The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson Volume I Part 15

"_An officer desires to return thanks to Almighty G.o.d, for his perfect recovery from a severe wound; and, also, for the many mercies bestowed on him._"

"_December 8th 1797; for next Sunday._"

The original of the above thanksgiving, in his own hand-writing, is still carefully preserved by the present Reverend Mr. Greville, son and successor of the venerable clergyman to whom it was delivered by Sir Horatio Nelson.

On the 13th of December, having been p.r.o.nounced fit for service, by his surgeons, he made his appearance at court; and his majesty received him in the most gracious and tender manner: expressing, with peculiar marks of sensibility, his excessive sorrow for the loss which Sir Horatio had suffered, and the regret which he felt at beholding him in a state of health apparently so far reduced as to deprive the country of his future services. The brave admiral, however, immediately replied to his sovereign, with the most respectful but dignified tone of expression, in the following energetic and affectionate speech--"May it please your majesty, I can never think that a loss, which the performance of my duty has occasioned; and, while I have a foot to stand on, I will combat for my king and country!"

His majesty appeared deeply affected by this manly and loyal answer; and, in consequence, on the 19th, only six days after, Sir Horatio Nelson received orders to hoist his flag on board the Vanguard, and again proceed to the Mediterranean, as soon as that s.h.i.+p could be properly equipped for the voyage.

Not having been before in England since he lost, at Calvi, the sight of his right eye, it was about this period that he went, accompanied by Mr.

Bolton, to receive a year's pay, as smart-money; that being the customary allowance, in the navy, on losing an eye or a limb: but could not obtain payment, for want of the formality of a certificate from the faculty, to testify that the sight was actually extinguished. Vexed, for a moment, at what he considered as a superfluous and almost impertinent requisition, it's loss being sufficiently notorious, though by no means apparent, he not only immediately procured the desired certificate; but, from whimsical pleasantry, humorously requested, and actually obtained, at the same time, a certificate from his surgeons of the loss of his arm, which was sufficiently obvious: a.s.serting--with much propriety, in his particular instance, at least--that one might just as well be doubted as the other. On going, afterwards, to receive the sum, which was the annual pay of a captain only, that being his rank when he sustained the loss, the clerk observed that he thought it had been more.

"Oh, no!" jocosely replied the hero, "this is only for an eye: in a few days, I shall come for an arm; and, in a little time longer, G.o.d knows, most probably, for a leg!"

Accordingly, he soon after went again to the office, accompanied by the same gentleman as before; and, with perfect good-humour, exhibited the supererogatory certification of the loss of his arm.

In January 1798, Sir Horatio Nelson having presented to the city of Norwich the sword of the Spanish admiral, delivered to him on the memorable 14th of February 1797, an ingenious device, executed by Mr.

Windham of that city, was erected in the council-chamber of the town-hall, to commemorate this event, and the consequent gift, which has been thus described--To the ring of an anchor, is suspended a yard and sail, supposed to be torn in action: on which is inscribed--"The Sword of the Spanish Admiral, Don Xavier Winthuysen, who died of the wounds he received in an engagement with the British fleet, under the command of Admiral Earl St. Vincent, 13th of February 1797, which ended in the most brilliant victory ever obtained by this country over the enemy at sea; wherein the heroic valour, and cool determined courage, of Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, K.B. had ample scope for their display. He, being a native of Norfolk, has honoured the city, by presenting this sword, surrendered to him in that action." From the flukes of the anchor, the sword is suspended. Underneath, is the coat of arms of Sir Horatio Nelson, which was given to him by the king. The crest is the stern of a man of war; the supporters, are a sailor bearing a British lion, trampling on the Spanish colours. The motto is--"Faith and works."

Sir Horatio appears to have spent his preceding Christmas, and commencement of the present year, with his venerable father, and the esteemed husband of his amiable younger sister, Mrs. Matcham, at Bath; where, also, he might be desirous to recruit his health and vigour for his approaching voyage. Certain it is, that he quitted Bond Street in December, and was at Bath the beginning of February.

It was not till the 1st of April 1798, that the convoy which he had in charge for Lisbon was completely ready; and, though he sailed with it, on that day, from Spithead, the wind, at the back of the Isle of Wight, coming to the westward, he was constrained to return to St. Helen's.

After waiting till the 9th, he proceeded to Lisbon with the convoy; and, on the 29th of April, joined the Earl of St. Vincent, off Cadiz.

Not a moment was lost by these great men, in proceeding to co-operate for the glory of their country. The crisis was peculiarly portentous.

