamen went into a -veritable halo of fire, the soldiers on the boats being -assisted by comrades stationed on the heights. It was -an unequal contest in every way, and when the second -division of boats, under Captain Parker, closed with -the enemy, it is stated that the French commander -plainly said so. “You can do nothing here,” he -shouted, “and it is only useless shedding the blood -of brave men to make the attempt.”<a id="FNanchor_62" href="#Footnote_62" class="fnanchor">62</a> Parker’s thigh -was shattered while attempting to board the French -Commodore’s boat, another officer was shot through the -leg, and the killed and wounded were numbered at 172. -Officially the French casualties were returned at ten -killed and thirty wounded, probably a low estimate. -“No person can be blamed for sending them to the -attack but myself;” the Commander-in-chief writes to -Lord St Vincent, “I knew the difficulty of the undertaking, -therefore I ventured to ask your opinion.” -He attributed the failure to the divisions not having -arrived “at the same happy moment with Captain -Parker.” “More determined, persevering courage, I -never witnessed.” “I long to pay them, for their -tricks t’other day,” he writes to Lady Hamilton, “the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191">191</a></span> -debt of a drubbing, which, surely, I’ll pay: but <em>when, -where, or how</em>, it is impossible, your own good sense -must tell you, for me or mortal man to say.”</p> - -<p>Nelson was deeply attached to Captain Parker, whom -he calls “my child, for I found him in distress.” His -correspondence at this time is replete with references -to the condition of the patient. “Would I could be -useful,” he tells the doctor, “I would come on shore and -nurse him.” When the gallant officer died at Deal -on the 28th September, the Admiral begged that his -friend’s hair might be cut off; “it shall remain and -be buried with me.” Again we see the wistful, woman-like -emotionalism of Nelson’s nature. He calls it “a -happy release,” and says in the same sentence, “but -I cannot bring myself to say I am glad he is gone; -it would be a lie, for I am grieved almost to death.” -When “the cleverest and quickest man and the most -zealous in the world” was buried at Deal, Nelson -attended the ceremony. It is recorded that the man -who could stare Death in the face without flinching, -who was “in perils oft” and enjoyed the experience, -was visibly affected. The Admiral’s grief was expressed -in a practical way. Finding that the deceased Captain -had left his finances in a most unsatisfactory condition -he paid the creditors in full.</p> - -<p>The war with France had lasted eight weary years. -Great Britain had more than maintained her own on -the sea; Napoleon had proved his consummate skill -in the manipulation of land forces. Overtures for -peace were mooted, then definitely made through -M. Otto, a French agent in London for the exchange -of prisoners. The cessation of hostilities became the -topic of the hour. After innumerable delays the -preliminaries were signed in London on the 1st October -1801, to the joy of the populace on both sides of the -Channel. Nelson was not convinced as to Napoleon’s -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">bonâ fides</i>. He loathed the French and took no pains -to disguise the fact. In writing to a friend a fortnight -or so before he received news of the event mentioned<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192">192</a></span> -above, he admits, “I pray God we may have Peace, -when it can be had with honour; but I fear that the -scoundrel Buonaparte wants to humble us, as he has -done the rest of Europe—to degrade us in our own eyes, -by making us give up all our conquests, as proof of -our sincerity for making a Peace, and then he will -condescend to treat with us.” The Admiral was not -far wrong, as subsequent events proved. In a letter -dated the 14th September, two days later than the -one from which the above quotation is made, he looks -forward “with hope but will not be too sanguine. I yet -hope the negotiation is not broken entirely off, for we -can never alter the situation of France or the Continent, -and ours will become a War of defence; but I hope -they will do for the best.” Three days after the -signature of the preliminaries of peace he warns the -commanders of the various squadrons that they are -to be “very vigilant in watching the Enemy, and, on -no account to suffer them to put into the Channel, as -hostilities have not yet ceased.” Napoleon confirmed -the treaty on the 5th October, the ratifications were -exchanged on the 10th,</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="iq">“<i>And London, tho’ so ill repaid,</i><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><i>Illuminations grand display’d</i>,”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p class="in0">as a poetaster sang in a contemporary periodical. Nelson -referred to it as “good news,” but received a note from -Addington warning him that his flag must be kept -flying until the Definitive Treaty had been signed.</p> - -<div id="ip_192" class="figcenter" style="width: 408px;"> - <img src="images/i_215.jpg" width="408" height="600" alt="" /> - <div class="caption">Lord Nelson</div></div> - -<p>When he heard that the mob had unharnessed the -horses and drawn the carriage of General Lauriston, -Napoleon’s first <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">aide-de-camp</i> who had brought the -document to London, the Admiral was furious. “Can -you cure madness?” he asks Dr Baird, “for I am mad -to read that ... scoundrels dragged a Frenchman’s -carriage. I am ashamed for my Country.” On the -14th October he formally asked the Admiralty to give -him permission to go on shore. He was then suffering -from “a complaint in my stomach and bowels,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193">193</a></span> -probably caused by sea-sickness and cold. This -request was not immediately complied with, but towards -the end of the month he was released, and wrote -to Lady Hamilton, “I believe I leave this little -Squadron with sincere regret, and with the good wishes -of every creature in it.” One wonders whether there -could be a more restless nature than Nelson’s, which -made him yearn for the land when at sea, and for the -sea when on land.</p> - -<p>He retired to Merton Place, a little estate in Surrey -and “exactly one hour’s drive from Hyde Park.” -This had been purchased on his behalf by Lady Hamilton, -who took up her quarters there with her husband. -The first mention of it in Nelson’s “Dispatches and -Letters,” as edited by Sir Harris Nicolas, is in a note -to his friend Alexander Davison of Morpeth, on the -last day of August 1801. “So far from making money, -I am spending the little I have,” he tells him. “I am -after buying a little Farm at Merton—the price £9000; -I hope to be able to get through it. If I cannot, after -all my labours for the Country, get such a place as -this, I am resolved to give it all up, and retire for life.” -In thanking Mr Davison for his offer of assistance -in purchasing “the Farm,” Nelson goes a little deeper -into the question of his personal expenditure. It will -“take every farthing I have in the world,” and leave -him in debt. “The Baltic expedition cost me full -£2000. Since I left London it has cost me, for Nelson -cannot be like others, near £1000 in six weeks. If I -am continued here (<i>i.e.</i> in the Downs) ruin to my -finances must be the consequence, for everybody knows -that Lord Nelson <em>is amazingly rich</em>!”</p> - -<p>The Admiral took his seat in the House of Lords -as a Viscount on the 29th October, and made his maiden -speech in the upper chamber on the following day. -Appropriately enough it was to second the motion -“That the Thanks of this House be given to Rear-Admiral -Sir James Saumarez, K.B., for his gallant and -distinguished conduct in the Action with the Combined<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194">194</a></span> -Fleet of the Enemy, off Algeziras, on the 12th and -13th of July last.” The battle was fought with a -French and Spanish squadron in the Gut of Gibraltar, -details of which were entered into by Nelson, doubtless -to the considerable enlightenment of the House. -During the following month he was also able to pay -a similar tribute to Keith and his officers for their -services in Egypt. With characteristic thoroughness -he also remarked on the part the Army had played in -the defeat of Napoleon’s expedition.</p> - -<p>He was feasted and feted for his own splendid work, -but he fell foul of the Corporation of the City of London, -because that body had seen fit to withhold its thanks -for the victory of Copenhagen, conduct which he deemed -“incomprehensible.” He certainly never forgave the -Government for refusing to grant medals for the same -battle. Nelson brought up the question before the -authorities with pugnacious persistence, and some of -the officers renewed their application over a quarter of -a century later, but the Copenhagen medal still remains -to be struck. “I am fixed never to abandon the fair -fame of my Companions in dangers,” he avers. “I -may offend and suffer; but I had rather suffer from -that, than my own feelings.” He fought for pensions -and appointments for all manner of officers and men, -watched the list of vacancies and appealed that they -might be filled by those who deserved well of their -country.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195">195</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Vigil off Toulon<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1803)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>I shall follow them to the Antipodes.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">For</span> over a year Nelson spent the greater part of -his time at Merton Place or at 23 Piccadilly, Sir -William Hamilton’s town house. Any monotony -there may have been was relieved by a tour -of beautiful Wales, made in the months of July and -August 1802, when Nelson’s spirits had recovered -somewhat from the news of his father’s death at Bath -on the 26th of the previous April. The old clergyman’s -distinguished son was ill at the time and did not attend -the last sad ceremony in the quiet churchyard of Burnham -Thorpe, where Nelson said he hoped his bones would -eventually be laid to rest, a wish never to be fulfilled. -His father, who called Merton “the Mansion of Peace,” -had entertained the idea of becoming “one of its inhabitants,” -and rooms had been prepared for him. -“Sir William and myself are both old men, and we will -witness the hero’s felicity in retirement.” Such was -his desire.</p> - -<p>On their journey to the Principality Nelson was -presented with the freedom of Oxford, and both Sir -William and the Admiral had the honorary degree of -Doctor of Laws conferred upon them by the University. -A visit was also paid to Blenheim, the ancestral seat of -the Dukes of Marlborough. Gloucester, Ross, Monmouth, -Brecon, Milford, Haverfordwest, Swansea,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196">196</a></span> -Worcester, Birmingham, Warwick and other provincial -cities and towns each accorded its distinguished visitor -a most enthusiastic welcome. He afterwards drew -up an elaborate report on the Forest of Dean for Mr -Addington’s inspection. Properly cultivated it would, -in Nelson’s opinion, “produce about 9200 loads of -timber, fit for building Ships-of-the-line, every year.” -Collingwood, it may be added, was also deeply interested -in afforestation. During the rare occasions he was on -shore he would walk about his estate and stealthily take -an acorn from his pocket and drop it in the earth for -later service in his Majesty’s Navy.</p> - -<p>On his return to Surrey Nelson vegetated. “I am -really so very little in the world,” he tells Davison in -October, “that I know little, if anything, beyond [what] -Newspaper reports say respecting our conduct on the -affairs of the Continent. It is true, I have seen Mr -Addington and Lord St Vincent several times; but our -conversations were like Swift’s and Lord Oxford’s. Yet -it was not difficult to discover, that <em>we</em> felt our importance -in the scale of Europe degraded, if Buonaparte was -allowed to act as he has lately done; and that it was -necessary for us to speak a dignified language.... By -the meeting of Parliament many things must come -forth.”</p> - -<p>The Hamilton-Nelson family forsook Merton for Piccadilly -at the beginning of 1803, and there Sir William -died on the 6th April, after having been tenderly nursed -by his wife and her more than intimate friend. It is -impossible to think that the Admiral had any heartfelt -sorrow when the former Ambassador breathed his last, -but his emotional nature led him to write the kindest -things of the dead man. “The world never, never -lost a more upright and accomplished gentleman” is -one of his expressions at the event.</p> - -<p>The Truce of Amiens, for it was nothing more, was -described by George III. as “an experimental peace.” -Neither side kept strictly to the letter of the Treaty. -Before the brilliant illuminations on both sides of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197">197</a></span> -Channel had been entirely forgotten statesmen began to -shake their heads and to prophecy the withdrawing of -the sword from the scabbard. Napoleon’s continued -aggressions on the Continent, his great colonial schemes, -his restless activity in matters which did not directly -concern him, his threat to invade England showed how -unreal were his wishes for a settled understanding. -Great Britain declared war on the 16th May 1803, thus -ending a peace which had lasted one year and sixteen -days. An embargo was immediately laid on French -ships and those of her allies in British ports or on the -sea; Napoleon had been forestalled, an unusual occurrence. -He had admitted to Decaen, who had been sent -to India to sum up the political situation and to ascertain -the number of troops necessary for the subjugation of -England’s oriental Empire, that he anticipated war -would not break out before September 1804. He was -annoyed, intensely annoyed, and ordered the seizure -of every Briton in France on the pretext that two -merchant vessels had been captured by English frigates -before the declaration of war. This was a gross misrepresentation -of facts; the ships mentioned were taken -on the 18th May, the day Nelson hoisted his flag on the -<i>Victory</i> at Portsmouth as Commander-in-chief of the -Mediterranean. Within forty-eight hours he was at sea. -His was a tremendous programme, and it is only possible -to give an epitome of it here. He was to proceed to -Malta, where he would probably find Rear-Admiral Sir -Richard Bickerton and his squadron, which were to -join him. After having made arrangements with Sir -Alexander Ball for the protection and security of the -island, Nelson was to take up such a position off Toulon -as would enable him to destroy the enemy’s vessels and -to detain those belonging to the allied Batavian Republic. -Particular attention was to be paid to the -proceedings of the French at Genoa, Leghorn, and other -ports of western Italy, “for the purpose of gaining the -most early information of any armaments that may be -formed there, either with a view to an attack upon<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198">198</a></span> -Egypt or any other port of the Turkish dominions, or -against the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, or the islands -of Corfu.” Should such a plan be in contemplation -Nelson was to do his best to counteract it, “as well as -to afford to the Sublime Porte, and his Sicilian Majesty -and their subjects, any protection or assistance which -may be in your power, consistently with a due attention -to the other important objects entrusted to your care.”</p> - -<p>There were good reasons for watching the conduct of -Spain, which purported to be a neutral. The Admiral -was therefore to watch for any sign of naval preparations -by that Power in the Mediterranean and at Cadiz. -No Spanish ships were to be allowed to form a junction -with those of France or Batavia. As certain French -sail-of-the-line recently employed in conveying troops to -San Domingo might attempt to make for a southern -port, Nelson was to detach part of his squadron to -intercept them.</p> - -<p>We must now turn our attention for a moment to the -other admirals who watched the movements of the -enemy’s squadrons, or guarded our shores. Cornwallis -was off Ushant, where he could mask the Brest fleet, -Keith was in the Downs, Lord Gardner was at Portsmouth, -Admiral George Montagu—shortly afterwards -succeeded by Admiral Sir John Colpoys—was at Plymouth. -Squadrons were detached from these fleets -to watch off such important harbours as Ferrol and -Rochefort, and also off the coast of Holland. The -British colonies were not neglected. “Floating bulwarks” -guarded them, for there was no knowing what -deep-laid manœuvres Napoleon might evolve when once -his super-active brain was bent on the problem of how -to checkmate England on her own native element.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Nelson had reached Ushant and was -searching for Cornwallis, with whom he was to leave the -<i>Victory</i>, should the former think an additional sail-of-the-line -necessary. As he did not find the Admiral he left -the ship, shifted his flag to the <i>Amphion</i> frigate, called -at Malta, and joined the fleet off Toulon on the 8th July.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199">199</a></span> -“With the casual absence of one or two ships, we shall -be always seven sail-of-the-line,” a none too formidable -force to watch the “goings on” in the great southern -arsenal, but he stuck to it with grim tenacity in fair -weather and foul. He soon found that to all appearances -from seven to nine French battle-ships and a -considerable number of frigates and corvettes were -sheltered in the harbour. Unfortunately Nelson’s -vessels were far from being in the best of condition; -several of them were scarcely water-tight. His correspondence -teems with reference to their bad state, -as, for instance: “It is not a store-ship a week which -could keep them in repair”; they had “crazy masts”; -“their hulls want docking”; “I never saw a fleet -altogether so well officered and manned. Would to -God the ships were half as good, but they are what we -call crazy”; “I do not believe that Lord St Vincent -would have kept the sea with such ships,” and so on.</p> - -<p>With the <em>personnel</em> of the fleet Nelson had little fault -to find, although he had occasion to issue a General -Memorandum respecting the desertion of certain seamen -or marines to the service of Spain. In his eyes nothing -could atone for such conduct: “A Briton to put himself -under the lash of a Frenchman or Spaniard must -be more degrading to any man of spirit than any punishment -I could inflict on their bodies.” With this exception -all was well. While “miserably short of men,” -he was able to declare, towards the end of September -1803: “We are at this moment the healthiest squadron -I ever served in, for the fact is we have no sick, and are -all in good humour,” moreover they were “in fine order -to give the French a dressing.” Again: “The squadron -has health beyond what I have almost ever seen, except -our going to the Nile; and I hope, if the French will give -us the opportunity, that our beef and pudding will be -as well applied.” No Admiral, before or since, has ever -paid more attention to the health and comfort of the -men who served under him. In the Memorandum to -which we have just referred he contrasts the “one<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200">200</a></span> -shilling per day, and plenty of the very best provisions, -with every comfort that can be thought of,” with the -“twopence a day, black bread, horse-beans, and stinking -oil” allotted to those in the service of the enemy. -Scurvy was rife when he joined the fleet, but Nelson -obtained onions and lemons, recognised aids to the cure -of the disorder, “and a sight of the French squadron -twenty leagues at sea will cure all our complaints.” -Writing in August to his friend Dr Baird he seeks to -entertain the physician by relating particulars of his -treatment for scurvy. “I am now at work in Spain,” -he remarks, “and have procured some bullocks and a -good supply of onions—the latter we have found the -greatest advantage from.” He adds: “The health of our -seamen is invaluable; and to purchase that, no expense -ought to be spared.” He even managed to secure cattle -and vegetables from France. The fleet was watered -at the Madalena Islands.</p> - -<p>At the end of July the <i>Victory</i>, having been returned -to the fleet by Cornwallis, again became Nelson’s flagship. -As to the ultimate destination of the Toulon -fleet Nelson was in doubt; that it was to sail before long -he felt convinced owing to the activity manifest in the -harbours. He rightly judged Napoleon’s character: -“We know he is not very scrupulous in the honourable -means of accomplishing his darling object.... My -firm opinion is, that the Mediterranean will again be an -active scene; and if Ministers do not look out, I shall -have the Brest fleet to pay me a visit; for as the army -can only be moved by the protection of a superior fleet, -that fleet they will try to have, and a month’s start -of us would do all the mischief.” At that time (July) -he believed that Napoleon would make an attempt on -the Morea, perhaps in concert with Russia, the downfall -of the Turkish Empire in Europe would follow, and -“Candia and Egypt would, of course, if this plan is -followed, be given to the French, when, sooner or later, -farewell India!” Of the enormous flotilla which -Napoleon was building at Boulogne and elsewhere,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201">201</a></span> -Nelson thought little, if at all. “What! he begins to -find excuses!” he writes to Ball. “I thought he would -invade England in the face of the sun! Now he wants -a three-days’ fog, that never yet happened! and if it -did, how are his craft to be kept together? He will -soon find more excuses or there will be an end of Bonaparte, -and may the devil take him!” He was more -concerned, and with reason, as to the whereabouts of -the fleet returning from San Domingo, which he thought -would “come to the Mediterranean—perhaps, first to -Cadiz, to get the Spaniards to escort them. If so, I -may have two fleets to fight; but if I have the ships, -the more the merrier.” In August the Admiral tells -Addington: “I am looking out for the French squadron—perhaps -you may think impatiently; but I have made -up my mind never to go into port till after the battle, -if they make me wait a year, provided the Admiralty -change the ships, who cannot keep the sea in the winter, -except <i>Victory</i>, <i>Canopus</i>, <i>Donegal</i>, and <i>Belleisle</i>.” The -fitting out of an expedition at Marseilles led Nelson to -think that the invasion of Sardinia was contemplated. -He therefore detached the only two frigates he had with -him at the moment to cruise off Ajaccio to endeavour -to intercept the enemy should they come that way. -“Of course they will say that we have broken the -neutrality if we attack them in the ports of Sardinia -before their conquest, and if we do not I shall be laughed -at for a fool. Prevention is better than cure.... -My station to the westward of Toulon, an unusual one, -has been taken upon an idea that the French fleet is -bound out of the Straits, and probably to Ireland. It -is said 10,000 men are collecting at Toulon. I shall -follow them to the Antipodes.”