. l'>tUr,u,st,-r Rr^ , 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, 
 
 i^:c, &;c, (^c. 
 
 WITH 
 
 OBSERVATIONS, 
 CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY. 
 
 SPARTA COEGI. 
 
 By JOHN CHARNOCK, Esq. F. S. A. 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE BIOCRAPHIA NAVAI.TS, AND THE IIISTORY 
 PF MARINE ARCniTECTURiP, 
 
 HontJon : 
 
 TRINTED FOR 11. D. SYMONDS, PATER\OST£R-ROW ; J. I^AT- 
 
 CHARD, PICCADILLY ; AND BLACK AND PARRY, 
 
 i.EADENH ALL-STREET, 
 
 180(i 
 

 liNRY MORSE STCFHEH8 
 
 JOTCE GOID, PH INTER, SHOE t.ASI. 
 
 • • -• -•" 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A PREFACE is generally unnecessary, and often 
 impertinent; that is to say, it is unnecessary to 
 the reader ; far otherwise to the author of a 
 book. It is a vehicle, like the armed chariots of 
 old, in which he proudly sits, displaying his 
 own importance and superiority, while the wheels 
 of invective on which it rolls, pass without 
 mercy over those unfortunate wights Avho have 
 attempted to possess themseh^es even of the 
 smallest corner of that peculiar province, of which 
 he himself perhaps is an impudent usurper. Some- 
 times too, to use an humbler simile, he conde- 
 scends to play in it the part of a pufiing pre- 
 cursor to a shoAV, who, with much noise of drum 
 and trumpet, proclaims the mighty tilings whick 
 
 a2 
 
 rr •> .1 Q '^ 
 
iv l^REFACE. 
 
 you shall see and hear ; and iiaving pocketed 
 your money, ushers you behind the curtain, and 
 leaves you in the lurch, to grumble at his wretched 
 tragi- comedy, or to laugh at the awkwardness 
 of his company of performers. 
 
 These observations, however ludicrous the 
 manner in which they are here offered may seem, 
 are gravely intended, and well meant. The 
 Author of this volume, in making them, enjoys 
 a certain degree of self- congratulation, when he 
 reflects, that the nature of his subject must ex- 
 empt from such censure, and save from such ri- 
 dicule, the few prefatory lines which he hopes 
 his readers will agree with him are not wholly un- 
 necessary. A subject on which, as his humble 
 endeavours, with exceptions scarcely worth 
 naming, have the honour to be first exerted, he 
 has no competitors to envy or to blame. . A sub- 
 ject so splendid in its story, so notorious in the 
 infinite ubiquity of its fame, that he needs only 
 refer his readers to his title page, to bespeak 
 their attention. 
 
 It) however, he be thus fortunately exempted 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 from painful tricks and expedients of recommcu- 
 dation, he feels, and painfully too, the weight 
 of the task which he here essays to perform. — 
 The briUiancy and publicity of his theme, of 
 which but now he boasted, overwhelm him with 
 the sense of his own inadequacy to such an at- 
 tempt. He will offer an apology on the only 
 ground where, apologies ought ever to be rested, 
 on the ground of truth and sincerity, in a can- 
 did avowal of the motives which have induced 
 him, from time to time, to collect, and now to 
 present to the public, a sketch of the memoirs 
 of Lord Nelson'. 
 
 An enthusiastic attachment to the naval ser- 
 vice, and all that relates to it, has been, from 
 his childhood, his ruling passion. It has led 
 him, in more instances than one, to devote his 
 pen to the illustration of its mechanical ceco- 
 nomy, and to the biography of many of its 
 numberless heroes. With a disposition so in- 
 clined, and habits so fixed, it became his fortune 
 to gain some personal knowledge of the great 
 man whose memory he now seeks to consecrate ; 
 and that occasional intercourse took place in the 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 house of the late Captain William Locker, 
 Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital, 
 with whom the Author may presume to boast of 
 many years' strict intimacy and friendship, and 
 whose high character in pubhc service, and in 
 private hfe, are above his powers of praise. That 
 excellent officer, as we shall see, was, in a manner, 
 Lord Nelson's professional father. By him, a 
 thousand traits and anecdotes were communi- 
 cated, in that exquisite manner of simplicity and 
 feeling which belonged almost peculiarly to him- 
 self.— By him the present work was suggested, 
 even during the life of his Lordship, almost 
 in the form of a request; certain materials,' 
 whose value will speak for them in the course 
 of the ensuing pages, have been since supplied 
 by his estimable family. Thus, w^ith an original 
 bias to the subject, some aid of private intel- 
 ligence relative to it, and, perhaps above all, 
 pushed on to the undertaking by the late pro- 
 digious conclusion of the Hero's triumph, have 
 promoted the Author's presumption in elevoting 
 his feeble powers to their celebration. 
 
 Of the mode in which he 'has executed his 
 
PREFACE. VIl 
 
 task, the reader must judge for liiniself, recollect- 
 ing always, that the work affects only the cha- 
 racter of memoirs. A hfe of Lord Nelson, 
 properly given, would perhaps involve some 
 years of the general history of Europe. A detail 
 even of naval exploits, which have ek tended 
 from the Nile to the Baltic, nay, which have 
 shone in almost every sea that bears a distinct 
 denomination, could not possibly be confined to 
 a single volume. 
 
 The Author claims little merit beyond that, 
 ■which, of right, belongs to a faithful collector 
 and reporter of much authentic intelligence, 
 that had been before widely scattered under 
 the public eye. He hopes, by this faithful 
 miniature representation of Lord Nelson, to 
 correct the defects and mistakes of such mi- 
 serable sketches as have already appeared, and 
 to furnish an outline to those who may, in fu- 
 ture, be inclined to amplify on a subject which 
 affords such boundless space. Should a work 
 of that kind be undertaken by no one else, he 
 may, at some future time, produce his best 
 endeavours to that effect, lie means to dc- 
 
Xm PREFACE. 
 
 vote to them all tlie favourable intervals which 
 an uncertain state of health, and many pain- 
 ful private concerns may allow him. He 
 craves, in the mean time, to the defects of the 
 present performance, that candour of criticism 
 which is seldom denied to unavoidable imper^ 
 fee tions. 
 
CONTENIS. 
 
 Preliminary Introduction to the Memoirs of Lord 
 Nelson, page 1 — Hb desccnt,4. — Time of his birth, ibid. — Sent 
 to the public school at Norwich, ibid. — Removed to North 
 Walsham, ibid. — Enters on board the Raisonable, of 64 guns, 
 under his maternal uncle, Capt. Maurice Suckling, 5.— Bio- 
 graphical Memoirs of that Officer, ibid. — 'Raisonable put out 
 of commission, 7. — Mr. Nelson makes a voyage to the West 
 I dies, under the care of Mr. Rathbone^ 8. — Returns from 
 thence, and is appointed a Midshipman on board the Triumph, 
 ibid. — Received on board the Carcass, as Coxswain, 9. — Pro- 
 ceeds on a voyage for the discovery of the North West pas- 
 sage, under the orders of the Hon. Constantine Phipps, af- 
 terwards Lord Mulgrave, 10. — Memoirs of that Nobleman, 
 ibid. — Instance of the confidence and trust reposed in him, 15 
 -—Anecdote of his pursuing a Bear, ibid. — Returns to Eng- 
 land, and proceeds to the East Indies, on board the Seahorse, 
 of 20 guns, under the orders of Captain Farmer, 16. — Me- 
 moirs of that Officer, ibid. — Compelled, on account of his ill 
 health, to return to England, by order of Commodore 
 Hughes, 21 — Memoirs of that Officer, ibid.— Embarks on 
 board the Dolphin, 22 — Appointed, immediately after his ar- 
 rival, to be acting Lieutenant of the Worcester, commanded 
 by Captain Robinson, 24— Memoirs of that Officer, 25— 
 The high opinion entertained by him of Mr. Nelson, 26 -; 
 
 b 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 Promoted to be Second Lieutenant of the Lowestoffe, com- 
 manded by Captain Locker, 27 — Memoirs of that Officer, 
 ibid. — Proceeds to Jamaica, 29 — Appointed Commander of a 
 Tender, 31 — Anecdote concerning his conduct in boarding an 
 American prize, 32— Mr. Nelson appointed Third Lieuten- 
 ant of the Bristol, under Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Parker, 33 
 —Memoirs of that Officer, ibid. — Mr. Nelson promoted to 
 the command of the Badger sloop of war, 35 — Ordered to 
 the Musquito shore, ibid — Preserves Captain Lloyd, and the 
 crew of the Glasgow, from being burnt, ibid— Advanced to 
 be Captain of the Hinchinbroke, of 20 guns, 36— Appointed 
 to command the batteries which defended the entrance to Port 
 Royal, ibid. — Ordered on an expedition into the Gulf of 
 Mexico, ibid. — His gallantry and very conspicuous conduct, 
 37 — Taken ill, and returns to Jamaica, passenger on board 
 the Victor sloop, 38 — Promoted to be Captain of the Janus, 
 of 44 guns, ibid — Obliged to relinquish that appointment on 
 account of the continued ill state of his health, ibid.— -Re- 
 turns to England, as a passenger on board the Lion, com- 
 manded by the Hon. Captain Cornwallis, ibid.— Memoirs of 
 that Officer, ibid. — Captain Nelson, on his arrival, repairs to 
 Bath, 39— His speedy recovery, 40 — Appointed to the Al- 
 bemarle, of 28 guns, 42 — Ordered to Newfoundland, 43 — 
 His distinguished conduct on a cruise off Boston, ibid. — Pro- 
 ceeds to Quebec, and from thence to Nc\v York, 44 — Pro- 
 ceeds to the West Indies to join Lorj^<lood, 4.5— Memoirs 
 of that Nobleman, ibid. — Ordered to attejid Prince William 
 Henry, now Duke of Clarence, 49 — Returns to England, 
 and goes immediately to France for the recovery of his health, 
 ibid. — Returns to England, and appointed to the Boreas fri- 
 gate, in which he proceeds to the Leeward Islands, ibid.— In- 
 volved in a dispute with the Americans, relative to the navi- 
 gation act, .50 — Marries Mrs, Frances Herbert Nesbit, and 
 reiurns to England, .51 — ^Solicits employment without success, 
 52 — Appointed to the Agamemnon, of 64 guns, 53— Pro- 
 ceeds to the Mediterranean, ibid. — His very distinguished 
 
CfONTENTS. XI 
 
 ♦ ^ • •*? 
 
 conduct while employed there, 53 — His gallantry at tlie 
 sieges of Bastia and Calti, '5-t — Lo<5es the sight of his right 
 eye, ibid. — Engaged in two diOepcnt actions with the French 
 jReet, 55 —Biographical Memoirs of Lord llotham, ibid.— 
 Captain Nelson appointed senior officer of a squadron of ob- 
 servation, 59 — Chased by the French lleet into St. Fiorenzo^ 
 60 — A second encounter with the French tleet, ibid.. — Again 
 detached as senior officer of a light squadron, ibid. — His spi- 
 rited conduct in Vado Bay, 61 — The arrival of Sir John 
 Jervis to take the command of the lluet, 63 — Memoirs of that 
 Officer, ibid. — Captain Nelson appointed a temporary Com- 
 modore, Q5 — Confirmed in that rank, and removes into the 
 Captain, of 74 guns, 68 — Blockades Leghorn, 69 —Captures 
 Porto Ferragio, and garrisons it, ibid. — Removes his broad 
 pendant into la Minerve, of 32 guns, ibid.— Engages ia 
 Sabina, a Spanish frigate, and captures her, 70 — La Sa- 
 bina rescued by a superior Spanish force, 71 — Rejoins the 
 Commander in Chief, and removes his pendant into his former 
 ship the Captain, 73 — Momorandura made by Commodore 
 Nelson himself, of the leading transactions in which he was 
 concerned during the encounter m ith the Spanish fleet off 
 Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797, 75 — Log-book of his Ma- 
 jesty's ship the Captain, including all the transactions during 
 the period just mentioned, 79 — Account given of the engage- 
 ment by Lieutenant-Colonel Drinkwater, 84 — Remarks on 
 the heroic conduct of the Commodore pending the fight, 91 — 
 Letters written by Lord Nelson immediately subsequent to 
 the battle off Cape St. Vincent, QQ — Remarks thereon, 97 — 
 Removes his broad pendant on board the Theseus, and ap- 
 pointed to command the blockade of Cadiz harbour, 98 — His 
 encounter with Don Miguel Tyrason, '99 — The bombardment 
 of Cadiz, 101— Sir Horatio detached to attack the town of 
 Santa Cruz, 102 — Loses his right arm by a cannon shot, 104 
 —Returns to England, ibid. — Pension granted him, 195— 
 Hoists his pendant on board the Vanguard, and proceeds to 
 the Mediterranean^ 106 — Appointed immediately on his ar- 
 
XU CONTENTS. 
 
 rival to command a detachment, 107-r Authentic narrative of 
 the proceedings of the squadron under his command, 108— 
 Arrives in the Gulf of Lyons, bears up with his squadron 
 for Sardinia, is dismasted, and anchors in the Road of St. 
 Pierre, ibid. — Refits, and sails again in four days, 109 — Re- 
 inforced by Captain Troubridge with ten sail of .the line, 
 ibid.— Arrives off Corsica, proceeds towards the coast of Si- 
 cily, receives intelligence of the surrender of Malta, and 
 steers for that Island, 111 — Informed by a Genoese brig that 
 the French fleet had sailed from thence on the 52d, ibid. —Sails 
 for Alexandria in quest of them, shapes his course for the 
 Coast of Caramania to water, and obtain inteHirence ; enters 
 the port of Syracuse, 112 — Reasons assigned why his ileet 
 passed the French, witliout falling in with them, 113 — Makes 
 the Gulf of Coron, and receives intelligence that the enemy's 
 feet had been seen steering to the South East of Candia, 114 
 —Steers again for Alexandria, 115— His admirable plan for. 
 attacking the enemy, and the complete comprehension of it 
 hy the officers under his orders, 116— Signals rendered un- 
 necessary, ibid. — Explanation of his plan, 117 — Disposition 
 of the two fleets at the battle off Aboukir, 1 18-— Account of 
 the action, 119 — Wounded in the head, 121— 'His conduct 
 on the occasion, 123 — The I'Oricnt set on fire, 125 — Si- 
 tuation of the two fleets the ensuing morning, 126-- Misfor- 
 tune that befel the Cullodcn, 128 — Humane conduct of the 
 Rear- Admiral to the prisoners, 129— Behaviour of the Ma- 
 melukes, ibid. — Orders a public thanksgiving to theAlmighty, 
 in gratitude for the victory, 130 — Returns thanks to the of- 
 ficers and seamen of the squadron, 131 — Remarks on thepre^ 
 •eding engagement, 133 — Parallel drawn between the attack 
 made on Mr. Barrington, at St. Lucia, by the Count d'Es- 
 taing, and the defeat of the French fleet otf Aboukir, 137— 
 Account given of the action by a French Ofiicer of rank, 142 
 — The description given of it by Denon, 149 — Official account 
 transmitted by Sir Horatio Nelson himself, 152 — Remarks on 
 its effectsj 150 — Captain -Capel ordered to Naples, aod 
 
CONTENTS. Xin 
 
 Lieutenant Duval to Bombayj with intelligence of the erent, 
 157 — Sir Ho ratio. Nelson's letter to the Governor on that oc- 
 casion, ibid. — Quits the Bay of Aboukir, with the main 
 body of his fleet, and proceeds to Naples, 159— His recep- 
 tion there, ibid. — Receires the thanks of both Honses of Par. 
 liament, and is created a Peer, 160— An annuity of two 
 thousand pounds a year is granted him by Britain, and one 
 thousand by Ireland,ibid. — Extract from his Majesty's speech 
 and message to the House of Commons on the occasion, 161-— 
 Presents made him by the East India and Turkey companies, 
 162 — A sword voted him by the City of Loudon ; his Lord- 
 ship's letter to tijie Lord Mayor, accompanying a "present of 
 i)ie sword of Mon. Bianquet, the commanding French Ad- 
 miral, who survived, ibid. — Proceedings in the Court of Com- 
 mon Council, 163 — Memoirs of Sir Edward Berry, 164 — 
 Description of the medals cast in consequence of the \ictory, 
 J 68— Various gifts and presents made to his Lordship by pri- 
 vate individuals, 169 — Letter of Captain Hallowell, acconi- 
 panying a very singular present, 170 — A Chelengk, or Plume 
 of Triumph, sent him by the Grand Seignior, with the letters 
 and ceremonies that accompanied it, and with which it was 
 presented, 171 — Augmentation to his arms, 173 — Valuable 
 presents made his Lordship by the Dowager Sultana, the Em- 
 peror of Russia, the Kings of Naples and Sardinia, the Island 
 of Zante, and the city of Palermo, 174 — Present made him 
 of an extraordinary sword, by his Neapolitan Majesty, 175 — 
 Created Duke of Bronte, and a domain of three thousand 
 pounds a year attached* to the title, ibid.— Etymology of the 
 word Brontcj ibid. — The blockade of Malta, 177 — Surrender 
 of Goza hy capitulation, 178 — His Lordship advanced to the 
 rank of Rear-Admiral of the Red, and shifts his flag on board 
 the Foudroyant, 180 — Fort St. Elmo surrenders, together 
 with the city of Naples, 181 — King of Naples hoists his stand- 
 ard on board the Foudroyant, 185— His compliment to Lord 
 jVelson on the occasion, ibid.— The surrender of Capua and 
 Gaeta, ibid. — Expulsion of the French from Italy, 186 — Af- 
 
XIF CONTENTS. 
 
 fectionate letter written by his Lordship to the late Lieuten- 
 ant Goyernor Locker^ 1 87-— Fetes given in honour of the 
 victory, and honours paid his Lordship at Palermo, 188 — 
 The French prevented' from carrying off their plunder from 
 Rome, by Commodore Troubridge, 190— Gratitude of the 
 Papal government and the people on that occasion, 191 — 
 Distressed state of the Maltese garrison, ibid. — Capture of the 
 Grenereux, 192 — Capture of le Guillaume Tell, 194 — ilh 
 Lordship obliged,, to resign his command on account of ill 
 -health, 197 — He proceeds to Trieste, and passes from thence 
 by land to Hamburgh, ibid. — Honours paid him by the Queen 
 of Naples on his quitting Palermo, together with his reception 
 at Vienna, ibid. — Attention she»Yn him at Prague by the 
 Archduke Charles, and by the Senate of Hamburgh, 198 — 
 His Lordship arrives in England, ibid. — Dines with the Lord 
 Mayor, 199 — Speech made to his Lordship by Mr. Clarke, 
 the Chamberlain of the City, 200 — His Lordship's answer, 
 203^ — Is raised to the rank of Vice- Admiral of the Blue, ibid, 
 —The command of a division in the Channel fleet intended to 
 Ije giren him, 204 —His destination changed, his Lordship 
 being appointed second in command of the fleet sent into the 
 Baltic, under the orders of Sir Hyde Parker, ^5- — The fleet 
 sails from Yarmouth, together with the measures taken by 
 Denmark and Sweden to oppose it, 206 — Account of the 
 navies of Denmark, Sweden, and Russia, 208— Exertions 
 made by the British government to prevent a rupture, 209—- 
 The failure of them, 210 — Correspondence between Admiral 
 Sir Hyde Parker, and the Heer Strieker, GoTcrnor of Cron- 
 enberg Castle^ 211 — The British fleet passes the Sound, 212 
 — A detail of the circumstances attending that event, ibid.— 
 Description of the view of the coast of Denmark and Sweden, 
 217 — Lord Nelson volunteers his services to command the 
 attack on Copenhagen, 219 — Preparatory arrangements 
 made on the occasion, 220 — Orders issued for the regulation 
 of the mode of attack, 221 — Testimony borne by Lord Nel- 
 son to the gallantry of the Danes, 224 — OfliciM dispatclies of 
 
CONTENTS.^ Xf 
 
 Sir Hyde Parker, containijig an account of the attack, 224— 
 Account containing the particulars of it, transmitted to him 
 by Lord Nelson, 227~Memoirs of Sir Hyde Parker, 229— 
 Of Sir Thomas Graves, K. B., 234— Of Sir Thomas Boulden 
 Thompson, 239 — Of Captain Edward Riou, 243 — Incon- 
 venience to which the British detachment was exposed, in 
 consequence of the Agamemnon, the Bellona, and the Rus- 
 sell being prevented, from getting into their stations, 245— 
 Distress on board the Danish ships, 249— Lord Nelson dis- 
 patches a flag of truce on shore, ibid. — Memoirs of Sir Fre- 
 derick Thesiger, ibid. — Communication and correspondence 
 between his Lordship and the Crown Prince of Denmark, 
 252 — Account of his Lordship's reception at Copenhagen, 
 254— Remarks thereon, 2o5— Account given of the engage- 
 meat by a native of Denmark, 236— Letter from the Royal 
 College of Commerce at Copenhagen to his Danish ^Majesty's 
 Consul at Leith, 2G4 — Account of the action, written by an 
 
 Englishman on board one of the British ships of war, 266 
 
 Official account given of it by the Danes, 270 — List of the 
 Danish line of defence, 274 — Observations on the conduct of 
 Lord Nelson, 279 — Articles of the treaty entered into with 
 the Danes, 280 — Account given of his Lordship's reception, 
 by Mr. Carr, 284 — Presents made by Lord Nelson to the 
 young Danish Officers, 287 — Thanks of the British Parliament 
 voted to his Lordship, 288 — Tributes of applause render- 
 ed to his conduct in the Houses of Lords and Commons, 289 
 —Created a A^iscount of the United Kingdom, 291 — Sir Hyds 
 Parker proceeds up the Baltic, leaving Lord Nelson at Co- 
 penhagen, 292 — Difficulties which attended the passage be- 
 tween the Islands of Amak and Saltholm, 293 — Advice re- 
 ceived by his Lordship, that an engagement was expected to 
 take place between tlie Swedish and British fieets, 294 — His 
 Lordship follows the division of the Commander in Chief, in 
 his barge, ibid, — Interesting anecdotes that took place during 
 the passage, ibid. — His Lordship gets on board the Elephant. 
 :J96 — The Swedish fleet descried, bur hostilities prevenicd 
 
iViil CONTENTS. 
 
 otr Trafalgar, 400 — \necdote concerning Lord Nelson at 
 (he commencement of the action, 412 — Report of the occnr- 
 rencos which took place during the encounter, 414— His 
 death and character, 1^6. 
 
 DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 
 
 Portrait, to front the title page. 
 
 Plan of the Battle off Cape St. Vincent, to 
 front page 75. 
 
 View of the Boat Fight; to front page too. 
 
 Plan of the Battle off* Aboukir, to front 
 page 152. 
 
 Plan of the Battle off Copenhagen, to front 
 page 11 u 
 
 Fac Simile of Lord Nelson's {-land-writing, ta 
 front page 294. 
 
 Plans of the ^Battle off Cape Trafalgar, to 
 front page 395* 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON 
 
 THE labours of the biographer, of all literary 
 duties perhaps the most important to the 
 temporal interests of mankind, are usually attend- 
 ed by difficulties proportioned to that general im- 
 portance. In the intricacies of cabinets, the secret 
 cabals of factions, the intrigues of courtiers,or the 
 closets of monarchs, what clue can he find to 
 truth? what degree of penetration can guard him 
 against error ? If he turn from the actions of 
 men to their motives, from the review of thei^ 
 cenduct to the examination of their characters, 
 his pains will but be increased. The contradic- 
 tory features which will almost always be found 
 in bold and generous minds, and the hypocrisy 
 and dissimulation which generally belong to those 
 of a meaner cast, will evade his severest scrutiny, 
 and baffle his most honest and acute judgment. 
 Should he however, by a rare good fortune, avoid 
 all these pitfalls of error, a greater peril still 
 lurks behind in his own passions, in those pre- 
 judices and partialities, under the influence of 
 which when his subject admits the freedom of 
 
 2 
 
^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 conjecture, he will frequently praise or blame, 
 acquit or condemn, with an injustice, which, 
 however unpremeditated, will expose him to in- 
 evitable censure, and probably disgrace. 
 
 How fortunate then is he to whose lot it may 
 fall to pen the splendid details of a life so spent, 
 and a character so constituted, as to leave the 
 biographer in perfect security from any of those 
 dangers ! We will sketch the outline of the 
 portrait, and challenge the world to deny the 
 resemblance. 
 
 The extraordinary person then of whom we 
 are to treat, born and educated in the stillness of 
 domestic privacy, carried with him through a 
 life of unexampled glory that exquisitely noble, 
 though tender, simplicity of mind and manners, 
 which, while it relieved the more dazzling parts 
 of his character, endeared him to those who 
 knew him best, even more than all his victories. 
 It was made up of many excellent passions and 
 sentiments, so mixed and nourished in the warm- 
 est heart that ever inhabited an human breast, 
 that it seemed to be, or rather was, but one qua- 
 lity, which invariably influenced his conduct, 
 and shone in all he thought, said, or acted. 
 
 This nameless ruling principle inspired him 
 with an exalted pride, which looked down with 
 contempt on the littleness of political or pro- 
 fessional parties, and with a sincerity which 
 would have disqualified him to act with them. 
 
LORD VlseOlTNT NELSOK. § 
 
 could he have been so inclined ; with a sympathy 
 not uncommon to great minds, which led him, 
 without the aid of deliberation and judgment, 
 to the happiest selection of his friends in private 
 life, and of his companions in public service ; 
 with ambition of a sort simple as the rest of his 
 character, which seemed to belong particularly 
 to himself, and in the gratification of which, the 
 plan, the execution, and the event, were solely 
 his own, and always successful ; with a magna- 
 nimity, courage, and presence of mind, not con- 
 fined to the quarterdeck, its pinnacle of glory, 
 but evident in all his intercourse with kings and 
 statesmen of his own and other countries ; with a 
 quickness of decision and a promptitude of exe- 
 cution so instantly following, that they appeared 
 but one act ; with a pure and correct spirit of 
 patriotism, which, while it modestly declined to 
 profess itself in the senate, and proudly disdained 
 to proclaim itself to the people, spoke in thunder 
 to the enemies of his country, from that station 
 only in which his sovereign had wisely thought 
 fit to place him. 
 
 Such was the public character of this great 
 man, and his country was fully sensible of those 
 services which it never could sufficiently recom- 
 pense. Honours and dignities were thickly 
 showered on him, and he became the idol of 
 Britain, and the wonder of the world. Yet in 
 those shgjrt intervals of rclaxatiop, which hispub- 
 
 B2 
 
4 MEMOIRS 01^ 
 
 lie duties allowed him, how did we find him itt 
 his domestic retirement ? Mild, unassuming, 
 and innocent : the only man in Europe with 
 whom we could have sat even for half an hour, 
 without hearing of Lord Nelson's fame. If that 
 service, the already glorious reputation of which 
 he had so frequently crowned with his own lau- 
 relSj became perchance the topic of conversation, 
 he joined in it only to- express his gratitude to 
 those veterans who had been his professional in- 
 structors, and his affection to the brave men who 
 had served with him. In a word, for we must 
 repeat it, the ruling character of his mind was a 
 noble and chaste simplicity. To that we owe 
 his public services and his private merits, our 
 past rejoicings, and our present grief. 
 
 Horatio, late Lord Viscount Nelson, was the 
 third son of the Reverend Edmund Nelson, rector 
 of Burnham Thorpe, in the county of Norfolk, 
 and Catharine, daughter of Maurice Suckling, 
 D. D. rector of Barsham in Suffolk, Woodton in 
 Norfolk, and one of the prebendaries of West- 
 minster. He was born on the 29th of September, 
 1758, and received the first rudiments of educa- 
 tion in the public school of Norwich, from 
 w^hence he afterwards removed to North Wal- 
 sbam. His progress in scholastic learning was 
 however necessarily interupted at a very earJy 
 age ; for having fortunately, at least for his 
 country, been destined by his father, though^ as 
 
LOR'D VISCOUNT NEZ.SON. 5 
 
 it is reported, not strictly in unison with his own 
 inclination, for the sea service, he was, when 
 oi}ly twelve years old, entered on board the Rai- 
 sonnable, of sixty-four guns, a ship at that time 
 commanded by his maternal uncle. Captain 
 Maurice Suckling.* This circumstance took 
 
 * This gentleman was descended from a family, whose resi* 
 dence at Wodton, or Woodton, in the county of Norfolk, ap- 
 pears, from the visitations of that county, to be traced from a 
 very remote period, to the year 1664. It had given birth to 
 jnany men of reputation, and among others, to Sir John Suck- 
 ling, whose father was comptroller of the household, and a 
 member of the privy council, in the reigns of James I. and his 
 successor Charles I. Sir John was not more noticed at the 
 period in which he flourished for the elegance and urbanity of 
 his manners, than for his talents, which bore a very distin- 
 guished rank among tlie literati of that age, more especially in 
 the poetical department. The immediate ancestor of Captain 
 Suckling was, as before mentioned, the Rev. Maurice Suck- 
 ling, D. D. one of tlie prebendaries of Westminster, who 
 married Anne, the daughter of Sir Charles Turner, of War- 
 ham, in Norfolk, Knight and Baronet, by which marriage 
 Captain Suckling, and the noble lord, the subject of the pre- 
 sent memoirs, became related to the noble family of Walpole, 
 the wife of Sir Charles Turner being sister to the Right Hon. 
 Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford. 
 
 Mr. Suckling, having discovered an inclination for nautical 
 pursuits, entered at a very early period of life into the royal 
 navy ; and though from his subsequent conduct there can be 
 ao doubt that he distinguished himself in the inferior stations 
 of the service, whenever an opportunity offered, yet there is no 
 particular mention of him, except merely his appointment to 
 the rank of lieutenant, on the Sth of March, 1744-5, previous 
 
6 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 place in the year 1770, and the ship just men- 
 tioned was one of those ordered to be equipped, 
 
 to his receiving a commission as captain of the Dreadnought, a 
 ship of sixty guns, on the second of December, 1755. 
 
 Soon after his advancement, war breaking out betvteen the 
 rival powers of France and Great Britain, it was thought ne- 
 cessary to send some ships to the West Indies, in order to pro- 
 tect those valuable possessions from any attack that might be 
 made on them by the enemy. Among those sent on this oc- 
 casion was the Dreadnought, making part of a small squadron 
 of three sail of the line, which, after a short period of inacti- 
 vity, were ordered to cruise off Cape Francoise. The force 
 consisted, besides his own ship, of the Augusta and Edinburgh, 
 the former of sixty, the latter of sixty-four guns. They had 
 not long been on this station, ere Captain Suckling met with 
 the opportunity so long sought for, of distinguishing himself; 
 as they had the good fortune to fall in with a French arma- 
 ment, consisting of* seven sail, four of which were of the line, 
 one of forty-four guns, and two frigates, which, in the pre- 
 sumptuous hope of annihilating the British squadron, had 
 quitted the protection of their batteries, where they had so 
 long continued in security. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great inequality opposed to them, the 
 commanders of the British force, after a momentary consulta- 
 tion, unanimously determined to add fresh laurels to their 
 country, or perish in the encounter. An action accordingly 
 commenced, not exceeded, if equalled, in the annals of naval 
 valour, and the share that Captain Suckling bore in the en- 
 gagement, which ended in the total discomfiture of their op- 
 ponents, is recorded in the following short account. 
 • " The Dreadnought, getting on the Intrepide's bow, kept 
 her helm hard on starboard to rake her, or, if she proceeded, 
 to^ fall on board as the most advantageous situation ; but she 
 chose to hear up, and continued to do so during the action. 
 
r 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 7 
 
 in consequence of the rupture at that time appre- 
 hended between the courts of London and Ma- 
 drid, relative to the Falkland Islands. The mat- 
 ter in dispute being however speedily accom- 
 modated, the Raisonnable was put out of com- 
 and a life of indolence, even fpr a sin- 
 
 till she fell disabled. By thus bearing short on her own ship, 
 those astern were thrown into disorder, from which they 
 never recovered ; and when the Intrepide dropped, and was 
 relieved by the Opiniatre, the Greenwich in confusion got on 
 board her, while the Sceptre pressing on, the whole number 
 were furiously cannonaded by the Edinburgh and Augusta, 
 especially the Intrepide, which lay dismantled in a very shat- 
 tered situation, having a signal out for relief." 
 
 Captain Suckling, whose conduct and courage in the above 
 engagement became the admiration of his country, continued 
 to be employed during the whole of the war, but without hav- 
 ing any second opportunity of distinguishing himself. At the 
 conclusion of it, he appears to have lived in domestic retire- 
 ment ; having married, on the 19th of Jime, 1764, the Hon. 
 Mai-y Walpole, eldest daughter of Horatio, first Lord Wal- 
 pole, by Mary, daughter of Peter Lombard, Esq. He was 
 however soon deprived of this felicity, his wife having lived 
 only t\vo years, dying on the Ipth of June, 1766. 
 
 On the apprehended rupture with Spain relative to the 
 Falkland Islands, Captain Suckling was appointed in 1770 to 
 tlie Raisonnable of sixty-four guns, and in the month of May, 
 1771, to the Triumph of seventy-four guns ; but peace continu- 
 ing, this was the, last naval promotion he experienced, if we 
 except that of comptroller of the navy, in which office he 
 succeeded Sir Hugh Palliser, and retained it to his death. This 
 event took place in the prime of his life, and in the month of 
 July, 1775. 
 
9 MEMOIRS Ot 
 
 gie day, being considered highly improper by 
 Captain Suckling, his nephew, by his advice, ex- 
 perienced a temporary transfer into the mercan- 
 tile line of service, having made a voyage to the 
 West Indies under the care of Mr. John Rath- 
 bone, who had formerly served under Captain 
 Suckling on board the Dreadnought, and who 
 then commanded a ship employed in the trade 
 to these colonies. 
 
 During the absence of Mr. Nelson, Captain 
 Suckling had been appointed to command the 
 Triumph of seventy-four guns, a guardship sta- 
 tioned at Chatham ; and immediately on the ar- 
 rival of the former, he returned into the king's 
 service, under the protection and guidance of his 
 uncle, being appointed a midshipman on board 
 the ship just mentioned. Jt is said, and from 
 such authority as can scarcely be doubted, that 
 he had imbibed the strongest prejudice against 
 serving in the navy, and that it was not without 
 much difficulty that his uncle, than whom no 
 person could be better qualified for such a 
 task, was able to remove it. Gentle precept, 
 and the force of example, having completed this 
 purpose, this young navigator gave the earliest 
 proofs of that enthusiastic attachment to his pro- 
 fession which very rarely fails to create renown, 
 and lead to the highest honours. It is reported, 
 as an anecdote, that his uncle, who appears from 
 this circumstance to have obtained very can*- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 9 
 
 siderable knowledge of the workings of the hu- 
 man heart, as well as to have made himself com- 
 pletely master of his nephew's peculiar turn of 
 mind, carried his point by judiciously appear- 
 ing to place a confidence in him far beyond 
 what his years and short time of service might 
 be thought to justify, but which his conduct 
 .uniformly proved he fully merited. 
 
 He continued in the Triumph no longer than 
 till the month of April in the year ensuing; when 
 it having been resolved to send out two vessels 
 to the northern seas, on a voyage of discovery, 
 and the office of a midshipman on board a guard- 
 ship little according with his active turn of mind, 
 he solicited an appointment, and was accord- 
 ingly received on board the Carcase, a^ coxswain 
 to Captain Lutwidge, who was commander of 
 that vessel. This application stands, among 
 many others, a very convincing proof of that 
 enthusiastic attachment to every branch of the 
 service in which he was engaged, that has so 
 strongly marked the character of this noble per- 
 son through life. The expedition in which he 
 so earnestly wished to engage, was attended 
 with many disagreeable and dangerous conside- 
 rations which do not usually fall to the share of 
 voyages undertaken towards other quarters of 
 the world. The principal object of it was to as- 
 certain how near to the north pole navigation 
 ^ould possibly be carried, the Royal Society, and 
 
lO MEMOIRS- OF 
 
 many learned persons, being of opinion that some 
 advancement might be effected, through such a 
 measure, towards the discovery of a north-v^est 
 passage into the South Seas j and also that many 
 astronomical observations might be taken in 
 those high latitudes, which would afford a va- 
 riety of data and deductions extremely useful to 
 seamen. 
 
 The peculiar dangers which it was supposed 
 the vessels engaged in this undertaking would 
 have to encounter, caused the admiralty-board 
 not only to take such extraordinary precautions 
 in fitting out and preparing the vessels as might 
 have intimidated a less ardent mind than that 
 of Mr. Nelson from voluntarily exposing himself 
 to them, but also to issue a positive order that 
 no boys whatever should be received on board. 
 The cause was obvious ; but the eager and 
 strenuous manner of the application overcame 
 the difficulty, though our youthful adventurer 
 was not then fifteen years old.* 
 
 * This expedition w^s entrusted to the command of the ho- 
 fiourable Constanline John Phipps, aftenvards Lord Mulgrave. 
 He was the eldest son of Constanline, created Baron Mulgrave 
 of New Ross in tlie county of Wexford and kingdom of Ire- 
 land, by writ of privy-seal, dated at St. James's, August the 
 8th, 1767, and by patent at Dublin, on the 3d of September 
 following, by Lepell, eldest daughter to John Lord Hervey, 
 son of John first Earl of Bristol. Having at an early age pro- 
 fessed an inclination for maritime pursuits, he was entered on 
 b()?ird one of his Majesty's ships of w^tr, and served a^ a nyd- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. II 
 
 His conduct through all the perils of this ex-» 
 pedition, which were extremely numerous, fully 
 
 sliipman on board the Dragon, at the attack of Martinico, under 
 his relative Captain Hei-vey. He does not appear to have dis- 
 tinguished himself in any particular manner in a subordinate 
 situation, nor do tlie naval annals record any thing material ex- 
 cept the mere dates of his commissions. He was raised to the 
 rank of post-captain on the 20th of June, 17^5, and took the 
 command of the Terpsichore frigate. In 1 767 he was captain 
 of the Boreas, then employed as a cruizer. This ship he how- 
 ever soon quitted ; nor does he appear to have held any subse- 
 quent commission until the beginning of the year 177^, when 
 he was appointed, on the 22d of April, to the Racehorse bomb- 
 ketch, as the senior in command on the projected expedition to 
 the north pole. This vessel, and the Carcase, Captain Lut- 
 U'idge, were pitched upon for this purpose, as the best calcu- 
 lated, on account of their solidity, to resist those assaults they 
 might encounter from the ice and other unforeseen impedi- 
 ments. Accordingly, after every possible attention had beea 
 paid by the admiralty-board, and also by the Earl of Sandwich 
 himself, at that time first commissioner, in order that they 
 might be supplied with every necessary, and the minutest scni- 
 tiny made as to the proper equipment of the vessels, Captain 
 Phipps proceeded to the Nore, where he was joined on the 
 30th of May by his consort. They sailed on their voyage tlie 
 4th of June, and on the 2Sth made the land of Spitzbergen. 
 The Racehorse and Carcase continued in those frozen seas till 
 the 10th of August, occasionally occupied either in coasting 
 along the shore of Spitzbergen, the land adjacent, the immense 
 fields of ice which might be said to inclose them, or in endea- 
 vouring to fulfil more completely the object of their expedition, 
 by forcing a passage through every channel that appeared in 
 any degree open. On the 31st of July the ships were closely 
 surrounded by the ice, which became so thick and impene^ 
 table, that the greatest fears were entertained they would be 
 
12 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 justified the propriety of his application for the 
 appointment, and answered the most sanguine 
 
 prevented from returning. Every attention was of course im- 
 mediately paid to Uie safety of the people : the launches were 
 hauled over the ice ; and, in sliort, no measure that bore any 
 appearance of tending to their deliverance omitted. At length, 
 when least expected, and much labour had been fruitlessly, 
 though prudently, thrown away in the attempt, the ships drift- 
 ed to the westward with the ice, passed the boats, which m ere 
 immediately ordered on board, and on the 10th of August, 
 about noon, having got clear of their surrounding difficulties, 
 stood out to sea. 
 
 On the following day they anchored in Sraeerenberg har- 
 bour, where the Dutch were formerly accustomed to boil their 
 whale oil, and where they then found four Dutch. ships at an- 
 chor. A few subsequent attempts to push to the northward 
 were made between this time and the 22d. They all of them, 
 Ijowever, proved of no importance ; and the wind then coming 
 round briskly to the northward, this circumstance, together 
 with the very advanced season of the year, united to confirm 
 the determination of Captain Phipps to make no farther exer- 
 tions, whicii experience had taught him could not be expected 
 successful, but to proceed innnedia4ely to the southward. A 
 wall of impenetrable ice was found to extend more than twenty 
 degrees between the latitudes SO and 81, through which there 
 did not appear to be the smallest opening to the northward. 
 The astronomers landed on several islands, and made a num^ 
 fcer of curious observations; a circumstance which stands ^s an 
 incontrovertible proof, that the expedition was not undertaken 
 in vain. 
 
 On the 7tli of September the ships arrived off Shetland, and 
 from that time till the 24th, when they readied Orfordness, en- 
 countered constant and most violent gales of wiud, such as 
 proved the judgment with which the time was chosen for the 
 commencement of the voyage; as well as for the abandQnijig 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. Ij 
 
 expectations of his friends and professional re- 
 latives. In so high a degree did he acquire the 
 
 any farther attempt, which, if persisted in, must inevitably 
 have proved fatal. 
 