Bonaparte, baffled in his views of invading England, or even Ireland---after the last and most serious disaffection, recently extinguished, in the mutiny of the home fleet, produced an almost general unanimity of the country--had been engaged in preparing an expedition, on a scale of imposing grandeur, for some object which was endeavoured to be carefully concealed, till it should be manifested by it's tremendous effects. The armament destined for this grand secret expedition, which was collecting at Toulon, under Bonaparte, consisted of thirteen s.h.i.+ps of the line, and seven forty-gun frigates, with twenty-four smaller vessels of war, and nearly two hundred transports; the latter filled with troops, horses, artillery, provisions, and military stores. In this fleet, it was said, were also to embark artists and scientific men of every description, with ancient and modern linguists, and all sorts of useful and curious instruments and machinery, calculated to promote knowledge, and extend improvement, in the intended country which they were about thus to seize and newly colonize.

It was immediately agreed, by the Earl of St. St. Vincent, and Sir Horatio Nelson, that the latter should the next morning sail, with the Vanguard, Orion, and Alexander, of seventy-four guns each, the Emerald and Terpsich.o.r.e frigates, and La Bonne Citoyenne sloop of war, to watch the motions of this formidable French armament. The Earl of St. Vincent was at no loss to know who was the senior officer under his command, and what was the customary etiquette; but he knew, at the same time, that he had, as commander in chief, a discretionary power; and carrying, in his own bosom, a dread responsibility to his country, he had not an instant to hesitate on whom it was his duty to depend. To the n.o.ble earl's magnanimity, therefore, is the country to be eternally considered as indebted for affording our favourite hero the opportunity of demonstrating his unequalled powers. By other commanders, as he formerly most feelingly remarked, he had been always praised, but never promoted; he was now promoted by his commander, and praised by all the world, while his commander generously declared that no praise could do justice to his actions. The confidence of the fleet, and of the nation too, were with the Earl of St. Vincent; and, though a few mean and malignant characters, envious of superior merit, Mould occasionally suggest their base insinuations, that Sir Horatio Nelson might not be equal to the management of a large fleet, the commander in chief, one of the first naval tacticians any country ever produced, had early seen who had the readiest and clearest conceptions of his own numerous plans, and well knew that Nelson's genius would keep full pace with any augmentation of command which it was possible he should ever obtain.

Sir Horatio, with the squadron abovementioned, sailed from Gibraltar on the 9th of May; and, on the 17th, having captured a small corvette, which came out of Toulon the preceding night, gained some little intelligence respecting the fleet, but none to be relied on as to their destination. His letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, mentioning this circ.u.mstance, concludes with these words--"You may rely, my lord, that I shall act as occasion may offer, to the best of my abilities, in following up your ideas, for the honour of his majesty's crown, and the advantage of our country." A sufficient proof of the concurrence of sentiment in these two heroic commanders, which led to so glorious a result.

On the 22d, being in the Gulph of Lyons, at two in the morning, a most violent squall of wind took the Vanguard, which carried away all the topmasts; and, at last, the foremast. The other s.h.i.+ps also experienced, though in a less degree, the ill effects of this severe gale. To add to the disaster, the line of battle s.h.i.+ps lost sight of their three frigates on this eventful day; which proved to be that on which the French armament had, at length, taken it's departure from Toulon, and was then actually pa.s.sing within a few leagues of the unconscious sufferers employed to watch it's motions.

The little squadron now bore up for Sardinia; the Alexander taking the Vanguard in tow, and the Orion looking out ahead for a pilot to conduct them into St. Pierre's Road. This anchorage they happily reached on the 24th; and expected to have met with that friendly reception which their distresses demanded, from a power professing neutrality. The governor of St. Pierre, however, had received orders from the French, not to admit any British s.h.i.+p; but no dread of hostilities could prevent the brave admiral from resolutely anchoring in the road.

In a letter, written this very day, dated on board the Vanguard, St.

Peter's Island. Sardinia, May 24, 1798, and addressed to Lady Nelson, he thus describes the effect produced on his mind by the dangers just escaped.

"MY DEAREST f.a.n.n.y,

"I ought not to call what has happened to the Vanguard, by the cold name of accident: I believe, firmly, it was the Almighty's goodness, to check my consummate vanity. I hope it has made me a better officer, as I feel it has made me a better man. I kiss, with all humility, the rod. Figure to yourself, on Sunday evening, at sun-set, a vain man, walking in his cabin, with a squadron around him, who looked up to their chief, to lead them to glory; and in whom their chief placed the firmest reliance, that the proudest s.h.i.+ps, of equal numbers, belonging to France, would have bowed their flags; and, with a very rich prize lying by him--Figure to yourself, on Monday morning, when the sun rose, this proud, conceited man, his s.h.i.+p dismasted, his fleet dispersed, and himself in such distress that the meanest frigate out of France would have been an unwelcome guest. But it has pleased Almighty G.o.d to bring us into a safe port; where, although refused the rights of humanity, yet the Vanguard will, in two days, get to sea again as an English man of war."