</p> - -<p>To Sir Richard Strachan he thus sums up the situation -on the 26th August: “The French fleet being perfectly -ready for sea, seven of the line, six frigates, and some -corvettes—two sail-of-the-line are now rigging in the -arsenal—I think it more than probable that they are -bound to the westward, out of the Mediterranean.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202">202</a></span> -Therefore, as I am determined to follow them, go where -they may, I wish you, in case they escape me, to send -a frigate or sloop after them to find out their route, -giving her a station where I may find her, and keep -yourself either at the mouth of the Straits or off Europa -Point, for I certainly shall not anchor at Gibraltar.” -In the middle of October he is still as uncertain as ever -as to the destination of the French. Some folk favoured -the Morea, others Egypt, “and they may be bound -outside the Mediterranean.” “Is it Ireland or the -Levant?” he asks Ball in the early days of dreary -November.</p> - -<p>Think for one moment, as you sit reading this book -in a comfortable room or on a little hillock in the open -country, of the ceaseless vigil of Nelson as his weather-beaten -vessels lay off Toulon. When a sea fog obscured -his quarry he was in a fever of anxiety. “It was thick -for two days,” he tells his brother William on one -occasion, “and our frigates could not look into Toulon; -however, I was relieved, for the first time in my life, -by being informed the French were still in port.” Then -there was always the possibility that the Brest fleet -might escape and make its appearance at an awkward -moment, and the likelihood of a visit from the returning -squadron from the West Indies. He early discerned the -outbreak of war with Spain. Pretending to be a neutral, -that Power most assuredly exhibited the most flagrant -favouritism for France. We have noted that Nelson -anticipated the aid of the Dons to the French in the -matter of the ships from San Domingo, help that was -readily given when the vessels, evading Rear-admiral -Campbell, stole into Coruña. This, of course, -necessitated a strict blockade of the port, and Pellew -was sent there instead of stationing himself off Rochefort -as had been originally intended. References to them -are frequent in his correspondence. Writing to the -British Consul at Barcelona under date of the 13th -September Nelson claimed “every indulgence which is -shown to the ships of our enemies. The French squadron<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203">203</a></span> -at Coruña are acting almost as they please; the <i>Aigle</i> -French ship of war is not turned out of Cadiz,<a id="FNanchor_63" href="#Footnote_63" class="fnanchor">63</a> the French -frigate <i>Revenge</i> is permitted to go out of that port, -cruise, and return with prizes, and sell them. I will -not state that every Spanish port is a home for French -privateers, for this is well known; and I am informed -that even at Barcelona English vessels captured by the -French have been sold there. You will acquaint his -Excellency [the Captain-general] that I claim for every -British ship, or squadron, the right of lying as long as -I please in the ports of Spain, whilst it is allowed to other -powers; that I claim the rights of hospitality and -civility, and every other right which the harmony -subsisting between our sovereigns entitles us to.” This -communication was followed thirteen days later by -a despatch to Strachan in which Nelson is not only -prophetic, but exhibits a cautious mood not usually -associated with “the Nelson whom Britons love.” In -this respect he has been much maligned. In battle his -genius enabled him to see a little ahead of more ordinary -men, but he never overstepped the bounds of prudence. -“The occurrences which pass every day in Spain forebode, -I fancy, a speedy war with England; therefore -it becomes proper for me to put you upon your guard, -and advise you how to act under particular circumstances. -By looking at the former line of conduct on -the part of Spain, which she followed just before the -commencement of the last war, we may naturally expect -the same events to happen. The French Admiral -Richery was in Cadiz, blocked up by Admiral Man: -on 22 August they came to sea attended by the -Spanish fleet, which saw the French safe beyond St -Vincent, and returned into Cadiz. Admiral Man very -properly did not choose to attack Admiral Richery -under such an escort. This is a prelude to what I must -request your strict attention to; at the same time, I -am fully aware that you must be guided, in some measure, -by actual circumstances.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204">204</a></span> -“I think it very probable, even before Spain breaks -with us, that they may send a ship or two of the line -to see <i>l’Aigle</i> round Cape St Vincent; and that if you -attack her in their presence, they may attack you; -and giving them possession of the <i>Donegal</i> would be more -than either you or I should wish, therefore I am certain -it must be very comfortable for you to know my sentiments. -From what you hear in Cadiz, you will judge -how far you may venture yourself in company with -a Spanish squadron; but if you are of opinion that -you may trust yourself near them, keeping certainly -out of gun-shot, send your boat with a letter to the -Spanish commodore, and desire to know whether he -means to defend the French ships; and get his answer -in writing, and have it as plain as possible. If it be -‘yes, that he will fire at you if you attack the French -under his protection,’ then, if you have force enough, -make your attack on the whole body, and take them -all if you can, for I should consider such an answer as -a perfect declaration of war. If you are too weak for -such an attack, you must desist; but you certainly -are fully authorised to take the ships of Spain whenever -you meet them. Should the answer be ambiguous, -you must then act as your judgment may direct you, -and I am sure that will be very proper. Only recollect, -that it would be much better to let the French ships -escape, than to run too great a risk of losing the <i>Donegal</i>, -yourself, and ship’s company.” To Addington he -states that “The Spaniards are now so very uncivil -to our ships, that I suppose we shall not be much longer -friends.” To John Hookham Frere, <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Chargé d’Affaires</i> -at Madrid, he admits, “We have given up French -vessels taken within gun-shot 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 whatever place the -Spaniards allow the French to attack us, in that place -I shall order the French to be attacked. The old order -of 1771, now put in force against us, is infamous; and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205">205</a></span> -I trust your Excellency will take proper steps that the -present mode of enforcing it be done away. It is gross -partiality, and not neutrality.”</p> - -<p>There is a pathetic letter dated the 12th December -1803 in which Nelson confides to his old friend Davison -some of the perils which he encountered daily. “My -crazy fleet,” he writes, “are getting in a very indifferent -state, and others will soon follow. The finest ships in -the service will soon be destroyed. I know well enough -that if I was to go into Malta, I should save the ships -during this bad season. But if I am to watch the -French, I must be at sea, and if at sea, must have bad -weather; and if the ships are not fit to stand bad -weather, they are useless.... But my time of service is -nearly over. A natural anxiety, of course, must attend -my station; but, my dear friend, my eyesight fails me -most dreadfully. I firmly believe that, in a very few -years, I shall be stone-blind. It is this only, of all my -maladies, that makes me unhappy; but God’s will be -done.”</p> - -<p>Nelson had taken up his station “to the westward -of Sicie,” a position enabling him “to prevent the -junction of a Spanish fleet from the westward,” and -also “to take shelter in a few hours either under the -Hières Islands or Cape St Sebastian; and I have hitherto -found the advantage of the position. Now Spain, -having settled her neutrality”—he is writing on the 12th -December to Lord St Vincent—“I am taking my -winter’s station under St Sebastian, to avoid the heavy -seas in the gulf, and keep frigates off Toulon. From -September we have experienced such a series of bad -weather that is rarely met with, and I am sorry to say -that all the ships which have been from England in -the late war severely feel it.... I know no way of -watching the enemy but to be at sea, and therefore -good ships are necessary.” On the same day he -informs a third correspondent that the enemy at -Toulon “are perfectly ready to put to sea, and they -must soon come out, but who shall [say] where they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206">206</a></span> -are bound? My opinion is, certainly out of the -Mediterranean.”</p> - -<p>“We have had a most terrible winter: it has almost -knocked me up,” he tells Elliot within a few days of -the close of this anxious year. “I have been very ill, -and am now far from recovered, but I hope to hold out -till the battle is over, when I must recruit myself for -some future exertion.”</p> - -<p>An Indomitable Spirit this, the greatest sailor of all -time!</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207">207</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br /> - -<span class="subhead">Twelve weary Months in the -Mediterranean<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1804)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>My wish is to make a grand</i> coup.”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap a"><span class="smcap1">A new</span> year had dawned. “The storm is -brewing,” Nelson wrote, and he thought -Sardinia “one of the objects of its violence.” -If that island were captured or ceded to the enemy, -“Sicily, Malta, Egypt, &c., &c., is lost, sooner or -later.” The Madalena Islands, to the north of Sardinia, -not only afforded the ships a safe anchorage but ensured -plenty of fresh water and provisions: “Sardinia is the -most important post in the Mediterranean. It covers -Naples, Sicily, Malta, Egypt, and all the Turkish -dominions; it blockades Toulon; the wind which -would carry a French fleet to the westward is fair from -Sardinia; and Madalena is the most important station -in this most important island. I am told that the -revenues, after paying the expenses of the island, do -not give the king 5000 <i>l.</i> sterling a year. If it is so, -I would give him 500,000 <i>l.</i> to cede it, which would -give him 25,000 <i>l.</i> a year for ever. This is only my -conversation, and not to be noticed—but the king -cannot long hold Sardinia.” On the 11th February -1804 he assures “my dear friend” Ball that “we are -... on the eve of great events; the sooner they -come the better.” Private letters led him to believe<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208">208</a></span> -that the squadrons at Brest and Ferrol were to form -a junction with that at Toulon. Should his surmise -prove correct he inferred an invasion of both the Morea -and Egypt, a belief fostered by the wily Napoleon by -means of a camp under General St Cyr at Taranto, in -the heel of Italy.</p> - -<p>Nelson communicated his notions to the Grand Vizier. -“Your Highness,” he adds, “knows them too well to -put any confidence in what they say. Bonaparte’s -tongue is that of a serpent oiled. Nothing shall be -wanting on my part to frustrate the designs of this -common disturber of the human race.”</p> - -<p>He pens a little grumble to Dr Moseley in March, -complaining that the Mediterranean fleet seems “forgotten -by the great folks at home,” but adding with -pardonable pride that although the vessels have been -at sea a week short of ten months, “not a ship has been -refitted or recruited, excepting what has been done -at sea. You will readily believe that all this must -have shaken me. My sight is getting very bad, but <em>I</em> -must not be sick until after the French fleet is taken.” -He includes some facts regarding his manifold interests -as Commander-in-chief. He always had good mutton -for invalids, gave half the allowance of grog instead of -all wine in winter, changed the cruising ground so as -not to allow “the sameness of prospect to satiate the -mind,” obtained onions, “the best thing that can be -given to seamen,” by sending a ship for them to Corsica, -and always had “plenty of fresh water.” In the -stirring days of the first decade of the nineteenth century -a British Admiral was in very truth “shepherd of his -flock.” He thought for the men and their officers, saw -to their creature comforts, even provided amusement -for them. Moreover, he had to be a diplomatist, something -of a soldier, and a man of resource and reliance. -The sailors of England alone made invasion impossible -and nullified the superhuman efforts of the greatest -soldier of recorded history to subjugate the Island -Kingdom. Unpreparedness is peculiarly characteristic<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209">209</a></span> -of British policy. It will not surprise students to -be told at the beginning of 1804 there were ten fewer -sail-of-the-line than had been available before the -Peace of Amiens. Weight of brain has won more -battles than weight of metal, although it is safer and -wiser to have a preponderating supply of both. We -shall see what a dearth of frigates, which are “the eyes -of a fleet,” to use Nelson’s apt expression, meant to the -Admiral in the prelude to the Trafalgar campaign. He -was already complaining of their absence.</p> - -<p>La Touche Tréville was now in command at Toulon. -Nelson disliked the man as sincerely as he loathed the -nation whom he represented; he could “never trust -a Corsican or a Frenchman.” La Touche Tréville -had been commodore, it will be remembered, of the -Boulogne flotilla when Nelson had made his abortive -attacks on it. These were lauded all over France -as “glorious contests.” Nelson was what is usually -called, by a strange misnomer, “a good hater.” Thus -to duty was added a personal rivalry that filled -him with an ardent longing to “get even” with his -antagonist.</p> - -<p>Napoleon had now a sufficient number of small boats -at Boulogne and neighbouring ports for the conveyance -of his 130,000 troops to England. He had abandoned -his original plan and was determined that the Navy -proper should play an important part in the perilous -project. The Toulon fleet, after releasing the French -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">l’Aigle</i> at Cadiz, was to be joined by five ships off -Rochefort under Villeneuve, and then hasten to Boulogne -to convoy the flotilla. The rôle of the squadron at -Brest was to be passive, although reports were spread -far and wide that the ships there were to take an army -to Ireland. This was done so that Cornwallis, blockading -that port, might not form a junction with the -squadron in the Downs for the purpose of opposing -the crossing of the vast armament from the northern -seaport. If all these combinations were successfully -carried out Napoleon would have sixteen sail-of-the-<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210">210</a></span>line -ready for the master-stroke. Everything depended -on whether the English blockading squadrons -off Toulon, Cadiz, Rochefort, and in the Downs could -be eluded.</p> - -<p>On the 8th April Nelson again wrote, “We are on -the eve of great events,” and proceeded to tell his -correspondent that two sail-of-the-line had “put their -heads outside Toulon,” and a little later “they all -came out. We have had a gale of wind and calm since; -therefore I do not know whether they are returned to -port or have kept the sea. I have only to wish to get -alongside of them with the present fleet under my -command; so highly officered and manned, the event -ought not to be doubted.”</p> - -<p>“If we go on playing out and in, we shall some day -get at them,” he tells Frere.</p> - -<p>Monsieur La Touche was merely exercising his ships; -the time for the grand coup was not yet come. Nelson’s -opinion now was that the Brest fleet and a squadron -he does not name, but probably that at Rochefort, -were destined for the Mediterranean “either before -or after they may have thrown their cargo of troops -on shore in Ireland. Egypt and the Morea supposed -to be their next object after their English and Irish -schemes.” On the 24th May the French made a -further excursion, five sail-of-the-line, three frigates, -and several smaller vessels came out of the harbour, -which was being watched by a small squadron under -Rear-Admiral Campbell. Nelson did not believe in -showing the whole of his available resources to the -enemy. By being out of sight he hoped to entice the -enemy to leave their safe anchorage: “My system is -the very contrary of blockading.” He was delighted -that Campbell did not allow the French to bring him -to action with the small resources at his disposal, -which is another example of Nelson’s cautious methods. -He thanked the admiral by letter, and concluded by -saying, “I have no doubt but an opportunity will offer -of giving them fair battle.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211">211</a></span> -Nelson continued to complain of ill health. “A sort -of rheumatic fever,” “blood gushing up the left side -of my head, and the moment it covers the brain, I -am fast asleep,” a “violent pain in my side, and night-sweats”—this -is his condition as he diagnosed it to -Dr Baird on the 30th May. A week later he is buoyant -at the thought of battle: “Some happy day I expect -to see his (La Touche Tréville’s) eight sail, which are in -the outer road, come out; and if he will get abreast of -Porquerolle, I will try what stuff he is made of; therefore -you see I have no occasion to be fretful; on the -contrary, I am full of hopes, and command a fleet -which never gives me an uneasy moment.”</p> - -<p>Eight French sail-of-the-line, accompanied by half -a dozen frigates, made an excursion on the 14th June, -and Campbell was again chased. The latter sailed -towards the main fleet, but La Touche Tréville was -by no means anxious to try conclusions with his old -enemy. After sailing about four leagues, he crept -back to safer quarters. The British Admiral afterwards -referred to this little excursion as a “caper.” -“I was off with five ships-of-the-line,” he adds, “and -brought to for his attack, although I did not believe -that anything was meant serious, but merely a gasconade.” -With this conclusion La Touche Tréville begged -to differ. He saw in the “caper” a bold manœuvre -and an excellent opportunity for currying favour in -the eyes of his exacting chief, who by no means -overrated the commander’s abilities. His despatch -to Napoleon runs as follows:<a id="FNanchor_64" href="#Footnote_64" class="fnanchor">64</a></p> - -<p>“I have the honour to give you an account of the -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">sortie</i> of the whole of the squadron under my orders. -Having been advised that several English privateers -were infesting the coast and the Islands of Hyères, I -gave orders, three days ago, to the frigates <i>Incorruptible</i> -and <i>Siren</i> and the brig <i>Ferret</i> to proceed to the Bay of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212">212</a></span> -Hyères. The Easterly wind being against them they -anchored under the Castle of Porqueroles. Yesterday -morning the enemy became aware of their presence. -Towards noon they detached two frigates and another -vessel, which entered by the broad passage with the -intention of cutting off the retreat of our frigates. As -soon as I saw this manœuvre I signalled to the whole -squadron to make sail, and this was done. In fourteen -minutes all were under sail and I made for the enemy -in order to cut him off from the narrow passage and to -follow him up if he attempted it. But the English -Admiral soon gave up his design, recalled his vessel and -his two frigates engaged amongst the Islands and took -to flight. I pursued him till nightfall; he was heading -for the S.E. At daybreak I had lost sight of him.”</p> - -<p>When Nelson heard of this communication he was -furious. “You will have seen his letter of how he -chased me and how I ran,” he tells his brother, the -Rev. W. Nelson. “I keep it; and, by ——, if I take -him he shall eat it!”</p> - -<p>Nelson continued to fear the loss of Sardinia, which -“will be great indeed.” In this matter he was wrong, -for Napoleon entertained no idea of conquest in that -direction. There was every indication, on the other -hand, that he might do so, and the Admiral is not -to be blamed but praised for his zeal in behalf of -the island which meant so much to the fleet under -his command. When he heard that Vice-Admiral -Ganteaume had hoisted his flag at Brest he was sure -that an attempt would be made to reach the Mediterranean. -“The French navy is daily increasing, both -at Toulon and Brest, whilst ours is as clearly going -down-hill,” is Nelson’s summing-up of the situation -in the early days of July 1804. He then pours out the -vials of his wrath on Addington’s administration because -it had not taken sufficiently to heart the old adage, -“in times of peace prepare for war”: “We made use -of the peace, not to recruit our navy, but to be the -cause of its ruin. Nothing but a speedy battle, a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213">213</a></span> -complete annihilation of the enemy’s fleets, and a -seven years’ peace, can get our fleet in the order it ought -to be; therefore I, for one, do not wish to be shackled -with allies. I am for assisting Europe to the utmost -of my power, but no treaties, which England only -keeps.” This was with reference to a suggested treaty -with Russia: “Such alliances have never benefited our -country.” Europe, he says, is “degenerate.” A month -later he refers to his “shattered carcase,” which “requires -rest.” Then he bows to Fate, says he submits, -and states that all his wishes “now rest that I may -meet Monsieur La Touche before October is over.”