 Captain Phipps, on the death of his father, in the year 1775, 
 succeeded to his honours in the title of Mulgrave, &c. and was, 
 through the friendship of Lord Sandwich, returned as member 
 for the town of Huntingdon in the year 1777) which place he 
 continued to represent till the general election in 1784. In 
 parliament, his abilities were conspicuous as a public speaker, 
 the which indeed he had given a specimen of prior to his pe- 
 rilous voyage, as he had been chosen one of the representative? 
 for the borough of Lincoln, after a very severe contest with 
 Mr. Vyner, in the year 1768 ; but from 1774 till the period of 
 his election for Huntingdon, he had ceased being a member of 
 the house of commons. He was also appointed one of tlie 
 commissioners for executmg the office of lord-high-admiral, 
 which situation he held during four commissions, resignini' it 
 on the 30th of May, 1782. Though it may be naturally sup- 
 posed that the ostensible post he lield, as well as his duty to 
 his constituents, must occupy a considerable portion of his time, 
 yet he so blended his civil labours with those of his nautical 
 ones, that both received additional lustre by his observance of 
 them. Soon after the commencement of the American war, he 
 was employed, being then captain of the Ardent of sixty-four 
 guns, in cruizing in the Bay of Biscay. He was also present at 
 the engagement off Ushant, on the 27th of July, 1778, in which 
 his ship, the Courageux of seventy-four guns, bore a very dis* 
 tinguished share. From that period till the year 1781, hevras 
 employed in the Channel service, under the progressive com- 
 mands of Sir Charles Hardy, Admiral Geary, and Mr. Darby. 
 On the 4th of January, in tlie above-mentioned year, being on 
 a separate cruize with the Valiant, a ship of his own force, they 
 fell in with two French frigates, one of which was chased by 
 the VaUant, while his lordship pursued the other, which proved 
 
14 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 confidence of his commanding officer, that, when 
 the vessels were in the most perilous situation, 
 
 to be the Minerva of thirty guns and three hundred and six- 
 teen men, taken from the English in tlie West Indies, at the 
 commencement of the war. The sea ran very high at the time 
 tile Courageux got up with her chace, which, tkough so evi- 
 dently inferior in point of strength to her opponent, was, with 
 a courage almost bordering on frenzy, so obstinately defended 
 by her commander, the Chevalier de Grimouard, that she did 
 liot surrender till after the captain himself, together with twen- 
 ty-one persons, were dangerously wounded, and one of his 
 lieutenants, and forty-nine of the crew, killed. Soon after his 
 return into port, his ship being refitted from the damage slie 
 had received in the preceding engagement, he was sent with a 
 small force to make an attempt on Flushing, which, from pre- 
 vious information of the meditated attack, proved fruitless, 
 liis lordship was not particularly noticed during the remainder 
 of the war, except in having led the van of the commander in 
 chief's division in the slight encounter which took place off the 
 Streights, on the 20th of October, 1782, in the relief of Gibral- 
 tar, by the fleet under the command of Lord Howe. 
 
 The Courageux being paid off soon after peace was made, 
 tiis lordship never accepted any other naval command, but con- 
 fined himself tq^the duties of his civil appointments. At the 
 general electig^i in 178.4, he was chos«i representative for the 
 town of Newark-upon-Trent; and in the month of April, in 
 the same year, was raised to the high station of joint paymas- 
 ter-general of the forces; and on the IStliof the ensuing montli 
 was made one of the commissioners for managing the affairs of 
 the East-India Company. These offices, together with that of 
 a lord of the committee of council for the consideratioa of 
 matters relative to trade and foreign plantations, he held till 
 the year 1791. Previous to this period, namely on tlie l6th 
 of June, 1790, he was still further eniwbled, by being raised to 
 the rank of a peer of Great Biitain, by the same title he had 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. I5 
 
 and all persons on board entertained the strong- 
 est apprehensions that they would be inclosed 
 in the ice, Mr. Nelson, notwithstanding his 
 youth, was appointed to command one of the 
 boats sent out for the purpose of attempting to 
 find a passage or channel into the open water. 
 
 One anecdote is related of him during: this ex- 
 pedition, which, though already repeatedly pub- 
 lished and in some respects irregular with regard 
 to the service, does too much honour to his filial 
 attention to be omitted here : — During the time 
 the vessels were closely jammed up by the ice, 
 Mr. Nelson was missed in the night, and no in- 
 considerable apprehensions were entertained on 
 board for his safety ; but he was at length dis- 
 covered on the return of day at a considerable 
 distance from the vessel, in pursuit of a large 
 bear. He was armed only with a musket, the 
 lock of which having been, by some accident, 
 injured, was rendered of no further service to 
 him than as a club; yet, thus weakjy armed, he 
 had the resolution and intrepidity to^pursue the 
 animal, in the hope of tiring it out, and knock- 
 ing it down with the but-end of his piece. When 
 he returned, he was somewhat harshly repri- 
 
 lield his Irish honours. This advancement, however, he did 
 not long sur\ive : dying on the 10th of October, 1/92, and 
 leaving no issue, the EngUsh title became extinct, but was re- 
 vived in 1794, in the person of his brollier, the right honour- 
 able Henry Phipps. 
 
J 5 ^fEMOIRs or 
 
 manded by the captain, who demanded, in a 
 very peremptory tone, to know his reason for 
 so inconsiderate and rash an undertaking; when 
 his answer must have unbent the brow of the 
 most unrelenting tyrant- — " I w^as in hopes, sir/' 
 said the young hero> ** of getting a skin for my 
 father." 
 
 The farther prosecution of the voyage l^eing 
 given up soon after the anecdote just mentioned 
 had taken place, the ships returned to England, 
 and were paid off in the month of October fol- 
 lowing. A fresh opportunity, however, of in- 
 dulging his thirst for rendering himself com- 
 pletely master of his profession occurred very 
 soon afterwards. A small squadron was order- 
 ed to be fitted out for the East Indies ; and our 
 youthful adventurer entered on board the Sea- 
 horse, of twenty guns, w^hich vessel was then 
 commanded by the gallant Captain Farmer,* 
 
 * George Farmer was advanced to the rank of lieutenant ia 
 tlie navy, on the 23d of May, 1759, and to that of commander • 
 tlie 26th of JV^y, 176S. We know not to what particular ship 
 he was first appointed ; but in 1769 he was conanissioned to the 
 Swift sloop of war, and ordered out to Falkland islands. I^jb 
 arrived there in safety early in the ensuing year, but unfortu- 
 nately suffered shipwreck on the 13th of March following at 
 Port Desire, on the coast of Patagonia. The sloop had un- 
 happily grounded on a sand-bank, just at high-water, but 
 remained during the ebb ia perfect safety, though Captain 
 Farmer and his crew were, during the whole time, in a state of 
 most anxious uncertainty. The tide had began to flow, when 
 the hope of then: deliverance, which had progressively strength- 
 
LORD VlseOUNT NELSON. fj 
 
 who, some years afterwards, lost his life on 
 board the Quebec, in an engagement with the- 
 
 #• 
 ened, was at once almost annihilated, by the Swift having 
 
 slipped off the rock, overset, and sunk to the bottom in nine 
 fatjiotn water. 
 
 Tliis melancholy accident being totally unexpected, the 
 crew, who, in the midst of tlieir distress, were fortunate enough 
 to save their lives, were reduced to the utmost extremity, most 
 of them who had been labouring incessantly during the whole 
 preceding tide, in the hope of preserving the ship from further 
 mischief than she had by the first accident sustained, being left 
 almost destitute of covering. This circumstance was rendered 
 additionally alarming in that inhospitable climate, by the rapid 
 approach of winter. The countiy was barren to a degree 
 scarcely credible, considering it a continent. It was destitute 
 even of water, except what was produced from two old wells; 
 destitute of every article that could contribute to the support 
 of life, except the sea weed, which was thrown up above high 
 water mark, while, at the same time, the internal resources 
 amounted to no more than a single biscuit for each man per 
 day : nevertheless in this wretched state were Captain Farmer 
 and his crew compelled to remain during twenty-nine days. 
 • Immediately on the Swift being cast away, Mr. William 
 White, then a master's mate, and who aftenvards in 1783 
 most deservedly obtained the rank of post-captain in the navy, 
 was • dispatched with six volunteers to Falkland islands, as the 
 only certain means of obtaining relief. The attempt was ha- 
 zardous, particularly in those tempestuous seas, the distance 
 being upwards of one hundred and thirty leagues; but Pro- 
 vidence favoured their bold undertaking, and success crowned 
 it. The Favourite sloop, commanded by Captain Maltby, 
 instantly sailed to the relief of the sufferers,' and took them all 
 safely on board on the 12th of April. The dispute with the 
 Spaniards having risen to no inconsiderable height in th-itquar, 
 
 C 
 
li MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Surveillante, a French frigate of very superior 
 force. The climate of India ill suitiqo Mr. Nel- 
 
 ter, the British force, completely inadequate to the purpose of 
 maintaining that right it was sent to defend against the for- 
 midable armaments, comparatively speaking, which his anta- 
 gonists brought against it, was compelled with great re- ' 
 luctance to give them up quietly that, possession, which 
 otherwise would have been extorted by force, and would have 
 occasioned the most Serious consequences, and mmecessary 
 bloodshed. 
 
 Captain Farmer returned to England with his people in the 
 month of September, as passengers on board the same vessel, 
 which delivered tliem from their distress in the former instance, 
 the Favourite sloop of war. On the 10th of January, 1771> 
 having been previously most honourably acquitted of all 
 blame by a court-martial held for the purpose of enquiring into 
 the loss of the'Swift, he was promoted to the rank of post-cap- 
 tain, and commissioned to the Launceston ; but this appoint- 
 ment having, as is very customary in time of peace, been made 
 out merely as a matter of form, he quitted that ship immediately 
 afterwards, and does not appear to have held any subsequent 
 command till the year 1773, or the succeeding, when he was 
 appointed to the Seahorse of twenty guns, and ordered to the 
 East Indies. He continued there we believe to the year 1778^ 
 and having then returned to England, was very soon after his 
 arrival, appointed to the Quebec frigate of thirty- two guns. 
 Being ordered out on a cruize off Ushant, in the month of Sep- 
 tember, he fell in, on the 4th of the ensuing month, with the 
 Surveillante, a French frigate of the largest construction then 
 in service, carrying twenty-eight eighteen pounders on her main- 
 deck, and twelve or fourteen twelve and six-pounders on her 
 quarter-deck and forecastle, manned with a chosen crew of 
 three hundred and sixty men ; while the force of the Quebec 
 amounted to no more than two hundred and twenty men, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. Ip 
 
 son^s constitution, which, strange to say, was 
 then, and ever afterwards continued to be, ex- 
 
 twenty-six twelve-pounders on her main-deck, with six six- 
 pounders on her quarter-deck and forecastle. The encounter 
 commenced at nine o'clock in the morning, the enemy having 
 then opened their iire on the Quebec, but at too great a di- 
 stance to effect any considerable execution. Captain Farmer, 
 however, did not return their salute till an hour afterwards, 
 during the whole of which interval, the two ships continued 
 gradually to approach each other. Being then, as he judged, 
 sufficiently near to do execution, he hoisted his colours and be- 
 gan to engage, still continuing to close with the Surveillante, 
 till he got within pistol shot. The French frigate was totally 
 dismasted, after a very severe action of three hours and a half's 
 continuance, and appeared on the point of surrendering, when 
 unfortunately the main and fore-masts of the Quebec, which 
 had been very severely wounded in the former part of the en- 
 gagement, in which also the mizen-raast had been already car- 
 ried away, fell almost at the same instant. The yards and 
 tattered remnants of the sails falling down on the deck, im- 
 mediately took fire from the tiash of the Quebec's own guns, 
 for the spirits of the crew were raised to tliat degree of eager- 
 ness, that the utmost efibrts of their officers could not for some 
 few minutes induce them to desist from the encounter. In that 
 short interval tlie dreadful mischief had taken place, and 
 fatally spread beyond the power of extinction. 
 
 Owing to the disabled state of the Quebec, the people were 
 rendered almost totally incapable of making any exertions for 
 the preservation of the ship ; so that her destruction was almost 
 inevitable, from the first moment the accident took place. 
 
 Some of the officers, and several of the seamen, were 
 picked up by the boats of the Rambler cutter who was in 
 company, and had sustained a very sharp action with a vessel 
 of her own description, in which her gaft was shot a^ay, many 
 
 C 2 
 
^O MEMOIRS OF 
 
 tremely delicate, Commodore Hughes^ wlia 
 
 persons were also taken up by the Surveillante. Several of 
 the crew swam on board that ship, among whom was the first 
 lieutenant, one of wjiose arms was broken, and who was also 
 othenvise wounded. Having for a long time endeavoured to 
 persuade Captain Farmer to accompany him, but in vain, he at 
 length stripped himself, and fortunately got oh board the Sur- 
 veillante, which ship was found to be herself in the greatest 
 distress: she was on fire, and had been so much damaged in 
 the action, that, without the assistance of their English visitors, 
 little doubt is entertained, that she either would have been 
 burnt, or have foundered. So great was the apprehension en- 
 tertained by the French sailors of their antagonists, that they re- 
 fused for some time to admit them on board, fearing they might 
 take tlie ship from them, till their officers, who, in justice to 
 them we must observe, behaved in every respect like humane 
 and benevolent men of honour, compelled them to afford their 
 former foes every assistance in their power. Mr. George erro- 
 neously stated that the Surveillante fired at his boats, which 
 were sent to take up those of the sufferers whom he might find 
 in the water. This misrepresentation is supposed to have arisen, 
 either from some of the Quebec's own guns gohig off when the 
 flames reached them, or the casual discharge of some few shot 
 from the Surveillante at the Quebec, under the idea that resist- 
 ance had not totally ceased. In the great confusion which must 
 then ha e prevailed, such a mistake might easily have been 
 made. 
 
 Captain Farmer, who had been very severely, and, as it was 
 believed, mortally wounded in the action, is said by some of the 
 survivors who attended him, to liave pulled oft" his coat and 
 committed himself to the sea, after remaining on board nearly 
 tilUhe last man; but, bs might have naturally been foreseen* 
 was drowned in his attempt to get on boaid either tlie enemy's 
 .frigate, or the Rambler cutter. Mr. George, wlio commanded 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 21 
 
 commanded in chief on that station,* thought 
 proper to send him to England on board the 
 
 the Rambler, concludes his account of the action with the fol- 
 lowing well-deserved encomium on the memory and gallantry 
 of Captain Farmer. "I want words (says l.e) suthcient to 
 describe the noble and gallant flianner of Captain Farmer's 
 engaging the enemy, for upwards of three hours and a half 
 that he lay alongside the frigate, which carried twenty-eight 
 eighteen pounders on her main-deck, and twelve guns on her 
 quarter-deck and forecastle. The Quebec continued burning 
 very fiercely, with her colours flying, till six o'clock, when slie 
 blew up." 
 
 Immediately on the news of the above melancholy event 
 having arrived in England, the son of Captain Farrtier was, as a 
 pubhc testimony given of the high sense entertained of his father's 
 conduct, advanced to the dignity of a baronet of Cireat Britain. 
 
 * Mr. afterwards Sir Edward, Hughes, was the descendant 
 of a respectable family in the county of Hertford, and having a 
 predilection forthesea, entered into the service when verjyoung* 
 The first particular mention we find made of him is, that aftCj. 
 the taking of Porto Bello he was promoted by Mr. Vernon, the 
 commander in chief, to a lieutenancy, for his conduct during 
 the siege of that place, his commission being dated on the 25th 
 of August, 1740. In the year 1747 he sailed as a passenger 
 in the Warwick (being then only a lieutenant) to Louisbourg, 
 carrying a special recommendation to Commodore Knowles, and 
 was by him appointed to the command of the Lark, pro tempore f 
 as successor to Captain Crookshanks, her commander, who 
 was suspended. After the conclusion of the trial which took 
 place on Captain Crookshanks, he being totally dismissed from 
 all command, Mr. Hughes was regularly appointed to the 
 Lark, by commission bearing date the 6tli of February, 1747»-8i 
 which being afterwards confirmed by the admiralty-board, 
 he accordingly took rank as post-captain from that vei-y hour,. 
 jF?onj this time, till that of his rec^ving the rank of cQm-y 
 
i'Z MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Dolphin, a frigate, then under orders to sail for 
 Europe ; and gratitude, as well as justice, re- 
 
 Modore, about the year 1774, though frequently engaged in 
 active service, nothing very remarkable occurred to merit par- 
 ticular notice, except his intermediate appointments. In 1756 
 he was commissioned to the Deal-castle, of twenty-four guns; 
 and in 1757 was removed to the Somerset, a third rate, then on 
 the American station, in which ship he served with the highest 
 credit in the memorable expedition against Louisbourg, under 
 the command of Mr. Boscawen, as he- afterwards did in that 
 luidertaken against Quebec, by Sir Ciiarles Saunders and 
 General Wolfe. Towards the latter part of the war he was 
 removed by Sir Charles Saunders into the Neptune, of ninety 
 guns, on board- which ship Sir Charles had hoisted his flag, 
 and in which he accompanied him to the Mediterranean, in 
 the spring of the year 176O. From the conclusion of hostilities 
 till the year 1770, he was unemployed. He was then ap- 
 pointed to the Somerset, and after retaining the command of 
 that ship thiee years, was, at the beginning of the year 1774, 
 raised to the rank of commodore, and appointed to the East- 
 India station, whither he repaired in the Isis, of fifty guns, and 
 without meeting with any occurrence worth notice during the 
 time he held the command there, returned to Europe in 1777> 
 being succeeded by Sir Edward Vernon. 
 
 Soon after his arrival in Europe, he was honoured by his 
 sovereign with the order of the Bath, and being raised to the 
 rank of rear-admiral of the blue on the 23d of January, 1778, 
 was in the beginning of the ensuing year again appointed to 
 the chief command in the East Indies; for which station, 
 having hoisted his flag on board the Superb, of seventy-four 
 guns, he immediately sailed, taking with him, besides his own 
 ship, two otliers of seventy-four, and three of sixty-four guns. 
 On his passage thither, he reduced the French settlement at 
 Gt)ree, and on his arrival in India, finding his own squadron 
 fully capable of encountering whatever force the French could 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^3 
 
 quires us to state, that the very humane atten- 
 tion he received when in his infirm state of 
 
 collect, he dispatched Comiiiodore Vernon with the ships he 
 found on that station under his command, to Europe. Every 
 thing remained in j)erfoct tranquillity till the latter end of the 
 year 17hi ; when Monsieur de SufFrein, who had been detached 
 by the French court to India with a squadron of five sail of the 
 line, and several others, armed en flute, arrived there. Hosti- 
 lities immediately commenced, and Sir Edward, having pre- 
 viously been joined by three ships of the line, and one of fifty 
 guns, W3S not backward in seeking the enemy. On the 17th 
 of February a partial engagement took place, which lasted three 
 hours, five ships only of Sir Edward's squadron being engaged, 
 owing to the wind, with eight of the enemy. Both armaments 
 suffered considerably, and the British proceeded to Trincomal^, 
 where it arrived on the S^th, to refit, which was done with 
 such expedition, as to enable it to put to sea again on the 4th of 
 March. On the 30th Sir Edward was joined by two more 
 ships of the line from England ; and on the twelfth of the fol- 
 lowing month, was again enabled to bring the French to ac- 
 tion. In this engagement, though no ship was taken, the ad- 
 vantage was evidently in favour of the English ; and indeed 
 Monsieur Sutfrein's own ship was so severely handled, that 
 he was obliged to shift his flag to another ; and at length 
 the whole of the French squadron was obliged to retire in 
 the greatest disorder. This contest decided tlie superiority of 
 Britain in those seas ; for though the French commander made 
 a shew on the 19th of again attacking the English squadron, ia 
 hopes of cutting off the Monmouth, which lay completely dis- 
 masted, yet Sir Edward made so judicious a disposition of his 
 force, that the former thought proper to haul his wind, and 
 soon after to quit, for a time, these seas, where he had hoped 
 to have reigned triumphant. 
 Sir Edward again sailed in search of the French squadron on 
 
^4 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 health from Captain J. Pigot, who then com«» 
 manded the Dolphin, contributed in a great de-. 
 gree to the preservation of his life, which was 
 for a considerable time in the most imminent 
 danger. 
 
 The air of his native country operated like a 
 magical charm on the constitution of this enter- 
 prising young man. He recovered so speedily, 
 that, though the Dolphin was not paid off till 
 the 24th of December, 1776, on the 26th of the 
 same month he was appointed, by order from Sir 
 James Douglas, then commander in chief at 
 Portsmouth, to be acting lieutenant of the Wor- 
 cester, a third rate, commanded by Capto Mark 
 
 Ihe 20th of June, but no encounter took place during the re- 
 jnainder of the year, and be was afterwards joined by Sir 
 Richard Bickerton, with a'reinforcementof six sail of the line, 
 and the Bristol of fifty guns. Hostilities had ceased in Europe 
 early in the year 1783, but the intelligence had not reached 
 India in the month of June, at which time, the admiral bemg 
 off Cuddalore, the enemy "again appeared in sight ; a heavy 
 cannonade took place, which continued three hours, when the 
 French again thought proper to haul off. On the 2 2d they 
 were again descried off Pondicherry, but no encounter took 
 place. Sir Edward in;mediately proceeded to Madras, where 
 certain intelligence being received that peace was concluded^ 
 hostiUties ceased, and Sir Edward returned to England; after 
 which he never took upon him any otiier command. He was 
 advanced to be vice-admiral of the red on the 24th of Sept. 
 ^787> apd afterwards, on the 1st of February, 1793, to be ad- 
 jnrui al of the blue. He died, universally beloved and respected, 
 on tlie 1 7th of February, 1794. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ' ij 
 
 Robinson,* which ship was then under sailing 
 orders for Gibraltar, with a convoy. Mr. Nel- 
 
 * The services of this gentleman, previous to his attaining 
 the rank of post-captain, are but little known, except tiiat he 
 served a3 a lieutenant on board the Ramillies, about the year 
 1757, that ship then bearing the flag of Sir Edward Hawke. 
 He was on the loth of Au:>ust, 176O, advanced to tlie rank 
 first mentioned, by being appointed captain of the Vanguard, 
 a third rate ; though some accounts state him to have com- 
 iraiided the Lis of fifty guns, in the very early part of that 
 year. In IjG^ he received a commission for the Rainbow of 
 forty-four guns, which ship he is believed to have quitted at 
 tli^ end of the war, nor is he known to have been again em- 
 ployed till 1767, when he received the command of tlie 
 Fowey, of twenty-four guns ; and the settlement of the Falk_ 
 land Islands being then in contemplation , is reported to have 
 been ordered into the southern Atlantic. He returned how- 
 ever to England in 1769 ; nor did he again fill any active sta- 
 tion till some time in the year 1775, when he was commis- 
 sioned to the Worcester, one ot the guardships at Portsmouth, 
 luountinji sixty-four guns. This command he held till the 
 beginning of the year 1779, when the Worcester being under 
 orders for the East Indies, he quitted her, and was promoted, 
 in the month of March, to the Shrewsbury, of seventy-four 
 guns. Daring the time, however, that he retained the com- 
 mand of the Worcester, that ship constituted a part of the 
 Channel fleet, and he was materially engaged in the action that 
 took place off Ushant with the French fleet under Count d'Or- 
 viiliers, on the 27th of July, 1778, being appointed to lead the 
 rear division, commanded by Sir Hugh Palliser. He was after^ 
 wards ordered to reinforce Sir George Rodney in the West 
 Indies, but did not reach his destination till after the encoun- 
 ters with the Count de Guichen had taken place. Nothing of 
 any material consequence happened to this gentleman until 
 iffter his return to the West Indies from North America, whi- 
 
26 MEMOIRS OF \ 
 
 son retained this station till the month of April 
 following, and displayed during the whole of a 
 very long disagreeable winter's cruize in the Bay 
 of Biscay, the same attention to his duty which 
 had so deservedly acquired him the love and the 
 esteem of every officer he had before sailed with. 
 Captain Robinson is, in particular, said to have 
 declared to his friends, that notwiihstanding Mr. 
 Nelson's youth, he being then little more than 
 eighteen years old, he felt himself quite as easy 
 
 therhe accompanied Sir George Rodney. In 1781 he mate- 
 rially distinguished himself in the action which took place be- 
 tween the greater part of the British fleet detached under the 
 orders of Sir Samuel Hood, and the French armament com- 
 manded by the Count de Grasse. In that encounter he led 
 the division of Rear-admiral Drake; and though he displayed, 
 as indeed he did on all occasions, the greatest gallantry, he had 
 the good fortune to sustain but little loss, having only six men 
 killed and fourteen wounded. He however experienced a more 
 severe injury on the 5th of September following, at the battle 
 off the Chesapeak: for Sir Samuel Hood having proceeded, in 
 the month of August, with part of the West-India squadron to 
 America, immediately sailed with Mr. Graves and his squadron 
 in quest of the enemy. Jji the engagement which took place, 
 the Shrewsbury, from the disposition of the fleet, led into ac- 
 tion, and received more damage than any other of the British 
 squadron, having had fourteen men killed, and fifty-two 
 wounded. Unfortunately for himself and his country. Captain 
 Robinson was among the latter, having lost a leg by a cannon 
 shot. He recovered this misfortune, but ceased acting as a naval 
 oflicer. He was however gratified with a pension of three hun- 
 dred pounds a year; and when by seniority he became entitled 
 to a flag, was placed on the list of superann^atcd admirals. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 27 
 
 in the most boisterous night, when it was his 
 turn to command the watch, as when it was 
 that of the oldest officer in the ship. 
 
 The necessary period of service in the subor- 
 dinate station of midshipman or mate being ex- 
 pired, Mr. Nelson passed his examination on the 
 8th of April, 1777, and acquitted himself on the 
 occasion with such high credit, that on the fol- 
 lowing day he received a commission as second 
 lieutenant of the LowestofFe, of thirty-two guns» 
 a frigate, commanded by Captain William 
 Locker,* afterwards lieutenant-governor of 
 
 * This brave man was the son of Mr. John Locker, a gen- 
 tleman highly esteemed in the literary world for his knowledge 
 in polite literature, and remarkable for his skill in the modern 
 Greek language. His mother was the daughter of Stillingfleet, 
 Bishop of Worcester, by his lordship's first wife, and was con- 
 sequently sister to the celebrated Benjamin Stillingfleet. Being 
 destined by his parents for the sea service, he began his career 
 in that line under the protection of Captain Wyndhara, a distauj. 
 relative, at the early age of fourteen, in the year 1746', and ac- 
 companied Iihn on board the Kent of seventy guns, of which 
 ship that gentleman then held the command. On the decease 
 of his patron, which happened very soon after his appointment 
 to the Kent, Mr. Locker was removed to the Vainqueur sloop, 
 Captain Kirk, under whom he continued to serve in that and 
 other vessels on the Jamaica station, till removed into the flag- 
 ship of Admiral Knowles, the Cornwall. This situation he soon 
 quitted, and was again put under the command of Captain 
 Kirk, with \\ horn he returned to Europe in the Elizabeth, in 
 the year 1748. 
 
 Hostilities having ceased, and Mr. Locker wishing to perfect 
 himself in maritime afiiiirs, he entered into the East-India ser- 
 
28 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Greenwich hospital, who was appointed to that 
 ship, on a three years station at the island of 
 
 vice, and made two or three voyages to their most distant set- 
 tlements, by which means he became a great proficient in the 
 knowledge of his duty as a seaman. 
 
 War against France recommencing in the year 1756, he re- 
 turned to the king's service, and served under Sir Edward 
 Hawke as a mate and acting lieutenant, in which stations he 
 attracted his notice so much, that when he was sent out to the 
 Mediterranean for the purpose of superceding Mr. Byng, he 
 selected Mr. Locker as one of the officers to be appointed in 
 the place of those whom it might be necessary to send home, 
 in order to give evidence on the meditated enquiry into the un- 
 fortunate admiral's conduct. He was, soon after his arrival 
 there, appointed lieutenant of the Experiment, commanded by 
 Sir John Strachan. This vessel, while on a cruize in the Me- 
 diterranean, had so distressed the French commerce, that a 
 large ship, which had been formerly an East-Indiaman, was fit- 
 ted out by the French merchants, and manned with a picked 
 crew of four hundred and sixty men, in order to attack her. 
 The crew of the Experiment consisted of no more than one 
 hundred and forty-two men, and mounted only twenty guns, 
 of which fourteen were nine-pounders, two sixes, and four 
 four-pounders, while the Teleraaque, her opponent, besides 
 the disproportion of lier crew, carried twejity-six, most of 
 which were twelve-pounders, and the remainder nine. 
 
 The ships fell in with each other on the 10th of June, 1757; 
 and both parties being equally anxious for the contest, zwi en- 
 gagement immediately took place with the greatest fury, which 
 was finally put an end to by the gallantry ^of Mr. Loclver. 
 The French, confiding in the superiority of their r umbers, at- 
 tempted to board the Experiment in the heat of the action : 
 they were in the first instance foiled, but, returning a second 
 time to the charge, effected their purpose, but so imperfectly, 
 that they were instantly driven back, with very coniiderabfe 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 29 
 
 Jamaica. His new commander very soon found, 
 experimentally, that bis behaviour in every re- 
 loss. Mr. Locker immediately requested his captain, Sir John 
 Strdchan, to suffer him to return the compHment, which being 
 permitted, he conducted the attack in so gallant a manner, that 
 thou«^h the enemy made an obstinate defence, tliey were obhged 
 to surrender, though with the greatest rehictance; for Mr. 
 Locker was obliged to bring their own captain, wounded, on 
 deck, to command those who were quartered in the tops to 
 cease their fire. In this encounter he received a wound from 
 a splinter in his leg, which, though slight, affected him at times 
 during the remainder of his life. For some reason, not to be 
 accounted for, no notice was taken of this action by the com- 
 mander in chief, Mr. Osborn, which very much displeased Sir 
 John Strachan, not, as he declared, on his own account, but 
 on that of Lieutenant Locker, to w hose gallantry and good 
 conduct the success was principally owing. 
 
 Sir John being taken ill, Mr. Jervis, now Earl of St. Vincent, 
 was appointed to the Evperiment, from which period Mr. 
 Locker, whose abilities as an oflicer became every day more 
 conspicuous, became possessed of that great man's most per- 
 fect esteem, which continued to tire time of his decease. After 
 the recovery of Sir Jol>n Strachan, he was promoted to the 
 Sapphire, of thhty-two guns, and took liis former officers, 
 among w hom w as Mr. Locker, w ith him to that ship ; which 
 being attached to the fleet under Sir Edward Hawke, he was pre- 
 sent at the defeat of Conflans, in November 1759, ofFQuiberon ; 
 but from his station took no part in the encounter. In the 
 following year he was appointed lieutenant of the Ramillies, 
 commanded by Captain Taylor, and narrowly escaped ship- 
 wreck in that vessel, from the accidental circumstance of the 
 officer who was to have succeeded him in the Sapphire not 
 having joined the ^millies when she went to sea. Thus pre- 
 vented from going on board the last-mentioned ship, he was 
 appoiuted fourth lieutenant of the Royal George, under Sir 
 
3© MEMOIRS OF 
 
 spect justified that character, which he before 
 knew only from report. Immediately after his 
 
 Edward Hawke, with whom he remained till 17^2, when, 
 through his recommendation, he was raised to the rank of 
 commander, and promoted to the Roman Emperor fireship. 
 
 When peace was concluded, he received a commission for 
 the Nautilus sloop of war, in which he sailed to Goree on the 
 coast of xAfrica, from whence, after having delivered up that 
 fortress to the French, he proceeded to the West Indies, where 
 he remained three years, performing what duty was requisite 
 with the utmost diligence. Soon after his return to England, 
 he was, on the 26th of May, 1768, advanced to the rank of 
 post-captain, and for the sake of form, was commissioned t& 
 the Mercury, which ship he never however joined, being im- 
 mediately afterwards appointed to the Queen of ninety guns, 
 a new ship, for the purpose of navigating her to Plymouth 
 from Woolwich. 
 
 In October, 1770, he received the command of the Thames 
 frigate, which he held during the customaiy time, when he re- 
 tired, and was not again employed till the commencement of 
 the dispute with America. On this occasion he ^vas commis- 
 sioned to the Lowest ofFe, of thirty-two guns, and proceeded in 
 her to the West Indies, under the orders of Admiral Clarke 
 Gayton. On that station he remained till the year 1779> when 
 ill health obliging him to resign the command, he returned to 
 England. It was in the above vessel that Lord Nelson served 
 under him, and to his instruction and advice the noble lord 
 has most honourably and publicly attributed the chief know- 
 ledge he gained of maritime service. His infirm state of health 
 did not .permit him to accept of any other command till the 
 year 1790, if we except his being selected as one of the officer* 
 to superintend the impress service at Exeter, which, by his ju- 
 dicious management of, he rescued in a great measure from the 
 obloquy generally attached to it. In 1790 he took the com- 
 mand of the Cambridge, au eighty gun ship, as captain to Mr. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. J I 
 
 arrival, he was accordingly appointed to com- 
 mand a schooner, which was fitted out as a ten- 
 der to the Lowestoffe. In this station he dis- 
 tinguished himself on a variety of occasions, 
 which, in the memoirs of so active and great a 
 character as his lordship's, it becomes needless 
 to repeat. The narrative would afford nothing 
 but a constant uniform repetition of valorous 
 and noble acts, each vying with the other so 
 closely, that it might be difficult to assign any 
 
 since Lord Graves, then port-admiral at Plymouth, which was 
 equipped on account of an expected rupture witli Spain, rela- 
 tive toNootka Sound; but this being compromised. Mr. Graves 
 struck his flag, and Mr. Locker agam retired to his domestic 
 enjoyments. 
 
 In the year 179^ he was raised to the rank of commodore, 
 and hoisted his broad pendant on board the Sandwich of 
 ninety guns, as commander in chief at the Nore. This situa- 
 tion he held but a short time, as in the ensuing spring he was 
 advanced to be lieutenant-governor of Greenwich hospital, a 
 situation he enjoyed till his death, which, after several paralytic 
 attacks, happened on the 26th of December, 1800, being in the 
 70th year of his age. He married Lucy, daughter of William 
 Parry, Esq. admiral of the blue, on the 20th of October,! 770, 
 and left issue by her, five children, three sons and two daugh- 
 ters. His general character may be justly summed up in a few 
 words : he was mild and benevolent as a man ; steady, active, 
 eager, and diligent, as an officer ; possessed of a courage cool 
 and determined, yet when circumstances required him to be 
 so, sufficiently impetuous, at the same time without rashness or 
 imprudence. In his life he was truly respected, and at hfs 
 death most sincerely regretted by ail who had the happiness 
 of his acquaintance. 
 
3^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 particular one to which pre-eminenee is due. 
 We cannot however resist the temptation, even 
 though we may incur the charge of literary pi- 
 i^acy, by inserting an extract from his memoirs, 
 published in the third volume of the Naval 
 Chronicle, page 163, which, in just and honest 
 tribute to the merits of that publication, we 
 aver to contain the only genuine account of his 
 lordship's life, so far as it goes, that has ever yet 
 appeared. 
 
 " During Mr. Nelson's continuance in the 
 Lovvestoffe, as second lieutenant, a circumstance 
 occurred, which, as it strongly presaged his cha- 
 racter, and conveys no invidious reflection on 
 the officer to whom it alludes, deserves to be 
 here recorded. 
 
 *' In a strong gale of wind, and a heavy sea, 
 the LowestofFe captured an Amerfcan letter of 
 marque. The captain ordered the first lieute- 
 nant to board her, which he accordingly at- 
 tempted, but was not able to effect, owing to 
 the tremendous sea running. On his return to 
 the ship, Captain Locker exclaimed, * Have I 
 then no officer who can board the prize?* On 
 hearing this, the master immediately ran to the 
 gang-way, in order to jump into the boat, when 
 Lieutenant Nelson suddenly stopped him, say- 
 ing, * It is my turn now — if I come back, it will 
 be yours.* Hence we perceive the indications 
 of that intrepid spirit which no danger could 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 33 
 
 evef dismay or appal ; and also an early propen- 
 sity for deeds of hardy enterprizei In the sub- 
 sequent events of his glorious life, the reader 
 will observe with pleasure, that whatever perils 
 or difficulties Horatio Nelson had to encounter, 
 they only called forth a greater energy of mind 
 to surmount therrt/* 
 
 Captain Locker being, in 1779, compelled to 
 return to England for the benefit of his health, 
 Mr, Nelson w^as appointed by Sir Peter Parker,* 
 
 * This gentleman was the son of Rear-admiral Christopher 
 Parker. Of the early part of his initiation into the servicCj 
 there are no particulars ; but we find him in the year 1743 
 serving on board the Russel, of which ship he was appointed a 
 lieutenant by Admiral Mattliews, then commander in chief of 
 the fleet employed on the Mediterranean station. 
 
 How long he continued in this situation is not known, nei- 
 ther are his subsequent appointments, till he was promoted to 
 be captain of the IVIargate, supposed to have been a frigate, 
 from which, at the begmning of the year I7^9i ^^ was ad- 
 vanced to the Lancaster, a thud rate. A second chasm in our 
 knowledge of his commands then takes place, and continues till 
 after the commencement of the war with France in 1756, when 
 in the following year he was appointed to the Woolwich, a 
 fourth rate, of fifty guns, employed in the West Indies. On his 
 return from thence, he was removed to tlie Montague, and em- 
 ployed during the winter of 1758 in cruizing in the Channel, 
 where he was successful in capturing several prizes. In the year 
 1761 he commanded the Buckingham, in which ship tie served 
 under Commodore Keppel in covering the siege of Belleisle, 
 and blocking up the French ports ; but that ship becoming in 
 need of repair soon afterwards, he removed into the Terrible, 
 of 74 guns, just newly launched. The latter vessel being put out 
 
 D 
 
$4f MEMOIRS OF ,f 
 
 then commander in chief on that station, to be 
 third lieutenant of the Bristol, which was his 
 
 of commission not long afterwards, no further mention is made 
 of Mr. Parker till the year 1772, when he received the honour 
 of knighthood, and in 1774 was commissioned to the Barfleur, 
 of ninety guns. About the end of the year 1775, he was pro- 
 moted to the rank of commodore on the American station, 
 tv'hither he sailed, from Portsmouth, on the 2d of December^ 
 having hoisted his broad pendant on board the Bristol, of fifty 
 guns. 0\¥ing to tlie tempestuous weather he met with, he 
 did not arrive before Charlestown, in South Carolina, which 
 was the destined object of his attack, till the beginning of June 
 the following year. The assault took place on the 28th ; and 
 though the commodore acted with the greatest personal intre- 
 pidity and professional ability, tlie difficulties which prevented 
 liis entering the harbour were too great to be overcome. Aftei 
 this failure Sir Peter put himself under the command of Lord 
 Howe, and soon afterwards was detached with ai small squa- 
 dron against Rhode Island. In this expedition he was com- 
 pletely successful, and continued in command at that port, till 
 having been raised, in the month of April, to the rank of rear- 
 admiral of the blue, he was ordered to Jamaica, where he 
 remained during the remainder of the war, and so judiciously 
 stationed his cruizers, as to injure the trade of the enemy very 
 materially. lie quitted Jamaica in 1782, a«d returned to 
 England on board the Sandwich. He had been advanced, 
 iuthe year 1778, to be rear-admiral of the white; on the 
 19th of March, 1779> to be vice-admiral of the blue; and 
 on the 26th of September, 1780, to be vice of the white. 
 Since the period of his return to England, Sir Peter's appoint- 
 ments have been confined to those of a port-admiral. In the 
 year 1787, he was chosen representative for the borough o£ 
 Maiden^ but was not re-elected into the new parliament. 
 On the 24.th of September, 1787, he was promoted to be 
 julmiral of the blue; and lastly, on tlie 12th of April, 1795, 
 
LORD VlSCOtTNT NELSON. J5 
 
 flag-ship. He rose from thence in regular rota- 
 tion to be first in that rank, and was afterwards, 
 as he had a very just claim to be, promoted to 
 the command of the Badger sloop of war. Being 
 ordered out to the Musquiro shore for the better 
 protection of the Baymen from the depredations 
 of the American privateers, he there shewed 
 himself no less attentive t6 the moral duties of 
 private life, than, he had before approved, he was 
 to those of his profession. By his care, his gen- 
 tleness of manners, atid conciliating conduct, he 
 gained the entire love of all the settlers, who^ 
 tvhen his time of service on that station escpired, 
 voted him their unanimous thanks for his con- 
 duct, and expressed their regret at his departure 
 in the most affectionate terms. 
 
 Soon after his arrival at Jamaica, his presence 
 of mind and uncommon exertions proved the 
 cause of preserving from destruction Captain 
 Lloyd, and all the crew of the Glasgow, atwen- 
 ty-gun ship, commanded by that gentleqian, 
 which had unfortunately taken fire, owing to ari 
 accident by rio means uncommon, occasioned by 
 carelessness in drawing off a cask of rum. Gap- 
 to the same rank iii the white squadron. He has since tliat 
 titue risen through seniority, in consequence of the death of 
 the late, Earl Howe, to the highest rank in the navy, that of 
 admiral of the fleet ; but, owing to his advanced age, has not 
 taken on himself any command since the commencement of 
 die present war. 
 
 D % 
 
36 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 tain Lloyd, to our certain knowledge, never 
 mentioned the transaction alluded to, without 
 uttering the warmest and most grateful acknow- 
 ledgments of the coolness and the intrepidity 
 displayed on so dreadful an occasion, by this 
 youthful hero. 
 
