the life of horatio lord nelson-第1章

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The　Life　of　Horatio　Lord　Nelson

by　Robert　Southey



TO　JOHN　WILSON　CROKER　ESQ。；
LL。D。；　F。R。S。；
SECRETARY　OF　THE　ADMIRALTY；
WHO；　BY　THE　OFFICIAL　SITUATION　WHICH　HE　SO　ABLY　FILLS；
IS　QUALIFIED　TO　APPRECIATE　ITS　HISTORICAL　ACCURACY；
AND　WHO；
AS　A　MEMBER　OF　THE　REPUBLIC　OF　LETTERS；
IS　EQUALLY　QUALIFIED　TO　DECIDE　UPON　ITS
LITERARY　MERITS；
THIS　WORK
IS　RESPECTFULLY　INSCRIBED　BY　HIS　FRIEND；
THE　AUTHOR



　Many　Lives　of　Nelson　have　been　written；　one　is　yet　wanting；　clear　and　concise　enough　to　become　a　manual　for　the　young　sailor；　which　he　may　carry　about　with　him　till　he　has　treasured　it　up　for　example　in　his　memory　and　in　his　heart。　In　attempting　such　a　work　I　shall　write　the　eulogy　of　our　great　national　hero；　for　the　best　eulogy　of　NELSON　is　the　faithful　history　of　his　actions；　and　the　best　history　must　be　that　which　shall　relate　them　most　perspicuously。




CHAPTER　I

1758　…　1783


Nelson's　Birth　and　BoyhoodHe　is　entered　on　Board　the　RAISONABLE　Goes　to　the　West　Indies　in　a　Merchant…ship；　then　serves　in　the　TRIUMPH　He　sails　in　Captain　Phipps'　Voyage　of　DiscoveryGoes　to　the　East　Indies　in　the　SEAHORSE；　and　returns　in　ill　HealthServes　as　acting　Lieutenant　in　the　WORCESTER；　and　is　made　Lieutenant　into　the　LOWESTOFFE；　Commander　into　the　BADGER　Brig；　and　Post　into　the　HINCHINBROKE　Expedition　against　the　Spanish　MainSent　to　the　North　Seas　in　the　ALBERMARLEServices　during　the　American　War。

*


HORATIO；　son　of　Edmund　and　Catherine　Nelson；　was　born　September　29；　1758；　in　the　parsonage…house　of　Burnham　Thorpe；　a　village　in　the　county　of　Norfolk；　of　which　his　father　was　rector。　His　mother　was　a　daughter　of　Dr。　Suckling；　prebendary　of　Westminster；　whose　grandmother　was　sister　of　Sir　Robert　Walpole；　and　this　child　was　named　after　his　godfather；　the　first　Lord　Walpole。　Mrs。　Nelson　died　in　1767；　leaving　eight　out　of　eleven　children。　Her　brother；　Captain　Maurice　Suckling；　of　the　navy　visited　the　widower　upon　this　event；　and　promised　to　take　care　of　one　of　the　boys。　Three　years　afterwards；　when　HORATIO　was　only　twelve　years　of　age；　being　at　home　during　the　Christmas　holidays；　he　read　in　the　county　newspaper　that　his　uncle　was　appointed　to　the　RAISONNABLE；　of　sixty…four　guns。〃Do；　William；〃　said　he　to　a　brother　who　was　a　year　and　a　half　older　than　him…　self；　〃write　to　my　father；　and　tell　him　that　I　should　like　to　go　to　sea　with　uncle　Maurice。〃　Mr。Nelson　was　then　at　Bath；　whither　he　had　gone　for　the　recovery　of　his　health：　his　circumstances　were　straitened；　and　he　had　no　prospect　of　ever　seeing　them　bettered：　he　knew　that　it　was　the　wish　of　providing　for　himself　by　which　Horatio　was　chiefly　actuated；　and　did　not　oppose　his　resolution；　he　understood　also　the　boy's　character；　and　had　always　said；　that　in　whatever　station　he　might　be　placed；　he　would　climb　if　possible　to　the　very　top　of　the　tree。　Captain　Suckling　was　written　to。　〃What；〃　said　he　in　his　answer；〃has　poor　Horatio　done；　who　is　so　weak；　that　he；　above　all　the　rest；　should　be　sent　to　rough　it　out　at　sea？But　let　him　come；　and　the　first　time　we　go　into　action；　a　cannon…ball　may　knock　off　his　head；　and　provide　for　him　at　once。〃