</p> - -<p>La Touche Tréville died on the 18th August 1804. -He was buried on Cape Sepet, his successor, Villeneuve, -making a funeral oration. Unaware that his enemy -was vanquished, we find Nelson writing on the 19th -that “Such a liar is below my notice, except to thrash -him, which will be done,” if in his power. “I never -heard of his acting otherwise than as a poltroon and a -liar,” is another of his remarks, which scarcely soften -when he heard the “miscreant” was in his coffin: -“La Touche has given me the slip—he died of the -colic; perhaps Bonaparte’s, for they say he was a -rank republican.” With misplaced humour the French -press asserted that the Admiral had died of over-exertion -due to “walking so often up to the signal-post upon -Sepet to watch the British fleet.”</p> - -<p>War with Spain, which Nelson had predicted, was -formally declared by that Power on the 12th December -1804. Napoleon had already exacted a handsome -annual sum from her treasury, a matter overlooked -by the British Government for reasons of policy. When -he secured the assistance of the Spanish navy, Pitt, -who was again in office, refused to be hoodwinked, -and warned the traitorous neutrals. As this was -unheeded, four frigates, two of which belonged to -Nelson’s fleet, were sent to intercept four treasure -ships from South America off Cadiz. The two forces -came in sight on the 5th October. Although the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214">214</a></span> -Spanish vessels were not prepared to fight, an action -took place consequent on the commander refusing to -surrender. The Spanish <i>Mercedes</i> blew up, and the -others were seized as prizes. A declaration of war, -prompted by Napoleon, was the result. The ruler of -France was playing into his own hands with his usual -unscrupulous skill.</p> - -<p>The command off Cadiz had now been given to Sir -John Orde. Nelson, quite naturally, did not approve -this apportioning out of what he regarded as his own -preserves. “I almost begin to think,” he says, with -reference to Orde, “that he is sent off Cadiz to reap -the golden harvest, as Campbell was sent off Cadiz -by Cornwallis (by orders from England) to reap my -sugar harvest. It’s very odd, two Admiralties to treat -me so: surely I have dreamt that I have ‘done the -State some service.’ But never mind; I am superior -to those who could treat me so. When am I to be -relieved?”</p> - -<p>Not yet! There was much to do and darker days -to be lived through before the Master Mariner could -sleep peacefully ashore.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215">215</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Crisis<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1805)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>We know the success of a man’s measures is the criterion by which -we judge of the wisdom or folly of his measures. I have done my best.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">Napoleon</span> had now completed further plans. -These he fondly hoped would lead to the downfall -of British rule in the United Kingdom -and the eventual dismemberment of the Empire. His -strategy, if somewhat involved, was deeply laid. Instead -of concentrating his fleet in European waters, -that very essential part of the programme was to be -undertaken in the Atlantic. By means of feints and -false intelligence it was anticipated that Nelson would -again suppose that the East was the destination of the -French armament. Again much depended on whether -Napoleon’s commanders at Rochefort and Toulon -would prove sufficiently clever to elude the blockading -squadrons and to carry out the subsequent junction. -The former was to make for Martinique, the latter for -Cayenne. Having spread ruin and disaster in the -British West Indies, they were to unite, release the -squadron at Ferrol, and return to Rochefort to threaten -Cornwallis, who would thus be precluded from lending -assistance elsewhere. Ganteaume at Brest was to play -the chief part. He was to make a descent on Ireland -while his colleagues were crossing the Atlantic and then -cover the invading army from Boulogne.</p> - -<p>On the 11th January 1805 Missiessy, in command<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216">216</a></span> -at Rochefort, made good his escape, and eventually -reached the West Indies. A week after his colleague -had left port Villeneuve was also at sea. The great -war game had begun. “Our frigates saw part of -them all day, and were chased by some of the ships,” -Nelson informs Sir John Acton. The Admiral received -the report of the enemy’s sailing at Madalena at -3 <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span> on the 19th. Three hours later “the whole -fleet was at sea,” steering for the south end of Sardinia, -“where I could have little fear but that I should meet -them; for, from all I have heard from the captains of -the frigates, the enemy must be bound round the south -end of Sardinia, but whether to Cagliari, Sicily, the -Morea, or Egypt, I am most completely in ignorance.” -He warns Acton to be on his guard for Sicily and to -send information to Naples. On the 21st a French -frigate was discerned off the south end of Sardinia, -but became lost in the fog, and a little later Nelson -heard that one of the French sail-of-the-line had put -in at Ajaccio in a distressed condition. On the -27th he was off Palermo. “One of two things must -have happened,” he conjectures, “that either the -French fleet must have put back crippled, or that they -are gone to the eastward, probably to Egypt, therefore -I find no difficulty in pursuing the line of conduct -I have adopted. If the enemy have put back crippled, -I could never overtake them, and therefore I can do -no harm in going to the eastward; and if the enemy -are gone to the eastward, I am right.” He sent vessels -to call at Elba, San Fiorenzo, Malta, Tunis, Pantellaria, -Toro and other places to obtain information. He -believed that eleven sail-of-the-line and nine smaller -vessels were at sea. “I shall only hope to fall in with -them.”</p> - -<p>On the 11th February Nelson was still in “total -ignorance” regarding the whereabouts of the French -fleet, but was more than ever confirmed in his opinion -that Egypt was its destination. He had set off for -the Morea, and then proceeded to Egypt, but the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217">217</a></span> -enemy had eluded him. It was not until he arrived -off Malta on the 19th that he received authentic information -that the Toulon fleet had put back to port -“in a very crippled state.” He himself was able to -report that the health of his men was excellent, and -“although we have experienced a great deal of bad -weather, have received no damage, and not a yard -or mast sprung or crippled, or scarcely a sail split.” -“I have consulted no man,” he had written to Lord -Melville on the anniversary of the battle of Cape St -Vincent, “therefore the whole blame in forming 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 I desire any man to partake -of any of the responsibility—all is mine, right or -wrong.”</p> - -<p>Misfortune had dogged Villeneuve almost from the -moment he had left Toulon. After encountering a -gale in the Gulf of Lyons his ships were in such a pitiful -state that there was no alternative but to return. He -complained bitterly, and not without reason, to the -Minister of Marine about the wretched condition of -the fleet at his disposal. The vessels, according to -his report, were built of superannuated or bad materials, -and lost masts or sails “at every puff of wind.” In -addition they were short-handed, the sailors were inexperienced, -and the decks were encumbered with -troops. Napoleon, who never appreciated the many -difficulties of navigation, let alone of naval warfare, -entertained the notion that the Navy could be run -with practically as much precision as the Army; conditions -of weather he almost contemptuously dismissed -as of little account. He abruptly tells Villeneuve the -plain unvarnished truth, namely that the great evil of -the service “is that the men who command it are -unused to all the risks of command.” Almost in -despair he asks, “What is to be done with admirals -who allow their spirits to sink, and determine to hasten -home at the first damage they may receive?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218">218</a></span> -Villeneuve was not a courageous commander. He -hated taking risks. It may be that he realised his -own personal limitations to some extent; it is certain -that he fully appreciated those of his men and of his -ships. The only training-place for sailors is the sea, -and such excursions as had been made were as nothing -compared to the daily encounters with storm, wind and -tide which fell to the lot of the blockading squadron -below the horizon.</p> - -<p>Such obvious facts appealed to that sense of grim -humour which is so essentially characteristic of Nelson. -He thoroughly enjoyed his adversary’s discomfiture, -and poked fun at Napoleon, his men and his methods, -on every possible occasion. “Bonaparte,” he writes -to Collingwood on the 13th March, “has often made -his brags that our fleet would be worn out by keeping -the sea; that his was kept in order and increasing by -staying in port; but he now finds, I fancy, if <em>Emperors</em> -hear truth, that his fleet suffers more in one night than -ours in a year.”</p> - -<p>Napoleon, now the Imperial Incarnation of the -Revolution, for he had crowned himself Emperor of the -French on the 2nd December 1804, was not to be -thwarted because his subordinates had failed to bring -his giant schemes to a successful issue on two distinct -occasions. He was obsessed by a desire to “leap the -ditch.” To humble that Island Power which was ever -in his way, to strike at the very heart of that England -whose wealth was lavished in fostering coalition after -coalition, were now his fondest hopes. He thought, -talked, and wrote of little else.</p> - -<p>While his third plan was more involved than the -others, it had the advantage of calling a greater number -of ships into service. Villeneuve was to start from -Toulon with eleven ships, release the Spanish squadron -of six sail-of-the-line under the command of Admiral -Gravina, and one French ship, at Cadiz, and then make -for Martinique, where he would find Missiessy’s squadron -of five sail. In a similar manner the twenty-one ships<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219">219</a></span> -of Ganteaume’s fleet at Brest were to rally Gourdon’s -fifteen vessels at Ferrol and also proceed to the West -Indies. Thus no fewer than fifty-nine sail and many -smaller vessels would be congregated for the final -effort. While Nelson was searching for them, this -immense armament, with Ganteaume in supreme -command, would recross the Atlantic, appear off -Boulogne, and convoy the flotilla to England. It is -unnecessary to give the alternative plans furnished to -the admirals. To do so would only tend to involve -the broad outline of the manœuvre as detailed above -and serve no essential purpose.</p> - -<p>Spurred on by Napoleon’s displeasure, Villeneuve -put to sea on the night of the 30th March 1805, and -was sighted “with all sail set” by two British frigates -on the following morning. It was not until the 4th -April that Nelson, then off Toro, received this useful -if vague intelligence, for the frigate which had followed -in the tracks of the Toulon fleet had lost sight of the -enemy. Her captain “thinks they either bore away -to the eastward or steered S.S.W., as they were going -when first seen,” Nelson informs the Admiralty. He -“covered the Channel from Barbary to Toro with -frigates and the fleet” in the hope of discovering them -or obtaining reliable information as to their whereabouts. -On the 18th April he says, “I am going out -of the Mediterranean after the French fleet. It may -be thought that I have protected too well Sardinia, -Naples, Sicily, the Morea, and Egypt, from the French; -but I feel I have done right, and am therefore easy -about any fate which may await me for having missed -the French fleet. I have left five frigates, besides the -sloops, &c., stationed at Malta for the present service -of the Mediterranean, and with the Neapolitan squadron -will, of course, be fully able to prevent any force the -French have left to convoy troops to Sicily.”</p> - -<p>Nelson only succeeded in making sixty-five leagues -in nine days “owing to very bad weather.” It was -not until the 18th April, when Villeneuve had been at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220">220</a></span> -sea nearly three weeks, that he had news of the enemy -having passed through the Straits on the 8th. “I am -proceeding with the fleet under my command as expeditiously -as possible to the westward in pursuit -of them.” Sir John Orde had so far forgotten or -neglected his duty that when Villeneuve made his -appearance at Cadiz the commander of the blockading -squadron made off without either sending word to -Nelson or leaving a frigate to keep in touch with the -enemy. Consequently Nelson was still uncertain as -to their destination. “The circumstance of their -having taken the Spanish ships which were [ready] -for sea from Cadiz, satisfies my mind that they are not -bound to the West Indies (nor probably the Brazils); -but intend forming a junction with the squadron at -Ferrol, and pushing direct for Ireland or Brest, as -I believe the French have troops on board.” When -off Tetuan on the 4th May he rightly observes, “I -cannot very properly run to the West Indies without -something beyond mere surmise; and if I defer my -departure, Jamaica may be lost. Indeed, as they -have a month’s start of me, I see no prospect of getting -out time enough to prevent much mischief from being -done.” Gibraltar Bay was reached on the 6th May, -and at 6 <span class="smcap smaller">P.M.</span>, Nelson was making his way through the -Gut owing to there being “every appearance of a -Levanter coming on.” Off Cape St Vincent he hoped -to be met by a frigate from Orde with intelligence of -the enemy’s route and also by a frigate from Lisbon. -“If nothing is heard of them from Lisbon or from the -frigates I may find off Cape St Vincent, I shall probably -think the rumours which are spread are true, that -their destination is the West Indies, and in that case -think it my duty to follow them, or to the Antipodes, -should I believe that to be their destination. I shall -detach a sloop of war to England from off the Cape, -when my mind is made up from either information or -the want of it.”</p> - -<p>Nelson’s idea as to the destination of the allied fleet<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221">221</a></span> -was corroborated by Commodore Donald Campbell, -a Scotsman who had entered the Portuguese navy. -After clearing transports and taking on board sufficient -provisions for five months, he set out from Lagos Bay -with ten sail-of-the-line and a number of smaller craft -on his long chase. “My lot is cast,” he hurriedly -informs Ball, “and I am going to the West Indies, -where, although I am late, yet chance may have given -them a bad passage and me a good one. I must hope -the best.”</p> - -<p>Many minds, many opinions. What had become -of the Allied fleet? Even more important, what had -it accomplished? Such questions must have been -ever present in the mind of Nelson and his officers. -Everything about the enemy was so vague as almost -to suggest a phantom fleet. “I still think Jamaica -is their object,” is Nelson’s comment on the 27th of -May when making for Barbadoes, “but many think -Surinam or Trinidad; and Bayntun, that they will -land their troops at the city of San Domingo. In -short, everyone has an opinion, but it will soon be -beyond doubt. Our passage, although not very quick, -has been far from a bad one. They started from Cadiz -thirty-one days before we did from St Vincent, and I -think we shall gain fourteen days upon them in the -passage; therefore they will only arrive seventeen -days before us at Martinique, for I suppose them bound -there. I shall not anchor at Barbadoes.... I have -prayed Lord Seaforth to lay an embargo, that the -French may not know of my approach, and thus again -elude our vigilance. My mind is not altered that -Egypt was their destination last January.” Eight days -later, when the fleet was in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, -and Nelson’s force had been augmented by the addition -of two battleships under Cochrane, we are informed -that “There is not a doubt in any of the admirals’ -or generals’ minds, but that Tobago and Trinidad are -the enemy’s objects; and although I am anxious in -the extreme to get at their eighteen sail-of-the-line, yet,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222">222</a></span> -as Sir William Myers has offered to embark himself -with 2000 troops, I cannot refuse such a handsome -offer; and, with the blessing of God on a just cause, -I see no cause to doubt of the annihilation of both the -enemy’s fleet and army.”</p> - -<p>It happened that the general had received a letter -on the previous night from Brigadier-General Brereton, -stationed at St Lucia, informing him that the enemy’s -fleet, “steering to the southward,” had been reported -as passing that island during the late hours of the 28th -May. According to Brereton’s supposition its destination -“must be either Barbadoes or Trinidad.”</p> - -<p>Knowing full well that if the intelligence proved -false it would lose him the French fleet, but having no -alternative, Nelson set off for Tobago, where he learnt -from the captain of an American vessel that his ship -had been boarded by a French sail-of-the-line the day -before. Then he received a signal from a passing ship -that the enemy was at Trinidad, where he anchored -on the 7th June. Another report came to land that -on the 4th the enemy had been at Fort Royal and was -likely to sail during the night for the attack of Grenada. -He was at the latter island on the 9th, and heard that -the enemy had not only passed Dominica three days -before, “standing to the northward,” but had been -lucky enough to capture a convoy of ships laden with -sugar. Nelson peeped in at Montserrat on the 11th; -on the 13th the troops were being disembarked at St -John’s, Antigua, at which place the fleet had arrived -the previous evening. “At noon I sailed in my pursuit -of the enemy; and I do not yet despair of getting up -with them before they arrive at Cadiz or Toulon, to -which ports I think they are bound, or at least in time -to prevent them from having a moment’s superiority. -I have no reason to blame Dame Fortune. If either -General Brereton could not have wrote, or his look-out -man had been blind, nothing could have prevented -my fighting them on 6 June; but such information, -and from such a quarter, close to the enemy, could not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_223">223</a></span> -be doubted.” He had already sent a fast-sailing brig -with despatches to the Admiralty informing them of -the probable return of the combined fleet to Europe, -although so late as the 18th July he was not sure that -the enemy had not tricked him and gone to Jamaica. -With commendable alacrity Admiral Stirling was told -to form a junction with Sir Robert Calder off Ferrol, -and to await the enemy, for the commander of the -brig has sighted the quarry and was of opinion from -the course they were making that the neighbourhood of -Cape Finisterre was their desired haven. It has -remained for two modern historians to point out that -Nelson had discerned the likelihood of Ferrol as an -anchorage for Villeneuve’s fleet, and had forwarded a -warning to the Admiral stationed off that port.<a id="FNanchor_65" href="#Footnote_65" class="fnanchor">65</a></p> - -<p>On the date just mentioned Nelson joined Collingwood -off Cadiz, but no accurate news awaited him. -Indeed, the former pinned his faith to an attack -on Ireland as the grand <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">finale</i> of Napoleon’s naval -manœuvres. At Gibraltar the Admiral went on shore -for the first time since the 16th June, 1803—over two -years. From thence he proceeded to Cornwallis’s -station off Ushant, and received orders from the Admiral -to sail with the <i>Victory</i> and the <i>Superb</i> for Spithead. -He struck his flag on the 19th August 1805 and set -off for Merton.</p> - -<p>To what extent had Napoleon’s plans succeeded? -Villeneuve had reached Martinique on the 14th May, -only to find that Missiessy had not awaited his coming -according to instructions. Ganteaume was also unable -to carry out his part of the plan, consequently Villeneuve -was alone in the West Indies and might become Nelson’s -prey at any moment. The prospect did not please -him. When he heard that the great British commander -had not only arrived at Barbadoes but had been reinforced -by Cochrane he set the bows of his ships in the -direction of home, contrary to the Emperor’s orders -to wait for a stated period for Ganteaume’s arrival.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_224">224</a></span> -So far from raiding the British West Indies, Villeneuve -only succeeded in capturing the Diamond Rock at -Martinique and Missiessy in taking Dominica, although -the latter had reinforced the French colonies.</p> - -<p>After a perilous voyage Villeneuve was approaching -Ferrol in thick weather on the 22nd July when he came -face to face with the squadron of fifteen battleships -and four smaller vessels which had been sent by the -Admiralty to await his coming. The action which -followed was anything but decisive. The fleet Nelson -had longed to annihilate was allowed to escape by -Calder, whose only prizes were the Spanish <i>San Rafael</i> -(84) and <i>El Firme</i> (74). After leaving three of his -less seaworthy ships at Vigo, the French commander -eventually reached Coruña.</p> - -<p>Another Act of the great Atlantic Drama was over.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225">225</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX<br /> - -<span class="subhead">Nelson’s Last Command<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1805)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>May the God of Battles crown my endeavours with success.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">In</span> the previous chapter we left Nelson at Portsmouth -after having chased the enemy nearly seven -thousand miles, and been absent from home -twenty-seven months. When “England’s darling” -set foot on the landing-stage he received an immense -ovation from the crowds of people who had assembled -to show their appreciation of his services. “It is -really quite affecting to see the wonder and admiration -and love and respect of the whole world,” writes Lord -Minto, referring to a mob in Piccadilly a little later, -“and the general expression of all these sentiments at -once, from gentle and simple, the moment he is seen. -It is beyond anything represented in a play or poem.”