 On the nth of June 1779, he was advanced 
 to the rank of post-captain, and appointed to the 
 Hinchinbrooke, of twenty guns. An attack upon 
 the island of Jamaica being then daily appre- 
 hended, in consequence of the French fleet hav- 
 ing arrived at Hispaniola from Martinico, under 
 the command of that well-known character the 
 Count d*Estaing5 Captain Nelson was appointed, 
 both by the general and admiral, to command the 
 important batteries w^hich defended Port Royal, 
 a post, than which a more honourable and impor- 
 tant one, could not have been entrusted to him. 
 At the commencement of the ensuing year, all 
 apprehension of a visit from the enemy having 
 passed away, an expedition was planned, and 
 sent out against the Spanish settlements, situ- 
 ated on the river St. John, in the Gulf of Mex- 
 ico. The chief command by sea was given to 
 Captain Nejson, who, not content with coldly 
 fulfilling what the strict letter of his duty re- 
 quired, quitted his ship^, and volunteering his 
 services up the river, through a navigation then 
 totally unknown to all Europeans, Spaniards ex- 
 cepted, contributed most essentially, by his ex- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 37 
 
 ertions and gallantry, to the capture of Fort St. 
 Juan. Captain Poison, the commanding officei; 
 by land, in his public dispatches, pays • the fol- 
 lowing tribute to his conduct. 
 
 '' Captain Nelson, then of the Hinchinbrooke, 
 came up with thirty-four seamen, one serjeant, 
 and twelve marines. I wpnt words to express 
 the obligations I owe that gentleman ; he was 
 the first on every service, whether by day, or by 
 night. There was scarcely a gun fired, but was 
 pointed by him, or Lieutenant Despard, chief 
 engineer, who has exerted himself on every oc- 
 casion. I am persuaded, if our shot had held 
 out, we should have had the fort a week sooner. 
 As Captain Nelson goes to Jamaica, he can in- 
 form you of every delay, and point of service, 
 as well as I could, for he knows my very 
 thoughts. 
 
 " The bearer, Lieutenant Mounsey, can in- 
 form your excellency of many things that may 
 escape my memory : he is a very good officer, 
 and commanded the party I sent to reconnoitre 
 the look-out, and began the attack of it, in con- 
 cert with Captain Despard and Captain Nelson, 
 who with his seamen volunteered that duty.'* 
 
 Li the fort were found one brass mortar, of five 
 inches and an half, twenty pieces of brass ord- 
 nance, mounted, besides swivels, ten or twelve 
 iron ditto, dismounted, together with a propor- 
 tionate quantity of military stores. 
 
jS MEMOIRS OF 
 
 The fatigue occasioned by such extraordinary 
 exertions, added to the natural unwholesomeness 
 of the climate on the Spanish main, and the deli- 
 cacy of his own constitution, reduced him to the 
 necessity of returning back to Jamaica as a pas- 
 senger, on board the Victor sloop. On his ar- 
 rival, he found himself to have been promoted 
 during his absence, to the command of the Janus 
 of forty-four guns, as successor to Captain Bon- 
 novier Glover, who had died on the 21st of 
 March pr ceding. So much, however, was he 
 debilitated, as to be incapable of profiting from 
 this honourable testimony paid by the com- 
 mander In chief to his conduct. It appears very 
 doubtful, whether he ever proceeded to sea as 
 captain of the Janus; having, during the greatest 
 part of his time, been under the necessity of re- 
 maining, for the better preservation of his health, 
 at the residence of Sir Peter Parker, the com^ 
 mander in chief on that station; who paid him 
 the kindest and most affectionate attention, 
 These marks of friendship were unfortunately 
 unproductive of the end to which they were ap- 
 plied ; for Captain Nelson's health still continu- 
 ing much impaired, he was under the necessity 
 of returning to England, at the close of the same 
 year^ with the honourable Captain Cornwallis,* 
 as a passenger on board the Lion. 
 
 *. The honourable William Cornwallis, now living, is the 
 fourth son of Charles, fifth lord, and first ^arl Cornwallis, by 
 
LORD VISCOL'NT KELSO>J. 39 
 
 After enduring a long and excruciating indis- 
 position at Bath, whither he repaired imme- 
 
 his lady Elizabeth, daughter of Charles^ Lord Viscount 
 Townshend, by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas 
 Lord Pelhain, and sister to Thomas, Duke of Newcastle. At 
 a very early period of his life, he entered into the naval service 
 of his country, and attained the rank of lieutenant at the latter 
 end of tlie year 1761. He was promoted to be master and com-r 
 raander on the 12th of July in the following year, and to the rank 
 of post-captain on the 20th of April 176'5, being then appointed 
 to the Prince Edward of forty guns. In the year 1767, he is 
 supposed to have received the command of the Guadaloupe of 
 thirty-two guns, in which frigate he was stationed in the Me-» 
 diterranean for the space of three years ; after his return to 
 England at the expiration of that time, he does not appear to 
 have held any other commission till 1 774, when the command 
 of the Pallas, of 36 guns, on the African station, was conferred 
 on him : in that frigate he continued till 177^? when having re- 
 turned to his native country, he took upon him the command 
 of the Isis of 50 guns, in which ship he was immediately ordered 
 to North America, where he rendered himself very conspicuous 
 on many occasions, not only by his personal valour, but by the 
 order and discipline of his ship. He returned to England at 
 the end of the year 1778, and was appointed to the Lion of 
 gixty-four guns. In this ship he was sent to the West Indies at 
 the commencement of the year; and very particularly distin- 
 guished himself, while on that station, in three several engage- 
 ments. .The first was in the encounter olf Grenada, under 
 \nice-Admiral Byron, in which the Lion was so shattered tliat 
 she was obliged to bear away for Jamaica to refit. In the en- 
 suing year, being on a cruize with his own ship of sixty-four, 
 the Bristol of fifty, and the Janns of forty-four guns, he fell in 
 with a squadron, consisting of four sail of the line, commanded 
 \)y Mou. De la Motte Piquet, esteemed one of the ablest officers 
 in the French service. The event proved highly honourable 
 
40 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 diately on his arrival in England, he happily re* 
 ceived so much benefit, as to declare himself, on 
 
 to him, for after a severe engagement, the French hauled- their 
 wind, notwithstanding the Janus was disabled, and although 
 Captain Cornwailis chased them for five hours, they constantly 
 declining any further combat. The third engagement was, if 
 possible, more honourable than the preceding: having attended 
 the homeward-bound convoy through the gulph of Florida, 
 and parted company from it on the f)th of June, he pro- 
 ceeded, according to the instructions he had received, on a 
 cruiae to the northward ; and on the 20th, fell in with a French 
 force under Mon. de Ternay, bound to America, consisting of 
 ten or eleven ships of two decks, two of them carrying eighty- 
 four guns each, three or four frigates, a cutter, and an armed 
 brig; while the squadron under the orders of Mr. Cornwailis 
 consisted of only two ships of seventy-four, two of sixty-four, 
 one of fifty guns, and the Niger frigate. But so good a coun- 
 tenance did this gentleman put on, and manoeuvred his little 
 armament with such judgment jind skill, that after a distant 
 firing in which only two men were killed and five wounded, 
 Mon. Ternay took advantage of the approaching night, and oq 
 the succeeding morning not one of the enemy was to be seen. 
 At the close of the year, Captain Cornwailis returned to Eng- 
 land in the Lion, and served on the home station under Ad- 
 miral Darby, with whom he proceeded to the relief of Gib- 
 raltar. After his return to England, he was promoted to the 
 Canada of sevepty-four guns, and being ordered to the West 
 Indies with Sir G. B. Rodney, again mo^t consj)icuously (Ji'^play- 
 pd the most gallant conduct in two encounters with the Count 
 de Guichen, on the ()th aud i 2th of Apftl, 1 782. In the montljj 
 of August he was ordered to England with ^ convoy; but his 
 ship experienced so much damage in ^ gale of wind, that he wa^ 
 obliged to make the best of his way, and arrived safe on the 1st 
 of October, when being immediately paid off, he did not again 
 take any command till the year 1788, except that of th^ king's 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 4I 
 
 t!ie approach of the ensuing summer, capable of 
 undertaking a command. He was accordingly 
 
 yacht. In the year last-mentioned, he was appointed com- 
 raander of a small squadron sent to the East Indies ; but, owing 
 to many intervening accidents, he did not sail till the t/th of 
 February in the following year. Durhig his continuance on that 
 station, nothing very particular occurred, and he returned to 
 England early in the year 179^, when he was appointed to com- 
 mand a small cruising squadron. On the 12th of April, he was 
 raised to the rank of rear-admiral of the red, and on the 4th of 
 July ensuing, to that of vice-admiral of the blue, as he was, 
 moreover, on the 1st of June 1795, to the same station in the 
 red squadron. He lioisted his flag within a very short period 
 on board several different ships, the last of which was the 
 Royal Sovereign, a first-rate, in which he uninterruptedly con- 
 tinued, without meeting with any particular occurrence till 
 the month of June 1795, when he fell in with, on the 7th, a 
 French squadron, which were unfortunately enabled to make 
 their escape before he could close in with them, as did also 
 two frigates the same day. Nothing fiirther happened, except 
 the capture of a few merchant vessels, till the l6th of the same 
 month ; when being off the Penmarks, having under his orders 
 the same force, which consisted of five sail of the line, two frigates 
 and one sloop, he fell in with a French armament amounting to 
 thirteen ships of the line, fourteen frigates, and a cutter. Not- 
 withstanding this inequalitj' offorce,andthe utmost endeavours 
 of the French fleet to bring him to action, Admiral Corawallis 
 manoeuvred his ships with such consummate ability, as again to 
 have the singular honour of defenduig himself with success 
 against an enemy nearly triple his force, and of bringing oft' his 
 ships uninjured, in the face of so powerful an oppouerit. For 
 this conduct he received the thanks of both houses of par- 
 liament. During the remainder of the year he continued to 
 be employed m the same quarter; but on the 10th of February 
 
4Z MEMOIRS O? 
 
 appointed in the month of August 1781, to the 
 Albemarle of twenty-eight guns, a merchant, 
 
 following was appointed to command tlie squadron and convoy 
 ordered to the West Indies. 
 
 He accordingly put to sea on the 28th of the same month, 
 having his flag on board the Royal Sovereign; but unfortunately 
 having run foul, on the 1st of March, of the Belisarius, a large 
 transport belonging to the fleet, his ship received so much da- 
 mage that it was compelled to pqt back, and the admiral di- 
 rected Captaki Louis in the^ Minotaur, of seventy -four guns, to 
 proceed with the fleet and convoy to the place of their destina- 
 tion. He immediately announced his arrival at Spithead on the 
 14th, and received orders to proceed on his voXage in the Astrea 
 frigate. During this month he was advanced to the rank of 
 rear-admiral of Great Britain, as successor to Lord Bridport. 
 Being, however, in a very ill state of health, he hesitated to 
 obey the order • but at the same time offered to proceed in 
 his own ship, the Royal Sovereign, as soon as she could be re- 
 fitted. This was deemed such a breach of discipline as to 
 subject him to a court martial, which was accordingly held on 
 him. The result was as honourable as any thing short of an 
 unequivocal acquittal could be. For though he might be in 
 a very slight degree censurable for returning without leave, and 
 not shifting his flag to some other ship of 1ms squadron, he was, 
 in consequence of other circumstances, acquitted of disobe^ 
 dience ; and as to that part of the charge, which regarded bis 
 not having proceeded in the Astrea frigate, he was unanimously 
 and honourably acquitted of all blame, on account of the cir- 
 cumstances under which he acted. 
 
 The above circumstance, however, occasioned him to strike 
 his flag, and he retired into private life, except that he attended 
 his occasional duty in the house of commons, in which he first 
 sat as member in the year 1768; being then chosen for the 
 borough of Eye in Suflfoik. After the dii>soUition of that par- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 4J 
 
 ship captured from the French at the close of tha 
 year 1779, and purchased into the king's ser- 
 vice. After a long and fatiguing station, during 
 the whole of the ensuing winter, in the North 
 Seas, he was sent to Newfoundland, in com- 
 pany with Captain Pringle, who commanded the 
 convoy, sent thither wnh the outward-bound 
 fleet, in the month of April 1782. Being ordered 
 on a cruise off Boston, he distinguished himself 
 very remarkably by his conduct, when chased by 
 three French ships of the line, and a frigate. 
 Finding, according to the seaman's phrase, that 
 
 lament in 1774-, he remained unnoticed till 1784, when he was 
 returned for Portsmouth ; and in 1790 was again chosen for 
 Jlye, which he still continues to represent. 
 
 On the 14th of February 1799, he was advanced to be ad- 
 miral of the blue squadron ; as he moreover was on the 23d 
 of April 1804, to be admiral of the white; and, lastly, on the 
 ^th of November 1805, to be admiral of the red; a revived 
 rank which had lain dormant during a century. In respect to 
 active service, the liionourable admiral was appointed to the 
 command of the channel fleet in 1801, and accordingly hoisted 
 his flag on board the Ville de Paris. But tlie enemy was pru» 
 dent enough, during the continuance of tlie war, to trust to tlie 
 protection of their batteries, in preference to their own naval 
 prowess. He was, moreover, immediately on tlie recom- 
 mencement of hostilities, invested with the command of the 
 main or channel fleet ; and has been uninterruptedly employed 
 in the very tedious service of watching the motions of the 
 French naval force at Brest. Unfortunately for his country, 
 and unpropitiously to his own wishes, tlie enemy have aflforded 
 him no opportunity of trymg his strength with tliem. 
 
44 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 his pursuers had the heels of him, he resolved, 
 as the case was desperate, to adopt a desperate, 
 or at best a very dangerous remedy, and without 
 hesitation pushed for the St. George's Bank ; 
 among the shoals of w^hich he entertained hopes 
 of entangling his enemies, or of inducing them 
 to discontinue the chase, from the apparent ha- 
 zard of pursuing it any farther. He was not 
 disappointed in the latter part of his expectation, 
 the larger ships having immediately shortened 
 sail. The frigate, however, drawing less water, 
 was not to be baffled so easily; she continued 
 the chase till nearly the close of the day, when, 
 being almost up with the Albemarle, Captain 
 Nelson very resolutely ordered his ship to be 
 hove tOi for the purpose of bringing the contest 
 to a speedy decision. This instance of firmness, 
 unexpectedly displayed by an inferior opponent, 
 struck the pursuer with immediate dismay : he 
 instantly put about, and made sail from the 
 Albemarle, which, though it might possibly, by 
 the bravery of its commander and crew, have 
 been preserved from again reverting into the 
 hands of the foe, was, from her force and equip- 
 ment totally unfit to seek, or court an engage- 
 ment, with so superior an antagonist. 
 
 Having proceeded afterwards to Quebec, he was 
 ordered from thence to New York with a convoy 
 in the month of Odober ; and being instructed to 
 put himself, on his arrival there, under the order* 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 45 
 
 of the commander in chief on that station, he ac- 
 cordingly proceeded from thence to the West In- 
 dies in the following month with Lord Hood,* 
 
 * This nobleman, who is now living, was appointed to a 
 lieutenancy in the navy, on the 17th of May 1746, and 
 some time after the conclusion of the war was promoted to be 
 commander of a sloop : in the year 1756 he was captain of 
 the Jamaica, a sloop employed by Commodore Holmes in 
 watching the port of Louisbourg. In this service he was in- 
 defatigable, and particularly distinguished himself in an en- 
 counter with a small French squadron on the 27th of July. 
 He is stated to have taken rank as a post-captain on board the 
 Lively frigate, by a commission bearing date the '22d of that 
 month, sent out to him from England, and that he remained 
 in the Jamaica sloop till it reached him. The following year 
 he commanded the Biddeford, in the Bay of Biscay j and in 
 1/58 removed to the Vestal of tliirty-two guns, then stationed 
 in the Channel, in which ship he had the good fortune to fall 
 in.with the Bellona, a French frigate of superior size to his 
 own, which, after a most gallant and desperate engagement 
 of four hours, he captiired, but the Vestal was so materially 
 damaged, that Captain Hood was obliged to bear away for 
 port, where he safely- arrived with his prize on tlie 2d of 
 March. As soon as the frigate was refitted, he proceeded in 
 her to the Mediterranean, from whence he again returned to 
 England at the expiration of the war, without having met 
 with any further opportunity of distinguishing himself. 
 
 Captain Hood is not again mentioned in the service till the 
 year 1771> v^hen he was appointed to the Royal William, of 
 eighty- four guns, on the expectation of a rupture with the 
 Spaniards, concerning Falkland Islands^ but that dispute being 
 settled, and the Royal William put out of commission, Mr. 
 Hood, in the year 17/4^ was appointed to the Marlborough, 
 of seventy- four guns, one of the guard-ships at Portsmouth. 
 This command he retained during the customary period of thre^ 
 
4^ Memoirs Of 
 
 aiid the squadron under his command. His lor4» 
 ship had just returned from a cruise off Boston, ift 
 
 years j ahd in 1 /77 quitted for a short time the line of active 
 service, hating been nominated the tissident commissioner at 
 the port just f«eiitioned ; and on the visit of his Majesty to that 
 place, in the month of May 1/78, was advanced to tlie rank of 
 a baronet by patent, bearing date the ICjth of that month. Oft 
 the 26th of September, being raised to the rank of rear-admi- 
 ral of the blue, he quitted his civil appointment, and imme- 
 diately took upon him the command of a squadron destined to 
 reinforce Sir George Rodney in the West Indies. He accord- 
 ingly hoisted his flag oti board the Barfleur, of ainety guns, and, 
 with a fleet of merchant-vessels under his protection, sailed 
 Jibout the lattet* end of November for that station, accompanied 
 by seven sail of the line, exclusive of his flag-ship, two frigates, 
 and three smaller vessels. He arrived safe at the placfe of his 
 destination, after encotifttering several severe storms, in one of 
 which the Moiiarca, of seventy guns, received so much da- 
 mage in a gale of vv'ind as to be obliged to put back. 
 
 Immediately oil his arrival ift the West Indies, he became' 
 engaged under Sir G. B. Rodney, in very active service ; for 
 intelligence having been received about the end of April that 
 the Count de GrSsse was daily expected with a reinforcement. 
 Sir Samuel was detached with the greatest part of the fleet to in- 
 tercept him. The British squadron discovered tlieir antagonists 
 on the 28th ©f April off Martinico, consisting of nineteen sa'il 
 of the line, two others armed en fliite, and a number of larg6' 
 frigates. The English force amounted to oftly sfevetiteen sail 
 of the line ; but, notwithstanding tliis inferiority. Sir Samuel 
 determined if possible to attack them. An action accordingly 
 took place J but the French kept at such a distance as to ren- 
 der it very indecisive, and httle damage ensued. Havings 
 however, repaired what little he had received^ he fofmed a 
 junction with the commander in chief of the British fleet be-' 
 tweea the islands of Montserrat and Antigua. On the approaclf 
 
LORD ViSCOUNT NELSON. 47 
 
 search of Captain Nelson's quondam pursuers, and 
 was left to follow Admiral Pigot, who had quit- 
 
 of the hurricane months. Sir Samuel having followed the Count 
 ^^Grasse to America, joined the fleet then under the command 
 of Admiral Graves 3 but in the engagement that took place in 
 that quarter had no opportunity of distinguishing himself, 
 not being in the smallest degree concerned in the action, owing 
 to the local circumstances of his station. On the return of the 
 Count de Grasse to the West Indies, Sir Samuel Hood agaitt 
 followed him J he had, however, scarcely reached his station, 
 when the island of St, Christopher's was attacked by the Count 
 Bouille, at the head of a land force, protected by upwards of 
 thirty ships of the line. Sir Samuel, though much inferior, 
 having only twenty- two, determined if possible to save the 
 island. In this, however, though his manoeuvres were con- 
 ducted with the most consummate skill and abilities, he could 
 not succeed | yet so good a disposition did he make of his 
 fleet, as to receive very little damage in several partial en- 
 counters that took place on that occasion. After the capitula- 
 tion of the island, on the 13th of February, nothing remained 
 for Sir Samuel but to retire in as good a condition as possible: 
 which he effected so completely, that tlie measures he then 
 pursued did not a little contribute to the glorious victory 
 which followed on the 12th of April. Sir Samuel and his 
 division bore the principal part of die action in a short skir- 
 mish which took place previous to the great event above 
 mentioned 5 and on the latter occasion his conduct was 
 so conspicuous as to- procure him the tlianks of his com- 
 mander in chief, and of his country. He was rewarded 
 by his sovereign with an Irisfi peerage, by the title of Baroil 
 Hood, of Catherington, The freedom of the city of London 
 was voted him, and he received from several other parts 0/ 
 ♦.he kingdom similar instances of the general approbation hitf 
 conduct merited. 
 His lordship was det^chod on the 18th with twelve sshI oi 
 
43 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ted Amerlcr! with the main body of the fleet. 
 The exertions made by the French in the West 
 
 the line, in quest of any French ships that might have en- 
 deavoured to pass through the Mona passage, after their defeat 
 of the rith instant. On the following day five sail was disco- 
 vered, of which four were captured. The French making no 
 further efforts, and peace taking place, his lordship returned 
 to England in the spring of 1783. During the peace, his 
 lordship commanded at Portsmouth as port-admiral, having 
 his flag on board the Barfleur, the same ship in which he 
 had acquired so much glory in the West Indies. At the ge- 
 deral election in 17^4, he was chosen representative for West- 
 minster; and onthe 24th of September 1787, was promoted 
 to be vice-admiral of the blue. On the l6th of July 1788, he 
 was appointed one of the lords commissioners of the admiraltyj 
 and in the year 1 79O, he again hoisted his flag on board the Vic- 
 tory, on an apprehended rupture with Spain, which however 
 soon subsiding, was consequently again struck. On the 11th 
 of February 1793, war having re-commenced with France, he 
 was advanced to be vice-admiral of the red squadron, and ajf- 
 pointed to \he command of the fleet ordered into the Mediter- 
 ranean, to which station he proceeded in the month of May fol- 
 lowing, on board the Victory. His achievements on this sta- 
 tion were of the m.ost brilliant kind : Toulon surrendered to 
 his arms ; and the conquest of the French ports in the island 
 of Corsica added fresh laurels to his brow : the latter, though 
 since evacuated, became annexed to the crown of Great Bri- 
 tain by the surrender ot Calvi on the 1st of August 1794, His 
 lordship was, on the 12th of April preceding, advanced to the 
 rank of admiral of the blue, and returned at the conclusion of 
 the year to England on board the Victory. On the 24th of 
 March 179^> l»s lordship succeeded Sir Hugh Palliser as 
 master and governor of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, 
 which honourable situation he still holds. He was also, on 
 the 28th of May foUowiug, advanced to the dignity of a vis- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 49 
 
 Indies, ceased with the defeat they experienced, on 
 the ever-memorable i ath of April preceding ; so 
 that the flame of war was sunk into a smothering 
 ember, and served only to point out, by a mere 
 harmless smoke, the devastation it had formerly 
 caused. It therefore becomes a matter of no woiv- 
 der, that though constantly employed on the most 
 active service till the news arrived of peace being 
 concluded, Captain Nelson was not fortunate enough 
 to meet with any opportunity of particularly distin- 
 guishing himself. Having been ordered to attend his 
 royal highness Prince William Henry, now Duke of 
 Clarence, on a visit paid by him to the governor 
 of the Havannah, he returned from thence to Eng- 
 land, and was paid off at Portsmouth about the 
 end of July. He immediately went over to France, 
 as well for the purpose of relaxation, as for the 
 more perfect re-establishment of his health. 
 
 After continuing there till the ensuing spring, he 
 returned to England, where, soon after his arrival, 
 he was commissioned to the Boreas frigate, of 
 twenty-eight guns, a ship then under orders of 
 equipment for the Leeward Islands, as a cruiser 
 on the peace establishment. I'his service was by 
 no means so easy, as the public situation of affairs 
 
 count of Great Britain, by the title of Viscount Hood of 
 Whitby, in the county of Warwick. On the 14th of Fe- 
 braary, 1799, he was advanced to be admiral of the white, and 
 on the 9th of November, 1805, was raised to the same raj^ 
 in the red squadron. 
 
50 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 appeared to promise. The Americans, after hav- 
 ing erected themselves into free and independant 
 states, were extravagant enpugh to expect, not- 
 withstanding their disseverment from the mother- 
 country, they should continue to enjoy the same 
 privileges which they possessed when considered as 
 colonies to it. The governors and inhabitants of 
 the West-India islands supported this absurd claim; 
 and Captain Nelson having, in consequence of his 
 adopting a firm opinion of its impropriety, declared 
 that he would seize all American vessels, which 
 he found trading contrary to the rules established 
 for that purpose with foreigners, was treated with 
 much asperity. 
 
 In a short time afterwards he demonstrated that 
 his declaration was not an empty threat, intend- 
 ed merely to intimidate, and never to be fol- 
 lowed up by the act itself. Having accordingly 
 seized several American vessels which he chanced 
 to meet with, the outcry against him rose to so 
 great an height throughout all the British islands 
 and colonies in that quarter, that he was constrain- 
 ed, for a considerable time, to continue on board 
 his ship, without going even on shore, fearing he 
 might meet with some unpleasant conduct, which 
 his spirit could neither brook, nor the station he 
 held would permit him to endure. Much how- 
 ever as his behaviour might be reprobated by the 
 parties interested. Captain Nelson had the satis- 
 faction to find it approved, in the most unqualified 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 5! 
 
 manner, by his sovereign, and his native country. 
 He continued-on the same station, till the month of 
 June, 17 87 5 and was then ordered to England; the 
 term usually allotted to ships employed on such ser- 
 vice, during the time of peace, being expired. In the 
 month of March preceding, he married Mrs. Fran- 
 ces Herbert Nesbit, widow of Dr. Nesbit, daughter 
 to William Herbert, Esquire, senior judge, and 
 niece to Mr. Herbert, president of the same island; 
 his royal highness Prince William, who served 
 on the same station as Captain of the Pegasus, 
 gracing the nuptials with his presence, and acting 
 as father to the truly amiable lady. Captain Nel- 
 son was put out of commission, soon after his ar- 
 rival in England, the Boreas being paid off at 
 Sheerness on the ;30th of November. From this 
 time he experienced the longest relaxation from 
 the fatigues of public service, which he had ever 
 allowed himself, since his first entrance into it : 
 it was a period of five years ; and never perhaps 
 did any of equal length, since his mere childhood, 
 appear half so long, or half so irksome. 
 
 " Captain Nelson," observes the author of his 
 life, inserted in the Naval Chronicle, already ho- 
 nestly referred to, as being the best source of any 
 printed information hitherto extant, " retired to 
 enjov the consolation of domestic happiness, at the 
 parsonage house at Burnham Thorpe, which his 
 father gave him as a place of residence ; where 
 imitating Xenophon, in the arrangement of his little 
 
 E 2 
 
52' MEMOIRS OF 
 
 farm at Scyllus, Captain Nelson passed the interval 
 of jpeace in rural occupation, and solitude. From 
 the age of twelve years to the time occupied at this 
 retreat, no period occurs in the life of Horatio Nel- 
 son for the mind to pause; all previous to this, and 
 since that period, has been a continued succession of 
 events, arising from professional duties, amid a 
 complication of peril, and unprecedented emergen- 
 cies. He now enjoyed the opportunity of strength- 
 ening, by frequent reflection, the experience he 
 had obtained ; combining the various ideas which 
 a quick, yet sound observation had collected ; and 
 improving that knowledge of himself, and of hu- 
 man nature, so essential to those who are called 
 oh by their country to command with firmness, 
 to obey without a murmur. Like the celebrated 
 Roman who retired into the country to enjoy the 
 calm of repose. Captain Nelson might declare, that 
 *he had been many years on earthy hut had lived 
 n)ery ftiofor h'wiself. 
 
 On the prospect of a rupture with Spain, rela- 
 tive to Nootka Sound, Captain Nelson, who with 
 the utmost impatience regretted passing so inactive 
 a life, repaired immediately to London, and so- 
 licited an appointment in the strongest terms. His 
 application was, however, ineffectual, owing to the 
 multitude of officers, who being his seniors on the 
 list, appeared to have a priority of claim to com- 
 missions, and the speedy manner in which the 
 dispute terminated. Fortunately for his country. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. J^^ 
 
 the sudden war in which Britain found itself in^ 
 volved with French anarchists w^as more favour- 
 able to his wishes. At the very commencement 
 of it, he was appointed to the Agamemnon of 
 sixty-four guns, by commission bearing date Ja- 
 nuary 30thy 1793. This ship was then under or- 
 ders of equipment for the Mediterranean, and hav- 
 ing taken in its powder and stores, at Blackstakes, 
 sailed in company wdth the Robust of seventy-four 
 guns, commanded by the Hon. Captain Elphin- 
 stone, and proceeded to its station in the month of 
 May. In this service Captain Nelson continued 
 for three years : foremost in the hour of danger 
 and difficulty, while at the same time his bravery 
 was happily mingled with the most consummate 
 prudence, and profoundest judgment, it became ra- 
 ther a matter of public wonder, if any official re- 
 port of an encounter passed him over in silence. 
 He was entrusted ■ as a negotiator, employed as 
 a naval partizan, as a superintendant of trans- 
 ports, and as a general officer on shore ; in all 
 which multifarious offices he acquitted himself 
 with such credit, that it were a difficult matter to 
 decide on what occasion his services shone most 
 conspicuously ; whether at Genoa, or in his long 
 communications with General De Vins ; on the 
 coast of Italy, where he was so frequently em- 
 ployed in expeditions against the French flotillas, 
 which sought their safety by running into creeks, 
 whither they thought it impossible gallantry could 
 
54 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 pursue them ; on the coast of Corsica, where the 
 embarkation and landing of troops was so happily 
 confided to him ; or at the sieges of Bastia and 
 Calvij* where he displayed the knowledge of an 
 able engineer, joined to the experience of a con- 
 summate general. It was on the latter occasion he 
 had the misfortune to lose the sight of his right 
 
 * Lord Hood in his official letter, containing the account 
 of the siege and surrender of Calvi, pays the following justly 
 merited compliment to Captain Nelson : " The journal I 
 herewith transmit from Captain Nelson, who had the com- 
 mand of the seamen, will shew the daily occurrences of the 
 siege 3 and whose unremitting zeal and exertion I cannot suf- 
 ficiently applaud, or that of Captain Hallowell, who took it 
 by turns to command in the advanced batteries twenty-four 
 hours at a time j and I flatter myself they, as well as the 
 other officers and seamen, will have full justice done them 
 by the general. It is therefore unnecessary for me to say any 
 thing more upon the subject." In a subsequent letter, written 
 by the noble admiral during the siege of Calvi, which con- 
 veyed to him the thanks of both houses of the British par- 
 liament, the former compliment received the following justly- 
 merited addition : 
 
 " Sir, Victor}', off Calvi, Aug. 8, 1794. 
 
 '•' Having received his Majesty's commands to communi- 
 cate to the respective officers, seamen, marines, and soldiers, 
 who have been employed in the different operations carried 
 on against the enemy in Corsica, a resolution of the two 
 houses of parliament, which I have the honour herewith to 
 enclose, I desire you will make known to all in the Agamem- 
 non, and such other officers and seamen as are with you, and 
 were employed at Bastia, the sense that is entertained of 
 theii: spirited and meritorious conduct." 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^^ 
 
 eye ; a shot from one of the enemy's batteries 
 having struck the ground near the spot where he 
 stood, and driven up the small gravel with such 
 violence, that a minute particle of it struck hinx 
 on that tender part, and produced the irreme- 
 diable mischief, which even his enemies must 
 have in some sort lamented. In the encounters 
 which took place in the months of March and 
 July, 1795, between the French and the Bri- 
 tish fleets, which latter was at that time com- 
 manded by Lord Hotham,* he no less eminently 
 
 * The first account that appears of this nobleman, who is 
 now living, is his appointment to be captain of the Gibraltar, 
 on the 17th of August, 17 57. He was early in the following 
 year promoted to the Melampe of thirty-six guns, and on the? 
 28th of March gained great reputation in an action he fouglit 
 with the Danae, a French frigate of forty guns, which he 
 captured. Mr. Hotham quitted the Melampe in 170I, and 
 removed into the ^olus. He was stationed in the Channel 
 in this vessel during the remainder of the war, in which period 
 he very much distressed the enemy, by taking several of their 
 privateers, besides a number of very valuable merchant ves- 
 sels. He returned firom his station to England a short time 
 before the restoration of peace. On that event taking place, 
 the iEolus was put out of commission, and Mr. Hotham con- 
 tinued unemployed till towards the end of the year 17^3, when 
 he was appointed to the Superb, of seventy-four guns, one of 
 the guardships stationed at Plymouth. This command he is 
 supposed to have held but a short time -, and the next mention 
 made of him in the naval line is not till the year 177«'5, after 
 the commencement of the dispute with America ; on which 
 station he was appointed to serve as commodore in the ensuing 
 year^ and sailed from Spithead on the 6th of May, having hi? 
 
56 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 distinguished himself, and in the first of those naval 
 skirmishes had the happiness of contributing to the 
 
 broad pendant on board the Preston^ with a numerous fleet of 
 transports, having troops on board, under his convoy. Imme- 
 diately on his arrival he was employed in directing the disem- 
 barkation of the army under General Howe, at Long Island* 
 having shifted his pendant to the Phoenix j and his services on 
 this occasion were so conspicuous, that Lord Howe, in his 
 official letter, compliments him by saying, *' the activity of 
 Commodore Hotham, most of the officers of the fleet, and the 
 naval officers in general, were infinitely conducive 'to tlie 
 King's service in this difficult movement.'' 
 
 In the month of December ho was detached by Sir Peter 
 Parker to cover the expedition against Rhode Island, a service 
 -which he conducted with his usual ability. Soon after this he 
 was sent on a cruize to the southward of the Chesapeak, 
 where he made several valuable captures, and remained there 
 ^ till recalled by Lord Howe, to conduct the business at the port 
 of New York, during his Lordshi.'s absence. Nothing very 
 ' material took place subsequent to this period, thoug: he con- 
 tinued actively employed, till after the arrival of the Count 
 D'Estaing, with the French squadron off New York. He had 
 at that time returned back into his former ship the Pres- 
 ton 3 and in the partial engagement, which took place 
 between Lord Howe and the French fleet, he eminently dis- 
 tinguished himself by an. attack on the Tonant of eighty- 
 four guns, which in all probability he would have captured 
 had not several French ships of the line made their appearance : 
 this spirited encounter took place during the night of the 13th 
 of August. Mr. Hotham at the end of the year was detached 
 io the West Indies, where he joined Rear- Admiral Barring- 
 ton, and conducted himself with the greatest credit while under 
 his command, particularly in the attack of the island of St. 
 Lucia. From this time till 178O he was not particularly en- 
 gaged in any employment that called for exertion : at the 
 laet-mentioned period he removed his broad pendant into the 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 57 
 
 partial success then obtained, by the spirited attack 
 he made^on the l^th, in conjunction with the In- 
 constant frigate, on the Ca Ira, of eighty guns. 
 
 Vengeance of seventy-four guns, on the arrival of Sir G. Rod- 
 ney, and was present at the different engagements witli the 
 Count deGuicheoj and though he was distinguished for his gal- 
 lantry in the iirst action, being stationed to lead the v~an of 
 Hear- Admiral Rowley's division, he was much more so on a 
 subsequent occabion which took place on the 19th of May, 
 l/cO,- when serving in the same situation as before, he be- 
 haved in so gallant a manner, as to occasion the commander 
 in chief, in his official dispatches, to bestow on Mr. Hotham 
 the greatest praise. 
 
 Mr. Hotham was in the ensuing spring ordered to Englandj 
 and having with him a fleet of vessels, chiefly Dutch, cap- 
 tured at St. Eustatia, he was so unfortunate as to fall in with 
 a French squadron of very superior force 3 and though the com- 
 modore manoeuvred in such a manner as to save himself and 
 the other ships of war that were with him, a great part of 
 the merchant vessels fell into the enemy's hands. From this 
 period till 1782, he held no subsequent command; but being 
 then appointed to act with the Channel fleet, he hoisted his 
 broad pendant on board the Edgar, and was partially engaged 
 in the action under Lord Howe, at the rehef of Gibraltar. Peace 
 taking place soon after, he quitted active service, which he 
 did not again resume, till the year l/.^O, having been in the 
 intermediate time, on the 24th of September 1787, advanced 
 to the rank of rear-admiral of the red. In the year 1790, on 
 an apprehension of a rupture with Spain, he was again em-* 
 ployed in the Channel fleet, under Admiral Harrington j but 
 that storm soon subsiding, he struck his flag. On the 21st 
 of September in the same year he was promoted to be vice- 
 admiral of the blue, as he was on the 1st of February, 17Q3, to 
 the same rank in the white squadron. In the month of Aprii 
 following he was appointed second in command of the fleet 
 
5^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 On the 4th of July Captain Nelson was, as had 
 frequently been the case on former occasions, de- 
 ordered into the Mediterranean under Lord Hood, and was 
 left by that noble Lord in June, i 7g4, with a detached squadron 
 to block up the remains cf the French fleet, which had escaped 
 the disasters at Toulon, and which having put to sea on the 
 5tb, had been driven within the shoals of the bay of Gourgearr, 
 ■where they lay protected by their batteries. Previous to this, 
 be had been raised to the rank of vice-admiral of the red, on 
 the 12th of April preceding. 
 
 Nothing material took place till the month of March, 1 fgs, 
 when the Frencli squadron, consisting of seventeen sail of the 
 line and five frigates, or smaller vessels, again ventured to sea. 
 Being pursued by the vice-admiral, one of their ships was on 
 the 13th brought to action by the Inconstant frigate, supported 
 by the Agamemnon, Captain Nelson, and had not the near ap- 
 proach of the enemy's ships prevented it, she woukl have fallen 
 a prize to their gallantry. She was however so much disabled, 
 that she was obliged to be taken in tow, and both vessels wer$ 
 discovered in the morning so far to leeward, that the French fleet 
 were obliged to come to an engagement, in order to prevent 
 their falling into the hands of the vice-admiral, who threaten- 
 ed to cut them off. In this action were captured the Ca Im 
 of eighty guns, and the Censeur of seventy- four. The result 
 of it, though in the beginning it promised to be more suc- 
 cessful, completely frustrated whatever designs the enemy 
 had meditated. On the l6th of April following, Mr. Hotham 
 was advanced to be admiral of the blue : nothing further of 
 any consequence happened in the Mediterranean till the month 
 of July, when the French fleet, having again put to sea, 
 chased into St. Fiorenzo on the 7th a small squadron which 
 had been detached under Commodore Nelson. Admiral Ho- 
 tham immediately put to ^ea on the first information, but did 
 not get sight of them till the 13th, when a partial and unde- 
 cisive encounter took place, the particulars of which are best ex- 
 plained by the following extract from the admiral's own account: 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 59 
 
 tached from the fleet as senior officer of a squa- 
 dron of observation, consisting of the Agamemnon, 
 
 " Yesterday at day-break we discovered them to leeward of 
 us, on the larboard tack, consisting of twenty- three sail, seven- 
 teen of which proved to be of the line ; the wind at this time 
 blew very hard from the W. N. W. attended with a heavy 
 swell, and six of our ships had to bend their maio-top-sails, 
 in the room of those that were split by the gale in the course 
 of the night. I caused the fleet however to form with all pos- 
 sible expedition on the larboard line of bearing, carrying nil 
 sail possible to preserve that order, and to keep the v/ind of 
 the enemy, in the hope of cutting them off from the land, 
 from which we were only five leagues distant. At eight 
 o'clock, finding they had no other view but that of endeavour- 
 ing to get from us, I made the signal for a general chase, and 
 for the ships to take suitable stations for their mutual support, 
 and to engage the enemy as arriving up with them in succes- 
 sion j but the baffling winds and vexatious calms, which ren- 
 der every naval operation in this country doubtful, soon after- 
 wards took place, and allowed a few only of our van ships to 
 get up with the enemy's rear about noon, which they attacked 
 so severely, that in the course of an hour after we had the 
 satisfaction to find one of their sternmost ships, the LAlcide, 
 of seventy-four guns, had struck -, the rest of the fleet, fa- 
 voured by a shift of wind to the eastward (that placed them 
 now to the windward of us) had got so far into Fregus Bay, 
 whilst the major part of ours was becalmed in the offing, 
 that it became impossible for any thing further to be effected, 
 and those of our ships which were engaged had approached so 
 near to the shore, that I judged it proper to call them off by 
 signal. If the result of the day was not so completely satis- 
 factory as the commencement promised, it is my duty to state, 
 that no exertions could be more unanimous than those of the 
 fleet under my command -, and it would be injustice to the 
 general merit of all; to select individual instances of conmicn- 
 
6o MEMOIllS OF 
 
 Meleager, Ariadne, Moselle, Mutine cutter ; and 
 being on the 7th of the ensuing month chased 
 into St. Fiorenzo by the French fleet, which had 
 put to sea from Toulon, that circumstance led to 
 a second partial encounter, which ended without 
 any further loss to the enemy than that of the 
 Alcide of 74 guns, which took fire and blew up, 
 after she had struck her colours, ere she could 
 be properly taken possession of by the Eng-f 
 lish. In the ensuing month he was detached by 
 the commander in chief as senior officer of a light 
 
 dation, had no superiority of sailing placed some of the ships 
 in an advanced situation, of which they availed themselves in 
 the most distinguished and honourable manner. Among the 
 number was the Victory, having Rear-Admiral Mann on 
 board, who had shifted his flag to that ship on this occasion.' 
 I am sorry to say the Alcide, about half an hour after she had 
 struck, by some accident caught fire in her fore-top, before 
 slie was taken possession of, and the flames spread with such 
 jrapidity, that the whole ship was soon in a blaze : several 
 boats were dispatched from tlie ships as quickly as possible, 
 to rescue as many of her people as they could save from the 
 destruction that awaited them 5 three hundred of them were 
 in consequence preserved, when the ship blew up witli the 
 most awful and tremendous explosion, and between three and 
 four hundred people are supposed to have perished." 
 
