the life of horatio lord nelson-第19章

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re。　〃Oh！〃　replied　Nelson；〃this　is　only　for　an　eye。　In　a　few　days　I　shall　come　for　an　arm；　and　in　a　little　time　longer；　God　knows；　most　probably　for　a　leg。〃　Accordingly　he　soon　afterwards　went；　and　with　perfect　good　humour　exhibited　the　certificate　of　the　loss　of　his　arm。




CHAPTER　V

1798

Nelson　rejoins　Earl　St。　Vincent　in　the　VANGUARDSails　in　Pursuit　of　the　French　in　EgyptReturns　to　Sicily；　and　sails　again　to　Egypt　Battle　of　the　Nile。

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EARLY　in　the　year　1798；　Sir　Horatio　Nelson　hoisted　his　flag　in　the　VANGUARD；　and　was　ordered　to　rejoin　Earl　St。　Vincent。　Upon　his　departure；　his　father　addressed　him　with　that　affectionate　solemnity　by　which　all　his　letters　were　distinguished。　〃I　trust　in　the　Lord；〃　said　he；　〃that　He　will　prosper　your　going　out　and　your　coming　in。　I　earnestly　desired　once　more　to　see　you；　and　that　wish　has　been　heard。　If　I　should　presume　to　say；　I　hope　to　see　you　again；　the　question　would　be　readily　asked；　How　old　art　thou？　VALE！　VALE！　DOMINE；　VALE！〃　It　is　said　that　a　gloomy　foreboding　hung　on　the　spirits　of　Lady　Nelson　at　their　parting。　This　could　have　arisen　only　from　the　dread　of　losing　him　by　the　chance　of　war。　Any　apprehension　of　losing　his　affections　could　hardly　have　existed；　for　all　his　correspondence　to　this　time　shows　that　he　thought　himself　happy　in　his　marriage；　and　his　private　character　had　hitherto　been　as　spotless　as　his　public　conduct。　One　of　the　last　things　he　said　to　her　was；　that　his　own　ambition　was　satisfied；　but　that　he　went　to　raise　her　to　that　rank　in　which　he　had　long　wished　to　see　her。

Immediately　on　his　rejoining　the　fleet；　he　was　despatched　to　the　Mediterranean　with　a　small　squadron；　in　order　to　ascertain；　if　possible；　the　object　of　the　great　expedition　which　at　that　time　was　fitting　out　under　Buonaparte　at　Toulon。　The　defeat　of　this　armament；　whatever　might　be　its　destination；　was　deemed　by　the　British　government　an　object　paramount　to　every　other；　and　Earl　St。　Vincent　was　directed；　if　he　thought　it　necessary；　to　take　his　whole　force　into　the　Mediterranean；　to　relinquish；　for　that　purpose；　the　blockade　of　the　Spanish　fleet；　as　a　thing　of　inferior　moment；　but　if　he　should　deem　a　detachment　sufficient；　〃I　think　it　almost　necessary；〃　said　the　first　lord　of　the　Admiralty　in　his　secret　instructions；　〃to　suggest　to　you　the　propriety　of　putting　it　under　Sir　Horatio　Nelson。〃　It　is　to　the　honour　of　Earl　St。　Vincent　that　he　had　already　made　the　same　choice。　This　appointment　to　a　service　in　which　so　much　honour　might　be　acquired；　gave　great　offence　to　the　senior　admirals　of　the　fleet。　Sir　William　Parker；　who　was　a　very　excellent　naval　officer；　and　as　gallant　a　man　as　any　in　the　navy；　and　Sir　John　Orde；　who　on　all　occasions　of　service　had　acquitted　himself　with　great　honour；　each　wrote　to　Lord　Spencer；　complaining　that　so　marked　a　preference　should　have　been　given　to　a　junior　of　the　same　fleet。　This　resentment　is　what　most　men　in　a　like　case　would　feel；　and　if　the　preference　thus　given　to　Nelson　had　not　originated　in　a　clear　perception　that　（as　his　friend　Collingwood　said　of　him　a　little　while　before）　his　spirit　was　equal　to　all　undertakings；　and　his　resources　fitted　to　all　occasions；　an　injustice　would　have　been　done　to　them　by　his　appointment。　But　if　the　service　were　conducted　with　undeviating　respect　to　seniority；　the　naval　and　military　character　would　soon　be　brought　down　to　the　dead　level　of　mediocrity。

