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 elson's Words 
 
 and Deeds
 
 NELSON'S WORDS AND DEEDS
 
 SEA STORIES BY W. CLARK RUSSELL. 
 
 NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION. In uniform crown 
 8vo volumes, half leather, gilt top, 3s. 6d. each. 
 
 AN OCEAN FREE LANCE. 
 
 THE FROZEN PIRATE. 
 
 A SEA QUEEN. 
 
 THE LADY MAUD. 
 
 MY WATCH BELOW. 
 
 JACK'S COURTSHIP. 
 
 A STRANGE VOYAGE. 
 
 A SAILORS SWEETHEART. 
 
 THE WRECK OF THE " GROSVENOR ". 
 
 LITTLE LOO. 
 
 JOHN HOLDSWORTH, CHIEF MATE. 
 
 "That richly gifted chronicler of the great .waters, Mr. 
 W. Clark Russell, whose knowledge, imagination, and 
 graphic power, each being excellent of its kind, unite in a 
 marine style which has no modern parallel." 
 
 Daily Telegraph. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Sampson Lou/, Marston, Searle, & Riuington, Ld., 
 
 St. Dunstan's House, Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C.
 
 Nelson's Words and Deeds 
 
 A SELECTION 
 
 From the Dispatches and Correspondence 
 of Horatio Nelson 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 W. CLARK RUSSELL 
 
 "An ambitious love of distinction, a thirst for the acquisition of 
 honours, or a glorious death, was the ruling passion, and his destiny led 
 him to experience them all. Conqueror of ' a hundred fights,' he died at 
 last, as all true heroes could wish to do, in the arms of victory."— Sir 
 John Barrow. 
 
 " Others may be great in many points ; nay, admit but another like 
 himself might appear again amongst the disciples he has formed, there 
 would yet be wanting all he had done and all the circumstances of the 
 times in which he did those wondrous deeds. Every victory was greater 
 than the \as,l." —Lord Malmesbury. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, Ltd, 
 
 §t. ihwfltah's ;g)cus£ 
 
 Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.G. 
 
 1890
 
 ISAAC FOOT 
 LIBRARY
 
 ■PA 
 
 H + Al^ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The design of this little book is to submit the 
 character and the more conspicuous of the features 
 of the career of Horatio Nelson as they are de- 
 scribed by his own pen. The slender dimensions 
 of the volume rendered choice difficult by restric- 
 tion. The Nelson literature is extraordinarily 
 voluminous ; yet it is believed that most of the 
 best of the plums which enrich it will be found in 
 the following pages. 
 
 It would have been hopeless to attempt to con- 
 nect the extracts into any sort of form of historic 
 sequence. The best and most familiar of the 
 narratives of the Battles of the Nile and of the 
 Baltic are not Nelson's : his relations of them must 
 be sought in dry and colourless dispatches ; yet the 
 scheme of this little work would not admit of the 
 inclusion of the accounts by other hands. The 
 story, however, of the death of Nelson at Trafalgar 
 must prove an exception. During his last hours 
 he spoke often to those who were about him, and 
 portions of Beatty's narrative contain so much of 
 the hero's own words that the description could 
 scarcely be more Nelson's had he himself dictated it. 
 
 There is very much that is tiresome in the seven
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 stout volumes of dispatches and letters. Sir Harris 
 Nicolas's veneration for Nelson knew no bounds. 
 Every scrap of the great Admiral's writing that was 
 to be come at he printed. Insipid orders, unin- 
 teresting opinions, every commonplace of the 
 service— instructions for victuals — requests for 
 nightcaps and jumpers : all these things the deeply- 
 admiring Sir Harris Nicolas published ; and the 
 eye reading through page after page of dull, formal, 
 official communications, grows exhausted in the 
 search for something good. 
 
 But Nelson's unofficial letters— particularly those 
 to his friend Davison, to his wife, and to Lady 
 Hamilton — are full of clever, of exhilarating, of 
 high, and of noble thought. Most of the following 
 extracts are made from this side of his correspond- 
 ence ; so that in this little book the reader will find 
 Nelson not only as Patriot and Sailor, not only as 
 Politician and plain dealer in Marine Philosophy, 
 but as Husband, Son, Brother, Lover, and Friend. 
 He was before all things a Seaman ; and his was pre- 
 eminently the nautical characteristic of " whipping 
 out " with what was in his mind when untrammelled 
 by official form. He is never so engaging, so inspirit- 
 ing, and, it may be added, so lovable, as when he 
 is in earnest and writing with quarter-deck candour. 
 Most of the thoughts collected here flowed from 
 his heart, and they were chosen for that reason.
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 The memory of his tactics, the inspiration of 
 his professional opinions, the example of his sea- 
 manship, in a word, can no longer serve the 
 country who owed her security and her continuance 
 as a nation to his genius and valour as a sea-captain. 
 The steam-engine has extinguished the topsail ; 
 and it is now long ago since there came an end to 
 wearing and tacking, to weather-gauges, and to lee 
 manceuvrings. It may interest but it cannot edify 
 living and future generations to learn that Rodney cut 
 the enemy's line in one place, and Nelson in two ; that 
 the battle of Trafalgar was fought and won without 
 reference to the tactics of Clerk ; and that the most 
 signal of the St. Vincent achievements was the 
 result of a disregard of the flagship's signals. But 
 the ironclad is manned by a breed of men surely 
 not less heroic in ardour, not less magnanimous in 
 patriotic sentiment, not less chivalrous in spirit, 
 than those whose cannon thundered at Copenhagen 
 and off Cadiz. So long as the English sailor pre- 
 serves his qualities, the name of Nelson must prove 
 a note of magic, animating to a degree not to be 
 matched by the inspiration of the greatest of the 
 military memories of these kingdoms. 
 
 W. C. R. 
 
 December, 1889.
 
 SKETCH OF MY LIFE. 
 
 Horatio Nelson, son of the Reverend Edmund 
 Nelson, Rector of Burnham Thorpe, in the county 
 of Norfolk, and Catherine, his wife, daughter of 
 Doctor Suckling, Prebendary of Westminster, 
 whose [grand] mother was sister to Sir Robert 
 Walpole, Earl of Oxford. 
 
 I was born September 29th, 1758, in the 
 parsonage house, was sent to the high school at 
 Norwich, and afterwards removed to North Wals- 
 ham, from whence, on the disturbance with Spain 
 relative to the Falkland Islands, I went to sea with 
 my uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling, in the Rai- 
 sonable, of 64 guns. But the business with Spain, 
 being accommodated, I was sent in a West India 
 ship, belonging to the house of Hibbert, Punier, 
 Horton, with Mr. John Rathborne, who had 
 formerly been in the navy, in the Dreadnought, 
 with Captain Suckling. From this voyage I 
 returned to the Triumph, at Chatham, in July, 
 1772 ; and if I did not improve in my education, I 
 returned a practical seaman, with a horror of the 
 Royal Navy, and with a saying then constant with 
 the seamen — " Aft the more honour, forward the 
 better man ". It was many weeks before I got in
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the least reconciled to a man-of-war, so deep was 
 the prejudice rooted ; and what pains were taken 
 to instil this erroneous principle in a young mind ! 
 However, as my ambition was to be a seaman, it 
 was always held out as a reward that if I attended 
 well to my navigation I should go in the cutter and 
 decked long-boat, which was attached to the com- 
 manding officer's ship at Chatham. Thus, by 
 degrees, I became a good pilot for vessels of that 
 description, from Chatham to the Tower of 
 London, down to the Swin and to the North Fore- 
 land, and confident of myself amongst rocks and 
 sands, which has many times since been of the 
 very greatest comfort to me. In this way I was 
 trained till the expedition towards the North Pole 
 was fitted out, when, although no boys were 
 allowed to go in the ships (as of no use), yet 
 nothing could prevent my using every interest to 
 go with Captain Lutwidge in the Carcass ; and as 
 I fancied I was to fill a man's place, I begged I 
 might be his cockswain, which, finding my ardent 
 desire for going with him, Captain L. complied 
 with, and has continued the strictest friendship to 
 this moment. Lord Mulgrave, who I then first 
 knew, continued his kindest friendship and regard 
 to the last moment of his life. When the boats 
 were fitting out to quit the two ships blocked up in 
 the ice, I exerted myself to have the command of
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 a four-oared cutter raised upon, which was given 
 me, with twelve men ; and I prided myself in 
 fancying I could navigate her better than any other 
 boat in the ship. 
 
 On our arrival in England, and paid off, October 
 15, I found that a squadron was fitting out for the 
 East Indies ; and nothing less than such a distant 
 voyage could in the least satisfy my desire for 
 maritime knowledge, and I was placed in the Sea- 
 horse, of 20 guns, with Captain Farmer, and 
 watched in the foretop, from whence in time I was 
 placed on the quarter-deck, having, in the time I 
 was in this ship, visited almost every part of the 
 East Indies from Bengal to Bussorat. Ill-health 
 induced Sir Edward Hughes, who had always 
 shown me the greatest kindness, to send me to 
 England in the Dolphin, of 20 guns, with Captain 
 James Pigot, whose kindness at that time saved my 
 life. This ship was paid off at Woolwich on the 
 24th September, 1776. On the 26th I received 
 an order from Sir James Douglas, who commanded 
 at Portsmouth, to act as lieutenant of the 
 Worcester, 64, Captain Mark Robinson, who was 
 ordered to Gibraltar with a convoy. In this ship I 
 was at sea with convoys till April 2, 1777, and in 
 very bad weather ; but although my age might 
 have been a sufficient cause for not entrusting me 
 with the charge of a watch, yet Captain Robinson
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 used to say " he felt as easy when I was upon 
 deck as any officer in the ship ". 
 
 On the 8th of April, 1777, I passed my examina- 
 tion as a lieutenant, and received my commission 
 the next day as second lieutenant of the Lowestoffe, 
 frigate, of 32 guns, Captain (now Lieutenant- 
 Governor of Greenwich Hospital) William Locker. 
 In this ship I went to Jamaica ; but even a frigate 
 was not sufficiently active for my mind, and I got 
 into a schooner, tender to the Lowestoffe. In this 
 vessel I made myself a complete pilot of all the 
 passages through the (Keys) islands situated on the 
 north side of Hispaniola. Whilst in this frigate an 
 event happened which presaged my character ; and 
 as it conveys no dishonour to the officer alluded 
 to, I shall relate it. 
 
 Blowing a gale of wind, and a very heavy sea, 
 the frigate captured an American Letter of Marque. 
 The first lieutenant was ordered to board her, 
 which he did not do, owing to the very high sea. * 
 On his return on board, the captain said, " Have I 
 no officer in the ship who can board the prize ? " 
 on which the master ran to the gangway to get 
 into the boat, but I stopped him, saying, " It is my 
 turn now ; and if I come back, it is yours ". This 
 
 1 He was below hunting for his sword, and Locker lost 
 his patience.
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 little incident has often occurred to my mind, and 
 I know it is my disposition that difficulties and 
 dangers do but increase my desire of attempting 
 them. 
 
 Sir Peter Parker, soon after his arrival at 
 Jamaica (1778), took me into his own flagship the 
 Bristol as third lieutenant, from which I rose in 
 succession to be first. Nothing particular hap- 
 pened whilst I was in this ship, which was actively 
 employed off Cape Francois, being the commence- 
 ment of the French war. 
 
 On the 8th of December, 1778, I was appointed 
 commander of the Badger, brig, and was first sent 
 to protect the Mosquito shore and the Bay of 
 Honduras from the depredations of the American 
 privateers. Whilst on this service I gained so 
 much the affections of the settlers that they 
 unanimously voted me their thanks, and expressed 
 their regret on my leaving them, entrusting to me 
 to describe to Sir Peter Parker and Sir John 
 Dalling their situation should a war with Spain 
 break out. Whilst I commanded this brig, H.M.S. 
 Glasgow, Captain Thomas Lloyd, came into 
 Montego Bay, Jamaica, where the Badger was 
 lying ; in two hours afterwards she was fired by a 
 cask of rum ; and Captain Lloyd will tell you that 
 it was owing to my exertions, joined to his, that 
 her whole crew were rescued from the flames.
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 On the nth of June, 1779, I was made Post into 
 the Hinchinbrook, when, being at sea, and Count 
 d'Estaing arrived at Hispaniola with a very large 
 fleet and army from Martinico, an attack on Jamaica 
 was expected. In this critical state, I was, by both 
 admiral and general, entrusted with the command 
 of the batteries at Port Royal ; and I need not say, 
 as the defence of this place was the key to the port 
 of the whole naval force — the town of Kingston 
 and Spanish Town — it was the most important 
 port in the whole island. 
 
 In January, 1780, an expedition being resolved 
 upon against St. Juan's, I was chosen to command 
 the sea part of it. Major Poison, who commanded, 
 will tell you of my exertions — how I quitted my 
 ship, carried troops in boats one hundred miles up 
 a river which none but Spaniards, since the time 
 of the buccaneers, had ever ascended. It will 
 then be told how I boarded (if I may be allowed 
 the expression) an outpost of the enemy situated 
 on an island in the river ; that I made batteries, 
 and afterwards fought them, and was a principal 
 cause of our success. From this time I was ap- 
 pointed to the Janus, 44, at Jamaica, and went to 
 Port Royal in the Victor, sloop. 
 
 My state of health was now so bad that I was 
 obliged to go to England in the Lion, Honourable 
 William Cornwallis captain, whose care and atten-
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 tion again saved my life. In August, 1781, I was 
 commissioned for the Albemarle, and, it would almost 
 be supposed, to try my constitution, was kept the 
 whole winter in the North Sea. In April, 1782, I 
 sailed with a convoy for Newfoundland and Quebec, 
 under the orders of Captain Thomas Pringle. 
 From Quebec, during a cruise off Boston, I was 
 chased by three French ships of the line and the 
 Iris, frigate. As they all beat me in sailing very 
 much, I had no chance left, but running them 
 amongst the shoals of St. George's Bank. This 
 alarmed the line-of-battle ships, and they quitted 
 the pursuit ; but the frigate continued, and at 
 sunset was little more than gunshot distance, 
 when, the line-of-battle ships being out of sight, 
 I ordered the main-topsail to be laid to the mast, 
 when the frigate tacked, and stood to rejoin her 
 consorts. 
 
 In October I sailed from Quebec with a convoy 
 to New York, where I joined the fleet under the 
 command of Lord Hood ; and in November I 
 sailed with him to the West Indies, where I re- 
 mained until the Peace ; when I came to England 
 (being directed in my way to attend H.R.H. Duke 
 of Clarence in his visit to the Havannah), and was 
 paid off at Portsmouth on July 3, 1783. In the 
 autumn I went to France, and remained till the 
 spring of the year 1784 ; when I was appointed to
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the Boreas frigate of 28 guns, and ordered to the 
 Leeward Island station. 
 
 This station opened a new scene to the officers 
 of the British navy. The Americans, when colonists, 
 possessed almost all the trade from America to our 
 West India Islands ; and, on the return of peace, 
 they forgot on this occasion they became foreigners, 
 and of course had no right to trade in the British 
 colonies. Our governors and custom-house officers 
 pretended that by the Navigation Act they had a 
 right to trade, and all the West Indians wished 
 what was so much for their interest. 
 
 Having given governors, custom-house officers, 
 and Americans notice of what I would do, I seized 
 many of their vessels, which brought all parties 
 upon me; and I was so persecuted from one island 
 to another, that I could not leave my ship. But 
 conscious rectitude bore me through it, and I was 
 supported, when the business came to be under- 
 stood, from home ; and I proved (and an Act of 
 Parliament has since established it) that a captain 
 of a man-of-war is in duty bound to support all the 
 maritime laws, by his Admiralty commission alone, 
 without becoming a custom-house officer. 
 
 In July, 1786, I was left with the command till 
 June, 1787, when I sailed for England. During 
 this winter H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence visited 
 the Leeward Islands in the Pegasus frigate, of
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 which he was captain ; and in March this year I 
 married Frances Herbert Nisbet, widow of Dr. 
 Nisbet, of the Island of Nevis, by whom I have 
 no children. 
 
 The Boreas being paid off at Sheerness on 
 November the 30th, I lived at Burnham Thorpe, 
 county of Norfolk, in the parsonage house. In 
 1790, when the affair with Spain relative to Nootka 
 Sound had near involved us in a war, I made use 
 of every interest to get a ship, ay, even a boat, to 
 serve my country, but in vain ; there was a pre- 
 judice at the Admiralty evidently against me, which 
 I can neither guess at or in the least account for. 
 
 On the 30th of January, 1793, I was commis- 
 sioned in the very handsomest way for the 
 Agamemnon, 64, and was put under the command 
 of that great man and excellent officer Lord Hood, 
 appointed to the command in the Mediterranean. 
 The unbounded confidence on all occasions placed 
 in me by his Lordship will show his opinion of my 
 abilities, having served in the CQmmand of the 
 seamen landed for the sieges of Bastia and Calvi. 
 His Lordship, in October, 1794, left the Mediter- 
 ranean to Admiral Hotham, who also honoured 
 me with the same confidence. I was in the actions 
 of the 13th and 14th of March, 1795, and 13th of 
 July in the same year. For the share I had in 
 them I refer to the Admiral's letters. I was then 
 
 2
 
 io NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 appointed by Admiral Hotham to co-operate with 
 the Austrian General De Vins, which I did all the 
 time Admiral Hotham retained the command — till 
 November, when he was superseded by Sir John 
 Jervis, now Earl St. Vincent. 
 
 In April, 1796, the commander-in-chief so much 
 approved my conduct that he directed me to wear 
 a distinguishing pennant. In June I was removed 
 from the Agamemnon to the Captain, and on the 
 nth of August appointed a captain under me. 
 Between April and October I was employed in the 
 blockade of Leghorn, taking Port Ferrajo, the 
 Island of Caprea, and finally in the evacuation of 
 Bastia ; when, having seen the troops in safety to 
 Port Ferrajo, I joined the admiral in St. Fiorenzo, 
 and proceeded with him to Gibraltar; from whence, 
 in December, I was sent in La Minerve frigate, 
 Captain George Cockburn, to Port Ferrajo to 
 bring down our naval stores, &c. On the passage 
 we captured a Spanish frigate, La Sabina, of 40 
 guns, 28 eighteen pounders on her main-deck, as 
 will appear by my letter. . . . 
 
 In April I hoisted my flag as rear-admiral of 
 the Blue, and was sent to bring down the garrison 
 of Port Ferrajo ; which service performed, I shifted 
 my flag from the Captain to the Theseus on May 
 the 27th, and was employed in the command of 
 the river squadron in the blockade of Cadiz. It
 
 AND DEEDS. n 
 
 was during this period that perhaps my personal 
 courage was more conspicuous than at any other 
 period of my life. In an attack of the Spanish 
 gunboats I was boarded in my barge, with its 
 common crew of ten men, cockswain, Captain 
 Fremantle, and myself, by the commander of the 
 gunboats. The Spanish barge rowed twenty-six 
 oars, besides officers — thirty in the whole. This 
 was a service hand to hand with swords, in which 
 my cockswain, John Sykes (now no more), twice 
 saved my life. Eighteen of the Spaniards being 
 killed and several wounded, we succeeded in taking 
 their commander. 
 
 On the 15th of July I sailed for Teneriffe : the 
 event I refer to my letter of that expedition. 
 Having lost my right arm, for this loss, and my 
 former services, his Majesty was pleased to settle 
 ^800 a year ; and by some unlucky mismanage- 
 ment of it I was obliged to go to England, and it 
 was the 13th of December before the surgeons 
 pronounced me fit for service. On the 19th the 
 Vanguard was commissioned for my flagship. 
 On the 1 st of April, 1798, I sailed with a convoy 
 from Spithead : at the back of the Wight, the 
 wind coming to the westward, I was forced to 
 return to St. Helen's, and finally sailed on the 9th, 
 carrying a convoy at Oporto and Lisbon. I joined 
 Earl St. Vincent off Cadiz on April 29th, being on
 
 12 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the 30th ordered into the Mediterranean. I refer 
 to a book printed for my proceedings to the close 
 of the battle of the Nile. 
 
 On the 22nd September I arrived at Naples, and 
 was received as a deliverer by the king, queen, and 
 the whole kingdom. October 12th, the blockade 
 of Malta took place, which has continued without 
 intermission to this day.' On the 21st December 
 his Sicilian Majesty and family embarked in the 
 Vanguard, and were carried to Palermo in Sicily. 
 In March I arranged a plan for taking the islands 
 in the Bay of Naples, and for supporting the 
 Royalists, who were making head in the kingdom. 
 This plan succeeded in every part. In May I shifted 
 my flag, being promoted to be rear-admiral of the 
 Red, to the Foudroyant, and was obliged to be on 
 my guard against the French fleet. In June and 
 July I went to Naples, and, as his Sicilian Majesty 
 is pleased to say, I reconquered his kingdom and 
 placed him on his throne. On the 9th August I 
 brought his Sicilian Majesty back to Palermo, 
 having been upwards of four weeks on board the 
 Foudroyant. 
 
 On the 13th his Sicilian Majesty presented me 
 with a sword most magnificently enriched with 
 diamonds, the title of Duke of Bronte, and 
 annexed to it the feud of Bronte, supposed to 
 1 The 15th of October, 1799, when the sketch was written.
 
 AND DEEDS. 13 
 
 be worth ^3,000 per annum. On the arrival 
 of the Russian squadron at Naples, I directed 
 Commodore Troubridge to go with the squadron 
 and blockade closely Civita Vecchia, and to offer 
 the French most favourable conditions if they 
 would evacuate Rome and Civita Vecchia ; which 
 terms the French general, Grenier, complied with, 
 and they were signed on board the Culloden. Thus 
 a prophecy made to me on my arrival at Naples 
 was fulfilled, viz., that I should take Rome with my 
 ships. 
 
 Thus may be exemplified by my life that per- 
 severance in any profession will most probably 
 meet its reward. Without having any inheritance, 
 or having been fortunate in prize money, I have 
 received all the honours of my profession, been 
 created a peer of Great Britain, &c, &c, as set 
 forth in the annexed paper, and I may say to the 
 reader, " Go thou and do likewise ". — Written by 
 iVe/son, and communicated by him, in October, 1799. 
 to John M' 'Arthur. 
 
 A NEW-BORN HOPE. 
 
 I felt impressed with an idea that I should never 
 rise in my profession. My mind was staggered 
 with a view of the difficulties I had to surmount, 
 and the little interest I possessed. I could dis-
 
 i 4 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 cover no means of reaching the object of my 
 ambition. After a long and gloomy reverie, in 
 which I almost wished myself overboard,- a sudden 
 glow of patriotism was kindled within me, and 
 presented my king and country as my patron. 
 My mind exulted in the idea. " Well, then," I 
 exclaimed, " I will be a hero, and, confiding in 
 Providence, I will brave every danger." — Circa 
 1777. Clarke and M ''Arthur. 
 
 THE GOUT. 
 
 I have been so ill since I have been here 1 that 
 I was obliged to be carried to and from bed, with 
 the most excruciating tortures, but, thank God, 
 I am now upon the mending hand. I [am] 
 physicked three times a day, drink the waters three 
 times, and bathe every other night, besides \qu. not] 
 drinking wine, which I think the worst of all. — 
 To W. Locker, January 23, 1781. 
 
 HIS HEALTH. 
 
 My health, thank God, is very near perfectly 
 restored ; and I have the perfect use of all my 
 limbs, except my left arm, which I can hardly tell 
 what is the matter with it. From the shoulder to 
 my fingers'-ends are as if half-dead ; but the surgeon 
 
 ] Bath.
 
 AND DEEDS. 15 
 
 and doctors give me hopes it will all go off. — To W. 
 Locker, February 15, 1781. 
 
 NAVY CHAPLAINS. 
 
 I hope you have lost all ideas of going to sea, 
 for the more I see of chaplains of men-of-war, the 
 more I dread seeing my brother in such a disagree- 
 able station of life. — To the Rev. W. Nelson, 
 December 18, 1781. 
 
 A TROUBLESOME MIDSHIPMAN. 
 
 The instant I received your letter, the latter part 
 struck me so very much, that perhaps I write to 
 you sooner than otherwise I should have done. I 
 need not say it to you, but what in the name of 
 God could it be to me, whether a midshipman in 
 my ship had not a farthing or fifty pounds a year? 
 Therefore I must tell you, as far as I know, his 
 wish to leave the ship. When he came on board 
 I sent him into Mr. Bromwich's mess, where he 
 was two or three days. In that time they spoke to 
 me that they hoped I would not take it amiss, but 
 they could not think of keeping that young man 
 (I forget his name) in their mess, as he could not 
 pay his part of their small expenses. I am sure 
 that you will not think I should attempt to force 
 any person upon people who were behaving ex- 
 ceedingly well in the ship (which would have been
 
 16 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 tyrannical in the highest degree) against their in- 
 clination. Whether the lad sent to speak to me, 
 or I sent for him, I do not recollect, but I told him 
 of what the mess had said. He seemed very 
 uneasy at what I told him, and said that he could 
 not afford to live in a mess that cost anything, and 
 then said he wished to leave the ship. The next 
 day he pressed me much to discharge him, as he 
 could not live in any of the mid messes. Much 
 against my inclination I discharged him. What he 
 took the idea of ,£30 a year from I do not know ; 
 for I declare I never opened my lips to him upon 
 the subject. A youngster in the ship, whose friends 
 are Norfolk people, who had not made an allowance 
 for their son, I took it upon me to allow ^20 a year. 
 I assure you I hold myself under very great obli- 
 gations to you, that you asserted it was an infamous 
 lie. Had I in the least suspected the story he has 
 told, he should have stayed on board, and might 
 have lived as he pleased. It was my endeavouring 
 to put him in a comfortable situation that has made 
 any person speak ill of me. If he had come into 
 the ship, as many hundred youngsters of the kind 
 do, and the captain had [a word here is illegible] 
 to him or anybody for . . . months, I should have 
 had no trouble about him. 1 — To W. Locker, 
 January 2, 1782. 
 
 1 The name of this person has never been ascertained.
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 PROMOTION. 
 
 I wish I could congratulate you upon a rectory 
 instead of a vicarage ; it is rather awkward wishing 
 the poor man dead, but we all rise by deaths. I got 
 my rank by a shot killing a post-captain, and I most 
 sincerely hope I shall, when I go, go out of [the] 
 world the same way ; then we all go in the line 
 of our profession — a parson praying, a captain 
 fighting. — To his father, Rev. E. Nelson, February 
 8, 1782. 
 
 FAIR CANADA. 
 
 Health, that greatest of blessings, is what I truly 
 never enjoyed until I saw fair Canada. The change 
 it has wrought, I am convinced, is truly wonderful. 
 —To The Rev. E. Nelson, October 19, 1782. 
 
 PRINCE WILLIAM. 1 
 
 My situation in Lord Hood's fleet must be in the 
 highest degree flattering to a young man. He treats 
 me as if I was his son, and will, I am convinced, 
 give me anything I can ask of him. Nor is my 
 situation with Prince William less flattering. Lord 
 Hood was so kind as to tell him (indeed I cannot 
 make use of expressions strong enough to describe 
 
 1 Afterwards Duke of Clarence and William IV.
 
 i8 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 what I felt) that if he wished to ask questions rela- 
 tive to naval tactics, I could give him as much 
 information as any officer in the fleet. He will be, 
 I am certain, an ornament to our service. He is a 
 seaman, which you could hardly suppose. Every 
 other qualification you may expect from him. But 
 he will be a disciplinarian, and a strong one ; he 
 says he is determined every person shall serve his 
 time before they shall be provided for, as he is 
 obliged to serve his. A vast deal of notice has 
 been taken of him at Jamaica ; he has been 
 addressed by the Council, and the House of 
 Assembly were to address him the day after I 
 sailed. He has his levees at Spanish Town ; 
 they are all highly delighted with him. With the 
 best temper and great good sense he cannot fail of 
 being pleasing to everyone. — To William Locker, 
 February 25, 1783. 
 
 jack's dislike of the navy. 
 
 My time, ever since I arrived in town, has been 
 taken up in attempting to get the wages due to my 
 good fellows, for various ships they have served in 
 the war. The disgust of the seamen to the navy is 
 all owing to the infernal plan of turning them over 
 from ship to ship, so that men cannot be attached 
 to their officers, or their officers care twopence about 
 them. — To W. Locker, July 12, 1783.
 
 AND DEEDS. 19 
 
 HONOUR AND RICHES. 
 
 I have closed the war without a fortune ; but I 
 trust and, from the attention that has been paid to 
 me, believe that there is no speck in my character. 
 True honour, I hope, predominates in my mind far 
 above riches. — To H. Ross, August 9, 1783. 
 
 IMPRESSIONS OF FRANCE. 
 
 We dined at Canterbury the day we parted from 
 you, and called at Captain Sandys' house, but he 
 was just gone out to dinner in the country, there- 
 fore we did not see him. We slept at Dover, and 
 next morning at seven o'clock put to sea with a fine 
 north-west wind, and at half-past ten we were safe 
 at breakfast in Monsieur Grandsire's house at Calais. 
 His mother kept it when Hogarth wrote his Gate 
 of Calais. Sterne's Sentimental Journey is the best 
 description I can give of our tour. Mac advised 
 me to go first to St. Omer, as he had experienced 
 the difficulty in attempting to fix in any place where 
 there are no English. After dinner we set off, in- 
 tended for Montreuil, sixty miles from Calais. 
 They told us we travelled en poste, but I am sure 
 we did not get on more than four miles an hour. 
 I was highly diverted with looking what a curious 
 figure the postilions in their jack boots and their
 
 2o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 rats of horses made together. Their chaises have 
 no springs, and the roads generally paved like 
 London streets ; therefore you will naturally sup- 
 pose we were pretty well shook together by the 
 time we had travelled two posts and a half, which 
 is fifteen miles to Marquise. Here we [were] 
 shown into an inn — they called it — I should have 
 called it a pigstye. We were shown into a room 
 with two straw beds, and, with great difficulty, they 
 mustered up clean sheets, and gave us two pigeons 
 for supper, upon a dirty cloth, and wooden-handled 
 knives. O what a transition from happy England! 
 But we laughed at the repast, and went to bed 
 with the determination that nothing should ruffle 
 our tempers. Having slept very well, we set off at 
 daylight for Boulogne, where we breakfasted. This 
 place was full of English — I suppose because wine 
 is so very cheap. We went on after breakfast for 
 Montreuil, and passed through the finest corn 
 country that my eyes ever beheld, diversified with 
 fine woods, sometimes for two miles together 
 through noble forests. The roads mostly were 
 planted with trees, which made as fine an avenue 
 as to any gentleman's country seat. Montreuil is 
 thirty miles from Boulogne, situated upon a small 
 hill, in the middle of a fine plain, which reached as 
 far as the eye could carry you, except towards the 
 sea, which is about tw r elve miles from it. We put
 
 AND DEEDS. 21 
 
 up at the same house, and with the same jolly 
 landlord that recommended Le Fleur to Sterne. 
 Here we wished much to have fixed, but neither 
 good lodgings or masters could be had here ; for 
 there are no middling class of people. Sixty 
 noblemen's families lived in the town, who owned 
 the vast plain around it, and the rest very poor 
 indeed. This is the finest country for game that 
 ever was : partridges twopence halfpenny a couple, 
 pheasants and woodcocks in proportion, and, in 
 short, every species of poultry. We dined, supped, 
 lay, and breakfasted next day, Saturday ; then we 
 proceeded on our tour, leaving Montreuil, as you 
 will suppose, with great regret. 
 
 We reached Abbeville at eight o'clock ; but un- 
 luckily for us, two Englishmen, one of whom called 
 himself Lord Kings/and (I can hardly suppose it to 
 be him), and a Mr. Bullock, decamped at three 
 o'clock that afternoon in debt to every shopkeeper 
 in the place. These gentlemen kept elegant houses, 
 horses, &c. We found the town in an uproar ; and 
 as no masters could be had at this place that could 
 speak a word of English, and that all masters that 
 could speak English grammatically attended at the 
 places that are frequented by the English, which is 
 St. Omer, Lisle, and Dunkirk, and Boulogne, to 
 the northward of Paris, and as I had no intention 
 of travelling to the south of France till the spring,
 
 22 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 at any rate, I determined, with Mac's advice, to 
 steer for St. Omer, where we arrived last Tuesday ; 
 and I own I was surprised to find, instead of 
 a dirty, nasty town, which I had always heard it 
 represented, to find a large city, well paved, good 
 streets, and well lighted. 
 
 We lodge in a pleasant French family, and have 
 our dinners sent from a traiteur's. There are two 
 very agreeable young ladies, daughters, who honour 
 us with their company pretty often ; one always 
 makes our breakfast, and the other our tea, and 
 play a game at cards in the evening. Therefore I 
 must learn French if 'tis only for the pleasure of 
 talking to them, for they do not speak a word of 
 English. There are a great number of English in 
 this place, but we visit only two families ; for if I 
 did I should never speak French. Two noble 
 captains are here — Ball and Shepard ; you do not 
 know, I believe, either of them. They wear fine 
 epaulettes, for which I think them great coxcombs. 1 
 They have not visited me, and I shall not, be as- 
 sured, court their acquaintance. — To W. Locker, 
 November 2, 1783. 
 
 LEARNING FRENCH. 
 
 The French goes on but slowly ; but patience, of 
 
 1 The epaulet was a French fashion not then introduced 
 into the British Navy.
 
 AND DEEDS. 23 
 
 which you know I have not much, and perseverance 
 will, I hope, make me master of it. — To W. Locker, 
 JVovember 26, 1783. 
 
 PRINCELY CAPTURE. 
 
 I shall go to Paris in the spring, where I have 
 received a most polite invitation from the officer 
 who I detained off Porto Caballo. I did not know 
 his rank at that time or after till I came here. He 
 went by the name of Count de Deux Ponts. He is 
 a Prince of the Empire, a General of the French 
 army, Knight of the Grand Order of St. Louis, and 
 was second in command at the capture of York 
 Town. His brother is heir apparent to the 
 Electorate of Bavaria, and of the Palatinate. The 
 present Elector is eighty years of age, and this 
 gentleman's brother is upon his death-bed ; so 
 most probably I shall have had the honour of 
 having taken prisoner a man who will be a sove- 
 reign prince of Europe. 1 — To the same. 
 
 HIS SECOND LOVE. 2 
 
 My heart is quite secured against the French 
 
 1 Nelson's anticipations were greatly surpassed, for the 
 Prince de Deux Ponts not only succeeded to the Electorate 
 of Bavaria, 1799, but in 1806 became King of Bavaria. His 
 Majesty died in 1825. 
 
 '-' He had previously fallen in love with a lady in Canada.
 
 24 XELSOX'S WORDS 
 
 beauties ; I almost wish I could say as much for 
 an English young lady, the daughter of a clergyman, 
 with whom I am just going to dine and spend the 
 day. She has such accomplishments, that had I a 
 million of money I am sure I should at this moment 
 make her an offer of them. My income is at 
 present by far too small to think of marriage, and 
 she has no fortune. — To the Rev. W. Nelsoti, De- 
 cember 4, 1783. 
 
 HIS LETTER OX HIS LOVE. 
 
 There arrives in general a time in a man's life 
 (who has friends) that either they place him in 
 life in a situation that makes his application 
 farther totally unnecessary, or give him help in 
 a pecuniary way, if they can afford and he de- 
 serves it. 
 
 The critical moment of my life is now arrived — 
 that either I am to be happy or miserable ; it 
 depends solely on you. 
 