</p> - -<p>It was characteristic of the man that, before leaving -his ship, he communicated with the Admiralty regarding -the companies of the <i>Victory</i> and the <i>Superb</i>. He said -they were in “most perfect health, and only require -some vegetables and other refreshments to remove -the scurvy.” Nelson at once proceeded to Merton, -where he lived in quiet retirement with Lady Hamilton, -playing with their beloved Horatia, or having a mental -tussle with the French as he walked the garden-paths -for hours without noticing either the passing of time -or the presence of fatigue. Perhaps he pondered over -the irony of Fate in giving the allied fleet into the hands<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226">226</a></span> -of Calder, who had let the golden opportunity slip by -him so easily, but more probably he wondered if the -fickle goddess would yet allow him to break the yoke -of Napoleon on the seas.</p> - -<p>The Emperor had made a final effort to unite his -scattered ships. When the combined fleet was on its -way to Europe the blockades of Rochefort and Ferrol -had been abandoned so that Calder might intercept -the enemy. He was but partially successful, as already -explained. The squadron of five sail-of-the-line at -Rochefort, commanded by Allemand, Missiessy’s successor, -had taken advantage of the temporary absence -of the British squadron and was making its way to -Vigo, where there were three sail.<a id="FNanchor_66" href="#Footnote_66" class="fnanchor">66</a> Villeneuve had put -into Coruña with fifteen battle-ships, and found fourteen -Spanish and French sail-of-the-line awaiting him. -This brought the total of his available resources to -thirty-four sail, provided all were united. If Villeneuve -were able to join Ganteaume at Brest the number -would be fifty-five. Cornwallis, with either thirty-four -or thirty-five, was a dangerous menace, but when -that commander detached eighteen sail to blockade -Ferrol it did not seem insurmountable, even supposing -that the five ships under Calder, then stationed off Rochefort, -joined him, which they did on the 14th August. -After considerable delay Villeneuve weighed anchor -on the 13th August 1805, and hoped to reach Brest. -He encountered bad weather, mistook Allemand’s -ships for the enemy’s vessels, and, to make matters -worse, was informed that a large British fleet was on -the alert. With this he altered his course and put in -at Cadiz a week later. Here he was watched by Collingwood -with three sail-of-the-line and two smaller vessels, -until the latter was reinforced by twenty-two battleships, -four of which were under Sir Richard Bickerton -and the remainder under Calder. When Napoleon -heard of Villeneuve’s retirement to Cadiz he knew -that his gigantic exertions for the invasion of the United<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227">227</a></span> -Kingdom had been completely shattered. With -marvellous facility he shifted his horizon from the -white cliffs of England to the wooded banks of the -Danube. The so-called Army of England was marched -from Boulogne to win fresh conquests in the Austerlitz -Campaign and to crush yet another coalition.</p> - -<p>At five o’clock on the morning of the 2nd September -1805, Captain Blackwood presented himself at Merton. -“I am sure you bring me news of the French and -Spanish fleets,” Nelson exclaimed in his eager, boyish -way, “and I think I shall yet have to beat them.” -Blackwood was the bearer of the important intelligence -that Villeneuve, largely augmented, was at Cadiz. -For a time it would appear as if Nelson hesitated, not -on his own account but because of those whom he loved. -His health was bad, he felt the country very restful -after his trying cruise, and he disliked to give Lady -Hamilton cause for further anxiety. He walked the -“quarter-deck” in his garden weighing the pros with -the cons, then set off for the Admiralty in Whitehall.</p> - -<p>“I think I shall yet have to beat them.” His mistress -was apparently no less valiant, at least in her conversation. -“Nelson,” she is stated to have said, -“however we may lament your absence, offer your -services; they will be accepted, and you will gain -a quiet heart by it; you will have a glorious victory, -and then you may return here, and be happy.”</p> - -<p>Eleven days after Captain Blackwood’s call Nelson -left Merton for ever. It was a fearful wrench, but he -was prepared to sacrifice everything to his King and -his country. The following night he wrote in his -Diary, little thinking that the outpourings of his spirit -would ever be revealed in the lurid light of publicity, -a prayer which shows very clearly that he had a premonition -he would never open its pages again under -the roof of Merton Place:</p> - -<p>“May the 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<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228">228</a></span> -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 those so dear to me, that I may -leave behind. His will be done. Amen, Amen, Amen.”</p> - -<p>The <i>Victory</i>, on which he hoisted his flag, had been -hastily patched up and put in fighting trim. As her -escort went the <i>Euryalus</i> frigate, joined later by the -<i>Ajax</i> and <i>Thunderer</i>.</p> - -<p>Collingwood and Calder “sat tight” outside Cadiz -harbour with one eye on the enemy and the other -searching for signs of the British ships, for they had -heard that Nelson would be with them ere long. Later, -“my dear Coll” received further tidings by the <i>Euryalus</i> -requesting that “not only no salute may take place, -but also that no colours may be hoisted: for it is as -well not to proclaim to the enemy every ship which may -join the fleet.” The supreme modesty of Nelson stands -out clearly in the last words of the note: “I would not -have any salute, even if you are out of sight of land.”</p> - -<p>The day before his forty-seventh birthday, Nelson -hove in sight of Cadiz and assumed command. On -the 29th the officers came to congratulate him. -“The reception I met with on joining the fleet,” -he declares, “caused the sweetest sensation of my life. -The officers who came on board to welcome my return, -forgot my rank as Commander-in-chief in the enthusiasm -with which they greeted me. As soon as these emotions -were past, I laid before them the plan I had previously -arranged for attacking the enemy; and it was not only -my pleasure to find it generally approved, but clearly -perceived and understood.” Again: “Some shed -tears, all approved,” he writes, “it was new, it was -singular, it was simple; and from Admirals downwards -it was repeated, ‘It must succeed if ever they will allow -us to get at them! You are, my Lord, surrounded -by friends whom you inspire with confidence.’”<a id="FNanchor_67" href="#Footnote_67" class="fnanchor">67</a> In -due course the complete plan of attack was issued.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229">229</a></span> -On October 19th the signal, “The enemy are coming -out of port,” flew from the mastheads of the frigates -stationed to watch the goings-on in the harbour. Thirty-three -ships-of-the-line, with five frigates and two brigs, -had passed out by the following day. They were -certainly “painted ships,” with their vividly-coloured -hulls of red and black, yellow and black, and black and -white. Their mission was to support Napoleon’s army -in the south of Italy.</p> - -<p>Once at sea the combined fleet sailed in two divisions, -as had been agreed upon by Villeneuve and Gravina, -the commander of the Spanish vessels. The French -Admiral’s own squadron, the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Corps de bataille</i>, was -made up of twenty-one sail-of-the-line, the centre -under Villeneuve himself, the van under Alava, and -the rear under Dumanoir. The <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Corps de réserve</i>, or -Squadron of Observation, consisted of twelve ships -divided into two squadrons of equal strength, each commanded -by Gravina and Magon respectively. The -duty of the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Corps de réserve</i> was to watch the battle and -to reinforce any weak point as opportunity occurred.</p> - -<p>Nelson’s force consisted of twenty-seven men-o’-war, -four frigates, a schooner, and a cutter. The enemy, -therefore, had the advantage as regards heavy ships, of -six sail-of-the-line. In armament the combatants were -nearly equal,<a id="FNanchor_68" href="#Footnote_68" class="fnanchor">68</a> as in bravery and daring, but very inferior -in seamanship and general <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">morale</i>. It was very -necessary to prevent the enemy from entering the -Mediterranean, as Napoleon’s orders strictly enjoined -them to do, therefore the signal was made for a “general -chase S.E.,” namely, towards the Straits of Gibraltar.</p> - -<p>Napoleon had resolved to supersede Villeneuve by -Rosily. This decision probably carried more weight -with the French Admiral than any other, and had -determined his course of action, although at a council -of war, held before anchors were weighed, a resolution -was passed to avoid an engagement with the -British if possible. Of personal courage he had no lack,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230">230</a></span> -for he wrote to Decrès, the Minister of Marine, “if -the French navy has been deficient in nothing but -courage, as it is alleged, the Emperor shall soon be -satisfied, and he may reckon upon the most splendid -success.” His great hope was that he might elude -detection and land the troops he had on board at Naples. -He was without faith in his ships.</p> - -<p>Having seen that his orders were carried out, Nelson -went to his cabin and began the last letter he was -destined to write to Lady Hamilton. Here it is in full:</p> - -<blockquote> -<p class="sigright"> -“<i>Victory</i>, October 19th 1805. Noon.<br /> -<span class="l1">“<span class="smcap">Cadiz</span>, E.S.E. 16 Leagues.</span> -</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">My dearest beloved Emma, the dear friend of -my bosom</span>,—The signal has been made that the Enemy’s -Combined Fleet are coming out of Port. We have -very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them -before to-morrow. May the God of Battles crown -my endeavours with success; at all events, I will take -care that my name shall ever be most dear to you and -Horatia, both of whom I love as much as my own life. -And as my last writing before the Battle will be to you, -so I hope in God that I shall live to finish my letter -after the Battle. May Heaven bless you, prays your</p> - -<p class="sigright"> -“<span class="smcap">Nelson and Bronté</span>. -</p> - -<p>“October 20th.—In the morning, we were close to -the Mouth of the Straits, but the wind had not come -far enough to the Westward to allow the Combined -Fleets to weather the Shoals of Trafalgar; but they -were counted as far as forty Sail of Ships of War, which -I suppose to be thirty-four of the Line, and six Frigates. -A group of them was seen off the Lighthouse of Cadiz -this morning, but it blows so very fresh and thick -weather, that I rather believe they will go into the -Harbour before night. May God Almighty give us -success over these fellows, and enable us to get a Peace.”</p></blockquote> - -<p>After Trafalgar had been fought and won, the above -letter was found open on Nelson’s desk.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231">231</a></span> -The 20th was cold, damp, and miserable, but the -fleet had made good speed and was between Capes -Trafalgar and Spartel. By noon the <i>Victory</i> was within -eight or nine leagues of Cadiz.</p> - -<p>Dr Beatty, surgeon of Nelson’s flagship, thus records -how the day was spent:</p> - -<p>“At 8 o’clock in the morning of the 20th, the <i>Victory</i> -hove to, and Admiral Collingwood, with the captains -of the <i>Mars</i>, <i>Colossus</i>, and <i>Defence</i>, came on board to -receive instructions from his Lordship: at eleven -minutes past nine they returned to their respective -ships, and the fleet made sail again to the Northward. -In the afternoon the wind increased, and blew fresh -from the S.W., which excited much apprehension on -board the <i>Victory</i>, lest the enemy might be forced to -return to port. The look-out ships, however, made -several signals for seeing them, and to report their -force and bearings. His Lordship was at that time on -the poop; and turning round, and observing a group -of midshipmen assembled together, he said to them -with a smile, ‘This day, or to-morrow, will be a fortunate -one for you, young men,’ alluding to their being promoted -in the event of a victory. A little before sunset -the <i>Euryalus</i> communicated intelligence by telegraph<a id="FNanchor_69" href="#Footnote_69" class="fnanchor">69</a> -that ‘the enemy appeared determined to go to the -Westward.’ His Lordship, upon this, ordered it to -be signified to Captain Blackwood by signal, that ‘he -depended on the <i>Euryalus</i> for keeping sight of the -enemy during the night.’ The night signals were so -clearly and distinctly arranged by his Lordship, and -so well understood by the respective Captains, that the -enemy’s motions continued to be known to him with -the greatest facility throughout the night: a certain -number of guns with false fires and blue lights, announcing -their course, wearing and making or shortening -sail; and signals communicating such changes were -repeated by the look-out ships, from the <i>Euryalus</i> to -the <i>Victory</i>.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_232">232</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="vspace"><a id="Chapter_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI<br /> - -<span class="subhead">The Rout in Trafalgar Bay<br /> - -<span class="smaller">(1805)</span></span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="center"><div class="ctrblock"> - -<p class="l1 b0">“<i>Thank God, I have done my duty.</i>”</p> - -<p class="p0 b1 right"> -<span class="smcap">Nelson.</span> -</p></div></div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap1">The</span> 21st October 1805 is a red-letter day -in the history of England. Dawn had scarcely -succeeded night ere Nelson was up and -doing. He wore his Admiral’s frock-coat, the only -decoration being four stars of different Orders which -were pinned on his left breast. “In honour I gained -them,” he said, “and in honour I will die with them.” -He had not buckled on his sword, and this is the only -action he fought without it.</p> - -<p>The previous night Villeneuve had signalled for the -columns of his fighting squadron to form in close line of -battle without regard to priority of place, his former -intention having been to give the three-deckers the -more important positions. Captain Lucas of the -<i>Redoutable</i> states that the ships “were all widely -scattered” in consequence of this order. “The ships -of the battle squadron and those of the squadron of -observation were all mixed up,” although the commanders -of the latter did their best to get into something -approaching order.</p> - -<p>Early the following morning—the glorious 21st—the -French Admiral signalled to “clear for action!” -and in response to the <i>Hermione’s</i> message, “The enemy -number twenty-seven sail-of-the-line,” he ordered each -ship to leave but one cable’s length between its immediate<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_233">233</a></span> -neighbour. They were now on the starboard -tack. Almost before these instructions had been -completely carried out Villeneuve decided to alter -their position, signalling them to form in line of battle -on the port tack. The manœuvre was not easily -effected. The wind was light, with a heavy swell, -many ships missed their station, and there were several -gaps and groups of ships along the line instead of -vessels at regular intervals. The newly-formed line -was consequently very irregular and almost crescent-shaped. -Villeneuve, prudent to a fault, wished to -have Cadiz harbour under his lee; he was apparently -already lending his mind to thoughts of disaster.</p> - -<p>Gravina, with the twelve reserve ships, seems to have -pursued his own tactics. Instead of keeping to windward -of the line, so that he might bring succour to -Villeneuve if need should arise, the Vice-Admiral -“moved to the rear to prolong the line”—now extending -some five miles—“without having been signalled -to do so.” Whether Villeneuve took particular notice -of this false move at the time is uncertain, but later, -on his attempt to get his colleague to take up the -position previously arranged for him and which would -have enabled Gravina “to reinforce the centre of the -line against the attack of the enemy,” no attention was -paid to the command. Never was there a more fatal -error of policy. Had the Spanish Admiral been able -to bring twelve ships to bear upon the battle when it -was at its height he might have rendered valuable -assistance.</p> - -<p>Scarcely less reprehensible was the behaviour of -Rear-Admiral Dumanoir Le Pelley, who with ten ships fell -to leeward and formed a rear squadron.<a id="FNanchor_70" href="#Footnote_70" class="fnanchor">70</a> Not until it was -too late did he attempt to take any part in the battle.</p> - -<p>The British fleet was formed into two columns, -eleven ships following the <i>Victory</i> (100), and fourteen -in the rear of the <i>Royal Sovereign</i> (100), under Collingwood. -Nelson’s idea was to bear down upon the enemy<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_234">234</a></span> -with these two divisions and break the centre of the -combined fleet in two places at once, Nelson leading -the weather line, and Collingwood the lee. While -Villeneuve was issuing his last order before the struggle, -“Every ship which is not in action is not at its post,” -the British Commander-in-chief was committing to paper -the following prayer:</p> - -<p>“May the great God whom I worship grant to my -country and for the benefit of Europe in general a -great and glorious victory, and may no misconduct -in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity 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 entrusted me to -defend.”</p> - -<p>Nelson also made his will, heading it, “October -21st 1805, then in sight of the Combined Fleets of -France and Spain, distant about ten miles.” Blackwood -and Hardy attached their signatures as witnesses. -He left Emma, Lady Hamilton, “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 my country my adopted daughter, Horatia -Nelson Thompson; and I desire she will use in future -the name of Nelson only.”</p> - -<div id="ip_234" class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> - <img src="images/i_259.jpg" width="600" height="369" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>Hoisting the Famous Signal</p> - -<p class="notbold">C. M. Padday</p></div></div> - -<p>Blackwood had gone on board the flag-ship at six -o’clock in the morning, and found the admiral “in -good, but very calm spirits.” He tells us in his -“Memoirs” that “during the five hours and a half -that I remained on board the <i>Victory</i>, in which I was -not ten minutes from his side, he frequently asked -me, ‘What I should consider a victory?’ the certainty -of which he never for an instant seemed to doubt, -although, from the situation of the land, he questioned -the possibility of the subsequent preservation of the -prizes. My answer was, that considering the handsome -way in which battle was offered by the enemy, their<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_235">235</a></span> -apparent determination for a fair trial of strength, -and the proximity of the land, I thought if fourteen -ships were captured, it would be a glorious result; -to which he always replied, ‘I shall not, Blackwood, -be satisfied with anything short of twenty.’ A telegraphic -signal had been made by him to denote, ‘that -he intended to break through the rear of the enemy’s -line, to prevent them getting into Cadiz.’ I was -walking with him on the poop, when he said, ‘I’ll -now amuse the fleet with a signal;’ and he asked me -‘if I did not think there was one yet wanting?’ I -answered, that I thought the whole of the fleet seemed -very clearly to understand what they were about, -and to vie with each other who should first get nearest -to the <i>Victory</i> or <i>Royal Sovereign</i>. These words were -scarcely uttered, when his last well-known signal was -made, ‘<span class="smcap">England expects every man will do his -duty</span>.’ The shout with which it was received throughout -the fleet was truly sublime. ‘Now,’ said Lord -Nelson, ‘I can do no more. We must trust to the -Great Disposer of all events, and justice of our cause. -I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my -duty.’”</p> - -<p>It has been pointed out that Blackwood is wrong -in the matter of the cheer “throughout the fleet,” for -several of the crews were not informed as to the purport -of the signal. The Admiral’s first idea was to flag -“Nelson confides that every man will do his duty.” -Captain Blackwood suggested “England” in place of -“Nelson,” which the Admiral told Pasco, the signal officer, -to hoist, adding that he “must be quick” as he had -“one more signal to make, which is for close action.”</p> - -<p>“Then, your Lordship,” ventured Pasco, “if you -will permit me to substitute ‘expects’ for ‘confides’ -the signal can be more quickly completed, because -we have ‘expects’ in the vocabulary, while ‘confides’ -must be spelled.” The code-book therefore won the -day, and a message which has inspired the Navy for -over a century was soon floating on the breeze.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_236">236</a></span> -In this connection there is a tradition that a Scottish -sailor complained to a fellow-countryman: “Not a -word o’ puir auld Scotland.” “Hoots, Sandy,” answered -his comrade, “the Admiral kens that every Scotsman -will do his duty. He’s just giving the Englishers -a hint.”</p> - -<p>To continue Blackwood’s narrative: “The wind -was light from the S.W., and a long swell was setting -into the Bay of Cadiz, so that our ships, like sovereigns -of the ocean, moved majestically before it; every one -crowding all the sail that was possible, and falling into -her station according to her rate of going. The enemy -wore at about seven o’clock, and then stood in a close -line on the larboard tack towards Cadiz. At that -time the sun shone bright on their sails; and from the -number of three-deckers amongst them, they made -a most formidable appearance; but this, so far from -appalling our brave countrymen, induced them to -observe to each other, ‘what a fine sight those ships -would make at Spithead.’