The　armament　at　Toulon　consisted　of　thirteen　ships　of　the　line；　seven　forty…gun　frigates；　with　twenty…four　smaller　vessels　of　war；　and　nearly　200　transports。　Mr。　Udney；　our　consul　at　Leghorn；　was　the　first　person　who　procured　certain　intelligence　of　the　enemy's　design　against　Malta；　and；　from　his　own　sagacity；　foresaw　that　Egypt　must　be　their　after　object。　Nelson　sailed　from　Gibraltar　on　the　9th　of　May；　with　the　VANGUARD；　ORION；　and　ALEXANDER；　seventy…fours；　the　CAROLINE；　FLORA；　EMERALD；　and　TERPSICHORE；　frigates；　and　the　BONNE　CITOYENNE；　sloop　of　war；　to　watch　this　formidable　armament。　On　the　19th；　when　they　were　in　the　Gulf　of　Lyons；　a　gale　came　on　from　the　N。W。　It　moderated　so　much　on　the　20th　as　to　enable　them　to　get　their　top…gallant　masts　and　yards　aloft。　After　dark　it　again　began　to　blow　strong；　but　the　ships　had　been　prepared　for　a　gale；　and　therefore　Nelson's　mind　was　easy。　Shortly　after　midnight；　however；　his　main…topmast　went　over　the　side；　and　the　mizen…　topmast　soon　afterward。　The　night　was　so　tempestuous　that　it　was　impossible　for　any　signal　either　to　be　seen　or　heard；　and　Nelson　determined；　as　soon　as　it　should　be　daybreak；　to　wear；　and　scud　before　the　gale；　but　at　half…past　three　the　fore…mast　went　in　three　pieces；　and　the　bowsprit　was　found　to　be　sprung　in　three　places。

When　day　broke　they　succeeded　in　wearing　the　ship　with　a　remnant　　of　the　spritsail。　This　was　hardly　to　have　been　expected。　The　VANGUARD　was　at　that　time　twenty…five　leagues　south　of　the　island　of　Hieres；　with　her　head　lying　to　the　N。E。；　and　if　she　had　not　wore；　the　ship　must　have　drifted　to　Corsica。　Captain　Ball；　in　the　ALEXANDER；　took　her　in　tow；　to　carry　her　into　the　Sardinian　harbour　of　St。　Pietro。　Nelson；　apprehensive　that　this　attempt　might　endanger　both　vessels；　ordered　him　to　cast　off；　but　that　excellent　officer；　with　a　spirit　like　his　commanders；　replied；　he　was　confident　he　could　save　the　VANGUARD；　and；　by　God's　help；　he　would　do　it。　There　had　been　a　previous　coolness　between　these　great　men；　but　from　this　time　Nelson　became　fully　sensible　of　the　extraordinary　talents　of　Captain　Ball；　and　a　sincere　friendship　subsisted　between　them　during　the　remainder　of　their　lives。　〃I　ought　not；〃　said　the　admiral；　writing　to　his　wife〃I　ought　not　to　call　what　has　happened　to　the　VANGUARD　by　the　cold　name　of　accident：　I　believe　firmly　it　was　the　Almighty's　goodness；　to　check　my　consummate　vanity。　I　hope　it　has　made　me　a　better　officer；　as　I　feel　confident　it　has　made　me　a　better　man。　Figure　to　yourself；　on　Sunday　evening　at　sunset；　a　vain　man　walking　in　his　cabin；　with　a　squadron　around　him；　who　looked　up　to　their　chief　to　lead　them　to　glory；　and　in　whom　their　chief　placed　the　firmest　reliance　that　the　proudest　ships　of　equal　numbers　belonging　to　France　would　have　lowered　their　flags；　figure　to　yourself；　on　Monday　morning；　when　the　sun　rose；　this　proud　man；　his　ship　dismasted；　his　fleet　dispersed；　and　himself　in　such　distress　that　the　meanest　frigate　out　of　France　would　have　been　an　unwelcome　guest。〃　Nelson　had；　indeed；　more　reason　to　refuse　the　cold　name　of　accident　to　this　tempest　than　he　was　then　aware　of；　for　on　that　very　day　the　French　fleet　sailed　from　Toulon；　and　must　have　passed　within　a　few　leagues　of　his　little　squadron；　which　was　thus　preserved　by　the　thick　weather　that　came　on。

The　British　Government　at　this　time；　with　a　becoming　spirit；　gave　orders　that　any　port　in　the　Mediterranean　should　be　considered　as　hostile　where　the　governor　or　chief　magistrate　should　refuse　to　let　our　ships　of　war　procure　supplies　of　provisions；　or　of　any　article　which　they　might　require。