 You may possibly think I am going to ask too 
 much. I have led myself up with hopes you will 
 not, till this trying moment. There is a lady I have 
 seen, of good family and connexions, but with a 
 small fortune — ^1000 I understand ; the whole of 
 my income does not exceed ^130 per annum. 
 Now to come to the point. Will you, if I should
 
 A.XD DEEDS. 2 5 
 
 marry, allow me yearly ^ioo until my income is 
 increased to that sum either by employment or 
 any other way ? A very few years, I hope, would 
 turn something up, if my friends would but 
 exert themselves. If you will not give me the 
 above sum, will you exert yourself with either 
 Lord North or Mr. Jenkinson to get me a guard- 
 ship, or some employment in a public office, 
 where the attendance of the principal is not ne- 
 cessary, and of which they must have such 
 numbers to dispose of. In the India Service,' I 
 understand (if it remains under the directors), 
 their marine force is to be under the command 
 of a captain in the Royal Navy ; that is a station 
 I should like. 
 
 You must excuse the freedom with which this 
 letter is dictated ; not to have been plain and 
 explicit in my distress had been cruel to myself. 
 If nothing can be done for me, I know what I have 
 to trust to. Life is not worth preserving without 
 happiness, and I care not where I may linger out 
 a miserable existence. I am prepared to bear your 
 refusal, and have fixed my resolution if that should 
 happen ; but in every situation I shall be well-wisher 
 to you and your family, and pray they or you may 
 never know the pangs which at this instant tear my 
 heart.— To his uncle, William Sitck/ifig, January 
 14, 17S4. 
 
 3
 
 26 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 TREATMENT OF MIDSHIPMEN. 
 
 Your excellency must excuse me for bringing 
 one of my midshipmen ; I make it a rule to 
 introduce them to all the good company I can, 
 as they have few to look up to besides myself 
 during the time they are at sea. — By Lady Hughes, 
 1784. 
 
 A CHAPTER OF ADVENTURE. 
 
 • 
 
 Since I parted from you, I have encountered 
 many disagreeable adventures. The day after I 
 left you, we sailed at daylight, just after high water. 
 The d — d pilot — it makes me swear to think of it 
 — ran the ship aground, where she lay with so little 
 water that the people could walk round her till next 
 high water. That night, and part of the next day, 
 we lay below the Nore, with a hard gale of wind 
 and snow ; Tuesday, I got into the Downs ; on 
 Wednesday, I got into a quarrel with a Dutch 
 Indiaman who had Englishmen on board, which 
 we settled after some difficulty. The Dutchman 
 has made a complaint against me, but the Ad- 
 miralty have fortunately approved my conduct in 
 the business, a thing they are not very guilty of 
 where there is a likelihood of a scrape. And yes- 
 terday, to complete me, I was riding a blackguard 
 horse that ran away with me at Common, carried
 
 AND DEEDS. 27 
 
 me round all the works into Portsmouth, by the 
 London gates, through the town out of the gate 
 that leads to Common, where there was a waggon 
 in the road, which is so very narrow that a horse 
 could barely pass. To save my legs, and perhaps 
 my life, I was obliged to throw myself from the 
 horse, which 1 did with great agility, but unluckily 
 upon hard stones, which has hurt my back and my 
 leg, but done no other mischief. It was a thousand 
 to one that I had not been killed. To crown all, 
 a young girl was riding with me. Her horse ran 
 away with mine ; but, most fortunately, a gallant 
 young man seized her horse's bridle a moment 
 before I dismounted, and saved her from the 
 destruction which she could not have avoided. — 
 To W. Locker, April 21, 1784. 
 
 JAMAICA. 
 
 Collingwood is at Grenada, which is a great loss* 
 to me, for there is nobody that I can make a con- 
 fident of. The little man S is a good-natured, 
 
 laughing creature, but no more of an officer as a 
 captain than he was as a lieutenant. Was it not 
 for Mrs. Moutray, who is very, very good to me, I 
 should almost hang myself at this infernal hole. 
 Our admiral 1 is tolerable, but I do not like him ; 
 
 1 Sir Richard Hughes.
 
 28 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 he bows and scrapes too much for me. His wife 
 has an eternal clack, so that I go near them as little 
 as possible. In short, I detest this country ; but, 
 as I am embarked upon this station, I shall remain 
 in my ship. — To IV. Locker, Septeinber 24, 1784. 
 
 WEST INDIANS. 
 
 The longer I am upon this station, the worse I 
 like it. Our commander has not that opinion of 
 his own sense that he ought to have. He is led by 
 the advice of the islanders to admit the Yankees to 
 a trade — at least, to wink at it. He does not give 
 himself that weight that I think an English admiral 
 ought to do. I, for one, am determined not to 
 suffer the Yankees to come where my ship is ; for 
 I am sure, if once the Americans are admitted to 
 any kind of intercourse with these islands, the 
 views of the loyalists in settling Nova Scotia are 
 entirely done away. They will first become the 
 carriers, and next have possession of our islands 
 are we ever again embroiled in a French war. The 
 residents of these islands are Americans by con- 
 nection and by interests, and are inimical to Great 
 Britain. They are as great rebels as ever were in 
 America, had they the power to show it. 
 
 After what I have said, you will believe I am not 
 very popular with the people. They have never 
 visited me, and I have not had a foot in any house
 
 AND DEEDS. 29 
 
 since I have been on the station — and all for doing 
 my duty, by being true to the interests of Great 
 Britain. A petition from the President and 
 Council has gone to the Governor-General and 
 Admiral, to request the admission of Americans. 
 I have given my answer to the Admiral upon the 
 subject : how he will like it I know not, but I am 
 determined to suppress the admission of foreigners 
 all in my power. I have told the Customs that I 
 will complain if they admit any foreigner to an 
 entry : an American arrives, sprung a leak, a 
 mast, and what not ; makes a protest, gets ad- 
 mittance, sells his cargo for ready money ; goes 
 to Martinico, buys molasses, and so round and 
 round. But I hate them all. — To IV. Locker, 
 January 15, 1785. 
 
 HIS THIRD LOVE. 
 
 My present attachment is of pretty long standing ; 
 but I was determined to be fixed before I broke 
 this matter to any person. The lady is a Mrs. Nisbet, 
 widow of a Dr. Nisbet, who died eighteen months 
 after her marriage, and has left her with a son. 
 From her infancy (for her father and mother died 
 when she was only two years of age) she had been 
 brought up by her mother's brother, Mr. Herbert, 
 President .of Nevis, a gentleman whose fortune
 
 3 o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 and character must be well known to all the West 
 Indian merchants. Therefore, I shall say nothing 
 upon that head. Her age is twenty-two, and her 
 personal accomplishments you will suppose, / 'think, 
 equal to any person's I ever saw ; but, without 
 vanity, her mental accomplishments are superior to 
 most people's of either sex, and we shall come 
 together as two persons most sincerely attached to 
 each other from friendship. — To IV. Suckling, No- 
 vember 14, 1785. 
 
 TO HIS SWEETHEART. 
 
 Separated from you, what pleasure can I feel ? 
 None, be assured. All my happiness is centred 
 with thee ; and where thou art not, there I am not 
 happy. Every day, hour, and act convince me of 
 it. With my heart filled with the purest and most 
 tender affection do I write thus, for, were it not so, 
 you know me well enough to be certain that even 
 at this moment I should tell you of it. I daily 
 thank God, who ordained that I should be attached 
 to you. He has, I firmly believe, intended it as a 
 blessing to me ; and I am well convinced you will 
 not disappoint His beneficent intentions. Fortune 
 — that is, money — is the only thing I regret the 
 want of, and that only for the sake of my affec- 
 tionate Fanny. But the Almighty, who brings us
 
 AND DEEDS. 31 
 
 together, will, I doubt not, take ample care of us, 
 and prosper all our undertakings. No dangers 
 shall deter me from pursuing every honourable 
 means of providing handsomely for you and 
 yours ; and again let me repeat that my dear 
 Josiah : shall ever be considered by me as of 
 my own. The Omnipotent Being, who sees 
 and knows what passes in all hearts, knows 
 what I have written to be my undisguised senti- 
 ments towards the little fellow. — To Mrs. Nisbet? 
 March 3. 1786. 
 
 OFFICIAL THANKS. 
 
 The Treasury, by the last packet, has transmitted 
 thanks to Sir Richard Hughes, and the officers 
 under him, for their activity and zeal in protecting 
 the commerce of Great Britain. Had they known 
 what I have told you (and if my friends think I 
 may, without impropriety, tell the story myself, I 
 shall do it when I get home), I don't think they 
 would have bestowed thanks in that quarter and 
 have neglected me. I feel much hurt that, after 
 the loss of health and risk of fortune, another 
 should be thanked for what I did, against his 
 orders. I either deserved to be sent out of the 
 
 1 Mrs. Nisbet's child by her first marriage. 
 
 2 Afterwards his wife.
 
 32 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 service, or at least have had some little notice 
 taken of me. They have thought it worthy of 
 notice, and have neglected me: if this is the reward 
 for a faithful discharge of my duty, I shall be care- 
 ful and never stand forward again. But I have 
 done my duty, and have nothing to accuse myself 
 of. — To W. Locker, March 5, 1786. 
 
 RELATIONS. 
 
 Relations are not always the people we are to 
 look up to for doing friendly offices. — To William 
 Suckling, March 9, 1786. 
 
 HIS COUNTRY S HEIR. 
 
 You have been my best friend, and I trust will 
 continue as long so as I shall prove myself by my 
 actions worthy of supplying that place in the service 
 of my country which my dear uncle left for me. I 
 feel myself, to my Country, his heir, and it shall, I am 
 bold to say, never lack the want of his counsel. I 
 feel he gave it to me as a legacy, and had I been 
 near him when he was removed he would have 
 said, " My boy, I leave you to my country. Serve 
 her well and she'll never desert but will ultimately 
 reward you." — To W. Suckling, July 5, 1786.
 
 AND DEEDS. 33 
 
 SALT WATER AND ABSENCE. 
 
 As you begin to know something about sailors, 
 have you not often heard that salt water and ab- 
 sence wash away love ? Now, I am such a heretic 
 as not to believe that faith ; for, behold, every 
 morning since my arrival I have had six pails of 
 salt water at daylight poured upon my head, and 
 instead of finding what the seamen say to be true, 
 I perceive the contrary effect ; and if it goes on so 
 contrary to the prescription, you must see me before 
 my fixed time. At first I bore absence tolerably, 
 but now it is almost insupportable ; and by-and-bye 
 I expect it will be quite so. — To Fanny Nisbet, 
 August 21, 1786. 
 
 COURTS-MARTIAL. 
 
 In order to show my disapprobation of officers 
 writing for courts-martial to vindicate their conduct 
 for trivial matters, I gave you the enclosed order, 1 
 that others might not fall into the same error. It 
 
 1 "Boreas," 
 
 English Harbour, 
 
 January 23, 1786 [1787]. 
 
 Sir, — I have received your letter of this day's date, de- 
 siring that I would order a court-martial (when opportunity 
 offered) to be assembled to inquire into the charge alleged 
 against you by his Royal Highness Prince William Henry,
 
 34 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 might soon have risen to such a height that if a 
 topsail was not thought properly or briskly reefed 
 by a captain, or some other trivial matter, and he 
 reprimanded the officer, the officer would say, "Sir, 
 I think it properly done, and I shall write for a 
 court-martial to vindicate my conduct from your 
 unjust accusation ". If this was to be allowed, 
 farewell discipline ; the service is ruined ; his 
 Majesty may be deprived of the services of his 
 officers ; and the best-laid schemes may be frus- 
 trated by the malignity of individuals, or pique 
 against their commanders. — To Commodore Gard- 
 ner, May 13, 1787. 
 
 DANCING FOR SEA OFFICERS. 
 
 In the first place, my Lord, it is necessary that he a 
 should be made complete in his navigation, and, if 
 the peace continues, French is absolutely necessary. 
 Dancing is an accomplishment that probably a sea 
 
 your captain, and enclosing a copy of his Royal Highness's 
 accusations for my perusal. 
 
 In answer, I acquaint you that I shall order a court- 
 martial to inquire into the charge alleged against you as 
 soon as possible. And, sir, from the receipt of your letter 
 you are under arrest, with such restrictions or indulgences 
 as his Royal Highness, your captain, may think proper. — 
 I have the honour to remain, &c, Horatio Nelson. 
 
 1 The Honourable Courteney Boyle.
 
 AND DEEDS. 35 
 
 officer may require. You will see almost the neces- 
 sity of it, when employed in foreign countries; 
 indeed, the honour of the nation is so often 
 entrusted to sea officers that there is no accom- 
 plishment which will not shine with peculiar lustre 
 in them.— To the Earl of Cork, July 22, 1787. 
 
 HIS DETERMINATION. 
 
 I now rejoice at the Boreas being ordered to be 
 paid off, which will release me for ever from an 
 ungrateful service, as it is my firm and unalterable 
 determination never again to set my foot on board 
 a king's ship. Immediately after my arrival in town 
 I shall wait on the First Lord of the Admiralty, and 
 resign my commission. 1 — Nove7nber 30, 1787. 
 
 SINCERITY OF CONDUCT. 
 
 You have given up all the toils and anxieties of 
 business ; whilst I must still buffet the waves — in 
 search of what ? That thing called honour is now, 
 alas ! thought of no more. My integrity cannot be 
 mended, I hope ; but my fortune, God knows, has 
 grown worse for the service : so much for serving 
 my country. But the devil, ever willing to tempt 
 the virtuous (pardon this flattery of myself), has 
 
 1 Said in anger, because of the Boreas having been em- 
 ployed as a slop and receiving ship.
 
 36 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 made me an offer, if any ships should be sent to 
 destroy his Majesty of Morocco's ports, to be 
 there ; and I have some reason to think that, 
 should any more come of it, my humble services 
 will be accepted. I have invariably laid down, and 
 followed close, a plan of what ought to be upper- 
 most in the breast of an officer : that it is much 
 better to serve an ungrateful country than to give 
 up his own fame. Posterity will do him justice ; a 
 uniform conduct of honour and integrity seldom 
 fails to bring a man to the goal of fame at last. — 
 To H. Ross, May 6, 1788. 
 
 THE GREAT. 
 
 Not being a man of fortune is a crime which I 
 cannot get over, and therefore none of the great 
 care about me. I am now commencing farmer — 
 not a very large one, you will conceive, but enough 
 for amusement. Shoot, I cannot, therefore I have 
 not taken out a licence ; but notwithstanding the 
 neglect I have met with, I am happy, and now I 
 see the propriety of not having built my hopes on 
 such sandy foundations as the friendships of the 
 great. — To IV. Locker, Sept. 10, 1789. 
 
 A MODEST APPEAL. 
 
 My wish to be employed is so great that I 
 trespass on your Lordship's time with a letter. I
 
 AND DEEDS. 37 
 
 am sensible I have no great interest to recom- 
 mend me, nor have I had conspicuous oppor- 
 tunities of distinguishing myself; but thus far, 
 without arrogating, I can declare that no oppor- 
 tunity has been passed by, and that I have 
 ever been a zealous officer. I am sure Lord 
 Hood will bear testimony of what I have taken 
 the liberty of saying. If the Raisonable is not 
 given away, I should esteem myself highly 
 honoured by the command of her. — To Lord 
 Chatham, September 26, 1790. 
 
 NEGLECT. 
 
 In what way it might be in the power of such an 
 humble individual as myself to best serve my King 
 has been matter of serious consideration, and no 
 way appeared to me so proper as asking for a ship ; 
 and on Saturday last Lord Chatham received my 
 letter asking for the command of one ; but, as I 
 have hitherto been disappointed in all my applica- 
 tions to his Lordship, I can hardly expect any 
 answer to my letter, which has always been the 
 way I have been treated ; but neither at sea nor 
 on shore, through the caprice of a Minister, can my 
 attachment to my King be shaken, and which will 
 never end but with my life.— To the Duke of 
 Clarence, November 3, 1792.
 
 38 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 A GOOD SHIP AND CREW. 
 
 To me it is perfectly indifferent to what quarter 
 of the world we go : with a good ship and ship's 
 company, we can come to no harm. — To the Rev. 
 E. Nelson, April 18, 1793. 
 
 BULL-FEAST. 
 
 A bull-feast was exhibited, for which the Spaniards 
 are famous ; and from their dexterity in attacking 
 and killing of these animals, the ladies choose their 
 husbands. We English have certainly to lament 
 the want of humanity in the Dons and Donnas. 
 The amphitheatre will hold 16,000 people ; about 
 12,000 were present. Ten bulls were selected, one 
 brought out at a time. Three cavaliers on horse- 
 back and footmen with flags were the combatants. 
 We had what is called a fine feast, for five horses 
 were killed and two men very much hurt. Had 
 they been killed it would have been quite complete. 
 We felt for the bulls and horses, and I own it would 
 not have displeased me to have had some of the 
 Dons tossed by the enraged animals. How women 
 can sit out, much more applaud, such sights, is 
 astonishing. It even turned me sick, and we could 
 hardly go through it : the dead, mangled horses, 
 with their entrails torn out, and the bulls covered 
 with blood, were too much. However, we have
 
 AND DEEDS. 3g 
 
 seen one bull-feast, and agree that nothing shall 
 tempt us to see another. The better sort of people 
 never miss one, if within reach of them, and the 
 lowest will sell his jacket, or go without his victuals, 
 rather than be absent. — To his J Fife, June 23, 
 l 793- 
 
 SPANIARDS AT SEA. 
 
 We saw a fleet off Alicante on the close of the 
 7th, and lay-to mid-channel between that place and 
 Ivica. At daybreak we formed our line, and soon 
 perceived them to be the Spanish fleet, twenty- 
 four sail of the line. The Dons did not, after 
 several hours' trial, form anything which could be 
 called line of battle ahead. However, after 
 answering our private signal, the Spanish admiral 
 sent down two frigates with answers to Lord Hood's 
 letters to PAigle, acquainting him that as his fleet 
 was sickly, 1900 men, he was going to Carthagena. 
 The captain of the frigate said, "It was no wonder 
 they were sickly, for they had been sixty days at 
 sea ". This speech to us appeared ridiculous ; for 
 from the circumstance of having been longer than 
 that time at sea, do we attribute our getting 
 healthy. It has stamped with me the extent of 
 their nautical abilities ; long may they remain in 
 their present state. — To the Duke of Clarence, 
 July 14, 1793.
 
 4 o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 NEGLECT OF SAILORS. 
 
 I believe the world is convinced that no con- 
 quests of importance can be made without us ; and 
 yet, as soon as we have accomplished the service 
 we are ordered on, we are neglected. If Parlia- 
 ment does not grant something to this fleet, our 
 Jacks will grumble, for there is no prize-money to 
 soften their hardships : all we get is honour and 
 salt beef. — To his Wife, September n, 1793. 
 
 SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON. 
 
 . You are a man after my own heart ; you do 
 business in my own way ; I am now only a captain, 
 but if I live, I will be at the top of the tree. — 
 Harrison's '•'■Life of Nelson" } 
 
 FORCE OF HABIT. 
 
 Some of our ships have been pegged pretty 
 handsomely ; yet such is the force of habit that we 
 seem to feel no danger. The other day we sat at a 
 court-martial on board Admiral Hotham, when 
 Princess Royal, a French 74, our friend, three 
 frigates, and four mortar-boats were firing at a 
 
 1 This Life of Nelson was written under the eye of Lady 
 Hamilton, and many of its statements must be received 
 with distrust.
 
 AND DEEDS. 41 
 
 battery for four hours, the shot and shell going 
 over us, which, extraordinary as it may seem, 
 made no difference. — To his Wife, October 12, 1793. 
 
 a republican's answer. 
 
 This morning being very fine, I anchored off 
 Rogliani, and sent on shore to say that I was come 
 to deliver them from the republicans, and wished 
 to be received as a friend, but that if a musket was 
 fired I would burn the town. The answer from 
 the commandant was as follows: "We are repub- 
 licans ; that word alone ought to satisfy you. It is 
 not to Magginagio, a place without defence, you 
 ought to address yourself. Ho to St. Fiorenzo, 
 Bastia, or Calvi, and they will answer you according 
 to your wishes. As to the troops whom I com- 
 mand, they are ready to show you that they are 
 composed of French soldiers." 
 
 Upon receiving this answer I landed and struck 
 the national colours with my own hand on the top 
 of an old castle, and ordered the tree of liberty in 
 the centre of the town to be cut down, not without 
 great displeasure from the inhabitants. The 
 military commandant retired to a hill about two 
 miles distant, where he paraded his troops and kept 
 the national flag flying all day. We destroyed about 
 500 tuns of wine ready to be shipped and ten sail 
 of vessels.— To Lord Hood, February 8, 1794. 
 
 4
 
 42 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 SLOWNESS OF SOLDIERS. 
 
 Armies go so slow that seamen think they never 
 mean to get forward ; but I dare say they act on a 
 surer principle, although we seldom fail. — To his 
 Wife, February 28, 1794. 
 
 PAOLI. 
 
 The attachment of the Corsicans to General 
 Paoli is wonderful. When I took Miomo, near 
 Bastia, the Corsicans all declared for the English, 
 and a gentleman came down and said, " I can now 
 venture to say how attached I am to Paoli " ; upon 
 which, taking a miniature of him from his bosom, 
 he kissed it, and hundreds on their knees im- 
 mediately begged to do the same. This is pure 
 affection. Paoli has nothing to give them, nor any 
 honours to bestow. It is the tribute of a generous 
 people to a chief who has sacrificed everything for 
 their benefit. — To his Wife, February 28, 1794. 
 
 OLD-FASHIONED VICTUALLING. 
 
 We are absolutely without either water, pro- 
 visions, or stores of any kind, and not a piece of 
 canvas, rope, twine, or nail in our ship ; but we 
 cheerfully submit to it all if it turns out for the 
 advantage of our country. — Nelson 's Journal, March 
 12, 1794.
 
 AND DEEDS. 43 
 
 THE BRITISH FLAG. 
 
 I cannot bear the thought of showing myself in 
 a foreign port without its being known that the 
 British flag is triumphant. — To Sir W. Hamilton, 
 March 27, 1794. 
 
 LORD HOOD. 
 
 I am just come from Lord Hood at Fiorenzo. 
 His zeal, his activity for the honour and benefit of 
 his King and country, are not abated. Upwards of 
 seventy, he possesses the mind of forty years of age. 
 He has not a thought separated from honour and 
 glory. May each opp*oser of such a character 
 have for their accusers their own minds. I am 
 sure that will be all-sufficient. — To Sir William 
 Hamilton, March 27, 1794. 
 
 NELSON S PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Recollect that a brave man dies but once, a 
 coward all his life long. We cannot escape 
 death ; and should it happen to me in this place, 
 remember it is the will of Him in whose hands 
 are the issues of life and death. — To his Wife, 
 May 1, 1794.
 
 44 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 ALWAYS FIGHT. 
 
 Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an 
 officer for attacking his enemy than for omitting to 
 do it. 1 — To Rev. D. Hoste, May 3, 1794. 
 
 ENGLISH AND FRENCH. 
 
 I always was of opinion, have ever acted up to it, 
 and never have had any reason to repent it, that 
 one Englishman was equal to three Frenchmen. — 
 To his Wife, May 20, 1794. 
 
 THE BLUE JACKET'S RISKS. 
 
 From the nature of our profession, we hold life 
 by a more precarious tenure than many others ; but 
 when we fall, we trust it is to benefit our country. 
 So fell your son by a cannon ball, under my im- 
 mediate command, at the siege of Bastia. I had 
 taken him on shore with me, from his abilities and 
 attention to his duty. — To E. Davis, June, 1794. 
 
 AFTER THE FRENCH. 
 
 We are just got to sea after the French fleet, 
 which, we hear, is out of Toulon. Our squadron 
 
 1 Nelson's whole philosophy of war is embodied in this 
 sentence.
 
 AND DEEDS. 45 
 
 is after them, steering for Calvi, where I fear they 
 will get, in spite of Admiral Hotham's endeavours. 
 The enemy are nine sail of the line, Admiral 
 Hotham seven ; two will join from St. Fiorenzo, 
 and Lord Hood goes with six of us. If we have 
 but the good fortune to catch them at sea, we shall, 
 I am sure, give a good account of them. Lord 
 Hood only got the information last night at eleven 
 o'clock, and by seven this morning we were all 
 under sail. The Agcwiemnon had two hundred 
 tons of ordnance to get out, and Lord Hood 
 had given me orders to follow him as fast as pos- 
 sible. I was enabled to sail in half-an-hour after him, 
 and we are now alongside the Victory. I pray 
 God we may meet this fleet. — To his Wife, June, 
 1794. 
 
 HIS NAME. 
 
 If any accident should happen to me, I am sure 
 my conduct will be such as will entitle you to the 
 Royal favour : not that I have the least idea but 
 that I shall return to you, and full of honour ; if 
 not, the Lord's will be done. My name shall 
 never be a disgrace to those who may belong to 
 me. The little I have you know I have given to 
 you, except a small annuity. I wish it was more ; 
 but I have never got a farthing dishonestly : it 
 descends from clean hands. Whatever fate awaits
 
 46 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 me, I pray God to bless you, and preserve you for 
 your son's sake. I think always in the most affec- 
 tionate manner of my father ; tell him so. . . . 
 — To his Wife, June, 1794. 
 
 MONEY-MAKERS. 
 
 Those people who so_ liberally abuse everybody 
 but themselves are probably the very persons who 
 deserve abuse. I hope those who are to get so 
 much money will make a proper use of it. Had I 
 attended less than I have done to the service of 
 my country, I might have made some too. How- 
 ever, I trust my name will stand on record when 
 the money-makers' will be forgot. — To his Wife, 
 June 27, 1794. 
 
 IN HIS GLORY. 
 
 We shall take Calvi in due time, and, I hope, 
 without much loss of men. I am very busy, yet I 
 own I am in all my glory : except with you, I would 
 not be anywhere but where I am for the world. I 
 am well aware my poor services will not be noticed. 
 I have no interest ; but, however services may be 
 received, it is not right in an officer to slacken 
 his zeal for his country. — To his Wife, July 8, 
 1794.
 
 AND DEEDS. 47 
 
 LOSS OF HIS EYE. 
 
 Except a very slight scratch towards my right 
 eye, I have received no hurt whatever ; so you see 
 I am not the worse for campaigning. But I cannot 
 say I have any wish to go on with it. This day I 
 have been four months landed, except a few days 
 when we were after the French fleet, and I feel 
 almost qualified to pass my examination as a 
 besieging general. — To his Wife, 4th August, 1794. 
 
 As it is all past, I may now tell you that on the 
 10th of July, a shot having hit our battery, the 
 splinters and stones from it struck me- with great 
 violence in the face and breast. Although the 
 blow was so severe as to occasion a great flow of 
 blood from my head, yet I most fortunately escaped, 
 having only my right eye nearly deprived of its sight. 
 It was cut down, but is so far recovered as for me 
 to be able to distinguish light from darkness. As 
 to all the purposes of use, it is gone. How r ever, 
 the blemish is nothing, — not to be perceived, unless 
 told. The pupil is nearly the size of the blue part 
 — I don't know the name.— To the same, August 
 18, 1794. 
 
 HIS WOUND. 
 
 I have to request that you will take such measures 
 as you may judge proper, that my Sovereign may be
 
 4 S NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 informed of my loss of an eye in his service ; and I 
 do not think his Majesty will consider that I suf- 
 fered less pain from my determination to do my 
 duty in twenty-four hours after the accident, less 
 those laborious duties intrusted by your Lordship to 
 my directions should have been neglected. I submit 
 my case entirely to you, resting assured that you will 
 mention me in this matter as I deserve, and will do 
 ample justice to the gallant officers and seamen em- 
 ployed under me. — To Lord Hood, October 2, 1794. 
 
 SENSE OF DUTY. 
 
 I rejoice that my conduct gives you pleasure, and 
 I trust I shall never do anything which will bring a 
 blush on your face, or on that of any of my friends. 
 It is very true that I have ever served faithfully, and 
 ever has it been my fate to have been neglected ; 
 but that shall not make me inattentive to my duty. 
 I have pride in doing my duty well, and a self- 
 approbation, which, if it is not so lucrative, yet 
 perhaps affords more pleasing sensations. I trust 
 the time will come when I may be rewarded, 
 though really I don't flatter myself it is near. — 
 To his Wife, January 31, 1795. 
 
 hood's omission. 
 
 When I reflect that I was the cause of re-attacking 
 Bastia, after our wise generals gave it over, from not
 
 AND DEEDS. 49 
 
 knowing the force, fancying it 2000 men ; that it was 
 I who, landing, joined the Corsicans, and with only 
 my ship's party of marines drove the French under 
 the walls of Bastia ; that it was I who, knowing the 
 force in Bastia to be upwards of 4000 men, as I 
 have now only ventured to tell Lord Hood, landed 
 with only 1200 men and kept the secret till within 
 this week past -what T must have felt during the 
 whole siege may be easily conceived. Yet I am 
 scarcely mentioned. I freely forgive, but cannot 
 forget. This, and much more, ought to have been 
 mentioned. It is known that for two months I 
 blockaded Bastia with a squadron : only fifty sacks 
 of flour got into the town. At St. Fiorenzo and 
 Calvi, for two months before, nothing got in, and 
 four French frigates could not get out, and now 
 are ours. Yet my diligence is not mentioned ; 
 and others for keeping succours out of Calvi for a 
 few summer months are handsomely mentioned. 
 Such things are. 
 
 I have got upon a subject near my heart, which 
 is full when I think of the treatment I have re- 
 ceived : every man who had any considerable 
 share in the reduction has got some place or 
 other — I, only I, am without reward. The taking 
 of Corsica, like the taking of St. Juan's, has cost 
 me money. St. Juan's cost nearly ^500 ; Corsica 
 has cost me ,£300 and an eye, and a cut across my
 
 50 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 back ; and my money, I find, cannot be repaid me. 
 Nothing but my anxious endeavour to serve my 
 country makes me bear up against it ; but I some- 
 times am ready to give all up. — To IV. Suckling, 
 February 7, 1795. 
 
 A GLORIOUS DEATH. 
 
 We are just in sight of the French fleet, 
 and a signal is out for a general chase. We 
 have but little wind, and unfortunately the 
 enemy are inshore of us ; however, I hope the 
 admiral will allow us to go on, and if the French 
 do not skulk under their batteries, I trust we 
 shall give a good account of them. Whatever 
 may be my fate, I have no doubt in my own 
 mind but that my conduct will be such as will 
 not bring a blush on the face of my friends. 
 The lives of all are in the hands of Him who 
 knows best whether to preserve mine or not ; 
 to His will do I resign myself. My character 
 and good name are in my own keeping. Life 
 with disgrace is dreadful. A glorious death is 
 to be envied ; and, if anything happens to 
 me, recollect that death is a debt we must all 
 pay, and whether now, or a few years hence, 
 can be but of little consequence. — To his Wife, 
 March to, 1795.
 
 AND DEEDS. 51 
 
 HOTHAMS EASY SATISFACTION. 
 
 I wish to be an admiral, and in the command of 
 the British fleet. I should very soon either do 
 much or be ruined. My disposition cannot bear 
 tame and slow measures. Sure I am, had I com- 
 manded our fleet on the 14th, that either the whole 
 French fleet would have graced my triumph, or I 
 should have been in a confounded scrape. I went 
 on board Admiral Hotham as soon as our firing 
 grew slack in the van, and the Qr Ira and Censeur 
 had struck, to propose to him leaving our two 
 crippled ships, the two prizes, and four frigates to 
 themselves, and to pursue the enemy ; but he, much 
 cooler than myself, said : " We must be contented ; 
 we have done very well ". Now, had we taken ten 
 sail and had allowed the eleventh to escape, when 
 it had been possible to have got at her, I could 
 never have called it well done. Goodall backed 
 me ; I got him to write to the admiral, but 
 it would not do ; we should have had such 
 a day as, I believe, the annals of England 
 never produced. I verily think if the admiral 
 can get hold of them once more, and he does 
 but get us close enough, that we shall have 
 the whole fleet. Nothing can stop the courage 
 of English seamen. — To his Wife, April 1, 
 
 1795-
 
 52 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 THE BRAVE. 
 
 What has happened may never happen to anyone 
 again, that only one ship of the line out of fourteen 
 should get into action with the French fleet, and for 
 so long a time as two hours and a half, and with 
 such a ship as the Ca Ira. Had I been supported 
 I should certainly have brought the Sans Culottes 
 to battle — a most glorious prospect. A brave man 
 runs no more risk than a coward. — To his Wife, 
 April 12, 1795. 
 
 INDIFFERENCE TO HIS CLAIMS. 
 
 One hundred and ten days I have been actually 
 engaged at sea and on shore against the enemy. 
 Three actions against ships, two against Bastia, in 
 my ship, four boat actions, and two villages taken, 
 and twenty sail of vessels burned. I don't know 
 anyone has done more, and I have had the 
 comfort to be ever applauded by my commander- 
 in-chief, but never rewarded ; and, what is more 
 mortifying, for services in which I have been 
 slightly wounded, others have been praised who 
 at the time were actually in bed, far from the scene 
 of action. — To IV. Locker, May 4, 1795. 
 
 PRINCE OF WALES' DEBTS. 
 
 The extraordinary circumstance of the Prince of 
 Wales' debts is much more lamentable; his best
 
 AND DEEDS. 53 
 
 friends must be hurt and the others are, as far as I 
 hear, as much in debt as people will trust them. 
 They are of an age to know better, and if they will 
 not practise what they know, they ought to be 
 punished by letting them feel that want they are 
 making others so severely partake of. However, I 
 trust, if this debt is once more paid, that he will 
 be acquainted by the nation they will pay no more 
 for him. What a figure would the Duke of Clar- 
 ence have made had he served, out of debt and 
 beloved by the nation : in short, our profession, in 
 war, is so popular that he might have done what 
 he pleased. — To Rev. Dixon Hoste, June 22, 1795. 
 
 IIO DAYS IN ACTION. 
 
 I have to boast, that no officer can this war, or 
 any other that I know of, being, in 15 months, no 
 days in action at sea and on shore. — To Rev. W. 
 Nelson, June 22, 1795. 
 
 COLONEL OF MARINES. 
 
 I have seen in the newspapers that I am ap- 
 pointed one of the colonels of marines, an appoint- 
 ment certainly most flattering to me as it marks to 
 the world an approbation of my conduct. To your 
 Lordship I beg leave to express gratification, more 
 especially as, by a letter from your Lordship to 
 Lord Hood, you declared your intention to represent
 
 54 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 my services in the most favourable point of view to 
 the King; for which I beg leave to return your 
 Lordship my most sincere thanks. In the same 
 letter the doubts which had arisen respecting the 
 damage my eye had sustained at the siege of Calvi 
 made it, your Lordship said, impossible to say 
 whether it amounted to the loss of a limb. I have 
 only to tell your Lordship that a total deprivation of 
 sight for every common occasion in life is the conse- 
 quence of the loss of part of the crystal of my right eye. 
 As I mean not to press on your Lordship the 
 propriety of considering niy loss, I shall conclude 
 by assuring you that my endeavours shall never be 
 wanting to merit a continuance of your good 
 opinion. — To Earl Spencer, July 19, 1795. 
 
 PARSONS AND SAILORS. 
 
 He had much better be a parson than a sailor : 
 it is a much quieter trade. — To Reo* IV. Nelson, 
 July 24, 1795. 
 
 POLITICAL COURAGE. 
 
 Political courage in an officer abroad is as highly 
 necessary as military courage. — To his Wife, July 
 
 29, 1795- 
 
 A GIFT. 
 
 Pray draw for ^200 : my father and myself can 
 settle our accounts when we meet ; at present, I
 
 AND DEEDS. 55 
 
 believe, I am the richer man, therefore I desire you 
 will give my dear father that money. — To his Wife, 
 August 2, 1795. 
 
 COURT POLITICS. 
 
 The politics of courts, my dear sir, are, I per- 
 ceive, so mean that private people would be ashamed 
 to act in the same way. All is trick and finesse to 
 which the common cause is sacrificed. — To Sir G. 
 Elliot, September 18, 1795. 
 
 A FRENCH CAPTAIN TEMPTED. 
 
