Dr. Moseley, Chelsea Hospital."

The account of the very few persons who had died, or been on the sick

list, transmitted as a curiosity in the above letter, having been

unfortunately lost by Dr. Moseley, their exact number cannot be

ascertained.

Notwithstanding the opportunities given by Lord Nelson for the French

fleet to depart from Toulon, either in the aggregate, by detached

squadrons, or even single ships, more than a year elapsed without any of

them daring to quit the port. A solitary frigate, indeed, had

occasionally appeared, but was soon chased back, and no stratagem seemed

capable of inducing them to move. Among other contrivances to put them

in motion, was that of sending two or three ships of the line, with a

single frigate, off the harbour, while the main body of the fleet

remained at a considerable distance out of sight.

On the 23d of May 1804, Admiral Campbell in the Canopus, accompanied by

Sir Richard Strachan in the Donegal, and the Amazon frigate, were

detached by Lord Nelson thus to reconnoitre the enemy; and, after being

some hours as near the mouth of the harbour as their batteries would

allow, had the pleasure to behold three line of battle ships, and three

frigates, come out. Our ships immediately tacked, in order to draw them

from the land; but only went under an easy sail, so that they soon came

within random-shot. When the enemy began to fire, the people of the

Canopus were just sat down to dinner; which they quietly took, and then

returned their fire: meaning, now, to bring them to close action, though

so far superior. At this moment, however, two more ships of the line,

with another frigate, were perceived coming up fast to their assistance.

This was too great odds, so near their own batteries, and our small

squadron were obliged to sheer off, under a press of sail. The French

pursued them, for some time, still keeping the advantage of sailing;

but, fearful of following too far, by the time they were five leagues

from Toulon, they were recalled, about three quarters of an hour past

three, by their signal-post from the hill, and all stood in again. At

six, the rear-admiral saw our fleet to leeward, and joined them at

half-past nine. They had heard, indistinctly, the firing: and the

Leviathan was, in consequence, detached toward Toulon; but had not

proceeded far, before our ships were perceived on their return. This

trivial affair was magnified, by the French admiral, Latouche Treville,

who had so manfully ventured to pursue, a little way, with two

eighty-fours, three seventy-fours, three forty-four frigates, and a

corvette, our two eighty-fours and a single frigate, into a compleat

discomfiture of the whole British fleet!

In the mean time, though Lord Nelson could in no way contrive

effectually to decoy out the wary Gallic boasters, their commerce was

not only distressed, but nearly annihilated; their privateers were

taken; and the British flag waved, with proud defiance, throughout the

Mediterranean, and was unopposed even on the coast of France. The city

of London, sensible of what the experienced security of the British

commerce owed to his lordship's services, though uninformed as to the

precise mode in which the hero's operations were conducted, now

transmitted to him, through the lord-mayor, their public thanks, voted

on the 9th of April 1804, for his skill and perseverance in blockading

the port of Toulon, so as to prevent the enemy's fleet in that quarter

from putting to sea. This panegyric, however intended, was not at all

relished by his lordship, who had never approved of the blockading

system. "Praise undeserved," the hero probably thought, as well as the

poet, "is censure most severe." Under some such impression, therefore,

instantly on receiving the lord-mayor's letter, which unfortunately

arrived the famous 1st of August, he wrote the following animated

answer; spiritedly declining any acceptance of thanks from his

fellow-citizens, in which his own services seemed so imperfectly

recognized, and from which his brave coadjutors were unjustly excluded.

"Victory, August 1, 1804.

"MY LORD,

"This day, I am honoured with your lordship's letter of April 9th;

transmitting me the resolutions of the corporation of London,

thanking me as commanding the fleet blockading Toulon. I do assure

your lordship, that there is not that man breathing, who sets a

higher value upon the thanks of his fellow-citizens of London than

myself; but I should feel as much ashamed to receive them, for a

particular service marked in the resolution, if I felt that I did

not come within that line of service, as I should feel hurt at

having a great victory passed over without notice.

"I beg to inform your lordship, that the port of Toulon has never

been blockaded by me; quite the reverse. Every opportunity has been

offered the enemy to put to sea: for, it is there that we hope to

realize the hopes and expectations of our country; and, I trust

that they will not be disappointed.

"Your lordship will judge of my feelings, upon seeing that all the

junior flag-officers of other fleets, and even some of the

captains, have received the thanks of the corporation of London,

whilst the junior flag-officers of the Mediterranean fleet are

entirely omitted. I own, that it has struck me very forcibly; for,

where the information of the junior flag-officers and captains of

other fleets was obtained, the same information could have been

given of the flag-officers of this fleet and the captains; and it

was my duty to state, that more able and zealous flag-officers and

captains do not grace the British navy, than those I have the

honour and happiness to command. It likewise appears, my lord, a

most extraordinary circumstance, that Rear-Admiral Sir Richard

Bickerton should have been, as second in command in the

Mediterranean fleet, twice passed over by the corporation of

London: once, after the Egyptian expedition, when the first and

third in command were thanked; and, now, again. Consciousness of

high desert, instead of neglect, made the rear-admiral resolve to

let the matter rest, until he could have an opportunity personally

to call upon the lord-mayor to account for such an extraordinary

omission; but, from this second omission, I owe it to that

excellent officer, not to pass it by: and I do assure your

lordship, that the constant, zealous, and cordial support, I have

had, in my command, from both Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton

and Rear-Admiral Campbell, has been such as calls forth all my

thanks and admiration. We have shared together the constant

attention of being more than fourteen months at sea, and are ready

to share the dangers and glory of a day of battle; therefore, it is

impossible that I can ever allow myself to be separated, in thanks,

from such supporters.

"I have the honour to remain, with the very highest respect, your

lordship's most faithful and obedient servant,

"Nelson and Bronte."

"To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor."

During the remainder of the year, though there was scarcely a day which

his lordship did not employ in endeavours to improve the natural

supineness of his situation, very little occurred that calls for

particular notice. A tedious detail of so many days of languid

expectation, would be comparatively as oppressive to the reader, as the

time thus passed proved to the hero himself and the many brave men under

his command. The destruction, however, of a number of vessels at La

Vandour, in Hieres Bay, was performed with such a display of hardihood

and address, that it should, at least, receive honourable mention. This

can be in no way so well effected, as by transcribing Lord Nelson's own

words on the occasion--"The importance of the service," says his

lordship, "may be but little; but, the determined bravery of Lieutenants

Thompson, Parker, Lumley, and Moore, and the petty officers, seamen, and

marines, employed under them, could not be exceeded." Nor must a small

anecdote, highly honourable to our hero himself, fail also to be

recorded. A seaman of his lordship's flag-ship, the Victory, on the 11th

of September, fell from the forecastle into the sea; when Mr. Edward

Flin, a volunteer, hearing the cry of a man overboard, instantly leaped

from the quarter-deck, and had the good fortune to save him,

notwithstanding the extreme darkness of the night, and the ship's being

under sail. Next morning, Lord Nelson sent for Mr. Flin; and, presenting

him with a lieutenant's commission, appointed him to the Bittern sloop

of war, and afterwards procured the Admiralty's confirmation of his

appointment.

The year 1805, rendered for ever too fatally memorable, commenced with

presages of sufficiently active employ. The vast exertions of France for

the augmentation of her navy, seemed to inspire a hope of being able,

with the assistance of Spain, now forced into a war which that

unfortunate court had so much reason to dread, at length, in the

confidence of superior numbers, to hazard an encounter with the British

fleet. This, however, was by no means to be rashly ventured: it would be

necessary, they well knew, first to effect a junction of their united

force; which was not easily accomplishable, while they were watched with

such diligent circumspection by our indefatigable hero. The first

operation, by which they sought to elude his vigilance, was that of

risking a small squadron from Rochfort, under Rear-Admiral Missiessi;

which, having got out unobserved by our cruisers, arrived safely in the

West Indies, with the double view of pillaging our colonies, and

assisting to relieve St. Domingo. In the mean time, another, but far

more powerful squadron, was ready to seize the first convenient

opportunity of slipping out from Toulon.

On the 15th of January, while Lord Nelson, who had no desire to restrain

the enemy from putting to sea, was busily engaged in observing the whole

line of the Italian, French, and Spanish coasts, from Palermo, Leghorn,

Toulon, and Barcelona, to the Straits of Gibraltar, and picking up all

the French and Spanish vessels which his cruisers could meet with in

that wide extent of ocean, Admiral Villeneuve, with a formidable

squadron, consisting of eleven sail of the line and two frigates,

suddenly pushed out of Toulon harbour. The Seahorse, Lord Nelson's

look-out frigate, accordingly, narrowly escaped being taken: and the

Venus sloop of ten guns, with his lordship's dispatches, was actually

captured; having, however, previously thrown the dispatches overboard.

The Seahorse, instead of watching, at a safe distance, the course of the

enemy's fleet, till their destination should have been in some degree

ascertained, hastened to acquaint his lordship that they had sailed,

without being able to afford the smallest additional information. This,

indeed, was sufficient to call forth our hero's energies; but he was, at

the same time, checked by the dread of proceeding in a wrong direction.

Strong circumstances induced his lordship to suppose, that another

attack on Egypt might possibly be intended by this armament; which,

indeed, was the current report. He deemed it likely, however, that they

might first, as they formerly did at Malta, make an insiduous attempt on

Sicily, in their way to the grand scene of their perfidious operations.

Actuated by the force of these reflections, Lord Nelson sent to apprize

the Ottoman Porte, as well as the Commandant of Coron, that the Toulon

fleet had sailed, having a considerable number of troops on board, with

the probable intention of making a descent either on the Morea or on

Egypt. He also dispatched, on the 25th, the Seahorse to Naples, and Le

Tigre to Palermo, with similar intimations. Next day, the Phoebe joined

the fleet; who had, on the l9th, seen a French eighty-gun ship get into

Ajaccio, in Corsica, having lost all her topmasts, and being otherwise

much crippled. This, it should seem, was the effect of that storm which,

as it was afterwards found, had almost immediately occasioned the French

armament's return to Toulon. His lordship, however, unaware of any such

consequence, and deceived by the artful promulgation of false reports,

kept running for Sicily; and, when in sight of Maritimo, sent Le Tigre,

Captain Hallowell, to communicate with Sir John Acton at Palermo. Le

Tigre joined next day, without any news whatever of the French. In the

evening, the fleet passed round Strombolo, which burnt very strongly all

night; and, having left the Sophia to cruize three days off Strombolo

for information, and sent the Bittern to Tunis, proceeded for the Faro

of Messina. On the 30th, off the Faro, his lordship was joined by the

Seahorse from Naples; where, also, nothing had been heard of the French.