It　is　manifest　from　these　words　that　Horatio　was　not　the　boy　whom　his　uncle　would　have　chosen　to　bring　up　in　his　own　profession。　He　was　never　of　a　strong　body；　and　the　ague；　which　at　that　time　was　one　of　the　most　common　diseases　in　England；　had　greatly　reduced　his　strength；　yet　he　had　already　given　proofs　of　that　resolute　heart　and　nobleness　of　mind　which；　during　his　whole　career　of　labour　and　of　glory；　so　　eminently　distinguished　him。　When　a　mere　child；　he　strayed　a…birds'…nesting　from　his　grandmother's　house　in　company　with　a　cowboy：　the　dinner…hour　elapsed；　he　was　absent；　and　could　not　be　found；　and　the　alarm　of　the　family　became　very　great；　for　they　apprehended　that　he　might　have　been　carried　off　by　gipsies。　At　length；　after　search　had　been　made　for　him　in　various　directions；　he　was　discovered　alone；　sitting　composedly　by　the　side　of　a　brook　which　he　could　not　get　over。　〃I　wonder；　child；〃　said　the　old　lady　when　she　saw　him；〃that　hunger　and　fear　did　not　drive　you　home。〃　〃Fear！　grandmama：〃　replied　the　future　hero；〃I　never　saw　fear：What　is　it？〃　Once；　after　the　winter　holidays；　when　he　and　his　brother　William　had　set　off　on　horseback　to　return　to　school；　they　came　back；　because　there　had　been　a　fall　of　snow；　and　William；　who　did　not　much　like　the　journey；　said　it　was　too　deep　for　them　to　venture　on。　〃If　that　be　the　case；〃　said　the　father；　〃you　certainly　shall　not　go；　but　make　another　attempt；　and　I　will　leave　it　to　your　honour。　If　the　road　is　dangerous　you　may　return：　but　remember；　boys；　I　leave　it　to　your　honour！〃　The　snow　was　deep　enough　to　have　afforded　them　a　reasonable　excuse；　but　Horatio　was　not　to　be　prevailed　upon　to　turn　back。　〃We　must　go　on；〃　said　he：　〃remember；　brother；　it　was　left　to　our　honour！〃There　were　some　fine　pears　growing　in　the　schoolmaster's　garden；　which　the　boys　regarded　as　lawful　booty；　and　in　the　highest　degree　tempting；　but　the　boldest　among　them　were　afraid　to　venture　for　the　prize。　Horatio　volunteered　upon　this　service：　he　was　lowered　down　at　night　from　the　bedroom　window　by　some　sheets；　plundered　the　tree；　was　drawn　up　with　the　pears；　and　then　distributed　them　among　his　school…fellows　without　reserving　any　for　himself。　〃He　only　took　them；〃　he　said；　〃because　every　other　boy　was　afraid。〃

Early　on　a　cold　and　dark　spring　morning　Mr。　Nelson's　servant　arrived　at　this　school；　at　North　Walsham；　with　the　expected　summons　for　Horatio　to　join　his　ship。　The　parting　from　his　brother　William；　who　had　been　for　so　many　years　his　playmate　and　bed…fellow；　was　a　painful　effort；　and　was　the　beginning　of　those　privations　which　are　the　sailor's　lot　through　life。　He　accompanied　his　father　to　London。　The　RAISONNABLE　was　lying　in　the　Medway。　He　was　put　into　the　Chatham　stage；　and　on　its　arrival　was　set　down　with　the　rest　of　the　passengers；　and　left　to　find　his　way　on　board　as　he　could。　After　wandering　about　in　the　cold；　without　being　able　to　reach　the　ship；　an　officer　observed　the　forlorn　appearance　of　the　boy；　questioned　him；　and　happening　to　be　acquainted　with　his　uncle；　took　him　home　and　gave　him　some　refreshments。　When　he　got　on　board；　Captain　Suckling　was　not　in　the　ship；　nor　had　any　person　been　apprised　of　the　boy's　coming。　He　paced　the　deck　the　whole　remainder　of　the　day　without　being　noticed　by　any　one；　and　it　was　not　till　the　second　day　that　somebody；　as　he　expressed　it；　〃took　compassion　on　him。〃　The　pain　which　is　felt　when　we　are　first　transplanted　from　our　native　soilwhen　the　living　branch　is　cut　from　the　parent　tree　is　one　of　the　most　poignant　which　we　have　to　endure　through　life。　There　are　after…griefs　which　wound　more　deeply；　which　leave　behind　them　scars　never　to　be　effaced；　which　bruise　the　spirit；　and　sometimes　break　the　heart；　but　never　do　we　feel　so　keenly　the　want　of　love；　the　necessity　of　being　loved；　and　the　sense　of　utter　desertion；　as　when　we　first　leave　the　haven　of　home；　and　are；　as　it　were；　pushed　off　upon　the　stream　of　life。　Added　to　these　feelings；　the　sea…boy　has　to　endure　physical　hardships；　and　the　privation　of　every　comfort；　even　of　sleep。　Nelson　had　a　feeble　body　and　an　affectionate　heart；　and　he　remembered　through　life　his　first　days　of　wretchedness　in　the　service。

