the life of horatio lord nelson-第15章
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oy。 The loss of this artillery was one of the chief causes which compelled the French to raise the siege of Mantua； but there was too much treachery； and too much imbecility； both in the councils and armies of the allied powers； for Austria to improve this momentary success。 Buonaparte perceived that the conquest of Italy was within his reach； treaties； and the rights of neutral or of friendly powers； were as little regarded by him as by the government for which he acted。 In open contempt of both he entered Tuscany； and took possession of Leghorn。 In consequence of this movement； Nelson blockaded that port； and landed a British force in the Isle of Elba； to secure Porto Ferrajo。 Soon afterwards he took the Island of Capraja； which had formerly belonged to Corsica； being less than forty miles distant from it； a distance； however； short as it was； which enabled the Genoese to retain it； after their infamous sale of Corsica to France。 Genoa had now taken part with France： its government had long covertly assisted the French； and now willingly yielded to the first compulsory menace which required them to exclude the English from their ports。 Capraja was seized in consequence； but this act of vigour was not followed up as it ought to have been。 England at that time depended too much upon the feeble governments of the Continent； and too little upon itself。 It was determined by the British cabinet to evacuate Corsica； as soon as Spain should form an offensive alliance with France。 This event； which； from the moment that Spain had been compelled to make peace； was clearly foreseen； had now taken place； and orders for the evacuation of the island were immediately sent out。 It was impolitic to annex this island to the British dominions； but having done so； it was disgraceful thus to abandon it。 The disgrace would have been spared； and every advantage which could have been derived from the possession of the island secured； if the people had at first been left to form a government for themselves； and protected by us in the enjoyment of their independence。
The viceroy； Sir Gilbert Elliott； deeply felt the impolicy and ignominy of this evacuation。 The fleet also was ordered to leave the
Mediterranean。 This resolution was so contrary to the last instructions which had been received； that Nelson exclaimed； 〃Do his majesty's ministers know their own minds？ They at home；〃 said he； 〃do not know what this fleet is capable of performinganything and everything。 Much as I shall rejoice to see England； I lament our present orders in sack… cloth 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。〃 Sir Gilbert Elliott believed that the great body of the Corsicans were perfectly satisfied； as they had good reason to be； with the British Government； sensible of its advantages； and attached to it。 However this may have been； when they found that the English intended to evacuate the island； they naturally and necessarily sent to make their peace with the French。 The partisans of France found none to oppose them。 A committee of thirty took upon them the government of Bastia； and sequestrated all the British property； armed Corsicans mounted guard at every place； and a plan was laid for seizing the viceroy。 Nelson； who was appointed to superintend the evacuation； frustrated these projects。 At a time when every one else despaired of saving stores； cannon； provisions； or property of any kind； and a privateer was moored across the mole…head to prevent all boats from passing； he sent word to the committee； that if the slightest opposition were made to the embarkment and removal of British property； he would batter the town down。 The privateer pointed her guns at the officer who carried this message； and muskets were levelled against his boats from the mole…head。 Upon this Captain Sutton； of the EGMONT； pulling out his watch； gave them a quarter of an hour to deliberate upon their answer。 In five minutes after the expiration of that time； the ships； he said； would open their fire。 Upon this the very sentinels scampered off； and every vessel came out of the mole。 A shipowner complained to the commodore that the municipality refused to let him take his goods out of the custom…house。 Nelson directed him to say； that unless they were instantly delivered； he would open his fire。 The committee turned pale； and； without answering a word； gave him the keys。 Their last attempt was to levy a duty upon the things that were re…embarked。 He sent them word； that he would pay them a disagreeable visit； if there were any more complaints。 The committee then finding that they had to deal with a man who knew his own power； and was determined to make the British name respected； desisted from the insolent conduct which they had assumed； and it was acknowledged that Bastia never had been so quiet and orderly since the English were in possession of it。 This was on the 14th of October； during the five following days the work of embarkation was carried on； the private property was saved； and public stores to the amount of L200；000。 The French； favoured by the Spanish fleet； which was at that time within twelve leagues of Bastia； pushed over troops from Leghorn； who landed near Cape Corse on the 18th； and on the 20th； at one in the morning； entered the citadel； an hour only after the British had spiked the guns and evacuated it。 Nelson embarked at daybreak； being the last person who left the shore； having thus； as he said； seen the first and the last of Corsica。 