 An Austrian Commissary was travelling from 
 Genoa towards Vado with ,£10,000 sterling, and it 
 was known he was to sleep at a place called Voltri, 
 about nine miles from Genoa. This temptation 
 was too great for the French captain of the Brune, 
 in concert with the French Minister, to keep his 
 word of honour ; and the boats of that frigate, with 
 some privateers, went out of the port, landed, and 
 brought back the money. — To the Duke of Clarence, 
 November 18, 1795. 
 
 FRENCHMEN. 
 
 To me, I own, all Frenchmen are alike : I despise 
 them all. They are (even those who are fed by us) 
 false and treacherous; even Louis XVIII. receives
 
 56 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 our money and will not follow our advice, and 
 keep up the dignity of the King of France at 
 Verona. — To IV. Suckling, October 22, 1795. . . . 
 I trembled at your account of want of bread for our 
 poor. Pray God send us peace. We have esta- 
 blished the French Republic, which, but for us, I 
 verily believe, would never have been settled by 
 such a volatile, changeable people. I hate a 
 Frenchman. They are equally objects of my 
 detestation, whether Royalists or Republicans : in 
 some points I believe the latter are the best. — To 
 Rev. Dixon Hoste, December 12, 1795. 
 
 FRENCH SOLDIERS. 
 
 I have had letters from my poor lieutenants and 
 midshipmen telling me that a few of the French 
 soldiers are more than 23 or 24 years old; a great 
 many do not exceed 14 years, all without clothes ; 
 and my officers add they are sure my barge's crew 
 would have beat a hundred of them, and that had 
 I seen them, I should not have thought, if the 
 world had been covered with such people, that they 
 could have beat the Austrian army. — To his Wife, 
 December 18, 1795. 
 
 HIS NAME. 
 
 However, this I can say, that all I have obtained 
 I owe to myself and to no one else, and to you I
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 57 
 
 may add that my character stands high with almost 
 all Europe ; even the Austrians knew my name 
 perfectly. When I get through this campaign I 
 think myself I ought to rest. I hope to God the 
 war will be over, and that I may return to you in 
 peace and quietness. A little farm and my good 
 name form all my wants and wishes. — To his 
 Wife, July 14, 1795. 
 
 A NEAR TOUCH. 
 
 Nothing has occurred since I wrote last except 
 the sailing of the French squadron from Genoa. 
 As soon as they knew of my absence they made a 
 push, and I fear are all got off. Two of our 
 frigates were seen firing at them, but I have not 
 much expectation of their success. It was a near 
 touch, for I came back the next morning after they 
 had sailed on the preceding evening. I am vexed 
 and disappointed, but the best laid schemes, if 
 obliged to be trusted to others, w T ill sometimes fail. 
 I must submit and hope for better luck another 
 time ; yet a squadron of French ships would have 
 graced my triumph ! — To his Wife, October^, 1795. 
 
 PARLIAMENTARY PRETENSIONS. 
 
 My pretensions are only a long series of services 
 performed for my country ; and if that part of my 
 
 5
 
 58 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 country who may honour me with their confidence 
 in Parliament think me an eligible person to serve 
 them in the House of Commons, the same zeal 
 shall manifest itself there as it has done so re- 
 peatedly in their service in action against the 
 French. I have only to say that I have been more 
 than one hundred times engaged in battle, at sea 
 and on shore, against the French since the com- 
 mencement of this war, and that I have been twice 
 wounded. If these gentlemen are satisfied, the 
 I )uke of Portland must be applied to through Lord 
 Walpole and Lady Walpole ; for though I have so 
 often seen the French shot, yet, truly, I have seen 
 little of their money. — To . . . November 6, 1795. 
 
 INFAMOUS ACCUSATION. 
 
 My Lord, — Having received from Mr. Drake a 
 copy of your Lordship's letter to him in October, 
 enclosing a paper highly reflecting on the honour 
 of myself and others of his Majesty's officers em- 
 ployed on this coast under my orders, it well 
 becomes me, as far as in my power lies, to wipe 
 away this ignominious stain on our characters. I 
 do, therefore, on behalf of myself and much-injured 
 brethren, demand that the person, whoever he may 
 be, that wrote or gave that paper to your Lordship, 
 should fully and expressly bring home his charge, 
 which, as he states that this agreement is made by
 
 AND DEEDS. 59 
 
 numbers of people on both sides, there can be no 
 difficulty in doing. We dare him, my Lord, to the 
 proof. If he cannot, I do humbly implore that 
 his Majesty will be most graciously pleased to 
 direct his attorney-general to prosecute this in- 
 famous libeller in his Majesty's courts of law. 
 And I likewise feel that, without impropriety, I 
 may, on behalf of my brother officers, demand the 
 support of his Majesty's Ministers : for as, if true, 
 no punishment can be too great for the traitors, so, 
 if false, none can be too heavy for the villain who 
 has dared to allow his pen to write such a paper. 
 Perhaps I ought to close my letter here, but I feel 
 too much to rest easy for a moment when the 
 honour of the navy and our country is struck at 
 through us, for if ten captains, whom chance has 
 thrown together, can instantly join in such a 
 traitorous measure, it is fair to conclude we are 
 all bad. 
 
 As this traitorous agreement could not be carried 
 on but by concert of all the captains, if they were 
 on the stations allotted to them — and as they could 
 be only drawn from those stations by orders from 
 me — I do most fully acquit all my brother captains 
 from such a combination, and have to request that 
 I may be considered as the only responsible person 
 for what is done under my command, if I approve 
 of the conduct of those under my orders, which in
 
 60 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 this most public manner I beg leave to do ; for 
 officers more alert, and more anxious for the good 
 and honour of their King and country, can scarcely 
 ever fall to the lot of any commanding officer. 
 Their names 1 I place at the end of this letter. 
 For myself, from my earliest youth I have been in 
 the naval service, and in two wars have been in 
 more than one hundred and forty skirmishes and 
 battles at sea and on shore ; have lost an eye, and 
 have often bled in fighting the enemies of my King 
 and country ; and, God knows, instead of riches, 
 my little fortune has been diminished in the ser- 
 vice. But I shall not trouble your Lordship further 
 at present than just to say that at the close of this 
 campaign, where I have had the pleasure to receive 
 the approbation of the generals of the allied Powers; 
 of his Excellency Mr. Drake, who has always been 
 on the spot ; of Mr. Trevor, who has been at a 
 distance ; when I expected and hoped, from the 
 representation of his Majesty's Ministers, that his 
 Majesty would have most graciously condescended 
 to have favourably noticed my earnest desire to 
 serve him, instead of all my fancied approbation 
 to receive an accusation of a most traitorous 
 nature — it has almost been too much for me 
 
 1 Captains Fremantle, Hope, Cockburn, Hon. C. Elphin- 
 stone, Shields, Middleton, Plampin, Brisbane, T. Elphin- 
 stone, M'Namara.
 
 AND DEEDS. 6r 
 
 to bear. Conscious innocence, I hope, will sup- 
 port me. 1 — To Lord Grenville, November 23, 
 1795- 
 
 DOING AS HE PLEASED. 
 
 The fleet was not a little surprised at my leaving 
 them so soon, and, I fancy, there was some degree 
 of envy attached to the surprise, for one captain 
 told me, "You did just as you pleased in Lord 
 Hood's time, the same in Admiral Hotham's, and 
 now again with Sir John Jervis. It makes no 
 difference to you who is commander-in-chief." I 
 returned a pretty strong answer to this speech.— 
 To his Wife, January 27, 1796. 
 
 THE SAILOR'S DREAM. 
 
 Time, my dear Fanny, will soon wear away, 
 when we shall, I doubt not, possess a cottage of 
 our own, and an ample income to live on — if not 
 in luxury, at least in comfort. As yet, I appear to 
 stand well with Sir John Jervis, and it shall not be 
 
 1 A scandalous and calumniating suspicion prevailed at 
 that time amongst the allies that there existed a criminal 
 connivance between the British cruisers in the Mediter- 
 ranean and the coasting vessels of the enemy, whereby 
 they were permitted to land their cargoes for the supply of 
 the French army in the Riviera of Genoa.— Clarke and 
 M' Arthur.
 
 b2 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 my fault if I do not continue to do so : my conduct 
 has no mystery. I freely communicate my know- 
 ledge and observations, and only wish that whatever 
 admiral I serve under may make a proper use of it. 
 God forbid I should have any other consideration 
 on service than the good of my country. — To his 
 Wife, February, 1796. 
 
 JERVIS. 
 
 Sir John Jervis, from his manner, as I plainly 
 perceive, does not wish me to leave this station. 
 He seems at present to consider me more as an 
 associate than a subordinate officer, for I am acting 
 without any orders. This may have its difficulties 
 at a future day, but I make none, knowing the 
 uprightness of my intentions. He asked me if I 
 had heard any more of my promotion ; I told him 
 no. His answer was : " You must have a larger 
 ship, for we cannot spare you either as captain or 
 admiral". — To his Wife, February 17, 1796. 
 
 AMBASSADORS. 
 
 I cannot but observe between ourselves that a 
 Minister may be continued too long at a particular 
 Court ; he thus becomes imperceptibly the friend 
 of that Court, when he ought to be the jealous 
 observer of their conduct. — To Sir John Jervis, 
 May 4, 1796.
 
 AND DEEDS. 63 
 
 HIS COMPLAINT. 
 
 My complaint is as if a girth were buckled taut 
 over my breast, and my endeavour, in the night, is 
 to get it loose. — To Sir John Jervis, June 3, 1796. 
 
 HONOUR. 
 
 I shall not be very sorry to see England again. 
 I am grown old and battered to pieces, and require 
 some repairs. However, on the whole, I have stood 
 the fag better than could have been expected. I 
 am sorry to tell you the fancied rich prize is not 
 likely to be condemned ; I believe the captor will 
 be glad to give her up again. However, I never 
 built much on her : if I return not poorer than I 
 set out, I shall be perfectly satisfied ; but I believe 
 the contrary. Mine is all honour : so much for the 
 navy ! — To Rev. IV. Nelson, March, 1796. . . . 
 If we have a Spanish war, I- shall yet hope to make 
 something this war. At present, I believe, I am 
 worse than when I set out — I mean in point of 
 riches ; for if credit and honour in the service are 
 desirable, I have my full share. Opportunities 
 have been frequently offered me, and I have never 
 lost one, of distinguishing myself, not only as a 
 gallant man, but as having a head ; for of the 
 numerous plans I have laid not one has failed, nor 
 of opinions given has one been in the event wrong.
 
 64 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 It is this latter which has perhaps established my 
 character more than the others ; and I hope to 
 return in as good health as I set out with. — To the 
 same, fane 20, 1796. 
 
 GENEROUS ENEMY. 
 
 Generous nations are above rendering any other 
 damage to individuals than such as the known laws 
 of war prescribe. In a vessel lately taken by my 
 squadron was found an imperiale full of clothes 
 belonging to a general officer of artillery. I, there- 
 fore, send you the clothes as taken, and some 
 papers which may be useful to the officer ; and 
 have to request you will have the goodness to 
 forward them. — To the French Minister at Genoa, 
 [une 22, 1796. 
 
 NELSON FIRST. 
 
 Had all my actions, my dearest Fanny, been 
 gazetted, not one fortnight would have passed 
 during the whole war without a letter from me. 
 One day or other I will have a long gazette to 
 myself : I feel that such an opportunity will be 
 given me. I cannot, if I am in the field of glory, 
 be kept out of sight. Probably my services may 
 be forgotten by the great by the time I get home ; 
 but my mind will not forget, nor cease lo feel, a
 
 AND DEEDS. 65 
 
 degree of consolation and of applause superior to 
 undeserved rewards. Wherever there is anything 
 to be done, there Providence is sure to direct my 
 steps. Credit must be given me in spite of envy. 
 Even the French respect me. Their Minister at 
 Genoa, in answering a note of mine, when return- 
 ing some wearing apparel that had been taken, 
 said : " Your nation, sir, and mine, are made to 
 show examples of generosity, as well as of valour, 
 to all the people of the earth. ..." I will also 
 relate another anecdote, all vanity to myself, but 
 you will partake of it. A person sent me a letter, 
 and directed as follows : " Horatio Nelson, Genoa". 
 On being asked how he could direct in such a 
 manner, his answer, in a large party, was : " Sir, 
 there is but one Horatio Nelson in the world ". 
 The letter certainly came immediately. At Genoa, 
 where I have stopped all their trade, I am beloved 
 and respected, both by the Senate and lower order. 
 If any man is fearful of his vessel being stopped, 
 he comes and asks me ; if I give him a paper, or 
 say, " All is right," he is contented. I am known 
 throughout Italy ; not a kingdom or state where 
 my name will be forgotten. This is my gazette. — 
 To his Wife, August 2, 1796. 
 
 AN ANTICIPATION. 
 As to our fleet, under such a commander-in- 
 chief as Sir John Jervis, nobody has any fears. . . .
 
 66 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 We are now twenty-two sail of the line ; the com- 
 bined fleet will not be above thirty-five sail of the 
 line, supposing the Dons detach to the West Indies. 
 I will venture my life Sir John Jervis defeats them ; 
 I do not mean by a regular battle, but by the skill 
 of our admiral, and the activity and spirit of our 
 officers and seamen. This country is the most 
 favourable possible for skill with an inferior fleet ; 
 for the winds are so variable that some one time 
 in twenty-four hours you must be able to attack a 
 part of a large fleet, and the other will be becalmed, 
 or have a contrary wind, therefore I hope the Govern- 
 ment will not be alarmed for our safety — I mean 
 more than is proper. I take for granted they will 
 send us reinforcements as soon as possible, but 
 there is nothing we are not able to accomplish 
 under Sir John Jervis. — To the Duke of Clarence, 
 August 19, 1796. 
 
 DUTY AND REWARD. 
 
 Your most affectionate letter of July 4 gave me 
 infinite pleasure, and I assure you that no small 
 part of the satisfaction I feel in doing my duty is 
 knowing the pleasure it will give you and my dear 
 wife. As to the rewards, I think it very possible 
 those who are on the spot will get them, whilst we 
 who fag at a distance are forgot. The last service
 
 AND DEEDS. 67 
 
 is always the best, for it is natural. This gentleman 
 had a victory two years ago, the fruits of which we 
 have enjoyed, and perhaps have lost again. The 
 other is on the spot to receive his reward before 
 the newer object presents itself. But all cannot be 
 employed near home, and half the rewards are use- 
 less. God forbid I should ever lose myself so 
 much as to be knighted. Fame says we are to have 
 a Spanish war in this country. The only conse- 
 quence it can be to us may be the necessary 
 evacuation of Corsica, and that our fleet will draw 
 down the Mediterranean. The Dons will suffer in 
 every way for their folly, if they are really so fool- 
 hardy as to go to war to please the French. 
 
 I am now an established commodore, having a 
 captain appointed to the ship ; therefore, my pro- 
 fessional rise is regular and honourable. My 
 brother William thinks I have been making a 
 fortune, but I have assured him to the contrary. 
 -To the Rev. E. Nelson, August 19, 1796. 
 
 THE POPE. 
 
 I do not think that he will oppose the thunder 
 of the Vatican against my thunder ; and you will, 
 I daresay, hear that I am at Rome in my barge. 
 If I succeed I am determined to row up the Tiber 
 and into Rome.— To his Wife, August 23, 1796.
 
 68 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 SHOT-HOLES. 
 
 The King of England cannot, although I hear he 
 is one of the best masons in his dominions, stop 
 shot-holes half so soon as I can make them. — To 
 Sir John Jervis, September 3, 1796. 
 
 TO THE GOVERNOR OF CAPRAJA. 
 
 Had your answer been a refusal to treat, before 
 this time, our attack by land and sea would have 
 commenced, and the lives and property of innocent 
 inhabitants would have been sacrificed by your 
 fruitless attempt against the superior forces attack- 
 ing you. AVe will not permit any delay beyond one 
 hour for you to take your resolution of treating 
 with us, and we assure you such favourable terms 
 will never again be offered by, &c. — September 18, 
 1796. 
 
 WAR OR PEACE ? 
 
 To Don Juan De Sannava, Captain of the Spanish 
 Frigate " La Vengeance ". 
 
 His Britannic Majesty's Ship "Captain," 
 At Sea, 10th September, 1796. 
 
 Sir, — It is not possible for me to desire a 
 Spanish officer to do what would be in the smallest
 
 AND DEEDS. 69 
 
 degree considered dishonourable. I am in doubt, 
 sir, whether it is war or peace between the two 
 Courts. You, sir, say you are sure that all is peace, 
 and that the most perfect good understanding sub- 
 sists between the two Courts. 
 
 Thus circumstanced, I have to request, as a mark 
 of your desire to cement that harmony, that you 
 will attend me to Bastia, to speak with the Vice- 
 roy of Corsica on this very delicate question. 
 Should, sir, you refuse to comply with this most 
 reasonable request, the fatal consequences must 
 rest with you, and I must do my duty in using force. 
 
 I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient Servant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 Don Juan dc Sannava. 
 
 His Britannic Majesty's Ship "Captain," 
 At Sea, -zoth September, 1796. 
 
 Sir, — From the repeated assurances you have 
 given me, on your honour, that there is no offensive 
 alliance entered into by Spain with France against 
 England, I am induced to show your Court how 
 desirous an English officer is to preserve that 
 harmony and good understanding which ought ever 
 to subsist between our two countries, by allowing 
 you to return to Spain instead of enforcing my
 
 7 o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 reasonable request for you to proceed to Bastia to 
 speak to the Viceroy of Corsica. 
 
 Therefore, sir, if you will pledge me your word 
 of honour that the harmony between our two 
 Courts is uninterrupted, I will, on your giving me 
 your honour that you will proceed direct to Spain, 
 allow you to proceed. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 You most obedient Servant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 " Captain," at Sea, September 21, 1796. 
 
 Sir,— Yesterday morning I saw a Spanish frigate 
 coming from the southward, who, when she raised 
 our hull, hauled her wind to the eastward. In 
 about one hour after this she bore down to us, and 
 I sent on board the letter No. 1, on which the 
 letters to No. 6 passed between us. As to per- 
 mitting him to go into Leghorn, that was out of 
 the question with me ; but I chose to have a good 
 deal of communication with him, that I might draw 
 my final opinion if it was war when he sailed, which 
 I am certain it was not. The second captain, who 
 came on board, admitted that an English ship was 
 detained at Carthagena, but that it was in conse- 
 quence of several Spanish ships having been
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 7i 
 
 detained by the English, particularly in Corsica, 
 and that Lord Bute had made representations of 
 the subject. On the other hand, his circuitous 
 route through the Straits of Bonifaccio, wishing to 
 get into Leghorn from the southward, led me to 
 fancy he had cause for not wishing to meet any 
 English ships of war. 
 
 I have before me Mr. Drake's, Mr. Wyndham's, 
 and the Russian Minister at Genoa's letters, saying 
 that an alliance, offensive and defensive, had been 
 entered into between Spain and France; also Mr. 
 Budd's letter with Mr. Gregory's. 
 
 On the other hand I had your letter sending Mr. 
 Gregory's and Mr. Budd's, but no insinuation that 
 it was actually a war ; the Viceroy's that he con- 
 sidered the Spanish question still in suspense, al- 
 though an embargo had been laid on the English 
 shipping at Cadiz and Carthagena ; that war was 
 not generally expected at Gibraltar, and that it was 
 not to be wished for by us. 
 
 Thus circumstanced, I thought it most proper not 
 to take him (although I own my fingers itched for 
 it), which I hope you will approve of. The Don 
 is not aware that it is this question that was 
 working in my mind, but that it was that I wanted 
 him to go to Bastia, to know from the Viceroy 
 whether I might allow him to go into Leghorn, and 
 that I would force him to go to Bastia, to have this
 
 ?2 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 answer, before I could allow him to return to 
 
 Spain. 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient Servant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 To Admiral Sir John Jcrvis. 
 
 BRITISH FLEETS. 
 
 We are all preparing to leave the Mediterranean, 
 a measure which I cannot approve. They at home 
 do not know what this fleet is capable of perform- 
 ing : anything and everything. Much as I shall 
 rejoice to see England, I lament our present orders 
 in sackcloth and ashes, so dishonourable to the 
 dignity of England, whose fleets are equal to meet 
 the world in arms ; and of all the fleets I ever saw, 
 I never beheld one in point of officers and men 
 equal to Sir John Jervis's, who is a commander-in- 
 chief able to lead them to glory. — To his Wife, 
 October, 1796. 
 
 BRITISH OPINION. 
 
 Bastia, October 17, 1796. 
 
 I am sorry you or any Englishman should 
 
 think I acted without thought on the nth 
 
 September. 1 Whether the measure was right or 
 
 wrong in itself is not for me to say. I certainly 
 
 1 In the affair of St. Pierre d' Arena.
 
 AND DEEDS. 73 
 
 thought a good deal before I ordered the reprisal. 
 The King's honour was, I conceived, too much 
 insulted to forbear. I ordered my officers to be 
 prepared for the event. However, we all regret 
 that an innocent merchant suffers from public 
 measures. The Viceroy and admiral both think 
 I acted right, even had I attacked the French vessel 
 and battery before they fired. The Genoese were 
 bound in duty to have fired on the French vessel, and 
 not on his Majesty's flag. But I mentioned this as I 
 really wished to have retained your and every English- 
 man's good opinion. You will hear that we are eva- 
 cuating Corsica. The inhabitants are in grief, but it 
 is by no means certain that we shall leave the Medi- 
 terranean. The Spanish are up, but what can they 
 do against us? — To Messrs. Heath &• Co., Genoa. 
 
 AN ANTICIPATION OF ST. VINCENT. 
 
 As soon as our fleet is united, I have no doubt 
 but we shall look out for the combined fleet, who, 
 I suppose, are about thirty-four sail of the line, 
 badly manned, and worse ordered ; while ours is 
 such a fleet as I never before saw at sea. There 
 is nothing hardly beyond our reach. I need not 
 give you the character of Sir John Jervis, you know 
 him well ; therefore I shall only say he is worthy of 
 such a fleet, for he knows how to use us in the 
 most beneficial manner for our country. — -To 
 
 6
 
 74 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 William Locker, November 5, 1796. . . . You 
 will by this time have known the determination 
 that has been made for this fleet to remain 
 in the Mediterranean. As soon as we have 
 defeated the Spanish fleet, which I doubt not, 
 with God's help, we shall do, I have two or 
 three little matters to settle in Italy, and then I 
 care not how quickly I return to you. Do not 
 flatter yourself that I shall be rewarded ; I expect 
 nothing, and therefore shall not be disappointed ; 
 the pleasure of my own mind will be my reward. 
 I am more interested, and obtain a greater satisfac- 
 tion, in obtaining yours and my father's applause 
 than that of all the world besides. — To his Wife, 
 November 7, 1796. 
 
 AMBITION IS WITHOUT LIMITS. 
 
 It is not in my nature to forget, for an instant, 
 the many acts of kindness you have shown me 
 during the whole course of my life. I can only 
 endeavour to give you the satisfaction of knowing 
 that it has not been thrown away upon an unworthy 
 object. My professional reputation is the only riches 
 I am likely to acquire in this war ; what profit that 
 will bring me time only can determine ; however, it 
 is satisfactory to myself, and, I believe, will be so 
 to you. This day has brought me from Lord 
 Spencer the fullest and handsomest approbation
 
 AND DEEDS. 75 
 
 of my spirited, dignified, and temperate conduct 
 both at Leghorn and Genoa, and my first lieu- 
 tenant is made a captain ; a share of a galleon, and 
 I want no more, but, God knows, ambition has no 
 end! — To William Suckling, November 29, 1796. 
 
 BATTLE OF ST. VINCENT. 
 
 At i p.m., the Captain having passed the stern- 
 most of the enemy's ships, which formed their van 
 and part of their centre, consisting of seventeen 
 sail of the line, they on the larboard, we on the 
 starboard tack, the admiral made the signal to 
 "tack in succession"; but I, perceiving the Spanish 
 ships all to bear up before the wind, or nearly so, 
 evidently with an intention of forming their line 
 going large, joining their separated division, at that 
 time engaged with some of our centre ships, or 
 flying from us — to prevent either of the schemes 
 from taking effect, I ordered the ship to be wore, 
 and, passing between the Diadem and Excellent, 
 at a quarter past one o'clock was engaged with the 
 headmost, and of course leewardmost, of the Spanish 
 division. The ships which I know were the San- 
 tissima Trinidad, 126; San Josef, 112; Salvador 
 del Mitndo, 112; San Nicolas, 80; another first- 
 rate and seventy-four, names not known. I was 
 immediately joined and most nobly supported by
 
 76 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the Culloden, Captain Troubridge. The Spanish 
 fleet, from not wishing (I suppose) to have a 
 decisive battle, hauled to the wind on the larboard 
 tack, which brought the ships afore-mentioned to 
 be the leewardmost and sternmost ships in their 
 fleet. For near an hour, I believe (but do not 
 pretend to be correct as to time), did the Culloden 
 and Captain support this apparent, but not really 
 unequal, contest ; when the Blenheim, passing be- 
 tween us and the enemy, gave us a respite, and 
 sickened the Dons. At this time the Salvador 
 del Mundo and San Isidro dropped astern, and 
 were fired into in a masterly style by the Excellent, 
 Captain Collingwood, who compelled the San 
 Isidro to hoist English colours, and I thought the 
 large ship Salvador del Mundo had also struck ; but 
 Captain Collingwood, disdaining the parade of 
 taking possession of beaten enemies, most gallantly 
 pushed up, with every sail set, to save his old friend 
 and messmate, who was, to appearance, in a critical 
 state. The Blenheim being ahead, and the Culloden 
 crippled and astern, the Excellent ranged up within 
 ten feet of the San Nicolas, giving a most tremen- 
 dous fire ; the San Nicolas luffing up, the San 
 Josef fell on board her, and the Excellent passing 
 on for the Santissima Trinidad, the Captain 
 resumed her situation abreast of them, and close 
 alongside. At this time, the Captain having lost
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 77 
 
 her fore-topmast — not a sail, shroud, or rope left — 
 her wheel shot away, and incapable of further ser- 
 vice in the line, I directed Captain Miller to put 
 the helm a-starboard, and, calling for the boarders, 
 ordered them to board. 
 
 The soldiers of the 69th regiment, with an ala- 
 crity which will ever do them credit, and Lieutenant 
 Pierson of the same regiment, were amongst the 
 foremost on this service. The first man who 
 jumped into the enemy's mizzen-chains was 
 Captain Berry, late my first lieutenant (Captain 
 Miller was in the very act of going also, but I 
 directed him to remain) ; he was supported from 
 our spritsail-yard, which hooked in the mizzen- 
 rigging. A soldier of the 69th regiment, having 
 broke the upper quarter gallery window, jumped in, 
 followed by myself and others as fast as possible. 
 I found the cabin doors fastened, and some Spanish 
 officers fired their pistols ; but, having broke open 
 the doors, the soldiers fired, and the Spanish 
 brigadier (commodore, with a distinguishing pen- 
 nant) fell, as retreating to the quarter-deck on the 
 larboard-side near the wheel. Having pushed on 
 the quarter-deck, I found Captain Berry in posses- 
 sion of the poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling 
 down. I passed with my people and Lieutenant 
 Pierson on the larboard gangway to the forecastle, 
 where I met two or three Spanish officers, prisoners
 
 -;8 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 to my seamen, and they delivered me their 
 swords. 
 
 At this moment a fire of pistols or muskets 
 opened from the admiral's stern galley of the San 
 Josef. I directed the soldiers to fire into her stern ; 
 and, calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send 
 more men into the San Nicolas ; and directed my 
 people to board the first-rate, which was done in an 
 instant, Captain Berry assisting me into the main- 
 chains. At this moment a Spanish officer looked 
 over the quarter-deck rail and said they surrendered ; 
 from this most welcome intelligence it was not long 
 before I was on the quarter-deck, when the Spanish 
 captain, with a bow, presented me his sword, and 
 said the admiral was dying of his wounds below. 
 I asked him, on his honour, if the ship were sur- 
 rendered ; he declared she was ; on which I gave 
 him mv hand, and desired him to call to his officers 
 and ship's company and tell them of it, which he 
 did ; and on the quarter-deck of a Spanish first-rate, 
 extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive 
 the swords of vanquished Spaniards, which, as I 
 received, I gave to William Kearney, one of my 
 bargemen, who put them, with the greatest sang 
 froid, under his arm. I was surrounded by Captain 
 Berry, Lieutenant Pierson, 69th regiment ; John 
 Sykes, John Thomson, Francis Cook, all old 
 Agamemnons ; and several other brave men, sea- 
 men and soldiers. Thus fell those ships.
 
 AND DEEDS. 79 
 
 N.B. — In boarding the San Nicolas, I believe 
 we lost about seven killed and ten wounded, and 
 about twenty Spaniards lost their lives by a foolish 
 resistance. None were, I believe, lost in boarding 
 the San Josef. — Nelson Papers. . . . There is 
 a saying in the fleet too flattering for me to 
 omit telling, viz., " Nelson's patent bridge for 
 boarding first-rates," alluding to my passing over 
 an enemy's eighty-gun ship ; and another, of 
 a sailor's taking me by the hand on board San 
 Josef, saying he might not soon have such another 
 place to do it in, and assuring me he was heartily 
 glad to see me. — Ibid. 
 
 HOME LOVE. 
 
 If I have money enough in Marsh and Reed's 
 hands, I wish you would buy a cottage in Norfolk. 
 I shall follow the plough with much greater satisfac- 
 tion than viewing all the magnificent scenes in 
 Italy. — To his Wife, December, 1796. 
 
 "THE SABINA." 
 
 Last night at ten o'clock I saw two Spanish 
 frigates, and directed Captain Cockburn, in the 
 Minerve, to attack the ship which carried a poop 
 light. The Blanche bore down to attack the other.
 
 8o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 . . . Captain Cockburn brought his ship to close 
 action at twenty minutes before eleven, which 
 continued without intermission until half-past 
 one, when La Sabina, of 40 guns, 28 eighteen 
 pounders on her main-deck, 286 men, Captain 
 Don Jacobo Stuart, having lost her mizzenmast 
 (as she did after the action), her main and 
 foremasts, 264 men killed and wounded, struck her 
 colours. — To Sir J. Jervis, 20/h December, 1796. . 
 ... In addition to my letter of this morning, I 
 have to acquaint you that Lieutenants Culverhouse 
 and Hardy, with a proper number of men, being 
 put in charge of La Sabina, and she taken in tow, 
 at four a.m. a frigate was seen coming up, which 
 by her signals was known to be Spanish. At half- 
 past four she came into action with the Minerve, 
 who cast off the prize, and Lieutenant Culverhouse 
 was directed to stand to the southward. After a 
 trial of strength of more than half-an-hour she 
 wore and hauled off, or I am confident she would 
 have shared the fate of her companion. At this 
 time three other ships were seen standing for the 
 Minerve. Hope was alive that they were only 
 frigates, and also that the Blanche was one of them, 
 but when the day dawned it was mortifying to see 
 there were two Spanish ships of the line and two 
 frigates, and the Blanche far to windward. In this 
 situation, the enemy frequently within shot by
 
 AND DEEDS. 81 
 
 bringing up the breeze, it required all the skill of 
 Captain Cockburn, which he eminently displayed, 
 to get off with a crippled ship ; and here I must do 
 justice to Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, and 
 express my tribute of praise at their management 
 of the prize ; a frigate repeatedly firing into her 
 without effect ; and at last the Spanish admiral 
 quitted the pursuit of the Minerve for that of La 
 Sabina, who was steering a different course, 
 evidently with the intention of attracting the notice 
 of the Admiral, as English colours were hoisted 
 over the Spanish. The Sabina's main and fore- 
 mast fell overboard before she surrendered. This 
 is, sir, an unpleasant tale, but the merits of every 
 officer and man in the Minerve and her prize were 
 eminently conspicuous throughout the whole of this 
 arduous day. The enemy quitted the pursuit of 
 the Minerve at dark. — To the same. . . . My late 
 action will be in the Gazette, and I may venture 
 to say it was what I know the English like. My 
 late prisoner, a descendant from the Duke of 
 Berwick, son of James II., was my brave opponent, 
 for which I have returned him his sword, and sent 
 him in a flag of truce to Spain. I felt it consonant 
 to the dignity of my country, and I always act as I 
 feel right, without regard to custom. He was re- 
 puted the best officer in Spain, and his men were 
 worthy of such a commander. He was the only
 
 82 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 surviving officer. It has ever pleased God Almighty 
 to give His blessing to my endeavours. — To his 
 Father, \st January, 1797. . . . When I hailed the 
 Don, and told him, "This is an English frigate," 
 and demanded his surrender or I would fire into 
 him, his answer was noble and such as became the 
 illustrious family from which he is descended. 
 " This is a Spanish frigate, and you may begin as 
 soon as you please." I have no idea of a closer or 
 sharper battle. The force, to a gun, the same, and 
 nearly the same number of men, we having two 
 hundred and fifty. I asked him several times to 
 surrender during the action, but his answer was, 
 " No, sir ; not whilst I have the means of fighting 
 left ". When only himself of all the officers was 
 left alive, he hailed and said he could fight no 
 more, and begged I would stop firing. — To Rev. W. 
 Nelson, January 13, 1797. 
 
 LOVE OF DECORATIONS. 
 
 You will now, I am sure, think me an odd man, 
 but still I hope you will agree with me in opinion ; 
 and if you can be instrumental in keeping back 
 what I expect will happen, it will be an additional 
 obligation, for very far is it from my disposition to 
 hold light the honours of the Crown ; but, I con-
 
 AND DEEDS. 83 
 
 ceive, to take hereditary honours without a fortune 
 to support the dignity is to lower that honour it 
 would be my pride to support in proper splen- 
 dour. 
 
 On the 1st of June, 12 th of April, and other 
 glorious days, baronetage has been bestowed upon 
 the junior flag officers. This honour is what I 
 dread, for the reasons before given, and which I 
 wish a friend to urge for me to Lord Spencer, or 
 such other of his Majesty's Ministers as are sup- 
 posed to advise the Crown. There are other 
 honours which die with the possessor, and I should 
 be proud to accept if my efforts are thought worthy 
 of the favour of my King. 1 — To Sir G. Elliot, Feb. 
 16, 1797. 
 
 " SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD." 
 
 We got up here with our prizes this afternoon. 
 The more I think of our late action, the more I 
 am astonished : it absolutely appears a dream. 
 The Santissima Trinidad, of four decks, lost five 
 hundred killed and wounded. Had not my ship 
 been so cut up I would have had her ; but it is 
 
 1 His desire, according to Colonel Drinkwater Bethune, 
 was to obtain an honour which carried with it a decoration 
 which he could pin to his breast.
 
 84 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 well, thank God for it ! As to myself, I assure 
 you I never was better, and rich in the praises of 
 every man from the highest to the lowest in the 
 fleet. The Spanish war will give us a cottage and 
 a piece of ground, which is all I want. I shall 
 come one day or other laughing back, when we 
 will retire from the busy scenes of life. I do not, 
 however, mean to be a hermit : the Dons will give 
 us a little money. If my father should at any time 
 wish for any part that is in my agent's hands, I beg 
 he would always take it, for that would give me 
 more real pleasure than buying either house or 
 land. — To his Wife, February 20, 1797. 
 
 ALL SUFFICIENT. 
 
 Though we can afford no more than a cottage, 
 yet with a contented mind, my dearest Fanny, my 
 chains, medals, and ribbons are all-sufficient. We 
 must be contented with a little, and the cottage 
 near Norwich, or any other place you like better, 
 will, I assure you, satisfy me. Do not mention 
 this mark of the Royal favour J to anyone except 
 my father. Be assured, whether my letters are 
 long or short, yet still that my heart is entirely 
 with you. — To Ids Wife, April, 1797. 
 
 1 The Order of the Bath.
 
 AND DEEDS. 85 
 
 AN ANECDOTE. 
 