The　RAISONNABLE　having　been　commissioned　on　account　of　the　dispute　respecting　the　Falkland　Islands；　was　paid　off　as　soon　as　the　difference　with　the　court　of　Spain　was　accommodated；　and　Captain　Suckling　was　removed　to　the　TRIUMPH；　seventy…four；　then　stationed　as　a　guard…ship　in　the　Thames。　This　was　considered　as　too　inactive　a　life　for　a　boy；　and　Nelson　was　therefore　sent　a　voyage　to　the　West　Indies　in　a　merchant…　ship；　commanded　by　Mr。　John　Rathbone；　an　excellent　seaman；　who　had　served　as　master's　mate　under　Captain　Suckling　in　the　Dreadnought。　He　returned　a　practical　seaman；　but　with　a　hatred　of　the　king's　service；　and　a　saying　then　common　among　the　sailors〃Aft　the　most　honour；　forward　the　better　man。〃　Rathbone　had　probably　been　disappointed　and　disgusted　in　the　navy；　and；　with　no　unfriendly　intentions；　warned　Nelson　against　a　profession　which　he　himself　had　found　hopeless。　His　uncle　received　him　on　board　the　TRIUMPH　on　his　return；　and　discovering　his　dislike　to　the　navy；　took　the　best　means　of　reconciling　him　to　it。　He　held　it　out　as　a　reward　that；　if　he　attended　well　to　his　navigation；　he　should　go　in　the　cutter　and　decked　long…boat；　which　was　attached　to　the　commanding…officer's　ship　at　Chatham。　Thus　he　became　a　good　pilot　for　vessels　of　that　description　from　Chatham　to　the　Tower；　and　down　the　Swin　Channel　to　the　North　Foreland；　and　acquired　a　confidence　among　rocks　and　sands　of　which　he　often　felt　the　value。

Nelson　had　not　been　many　months　on　board　the　TRIUMPH；　when　his　love　of　enterprise　was　excited　by　hearing　that　two　ships　were　fitting　out　for　a　voyage　of　discovery　towards　the　North　Pole。　In　consequence　of　the　difficulties　which　were　expected　on　such　a　service；　these　vessels　were　to　take　out　effective　men　instead　of　the　usual　number　of　boys。　This；　however；　did　not　deter　him　from　soliciting　to　be　received；　and；　by　his　uncle's　interest；　he　was　admitted　as　coxswain　under　Captain　Lutwidge；　second　in　command。　The　voyage　was　undertaken　in　compliance　with　an　application　from　the　Royal　Society。　The　Hon。　Captain　Constantine　John　Phipps；　eldest　son　of　Lord　Mulgrave；　volunteered　his　services。　The　RACEHORSE　and　CARCASS　bombs　were　selected　as　the　strongest　ships；　and；　therefore；　best　adapted　for　such　a　voyage；　and　they　were　taken　into　dock　and　strengthened；　to　render　them　as　secure　as　possible　against　the　ice。　Two　masters　of　Greenlandmen　were　employed　as　pilots　for　each　ship。　No　expedition　was　ever　more　carefully　fitted　out；　and　the　First　Lord　of　the　Admiralty；　Lord　Sandwich；　with　a　laudable　solicitude；　went　on　board　himself；　before　their　departure；　to　see　that　everything　had　been　completed　to　the　wish　of　the　officers。　The　ships　were　provided　with　a　simple　and　excellent　apparatus　for　distilling　fresh　from　salt　water；　the　invention　of　Dr。　Irving；　who　accompanied　the　expedition。　It　consisted　merely　in　fitting　a　tube　to　the　ship's　kettle；　and　applying　a　wet　mop　to　the　surface　as　the　vapour　was　passing。　By　these　means；　from　thirty…four　to　forty　gallons　were　produced　every　day。

They　sailed　from　the　Nore　on　the　4th　of　June。　On　the　6th　of　July　they　were　in　latitude　79d　56m　39s；　longitude　9d　43m　30s　E。　The　next　day；　about　the　place　where　most　of　the　old　discoverers　had　been　stopped；　the　RACEHORSE　was　beset　with　ice；　but　they　hove　her　through　with　ice…　anchors。　Captain　Phipps　continued　ranging　along　the　ice；　northward　and　westward；　till　the　24th；　he　then　tried　to　the　eastward。　On　the　30th　he　was　in　latitude　80d　13m；　longitude　18d　48m　E。　among　the　islands　and　in　the　ice；　with　no　appearance　of　an　opening　for　the　ships。　The　weather　was　exceedingly　fine；　mild；　and　unusually　clear。　Here　they　were　becalmed　in　a　large　bay；　with　three　apparent　openings　between　the　islands　which　formed　it；　but　everywhere；　as　far　as　they　could　see；　surrounded　with　ice。　There　was　not　a　breath　of　air；　the　water　was　perfectly　smooth；　the　ice　covered　with　snow；　low　and　even；　except　a　few　broken　pieces　near　the　edge；　and　the　pools　of　water　in　the　middle　of　the　ice…fields　just　cruste