At noon, on the 31st, having sent the Seahorse off Toulon, round Cape

Corse, and Morgiana, to look into Elba, St. Fiorenzo, and Ajaccio, the

fleet got through the Faro of Messina without any accident. On the 2d of

February, they passed Candia; being unable, from the state of the wind

and weather, to make that island: and, on the 5th, sent forward the

Anson, with letters to the Governor of Alexandria; to the British

resident, Major Bissett; and to the pro-consul, Mr. Briggs. Next day,

his lordship saw the Arab's Tower; and, on the 7th, at seven in the

morning, came within sight of Alexandria, but there were no ships in the

port. His lordship immediately sent Captain Hallowell ashore, with

duplicates of his letters, the Anson being unable to get up. At three

o'clock, Captain Hallowell returned. The Turks, who were very much

alarmed at the appearance of the fleet, had heard nothing of the French;

and were in no condition to defend this most important place from an

attack, by surprise, of even five hundred men. Such is the shocking

supineness of these people! The Turks and Mamelukes were, however, at

war; the former being in possession of Grand Cairo, and the latter of

Upper Egypt. Immediately on the receipt of this intelligence, by Captain

Hallowell, the fleet bore up, and made sail for Malta.

On the 11th, the Phoebe having joined off Candia, was dispatched to

Malta with orders. At daylight, on the 19th, his lordship saw Malta;

and, at eight in the morning, communicated with Vallette. The Phoebe

made the signal for no information; and, at nine, the fleet bore away

for Maritimo. The Superb picked up a boat, and made the signal for

intelligence from Malta: but his lordship would not stop; for he wanted,

he said, no intelligence, but where to find the French fleet. His

anxiety, therefore, may be easily imagined. It was little less, in

fact, than what he had formerly suffered, on his first vain pursuit to

Alexandria. By a vessel met with, in the afternoon, eight days from

Barcelona, his lordship now learned that the French fleet had returned

to Toulon; wanting, however, at that time, three sail of the line and a

frigate. On the 28th, while employed in watering the fleet, at Palla, in

Sardinia, a letter arrived from Captain Munday of the Hydra, dated

February 17th, who had reconnoitred the French fleet in Toulon on the

12th, when it consisted of seventeen sail.

On Thursday, the 7th of March, a cartel ship came into the fleet, then

at anchor under Tolaro in the Isle of Rouse, with Captain Layman, the

officers, and crew, of the Raven brig, which was wrecked off Cadiz, on

the night of January the 29th. The Captain General of Andalusia, Lord

Nelson was told, had treated them with the greatest kindness--"Which,"

generously exclaimed his lordship, "I will return, whenever fortune may

put it in my power!" Having weighed, in the morning of the 8th, the

fleet, at six in the evening, anchored in the Gulph of Palma; where a

court-martial was held on the officers and crew of the late Raven brig,

which passed a slight censure on the captain for not having approached

the shore with greater caution. In the evening, the fleet beat out of

Palma, and steered between Vache and the reef off Antioch. On the 12th,

in the Gulph of Lyons, they were joined by the Active, Seahorse, and

Juno; who had, the day before, seen the French fleet perfectly ready for

sea. The Renown also joined that evening; on board of which, invalids,

&c. were next day sent. It was a calm, all day; but, in the evening,

light breezes springing up, the fleet stood out for St. Sebastian's. On

the 16th, the Renown was dispatched for Gibraltar and England; on the

17th, the fleet was beating to the eastward, off Tarragona; and, on the

20th, in the afternoon, passed Minorca, standing for Sardinia, which

they saw on the 23d in the evening, when his lordship sent the Juno with

orders for the transports to join him. At sunset, on the 26th, the fleet

anchored in the Gulph of Palma; where Lord Nelson found his old friend,

Admiral Louis, in the Ambuscade, who had sailed from England the 16th of

February. The whole of this night, and the three following days, were

employed in clearing transports. On the 29th, the Seahorse brought

intelligence that the French fleet were safe in port on Sunday the 24th.

The day following, the signal was made to prepare for sea; and, our

fleet having sailed from Palma, anchored at Palla, on the 31st in the

evening. Next morning, April 1, at day-light, they commenced watering;

and, at sun-set, every ship was compleat, and the fleet moved farther

off shore. Their activity, his lordship remarked, was never exceeded. On

the 3d, at day-light, they sailed from Palla; and, next morning, were

joined by the Phoebe, with the signal that the enemy's fleet was at

sea. At nine, Captain Capel went on board the Victory; and reported to

his lordship, that he had seen the French fleet on Sunday morning at

eight o'clock, and kept with them till sun-set, but lost sight of them

during the night. Lord Nelson immediately sent the Ambuscade to Gaieta,

and the Active to the coast of Africa, for intelligence respecting them.

Next day, the Amazon and transports joined from Malta; and a Turkish

corvette also arrived from Constantinople, with letters of gratitude

from the Grand Vizier and the Capitan Pacha, to which his lordship

immediately returned respectful answers. The Moucheron brig, too, having

this day joined, from Malta, was sent to cruize seven days between

Gaieta and Africa, and to call at Tunis for information. After clearing

transports next day, and sending the Bittern to Gibraltar with

dispatches, his lordship stood to the northward in the evening: and, the

following morning, sent the Active to Cagliari, the Amazon to Naples,

the Seahorse to Maritimo, and Le Tigre to Palermo, for information. The

Active brought no news from the coast of Africa; but the Seahorse,

returned from Maritimo with intelligence from the officer at the port,

that fourteen ships of war had passed the island on the 28th of March,

steering to the southward; and that two frigates had, on the 4th of

April, also passed, steering to the northward: neither of which reports

his lordship believed; and, in fact, they appear to have been totally

false. In the evening, steering for Palermo, they were joined by the

Ambuscade and Astrea, neither of whom had obtained any information of

the enemy's fleet, though they had seen many vessels. On the 9th, having

cleared transports, which arrived the preceding evening, they compleated

the fleet to four months provisions and sixty days wine and spirits. Le

Tigre joined next day, from Palermo: where they knew nothing of the

French fleet's having sailed; but sent information that an expedition

had left England, and that a Russian squadron was expected in the

Mediterranean. This information led his lordship to suppose that the

French fleet might, probably, with a view of intercepting them, be

somewhere about Minorca; he stood, therefore, to the westward of

Sardinia, in the hope of falling in with the enemy. The Hydra and

Childers joined, this day, from Magdalena, but brought no intelligence.

At sunset, seven leagues south of Maritimo, the Active also joined, from

Cagliari; and informed his lordship, that the Ragusan consul had

received a letter from St. Pierre's, giving him an account, brought by a

Ragusan brig, which had arrived there from Marseilles, that the French

fleet sailed from Toulon the 30th of March, having a great number of

troops on board.

This intelligence turned out to be the fact. Admiral Villeneuve having

succeeded in leading his dreaded antagonist to a safe distance, and

compleated all his preparations for the grand design, which was that of

forming a junction with the Spanish fleets, and then proceeding to the

West Indies, had in truth left Toulon, on the 30th, with eleven sail of

the line, a frigate, and two corvettes, in which were embarked ten

thousand select troops under the command of General Lauriston. This

armament first sailed to Carthagena; where the six ships expected to be

ready, under Admiral Salcedo, not being quite prepared to join, and

fearful of losing a moment's time, during the absence of Lord Nelson,

Admiral Villeneuve pursued his course to Cadiz. There he had, for some

time, been expected by Admiral Gravina, who was waiting his arrival with

six Spanish sail of the line, and two thousand two hundred and eighty

troops. On the approach of the French fleet off Cadiz, the 9th of April,

Sir John Orde, who was blockading that port with five ships of the line,

incapable of preventing their junction with the Spaniards, retired from

his station; unpursued by the French fleet, which might easily have

forced him into action. L'Aigle, a French ship of the line, which had

been some time at Cadiz, immediately came out of the harbour; and was

soon after followed by six Spanish sail of the line, and five frigates,

under Admiral Gravina: when, having compleatly effected their junction,

a strong easterly wind expeditiously carried them out of sight.

At this period, it has been seen, Lord Nelson had, from circumstances,

supposed the Toulon fleet likely to be met with in the Sicilian seas.

Having sent frigates, in all directions, to gain intelligence of the

enemy, the moment it was ascertained that they had actually sailed, he

was beating to windward, off the coast of Sardinia, on the 16th of

April, when he was informed, by an Austrian vessel from Lisbon, that

sixteen ships of war had been seen, the 7th inst. standing to the

westward. His lordship, now, justly apprehensive that this must have

been the French fleet, felt extremely uneasy, that they had thus eluded

all his vigilance. His agony is not to be described; and he was only

consoled, at length, by reflections that, in assuring himself of the

safety of Naples, Sicily, the Morea, Egypt, and Sardinia, before he

proceeded to the westward, he had certainly done what was perfectly

right. "I must ever regret, however," writes his lordship, "my want of

frigates which I could have sent to the westward; and I must also

regret, that Captain Mowbray did not cruize until he heard something of

the French fleet. I am unlucky, but I cannot exert myself more than I

have done for the public service!"

In fact, the exertions of Lord Nelson, during the whole of this arduous

and perplexing service, were inconceivably great. He had, besides the

usual cares of a commander in chief, the very difficult task of

conciliating a variety of discordant states, from whom he was under the

necessity of drawing constant supplies of fresh provisions and other

requisites, which they were deterred from affording by the dread of a

powerful and unprincipled enemy, perpetually menacing them with

destruction, whatever degrees of amity they might either possess, or

profess, for this country. The address of our hero, in counteracting the

enemy's designs, with what may be denominated diplomatic combat, and

thus obtaining needful supplies as well as useful intelligence, has

scarcely ever been equalled. In corresponding with the various powers

with whom it was necessary thus to communicate, the abilities of the

Reverend Mr. Alexander Scott, now Dr. Scott, from his acquaintance with

most of the modern languages, proved eminently favourable to his

lordship's views. This gentleman was not only chaplain of the Victory,

but private and foreign secretary to Lord Nelson, who also often

employed him in confidential communications on shore. They had known

each other ever since the year 1793; when Mr. Scott was chaplain to Sir

John Collins in the Mediterranean, and Lord Nelson captain of the

Agamemnon. On the death of Sir John Collins, Captain Nelson asked Mr.

Scott to go with him as his chaplain; which he was under the necessity

of declining, having previously engaged to go with Sir Hyde Parker in

the St. George. During the expedition to Copenhagen, Lord Nelson, not

having his chaplain, Mr. Comyns, with him, borrowed Mr. Scott, then Sir

Hyde Parker's chaplain and foreign secretary, to read prayers in his

ship; and, on his lordship's going ashore, he chose Mr. Scott to

accompany him, as secretary to the commission for arranging the

convention: the articles of which were, in fact, penned by this

gentleman. Lord Nelson kindly advised Mr. Scott to subscribe the

Convention with his name, as secretary; but he diffidently declined the

honour: for which Lord Nelson greatly blamed him; and he has since often

blamed himself, as his lordship predicted would one day be the case.

From this period, Lord Nelson was always greatly attached to Mr. Scott,

and constantly kept up a correspondence with him. He had then first

asked this gentleman if he would attend him as his confidential foreign

secretary, in case of his ever getting the Mediterranean command; which

Mr. Scott readily promised to do, should his old friend, Sir Hyde

Parker, "be laid on the shelf." Had the then war continued, that

arrangement would have taken place. On the peace, Mr. Scott went to the

West Indies: from whence he returned, just before the present war broke

out, in a very deplorable state of health; having been struck by

lightning, and severely wounded. He had, however, no sooner arrived in

London, than Lord Nelson was at his bed-side: where the generously

humane hero continually visited him, during his confinement; and, soon

after, took him, in the Amphion, to the Mediterranean, on this

expedition. It is somewhat remarkable, that his lordship's regular

secretary, though no relation of this gentleman, should also be a Scott:

the former, the Rev. Mr. Alexander Scott; and the latter, John Scott,

Esq. So numerous were his lordship's correspondences, that both

secretaries were often fully employed: his lordship, from the time of

his having engaged Dr. Scott, constantly accompanying his original

letters to foreign courts, by translations into the respective

languages; a point of etiquette always highly gratifying to the power

addressed, and frequently attended with other beneficial consequences.