This is the letter of a truly Christian hero, as well as of a most affectionate and tender husband. It will not be hastily believed, by the reflecting part of mankind, that he who possessed so high a sense of all the relative duties as the immortal Nelson, had not afterwards good reasons for being separated from the wife whom he could once consent thus to address. What those reasons were, the reader will, probably, in the sequel, be enabled to form a tolerably correct judgment.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable reception encountered at St. Peter's Island, as hinted in the above letter, the resources of British seamen, which are seldom known to fail, enabled them soon to surmount most of their difficulties. Captain Berry, with the very able a.s.sistance which he received from Sir James Saumarez and Captain Ball, contrived to equip the Vanguard with a jury foremast, jury main and mizen topmasts, and to fish the bowsprit, which was sprung in many places; and, on the fourth day after anchoring in St. Pierre's Road, they again put to sea, with top-gallant yards across.

In the mean time, Sir Horatio Nelson had addressed a letter to the Viceroy of Sardinia, dated on board his Britannic majesty's s.h.i.+p, the Vanguard, at anchor off the Island of St. Peter, 26th May 1798; in which he remonstrated, with becoming dignity, but not without considerate kindness, against the conduct he was experiencing.

"SIR,

"Having, by a gale of wind, sustained some trifling damage, I anch.o.r.ed a small part of his majesty's fleet under my orders, off this island; and was surprised to hear, by an officer sent by the governor, that admittance was to be refused to the flag of his Britannic majesty into this port. When I reflect that my most gracious sovereign is the oldest, I believe, and certainly the most faithful, ally which his majesty of Sardinia ever had, I could feel the sorrow which it must have been to his majesty to have given such an order; and also for your excellency, who has to direct it's execution. I cannot but look at Afric's sh.o.r.e; where the followers of Mahomet are performing the part of the good Samaritan, which I look for in vain at St. Peter's, where it is said the Christian religion is professed. May G.o.d Almighty bless your excellency, is the sincere wish of your most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

It is not improbable, that this letter immediately occasioned a little secret a.s.sistance to be bestowed. Certain it is, that some aid was actually received, or they could not so soon have conveniently taken their departure.

They now steered for their appointed rendezvous, which they reached on the 4th of June; and were joined, next day, by La Mutine, Captain Hardy, who was charged with orders to the admiral, and brought the highly acceptable information, that Captain Troubridge, with ten sail of the line, and a fifty-gun s.h.i.+p, had been detached to reinforce him. The knowledge of this circ.u.mstance diffused universal joy throughout the little squadron; which could scarcely be felt in a superlative degree by the heroic commander himself, who was now about to obtain what it had been the business of his life to acquire, an opportunity of evincing the ability with which he felt conscious of having been gifted by Heaven. In the exultation of his open and generous heart, he observed to Captain Berry, that he should soon be a match for any hostile fleet in the Mediterranean; and his only desire would then be, to encounter one.

The squadron, on the 6th, were widely spread, in anxious expectation, looking out for the expected reinforcement. They were informed, that several sail, then in sight, were Spanish s.h.i.+ps, richly laden; but the love of glory now filled too powerfully the hero's breast, to admit the presence of any sordid or selfish pa.s.sion. He had heard that, with the storm in which his s.h.i.+ps so severely suffered, the grand armament had set out from Toulon; and, perhaps, but for this apparently unfriendly gale, his little squadron might have become the prey of such greatly superior force. The fury of that tempest, however, though violent, was soon exhausted, and it's ill effects were quickly repaired: but the dark storm of desolation, proceeding from the collected thunders of France issued at the port of Toulon, was now pa.s.sing dreadfully over the menaced world; and every country seemed waiting, in awful horror, to behold where it should finally burst, and fatally descend.

The consideration of the important part which Sir Horatio Nelson had to act, in the grand theatre of the universe, now absorbed every other consideration. The Alexander, indeed, had stopped one of the Spanish s.h.i.+ps; but, Captain Ball finding that it had on board eighty or ninety priests, driven by French persecution from the papal sanctuary of Rome, considered it would be an act of inhumanity to prevent their seeking an asylum. He accordingly suffered the s.h.i.+p to proceed: bringing away only a few volunteer Genoese seamen from the Spanish vessel, who expressed their desire of the honour to serve in the British fleet, and their resentment of the ill usage which they had recently experienced from the detested French.