 Sir John Jervis is not quite contented, but says 
 nothing publicly. An anecdote in the action is 
 honourable to the admiral, to Troubridge, and 
 myself. Calder said : " Sir, the Captain and 
 Culloden are separated from the fleet, and un- 
 supported : shall we recall them ? " "I will not 
 have them recalled ; I put my faith in those 
 ships ; it is a disgrace that they are not sup- 
 ported and separated." — To Rev. IV. Nelson, 
 April 6, 1797. 
 
 HIS HUMANITY. 
 
 I send you the state of the Swiftsure ; even the 
 sight of the two poor men : in irons on board her 
 has affected me more than I can express. If Mr. 
 Weir 2 would look at them I should be glad. The 
 youth may, I hope, be saved, as he has intervals of 
 sense; his countenance is most interesting. If any 
 mode can be devised for sending him home, I will, 
 with pleasure, pay fifty pounds to place him in some 
 proper place for his recovery ; the other, I fear, is 
 too old. ... I hope, for the poor men's sakes, that 
 they are imposing on me ; but, depend on it, that 
 
 1 Suspected of simulating insanity. 
 
 2 Physician to the fleet.
 
 86 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 Almighty God has afflicted them with the most 
 dreadful of all diseases. They do not sham — 
 indeed you will find I am not mistaken — and all 
 the commissioners in the world cannot convince 
 me of it. For what purpose can these poor 
 wretches attempt to destroy themselves ? For 
 what purpose could one of them have spoken to 
 me as rationally as any person could do ? Do let 
 Mr. Weir look at them. . . .—To Sir J. Jerois, 
 June 9 and 10, 1797. 
 
 A TRIBUTE. 
 
 A few nights ago a paper was dropped on the 
 quarter-deck, of winch this is a copy: "Success 
 attend Admiral Nelson! God bless Captain Miller! 
 We thank them for the officers they have placed 
 over us. We are happy and comfortable, and will 
 shed every drop of blood in our veins to support 
 them ; and the name of the Theseus shall be im- 
 mortalised as high as the Captain's.— Ship's Com- 
 pany."— To his Wife, June 15, 1797. 
 
 SUPPORTERS, CREST, AND MOTTO. 
 
 I have sent my brother my supporters, crest, 
 and motto. On one side a sailor properly habited, 
 holding in his hand the broad pennant on a staff, 
 and trampling on a Spanish flag; on the other
 
 AND DEEDS. 87 
 
 side the British lion tearing the Spanish flag, the 
 remnants hanging down and the flag in tatters. 
 Motto, what ray brother William suggested, turned 
 into English — "Faith and works". — To his Wife, 
 June 29, 1797. 
 
 HIS CHARITY. 
 
 I intend my next winter's gift at Burnham should 
 be fifty good large blankets of the very best quality, 
 and they will last for seven years at least. This 
 will not take from anything the parish might give. 
 I wish inquiry to be made and the blankets ordered 
 of some worthy man. They are to be at my 
 father's disposal in November. — To his Wife, same 
 date. 
 
 CADIZ LADIES. 
 
 We are looking at the ladies walking the walls 
 and Mall of Cadiz, and know of the ridicule they 
 make of their sea officers. — To Rev. D. Hosie,June 
 
 3°> J 797- 
 
 CADIZ NEWS. 
 
 News from Cadiz, by a market-boat, that our 
 ships did much damage. The town was on fire in 
 three places. A shell that fell in a convent destroyed 
 several priests (that no harm, they will never be
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 missed) ; that plunder and robbery was going on — 
 a glorious scene of confusion. . . . — To Sir J. 
 Jervis, July 7, 1797. 
 
 TENERIFFE. 
 
 On Friday, the 21st instant (July), I directed to 
 be embarked on board the Seahorse, Terpsichore, 
 and Emerald frigates one thousand men (including 
 250 marines under the command of Captain 
 Thomas Oldfield), the whole commanded by 
 Captain Troubridge, attended by all the boats of 
 the squadron, scaling-ladders, and every implement 
 which I thought necessary for the success of the 
 enterprise. I directed that the boats should land 
 in the night, between the fort on the north-east 
 side of the bay of Santa Cruz and the town, and 
 endeavour to make themselves masters of that fort, 
 which, when done, to send in my summons, the 
 liberal terms of which I am sure you will approve. 
 
 Although the frigates approached within three 
 miles of the place of debarkation by twelve o'clock, 
 yet, from the unfortunate circumstance of a strong 
 gale of wind in the offing, and a strong current 
 against them inshore, they did not approach within 
 a mile of the landing-place when the day dawned, 
 which discovered to the Spaniards our force and 
 intentions. On my approach with the line-of-battle
 
 * 
 
 AND DEEDS. 89 
 
 ships, Captains Troubridge and Bowen, with Captain 
 Oldfield of the marines, came on board to consult 
 with me what was best to be done, and were of 
 opinion if they could possess themselves of the 
 heights over the fort above-mentioned, that it could 
 be stormed, to which I gave my consent, and 
 directed the line-of-battle ships to batter the fort, 
 in order to create a diversion ; but this was found 
 impracticable, not being able to get nearer the 
 shore than three miles from a calm and contrary 
 currents, nor could our men possess themselves of 
 the heights, as the enemy had taken possession of 
 them, and seemed as anxious to retain them as 
 we were to get them. Thus foiled in my original 
 plan, I considered it for the honour of my King 
 and country not to give over the attempt to possess 
 ourselves of the town, that our enemies might be 
 convinced there is nothing which Englishmen are 
 not equal to ; and, confident in the bravery of those 
 who would be employed in the service, I embarked 
 every person from the shore on the 22nd at night. 
 
 On the 24th, I got the ships to an anchor about 
 two miles to the northward of the town, and made 
 every show for a disposition of attacking the 
 heights, which appeared to answer the end, from 
 the great number of people they had placed on 
 them. The Leander, Captain Thompson, joined 
 this afternoon, and her marines were added to the 
 
 7
 
 I 
 
 90 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 force before appointed, and Captain Thompson 
 also volunteered his services. 
 
 At 1 1 o'clock at night the boats of the squadron, 
 containing between six and seven hundred men, 
 one hundred and eighty men on board the Fox 
 cutter, and about seventy or eighty men in a boat 
 we had taken the day before, proceeded towards 
 the town. The divisions of the boats, conducted 
 by all the captains, except Fremantle and Bowen, 
 who attended with me to regulate and lead the way 
 to the attack ; every captain being acquainted that 
 the landing was to be made on the Mole, and from 
 whence they were to proceed, as fast as possible, 
 into the Great Square, where they were to form and 
 proceed on such services as may be found ne- 
 cessary. We were not discovered till within half 
 gun-shot of the landing place, when I directed the 
 boats to cast off from each other, give a hurrah, 
 and push for the shore. 
 
 For the details of their proceedings I send you a 
 copy of Captain Troubridge's account to me, and I 
 cannot but express my admiration of the firmness 
 with which he and his brave associates supported 
 the honour of the British flag. 
 
 Captains Fremantle, Bowen, and myself, with 
 four or five boats, stormed the Mole, although op- 
 posed, apparently, by 400 or 500 men, took posses- 
 sion of it, and spiked the guns, but such a heavy
 
 AND DEEDS. 91 
 
 fire of musketry and grape-shot was kept up from 
 the citadel and houses at the head of the Mole, 
 that we could not advance, and we were all nearly 
 killed or wounded. 
 
 The Fox cutter, in rowing towards the town, 
 received a shot under water from one of the enemy's 
 distant batteries, immediately sunk, and Lieutenant 
 Gibson, her commander, with 97 men, were 
 drowned. 
 
 I must not omit to acquaint you of the satisfac- 
 tion I received from the conduct of Lieutenant 
 Baynes of the Royal Artillery, not only from the 
 ardour with which he undertook every service, but 
 also from his professional skill. 1 — Nelson Papers. 
 
 1 Attended by his son-in-law, Nelson had proceeded from 
 the Seahorse to the Mole of Santa Cruz, and had there re- 
 ceived his severe wound [a grape-shot] through the right 
 elbow [the same fire having wounded seven other men in 
 their right arms] as he was in the act of drawing his sword 
 and stepping out of the boat. This sword, which he had 
 so long and deservedly valued from respect to his uncle, 
 Maurice Suckling, was grasped, when falling, in his left 
 hand, notwithstanding the agony he endured. Lieutenant 
 Nisbet, who had remained close to him, saw his father-in- 
 law wounded from the tremendous fire of the Spaniards, 
 and heard him exclaim, " I am shot through the arm ; I am 
 a dead man ". Nisbet placed him at the bottom of the 
 boat, and, observing that the sight of the quantity of blood 
 that had rushed from the shattered arm seemed to increase 
 the faintness, he took off his hat to conceal it. He then.
 
 9 2 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 THE COTTAGE A NECESSITY. 
 
 I am so confident of your affection that I feel 
 the pleasure you will receive will be equal whether 
 my letter is wrote by my right hand or by my left. 
 
 with great presence of mind, examined the state of the 
 wound, and, holding the shattered arm so as to staunch the 
 blood, he took some silk handkerchiefs from his neck and 
 bound them tightly about the lacerated vessels ; but for 
 this attention Nelson, as he afterwards declared, must have 
 perished. Mr. Nisbet was assisted' by a seaman of the 
 name of Lovel, one of the admiral's bargemen, who, 
 having torn his shirt into shreds, constructed a sling for the 
 wounded arm. They then collected five other seamen, and 
 at length, with their assistance, got the boat afloat, which 
 had grounded from the falling of the tide. Having thus 
 succeeded, Lieutenant Nisbet took one of the oars that 
 remained, and ordered the man who steered to go close 
 under the guns of the batteries that they might be safe 
 from their tremendous fire. The voice of his son-in-law, 
 enforcing this judicious order, roused Nelson from his faint- 
 ing state, and he immediately desired to be lifted up in the 
 boat that, to use his own words, "he might look a little about 
 him". He was accordingly raised by Nisbet. The scene 
 of destruction and the tempestuous sea were sublimely dread- 
 ful ; a painful uncertainty prevailed respecting the fate of his 
 brave companions, when, on a sudden, a general shriek from 
 the crew of the Fox, which had sunk from a shot she had 
 received under water, made the admiral forget his own 
 weak and painful state. Many were rescued from a watery 
 grave by Nelson himself, whose humane exertions on this
 
 AND DEEDS. 93 
 
 It was the chance of war, and I have great reason 
 to be thankful ; and I know that it will add much 
 to your pleasure in finding that Josiah, under God's 
 providence, was principally instrumental in saving 
 my life. As to my health, it never was better, 
 and now I hope soon to return to you ; and my 
 country, I trust, will not allow me to linger any 
 longer in want of that pecuniary assistance which I 
 have been fighting the whole war to preserve to her. 
 But I shall not be surprised to be neglected or for- 
 got, as probably I shall no longer be considered as 
 useful. However, I shall feel rich if I continue to 
 
 occasion added considerably to the agony and danger of 
 his wound. Ninety-seven men, including Lieutenant 
 Gibson, were lost, and eighty-three were saved. The 
 first ship which the boat could reach happened to be the 
 Seahorse, but nothing could induce the admiral to go on 
 board, though he was assured that it might be at the risk 
 of his life if they attempted to row to another ship. " Then 
 I will die," he exclaimed ; " for I would rather suffer death 
 than alarm Mrs. Fremantle by her seeing me in this state, 
 and when I can give her no tidings whatever of her husband." 
 They accordingly proceeded without further delay for the 
 Theseus, when, notwithstanding the increased pain and 
 weakness he experienced, he peremptorily refused all as- 
 sistance in getting on board. " Let me alone ; I have yet 
 my legs left and one arm. Tell the surgeon to make haste 
 and get his instruments. I know I must lose my right arm, 
 so the sooner it is off the better." — Clarke and M' Arthur's 
 Life.
 
 94 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 enjoy your affection. The cottage is now more 
 necessary than ever. — To his Wife, August, 
 1797. 
 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 An officer desires to return thanks to Almighty 
 God for his perfect recovery from a severe wound, 
 and also for the many mercies bestowed upon him. 
 [For next Sunday.] 1 — Dispatches and Letters. 
 
 A MAN'S DUTY. 
 
 If a man does not do his utmost in time of 
 action, I think but one punishment ought to be in- 
 flicted. Not that I take a man's merit from his list 
 of killed and wounded, for but little may be in his 
 power ; and if he does his utmost in the station he 
 is placed in, he has equal merit to the man who may 
 have his ship beat to pieces, but not his good 
 fortune. I would have every man believe I shall 
 only take my chance of being shot by the enemy, 
 but if I do not take that chance, I am certain of 
 being shot by my friends. — To Captain Bertie, 
 January 4, 1798. 
 
 VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION FOR WAR. 
 I am sorry the King is so poor. Had he been 
 worth what those vile dogs of Opposition think, 
 
 1 Sent to the clergyman at St. George's Church, Hanover 
 Square.
 
 AND DEEDS. 95 
 
 what a vast sum would have been given to the 
 nation, but now I hope all the nation will subscribe 
 liberally. You will believe that I do not urge 
 others to give and withhold myself, but my mode 
 of subscribing will be novel in its manner, and by 
 doing it I mean to debar myself of many comforts 
 to serve my country, and I expect great consolation 
 every time I cut a slice of salt-beef instead of 
 mutton. — To Thomas Lloyd, January 19, 1798. 
 
 A GALE OF WIND. 
 
 I ought not to call what has happened to the 
 Vanguard by the cold name of accident : I believe 
 firmly that it was the Almighty's goodness to check 
 my consummate vanity. I hope it has made me a 
 better officer, as I feel confident it has made me a 
 better man. I kiss with all humility the rod. 
 
 Figure to yourself a vain man on Sunday even- 
 ing at sunset walking in his cabin with a squadron 
 about him who looked up to their chief to lead 
 them to glory, and in whom this chief placed the 
 firmest reliance, that the proudest ships, in equal 
 numbers, belonging to France would have bowed 
 their flags, and with a rich prize lying by him. 
 Figure to yourself this proud, conceited man, when 
 the sun rose on Monday morning, his ship dis-
 
 96 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 masted, his fleet dispersed, and himself in such 
 distress that the meanest frigate out of France 
 would have been a very unwelcome guest. But it 
 has pleased Almighty God to bring us into a safe 
 port, where, although we are refused the rights of 
 humanity, yet the Vanguard will in two days get to 
 sea again as an English man-of-war. — To his Wife, 
 May 24, 1798. 
 
 TROUBRIDGE. 1 
 
 Captain Troubridge is my honoured acquaint- 
 ance of twenty-five years, and the very best sea 
 officer in his Majesty's service. — To Sir W. Hamil- 
 ton, Jicne 14, 1798. 
 
 THE FRENCH FLEET. 
 
 It is an old saying, " The Devil's children have 
 the Devil's luck". I cannot find, or to this moment 
 learn, beyond vague conjecture, where the French 
 fleet are gone. All my ill-fortune hitherto has 
 proceeded from want of frigates. Off Cape Passaro, 
 on the 22nd of June, at daylight I saw two frigates, 
 which were supposed to be French, and it has been 
 said that a line-of-battle ship was to leeward of them, 
 with the riches of Malta on board, but it was the 
 
 1 Sir Thomas Troubridge, second alone to Nelson in 
 valour and his equal in judgment.
 
 AND DEEDS. 97 
 
 destruction of the enemy, not riches for myself, 
 that I was seeking. These would have fallen to 
 me if I had had frigates, but except the ship of the 
 line I regarded not all the riches in this world. 
 From every information off Malta I believed they 
 were gone to Egypt. Therefore, on the 28th, I 
 was communicating with Alexandria in Egypt, 
 where I found the Turks preparing to resist them, 
 but knew nothing beyond report. From thence I 
 stretched over to the coast of Caramania, where, not 
 meeting a vessel that could give me information, I 
 became distressed for the kingdom of the Two 
 Sicilies, and having gone a round of 600 leagues at 
 this season of the year (with a single ship) with an 
 expedition incredible, here I am as ignorant of 
 the situation of the enemy as I was twenty-seven 
 days ago. — To Sir IV. Hamilton, July 20, 1798. 
 I yet live in hope of meeting these fellows, but it 
 would have been my delight to have tried Buonaparte 
 on a wind, for he commands the fleet as well as the 
 army. Glory is my object, and that alone. — To his 
 
 wife, July 2 > 1798- 
 
 LAUREL OR CYPRESS. 
 
 Thanks to your exertions, we have victualled and 
 watered : and surely, watering at the Fountain of 
 Arethusa, we must have victory. We shall sail
 
 98 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 with the first breeze, and be assured I will return 
 either crowned with laurel or covered with cypress. 
 — To the Hamiltons, July 22, 1798. 
 
 A PEERAGE OR WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 
 
 Before this time to-morrow I shall have gained a 
 peerage or Westminster Abbey. 1 — August 1, 1798, 
 Jrom Clarke 6° M { Arthur. 
 
 FIRST GAIN A VICTORY. 
 
 First gain a victory and then make the best use 
 of it you can. — By Cooper Willy ams, August 1, 
 1798. 
 
 TO THE CAPTAINS OF THE SHIPS OF THE 
 SQUADRON. 
 
 "Vanguard," off the Mouth of the Nile, 
 2nd day of August, 1798. 
 
 The admiral most heartily congratulates the 
 captains, officers, seamen, and marines of the 
 squadron he has the honour to command on the 
 event of the late action ; and he desires they will 
 
 1 These gasconades are to be received with distrust. Both 
 Sir Harris Nicolas and Dr. Pittigrew render it certain that 
 Nelson had no wish to be buried in Westminster Abbey. 
 The above is supposed to have been uttered on the eve of 
 the battle of the Nile.
 
 AND DEEDS. 99 
 
 accept his most sincere and cordial thanks for their 
 very gallant behaviour in this glorious battle. It 
 must strike forcibly every British seaman how 
 superior their conduct is, when in discipline and 
 good order, to the riotous behaviour of lawless 
 Frenchmen. 
 
 The squadron may be assured the admiral will 
 not fail, with his dispatches, to represent their 
 truly meritorious conduct in the strongest terms to 
 the commander-in-chief. 
 
 HORATIO NELSON. 
 BATTLE OF THE NILE. 
 
 Almighty God has blessed his Majesty's arms in 
 the late battle by a great victory over the fleet of 
 the enemy, who I attacked at sunset on the 1st of 
 August off the mouth of the Nile. The enemy 
 were moored in a strong line of battle for defending 
 the entrance of the bay (of Shoals), flanked by 
 numerous gunboats, four frigates, and a battery of 
 guns and mortars on an island in their van, but 
 nothing could withstand the squadron your Lord- 
 ship did me the honour to place under my com- 
 mand. Their state of discipline is well known to 
 you ; and with the judgment of the captains, to- 
 gether with their valour and that of the officers and 
 men of every description, it was absolutely irresist-
 
 ioo NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 ible. Could anything from my pen add to the 
 character of the captains, I would write it with 
 pleasure, but that is impossible. 
 
 I have to regret the loss of Captain Westcott of 
 the Majestic, who was killed early in the action, 
 but the ship was continued to be so well fought by 
 her first lieutenant, Mr. Cuthbert, that I have 
 given him an order to command her till your Lord- 
 ship's pleasure is known. The ships of the enemy, 
 all but their two rear ships, are nearly dismasted, 
 and those two, with two frigates, I am sorry to say, 
 made their escape ; nor was it, ! assure you, in my 
 power to prevent them. Captain Hood most hand- 
 somely endeavoured to do it, but I had no ship in 
 a condition to support the Ztalous, and I was 
 obliged to call her in. The support and assistance 
 I have received from Captain Berry cannot be 
 sufficiently expressed. I was wounded in the head 
 and obliged to be carried off the deck ; but the 
 service suffered no loss by that event. Captain 
 Berry was fully equal to the important service then 
 going on, and to him I must beg leave to refer you 
 for every information relative to this victory. He 
 will present you with the flag of the second in com- 
 mand, that of the commander-in-chief being burnt 
 in LOrient. — To Lord St. Vincent, August 3, 
 1798. . . . Almighty God having blessed His 
 Majesty's arms with victory, the admiral intends
 
 AND DEEDS. 101 
 
 returning public thanksgiving for the same at two 
 o'clock this day ; and he recommends every ship 
 doing the same as soon as convenient. — To the 
 Captains of the Squadron. 
 
 THE CAPTAINS' GIFT. 
 
 I feel most sensibly the very distinguished 
 honour you have conferred upon me by your 
 address of this day. My prompt decision was the 
 natural consequence of having such captains under 
 my command, and I thank God I can say, in the 
 battle every officer's conduct was equal. I accept, 
 as a particular mark of your esteem, the sword you 
 have done me the honour to offer, and will direct 
 my picture to be painted the first opportunity for 
 the purpose you mention. — To the Captains who 
 fought at the Nile, August 3, 1798. 
 
 blanquet's sword. 
 
 " Vanguard," Mouth of the Nile, 
 August 8, 1798. 
 
 My Lord, — Having the honour of being a free- 
 man of the city of London, I take the liberty of 
 sending to your Lordship the sword of the com- 
 manding French admiral, Monsieur Blanquet, who 
 survived after the Battle of the First off the Nile ; 
 and request that the city of London will honour
 
 io2 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 me by the acceptance of it, as a remembrance that 
 Britannia still rules the waves, which, that she may 
 for ever do, is the fervent prayer of your Lordship's 
 most obedient servant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 To the Lord Mayor of London. 
 
 Buonaparte's writing. 
 
 I send you a pacquet of intercepted letters, some 
 of them of great importance ; in particular, one 
 from Buonaparte to his brother. He writes such a 
 scrawl no one not used to it can read ; but luckily 
 we have got a man who has wrote in his office to 
 decipher it. Buonaparte has differed with his 
 generals here ; and he did want — and if I under- 
 stand his meaning, does want, and will strive to be, 
 the Washington of France. "Ma mere" is 
 evidently meant "my country". — To Earl Spencer, 
 gth August, 1798. 
 
 PESTS OF THE HUMAN RACE. 
 
 I trust Almighty God will in Egypt overthrow 
 these pests of the human race. It has been in my 
 power to prevent 12,000 men from leaving Genoa, 
 and also to take eleven sail of the line and two 
 frigates ; in short, only two sail of the line and two
 
 AND DEEDS. 103 
 
 frigates have escaped me. This glorious battle 
 was fought at the mouth of the Nile at anchor. It 
 began at sunset, August the 1st, and was not 
 finished at three the next morning. It has been 
 severe, but God blessed our endeavours with a 
 great victory. I am now at anchor between Alex- 
 andria and Rosetta to prevent their communication 
 by water, and nothing under a regiment can pass 
 by land. — To the Governor of Bombay, August 9, 
 1798. 
 
 HIS WOUND. 
 
 My head is ready to split, and I am always so 
 sick ; in short, if there be no fracture, my head is 
 severely shaken. I shall remain off this coast as 
 long as circumstances will allow me, and will 
 endeavour to annoy the enemy to the utmost of 
 my power. — To Lord St. Vmcent, August 10, 1798. 
 
 l'orient. 
 
 This you will believe when I tell you that only 
 two masts are standing out of nine sail of the line. 
 U Orient certainly struck her colours and did not 
 fire a shot for a quarter of an hour before, unfor- 
 tunately for us, she took fire ; but, although we 
 suffer, our country is equally benefited. She had 
 on board near six hundred thousand pounds
 
 104 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 sterling ; so says the Adjutant-General of the Fleet, 
 who was saved out of her ; and although he does 
 not say she struck her colours, yet he allows that 
 all resistance on her part was in vain. Admiral 
 Brueys was killed early in the battle, and from the 
 commencement of the fight declared all was lost. 
 They were moored in a strong position in a line of 
 battle, with gunboats, boom-vessels, frigates, and a 
 gun and mortar battery on an island in their van, 
 but my band of friends was irresistible. — To the 
 Hon. W. Wyndham, August 21, 1798. 
 
 You know, my dear Lord, that I have more than 
 once thought that the Mediterranean fleet has 
 been put in our power to annihilate, therefore I 
 had the advantage of my predecessors. I regret 
 that one escaped, and I think, if it had pleased 
 God that I had not been wounded, not a boat 
 would have escaped to have told the tale ; but do 
 not believe that any individual in the fleet is to 
 blame. In my conscience I believe greater exer- 
 tions could not have been, and I only mean to say 
 that if my experience could (in person) have 
 directed those exertions of individuals, there was 
 every appearance that Almighty God would have 
 continued to bless my endeavours for the honour 
 of our King, the advantage of our country, and for 
 the peace and happiness (I hope) of all Europe.
 
 AND DEEDS. 105 
 
 It is no small regret that E Orient is not in being 
 to grace our victory. She was completely beat, and 
 I am sure had struck her colours before she took 
 fire ; for as she had lost her main and mizzen masts, 
 and on her flag-staff, which Hood cut from her 
 wreck, was no flag, it must be true that the flag 
 was hauled down, or it would have been entangled 
 with the rigging, or some remnant remained at the 
 masthead. She had on board ,£600,000 sterling, 
 in ingots of gold and diamonds, for the French 
 brought no coin with them. — To Lord Mitito, 
 August 29, 1798. 
 
 HATRED OF THE FRENCH. 
 
 " Down, doivti with the French ! " ought to be 
 placed in the council room of every country in the 
 world. — To Sir M. Eden, September 10, 1798. 
 
 SICILIAN TRANSPORTS. 
 
 The kingdom of the Two Sicilies is mad with 
 joy ; from the throne to the peasant all are alike. 
 According to Lady Hamilton's letter, the situation 
 of the Queen was truly pitiable ; I only hope I 
 shall not have to be witness to a renewal of it. I 
 give you Lady Hamilton's own words: " How shall 
 I describe the transports of the Queen? ' 'Tis not 
 possible,' she cried, kissed her husband, her children, 
 
 8
 
 io6 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 walked frantic about the room, cried, kissed, and 
 embraced every person near her, exclaiming, ' O 
 brave Nelson ! O God, bless and protect our 
 brave deliverer ! O Nelson, Nelson ! What do we 
 not owe to you ? O victor ! Saviour of Italy ! O 
 that my swollen heart could but tell him personally 
 what we owe to him ! ' " You may judge, Fanny, 
 of the rest ; but my head will not allow me to tell 
 you half; so much for that. My fag, without 
 success, would have had no effect, but blessed be 
 God for His goodness to me. — To his Wife, 
 September 16, 17 98. 
 
 AT NAPLES. 
 
 The poor wretched Vanguard arrived here on 
 the 22nd of September. I must endeavour to con- 
 vey to you something of what passed ; but if it 
 were so affecting to those who were only united to 
 me by bonds of friendship, what must it be to my 
 dearest wife, my friend, my everything that is most 
 dear to me in this world ? Sir William and Lady 
 Hamilton came out to sea, attended by numerous 
 boats with emblems, etc. They, my most respect- 
 able friends, had really been laid up and seriously 
 ill ; first from anxiety and then from joy. It was 
 imprudently told Lady Hamilton in a moment, and 
 the effect was like a shot ; she fell apparently dead, 
 and is not yet recovered from severe bruises.
 
 AND DEEDS. 107 
 
 Alongside came my honoured friends ; the scene in 
 the boat was terribly affecting. Up flew her Lady- 
 ship, and exclaiming, "O God! is it possible?" 
 she fell into my arm more dead than alive. Tears, 
 however, soon set matters 'to rights ; when along- 
 side came the King. The scene was in its way 
 as interesting ; he took me by the hand, calling me 
 his "deliverer and preserver," with every other 
 expression of kindness. In short, all Naples calls 
 me Nostra Liberatore ; my greeting from the lower 
 classes was truly affecting. I hope some day to 
 have the pleasure of introducing you to Lady 
 Hamilton ; she is one of the very best women in 
 this world; she is an honour to her sex. — To his 
 IVife, September 25, 1798. 
 
 god's hand. 
 
 The Almighty has blessed my exertions for the 
 happiness of mankind, and I am daily receiving the 
 thanks and prayers of Turks and Christians. In 
 short, I am placed by Providence in that situation, 
 that all my caution will be necessary to prevent 
 vanity from showing itself superior to my gratitude 
 and thankfulness. The hand of God was visibly 
 pressed on the French ; it was not in the power 
 of man to gain such a victory. In their Sicilian 
 Majesties' thanks and congratulations are the fol- 
 lowing lines : " History, either ancient or modern,
 
 io8 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 does not record such a battle. You have saved us, 
 sir, by this most glorious action, which, superior to 
 any battle fought at sea, has this singular and im- 
 portant consequence — of being to all Europe, I 
 repeat it, of the highest advantage." The whole 
 letter, being in the same strain, is enough to make 
 me vain. My head is quite healed ; and, if it were 
 necessary, I would not at present leave Italy, who 
 looks up to me as, under God, its protector. — To 
 his Father, September 25, 1798. 
 
 CELEBRATIONS. 
 
 The preparations of Lady Hamilton for celebrat- 
 ing my birthday to-morrow are enough to fill me 
 with vanity ; every ribbon, every button, has "Nel- 
 son," etc. The whole service is marked " H. N., 
 glorious 1st of August !" Songs and sonnetti are 
 numerous beyond what I ever could deserve. I 
 send the additional verse * to " God save the King," 
 
 1 Written by Miss Cornelia Knight. The first verse ran 
 
 thus : — 
 
 " Join we in great Nelson's name, 
 First on the rolls of fame ; 
 
 Him let us sing. 
 Spread we his fame around, 
 Honour of British ground, 
 Who made Nile's shore resound 
 God save the king."
 
 AND DEEDS. 109 
 
 as I know you will sing it with pleasure. I cannot 
 move on foot, or in a carriage, for the kindness of 
 the populace ; but good Lady H. preserves all the 
 papers as the highest treat for you. The Queen 
 yesterday, being still ill, sent her favourite son to 
 visit, and bring me a letter from her of gratitude 
 and thanks. Miserable accounts of Le Guillaume 
 Tell. I trust God Almighty will yet put her into 
 the hands of our King. His all-powerful hand has 
 gone with us to the battle, protected us, and still 
 continues destroying the unbelievers. All glory be 
 to God ! The more I think, the more I hear, the 
 greater is my astonishment at the extent and good 
 consequences of our victory. — To his Wife, 
 September 28, 1798. 
 
 THE SICILIES. 
 
 I trust, my Lord, in a week we shall all be at sea. 
 I am very unwell, and the miserable conduct of this 
 Court is not likely to cool my irritable temper. It 
 is a country of fiddlers and poets, whores, and 
 scoundrels. — To Lord St. Vincent, September 30, 
 1798. 
 
 NEAPOLITAN HONOURS. 
 
 Our time here is actively employed ; and between 
 business and what is called pleasure, I am not my 
 own master for five minutes. The continued kind
 
 no NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 attention of Sir William and Lady Hamilton must 
 ever make you and I love them ; and they are 
 deserving the love and admiration of all the world. 
 The Grand Signior has ordered me a valuable 
 diamond ; if it were worth a million, my pleasure 
 would be to see it in your possession. My pride is 
 being your husband, the son of my dear father, and 
 in having Sir William and Lady Hamilton for my 
 friends. While these approve of my conduct, I 
 shall not feel or regard the envy of thousands. 
 Could I, my dearest Fanny, tell you half the 
 honours which are shown me here, not a ream of 
 paper would hold it. On my birthday eighty people 
 dined at Sir William Hamilton's ; one thousand 
 seven hundred and forty came to a ball, where eight 
 hundred supped. A rostral column is erected under 
 a magnificent canopy, never, Lady H. says, to come 
 down while they remain at Naples. A little cir- 
 cumstance has also happened, which does honour 
 to the King of Naples, and is not unpleasant to me. 
 I went to view the magnificent manufactory of china. 
 After admiring all the fine things sufficient to seduce 
 the money from my pocket, I came to some busts 
 in china of all the Royal Family. These I imme- 
 diately ordered, and when I wanted to pay for them, 
 I was informed that the King had directed whatever I 
 chose should be delivered free of all cost; it was hand- 
 some in the King. — To his Wife, October 1-6, 1798.
 
 AND DEEDS. in 
 
 TROUBRIDGES MERITS. 
 
 My letter on the subject of our dear friend 
 Troubridge, which was lost with many others in 
 the Leander, was to authorise you to add a para- 
 graph to my public letter if you thought it more to 
 the advantage of Troubridge ; for I thought it better 
 to make no mention of his disaster. I consider 
 Captain Troubridge's conduct as fully entitled to 
 praise as any one officer in the squadron, and as 
 highly deserving reward. He commanded a division 
 equally with Sir James Saumarez by my order dated 
 in June ; and I should feel distressed if any honour 
 which is granted to one be not granted to the other. 
 This part of my letter I wish you, my dear Lord, to 
 make use of to Lord Spencer, should any difference 
 be made. The eminent services of our friend de- 
 serve the very highest rewards. I have experienced 
 the ability and activity of his mind and body. It 
 was Troubridge who equipped the squadron so 
 soon at Syracuse ; it was Troubridge who exerted 
 himself for me after the action ; it was Trou- 
 bridge who saved the Culloden when none that 
 I know in the service would have attempted it ; 
 it is Troubridge whom I have left as myself 
 at Naples. He is, as a friend and as an officer, 
 a nonpareil. — To Lord St. Vincent, October 19, 
 1798.
 
 ii2 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 STATE OF THE TWO SICILIES. 
 
 I see the finest country in the world, full of 
 resources, yet not enough to supply the public 
 wants ; all are plundering who can get at public 
 money or stores. In my own line I can speak. A 
 Neapolitan ship of the line would cost more than 
 ten English ships' fitting out. Five sail of the line 
 must ruin the country. Everything else is, I have 
 no doubt, going on in the same system of thieving. 
 I could give your Lordship so many instances of 
 the greatest malconduct of persons in office, and 
 of those very people being rewarded. If money 
 could be placed in the public chest at this moment, 
 I believe it would be well used ; for the sad thing 
 in this country is that although much is raised, yet 
 very little reaches the public chest. I will give you 
 a fact. When the Order of Jesuits was suppressed 
 in this country and Sicily, they possessed very large 
 estates. Although these, with every other part of 
 their property, were seized by the Crown, yet to 
 this moment not one farthing has reached the public 
 chest. On the contrary, some years the pretended 
 expense of management was more than the produce. 
 Taxes have been sold for sums of money, which now 
 are five times more than when sold. This, it is true, 
 was done by Viceroys to please their distant masters. 
 — To Earl Spencer, November 13, 1798.
 
 AND DEEDS. 113 
 
 HIS FAMILY. 
 
 I have a moment in which I can find time to 
 write you a line to say that I earnestly pray that 
 the victory, of which it has pleased God to make 
 me a principal, may be useful to my family. As to 
 myself, the probability is that I shall never take my 
 seat in the House of Peers. My health has declined 
 very much, and nothing keeps me on service but 
 the thought that I am doing good. — To Rev. W. 
 Nelson, November 20, 1798. 
 
 SICILIAN TROOPS. 
 
 The Neapolitan officers have not lost much 
 honour, for God knows they have but little to 
 lose ; but they lost all they had. Mack has sup- 
 plicated the King to sabre every man who ran from 
 Civita Castellana to Rome. He has, we hear, torn 
 off the epaulettes of some of these scoundrels and 
 placed them on good sergeants. I will as briefly 
 as I can state the position of the army and its lost 
 honour — for defeat they have had none. The right 
 wing of nineteen thousand men, under General St. 
 Philip and Michaux (who ran away to Toulon), 
 were to take post between Ancona and Rome, to 
 cut off all supplies and communication. Near Fermi 
 they fell in with the enemy, about three thousand. 
 After a little distant firing St. Philip advanced to
 
 114 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the French general, and, returning to his men, 
 said, " I no longer command you," and was 
 going off to the enemy. A sergeant said : " You 
 are a traitor. What ! have you been talking to the 
 enemy ? " St. Philip replied : " I no longer com- 
 mand you ". " Then you are our enemy ; " and 
 levelling his musket, he shot St. Philip through the 
 right arm. However, the enemy advanced ; he was 
 amongst them. Michaux ran away, as did all the 
 infantry ; and had it not been for the good con- 
 duct of two regiments of cavalry, would have been 
 destroyed. So great was their panic that cannon 
 tents, baggage, and military chest — all were left to 
 the French. Could you credit, but it is true, that 
 this loss has been sustained with the death of only 
 forty men ? The French lost many men by the 
 cavalry, and, having got the good things, did not 
 run after an army three times their number. Some 
 ran thirty miles to Pesaro. — To Earl Spencer, De- 
 cember n, 1798. 
 