There was, in short, no point of probable advantage to his country,

however minute it might appear, which Lord Nelson ever thought unworthy

of his strict regard.

On the 17th of April, in the evening, the Amazon brought a confirmation

of the intelligence respecting the French fleet, from a vessel which had

seen, on the 8th at noon, eleven sail of the line, four frigates, and

three brigs, pass Gibraltar with their colours flying. To add to the

mortification, westerly winds, and a heavy sea, prevented the British

fleet's gaining any ground, either this or the following day. A vessel

five days from Cadiz, still to augment his lordship's distress, now also

informed the Amazon, that the Spanish squadron had joined the French,

and were gone with them to the westward. Having appointed the general

rendezvous at Gibraltar, his lordship sent every where to procure

additional frigates. He also dispatched the Active to Ireland, the

Channel fleet, and England, with an account of his intended pursuit of

the enemy. His passage to Gibraltar was prodigiously impeded by

continual foul winds, and heavy swells. "Nothing," writes his lordship,

at this anxious period, "can be more unfortunate, than we are in our

winds; but, God's will be done! I submit. Human exertions are absolutely

unavailing. What man could do, I have done. I hope that the wind will

come to the eastward. What ill fortune! but, I cannot help myself." Thus

did the hero complain, and thus did he console himself.

On the 1st of May, near the coast of Barbary, he was joined by the

Martin sloop, which sailed from Plymouth the 17th of April; and brought

his lordship a letter from the Admiralty, dated the 15th, which informed

him that five thousand troops were coming to the Mediterranean. On the

30th, at ten in the morning, the fleet anchored in Tetuan Bay; or,

rather, in the little bay to the eastward of Tetuan, where there is a

very fine river of fresh water. The day was chiefly employed in watering

the fleet; and clearing a transport with wine, which had been brought

out from Gibraltar. No information of the combined fleet was, however,

obtained from thence, nor in letters dated at Lisbon the 27th; but it

seemed generally credited, that they were gone to the West Indies.

"Surely," exclaimed his lordship, "I shall hear something of them from

Sir John Orde's cruizers; which he must, naturally, have sent after

them!" Sir John, however, very unaccountably, had not taken any measures

for ascertaining their course. On Sunday, the 5th, at eight in the

morning, light easterly breezes springing up, the fleet weighed at ten;

but, in the evening, the wind, having first shifted northerly,

unfortunately came again fresh from the westward. At two in the

afternoon, next day, the fleet anchored in Gibraltar Bay. At four

o'clock, a Levanter came on: at six, the fleet again weighed; and, by

midnight, they were abreast of Cape Spartel, where nothing had been

heard of the enemy. In the evening of the 7th, having steered for Cape

St. Vincent, Le Tigre was sent to call the transports left by Sir John

Orde, who had sailed for England, out of Lagos Bay. On the 9th, Le Tigre

returned with the transports; and the Amazon, arriving from Lisbon,

brought intelligence, communicated by Admiral Knight, that Sir John Orde

had joined the channel fleet. At nine, in the evening, the fleet

anchored between Cape St. Vincent and Lagos Bay. The next day, and

succeeding night, were busily occupied in clearing the transports, and

compleating the fleet to five months. Early on the 11th, his lordship

sent the Wasp, and the Doris transport, to England, with dispatches: at

ten o'clock, the fleet weighed; at noon, were off Cape St. Vincent; and,

at one, saw the convoy under Admiral Knight. They joined at four; and at

six, parted company: Lord Nelson having given Admiral Knight the Royal

Sovereign; which, he observed, would make him superior in force to any

thing ready, either in Carthagena or at Cadiz. At seven o'clock, the

Martin sloop was dispatched to Barbadoes; and, at the same time, his

lordship likewise made all sail to the westward with his comparatively

small fleet. The French had twelve ships of the line, a frigate, and two

corvettes; the Spaniards, six sail of the line and five frigates; to say

nothing of the Rochfort squadron: while the whole fleet under Lord

Nelson consisted only of ten ships of the line and three frigates. The

French had, also, upwards of ten thousand troops, and the Spaniards more

than two. Notwithstanding this inferior strength, which would have

deterred many a brave man from risking the responsibility of so

hazardous an undertaking, Lord Nelson had resolved that he would follow

them, as he emphatically expressed himself, "even to the Antipodes." The

ships he had were well equipped, and his confidence in all the officers

and men was precisely the same as they themselves felt in their adored

commander--he believed them to be absolutely invincible. The ships which

accompanied his lordship in this memorable pursuit, were--the Victory of

a hundred and ten guns, Vice-Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, Rear-Admiral

Murray, and Captain Hardy; the Canopus of eighty, Rear-Admiral Louis,

and Captain Austin; Le Tigre of eighty, Captain Hallowell; the Donegal

of eighty, Captain Malcolm; the Spencer of seventy-four, the Honourable

Captain Stopford; the Conqueror of seventy-four, Captain Pellew; the

Superb of seventy-four, Captain Keates; the Belleisle of seventy-four,

Captain Hargood; the Leviathan of seventy-four, Captain Bayntun; the

Swiftsure of seventy-four, Captain Rutherford; the Decade frigate of

thirty-six, Captain Stuart; the Amazon of thirty-eight, Captain Parker;

and the Amphion of thirty-two, Captain Sutton.

His lordship, now in high spirits, since the destination of the enemy

seemed evident, and the wind had shifted in his favour, jocosely

remarked to his assembled captains--"There is just a Frenchman apiece

for each English ship, leaving me out of the question to fight the

Spaniards: and, when I haul down my colours, I expect every captain of

the fleet to do the same; but, not till then."

Having got fairly into the trade winds, they run, on the 21st of May, in

the last twenty-four hours, a hundred and ninety miles. The next day,

they passed the tropic, vulgarly called crossing the line; when Neptune

performed the usual ceremony, to the no small diversion of the fleet.

There were, in the Victory alone, his lordship remarks, who highly

enjoyed the scene, no less than five hundred persons by whom the tropic

had never before been crossed.

On the 31st, at six in the evening, being within two hundred leagues of

Barbadoes, the Amazon was sent forward for information.

On the 3d of June, at day-light, two Guinea ships, bound from Surinam to

America, were seen to the westward; from whom intelligence was obtained,

that they were told, the day before, by the Beaulieu frigate, that the

French and Spanish squadrons had arrived at Martinico, but the African

ships did not know the time of their arrival there. In the evening, a

sloop of war was perceived, with the signal of intelligence to

communicate; but, missing the Victory, his lordship would not shorten

sail, as he knew nothing more could be communicated, than when the

enemy's fleet had arrived at Martinico. Next morning, at day-light,

Barbadoes was seen by the fleet, distant about ten leagues to the west;

and, at eleven in the forenoon, his lordship received the salutes of

Rear-Admiral Cochrane, and Charles Fort. The enemy's fleet, Lord Nelson

was now informed, had arrived at Martinico on the 14th of May, with

their men sickly: and, on the 28th, were seen to the windward of St.

Lucia, standing to the southward; with the view, as was supposed, of

attacking Tobago and Trinidada. General Sir William Myers, at Barbadoes,

having very handsomely offered his lordship to embark with two thousand

troops for the relief of those islands, the fleet anchored in Carlisle

Bay; and, though very rainy, with squalls of wind, the embarkment

immediately commenced, and was continued all night. In the morning, Le

Curieux brig was sent forward, to look into Tobago; and Sir William

Myers dispatched another vessel to General Prevost, at Dominica, to

acquaint him with Lord Nelson's arrival.

The happy tidings of his lordship's approach expeditiously spread

through all the West India islands. The enemy were not the last who

heard this intelligence, which acted with double force against these

marauders: it armed with resolution the defenceless inhabitants of even

the least tenable situations, by inspiring them with hopes of a speedy

and effectual aid to their own manly exertions; and filled with dread

and horror those pusillanimous pillagers who had alone confided in their

vast superiority of numbers, for the success of their plundering

exploits, and now feared the avenging hand of our pursuing hero.

Villeneuve, the Gallic fugitive from the Nile, no sooner gained

intelligence that the victor on that occasion was likely soon to be once

more at his heels, than he again made the most expeditious use of them

in returning back from the scene of his paltry depredations; and, with

his former good fortune, escaped the chastising hand of our hero, who

continued every where seeking him in vain. His lordship, indeed, however

aware of the dastardly disposition of the enemy, could scarcely think it

possible for such a very superior force as the combined fleet thus

timidly to fly before him.

Lord Nelson, in the mean time, having weighed; at eight in the evening,

the fleet stood to the southward: and, at eight in the morning of the

6th of June, they saw Tobago. At two in the afternoon, abreast of Man of

War Bay, Le Curieux joined; with information that an American had

arrived at Scarborough the preceding day, the master of which said that

he had been boarded, three days prior to his arrival, by the French

fleet, then standing to the southward, and that they would, he supposed,

pass Tobago as last night. This account, his lordship considered as a

mere fabrication of the American: but, gaining no intelligence on which

he could rely, he bore away to Trinidada; and, at midnight, bringing to

off that island, sent the Pheasant to Toko for information. At four,

next morning, his lordship bore up for the Bogasses; and, at sunset,

anchored in the Gulf of Paria, but found that the enemy had not been

heard of in the island. At day-light, an advice-boat brought letters

from Captain Morrice at Barbadoes, giving an account of the capture of

the Diamond Rock, with the little garrison by which it was defended: and

stating, also, that the French and Spanish squadrons had not sailed from

Martinico; but that, as the French commodore told him, the Ferrol

squadron, of six sail of French, and eight of Spanish, arrived in Fort

Royal on the 4th of June. This intelligence determined his lordship:

who, at seven o'clock, sailed from Trinidada; and was at noon well out,

clear of the Bogasses.

While his lordship was off Trinidad, with his usual gaiety and goodness

of heart, he wrote to the governor, that he would rather he sent him a

hogshead of _limes_, than a hogshead of _Joes_. With him, the health of

his people was always the first object; his own individual wealth, ever

the last.