In　these　orders　the　ports　of　Sardinia　were　excepted。　The　continental　possessions　of　the　King　of　Sardinia　were　at　this　time　completely　at　the　mercy　of　the　French；　and　that　prince　was　now　discovering；　when　too　late；　that　the　terms　to　which　he　had　consented；　for　the　purpose　of　escaping　immediate　danger；　necessarily　involved　the　loss　of　the　dominions　which　they　were　intended　to　preserve。　The　citadel　of　Turin　was　now　occupied　by　French　troops；　and　his　wretched　court　feared　to　afford　the　common　rights　of　humanity　to　British　ships；　lest　it　should　give　the　French　occasion　to　seize　on　the　remainder　of　his　dominionsa　measure　for　which　it　was　certain　they　would　soon　make　a　pretext；　if　they　did　not　find　one。　Nelson　was　informed　that　he　could　not　be　permitted　to　enter　the　port　of　St　Pietro。　Regardless　of　this　interdict；　which；　under　his　circumstances；　it　would　have　been　an　act　of　suicidal　folly　to　have　regarded；　he　anchored　in　the　harbour；　and；　by　the　exertions　of　Sir　James　Saumarez；　Captain　Ball；　and　Captain　Berry；　the　VANGUARD　was　refitted　in　four　days；　months　would　have　been　employed　in　refitting　her　in　England。　Nelson；　with　that　proper　sense　of　merit；　wherever　it　was　found；　which　proved　at　once　the　goodness　and　the　greatness　of　his　character；　especially　recommended　to　Earl　St。　Vincent　the　carpenter　of　the　ALEXANDER；　under　whose　directions　the　ship　had　been　repaired；　stating；　that　he　was　an　old　and　faithful　servant　of　the　Crown；　who　had　been　nearly　thirty　years　a　warrant　carpenter；　and　begging　most　earnestly　that　the　Commander…in…Chief　would　recommend　him　to　the　particular　notice　of　the　Board　of　Admiralty。　He　did　not　leave　the　harbour　without　expressing　his　sense　of　the　treatment　which　he　had　received　there；　in　a　letter　to　the　Viceroy　of　Sardinia。　〃Sir；〃　it　said；　〃having；　by　a　gale　of　wind；　sustained　some　trifling　damages；　I　anchored　a　small　part　of　his　Majesty's　fleet　under　my　orders　off　this　island；　and　was　surprised　to　hear；　by　an　officer　sent　by　the　governor；　that　admittance　was　to　be　refused　to　the　flag　of　his　Britannic　Majesty　into　this　port。　When　I　reflect；　that　my　most　gracious　sovereign　is　the　oldest；　I　believe；　and　certainly　the　most　faithful　ally　which　the　King　of　Sardinia　ever　had；　I　could　feel　the　sorrow　which　it　must　have　been　to　his　majesty　to　have　given　such　an　order；　and　also　for　your　excellency；　who　had　to　direct　its　execution。　I　cannot　but　look　at　the　African　shore；　where　the　followers　of　Mahomet　are　performing　the　part　of　the　good　Samaritan；　which　I　look　for　in　vain　at　St。　Peter's；　where　it　is　said　the　Christian　religion　is　professed。〃

The　delay　which　was　thus　occasioned　was　useful　to　him　in　many　respects；　it　enabled　him　to　complete　his　supply　of　water；　and　to　receive　a　reinforcement　which　Earl　St。　Vincent；　being　himself　reinforced　from　England；　was　enabled　to　send　him。　It　consisted　of　the　best　ships　of　his　fleet；　the　CULLODEN；　seventy…four；　Captain　T。Troubridge；　GOLIATH；　seventy…four；　Captain　T。Foley；　MINOTAUR；　seventy…four；　Captain　T。　Louis；　DEFENCE；　seventy…four；　Captain　John　Peyton；　BELLEROPHON；　seventy…four；　Captain　H。D。E。Darby；　MAJESTIC；　seventy…four；　Captain　G。　B。　Westcott；　ZEALOUS；　seventy…four；　Captain　S。　Hood；　SWIFTSURE；　seventy…four；　Captain　B。　Hallowell；　THESEUS；　seventy…four；　Captain　R。　W。　Miller；　AUDACIOUS；　seventy…four；　Captain　Davidge　Gould。　The　LEANDER；　fifty；　Captain　T。　E。　Thompson；　was　afterwards　added。　These　ships　were　made　ready　for　the　service　as　soon　as　Earl　St。　Vincent　received　advice　from　England　that　he　was　to　be　reinforced。　As　soon　as　the　reinforcement　was　seen　from　the　mast…head　of　the　admiral's　ship；　off　Cadiz　Bay；　signal　was　immediately　made　to　Captain　Troubridge　to　put　to　sea；　and　he　was　out　of　sight　before　the　ships　from　home　cast　anchor　in　the　British　station。　Troubridge　took　with　him　no　instructions　to　Nelson　as　to　the　course　he　was　to　steer；　nor　any　certain　account　of　the　enemy's　destination；　everything　was　left　to　his　own　judgment。　Unfortunately；　the　frigates　had　been　separated　from　him　in　the　tempest　and　had　not　been　able　to　rejoin：　they　sought　him　unsuccessfully　in　the　Bay　of　Naples；　where　they　obtained　no　tidings　of　his　course：　and　he　sailed　without　them。

The　first　news　of　the　enemy's　armament　was　that　it　had　surprised　Malta；　Nelson　formed　a　plan　for　attacking　it　while　at