 At the close of this year. Admiral Hothani resigned his 
 command, and returned to England, and was in the year 1797 
 advanced to the dignity "of a peer of Ireland, by the title of 
 Baron Hotham, as a reward for his long and meritorious ser- 
 vices. On the 14th of February, 1799> his Lordship was pro- . 
 raoted to be adniiral of the white ; as he was moreover on the 
 Qth of November, 1805, to the same rank in the red squadron. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT ^fELSON'. 6l 
 
 squadron, with which he was ordered to proceed 
 to the Bays of Alassio and Languilia, both in the 
 neighbourhood of Vado, and at that time not only 
 in possession of the French army, but serving as 
 the principal rendezvous for the transports and 
 store-ships employed in the conveyance of stores 
 and other necessaries applicable to the maintenance 
 of war in that quarter of the world ; in this ser- 
 vice he displayedvhis customary diligence, and his 
 activity experienced the reward it merited.* 
 
 1^ Letter from Captain Nelson to Admiral Hotham, dated 
 Agamemnon, Vado Bay, Aug. 27> 1795. 
 
 Sir, 
 Having received information from General De Vins, that a 
 convoy of provisions and ammunition was arrived at Alassio, a 
 place in the possession of tlie French army, I yesterday pro- 
 ceeded, with the ships named in the margin (Inconstant, 
 Meleager, Southampton, Tartar, Ariadne, Speedy) to that 
 place, where, within an hour, we took the vessels named in 
 the enclosed list : there was a very feeble opposition from 
 some of the enemy's cavalry, who fired on our boats when 
 boarding the vessels near the shore ; but 1 have the pleasure 
 to say, no man was killed or wounded. The enemy had two 
 thousand horse and foot soldiers in tlie town, which prevented 
 my landing, and destroying their magazines of provisions and 
 ammunition. 
 
 I sent Captain Freemantle, of the Inconstant, with the 
 Tartar, to Languilia, a town on the west side of tlie Bay of 
 Alassio, where he executed my orders in a most officer-like 
 manner ; and I am indebted to every captain and officer in 
 the sqi^iadron for that activity, but most' particularly so to 
 Lieutenant George Andrews^ first lieutenant of the Aga- 
 
6l MEMOIRS OF 
 
 It were difficult perhaps to decide which point 
 of character was most conspicuous, the spirit and 
 gallantry which he displayed in conducting the en- 
 terprise, or the modesty with which he described 
 the events of it. His commander in chief, Mr. 
 Hotham, bore the amplest testimony to the former, 
 and every individual under his command endea- 
 voured to exceed each other in their honest suf- 
 
 memnon^ who, by his spirited and officer-like conduct, saved 
 the French cor\^ette from going on shore. 
 I have the honour to be. Sir, 
 
 With the greatest respect. 
 
 Your most obedient. 
 Admiral Hotham. Horatio Nelson. 
 
 List of vessels taken by his Majesty's squadron under the com- 
 mand of Horatio Nelson, Esq. in the Bay of Alassio and 
 Languilia, the 26"th of August, 1795. 
 
 La Revolue (corvette) pollaco ship, ten guns, four swivels, 
 eighty-seven men, six guns thrown overboard, belonging to 
 the French : La Republique gun- boat, six guns, forty-nine 
 men, belonging to the French : La Constitution galley, one 
 brass gun, four swivels, thirty men, belonging to the French : 
 La Vigilante galley, one brass gun, four swivels, twenty-nine 
 men, belonging to the French : a brig In ballast, name un- 
 known, burden one hundred tons, belonging to the French : a 
 bark, name unknown, burden seventy tons, laden with pow- 
 der and shells, belonging to the French : La Guiletta brig, 
 burden one hundred tons, laden with wine, belonging to the 
 French : a galley, name unknown, burden fifty tons, in bal- 
 last : a tartane, name unknown, burden thirty-five tons, laden 
 with wine : a bark, name unknown, laden with powder, 
 drove on shore : a bark, name unknown^ laden with pro- 
 visions, burnt. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 63 
 
 ftages as to the truth of the latter. Towards the 
 close of the current year Mr. Hotham was super- 
 seded in his commmand by Sir John Jervis,* 
 
 * This nobleman is the descendant of a respectable and 
 ancient family in the county of Stafford ; being the second son 
 of Swinfen Jervis, Esq. barrister at law, sometime counsel to 
 the board of admiralty, and auditor of Greenwich Hospital, 
 He entered early in life into the sea-service, and served about 
 the year 1749 on board the Gloucester, a fourth rate then on 
 the Jamaica station. On the 19th of February, 1755, he was 
 promoted to a lieutenancy, and acted in that capacity on 
 board the flag-ship of Sir Charles Saunders, on the expedition 
 aoainst Quebec. Being in l7:9 advanced to the rank of com- 
 mander, he was early in the ensuing year appointed to the 
 Albany sloop of war, stationed in the Mediterranean, where 
 on account of the illness of Sir John Strachan he took upon 
 him the temporary command of the Experiment of twenty 
 guns 5 in which ship he distinguished himself in an engage- 
 ment with a large xebec, under Moorish colours, carrying 
 twenty-six guns, but chiefly manned with French sailors, 
 which after a severe contest was obliged to take advantage of 
 the wind and make her escape. He was promoted to the 
 rank of a post-captain, and appointed to the Gosport of forty- 
 four guns on the 13th of October following : in that ship he 
 continued during the whole war, being employed for some 
 time on tlie home service ; and during the latter part of his 
 command on the Mediterranean station. On his return to 
 England in 176S, the Gosport was put out of commission, 
 and Mr. Jervis received no other commission till he was ap- 
 pointed in 1769 to the Alarm, of thirty-two guns, in which 
 frigate he proceeded almost immediately to the Mediterranean, 
 and had the honour of entertaining on board his ship the Due 
 de Chablais, brotlier to the king of Sardinia, who mjlde him 
 some valuable presents. He cor.tinued on that station in the 
 same ship till \T:-'> and being a short time before his return 
 
64 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 afterwards created Earl of St. Vincent, who in the 
 month of April, 1796, promoted Captain Nelson 
 
 to England in 1775 promoted to the Foudroyant of eighty 
 guns, remained captain of her till the year 1/83. During 
 this whole period of time, only two opportunities sufficiently 
 interesting occurred in which Mr. Jervis could distinguish him- 
 self, which was in the encounter with the Count D'Orvilliers, 
 on the 27th of July, 17/8, when he was stationed as one of the 
 seconds to the commander in chief, and most gallantly sup- 
 ported the honour of his country. He continued employed 
 tinder various commanders without any thing material oc- 
 curring, except the common routine of service, till the year 
 1782, when in the month of April, being under the orders 
 of Vice- Admiral Barrington, who was sent in pursuit of a 
 French squadron destined for the East Indies, he came up with 
 and attacked the Pegase, a French ship of seventy- four guns, 
 which struck to the J^oudroyant, after a gallant action. The 
 admiral in his dispatches took such particular notice of tliis 
 engagement, that on his return into port he was honoured 
 with the order of the Bath. During the encounter he received 
 a wound by a splinter, which struck him on the right temple, 
 and affected his eye so much, that the consequences have never 
 since been completely removed. Early in 1783 Sir John quitted 
 the Foudroyant, and hoisted his broad pendant on board the 
 Salisbury of fifty guns, as cohimodore of a squadron intended 
 for a secret expedition j but peace taking place, this was con- 
 sequently laid aside. He now experienced some relaxation 
 from his naval duty, as he took on himself no subsequent 
 command till the year 1790- During the intermediate pe- 
 riod, he was in 17S4 elected representative in parliament for 
 Yarmouth in Norfolk, and on the 24th of September 1787 
 was raised to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue ; as he was 
 also on the 21st of September 1790 to the same rank in the 
 white. On the apprehension of a rupture with Spain, rela- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NEtSON. 6^ 
 
 to the rank of temporary commodore, with a 
 distinguishing pendant, which he accordingly 
 
 live to Nootka Sound, in that year, Sir John was appointed to 
 be captain of the fleet equipped on the occasion. The dispute 
 being, however, accommodated, it never proceeded to sea, 
 lie had been chosen member for Chipping Wycombf at the 
 general election which took place in the above year. On the 
 1st of February, 1793, he was advanced to be vice-admiral of 
 the blue ; and having hoisted his flag on board the Barfleur, 
 sailed in the ensuing year with a squadron, of which he had 
 accepted the command, to the West Indies; on which occasion 
 he vacated his seat in parhament. His conduct, while on this 
 service, became the subject of parliamentary inquiry, and is 
 too recent in the minds of all to need any comment, par- 
 ticularly as there may still exist persons, who, not witli standing 
 the highly honourable and favourable decision of the house of 
 parliament, entertain diflerent sentiments of the transactions 
 which took place during that period. 
 
 After the return of Sir John to England, he was in the month 
 of June, 1795, advanced from the rank of vice-admiral 
 of the white, to which he had been raised on the 12th of 
 April, in the preceding year, to be admiral of tlie blue, and 
 was appointed to be commander in chief on the Mediterranean 
 station ; he accordingly proceeded thither in a frigate. 
 Nothing, however, of consequence occurred in those seas, and 
 Sir John, having quitted the Mediterranean, repaired to Lis- 
 bon. On the 14th of February, 1797, being tlien oft' Cape St. 
 Vincent, he fell in with the Spanish fleet. Its force consisted 
 of twenty-seven sail of the Ime, seven of them first-rates, car- 
 rying from one hundred to one hundred aiid twenty-six guns, 
 while the ships under the orders of Sir John amounted to only 
 fifteen. He, however, determined to engage them. The result 
 was glorious to himself, and to his countiy. His own dispatch 
 will best explain the event, 
 
 T 
 
6S MEMOIRS Ot 
 
 hoisted, in the first instance, on board his old 
 ship the Agamemnon, but in the ensuing month 
 
 " Victory, off Lagos Bay, Februar\' l6. 
 •*Sir, 
 " Tlie hopes of falling in tvith the Spani^ fleet, expressed 
 In my letter to you of the 13th instant, were coiliirmed that 
 night by our distinctly hearing the report of their signal-gun^, 
 and by inteUigence received from Captain Foote, of his ma* 
 jesty's ship Niger, who had, witJi equal Judgment and persever- 
 ance, kept company with them for several days on ray pre- 
 scribed rendezvous, which, from the strong soutli-east winds, 
 I had never been able to reach ; and that they were notmore than 
 three or four leagues from us. I anxiously waited the dawn of day, 
 when being on the starboard tack, Cape St. Vincent bearing^ 
 east by north eight leagues, I had the satisfaction of seeing a 
 number of ships extending from south-west to south, the wind 
 then at west by south. At forty minutes past ten, the weather 
 being ex^tremely hazy, La Bonne CitOyenne made the signal 
 that the ships were of the line, twenty-fivo in number : his 
 majesty's squadron consisting of the fifteen ships of tlie line 
 named in the margin, were happily formed in tlie most com- 
 iplete order of saihng in two lines. By canning a press of sail, 
 I was fortunate in getting in with the enemy's fleet at half past 
 eleven o'clock, before it had time to connect and form a regular, 
 order of battle. Such a moment was not to be lost ; and, con* 
 fi^ent in the skill, valour, and discipline of the officers and 
 men I had the happiness to command, and judging that the 
 honour of his majesty's arms, and the circumstancesof the war 
 in these seas, required a considerable degree of euterprize, 1 
 felt myself justified in departing from the regular system, and 
 passing through their fleet in a line formed with the utmost 
 celerity, tacked, and thereby separated one-third from the 
 main body. After a partial cannonade, which prevented their 
 rejunction till the evening, and by the very great exertions of 
 the ships which had the good fortuiie to arrive up with tli« 
 
tORO VlSCOUNt NEtSON. SJf 
 
 removed into the Captain of seventy-fouf guns, 
 and in the month of August following was esta- 
 
 -enemy on the larboard tack, the ships iiamed in the margin 
 Here captured^ and tlie action ceased about live o'clock in tlie 
 evening, I enclose the most correct list I have been able to 
 obtain of the Spanish fleet Opposed to me, aniOunting to 
 twenty-seven sail of the line, and an account of the killed and 
 wounded in his majesty's ships, as well as in those taken from the 
 enemy. The moment the latter,- almost totally dismasted, a^ad 
 his maj*»sty's ships the Captain and Culloden, are in a state to 
 put to sea, i shall avail myself of the first favourable winds to 
 proceed off Cape St. Vincent, in my way to Lisbon. Captain 
 Calder, whose able assistance has greatly contributed to the 
 |)ublic service during my command, is the bearer of this, and 
 will more particularly describe to the lords commissioners of 
 the admiralty, the movements of the sc|uadron on the four- 
 teenth, and the present state of it. I am, &c. 
 
 "* J. Jervis. " 
 *' Evan Nepean, esq. &c. &c. 
 
 The ships capturfed in this action were the Salvador del 
 Mundo, of one hundred and twelve guns, the San Josef, of one 
 hundred and twelve, the San Nicholas, of eighty-four, and the 
 San Isidro, of seventy-four. On the occasion of this great vic- 
 tory, exclusive of inferior lionours^ Sir John was raised t6 the 
 dignity of a baron and earl of Great Britain, by the titles of 
 Baron Jervis of Melfordj in the county of Stafford, the place 
 of his birth j and Earl of St. Vincent ; a pension of three thou-' 
 sand a year was also bestowed on him by parliament. His 
 lordship continued for the space of two years either occupied in 
 the blockade of Cadiz, or i?i sending off detachments of his 
 fleet where he thought it necessary. The most important of 
 tiiese was that put under the orders of the late Lord Nelson/ 
 which paved the way fot tlie glorious victory of Aboukir. Oa 
 the 14th of February, 1799i Jie was advanced to the rank of 
 admiral of the white squadton, and finding his health impaired, 
 t6tum«d to England in tl^e^onth of July. In October follow-' 
 
$$ 
 
 UtMOtKS Of 
 
 blished in permanent rank, having a captain ap* 
 pointed to command under him in the ship just 
 mentioned.* The services on w^hich he was em- 
 ployed till nearly the close of the yekr, were ex- 
 tremely important, although they afforded him 
 no opportunity of displaying that brilliancy of 
 character which have so uninterruptedly marked 
 
 ing,he received a challenge from Sir John Orde, who thought 
 himself aggrieved by his having employed Sir Horatio Nelsoa 
 on the above occasion^ in preference to himself, who was a 
 senior officer^ The circumstance, however, becoming known 
 \o the friends of both parties, they were prevented from pro- 
 ceeding to extremities, and bound, over to keep the peace. 
 His lordship recovered his health sufficiently to take upon him 
 the command of the British force in the channel in the month 
 of April, 1800. He immediately proceeded to watch the mo- 
 tions of the enemy off Brest On the 26th of August, 1800, he 
 was appointed lieutenant-general of his majesty's marine forces, 
 and on the 21st of April, 1801, was created a viscount of the 
 united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, by the title of 
 Viscount St. Vincent, of Melford, with remainder in succession 
 t© his nephews, and their heirs. Having been appointed, on the 
 21st of February preceding, first commissioner for executmg 
 the office of lord high admiral, he contiimed to hold that 
 station till the month of May, 1804, since which time he has not 
 taken upon himself any e;uployment, either in the line of active 
 service, or in the civil department ; but on the 9th of Novem- 
 ber, 1805, his lordship was raised to the rank of admiral of 
 the red squadron. 
 
 * It is said to have been observed in the Mediterranean, that 
 before Captain Nelson quitted tlie Agamemnon, he had fairly 
 worn her out. When that ship came into dock to be refitted, 
 in the month of October, 179^^ she had not a mast, yard, or 
 sail i5t for service. The hull also had been for a long time 
 securtid and kept togetlier by cables properly served round her. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 69 
 
 the greater part of the enterprizes in which he 
 was engaged. The blockade of Leghorn, the 
 capture of Porto Ferrajio, together with the 
 island of Caprea, and the evacuation of Bastia, 
 Were each of them employments that required 
 the most consummate abilities, the most spirited 
 ae-tivity, and the soundest judgment ; and where 
 ail were equally conspicuous, it would be de- 
 rogating from one species of merit, to bestow 
 any particular commendation on another. 
 
 After having convoyed the British troops, 
 which had been employed in garrisoning the 
 island of Corsica, to Porto Ferrajio, Commodore 
 Nelson proceeded to St. Fiorenzo bay, where 
 he rejoined the commander in chief, and imme- 
 diately afterwards accompanied him to Gib- 
 raltar. In the month of December he received 
 instructions to remove his broad pendant on 
 board La Minerve, a frigate of thirty-two guns, 
 commanded by Captain George Cockburn j and 
 the Blanche frigate, of the same force, com- 
 manded by Captain Preston, being put upder his 
 orders, he was directed to proceed to Porto 
 Ferrajio, for the purpose of conveying from 
 thence the depot of naval stores which had 
 been formed there, during the time the British 
 fleet was stationed in the Mediterranean, to 
 Gibraltar, where they were much wanted, in 
 consequence of the change of station necesr 
 sarily occasioned by the commencement of 
 
7P MEMOIRS OP 
 
 the war with- Spain. While on his passage 
 thither, the commodore had the fortune to fall 
 in with two large Spanish frigates, during the 
 night of the 1 9th of December. The command- 
 ing ship carried a poop light, and was imme- 
 diately attacked by Mr. Nelson, who at the 
 3ame time directed the Blanche to engage her 
 consort. The encounter between the com- 
 modore and his antagonist commenced about 
 forty minutes past ten at night ; and after an un- 
 remitted as well as most spirited contest, which 
 continued nearly three hours, the- enemy*s ship 
 was compelled to surrender, having had one 
 l^undred and sixty-four men killed and wounded, 
 Her mizen mast had fallen in the action ^ her 
 main and fore masts were also so severely 
 w^ounded that both of them went away on her 
 first attempt to carry sail after her surrender. 
 The prize was named LaSabina, a frigate of the 
 first class, niounting forty guns ; those on her 
 main deck, being twenty-eight in number, were 
 (sighteen-pounders. 
 
 While th^ Minerve was thus engaged, Cap- 
 tain Preston, in the Blanche, most gallantly bore 
 his share in the encounter, and effectually 
 silenced his antagonist, but was prevented from 
 taking possession of his defeated enemy, by th^ 
 appe-arapce of three other Spanish ships, which 
 bore down on the conquerors. The commodore 
 was on his part scarcely less unsi|ccessful s for 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 7l 
 
 * ■ 
 
 although possession Was taken of his prize, the 
 same cause ' which rescued that of Captain 
 Preston from his hands, operated kittle less 
 forcibly with respect to himself. The Sabina 
 and the Minerve steered different courses, and 
 the masts of the former not being able, as al^ 
 ready related, to support a pressure of sail, they 
 both fell by the board, and, as a natural conse- 
 quence, the Sabina again reverted into the pos- 
 session of her former masters. Owing however to 
 the exertions ofthecommodore,together with the 
 rest of the officers of the Minerve and Blanche, 
 those ships were most gallantly and happily re- 
 scued from experiencing a fate equally grievous.* 
 
 * La Sabina was scarcely taken possession of, when a secoaid 
 frigate belonging to the enemy made her appearance, and be- 
 gan to engage the Minerve : but, after a fruitless contest of 
 half an hour's continuance, thought proper to haul her wind, 
 or, as the commodore himself expressed his opinion, he was 
 confident she would have shared the fate of her companion. 
 At the dawn of day, two of the vessels insight were discovered 
 to be SpanijJi ships of the line, when, owing to the diversion 
 of pursuit, afforded by Lieutenant Culverhouse, who was ap- 
 pointed to command La Sabina, ^rq tempore^ and who, while 
 the crippled state of his masts permitted him to make sail, 
 steered an opposite couise to that of the commodore, added, 
 as above related, to the exertions of the latter, and those he 
 commanded, tlie further progress of the misfortune Vtas 
 arrested. 
 
 With that modesty peculiar to himself, and which so nobly 
 characterised his conduct on all occasions, Captain Nelson as- 
 sunjed not to himself the slightest merit ou the Ipregoing o^- 
 
7* MEMOIllS OF 
 
 Commodore Nelson having executed the ob- 
 ject f his mission, sailed from Porto Ferrajio 
 in the Minerve, on the 29th of January, for the 
 purpose of rejoining the commander in chief. Sir 
 Gilbert EIHott, afterwards Lord Minto, the late 
 viceroy of Corsica, together with Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Drinkwater, and divers other persons 
 belonging to his suite, had taken their passage 
 on board the Minerve ; and the commo- 
 dore after having studiously endeavoured to 
 obtain every possible information in his power 
 relative to the enemy's force and future inten- 
 tions, by reconnoitring all the principal ports in 
 the Mediterranean, proceeded for Gibraltar, 
 where he arrived a few days after the Spanish 
 fleet from Garthagena had passed through the 
 
 casion. A repetition of his own words will in themselves afford 
 tlie prajse best adapted to such heroic conduct. 
 
 ''You are, sir/' said he, " so thoroughly acquainted with the 
 merits of Captain Cockburn, that it is needless for me to ex- 
 press them ; but the discipline of La Minerve does the highest 
 credit to her captain and lieutenant, and I wish fully to express 
 the sense I have of their judgment and gallantry. Lieutenant 
 Culverhouse, the first lieutenant, is as old officer of very dis- 
 tinguished merit. Lieutenants Hardy, Gage, and Noble, de- 
 serve every praise which gallantry and zeal justly entitled them 
 to ; as does every other officer and man in the ship. 
 
 *^ You will observe, sir, I am sure, with regret, among the 
 wounded. Lieutenant James Noble, who quitted the Captain to 
 serve with me, and whose merits and repeated wounds received 
 in fighting the enemies of our country, entitle him to every re- 
 ward a grateful nation can bestowc" 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 73 
 
 Streights. Burning ^^'Ith impatience to assume 
 a more active and useful station than the com- 
 mand of a frigate could possibly afford him^ 
 when a serious contest with the enemy appeared 
 more than probable, he remained at Gibraltar 
 only one day, and in the course of his passage to 
 the westward, towards the*appointed place of ren- 
 dezvous, was on the i ith of February not only 
 chased by tw^oSpanish line of battle ships,butw^as 
 also in sioht of their whole fleet^'offthe entrance 
 of the Streights. He was fortunate enough, 
 however, to effect not only his escape, but hi$ 
 junction with the admiral, and the fleet, on the 
 13th of February. The important intelligence 
 he brought, was the prelude to the future suc- 
 cess ; and as he had been the happy means of 
 first conveying to the admiral information of the 
 Dear approach of the enemy, so did he in the 
 glorious contest which presently succeeded, 
 prove the principal cause of effecting their dis- 
 comfiture and defeat. 
 
 Immediately on his arrival, he shifted his 
 broad pendant on board his former ship the 
 Captain ; and, as it is reported, had not effected 
 his removal many minutes, ere the signal was 
 made that the British fleet should prepare for ac- 
 tion; the ships which composed it being directed 
 to keep in close and compact order during the 
 night. As to the event of the action, few English- 
 men can l?e ignorant ; of the circumstances 
 
7^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 which led to that event, the greater part of them 
 may be but partially informed, perhaps, notwith- 
 standing a variety of documents have already 
 been printed and re-printed in a multitude of forms, 
 each of them attempting to illustrate a period sa 
 Ijisteresting to the feelings of Britons, but unhap- 
 pily,through an infinity of causes, all failingto pro- 
 duce the wisbed-for intention and the desired ef-^ 
 feet. Of these, according to the ordinary course of 
 precedence, theofficial, or gazetteaccount, claims 
 the first mention,* No particular observation 
 is made on the conduct of Commodore Nelson; 
 and that circumstance, perhaps, paradoxical as it 
 may appear, is in itself a matter of the highest 
 praise; for it is the natural infirmity of the hu- 
 man mind to be silent as to the promulgation of 
 that worth, which it feels itself shrink as it were 
 from the task of paying suf^cient tribute to. 
 
 The next account we shall beg leave to no- 
 tice, as well as to insert, is a short memorandum 
 made by the commodore himself, presently after 
 the encounter, in which, with bis customary deli- 
 cacy with respect to himself, he attributes the 
 highest possible praise to those employed under 
 his orders, who aided in effecting the glorious 
 achievement, but is totally silent as to those 
 energies produced and raised to maturity in his 
 own mind, which gave birth to so glorious ancj 
 brilliant a conclu.sion. 
 
 *■ See jvage 66, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 75 
 
 " At one, P. M." observes the commodore, 
 *' the Captain having passed the sternmost 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 perceiving all the Spa- 
 nish ships to bear up before the wind, evidently 
 with an intention of forming their line, going 
 large, and joining their separated divisions, at 
 that time engaged with some of our centre ships, 
 or flying from us — to prevent either of their 
 schemes from taking place, I ordered the ship 
 to be wore, and passing between the Diadem 
 and Excellent, at a quart&r past one o'clock, 
 was engaged with the headmost, and, of course, 
 leewardmost of the Spanish division. The ships 
 which I knew were the Santissima Trinidada, 
 of one hundred and thirty-six guns, San Josef, 
 of one hundred and twelve, Salvador del Mun- 
 do, of one hundred and twelve, San Nicholas, 
 eighty ; another first-rate, and a seventy-four, 
 names unknown. 
 
 ** I was immediately joined, and most nobly 
 supported, by the Culloden, Captain Trou- 
 bridge. The Spanish fleet, not wishing, I sup- 
 pose, to have a decisive battle, hauled to the 
 wind on the larboard tack, which brought the 
 ships above mentioned to be the leewardmost 
 and sternmost ^hips In their fleet. For near an 
 
7o MEMOIRS Of 
 
 hour 1 believe (but I do not pretend to be coi~ 
 rect as to time), did the CuIJoden and Captain 
 support this not only apparently but really un- 
 equal contest ; when the Blenheim passing be- 
 tween us and the enemy, gave us a respite, 
 and sickened the Dons. At this time the Sal- 
 vador del Mundo, and San Isidro, dropped 
 astern, and were fired into in a masterly style 
 hy the Excellent, Captain Collingwood, who 
 compelled the San Isidro to hoist English co- 
 lours j and 1 thought the large ship, Salvador del 
 Mundo had also struck: but Captain Colling- 
 wood, disdaining the parade of taking posses- 
 sion of a vanquished enemy, 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, 
 the CuModen crippled and astern, the Excellent 
 rang.ed up within two feet of the San Nicholas, 
 giving a most tremendous fire. The San Nicho- 
 las luffing up, the San Josef fell on board her, 
 and the Excellent passing on for the Santissima 
 Trinrdada, the Captain resumed her station 
 abreast of them, and close alongside. At this 
 lime the Captain having lost her fore-top-mast, 
 not a sail, shroud, nor rope left, her wheel 
 away, and incapable of further service in the 
 line or in chase, I directed Captain Miller to 
 put the helm a-starboard, and calling for the 
 boarders, ordered them to board. The soldiers 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 77 
 
 of the sixty-ninth, with an alacrity which will 
 ever do them credit, and Lieutenant Pearson of 
 the same regiment, were almost the foremost 
 on this service. The first man who jumped 
 into the enemy's m^zzen-chains was Captain 
 Berry, late my first lieutenant (Captain Miller 
 •was in the a6t of going also, but I directed him 
 to remain) ; he was supported by our spritsail 
 yard, which hooked in the mizzen rigging. A 
 soldier of the sixty-ninth regiment having broken 
 the upper quarter gallery window, I jumped in 
 myself, and was followed by 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 fiired, 
 and the Spanish brigadier (commodore, with a 
 distinguishing pendant) fell, as retreating to 
 the quarter-deck. I pushed immediately on- 
 wards for the quarter-deck, where I found Cap- 
 tain Berry in possession of the poop, and the 
 Spanish ensign hauling down. I passed with 
 my people, and Lieutenant Pearson, on the lar- 
 board gang-way to the forecastle, where 1 met 
 two or three Spanish officers, prisoners to my 
 seamen : they delivered me their swords. A 
 fire of pistols or musquets opening from the 
 admiral's stern-gallery of the San Joseph, I di- 
 rected the soldiers to fire into her stern, and 
 calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send 
 more men into the San Nicholas, and directed 
 
7^ ' MEMoms OF 
 
 my people to board the first rate, which was 
 done in an instant; Captain Berry assisting me 
 ir>4:o the main chains. At this moment a Spa- 
 nish officer looked over the quarter-deck rail, 
 and said they surrendered. From this most 
 welcome intelligence, it was not long before I 
 tvas on the quarter-deck, whefe the Spanish 
 captain, with a bow, presented me his sword^ 
 and said the admiral was dying of his wound?. 
 I asked him on his honour, if the ship surren- 
 dered. He declared she was ; on which I gave 
 him my hand, and desired him to call on his 
 officers and ship*s company and tell them of it ; 
 and, on the quarter-deck of a Spanish Jirst-rate^ ex- 
 traifagant as the story may seeni^ did I receive the 
 sivords of vanquished Spaniards ^ which as I received 
 J gave to Williain Featney^ one of my bargemen y who 
 put them with the greatest scing froid under his 
 arnu I was surrounded by Captain Berry, 
 Lieutenant Pearson of the sixty-ninth regiment, 
 John %kes, John Thompson, Francis Cooke 
 (all oM Agamemnonsjj and seyeral other brave 
 men, seamen and soldiers. Thus fell these 
 ships. 
 
 *' N. B. In boarding the San Nicholas, I be- 
 lieve we lost about seven killed and ten wound- 
 ed; and about twenty Spaniards lost their live^ 
 by a foolish resistance. None were lost I be- 
 lieve in boarding the San Josef.'* 
 
 To the foregoing we shall add the folio wiog 
 
LORD VtSCOUNT KfiLSO^vT. 79 
 
 ijtefragably legal document, which, In the plairl^ 
 
 , est and most unadorned, though not, on that ac* 
 
 ^ count, less interesting style, sets forth not only 
 
 the leading events of the action itself, but those 
 
 also which immediately preceded it. 
 
 Copy of the log-book of his majesty's ship the 
 Captain^ Commodore Nelson, the 14th and 
 15th of February, at the victory of the Earl 
 of St. Vincent over the Spanish fleet. 
 
 " Tuesday, February 14th, wind variable, mo- 
 derate breezes, and hazy ; out cuttet* and barge, 
 and sept them on board the Victory; joined 
 company his majesty's ship Bonne Citoyenne. At 
 two the cutter returned with Lieutenant Noble. 
 Hoisted Commodore Nelson's pendant. At 
 half past four mustered at quarters ; one dlvi^ 
 sion exercised great guns. At half past six 
 Commodore Nelson came on board from the 
 MinerVe. Hoisted in the barge, filled, aad 
 made sail. At nine set the main sail ; at twelve 
 tacked per signal, A. M. ditto weather, be^ 
 tvveen two and three o'clock, heard the report 
 of several guns to the southward, which we 
 supposed to be the Spanish fleet, who we knew 
 Were near us. At four the Victory, south one 
 mile, at day-light, made the signal for a strange 
 ' ' sail to the northward. At half past five heard 
 the report of two gunS, S. W. At half past 
 eight set the mainsaiL At ten, up mainsail > 
 
So MEMOIRS OP 
 
 moderate and foggy. At half past ten saw the 
 Spanish fleet, bearing S. S. E. four or five miles. 
 The signal to fdrm the line and chase the ene- 
 my. At twenty minutes before twelve the 
 headmost ships of our line began to engage the 
 enemy as they passed us on the other tack ^ 
 Cape St. Vincent bearing north ten leagues. A 
 few minutes before noon, we opened our fire on 
 their leading ship, and passed nineteen sail of 
 the line, giving and receiving as we passed ; 
 our leading ships having eight of their rear ships 
 to tack, by breaking their line. 
 
 "Wednesday, 15 th, w^nd variable 5 at eighteen 
 minutes before one, the Captain having passed, 
 on the starboard tack, the last of the enemy's 
 line of nineteen sail, which were on thti lar- 
 board tack, the Spanish admiral, in the Santis- 
 ima Trinidada, bore up, evidently with a de- 
 sign to join a division of his fleet, of eight sail 
 of the line, which were on the Captain*s lee- 
 bow, on which the commodore ordered the ships 
 to be wore; when passing between the Diadem 
 and Excellent, she was immediately engaged by 
 the Santissima Trinidada, a four-decked ship^ -1^ 
 and two other three-deckers, and several tw^o- 
 deckers j so that at one time we were engaged 
 by nine line of battle ships, in which we were 
 most nobly supported by Captain Troubridge, 
 of the Culloden. The Spanish admiral desist- 
 ed from his attempt of joining his other divi- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NILSON. 8l 
 
 ion, and hauled to the wind on the larboard 
 tack. About two P. M. the Culloden having 
 got between us and the enemy, we ceased firing 
 about ten minutes, till we got ahead of her, and 
 became engaged as before. Employed the in- 
 terval in replenishing our shot, and repairing 
 our rigging. About half past two, our sails 
 and rigging being almost cut to pieces, the 
 Blenheim passed between us and the enemy. 
 Employed as before, while our fire ceased. At 
 three we came to engage several of the enemy's 
 line, particularly the San Josef and San Nicho- 
 las. Saw a Spanish two-decker strike to the 
 Excellent. Soon after we shot away the mizzen- 
 mast of the San Josef, which caused her to fall 
 on board the San Nicholas to windward. At 
 half past three the Excellent .passed us to wind- 
 ward, engaging the San Josef within pistol 
 shot as she passed by ; on which she and the 
 San Nicholas fell on boardof each other. The 
 San Josef havirig lost her mizzen-mast, the Cap- 
 tain, who^e fore-top-mast was at this time shot 
 away, immediately luiFed along-side, prepared 
 for boarding, and, having engaged very sharply 
 for a few minutes, in which we had fifteen men 
 killed and wounded, the commodore ordered the 
 ship to be laid on board ; when himself. Lieu- 
 tenants Berry, Noble, and Pearson, and Messrs. 
 Samwell, Withers, and Wilhams, midshipmen, 
 at the head of the boarders and troops, entered 
 
%t MEMOIRS OF 
 
 on iDoard the San Nicholas, on the larboard 
 quarter, and from her boarded the San Josef, 
 and hauled down the colours at five minutes be- 
 fore four o'clock. The latter mounting one hun- 
 dred and twelve guns, Rear-admiral Winthuy- 
 sen, and the former of eighty-four guns, Com- 
 modore Gerraldelino. They were both mortally 
 wounded, and died soon after the action ceased. 
 Commodore Nelson put Lieutenant Berry in 
 charge of the San Josef, and Lieutenant Spicer 
 of the San Nicholas, with one hundred and fifty 
 men in each ship. Found the latter on fire, 
 but extinguished it. At five, all firing ceased. 
 While we were entangled with both ships, 
 found the San Nicholas to be on fire again, in 
 the fore hold 3 but it was happily extinguished 
 by our firemen. The commodore went on 
 board the Irresistible. At six, got clear of th 
 
 o 
 
 e 
 
 prizes. Wore to join the fleet, having been be- 
 tween them and the enemy, who stood towards 
 us with a fresh breeze, but hauled their wind 
 again. Employed cutting away the remnant of 
 the fore-sail, and clearing the wreck of the fore- 
 top-mast. At seven /the Minerve took us in 
 tow ; our standing and running rigging, with 
 all the bending sails, being cut to pieces; our 
 wheel, fore-top-mast, and fore-top, shot away; 
 and Gur masts severely wounded ^ the main-mast 
 having three shot through the heart. Employed 
 fiilmg powder and replenishing shot, knotting 
 
LORD VISCOUNT KELSON. S3 
 
 and splicing, and to get ready for battle again 
 as soon as possible. Found that another ship 
 of one hundred and twelve guns, the San Salva- 
 dor del Mundo, and the San Isidore, of seventy- 
 four guns, had struck to our fleet. Our frigates 
 took them in tow. 
 
 " The Spanish fleet consisted of twenty-seren 
 sail of the line, nine of which were three-deck- 
 ers, and eight frigates : our fleet, of fifteen sail 
 of the line, and three frigates (six three-deckers, 
 eight seventy-fours, and one sixty-four). Found 
 we had twenty-four men killed, and fifty-six 
 wounded. In the Spaniards we took, the 
 slaughter must have been very greatj as there 
 were people employed all night throwing the 
 dead overboard. A. M. moderate and hazy^ 
 the Spanish fleet in sight to windward. Em- 
 ployed repairing the damaged rigging, securing 
 the masts, &c.; bent a new fore-sail, and mizzen- 
 top-sail. The four prizes in tow." 
 
 The document just given is more peculiarly 
 valuable, inasmuch as it is a plain relation of 
 facts given in the most summary way, on the in- 
 stant of their taking place ; and serves to esta- 
 blish beyond controversy many points, which 
 those who are sceptically inclined, might other- 
 wise demur to. 
 
 The fourth, and more florid description of the 
 great event alluded to, is given by Lieutenant- 
 colonel Drinkwater, who, as it has been already 
 
 02 
 
c4- MEMOIRS or 
 
 related, had taken bis passage from Porto Fer-. 
 rajio on board the Minerve, in company vvitli 
 Sir Gilbert Elliot, and having removed into the 
 Lively, that ship was, at the expVesS solicitation 
 of the viceroy, permitted to continue with the 
 fleet, that the impatience of the latter might be 
 gratified as expeditiously as possible with regard 
 to the result of the encounter. 
 
 " When Sir John Jervis,'* says the lieutenant- 
 colonel in his narrative, " on the 14th of Febru- 
 ary, had accomplished his bold intention of 
 breaking the enemy's line, the Spanish admiral, 
 vrho had been separated to windvv^ard with his 
 main body, consisting of eighteen ships of the 
 line, from nine ships that* were cut off to lee- 
 ward, appeared to make a movement as if with 
 a view to join the latter. This design was com- 
 pletely frustrated by the timely opposition of 
 Cominodore Nelson, whose station in the rear 
 of the British line afforded him an opportunity 
 of observing this manoeuvre. His ship, the 
 Captr^in, had no sooner passed the rear of the 
 enemy's ships that were to windward, than he 
 ordered her to w^ear, and stood on the other 
 tack towards the enemy. 
 
 ^* In executing this bold and decisive manoe- 
 vre, the conunodore reached the sixth ship from 
 the enemy's rear, which bore the Spanish admi- 
 iixYs flag, the Santissima Trinidada, of one hun- 
 dred and thirly-six guns, a ship of fout decks. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. S$ 
 
 reported to be the largest in the world, Not- 
 withstanding the inequality of the force, the 
 commodore instantly engaged this colossal op- 
 ponent, and for a considerable time had to con- 
 tend not onJy with her, but with her seconds 
 a-hcad and a-stern, each of three decks. While 
 he maintained this unequal combat, which was 
 viewed with admiration, mixed with anxiety, 
 his friends were flying to his support. The 
 enemy's attention was soon directed to the 
 CuUoden, Captain Troubridge ; and in a short 
 time after to the Blenheim, of ninety gunsj, Cap^ 
 tain Frederick, who opportunely came ta his 
 assistance. 
 
 '•' The intrepid conduct of the commodore 
 staggered the Spanish admiral, who already ap- 
 peared to waver in pursuing his intention of 
 joining the ships cut off by the British fleet ^ 
 when the Cuiloden's timely arrival, and Captain 
 Troubridge's spirited support of the commo- 
 dore, together with the approach of the Blen- 
 heim, followed by Rear-admiral Parker, with 
 the Prince George, Orion, Irresistible, and Dia- 
 dem, not far distant, determined the Spanish 
 admiral to change his design altogether, and to 
 throw out the signal for the ships' main body to 
 haul their wind, and to make sail on the lar- 
 board tack. 
 
 " Not a moment was lost in improving the 
 advantage now apparent in favour of the British 
 
^6 
 
 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 squndron. As the ships of Rear-admiral Par- 
 ker's division approached the enemy's ships, in 
 support of the Captain, Commodore Nelson's 
 ship, and her gallant seconds, the Blenheim and 
 CuJioden, the cannonade became more animated 
 and impressive. In this manner did Commo- 
 dore Nelson engage a Spanish three-decker, 
 until he had nearly expended all the ammuni- 
 tion in his ship, which had suffered the loss of 
 her fore-top-mast, and received such conside- 
 rable damage in her sails and rigging, that she 
 was almost rendered hors du combat. At this 
 critical period, thfe Spanish three-decker having 
 lost her mizen-mast, fell on board a Spanish two- 
 decker, of eighty-four guns, that was her se- 
 cond: this latter ship consequently now became 
 the commodore's opponent, and a most vigorous 
 fire was kept up for some time by both ships, 
 within pistol shot. 
 
 ** It was now that the commodore's ship lost 
 many men, and that the damages already sus- 
 tained, through the long and arduous conflict 
 which she had sustained, appeared to render a 
 continuance of the contest in the usual way 
 precarious or perhaps impossible. At this cri- 
 tical moment the commodore, from a sudden 
 impulse, instantly resolved on a bold and deci- 
 sive measure; and determined, whatever might 
 be the event, to attempt his opponent sword in 
 hand. The boarders were summoned, and 
 
I 
 
 JLO?.D VISCOUNT NELSON-. 87 
 
 orders given to lay his ship on board the 
 enemv. 
 
