Two hundred years after Drake came Nelson. He was the son of a
clergyman in Norfolk, a poor, sickly little fellow, and was for a time
in the merchant service.
His first step to greatness was when the ship which he was in captured
an enemy's ship, and the first lieutenant was ordered to take a boat
and some men and go aboard the prize. But owing to the heavy sea which
was running the officer gave up the attempt as too dangerous,
whereupon Nelson, like a good Scout, stepped forward and offered to
go.
He succeeded, and thence was marked as a good officer.
Every boy knows how, after a splendid career of fighting for Britain,
he finally won the great sea battle of Trafalgar against the French
and Spanish fleets, and fell mortally wounded in the hour of victory.
But his work, and that of other great sea-captains who served with
him, completed the supremacy of the British Navy begun by Drake and
the sea-dogs of his time.
The navies of our enemies were entirely swept from off the seas, and
their merchant ships could only carry on their trade so long as their
countries remained at peace with Britain.
And that supremacy has remained with us till to-day.
In consequence of this we have been enabled to put a stop to the awful
slave trade which used to go on on the coasts of Africa; to discover
new lands for our Empire, and to bring civilisation to savages in the
farthest corners of the world. And the enterprise of our merchant
ships has made our trade successful all over the globe, and so
increased the prosperity of our people both at home and in our Oversea
Dominions.
The sailor has a grand life of it. Continually visiting strange and
interesting lands, with a good ship manoeuvring through distant
oceans, with plenty of contests with tides and winds. A free, open,
and healthy life, which breeds cheery handiness and pluck such as make
a sailor so deservedly loved by all. And all the time he is doing
grand work for his country.
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