<a id="FNanchor_71" href="#Footnote_71" class="fnanchor">71</a> About ten o’clock, Lord -Nelson’s anxiety to close with the enemy became very -apparent. He frequently remarked to me, that they -put a good face upon it; but always quickly added, -‘I’ll give them such a dressing as they never had before,’ -regretting at the same time the vicinity of the land. -At that critical moment I ventured to represent to -his lordship the value of such a life as his, and particularly -in the present battle; and I proposed hoisting -his flag in the <i>Euryalus</i>, whence he could better see -what was going on, as well as what to order in case of -necessity. But he would not hear of it, and gave as -his reason the force of example; and probably he was -right.”</p> - -<p>A sailor who rejoiced in the nickname of Jack Nasty-Face -gives us an excellent view of the proceedings as -the sail-of-the-line were got ready for action: “During -this time each ship was making the usual preparations, -such as breaking away the captain and officers’ cabins,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_237">237</a></span> -and sending the lumber below—the doctors, parson, -purser, and loblolly men were also busy, getting the -medicine chests and bandages and sails prepared for -the wounded to be placed on, that they might be -dressed in rotation as they were taken down to the -after-cockpit. In such bustling, and, it may be said, -trying as well as serious time, it is curious to notice -the different dispositions of the British sailor. Some -would be offering a guinea for a glass of grog, while -others were making a sort of mutual verbal will—such -as, if one of Johnny Crapeau’s shots (a term given to -the French) knocks my head off, you will take all my -effects; and if you are killed, and I am not, why, I -will have yours; and this is generally agreed to....”</p> - -<p>Another intimate word-picture of what happened -just before the contest of giants began is furnished by -General Sir S. B. Ellis, K.C.B., who was a second -lieutenant of Marines in the <i>Ajax</i>. “I was sent below -with orders,” he writes, “and was much struck with -the preparations made by the bluejackets, the majority -of whom were stripped to the waist; a handkerchief -was tightly bound round their heads and over the -eyes, to deaden the noise of the cannon, many men -being deaf for days after an action. The men were -variously occupied; some were sharpening their -cutlasses, others polishing the guns, as though an -inspection were about to take place instead of a mortal -combat, whilst three or four, as if in mere bravado, -were dancing a hornpipe; but all seemed deeply anxious -to come to close quarters with the enemy. Occasionally -they would look out of the ports, and speculate as to -the various ships of the enemy, many of which had -been on former occasions engaged by our vessels.”</p> - -<p>At about noon the first shot was fired. It came -from the <i>Fougueux</i>, a French ship of 74 guns, under -the command of Captain Louis Baudoin.</p> - -<p>The <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, with the <i>Belleisle</i> (74), <i>Mars</i> -(74), and <i>Tonnant</i> (80) just behind her, forged ahead. -Nelson had signalled Collingwood to break the enemy’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_238">238</a></span> -line at the twelfth ship from the rear, but on seeing -that she was only a two-decker Collingwood changed -his course and steered straight for the <i>Santa Ana</i>, -a huge Spanish ship of 112 guns, commanded by Vice-Admiral -Alava. The <i>Fougueux</i> (74) then came up and -endeavoured to prevent Collingwood from getting -through the line. This caused the English Admiral -to order his captain to make a target of the bowsprit -of the Frenchman and steer straight for it. Fortunately -for the enemy she altered her course, but although -she saved herself she did not prevent the <i>Royal Sovereign</i> -from breaking the line.</p> - -<p>Collingwood was in his element; his usual silent -ways gave place to enthusiasm. “What would Nelson -give to be here!” he observed, the while his double-shotted -guns were hurling death into the hold of his -adversary and raking her fore and aft. A broadside -and a half tore down the huge stern gallery of the <i>Santa -Ana</i> (112), and killed and wounded a number of her -crew, all of whom showed by deed and daring that -they were worthy of their famous ancestors.</p> - -<p>Both ships were soon in a pitiable condition, but -they hugged each other in a last desperate struggle. -A terrific cannonade ensued, the <i>Fougueux</i> and the -<i>San Leandro</i> (64) raking the <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, and the -<i>San Justo</i> (74) and <i>Indomptable</i> (80) lending their -assistance some distance away, although it was difficult -for them to distinguish between the two chief contestants, -so dense was the smoke from the guns. Some -fifteen or twenty minutes after Collingwood had maintained -the unequal contest alone, several British ships -came up and paid attention to those of the enemy -which had gone to Alava’s assistance. At about a -quarter past two the mammoth <i>Santa Ana</i> struck -her flag. On the captain delivering up his sword as -deputy for the Vice-Admiral, who lay dreadfully -wounded, he remarked that he thought the conquering -vessel should be called the <i>Royal Devil</i>!</p> - -<div id="ip_238" class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> - <img src="images/i_265.jpg" width="600" height="398" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>Nelson and Collingwood cutting the Enemy’s Lines at Trafalgar</p> - -<p class="notbold">H. C. Seppings Wright</p></div></div> - -<p>Nelson, steering two points more to the north than<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_239">239</a></span> -Collingwood, so as to cut off the enemy’s way of retreat -to Cadiz, came up about half an hour after the latter -had begun his engagement. As the stately flagship -entered the zone of fire a number of Villeneuve’s vessels -poured a perfect avalanche of shot upon her decks. -Down went a score or more of brave fellows, the wheel -was smashed, necessitating the ship being steered in the -gun-room, and a topmast dropped on the deck from -aloft. A shot struck one of the launches, a splinter -tearing a buckle from one of the shoes of either Nelson -or Hardy, which is not quite clear. “They both,” -writes Doctor Beatty, in his “Narrative,” “instantly -stopped, and were observed by the officers on deck to -survey each other with inquiring looks, each supposing -the other to be wounded. His Lordship then -smiled and said, ‘This is too warm work, Hardy, to -last long’; and declared that, through all the battles -he had been in, he had never witnessed more cool -courage than was displayed by the <i>Victory’s</i> crew on -this occasion.”</p> - -<p>Steering for the <i>Santissima Trinidad</i> (130), at that -time the biggest floating arsenal ever built in Europe, -Nelson sought to engage her, but an alteration in -position precluded this, and he tackled the <i>Bucentaure</i> -(80), Villeneuve’s flagship. The French Admiral was -at last face to face with the man whose spirit had haunted -him since he assumed command.</p> - -<p>Crash went the 68-pounder carronade into the -80-gun Frenchman, and down came the greater -part of the <i>Bucentaure’s</i> stern. The <i>Victory</i> then -grappled with the <i>Redoutable</i>, at the same time -receiving a hurricane of fire from the French <i>Neptuno</i> -(80).</p> - -<p>Up in the fighting-tops of the <i>Redoutable</i> (74) were -riflemen trying to pick off the officers of the <i>Victory</i>. -One marksman, a little keener sighted or more fortunately -placed than the others, saw Nelson walking up -and down with Hardy. There was a flash of fire, -a sharp crack as the bullet sped through the air, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_240">240</a></span> -the master mariner of England, of the world, of all -time, fell in a heap upon the deck.</p> - -<p>The fatal ball entered his left shoulder by the edge -of the epaulet, cut through the spine, and finally buried -itself in the muscles of the back.</p> - -<p>Three fellows rushed forward to his assistance.</p> - -<p>“They have done for me at last, Hardy,” he murmured, -as they carried him below.</p> - -<p>“I hope not,” was the Captain’s reply, not knowing -the extent of Nelson’s injuries, and probably thinking -that it might be possible to remove the missile.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my backbone is shot through,” and then -Nelson placed a handkerchief over his face that the -crew might not know who formed the central figure of -the solemn little procession. Some sailors on the -<i>Santissima Trinidad</i>, however, could see from the -stars on his coat that an important officer had fallen, -and cheered.</p> - -<p>They laid him in a midshipman’s berth in the dimly-lit -cockpit. He looked into the face of Death as he -had looked into the face of the enemy, without flinching -but not without hope. Sometimes a sentence would -escape his lips. “Ah, Mr Beatty,” he said to the -surgeon, “you can do nothing for me; my back is -shot through,” and to Dr Scott, the chaplain, “Doctor, -I am gone: I have to leave Lady Hamilton and my -daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country.”</p> - -<p>Very little relief could be afforded him. He sipped -lemonade frequently, his breast was rubbed, and constant -fanning helped to soothe his agonies a little. -Nelson sent for Hardy, whom he valued as an able -officer and friend, but as the Captain could not leave -his post at once the dying man feared for his safety. -“Will no one bring Hardy to me? He must be -killed! He is surely dead!”</p> - -<p>The cheers of the British tars were borne down -to the cockpit as often as an enemy’s ship struck -her flag, and a smile played over the pallid -features. At last Hardy appeared and took his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_241">241</a></span> -chief’s hand. “How goes the day with us?” was the -eager question.</p> - -<p>“Very well, my Lord. We have taken twelve or -fourteen ships; but five of their van have tacked and -mean to bear down on us; but I have called two or -three of our fresh ships round, and have no doubt of -giving them a drubbing.”</p> - -<p>“I hope none of <em>our</em> ships have struck?” Nelson -hastened to ask, seeing that Hardy was anxious to -return to his post.</p> - -<p>“There is no fear of that,” was the reassuring answer.</p> - -<p>Hardy, unable to restrain his tears, ascended the -companion ladder. As the guns were fired into the -passing squadron of Rear-Admiral Dumanoir, the ship -shook violently, thereby causing the dying man intense -agony. “Oh, <i>Victory</i>, <i>Victory</i>,” he cried, “how you -distract my poor brain,” followed by “how dear is -life to all men.” Then his wandering thoughts turned -homeward, and the memory of happy hours at Merton -made him add, “Yet one would like to live a little -longer, too.” Hardy again entered the cockpit with -the good news that fourteen or fifteen ships had struck. -“That is well,” Nelson breathed, “but I bargained -for twenty. Anchor, Hardy, anchor.” The Captain -then asked whether Collingwood should not take the -post of Commander-in-chief. The Admiral answered -with all the force he could muster, “Not whilst I live, -Hardy—no other man shall command whilst I live. -Anchor, Hardy, anchor; if I live I’ll anchor.”</p> - -<p>Nelson was sinking: the moment for taking his -long farewell of his Captain had come. “Don’t throw -me overboard, Hardy. Take care of my dear Lady -Hamilton; take care of poor Lady Hamilton. Kiss -me, Hardy.” As the sorrowful officer bent over him -consciousness began to fade. “Who is that?” he -asked. On being told that it was Hardy, he whispered, -“God bless you, Hardy.”</p> - -<p>His life flickered like the candle fixed on the beam -above, and then slowly went out. He murmured<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_242">242</a></span> -that he wished he had not left the deck, that he had -<em>not</em> been a <em>great</em> sinner, and said with deliberation, -“Thank God, I have done my duty.” “God and my -country” were the last words heard by the sorrowful -little group gathered round their beloved master. In -the arms of Mr Walter Burke, the purser of the ship, -Nelson lay dead.</p> - -<p>And above, the heavy guns thundered a funeral -dirge.</p> - -<p>As we have already seen, the <i>Victory</i> was engaged -in a duel with the <i>Redoutable</i> when Nelson received -his death wound. For a short period the Frenchman -did not return the fire, and thinking that Captain -Lucas was about to surrender, the <i>Victory’s</i> guns also -kept silence. But the interval had been used for -another purpose. The French crew were swarming -over the bulwarks of the British flagship, climbing -chains, and even clambering over the anchor in their -attempt to get on board. A desperate resistance was -offered, Captain Adair was killed by a musket ball, as -well as eighteen marines and twenty seamen.</p> - -<p>Help came from a sister ship. The <i>Téméraire</i> (98)—the -fighting <i>Téméraire</i> of Turner’s glorious picture—was -now astern of the <i>Redoutable</i>. Had she possessed -the machine guns of to-day she could hardly have -swept the decks of the enemy with more deadly effect. -The men who were attempting to board went down -like ninepins. The carnage was awful; the sight -sickening. When the smoke cleared, little heaps of -corpses were seen piled up on the decks, while the -bodies of other poor fellows floated on the sea, now -tinged with the blood of victor and vanquished. Five -hundred and twenty-two of the <i>Redoutable’s</i> crew fell -that day before she struck her colours.</p> - -<div id="ip_242" class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> - <img src="images/i_271.jpg" width="600" height="325" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>The Battle of Trafalgar (the “Victory” in centre of foreground)</p> - -<p class="notbold">W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A.</p> - -<p class="smaller"><b>By permission of the Art Union of London, 112 Strand, Publishers of the Etching</b></p></div></div> - -<p>The <i>Bucentaure</i> and the <i>Santissima Trinidad</i> were -together throughout the battle and received a succession -of attacks from various ships until they surrendered. -Both of them were then little more than dismasted -hulks. Villeneuve fought with the strength of despair,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_243">243</a></span> -but the case was hopeless, and resistance only prolonged -the agony. No assistance came to him despite his -frantic efforts to attract attention. “My part in the -<i>Bucentaure</i> is finished!” he cried at last, and so the -gallant but weak-willed officer was taken.</p> - -<p>In appearance Villeneuve was “a tallish, thin man, -a very tranquil, placid, English-looking Frenchman; -he wore a long-tailed uniform coat, high and flat collar, -corduroy pantaloons of a greenish colour, with stripes -two inches wide, half-boots with sharp toes, and a -watch-chain with long gold links.”<a id="FNanchor_72" href="#Footnote_72" class="fnanchor">72</a></p> - -<p>Other ships surrendered as the day wore on, the -<i>Algéçiras</i> (74) to the <i>Tonnant</i> (80), the <i>Swiftsure</i> (74) -and the <i>Bahama</i> (74) to the <i>Colossus</i> (74), the <i>San Juan -Nepomuceno</i> (74) to the <i>Dreadnought</i> (98). Eighteen -ships of the Allied Fleet were captured; one, the -<i>Achille</i> (74), blew up with a terrific explosion.</p> - -<p>The <i>Victory</i> had been roughly handled by her -adversaries. In Hardy’s report of the 5th December -1805, he says:</p> - -<p>“The hull is much damaged by shot in a number of -different places, particularly in the wales, strings, and -spurketing, and some between wind and water. Several -beams, knees, and riders, shot through and broke; -the starboard cathead shot away; the rails and timbers -of the head and stem cut by shot, and the falling of -the mizen-mast; the principal part of the bulkheads, -halfports, and portsashes thrown overboard in clearing -ship for action.</p> - -<p>“The mizen-mast shot away about 9 feet above the -deck; the main-mast shot through and sprung; the -main-yard gone; the main-topmast and cap shot in -different places and reefed; the main-topsail yard shot -away; the foremast shot through in a number of -different places, and is at present supported by a topmast, -and a part of the topsail and crossjack yards; -the fore-yard shot away; the bowsprit jibboom and -cap shot, and the spritsail and spritsail topsail yards,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_244">244</a></span> -and flying jibboom gone; the fore and main-tops -damaged; the whole of the spare topmast yards, -handmast, and fishes in different places, and converted -into jury geer.</p> - -<p>“The ship makes in bad weather 12 inches water -an hour.”<a id="FNanchor_73" href="#Footnote_73" class="fnanchor">73</a></p> - -<p>At five o’clock Gravina made the signal for retreat. -What a sorry lot they were, those eleven ships—six -Spanish and five French—which with their consorts -had attempted to dethrone the Mistress of the Seas. -Another four under the command of Dumanoir had -also made good their escape, but only to be captured -off Cape Ortegal on November 4th, by Sir Richard -Strachan.</p> - -<p>An eye-witness on board the <i>Belleisle</i> graphically -describes the scene after the last shot had been fired: -“The view of the fleet at this period was highly interesting, -and would have formed a beautiful subject for -a painter. Just under the setting rays were five or six -dismantled prizes; on one hand lay the <i>Victory</i> with -part of our fleet and prizes, and on the left hand the -<i>Royal Sovereign</i> and a similar cluster of ships. To the -northward, the remnant of the combined fleets was -making for Cadiz. The <i>Achille</i>, with the tricoloured -ensign still displayed, had burnt to the water’s edge -about a mile from us, and our tenders and boats were -using every effort to save the brave fellows who had so -gloriously defended her; but only two hundred and -fifty were rescued, and she blew up with a tremendous -explosion.”</p> - -<p>The battle was over, but much yet remained to be -done. Eighteen sail-of-the-line of the Allied Fleet -had struck their flag, and it was Collingwood’s difficult -task to secure the prizes. “A continued series of misfortunes,” -to use the Admiral’s own words, “... of -a kind that human prudence could not possibly -provide against, or my skill prevent,” alone precluded<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_245">245</a></span> -him from keeping more than four trophies of -Trafalgar.</p> - -<p>“On the 22nd, in the morning,” he states in a despatch -to the Admiralty, “a strong southerly wind -blew, with squally weather, which, however, did not -prevent the activity of the officers and seamen of such -ships as were manageable from getting hold of many of -the prizes (thirteen or fourteen), and towing them off -to the westward, where I ordered them to rendezvous -round the <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, in tow by the <i>Neptune</i>. But -on the 23rd the gale increased, and the sea ran so high -that many of them broke the tow-rope, and drifted -far to leeward before they were got hold of again; -and some of them, taking advantage of the dark and -boisterous night, got before the wind, and have perhaps -drifted upon the shore and sunk. On the afternoon -of that day, the remnant of the combined fleet, ten -sail of ships,<a id="FNanchor_74" href="#Footnote_74" class="fnanchor">74</a> which had not been much engaged, stood -up to leeward of my shattered and straggling charge, -as if meaning to attack them, which obliged me to -collect a force out of the least injured ships, and form -to leeward for their defence. All this retarded the -progress of the hulks; and the bad weather continuing, -determined me to destroy all the leewardmost that -could be cleared of the men, considering that keeping -possession of the ships was a matter of little consequence, -compared with the chance of their falling again into -the hands of the enemy; but even this was an arduous -task in the high sea which was running. I hope, however, -it has been accomplished to a considerable extent. -I intrusted it to skilful officers, who would spare no -pains to execute what was possible. The Captains of -the <i>Prince</i> and <i>Neptune</i> cleared the <i>Trinidad</i>, and sunk -her. Captains Hope, Bayntun, and Malcolm, who -joined the fleet this morning, from Gibraltar, had the -charge of destroying four others. The <i>Redoutable</i> -sunk astern of the <i>Swiftsure</i>, while in tow. The <i>Santa -Ana</i> I have no doubt is sunk, as her side is almost<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_246">246</a></span> -entirely beat in; and such is the shattered condition -of the whole of them, that, unless the weather moderates, -I doubt whether I shall be able to carry a ship of them -into port....”</p> - -<p>In a later letter Collingwood says, “There never was -such a combat since England had a fleet.” Three of -the prizes, the <i>Santa Ana</i>, the <i>Neptuno</i>, and the <i>Algéçiras</i> -escaped in the gale and entered Cadiz harbour, the -former two having been retaken by Cosmao Kerjulien, -who lost three ships over the transaction. The <i>Swiftsure</i> -(French), the <i>San Ildefonso</i>, the <i>San Juan Nepomuceno</i>, -and the <i>Bahama</i> were the only Trafalgar prizes -saved; these were taken to Gibraltar.</p> - -<p>Villeneuve was sent to England and afterwards -exchanged, Alava was fortunate enough to reach Cadiz -on board the shattered <i>Santa Ana</i>. Although severely -wounded, he recovered and lived for many years. -Cisneros, after a gallant resistance, also escaped, and -was promoted Vice-Admiral in return for his distinguished -services, later taking up the important positions -of Captain-General and Minister of Marine. Magon, -who fought his flagship the <i>Algéçiras</i> until he was -struck dead after receiving several wounds, is one of -the most glorious names in the naval annals of France. -Three officers in turn were dangerously wounded before -the tattered flag of the battered hulk was finally lowered. -Of the other admirals, Cosmao retook the <i>Santa Ana</i> -and the <i>Neptuno</i>, already noted, Dumanoir was court-martialed, -and Gravina succumbed to his wounds as -these words formed themselves on his almost nerveless -lips: “I am a dying man, but I die happy; I am -going, I hope and trust, to join Nelson, the greatest -hero that the world perhaps has produced.”