 SIR SYDNEY SMITH'S APPOINTMENT. 
 
 I do feel, for I am a man, that it is impossible 
 for me to serve in these seas with the squadron 
 under a junior officer — could I have thought it — 
 and from Earl Spencer ! Never, never was I so 
 astonished as your letter made me. As soon as I
 
 AND DEEDS. 115 
 
 can get hold of Troubridge I shall send him to 
 Egypt to try and destroy the ships in Alexandria. 
 If it can be done, Troubridge will do it. The 
 Swedish knight 1 writes Sir William Hamilton that 
 he shall go to Egypt and take Captain Hood and 
 his squadron under his command. The knight 
 forgets the respect due to his superior officer ; he 
 has no orders from you to take my ships away from 
 my command ; but it is all of a piece. Is it to be 
 borne ? Pray grant me your permission to retire ; 
 and I hope the Vanguard will be allowed to convey 
 me and my friends, Sir William and Lady Hamilton, 
 to England. — To Lord St. Vincent, December 31, 
 1798. 
 
 TO EARL HOWE. 
 
 It was only this moment that I had the invalu- 
 able approbation of the great, the immortal Earl 
 Howe — an honour the most flattering a sea-officer 
 could receive, as it comes from the first and greatest 
 sea-officer the world has ever produced. I had the 
 happiness to command a band of brothers, there- 
 fore night was to my advantage. Each knew his 
 duty, and I was sure each would feel for a French 
 ship. By attacking the enemy's van and centre, 
 
 1 Sir Sidney Smith was a Knight Grand Cross of the 
 Order of the Sword of Sweden.
 
 n6 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the wind blowing directly along the line, I was 
 enabled to throw what force I pleased on a few 
 ships. This plan my friends readily conceived by 
 the signals (for which we are principally, if not 
 entirely, indebted to your Lordship) and we always 
 kept a superior force to the enemy. At twenty 
 minutes past six, the sun in the horizon, the firing 
 commenced. At five minutes past ten, when 
 L Orient blew up, having burnt seventy minutes, 
 the six van ships had surrendered. I then pressed 
 further towards the rear ; and had it pleased God 
 that I had not been wounded and stone-blind, 
 there cannot be a doubt that every ship would 
 have been in my possession. But here let it not 
 be supposed that any officer is to blame. No ; on 
 my honour I am satisfied that each did his very 
 best. I have never before, my Lord, detailed the 
 action to anyone; but I should have thought it 
 wrong to have kept it from one who is our great 
 master in naval tactics and bravery. May I pre- 
 sume to present my very best respects to Lady 
 Howe and to Lady' Mary, and to beg that your 
 Lordship will believe me ever your most obliged — 
 Nelson. — January 8, 1799. 
 
 HIS AFFECTIONATE NATURE. 
 
 What shall I say to you and good Sir Peter for 
 all your goodness to me ? You who have known me
 
 AND DEEDS. 117 
 
 from my youth, even until now, know that Horatio 
 Nelson is still the same — affectionate in his disposi- 
 tion and grateful to his friends. God knows, my 
 dear friend, I have very few indeed. My health is 
 such that without a very great alteration I will 
 venture to say a short space of time will send me 
 to that bourne from whence none return ; but God's 
 will be done. After the action I had nearly fell 
 into a decline, but at Naples my invaluable friends, 
 Sir William and Lady Hamilton, nursed and set me 
 up again. I am worse than ever ; my spirits have 
 received such a shock that I think they cannot 
 recover it. You who remember me always laugh- 
 ing and gay would hardly believe the change, but 
 who can see what I have and be well in health? 
 Kingdoms lost and a royal family in distress, but 
 they are pleased to place confidence in me ; and 
 whilst I live, and my services can be useful to 
 them, I shall never leave this country, although I 
 know that nothing but the air of England, and 
 peace and quietness, can perfectly restore me. — To 
 Lady Parker, February 1, 1799. 
 
 A DEAR FRIEND. 
 
 I well know your own goodness of heart would 
 make all due allowances for my present situation. 
 You know, my old friend, after twenty-seven years' 
 acquaintance, that nothing can alter my attachment
 
 n8 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 and gratitude to you. I have been your scholar ; 
 it was you who taught me to board a French- 
 man by your conduct when in the Experiment ; 
 it was you who always told me : " Lay a 
 Frenchman close, and you'll beat him ". And 
 my only merit in my profession is being a 
 good pupil. Our friendship will never end 
 but with our lives. — To IV. Locker, February 9, 
 1799. 
 
 LOVE OF HIS FAMILY. 
 
 Whenever [I can] in any way be useful to you, 
 or my nephew and niece, you know me not to be 
 disinclined. I neither wish to be thought richer 
 or poorer than I am ; but of this be assured, that 
 except my pension I am much poorer than when I 
 left England a year ago. I feel that you have cause 
 for complaint that not one relation of the Victor of 
 the Nile has been noticed. I wrote to both Mr. 
 Pitt and Mr. Wyndham and Lord Spencer ; the 
 two first never answered my letter, the latter has 
 told me he does not know how he can be useful 
 to my brother Maurice. So much for my interest ! 
 However, time must, I think, bring matters round, 
 for I can never bring myself to believe that Nel- 
 son's family should be unnoticed by the English 
 Government. — To the Rev. IV. Nelson, April 10, 
 1799.
 
 AND DEEDS. 119 
 
 POLITICS. 
 
 As to politics, they are my abomination. — To Lord 
 St. Vincent, May 30, 1799. 
 
 LORD ST. VINCENT. 
 
 We have a report that you are going home. This 
 distresses us most exceedingly, and myself in parti- 
 cular ; so much so that I have serious thoughts of 
 returning if that event should take place. But for 
 the sake of our country do not quit us at this 
 serious moment. I wish not to detract from the 
 merit of whoever may be your successor ; but it 
 must take a length of time, which I hope the war 
 will not give, to be in any manner a St. Vincent. 
 We look up to you, as we have always found you, 
 as our father, under whose fostering care we have 
 been led to fame. If, my dear Lord, I have any 
 weight in your friendship, let me entreat you to 
 arouse the sleeping lion. Give up not a particle 
 of your authority to anyone ; be again our St. 
 Vincent, and we shall be happy. — -June 10, 1799. 
 
 THE FAMOUS TREATY. 
 
 On the 17 th the Alexander and Go liath joined me 
 from off Malta, leaving to look out in that quarter 
 three sloops of war. The force now with me was
 
 I20 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 fifteen sail of two-decked ships, English, and three 
 Portuguese, with a fire-ship and cutter. On the 
 20th the Swallow, Portuguese corvette, brought me 
 your Lordship's dispatch of the 17th acquainting 
 me of the near approach of the squadron under 
 Sir Alan Gardner, and that Lord Keith was going 
 in search of the French fleet. As I had now no 
 prospect of being in a situation to go in search of 
 the enemy's fleet, which at least is twenty-five sail 
 of the line, and might be reinforced with two 
 Venetian ships, although I was firmly resolved 
 they should not pass me without a battle, which 
 would so cripple them that they might be unable 
 to proceed on any distant service, I determined to 
 offer myself for the service at Naples, where I knew 
 the French fleet intended going. With this deter- 
 mination I pushed for Palermo, and on the 21st I 
 went on shore for two hours, saw their Majesties 
 and General Acton, who repeated to me what the 
 General had wrote (but which I had not received), 
 to request that I would instantly go into the bay of 
 Naples to endeavour to bring his Sicilian Majesty's 
 affairs in that city to a happy conclusion. 
 
 I lost not one moment in complying with the 
 request, and arrived in the bay of Naples on the 
 24th, where I saw a flag of truce flying on board 
 his Majesty's ship Seahorse, Captain Foote, and 
 also on the castles of Uovo and Nuovo. Having
 
 AND DEEDS. 121 
 
 on the passage received letters informing [me] that 
 an infamous armistice was entered into with the 
 rebels in those castles, to which Captain Foote had 
 put his name, I instantly made the signal to annul 
 the truce, being determined never to give my ap- 
 probation to any terms with rebels but that of 
 unconditional submission. The fleet was anchored 
 in a close line of battle, N.W. by N. and S.E. by 
 S., from the Mole head, one and a half miles 
 distant, flanked by twenty-two gun and mortar 
 boats, which I recalled from Procida. I sent 
 Captains Troubridge and Ball instantly to the Car- 
 dinal Vicar-General to represent to his Eminence 
 my opinion of the infamous terms entered into with 
 the rebels, and also two papers which I enclose. 
 His Eminence said he would send no papers, that 
 if I pleased I might break the armistice, for that 
 he was tired of his situation. Captain Troubridge 
 then asked his Eminence this plain question : " If 
 Lord Nelson breaks the armistice, will your Eminence 
 assist him in his attack on the castles ?" His answer 
 was clear : " I will neither assist him with men or 
 guns". After much communication his Eminence 
 desired to come on board and speak with me on 
 his situation. I used every argument in my power 
 to convince him that the treaty and armistice was 
 at an end by the arrival of the fleet ; but an admiral 
 is no match in talking with a cardinal. I therefore 
 
 9
 
 122 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 gave him my opinion in writing — viz. : " Rear-Ad- 
 miral Lord Nelson, who arrived in the bay of Naples 
 on the 24th of June with the British fleet, found a 
 treaty entered into with the rebels, which he is of 
 opinion ought not to be carried into execution 
 without the approbation of his Sicilian Majesty, 
 Earl St. Vincent, Lord Keith ". 
 
 Under this opinion the rebels came out of the 
 castles, which were instantly occupied by the marines 
 of the squadron. — To Lord Keith, June 27, 1799. 
 
 THE ORDER TO HANG CARACCIOLO. 
 
 By Horatio, Lord Nelson, dr., dr., dr. 
 
 Whereas, a Board of Naval Officers of his 
 Sicilian Majesty hath been assembled to try 
 Francisco Caracciolo for rebellion against his law- 
 ful sovereign, and for firing at his Sicilian Majesty's 
 frigate La Minerva ; 
 
 And whereas, the said Board of Naval Officers 
 have found the charge of rebellion fully proved 
 against him, and have sentenced the said Caracciolo 
 to suffer death ; 
 
 You are hereby required and directed to cause 
 the said sentence of death to be carried into execu- 
 tion upon the said Francisco Caracciolo accord- 
 ingly, by hanging him at the fore-yardarm of his 
 Sicilian Majesty's frigate La Minerva, under your
 
 AND DEEDS. 123 
 
 command, at five o'clock this evening ; and to 
 cause him to hang there until sunset, when you 
 will have his body cut down and thrown into the 
 sea. 
 
 Given on board the Foudroyant, Naples Bay. 
 the 29th of June, 1799. — To Count Thu?-n. 
 
 THE GOOD CAUSE. 
 
 You will have heard, sir, and conversation will 
 naturally arise upon it, that I have disobeyed Lord 
 Keith's orders in not sending or going down with 
 the squadron under my command ; but by not 
 doing it, I have been, with God's blessing, the 
 principal means of placing a good man and faithful 
 ally of your royal father on his throne, and securing 
 peace to the two kingdoms. I am well aware of 
 the consequences of disobeying my orders ; but, as 
 I have often before risked my life for the good 
 cause, so I with cheerfulness did my commission. 
 For although a military tribunal may think me 
 criminal, the world will approve of my conduct. I 
 regard not my own safety when the honour of my 
 gracious King is at stake. The Almighty has in 
 this war blessed my endeavours beyond my most 
 sanguine expectations, and never more than in the 
 entire expulsion of the French thieves from the 
 Kingdom of Naples. — To the Duke of Clarence, 
 July 13, 1799.
 
 124 
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 HIS GENEROSITY. 
 
 I never regarded money nor wanted it for my 
 own use ; therefore, as the East India Company 
 have made me so magnificent a present, 1 I beg 
 that ^2000 of it may be disposed of in the follow- 
 ing manner : — Five hundred pounds to my father ; 
 five hundred to be made up to Mr. Bolton, and let 
 it be a God-send without any restriction ; five 
 hundred to Maurice and five hundred to William. 
 And if you think my sister Matcham would be 
 gratified by it, do the same for her. If I were rich 
 I would do more, but it will very soon be known 
 how poor I am except my yearly income. I am 
 not surprised at my brother's death ; three are now 
 dead younger than myself, having grown to man's 
 age. My situation here is not to be described, but 
 suffice it to say I am endeavouring to work for good. 
 To my father say everything which is kind. I love, 
 honour, and respect him, as a father and as a man, 
 and as the very best man I ever saw. May God Al- 
 mighty bless you, my dear father, and all my brothers 
 and sisters, is the fervent prayer of your affectionate 
 — Nelson. — To his Wife, July 14, 1799. . . . 
 
 His Sicilian Majesty having created me a duke, by 
 the title of Bronte, to which he has attached a feud, 
 it is said, of ^3-^0 a year, to be at my disposal, I 
 
 1 £10,000.
 
 AND DEEDS. 125 
 
 shall certainly not omit this opportunity of being use- 
 ful to my family, always reserving a right to the pos- 
 sessor, of leaving one-third of the income for the 
 payment of legacies. It shall first go to you, my 
 dear father, and in succession to my eldest brother 
 and male child ; William the same, Mrs. Bolton's 
 boys, Mrs. Matcham's, and my nearest relations. 
 For your natural life the estate shall be taxed with 
 ,£500 a year, but this is not to be drawn into a pre- 
 cedent that the next heir may expect it. No, my 
 honoured father, receive this small tribute as a mark 
 of the gratitude to the best of parents from his most 
 dutiful son — Nelson. — To his Father, August 15, 
 1799. 
 
 BUONAPARTE. 
 
 We have great news from Egypt. The siege of 
 Acre was raised May 21 — Buonaparte leaving all 
 his cannon and sick behind. The vagabond has 
 got again to Cairo, where I am sure he will terminate 
 his career. Communication is cut off between the 
 coast and Cairo, Damietla, Rosetta, and Aboukir 
 being taken by the Turks. Alexandria is besieged 
 and will soon fall. Adieu, Mr. Buonaparte ! — To 
 Commodore Troubridge, August 19, 1799. 
 
 THE NELSON FAMILY. 
 
 I am truly sorry that administration have neither 
 done that for me or my family which might have
 
 126 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 been expected. Lords St. Vincent and Duncan 
 have ^iooo a year from Ireland; I have heard of 
 no such thing for Nelson. You may be assured 
 that I never have [forgotten] or ever will forget my 
 family ; I think that would be a crime ; and if you 
 will tell me to whom and what I am to ask for, for 
 the descent of the title and the pension goes with it, I 
 will do it. — To the Rev. W. Nelson, August 21, 1799. 
 
 NARROW OFFICIAL MEASUREMENT. 
 
 I have the full tide of honour, but little real 
 comfort ; could I have that with a morsel of bread 
 and cheese, it would be all I have to ask of kind 
 Heaven. If the war goes on I shall be knocked off 
 by a ball or killed with chagrin. My conduct is 
 measured by the Admiralty by the narrow rule of 
 law, when I think it should have been done by that 
 of common sense. I restored a faithful ally by 
 breach of orders— Lord Keith lost a fleet by 
 obedience against his senses; yet as one is censured, 
 the other must be approved. — To A. Davison, 
 August 23, 1799. 
 
 SERVING NEAR HOME. 
 
 I still find it good to serve near home ; there a 
 man's fag and services are easily seen ; next to that 
 is writing a famous account of your own actions. — 
 To his Wife, November 7, 1799.
 
 AND DEEDS. 127 
 
 THE NELSON TOUCH. 
 
 Your letter to me of yesterday's date is incom- 
 prehensible, except the highly improper language in 
 which it is couched. I shall send it to the Board 
 of Admiralty that they may either support the 
 dignity of the Admiral they have entrusted with 
 the command of the Mediterranean fleet or remove 
 him. You never mentioned the extraordinary price 
 paid for fresh beef, for the several days you were 
 soliciting to have the exclusive privilege of supply- 
 ing the fleet, and your refusal afterwards to bring 
 forward any proof of fraud, warrants every expres- 
 sion in my letter to the Victualling Board. If you 
 could bring proof of what you asserted, you are in the 
 highest degree, as a public officer, criminal ; and if 
 you could not, your conduct is highly reprehensible. 
 My letters to you are all directed " On his Majesty's 
 Service," and I desire yours may be so to me. — To 
 Charles Lock, Consul at Naples, December 4, 1799. 
 
 TRUTHFULNESS. 
 
 One of my greatest boasts is that no man can 
 ever say I told a lie. — To the Victualling Commis- 
 sioners, December 5, 1799. 
 
 st. Vincent's teaching. 
 
 My heart rejoices to hear you are so well re- 
 covered, and that there are hopes of your being
 
 128 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 employed in the home fleet, where our gentlemen 
 will not find it so necessary as it has been to go 
 into harbour to be refitted. But you will have an 
 Herculean labour to make them what you had 
 brought the Mediterranean fleet to. Peers and 
 members of Parliament nrnst attend their duties in 
 London, but the nation will be better taken care of 
 by their being off Brest. You taught us to keep 
 the seamen healthy without going into port, and to 
 stay at sea for years without a refit. We know not 
 the meaning of the word. The Audacious, Alex- 
 ander, and others have never seen an arsenal since 
 they have been under my command. Louis, to his 
 great comfort, has had a treat of shifting his masts, 
 and stayed six weeks in harbour, but he sees not a 
 port again, if I had the command, for the next 
 year. Our friend Troubridge is as full of resources 
 as his Culloden is full of accidents ; but I am now 
 satisfied that if his ship's bottom were entirely out, 
 he would find means to make her swim. — To Lord 
 St. Vincent, February i, 1800. 
 
 his father's approval. 
 
 I can assure you that one of the greatest rewards 
 in this world is your approbation of my conduct ; 
 and in having done my duty in life so fortunately, 
 I have always recollected what pleasure this will 
 give my father. x\lthough few things in this world
 
 AND DEEDS. 129 
 
 could give me so much pleasure as seeing you, yet 
 I see but little prospect of my going to England at 
 this moment of the war ; but we shall meet when 
 and where it pleases God, and my only prayer is 
 that your life may be prolonged, and that every 
 moment I may be able to increase your felicity ; 
 but whether I am higher or lower in the world, or 
 whatever fate awaits me, I shall always be your 
 dutiful son — Bronte Nelson. — To his Father, 
 February 7, 1800. 
 
 SIR JOHN ACTON. 1 
 
 Acton is married to his niece, not fourteen years 
 of age ; so you hear it is never too late to do well. 
 He is only sixty-seven. — To Admiral Good all, 
 March 11, 1800. 
 
 (< 
 
 READY, BOYS, READY ! 
 
 It was my orders in May, 1798, to destroy the 
 French Mediterranean fleet. By the happy cap- 
 ture of Gen'ereux and William Tell (the last on 
 the 30th March), thanks to the Almighty and the 
 bravery of the officers and men under my command, 
 all, all, are taken, burnt, or sunk. Of the thirteen 
 sail of the line not one remains ; and I trust that 
 
 1 The Sicilian Prime Minister, an Englishman, born 
 abroad and scarcely capable of spelling in English.
 
 i 3 o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 very soon the same may be told of their army, who 
 dared to land on the territory of the Sublime Porte. 
 Perish all the enemies of his Imperial Majesty, the 
 Grand Signior ! Having completely obeyed my 
 orders, with great injury to my health, I am going 
 to England for the benefit of it; but should the 
 enemy (which I do not believe) dare to send an- 
 other fleet to menace the dominions of his Imperial 
 Majesty, I shall hold myself ready, if I am thought 
 fit for such a service, to come forth and be the 
 instrument of God's vengeance on such miscreant, 
 infernal scoundrels. — To the Caimakan Pacha, 
 April 7, 1800. 
 
 THE GUILLAUME TELL. 1 
 
 I have the happiness to send you a copy of 
 Captain Dixon's letter to Commodore Sir Thomas 
 Troubridge, informing him of the capture of the 
 William Tell. The circumstances attending this 
 glorious finish to the whole French Mediterranean 
 fleet are such as must ever reflect the highest 
 honour on all concerned in it. . . . The conduct 
 of these excellent officers enabled Sir Edward Berry 
 to place the Foudroyant where she ought, and is 
 the fittest ship in the world to be close alongside 
 
 1 One of the French ships which had escaped at the 
 Battle of the Nile.
 
 AND DEEDS. 
 
 131 
 
 the William Tell — one of the largest and finest 
 two-decked ships in the world — where he showed 
 that matchless intrepidity and able conduct as a 
 seaman and officer, which I have often had the 
 happiness to experience in many trying situations. 
 I thank God I was not present, for it would finish 
 me could I have taken a sprig of these brave men's 
 laurels. They have, and I glory in them, my darling 
 children, served in my school, and all of us caught 
 our professional zeal and fire from the great and 
 good Earl St. Vincent. — To Lord Keith, April 
 8, 1800. 
 
 TIME. 
 
 " Time, Twiss — time is everything ; five minutes 
 make the difference between a victory and a defeat." 
 — Dispatches and Letters, vol. iv., 290. 
 
 westcott's mother. 
 
 At Honiton I visited Captain Westcott's mother 
 — poor thing, except from the bounty of Govern- 
 ment and Lloyds', in very low circumstances. The 
 brother is a tailor, but had they been chimney- 
 sweepers, it was my duly to show them respect. 1 — 
 To Lady Hamilton, January 17, 1801. 
 
 1 Captain Westcott was killed at the Battle of the Nile.
 
 132 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 CAPTAIN MILLER. 1 
 
 I beg, if you think the two hundred pounds are 
 enough for poor dear Miller's monument, that you 
 will direct Flaxman to proceed instantly about it, 
 and as far as that sum, should no one subscribe 
 more, I will be answerable. If those officers who 
 were in the 14th of February are to be allowed the 
 honour of subscribing, I then think we ought to 
 expend five hundred pounds. A less sum would 
 not be proper for such a body. Pray let me know 
 the intended inscription, for we must take care not 
 to say too much or too little ; the language should 
 be plain, as flowing from the heart of one of us 
 sailors who had fought with him. — To Sir Edward 
 Berry, January 26, 1801. 
 
 HIS SUFFERINGS. 
 
 My eye is very bad. I have had the physician 
 of the fleet to examine it. He has directed me 
 not to write (and yet I am forced this very day to 
 write to Lord Spencer, St. Vincent, Davison about 
 my lawsuit, Troubridge, Mr. Locker, &c), not to 
 eat anything but the most simple food, not to touch 
 wine or porter, to sit in a dark room, to have green 
 shades for my eyes (will you, my dear friend, make 
 
 1 Killed whilst serving with Sir Sidney Smith at Alex- 
 andria and Joppa.
 
 AND DEEDS. 133 
 
 me one or two? — nobody else shall), and to bathe 
 them in cold water every hour. I fear it is the* 
 writing has brought this complaint. My eye is like 
 blood, and the film so extended that I can only see 
 from the corner nearest my nose. What a fuss about 
 my complaints! — To Lady Hamilton, January 28, 
 1801. 
 
 woman's INFLUENCE. 
 
 I am not in very good spirits, and except that 
 our country demands all our services and abilities 
 to bring about an honourable peace, nothing should 
 prevent my being the bearer of my own letter. But, 
 my dear friend, I know you are so true and loyal 
 an Englishwoman that you would hate those who 
 would not stand forth in defence of our King, 
 laws, religion, and all which is dear to us. It is 
 your sex that make us go forth and seem to tell 
 us " None but the brave deserve the fair " ; and if 
 we fall we still live in the hearts of those females 
 who are dear to us. It is your sex that rewards us ; 
 it is your sex who cherish our memories. — To Lady 
 Hamilton, February 8, 1801. 
 
 THE DOMINION OF THE SEAS. 
 
 As to the plan of pointing a gun truer than we 
 do at present, if the person comes, I shall of course 
 look at it, and be happy, if necessary, to use it ; but
 
 134 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 I hope we shall be able, as usual, to get so close to 
 *our enemies that our shot cannot miss their object, 
 and that we shall again give our northern enemies 
 that hailstorm of bullets which is so emphatically 
 described in the Naval Chronicle, and which gives 
 our dear country the dominion of the seas. We 
 have it, and all the devils in hell cannot take it 
 from us, if our wooden walls have fair play. — To 
 Sir Edward Berry, March 9, t8oi. 
 
 ANECDOTE OF THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN. 
 
 Lord Nelson was at this time, as he had been 
 during the whole action, walking the starboard side 
 of the quarter-deck, sometimes much animated, and 
 at others heroically fine in his observations. A shot 
 through the mainmast knocked a few splinters about 
 us. He observed to me with a smile : " It is warm 
 work, and this day may be the last to any of us at 
 a moment " ; and then, stopping short at the gang- 
 way, he used an expression never to be erased from 
 my memory, and said with emotion : " But, mark 
 you, I would not be elsewhere for thousands ". 
 When the signal No. 39 was made, the signal- 
 lieutenant reported it to him. He continued his 
 walk, and did not appear to take notice of it. The 
 lieutenant, meeting his Lordship at the next turn, 
 asked whether he should repeat it. Lord Nelson 
 answered : " No, acknowledge it ". On the officer
 
 AND DEEDS. 135 
 
 returning to the poop, his Lordship called after him : 
 " Is No. 16 still hoisted?" The lieutenant answer- 
 ing in the affirmative, Lord Nelson said : " Mind 
 you keep it so ". He now walked the deck con- 
 siderably agitated, which was always known by his 
 moving the stump of his right arm. After a turn 
 or two he said to me in a quick manner : " Do you 
 know what's shown on board of the Commander-in- 
 Chief, No. 39 ? " On asking him what that meant, 
 he answered : " Why, to leave off action. Leave 
 off action ! " he repeated, and then added with a 
 shrug: "Now, damn me, if I do". He also ob- 
 served, I believe, to Captain Foley : " You know, 
 Foley, I have only one eye— I have a right to be 
 blind sometimes " ; and then with an archness 
 peculiar to his character, putting the glass to his 
 blind eye, he exclaimed : " I really do not see the 
 signal". This remarkable signal was therefore only 
 acknowledged on board the Elephant, not repeated. 
 — Stewart's Narrative. 
 
 NELSON FIRST. 
 
 Soon, very soon, I hope to return. You say, my 
 dear friend, why don't I put my chief forward ? 
 He has put me in front of the battle, and Nelson 
 will be first. I could say much, but I will not 
 make your dear mind uneasy : the St. George ] 
 
 1 His ship, which he afterwards exchanged for the Elephant.
 
 136 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 will stamp an additional ray of glory to England's 
 fame if your Nelson survives, and that Almighty 
 Providence who has hitherto protected me in all 
 dangers, and covered my head in the day of battle, 
 will still, if it be His pleasure, support and assist 
 me. — To Lady Hamilton, March n, -1801. 
 
 THE BEST NEGOTIATORS. 
 
 I hate your pen-and-ink men : a fleet of British 
 ships-of-war are the best negotiators in Europe : 
 they always speak to be understood and generally 
 gain their point : their arguments carry conviction 
 to the breasts of our enemies. — To Lady Hamilton, 
 March, 1801. 
 
 NO JOKE WHEN IN EARNEST. 
 
 Now we are sure of fighting, I am sent for. 
 When it was a joke I was kept in the background ; 
 to-morrow will, I hope, be a proud day for England. 
 — To Lady Hamilton, March 23, 1801. 
 
 A YOUNG COXCOMB. 
 
 I have hardly time to tell you that the aide-de- 
 camp of the Prince-Royal of Denmark has been on 
 board, Sir Hyde Parker, a young coxcomb of about 
 twenty-three. In writing a note in the admiral's
 
 AND DEEDS. 137 
 
 cabin the pen was bad. He called out, " Admiral, 
 if your guns are no better than your pens, you may 
 as well return to England ". On asking who com- 
 manded the different ships, among others he was told 
 Lord Nelson, he exclaimed, " What ! is he here ? I 
 would give a hundred guineas to see him. Then I 
 suppose it is no joke if he is come." He said, 
 "Ay, you will pass Cronenburg, that we expect, 
 but we are well prepared at Copenhagen : there you 
 will find a hard nut to crack ". — To Lady Hamilton, 
 March 28, 1801. 
 
 FOR THOSE WHO FELL. 
 
 To-day I have been obliged to write a letter to 
 Lord St. Vincent, which I hope will touch his 
 heart. God knows, it has mine ; it was recommend- 
 ing to his protecting hand the widows and orphans 
 of those brave men who lost their lives for their 
 King and country under my orders. It positively 
 made my heart run out of my eyes ; it brought 
 fresh to my recollection that only when I spoke to 
 them all, and shook hands with every captain, wish- 
 ing them all with laurel crowns — alas ! too many are 
 covered with cypress. The commander-in-chief 
 has just told me that the vessel goes to England 
 this night if possible. May the heavens bless you, 
 &c, &c. — To Lady Hamilton^ April 5, 1801. 
 
 10
 
 138 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 NATIONS LIKE INDIVIDUALS. 
 
 In my opinion nations, like individuals, are to 
 be won more by acts of kindness than cruelty. — To 
 Lady Hamilton, April 9, 1801. 
 
 SWEDISH FLEET. 
 
 I have answered the King of Naples's letter, and 
 have told him that in six weeks after the peace I 
 hope to be at his feet, for that it is my intention to 
 go to Bronte. I can assure you that I am fixed to 
 live a country life, and to have many (I hope) years 
 of comfort, which, God knows, I never yet had — 
 only moments of happiness ; but the case shall be 
 altered. I tell you, my dear good friend, all my 
 little plans, for I know you did, and I hope always 
 will, take an interest in my happiness. The death 
 of Paul may prevent the shedding of more human 
 blood in the North. The moment that is clear I 
 shall not remain one minute, and, at all events, I 
 hope to be in England in May. We have reports 
 that the Swedish fleet is above the Shallows, distant 
 five or six leagues. All our fellows are longing to 
 be at them, and so do I, as great a boy as any of 
 them, for I consider this as being at school, and 
 going to England as going home for the holidays, 
 therefore I really long to finish my task. — To Lady 
 Hamilton, April n, 1801.
 
 AND DEEDS. 139 
 
 JOHN BULL. 
 
 John Bull has always had faith in me, and I am 
 grateful. — To Lady Hamilton, April 13, 1801. 
 
 WHO CAN STOP HIM ? 
 
 My commander-in-chief has left me, but if there 
 is any work to do, I dare say they will wait for me. 
 Nelson will be first. Who can stop him ? — To Lady 
 Hamilton, April 15, 1801. 
 
 HIS BELIEF. 
 
 I own myself a BELIEVER IN GOD, and if I 
 have any merit in not fearing death, it is because I 
 feel that His power can shelter me when He pleases, 
 and that I must fall whenever it is His good 
 pleasure. — To Lady Hamilton, April 25, 1801. 
 
 NATION OF SHOPKEEPERS. 
 
 The French have always in ridicule called us a 
 nation of shopkeepers — so, I hope, we shall always 
 remain, and like other shopkeepers, if our goods 
 are better than those of any other country, and we 
 can afford to sell them cheaper, we must depend 
 on our shop being well resorted to. — To S. Barker, 
 April 27, 1S01.
 
 140 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 NELSON S PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Damn our enemies ! — Bless our friends ! Amen. 
 Amen. Amen. 
 
 I am not such a hypocrite as to bless them that 
 hate us, or if a man strike me on the cheek to turn 
 the other. No, knock him down, by God ! — To 
 Lady Hamilton, May 8, 1801. 
 
 BRITISH ADMIRAL'S WORD. 
 
 The word of a British admiral, when given in 
 explanation of any part of his conduct, is as sacred 
 as that of any sovereign in Europe. — May, 1801. 
 
 THE FLAG OF TRUCE. 
 
 As both my friends and enemies seem not to 
 know why I sent on shore a flag of truce, 1 the 
 former, many of them, thought it was a ruse de 
 guerre, and not quite justifiable ; the latter, I be- 
 lieve, attributed it to a desire to have no more 
 fighting, and few, very few, to the cause that I felt, 
 and which, I trust in God, I shall retain to the last 
 moment — humanity. I know it must to the world 
 be proved, and therefore I will suppose you all the 
 world to me. 
 
 1 Referring to the Battle of Copenhagen.
 
 AND DEEDS. 141 
 
 First, no ship was on shore near the Crown 
 batteries or anywhere else within reach of any shore 
 when my flag of truce went on shore ; the Crown 
 batteries and the batteries on Amack and in the 
 dockyard were firing at us, one half their shot 
 necessarily striking the ships who had surrendered, 
 and our fire did the same ; and worse, for the sur- 
 rendered had four of them got close together, and 
 ii was a massacre. This caused my note. It was a 
 sight which no real man could have enjoyed. I 
 felt, when the Danes became my prisoners, I be- 
 came their protector ; and if that had not been a 
 sufficient reason, the moment of a complete victory 
 was surely the proper time to make an opening 
 with the nation we had been fighting with. When 
 the truce was settled, and full possession taken of 
 our prizes, the ships were ordered, except two, to 
 proceed and join Sir Hyde Parker, and in perform- 
 ing this service the Elephant and Defiance grounded 
 on the middle ground. I give you verbatim an 
 answer to a part of a letter from a person high in 
 rank, about the Prince-Royal, which will bear 
 testimony to the truth of my assertions, viz. : " As 
 to your Lordship's motive for sending a flag of 
 truce to our Government, it never can be miscon- 
 strued, and your subsequent conduct has sufficiently 
 shown that humanity is always the companion of 
 true valour. You have done more ; you have shown
 
 142 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 yourself a friend of the re-establishment of peace 
 and good harmony between this country and Great 
 Britain." 
 
 If after this, either pretended friends or open 
 enemies say anything upon the subject, tell them 
 THEY BE DAMNED.— To Lady Hamilton, May 
 8, 1801. 
 
 THE SWEETS OF COMMAND. 
 
 The Cruizer arrived yesterday, and Sir Thomas 
 Troubridge had the nonsense to say, now I was a 
 commander-in-chief I must be pleased. Does he 
 take me for a greater fool than I am ? for if I had 
 ever such good health, that I must soon be a com- 
 plete beggar if I stayed, I will explain to you. Sir 
 Hyde Parker, when he had the command in the 
 Baltic given to him, had the chance of great 
 honours and great riches from the prizes to be 
 taken ; but that was not enough for such a great 
 officer; he had the emolument of the whole North 
 Sea command given to him, and taken from Dick- 
 son, and of course then I had the honour of sharing 
 one-fifth part as much as Sir Hyde Parker, Dickson, 
 Totty, &c, will share for the Danish battle, and 
 Sir Hyde, I dare say, will get near ^5000. Now, 
 what is done for me ? Orders not to make prizes 
 in the Baltic. My commission as commander-in- 
 chief does not extend to the North Sea, therefore,
 
 AND DEEDS. 143 
 
 I can make no prize-money here, and am excluded 
 from sharing with Dickson what may be taken in 
 the North Sea. He shares for my fighting, but if 
 the Dutch come out, and he fights, I am not to 
 have one farthing. I have now all the expenses of 
 a commander-in-chief, and am stripped even of 
 the little chance of prize-money which I might have 
 had by being in a subordinate position. This is 
 the honour, this is my reward — a prison for debt. I 
 see no other prospect. — To Lady Hamilton, May 
 S, 1801. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 Without friendship this life is but misery, and it 
 is so difficult to find a true friend that the search is 
 almost needless, but if ever you do, it ought to be 
 cherished as an exotic plant. — To Lady Hamilton, 
 May 11, 1 80 1. 
 