At six in the morning of the 9th, he got within sight of Grenada; and,

at noon, arrived off St. George's Bay in that island. A letter from

General Prevost now informed his lordship, that the combined squadron

had passed Dominica on the 6th of June; and, having gone to Guadaloupe,

for the purpose of landing the troops and stores taken from thence, had

been seen standing to the northward. Lord Nelson, on receiving this

intelligence, having dispatched the Nelly to Antigua, and the Jason to

Montserrat, for farther information, immediately stood to the northward,

under a press of sail. The next day, at noon, between St. Lucia and

Martinique, he sent a schooner to General Prevost: and, at eight the

following morning, Tuesday, June 11, saw Guadaloupe; and spoke an

American, from Boston, who gave no intelligence. At noon, the fleet got

within sight of Montserrat; and, at two o'clock, saw the Jason, at

anchor. The news from Montserrat was, that they had, on Saturday

morning, the 8th, being only three days before, seen sixteen sail under

Guadaloupe, beating to windward. His lordship, now, also beating up to

windward, all night and the following day, anchored in St. John's Bay,

Antigua, at sunset; which island, he learned, had been passed, on the

8th, by the French fleet standing to the north. Having, in the evening,

sent Le Curieux, with dispatches, to England, his lordship, next

morning, at day-light, landed the troops for the protection of the

islands; got ready for sea; and sailed, at noon, with eleven ships of

the line, three frigates, and a sloop of war: when the Kitty schooner

joined, with the unpleasing information, that the French fleet had, on

the 8th instant, captured it's whole convoy, consisting of fourteen

sail. From four in the afternoon, till sunset, his lordship was within

sight of Barbuda, still standing to the northward. "If," writes his

lordship, this day, "I should ask an opinion where the enemy's fleet are

gone, I should have as many opinions as there were persons. Porto-Rico,

Barbadoes, Newfoundland, Europe. My opinion, from all the circumstances

drawn into one point of view, with the best judgment I can form, is

this--I think, that the whole or part of the Spaniards will go to the

Havannah; and the rest of the fleet, to Cadiz and Toulon: and, upon this

opinion, I am going to the Straits Mouth; unless I should alter it, from

information gained."

Thus determined, every exertion was used, though with little hope, to

overtake them, if possible, on their return; and, on the 14th, at noon,

the fleet had run a hundred and thirteen miles from the Island of

Barbuda, and a hundred and thirty from St. John's Bay, Antigua.

On the 18th, the Amazon communicated with a schooner; which had, on the

15th, at sunset, seen a fleet of twenty-two ships of war steering to the

northward. On a computation formed from an examination of the schooner's

then latitude and longitude, it appeared that the French fleet were, the

night before, about eighty-seven leagues distant. His lordship, next

day, forwarded the Martin to Gibraltar, and the Decade to Lisbon, with

information of the enemy's return to Europe. At midnight, on the 21st,

Lord Nelson saw three planks floating; which, he thought, came from the

French ships: and, on the 23d, at dusk, a piece of a large ship's

topmast had also passed by the Victory, but was not observed till too

late to be picked up. Sir John Laforey, next morning, informed his

lordship that, three days after they left Antigua, he had passed close

by a bucket; which he supposed, by the make and wooden handle, to be

French: also, a large chest, painted red.

From this period, till the 5th of June, the wind proved tolerably

favourable; but they now, to use his lordship's expression, barely

"crawled" about thirty miles every twenty-four hours. "My only hope is,"

writes the hero, "that the enemy's fleet are near us, and in the same

situation." By a Spanish log and chart, taken out of a small bark from

La Guira to Cadiz, his lordship found that the combined fleets went in

sight of Cape Blanco, and passed over to the Salvages.

On the 9th, light breezes springing up, the fleet run eighty-eight

miles; in the succeeding twenty-four hours, a hundred; and, the day

after, a hundred and nineteen. The wind, however, now coming foul, his

lordship expressed himself dreadfully apprehensive that the enemy would

have too greatly the start of him. The Amazon, on the 13th, was detached

to Gibraltar; and, the fleet having got into the Portuguese trade-winds,

they run, next day, a hundred and forty-six miles.

On Wednesday, the 17th of July, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, they

saw Cape St. Vincent, distant about nine leagues. By a friendly vessel

from Rochfort, his lordship learned that the French squadron, of five

sail of the line and four frigates, which had sailed from thence the

18th of January, returned from the West Indies on the 21st of May:

having left Martinico about the middle of April; after taking several

ships, and levying contributions at Dominica, St. Kitt's, Nevis, and

Montserrat. The last twenty-four hours, the fleet went a hundred and

twenty miles; making the whole run, from Barbuda, three thousand four

hundred and fifty-nine miles. The run from Cape St. Vincent to

Barbadoes, was three thousand two hundred and twenty-seven; making the

run back only two hundred and thirty-two miles more than the run out:

allowance to be made, however, for the difference of latitude and

longitude between Barbadoes and Bermuda. The average of way daily made,

on this almost unparalleled pursuit, was thirty-four leagues; wanting

nine miles, only, in the whole.

At noon, the 18th, steering for the Straits Mouth, Admiral Collingwood

passed to the northward, with three sail of the line and two or three

frigates. Cape Spartel was then in sight; but no French fleet, or any

information about them. "How sorrowful this makes me!" writes his

lordship; "but, I cannot help myself." Next morning, at day-light, the

fleet bore up for Gibraltar Bay; where, at eight o'clock, they securely

anchored, but could gain no information of the enemy.

On Saturday, July the 20th, 1805, while the fleet were employed in

compleating provisions and stores--"I went on shore," writes his

lordship, "for the first time, since June 16, 1803; and, from having my

foot out of the Victory, two years wanting ten days."

Having sent dispatches to England, and finished getting ready for sea,

next day, Lord Nelson, on the following morning, ordered the Amphion to

Sir Richard Bickerton, off Carthagena, and proceeded with the fleet to

Tetuan; or, rather, to Mazin Bay, about eight miles to the south-east of

Tetuan customhouse, where the river is very fine, and the situation

peculiarly convenient for watering. Many of the ships got two hundred

tons on board in a single day. Several bullocks were here purchased, and

a considerable quantity of onions. At noon, on the 24th, having gained

no intelligence, the fleet again weighed, and stood for Ceuta; but

variable winds, and a thick fog, kept them all night in Gibraltar Gut.

About four o'clock, next morning, the Termagant joined, with an account

of the combined fleet's having been seen, the 19th of June, by the

Curieux brig, standing to the northward. At eight, the Spaniards fired a

few shot, from Tariffa, at the Victory; which, however, took no effect.

At noon, they saw Admiral Collingwood's squadron; and Lord Nelson sent

letters to the admiral, with arrangements for preventing the combined

fleet from entering Cadiz, while his lordship proceeded to seek them

nearer home. On the 26th, the Spartiate got on board the Victory; but,

fortunately, neither ship suffered any material damage. Having traversed

the Bay of Biscay, without discovering any thing of the enemy, his

lordship, on the 28th, at day-light, came abreast of Cape St. Vincent;

from whence, with faint hopes of finding them, he pursued his northerly

course toward the north-west of Ireland, By foul winds, and very

unfavourable weather, this proved a most tediously vexatious voyage.

Unable, after all, to fetch Ireland, on account of the northerly winds,

his lordship, in the afternoon of August 12, was informed by the Niobe,

Captain Scott, three weeks from the channel fleet, that there had not,

at that time, been the smallest intelligence of the enemy's arrival in

any of the ports. He also learned, that they had not been heard of on

the Irish coast. Having exhausted every rational conjecture with regard

to their situation, he resolved on reinforcing Admiral Cornwallis with

his squadron; lest the combined fleet of France and Spain should, by

approaching Brest, either facilitate the escape of the squadron so long

confined by this commander's blockade of that port, or place him

aukwardly between two fires.

Accordingly, on the 15th, at six in the morning, Lord Nelson got within

eighteen leagues of Ushant; and, at half past eleven, saw a fleet. At

two in the afternoon, they exchanged private signals with the channel

fleet; and, in the evening, his lordship, having detached the rest of

his fleet, received orders from Admiral Cornwallis, as commander in

chief, to proceed with the Victory and Superb to Portsmouth. His

lordship now first gained information of Sir Robert Calder's having

defeated the combined fleet from the West Indies, on the 22d of July,

sixty leagues west of Cape Finisterre; which, at length, relieved him

from the anxiety of suspence, though the action had been too indecisive

compleatly to satisfy his lordship's mind. He regretted, exceedingly,

that it had not been his own good fortune to encounter them; and felt

less comforted, than he ought to have done, by the consideration, that

this squadron, under Sir Robert Calder, had been sent out to intercept

their return, in consequence of his, lordship's suggestions, judiciously

transmitted to the Admiralty for that purpose, the moment he was

satisfied that the combined French and Spanish fleet were on their

return from the West Indies.

On the 17th, at day-light, his lordship was abreast of Portland; at

noon, saw the Isle of Wight; and, at eleven at night, anchored off the

Princesses Shoal. Having weighed next morning at day-light, they worked

up to Spithead; and, at nine o'clock, anchored: just two years and three

months from his lordship's arrival at Portsmouth. A contagious fever

having recently made dreadful havoc at Gibraltar, where the ships

touched, his lordship became subject to the quarantine regulations.

However, after communicating, by signal, with the port-admiral, he

addressed the following satisfactory declaration to the collector of

the customs--

"Victory, Spithead, August 18, 1805.

"The Victory, with the fleet under my command, left Gibraltar

twenty-seven days ago: at which time, there was not a fever in the

garrison; nor, as Dr. Fellows told me, any apprehension of one. The

fleet lately under my command, I left with Admiral Cornwallis on

the 15th of August; at which time, they were in the most perfect

health. Neither the Victory, nor the Superb, have on board even an

object for the hospital; to the truth of which, I pledge my word of

honour.

"Nelson and Bronte."

"To the Collector of the Customs, or those whom it may concern."

In consequence of these positive assurances, Lord Nelson was, at length,

permitted to land; and, during the approach of his barge, a vast

concourse of people, who had been assembling on the rampart from the

moment his flag was first discovered, hailed the hero's approach with

their loudest acclamations.

Intelligence of Lord Nelson's arrival in England had no sooner been

received by Lady Hamilton and his nearest relatives, who were then

passing a few weeks together at South End, than they hastened to Merton

Place, where his lordship appointed to meet them. The delay in landing,

made it late that afternoon before he could proceed thither: but, by

travelling all night, he got to Merton at six o'clock in the morning of

the 19th; where his friends had already assembled, in anxious

expectation of beholding the beloved hero whose presence gladdened every

virtuous heart.

His lordship, on undertaking this command, had quitted England so very

expeditiously, that he could not be present at the Grand Installation of

the Knights of the Bath, which took place in Westminster Abbey, on the

19th of May 1803, the day after his arrival at Portsmouth; and,

consequently, was obliged to be installed by proxy. On this occasion,

Lord Nelson had been represented by Captain Sir William Bolton, son of

the Reverend William Bolton, brother of Thomas Bolton, Esq. the husband

of his lordship's eldest sister; to whose amiable daughter, now Lady

Bolton, Sir William had the preceding evening been married, by special

licence, at Lady Hamilton's house in Piccadilly.

The happy party now assembled at Merton Place, where the hero ever

delighted to see his family around him, consisted of the present Earl

and Countess Nelson, with Lord Merton and Lady Charlotte Nelson, their

son and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Bolton, with Thomas Bolton, Junior, Esq.

and Miss Ann and Miss Eliza Bolton, their son and daughters; and Mr. and

Mrs. Matcham, with their son George Matcham, Junior, Esq.