 " Fortune favours the brave! nor on this oc- 
 casion was she unmindful of her favourite. Ralph 
 Willet Miller, the commodore's captain, soju- 
 diciously diiected the course of the ship, that he 
 laid her aboard the starboard quarter of the 
 Spanish eighty-four: her spritsail-yard passing 
 over the enemy's poop, and hooking in her 
 niizzen-shrouds; when the word to board being 
 given, the officers and seamen destined for this 
 perilous duty, headed by Lieutenant Berry, to- 
 gether with the detachment of the sixty-ninth 
 regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Pearson, 
 then doing duty as marines on board the Captain, 
 passed with rapidity on board the enemy's ship; 
 and in a short time the San Nicholas was in posses- 
 sion of her intrepid assailants. The commodore's 
 ardour would not permit him to remain an in^ 
 active spectator of this scene. He w^as aware 
 the attemipt was hazardous ; and he thought his 
 presence might animate his brave companions, 
 and contribute to the success of this bold enter- 
 prise: he therefore, as if by magic impulse, ac- 
 companied the party in this attack; passing 
 from the fore-chains of his own ship into the 
 enemy's quarter-gallery, and tUence through the 
 cabin to the quarter-deck, where he arrived in 
 time to receive the sword of the dying com- 
 mander, wlio had been mortally wounded by the 
 boarders . 
 
^O MEMOIRS OF 
 
 " He had not long been employed in taking 
 the necessary measures to secure this hard-earned 
 conquest, when he found himself engaged in a 
 more arduous task. The stern of the three- 
 decker, his former opponent, was placed direct- 
 ly amid ships of the weather beam of the prize, 
 San Nicholas ; and from her poop and galleries 
 the enemy sorely annoyed with musquetry the 
 British who had boarded the Saa Nicholas. The 
 commodore was not long in resolving on the 
 conduct to be adopted, on this momentous occa- 
 sion. The two alternatives that pres nted them- 
 selves to his unshaken mind, were, to quit the 
 prize, or instantly board the three-decker. Con- 
 fident of the bravery of his seamen, he deter- 
 mined on the latter. Directing, therefore, an 
 additional number of men to be sent fi'om the 
 Captain on board the San NicKolas, the un- 
 daunted commodore, whom i o Hanger ever ap- 
 palled, headed himself th. assailants in this new 
 attack, exclaiming, Westminster Abbey ! or 
 
 GLORIOUS VICTORY ! 
 
 '^ Success in a few minutes, and with little loss, 
 crowned the enterprize. Such indeed was the 
 panic occasioned by his preceding conduct, that 
 the British no sooner appeared on the quarter- 
 deck of their new opponent, than the comman- 
 dant advanced, and asking for the British com- 
 manding officer, dropped on one knee, and pre- 
 sented his sword, apologizing at the same time 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 89 
 
 for the Spanish admiral's not appearing, as he 
 was dangerously wounded. For a moment Com- 
 modore Nelson could scarcely persuade himself 
 of tliis second instance of good fortune: he there- 
 fore ordered the Spani&li commandant, who had 
 the rajik of a brigadier, to assemble the officers 
 on the quarter-deck, and direct means to be 
 taken instantly for communicating to the crew 
 the surrender of the ship. All the officers im- 
 mediately appeared; and the commodore had 
 the surrender of ihe San Josef duly conferred by 
 each of them delivering his sword. 
 
 '* The coxswain of the commodore's barge, 
 John Sykes, since dead, had attended close by his 
 side throughout this perilous attempt : to him the 
 commodore gave in charge the swords of the 
 Spanish officers as he received them : and the 
 undaunted tar, as they were delivered to him, 
 tucked these honourable trophies under his 
 arm, with all the coolness imaginable. It was 
 at this moment also that a British sailor, who 
 had fought under the commodore, came up in 
 the fullness of his heart, and excusing the liber- 
 ty he was taking, asked to shake him by the 
 hand, to congratulate him upon seeing him safe 
 on the quarter-deck of a Spanish three-decker. 
 
 *^ This new conquest had scarcely submitted, 
 and the commodore returned on board the San 
 Nicholas, when the latter ship was discovered 
 to be on fire in two places. At the first mor 
 
9© ' xMEMOTRS OF 
 
 ment appearances were alarming ; but the pre- 
 sence of mind and resources of the commodore 
 and his officers, in this emergency, soon got the 
 fire under. 
 
 ** A signal was made by the Captain for boats 
 to assist in disentangling her from the two 
 prizes ; and as she was incapable of further ser- 
 vice until refitted, the commodore again hoisted 
 his broad pendant, for the moment, on board 
 La Minerve frigate; and in the evening shifted 
 it to the Irresistible, Captain Martin: but as 
 soon as the Captain was refitted, he re-hoisted his 
 pendant on board the latter ship. 
 
 " As a reward for such distinguished gallantry 
 on the 14th of February, he received the insignia 
 of the Bath and the gold medal from his sove- 
 reign ; and was also presented with the freedom 
 of the city of London in a gold box.*'* 
 
 * In the council-cliamber of the hall in the market-place at 
 Nonvich, is erected tlie following device, a memorial of th«> 
 glorious action of the 14th of February, 1797- An anchor, 
 if which are suspended a yard and sail, supposed to have 
 beea shot away in action; on the latter is inscribed: "The 
 sword of the Spanish admiral Don Xavier Winthuysen, who 
 died of the wounds he received in an engagement with the 
 British fleet un^der the command of Admiral Earl of St. Vm- 
 cent, 14th February, 1797, which ended in the most brilliant 
 victory ever obtained by this country over the enemy at sea, 
 wherein the heroic valour and cool determined couragp of 
 Rear-admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, K. B. had ample scope for 
 their display. He being a native of Norfolk, honoured the 
 city by presenting this sword surrendered to him ia that acr 
 
LOKD VISCOUNT NKLSON. ^t 
 
 In the preceding account, the colonel, it must 
 in justice be owned, pays the most grateful 
 tribute to the personal bravfery and gallantry of 
 the commodore, but does not enter sufficiently 
 into a description, and that, certainly, necessary 
 eul )gium on the splendid display of his abilities, 
 without which, on so trying an occasion, the 
 most consummate gallantry in the universe, even 
 though it had been possible for it to have ex- 
 ceeded that of the commodore himself, would 
 have proved but of little avail. With all that 
 promptitude which is the certain characteristic 
 of a great and active mind, he found the 
 bold manoeuvre, executed by order of the com- 
 mander in chief, would" fail in its effect, unless 
 the most decisive measures were adopted to 
 prevent the reunion of the main body of the 
 fleet with those ships from which the Spanish 
 admiral had been separated. The moment was 
 awful ; for, glorious as the opportunity might be, 
 any failure in the measure taken by the com- 
 modore might have been productive of mischief 
 to his friends, and the most serious injury to his 
 country. He felt, however, the magnitude of 
 
 tion/' From the flukes of the anchor the sword is suspended ; 
 underneath is the coat of arms of Sir Horatio Nelson, which 
 was given to him by the king. The crest is the stern of a man of 
 war, and the supporters a sailor beating a British lion, tram- 
 pling on the Spanish colours. The motto, *' Faith and works." 
 The whole is neatly executed by Mr. Windham of that city. 
 
^Z MEMOIRS OF 
 
 • his own powers; and in the full consciou.sness 
 of that magnitude, he seized the crown of vie- 
 -toiy, which Providence herself a])pears to have 
 destined he should wear. It is not a little re- 
 niarkable that each of the triumphs obtained by 
 this noble person over the foes to his country, 
 has rested entirely on the exertions of his own 
 abilities, and strength of mind, without being 
 indebted in the slightest degree, to any of those 
 fortuitous circumstances, which have at different 
 periods decided the fate of battles, and of na- 
 tions. By the rapidity of his conception, and 
 the celerity with which he carried it into execu- 
 tion on the present occasion, the world was 
 taught a lesson, which, before that day, would 
 have been considered romantic and ridiculous, 
 that the presence of one man may supply the 
 deficiency of thousands, and render the event of 
 battle at least doubtful, against the most fearful 
 odds. 
 
 In contests between armies, such occurrences 
 are neither, perhaps, new, nor uncommon. The 
 march of battalions, regulated with more cer- 
 tainty, and easily applicable, with the most cor- 
 rect exactness, to the execution of any measure 
 which the abilities of a great and consummate 
 general may have contrived, have rendered the 
 operations and success of an army in a great 
 pleasure reducible to certain principles, so that 
 science may, without its becoming a matter of 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON'. 95 
 
 wonder, be the arbiter of contest. In naval 
 encounters the case was ever considered as 
 widely different. To contend against an enemy 
 so manifestly superior, would have been con- 
 sidered, in the general acceptation of the worlds 
 an act of the most unpardonable rashness, if 
 not of madness itself. It was the lot of Lord 
 Nelson to prove to that world, that such an 
 opinion was erroneous; that the duties of a 
 naval commander consisted not merely in rang- 
 ing his fleet in a regular line, or even in placing 
 his ship on the bow or quarter of his antagonist; 
 that the cold system of regular tactics, till then 
 almost in invariable use, and from which it was 
 considered a crime of the highest magnitude, 
 even for a moment, to depart, was an insult to 
 the understanding t>f naval commanders, by im* 
 puting to them a want of ability to contrive, or 
 ' a power to execute measures similar to those, 
 which, when applied to military operations, had 
 frequently conferred victory on the weak. 
 
 It will not, however, be improper to remark 
 in this place, what infinitely superior energies 
 are indispensably required in the mind of a 
 naval commander beyond those of the man 
 who may be placed at the head of the most 
 extensive armies. The general, surrounded by 
 the ablest men he can select, aided by the com- 
 pletest informatioti as to every particular, that 
 can stren|;then his mind or^assist his judgment. 
 
94 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 forms those plans, coolly and deliberately, he 
 arranges all his different combinations of attack, 
 which he may, without trusting much to the 
 doctrine of chances, depend on being successful. 
 Attended by his aid-de-camps, he takes his 
 station on the spot most convenient to his pur-^ 
 pose, and the operations of his army are con- 
 ducted as it were by deck work, according to 
 the will of him, who becomes the moving 
 power. Suppose him at the worst foiled in any, or 
 even the major part of his projects, the scientific 
 resources of his mind will allow him to repair 
 misfortune, remedy disaster, and prevent de- 
 feat. His mind, in great measure abstracted 
 from the bustle of the neighbouring scene, is 
 left at full liberty to display the natural scope 
 of his abilities. With an admiral, or naval 
 commander, the case is widely different 3 all his 
 measures may be disconcerted in an instant. It 
 was considered, till Lord Nelson first proved 
 the opinion erroneous, impossiblevto lay down 
 any established form of battle, inasmuch as it 
 must depend on events and circumstances, 
 which were not within the controul of man. 
 A change of the vtind, even in a trivial degree, 
 or a few chance shot, fortunately destructive in 
 their< effect, might, it was found, render inef- 
 fectual the best concerted plans. Every single 
 ship was to be considered as a battalion which 
 might be disabled or annihilated in an instant. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 95 
 
 and at the very moment toovvhen her co-operation 
 was most necessary. On that accoutit, perhaps, 
 it was considered nugatory to propose the adop- 
 tion of any system, deviating in the smallest de- 
 gree from the simplest practice, because it never 
 might be in the power of the most able com- 
 mander to carry such system into proper effect. 
 To overcome this prejudice required an exertion, 
 which none but the greatest minds were capa- 
 ble of carrying into actual practice. It had, on 
 some occasions, been partially attempted to 
 have been removed; but it remained for the 
 genius of Commodore Nelson to dispel, like the 
 meridian sun, the cloud which had so long ob- 
 scured the be^t energies of nautical know- 
 ledge*. 
 
 What praise, what admiration, can be con- 
 sidered too romantic to be bestowed on the 
 man, who, surrounded by that terrific confusion 
 
 * The personal exertions of Commodore Nelson on this oc- 
 casion, must raise him, on account of the peculiar circumstances 
 that attended them, higlier than perhaps any man, either 
 nautical, or military, who ever preceded him in the line of tlie 
 most active ser\'ice. To act, and to think, are two very dif- 
 ferent qualities of the human mind, and, generally speaking, 
 destroy each other ; but in tiiis noble person we find them 
 most happily blended, and exhiUted in the most brilliant 
 colours, so that we scarcely know which most to admire, the 
 activity of his mind, which caused him to make the attempt, 
 or the very great personal gallantry which he displayed in the 
 prosecution of it. 
 
gS MEMOIRS OF 
 
 invariably attendant on naval contests, can in 
 one instant contrive, and on the next moment 
 execute a measure that the host of his anta- 
 gonists, a circumstance which future ages might 
 almost deem fabulous, v^ere unable to baffle, or 
 extricate themselves from the effects of. In fine, 
 the conception w^as great, the execution noble, 
 and the event glorious. 
 
 In the volume of the Naval Chronicle, which 
 we have before quoted, are inserted several ex- 
 tracts from letters written by his lordship ; they 
 convey too forcible a trait of his character, to 
 warrant their omission. 
 
 *' Irresistible, off Lagos Bay, 
 " My dear Sir, March l6, 1797. 
 
 " Your letter of November 30th, by the Aurora, I only re- 
 ceived the beginning of this month, before I left Lisbon. 
 
 "I am here looking out for the Viceroy of Mexico, witli 
 three sail of the line, and hope to meet him. Two first- rates 
 and a seventy-four are with him; but the larger the ships the 
 better the mark. 
 
 " The Spanish fleet is in Cadiz ; the officers hooted and 
 pelted by the mobility. Their first report was, the action hap- 
 pening in a foggy day, when the fog cleared up they only- 
 saw fifteen sail of the line, therefore concluded at least five of 
 ours were sunk in the action. My usual good fortune attended 
 me, which I know will give you, amongst my other friends, 
 satisfaction. Believe me, 
 
 '• Your most faithful humble servant, 
 
 *' Horatio Nelson." 
 
 '' Captain, off Cadiz, April 10, 1797. 
 *' My dear Sir, 
 *' Many thanks for your mo.'^t kind congratulations on our 
 
LORD VISCaUNT iJKLSON. 97 
 
 late success; but I hope soon the good people of England 
 will have sometlung else to talk about, more recent victories j 
 for if our ships are but carried close enougli by the officers, I 
 will answer for a British fleet being always successful. 
 
 " The Spaniards threaten us they will come out and take 
 their revenge ; the sooner the better: but 1 will not beheve it 
 till I see it; and if they do, what will the mines of Mexico and 
 Peru signify, compared with the honour I doubt not we slrall 
 gain by fighting any angry Don. Thty -will have thirty sail 
 of the line ; we twenty ^ or ttventy-two ; but I fear we shall have 
 a peace before they are ready to come out. 
 "Believe me, dear sir, 
 
 *' Your much obliged 
 
 " Horatio Nelson." 
 
 *' My dear Sir, *' Theseus, June 1st, 1797. 
 
 " We are off Cadiz, with a greater inferiority than before. 
 I am barely out of shot of a Spanish rear-admiral. Wc have 
 every day flags of truce. The Dons hope for peace, but must 
 soon fight us if the war goes on. I wish it all Over, for I can- 
 not fag much longer. 
 
 *' Beheve me, my dear sir, 
 
 *' Your obliged and faithful friend, 
 
 *' Horatio Nelson, 
 
 " P. S. Samuel Hood is gone I hope to get riches^ — sure to 
 get honour." 
 
 It has been frequently remarked, that epis- 
 tolary correspondence, particularly that which 
 is of a private nature, is the best criterion by 
 which we can judge of the undisguised sen- 
 timents of a man, and the most certain index of 
 the natural bent of his mind. To the preceding 
 letters, a myriad equally interesting, might be 
 added, provided any additional proof of the 
 spirit and genuine habits of thinking possessed 
 by the noble writer were wanting. They are 
 inserted without the slightest alteration \ those 
 
$S MSMOIRS OF 
 
 parts only being omitted which, for different 
 reasons, principally because they relate to pri- 
 vate concerns, would be consequently unin- 
 teresting to the public. 
 
 Sir Horatio having been promoted, very soon 
 after the brilliant transactions last mentioned, to' 
 the rank of rear-admiralof theblue,was dispatch- 
 ed in the month of April, 1797, to bring off the 
 garrison of Porto Ferrajio, and on his return 
 to the fleet, from that service, having shifted his 
 ffag from the Captain to the Theseus, on the 
 iyth of May, he was appointed by the Earl of 
 S.t. Vincent to command a detachment of the 
 fleet which was employed in the immediate 
 blockade of Cadiz harbour. This was a service 
 which required the most consummate ability, 
 added to the highest personal intrepidity -, nor is 
 it possible, perhaps, without meaning to detract 
 in the smallest instance from the character of 
 other men, to have found any- person more 
 strongly enaowed with both these qualities. 
 
 . For the purpose of confining the enemy te 
 their port as closely as possible, it was a prac- 
 tice to send every night, from each ship, one 
 or two boats manned and armed, into the 
 very.raauth of the harbour; these w^ere sup- 
 px)rted by some gun-boats purposely fitted for 
 the: occasion, which, on their part, depending 
 for protection, in case of attack, from the in- 
 terior line of ships which were posted under the 
 orders of Sir Horatio, the system of blockade be- 
 came complete, and the impediment raised against 
 \ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 99 
 
 the clandestine escape of any vessel, might be pro- 
 nounced inipenetrable. 
 
 lii order to cause a strict attention throughout 
 all the inferior branches of the service, the rear- 
 admiral was accustomed to rov/ through the boats, 
 after they had been posted for the night. Thus were 
 both officers, as well as the men, kept constantly 
 alert, and in immediate readiness to repel any sud- 
 den attack that might be made on them, fronl the 
 port itself. The Spaniards had, on their part, as a 
 necessary defensive precaution, equipped a num- 
 ber of gun-boats and large launches, in which 
 they also paraded and rowed guard, for the pur- 
 jpose of preventhig the blockaders from making 
 so near an approach, as they otherwise perhaps 
 might have attempted, even to such an extent, as 
 might have endangered the safety of the Spanish 
 fleet itself. The consequence of these mutual 
 jpreparations was, that a variety of immaterial skir- 
 mishes took place betvveen the two flotillas, all which 
 might most probablyj even at this time, have been 
 little rememl}ei:ed, had it not been for an encoun- 
 ter, in which both the Spanish commander of the 
 gun-boats, Don Miguel Tyrason, and Sir Horatio, 
 were personally engaged. The former being in a 
 galley, which rowed with twenty-six oars, and 
 manned with a chosen crew piroportionably 
 numerous, for it consisted of thirty men, in- 
 cluding officers, had the fortune to encounter the 
 latter, who was in his own barge, with i\o 
 more than its usual complement of ten men, 
 and the coxswain j Captain Freemantle accompa- 
 
lOO MEMOIRS OF 
 
 nying Sir Horatio as a volunteer. His own Inhe- 
 rent courage appeared to have even exceeded his 
 former display of greatness ; and the event of 
 which we are treating, rises as* another proof how 
 absolutely necessary it is for a naval commander, 
 to possess the most exalted personal prowess, as 
 well as the most consummate abilities of the 
 mind. The Spaniard, confiding in his superior num* 
 bers, shrunk not from the contest ; and the crews 
 of both vessels, headed, by their respective com- 
 manders, fought for a considerable time hand to 
 hand. John Sykes, his coxswain, whom the rear- 
 admiral so gratefully and affectionately distinguish- 
 ed in his short account of the action of the 14th of 
 February, was wounded in the act of defend- 
 ing his person ; and is reported to have actually 
 preserved his truly valuable life in two different in- 
 stances, by parrying several furious strokes that 
 were aimed at him, and mortally wounding the 
 assailants. Thus was the person of Sir Horatio, 'j 
 though repeatedly in the most imminent danger, 
 preserved under Providence by his own gallantry, 
 aided by that of the brave, and generous fellows 
 whom he" commanded : the conquest of the enemy ^ 
 was at length effected, and the proud superiority 
 of Englishmen, was never perhaps displayed in 
 more glowing colours. The Spaniards fought with 
 a fury bordering almost on- desperation ; nor did 
 resistance cease, until eighteen of them werq 
 killed, and all that remained, including the Spanish 
 commander himself, severely wounded. The eulo* 
 <,aum bestowed on his conduct on this occasion by 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSOJT. lOI 
 
 the Earl St. Vincent, his commander In chief, 
 was simple and appropriate. " The rear-admiral,'* 
 says his lordship, " who is always present in the 
 most arduous enterprizes, with the assistance of 
 some other barges, boarded and carried two of 
 the enemy's gun-boats, and a large launch be- 
 longing to one of their ships of war, with the 
 commandant of the flotilla. Rear-Admiral Nel- 
 sons actions speak for themselves ; any pymse of 
 mine would fall very short of his meriL'' 
 
 The encounter last mentioned took place on the 
 3d of July, and in two nights afterwards, a repe- 
 tition of the attack was made in a more tremen- 
 dous form, under the direction of Sir Horatio, on 
 the city of Cadiz itself, and the shipping in the 
 harbour. The bomb-vessels ranged under his di- 
 rection took their proper stations, and began their 
 truly terrific warfare. The town itself, together with 
 the shipping, received considerable damage ; and, as 
 is customary in all attacks of that desultory, though 
 dreadful nature, the vessels having expended tlieir 
 allotted portion of shells, retired with the conso- 
 lation of having materially annoyed the warlike pre- 
 parations of the enemy, without having themselves 
 sustained either injury, or inconvenience. 
 
 In a few days after these skirmishes, which derived 
 the most deserved celebrity, from the circumstances 
 which attended them, Sir Horatio was detached with 
 three ships of the line, the Theseus, the Culloden, 
 and the Zealous ; the Leander of fifty guns, with 
 the Terpsichore, the Emerald, the Sea-horse fri- 
 gates, and the Fox cutter^ having on board what 
 
i02 'MEMOiRS OF 
 
 was considered as a sufficient body of troops fo^ 
 the purpose, to make an attack on the town of 
 Szntz Cruz, the capital of the isle of TenerifFe. 
 The most prudent, and at the same time the most 
 spirited measures, were immediately adopted with 
 regard to the attack ; the boats of the squadron 
 were manned, and the troops put on shore. Not- 
 withstanding the darkness of the night, and the 
 considerable swell . even on the shore, the landing 
 was effected in good order j so that if ability joined 
 to gallantry could have commanded success, it 
 would certainly have attended, in its fullest extent^ 
 this enterprise. It proved, however, to have been 
 undertaken in consequence of a very erroneous 
 representation of the force, in which the enemy 
 were ; and was rendered abortive merely by the 
 great disparity in point of numbers, which existed 
 between the assailants, and the defenders. Thus 
 circi|mstanced, the British troops, after having 
 been for the space of seven hours in possession of 
 the town of Santa Cruz, finding it impossible tq 
 make themselves masters of the citadel, began to 
 retreat. The Spaniards, rejoiced at being freed from 
 invaders, whose courage, inferior as they were in 
 numbers, to themselves, appeared still dreadful, and 
 were glad to consent they should retire unmolest- 
 ed, rather than drive them to despair*. Thi43 
 ended an expedition, which might be deemed 
 
 ■* In that excellent publication, the Naval Chronicle, to 
 \yhich we have before alluded, and to which we find our- 
 selves infinitely indebted for n^any interesting particulars, th« 
 annexe4 are ^iyen, tn the account of this attack;, and its c jji- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. lOj 
 
 a fatal one to Britain, having cost her the lives of 
 nearly two hundred brave officers and seamen, killed 
 
 sequences. The rear-admiral, on his arrival before the town, 
 lost no time in directing a thousand men, including marines, 
 to be prepared for landing from the ships, under the direction 
 of the brave Captain Troubridge, since created, for his dis- 
 tinguished services, a baronet, of his Majesty's ship the Cul* 
 loden, and Captains Hood, Thompson, Freemantle, Bowen, 
 Miller, and Waller, who very handsomely volunteered their 
 siervices. The boats of the squadron were accordingly 
 manned, and the landing was effected in the course of a dark 
 night. The party were in full possession of the town o( 
 Santa Cruz for about seven hours. Finding it impracticable 
 to storm the citadel, they prepared for their retreat 3 which 
 the Spaniards allowed them to do unmolested, agreeable to 
 the stipulations made with Captain Troubridge. Although 
 this enterprise did not succeed, his majesty's arms acquired 
 by the attempt a great degree of lustre 3 and, as the rear- 
 admiral himself handsomely expresses it in his letter to Earl 
 St. Vincent, *' more daring intrepidity never was shewn than 
 by the captains, officers, and men he had the honour to com- 
 mand." Sir Horatio Nelson in this attack lost his right arm 
 by a cannon shot -, the same night it was rmputated on board 
 the Theseus, when he immediately began liis official letter, 
 and finished it by eleven. No less than two hundred and 
 forty- six gallant officers, marines, and seamen, were killed, 
 wounded, and drowned. 
 
 The life of Sir Horatio Nelson was providentially saved 
 by Lieutenant Nesbit, his son-in-law, on this disastrous night. 
 I'he admiral received his wound soon after the detachment had 
 landed 3 and while they were pressing on with the usual ar- 
 dour of British seamen, the shock caused him to fall to the. 
 ground, where for some minutes he was left to himself, until 
 Mr. Nesbit, missing him, had the presence of mind to return; 
 ■\^-hen, after some search in the dark, he at length found his 
 brave father-in-law weltering in his blood on the ground, 
 with his arm shattered, and himself apparently lifeless. J^ieu^ 
 
I<?4 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 or drowned, many grievously wounded. Among the 
 latter was the Rear-Admiral himself, who had the 
 misfortune to lose his right arm by a cannon shot. 
 He was carried on board the Theseus, where ampu- 
 tation was immediately performed. In the very great 
 hurry and confusion, which unavoidably prevailed 
 at the time of the operation, some mistake* was made 
 in taking up one of the arteries, in consequence of 
 which the Admiral suffered the most excruciating 
 torture for several months. He returned to Eng- 
 land in a frigate, for the necessary recovery of his 
 health, immediately after the failure of the expe- 
 dition, and was, as a natural consequence, re- 
 tenant Nesbit, having inamediately applied his neck handker- 
 chief as a tournequet to the admiral's arm, carried him on his 
 back to the beach, where, with the assistance of some sailors, 
 he conveyed him into one of the boats, and put off to the 
 Theseus, under a tremendous, though ill -directed, fire from 
 the enemy's battery The next day, after the rear-admiral 
 had lo.t his arm, he wrote to Lady Nelson, and in narrating 
 the foregoing transaction, says, *' I know it will add much to 
 your pleasure, in finding that your son Josiah, under God's pro- 
 vidence, was instrumental in saving my life." 
 
 It was the IvSth of December before the surgeons, who 
 attended him, pronounced him fit for service. Oh Sir Ho- 
 ratio Nelson's first appearance at court, his sovereign received 
 him in the most gracious and tender manner ; and when, with 
 deep sensibility of condolence, the King expressed his sorrow 
 at the loss the noble admiral had sustained, and at his impaired 
 .state of health, which might deprive the country of his future 
 services. Sir Horatio replied with dignifed emphasis, ^^May 
 it please your Majesty, I can never think that a loss which 
 the performance of my duty has occasioned ; and so long as I 
 hive a foot to stand on I will combat for my King and 
 country." 
 
I 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. IQ^ 
 
 iceived by all ranks of people with the most con* 
 soling regard and attention. In the month of 
 October, a pension of one thousand pounds a year 
 was grantt d hiai, as a recompence for the serious 
 injury he had so lately experienced ;' but, as has 
 been elsewhere, justlv, remarked, it was considered 
 but a trivial remuneration for a life passed in one, 
 almost uninterrupted, scene of danger, hardship, 
 enterprize, and service.* 
 
 The moment his health was so far restored as 
 
 * II being tlie customary etiquette, that, before the issue of 
 the grant conferring the pension, the person on whom it is in- 
 tended to be bestowed shall present a memorial to the sove- 
 reign, stating the grounds on which such pension is appHed 
 for ; the following was given in by Sir Horatio, and is, with 
 t>ie greatest propriety, inserted here, as giving a brief account 
 of the different services in which he had been engaged, pre- 
 vious to tliat time. 
 
 To the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 
 The Memorial of Sir Horatio Nelson, K. B. and a Rear-Ad- 
 miral in your Majesty's Fleet. 
 That, during the present war, your memorialist has been 
 in four actions with the fleets of the enemy, viz. on the 13th 
 and 14th of March, 17P5; on the 13th of July, 1795, and on 
 the 14th of February, 1797 ; in three actions in boats, employ- 
 ed in cutting out of harbours, in destroying vessels, Hnd in 
 taking three towns. Your luemoricilist has also sei-ved on 
 shore, with the army, four months, and commanded the bat- 
 teries at the sieges of Bastia and Calvi: That during the war 
 he has assisted at the capture of seven sail of the line, , six 
 frigates, four corvettes, and eleven privateers of different sizes, 
 ami taken and destroyed near fifty sail of merchant vessels ; 
 and your memorialist has actually been engaged against the 
 enemy upwards of one hundred and txventy times, in which ser- 
 vice your memorialist has lost his right eye and arm, and been 
 
|o6 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 to render him capable of undertaking a command, 
 he was ordered to re-hoist his flag, and proceed 
 again to the Mediterranean. This he did on the 
 ic)th of December, on board the Vanguard. Some 
 weeks necessarily elapsed before that ship was 
 properly equipped for the voyage; and the sub- 
 sequent delays, occasioned by contrary v/inds, and 
 the convoy which he had under his charge, caused 
 it to be the 29th of April before he was able to 
 join the Earl St. Vincent, the commander in 
 chief off Cadiz. On the very day ensuing, he wai 
 detached with three ships of the line, two frigates, 
 and a sloop of war, to watch the motions of a 
 very formidable French armament, in the equip- 
 ment of vv^hich the greatest exertions had been 
 made, as the last, and mere gasping hopes of a 
 desperate cause. 
 
 It has been frequently urged, that the British 
 nation owes the highest obligation to the noble 
 Earl, on the mere account of appointing his 
 lordship to this command. The fact no one 
 will venture to dispute; but the generality of 
 people do not seem perfectly aware of the extsiit 
 of that honour, v/hich they owe him on the occa- 
 sion in question. Grieving for the depravity of 
 human nature, we cannot but lament that gratitude 
 is among the least prevalent of human affections. 
 
 severely wounded and bruised in his body ; all of nljicli ser- 
 vices and wounds your memorialist most humbly subniits to 
 your majesty's most gracious consideration. 
 
 Oct. 17.9?. (Signed) NKLst):^. 
 
LOUD VISCOUNT KELSON. ICJ 
 
 His lordship cpnvinced the world the lofty §en- 
 fiments of his mmd were superior to 7:s baseness 
 and degeneracy. His duty, as cominander in chief^ 
 peremptorily required him to make choice, on 
 every exigency of service, of those men, whom he 
 thought most fit to execute it. The rigid rules of the 
 service opposed, however, such a choice, and to no 
 other cause can we impute his deviation from those 
 rules, save that of gratitude : gratitude for having 
 been the humble means of gaining a victory, on ac- 
 count of which his lordship wore the laurels. 
 
 The annals of history furnish no example equally 
 grand in its detail^ and its conclusion. If we 
 should not incur in these enlightened days the 
 charge of superstition on the occasion, we should 
 say, on reviewing the detail of his voyage, thai 
 the noble admiral appeared commissioned by some 
 superior agency, to effect the destruction of an ar- 
 mament which had threatened the most ruinous 
 consequences to his country. The cause of our 
 admiration we must confess is not new ; we know 
 not which most to admire, the ability of his mind, 
 or the gallantry of his personal behaviour. Facts 
 speak for themselves, and the subjoined narrative 
 of the leading transactions of the voyage, carefully 
 drawn up by a very eminent literary character, 
 from the minutes of an officer, who held a very 
 high and pre-eminent station in the squadron, 
 may, notwithstanding its having been already pre- 
 sented to public view, very properly supply the 
 place of any garbled detail that could be formed 
 on the occasion* 
 
I©8 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 The disappointments and difficulties his lordship 
 had to encounter previous to his obtaining authen- 
 tic information that the fleet of the enemy had 
 shaped its course towards Egypt, are thus related. 
 
 Sir Horafio Nelson had been detached by Earl St. Vmcent, 
 into the Mediterranean, with the Vanguard of seventy-four 
 guns, the rear-admiral's flag-ship, the Orion and Alexander, 
 of seventy-four guns each, the Emerald and Terpsichore fri- 
 gates, and La Bonne Citoyenne sloop of war. The squadron 
 sailed from Gibraltar on the 9th of May, but experienced 
 nothing material till the 22d ; when, being in the Gulf of 
 Lyons, at two A. M. a most violent squall of wind took the 
 Vanguard, which carried away her top-masts, and at last her 
 fore-mast. The other ships experienced the fury of the gale, 
 but not in the same degrep astlie Vanguard, a greater propor- 
 tion of the storm having fpilen on that ship. The three line of 
 battle ships lost sight of the frigates on the same day, and at 
 the moment of the misfortune which befel the Vanguard, the 
 British squadron was not many leagues distant from the French 
 fleet, under Buonaparte, which had on that very day set sail 
 from Toulon. 
 
 The squadron bore up for Sardinia, the Alexander takhig 
 thf Vanguard in tow, and the Orion looking out a-liead to en- 
 deavour to get a pilot, for the purpose of gaining St. Pierre's 
 road. On the 24th they reached that anchorage, where they 
 were in hopes of meeting with a friendly reception, which their 
 distresses seemed to demand from a neutral power: the go- 
 vernor of St. Pierre, however, had orders from the French not 
 to admit any British ship; but their utmost hostility could not 
 prevent the admiral from anchoring in the road. The re- 
 sources which British seamfen' always have among themselves, 
 availed them much upon this occasion. Captain Berry, with 
 the very able assistance he received from Sir .lanu^s Saumarcx 
 and Captain Bail, was enabled to equip t;ie \'c!!i!;juar;{ with a 
 jury foremast, jury main and mizzen topmasts, and to fish the 
 bowsj>rit, which was sprung in many places, and on the fourth 
 day from then* anchoring in St. Pierre's road, they again put to 
 
I „,..„...„ ... 
 
 ^Hvpa, with top-gallant yards across. It is, however, proper to 
 ^Bobserve, that although tlie governor of St. Pierre, in conse- 
 ^B^iieucc of peremptory orders from tlie French, denied the 
 ^* squadron a public reception, yet he privately acted in a friendly 
 manner, giving it in an underhand way every assistance in Iiis 
 power. 
 
 The admiral, eager to execute the orders which he had re- 
 ceived, did not think of sailing to Naples or any other port, 
 wiiere he could have received the most open and friendly as- 
 sistance in getthig the ship properly refitted, which her con- 
 dition evidently required, but immediately steered for his ap- 
 pointed rendezvous, nor did he ever express the smallest in- 
 tention of shifting his flag to either of the other ships, which to 
 many oflicers the peculiar circumstance of his own might have 
 seemed to have rendered desirable. The admiral, and 
 officers of the Vanguard, indeed, had the happiness to find, 
 tliat the ship sailed and w orked as w ell as the other ships, 
 notwithstanding her apparently crippled condition. The squa- 
 dron reac^ied the rendezvous on the ^th of June, and on the 
 following day was joined by La Mutine, Captain Hardy, who 
 '.vas charged with orders to the admiral, and who brought the 
 idghly acceptable intelligence, that Captain Troubridge had 
 been detached with ten sail of the line, and a fifty-gun ship, 
 to reinforce him. The knowledge of this, diffused universal 
 joy throughout the little squadron, and the admiral observed 
 to Captain Berry, that he should then be a match for any ho- 
 stile fleet in the Mediterranean, and his only desire would be to 
 encounter one. 
 
 On the 6th of June the squadron w^as spread, anxiously look- 
 ing out for the expected reinforcement. By a vessel spoke 
 with that day, they were informed, that several sail then in 
 sight were Spanish ships, richly laden : but prize-money was 
 not the object of the admiral; all selfish consideration was 
 absorbed in his great mind, by that of the honour and interests 
 of his country, and his attention and anxiety were solely en- 
 grossed by his desire to meet his promised reinforcement, that 
 he might pursue the enemy, of the sailing of whom from Tou- 
 lon he had certain iatelligence. The Alexander, being on the 
 
1 tp ?.!EM01R5 CF 
 
 lf)nk-out, sto\->|U'd ^le of tliese sliips; bn^ findm(^ slie had art 
 board cicbtv or ninety priesls, driven by tlie French persecu- 
 tions and cruelties from Rome, he thought it would be an act 
 of humanity to pcmit the ship to pursue her voyasre; and 
 !te accordin.irly rt^leased her, and rejoined tlie admiral, brins^- 
 !ng with Iiiin a few vtrlunteers from tlie Spanisli vessel, chiefly 
 Genoese, who were desirous of the Honour of serving in the 
 Briti-jh fieet; ^'xprcssing at the saine time their detestation and 
 resentment at tlie ill usage which they had experienced from 
 the French. 
 
 On the 8th at noon they had tL*e happiness to discover from 
 t?ie mast-head ten sail, and it was not long before they weie 
 recognized to be British siiips of war standing upon a wind in 
 elose line of battle, \^ ith all sviils S4^t. Private signals were ex- 
 changed ; and before sun-set the so much widied-for junctioii 
 was formed — an event that was much facilitated by the great 
 professional ability, judgment, and zeal of Captain Troubridge. 
 The admiral had received no instructions what course he wa* 
 now to steer, nor any certain infonnation respecting the disti^ 
 nation of the enemy's fleet : lie was left therefore entirely to 
 his own judgment. He had the liappiness however to fmd 
 that to the captaius of his squadron, he had no necessity to' 
 give directions for being in constant readioess for batlle. On 
 this point their zeal anticipated his utmost wislies ; for the 
 decks of all the shij>s were perfectly clear night and day, and 
 every man was ready to start to' his post at a moment's notice. 
 it was a gcat satisfactiOii to him likewise, to perceive that thc^ 
 men of all tl\Q ships were daily exercised at the great gons andf 
 small arms, and that every tiring v^as in the best state of pre- 
 paration for actiral service. The admiral knew that the ene- 
 my l)ad sailed with a N. W. wind, which nattually led him td, 
 conclude that their course was up the Mediterranean. He 
 sent the La Mutine to Civita Vecchia, and aiojig the Jloman 
 coast, to gain intelligenct^, and steered with the ileet for 
 Corsica, which he reached on the I'Jtii of June. Several ves- 
 sels had been spoken v^ith on their j.assnge thirher ; but no in- 
 telligence whatever had been obtained from them. He, con- 
 tinued his course on the iOth between Corsica und Ftba, and 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. Ili 
 
 between Planosa and Elba, through the latter of which pas- 
 sages large shipSj or fleets had not been accustomed to pass. 
 They made the Roman coast, and were rejoined by La Ivlu- 
 tine, without gaining any intelligence, notwitlistanding the ac- 
 tive exertions of Captain Hardy. The admiral now deter- 
 mined to steer towards Naples, in the hope of some satisfac- 
 tory information. It had been reported that the plundeiini; 
 of Algiers was the object of the French armament ; but tljis 
 account w^as too vague to warrant the admiral in implicitly 
 adopting it. They saw Mount Vesuvius on the l6tli, and de- 
 tached Captain Troubridge in the La Mutine to obtahi what 
 information he could from Sir William Hamilton. He return- 
 witli a report only, that the enemy were gone towards Malta. 
 The admiral now lamented that even a day had been lost by 
 visiting the Bay of Naples, and determined by the shortest cut 
 to make the Faro idi Messina, which the fleet passed through 
 on the 20th, with a fair wind. The joy with which the Sici- 
 lians hailed our squadron, when it was discovered by them to 
 be British, gave the most sincere satisfaction to every one on 
 board of it. A vast number of boats came off, and rowed 
 round it with the loudest congratulations, and the sincerest 
 exultation, as they had been apprehensive that the French 
 fleet was destined to act against them after the capture of 
 Malta. Here intelligence was gained from the British consul, 
 that Malta had actually surrendered. The admiral had now 
 hopes of being able to attack the enemy's fleet at Goza, where 
 it was reported they were anchored, and he immediately form- 
 ed a plan for that purpose. 
 
 The fleet now steered w ith a press of sail for Malta, with a 
 fresh breeze at N. W. On the 22d of June, La Mutine, at 
 day-break in the morning, spoke a Genoese brig from Malta, 
 which gave intelligence that the French had sailed from thence 
 on the 18th, with a fresh gale at N.W. The admiral was not 
 long in determining what course he should take, and made the 
 signal to bear up, and steer to the S. E. with all possible sail. 
 At this time they had no certain means of ascertaining^ that the 
 enemy were not bound up the Adriatic. From the day they 
 bore up, till the 29th of June, only three vessels were spoken 
 
il2 MEMOIRS O? 
 
 t^ith, hvo of which had come from Alexandria, and had not 
 seen any thing of the enemy's fleet ; the other had come from 
 the Archipelago, and had hkewise seen nothing of them. This 
 day the Pharos tower of Alexandria was seen, and the fleet 
 continued wearing the land with a press of sail, till the whole 
 of it had a distinct view of both harbours, and to the general 
 surprise and disappointment of ail, not a French ship was to be 
 seen in either. The La Mutine communicated with the go- 
 vernor of Alexandria who was as much siu'prised at seeing a 
 British squadron there, as he w^as at the intelligence that the 
 French fleet was probably on its passage thither. 
 
 It now became the subject of deep and anxious deliberation 
 with the admiral, what could possibly have been the course of 
 the enemy, and what their ultimate destination. His anxious 
 and active mind, however, would not permit him to rest a 
 moment in the same place; he therefore shaped his course to 
 the northward for the coast of Caramania, in order to reach 
 as quickly as possible some quarter where mformation could 
 most probably be obtained, as well as to supply his ships with 
 water, of which they began to run short* On the 4th of July 
 he made that coast, steeruig along the south side of Candia, 
 and carrying a press of sail both night and day with a con- 
 trary wdnd, he came on the 18th in sight of the island of Si- 
 cily, and determined to enter the port of Syracuse. With 
 this harbour no person in the fleet was acquainted ; but by 
 the skill and judgment of the ofticers, every ship got safely in, 
 and immediately proceeded to get in water and other neces- 
 saries, witli all possible expedition. This was the first oppor- 
 tunity that the Vanguard had of receiving water . on board 
 from the 9th of May; so that not only the stock of that ship, 
 but of sevjjral others of the squadron, was very nearly exhaust- 
 ed. Although there was no proper or regular water-place, 
 yet the great exertions of the officers and men enabled them 
 to complete this necessary service in five days; and on the 
 i?5th, the whole squadron were in a condition to put to sea, 
 which they accordingly did with the greatest promptitude. 
 