 PRIVATEERS. 
 
 Respecting privateers, I own I am decidedly 
 of opinion that, with very few exceptions, they are 
 a disgrace to our country ; and it would be truly 
 honourable never to permit one after this war. 
 Such horrid robberies have been committed by them 
 in all parts of the world, that it is really a disgrace 
 to the country which tolerates them. — To the Right 
 Hon. H. Addington, May 27, 1S01.
 
 144 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 A VISIT. 
 I have been annoyed to death for an hour this 
 day. The Duke of Mecklenburg, with his whole 
 court, men, women, and children, to the amount of 
 one hundred, I am told, came on board at two 
 o'clock, but I got rid of them before three. He is 
 a respectable, venerable man, made ten thousand 
 apologies for the liberty he had taken in bringing 
 so many persons, for he knew that I had forbid it ; 
 to which I could only reply that he commanded ; 
 and having given him two salutes of the whole 
 fleet of twenty-one guns each, he went off quite 
 happy. — To Lady Hamilton, June i, 1801. 
 
 ILLNESS. 
 As I know you have always been kind to me. I 
 know you will be sorry to hear that I have been 
 even at death's door, apparently in a consumption. 
 I am now rallied a little, but the disorder is in itself 
 so flattering that I know not whether I am really 
 better, and no one will tell me, but all the fleet are 
 so truly kind to me, that I should be a wretch not 
 to cheer up. Foley has put me under a regimen of 
 milk at four in the morning ; Murray has given me 
 lozenges, and all have proved their desire to keep 
 my mind easy, for I hear of no complaints or of 
 other wishes than to have me with them. — To Sir 
 A. Ball, June 4, 1801.
 
 AND DEEDS. 145 
 
 AN ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 June nth. — This day twenty-two years I was 
 made a post captain by Sir Peter Parker, as good 
 a man as ever lived. If you meet him again, say 
 that I shall drink his health in a bumper this day, 
 for I do not forget that I owe my present exalted 
 rank to his partiality, although I feel if I had even 
 been in an humble sphere, that Nelson would have 
 been Nelson still.— To Lady Hamilton, 1801. 
 
 THE NAME OF NELSON. 
 
 I received your kind letter from Plymouth, and 
 congratulate you on the birth of a grandson, who I 
 am much flattered with your intention to call after 
 me. I trust that the name of Nelson will remain 
 with credit to our country for many ages, and 
 although I do not yet despair but that I may have 
 fruit from my own loins, yet the honour of the 
 Nelson family will not, I am confident, be lost by 
 yours. — To K. Nelson, July 7, 1801. 
 
 LAME DEFENDERS. 
 
 To-day I dine with Admiral Graeme, who has 
 also lost his right arm, and as the commander of 
 the troops has lost his leg, I expect we shall be 
 caricatured as the lame defenders of England. — To 
 Lady Hamilton, July 27, 1801.
 
 146 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 ABSENT FROM EMMA. 
 
 " Medusa," at Sea. between Calais and 
 Boulogne, August i, 1801. 
 
 When I reflect, my dearest Emma, that for these 
 two years on this day we have been together, the 
 thoughts, and so many things rush into my mind, 
 that I am really this day very low indeed ; even 
 Parker could not help noticing it by saying, " On 
 this day you should be cheerful ". But who can tell 
 what passes in my mind ? Yes, you can, for I be- 
 lieve you are feeling as I do. When I was in the 
 bustle I did not feel so strongly perhaps our separa- 
 tion, or whether being at sea makes it appear more 
 terrible, for terrible it is. My heart is ready to 
 flow out of my eyes, but we must call fortitude to 
 our aid. — To Lady Hamilton. 
 
 THE SEA FENCIBLES. 
 
 As there can be no doubt of the intention of the 
 French to attempt the invasion of our country, and 
 as I trust, and am confident, that if our seafaring 
 men do their duty, that either the enemy will give 
 over the folly of the measure, or, if they perish in 
 it, that not one Frenchman will be allowed to set 
 his foot on British soil ; it is, therefore, necessary 
 that all good men should come forward on this 
 momentous occasion to oppose the enemy, and, 
 more particularly, the Sea Fencibles, who have
 
 AND DEEDS. 147 
 
 voluntarily enrolled themselves to defend their 
 country afloat, which is the true place where Britain 
 ought to be defended, that the horrors of war may 
 not reach the peaceful abodes of our families. — To 
 certain Captains, August 6, 1801. 
 
 AN ADDRESS. 
 
 "Medusa," August 6, 1801. 
 
 As there can be no doubt of the intention of the 
 French to attempt the invasion of our country, and 
 as I trust and am confident that if our seafaring 
 men do their duty, that either the enemy will give 
 over the folly of the measure, or if they persist in 
 it, that not one Frenchman will be allowed to set 
 his foot on British soil ; it is therefore necessary 
 that all good men should come forward on this 
 momentous occasion to oppose the enemy, and 
 more particularly the Sea Fencibles, who have 
 voluntarily enrolled themselves to defend their 
 country afloat, which is the true place where 
 Britain ought to be defended, that the horrors of 
 war may not reach the peaceful abodes of our 
 families. And as the Lords Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty have been pleased to appoint me to 
 command the sea defence of Great Britain, within 
 the limits of your district, it is my duty to request 
 that you will have the goodness to acquaint all the 
 Sea Fencibles under your command, and all other
 
 148 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 seafaring men and fishermen, that their services are 
 absolutely required at this moment on board the 
 ships and vessels particularly appointed to defend 
 that part of the coast where the enemy mean to 
 attempt a landing, if unopposed. I am authorised 
 to assure the Fencibles and other seafaring men who 
 may come forward on this occasion, that they shall 
 not be sent off the coast of the kingdom, shall be 
 kept as near their own houses as the nature of the 
 service will permit, and that the moment the alarm 
 of the threatened invasion is over, that every man 
 shall be returned to their own homes ; and also, 
 that during their continuance on board ship, that 
 as much attention as is possible shall be paid to 
 their reasonable wants. And I flatter myself that 
 at a moment when all the volunteer corps in the 
 kingdom come forward to defend our land, that 
 the seamen of Great Britain will not be slow to 
 defend our own proper element, and maintain, as 
 pure as our glorious ancestors have transmitted it 
 to us, our undoubted right to the sovereignty of 
 the Narrow Seas, on which no Frenchman has yet 
 dared to sail with impunity. Our country looks to 
 its sea defence, and let it not be disappointed. 
 
 INVASION OF ENGLAND. 
 
 I am sure that the French are trying to get from 
 Boulogne ; yet the least wind at W.N.W. and they
 
 AND DEEDS. 149 
 
 are lost. I pronounce that no embarkation can 
 take place at Boulogne ; whenever it comes forth it 
 will be from Flanders, and what a forlorn under- 
 taking ! Consider cross tides, &c, &c. As for 
 rowing, that is impossible. It is perfectly right to 
 be prepared against a mad government, but with 
 the active force your Lordship has given me, 
 I may pronounce it almost impracticable. — To 
 Lord St. Vincent, August 7, 1801. 
 
 WISHING AND DOING. 
 
 When we cannot do all we wish we must do all 
 we can. — To Lord St. Vincent, August 7, 1801. 
 
 THE NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 I wish, my dear Emma, that my name was never 
 mentioned by the newspapers ; it may create poor 
 Nelson enemies. Not that I care, only that I hate 
 to be praised, except by you. My conduct at this 
 time of service is not to be altered by either praise, 
 puffs, or censure. I do my best, and admit that I 
 have only zeal to bear me through it. — To Lady 
 Hamilton, August 9, 1801. 
 
 STARED AT. 
 
 Oh ! how I hate to be stared at. — To Lady 
 Hamilton, August 11, 1801.
 
 150 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 TOM ALLEN. 1 
 
 That beast, Allen, has left behind or lost all my 
 papers, but I have sent him after them, and he is 
 such a notorious liar that he never says truth — no, 
 such is his delight in lying that even to do himself 
 good he cannot resist the pleasure he has in telling 
 a lie, for I asked him in the boat for my red case 
 as I did not see it. His answer was, " Sir, I put it 
 in the stern locker ". I then desired him to take 
 particular care in handing the case up the side, 
 when he knew perfectly well that he had not put it 
 in the boat, and as all my things were brought by 
 him from Coffin's house to the landing place, I 
 never expect to see it more. There is ^200 in it 
 and all my papers. Huzza ! Huzza ! What a 
 beast he is ! But I trust more to other people's 
 honesty than his cleverness. He will one day ruin 
 me by his ignorance, obstinacy, and lies. — To Lady 
 Nelson, August 12, 180 1. 
 
 LOW SPIRITS. 
 
 I cannot get on shore and afloat again, the surf 
 is so great, and yet I could have wished to have 
 seen Parker, but nothing but necessity should have 
 made me remain on shore, and if I was to go I 
 
 1 His old servant.
 
 AND DEEDS. 151 
 
 could not get off. I expect the Amazon to-day, 
 and shall get on board her, but in a very wretched 
 state, for I have nothing in reality fit to keep a 
 table, and to begin and lay out ^500 is what I can- 
 not afford; therefore, in every respect I shall be very 
 miserable. I know not why, but to-day I am ready 
 to burst into tears. Pray God your friendly letters 
 may arrive and comfort me. — To Lady Hamilton, 
 August 22, 1801. 
 
 THE BOULOGNE AFFAIR. 
 
 I agree with you and all my friends that this is 
 not a service for me beyond the moment of alarm ; 
 but I am used and abused ; and so far from making 
 money I am spending the little I have. I am after 
 buying a little farm at Merton — the price ^"9000. I 
 hope to he able to get through it. If I cannot, 
 after all my labour for the country, get such a place as 
 this, I am resolved to give it all up and retire for 
 life. I am aware none of the Ministry care for me 
 beyond what suits themselves ; but my belief is 
 that we shall have peace. — To A. Davison, August 
 31, 1801. 
 
 TO MR. HILL. 
 
 "Amazon," Downs, September 6, 1801. 
 Mr. Hill, — Very likely I am unfit for my pre- 
 sent command, and whenever Government change
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 me I hope they will find no difficulty in selecting 
 an officer of greater abilities ; but you will, I trust, 
 be punished for threatening my character. But I 
 have not been brought up in the school of fear, and, 
 therefore, care not what you do. I defy you and 
 your malice. — Nelson and Bronte. 1 
 
 PEACE WITH HONOUR. 
 
 I pray God we may have peace, when it can be 
 had with honour ; but I fear that the scoundrel 
 Buonaparte wants to humble us, as he has done the 
 rest of Europe — to degrade us in our own eyes by 
 making us give up all our conquests as proof of 
 our sincerity for making a peace, and then he will 
 
 condescend to treat with us. He be d d, and 
 
 there I leave him. . . . — To H. Ross, September 
 12, 1801. 
 
 OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF VALOUR. 
 
 The Admiralty have refused to bury Captain 
 Parker. 2 He might have stunk above ground or 
 been thrown into a ditch ; the expense of that 
 and lodgings, etc., have cost me near ^200, and 
 I have taken, poor fellow, all his debts on myself, 
 
 1 An answer to a fellow who hoped to blackmail him. 
 
 2 Killed off Boulogne.
 
 AND DEEDS. 153 
 
 if the creditors will give me a little time to find 
 the money.— To Lady Hamilton, September 30, 
 1S01. 
 
 IN THE DOWNS. 
 
 What can be the use of keeping me here, for I 
 can know nothing. Such weather ; and what a 
 change since yesterday ! It came on in one hour, 
 from the water like a mill-pond to such a sea as 
 made me very unwell. If I had gone to make my 
 visits I could not have got off again. I rejoice 
 that I did not go. Until I leave this station I have 
 no desire to go on shore, for Deal was always my 
 abhorrence. — To Lady Hamilton, October 8, 1801. 
 
 - THE ENGLISH ROD. 
 
 There is no person in the world rejoices more in 
 peace than I do, but I would burst sooner than let 
 a damned Frenchman know it. Let them rejoice 
 that the English rod (its navy) is taken from them : 
 the rod that has flogged, and would continue to 
 flog them from one end of the world to the other. 
 We have made peace with the French despotism, 
 and we will, I hope, continue to adhere to it whilst 
 the French continue in due bounds ; but whenever 
 they overstep that, and usurp a power which would 
 degrade Europe, then I trust we shall join Europe 
 in crushing her ambition ; then I would with 
 
 1 1
 
 i 5 4 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 pleasure go forth and risk my life for to pull down 
 the overgrown detestable power of France. The 
 country has so foolishly called out for peace that I 
 almost wonder we had not to make sacrifices. It 
 has been the cowardice and treachery of Europe 
 that has elevated France, and certainly not her own 
 courage or abilities. — To Lady Hamilton, October 
 9, 1801. 
 
 NATIONAL MADNESS. 
 
 Can you cure madness ? for I am mad to read 
 
 that our d d scoundrels dragged a Frenchman's 
 
 carriage. 1 I am ashamed for my country. — To Dr. 
 Baird, October n, 1801. 
 
 MILITARY REJOICING. 
 
 I am very angry at the great rejoicings of the 
 military, and, in some ports, of our naval men, at 
 peace. Let the rejoicings be proper to our several 
 stations : the manufacturer because he will have 
 more markets for his goods — but seamen and 
 soldiers ought to say, " Well, as it is peace, we lay 
 down our arms, and are ready again to take them 
 up if the French are insolent ". There is a manly 
 rejoicing and a foolish one ; we seem to have taken 
 
 1 General Lauriston, who arrived in London October the 
 10th, with the ratification of the preliminaries of peace.
 
 AND DEEDS. 155 
 
 the latter, and the damned French will think it pro- 
 ceeds from fear. — To Lady Hamilton, October 
 18, 1801. 
 
 DEAL. 
 
 This is the coldest place in England most 
 assuredly. — To Lady Hamilton, October 20, 1801. 
 
 VICTORIES AND REWARDS. 
 
 I remember, a few years back, on my noticing to 
 aLord Mayor that if the City continued its generosity, 
 we should ruin them by their gifts, his Lordship put 
 his hand on my shoulder and said : Aye, the Lord 
 Mayor of London said — " Do you find victories, 
 and we shall find rewards". I have since that 
 time found two complete victories. I have kept my 
 word, and shall I have the power of saying that 
 the City of London, which exists by victories at sea, 
 has not kept its promise — a promise made by the 
 Lord Mayor in his robes, and almost in the royal 
 presence? 1 — To A. Davison, July 9, 1801. 
 
 TO THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON. 
 
 Lord Nelson returns his most respectful compli- 
 ments to the Lord Mayor elect and the Sheriffs, 
 
 1 Nelson here refers to the absence of all recognition of 
 the claims of the victors at Copenhagen.
 
 156 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 and is most exceedingly sorry that it is not in his 
 power to do himself the honour and pleasure of 
 dining with them at Guildhall on Lord Mayor's 
 Day, for the following reasons : 
 
 Lord Nelson having waited with the greatest 
 patience until every individual who had rendered 
 the smallest service to the country had been marked 
 by the City of London, wrote a letter to the Lord 
 Mayor (Sir John Eames) stating his sorrow that 
 those under his command who fought the most 
 bloody battle, and obtained the most complete 
 victory, of any naval battle ' in this, or Lord 
 Nelson believes, in any war, had not had the 
 honour to receive from the great City of London 
 the same mark of approbation as had been bestowed 
 on others ; but Lord Nelson, being advised of the 
 impropriety of pointing out what the City of 
 London ought to have done, wrote another letter 
 to the Lord Mayor, desiring to withdraw his letter. 
 
 But Lord Nelson's sentiment being precisely the 
 same, and feeling for the situation of those brave 
 captains, officers, and men who so bravely fought, 
 profusely bled, and obtained such a glorious, com- 
 plete, and most important victory for their King 
 and country, cannot do himself the honour and 
 happiness of meeting his fellow-citizens on the 9th 
 of November. 
 
 1 Referring to the Battle of Copenhagen.
 
 AND DEEDS. 157 
 
 Lord Nelson flatters himself that the Lord Mayor 
 elect and the Sheriffs will approve of his feelings 
 on this occasion, and consider that if Lord Nelson 
 could forget the services of those who have fought 
 under his command, that he would ill deserve to 
 be supported as he always has been. — November 
 8, 1802. 
 
 nelson's income (1803). 
 
 Lord Nelson's Income and Property. 
 
 My exchequer pension for the Nile, ,£2,000 o o 
 Navy pension for loss of one arm 
 
 and one eye, . . . 923 o o 
 
 Half-pay as Admiral, . . . 465 o o 
 
 Interest of ,£1000, 3 per cent, . 30 o o 
 
 ,£3,418 o o 
 
 Outgoings of Lord Nelson. 
 
 To Lady Nelson, . . . ,£1,800 o o 
 
 Interest of money owing, . . 500 o o 
 
 Pension to my brother's widow, . 200 o o 
 
 To assisting in educating my nephew, 150 o o 
 
 Expenditure, . . ,£2,650 o o 
 
 Income, . . . • 3,418 o o 
 
 For Lord Nelson, . . ,£768 o o
 
 158 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 Therefore Lord Nelson is free of house-rent, but 
 has to pay charities necessary for his station in life, 
 taxes, repairs, servants, and to live upon ^768 per 
 annum. 
 
 Property of Lord Nelson. 
 
 Merton House, land, plate, and 
 furniture, in 3 per cents., 
 ;£iooo stock, . . . ^20,000 o o 
 
 Debts. 
 By mortgage on Merton to assist 
 
 in the purchase, . . . ,£6,000 o o 
 Fitting out for the Baltic, and again 
 
 for my command on the Least, 
 
 in summer, 1801, . . 4,000 o o 
 
 ^10,000 o 
 
 Real property of Lord Nelson, ^10,000, in three 
 per cents. ^1000 stock. 1 — To Right Hon. H.Adding- 
 ton, March 8, 1803. 
 
 PENSIONS. 
 
 If it is said that the pensions are not given for 
 the victories, but to enable the noble admirals to 
 support their ranks in the peerage, then Lord Nelson 
 
 1 The feud of Bronte that was supposed to yield him about 
 ,£3000 per annum, he does not mention in this list.
 
 AND DEEDS. 159 
 
 trusts that his wants will be found superior to either 
 of the others ; for Earl St. Vincent, at the time his 
 pension was granted, had realised not a less sum 
 than ^100,000, and Viscount Duncan not less than 
 ^50,000, whereas Lord Nelson, at the time his 
 pension of ^2000 a year was granted, had not 
 realized ^5000; therefore, why Lord Nelson should 
 have had ^1000 a year less pension than either of 
 the two noble admirals is unaccountable. This 
 comparison is only made to the battle of the Nile. 
 Since which time Lord Nelson was by his Majesty 
 raised to the dignity of a viscount for his services in 
 commanding his Majesty's fleet when the great, 
 decisive, and important victory off Copenhagen was 
 obtained, but no pension was given with this acces- 
 sion of title.- — To the Right Hon. H. Addiugtou, 
 April 23, 1803. 
 
 DO AS YOU WOULD BE DONE BY. 
 
 I have sent to offer the French admiral in 
 Toulon an exchange of prisoners. After keeping 
 the boat waiting three hours, a message came down 
 that the French admiral would receive no letter or 
 message and ordered the boat to return ; therefore, 
 you must blame the cruelty of your own admiral 
 for keeping you prisoners. At the same time, I 
 shall be happy to do all in my power to render 
 your captivity as easy as possible — always re-
 
 i6o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 membering, do as you would be done by. — To 
 some French Prisoners at Malta, August 13, 
 1803. 
 
 HO RAT I A. 1 
 
 I have, my dearest Emma, done what I thank God 
 I have the power of doing — left ^4000 to my dear 
 Horatia, and desire that she may be acknowledged 
 as my adopted daughter, and I have made you her 
 sole guardian ; the interest of the money to be paid 
 you until she is eighteen years of age. I trust, my 
 dearest friend, that you will (if it should please God 
 to take me out of this world) execute this great 
 charge for me and the dear little innocent, for it 
 would add comfort to my last moments to think 
 that she would be educated in the paths of religion 
 and virtue, and receive, as far as she is capable, 
 some of those brilliant accomplishments which so 
 much adorn you. You must not allow your good 
 heart to think that although I have left you this 
 important charge, I fancy myself nearer being 
 knocked off by the French admiral. I believe it 
 will be quite the contrary, that God Almighty will 
 again and again bless our just cause with victory, 
 and that I shall live to receive your kind and 
 affectionate congratulations on a brilliant victory. 
 
 1 His daughter by Lady Hamilton.
 
 AND DEEDS. 161 
 
 But be that as it may, I shall support, with God's 
 help, my unblemished character to the last. — To 
 Lady Hamilton, September 8, 1803. 
 
 OLD HADDOCK'S SAYING. 
 
 I believe I attend more to the French fleet than 
 making captures ; but what I have, I can say as old 
 Haddock said, " It never cost a sailor a tear nor the 
 nation a farthing ". This thought is far better than 
 prize-money, — not that I despise money — quite the 
 contrary, I wish I had one hundred thousand 
 pounds this moment, and I will do everything con- 
 sistent with my good name to obtain it. — To A. 
 Davison, October 4, 1803. 
 
 FIRST LETTER TO HIS CHILD. 
 
 " Victory," off Toulon, October 21, 1803. 
 
 My Dear Child, — Receive this first letter from 
 your most affectionate father. If I live it will be my 
 pride to see you virtuously brought up ; but if it 
 please God to call me, I trust to Himself, in that 
 case I have left Lady Hamilton your guardian. 1 
 therefore charge you, my child, on the value of a 
 father's blessing, to be obedient and attentive to 
 all her kind admonitions and instructions. At this 
 moment, I have left you in a codicil, dated the 
 6th of September, the sum of ,£4000 sterling, the
 
 162 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 interest of which is to be paid to your guardian for 
 your maintenance and education. I shall only say, 
 my dear child, may God Almighty bless you and 
 make you an ornament to your sex, which I am 
 sure you will be if you attend to all Lady Hamil- 
 ton's kind instructions, and be assured that I am, 
 my dear Horatia, your most affectionate father, 
 
 Nelson and Bronte. 
 
 BAD ENGLISH CUSTOMS. 
 
 It is the custom, and a very bad one, for the 
 English never to tell their own story. — To Sir 
 Alex. Ball, November 7, 1803. 
 
 FRENCH PROSPECTS. 
 
 The French fleet yesterday at two o'clock was 
 in appearance in high feather, and as fine as paint 
 could make them : eight sail of the line, eight 
 frigates, and several corvettes were ready for sea. 
 One ship of the line was fitting in the arsenal, her 
 topmasts on end. This is their state; but when 
 they may sail, or where they will go, I am very 
 sorry to say is a secret I am not acquainted with. 
 One weather-beaten ship, I have no fear, will make 
 their sides like a plum-pudding. — Off Toulon. To 
 Sir John Acton, November 24, 1803.
 
 AND DEEDS. 163 
 
 INVASION OF ENGLAND. 
 
 By the French papers, which we have to No- 
 vember 19, we are in momentary expectation of 
 Buonaparte's descent upon England ; and although 
 I can have no fears for the event, yet there is, I 
 hope, a natural anxiety to hear what is passing at 
 so critical a moment when everything we hold dear 
 in this world is at stake. I trust in God Buona- 
 parte will be destroyed, and that then the French 
 may be brought, if the Powers of Europe have 
 either spirit or honour, to reasonable terms of 
 peace. That this may be soon, and with every 
 honour to our country, is my fervent prayer, and 
 shall ever be my most ardent endeavour. — Off 
 Toulon. To the Duke of Clarence, December 7, 
 1803. 
 
 HIS SIGHT. 
 
 My crazy fleet are getting in a very indifferent 
 state, and others will soon follow. The finest 
 ships in the service will soon be destroyed. I 
 know well enough that if I was to go into Malta I 
 should save the ships during this bad season ; but 
 if I am to watch the French I must be at sea, and, 
 if at sea, must have bad weather ; and if the ships 
 are not fit to stand bad weather, they are useless. 
 I do not say much, but I do not believe that Lord
 
 i6 4 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 St. Vincent would have kept the sea with such 
 ships. But my time of service is nearly over. A 
 natural anxiety, of course, must attend my station ; 
 but, my dear friend, my eyesight fails me most 
 dreadfully. I firmly believe that in a very few 
 years I shall be stone-blind. It is this only of all 
 my maladies that makes me unhappy ; but God's 
 will be done. — To A. Davison, December 12, 1803. 
 
 SUCCESSFUL BATTLES. 
 
 A wish to imitate successful battles is the one 
 road, by exertion, to surpass them. — To J. Da/ton, 
 December 14, 1803. 
 
 THE "VICTORY". 
 
 We are not stoutly or in any manner well-manned 
 in the Victory, but she is in very excellent order, 
 thanks to Hardy ; and I think, woe to the French- 
 man she gets alongside of. — To Sir T Troubridge, 
 December 21, 1803. 
 
 DESERTION. 
 
 When British seamen and marines so far degrade 
 themselves in time of war as to desert from the 
 service of their own country, and enter into that of 
 Spain; when they leave is. a day and plenty of the 
 very best provisions, with every comfort that can be
 
 AND DEEDS. 165 
 
 thought of for them — for 2d. a day, black bread, 
 horse beans, and stinking oil for their food : — when 
 British seamen or marines turn Spanish soldiers, I 
 blush for them ; they forfeit in their own opinion, I 
 am sure, that character of love of their own 
 country which foreigners are taught to admire. A 
 Briton to put himself under the lash of a French- 
 man or Spaniard must be more degrading to any 
 man of spirit than any punishment I could inflict 
 on their bodies. I shall leave the punishment to 
 their own feelings, which, if they have any, and are 
 still Englishmen, must be very great. But as they 
 thought proper to abandon voluntarily their wives, 
 fathers, mothers, and every endearing tie, and also 
 all prospect of returning to their native country, I 
 shall make them remain out of that country which 
 they do not wish to see, and allow others who love 
 their country, and who are attached to their families, 
 to return in their stead. And as they have also 
 thought proper to resign all their pay, I shall take 
 care that it is not returned to them, nor their " R " 
 taken off; but it shall be noted against their names 
 "Deserted to the Spaniards," or "Entered as a 
 Spanish soldier," as the case was. — -January, 1804. 
 
 MERTON. 
 
 I would not have you lay out more than is 
 absolutely necessary at Merton. The rooms and
 
 1 66 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the new entrance will take a good deal of money. 
 The entrance by the corner I would have certainly 
 done : a common white gate will do for the present, 
 and one of the cottages, which is in the barn, can 
 be put up as a temporary lodge. The road can be 
 made to a temporary bridge ; for that part of the 
 Nile one day shall be filled up. Downing's canvas 
 awning will do for a passage. For the winter the 
 carnage can be put into the barn ; and giving up 
 Mr. Bennett's premises will save ^50 a-year; and 
 another year we can fit up the coach-house and 
 stables which are in the barn. The footpath should 
 be turned. I did show Mr. Haslewood the way I 
 wished it done ; and Mr. ■ will have no objec- 
 tions if we make it better than ever it has been ; 
 and I also beg, as my dear Horatia is to be at 
 Merton, that a strong netting about three feet high 
 be placed round the Nile, that the little thing may 
 not tumble in ; and then you may have ducks again 
 in it. I forget at what place we saw the netting ; 
 and either Mr. Perry or Mr. Goldsmid told us 
 where it was to be bought. I shall be very anxious 
 till I know this is done. — To Lady Hamilton, 
 March 14, 1804. 
 
 AN ANTICIPATION OF TRAFALGAR. 
 
 Day by day, my dear friend, I am expecting the 
 French fleet to put to sea — every day, hour, and
 
 AND DEEDS. 167 
 
 moment ; and you may rely that if it is within 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 wise 
 and just Providence, and His will be done. I 
 have got some trifle, thank God, to leave those 1 
 hold most dear, and I have taken care not to 
 neglect it. Uo not think I am low-spirited on this 
 account, or fancy anything is to happen to me. 
 Quite the contrary ; my mind is calm, and I have 
 only to think of destroying our inveterate foe. — To 
 A. Davison, March 28, 1804. 
 
 ENGLAND NOT TO BE TRUSTED. 
 
 I have wrote you a line, intended for the Swift 
 cutter, but instead of her joining me, I had the 
 mortification, not only to hear that she was taken, 
 but that all the dispatches and letters had fallen 
 into the hands of the enemy : a very pretty piece of 
 work ! I am not surprised at the capture, but am
 
 i68 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 very much so that any dispatches should be sent 
 in a vessel with twenty-three men, not equal to cope 
 with any row-boat privateer. The loss of the 
 Hindostan was great enough, but for importance, it 
 was lost in comparison to the probable knowledge 
 that the enemy will obtain of our connections with 
 foreign countries ! Foreigners for ever say — and it 
 is true— "We dare not trust England one way or 
 other, we are sure to be committed!" — To Lady 
 Hamilton, April 19, 1804. . . . The capture of 
 the Szvift cutter of four or six guns, with twenty- 
 three men, with all the dispatches, is a loss which 
 ages cannot do away. I only hope, but I have 
 my great fears, that not only the secrets of our 
 own country are exposed, but that perhaps 
 Naples, Russia, Sardinia, and Egypt may be 
 mentioned. How the Admiralty could send Out 
 such a vessel is astonishing ! I wish it to be known 
 at Petersburg and Constantinople in case any plan 
 has been agreed upon by our Courts, for the French 
 will of course strike a blow instantly. Naples will 
 keep on her guard, for we must prepare for the worst 
 which may have happened. It has made me very un- 
 easy and unwell. — To Hugh Elliot, Esq., April 19, 
 1804. 
 
 A MEMORY. 
 
 I remember you, dear sir, most perfectly at 
 Burnham, and I shall never forget the many little
 
 AND DEEDS. 169 
 
 kindnesses I received from your worthy brother, 
 with whom I was always a great favourite. Most 
 probably I shall never see dear, dear Burnham 
 again ; but I have a satisfaction in thinking that my 
 bones will probably be laid with my father's in the 
 village that gave me birth. Pardon this digression; 
 but the thought of former days brings all my mother 
 into my heart, which shows itself in my eyes. — To 
 Dean Allott, May 14, 1804. 
 
 SOLDIERS ON BOARD SHIP. 
 
 I have received your letter of yesterday's date, 
 acquainting me that you had confined James Braid, 
 of the Royal Artillery, agreeably to the tenour of 
 your instructions from the Lords Commissioners of 
 the Admirality, dated the 28th March, 1804, for 
 disobedience to your orders in replying to your 
 command " that he was neither to pull nor haul 
 till he had received that order from his own 
 officer". In reply thereto I must express my 
 surprise that you have not either communicated 
 my order of the 13th instant to the officer of 
 artillery on board the Thunderer, or, if you have, 
 that he has been guilty of so much neglect of his 
 duty as not to have informed, in a regular manner, 
 the artillerymen that they must, upon every occasion, 
 be obedient and respectful to all commands of the 
 
 officers of the ship ; and that, if they have any cause 
 
 12
 
 i 7 o NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 of complaint, they will report it to their officer, who 
 will represent in a respectful manner to the com- 
 mander of his Majesty's bomb, that any real 
 grievance may be immediately redressed. If the 
 man confined has not been informed of my order 
 of the 13th instant, he may have erred through 
 ignorance ; but if the officer of artillery, being 
 informed of my order, has neglected to inform the 
 artillerymen of it, you will acquaint him that he 
 has been guilty of a great neglect of his duty. — To 
 Captain G. Cocks, May 17, 1804. . . . There is 
 no real happiness, my dear Lord, in this world. 
 With all content and smiles around me, up start 
 these artillery boys — I understand they are not 
 beyond that age — and set us all at defiance — 
 speaking in the most disrespectful manner of the 
 navy and its commanders, &c. I know you, my 
 dear Lord, so well, that with your quickness the 
 matter would have been settled, and perhaps some 
 of them broke. I am perhaps more patient, but I 
 do assure you not less resolved, if my plan of con- 
 ciliation is not attended to. You and I are on the 
 eve of quitting the theatre of our exploits ; but we 
 owe it to our successors, never whilst we have a 
 tongue to speak, or a hand to write, to allow the 
 navy to be in the smallest degree injured in its 
 discipline by our conduct. If these continued 
 attacks upon the navy are to be carried on every
 
 AND DEEDS. 171 
 
 two or three years, it would be much better for 
 the navy to have its own corps of artillery. 1 The 
 present case is indeed with lads ; but they are set 
 on by men : I can see that very clearly. — To Lord 
 St. Vincent, May 25, 1804. 
 
 NAVY V. ARMY. 
 
 Although my career is nearly run, yet it would em- 
 bitter my future days and expiring moments to hear 
 of our navy sacrificed to our army. I can readily 
 conceive the attempts of the army at this moment, 
 when they think themselves of such great import- 
 ance. — To Sir T. Troubridge, May 25, 1804. 
 
 A BRITISH OFFICER'S WORD. 
 
 I can assure you, sir, that the word of honour of 
 every captain of a British man-of-war is equal, not 
 only to mine, but to that of any person in 
 Europe, however elevated his rank. — From Clarke 
 and M' Arthur. 
 
 CORSICANS AND FRENCHMEN. 
 
 You may safely rely that I never trust a Corsican 
 or a Frenchman. I would give the devil ALL the 
 good ones to take the remainder. — To Hugh Elliot, 
 /une 1, 1804. 
 
 1 Nicolas states that this was afterwards done by the 
 establishment of the existing Royal Marine Artillery.
 
 i 7 2 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 THE FRENCH ADMIRAL AT TOULON. 
 
 M. La Touche has several times hoisted his 
 topsail-yards ; and on the 4th of June, we 
 having hoisted the standard and saluted, he sent 
 outside Sepet, about one mile, five sail of the line 
 and two frigates, and kept three sail and three 
 frigates with their yards aloft, himself one. of them, 
 and the razr-admiral another, therefore I did not 
 believe him in earnest ; however, we ran as near as 
 was proper, and brought to. They formed a pretty 
 line at sunset, and then stood into the harbour. A 
 ship of the line and frigate every morning weigh, 
 and stand beween Sepet and La Malgue. Some 
 happy day I expect to see his light sail which are 
 in the Outer Road come out ; and if he will get 
 abreast of Porquerolle, I will try what stuff he is 
 made of; therefore you see, my dear Ball, I have 
 no occasion to be fretful ; on the contrary I am full 
 of hopes, and command a fleet which never gives 
 me an uneasy moment. — To Sir A. Bali, June 7, 
 1804. 
 
 THE FRENCH EMPEROR. 
 
 Buonaparte, by whatever name he may choose to 
 call himself — general, consul, or emperor — is 
 the same man we have always known, and the 
 common disturber of the human race : it is much 
 more dangerous to be his friend than his enemy.
 
 AND DEEDS. 173 
 
 With the appearance of friendship he deceives ; to 
 be on the latter terms the hand should be always 
 on the sword.— To the Grand Vizier, June 13, 1804. 
 
 TO THE POINT. 
 
 I am blocking Genoa, &c, and am continuing it 
 in the way I think most proper. Whether modern 
 or ancient law makes my mode right, I cannot judge ; 
 and surely of the mode of disposing of a fleet, I 
 must, if I am fit for my post, be a better judge 
 than any landsman, however learned he may ap- 
 pear. It would be the act of a fool to tell Europe 
 where I intend to place the ships, for the purpose 
 of effectually obeying my orders. Not a captain can 
 know it, and their positions will vary according to 
 information I may receive ; therefore, if I were so 
 inclined, I can assure you, upon my word, that I 
 cannot at any one moment tell the most likely spot 
 to intercept the commerce of Genoa and Especia. 
 I endeavour, as well as I am able, to obey my orders, 
 without entering into the nice distinctions of lawyers. 
 I will not further take up your time on a subject 
 which, without being a lawyer, merely as a man, 
 could have admitted of no dispute. — To Mr. 
 Stoddard, Genoa, June 16, 1804. 
 
 vSOLDIERS AND SAILORS. 
 