<a id="FNanchor_75" href="#Footnote_75" class="fnanchor">75</a> Escano -was injured in the leg, but reached Spain safely. -Napoleon’s officers paid dearly for the fight in Trafalgar -Bay, but Villeneuve was the scapegoat of Napoleon’s -ambition. On his return to France he took his own -life.</p> - -<div id="ip_246" class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> - <img src="images/i_277.jpg" width="600" height="438" alt="" /> - <div class="caption"><p>How the news of Trafalgar was carried to London</p> - -<p class="notbold">Frank Dadd, R.I., from a sketch by C. W. Cole</p></div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_247">247</a></span> -Collingwood gave the number of prisoners as 20,000, -and the monetary loss of the enemy nearly £4,000,000, -“most of it gone to the bottom.” The British loss -was 1690 killed and wounded; that of the allies 5860, -although no exact figures are obtainable. The captives -were taken to England, and the officers allowed on -parole, but the seamen and soldiers of the extinguished -Allied Fleet were sent to the prisons of Porchester, -Forton, Weedon, Norman Cross, Mill Bay, and Stapleton, -locked up in local gaols, or interned in hulks. By a -cruel fate the <i>Bahama</i> and the <i>Swiftsure</i> were added to -the number of the latter. Few exchanges were made, -and so the poor fellows either died in exile or remained -until the downfall of Napoleon secured them liberty.</p> - -<p>Thus ended the battle of Trafalgar—Napoleon’s -maritime Waterloo. The idea of a great military -commander conducting operations at sea was proved to -be impracticable, while the superior qualities of British -seamanship were once more evident. The method of -warfare practised by the combined fleet, that of aiming -at the rigging and picking off combatants by sharp-shooting, -was less successful than our own principle -of aiming at the vital parts of the hull. Whereas the -British succeeded in firing a gun nearly once a minute, -it took three minutes for the Allied Fleet to do so. The -total armament on the English vessels numbered 2148 -guns, while the French had 1356, and the Spanish -1270, bringing the combined force to 2626.</p> - -<p>Great Britain gained enormously in prestige as a -result of Nelson’s overwhelming victory. Amongst -other important consequences Trafalgar led Napoleon -to enforce his disastrous Continental System, by means -of which he hoped to exclude from the Continent the -goods of his persistent enemy. This, in its turn, brought -on the war with Russia, a big step towards the final -catastrophe of Waterloo.</p> - -<p>More than two weeks passed before the people of -England received certain intelligence of the great rout -of the enemy in Trafalgar Bay. On the 6th November<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_248">248</a></span> -1805, guns at the Tower and elsewhere announced the -victory, and the glad tidings flashed through the length -and breadth of the <span class="locked">land—</span></p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><i>The heart of England throbbed from sea to sea.</i><br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>But, alas! the idol of the nation lay dead in the -keeping of his comrades and sorrowing England could -never again greet in life the son who had loved her -so well.</p> - -<p>Nelson had touched the imagination of high and low, -and only the sad circumstance of an early death in -the moment of glorious victory was wanted to ensure -him the proudest place in all the long annals of British -naval history.</p> - -<p>Mr William Canton has written an exquisite poem<a id="FNanchor_76" href="#Footnote_76" class="fnanchor">76</a> -which well expresses the mingled feelings of elation and -grief with which the nation received the great news. -He imagines a “glittering autumn morning” in Chester, -the Cathedral bells clashing a jubilant peal for the -victory. But while yet the air is filled with the glad -tongues of the joy-bells—</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"><i> -<span class="i0">Hark, in pauses of the revel—sole and slow—<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Old St Werburgh swung a heavy note of woe!<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Hark, between the jocund peals a single toll,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Stern and muffled, marked the passing of a soul!<br /></span> -<span class="i0">English hearts were sad that day as sad could be;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">English eyes so filled with tears they scarce could see;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And all the joy was dashed with grief in ancient Chester on the Dee!</span></i> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>After Nelson’s remains had been embalmed at Gibraltar -they were conveyed in the <i>Victory</i> to Portsmouth, -which was reached on the 2nd December 1805. -In the early days of the New Year there was a lying-in-state -in the beautiful Painted Hall of Greenwich -Hospital, but comparatively few of the many thousands -of people who wished to pay a last tribute of respect -to the Admiral’s memory were able to do so. The -coffin, made out of the mainmast of the famous <i>l’Orient</i><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_249">249</a></span> -which blew up at the Nile, enclosed in an outer case, -was then removed to the Admiralty, where it remained -until the 9th January 1806, the day of the public -funeral. The Prince of Wales, Dukes of the realm, -prelates, statesmen, admirals, aristocrats and plebeians -crowded into St Paul’s Cathedral, a fitting shrine for -the dust of the greatest sailor of the <span class="locked">country—</span></p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"><i> -<span class="i0">Whose flag has braved a thousand years<br /></span> -<span class="i0">The battle and the breeze.</span></i> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>An Earldom was conferred upon the Rev. William -Nelson, a large sum of money was voted by Parliament -for the purchase of an estate to be named after Trafalgar, -and certain monies were given to the dead Admiral’s -two sisters. By such means the country sought to -discharge its heavy debt to the glorious memory of -Nelson. Nothing was done for Lady Hamilton, and -although, at the time of Nelson’s death, her income -amounted to about £2000 a year she died in very reduced -circumstances at Calais in the year of Waterloo. Her -daughter, and in all probability Nelson’s, was married -on the 24th February 1822 at Burnham, Norfolk, to -the Rev. Phillip Ward, M.A. She is described as both -witty and fascinating, and her portrait by Sir William -Charles Ross makes one believe that she was so.</p> - -<p>More than a century has passed since the great -battle was fought “in Trafalgar’s Bay,” but the memory -of the little, one-eyed, one-armed man is still treasured -by those who believe, as he believed, that the strength -of Great Britain rests upon her command of the sea.</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"><i> -<span class="i0">For he is England’s admiral,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Till setting of her sun.</span></i> -</div></div> -</div> -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_250">250</a></span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a id="Index_of_Proper_Names"></a>Index of Proper Names</h2> - -<ul class="index"><li class="ifrst">Aboukir Bay, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Acre, Siege of, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Acton, Sir John, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Adair, Captain, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Achille</i>, the, <a href="#Page_244">244</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Addington, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Aigle</i>, the, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Admiral Barrington</i>, the, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Africa, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Agamemnon</i>, the, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ajaccio, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Ajax</i>, the, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Alava, Vice-Admiral, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Albemarle</i>, the, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Albert, Prince, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Alcmene</i>, the, <a href="#Page_118">118</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Alexandria, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Alexander</i>, the, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Alexander I., <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Algéçiras</i>, the, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Algeziras, <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Allemand, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Alessandria, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ancona, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ancona, Siege of, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Andrews, Miss, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Andrews, Lieutenant George, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Antigua, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Antipodes, the, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Amazon</i>, the, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a></li> - -<li class="indx">America, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Amiens, Truce of, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Amphion</i>, the, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Archimedes</i>, the, <a href="#Page_120">120</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Arezzo, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Asia, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Audacious</i>, the, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Augereau, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Austria, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Badger</i>, the, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Bahama</i>, the, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Baird, Dr, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ball, Captain Alexander, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Barbadoes, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Barcelona, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Barfleur</i>, the, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Barras, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Barrington, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bastia, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Batavia, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Batavia, Army of, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bath, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Baudoin, Captain Louis, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bavaria, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Baynes, Lieutenant, <a href="#Page_90">90</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bayntun, Captain, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Beachy Head, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Beatty, Dr, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Bedford</i>, the, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Belleisle</i>, the, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Bellerophon</i>, the, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Bellona</i>, the, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Belmonte, Prince, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Berry, Captain, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Berthier, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bey of Tunis, the, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bickerton, Sir Richard, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Boigne, Comtesse de, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Birmingham, <a href="#Page_196">196</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Blackwood, Captain, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Blanche</i>, the, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Blenheim, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Blenheim</i>, the, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bonaparte, Napoleon, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Boreas</i>, the, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Borghetto, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Boulogne, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bowen, Captain Richard, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Box Hill, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Brecon, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Brereton, Brigadier-General, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Brest, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bridport, Admiral Lord, <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Bristol</i>, the, <a href="#Page_30">30</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_251">251</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Britannia</i>, the, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bronté, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Brueys, Admiral, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bruix, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Bucentaure</i>, the, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Burke, Walter, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Burgh, de, Lieutenant-General, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Burnham Thorpe, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Bussorah, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Byron, Admiral, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Cadiz, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233–236</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cadogan, Mrs, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cagliari, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Caimakan Pacha, the, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Ça-Ira</i>, the, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Calabria, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Calais, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Campbell, Rear-Admiral, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Campbell, Commodore Donald, <a href="#Page_221">221</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Canada, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Candia, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Canopus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_201">201</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Canterbury, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Canton, William, <a href="#Page_248">248</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Captain</i>, the, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Capaci, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Capraja, island of, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Capri, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Capua, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Capua, Siege of, <a href="#Page_140">140</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Caracciolo, Commodore, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Carcass</i>, the, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Carlyle, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Caroline, Queen, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Carthagena, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Caserta, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Castel San Giovanni, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cayenne, <a href="#Page_215">215</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Censeur</i>, the, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Ceres</i>, the, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Chatham, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Chatham, First Earl of, <a href="#Page_188">188</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Chatham, Second Earl of, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cherasco, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Chesterfield, Lord, <a href="#Page_52">52</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Chevalier de Michaud, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Choiseul, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cisneros, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Civita Vecchia, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Clarence, Duke of, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cochrane, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cockburn, Captain, <a href="#Page_74">74</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Collingwood, Captain, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Colomb, Admiral, <a href="#Page_12">12</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Colossus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Colpoys, Sir John, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Concepcion</i>, the, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Constantinople, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Copenhagen, battle of, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cordova, Don Josef de, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Corfu, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cornwallis, Earl, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cornwallis, Sir William, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Corsica, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Coruña, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cosmao, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Cronstadt, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Culloden</i>, the, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Culverhouse, Lieutenant, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Dacres, Captain, <a href="#Page_78">78</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dalling, Sir John, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Dannebrog</i>, the, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">D’Aubant, General Abraham, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Davison, Alexander, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Deal, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Decaen, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Decrès, <a href="#Page_230">230</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Defence</i>, the, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Defiance</i>, the, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dego, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Denmark, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Desirée</i>, the, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Despard, Captain, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> - -<li class="indx">D’Estaing, Count, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Diadem</i>, the, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Diamond Rock, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dieppe, <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dixon, Captain Charles, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Dolphin</i>, the, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dominica, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Donegal</i>, the, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a></li> - -<li class="indx">D’Orvilliers, Count, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dover, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Downs, the, <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Draco, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Drake</i>, the, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Dreadnought</i>, the, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dresden, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Drinkwater, Lieutenant-Colonel, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Duckworth, Rear-Admiral, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dumanoir, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_252">252</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx">Dumouriez, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dundas, Lieutenant-General David, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dundonald, Earl of, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Dunkirk, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Duquesne</i>, the, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Egmont</i>, the, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Egypt, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Elba, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">El Arish, Convention of, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Elephant</i>, the, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ellis, Sir S. B., K.C.B., <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Elgin, Earl of, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Elliot, Sir Gilbert, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Elsinore, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></li> - -<li class="indx">England, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Erskine, Sir James, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Essex, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Europe, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Euryalus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Excellent</i>, the, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Fall, the pirate, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Farmer, Captain, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Fearney, William, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ferdinand, King, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ferguson, Mr, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ferrol, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Ferret</i>, the, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Finland, Gulf of, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Fischer, Commodore, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Fitchett, Dr, <a href="#Page_104">104</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Flanders, <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Florence, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Flushing, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Foley, Captain, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Foote, Captain, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Fornelli, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Fougueux</i>, the, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Foudroyant</i>, the, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Fox, General, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Fox</i>, the, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></li> - -<li