 While at Syracuse, they received several 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 113 
 
 vague accounts that the enemy's fleet had not 
 been seen in the Archipelago, nor the Adriatic, 
 neither had they gone down the Mediterranean. 
 The conclusion then seemed to be, that the coast 
 of Egypt was still the object of their destination ; 
 therefore, neither the former disappointments, nor 
 the many hardships they had endured from the 
 heat of the climate, though still about to follow an 
 uncertain pursuit, could deter the admiral from 
 steering to that point where there was the smallest 
 prospect of finding the enemy. Now that it is as- 
 certained by events, that Alexandria was the object 
 of the enemy, it may appear strange that they 
 should have been missed by the English squadron, 
 both in its passage thither, and on its return to 
 Syracuse j but it appears that the French steered 
 a direct course for Candia, by which they made 
 an angular passage towards Alexandria, whilst the 
 British Admiral steered a direct course for the lat- 
 ter place, without making the former at all, by 
 which the distance was of course very consider- 
 ably shortened. The smallness of his squadron 
 made it necessary to sail in close order, and there- 
 fore the space which it covered was very limited ; 
 and as the admiral had no frigates that he could 
 have detached upon the look out, added to the 
 haze of the atmosphere in that climate, the chance 
 of descrying the enemy was very much circum- 
 scribed. The distance likewise between Candia 
 and the Barbary coast, about thirty-^five leagues, 
 
 I 
 
114 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 leaves very sufficient space for more than two of 
 the largest fleets to pass without mutual observa- 
 tion, particularly under the circumstances just de-^ 
 scribed. On the return of the squadron to Syra- 
 cuse, the circumstance of its having steered up to 
 the northward, while the enemy kept a southern 
 coast for Alexandria, makes it obvious that the 
 chance of the admiral's falling in with them, was 
 still less than before. It has been already observed 
 that on the 25th of July the English squadron left 
 Syracuse, still without any positive information 
 respecting the enemy ; but it occurred to the ad- 
 miral, that some authentic intelligence might be 
 obtained in the Morea. He steered therefore for 
 that coast, and made the gulph of Coron on the 
 '28th. Captain Troubridge was again employed on 
 the important service of obtaining intelligence, 
 and was dispatched in the Culloden into Coron, 
 off which place, by the great exertions of that 
 able officer, the fleet was not detained above 
 three hours. He returned with the information 
 from the Turkish governor, that the enemy had 
 been seen steering to the south east, from Candia 
 about four weeks before. Captain Troubridge had 
 also the satisfaction of observing, during his very 
 hurried visit at Coron, that the inhabitants there 
 entertained the most serious apprehensions froni 
 the French armament, and the most perfect detes- 
 tation against that people. 
 ' *' Upon the information obtained by Captain 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^ 113 
 
 Troubridgc, the admiral determined again to visit 
 Alexandria, and carried ail sail, steering for that 
 place, which he had the pleasure to descry on " 
 the 1st of August, at noon ; but not as before, it 
 now appearing full of vessels of various kinds, and 
 he had soon the satisfaction of perceiving the 
 French flag flying on board some of the ships. 
 The utmost joy seemed to animate every breast on 
 board the squadron, at sight of the enemy ; and 
 the pleasure which the admiral himself felt, was, 
 perhaps, more heightened than that of any other 
 man, as he had now a certainty by which he could 
 regulate his future operations. 
 
 " The admiral had, and it appeared most justly, 
 the highest opinion of, and placed the firmest reli- 
 ance on the valour and conduct of every captain in 
 his squadron. It w^as his practice during the 
 whole of his cruise, whenever the weather and cir- 
 cumstances would permit, to have his captains on 
 board the Vanguard, where he would fully dev^- 
 lope to them his own ideas of the different, and 
 best modes of attack, and such plans as he pro- ' 
 posed to execute upon falling in with the enemy, 
 whatever their position, or situation might be, by 
 night, or by day. There was no possible position 
 in which they could be found, that he did not 
 take into his calculation, and for the most advan- 
 tageous attack of which ^ he had not digested and 
 arranged the best possible disposition of the force 
 which he commanded ; with the masterly ideas of 
 
 I 2 
 
llO MEMOIRS OF 
 
 their admiral, therefore, on the subject of naval 
 tactics, every one of the captains of his squadron 
 was most thoroughly acquainted ; and upon sur- 
 veying the situation of the enemy, they could as- 
 certain with precision, what were the ideas and 
 intention of their commander, without the aid of 
 any further instructions : by which means signals 
 became almost unnecessary, much time was saved, 
 and the attention of every captain, could almost 
 undistractedly be paid to the conduct of his own 
 particular ship, a circumstance from which, upon 
 this occasion, the advantages to the general ser- 
 vice were almost incalculable. It cannot here be 
 thought irrelevant, to give some idea of what were 
 the plans which Admiral Nelson bad formed, and 
 which he explained to his captains with such per- 
 spicuity, as to render bis ideas completely their 
 own. To the naval service, at least, they must 
 prove not only interesting, but useful. 
 
 '* Had be fallen in with the French fleet at sea, 
 that he might make the best impression upon any 
 part of it that should appear' the most vulnerable, 
 or the most eligible for the attack, he divided his 
 force into three sub-squadrons, namely. 
 
 Vanguard 
 
 Orion 
 
 Cullodcn 
 
 Minotaur 
 
 Goliah 
 
 Theseus 
 
 Leander 
 
 Majestic 
 
 Alexander 
 
 Aiidacious 
 
 Bellerophon. 
 
 Swiftsure, 
 
 Defence 
 
 
 
 Zealous. 
 
 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 117 
 
 Two of these sub- squadrons were to attack the 
 ships of war, while the third was to pursue the 
 transports, and to sink and destroy as many as it 
 could. 
 
 " The destination of the French armament was 
 involved in doubt and uncertainty ; but it forcibly 
 struck the admiral, that, as it was cominandcd by 
 the man whom the French had dignified with the 
 title ot Conqueror of Italy, and as he had with him 
 a very large body of troops, an expedition had 
 been planned, which the land force might execute 
 without the aid of their fleet, should the trans- 
 ports be permitted to make their escape, and reach 
 in safety their place of rendezvous ; it therefore 
 became a material consideration with the admiral, 
 so to arrange his force, as at once to engage the 
 whole attention of their ships of war, and at the 
 same time to annoy and injure their convoy. It 
 will be fully admitted from the subsequent infor- 
 mation which has been received upon the subject, 
 that the ideas of the admiral, upon this occasion, 
 were perfectly just, and that the plan which he had 
 arranged was the most likely to frustrate the de- 
 signs of the enemy. It is almost unnecessary to 
 explain his projected mode of attack at anchor, as 
 that w^as minutely and precisely executed in the 
 action which we now come to describe. These 
 plans, however, were formed two months before 
 an opportunity presented itself of executing any of 
 them, andjthe advantage now was, that they were 
 
118 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 familiar to the understanding of every captain In 
 the fleet. 
 
 " It has been already mentioned that the Pharos 
 of Alexandria was seen at noon, on the first of 
 August. The Alexander and Swiftsure had been 
 detached a-head, on the preceding evening, to re- 
 connoitre the ports of Alexandria, while the main 
 body of the squadron kept in the offing. The 
 enemy's fleet was first discovered by the Zealous, 
 Captain Hood^ who immediately communicated, 
 by signal, tlie number of ships, sixteen, lying at 
 anchor in a line of battle, in a bay, upon the lar- 
 board-bow, which was afterwards found to be 
 Aboukir bay. The admiral hauled his wind that 
 instant, a movement which was immediately ob- 
 served and followed by the whole squadron ; and 
 at the same time he recalled the Alexander and 
 Swiftsure. The wind was at this time N. N. W. 
 and blew what seamen call a topgallant-breeze ; it 
 was necessary to take in the royals to haul up on a 
 wind. The admiral made the signal to prepare for 
 battle, and that it was his intention to attack the 
 enemy's van and centre as they lay at anchor. 
 His idea, in this disposition of his force, w^as, first 
 to secure the victory, and then to make the most of 
 it as circumstances might permit. A lower cable 
 of each ship was- immediately got out abaft, and 
 bent forward. He continued carrying sail, and 
 standing in for the enemy's fleet in a close line of 
 battle. As all the officers of the squadron were 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. IIQ 
 
 totally unacquainted with Aboukir bay, each ship 
 kept sounding as she stood in. The enemy ap- 
 peared to be moored in a strong and compact 
 line of battle, close in with the shore, their line 
 describing an obtuse angle in its form, flanked 
 by numerous gun-boats, four frigates, and a bat- 
 tery of guns and mortars on an island in their van. 
 The situation of the enemy seemed to secure to 
 them the most decided advantages, as they had 
 nothing to attend to but their artillery, in their 
 superior skill in the use of which the French so 
 much pride themselves, and to which indeed their 
 splendid series of land victories is in general 
 chiefly to be imputed. 
 
 " The position of the enemy presented the most 
 formidable obstacles ; but the admiral viewed these 
 with the eye of a seaman determined on attack, 
 and it instantly struck his eager and penetrating 
 mind, that where there was roorafor an ^nemy^s ship 
 to swing y there was room for one of ours to anchor 
 I^o further signals were necessary than those which 
 bad already been made. The admiral's designs 
 were as fully known to his whole squadron, as 
 w^as his determination to conquer, or perish in the 
 attempt. The Goliah and Zealous had the honour 
 to lead inside, and to receive the first fire from the 
 van ships of the enemy, as well as from the batte- 
 ries and gun-boats with which their van was 
 strengthened; these two ships, with the Orion, 
 Audacious, and Theseus, took their stations inside 
 
120 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 the enemy's line, and were immediately in dose 
 action ; the Vanguard anchored the first On the 
 outer side of the enemy, and was opposed wnthin 
 half pistol-shot to Le Spartiatc, the third in the 
 enemy's line. In standing in, the leading ships 
 were unavoidably obliged to receive into their bows 
 the whole fire of the broadsides of the French 
 line, until they could take their respective stations : 
 and it is but justice to observe, that the enemy re- 
 ceived them mih great firmness and deliberation, no 
 colours having been hoisted on either side, nor a 
 gun fired, till the van ships were ,wathin half gun- 
 shot. At this time the necessary number of our 
 men were employed aloft, unfurling sails, and on 
 deck, in hauling the braces, and other necessary- 
 duties preparatory to our casting anchor. As 
 soon as thus placed, a most animated fire was 
 opened from the Vanguard, which ship covered 
 the approach of those in the rear, which wTre 
 following in a close line. The Minotaur, Defence, 
 Bellerophon, Majestic, Swiftsure, and Alexander 
 came in succession, and passing within hail of the 
 Vanguard, took their respective stations opposed 
 to the enemy's line. All our ships anchored by 
 the stern, by which means the British line became 
 inverted from van to rear. Captain Thompson, of 
 the Leander of fifty guns, with a degree of judg- 
 iTient highly honourable to his professional charac- 
 ter, advanced towards the enemy's line on the 
 outside, and most judiciously dropped his anchor 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSOJT. 121 
 
 ivvart the hause of Le Franklin, raking her 
 
 'ith great success — the shot from the Leander's 
 
 ►roadside, which passed that ship, all strikinp^ the 
 
 I/Orient, the flag-ship of the commander in 
 
 chief. 
 
 " The action commenced at sun-set, which 
 was at thirty-one minutes past six P. M. with an 
 ardour and vigour scarcely possible to describe ; at 
 about seven o'clock total darkness had come on, 
 but the whole hemisphere was, at intervals, illu- 
 minated by the fire of the hostile fleets. The 
 Englih ships, when darkness came on, had all 
 hoisted their distinguishing lights, by a signal 
 from the admiral. The van ship of the enemy, 
 Le Giierrier, was dismasted in less than twelve 
 minutes; and in ten after, the second ship, 
 Le Conquerant, and the third Le Spartiate, very 
 nearly at the same moment shared the same fate; 
 the L'Aquilon, and Le Souverain Peuple, the 
 fourth and fifth ships of the enemy's line, were 
 taken possession of by the British at half past 
 eight in the evening. Captain Berry, at that hour, 
 sent Lieutenant Galvvay of the Vanguard, with a 
 party of marines to take possession of the Spar- 
 tiate, and that officer returned by the boat, the 
 French captain's sword, which Captain Berry 
 immediately delivered to the admiral, wlio was 
 then below in consequence of the severe wound 
 which he had received in the head during the heat 
 of the attack." 
 
122 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 The very great effusion of blood which in- 
 stantly flowed from the wound^ rendered the sup- 
 position that it might prove mortal more than pro* 
 bable ; and had it not been for his Captain, now Sir 
 Edward Berry, who stood near, he must, owing to 
 the violence of the shock occasioned by the blow, 
 have fallen on the deck ; but Captain Berry was 
 fortunate enough to save him from that additional 
 disaster, which might possibly have been extremely 
 injurious to him, by catching him in his arms. He 
 immediately caused him to be conveyed to the 
 cock-pit. Nothing could exceed the distress and 
 anxiety that appeared depicted on every coun- 
 tenance, to whom the fatal intelligence was made 
 known. Though the battle raged with the 
 utmost fury, and the shot flew thick all around, 
 the tempest of destruction seemed disregarded, and 
 solicitude, not for their own lives, but for that of 
 their gallant leader, seemed alone to occupy the 
 minds of the crew. The accident, however, instead 
 of repressing, seemed rather to excite their courage 
 and influence their minds with redoubled fury 
 against the foe: as if animated by one spirit, all 
 seemed determined to revenge the fall of their 
 much-loved hero. Can the human mind be sen.- 
 sible of a greater pleasure than must be experienced 
 by an ofiicer, whose invariable conduct has been 
 such, as to iqspire those whom he has under his 
 command with such sentiments, that can rouse 
 them to exertions, for his protection, which seem 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 123 
 
 almost above the capability of human nature to 
 display? To obtain the love of those whom they 
 command, is a no less essential duty of officers 
 than to enforce obedience, and those who are happy 
 enough to effect this grand point, will always, par- 
 ticularly in the hour of common danger, experi- 
 ence the most beneficial effects from it. Kindness 
 and discipline are by no means incompatible. Such 
 were the sentiments of the gallant Hero of the Nile, 
 and such his invariable'conduct. But to return to 
 the subject more immediately under our consider- 
 ation. No sooner had Sir Horatio been conveyed 
 below, than the surgeon, who at the time was em- 
 ployed in his profession with some of the wounded 
 seamen, immediately hastened to attend him. The 
 firmness of the admiral, who himself believed his 
 end approaching, was here most conspicuous; and 
 could any thing be requisite to throw an additional 
 lustre pn his character, his benevolent answer to 
 the surgeon would alone be sufficient ; " No," 
 said he, with the greatest composure, " I will take 
 my turn with my brave fellows." Supposing him- 
 self to be at the last extremity, hfe employed him- 
 self in delivering some confidential messages to his 
 various friends, and more particularly one which he 
 wished to be conveyed to Lady Nelson, by the 
 chaplain. 
 
 Nor did he forget what he esteemed his duty; 
 but as the last beneficial office be should be 
 able to perform, he appointed Captain Hardy, 
 of the Mutine, to be captain of the Vanguard. 
 
124 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 He afterwards took a most afFectionate leave 
 of Captain Louis, who commanded the Mino- 
 taur, and who he bad expresslyj sent for on board 
 the Vanguard, that he might have the satisfaction 
 of personally thanking him, for the assistance 
 he had been the instrument of rendering the 
 Vanguard, in the height of danger. " My dear 
 Louis," said the admiral, " farewell! I shall never, 
 if I survive, forget the obligation I am under to 
 you. Whatever may become of me, my mind is 
 at peace." Such were the sentiments that pos- 
 sessed the soul of this great man, when he thought 
 himself hovering on the borders of eternity. To 
 perform his duty to the last, and thank those from 
 whom he thought he had received any services, 
 afforded him the greatest of consolations. 
 
 The surgeon having, according to the express 
 wish of Sir Horatio, paid every necessary attention 
 to the wounded objects who had received their 
 wounds prior to himself, now came forward to ex- 
 amine that of the admiral. A solemn silence per- 
 vaded the whole place, and every eye was fixed, 
 with scrutinizing anxiety, to catch the first 
 ■ looks of the surgeon, after he had examined it. 
 But what were the sensations that actuated every 
 mind, when he declared that it was merely super- 
 ficial, and of no dangerous consequence! Solemn 
 grief was changed into a paroxysm of joy, and the 
 glad tidings flew with rapidity through every part 
 the ship. Nor is it, perhaps, too bold in us to 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. J 25 
 
 affirm, that the certainty of recovery did not give 
 Sir Horatio greater pleasure than that which the 
 unequivocal expressions of enthusiastic joy ex- 
 pressed by his companions afforded him. 
 
 To resume the narrative. " At this time it ap- 
 peared that victory had already declared in favour 
 of the British ; for although the L'Orient, L'Heu- 
 rcux, and Tonnant, were not taken possession of, 
 they were considered as completely in our power, 
 which pleasing intelligence Captain Berry had like- 
 wise the satisfaction of communicating in person 
 to the admiral. At ten minutes after nine> a fire 
 was observed on board the L'Orient, the French 
 admiral's ship, which seemed to proceed from the 
 after part of the cabin, and which increased with 
 great rapidity, presently involving the whole of the 
 after part of the ship in flames. This circumstance 
 Captain Berry immediately communicated to the 
 admiral, who, though suffering severely from his 
 wound, came upon deck, where the first consider- 
 ation that struck his mind, was concern for the 
 danger of so many lives ; to save as many as pos- 
 sible of whom, he ordered Captain Berry to make 
 every possible exertion. A boat, the only one 
 that could swim, was instantly dispatched from the 
 Vanguard, and other ships that were in a condition 
 to do so immediately followed the example, by 
 which means, from the best possible information, 
 the lives of about seventy Frenchmen were saved^ 
 The light thrown by the fire of the L'Orient upon 
 
 I 
 
126 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the surrounding objects, enabled the admiral to 
 perceive with more certainty the situation of the 
 two fleets, the colours of both being clearly dis- 
 tinguishable. The cannonading was partially kept 
 up to leeward of the centre, till about ten o'clock, 
 when the L'Orient blevv up with a most tremedous 
 explosion. An awful pause, and death-like silence 
 for about three minutes ensued, when the wreck 
 of the masts, yards, and other materials which had 
 been carried to a vast height, fell down into the 
 water, and on board the surrounding ships. A 
 port lire from the L'Orient fell into the main royal 
 of the Alexander ; the fire occasioned by which 
 was, however, extinguished in about two minutes, 
 by the active exertions of Captain Ball. After this 
 awful scene, the firing re-commenced with the 
 ships to the leeward of the centre, till twenty 
 minutes past ten, when there was a total cessation 
 of firing for about ten minutes, after which it was 
 revived till about three in the morning, when it 
 again ceased. After the victory had been secured 
 in the van, such British ships as w-ere in a condition 
 to move, had gone down upon the fresh ships of 
 the enemy. At five minutes past five in the morn-, 
 ing, the two rear ships of the enemy, Le Guillaume 
 Tell and Le Genereux, were the only ships of the 
 line that had their colours flying. At fifty-four 
 minutes past five, a French frigate, L'Artemise, 
 fired a broadside, and struck her colours; but such 
 was the unwarrantable and infamous conduct of 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. [27 
 
 the French captain, that after having thus sur- 
 rendered, he set fire to his ship, and with part of 
 his crew made his escape on shore. iVnother of 
 the French frigates. La Serieuse, had been sunk 
 by the fire from some of our ships ; but as her 
 poop remained above water, her men were saved 
 upon it, and were taken off by our boats in the 
 morning. TheBclIerophon, whose masts and cables^ 
 had been entirely shot away, couid not retain her 
 situation abreast of the UOrient, but had drifted 
 out of the line to the lee side of the bay, a little 
 before that ship blew up: the Audacious was in the 
 morning detached to her assistance. At eleven 
 o'clock, Le Genereux and Guillaume Tell, with 
 the two frigates, Le Justice and Le Diane, cut their 
 cables and stood out to sea, pursued by the Zealous, 
 Captain Hood, who handsomely endeavoured to 
 prevent their escape; but as there was no other 
 ship in a' condition to support the Zealous, she was 
 recalled. The whole day of the second was em- 
 ployed in securing the French ships that had 
 struck, and which were now all completely in 
 possession of the British squadron, the Le Tonnant 
 and Timoleon excepted. As these were dismasted, 
 and consequently could not escape, they were na- 
 turally the last to be taken possession of. On the 
 morning of the third, the Timoleon was set fire to, 
 and the Le Tonnant had cut her cable and drifted 
 on shore; but that active officer, Captain Miller, 
 of the Theseus, soon got her off again, and secured 
 
128 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 her in the British line. The English force engaged 
 consisted of twelve ships of seventy-four guns, and 
 the Leander of fifty guns, 
 
 " From the over anxiety and zeal of Captain 
 Troubridge to get into action, his ship, the Cul- 
 loden, in standing in for the van of the enemy's 
 line, unfortunately grounded upon the tail of a 
 shoal running off from the island, on which were 
 •the mortar and gun-batteries of the enemy ; and, 
 notwithstanding all the exertions of that able 
 officer and ship's company, she could not be got 
 off. This unfortunate circumstance was severely 
 felt at the moment by the admiral and all the 
 officers of the squadron, but their feelings were 
 nothing compared to the anxiety and even anguish 
 of mind which the captain of the Culloden himself 
 experienced for so many eventful hours. There 
 was but one consolation that could offer itself to 
 him in the midst of the distresses of his situation ; 
 a feeble one it is truc-^ — that his ship served as a 
 beacon for three other ships^ namely, the Alex- 
 ander, Theseus, and Leander, which were advan- 
 cing with all possible sail set, close in his rear, and , 
 which otherwise might have experienced a similar 
 misfortune, and thus in a greater proportio n have 
 weakened our force. It was not till the morning 
 of the second, that the Culloden could be got off ; 
 and it was found she had suffered very considerable 
 damage in her bottom ; that her rudder was beat 
 off, and the crew could hardly keep her afloat with 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON* 129 
 
 all her pumps going. The resources of Captain 
 Troubridgc^'s mind availed him much, and were 
 admirably exerted upon this trying occasion. In 
 four days he had a new rudder made upon his own [ 
 deck, which was immediately shipped, and the 
 Culloden was again in a state for actual service, 
 though still very leaky. The admiral, knowing 
 that the wounded of his own ships had been well 
 taken care of, bent his first attention to those of 
 the enemy. He established a truce with the com- 
 mandant of Aboukir, and through him made a 
 communication to the commandant of Alexandria, 
 that it was his intention to allow all the wounded 
 Frenchmen to be taken ashore to proper hospitals, 
 with their own surgeons to attend them: a pro- 
 posal which was assented to by the French, and 
 which was . carried into effect the following day. 
 The activity and generous consideration of Cptain 
 Troubridgc were again exerted at this time for the 
 general good. He communicated with the shore, 
 and had the address to procure a sup'^^y of fresh 
 provisions, onions, and other necessaries, which 
 were served out to the sick and wounded, and 
 which proved of essential utility. 
 
 '' On the 2d the Arabs and Mamelukes, who 
 during the battle had lined the shores of the bay, 
 saw v/ith transport that the victory was decisively 
 on the part of the British, an event, in which they 
 participated with an exultation almost equal to the 
 victors; and on that, and the two following nights. 
 
130 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the whole coast and country were Illuminated, as 
 far as we could see, in celebration of the glorious 
 event. This bad a great effect upon the minds of 
 the prisoners, as they conceived that this Illunnina- 
 tion was the consequence, not entirely of the suc- 
 cess of the English fleet, but of some signal ad- 
 vantage obtained by the Arabs and Mamelukes 
 over Buonaparte. Although it is natural to sup- 
 pose, that the time and attention of the admiral, 
 and all the officers of his squadron, were very fully 
 employed in repairing the damages sustained by 
 their own ships, and in securing those of the enemy, 
 which their valour had subdued, yet the mind of 
 that great and good man, felt the strongest emo- 
 tions of the most pious gratitude to the Supreme 
 Being for the signal success, which, by the Divine 
 favour, had crowned his endeavours in the cause 
 of his country, and in consequence, on the morn- 
 ing of the second, he issued the following memo- 
 randum to the different captains of his squadron. . 
 
 MEMORANDUM. 
 
 " Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, 
 2(3 day of August, 1798. 
 "Almighty God having blessed his Majesty *s arms with vic- 
 tory, the admiral intends returning [mblic thanksgiving for the 
 same at two o'clock this day, and he lecommends every ship 
 doing the same as soon as convenient. 
 
 *' To the respective captains of the squadron. 
 
 " At two o'clock, accordingly on the day, public 
 service was performed ofi the quarter-deck of the 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 13i 
 
 Vanguard, by the Rev. Mr. Comyn, the other 
 ships following the example of the admiral, though 
 perhaps not all at the same time. This solemn 
 act of gratitude to heaven seemed to make a very 
 deep impression upon several of the prisoners, 
 both officers and men, some of the former of whom 
 remarked, '* That it was no wonder such order 
 and discipline was preserved in the British navy, 
 when the minds of the men were imprevSsed with 
 such sentiments after a victory so great, and at a 
 moment of such seeming confusion." On th^ 
 same day the following memorandum was issued 
 to all the ships, expressive of the admiral's senti- 
 ments of the noble exertions of the different offi- 
 cers and men of his squadron. 
 
 ** Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, 
 addayof August, 1798. 
 ** The admiral most heartily congratulates the captains, offi- 
 cers, seamen, and marines of the squadron he has the honour to 
 command, on the event of the late action, and he desires they 
 will accept his most sincere and cordial thanks for their very 
 gallant behaviour in this glorious battle. Jt 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, that the admiral 
 will not fail in his dispatches to ""represent their truly meritorious 
 conduct, in the strongest terms to the commander in chief. 
 •' To the captains of the ships of the squadron. 
 
 •' The praise expressed in this memorandum 
 could not fail to be highlyacceptable,and gratifying 
 to every individual in the squadron; and theobser- 
 
132 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 vation which it endeavoured to impress on the 
 minds of all, by the striking advantages derived 
 from discipline and good order, was so much the 
 effect of recent experience, that every heart im* 
 mediately assented to its justice. 
 
 ** The benefit of this important truth will not, 
 we trust, be confined to any particular branch of 
 the English navy ; the sentiment of the hero of 
 the Nile must infuse itself into the heart of every 
 British seaman, in whatever quarter of the globe 
 he may be extending the glory and interests of 
 his country, and will there produce the conviction, 
 that courage alone will not lead him to conquest, 
 without the aid and direction of exact discipline 
 and order. Let those who desire to emulate (as 
 every British seaman must), the glory acquired 
 upon this signal occasion, pursue the same means, 
 which principally led to its acquisition. Let them 
 repose the most perfect reliance- in the courage, 
 judgment, and skill of their superior officers; and 
 let them aid the designs of these by uniformly- 
 submissive obedience, and willing subordination ; 
 so shall the British navy continue to be the admi- 
 ration of the world, till time shall be no more. 
 
 " Immediately after the action some Maltese, 
 Genoese, and Spaniards, who had been serving on 
 board the French fleet, offered their services to 
 the English admiral, which were accepted j and 
 they expressed the greatest happiness at thus be- 
 ing freed, as they themselves said, from the ty- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 133 
 
 ranny and cruelty of the French. On the fourth 
 day after the action, Captain Berry, of the Van-r 
 guard, sailed in the Leander of fifty guns, with the 
 admiraFs dispatches to the commander in chief. 
 Earl St. Vincent, off Cadiz, containing intelligence 
 of the glorious victory which he had obtained.*'* 
 
 Such is the plain and modest narrative of the 
 greatest event, and the most brilliant triumph that 
 had at that time ever occurred in the naval world; 
 and ere we proceed farther, in placing before the 
 public eye, even the official account of so interest- 
 ing an epoch, it is incumbent on us to offer a few 
 remarks on that stupendous prodigy of human in- 
 tellect, which first suggested the means of achiev- 
 ing a victory, which might have been construed 
 
 * "Sir Horatio Nelson, as rear-admiral of the blue, carried the 
 blue flag at the mizen; but from a standing order of Sir John 
 Jervis, the commander in chief, the squadron wore the white, 
 or St. George's ensign, in the action ; and it is remarkable, 
 that this occasioned the display of the cross upon the renowned 
 and ancient coast of Egypt. 
 
 ** A most animated fire was opened from the Vanguard, 
 which ship covered the approach of those in the rear ; in a few 
 minutes, every man stationed at the first six guns in the fore 
 part of the Vanguard's deck were all down, killed, or 
 wounded ; and one gun in particular was repeatedly cleared. 
 Sir Horatio Nelson was so entirely resolved to conquer, or to 
 perish in the attempt, that he led into action, with six ensigns, 
 or flags, viz. : red. white, and blue, flying in diflerent parts of 
 the rigging; he could not even bear to reflect on the possibility 
 of his colours being carried away by a random shot from tliQ 
 enemy."-— «Nav. Chron. Vol. 3. 
 
134 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 by the envious of the present day as accidental, or 
 owing to the unfortunate chance of war, and by 
 the superstition of a former age, as the effect of an 
 interference miraculous and preternatural ; had 
 not the principles, on which he intended the ac- 
 tion should be fought, and wb^<;h were strictly car- 
 tied into execution, been pieviously explained, 
 with the minutest exactness and precision, to all 
 the officers under his command, by the noble ad- 
 miral himself, who contrived and arranged them, 
 Independant of the advantage derived by the 
 nation from the defeat of the PVench at Aboukir, 
 the pride of the country felt itself flattered, and its 
 utmost energies raised in a way that could not fail 
 •of being exceedingly gratifymg and advantageous 
 to it. France had, through a series of years, 
 and a succession of wars, boasted her pre-emi- 
 nence in that peculiar mode of defence, which she 
 was then called upon to make ; she had plumed 
 herself on the skill of her naval artillerists, and 
 bad the presumption to boast her own superiority, 
 on all occasions, where such skill was particularly 
 required. Here then was an event where it became 
 strictly necessary ; seamanship, maritime know- 
 ledge, and nautical skill, were all out of the ques- 
 tion ; and British sailors boasting no other gratifi- 
 cation, in the science of gunnery, than the honest 
 enthusiastic exertion of their own natural spirit 
 and manual labour, were called upon to engage 
 the pedantically scientific subjects of France, 
 who affected to despise all practice that was not 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 135 
 
 founded on scholastic theory, and the most perfect 
 knowledge of the doctrine of projectiles. Each ship 
 was to be considered as a battery ; and the princi- 
 ples of military attack seemed, as it were, transferred 
 to a new element on this extraordinary occasion. 
 
 Every precaution, the strictest prudence, and the 
 most deliberate judgment could suggest, had been 
 taken to secure the fleet of France from the as- 
 saults of an enemy, in force inferior to itself; an 
 inferiority considerably increased at the very 113- 
 starjt of impending contest, by the misfortune 
 which befel one of the finest ships in the British 
 gquadron;"*^ a circumstance which, had the minds of 
 the spirited assailants been capable of being affect- 
 ed by dismay, would in no small degree have de- 
 pressed their ardour, and damped their hopes of 
 success. The effect, however, which it produced, 
 was only that of mutual regret ; on one side, that 
 so many of their brave companions should be de»- 
 prived of participating in the pleasure of effectually 
 humbling the enemies to their country; and on the 
 other, of disappointment at being denied the satis- 
 faction of lending their aid in so glorious a contest. 
 
 In vain was the position of the enemy rendered 
 in idea additionally secure, by the erection of bat- 
 teries, intended to protect the flank, and prevent 
 any assailant froiii forcing a passage between the 
 
 * The Culloden, Captain Troubridge, the leading ship^ 
 l^hich took the ground in going In, 
 
136 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 head, of the fleet and the Island of Bequieres, as if, 
 possessed of prophecy, they had foreseen the inten- 
 tion of their gallant antagonists. Their best con- 
 certed measures were rendered in an instant vain 
 and ineffectual ; and the thunder of the British 
 cannon, in a few minutes only, obtained a com- 
 plete victory over the pedantic principles of pre- 
 tended service ; for although the extent of the ruin 
 which was to befall the enemy could not be at 
 that time strictly ascertained, fifteen minutes had 
 .scarcely elapsed from the firing of the first British 
 cannon, ere success was certain, and it was esta- 
 blished as a fact, not to be controverted, that no^ 
 thing but the most instantaneous flight, could even 
 at that early period of the encounter, have preserv- 
 ed a moiety of the French fleet, from falling into 
 the hands of the British. 
 
 We trust it will not be considered arrogant and 
 vain-glorious in this place to make a short digres- 
 sion from the present subject; a digression which 
 we also hope may be the better pardoned, as it will 
 enable us to examine with what success France her« 
 self managed an attack of the same nature, against 
 a force scarcely equalling by one-third that which 
 assailed it. The event we now allude to, is the at-, 
 tack made by the French fleet under the orders of 
 the Count d'Estaing, on the small squadron com- 
 manded by Rear-admiral Barrington, in the Grand 
 Cul de Sac, of the Island of St. Lucia, in th^ 
 inonth of Decenaber, 1779. 
 
LOKD VISCOUNT NELSON. 137 
 
 ^^ It became necessary." says Mr. Bnrrington, 
 " on the approach of the Count d'Estaing, to secure 
 the transports as well as we could in the bay; and 
 the whole night was accordingly employed in warp- 
 ing them within the ships of war, and disposing the 
 latter in a line across the entrance in the following 
 order: the Isis, St. Alban's, Boyne, Nonsuch, Cen- 
 turion, Preston, Prince of V\'alcs ; the Isis to wind- 
 ward, rather inclining into the bay, and the Prince 
 of Wales, being the most powerful ship, the out* 
 wardmost to leeward, with the Venus, Aurora, 
 and Ariadne, flunking the space between the Isis 
 and the shore, to prevent the enemy's forcing a 
 passage that way, 
 
 '^ Almost all the transports had fortunately got 
 within the line before half past eleven in the 
 morning of the 15th, when the count thought 
 proper to bear down, and attack us with ten sail 
 of the line, happily without doing us any material 
 injury; and at four in the afternoon he made a se- 
 cond attack upon us, with twelve sail of the line, 
 with no other success however than killing two 
 men, and wounding seven, on board the Prince of 
 Wales, and wounding one also on board the Ari- 
 adne, who is since dead ; but I have reason to be- 
 lieve the enemy received considerable damage, as 
 the manoeuvres betrayed great confusion, and one 
 of their ships in particular, which fell to leeward, 
 seemed disabled from carrying the necessary sail to 
 get to windward again. 
 
138 MEMO IKS OP 
 
 *^ The next day, the lOth, the count shewed a 
 disposition to attack us a third time, but on the 
 appearance of a frigate standing for his fieet with 
 8everal signals fljing, he plied to windward ; and 
 in the evening anchored off Gros Islet, about two 
 leagues from us, wherc he still continues, with ten 
 frigates, besides his twelve sail of the line." 
 
 The disadvantage in point of numbers was not 
 the only one against which Mr. Barrington had to 
 contend ; his measures excellently adapted, as they 
 indeed proved, to his defence, had been necessarily 
 taken in haste; for the speedy arrival of the enemy 
 prevented his augmenting those means of protec- 
 tion, in addition to his own strength, which his pru- 
 dence, and the advice of those he commanded, 
 suggested, as it were, on the moment of impending 
 attack. No time was allowed for cool and con- 
 templative deliberation ; no opportunity afforded of 
 repairing negligence, remedying defect, or im- 
 proving a position seized with avidity, because it was 
 thought the best that could be taken on the spur 
 of the occasion. The fl^et of the enemy was com- 
 manded by an officer inferior in reputed gallantry 
 and ability to none in France. The object before 
 him was grcat^ the consequences which success 
 might have opTened to him, appeared little less than 
 as threatening the conquest and subjugation, of the 
 greater part of the British colonies in that quarter 
 of the world. The capture of Mr. Barrington and 
 his ships, would have added proudly to his fame as 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 13^ 
 
 an admiral; thp surrender of General Grant and 
 his army, the inevitable result of a naval victory, 
 together with the conquest of the most valuable 
 among the possessions of her enemy, would have 
 proved a blow thajt might have placed France in the 
 situation of imperiously and haughtily dictating the 
 terms of peace, and almost reduced Britain to the 
 humiliating condition of accepting it» even under 
 stipulations that might have been degrading to 
 her national dignity. 
 
 With so great an object in view, what success 
 might not have been hoped for by the presump- 
 tuous assailants, headed as they were by an officer 
 possessing their entire confidence ? The event 
 proved completely inauspicious ; and it would be 
 ignobly trampling on the vanquished, to add any 
 comment on a factj so completely glorious to the 
 naval character of Britain. 
 
 Now let us contemplate the companion to this 
 picture ; let us not on one hand be subject to the 
 charge of flattery to the memory of the honourable 
 admiral, who so gallantly extricated himself from a 
 most perilous situation ; nor on the other, let us be 
 supposed to have depreciated, or degraded, by the 
 comparison, the character of a noble officer, so de- 
 servedly the idol of his country, and the wonder of 
 the world. We cannot form facts for ourselves ; we 
 are under the necessity of taking them exactly as 
 they offer ; and if one victory surpasses another 
 which preceded it, in brilliancy, it were ungrateful 
 
140 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 to despise the former, which we have alluded to> 
 for the sake of the parallel and the comparison, be- 
 cause with the change of situation and country, it 
 approaches nearer in the circumstances which at- 
 tended it, than any other naval contest we at present 
 recollect,or that history perhaps will furnish us 
 with. 
 
 In the second picture, we find our noble and 
 intrepid countryman, invested with the character 
 so ill sustained by the arrogant and assuming 
 Frenchman. We see him armed with inferior 
 powers, disdaining even the slightest apprehension 
 of discomfiture, advancing to the attack, not only 
 with intrepidity, but with a cool confidence of suc- 
 cess, against every obstacle that art, ingenuity, and 
 skill could contrive and which had been most stu- 
 diously exerted by the expecting enemy, in the 
 hope of preventing it. Far different, as is known 
 to all, was the result; Victory herself wove for him 
 the crown of triumph, and the united suffrage of 
 the universe declared that it had never been more 
 worthily obtained. 
 
 We cannot conclud-e this comment without 
 briefly observing, that even the excuse made by 
 France, in the frivolous hope of palliating the dis- 
 grace of her disaster, materially augments the 
 grandeur of the British name, and depresses that 
 of herself " It could not have been foreseen," say 
 her apologists, ^' that the English admiral would 
 have adopted the desperate resolution of forcing a 
 passage between the shore and the line, in which 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 141 
 
 the French fleet was moored, and enabled hiniself in 
 consequence of that manoeuvre, to attack the van 
 of his foe with the whole of his force, while the rear 
 of the former was incapable of moving to its suc- 
 cour or protection ; so that each division became 
 in succession the victim of superior strength.'* To 
 this, a plain, unargumentative answer will be com- 
 pletely sufficient. Had Kear-admiral Nelson, pur- 
 suing only that confined principle of naval tactics, 
 which, in attacks of the same nature, had till then 
 been in use; had he edged down, each of his ships 
 singling out its proper opponent, in a line stretch- 
 ing from van to rear, even in that case success 
 might have crowned his gallantry, though his loss 
 might have been rendered infinitely greater. That 
 he might however, if the phrase be allowed us, 
 take Victory herself prisoner, and render her ab- 
 solutely subservient to his desires; he contrived 
 the plan which the greatness of his own mind fur- 
 nished him with, and reduced success almost to an 
 absolute certainty, even before the battle com- 
 menced. Gallantry is only one qualification in the 
 composition of a great officer, it is common to the 
 generality of mankind; ^nd it becomes rather an 
 insult to the human race, to deny the possession of 
 it by the majority. With grand and extensive 
 abilities the case is otherwise ; and we regard the 
 display of those abilities, v/hen so splendidly ex- 
 hibited, as an attribute, something more than hu- 
 man. Sirch France felt ; she sunk under the 
 pressure of them, and the only consolation which 
 
142 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 she could experience in her defeat, was that of 
 knowing her conqueror was Sir Horatio Nel- 
 son.'* 
 
 * France herself appears on this occasion to have deviated 
 ill some measure from her customary practice of attempting to 
 palliate misfortune by the propagation of falsehood; nor did she 
 even boast^ as was usual with her, of imaginary and partial 
 advantages, in the hope of assuaging the feelings of her own 
 mind and those of her people. The following account, said, 
 on the best authority, to be authentic, and to have been written 
 by a French officer of high rank, is more candid th;m we recol- 
 lect to have ever seen any, composed by a Frenchman ; it be- 
 comes therefore more interesting, more singular, more satisfac- 
 tory^ and more pleasing. 
 