 In case Earl St. Vincent and Sir Thomas Trou- 
 bridge should send you my letters to them, respect-
 
 174 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 ing the conduct of soldiers embarked to serve in 
 his Majesty's ships, I think it of great consequence 
 to the naval service you should be informed of my 
 sentiments upon that subject. It requires not the 
 gift of prescience to assert if soldiers embarked in 
 ships of war are not, as heretofore, left subject to 
 the Act of Parliament for the government of his 
 Majesty's ships, vessels, and forces by sea, whereon, 
 as our forefathers said, " the safety, wealth, and 
 prosperity of the kingdom chiefly depend," that the 
 navy, which we have all heretofore looked up to, 
 will be ruined. The absolute power must remain : 
 there cannot be two commanders in one ship, nor 
 two sets of laws to regulate the conduct of those 
 embarked in one bottom. I will not, my Lord, 
 take up your time in debating whether it would be 
 better for the navy to be subject to the same articles 
 of war as the army, but we may take a lesson from 
 the epitaph : " I was well, I would be better, and 
 here I am". My opinion is : " Let well alone". 
 — To Lord Melville, June 21, 1804. 
 
 NO HONOURS FOR COPENHAGEN. 
 
 It is to redeem the solemn pledge I have made, 
 never to omit, upon any change of administration, 
 stating the just claim which I consider the battle 
 of Copenhagen has to the reward of medals, such 
 as have been given for other great naval victories ;
 
 AND DEEDS. 175 
 
 I therefore inclose for your Lordship's perusal a 
 statement of facts, and the letters which passed 
 between me and Earl St. Vincent upon that oc- 
 casion, and when your Lordship has leisure time 
 I request your perusal of them. ... I am aware, 
 my Lord, that his Majesty has the most undis- 
 puted right to bestow medals, or to withhold them, 
 as he pleases. No man admits it more fully than 
 myself; but, my Lord, I turn back to the 1st of 
 June, 1794. From that moment I have always 
 considered that his Majesty, by implication, pro- 
 nounced these words to his fleet, holding forth the 
 medal : " This, my fleet, is the great reward which 
 I will bestow for great and important victories like 
 the present !" Considering this as a solemn pledge, 
 his Majesty gave it as the reward for the battles of 
 St. Vincent, of Camperdown, and the Nile ; then 
 comes the most difficult achievement, the hardest- 
 fought battle, the most glorious result that ever 
 graced the naval annals of our country. The 
 medal is withheld, for what reason Lord St. Vin- 
 cent best knows. Could it be said that the Danes 
 were not brave ? The contrary has always been 
 shown. Was our force so superior that there was 
 no merit in gaining the victory? If guns made 
 the superiority, the Danes were very superior. If 
 it be said : " Ay, but your ships were superior," to 
 that I can answer that the force placed by the Danes
 
 176 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 for the preservation of their arsenal, their fleet, and 
 the city of Copenhagen was such, and of that de- 
 scription of vessels which they thought inexpugnable 
 by any force that could be brought against it. I 
 have no more to say, but beg to refer your Lord- 
 ship to the papers sent herewith ; and I hope, in 
 the name of those brave commanders who were 
 under my orders on the glorious 2nd of April, 
 1 80 1, for your recommendation to his Majesty, 
 that he may be pleased to bestow that mark of 
 honour on the battle of Copenhagen which his 
 goodness has given to the battles of St. Vincent, 
 the 1 st of June, of Camperdown, and the Nile. — 
 To Lord Melville, June 22, 1801. 
 
 SMALL MEASURES. 
 
 Small measures produce only small results. — To 
 the Queen of Naples, July 10, 1804. 
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 I live in hopes yet to see Buonaparte humbled, 
 and Spain resuming her natural rank amongst the 
 nations, which that clever scoundrel prevents. He 
 wants to have her revolutionised, or that he should 
 have more money for preserving the name of the 
 Spanish Monarchy. I sincerely hope England and 
 Spain will long remain at peace. — To J. Duff, July. 
 1804.
 
 AND DEEDS. 177 
 
 SEA AFFAIRS. 
 
 In sea affairs nothing is impossible and nothins 
 improbable. — To Count Mocenigo, August 4, 1804. 
 
 HIS FLEET. 
 
 I am sorry to tell you that, my health, or rather 
 constitution, is so much shook that I doubt the 
 possibility of holding out another winter without 
 asses' milk and some months' quiet ; then I may get 
 on another campaign or two ; but, my dear Kings- 
 mill, when I run over the under-mentioned wounds 
 — eye in Corsica, belly off Cape St. Vincent, arm 
 at Teneriffe, head in Egypt — I ought to be thankful 
 that I am what I am. If Monsieur La Touche 
 will give me the meeting before I go home it will 
 probably finish my naval career. He is ready, and, 
 by their handling their ships, apparently well 
 manned ; but I command, for captains and crew, 
 such a fleet as I never have before seen, and it is 
 impossible that any admiral can be happier situated. 
 Rotten ships neither rest with me nor with them. — 
 To Sir R. Kingsmill, August 4, 1804. 
 
 ADMIRAL TREVILLE'S LETTER. 
 
 You must excuse a short letter. You will have 
 seen Monsieur La Touche's letter of how he chased
 
 178 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 me and how I ran. I keep it ; and, by God, if I 
 take him, he shall eat it ! — To the Rev. W. Nelson, 
 August 8, 1804. 
 
 Although I most certainly never thought of writ- 
 ing a line upon Monsieur La Touche's having cut 
 a caper a few miles outside of Toulon, on the 14th 
 of June, where he well knew I could not get at him 
 without placing the ships under the batteries which 
 surround the port, and that, had I attacked him in 
 that position, he could retire into his secure nest 
 whenever he pleased, yet, as that gentleman has 
 thought proper to write a letter stating that the fleet 
 under my command ran away, and that he pursued 
 it, perhaps it may be thought necessary for me to 
 say something. But I do assure you, sir, that I 
 know not what to say, except by a flat contradic- 
 tion ; for if my character is not established by this 
 time for not being apt to run away, it is not worth 
 my time to attempt to put the world right. It is 
 not, therefore, I do assure their Lordships, with any 
 such intention that I stain my paper with a vaunting 
 man's name, and, therefore, I shall only state that 
 the fleet I have the honour and happiness to com- 
 mand is in the highest state of discipline, good 
 order, good humour, and good health, and that the 
 united wishes of all are, I am sure, to meet 
 Monsieur La Touche at sea ; then I ought not to
 
 AND DEEDS. 179 
 
 doubt that I should be able to write a letter equally 
 satisfactory to my King, my country, and myself.— 
 To IV. Marsden, August 12, 1804. 
 
 I have every reason to think that if this fleet gets 
 fairly up with Monsieur La Touche, his letter, with 
 all his ingenuity, must be different from his last. 
 We had fancied that we had chased him into 
 Toulon ; for blind as I am, I could see his water- 
 line when he clewed his topsails up, shutting in 
 Sepet ; but from the time of his meeting Captain 
 Hawker in the Iris, I never heard of his acting 
 otherwise than as a poltroon and a liar. Con- 
 tempt is the best mode of treating such a mis- 
 creant. — To Captain Sutton, August 20, 1804. 
 
 LA TOUCHE TREVILLE AT TOULON. 
 
 If he had but come out and fought us it would 
 at least have added ten years to my life. — Said 
 during the Blockade, 1804. 
 
 A HINT. 
 
 I have wrote to Lord Melville my desire to return 
 to this command in March or April if I am re- 
 moved ; but the administration may have so many 
 other admirals looking to them that I may very 
 possibly be laid upon the shelf. I dare not pre-
 
 180 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 surae to think, that with all my zeal and attach- 
 ment to their Sicilian Majesties, that I am of 
 sufficient importance for the King J to express his 
 wish to England for my return. That must be for 
 him to consider, and if he thinks proper to do it, 
 nothing, I suppose, but a letter to his brother 
 George can do it, and that must not go through 
 me, but through his Minister Castelcicala. — To H. 
 Elliot, August 28, 1804. 
 
 NELSON NEVER CHANGES. 
 
 I do assure you, my dear Lord, that not one of all 
 your naval friends — and you ought to have many — 
 loves, honours, and respects you more than myself, 
 or is more grateful for all your kindness. Circum- 
 stances may have separated us ; but my sincere 
 respect and attachment can never be shaken by 
 either political or other considerations, and it will 
 always give me pleasure in showing my regard for 
 the father by attentions to the son. The sight of 
 your letter called forth feelings of which I have 
 reason to be proud, but which cannot be readily 
 expressed ; therefore I will only say for myself that 
 Nelson never has nor can change.— To Earl 
 Spencer, October 10, 1804. 
 
 1 The King of Naples.
 
 AND DEEDS. 181 
 
 SARDINIA IN 1804. 
 
 We know everything respecting Sardinia which is 
 necessary — that it has no money, no troops, no 
 means of defence. ... I will only mention the 
 state of one town — Alghiera, fortified with seventy 
 large cannon, and containing 10,000 or 12,000 in- 
 habitants. It has forty soldiers and a governor, 
 not one of whom has been paid any wages for more 
 than three years. They levy a small tax upon what 
 comes in or goes out of the town. Guns, honey- 
 combed for want of paint, and only two carriages 
 fit to stand firing; and the governor shows this and 
 says, How long can we go on in this manner ? This 
 place was intended to, and would in our hands, 
 possess the whole of the coral fishery ; but for want 
 of active commerce grass grows in the streets. I 
 could repeat the same miserable state of the city of 
 Sassari, where there is a regular university esta- 
 blished, now in misery. The French mean to make 
 that the seat of government. It is in a beautiful and 
 fertile plain, twelve miles from the sea, to which 
 a river flows. — To Lord Harrowby, October n, 
 1804. 
 
 STILL WAITING. 
 
 The weather was very thick when I looked into 
 Toulon, but I believe a vice-admiral has hoisted
 
 1 82 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 his flag; his name I have not yet heard. 1 They 
 now amuse themselves with night signals ; and by 
 the quantity of rockets and blue lights they show 
 with every signal, they plainly mark their position. 
 These gentlemen must soon be so perfect in theory 
 that they will come to sea to put their knowledge 
 into practice. Could I see that day it would make 
 me happy. — Off Toulon. To Lord Melville, October 
 30, 1804. 
 
 THE FRENCH FLEET SAILS. 
 
 The French fleet sailed from Toulon on Friday 
 last, the 1 8th. Our frigates saw part of them all 
 day, and were chased by one of the ships. At ten 
 o'clock the same night they were in the French 
 Fleet, then nearly in the latitude of Ajaccio, steering 
 south, or S. by W., the direct course for the Island 
 of Toro, south end of Sardinia, it blowing a strong 
 gale at N.W. and a heavy sea. The French were 
 then, by Captain Moubray's account, carrying a 
 heavy press of sail. At three o'clock in the after- 
 noon of the 19th Captain Moubray made his report 
 to me at Madalena, and at six the whole fleet was 
 at sea with a fresh breeze at W.N.W., steering to 
 the southward along the Sardinian shore, intending 
 to push for the south end of Sardinia, where I 
 
 1 Vice-admiral Villeneuve.
 
 AND DEEDS. 183 
 
 could have little fear but that I should meet them : 
 for, from all I have heard from the captains of the 
 frigates, the enemy must be bound round the south 
 end of Sardinia, but whether to Cagliari, Sicily, the 
 Morea, or Egypt I am most completely in ignorance. 
 I believe they have six or seven thousand troops on 
 board. On the 20th we were taken with a heavy 
 gale at S.S.W., which has arrested our progress. It 
 is now (eight o'clock on the morning of the 22nd) 
 at W. by S., and we are sixteen leagues east from 
 Cape Carbonara, blowing fresh, with a heavy sea, 
 so that I stand no chance of closing with Sardinia 
 to-day. I have sent a frigate to both Cagliari and 
 the Island of St. Pierre to try and get information ; 
 and although I have only one frigate with me, I 
 send her to your Excellency that you may be put 
 upon your guard in case the enemy are bound to 
 Sicily ; and I beg that you will send likewise to 
 Naples in case their passing the south end of 
 Sardinia should be a feint in order to deceive me. 
 But I rather think they believe I am off Cape St. 
 Sebastian, where I am often forced to take shelter. 
 If the French have had similar winds to us, it was 
 impossible they could be round Toro before the 
 morning of the 20th, and since that time till this 
 morning they have had no winds which would allow 
 them to weather Maritimo, if they are destined for 
 either Egypt or the Morea. It is almost impossible
 
 1 84 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 they can have passed us and gone to Naples ; and 
 I am at this moment in the best possible position 
 for intercepting them should that be their destina- 
 tion. I must be guided in all my future movements 
 by information which I may receive. — To Sir John 
 Acton, January 22, 1805. 
 
 SELF-APPROVAL. 
 
 Although I have not yet heard of the French 
 fleet, and remain in total ignorance where they 
 are got to, yet to this moment I am more confirmed 
 in my opinion, from communicating with Alexan- 
 dria, that Egypt was the destination of the French 
 armament from Toulon ; and when I call all the 
 circumstances which I know at this moment, I ap- 
 prove (if nobody else does) of my own conduct in 
 acting as I have done. We know the success of a 
 man's measures is the criterion by which we judge 
 of the wisdom or folly of his measures. I have 
 done my best. I feel I have done right; and should 
 Ministers think otherwise, they must get somebody 
 else of more wisdom ; for greater zeal I will turn 
 my back on no man. — To Sir A. Ball, February 
 11, 1805. 
 
 PURSUIT OF THE FRENCH FLEET. 
 
 You will readily believe that my heart is almost 
 broke at not having got hold of those French folks.
 
 AND DEEDS. 185 
 
 From January 19th to this day I have not been to 
 be envied. Had they not been crippled, nothing 
 could have hindered our meeting them on January 
 2 1st off the south end of Sardinia. Ever since we have 
 been prepared for battle ; not a bulkhead up in the 
 fleet. Night or day, it is my determination not to 
 lose one moment in attacking them. — To A. Davi- 
 son, March 11, 1805. 
 
 My good fortune seems flown away. I cannot 
 get a fair wind, or even a side wind. Dead foul ! — 
 Dead foul ! But my mind is fully made up what 
 to do when I leave the Straits, supposing there is 
 no certain information of the enemy's destination. 
 The officer who commands the prize sent from 
 Gibraltar will tell you all the news. I believe this 
 ill-luck will go near to kill me ; but as these are 
 times for exertions, I must not be cast down what- 
 ever I feel.— To Sir A. Ball, April 19, 1805. 
 
 The circumstance of their having taken the 
 Spanish ships which were for sea from Cadiz 
 satisfies my mind that they are not bound to the 
 West Indies (nor probably the Brazils), but intend 
 forming a junction with the squadron at Ferrol, and 
 pushing direct for Ireland or Brest, as I believe the 
 French have troops on board ; therefore, if 1 
 receive no intelligence to do away my present 
 
 •3
 
 1 86 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 belief, I shall proceed from Cape St. Vincent and take 
 my position fifty leagues west from Scilly, approach- 
 ing that island slowly that I may not miss any vessels 
 sent in search of the squadron with orders. My 
 reason for this position is, that it is equally easy to 
 get to either the fleet off Brest or to go to Ireland, 
 should the fleet be wanted at either station. I trust 
 this plan will meet their Lordships' approbation ; 
 and I have the pleasure to say that I shall bring 
 with me eleven as fine ships of war, as ably com- 
 manded, and in as perfect order, and in health, as 
 ever went to sea. — To W. Marsden, April 19, 1805. 
 
 I am not made to despair : what man can do 
 shall be done. I have marked out for myself a 
 decided line of conduct, and I shall follow it well 
 up ; although I have now before me a letter from 
 the physician of the fleet, enforcing my return to 
 England before the hot months. Therefore, not- 
 withstanding, I shall pursue the enemy to the East 
 or West Indies, if I know that to have been their 
 destination ; yet, if the Mediterranean fleet join the 
 Channel, I shall request, with that order, permission 
 to go on shore. — To Lord Melville, April 20, 1805. 
 
 Salt beef and the French fleet is far preferable 
 to roast beef and champagne without them. — To A. 
 Davison, May 7, 1805.
 
 AND DEEDS. 187 
 
 PLAN OF ATTACK. 1 
 
 The business of an English commander-in-chief 
 being first to bring an enemy's fleet to battle on the 
 most advantageous terms to himself (I mean that 
 of laying his ships close on board the enemy as ex- 
 peditiously as possible) ; and secondly, to continue 
 them there without separating until the business is 
 decided, I am sensible beyond this object it is 
 not necessary that I should say a word, being fully 
 assured that the captains and admirals of the fleet 
 I have the honour to command will, knowing my 
 precise object — that of a close and decisive battle — 
 supply any deficiency in my not making signals ; 
 which may, if extended beyond these objects, either 
 be misunderstood, or if waited for, very probably 
 from various causes, be impossible for the com- 
 mander-in-chief to make ; therefore, it will only be 
 requisite for me to state, in as few words as pos- 
 sible, the various modes in which it may be neces- 
 sary for me to attain my object, on which depends 
 not only the honour and glory of our country, but 
 possibly its safety, and with it that of all Europe, 
 from French tyranny and oppression. 
 
 If the two fleets are both willing to fight, but 
 
 1 Drawn up by Nelson during his pursuit of the French 
 fleet to the West Indies in anticipation of his ships meeting 
 wit* those of the enemy.
 
 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 little manoeuvring is necessary ; the less the better 
 — a day is soon lost in that business ; therefore I 
 will only suppose that the enemy's fleet being to 
 leeward, standing close upon a wind on the star- 
 board tack, and that I am nearly dead ahead of 
 them, standing on the larboard tack, of course I 
 should weather them. The weather must be sup- 
 posed to be moderate ; for if it be a gale of wind 
 the manoeuvring of both fleets is of but little avail, and 
 probably no decisive action would take place with 
 the whole fleet. Two modes present themselves : 
 one to stand on, just out of gunshot, until the van 
 ship of my line should be about the centre ship of 
 the enemy, then make the signal to wear together, 
 then bear up, engage with all our force the six or 
 five van ships of the enemy, passing certainly, if 
 opportunity offered, through the line. This would 
 prevent their bearing up, and the action, from the 
 known bravery and conduct of the admirals and 
 captains, would certainly be decisive ; the second 
 or third rear ships of the enemy would act as they 
 please, and our ships would give a good account of 
 them should they persist in mixing with our ships. 
 The other mode would be to stand under an easy 
 but commanding sail directly for their headmost 
 ship, so as to prevent the enemy from knowing 
 whether I should pass to leeward or windward of 
 him. In that situation I would make the sign»l to
 
 AND DEEDS. 189 
 
 engage the enemy to leeward, and to cut through 
 their fleet about the sixth ship from the van, passing 
 very close ; they being on a wind and you going 
 large, could cut their line when you pleased. The 
 van ships of the enemy would, by the time our rear 
 came abreast of the van ship, be severely cut up, and 
 our van could not expect to escape damage. I 
 would then have our rear ship and every ship in 
 succession wear, continue the action with either the 
 van ship or second ship, as might appear most 
 eligible from her crippled state ; and this mode 
 pursued, I see nothing to prevent the capture of 
 the five or six ships of the enemy's van. The two 
 or three ships of the enemy's rear must either bear 
 up or wear ; and in either case, although they would 
 be in a better plight probably than our two van 
 ships (now the rear), yet they would be separated, 
 and at a distance to leeward, so as to give our 
 ships time to refit, and by that time, I believe, the 
 battle would, from the judgment of the admirals 
 and captains, be over with the rest of them. Signals 
 from these moments are useless, when every man 
 is disposed to do his duty. The great object is for 
 us to support each other and to keep close to the 
 enemy and to leeward of him. 
 
 If the enemy are running away, then the only 
 signals necessary will be to engage the enemy as 
 arriving up with them ; and the other ships to pass
 
 i go NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 on for the second, third, &c, giving, if possible, a 
 close fire into the enemy in passing, taking care to 
 give our ships engaged notice of your intention. 
 
 THE COLONIAL SYSTEM. 
 
 I ever have been, and shall die, a firm friend to 
 our present Colonial system. I was bred, as you 
 know, in. the good old school, and taught to 
 appreciate the value of our West Indian pos- 
 sessions, and neither in the field nor in the Senate 
 shall their just rights be infringed whilst I have an 
 arm to fight in their defence or a tongue to launch 
 my voice. — To S. Stayner, June 10, 1805. 
 
 STORY OF THE PURSUIT. 
 
 I arrived at Barbadoes June 4, where I found 
 Lieutenant-General Sir William Myers, who the 
 night before had received information from Briga- 
 dier-General Brereton, at St. Lucia, that eight-and- 
 twenty sail of the enemy's fleet had been seen to 
 windward of St. Lucia, steering to the southward. 
 As there was no reason to doubt this information, 
 the General offered to embark himself, with 2000 
 troops, for either the relief of Tobago or Trinidada, 
 which were supposed to be the intended objects of 
 the enemy's attack. On the 6th we were off 
 Tobago, on the 7th at Trinidada, on the 8th I 
 received an account that the enemy had not moved
 
 AND DEEDS. 191 
 
 on the 4th from Port-Royal, but were expected to 
 sail that night for the attack of Grenada. On the 
 9th I was at Grenada, when I received a letter 
 from General Prevost, to say that the enemy had 
 passed Dominica on the 6th, standing to the north- 
 ward, to the leeward of Antigua, and took that day 
 a convoy* of fourteen sail of sugar-loaded ships 
 which unfortunately left St. John's in the night for 
 England. On the nth I was at Montserrat, and, 
 at sunset on the 12th, anchored at St. John's, 
 Antigua, to land the troops, which was done on 
 the morning of the 13th, and at noon I sailed in 
 my pursuit of the enemy ; and I do not yet despair 
 of getting up with them before they arrive at Cadiz 
 or Toulon, to which ports I think they are bound, 
 or, at least, in time to prevent them from having a 
 moment's superiority. I have no reason to blame 
 Dame Fortune. If either General Brereton could 
 not have wrote, or his lookout-man had been blind, 
 nothing could have prevented my fighting them on 
 June 6 ; but such information, and from such a 
 quarter, close to the enemy, could not be doubted. 
 — To Lord It. Fitzgerald, June 15, 1805. 
 
 GENERAL BRERETON. 
 
 There would have been no occasion for opinions 
 had not General Brereton sent his damned intelli- 
 gence from St. Lucia ; nor would I have received
 
 1 92 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 it to have acted by it, but I was assured that his 
 information was very correct. It has almost broken 
 my heart, but I must not despair. — To Sir E. 
 Nepean, June 16, 1805. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM PRIVATE DIARY. 
 
 Midnight, nearly calm ; saw three planks which 
 I think came from the French fleet. Very miser- 
 able, which is very foolish. — June 21. 
 
 THE WHOLE RUN. 
 
 Our run from Barbuda, day by day, was 3459 
 miles ; our run from Cape St. Vincent to Bar- 
 badoes was 3227 miles; so that our run back was 
 only 232 miles more than our run out — allowance 
 being made for the difference of the latitude and 
 longitude of Barbadoes and Barbuda ; average per 
 day, thirty -four leagues, wanting nine miles. — 
 Private Diary, July 17, 1805. 
 
 SPELL OF SHIPBOARD. 
 
 I went on shore for the first time since the 16th 
 of June, 1803; and from having my foot out of 
 the Victory, two years wanting ten days. — Private 
 Diary, July 20, 1805. 
 
 DISAPPOINTMENT. 
 
 I am as miserable as you can conceive. But 
 for General Brereton's damned information, Nelson
 
 AND DEEDS. 193 
 
 would have been, living or dead, the greatest man 
 in his profession that England ever saw. Now, 
 alas, I am nothing — perhaps shall incur censure 
 for misfortunes which may happen and have hap- 
 pened. When I follow my own lead I am, in 
 general, much more correct in my judgment than 
 following the opinion of others. I resisted the 
 opinion of General Brereton's information till it 
 would have been the height of presumption to 
 have carried my disbelief further. I could not, in 
 the face of admiral and generals, go N.W. when it 
 was apparently clear that the enemy had gone 
 south. But I am miserable. — To A. Davison, 
 July 24, 1805. 
 
 SIR ROBERT CALDER's VICTORY. 
 
 I was, in truth, bewildered by the account of 
 Sir Robert Calder's victory and the joy of the 
 event, together with the hearing that John Bull 
 was not content, which I am sorry for. Who can, 
 my dear Fremantle, command all the success 
 which our country may wish ? We have fought 
 together, and therefore well know what it is. I 
 have had the best-disposed fleet of friends, but 
 who can say what will be the event of a battle ? 
 And it most sincerely grieves me that in any of 
 the papers it should be insinuated that Lord Nel- 
 son could have done better. I should have fought
 
 ig 4 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 the enemy as did my friend Calder ; who can say 
 that he will be more successful than another ? I 
 only wish to stand upon my own merits, and not 
 by comparison one way or the other upon the 
 conduct of a brother-officer. You will forgive this 
 dissertation, but I feel upon the occasion. 1 — To 
 Captain Fremantle. Quoted by Pettigrew. 
 
 NORTH WIND IN MEDITERRANEAN. 
 
 In summer-time, coming from the Mediterranean, 
 you must not expect to lose the northerly wind 
 until you get into the longitude of 17° W. — Private 
 Diary, August 8, 1805. 
 
 GENERAL MACK. 
 
 I knew him at Naples to be a rascal, a scoundrel, 
 and a coward. — To the Duke of Clarence, August, 
 1805. 
 
 BEFORE. TRAFALGAR. 
 
 Depend on it, Blackwood, I shall yet give Mr. 
 Villeneuve a drubbing. — Said in August, 1805. 
 
 1 Calder's victory averted the invasion of England and 
 saved the country. National gratitude was expressed by 
 his being severely reprimanded for not having taken more 
 than two of the enemy's ships.
 
 AND DEEDS. 195 
 
 MUCH TO LOSE, NOTHING TO GAIN. 
 
 I hope my absence will not be long, and that I 
 shall soon meet the combined fleets, with a force 
 sufficient to do the job well, for half a victory 
 would but half content me. But I do not believe 
 the Admiralty can give me a force within fifteen 
 or sixteen sail of the line of the enemy ; and there- 
 fore, if every ship took her opponent, we should 
 have to contend with a fresh fleet of fifteen or 
 sixteen sail of the line. But I will do my best, 
 and I hope God Almighty will go with me. I 
 have much to lose, but little to gain ; and I go 
 because it's right, and I will serve the country 
 faithfully. — To A. Davison, September 6, 1805. 
 
 FAREWELL TO HOME. 
 
 Friday, September 13, 1805. 
 
 Friday night, at half-past ten, drove from dear, 
 dear Merton, where I left all which I hold dear in 
 this world, to go and 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
 
 i 9 6 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 submission, relying that He will protect those so 
 dear to me that I may leave behind. His will be 
 done. Amen, amen, amen. — Communicated by 
 Rev. A.J. Scott, July 5, 1806. 
 
 A SIGNIFICANT REFERENCE. 
 
 "Victory," off Plymouth, September 17 [1805]. 
 Nine o'clock in the morning. Blowing fresh 
 at W.S.W. Dead foul wind. 
 
 I sent, my own dearest Emma, a letter for you 
 last night, in a Torbay boat, and gave the man a 
 guinea to put it in the post-office. We have had 
 a nasty blowing night, and it looks very dirty. I 
 am now signalising the ships at Plymouth to join 
 me ; but I rather doubt their ability to get to sea. 
 However, I have got clear off Portland, and have 
 Cawsand Bay and Torbay under the lee. I 
 entreat, my dear Emma, that you will cheer up, 
 and we will look forward to many, many happy 
 years, and be surrounded by our children's 
 children. God Almighty can, when He pleases, 
 remove the impediment. 1 My heart and soul is 
 with you and Horatia. I got this line ready in 
 case a boat should get alongside. 
 
 1 It is lamentable to understand that this should refer to 
 his wife, Lady Nelson.
 
 AND DEEDS. 197 
 
 TOUCH AND TAKE. 
 
 I will try to have a motto — at least it shall be 
 my watchword : " Touch and Take ". — To Rigid 
 Hon. George Rose, September 17, 1805. 
 
 NELSON TOUCH. 
 
 I am anxious to join the fleet, for it would add 
 to my grief if any other man was to give them the 
 Nelson touch, which WE say is warranted never to 
 fail. — To Lady Hamilton, September 25, 1805. 
 
 SHORT ABSENCE. 
 
 I was only twenty-five days, from dinner to 
 dinner, absent from the Victory. In our several 
 stations, my dear admiral, we must all put our 
 shoulders to the wheel, and make the great machine 
 of the fleet entrusted to our charge go on smoothly. 
 — To Admiral Knight, September 30, 1805. 
 
 GLORIOUS EXPECTATION. 
 
 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 within the power of 
 a man to get at them that 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
 
 198 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 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 sur- 
 passed. 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 wise and 
 just 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 anything is to happen to me. Quite the con- 
 trary ; my mind is calm, and I have only to think 
 of destroying our inveterate foe. — To A. Davison, 
 September 30, 1805. 
 
 calder's return. 
 
 I did not fail, immediately on my arrival, to 
 deliver your message to Sir Robert Calder, and it 
 will give your Lordship pleasure to learn — as it has 
 me'— that an inquiry is what the Vice-Admiral 
 wishes, and that he had written to you, by the 
 Nautilus, to say so. Sir Robert thinks that he can 
 clearly prove that it was not in his power to bring 
 the combined fleets again to battle. It would be 
 only taking up your time were I to enter more at 
 large on all our conversation ; but Sir Robert felt
 
 AND DEEDS. 199 
 
 so much, even at the idea of being removed from his 
 own ship, which he commanded, in the face of the 
 fleet, that I much fear I shall incur the censure of 
 the Board of Admirality, without your Lordship's 
 influence with the members of it. I may be 
 thought wrong, as an officer, to disobey the orders 
 of the Admirality by not insisting on Sir Robert 
 Calder's quitting the Prince of Wales for the 
 Dreadnought, and for parting with a 90-gun ship 
 before the force arrives, which their Lordships have 
 judged necessary ; but I trust that I shall be con- 
 sidered to have done right as a man, and to a 
 brother officer in affliction — my heart could not 
 stand it, and so the thing must rest. — To Lord 
 Bar/tarn, September 30, 1805. 
 
 PAINFUL DISORDER. 
 
 It is a relief to me to take up the pen and write 
 you a line, for I have had, about four o'clock this 
 morning, one of my dreadful spasms, which has 
 almost enervated me. It is very odd : I was hardly 
 ever better than yesterday. Fremantle stayed with 
 me till eight o'clock, and I slept uncommonly well, 
 but was awoke with this disorder. My opinion of 
 its effect some one day has never altered. How- 
 ever, it is entirely gone off, and I am only quite 
 weak ; but I do assure you, my Emma, that the
 
 200 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 uncertainty of human life makes the situation 
 of you dearer to my affectionate heart. 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 
 have been writing seven hours yesterday ; perhaps 
 that had some hand in bringing it upon me. — 
 To Lady Hamilton, October i, 1805. 
 
 RECEPTION BY THE FLEET. 
 
 I got round Cape St. Vincent the 26th, but it 
 was the 28th before I got off Cadiz and joined 
 Admiral Collingwood ; but it was so late that I did 
 not communicate till next morning. I believe my 
 arrival was most welcome, not only to the com- 
 mander 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 admiral downwards it 
 was repeated : " It must succeed if only they will 
 allow us to get at them ! You are, my Lord, sur- 
 rounded by friends whom you inspire with con- 
 fidence." Some, my dear Emma, may be Judases, 
 but the majority are certainly much pleased with my 
 commanding them. — To Lady Hamilton, October 1, 
 1805.
 
 AND DEEDS. 201 
 
 THE COMBINED FLEETS. 
 
 The far greater part of the combined fleets is in 
 the harbour, and indeed more can be called in the 
 bay of Cadiz : they lie in such a position abreast of 
 the town, and many of them entirely open, over 
 the narrow strip of land, that Congreve's rockets, if 
 thev will so one mile and a half, must do execution. 
 Even should no ships be burnt, yet it would make 
 Cadiz so very disagreeable that they would rather 
 risk an action than remain in port. I do assure 
 your Lordship that myself and many thousands in 
 the fleet will feel under the greatest obligations to 
 Colonel Congreve. But I think, with your Lord- 
 ship's assistance, we have a better chance of forcing 
 them out by want of provisions : it is said hunger 
 will break through stone walls ; ours is only a 
 wall of wood. — To Viscount Castlereagh, October 1, 
 1805. 
 
 SWEETEST SENSATION OF HIS LIFE. 
 
 The reception I met with on joining the fleet 
 caused the sweetest sensation of my life. The 
 officers who came on board to welcome my return 
 forgot my rank as commander-in-chief in the 
 enthusiasm with which they greeted me. As soon 
 as these emotions were past, I laid before them the 
 plan I had previously arranged for attacking the 
 
 14
 
 202 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 enemy ; and it was not only my pleasure to find it 
 generally approved, but clearly perceived and under- 
 stood. The enemy are still in port, but something 
 must be immediately done to provoke or allure 
 them to a battle. My duty to my country demands 
 it, and the hopes entered in me I hope in God 
 will be realised. In less than a fortnight expect to 
 hear from me, or of me, for who can foresee the 
 fate of battle ? Put up your prayers for my suc- 
 cess, and may God protect all my friends. — 
 October 3, 1S05. 1 
 
 EYES OF THE FLEET. 
 
 I have only two frigates to watch them, and not 
 one with the fleet. I am most exceedingly anxious 
 for more eyes, and hope the Admiralty are hasten- 
 ing them to me. The last fleet was lost to me for 
 want of frigates. God forbid this should. — To 
 Viscount Castlereagh, October 5, 1805. 
 
 I am sorry ever to trouble their Lordships with 
 anything like a complaint of a want of frigates and 
 sloops ; but if the different services require them, 
 and I have them not, those services must be 
 neglected to be performed. I am taking all 
 
 1 The name of the person to whom this was addressed is 
 unknown.
 
 AND DEEDS. 203 
 
 frigates about me I possibly can ; for if I were 
 an angel, and, attending to all the other points 
 of my command, let the enemy escape for want of 
 the eyes of the fleet, I should consider myself as 
 most highly reprehensible. Never less than eight 
 frigates and three good fast-sailing brigs should 
 always be with the fleet to watch Cadiz ; and to 
 carry transports in and out to refit it would take at 
 least ten and four brigs to do that service well. At 
 present I have only been able to collect two, which 
 makes me very uneasy. — To W. Marsden, Octo- 
 ber 5, 1805. 
 
 A PROPHETIC FOREBODING. 
 
 I verily believe the country will soon be put to 
 some expense for my account — either a monument 
 or a new pension and honours : for I have not the 
 very smallest doubt but that a few days, almost 
 hours, will put us in battle. The success no man 
 can ensure, but the fighting them, if they are to be 
 got at, I pledge myself, and if the force arrives 
 which is intended. I am very, very, very anxious 
 for its arrival ; for the thing will be done if a few 
 more days elapse, and I want, for the sake of our 
 country, that it should be done so effectually as to 
 leave nothing to wish for ; and what will signify the 
 force the day after the battle ? It is, as Mr. Pitt 
 knows, annihilation that the country wants, and not
 
 2o 4 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 merely a splendid victory of twenty-three to thirty- 
 six _ honourable to the parties concerned, but 
 absolutely useless in the extended scale to bring 
 Buonaparte to his marrow-bones : numbers can 
 only annihilate.— 7>? Right Hon. G. Rose, Octo- 
 ber 6, 1805. 
 