On the 20th, in the morning, Lord Nelson came to London; where he had

the happiness to obtain that general approbation of his conduct, from

persons of all ranks, which those who have not been eminently successful

can rarely hope to experience. Indeed, the country seemed generally to

participate in his lordship's disappointments, with a sympathy as

honourable to the national character as to the hero so worthily

applauded. It was felt, that he had exerted himself to the utmost; and

that, notwithstanding he had been unable to meet with the enemy, his

pursuit had relieved every anxiety from the consequences of their

depredations, by forcing to fly before him a combined fleet of force

nearly doubling his own. All apprehensions for our colonial settlements

were quieted; and, though the small advantage gained by Sir Robert

Calder had not much diminished their naval strength, or greatly

augmented our own, this was no fault of his lordship, whose superior

worth ever became more abundantly manifest on the intrusion of such

comparisons. What his lordship would have done, with the same force,

similarly situated, according to the general opinion, every where freely

expresed, made the nation at large, as well as our hero himself,

sincerely regret that he had not been fortunate enough to encounter

them. In justice to Sir Robert Calder, however, it must be admitted,

there are few naval actions so brilliant, that they might not have been

rendered still more so by the presence of such a commander as Lord

Nelson.

Immediately after his lordship's arrival in town, a meeting of the West

India merchants was convened at the London Tavern; who, having met on

the 23d, Sir Richard Neave, Bart, in the chair, unanimously and

expressly agreed--"That the prompt determination of Lord Nelson to quit

the Mediterranean, in search of the French fleet; his sagacity in

judging of, and ascertaining, their course; and his bold and unwearied

pursuit of the combined French and Spanish squadrons to the West Indies,

and back again to Europe; have been very instrumental to the safety of

the West India islands in general, and well deserve the grateful

acknowledgments of every individual connected with those colonies: and,

that a deputation from the Committee of Merchants of London trading to

the West Indies, be appointed to wait upon Vice-Admiral Lord Viscount

Nelson, to express these their sentiments, and to offer him their

unfeigned thanks."

The deputation, accordingly, having waited on Lord Nelson, at Gordon's

Hotel, Albemarle Street, where his lordship had taken up his temporary

town-residence, with a copy of the above resolutions, he immediately

returned the following answer.

"London, August 28, 1805.

"SIR

"I beg leave to express, to you and the Committee of West India

Merchants, the great satisfaction which I feel in their approbation

of my conduct. It was, I conceived, perfectly clear, that the

combined squadrons were gone to the West Indies, and therefore it

became my duty to follow them. But, I assure you, from the state of

defence in which our large islands are placed, with the number of

regular troops, and numerous well-disciplined and zealous militia,

I was confident, not any troops which their combined squadron could

carry, would make an impression upon any of our large islands,

before a very superior force would arrive, for their relief.

"I have the honour to remain, Sir, and Gentlemen, your most obliged

and obedient servant,

"Nelson and Bronte.

"Sir Richard Neave, Bart. and the Committee of West India

Merchants."

Lord Nelson had, at this period, no intention of again going speedily to

sea. All his stores had been brought up from the Victory; and he was, he

said, resolved to enjoy a little leisure, with his family and friends,

in the delightful shades of Merton. The Honourable Captain Blackwood, a

few days afterward, brought intelligence that the combined fleets,

reinforced by two more Spanish squadrons, and now amounting to

thirty-four sail of the line, had left Ferrol, and got safely into

Cadiz. All this, however, was nothing to him; "Let the man trudge it,

who has lost his budget!" gaily repeated his lordship. But, amid all

this _allegro_ of the tongue, to his friends at Merton Place, Lady

Hamilton observed that his countenance, from that moment, wore

occasional marks of the _penseroso_ in his bosom. In this state of mind,

he was pacing one of the walks of Merton garden, which he always called

the quarter-deck, when Lady Hamilton told him, that she perceived he was

low and uneasy. He smiled, and said--"No! I am as happy as possible."

Adding, that he saw himself surrounded by his family; that he found his

health better since he had been at Merton; and, that he would not give a

sixpence to call the king his uncle. Her ladyship replied, that she did

not believe what he said; and, that she would tell him what was the

matter with him. That he was longing to get at these French and Spanish

fleets; that he considered them as his own property, and would be

miserable if any other man but himself did the business; that he must

have them, as the price and reward of his long watching, and two years

uncomfortable situation in the Mediterranean: and finished, by

saying--"Nelson, however we may lament your absence, and your so

speedily leaving us, offer your services, immediately, to go off Cadiz;

they will be accepted, and you will gain a quiet heart by it. You will

have a glorious victory; and, then, you may come here, have your _otium

cum dignitate_, and be happy." He looked at her ladyship for some

moments; and, with tears in his eyes, exclaimed--"Brave Emma! good Emma!

if there were more Emmas, there would be more Nelsons. You have

penetrated my thoughts. I wish all you say, but was afraid to trust even

myself with reflecting on the subject. However, I will go to town." He

went, accordingly, next morning, accompanied by her ladyship and his

sisters. They left him at the Admiralty, on the way to Lady Hamilton's

house in Clarges Street; and, soon after, received a note, informing

them that the Victory was telegraphed not to go into port, and begging

they would prepare every thing for his departure. This is the true

history of that affecting affair. Her ladyship feels, most severely,

that she was the cause of his going; but, as she loved his glory, she

could not resist giving him such advice. It is, however, the general

opinion of those who best knew his lordship, that he would, in all

probability, have fretted himself to death had he not undertaken this

expedition. His lordship's services were "not only accepted at the

Admiralty, but he was vested with powers less limited than had, perhaps,

ever before been confided to any naval commander. He was to send home

Sir Robert Calder, who had joined Admiral Collingwood in blocking up the

enemy off Cadiz harbour with twenty-six sail of the line, and to take on

himself the chief command of all his majesty's ships and vessels

throughout the whole extent of the Mediterranean Sea; having full

liberty to use his own discretion in following the enemy wherever he

should think proper, without the slightest degree of censure or

controul.

During the few days which he continued in England after being appointed

to this important command, he so devoted the little leisure which his

professional preparations allowed, to his beloved family and friends,

that he refused all public visits, and dined only twice from Merton

Place: once, with his Grace the Duke of Queensberry, who is a near

relation of the late Sir William Hamilton; and once with his esteemed

friend Abraham Goldsmid, Esq. and family, at Morden. On both these

occasions, too, he was accompanied by Lady Hamilton and some of his own

relations. The Duke of Clarence, previously to Lord Nelson's departure,

took a dinner with him at Merton; when his lordship, pointing to his

nephews, nieces, &c. who were seated at a separate table, observed: to

his royal highness, that the sight of these young persons associated

under his roof constituted the chief bliss of his life.

Among this amiable and interesting group, was Miss Horatia Nelson

Thompson, Lord Nelson's adopted daughter, then an infant about five

years of age. What real affinity, if any, that charming child may bear

to his lordship, is a secret at present known by few; and, as it should

seem, by none who feel at liberty to divulge it. She was, certainly, an

object of his constant and most tender regard; and, though the family in

general appear disinclined to believe her his daughter, it seems highly

probable that she is so. Should this prove to be the fact, it cannot

greatly affect his lordship's reputation; who, it is not to be

dissembled, though by no means ever an unprincipled seducer of the

wives and daughters of his friends, was always well known to entertain

rather more partiality for the fair-sex than is quite consistent with

the highest degree of Christian purity. Such improper indulgences, with

some slight addiction to that other vicious habit of British seamen, the

occasional use of a few thoughtlessly profane expletives in speech, form

the only dark specks ever yet discovered in the bright blaze of his

moral character. Truth must not be denied, nor vice advocated; but,

surely, the candid admission of these disagreeable verities, can never

induce a single virtuous mind unjustly to criminate the hero in any

higher degree. Could the biographer believe, that Lord Nelson had ever

indulged even an idea of dishonouring the wife of his bosom friend,

which no one worthy and intelligent person intimately acquainted with

all the parties ever yet did believe, he would that moment indignantly

throw up his brief. With respect to the mysterious child, whose

unfortunate mother may, most probably, now be no more, it is only

certain that Lady Hamilton was induced to receive her, at a very tender

age, as his lordship's adopted daughter. They had been godfather, and

godmother, in the baptismal ceremony; and her ladyship, at Lord Nelsons

request, kindly undertook the care of Miss Horatia's education: as she

had already done, for some years, that of the present highly

accomplished Lady Charlotte Nelson; and, since, of the amiable Miss Ann

Bolton. Those who have had the pleasure of beholding with what

incomparable skill, indefatigable zeal, and ardent affection, Lady

Hamilton discharges the difficult and important duty of cultivating such

comprehensive minds to the full extent of their faculties, will agree

that Lord Nelson could not possibly have confided the guardianship of

his adopted daughter to any person so well qualified, in all respects,

for the due performance of such a task. When his lordship, on the 10th

of May 1803, immediately after compleating his purchase of Mr. Axe's

estate at Merton, executed his last will and testament, it does not

appear that he made any sort of provision for this infant; nor is she

mentioned in the first codicil thereto annexed, the 13th of the same

month: yet, on this last day, it seems somewhat remarkable, the child

was baptized in the parish of St. Marylebone, though then more than two

years of age; and, a very few days after, his lordship first sailed to

take the Mediterranean command. On the 6th day of the September

following, however, Lord Nelson added a second and secret codicil to his

will, in which he gives and bequeaths to his adopted daughter, Miss

Horatia, the sum of four thousand pounds; appointing Lady Hamilton her

sole guardian, until she shall have arrived at the age of eighteen

years: the interest of the said four thousand pounds to be paid to Lady

Hamilton for her education and maintenance. "This request of

guardianship," his lordship expressly says, "I earnestly make of Lady

Hamilton; knowing that she will educate my adopted child in the paths

of religion and virtue, and give her those accomplishments which so

touch adorn herself: and, I hope, make her a fit wife for my dear

nephew, Horatio Nelson; who I wish to marry her, if he proves worthy, in

Lady Hamilton's estimation, of such a treasure as I am sure she will

be."

In another codicil, dated on board the Victory, at sea, the 19th of

February 1804, his lordship gives and bequeaths to Lady Hamilton five

hundred pounds a year, charged on the Bronte estate; and, the 7th of

April following, leaves an annuity of one hundred pounds, payable

quarterly, to poor blind Mrs. Nelson, the relict of his late brother

Maurice: without noticing, in either of these codicils, his adopted

daughter, Miss Horatia. On the 19th of December, however, in the same

year, by a fifth codicil, executed on board the Victory, in the Gulph of

Palma, Sardinia, his lordship confirms anew his legacy to Lady Hamilton,

and to his adopted daughter: and farther gives to her ladyship two

thousand pounds; to his secretary, John Scott, Esq. one hundred pounds,

to buy a ring, or some token of his remembrance; and two hundred pounds

to his friend, the Reverend Alexander Scott, then commonly called Dr.

Scott, by way of distinction from John Scott, Esq. his lordship's

secretary, and who has since taken his doctor's degree in the university

of Cambridge. This distinguished legacy, and the still more

distinguished words in which it is bequeathed--not my foreign secretary,

chaplain, &c. but "my friend, the Reverend Alexander Scott,"--must ever

bear ample testimony of a regard, even at that period, which does Dr.

