The importunities of Horatia's mother were continuously being forced
upon Nelson in one way or another, but he seems to have stood firm, in
an apologetic way, to the instructions laid down by himself, that no
women were to go to sea aboard his ship; for, having been a party to
the embargo, it would have been impossible for him to make her an
exception. He anticipates, as her other lovers had done, that she can
be very angry, like Horatia, when she cannot have her own way, but he
soothingly says that he knows his own dear Emma, if she applies her
reason, will see that he is right. He playfully adds an addendum that
"Horatia is like her mother, she will have her own way, or kick up the
devil of a dust." He reminds Emma that she is a "sharer of his glory,"
which settles the question of her being allowed to sail with him, and
from encountering the heavy gales and liquid hills that are
experienced off Toulon week after week. He warns the lady that it
would kill her and himself to witness it. Emma was too devoted to all
the pleasures ashore to risk losing her life in any such
uncomfortable fashion at sea, so the project was abandoned, if it was
ever seriously contemplated.
This astute actress knew where to touch Nelson's weak spot, and that
it would send him into a frenzy of love to think of her yearning to be
beside him. She would know that the rules of the Service prohibited,
except under special circumstances, even the highest in rank from
having their wives sail with them, and that the rule would apply more
rigidly to herself, who was not Nelson's wife. She knew, in fact, that
her request would flatter him, and that she would be compensated by
receiving a whirlwind of devotion in reply. After the Gulf of Lyons
days, no further request appears to have been made of that kind.
The combined fleets had been dodging each other on the 20th, light
westerly winds and calms prevailing. At daylight on the 21st the
belligerent fleets were within twelve miles of each other. Nelson was
on deck early, and at 7.40 a.m. made the signal "To form the order of
sailing," and "To prepare for battle." Then the signal was made to
"Bear up," the _Victory_ and _Royal Sovereign_ leading the way in two
lines; Nelson took the weather line with his ships, and the other
division followed, but the wind being light, many had barely steerage
way. Fourteen vessels followed Collingwood, who was to attack the
enemy's rear, while Nelson slashed into the van and centre.
Villeneuve, seeing by the British formation that his number was up and
that he would have to give battle, manoeuvred to keep Cadiz open,
which was about twenty miles NE. of him, but the wind, being light,
made it as difficult for the French Commander-in-Chief to carry out
the disposition as it was for the quick-witted British Commander to
prevent it. Hence the development was a lazy process, and prevented,
as varying circumstances always do, any rigid plan being adhered to.
Had there been a fresh breeze before the battle commenced, the chances
are that the French would have secured a position that would have
enabled more of the crippled ships to get into Cadiz, but even this is
doubtful, as only a fluke of wind could have saved them from the
strategy of the British Commander-in-Chief before the fighting began.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock on the 21st October every humanly
possible, detailed arrangement had been completed. Each captain knew
that, so far as it was possible, he was to follow where his admiral
and vice-admiral led. The spirits of all those who manned the fleet
were high of hope, and the inspiring spirit said he could do no more.
Nelson then went to his cabin and on his knees wrote a prayer that
throbbed and will continue to throb through the universe. It exhales
the spirit of bravery, and triumphant assurance of the eternal justice
of the cause for which he is about to sacrifice himself, for a sombre
document it is; but the soul that is in it is imperishable, and who
can peruse it without vividly picturing the writer kneeling before the
Omnipotent, pleading for his country's cause, and offering himself
piously as a willing sacrifice!
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 commit my life to Him that made me;
and may His blessing alight on 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.
Then, as though apprehension of the inevitable passing was growing,
the thought of the woman who is the mother of his child, and for whom
he had an unquenchable love, blinds him to all sense of propriety. It
puts a severe strain on our imagination to realize how a man could
composedly write such a request on the verge of the greatest naval
conflict in history. It is dated "21st of October, 1805, in sight of
the combined fleets of France and Spain, distant 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 my King and country to my knowledge, without
ever receiving any reward from either our King and 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 our 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 fleets
being supplied with everything, should they put into any port in
Sicily. We put into Syracuse, 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, Lady 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.