Provoked at the conduct of the municipality； and the disposition which the populace had shown to profit by the confusion； he turned towards the shore； as he stepped into his boat； and exclaimed： 〃Now； John Corse； follow the natural bent of your detestable character plunder and revenge。〃 This； however； was not Nelson's deliberate opinion of the people of Corsica； he knew that their vices were the natural consequences of internal anarchy and foreign oppression； such as the same causes would produce in any people； and when he saw； that of all those who took leave of the viceroy there was not one who parted from him without tears； he acknowledged that they manifestly acted not from dislike of the English； but from fear of the French。 England then might； with more reason； reproach her own rulers for pusillanimity than the Corsicans for ingratitude。
Having thus ably effected this humiliating service； Nelson was ordered to hoist his broad pendant on board the MINERVE frigate； Captain George Cockburn； and with the BLANCHE under his command； proceed to Porto Ferrajo； and superintend the evacuation of that place also。 On his way； he fell in with two Spanish frigates； the SABINA and the CERES。 The MINERVE engaged the former； which was commanded by D。 Jacobo Stuart； a descendent of the Duke of Berwick。 After an action of three hours； during which the Spaniards lost 164 men； the SABINA struck。 The Spanish captain； who was the only surviving officer； had hardly been conveyed on board the MINERVE； when another enemy's frigate came up； compelled her to cast off the prize； and brought her a second time into action。 After half an hour's trial of strength； this new antagonist wore and hauled off； but a Spanish squadron of two ships of the line and two frigates came in sight。 The BLANCHE； from which the CERES had got off； was far to windward； and the MINERVE escaped only by the anxiety of the enemy to recover their own ship。 As soon as Nelson reached Porto Ferrajo he sent his prisoner in a flag of truce to Carthagena； having returned him his sword； this he did in honour of the gallantry which D。 Jacobo had displayed； and not without some feeling of respect for his ancestry。 〃I felt it；〃 said he； 〃consonant to the dignity of my country and I always act as I feel right； without regard to custom； he was reputed the best officer in Spain； and his men were worthy of such a commander。〃 By the same flag of truce he sent back all the Spanish prisoners at Porto Ferrajo； in exchange for whom he received his own men who had been taken in the prize。
General de Burgh； who commanded at the Isle of Elba； did not think himself authorised to abandon the place till he had received specific instructions from England to that effect； professing that he was unable to decide between the contradictory orders of government； or to guess at what their present intentions might be； but he said； his only motive for urging delay in this measure arose from a desire that his own conduct might be properly sanctioned； not from any opinion that Porto Ferrajo ought to be retained。 But Naples having made peace； Sir John Jervis considered his business with Italy as concluded； and the protection of Portugal was the point to which he was now instructed to attend。 Nelson； therefore； whose orders were perfectly clear and explicit； withdrew the whole naval establishment from that station； leaving the transports victualled； and so arranged that all the troops and stores could be embarked in three days。 He was now about to leave the Mediterranean。 Mr。 Drake； who had been our minister at Genoa； expressed to him； on this occasion； the very high opinion which the allies entertained of his conspicuous merit； adding； that it was impossible for any one； who had the honour of co…operating with him； not to admire the activity； talents； and zeal which he had so eminently and constantly displayed。 In fact； during this long course of services in the Mediterranean； the whole of his conduct had exhibited the same zeal； the same indefatigable energy； the same intuitive judgment； the same prompt and unerring decision which characterised his after…career of glory。 His name was as yet hardly known to the English public； but it was feared and respected throughout Italy。 A letter came to him； directed 〃Horatio Nelson； Genoa；〃 and the writer； when he was asked how he could direct it so vaguely； replied； 〃Sir； there is but one Horatio Nelson in the world。〃 At Genoa； in particular； where he had so long been stationed； and where the nature of his duty first led him to continual disputes with the government； and afterwards compelled him to stop the trade of the port； he was equally respected by the doge and by the people； for； while he maintained the rights and interests of Great Britain with becoming firmness； he tempered the exercise of power with courtesy and humanity wherever duty would permit。 〃Had all my actions；〃 said he； writing at this time to his wife； 〃been gazetted； not one fortnight would have passed； during the whole war； without a letter from me。 One day or other I will have a long GAZETTE to myself。 I feel that such an opportunity will be given me。 I cannot； if I am in the field of glory； be kept out of sight； wherever there is anything to be done； there Providence is sure to direct my steps。〃
These hopes and anticipations were soon to be fulfilled。 Nelson's mind had long been irritated and depressed by the fear that a general action would take place before he could join the fleet。 At length he sailed from Porto Ferrajo with a convoy for Gibraltar； and having reached that place； proceeded to