Scott so much substantial honour. The foundation of this amity, like all

Lord Nelson's strongest attachments, was not merely private friendship,

and personal regard, but esteem and affection arising from the ability

and zeal of the party to assist the grand object ever uppermost in his

mind, that of accomplishing, in every possible way, by artifice opposed

to artifice, as well as arms to arms, the happiness and glory of his

king and country. Dr. Scott's secret services, though very properly

concealed from the public, are well known to, and liberally acknowledged

by, several of the ablest and bravest commanders in the navy; and it was

thus, still more than by his unaffected and agreeable manners in private

life, that he endeared himself to our incomparable hero, who constantly

possessed the most exalted degree of genuine patriotism combined with

the truest and most unbounded loyalty. This sentiment must not be

overlooked in the contemplation of Lord Nelson's character. There

cannot, perhaps, be a single proof adduced of the hero's violently

strong attachment to any individual whatever, though he was a friend to

the whole human race, and to every description of worth, if he did not,

at the period of expressing his admiration and esteem, sincerely believe

the person a valuable coadjutor in some way assisting the prosperity of

his king and country. To this noble and virtuous source may be traced

the origin of all the friendships which he greatly cherished out of his

family; and even his family would have possessed less of his love, had

any of them ever been found deficient in loyalty. This was the great

bond of affectionate union which bound together so many brave hearts,

and rendered the whole fleet one uniformly compact and invincible body.

There was scarcely, perhaps, any single individual, among either

officers or men, of a truly valorous and loyal spirit, who would not

freely have yielded his own life, if necessary, to save that of the

adored commander.

Few were the hours which this exalted man was permitted to enjoy the

society of his beloved family and friends in his retreat at Merton. The

improvement of his house and grounds, though the latter had been

rendered delightful since the enlargement, were by no means even yet

compleated; and his lordship, who was ever generous to the full extent

of his ability, found it necessary, before he quitted England, to

dispose of many jewels, and other valuable presents, which were

purchased by Messrs. Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell, on Ludgate Hill, for

the purpose of paying debts, and providing the various requisites of his

present equipment. Even this was a state to which such a man should not

have been subjected. His income had been rendered considerable, it is

true: but the grandeur of his character had rendered him too great for

his income; it ought, therefore, to have been sufficiently enlarged. The

nation will never be ruined by rewarding such men! Numerous public

services, it is well known, were in a great degree assisted by the

influence of his own private purse; which was never closed against any

claims of conceived duty, either professional or moral. Ever bountiful

to indigent merit, his private benevolences were by no means small; and

he was liberal and hospitable, both at sea and on shore, to a very

unusual excess. After all, he had not been able conveniently to repay

Mr. Matcham, his worthy and esteemed brother-in-law, four thousand

pounds borrowed towards the purchase of Merton Place. Who, then, shall

say, on a just consideration of these indisputable facts, that this

great man was amply rewarded by his country? The truth is, that he could

scarcely effect any thing which he wished, for the due support of that

dignity and rank which he had himself acquired; or obtain, for his

meritorious family and friends, the proportionate advancements which he

was solicitous to see them possess. Mr. Matcham, it is true, was a man

of fortune; but he had a very large family, with abilities which would

not have discredited rank. Mr. Bolton, his other sister's husband,

though a gentleman of great abilities also, and with a considerable

family, had a very inadequate fortune; and his lordship was particularly

desirous to have beheld him, at least, a Commissioner of the Excise or

Customs. This, in fact, was what had been repeatedly promised; but his

lordship experienced not the happiness of seeing it performed. The

present Earl Nelson, indeed, his lordship's only surviving brother, had

been presented to a prebendal stall at Canterbury; but, with this not

over splendid exception, nothing had been given by government to his

lordship's relatives, and very little to any of his chief friends. The

claim of Lady Hamilton's pension, too, which he had so earnestly

solicited, though it had been candidly acknowledged, remained still

unnoticed: and, during the few days he continued in England, it does not

appear to have been revived; probably, on account of the changes in

administration which had taken place while his lordship was abroad, as

well as the necessity of now confining himself to the requisite

arrangements for undertaking his newly extended command.

As the day approached when Lord Nelson must take his departure from

Merton Place, Lady Hamilton began severely to suffer for having advised

the tender of his services. Her mind, no doubt, anticipated all the

terrible consequences to be dreaded from his excess of valour, and his

heroic disdain of death; nor is it at all improbable, that she now most

sincerely regretted her enthusiastic zeal for the hero's glory. The

consideration of that other impelling principle, the fearful

apprehension of seeing him fall a prey to disappointment, should the

desired victory be atchieved by any other hand, brought no solace to her

bosom, for it scarcely entered her mind. Even the spirit and magnanimity

of his lordship, were unable entirely to preserve his feeling breast

from painful intrusions. Though commonly gay, he was sometimes

thoughtful. He could not be insensible, that his post was that of

danger; and, though he scorned all personal apprehension, he well knew

what must ever be expected by a commander resolved never to yield.

Before Lord Nelson quitted London, he called at Mr. Peddieson's, his

upholsterer, in Brewer Street, where the coffin presented him by Captain

Hallowell had been sent; and, with his usual gaiety and good-humour,

desired him to get the attestation of it's identity engraved on the

lid--"For," added his lordship, "I think it highly probable, that I may

want it on my return."

That he wished to live, however, is as certain, as that he feared not to

die. Of a social, tender, and affectionate heart, amid all the corporeal

agonies he had suffered, and was doomed during life to suffer, in

consequence of his various wounds, added to the still severer and more

numerous inflictions on his mental tranquillity, he preserved a

chearfulness of disposition which commonly diffused joy and gladness to

all around him. If he saw, or suspected, any difficulty or distress, his

mind was that moment occupied in endeavouring to afford some adequate

remedy. "What will be of service! How shall I obtain it!" he would

frequently exclaim to his friends, when he beheld any one unprovided

for, of whom he had a good opinion, however slight the acquaintance: and

these exclamations were generally followed up by naming some situation

suitable for the party, and immediately using all his interest to

obtain it. Innumerable are the persons whom he thus comfortably fixed,

with their families, for life. Where he could not succeed, he felt more

than the party disappointed; and, on such occasions only, lamented his

limited powers. Never did man live less for himself. To his king and his

country, his family and his friends, his life was entirely devoted; the

promotion of their felicity and glory, was the chief source of his own.

For himself, he had wealth more than sufficient; but he was too poor,

satisfactorily to assist those who were most dear to him. Had his

remunerations, and his honours, been as largely proportioned to those of

the Great Duke of Marlborough, as his merits, and his services, he would

not only have aggrandized his own family and friends, but proved a most

munificent patron of genius, and a bountiful dispenser of relief to

every species of human misery. Posterity will say, and it cannot be

denied, that our first naval hero was rewarded with too parsimonious a

hand. Should we ever see his equal, in all respects--which seems no more

likely than that we shall behold another Shakspeare--it will probably be

thought, that he is not unworthy of a dukedom. The King of Naples, as

the ally of his British majesty, restored to his throne by Lord Nelson,

deemed our hero entitled to the honour of a ducal coronet, with the

princely revenue of a dutchy; and it can never be enough lamented, that

any official etiquette, in his own country, should have prevented the

gracious sovereign who so sincerely loved him, and who was so sincerely

beloved by the hero, from bestowing on him, at least, an equal degree of

dignity, with the correspondent domains and emoluments for it's due

support. How many naval commanders have enriched themselves, by

fortunate captures of unopposing treasure-ships, or on long preserved

snug stations, without the smallest personal hazard, to a degree far

beyond what his lordship ever acquired, who was continually engaged in

scenes of the utmost fatigue and peril! All the prize-money he got, was

by hard fighting; and it was, in general, only derived from the capture

of those ships which his tremendous valour had frequently rendered

wrecks of little value. Even then, but a small portion fell to his

share; as he had, both at the Nile and Copenhagen, two of the greatest

victories ever gained, a commander in chief who was regularly entitled

to prodigiously more than himself. It is by no means pretended, that the

captors of rich prizes, the possessors of advantageous stations, and

commanders in chief, are not all of them justly and most honourably

entitled to the vast wealth they have often the good fortune to acquire;

it is only lamented, that our hero was, in these respects, constantly so

peculiarly unfortunate. After the Earl of St. Vincent left the

Mediterranean command, Lord Nelson was soon superceded by the arrival of

Lord Keith; and, when Sir Hyde Parker returned home, after the battle of

Copenhagen, his lordship almost immediately followed. On neither of

these occasions, nor in the subsequent affair of Boulogne, so soon

succeeded by peace, could he derive much advantage as a commander in

chief: and, though he had now held the Mediterranean command more than

two years, the terror of his name, by confining the enemy to their

ports, prevented it's being very profitable; while the peculiar nature

of his situation, with regard to the difficulties of obtaining

intelligence, as well as requisite supplies and refreshments, occasioned

private expences which considerably abridged his emoluments. It is true

that, as far as related to himself, he might have contrived to live in

retirement on his pension and half-pay; but he could by no means make

any suitable provision for those whom he conceived to have claims on his

protection. This expedition, he trusted, would enable him, at length, to

accomplish the wish of his heart, by placing all who were most dear to

him in situations of easy independence. If he should survive, the

brilliance of the glorious victory which he anticipated, might probably

qualify himself sufficiently to exalt them; if he should fall, he would

not permit himself to doubt, that the generous nation which he loved,

and in whose just cause his last blood would be so freely shed, could

ever hesitate a moment amply to provide for every beloved object of his

anxious regard, with this confident hope bequeathed to the benign

protection of his king and country.

On Friday, the 13th of September, the Victory having been compleatly

prepared, dropped down to St. Helen's, ready for the hero's reception.

To his lordship and friends, this was a terrible day. Some of his

relatives had previously left Merton, that they might escape the dreaded

agonies of so painful a separation. Mr. and Mrs. Matcham continued to

the last; and sustained, with their best fortitude, the severe shock of

such a parting. His lordship, kindly affectionate to all, had repeatedly

declared that, from the first prize-money which he should be fortunate

enough to obtain, amounting to thirty thousand pounds, he would make a

present of five thousand to his brother, and the same sum to each of his

two sisters: and, on Mr. Matcham's expressing a wish that his lordship

might retain Mrs. Matcham's share, he replied--"No; she has an equal

claim with her other sister and my brother." So equally did they all

participate in his fraternal regards.

Lord Nelson had not, yet, been quite a month in England, and much of

even that short period was occupied in preparations for his departure;

yet he had, now, lived longer in the society of Lady Hamilton and his

friends, than at any time since the death of Sir William. The affection

Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton entertained for each other, is not to be

doubted; but it was a pure and virtuous attachment, founded entirely on

mental esteem. Their loves were mutually the result of a most

enthusiastic admiration of each other's heroic and magnanimous

qualities. Those know little of the human heart, who require to be told

what this sentiment is capable of effecting; and how little it has to do

with the more gross and less durable tie of mere sexual or personal

regard. That they would have been united, if his lordship had survived

Lady Nelson, is a fact sufficiently known. In the mean time, never did

the most chivalrous knight of antiquity cherish in his heart a more

extravagant degree of adoration for the peerless princess of his

affections, than that which our hero manifested for this accomplished

lady. It was with her image continually before him, that he combated the

enemies of his country. Her portrait was always placed in his cabin,

which he familiarly denominated his guardian genius; and he constantly

wore a fine miniature representation of her ladyship's charming

features, suspended in his bosom. In short, he always thought, and

freely said, that there was not her equal in the universe. The agonies

of this parting are not to be described. His lordship, about ten at

night, after visiting the chamber of his adopted daughter, and praying

over the sleeping innocent, tore himself from her agonized ladyship,

surrounded by his remaining relatives, and entered the chaise which

conveyed him, by six o'clock next morning, to Portsmouth.