class="indx">France, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Frederick, Captain, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Frederick the Great, <a href="#Page_117">117</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Fremantle, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Frere, John Hookham, <a href="#Page_204">204</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Freya</i>, the, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Froude, J. A., <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Gaeta, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Galwey, Lieutenant, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Ganges</i>, the, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ganteaume, Vice-Admiral, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gardner, Lord, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Genoa, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> - -<li class="indx">George III., <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gibraltar, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Glasgow</i>, the, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Glatton</i>, the, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gloucester, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Goliath</i>, the, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gourdon, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gourjean, <a href="#Page_65">65</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gozo, <a href="#Page_109">109</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Graham, Brigadier-General, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Græme, Admiral, <a href="#Page_184">184</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Graves, Admiral, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gravina, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Great Britain, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Grenville, Lord, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Gutierrez, Don Antonio, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Haïti, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hallowell (is Carew, Sir Benjamin), <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hamburg, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hamilton, Lady, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hamilton, Sir William, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hardy, Thomas, Masterman, etc., <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Haverfordwest, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Haydn, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Helvoet, <a href="#Page_188">188</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Hermione</i>, the, <a href="#Page_232">232</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hières, Islands of, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Hinchinbrook</i>, the, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hispaniola, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Holland, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hood, Lord, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hope, Captain, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Holstein</i>, the, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_253">253</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx">Hotham, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Howe, Lord, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hughes, Sir Richard, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hughes, Sir Edward, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hughes, Lady, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Hyde Park, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Inconstant</i>, the, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Incorruptible</i>, the, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Indomptable</i>, the, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> - -<li class="indx">India, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Inman, Captain, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Invincible</i>, the, <a href="#Page_165">165</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ipswich, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ireland, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Iris</i>, the, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Irresistible</i>, the, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ischia, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Isis</i>, the, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Italy, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Jamaica</i>, the, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Jamaica, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx">James II., <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Janus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> - -<li class="indx" id="jervis">Jervis, Sir John, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a> (see <a href="#stvincent">St Vincent</a>).</li> - -<li class="indx">Josephine, <a href="#Page_49">49</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Juan, Fort San, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Keith, Lord, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Kent, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Keppel, the Hon. Vice-Admiral A., <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Kiöge Bay, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Kléber, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Knight, Miss Cornelia, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Knight, Sir Joseph, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>La Diane</i>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>La Justice</i>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>La Minerva</i>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Langara, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>L’Aquilon</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>L’Artemise</i>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>La Sérieuse</i>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> - -<li class="indx">La Touche Tréville, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Laughton, Sir J. Knox, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Lauriston, General, <a href="#Page_192">192</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Leander</i>, the, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Conquérant</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Généreux</i>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Leghorn, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Guerrier</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Guillaume Tell</i>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Leopold, Prince of Salerno, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Souverain Peuple</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Spartiate</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Timoleon</i>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Le Tonnant</i>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Levant, the, <a href="#Page_202">202</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>L’Heureux</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Lincoln, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Lindholm, Adjutant-General, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Linzee, Commodore, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Lion</i>, the, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Lisbon, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Lively</i>, the, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Lloyd, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Locker, William, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> - -<li class="indx">London, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>London</i>, the, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>L’Orient</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Loudon, Field-Marshal, <a href="#Page_117">117</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Louis XV. of France, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Louis XVI., <a href="#Page_53">53</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Lowestoffe</i>, the, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Lucas, Captain, <a href="#Page_232">232</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Lutwidge, Admiral, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Macaulay, <a href="#Page_53">53</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Mack, General, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Macdonald, Marshal, <a href="#Page_135">135</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Madalena Islands, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Madrid, <a href="#Page_204">204</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Magon, Admiral, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Mahan, Admiral, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Mahon, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Malcolm, Captain, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Malta</i>, the, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Malta, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Malta, Siege of, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Man, Admiral, <a href="#Page_203">203</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Mantua, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Margate, <a href="#Page_184">184</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Marlborough, Duke of, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Maria Antoinette, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Maria Carolina, Queen, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Maria Theresa, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Maritimo, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Marquis de Niza, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Marquis d’Osmond, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Marseilles, <a href="#Page_201">201</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Mars</i>, the, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Martinique, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx">McArthur, Mr John, <a href="#Page_144">144</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_254">254</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx">Masséna, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Medusa</i>, the, <a href="#Page_187">187</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Melpomène</i>, the, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Melville, Lord, <a href="#Page_217">217</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Mercedes</i>, the, <a href="#Page_214">214</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Merton Place, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Messer, Captain, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Messina, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Milford, Duke of, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Miller, Captain R. W., <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Millesimo, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Minerve</i>, the, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Minto, Lord, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Minorca, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Miomo, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Missiessy, Admiral, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Monarch</i>, the, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Mondovi, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Monmouth, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Moore, Sir John, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Montague, Admiral George, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Montenotte, battle of, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Montreuil, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Montserrat, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Morea, the, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Moreau, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Morpeth, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Morris, Judge O’Connor, <a href="#Page_122">122</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Mortello, tower of, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Moseley, Dr, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Moutray, Captain, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Mulgrave, Lord, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Myers, Sir William, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Namur</i>, the, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Naples, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Napoleon, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nelson, Catherine, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nelson, Edmund, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nelson, William, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Neptune</i>, the, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Neptuno</i>, the, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nevis, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Newfoundland, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Newhouse, Captain, <a href="#Page_110">110</a></li> - -<li class="indx">New York, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nicolas, Sir Harris, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nile, battle of, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nisbet, Josiah, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nisbet, Mrs, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nore, the, <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Northumberland</i>, the, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Norfolk, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> - -<li class="indx">North America, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> - -<li class="indx">North Walsham, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Norwich, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nuovo, fort of, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nova Scotia, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Novi, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Nuovo, fort of, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Otto, M., <a href="#Page_191">191</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Oldfield, Captain, <a href="#Page_90">90</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Oporto, <a href="#Page_127">127</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Orde, Sir John, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Orfordness, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Orion</i>, the, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Oxford, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Paget, the Hon. A., <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Palermo, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pantellaria, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Paoli, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Paris, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Parker, Captain, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Parker, Lady, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Parker, Sir Peter, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Parker, Sir Hyde, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Parker, Sir William, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Parsons, Lieutenant G. S., <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pasco, <a href="#Page_235">235</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Paul I., <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Pegasus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pellew, <a href="#Page_202">202</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Penelope</i>, the, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Percy, Josceline, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Perrée, Rear-Admiral, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Petersburg, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pettigrew, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Phipps, Captain Constantine John, <a href="#Page_26">26</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Piccadilly, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Piedmont, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pierson, Lieutenant, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pigot, Captain James, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pisaro, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pitt, William, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Plymouth, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Polson, Sir John, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Polyphemus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ponza Islands, <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Pope, <a href="#Page_43">43</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Porqueroles, castle of, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Port Mahon, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Porto Ferrajo, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Port Royal, <a href="#Page_33">33</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_255">255</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx">Portsmouth, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Portugal, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Prague, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Preston, Captain D’Arcy, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Prince Regent, the, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Prince George</i>, the, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Principe d Asturias</i>, the, <a href="#Page_89">89</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Procida, Islands of, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Proselyte</i>, the, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Prussia, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Quebec, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Racehorse</i>, the, <a href="#Page_26">26</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Raisonnable</i>, the, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Ramilies</i>, the, <a href="#Page_176">176</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ramsgate, <a href="#Page_184">184</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Rathbone, John, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Redoutable</i>, the, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Revenge</i>, the, <a href="#Page_203">203</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Richery, Admiral, <a href="#Page_203">203</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Riou, Captain, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Robinson, Captain Mark, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Rochefort, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Rogers, Samuel, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Rogliani, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Rome, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Romney, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Rose, Captain, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Rosily, <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ross, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ross, Sir William Charles, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Royal Sovereign</i>, the, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ruffo, Cardinal, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Russell</i>, the, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Russia, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Santissima Trinidad</i>, the, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sardinia, King of, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sardinia, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Saumarez, Captain Sir James, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Savannah, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Scott, Dr, <a href="#Page_240">240</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Seahorse</i>, the, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sheerness, <a href="#Page_184">184</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sicily, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Siren</i>, the, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Smith, Sir Sidney, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Smith, Spencer, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Smyrna, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Southey, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Southolm, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Spain, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Spencer, Lord, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Spezia, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Spithead, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a></li> - -<li class="indx">St Cyr, General, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></li> - -<li class="indx">St George, Mrs, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>St George</i>, the, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> - -<li class="indx">St Kitts, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></li> - -<li class="indx">St Lucia, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> - -<li class="indx">St Omer, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> - -<li class="indx" id="stvincent">St Vincent (see <a href="#jervis">Jervis</a>), <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a></li> - -<li class="indx">San Domingo, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a></li> - -<li class="indx">San Fiorenzo, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>San Josef</i>, the, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>San Juan Nepomuceno</i>, the, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>San Justo</i>, the, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>San Leandro</i>, the, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>San