In a state of the most pleasingly painful anxiety did this little squadron, and their impatient commander, continue to watch, for the expected reinforcement, till the 8th at noon; when they had the happiness to discover, from the mast-head, ten sail; and it was not long before these were recognized to be British s.h.i.+ps of war, standing on a wind, in close line of battle, with all sails set. Private signals were now exchanged; and, before sun-set, this important junction was completely effected.

Captain Troubridge brought no instructions to Admiral Nelson respecting the course he was to steer, nor any positive account of the destination of the enemy's fleet. Every thing was left to his own judgment. The pleasure which he felt at being thought worthy of such a command, called forth every power of his grateful and magnanimous mind.

He had soon the felicity to find, that the captains under his authority, had no need of particular instructions to keep in constant readiness for battle; the ardour of their zeal antic.i.p.ated his utmost wishes. The decks of all the s.h.i.+ps were perfectly clear night and day, and every man was ready to take his post at a moment's notice. He perceived them, with unspeakable satisfaction, daily exercising their men at the great guns, as well as with small arms; and, in short, placing every thing in the best state of preparation for actual service.

Knowing that the enemy had sailed with a north-west wind, he naturally concluded that their course was up the Mediterranean. He sent La Mutine to Civita Vecchia, and along the Roman coast, for intelligence; and, in the mean time, steered with the fleet to Corsica, which he reached on the 12th of June, without obtaining any intelligence. The next day, he continued his course between Corsica and Elba, and between Planosa and Elba; through the latter of which pa.s.sages large s.h.i.+ps, or fleets, had not been accustomed to pa.s.s. On making the Roman coast, they were rejoined by La Mutine; but Captain Hardy, with all his exertions, had been unable to acquire any information.

Admiral Nelson now resolved to steer towards Naples, with the hope of proving more successful in his enquiries. It had been rumoured, that the plundering of Algiers was the object of the French armament; but this account he considered as much too vague to warrant implicit adoption.

On the 16th, they saw Mount Vesuvius; and Captain Troubridge was detached, in La Mutine, with letters to Sir William Hamilton, making earnest enquiries respecting the French fleet, as well as of the powers and disposition of the court of Naples to accommodate the British squadron. In one of these letters, he says--

"If their fleet is not moored in as strong a port as Toulon, nothing shall hinder me from attacking them; and, with the blessing of Almighty G.o.d, I hope for a most glorious victory. I send Captain Troubridge to communicate with your excellency; and, as Captain Troubridge is in full possession of my confidence, I beg that whatever he says may be considered as coming from me. Captain Troubridge is my honoured acquaintance of twenty-five years, and the very best sea-officer in his majesty's service. I hope, pilots will be with us in a few hours; for I will not lose one moment after the brig's return, to wait for any thing."

In the mean time, knowing the anxiety of his country, at this period, he wrote to Earl Spencer, informing him of his belief that, if the French fleet pa.s.sed Sicily, towards which they had been seen steering, he should imagine they were going on their scheme of possessing Alexandria, and getting troops to India, on a plan concerted with Tippoo Saib.

"But," adds the hero, "be they bound to the Antipodes, your lords.h.i.+p may rely that I will not lose a moment in bringing them to action, and endeavour to destroy their transports. I have sent Captain Troubridge on sh.o.r.e, to talk to General Acton, and hope the King of Naples will send me some frigates; for mine parted company on the 20th of May, and have not joined me since. The whole squadron is remarkably healthy, and perfectly equal to meet the French fleet." After observing, that he shall make sail the moment Captain Troubridge returns, he concludes thus--"Highly honoured as I feel with this very important command, I beg you will believe that I shall endeavour to approve myself worthy of it; and that I am, with the highest respect, your lords.h.i.+p's most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

On the 17th, in answer to a letter sent by a boat from Sir William Hamilton, he writes--"Captain Troubridge will say every thing I could put in a ream of paper. I have only to observe, in my present state, if I meet the enemy at sea, the convoy will get off, for want of frigates.

I submit this to you, to urge General Acton upon. The King of Naples may now have part of the glory in destroying these pests of the human race; and the opportunity, once lost, may never be regained. G.o.d bless you!

Depend on my exertions."

This day, too, he wrote the following very laconic, but truly characteristic letter, for the Earl of St. Vincent; to be forwarded, by Sir William Hamilton, from Naples.

"Vanguard, off Naples, 17th June 1798.

"MY LORD,

"I have only to a.s.sure you, I will bring the French fleet to action the moment I can lay my hands on them. Till then, adieu.