As a proof of Lord Nelson's ceaselessly ardent desire for the

advancement of his beloved relatives, when his esteemed brother-in-law,

George Matcham, Esq. attended him to the chaise door, his lordship

feelingly lamented that it was not yet in his power substantially to

serve Mr. Matcham; who immediately said--"My dear lord, I have no other

wish than to see you return home in safety; as for myself, I am not in

want of any thing."--"With your large family, my dear Mr. Matcham,"

affectionately replied his lordship, "you certainly require a very

considerable addition to your fortune!" Can any thing compensate, to his

family, the loss of such a brother?

"Friday night," writes his lordship, "at half past ten, I drove from

dear, dear Merton; where I left all which I hold dear in this world, to

go to serve my king and country. 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!"

In this, which is extracted from his lordship's own private journal,

written at the moment, warm from the heart, as well as in almost every

other action of his life, is manifested that exalted desire to promote

the glory of his king and country, and that earnest wish to secure every

comfort for his family and friends, which animated his heroic soul to

perform any exploit, where there was a possibility of attaining either

of those desirable objects.

Lord Nelson, on arriving at Portsmouth, immediately arranged all his

business: and, having embarked at the bathing-machines, got on board the

Victory, about two o'clock; accompanied by his esteemed friends, the

Right Honourable, George Rose, and the Right Honourable George Canning,

who dined with the hero while he was preparing for sea.

The next morning, Sunday, September 15, at daylight, the Victory

weighed, with light airs, and immediately sailed. Though five ships of

the line, and a frigate, were then at Portsmouth, almost ready for sea,

and under orders to join his lordship, he was resolved not to lose a

moment in waiting for them. He had sailed, therefore, from St. Helen's,

accompanied only by the Honourable Captain Blackwood in the Euryalus

frigate: but, on the 17th, being off Plymouth, they were joined by the

Ajax of seventy-four guns, Captain Brown; and the Thunderer of the same

force, Captain Lechmere.

Lord Nelson, on the 26th of September, got round Cape St. Vincent; but

it was late in the evening of the 28th, before he arrived off Cadiz, and

joined Admiral Collingwood. His lordship was received, by the whole

fleet, with every demonstration of the most enthusiastic joy. Being

fully prepared to impart the particulars of the incomparable mode of

attack which he had projected for the occasion, in all that force and

vigour of genius which flashes irresistible conviction on the heart,

and fills it, at once, with admiration, esteem, and astonishment, his

lordship communicated, next morning, with the different commanders; whom

he ordered on board the Victory, to be made acquainted with the

particulars of his intended plan. "I believe," writes his lordship, "my

arrival was most welcome; not only to the commanders of the fleet, but

also to every individual in it; and, when I came to explain to them the

_Nelson touch_, it was like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all

approved. 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."--"Some," adds his lordship, "may be Judas's, but the

majority are certainly much pleased with my commanding them." The letter

from which this is extracted, was dated the 1st of October; on which

morning, about four o'clock, our hero had been suddenly seized with a

violent fit of those dreadful spasms which often so alarmingly afflicted

him, "It is," says his lordship, "very odd! I was hardly ever better,

than yesterday. Freemantle staid with me till eight o'clock; and I slept

uncommonly well, but was awoke by this disorder. My opinion of it's

effect, some one day, has never altered! However, it is entirely gone

off, and I am only quite weak. The good people of England will not

believe, that rest of body and mind is necessary for me! But, perhaps,

this spasm may not come again these six months. I had been writing seven

hours yesterday; perhaps, that had some hand in bringing it upon me."

Thus lightly does he speak of his own sufferings, thus good-humouredly

notice the little consideration of the country for his individual ease.

The Euryalus had been immediately stationed close off the harbour of

Cadiz, for the purpose of watching every motion of the enemy, and

instantly communicating whatever intelligence might be obtained; a

service for which, Lord Nelson was persuaded, there could not possibly

be a better officer than his friend the Honourable Captain Blackwood. At

a more remote distance, but still within sight of the port, a detachment

of a few ships of the line was placed in constant readiness to act

against any single ships, or small squadrons, which might attempt to

push out for sea; between which, and the main body of the fleet,

remaining off Cape St. Mary's, was posted a line of frigates,

sufficiently close for the whole to communicate by signal: so that his

lordship could always, in a few minutes, be informed of every movement

of the enemy. There were now thirty-six sail of the line visible in

Cadiz, and they bore every appearance of being nearly ready for sea.

The following excellent letter, developing the intended arrangements of

his lordship; his full confidence of success; and the characteristic

chearfulness of his friendly attachment to the Honourable Captain Black

wood, originally founded on admiration of that active able officer's

professional abilities in assisting the capture of Le Guillaume Tell at

Malta; cannot fail to gratify every intelligent reader.

Victory, Oct. 4, 1805.

"MY DEAR SIR,

I have received, from Rear-Admiral Louis, your information

respecting the intended movements of the enemy. I am momentarily

expecting the Phoebe, Sirius, Naiad, and Niger, from Gibraltar;

two of them shall be with you, directly as I can get hold of them:

and, if you meet them, and there is any way of sending information,

and their dispatches from Gibraltar, keep Naiad and Phoebe. Juno is

a fixture between Capes Trafalgar and Spartel. Mars, Colossus, and

Defence, will be stationed four leagues east from the fleet; and

one of them advanced to the east, towards Cadiz, and as near as

possible in the latitude. The fleet will be from sixteen to

eighteen leagues west of Cadiz; therefore, if you throw a frigate

west from you, most probably, in fine weather, we shall daily

communicate. In fresh breezes easterly, I shall work up for Cadiz,

never getting to the northward of it; and, in the event of hearing

they are standing out of Cadiz, carry a press of sail to the

southward, towards Cape Spartel and Arache. I am writing out

regular instructions for the guidance of the frigates: but, I am

confident, these gentry will not slip through our fingers; and,

that we shall give a good account of them, although they may be

superior in numbers. The Royal Sovereign and Defiance were to sail

after the 24th. Belleisle is ordered here. I send you two papers,

_I have stole them for you_. Ever, my dear Blackwood, most

faithfully your's,

"Nelson and Bronte."

"The Honourable Captain Blackwood."

On the 8th, his lordship sent the Naiad to the Honourable Captain

Blackwood; with a promise of the Phoebe and Weazle, as soon as he could

lay hands on them: informing him, also, that the Defiance had joined,

and the Royal Sovereign was then in sight. The next morning, at eight

o'clock, his lordship, after thanking the honourable captain for

intelligence respecting a livelihood of the enemy's sailing, and

observing that he should wish never to be more than forty-eight hours

without hearing from him, observes that--

"Agamemnon, Belleisle, and Superb, and very probably the London,

are at this moment on their passage: therefore," he jocosely says,

"if Mr. Decreés means to come forth, (if he would take my advice,

which I dare say he will not) he had better come out directly.

Those," he adds, "who know more of Cadiz than you or I do, say

that, after these Levanters, come several days of fine weather;

westerly winds for sea-breezes, and a land wind at night: and that,

if the enemy are bound into the Mediterranean, they would come out

in the night, which they have always done; placing lights on the

Porpoises and the Diamond, and the shoal off Cadiz; run to the

southward, and catch the sea breeze off the mouth of the Gut, and

push through, whilst we might have little winds in the offing. In

short, watch all points, and all winds and weathers. Remember me to

Capel, Parker, Mundy, and Captain Prowse; and, be assured, I ever

am your's most faithfully,

Nelson and Bronte.

The following short letter, written the following day, is too peculiarly

characteristic, and impressive, to admit of any curtailment.

Oct. 10, 1805. Victory.

"MY DEAR BLACKWOOD,

Keep your five frigates, Weazle and Pickle, and let me know every

movement. I rely, we cannot miss getting hold of them, and I will

give them such a shaking as they never yet experienced; at least,

_I will lay down my life in the attempt!_ We are a very powerful

fleet, and not to be held cheap. I have told Parker, and do you

direct, that ships bringing information of their coming out, are to

fire guns every three minutes by the watch; and, in the night, to

fire rockets, if they have them, from the mast-head. I have nothing

more to say; they will, I hope, sail to-night. Ever your's,

faithfully,

Nelson and Bronte.

Cadiz East Thirteen Leagues, 6 A.M.

"The Honourable Captain Blackwood."

It was on this day, that Lord Nelson issued his celebrated instructions

for attacking the combined fleet, of which the following is a correct

copy.

Victory, off Cadiz, Oct. 10,1805.

Thinking it almost impossible to bring a fleet of forty sail of the

line into battle, in variable winds, thick weather, and other

circumstances which must occur, without such a loss of time that

the opportunity would probably be lost of bringing the enemy to

battle in such a manner as to make the business decisive; I have,

therefore, made up my mind, to keep the fleet in that position of

sailing, with the exception of the first and second in command,

that the order of sailing is to be the order of the battle: placing

the fleet in two lines, of sixteen ships each, with an advanced

squadron of eight of the fastest sailing two-decked ships; which

will always make, if wanted, a line of twenty-four sail on which

ever line the commander in chief may direct. The second in command

will, after my intentions are made known to him, have the entire

direction of his line, to make the attack upon the enemy, and to

follow up the blow, until they are captured or destroyed. If the

enemy's fleet are seen to windward in line of battle, and that the

two lines and advanced squadron could fetch them, they will

probably be so extended that their van could not succour their

rear. I should therefore, probably, make the second in command's

signal to lead through about the twelfth ship from their rear; or

wherever he could fetch, if not able to get so far advanced: my

line would lead through about their centre, and the advanced

squadron two, three, or four, ships a-head of their centre, so as

to ensure getting at their commander in chief, whom every effort

must be made to capture. The whole impression of the British fleet

must be, to overpower from two or three ships a-head of their

commander in chief, supposed to be their centre, to the rear of

their fleet. I will suppose twenty sail of the line to be

untouched; it must be some time before, they could perform a

manoeuvre to bring their force compact to attack any part of the

British fleet, or succour their own ships: which, indeed, would be

impossible, without mixing with the ships engaged. The enemy's

fleet is supposed to consist of forty-six sail of the line, British

forty: if either is less, only a proportion of the enemy to be cut

off. British to to be one-fourth superior to the enemy cut off.

Something must be left to chance. Nothing is sure in a sea-fight,

beyond all others; shots will carry away masts and yards of friends

as well as foes. But I look with confidence to a victory, before

the van of the enemy could succour the rear: and, then, that the

British fleet would be ready to receive the twenty sail of the

line; or to pursue them, should they endeavour to make off. If the

van of the enemy tacks, the captured ships must run to leeward of

the British fleet. If the enemy wear, the British fleet must place

themselves between the enemy and the captured, and the disabled

British ships; and, should the enemy close, I have no fear as to

the result. The second in command will, in all possible things,

direct the movements of his line, by keeping them as compact as the

nature of the circumstances will admit. Captains are to look to

their particular line as their rallying point; but, in case signals

cannot be seen, or clearly understood, _no captain can do wrong, if

he places his ship alongside that of an enemy_.