 UNCERTAINTY IN SEA-FIGHTS. 
 
 Something must be left to chance ; nothing is 
 sure in a sea-fight beyond all others. — Memoran- 
 dum, October 9, 1805. 
 
 TO LORD COLLINGWOOD. 
 
 I send you my plan of attack as far as a man 
 dare venture to guess at the very uncertain position 
 the enemy may be found in. But, my dear friend, 
 it is to place you perfectly at ease respecting my 
 intentions, and to give full scope to your judgment 
 for carrying them into effect. We can, my dear 
 Coll., have no little jealousies. We have only one 
 great object in view, that of annihilating our 
 enemies, and getting a glorious peace for our 
 country. No man has more confidence in another 
 than I have in you ; no man will render your 
 services more justice than your very old friend.— 
 October 9, 1805.
 
 AND -DEEDS. 205 
 
 TO LADY HAMILTON. 
 
 " Victory," October 19, 1805, Cadiz, 
 E. S.E., 16 leagues. 
 
 My dearest beloved Emma, the dear friend of 
 my bosom, the signal has been made that the 
 enemy's fleet are coming out of port. We have 
 very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing 
 them before to-morrow. May the God of battles 
 crown my endeavours with success ; at all events, 
 I will ever take care that my name shall ever be 
 most dear to you and Horatia, both of whom I love 
 as much as my own life. And as my last writing 
 before the battle will be to you, so I hope in God 
 that I shall live to finish my letter after the battle. 
 May heaven bless you, prays your 
 
 Nelson and Bronte. 
 
 October 20. In the morning we were close to 
 the mouth of the Straits, but the wind had not 
 come far enough to the westward to allow the com- 
 bined fleets to weather the shoals off Trafalgar ; 
 but they were counted as far as forty sail of ships 
 of war, which I suppose to be thirty-four of the 
 line and six frigates. A group of them was seen 
 off the lighthouse of Cadiz this morning, but it 
 blows so very fresh and thick weather that I rather
 
 206 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 believe they will go into the harbour before night. 
 May God Almighty give us success over these 
 fellows, and enable us to get a peace. 
 
 A PRAYER. 
 
 Monday, October 21, 1805. 
 
 At daylight saw the enemy's combined fleet 
 from East to E.S.E. bore away ; made the signal 
 for order of sailing, and to prepare for battle, the 
 enemy with their heads to the southward ; at seven 
 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 glori- 
 ous victory ; and may no misconduct in anyone 
 tarnish it ; and may humanity, after victory, be the 
 predominant feature in the British fleet. For my- 
 self, individually, I commit my life to Him who 
 made me, and may His blessing light upon my en- 
 deavours for serving my country faithfully. To 
 Him I resign myself, and the just cause which is 
 entrusted to me to defend. Amen. Amen. 
 Amen. — Private Diary. 
 
 THE FAMOUS SIGNAL. 
 
 His Lordship came to me on the poop, and after 
 ordering certain signals to be made about a quarter 
 to noon, he said — "Mr. Pasco, I wish to say to
 
 AND DEEDS. 207 
 
 the fleet 'England confides that every man will 
 do his duty'"; and he added, "You must be 
 quick, for I have one more to make, which is for 
 close action". I replied — "If your Lordship will 
 permit me to substitute expects for confides, the 
 signal will soon be completed, because the word 
 expects is in the vocabulary, and confides must be 
 spelt". His Lordship replied in haste, and with 
 seeming satisfaction, " That will do, Pasco ; make 
 it directly ". When it had been answered by a few 
 ships in the van, he ordered me to make the signal 
 for close action, and to keep it up ; accordingly, I 
 hoisted No. 16 at the top-gallant mast-head, and 
 there it remained until shot away. — Related by 
 John Pasco, who was Flag Lieutenant of the " Vic- 
 tory ". See Letters and Dispatches. 
 
 DEATH OF NELSON. 
 
 It was from this ship (the Redoubtable) that 
 Lord Nelson received his mortal wound. About 
 fifteen minutes past one o'clock, which was in the 
 heat of the engagement, he was walking the middle 
 of the quarter-deck with Captain Hardy, and in 
 the act of turning near the hatchway with his face 
 towards the stern of the Victory, when the fatal ball 
 was fired from the enemy's mizen-top, which, from the 
 situation of the two ships (lying on board of each 
 other), was brought just abaft, and rather below the
 
 2o8 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 Victory 's main-yard, and, of course, not more than 
 fifteen yards distant from that part of the deck 
 where his Lordship stood. The ball struck the 
 epaulet on his left shoulder, and penetrated his 
 chest. He fell with his face on the deck. Cap- 
 tain Hardy, who was on his right (the side furthest 
 from the enemy), and advanced some steps before 
 his Lordship, on turning round, saw the Sergeant- 
 major (Seeker) of marines, with two seamen raising 
 him from the deck, where he had fallen on the 
 same spot where, a little before, his secretary had 
 breathed his last, with whose blood his Lordship's 
 clothes were much soiled. Captain Hardy ex- 
 pressed a hope that he was not severely wounded ; 
 to which the gallant Chief replied — " They have 
 done for me at last, Hardy ". " I hope not," an- 
 swered Captain Hardy. " Yes," replied his Lord- 
 ship, "my backbone is shot through." 
 
 Captain Hardy ordered the seamen to carry the 
 Admiral below to the cockpit. And now two inci- 
 dents occurred, strikingly characteristic of this 
 great man, and strongly marking that energy and 
 reflection which, in his heroic mind, rose superior 
 even to the immediate consideration of his present 
 condition. While the men were carrying him 
 down the ladder from the middle deck, his Lord- 
 ship remarked that the tiller-ropes were not yet re- 
 placed ; and desired one of the midshipmen
 
 AND DEEDS. 209 
 
 stationed there to go upon the quarter-deck and 
 remind Captain Hardy of that circumstance, and 
 request that new ones should be immediately rove. 
 Having delivered this order, he took his handker- 
 chief from his pocket, and covered his face with it, 
 that he might be conveyed to the cockpit at this 
 crisis unnoticed by the crew. 
 
 Several wounded officers, and about forty men, 
 were likewise carried to the surgeon for assistance 
 just at this time ; and some others had breathed 
 their last during their conveyance below. Among 
 the latter were Lieutenant William Andrew Ram 
 and Mr. Whipple, captain's clerk. The surgeon 
 had just examined these two officers, and found 
 that they were dead, when his attention was 
 arrested by several of the wounded calling to him, 
 " Mr. Beatty, Lord Nelson is here ; Mr. Beatty, 
 the Admiral is wounded ". The surgeon now, on 
 looking round, saw the handkerchief fall from his 
 Lordship's face ; when the stars on his coat, which 
 also had been covered by it, appeared. Mr. 
 Burke, the purser, and the surgeon ran immediately 
 to the assistance of his Lordship, and took him 
 from the arms of the seamen who had carried him 
 below. In conveying him to one of the midship- 
 men's berths, they stumbled, but recovered them- 
 selves without falling. Lord Nelson then inquired 
 who were supporting him ; and, when the surgeon
 
 2io NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 informed him, his Lordship replied — "Ah! Mr. 
 Beatty, you can do nothing for me. I have but 
 a short time to live ; my back is shot through." 
 The surgeon said " he hoped the wound was not 
 so dangerous as his Lordship imagined, and that 
 he might still survive long to enjoy his glorious 
 victory ". The Reverend Dr. Scott, who had been 
 absent in another part of the cockpit administering 
 lemonade to the wounded, now came instantly to 
 his Lordship ; and, in his anguish of grief, wrung 
 his hands, and said—" Alas ! Beatty, how pro- 
 phetic you were ! " alluding to the apprehensions 
 expressed by the surgeon for his Lordship's safety 
 previous to the battle. 
 
 His Lordship was laid upon a bed, stripped of 
 his clothes, and covered with a sheet. While this 
 was effecting he said to Dr. Scott, " Doctor, I told 
 you so. Doctor, I am gone ; " and after a short 
 pause he added in a low voice, " I have to leave 
 Lady Hamilton and my adopted daughter Horatia 
 as a legacy to my country". The surgeon then 
 examined the wound, assuring his Lordship that he 
 would not put him to much pain in endeavouring 
 to discover the course of the ball, which he soon 
 found had penetrated deep into his chest, and had 
 probably lodged in the spine. This being ex- 
 plained to his Lordship, he replied " he was con- 
 fident his back was shot through ". The back was
 
 AND DEEDS. 211 
 
 then examined externally, but without any injury 
 being perceived; on which his Lordship was re- 
 quested by the surgeon to make him acquainted 
 with all his sensations. He replied that he felt a 
 gush of blood every minute within his breast ; that 
 he had no feeling in the lower part of his body, and 
 that his breathing was difficult and attended with 
 very severe pain about that part of the spine where 
 he was confident that the ball had struck ; " for," 
 said he, "I felt it break my back". These 
 symptoms, but more particularly the gush of blood 
 which his Lordship complained of, together with 
 the state of his pulse, indicated to the surgeon the 
 hopeless situation of the case ; but till after the 
 victory was ascertained and announced to his 
 Lordship, the true nature of his wound was con- 
 cealed by the surgeon from all on board except 
 only Captain Hardy, Dr. Scott, Mr. Burke, and 
 Messrs. Smith and Westemburg, the assistant 
 surgeons. 
 
 The Victory's crew cheered whenever they 
 observed an enemy's ship surrender. On one of 
 these occasions Lord Nelson anxiously asked what 
 was the cause of it, when Lieutenant Pasco, who 
 lay wounded at some distance from his Lordship, 
 raised himself up and told him that another ship 
 had struck, which appeared to give him much 
 satisfaction. He now felt an ardent thirst, and
 
 212 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 frequently called for drink, and to be fanned with 
 paper, making use of the words, "fan, fan," and 
 " drink, drink ". This he continued to repeat 
 when he wished for drink or the refreshment of 
 cool air, till a very few minutes before he expired. 
 Lemonade and wine-and-water were given to him 
 occasionally. He evinced great solicitude for the 
 event of the battle, and fears for the safety of his 
 friend, Captain Hardy. Doctor Scott and Mr. 
 Burke used every argument they could suggest to 
 relieve his anxiety. Mr. Burke told him " the 
 enemy were decisively defeated, and that he hoped 
 his Lordship would still live to be himself the 
 bearer of the joyful tidings to his country ". He 
 replied, " It is nonsense, Mr. Burke, to suppose I 
 can live • my sufferings are great, but they will all 
 be soon over". Dr. Scott entreated his Lordship 
 "not to despair of living," and said "he trusted 
 that Divine Providence would restore him once 
 more to his dear country and friends ". " Ah, 
 Doctor!" replied his Lordship, "it's all over; it's 
 all over." 
 
 Many messages were sent to Captain Hardy by 
 the surgeon requesting his attendance on his Lord- 
 ship, who became impatient to see him, and often 
 exclaimed : "Will no one bring Hardy to me? He 
 must be killed ; he is surely destroyed ! " The 
 Captain's aide-de-camp, Mr. Bulkeley, now came
 
 AND DEEDS. 213 
 
 below, and stated that " circumstances respecting 
 the fleet required Captain Hardy's presence on 
 deck, but that he would avail himself of the first 
 favourable moment to visit his Lordship". On 
 hearing him deliver this message to the surgeon, 
 his Lordship inquired who had brought it. "It is 
 Mr. Bulkeley, my Lord." "It is his voice," re- 
 plied his Lordship. He then said to the young 
 gentleman, " Remember me to your father ". 
 
 An hour and ten minutes, however, elapsed from 
 the time of his Lordship's being wounded before 
 Captain Hardy's first subsequent interview with 
 him, the particulars of which are nearly as follows. 
 They shook hands affectionately, and Nelson said, 
 " Well, Hardy, how goes the battle ? How goes 
 the day with us?" "Very well, my Lord," replied 
 Captain Hardy, " we have got twelve or fourteen of 
 the enemy's ships in our possession ; but five of 
 their van have tacked and show an intention of 
 bearing down upon the Victory. I have, therefore, 
 called two or three of our fresh ships round us, and 
 have no doubt of giving them a drubbing." " I 
 hope," said his Lordship, "none of our ships have 
 struck, Hardy." "No, my Lord, there is no fear 
 of that." Lord Nelson then said, "I am a dead 
 man, Hardy. I am going fast ; it will be all over 
 with me soon. Come near to me. Pray, let my 
 dear Lady Hamilton have my hair and all other
 
 2i 4 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 things belonging to me." Mr. Burke was about 
 to withdraw at the commencement of this conversa- 
 tion, but his Lordship, perceiving his intention, 
 desired he would remain. Captain Hardy observed 
 that "he hoped Mr. Beatty could yet hold out 
 some prospect of life ". " Oh ! no," answered his 
 Lordship, " it is impossible. My back is shot 
 through. Beatty will tell you so." Captain Hardy 
 then returned on deck, and at parting shook hands 
 again with his revered friend and commander. 
 
 His Lordship now requested the surgeon, who 
 had been previously absent a short time attending 
 Mr. Rivers, to return to the wounded, and give his 
 assistance to such of them as he could be useful 
 to ; " for," said he, " you can do nothing for me ". 
 The surgeon assured him that the assistant surgeons 
 were doing everything that could be effected for 
 those unfortunate men ; but on his Lordship 
 several times repeating his injunction to that pur- 
 pose, he left him surrounded by Dr. Scott, Mr. 
 Burke, and two of his Lordship's domestics. After 
 the surgeon had been absent a few minutes attend- 
 ing Lieutenants Peake and Reeves of the Marines, 
 who were wounded, he was called by Dr. Scott to 
 his Lordship, who said : "Ah, Mr. Beatty ! I have 
 sent for you to say what I forgot to tell you before, 
 that all power of motion and feeling below my 
 breast are gone ; and you," continued he, " very
 
 AND DEEDS. 215 
 
 well knoiv I can live but a short time". The em- 
 phatic manner in which he pronounced these last 
 words left no doubt in the surgeon's mind that he 
 adverted to the case of a man who had some 
 months before received a mortal injury of the spine 
 on board the Victory, and had laboured under 
 similar privations of sense and muscular motion. 
 The case had made a great impression on Lord 
 Nelson ; he was anxious to know the cause of such 
 symptoms, which was accordingly explained to him, 
 and he now appeared to apply the situation and 
 fate of this man to himself. The surgeon an- 
 swered : " My Lord, you told me so before," but 
 he now examined the extremities to ascertain the 
 fact, when his Lordship said : " Ah, Beatty, I am 
 too certain of it ; Scott and Burke have tried it 
 already. You know I am gone." The surgeon 
 replied : " My Lord, unhappily for our country 
 nothing can be done for you " ; and having made 
 this declaration he was so much affected that 
 he turned round and withdrew a few steps to 
 conceal his emotions. His Lordship said : " I 
 know it, I feel something rising in my breast," 
 putting his hand on his left side, "which tells me 
 I am gone ". Drink was recommended liberally, 
 and Dr. Scott and Mr. Burke fanned him with 
 paper. He often exclaimed : " God be praised I 
 have done my duty " ; and upon the surgeon's
 
 2 16 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 inquiring whether his pain was still very great, he 
 declared " it continued so very severe that he 
 wished he was dead. Yet," said he in a lower voice, 
 "one would like to live a little longer, too," and 
 after a pause of a few minutes he added in the 
 same tone, "What would become of poor Lady 
 Hamilton if she knew my situation?" 
 
 The surgeon, finding it impossible to render his 
 Lordship any further assistance, left him to attend 
 Lieutenant Bligh, Messrs. Smith and Westphal, 
 midshipmen, and some seamen, recently wounded. 
 Captain Hardy now came to the cockpit to see his 
 Lordship a second time, which was after an inter- 
 val of about fifty minutes from the conclusion of his 
 first visit. Before he quitted the deck he sent 
 Lieutenant Hills to acquaint Admiral Collingwood 
 with the lamentable circumstance of Lord Nelson's 
 being wounded. Lord Nelson and Captain Hardy 
 shook hands again, and whilst the Captain retained 
 his Lordship's hand he congratulated him, even in 
 the arms of death, on his brilliant victory, " which," 
 said he, " was complete ; though he did not know 
 how many of the enemy were captured, as it was 
 impossible to perceive every ship distinctly. He 
 was certain, however, of fourteen or fifteen having 
 surrendered." His Lordship answered : " That is 
 well ; but I bargained for twenty," and then em- 
 phatically exclaimed : " Anchor, Hardy ; a?ichor ! "
 
 AND DEEDS. 217 
 
 To this the Captain replied : "I suppose, my Lord, 
 Admiral Collingwood will now take upon himself 
 the direction of affairs ? " " Not while I live, I 
 hope, Hardy," replied the dying chief, and at that 
 moment endeavoured, ineffectually, to raise himself 
 from the bed. " No," added he ; " do you anchor, 
 Hardy." Captain Hardy then said: "Shall we 
 make the signal, sir? " "Yes," answered his Lord- 
 ship ; " for if I live I'll anchor." The energetic 
 manner in which he uttered these his last orders to 
 Captain Hardy, accompanied with his efforts to 
 raise himself, evinced his determination never to 
 resign the command while he retained the exercise 
 of his transcendent faculties, and that he expected 
 Captain Hardy still to carry into effect the sugges- 
 tions of his exalted mind, a sense of his duty over- 
 coming the pains of death. He then told Captain 
 Hardy " he felt that in a few minutes he should be 
 no more," adding, in a low tone, " don't throw 
 me overboard, Hardy ". The Captain answered : 
 "Oh, no; certainly not". "Then," replied his 
 Lordship, " you know what to do ; and," continued 
 he, " take care of my dear Lady Hamilton, Hardy : 
 take care of poor Lady Hamilton. Kiss me, 
 Hardy ! " The Captain now knelt down and 
 kissed his cheek, when his Lordship said: " Now I 
 am satisfied. Thank God, I have done my duty." 
 Captain Hardy stood for a minute or two in silent 
 
 r 5
 
 218 NELSON'S WORDS 
 
 contemplation ; he knelt down again and kissed 
 his Lordship's forehead. His Lordship said : 
 "Who is that?" The Captain answered: "It 
 is Hardy " ; to which his Lordship replied : 
 " God bless you, Hardy". After this affecting 
 scene Captain Hardy withdrew and returned 
 to the quarter-deck, having spent about eight 
 minutes in this his last interview with his dying 
 friend. 
 
 Lord Nelson now desired Mr. Chevalier, his 
 steward, to turn him upon his right side, which 
 being effected, his Lordship said : " I wish I had 
 not left the deck, for I shall soon be gone ". He 
 afterwards became very low, his breathing was 
 oppressed, and his voice faint. He said to Dr. 
 Scott : " Doctor, I have not been a great sinner " ; 
 and, after a short pause : " Remember that I leave 
 Lady Hamilton and my daughter Horatia as a 
 legacy to my country ; and," added he, " never 
 forget Horatia ". His thirst now increased, and he 
 cried for " drink, drink," and " fan, fan," and " rub, 
 rub," addressing himself in the last case to Dr. Scott, 
 who had been rubbing his Lordship's breast with 
 his hand, from which he found some relief. These 
 words he spoke in a very rapid manner, which 
 rendered his articulation difficult ; but he every 
 now and then, with evident increase of pain, made 
 a greater effort with his vocal powers, and pro-
 
 AND DEEDS. 219 
 
 nounced distinctly these last words : " Thank God, 
 I have done my duty," and this great sentiment he 
 continued to repeat as long as he was able to give 
 it utterance. 
 
 His Lordship became speechless in about fifteen 
 minutes after Captain Hardy left him. Dr. Scott 
 and Mr. Burke, who had all along sustained the 
 bed under his shoulders (which raised him in 
 nearly a semi-recumbent posture, the only one that 
 was supportable to him) forbore to disturb him by 
 speaking to him ; and when he had remained 
 speechless about five minutes, his Lordship's 
 steward went to the surgeon, who had been a short 
 time occupied with the wounded in another part of 
 the cockpit, and stated his apprehension that his 
 Lordship was dying. The surgeon immediately 
 repaired to him, and found him on the verge of 
 dissolution. He knelt down by his side and took 
 up his hand, which was cold, and the pulse gone 
 from the wrist. On the surgeon's feeling his fore- 
 head, which was likewise cold, his Lordship opened 
 his eyes, looked up, and shut them again. The 
 surgeon again left him, and returned to the wounded 
 who required his assistance, but was not absent five 
 minutes before the steward announced to him that 
 he " believed his Lordship had expired ". The 
 surgeon returned, and found that the report was 
 but too well founded : his Lordship had breathed
 
 220 NELSON'S WORDS AND DEEDS. 
 
 his last at thirty minutes past four o'clock, at which 
 period Dr. Scott was in the act of rubbing his 
 Lordship's breast, and Mr. Burke supporting the 
 bed under his shoulders. — From the Account of 
 Beatty, Surgeon of the " Victory ".
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Absence, salt water and, 33. 
 Absent from Emma, 146. 
 Accusation, an infamous, 58-61. 
 Action, no days in, 53. 
 Acton, Sir John, 129. 
 Address, an, 147-8. 
 Adventure, a chapter of, 26-7. 
 Allen, Tom, 150. 
 All sufficient, 84. 
 Always fight, 44. 
 Ambassadors, 62. 
 Ambition is without limits, 74-5. 
 An anticipation, 65-6. 
 
 ,, ,, of St. Vincent, 73-4. 
 
 ,, ,, of Trafalgar, 166-7. 
 
 Anecdote, an, 85. 
 
 Anecdote of the Battle of Copen- 
 hagen, 134-5. 
 Anniversary, an, 145. 
 Appeal, a modest, 36-7. 
 Army v. Navy, 17T. 
 Attack, plan of, 187-190. 
 Bad English customs. 162. 
 Battle of St. Vincent, 75-9. 
 ,, the Nile, 99-101. 
 „ Copenhagen, anecdote of, 
 
 134-5- 
 Battles, successful, 164. 
 Belief, his, 139. 
 Blanquet's sword, 101-2. 
 Blue-jacket s risks, the, 44. 
 Boulogne affair, the, 151. 
 Brave, the, 52. 
 Brereton, General, 191-2. 
 British Admiral's word, 140. 
 
 „ flag, the, 43. 
 
 ,, fleets, 72. 
 
 ,, officer's word, a, 171. 
 
 ,, opinion, 72-3. 
 Bull-feast, a, 38-9. 
 Buonaparte, 125, 172-3. 
 Buonaparte's writing, 102. 
 Cadiz ladies, 87. 
 
 ,, news, 87-8. 
 Calder's (Sir Robert) victory, 193-4. 
 
 ,, return, 198-9. 
 Canada, 17. 
 Capraja, the Governor of, 68. 
 
 Captains of the ships of the squad- 
 ron, to the, 98-9. 
 
 Captains' gift, the, 101. 
 
 Capture, a princely, 27. 
 
 Carracciolo, the order to hang, 122-3. 
 
 Celebrations, 108-9. 
 
 Chaplains in Navy, 15. 
 
 Chapters, a chapter of, 26-7. 
 
 Charity, his, 87. 
 
 Claims, indifference to his, 52. 
 
 Collingwood, to Lord, 204. 
 
 Colonel of Marines, 53-4. 
 
 Colonial system, the, 190. 
 
 Combined fleets, the, 201. 
 
 Complaint, his, 63. 
 
 Conduct, sincerity of, 35-6. 
 
 Copenhagen, anecdote of the battle 
 of, 134-5. 
 
 Copenhagen, no honours for, 174-6. 
 
 Corsicans and Frenchmen, 171. 
 
 Cottage a necessity, the, 92-4. 
 
 Country's heir, his, 32. 
 
 Courage, 54. 
 
 Court politics, 55. 
 
 Courts-martial, 33-4. 
 
 Coxcomb, a young, 136-7. 
 
 Crest, motto and supporters, 86-7. 
 
 Crew, a good ship and, 38. 
 
 Cypress or laurel, 97-8. 
 
 Dancing for Sea Officers, 34-5. 
 
 Deal, 155. 
 
 Death of Nelson, 207-220. 
 ,, a glorious, 50. 
 
 Debts, the Prince of Wales', 52-3. 
 
 Decorations, love of, 82-3. 
 
 Desertion, 164-5. 
 
 Determination, his, 35. 
 
 Diary, extract from private, 192. 
 
 Disappointment, 192-3. 
 
 Do as you would be done by, 159-60. 
 
 Doing and wishing, 149. 
 ,, as he pleased, 61. 
 
 Dominion of the seas, the, 133-4. 
 
 Downs, in the, 153. 
 
 Dream, the sailor's, 61-2. 
 
 Duty and reward, 66-7. 
 ,, of a man, 94. 
 ,, sense of, 48.
 
 222 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Emma, absent from, 146. 
 England, invasion of, 148-9, 163. 
 
 ,, not to be trusted, 167-8. 
 English and French, 44. 
 „ rod, the, 153-4. 
 ,, customs, bad, 162. 
 Extract from private diary, 192. 
 Eye, loss of his, 47. 
 Eyes of the fleet, 202-3. 
 Fair Canada, 17. 
 Family, his, 113. 
 
 ,, love of his, 118. 
 ,, the Nelson, 125-6. 
 Famous signal, the, 206-7. 
 
 ,, treaty, the, 119-122. 
 Farewell to home, 195-6. 
 Father's approval, his, 128-9. 
 Fight, to always, 44. 
 First gain a victory, 98. 
 
 ,, letter to his child, 161-2. 
 Flag, the British, 43. 
 
 „ of truce, the, 140-2. 
 Fleet, Nelson's, 177. 
 
 ,, reception by the, 200. 
 Fleets, British, 72. 
 
 ,, the combined, 201. 
 ,, the French, 96-7. 
 Force of habit, 40-1. 
 For those who fell, 137. 
 France, impressions of, 19-22. 
 French and English, 44. 
 after the, 44-5. 
 Admiral at Toulon, the, 172. 
 captain tempted, a, 55. 
 Emperor, the, 172-3. 
 fleet sails, the, 182-4 > P ur " 
 
 suit of, 184-6. 
 fleet, the, 96-7. 
 hatred of the, 105. 
 learning, 22-3. 
 prospects, 162. 
 soldiers, 56. 
 Frenchmen, 55-6 ; and Corsicans, 
 
 171. 
 Friend, a dear, 117-8. 
 Friendship, 143. 
 Gale of wind, a, 95-6. 
 Generous enemy, 64. 
 Generosity, his, 124-5. 
 Gift, a, 54-5. 
 Glorious death, a, 50. 
 
 ,, expectation, 197-8. 
 
 Glory, in his, 46. 
 
 God's hand, 107-8. 
 
 Good cause, the, 123. 
 „ ship and crew, a, 38. 
 
 Gout, the, 14. 
 
 Governor of Capraja, to the, 68. 
 
 Great, the, 36. 
 
 " Guillaume Tell," the, 130-1. 
 
 Habit, force of, 40-1. 
 
 Haddock's saying, 161. 
 
 Hamilton, Sir Wm., 40. 
 
 ,, last letters to Lady,205-6. 
 
 Hatred of the French, 105. 
 
 Health, his, 14-5. 
 
 Heir, his country's, 32. 
 
 Hill, to Mr., 151-2. 
 
 Hint, a, 179-80. 
 
 Home love, 79. 
 
 ,, farewell to, 195-6. 
 
 Honour, 63-4. 
 
 ,, and riches, 19. 
 ,, peace with, 152. 
 
 Hood, Lord, 43. 
 
 Hood's omission, 48-50. 
 
 Hope, a new-born, 13-4. 
 
 Horatia, his daughter, 160-1 ; first 
 letter to, 161-2. 
 
 Hotham's (Admiral), easy satisfac- 
 tion, 51. 
 
 Howe, to Earl, 115-6. 
 
 Humanity, his, 85-6. 
 
 Illness, 144. 
 
 Impressions of France, 19-22. 
 
 Income, his, 157-8. 
 
 Indifferent to his claims, 52. 
 
 Infamous accusation, 58-61. 
 
 In the Downs, 153. 
 
 Invasion of England, 148-9 ; 163. 
 
 Jack's dislike of the Navy, 18. 
 
 Jamaica, 27-8. 
 
 Jervis, Sir John, 62. 
 
 John Bull, 139. 
 
 Ladies of Cadiz, 87. 
 
 Lame defenders, 145. 
 
 " La Sabina," 79-82. 
 
 Laurel or cypress, 97-8. 
 
 Learning French, 22-3. 
 
 Letter on his love, 24-5. 
 
 ,, to his sweetheart, 30-1. 
 
 Liberality, his, 124-5. 
 
 Life, sketch of my, 1-13. 
 
 " L'Orient," 103-5.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 223 
 
 Loss of his eye, 47. 
 Love, his second, 23-4. 
 
 ,, letter on his, 24-5 
 
 ,, his third, 29-30. 
 
 ,, of his family, 118. 
 
 ,, of home, 79. 
 
 ,, of decorations, 82-3. 
 Low spirits, 150-1. 
 Mack, General, 194. 
 Man's duty, a, 94. 
 Marines, Colonel of, 53-4. 
 Mayor of London, to the Lord, 155-7. 
 Mediterranean, north wind in, 194. 
 Memory, a, 168-9. 
 Merton, 165-6. 
 Midshipman, a troublesome, 15-6; 
 
 treatment of, 26. 
 Military rejoicing, 154-5. 
 Miller, Captain, 132. 
 Modest appeal, a, 36-7. 
 Money-makers, 46. 
 Motto, crest and supporters, 86-7. 
 Much to lose, nothing to gain, 195. 
 Name, his, 45-6 ; 56-7. 
 
 ,, of Nelson, the, 145. 
 Naples, at, 106-7. 
 
 Narrow official measurement, 126. ■ 
 National madness, 154. 
 Nation of shopkeepers, 139. 
 Nations like individuals, 138. 
 Nature, his affectionate, 116-7. 
 Navy Chaplains, 15. 
 
 ,, Jack's dislike of, 18. 
 
 ,, v. Army, 171. 
 Neapolitan honours, 109-10. 
 Near touch, a, 57. 
 Neglect, 37. 
 
 ,, of sailors, 40. 
 Negotiators, the best, 136. 
 Nelson's death, 207-20. 
 ileet, 177. 
 ,, income, 157-8. 
 ,, philosophy, 43, 140. 
 sight, 163-4. 
 Nelson family, the, 125-6. 
 „ first, 64-5, 135-6. 
 ,, never changes, 180. 
 ,, touch, the, 127, 197. 
 ,, the name of, 145. 
 New-born hope, a, 13-4. 
 Newspapers, the, 149. 
 Nile, battle of the, 99-101. 
 
 No honours for Copenhagen, 174-6. 
 ,, joke when in earnest, 136. 
 North wind in Mediterranean, 194. 
 Official recognition of valour, 152-3. 
 
 ,, thanks, 31-2. 
 Old-fashioned victualling, 42. 
 Old Haddock's sayings, 161. 
 Order to hangCarracciolo.the, 122-3. 
 Painful disorder, 199-200. 
 Paoli, General, 42. 
 Parliamentary pretensions, 57-8. 
 Parsons and sailors, 54. 
 Peace? War or, 68-72. 
 ,, with honour, 152. 
 Peerage or Westminster Abbey, a, 
 
 9 8._ 
 Pensions, 158-9. 
 Pests of the human race, 102-3. 
 Philosophy, 43, 140 ; of war, 44. 
 Plan of attack, 187-90. 
 Political courage, 54. 
 Politics, 119. 
 
 „ of Courts, the, 55. 
 Pope, the, 67. 
 Prayer, a, 206. 
 Princely capture, 23. 
 Privateers, 143. 
 Promotion, 17. 
 
 Property of Lord Nelson, 158. 
 Prophetic foreboding, a, 203-4. 
 Pursuit of the French fleet, 184-6. 
 
 ,, story of the, 190-1. 
 " Ready, boys, ready ! " 129-130. 
 Reception by the fleet, 200. 
 Reference, a significant, 196. 
 Relations, 32. 
 Republican's answer, a, 41. 
 Reward, duty and, 66-7. 
 Rewards, victories and, 155. 
 Riches and honour, 19. 
 " Sabina," the, 79-82. 
 Sailor's dream, the, 61-2. 
 
 ,, neglect of, 40. 
 Sailors and soldiers, 173-4. 
 
 ,, and parsons, 54 
 St. Vincent, an anticipation of, 73-4. 
 ,, battle of, 75-9. 
 
 ,, Lord, 119. 
 
 St. Vincent's teaching, 127-8. 
 Salt water and absence, 33. 
 " Santissima Trinidad," 83-4. 
 Sardinia in 1804, 181.
 
 224 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Sea affairs, 177. 
 
 Sea fencibles, the, 146-7. 
 
 Sea-fights, uncertainty in, 204. 
 
 Sea-officers and dancing, 34-5. 
 
 Seas, the dominion of the, 133-4. 
 
 Second love, his, 23-4. 
 
 Self-approval, 184. 
 
 Sense of duty, 48. 
 
 Serving near home, 126. 
 
 Shopkeepers, nation of, 139. 
 
 Short absence, 197. 
 
 Shot-holes, 68. 
 
 Sicilian transports, 105-6 ; troops, 
 
 . I . I ?"4- 
 Sicilies, the, 109 ; state of the two, 
 
 112. 
 
 Sight, his, 163-4. 
 
 Signal, the famous, 2067. 
 
 Significant reference, a, 196. 
 
 Sincerity of conduct, 35-6. 
 
 Sketch of my life, 1-13. 
 
 Slowness of soldiers, 42. 
 
 Small measures, 176. 
 
 Smith's (Sir Sydney) appointment, 
 
 iH-5- 
 Soldiers on board ship, 169-71. 
 
 ,, and sailors, 173-4. 
 
 ,, slowness of, 42. 
 Spain, 176. 
 Spaniards at sea, 39. 
 Spell on shipboard, 192. 
 Stared at, 149. 
 
 State of the two Sicilies, 112. 
 Still waiting, 181-2. 
 Successful battles, 164. 
 Sufferings, his, 132-3. 
 Supporters, crest and motto, 86-7. 
 Swedish fleet, 138. 
 Sweetest sensation of his life, 201-2. 
 Sweetheart, to his, 30-1. 
 Sweets of command, the, 142-3. 
 Tcneriffe, 88-91. 
 Thanksgiving, 94. 
 
 Thanks, official, 31-2. 
 
 Time, 131. 
 
 To Earl Howe, 115-6. 
 
 To the captains of the ships of the 
 
 squadron, 98-9. 
 To the point, 173. 
 Touch and take, 197. 
 
 ,, a near, 57. 
 Toulon, the French Admiral at, 
 
 Trafalgar, an anticipation of, 166-7. 
 
 ,, before, 194. 
 Treatment of midshipmen, 26. 
 Treaty, the famous, 119-22. 
 Treville's letter, Admiral, 177-9. 
 
 ,, La Touche,at Toulon, 179. 
 Tribute, a, 86. 
 Troubridge, Captain, 96. 
 Troubridge's merits, 111. 
 Truce, the flag of, 140-2. 
 Truthfulness, 127. 
 Valour, official recognition of, 152-3. 
 Victories and rewards, 155. 
 "Victory," the, 164. 
 Victory, first gain a, 98. 
 Victualling, 42. 
 Visit, a, 144. 
 
 Voluntary subscription for war, 94-5. 
 Wales' debts, the Prince of, 52-3. 
 War or Peace? 68-72. 
 War, voluntary subscription for, 
 
 94-5- 
 Westcotts's mother, 131. 
 West Indians, 28-9. 
 Westminster Abbey or a Peerage, 
 
 98. 
 Who can stop him? 139. 
 Whole run, the, 192. 
 William, Prince, 17-8. 
 Wind, a gale of, 95-6. 
 Wishing and doing, 149. 
 Woman's influence, 133. 
 Wound, his, 47-8; 103. 

 
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