Nicholas</i>, the, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Sannite</i>, the, <a href="#Page_120">120</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Sans Culottes</i>, the, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Santa Ana</i>, the, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Santa Cruz, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Santa Sabina</i>, the, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Spry, Mr, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Staines, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sterne, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Stewart, Colonel William, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Stirling, Admiral, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Strachan, Sir Richard, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Stuart, Captain Don Jacobo, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Stuart, General, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Success</i>, the, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Suckling, John, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Suckling, Captain Maurice, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Suckling, William, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Suffolk, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Superb</i>, the, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Surrey, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sussex, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Suwarrow, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Swansea, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sweden, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Swiftsure</i>, the, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Switzerland, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Sykes, John, <a href="#Page_88">88</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Syracuse, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Taranto, <a href="#Page_208">208</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_256">256</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Téméraire</i>, the, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Teneriffe, <a href="#Page_89">89</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Tetuan, <a href="#Page_220">220</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Thalia</i>, the, <a href="#Page_110">110</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Theseus</i>, the, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Thesiger, Captain Sir Frederick, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Thompson, Horatia Nelson, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Thunderer</i>, the, <a href="#Page_228">228</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Thurn, Count, <a href="#Page_136">136</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Thursfield, James R., <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Tippoo Saib, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Tobago, <a href="#Page_221">221</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Tonnant</i>, the, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Toro, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Toulon, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Trabaccoli, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Trafalgar, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Trench, Mrs, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Trench, R. C, Archbishop of Dublin, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Trieste, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Triumph</i>, the, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Trinidad, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Troubridge, Captain, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Tucker, Colonel J. M., <a href="#Page_26">26</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Tunis, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Turin, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Turkey, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Tuscany, Grand Duke of, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Tuscany, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Unité</i>, the, <a href="#Page_184">184</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ushant, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Vado Bay, <a href="#Page_130">130</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Valetta, <a href="#Page_150">150</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Vanguard</i>, the, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Vansittart, Mr, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Vaudreuil, M., <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Vestale</i>, the, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Victory</i>, the, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Vienna, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Vigo, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Villeneuve, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Villettes, Lieutenant-Colonel, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Vincent, Earl of St (see <a href="#jervis">Jervis</a>)</li> - -<li class="indx">Voinovitsch, Count, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Voltri, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Wales, <a href="#Page_195">195</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Walpole, Galfridus, <a href="#Page_120">120</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Walpole, Sir Robert, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Ward, Rev. Phillip, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Warwick, <a href="#Page_196">196</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Waterloo, <a href="#Page_247">247</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Wellington, Duke of, <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li> - -<li class="indx">West Indies, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Whitehall, <a href="#Page_227">227</a></li> - -<li class="indx">William, Prince (or William IV.), <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>William Tell</i>, the, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Wolfe, <a href="#Page_61">61</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Woodward, Dr., <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Woolwich, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Wooton, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Worcester, <a href="#Page_196">196</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Worcester</i>, the, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Wroxham, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst">Yarmouth, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Yorktown, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> - -<li class="ifrst"><i>Zealand</i>, the, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> - -<li class="indx"><i>Zealous</i>, the, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> - -<li class="indx">Zurich, battle of, <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> - -</ul> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="footnotes"> -<h2 class="nobreak p1"><a id="FOOTNOTES"></a>FOOTNOTES</h2> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="fnanchor">1</a> Robert Browning.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="fnanchor">2</a> The Report is given in full in Laughton’s edition of “Nelson’s -Letters and Despatches,” pp. 409–11. The editor discovered it in the -Record Office, Admiral’s Despatches, Mediterranean, xxxi. 272.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="fnanchor">3</a> See lines on <a href="#Page_18">page opposite</a>.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="fnanchor">4</a> A Chippendale arm-chair, which was given to Nelson by his great -grandfather, was presented by the boy to Mrs Luckins, his nurse, -when he left home to join the Navy. It appeared in an auction room -so recently as 1908.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="fnanchor">5</a> In other words, tow the vessels.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="fnanchor">6</a> Ships of war sent to accompany merchantmen during hostilities so -as to protect them from the enemy.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="fnanchor">7</a> A private vessel commissioned to attack and capture the vessels of -an enemy.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="fnanchor">8</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">post</i>, Chapter xix.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="fnanchor">9</a> Nelson’s successor and friend.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="fnanchor">10</a> Sir Richard Bickerton (1727–92) sailed from England with a convoy -on the 6th February 1782. He took part in an indecisive engagement -with Suffrein, off Pondicherry, on the 20th June 1783. Not more -than two-thirds of the British crews were effective owing to scurvy.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="fnanchor">11</a> In his Autobiography Nelson gives the number as three.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="fnanchor">12</a> More detailed particulars of this thrilling siege will be found in -the author’s companion volume, “The Story of Napoleon,” pp. 60–64.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="fnanchor">13</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ante</i>, page 43.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="fnanchor">14</a> Captain Benjamin Hallowell (1760–1834). He afterwards assumed -the name of Carew, and became a Vice-Admiral in 1819.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="fnanchor">15</a> “The Royal Navy,” by Wm. Laird Clowes, vol. iv., p. 153, vol. v., -pp. 9–10.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="fnanchor">16</a> “The Navy League Annual, 1910–11,” p. 226.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="fnanchor">17</a> Parsons gives Nelson the title which he had not then won. See -<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">post</i>, p. 85.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="fnanchor">18</a> “Larboard” has now been superseded by “port,” <i>i.e.</i> the left.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="fnanchor">19</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">post</i> p. 224.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="fnanchor">20</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ante</i>, p. 90.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="fnanchor">21</a> The Earl of St Vincent appointed him a Master and Commander.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22" class="fnanchor">22</a> Captain Richard Bowen, of H.M.S. <i>Terpsichore</i>, who was killed at -Santa Cruz.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23" class="fnanchor">23</a> This is in marked contrast to the generous words he wrote to the -Earl of St Vincent on the 24th July.—See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ante</i>, p. 90.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24" class="fnanchor">24</a> To bring the vessel round with her stern to the wind.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25" class="fnanchor">25</a> <i>i.e.</i> the Toulon fleet.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26" class="fnanchor">26</a> His “Authentic Narrative” of the battle was published in 1798, -and is a plain, straightforward account of Nelson’s first great naval -action without a superior in command. We shall have occasion to -quote it freely in this chapter. Berry was Nelson’s captain.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27" class="fnanchor">27</a> See “Deeds that Won the Empire,” p. 100.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28" class="fnanchor">28</a> <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Ibid.</i> p. 103.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29" class="fnanchor">29</a> See <cite>Comment</cite>, ii. 341–2, also Mahan’s “Sea Power,” i. 269.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30" class="fnanchor">30</a> Among those who perished were Commodore Casabianca and his -young son, whose bravery is immortalised in the well-known poem by -Mrs Hemans.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31" class="fnanchor">31</a> Battle of the Nile.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32" class="fnanchor">32</a> Miss Knight is referring to the Earl of St Vincent’s flagship, and -not to a vessel named after him.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33" class="fnanchor">33</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ante</i>, pp. 72–3.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34" class="fnanchor">34</a> He had held the position since 1765.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35" class="fnanchor">35</a> In 1804.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36" class="fnanchor">36</a> Maria Theresa (1717–1780), Archduchess of Austria, Queen of -Hungary and Bohemia, and Empress of Germany. She crossed swords -with Frederick the Great on more than one occasion, and participated -in the partition of Poland, 1772.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37" class="fnanchor">37</a> Parthenopeia was the ancient name of Naples.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38" class="fnanchor">38</a> Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39" class="fnanchor">39</a> After the fall of the Bastille on the 14th July 1789, many of the -French nobility left the country. In 1790, hereditary nobility was -abolished by the National Assembly. <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Émigrés</i> who had not returned -to France by the 1st January 1792 were declared traitors.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40" class="fnanchor">40</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">post</i>, pp. 131–8.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41" class="fnanchor">41</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">post</i>, Chapters xiv. and xv.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42" class="fnanchor">42</a> This additional corroborative evidence has not been noticed by -many of Nelson’s recent biographers.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_43" href="#FNanchor_43" class="fnanchor">43</a> The squadron in Naples Bay was placed under Troubridge.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_44" href="#FNanchor_44" class="fnanchor">44</a> Pius VI.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_45" href="#FNanchor_45" class="fnanchor">45</a> See <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ante</i>, p. 24.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_46" href="#FNanchor_46" class="fnanchor">46</a> The arrival of <i>La Marguerite</i> on the 14th June, with provisions for -the French garrison. Keith’s letters are printed as he wrote them.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_47" href="#FNanchor_47" class="fnanchor">47</a> Vol. i., pp. 212–7. Dated Palermo, May 13, 1800.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_48" href="#FNanchor_48" class="fnanchor">48</a> Compare this statement with that of Paget, given on p. 154.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_49" href="#FNanchor_49" class="fnanchor">49</a> Lady Hamilton’s mother.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_50" href="#FNanchor_50" class="fnanchor">50</a> Miss Knight and Mrs Cadogan sailed on one of the frigates, commanded -by Captain Messer, an Englishman.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_51" href="#FNanchor_51" class="fnanchor">51</a> She was the daughter of a domestic servant, and at the age of -thirteen became a children’s nurse.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_52" href="#FNanchor_52" class="fnanchor">52</a> Afterwards increased to eighteen.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_53" href="#FNanchor_53" class="fnanchor">53</a> Subsequently Lord Bexley.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_54" href="#FNanchor_54" class="fnanchor">54</a> Parker’s flag-ship.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_55" href="#FNanchor_55" class="fnanchor">55</a> This incident is bereft of much of its romance by the knowledge -that Sir Hyde Parker sent a verbal message to the effect that the -question of discontinuing the action was left to the discretion of -Nelson.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_56" href="#FNanchor_56" class="fnanchor">56</a> <span class="smcap">To the Government of Denmark.</span> <i>Elephant, 2nd April, 1801</i>: -Lord Nelson’s object in sending on shore a Flag of Truce is humanity: -he, therefore, consents that hostilities shall cease till Lord Nelson can -take his prisoners out of the Prizes, and he consents to land all the -wounded Danes, and to burn or remove his Prizes. Lord Nelson, -with humble duty to His Royal Highness, begs leave to say, that he -will ever esteem it the greatest victory he ever gained, if this Flag of -Truce may be the happy forerunner of a lasting and happy union -between my most gracious Sovereign and his Majesty the King of -Denmark.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_57" href="#FNanchor_57" class="fnanchor">57</a> <span class="smcap">To the Brothers of Englishmen, the Danes.</span> Lord Nelson has -directions to spare Denmark, when no longer resisting; but if the -firing is continued on the part of Denmark, Lord Nelson will be -obliged to set on fire all the Floating-batteries he has taken, without -having the power of saving the brave Danes who have defended them. -Dated on board his Britannic Majesty’s ship <i>Elephant</i>, Copenhagen -Roads, <i>April 2nd, 1801</i>.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_58" href="#FNanchor_58" class="fnanchor">58</a> Nelson afterwards found it necessary to address the Rt. Hon. -Henry Addington, then Prime Minister, on the subject. In a letter -written on the 8th May 1801, he refers to those who thought the -sending of a flag of truce a <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">ruse de guerre</i>, to others who “attributed it -to a desire to have no more fighting, and few, very few, to the cause -that I felt, and which I trust in God I shall retain to the last moment, -<em>humanity</em>.”</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_59" href="#FNanchor_59" class="fnanchor">59</a> The letter will be found in full in footnote 1, p. 175.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_60" href="#FNanchor_60" class="fnanchor">60</a> See “Napoleon and the Invasion of England,” by H. F. B. -Wheeler and A. M. Broadley, especially vol. i. pp. 159–194.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_61" href="#FNanchor_61" class="fnanchor">61</a> A volunteer corps enrolled for the purpose of defending the -coast.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_62" href="#FNanchor_62" class="fnanchor">62</a> See “Annual Register,” for 1801, p. 269.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_63" href="#FNanchor_63" class="fnanchor">63</a> The <i>Aigle</i> had taken refuge in Cadiz harbour.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_64" href="#FNanchor_64" class="fnanchor">64</a> The despatch is quoted in French by Professor Sir W. Knox -Laughton in his edition of Sir N. Harris Nicolas’s great work (pp. -354–5).</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_65" href="#FNanchor_65" class="fnanchor">65</a> See Mahan’s “Nelson,” p. 661, and Laughton, p. 202.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_66" href="#FNanchor_66" class="fnanchor">66</a> These were crippled ships detached by Villeneuve.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_67" href="#FNanchor_67" class="fnanchor">67</a> Mahan accepts this, but Laughton discredits it.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_68" href="#FNanchor_68" class="fnanchor">68</a> The total British broadside was 1000 lbs. less.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_69" href="#FNanchor_69" class="fnanchor">69</a> Not by telegraph as we understand it, but by semaphore.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_70" href="#FNanchor_70" class="fnanchor">70</a> De la Gravière, p. 252.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_71" href="#FNanchor_71" class="fnanchor">71</a> Blackwood is, of course, generalising.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_72" href="#FNanchor_72" class="fnanchor">72</a> “Seadrift,” p. 253.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_73" href="#FNanchor_73" class="fnanchor">73</a> “The Three Dorset Captains at Trafalgar.” By A. M. Broadley -and R. G. Bartelot, M.A., p. 286.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_74" href="#FNanchor_74" class="fnanchor">74</a> Eleven ships in all escaped into Cadiz.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_75" href="#FNanchor_75" class="fnanchor">75</a> “Diary of the first Earl of Malmesbury,” vol. iv., p. 354.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_76" href="#FNanchor_76" class="fnanchor">76</a> <i>Trafalgar</i> in “W. V. Her Book and Various Verses.”</p></div> -</div></div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2 class="nobreak p1"><a id="Transcribers_Notes"></a>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> - -<p>Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a predominant -preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.</p> - -<p>Simple typographical errors were corrected.</p> - -<p>Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.</p> - -<p>Index entries were not checked for proper alphabetization or -correct page references. They were not systematically compared -with their spellings on the pages they reference, but when -differences were found, the Index entries were changed to -match the references.</p> - -<p>In the Index, ships’ names were printed in italics and all other -entries were printed in boldface. To improve readability in this -eBook, the boldface entries are shown in normal weight.</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_27">27</a>: “walrusses” was printed that way.</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_33">33</a>: “Haïti” was printed that way; in the Index, it is printed -as “Häiti”.</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_149">149</a>: Closing quotation mark added after “command in the Mediterranean.”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_246">246</a>: “court-martialed” originally was printed as “court-marshalled”. -</p> -</div></div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Boys' Nelson, by Harold F. B. 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