 "The 1st of August, 1798, windW.N.W. light breezes, and 
 fair weather, the second division of the fleet sent a party of men 
 on shore to dig wells; every ship in the fleet sent twenty-five men 
 io protect the workmen from the continual attacks of the Bc- 
 dopins and vagabonds of the country. At two P. M. the 
 Heureux made .the signal for twelve sail W. S. W. which we 
 could easily distinguish from the mastheads to be ships of war. 
 The signal was then made for all the boats, workmen, and 
 guards, to repair on board their ships, which was only obeyed 
 by a small number. At three o'clock, the admiral, not having 
 any doubt that the »hips in sight were the enemy, ordered 
 the hammocks to be stowed for action, and directed L'Alert 
 and Ruiller brigs of war to reconnoitre the enemy, which we 
 soon perceived were steering for Bequier Bay, under a crowd of 
 canvass, without observing any order of sailing. At four 
 o'clock, we saw over the fort of Aboukir two ships, appa-- 
 Tently waiting to join the squadron ; without doubt they had 
 been sent to look into the port of Alexandria. We likewise 
 saw a brig with the twelve ships, so that they were now four- 
 teen sail of the line, and a brig. L*Alert then began to put the 
 admiral's orders into execution, viz. to stand toward the ene- 
 rgy uAtil Ae^rly within ^un-shot, and then to inunQeuvfe^ and 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 14 S 
 
 To return to simple narrative — where will our 
 admiration of this great man cease? — the thunder of 
 
 endeavour to draw them towards the outer shoal lying off the. 
 island ; but ihe English admiral, without doubt, had experi- 
 enced pilots on board, as he did not pay any attention to the 
 brig*s tract, but allowed her to go away, hauling welT round all 
 the dangers. At this time, a small boat dispatched from Alex- 
 andria to Roselta, voluntarily bore down to the English brig, 
 which took possession of her, notwithstanding the repeated 
 efforts of L' Alert to prevent It, by firing a great many shot at 
 the boat. At five o'clock, the enemy came to the wind in suc- 
 cession. This manoeuvre convinced us, that they Intended at- 
 tacking us that evening. The admiral got the top-gallant yard* 
 across, but soon after made the signal that he intended en- 
 gaging the enemy at anchor. After this signal, each ship ought 
 to have sent a stream-cable to the ship astern of her, and to have 
 mads a hawser fast to the cable about twenty fathoms in 
 the water, and passed the opposite side to that intended as a 
 spring ; t/u's %i'cts not gcneraVy exccutea. Orders were then given 
 to let go another bower anchor, and the broadsides of the ships 
 were brought to bear upon the enemy, having the ships' heads* 
 S. E. from the Island of Bequier, forming a line about thirteen 
 hundred fathoms N. W. and S. E. distant frona each other 
 eighty fathoms, and with an anchor out S. S. E* At a quarter 
 past five, one of the enemy's ships that was steering to get to 
 windward of the headmost of the line, ran on the reef E. N. F« 
 of the island. She had immediate assistance from the brig, and 
 got afloat in the morning. The battery on the island opened 
 a fire on the enem^, and their shells fell ahead of the second 
 ship in the line. At half-past five the headmpst ships of our 
 line being within gun«hot of the Enghsb, the admiral made the 
 signal to engage, which was not obeyed till the enemy was 
 •within pistol-shot, and just doubling us. The action then be- 
 came very warm. The Conquerant began to fire, then Le 
 Gucrrier, Le Spartiate, L'Aquiion, Lc Peuple Souverain, and 
 
144 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the cannon, as already observed in the narrative, 
 bad scarcely ceased an instant, when, with that 
 
 JLc Franklin. At six o'clock, the Serieuse frigate and the Her-* 
 cule bomb, cut their cables, and got under weigh, to avoid the 
 enemy's fire. They got on shore ; the Serieuse caught fire and 
 had part of her masts burnt; the Artemise was obliged to get under 
 weigh, and likewise got on shore. The two frigates sent their 
 ships' companies aboard the different line of battle ships. The 
 sloops of war, two bombs, and several transports that were with the 
 fleet, were more successful, as they got under weigh, and reach- 
 ed the anchorage under the protection of the fort of Abouklr. 
 All the van were attacked on both sides by the enemy, who 
 ranged close along our line. They had each an anchor out 
 astern, which facilitated their motions, and enabled them to 
 place themselves in the most advantageous position. At a 
 quarter past six, the Franklin opened her fire upon the enemy 
 from the starboard side ; at three quarters past six she was en- 
 gaged on both sides. The L'Orient at this time began firing 
 from her starboard guns ; and at seven the Tounant opened her 
 fire. All the ships from the Guerrier to the Tonnant were now 
 engaged against a superior force : this only redoubled the ardour 
 of the French, who kept up a very heavy fire. At eight o'clock 
 at night, the ship which was engaging the L'Orient on the star- 
 board quarter, notwithstanding her advantageous position, was 
 dismasted, and so roughly treated, that she cut her cables, and 
 drove farther from the line. This event gave the Franklia 
 hopes that L'Orient would now be able to assist her, by attack-^ 
 insj one of the ships opposed to her, but at this very moment 
 the two ships that had been observed astern of the fleet, and 
 were quite fresh, steered right for the centre. One of them an- 
 chored on L'Orient's starboard bow, and the other cut the line 
 astern of L'Oiient, and anchored off her larboanl quarter. The 
 action in this place then became extremely warm. Admiral de 
 Brueys, who had at this time been slightly wounded in the 
 head and arm, very soon received a shot in the belly, which 
 almost cut him in two. Ke desired not to be carried below. 
 
LOR t) VISCOUNT NELSON. I45 
 
 grateful and truly devout attention to the dis- 
 pensations of an almighty Power and Provi- 
 
 but to be lert to die upon deck : he lived but a quaitej^ 
 of an hour. Rear-adiuiial Blanquet, as well as his aid-du- 
 camp, were unacquainted witli thii melancholy event until the 
 action \yas nearly over. Admiral Blanquet received a severe 
 wound in the face, which knocked him down ; he was carried 
 off tlie deck senseless. At a quarter past eight o'clock the 
 Peuple Souverain drove to leeward of the line, and anchored 
 a cable's length abreast of the I'Orient: it was not known 
 what unfortunate event occasioned this. The vacant place she 
 made placed the Franklin in a more unfortunate position, and 
 it became very critical from the manoeuvre of one of the ene- 
 my's fresh ships, which had been sent to the assistance of the 
 ship on shore. She anchored athwart the Franklin's bows, and 
 commenced a vei^ heavy raking fire. Notwithstanding the 
 dreadful situation of the ships in the centre,, they continually 
 kept up a very heavy fire. At half past eight o'clock the 
 action was general from the Guerrier to the Mercure. The 
 Admiral De Brueys's death, and the severe wounds of Admiral 
 Blanquet, must have deeply affected the people who fought 
 under tilem ; but it added to their ardour for revenge, and tlie 
 action continued on both sides v/ith great obstinacy. At nine 
 o'clock the ships in the van slackened their fire, and soon after 
 totally ceased ; and with infinite sorrow we supposed they had 
 surrendered. They were dismasted very soon after the action 
 began, and so much damaged, that it is to be presumed that 
 tliey could not hold out any longer against an enemy so su- 
 perior by an advantageous position, in placing several ships 
 against one. At a quarter past jiine o'clock the I'Orient 
 caught fire in the cabin ; it soon aftenvards broke out upon 
 the poop: every effort was made to extinguish it, but without 
 effect; and very soon it was so considerable, that there was no 
 hopes of saving the ship. At half past nine, Citoyen Gillct, 
 ca}:>itain de pavilion of the Franklin, was very severely wound- 
 
 L 
 
14^ MEMOIRS OP 
 
 dence, which is one among the genuine charac- 
 teristics of all great minds, he issued circular 
 
 cd, and was carried off deck. At three quarters past nine the 
 arm chest filled with musquet-cartridges blew up, ^nd set fire 
 to several places in the poOp and quarter-deck, but was fortu- 
 nately extinguished. Her situation, however, was still very 
 desperate ; surrounded by enemies, and only eighty fathoms 
 ^o windward of TOrient entirely on fire, there could not be 
 any other expectation than falling a prey either to the enemy, 
 or the flames. At ten o'clock the main and mizzen-masts fell, and 
 all the guns on the main-deck were dismounted. At half past 
 ten the Tonant cut her cables, to avoid the fire of the TOrient, 
 The English ship that was on I'Orient's larboard quarter, so 
 soon as she had done firing at her, brought her broadside 
 upon the Tonant's bow, and kept up a veiy heavy raking fire. 
 The Heureux and Mercure conceived that they ought likewise 
 to cut their cables. The manoeuvre created so much confu- 
 sion amongst the rear ships, that they fired into each other, 
 and did considerable damage. The Tonant anchored a-head 
 of the Guilliaume Tell ; the Genereux and Timoleon, the 
 other two ships, got on shore. The ship that engaged the 
 Tonant on her bow cut her cables ; all her rigging ' and sails 
 were cut to pieces, and she drove dov.n, and anchored astern 
 of t;he English ship, that had been engaging the Heureux and 
 Mcrcure before they changed their position. Those of the 
 etat-major and ship's company of the TOrient who had escaped 
 death, convinced of the impossibility of extinguishing the fire, 
 which had got down on the middle gun-deck, endeavoured to 
 save themselves. Rear-admiral Ganteaume saved himself in a 
 boat, and went on board of the Salamine, and from thence to 
 Aboukir and Alexandria. The Adjutant-general Motard, al- 
 though badly wounded, swam to the ship nearest I'Orient, 
 which proved to be English. Commodore Casabianca, and 
 bis son only ten years old, who, during the action gave 
 proofs of bravery and intelligence far above his age, were 
 
 i 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. I47 
 
 orders throughout the whole fleet, recommend- 
 ing each individual to join with him in render- 
 not so fortunate. They were in the water, upon the wreck of 
 rOrient's niasts, not being able to swim, seeking each other 
 until three quarters past ten, when the ship blew up, and put 
 an end to their hopes and fears. The explosion was dreadful, 
 and spread the fire all around to a considerable distance. The 
 Franklin's decks were covered with red-hot seams, pieces of 
 timber, and rope on fire. She was on fire, but luckily got it 
 under. Immediately after the tremendous explosion, the ac- 
 tion ceased every where, and was succeeded by the most pro- 
 found silence. The sky was darkened by clouds of black 
 smoke, which seemed to threaten the destruction of the two 
 fleets. It was a quarter of an hour before the ships' crews re- 
 covered from the kind of stupor they were thrown into. To- 
 wards eleven o'clock, the Franklin, anxious to preserve the trust 
 confided to her, re-commenced the action with a few of iier 
 l<.)wer-deck guns; all the rest were dismounted : two thirds of 
 the ship's company were killed and wounded, and those who 
 remained most fatigued. She was surrounded by enemy's 
 ships, who mowed down the men every broadside. At half 
 past eleven o'clock, having only three lower-rieck guns that 
 could defend the honour of the flag, it became necessary to 
 put an end to so disproportioned a struggle, and Citoyen Mar- 
 tinet, captain of a frigate, ordered the colours to be struck. 
 
 " The action in the rear of the fleet was very trifling until 
 three quarters past eleven o'clock, when it became very warm. 
 Three of the enemy's ships were engaging them, and two were 
 very near. The Tonant, already badly treated, who was 
 nearest the ships engaged, returned a vei^jr- brisk fire. About 
 three o'clock in the morning she was dismasted, and obliged 
 to cut her cables a second time ; and not having any more 
 anchors left, she drove on shore. The Guilliaume Tell, Le 
 Genereux, and the Timoleon, shifted their births, and an- 
 chored further down, out of gun-shot: these vessels were not 
 
 L 2 
 
148 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ing their humblest thanks to that Supreme 
 Power for the assistance and protection it had 
 afforded them in the hour of battle. 
 
 much damaged. At half past three o'clock the action ceased 
 throughout the line. Early in the morning the frigate La 
 Justice got under weigh, and made several small tacks to keep 
 near the Guilliaume Tell, and at nine o'clock anchored ; an 
 English ship having got under vreigh,'and makhig small tacks 
 to prevent her getting away. At six o'clock two English ships 
 joined those who had been engaging the rear, and began firing 
 on the Heureux and Mercure, which were aground. The 
 former soon struck, and the latter followed the example, as 
 they could not bring their broadsides to bear upon the enemy. 
 At half past seven the ship's crew of I'Artemise frigate quilted 
 her, and set her on fire : at eight o'clock she blew up. The 
 enemy without doubt had received great damage in their masts 
 and yards, as they did not get under weigh to attack the re- 
 mains of the French fleet. The French flag was flying or 
 board four sliips of the fine and two frigates. This division 
 made the most of their time; and at three quarters past eleven 
 Le Guilliaame Tell, Le Genereux, La Diane, and La Justice, 
 got under weigh, and formed in line of battle. The English 
 ship that was under sail stood towards her fleet, fearing that 
 she might be cut ofl"; but two other enemy's ships were im- 
 mediately under weigh to assist her. At noon the Timoleon, 
 which probably was not in a state to put to sea, steered right 
 for the shore under her fores il ; and as soon as she struck the 
 grountl Tier foremast fell. The French division joined the 
 enemy's ships, which raflged along their fine on opposite tacks, 
 within pistol €hot, and received their broadsides, which it re- 
 turned : they then each continued their route. The division 
 was in sight at sun-set. Nothing remarkable passed during 
 the night of the 2d. The 3d of August, in the morning, the 
 French colours were flying in the Touaut and Timoleon. Tlie 
 
LORD VISCOUNT^NELSON. I49 
 
 That duty performed, and the arrangements 
 relative to his own ships and their prizes, which 
 
 English adaiiral sent a flag of truce to tJie former, to imow if 
 she had struck; ami ypon being answered in the negative, he 
 directed two sliips to go against her. When they got within 
 gmi-shot of her, she struck, it being impossible to defend lier 
 any longer. The Timoleon was aground too near in tor any 
 ship to approach her. In tlie night of the 2d theysent the 
 greatest part of their ship's company on shore ; and at noon 
 the next day they quitted her and setlier on fire. 
 
 " Thus ends the journal of the 1st, 2d, and 3d days of Au- 
 gust, which will ever be remembered with the deepest sorrow 
 by those Frenchmen who possess good hearts, und by all those 
 true republicans who have survived this melancholy disaster." 
 
 To tlie foregoing may not inaptly be added the account 
 given by Denon of the same transaction : a detail given by one 
 «f the Savans, and intended to perj^etuate the event to po- 
 jsterity, may, in the opinions of some, be more interesting than 
 even that of the .admiral in chief would have been, had he 
 survived. 
 
 " When we had reached the tower which commands the 
 monastery, we descried a fleet of twenty sail. To come up, 
 to range themselves in a line, and to attack, were the opera- 
 tions of a minute. The first shot was fired at five o'clock ; 
 and shortly after, our view of the two fleets was intercepted 
 by the smoke. When night came on, we could distinguish 
 somewhat better, without however being able to give an ac- 
 €ount of what passed. The danger to which we were exposed, 
 of falling into the hands of the smallest troop of Bedouins 
 which might come that way, did not draw our attention 
 from an event, by which we were so strongly interested. Rolls 
 of fife incessantly gushing from the mouths of the cannon 
 evinced clearly that the combat was dreadful, and supported 
 with an e:iual obstinacy oi\ both sides. On our return to Ro- 
 s^tta, we climb e:l on the roofs of the houses, whence, at tea 
 
150 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 absolute necessity demanded, should not be de- 
 ferred, being made, the rear-admiral proceeded 
 
 o'clock, we perceived a strong light, which indicated a fire. A 
 few minutes afterwards, we heard a terrible explosion, which 
 was followed by a profound silence. As we had seen a firing 
 kept up from the left to the right, on the object in flames, we 
 drew a conclusion that it was one of the enemy's ships, which 
 had been set fire to by our people ; and we imputed the si- 
 lence which ensued to the retreat of the English, who, as our 
 ships were moored, were exclusively in possession of the range 
 of the bay, and who, consequently, could persevere in, or dis- 
 continue the combat at pleasure. At eleven o'clock a slow 
 fire was kept up; and at midnight tlie action again became 
 general: it continued until two in the moraing. At day- 
 break I was at the advanced posts; and ten minutes after, the 
 fleets were once more engaged. At nine o'clock another ship 
 blew up. At ten, four ships, the only ones which were not 
 disabled, and which I could distinguish to be French, crowded 
 their sails, and quitted the field of battle, in the possession of 
 which, they appeared to be, as they were neither attacked, nor 
 followed. Such was the phantom produced by the enthusiasm 
 of hope. 
 
 " I took my station at the tower of Abumandur, whence I 
 counted twenty -five vessels, half of which were shattered 
 wrecks, and the others incapable of manceuvring to afford 
 them assistance. For three days we remained in this state of 
 cruel uncertainty. By tlie help of my spying-glass I had 
 made a drawing of this disastrous scene, to be enabled tJie 
 better to ascertain, whether the morrow would be productive 
 of any change. In this way we cherished illusion, and spurned 
 at all evidence; until at length the passage across the bar 
 being cut off, and the communication with Alexandria inter- 
 cepted, we found that our situation was altered, and that, 
 ' separated from the mother-country, we were become the in- 
 liabitapts of a distant colony, where we should be obliged to 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. I^I 
 
 to inform his country of the glorious tidings of 
 his success: his own modest narrative reflects 
 
 depend on our own resources for subsistence until the peace. 
 We learned that it was I'Orient which blew up at ten 
 o'clock at night, and tlie Hercule the following morning ; and 
 that the captains of the ships of the line the Guilliaume Tell 
 and Genereux, and of the frigates La Diane and Lft Justice, 
 perceiving that the rest of the fleet had ftilien into the enemy's 
 bands, had taken advantage of a moment of lassitude and in- 
 action on the part of the English, to effect their escape. We 
 learned, lastly, that the first of August had broken the unity 
 of our forces; and that the destruction of our fleet, by which 
 the lustre of our glory was tarnished, had restored to the 
 enemy the empire of the Mediterranean — an empire which 
 had been wrested from them, by the matchless exploits of our 
 armies, and which could only have been secured to us, by the 
 
 existence of our ships of war." 
 
 Denon's Travels, vol. i. 
 
 N. B. The translator shrewdly remarks, that throughout 
 the whole of this narrative of the defeat of the French fleet in 
 Aboukir Bay, it should be recollected, that it is the produc- 
 tion of a Frenchman, who either would not, or could not see 
 things precisely as they were. N. B. The British force con- 
 sisted of fifteen sail only, including the Mutine brig. 
 
 In spite of the prejudices of a Frenchman, he adds, in a 
 subsequent page, " The shore, to the extent of four leagues, 
 was covered by wrecks, which enabled us to form an estimate 
 of the loss that we had sustained af the battle of Aboukir, 
 To procure a few nails, or a few iron hoops, the wandering 
 Arabs were employed in burning on the beach the masts, 
 gun-carriages, boats, &c. &c. which had been constructed at 
 50 vast an expence in our ports." 
 
 From the foregoing testimonies, some judgment perhaps 
 may be formed of the opinion entertained by Frenchmen, ia 
 respe!Ct to the extent and impo);][aiice; of the disaster. 
 
1^2 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 on him an higher praise than could the most ,^ 
 laboured and splendid eulogium : — • 
 
 '' Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nilej 
 "Sir, August 7th, 3798. 
 
 ** Enclosed is a copy of my letter to the Earl of St. Vin-^ 
 cent, together with a line of battle of the English and French 
 squadrons, also a list of the killed and wounded. I have the 
 pleasure to inform you that eight of our ships have already 
 top-gallant-yards across, and ready for any service ; the others, 
 with the prizes, will soon be ready for sea. In an event of 
 this importance, 1 have thought it right to send Captain Capel 
 with a copy of my letter (to the commander in chief) over- 
 land, which I hope their lordships will approve ; and beg leave 
 to refer them to Captain Capel, who is a most excellent of- 
 ficer, and fully able to give every information; and I beg 
 leave to recommend him to their lordships' notice. 
 " I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 " Horatio Nelson." 
 *' ]^. B. The island I have taken possession of, and brought 
 off two tliirteen-inch mortars, all the brass guns, and destroyed 
 ' the iron ones, 
 
 "Evan Nepean, Esq." 
 
 " My Lord, 
 " ALMIGHTY God has blessed his majesty's arms in the 
 late battle, by a great victory over the fleet of the enemy, 
 whom I attacked at sun-set on the 1st of August, off the Mouth 
 of the Nile. The eneniy were moored in a strong line oi 
 battle for defending the entrance of the bay (of Shoals), 
 flanked by numerous gun-boats, four frigates, and a battery 
 of guns and mortars, on an island in their van ; but nothing 
 ^ould withstand the squadron your lordsliip did me the ho- 
 nour to place under my command. Their high state of dis- 
 cipline is well known to you; and, with the judgment of the 
 captains, together with their valour, and that of the officers and 
 men of every description, it was absolutely iiresistible. GoulU 
 
"^ 
 
 ^'^^ 
 
 ^^^^ 
 
 ct:::^ 
 
 .^^^ 
 
 -t^' 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 c-^' 
 
 a 
 
 " ? ^ 
 

 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, I5J 
 
 y tiling from my pen add to the characters of the captains 
 would write it witlipieasurc ; but that is impossible. 
 
 " I have to regret tlie loss of Captain Westcott, of the Ma- 
 jestic, who was killed early in the action ; but the >hip was con- 
 iuued to be so well fought by her first lieutenant, ^Ir. Cuthr 
 bert, that I have given him an order to command her, till your 
 lordship's pleasure is ki\own. 
 
 " The ships of the eneniy, all but their two rear ships, are 
 nearly dismasted, and those two, with two frigates, I im son-y 
 to say, luade their escape ; nor was it, I assure you, in liiy 
 power to prevent them. Captain Hood most handsomely en- 
 deavoured to do it ; but I had no ship in a condition to sup- 
 port the Zealous, and I was obliged to call Jicr in. 
 
 **The support and assistance I have received fromCaptaia 
 Berry cannot be sufficiently expressed. J was wounded in the 
 head, and obliged to be carried off deck; but the service suffered 
 no loss by that event. Captain Ben-y was fully equal to the im- 
 portant 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 fiag of the second in command, that 
 lof the commander in chief being burnt in L'Orient. 
 ' " Herewith I transmit you lists of the killed and wounded, 
 ^d the lines of battle of ourselves and the French. 
 
 *' I have the honour to be, &c. 
 '* To Admiral the Earl of St. " Horatio Nelsciv .'* 
 
 Vincent, the commander in 
 chief, ace. &c. off Cadiz.'' 
 
 ENGLISH LINE OF BATTLE. 
 
 Ships' Names. Captains. Guns. Men. 
 
 Culloden, T. Troubridge, - - 74 5pjO 
 
 rheseus, R. W. Miller, - - 74 59O 
 
 Alexander, A. J. Ball, - - 74 590 
 
 rRear-AdmiralSir H.^ 
 Vanguard, j Nelson, K. B. C - 74 5^5 
 C Edward Berry, 3 
 
 jMiuotaur, Thos. Louis, - - 74 64,0 
 
154 
 
 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Ships* Names. 
 Leander, 
 Swiftsnre, 
 Audacious, 
 Defence, 
 Zealous, 
 Orion, 
 Goliah, 
 Majestic, 
 Bellerophon, 
 La Mutine Brig. 
 
 Captains. 
 T. B. Thompson 
 B. Hallowell, 
 D. Gould, 
 John Peyton, 
 Samuel Hood, - 
 Sir J. Saumarez, 
 Thos. Foley, 
 G. B. Westcott, 
 H. D. E. Darby, 
 
 Guns. Men. 
 50 343 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 590 
 590 
 590 
 590 
 590 
 590 
 590 
 590 
 
 Hqratio Nelson, 
 
 FRENCH LINE OF BATTLE. 
 
 Ships* Names. 
 Le Guerrier, 
 Le Conquerant, 
 Le Spartiate, 
 L'Aquilon, 
 Le Souverain Peuple, 
 
 Le Franklin 
 
 Guns. 
 
 74 
 74 
 74 
 74 
 
 74 
 
 Men. 
 
 600 Taken. 
 
 Taken: 
 
 Taken. 
 
 Taken. 
 
 Taken. 
 
 I 
 
 L'Orient, 
 
 (Blanquet, first contrej „ 
 \ admiral j 
 
 tBrueys, admiral, 
 and commander 
 in chief 
 
 700 
 700 
 700 
 700 
 
 800 
 
 Taken. 
 
 } 
 
 120 1010 Burnt. 
 
 Le Tonant, 
 
 L'Heureux, 
 
 Le Timoleon* 
 
 Le Mercure, 
 
 Le Guilliaume f Villeneuve 
 
 Tell, I 
 
 Le Genereux, 
 
 - 80 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 
 - 74 
 second) ^ 
 
 800 
 700 
 700 
 700 
 
 800 
 
 700 
 
 Taken. 
 Taken. 
 Burnt. 
 Taken. 
 
 Escaped. 
 Escaped, 
 
 Ships* Names. 
 La Diane, 
 La Justice, 
 
 contre admiral y 
 
 - 74 
 
 Horatio Nelson 
 FRIGATES. 
 Guns. Men. 
 
 - 48 300 Escaped. 
 
 - 44 300 Escaped, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSOM. I55 
 
 Ships* Names. Guns. Men. 
 
 L'Artemise, - - 36 250 Burnt. 
 
 La Serieube, - -36 250 Dismasted and sunk. 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 Vanguard, off the mouth of the Nile, 
 August 3d, 179s. 
 
 Such was the fate of the fleet of France em- 
 ployed on the expedition against Egypt, com- 
 manded by Admiral Brueys, an officer esteemed 
 as gallant, and as able in his profession, as any, 
 that country has ever boasted. The force under 
 his orders, at the commencement of the action, 
 as will be seen on reference to the foreo:oin2: 
 list, consisted of thirteen ships of the line, to- 
 gether with four frigates ; carrying twelve hun- 
 dred guns/ and from ten to eleven thousand 
 men. Nine sail of the line were taken, two 
 were burned, and two escaped. Of the frigates, 
 one was sunk, another burned, and two escaped. 
 The loss of men was calculated at nearly eight 
 thousand ; but the prisoners and wounded were 
 all restored, on condition of not serving against 
 England until exchanged. The British squa- 
 dron consisted, as already stated, of thirteen sail 
 of the line, twelve only of which were engaged, 
 and a fifty-gun ship ; carrying little more than a 
 thousand guns, and eight thousand men. Of the 
 English, the slain and wounded were nine hun- 
 dred. 
 
 It has been most animatedly observed, this 
 victory was the most signal that had graced the 
 British navy, since the days when the Spanish ar- 
 
1^6 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 mada was defeated. Its effects were surprrzlng 
 and instantaneously -felt, over all Europe. The 
 enemies of France every where recovered from 
 the despondency they had fallen into, previous 
 to this great event, and an evident reanimation 
 took place in all their councils, which were 
 now occupied with the means of improving a 
 success, of so much importance. During the 
 action, the roaring of the cannon, the flashes of 
 the lightning, interrupted only by short in- 
 tervals of suspense, shook the Egyptian shore 
 for many leagues around, and filled the alarmed 
 and trembling inhabitants, both strangers and 
 natives, with unspeakable agitation. The French 
 transports in the harbour, and within the 
 garrison of Alexandria, waited in suspense for 
 their personal doom, as well %s the fate 
 of the French navy. Even so far as Rosetta^ 
 distant about thirty miles from Aboukir, the 
 battle, by the aid of glasses, was seen by French 
 officers, from its minarets and towers, though 
 confusedly; and the explosion of L'Orient wasi 
 accompanied by a shaking of the earth, per- 
 ceptible at that distance. Bodies of Arabs, 
 drawn to the shore by the awful sight and sound, 
 learning the fate of their invaders, felt their re- 
 sentment and indignation awakened, by the hope 
 of revenge on their enemies. They lighted up 
 fires on the shore, in testimony of their joy and 
 exultation, at the successful bravery of the Eng- 
 lish, They gave no shelter^ but, on the con-^ 
 
I 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELS61T. 10 
 
 trary, committed every outrage on parties of the 
 vanquished, who made their way to the villages 
 for safety from their wrecked and burning ships. 
 They interrupted the communication of the 
 French for some time, between the bay and 
 neighbouring towns, until Buonaparte made 
 arrangements for their security, by superior 
 force. 
 
 The instant the most pressing necessities of 
 the victorious fleet were provided for, the 
 active mind of the British admiral became im- 
 mediately turned towards every object, that he 
 thought could in the smallest degree affect, or 
 promote the interests of his country. Fearing, as 
 unfortunately proved the case, some accident 
 might prevent the dispatches sent by the Lean- 
 der,from reaching the British government so soon 
 as he might wish, Captain Capel was, as has al- 
 ready been seen, ordered toNaples,andto proceed 
 from thence overland to England ; and after an 
 in terval of two days. Lieutenant Duval,of the Zea- 
 lous, was sent overland to Bombay, to apprize the 
 governor of the extent of the French armament, 
 which had proceeded to Egypt, with an account 
 of the principal events which had taken place 
 subsequent to its arrival.^ Thus having endea- 
 
 * '' Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile, 
 " Sir, August 9th, 1798. 
 
 " Although I hope the consuls, who are, or ought to be, re- 
 sident in Egypt, have sent you an express of the situation of 
 
15^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 voured, far, perhaps, as human sagacity could 
 foresee, to profit by his success, the refitment 
 
 affairs here ; yet as I know Mr. Baldwin has some months left 
 Alexandria, it is possible you may not be regularly informed. 
 I shall, therefore, relate to you briefly that a French army of 
 forty thousand men, in three hundred transports, with tljirteen 
 sail of the line, eleven frigates, bomb-vessels, gun-boats, &c. 
 kc. arrived at Alexandria on the 1st of July. On the 7th, 
 they left it for Cairo, where tliey arrived on tlie 22d. During 
 tlieir march they had some actions with the Mamalukes, which 
 tlie French call great victories. As I have Buonaparte's dis- 
 patches now before me, which I took yesteiday, I speak 
 positively. He says, " I am now going to send off to take 
 Suez and Damietta." He does not speak favourably either of 
 coimtry or people ; but there is such bombast in his letters, 
 that it is difficult to get at the truth ; but you may be sure he 
 is only master of what his army covers. From ail the inquiries 
 which I have been able to make, I cannot learn that any French 
 vessels are at Suez, to carry any part of his army to India. Bom- 
 bay, if they can get there, I know is the first object; but I 
 trust the Almighty God, in Egypt, will overthrow these pests 
 of the human race. It has been in my power to prevent 
 twelve thousand men from leaving Genoa, and also to talie 
 eleven sail of the line and two frigates. Two sail of the line 
 and two frigates have escaped me. This glorioles battle was 
 fought at the mouth of the Nile, at anchor. It began at sun- 
 set, and was not finished at three the next morning. It has 
 been severe ; but God favoured our endeavours with a great 
 victory. I am now at anchor between Alexandria and 
 Rosetta, to prevent their communication by water; and nothing 
 under a regiment can pass by land. But I should have in- 
 formed you that the French have four thousand men posted 
 at Rosetta, to keep open the mouth of the Nile. Alexaudria, 
 both town and shipping, are so distressed for provisions that 
 they can only get them from the Nile by water : tlierefore I 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, I59 
 
 both of his own ships and the prizes was con- 
 tinued with so much earnestness, that on the 
 1 8th of August, he was enabled to quit the Bay 
 of Aboukir with his fleet : leaving Captain Hood 
 with a small detachment, consisting of four ships 
 of the line and two frigates, to block up the 
 port of Alexandria, and prevent the introduction 
 of any further supplies into that place for the 
 use of the French army. Towards the end of 
 the month, he quitted, for a time, the shores of 
 Egypt, and proceeded to Naples, where he ar- 
 rived on the 2 2d of September. The reception 
 he met with at that city, could not be exceeded, 
 except by what it is certain he would have 
 
 cannot guess the good which may attend ray holding our 
 present position ; for Buonaparte writes his distresses for 
 stores, artillery, and things for the hospital, &c. All useful 
 rommunication is at an end between Alexandria and Cairo, 
 You may be sure I shall remain here as long as possible. 
 Buonaparte had never yet to contend with an English officer, 
 and I shall endeavour to make him respect us. 
 
 " This is all that I have to communicate.. I am confident 
 every precaution will be taken to prevent in future any vessels 
 gjoing to Suez, which may be able to carry troops to India. 
 If my letter is not so correct as might be expected, I trust your 
 excuse, when I tell you my brain is so shook with the wound 
 in my head, that I am sensible I am not always as clear as could 
 be wished; but, whilst a ray of reason remains, my heart and 
 ' hand shall ever be exerted for the benefit of my king and 
 country 
 
 . <'I have the honour to be, &:c. &c. 
 
 " Horatio Nelson." 
 
i6o Memoirs of 
 
 found from his own countrymen, "had he re« 
 turned to England immediately after the ,^reat 
 event j'St mentioned. The British riation rang in 
 an extacy ofjoy with his praises, and even children 
 who scarcely knew how to articulate, were taught 
 to lisp out the name of Nelson^ as in gratitude to 
 the heroism of a deliverer, who had preserved 
 them from the worst of evils* The sovereign, 
 and never sure was honour more de^ervt:dly ac- 
 quired, raised him to a peerage ; and the parlia- 
 ment, in addition to their ihanks,* granted him 
 for his own hfe, together with those of his two 
 next heirs, an annuity of two thousand pounds 
 per annum. f Nor was this all : the government 
 
 * To which his lordship returned the following answer : 
 
 " Vanguard, Palermo, Jan. 31st, 1799. 
 " Sir, 
 
 *' Believe me I feel as I ought the noble reward which our 
 tountry has bestowed on me by its thanks, and I beg, sir, you 
 ft'ill have the goodness to express to the honourable house my 
 gratitude. I can answer for that of my brave brethren who 
 fought with me in the battle of the Nile. To you, sir, who 
 have not only so handsomely, but so elegantly, conveyed to 
 me the resolutions of the house, words are inadequate to ex- 
 press what 1 feel ; but, believe me, sir, I am, -with every sen- 
 timent of respect and esteem, 
 
 " Your most obliged and faithful servant, 
 
 " Nelson. "^ 
 ^' To the Right Honourable Henry 
 
 Addington, speaker of the house 
 of commons/' 
 
 t The unexampled scries of our naval triumplis has received 
 fresh splendour from the memorable and decisive action in 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. l6 i 
 
 of Ireland contributed its mite, by an addition 
 of one thousand pounds annually, during the 
 
 which a detachment of my fleet, under the command of Rear- 
 Admiral Lord Nelson, attacked and almost totally destroyed 
 a superior force of the enemy, strengthened by every advantage 
 of situation. By this great and brilliant victory, an enterj)rize, 
 ofwhiclithe injustice, perfidy, and extravagance, had fixed 
 tlie attention of the world, and which was pecuHarly directed 
 against some of the most valuable interests of the British em- 
 pire, has, in the first instance, been turned to the confusion of 
 its authors, and the blow thus given to the power and influence 
 of France has afforded an opening, which, if improved by 
 suitable exertions on the part of other powers, may lead to 
 the general deliverance of Europe. 
 
 Extract from his Majesty's Speech on the meeting 
 of Parliament, November 20th, 1798. 
 
 In two days afterwards, the following message from his ma- 
 jesty was communicated to the house of commons, by Mr. Pitt, 
 as chancellor of the exchequer : 
 
 " His majesty having taken into his consideration the signal 
 and meritorious services performed by Rear-Admiral Lord 
 Nelson, in the memorable and decisive victory obtained over 
 -a superior French fleet, off" the Mouth of the Nile, not only 
 highly honourable to liimself, but eminently beneficial to these 
 kingdoms; and his majesty being desirous to confer upon hini 
 some considerable and lasting mark of his royal favour, in tes- 
 timony of his approbation of his great services, and therefore 
 to "ive and «rrant to the said Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson, and 
 
 o o 
 
 the two next heirs male to whom the title of Baron Nelson of 
 the Nile, and Burnham Thorpe, in the county of Norfolk, 
 shall descend, for their lives, the net sum of two thou- 
 sand pounds per annum ; but his majesty not having it in his 
 power to grunt any annuity to that amount, or for a period 
 beyond his own life, his majesty recommends it to liis faithful 
 commons to consider of the means of enabling his majesty t© 
 extend and secure an annuity of two thousand pounds per an- 
 
 M 
 
iSl MEMOIRS OF 
 
 sarne term; and the East India Company- 
 Voted him a gift of ten thousand pounds, 
 while that of the merchants trading to Turkey> 
 in proportion to the magnitude of their concerns, 
 were not less liberal, having presented him with 
 plate of considerable value. 
 
 The tribute of the city of London w^as a 
 sword ; and although it is most probable that so 
 appropriate a proof of its respect and esteem 
 would have been shown to the noble admiral, 
 even if the subjoined intercourse had not taken 
 place, yetj as it preceded the gift, it will not be 
 improperly or uninterestingly introduced. 
 
 A court of common council being held in Lon- 
 don, the 3d of October, 1798, it was attended by 
 two hundred members. The business was opened 
 by the Lord Mayor, who read the following let- 
 ter, which he had received from Admiral Nelson : 
 
 " Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile, 
 *' My Lord, August 8th, 1798- 
 
 *' Having the honour of being a freeman of the city of Lon- 
 don, I take the Uberty of sending to your lordship the sword of 
 the commanding Frencli admiral. Monsieur Blanquet, who sur- 
 vived after the battle of the 1st, off the Nile, and request that 
 the city of London will honour me by the acceptance of it, as 
 
 num, to Rear- Admiral Lord Nelson, and the two next male 
 heirs, to whom the title of Baron Nelson of the Nile, and of 
 Bumham Thorpe, in the county of Norfolk, shall descend, m 
 such manner as shall be most advantageous to their interests." 
 It is needless to say the only debate on the occasion arose 
 from the dissatisfaction expressed by some gentlemen that the 
 honours and pecuniary rewards proposed to be bestowed upon 
 Lim were not infinitely greater. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 163 
 
 a remembrance that Britamiia stil! rules the waves, which, that 
 slic may for ever do, is the fervent prayer of your lordsh4p's 
 most obedient servant, 
 
 " Horatio Nelson." 
 "■ Riglit Hon. Lord Mayor of London.'' 
 
 An enthusiastic tumult of applause followed 
 the reading of this letter; and on the motion of 
 Mr. Deputy Leekey, the sword was ordered to 
 be placed among the city regalia ; after which 
 the thanks of the court were unanimously voted 
 to Admiral Lord Nelson, and to the officers and 
 seamen under his command. The court having 
 met again the following day, it was numerously 
 attended as before; and Mr. Deputy Leekey 
 presented a report respecting the French ad- 
 mifaFs sword, which, after a short debate, was 
 ordered to be placed in an elegant glass-case, in 
 the most conspicuous part of the council-room, 
 with the following inscription upon a tablet of 
 marble : 
 
 "The sword of Monsieur Blanquet, the commanding French 
 admiral, in the glorious victory off the Nile, on the 1st of Au- 
 gust, 1798, presented to this court by the Right Honourable 
 Admiral Lord Nelson." 
 
 It was then resolved, ** that a sword, valued 
 I at two hundred guineas, should be presented to 
 Rear- Admiral Lord Nelson, as a testimony of 
 [ the high esteem they entertain of his public ser- 
 vices to this city, and to the whole empire, and 
 that the Lord Mayor be requested to provide 
 and present the same to him ; also, that the free- 
 dom of the city of London be presented to Cap- 
 
 M 2 
 
164 MEMOIltSOl* 
 
 tain Berry,* in a gold box of one hundird gui- 
 neas value, 2$ a testimony of the high esteem en- 
 
 * Sir Edward Berry is the eldest son of a reputable trades- 
 man, who, through the misfortunes naturally incident to a mer- 
 cantile life, and having a large family, died, without being en- 
 abled to provide for it agreeable to his wishes. Sir Edward 
 was bom in the year 1766, and had the good fortune to be in- 
 troduced into the naval sen'ice, which he had at an early period 
 of life shewn a predilection for, through the interest of Lord 
 Mulgrave, who had received part of his education at Norwich, 
 mider the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Titus Berry, uncle of the pre- 
 sent Sir Edward. Under this nobleman's patronage and pro- 
 tection, Mr. Berry began his nautical career, and his first 
 voyage was about the year ] 779? when he was scarcely fourteen 
 years old, to the East Indies, in the Burford of seventy guns. 
 It is said, that he received his commission as lieutenant from 
 Earl Spencer, on account of his very gallant conduct in board- 
 ing an enemy's vessel. He was present at the engagement 
 under Ear! Howe, on the 1st of June, 1794, in which action he 
 is reported to have conspicuously signalized himself. Having, 
 owing solely to his merit, formed an acquaintance with the 
 Earl of St. Vincent and Commodore Nelson, he was most par- 
 ticularly distinguished by the latter, and served under him in 
 the ever- memorable engagement off St. Vincent, on the 14th 
 of February, and was particularly active in boarding the San 
 Nicholas and San Josef, both of which ships fell victims to the 
 exertions of his gallant commander. The assistance afforded 
 by Captain Berry, and the spirit he displayed throughout the 
 whole of the important encounter, most strongly endeared hun 
 to liis superiors in naval rank, particularly to Mr. Nelson, inso- 
 much that they formed the unshakable basis of a friendship 
 which ceased not but with the life of that noble person, Mr. 
 Berry afterwards attended his former commander into the 
 Mediterranean, being appointed captain of the Vanguard, ou 
 J)oard which ship Lord Nelson, then Sir Horatio, had hoisted 
 his flag, and in which he was, consequently, present at tlie en- 
 f agement oft' Aboukir. Here he had a full opportunity of dis- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 165 
 
 tertained of his gallant behaviour on the ist of 
 August/* These motions were carried unani- 
 mously, amidst repeated bursts of applause. 
 
 playing his abilities and gallantry ; nor ^id he omit to avail 
 himself of it. The particular share which he took in that me- 
 morable engagement, has been related in the accomit of it, al- 
 ready inserted in these M'emoirs. After the conclusion of the 
 acdon, Captain Berry was sent to England with the official dis- 
 patches, in the Leander of fifty guns, Captain Thompson. On 
 his voyage, it was their misfortune to fall in with a French ship 
 of very superior force ; but disdaining to yield without a con- 
 test, they resolutely maintained an engagement with her for se- 
 veral hours, till the Leander was so completely shattered, that 
 farther resistance became futile. Captain Thompson was tliere- 
 fore, though with the utmost reluctance, obli^^ed to surrender. 
 In tliis engagement Captain Berry was wounded in the arm. 
 On his exchange, he was received by his countrymen with great 
 applause : the honour of knighthood was conferred on him ; 
 and the city of London not only voted him their thanks, but 
 on his paying a visit to Guildhall, on the 8th of August, 1799, 
 he was presented with the freedom of the city in a gold box, 
 pursuant to the vote passed in the preceding year. 
 