/Advanced Squadron 8\

British Divisions { Weather Line ... 16 } 40.

\Lee Line ... 16/

Enemy ... 46.

The Divisions of the British fleet will be brought nearly within

gunshot of the enemy's centre. The signal will, most probably, then

be made for the lee line to bear up together; to set all their

sails, even the steering sails, in order to get as quickly as

possible to the enemy's line; and to cut through, begining at the

twelfth ship from the enemy's rear. Some ships may not get through

their expected place, but they will always be at hand to assist

their friends. If any are thrown in the rear of the enemy, they

will compleat the business of twelve sail of the enemy. Should the

enemy wear together, or bear up and sail large, still the twelve

ships composing in the first position the enemy's rear, are to be

the object of attack of the lee line, unless otherwise directed by

the commander in chief; which is scarcely to be expected, as the

entire management of the lee line, after the intentions of the

commander in chief are signified, is intended to be left to the

admiral commanding that line. The remainder of the enemy's fleet,

thirty-five, sail of the line, are to be left to the management of

the commander in chief, who will endeavour to take care that the

movements of the second in command are as little interrupted as

possible.

"Nelson and Bronte."

About this period, the following admired extract of a letter to

Alexander Davison, Esq. his lordship's most confidential friend, appears

also to have been written; which, though published in most of the

newspapers, and other periodical journals, cannot be too often

reprinted.

"Day by day, my dear friend, I am expecting the fleet to put to

sea; every day, hour, and moment: and you may rely that, if it is

in the power of man to get at them, it shall be done; and, I am

sure, that all my brethren look to that day, as the finish of our

laborious cruise. The event, no man can say exactly; but I must

think,--or render great injustice to those under me, that let the

battle be when it may, it will never have been surpassed! My

shattered frame, if I survive that day, will require rest, and that

is all I shall ask for. If I fall on such a glorious occasion, it

shall be my pride to take care that my friends shall not blush for

me. These things are in the hands of a good and wise Providence;

and, his will be done! I have got some trifle, thank God, to leave

to those I hold most dear, and I have taken care not to neglect it.

Do not think I am low-spirited on this account, or fancy any thing

is to happen to me; quite the contrary: my mind is calm, and I have

only to think of destroying our inveterate foe. I have two frigates

gone for more information, and we all hope for a meeting with the

enemy. Nothing can be finer than the fleet under my command.

Whatever be the event, believe me ever, my dear Davison, your much

obliged and sincere friend,

"Nelson and Bronte."

As, however, the combined fleet did not immediately come out, his

lordship soon grew apprehensive that they were very little disposed

speedily to venture from port; and, therefore, began to consider how he

might annoy them even there.

"If they do not come forth soon," writes his lordship, on the 14th, to

the Honourable Captain Blackwood, "I shall then rather incline to think

they will detach squadrons: but, I hope, either in the whole, or in

part, we shall get at them. I am confident in your look out upon them. I

expect three stout fire-ships from England; then, with a good breeze, so

that the gun-boats cannot move, and yet not so much but that a gig can

with ease row out, I should hope that, at least, the gentry might be

disturbed: and I should not be surprised if Mr. Francis and his

catamarans were sent, and Colonel Congreve and his rockets. But, all

this keep to yourself; for officers will talk, and there is no occasion

to put the enemy upon their guard. When those things arrive, we will

consult how to manage them, and I shall have the two bombs ready by that

time."

On Lord Nelson's arrival in the Mediterranean, he had felt it his most

difficult task to send home Sir Robert Calder. "I had never," said his

lordship, speaking on this subject to his confidential friends, "but two

enemies in the profession, that I know of, Sir Robert Calder, and Sir

John Orde; nor do I feel conscious of having ever given either of them

any just cause of offence. However," added this excellent and exalted

man, "I will, at least, endeavour to make Sir Robert love me."

Accordingly, on communicating his orders to this unfortunate commander,

he earnestly advised him not to return home immediately; but to serve

with himself on the expected glorious occasion, after which, there could

be nothing to apprehend from any trivial enquiry respecting what might

previously have happened. Sir Robert, however, though he could not but

feel sensible of his lordship's kindness, was resolved by no means to

protract his justification; and Lord Nelson, finding him determined to

go home, as a last proof of tenderness and respectful consideration for

a brother officer thus disagreeably situated, insisted that, instead of

Sir Robert's departing in a frigate, as directed, he should at least

have the honour of returning in his own ninety-gun ship, ill as it

could at this eventful crisis be spared from that station. Thus did the

hero willingly hazard a degree of censure from his country, through

excess of feeling for Sir Robert Calder; nor is it altogether an

extravagant impossibility that, to this generous action, he owed even

his own death, which the addition of a ship of such force might perhaps

have prevented. In writing to the Honourable Captain Blackwood a second

letter, dated the, 14th, soon after Sir Robert Calder's departure, his

lordship feelingly says--"Sir Robert is gone. Poor fellow! I hope he

will get well over the enquiry." What a lesson is here of Christian

virtue, left by our incomparable hero for the contemplation and

admiration of mankind. It is asserted, on no light authority, that Sir.

Robert Calder had formerly, rather rashly, advised a court-martial on

our hero, for his departure from his commander in chief's orders on the

memorable 14th of February; when the great Earl of St. Vincent, with a

generous, noble, and dignified disdain, instantly replied--"You would,

then, try a man for knowing better how to act than yourself."

Lord Nelson, in the foregoing letter to the Honourable Captain

Blackwood, thanks him for some observations on the Salvages, which he

will get inserted in the charts; and tells him, that the Defence and

Agamemnon will be this day placed seven to ten leagues distant from

Cadiz, and two or three ships between the fleet and them: "therefore,"

says his lordship, "you will be speedily supported, in case of an

attempt to drive you off." Characteristically adding--"_I should like,

most amazingly, to see them try it_!"

It has been said, that Lord Nelson, who was in hourly expectation of

being reinforced by seven ships of the line from England, and impatient

to encounter the enemy, purposely detached Rear-Admiral Louis, with that

number of ships, in the most public manner, by way of encouraging them

to risk an action with his apparently so diminished force; and, that

this stratagem actually induced Admiral Villeneuve immediately to sail

from Cadiz. That the expected reinforcement had arrived, and Admiral

Louis had been thus detached to Tetuan, for fresh provisions and water,

is most certain; and it is equally certain that the combined fleet,

greatly to our hero's wish, however it might be to his expectation, he

had the pleasure to learn, next morning; Sunday, October the 20th, on

communicating with the Phoebe, Defence, and Colossus, were the evening

before seen by them outside of Cadiz; but, the wind being southerly, the

enemy, consisting of nearly forty sail, could not get to the mouth of

the Straits. "We were," writes his lordship, for this is transcribed

from his own private memorandum of that day, "between Trafalgar and Cape

Spartel. The frigates made the signal, that they saw nine sail outside

the harbour. I gave the frigates instructions for their guidance; and

placed Defenced Colossus, and Mars, between me and the frigates. At

noon, fresh gales, and heavy rain. Cadiz north-east nine leagues. In the

afternoon, Captain Blackwood telegraphed, that the enemy seemed

determined to go to the westward--_and that they shall not do, if in the

power of Nelson and Bronte to prevent them_! At five, telegraphed

Captain Blackwood, that I relied on his keeping sight of the enemy. At

five o'clock, Naiad made the signal for thirty-one sail of the enemy

north north-east. The frigates and look-out ships kept sight of the

enemy most admirably, all night; and told me, by signals, which tack

they were upon. At eight, we wore, and stood to the south-west; and, at

four A.M. wore, and stood to the north-east."

To what an eventful period is the reader now conducted, by the hand of

our immortal hero himself, in the forcible and unaffected language of

his own manly and matchless heart; of that heart, which was, at this

aweful moment, glowing with all the heroism of patriotic ardour for his

king and country, and anxiously waiting the first dawn of light by which

he might be enabled to discover the enemy! It came; and, with it,

brought the welcome sight of those whom his whole soul burned to behold.

Few, and simple, are the words which immediately follow in his

lordship's memorandum.

"Monday, October 21, 1805. At day-light, saw the enemy's combined fleet,

from east to east south-east. Bore away; made the signal for order of

sailing, and to prepare for battle: the enemy with their heads to the

southward."

But now, at the very crisis when he is hastening into a battle for his

king and country, which he feels confident must end in a glorious

victory, though he might not himself survive it, with that potent

patriotism and never-ceasing loyalty to his king and country, and that

constantly tender regard for those who were nearest to his heart in the

bonds of private affection, he thus piously invokes Heaven's protection

for his king and country; and the protection of his king and country,

should he fall in their service, for those most dear to his heart who

would thus be deprived of his own. To add to the solemnity, though thus

introduced in his lordship's private journal, it has the form, and in

some respects the substance, of a codicil of his last will and

testament; and is, accordingly, thereto annexed, having been duly proved

in Doctors Commons.

"At seven," continues, and unfortunately concludes, his lordship--for

these seem to have been the last words written by his own hand, which no

man who deserves the name of a Briton will ever cease to remember and to

regard--"the enemy wearing in succession--

"_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 any one tarnish it! and may humanity, after

victory, be the predominant feature in the British fleet! For

myself, individually, I Commend my life to Him who made me; and may

his blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my country

faithfully! To him I resign myself, and the just cause which is

entrusted to me to defend._

Amen! Amen! Amen!

"October the 21st, 1805, then in sight of the

combined Fleets of France and Spain,

distant about ten miles.

"Whereas the eminent services of Emma Hamilton, widow of the Right

Honourable Sir William Hamilton, have been of the very greatest

service to our King and Country, to my knowledge, without her

receiving any reward from either our King or Country--

"First, that she obtained the King of Spain's letter, in 1796, to

his brother the King of Naples, acquainting him of his intention to

declare war against England; from which letter the ministry sent

out orders to the then Sir John Jervis, to strike a stroke, if

opportunity offered, against either the arsenals of Spain or her

fleets: that neither of these was done, is not the fault of Lady

Hamilton; the opportunity might have been offered.

"Secondly, The British fleet under my command could never have

returned the second time to Egypt, had not Lady Hamilton's

influence with the Queen of Naples caused letters to be wrote to

the Governor of Syracuse, that he was to encourage the fleet being

supplied with every thing, should they put into any port in

Sicily. We put into Syracuse, and received every supply; went to

Egypt, and destroyed the French fleet.

"Could I have rewarded these services, I would not now call upon my

country! But, as that has not been in my power, I leave Emma

Hamilton, therefore, a legacy to my King and Country; that they

will give her an ample provision, to maintain her rank in life.

"I also leave to the beneficence of my country, my adopted

daughter, Horatia Nelson Thompson; and I desire she will use, in

future, the name of Nelson only.

"These are the only favours I ask of my King and Country, at this

moment, when I am going to fight their battle.

"May God bless my King and Country, and all those I hold dear! My

relations it is needless to mention; they will, of course, be amply

provided for.

"Nelson and Bronte."

"Witness,

Henry Blackwood,