 Sir Edward returned soon after this period to the Mediter- 
 ranean, and being captain of the Foydroyaut of eighty guns. 
 Lord Nelson's flag ship, accompanied his lordship to Sicily, 
 where he landed him, being very much indisposed. Soon after 
 tliis event, the Foudroyant came up with the Guilliaume Tell, 
 a French ship of eighty-four guns, one of tiiose which escaped 
 from the destruction of Aboukir. The following minute par- 
 ticulars of the engagement that took place, and which relate 
 to Sir Edward Berry peculiarly, are given in a letter, dated 
 Syracuse, Foudroyant, April 2d, 1800. 
 
 «' March 30th, I8OO3 
 
 **■ Sir Edward Berry, commanding his majesty's ship the Fou- 
 droyant of eighty guns, after having landed Lortl Nelson ill in 
 Sicily, came up witU the Guilliaume Tell, a Freoch ship 0/ 
 
l66 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 In consequence of the above resolutions, the 
 Lord Mayor wrote on the i6th to the noble lord 
 
 eiglrty-four guns ; and laying the Foudroyant alongside so close 
 ih'dt her spare anchor was but just clear of theGuilliaumeTeirs 
 mixzeu chains, hailed her commander, Admiral Decres, and or- 
 dered him to strike. The French admiral answered by bran- 
 dishing a sword over his head, and then discharged a musquct 
 at Sir Edward Berry. This was followed bv a broadside, which 
 nearly unrigged the Foudroyant, whose guns, however, being 
 prepared with three round shots in each, she poured a most tre- 
 mendous and eft'ectual discharge, crashing through and through 
 the enemy, described as a perfect chord of harmony in the ears 
 qf our tars, who were in their turn a little exposed ; but she 
 fired another broadside, when down came the GuiUiaumeTeirs 
 main and mizzen-masts, and at the same time the Foudroyant's 
 fore top-mast, jib-boom, sprit-,sail, main top-sail-y aid, stay-sails, 
 fore-sail, and main-sail, all in tatters. It was difficult in this 
 situation to get the ship to fall off, so as to manitain her posi- 
 tion. The combatants tlierefore separated for a few minutes, 
 when Sir Edward Berry called his men from the main-deck, 
 and cutting away part of the wreck, got the ship once more 
 under command, that is, obedient to her helm, and manageable, 
 and again close a-pngside her determined opponent, who nailed 
 his colours to tlie stump of tlie mast, and displayed his flag on 
 a pole over them. Sir Edward then commenced a most 
 heavy and well-directed fire, his men having now got into a 
 syjitbii of firing e> ery gun two, or three times in a minute, re- 
 gularly going through tiie exercise. Musquetry was occasion- 
 ally used, when tijc ship wasvery near on board the Guilliaume 
 Tell ; but latterly tlie mizzen-mast being almost in two, Sir Ed- 
 ward called the marines from the poop, and put them to the 
 great guns, by which means many lives were certainly saved. 
 At a few minutes past eight, the Guilliaume TcU's fore-mast 
 was shot away, and becoming a mere log, she struck her co- 
 loms. The Foudroyant, in this engagement, expended one 
 hundred and sixty-two barrels of powder, Iwelvc hundred thir- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 167 
 
 cquainting him with their proceedings, and re- 
 questing bis lordship would be pleased to give di- 
 ^-rections concerning the devices, with which he 
 should wish the intended present might be orna- 
 mented ; to which his lordship returned the fol- 
 lowing answer : 
 
 " Vanguard, Palermo, Jan. 31, 1799^ 
 "Sir, 
 " I have only this day received your letter, when lord mayor, 
 ef the ]6th of October, and beg that you will convey to the 
 court of common council my smcere gratitude for all their 
 goodness to me, and assure them it shall be the business of my 
 life to act in the manner most conducive to the prosperity of 
 the city of London, on which depends that of our country. I 
 am truly sensible of your politeness in desiring me to say what 
 particular devices I should wish on the sword which is to be 
 presented to me by the city of London, but I beg to leave that 
 to the better judgment of my fellow-citizens. Beheve me^ 
 when I assure you 1 feel myself, 
 
 " Your most faitliful and obliged servant, 
 '•' Sir J. W. Anderson." " Nelson." 
 
 The inferior tributes of private individuals 
 must not be forgotten. A gentleman of the name 
 of Davison, with a liberality and spirit equalling 
 the character of a prince rather than that of a 
 
 ty-two pound shot, twelve hundred and forty twenty-four^ 
 pound ditto, one hundred eighteen-pound ditto, and two hun- 
 dred twelve-pound ditto : although much damaged, she was. 
 in a very short period ready for sea.'' 
 
 Tliis was the last engagement in which Sir Edward had the 
 power of particularly shewing his gallantry- during that war; 
 and since the commencement of the present, he has held no. 
 command, till he was appointed to the Agamemnon of sixty-, 
 four guns, in which ship he was present at the late gloriQ^s 
 action off Cape Trafalgar, 
 
168 
 
 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 private gentleman, not only preseated his lord- 
 ship, and all the captains under his command, 
 with a gold medal, but extended his liberality to 
 every individual serving on board the fleet, by 
 bestowing on each a medal of silver, gilt metal, 
 or copper, according to their different ranks. ^ 
 
 * A variety of medals were struck on the occasion ; that 
 presented by his majesty displayed a happy union of elegance, 
 grace, and simphcity — a representation of Victory, in the 
 act. of crowning Britannia with a laurel wreath. 
 
 The reverse incloses, by two branches, one of oak and tlie 
 other of laurel, each respective name, which is afterwards en- 
 graved in the centre, with this motto — " In memory of 
 
 THE DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH FLEET ON THE COAST OF 
 
 EGYPT.'' The medal was executed by Louis Pingo, Esq. 
 principal engraver of his majesty's royal mhit, in the Tower of 
 London, who was the first artist of this description in Europe, 
 and consequently in the world. The beauty of its execution is, 
 indeed, in the fullest sense, inimitable — worthy at once of the 
 royal donor, tlie exquisite artist, and the glorious occasion. 
 
 On the medals struck by order of Mr. Davison, the allego- 
 rical figure of Hope was represented on the obverse, with the 
 emblem proper, standing on a nigged rock, with an olive-branch 
 in her right hand, and supporting by her left arm the profile of 
 Lord Nelson, on a medallion, to which she is pointing with her 
 fore-finger. Hope is crowned with oak and laurel, and the 
 motto to ihe medalhon is — "Europe's hope, and Britain's 
 glory." — ^Thcse words express the real feelings of the surround- 
 ing nations, and the boast of this happy island. The legend, 
 " Rear-admiral Lord Viscount Nelson of tlie Nile.'' 
 
 Tlie reverse represents the French fleet at anchor in the bay 
 of Aboukir, and the British fleet advancing to the attack. The 
 fortified islands in the enemy's van, the four frigates that were 
 moored within the line, to cover their flank, and the gun-boats 
 near the island — the setting-sun — the coast of l-gyfrt — the 
 flsouth of the Nile — and the castle of Aboukir. The legend-* 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 169 
 
 The captains also who commanded the different 
 ships under his orders presented him with a 
 magnificent sword, made purposely on the occa- 
 sion, the hilt of which, as an appropriate and 
 emblematical device, represented a crocodile. 
 But amidst the multitude of affectionate and 
 valuable gifts offered to his lordship upon the 
 preceding occasion, we must not omit to men- 
 tion a very singular one made him by Captain 
 Hallowell, who commanded the Swiftsure, at the 
 
 " Almighty God lias blessed jiis majesty's arms." Beneath 
 tlie view — *' Victory of the Nile, August 1, 17.9S." 
 
 This noble and disinterested instance of private munificence 
 needs no panegyric: we scarcely know which most to applaud, 
 tlie heart, which, overflowing with tlie warmest sensations of 
 private friendship, hath paid this public and noble tribute to 
 it, or that truly patriotic spirit, which, warmed by the glory 
 and tame of liis countrymen, has used such classical and accu- 
 rate means of handing down to posterity the peculiar circum- 
 stances and particulars of an event, the outlines, at least, of 
 which must be remembered till time shall be no more. 
 Segnius irritant animos demissa per aiires, 
 Quam quae sunt oculis subraissa fidelibus. 
 
 A third displayed on the obverse — Religion supj)orting the 
 bust of Admiral Nelson, with her right hand resting upon a 
 cross and skull : near her is the British lion, defending the 
 Irish harp : in the back ground a pyramid and palm-tree, to 
 mark the country where the victoiy was obtained — Legend, 
 " Nothing can oppose virtue and courage." 
 
 On the reverse was represented an anchor, on which were 
 the royal arms of England, surrounded with a laurel, and a 
 scroll, bearing this motto — " Praise be to Go^ — November 
 29, 1798." Above, the eye of Providence, denoting its influ- 
 ence and favour,— Legend, " Under this sign you shall con- 
 fjucr/' 
 
170 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 battle of the Nile. A variety o( trivial articles., 
 valuable only as symbols of the affection and at- 
 tention they displayed, and not on account of 
 their intrinsic worth, formed out of the v/reck 
 of rOrient, had been sent to his lordship by 
 diiFerent officers under his orders. Captain Hal- 
 loweH'iS present was a coffin, made out of the 
 main-mast, and accompanied by the following 
 ftote: 
 
 '' Sir, ' " Swiftsarc, August, 17 9S, 
 
 *' I have taken the liberty of presenting you a coffin, made 
 f^f the main-mast of rOrient, that when you have finished 
 your military career in this world, you may be buried in one 
 of your trophies ; but tliat that period may be far distant, is 
 the earnest wisli of your sincere friend, 
 
 " Sir Horatio Nelson, " B. Hali^oweli./' 
 
 "Rear-admiral of the Blue, &c." 
 
 This very extraordinary present was received 
 by his lordship with the utmost cordiality and 
 afTection; in so great a degree is he said to have 
 been pleased w*ith the singularity which suggest- 
 ed the gift, that he is reported to have kept it 
 constantly \Tith him in the great cabin, for a con- 
 siderable space of time ; nor was it without much 
 apparent reluctance, that he at length consented 
 to have it removed from its station. 
 
 Foreign countries were equally munificent. 
 The Grand Seignior,*^ forgetting that disinclina- 
 
 * Innncdiately on receiving the news of tiie victory off thfr 
 Mouth of the Nile, the Grand Seignior directed a superb dia- 
 mond aigrette (called a chclcngk, or plume of triumph) taken 
 from one of the imperial turbans, to be seat to Admiral Sie 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. I?! 
 
 tion to reward any person professing a different 
 religion, a disinclination which had, through lorg 
 
 Horatio Nelson, together with a piece of sable fur, of the first 
 quality. He also directed a purse of two thousand sequins to 
 be distributed among the British seamen wounded at the battle 
 of the Nile. The presents were conveyed to Sir Horatio in a 
 Turkish frigate ; and a note was delivered to Mr. Smitli, his 
 majesty's minister plenipotentiary at the Porte, upon this oc- 
 casion, of which the following is a translation : 
 
 " It is but lately that, by a written eonnnunication, it has 
 been made known how much the Sublime Porte rejoiced at 
 the first advice received of the Englisli squadron having de- 
 feated the French squadron, ofl' Alexandria, in Egypt. By 
 recent accounts, comprehending a specific detail of the action, 
 it appears now more positive that his Britannic Ivlajesty's fleet 
 has actually destroyed, by that action, the best ships the French 
 had in their possession. This joyful event, therefore, laying 
 this euipire under an obligation, and the service rendered by 
 our much-esteemed friend, Admiral Nelson, on this occasioQ 
 being of a nature to call for public acknowledgment, his im- 
 perial majesty, the powerful, formidable, and most magnifi- 
 ficent Grand Seignior, has destined as a present, in his impe- 
 rial name, to the said admiral, a diamoml aigrette (chelengk) 
 and a sable fur with broad sleeves; besides two thousand se- 
 quins, to be distributed among the wounded of his crew. And 
 as the English minister is constantly zealous to contribute, by 
 his endeavours, to the increase of friendship between the two 
 courts, it is hoped he will not fail to miike known this circum- 
 stance to his court, and to solicit the permission of the most 
 powerful and august king of England, for the said admiral to 
 put on, and wear the said aigrette and pclice." 
 
 [Chron. Ann. Reg. 179S. p. SS. 
 
 Dated September 8, 1798] 
 
 The presents made by the Grand Seignior to Lord Nelson 
 
 were brought to Naples by an effendi, or secretary, in the 
 
 Alcmene frigate, which sailed last trom Alexandria. His lord- 
 
17^ MKMOIRS OF 
 
 habit, grown nearly into a fixed principle, ser 
 hlnn a magnificent diamond aigrette, and a robe 
 
 sliip says, thzt the dfendi and his suit, thh teen in niimbcrj per- 
 forrtied their part m ilh great gravity and dignity ; they put on 
 their noble robes in his anti-chamber, and presented tlie aigrette 
 on cushions, after the oriental custom. The robe is scarlet 
 cioth, lined with the finest sable imaginable, and of inestimable 
 v^iue. The aigrette is a kind of feather : it represents a hand 
 with thirteen fnigers, which are of diamonds, and ai.usive t^ 
 the tii-irteen ships taken and destroyed at Alexandria ; the size, 
 that of a chikKs hand about six years old, when open*^d. The 
 centre diamond, and tlie four round it, may be worth about 
 1000/. each, and there are about three hundred others well 
 set. — With these two presents were several others of less value, 
 and a letter full of assiu^nces of friendship from the Grand 
 Seignior. 
 
 In respect to the description just given, it is in some mea- 
 sure correct, but in many points inadequate to the purpose of 
 conveying a proper idea of the ornament. The translation of 
 the Grapd Seignior's letter, which accom|>anied the present, i»s 
 as extraordiJiaiy as it is singular. 
 
 " Constantinople, 3d Oct. 1798. 
 
 ** A saperb aigrette, of whidi the marginal sketch gives but 
 an imperfect idea, called a chelcngk, or plnme of triumph, 
 such as has been, upon every famous and memorable success 
 of the Ottoman arms, conferred upon victorious Mussulme», 
 Seraskiers, I believe never before upon a disbeliever, as the 
 ae plus a?/ m of personal honour, separate from official dignity. 
 Tlie one m question is entitled rich in its ki»d, being a blaze 
 of brilHants, crowned with a vibrating plumage, and a radiant 
 star in the middle, turning on its centre by means of watch- 
 work, which wifKis up behind. This badge Mas absolutely 
 taken from one of the imperial turbans, mid can hardly, ac- 
 conling to the ideas of such insignia here, be considered as k\^s 
 than equivalent to the first order of chivalry in christendom- 
 such at least was my view in the indication v*' 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 17J 
 
 of honour, which had never before been bestow- 
 ed, except on Mussulmen who, by their exploits. 
 
 As comi€cled with tlie honour just mentionec!, we must an- 
 nex the following augmentation made to the arms and sup- 
 porters which he already bore, and which latter he had b^Hin 
 authoriijed to use, on his being created a knight of the Bath. 
 
 ** The king has been graciously pleased to gi\e and erant to 
 the Right Hon. Horatio Baron Nelson of the Nile, and of Bum- 
 ham Thorpe in the county of Norfolk, rear-admiral of the blue 
 squadron of his majesty's fleet, and K. B. in consideration of 
 the gieat zeal, courage, and perseverance manifested by him 
 upon divers occasions, and particularly of his able and gallant 
 conduct in the glorious and decisive victory obtained over the 
 French fleet at the mouth of the Nile, oa the 1st of August last, 
 his royal licence and authority that he and his issue may bear 
 the following honourable augmentations to his armorial ens^, 
 viz. a chief widulaied urgent, thereon watcs of the sea, from whick 
 a palm-free issvarif between a disahkd ship on the dexter and a ruin- 
 ous baiter y on thednister, all proper;, and for his crest, on a naval 
 crcTcn, or, the chetengk or plume of triumph^ presented to him by: 
 the Gi*and Seignior, as a mark of his liigh esteem, and of his 
 sense of the gallant conduct of the said Horatio Baron Nelson, 
 in the said glorious and decisive victory, with tlie motto — Po/- 
 main qui meruit ferat; and to his supporters, being a sailor on 
 the dexter, and a liou on the sinister, the honourable augmen- 
 tations following, viz. — f'n the hand of the sailor a palm-branch, 
 and another in the pan- of the lion, both proper, Ziith the addition 
 of a tri- coloured fag and staff in the fnovth of the latter — which 
 augmentatioiis to the supporters to be borne by the said Hora- 
 tio Baron Nelson, and by those to whom the said dignity shall 
 descend in virtue of his majesty's letters patent of creation ; 
 and that the same may be first duly exemplified, according to 
 the laws of arms, and recorded in the heriilds' otnce ; and also 
 to tuder that his majesty's said concession, and especial mark 
 of hii royal favour, be registered in his college at arms.'' 
 
 London Gazette, Nov. 1798, 
 
174 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 had acquired the highest renown. The gift of 
 the dowager Sultana, which accompanied the 
 former, was a valuable diamond ornament, re- 
 presenting a rose : and the emperor of Russi'a, 
 not to be outdone by his quondam enemy, sent 
 him a gold box, set with jewels, and of the esti- 
 mated value of two thousand five hundred 
 pounds. The kings of Naples and Sardinia, the 
 island of Zante, and the city of Palermo, were 
 each, pxcording to their several abilities, equally 
 liberal in their testimonies of gratitude. The lat- 
 ter presented him with the freedom of their city, 
 by which honour he became a grandee of Spain, 
 The king of Naples in particular, in considera- 
 tion not only of the obligations under which, in 
 common with the rest of the powers at war with 
 France, the preceding victory had laid him, and 
 which were afterwards most highly increased 
 by the peculiar situation to which that monarch 
 was reduced, but of the exertions afterwards 
 made by his lordship to serve, and support him 
 in his distress, presented him, among many 
 other valuable gifts of inferior note, with a su- 
 perb diamond-hilted sword, valued at five thou- 
 sand pounds/'' The present was the more flat- 
 tering and appropriate, on account of its having 
 been the original sword given to the king of 
 
 * He received from tlie king of Sardinia a box set with dia- 
 monds, acccorupanied with a most aftectionate letter; aud froiii 
 the inhabitants of the island of Zante, a gold-headed sword 
 and cane, as an acknowledgment, that had it not been for the 
 battle of the Nile they could not have bcQo liberated from 
 FroDch cruelt\. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. I75 
 
 Naples by Charles the Third, on his departure 
 to Spain, accompanied by the following remark: 
 *' With this sword I conquered the kingdom, 
 which I now resign to thee. It ought in future 
 to be possessed by the first defender of the same, 
 or by him who restoreth it to thee, in case it 
 should ever be lost." Nor was this the only 
 part of his royal favour, for in the ensuing year, 
 after the happy expulsion of the French anar- 
 chists from his capital, he settled on his lord- 
 ship, and his heirs for ever, an estate in the 
 island of Sicily, valued at three thousand pounds 
 annually, the possession of which conferred on 
 him, as an annexed honour, the title of Duke 
 ©f Bronte.* 
 
 * The editor of a new edition of the British Peerage, hav- 
 ing, on the suggestion of a learned friend, taken the liberty of 
 writing to tis lordship, then cruizing in the Mediterranean, 
 transmitted him the following remark on the origin of his title. 
 " When the king of the Two Sicilies conferred the additional 
 title of Bronte upon that gallant lord, as a reward for the pro- 
 tection which his fleet attbrded to his dominions, he, perhaps, 
 was not aware of its appropriate meaning. It is tJie Greek 
 z^ord for thunder. Tlie name of the individual Cyclops, who 
 is represented in poetic fable as forging the thunder of Jupiter, 
 was Bronte. His residence was of course at iEtna, in the island 
 of Sicily." To this intimation his lordship, with his usual 
 aftability and attention, immediately returned the following 
 polite ariSVvcr: 
 
 " Sir, Victory, at Sea, Oct. 13, 1804. 
 
 " I am favoured with your letter of August 22d. Your ob- 
 servation with regard to the dukedom of Bronte in Sicily, I 
 take to be perfectly just; and I cannot, therefore, have any 
 objection to your making what use of it you think proper. 
 
176 Memoirs of 
 
 Such were the affectionate, and, in mosf in- 
 stances, munificent testimonies which the poten- 
 tates, the princes, the corporate bodies, and the 
 private individuals of different countries, from 
 the frigid, to the torrid zone, from the Caspian, 
 to the Atlantic, gratefully offered to the worth 
 of the noble admiral. 
 
 Notwithstanding the naval power of the 
 enemy had received so fatal a blow, the presence 
 of his lordship still continued indispensably ne- 
 cessary in those seas. The objects of his atten- 
 tion were multifarious, but he ix^und such suffi- 
 cient resources in his own abilities that he 
 was not under the necessity ot neglecting any 
 
 " I will not fiiil sending the gazette to Rome by the first 
 
 opportunity, and desiring you will believe me thankful for 
 
 your kind wishes, I remain, 
 
 '' Your most obedient hunible servant, 
 
 " Nelson and Bronte." 
 «« Mr. J. Debrett/' 
 
 The paper alluded to in the gallant nobleman's letter Vk-as 
 the Calcutta Gazette Extraordinary, of February 27, 1803, 
 containmg the speech of the Marquis Wellesley in the college 
 of Fort William in Bengal, on distributing the prize- medals 
 and honorary rewards to those young gentlemen Mho had 
 excelled in oricitul learning. It was addressed to the very 
 learned society of the De Fropaganda Fide, at Rome, wlio have 
 enriched the world ^vith many valuable oriental works. 
 
 The preceding correspondence would perliaps be uninterest- 
 itig in the life of any otiier person ; but the case is materially 
 difierent with respect to so great a chtirncler as that of Lord 
 Nelson. Indeed, in no instance whatever was affability ever 
 shewn more strongly conjoined with other qualities to com- 
 plete the character of a great niau. 
 
IDRi) VISCOUNT N3ELS0N. 177 
 
 of them. The blockade of Malta, the protection 
 of the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, and the pre- 
 vention of any desultory mischief that could be 
 efFcted by the remnant of the French force which 
 had escaped from Aboukir, all in their turn de- 
 manded his diligence, as well as his activity , so 
 that w^ere we to content ourselves with rapidly 
 passing over events great in themselves, though 
 more quiescent than the tremendous scenes in 
 which his lordship had before been engaged, we 
 ' might in three lines briefly state, that no emer- 
 gency was left unprovided for, no service neglect- 
 ed, and that no single event, in which either Lord 
 Nelson himself, or those under his orders, were 
 concerned, proved unsuccessful. We cannot, how- 
 ever, persuade ourselves that such apparent haste 
 could be tolerated. The blockade of Malta, and 
 its dependencies, was confided to Captain, now Sir 
 Alexander Ball, and on the aSth of October, the 
 island of Goza having surrendered, w^as taken pos- 
 session of for his Sicilian majesty.* The foregoing 
 vt-as, however, only the forerunner of more serious 
 and important success. The armies of France had 
 overran nearly the whole of Italy, and the King of 
 Naples was in the month of December reduced to 
 
 * " Vanguard, at S'la, November ist. 
 " My Lord, 
 *' I have the honour to transrrit to you a letter received from 
 P Cap tain Ball, dated October 30th, togetherwith the capitulation 
 " of ihe castle of Goza, and a list of ordnance, &c. found in it. 
 
 N 
 
178 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the dire necessity of quitting his capital, and re- 
 pairing on board the Vanguard as a place of re- 
 
 The prisoners are embarked in the Vanguard and Minotaur, 
 till I can get a vessel to send them to France. Captain Ball, 
 with three sail of the line, a frigate, and lireship, is entrusted 
 with the blockade of Malta, in which are two sail of the line 
 and three frigates, ready for sea ; and from the experience I 
 have had of Captain Ball's zeal, activity, and ability, I have 
 no doubt but that in due time I shall have the honour of send- 
 ing you a good account of the French in the town of Valetta, 
 I am, with the greatest respect, 
 
 *' Your lordship's 
 
 " Most obedient servant, 
 " Admiral Earl St. Vincent." " Horatio Nelson.*' 
 
 *« Alexander, off Malta, October 20th, 
 
 «* SIR, 
 
 •* I have the honour to acquaint you, that the commandant 
 of the French troops in the castle of Goza, signed the capitu- 
 lation on the 28th instant, which you had approved. I ordered 
 Captain Cresswell, of the Marines, to take possession of it in the 
 name of his Britannic majesty, and his Majesty's colours were 
 hoisted. 'The next day the place was delivered up in form to 
 the deputies of the island, his Sicilian majesty's colours hoist- 
 ed, and ^e acknowledged their lawful sovereign. 
 
 '* I embarked yesterday all the French officers arid men, who 
 were on the island of Goza, amounting to two hundred and 
 seventeen. I enclose the articles of capitulation, and an inven- 
 tory of the arms and ammunition found in the castle ; part of 
 •which I directed to be sent to the assistance of the Maltese, who 
 are in arms against the French. There were three thousand 
 two hundred sacks of corn in the castle, which will be a great 
 relief to the inhabitants, who are much in want of that article. 
 ** I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 (Signed) «' Alex. John Ball.'* 
 
 '• Rcar-Admiral Sir H. Nelson." 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. I7g 
 
 fuge from his enemies. No time was however 
 lost in forming the best arrangements possible for 
 
 Articles of Capitulation between Alexander John Ball, *sq. 
 Captain of his Majesty's Slip the Alexinder, appoin ed 
 to conduct the Blockade of Malta, under Rear-Admiral 
 Sir Horatio Nelson, K. B. on the part of Great Britai«, 
 and Lieutenant-Colonel Lockey, Aju. de B.itt. Com- 
 mander of the French troops in the Castle of G022. 
 ist. The French troops shall march out of the castle of Goza 
 \vith the honours of war, and shall lay down their arms as they 
 get out of the gate. 
 
 2d. The castle of Goza, with all the military implements and 
 stores, shall be delivered up to the British officer appointed to 
 take charge of them. 
 
 3d, The French officers and troops shall be protected in 
 their persons and effecis, and the officers allowed to retain their 
 side-arms. They shall be embarked immeuiately on board his 
 Britannic majesty's ships, and sent to France, in trarsports, at 
 the expense of the French government. Tliey are not to serve 
 against his Britannic majesty, or his allies, during the war, 
 until regularly exchanged. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, K, B. has entered into 
 articles with the inhabitants of Goza, that if the French sur- 
 render to the British, they shall be considered as under their 
 protection, and they will not offer them the smallest insult or 
 molestation. 
 
 Signed 28th ofOct. 1798. Alex. John Ball, Captain 
 
 of his Britannic majesty's 
 ship Alexander. 
 Lockey, Aju. de Battailon, 
 Approved, Horatio Nelson. 
 
 Extract of Articles found in the Castle of Goza, the 28th of 
 
 October. 
 Fifty barrels of powder, nine thousand ball-cartridges, one 
 thousand musket cartridges without ball, one thousand flints, 
 
 K 2 
 
180 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 making head against the rebels, and reinstating 
 the monarch on his throne. A project of such 
 magnitude and importance, necessarily required 
 a considerable space of time, ere the proper dis- 
 positions could be made for bringing it to perfec- 
 tion ; and the summer approached before his lord- 
 ship was in a condition to undertake offensive mea- 
 sures. In the midst of his preparations, he was un- 
 der the necessity of being continually on his guard 
 against the introduction of any succours, either into 
 Italy, or Malta, by means of the few ships of war 
 which still remained to France in the Mediterra- 
 nean. As the seas and coasts requiring his care 
 were extensive, and the ships he commanded far 
 from numerous, the greater circumspection was 
 necessary, but his diligence amply supplied the 
 want of numbers. 
 
 In the month of May, having been advanced to 
 the rank of rear-admiral of the red, he shifted his 
 flag on board the Foudroyant ; and during the 
 
 thirty-eight eighteen^pound cartridges, filled, one hundred and 
 forty, twelve-pound ditto, four hundred and fifty, six-pound 
 ditto, two hundred and .'ixty. eight, four-pound ditto, twenty- 
 five, three-pound ditto, eighty-eight two-pound ditto, eighteen, 
 eightecn-pounder guns, good, and .two hundred shot, two, 
 twelve- pounder guns, good, ind nine hundred shot, four, six- 
 pounders, good, and two thousand nine hundred and eighty-five 
 shot; four hundred hand grenades, filled, ninety- nine pikes, 
 and ninety halberrs; three thousand two hundred sacks of corn. 
 N. B. No small arms, except those laid down by the French 
 troops. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 181 
 
 ftwo succeeding months, was unremittingly em' 
 ployed in the re-conquest of the Neapolitan terri- 
 tories, and the expulsion of the French hordes, 
 not only from the southern parts of Italy, but the 
 papal states also.* On his arrival at Naples, the 
 
 * The various leading events in which his lordship was con- 
 cerned, and which he so happily brought to a glorious termina- 
 tion, during this period of his service, cannot be more concise- 
 ly or interestingly given, than by the insertion of the following 
 official correspondence. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson, K. B. 
 to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated Bay of Naples, 27th of June. 
 
 ** I am happy in being able to congratulate their lordships 
 on the possession of the city of Naples. St. Elmo is^ yet in 
 the hands of the French; bat the castles of Ovo and Nuovo I 
 took possession of last evening, and his Sicilian majesty's co- 
 lours are now flying on them," 
 
 Extract of another letter from Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson, 
 dated Bay of Naples, 14th of July. 
 
 ** Herewith I have the honour of sending you copies of my 
 letters to the commander in chief, and the capitulation granted 
 to the French in St. Elmo. All the chief rebels are now on 
 board his majesty's fleet. Capua and Gaieta will very soon be 
 in our possession, when the kingdom will be liberated from 
 anarchy and misery. 
 
 «< My Lor d, «< Foudroyant, Bay of Naples, 1 3th of July. 
 ** I have the pleasure to inform you of the surrender of Fort 
 St. Elmo, (on theterms of the enclosed capitulation), after opea 
 batteries of eight days, during which time our heavy batteries 
 were advanced within one hundred and eighty yards of the ditch. 
 The very great strength of St. Elmo, and its more formidable 
 position, will mark with what fortitude, perseverance, and ac- 
 tivity, the combined forces must have acied; Capain Trou- 
 
182 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 prospect of public affairs was as disastrous as It 
 possibly could be ; the troops of France were in 
 
 bridge was the ofRcer selected for the command of all the forces 
 landed from the squadron ; Captain BrJl assisted him for seven 
 days, till his services were wanted at Malta, when his place was 
 ably supplied by Captain Hallowell, an officer of the most dis- 
 tinguished merit, and to whom Captain Troubridge expresses 
 the highest obligation. Captain Hood, with 4 garrison for the 
 castle of Nuovo, and to keep good order in the capital, an ar- 
 duous task at that time, was also landed from the squadron; and 
 I have the pleasure to teU you, that no capital is more quiet 
 than Naples. I transmit you Captain TrouSridge's letter to 
 me, with returns of kiiled and wounded ; 1 have a;S0 to state 
 to your lordship, thatalrhough the abilities and resources of my 
 brave friend Troubridge are \yell known to all the world, yet 
 even he had difficulties to struggle with in every way, which the 
 state of the capital will easily bring to your idea, that has raise4 
 his great character even higher than it was before. 
 
 " I am, &c. 
 <* Right Hon. Lord Keith, ** Nelson." 
 
 commander in chief, &c." 
 
 « My Lord, <* Foudroyant, Naples Bay, July 17th. 
 .** His Sicilian majesty arrived in this Bay on the loth, and 
 Immediately hoisted his standard on board the Foudroyant, 
 where his majesty still remains with all his ministers. 
 ^' I have the honour to be, 
 
 (' Nelson." 
 
 Admiralty-office, Sept. 2, 1799. 
 
 Dispatche5, of which the following are copies, were this 
 
 morning received by Mr. Nepean, from Rear-admiral Lord 
 
 Nelson, commanding his majesty's ships and vessels in the 
 
 Mediterranean. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. \tS 
 
 [uiet possession of the castle of St. Elmo, and all 
 khe other different fortresses which defended the 
 
 « Sir, ** Foudroyant, Bay of Naples, August ist. 
 
 « I have the honour to transmit you copies of my letter to 
 the commander in chief, with its several enclosures, and most 
 sincerely congratulate their lordships on the entire liberation of 
 the kingdom of Naples from French robbers, for by no other 
 name can they be called, for their conduct in this kingdom. 
 This happy event will not, I am sure, be the less acceptable, 
 from being principally brought about by part of the crews of 
 his majesty's ships under my orders, under the command of 
 Captain Troubridge. His merits speak for themselves; his 
 own modesty makes it my duty to state, that to him alone is 
 the chief merit due. The commendation bestowed on the brave 
 and excellent -Captain Hallowell, v/ill not escape their lordships* 
 notice, any more than the exceeding good conduct of Captain 
 Oswald, Colonel Strickland, Captain Cresswell, to whom I or- 
 dered the temporary rank of major, and all the officers and men 
 of the marine corps ; also the party of the artillery, and the of- 
 <ficers and men landed from the Portuguese squadron. 
 
 " I must not omit to state that Captain Hood, with a garrison 
 of seamen in Castle Nuovo, has for these five weeks very much 
 contributed to the peace of the capital; and Naples, I am told, 
 was never more quiet than under his directions. 
 
 ** I send Captain Osv.'ald, of the Perseus bomb, with this 
 letter; and I have put Lieutenant Henry Compton (who has 
 •served with me since January 1796,) as a lieutenant, into the 
 Perseus, and I beg leave to recommend those two officers as 
 highly meriting promotion, 
 
 " I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 *' Nelson.'* 
 
 *' My Lord, <* Foudroyant, Bay of Naf les, ist August. 
 
 '* I have the honour to transmi: - lu copy of Captain 
 
 Troubrid^e's letter to me, and the capitulation of Capua and 
 
184 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 city; the cardinal RufFo had moreover ignominious- 
 ly signed a disgraceful armistice and convention, 
 not only with the French general, but also with the 
 Neapolitan rebels. The terms of the treaty, how- 
 ever, which had been agreed to with the Prince 
 Carracioli and others, who were the principal lead- 
 ers of the revolution. Lord Nelson refused to ac-^ 
 cede to, and a motley, but spirited army, compos- 
 ed of Enghsh, Russians, Turks, Portuguese, and 
 Italians, immediately com.menced offensive opera- 
 tions. Such was the activity of these confederated 
 friends, such was the assistance rendered them by 
 Lord Nelson, and the officers under his command, 
 that on the ii^th of July, the batteries of the be- 
 siegers being then ready to open; the guns of St. 
 Elmo, which was the last fort that resisted, nearly 
 all dismounted, and the defences very much da- 
 maged ; the garrison proposed to capitulate, on 
 
 Gaeta, &c. Too mucTi praise cannot be given to Captain 
 Troubridge for liis wonderful exertion in bringing about these 
 happy events, and in so short a space of time ; Captain HaU 
 loweil has also the greatest merit; Captain Oswald, whom I 
 send to England with a copy of my letter, is an officer most 
 hi'^hly deserving promotion. I have put Lieutenant Compton, 
 who has served as a lieuienant with me from January 1796, 
 in the Pex-seas bomb, in his room, and whom 1 recommend to 
 yOoT lordship. 
 
 ** I sincerely congratulate your lordship on the entire libe- 
 ration of the kingdom of Naples from a band of robbers, and 
 am, with the greatest respect, &c. 
 
 >* Right Hon Lord Keith, com- *' Nelion." 
 
 mander in chief, &c/* 
 
I, „..„„...,„„... ,. 
 
 ^fcondition of laying down their arms, embarking 
 ^■br France, and submitting to be prisoners of war 
 ^■on their parole, until they were regularly exchan- 
 ed. Foreseeing the event, his Sicilian majesty, in 
 compliance with his lordship's wishes, quitted Pa- 
 lermo, and arrived off Naples tv/o days before the 
 surrender took place. On the 13 th, having hoist- 
 ed his standard on board the Foudroyant, in the 
 bay of Naples, he had again the satisfaction of be- 
 holding his metropolis reverted back to the domi- 
 nion of its lawful sovereign. On this occasion he 
 justly and affectionately complimented Lord Nel- 
 son, by saying, ** that he had re-conquered his 
 kingdom for him, and placed him once more on 
 the throne of his ancestors." 
 
 Although much had already been done, the af- 
 fairs of the Neapolitan kingdom required a conti- 
 nuance of exertions to place them in a state of per- 
 manent tranquillity ; Capua and Gaera, which still 
 remained in the possession of France, were as yet 
 to be reduced ; they were attacked ; attack and 
 conquest became almost synonimous terms. The 
 garrison of Capua surrendered as prisoners of war, 
 but to that of Gaeta the more favourable terms 
 were allowed, in consequence of the fortress being 
 only blockaded, and not besieged, that its defen- 
 ders should be at perfect liberty from the hour they 
 were landed in France. In both these capituia^ 
 -tions, the true spirit of French friendship, and the 
 extreme danger of accepting it, were displayed m 
 
186 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the strongest colours. The rebellious Neapolitans, 
 who had most traitorously and unwisely joined the 
 ■enemies of their country, and constituted the head 
 of what was called the revolutionary party, were 
 ■abandoned to their fate ; <and the miseries which 
 the country had undergone, were in some degree 
 atoned by the execution of the principal leaders, 
 imder a sentence regularly passed on them by the 
 court, constituted to take cognizance of their of- 
 fences. 
 
 The tranquillity of the Neapolitan kingdom be- 
 ing thus re-established. Lord Nelson extended his 
 views to the further removal of those very trouble- 
 ■some sojourners, the French, even to the remotest 
 part of northern Italy. Civita Vecchia was block-, 
 ^de<i by Commodore Troubridge, and the French 
 general, Grenier, consented to evacuate Rome, 
 and all the papal territories; thus was a prophecy, 
 said to have been made in respect to Lord Nelson, 
 on his arrival at Naples, completely verified : 
 " ^hat he should take Rome by his ships.'* We 
 must here insert, as one of the most curious in- 
 dices of his mind, a private letter written by him^ 
 to his much esteemed friend. Lieutenant-governor 
 Locker, in the very middle of that hurry which 
 the very important service he was engaged in must 
 have occasioned in his mind. We have already 
 expressed our opinion as to the interest due to do- 
 cuments of this nature, and believe there are v^ry 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 187 
 
 few persons who will cherish an idea contrary to 
 our own. 
 
 The present certainly displays sentiments of phi- 
 lanthropy, strength of judgment, and every requi- 
 site of mind necessary to form the friend, the 
 statesman, and the hero, in such glowing and de- 
 lightful colours, that it would be commiting a 
 species of sacrilege to his memory, to tear it from 
 public view. 
 
 " My Dear Friend, *' Palermo, Feb. 9th, 1799. 
 
 ** I well know your own goodness of heart will nrake all due 
 allowances for my present situation, in which truly I have not 
 the time, or power to answer all the letters l' receive at the mo- 
 ment J but you, my old friend, after twenty-seven years ac- 
 quaintarce, know that nothing can alter my attachment and 
 gratitude to you ; I have been your scholar. It wafj yea 
 who taught me to board a Frenchman, by your confiuct when 
 in the Experiment. It is you who always hold, " lay a French- 
 man close and you will beat him;" and my only merit in my 
 profession is being a good scholar. Our friendship will never . 
 end but with my life, but you have always been too partial to 
 me. 
 
 ** Pray tell Kingsmill, that it was impossible I could attend 
 to his recommendation j indeed I had, not being a commander 
 in chief, no power to name an agent ; remember me kindly to 
 him. 
 
 *♦ The Vesuvian republic being fixed, I have now to look 
 out for Sicily ; but revolutionary principles are so prevalent 
 in the world, that no monarchical government is safe, or sur* 
 of lasting ten years. 
 
 " I beg you will make my kindest remembrances to Miss 
 Locker, and all your good sons, and believe me ever your 
 faithful and aiFectionatc friend, 
 
 " Nelson." 
 f* Lieutenant Governor Locker, Royal 
 
 Hospital, Greenwich,'* 
 
188 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 It was in consequence of the signal services ren- 
 dered by his lordship to his Neapolitan majesty, 
 that not long after the restoration of the ancient or- 
 der of things in the city of Naples, that monarch 
 presented him with the valuable gifts already men- 
 tioned, and also conferred on him the title of Duke 
 of Bronce ; with the several advantages of domain, 
 and revenue attached thereto. The Neapolitan 
 standard w^as still displayed on board the Foudroy- 
 ant; and after continuing nearly five weeks on board 
 that ship, his majesty returned back w^ith his lord- 
 ship to Palermo, which city he reached on the 9th 
 of August, His arrival converted in an instint de^ 
 spondency into gaiety, as though he 1 ad carried, in 
 his hand, the magic wand of pleasure. The inha- 
 bitants, and the court of Sicily itself, appeared to 
 have forgotten the horrors of war, which, though 
 sorpewhat removed, still raged furiously round 
 them, as if all apprehension of danger was com- 
 pletely extinguished by the mere presence of their 
 tutelary friend, and guardian. '* The court of Pa- 
 lermo,'* observes a private letter, written at this 
 time, 'Ms now the chosen seat of royal gaiety ; 
 find nothing can be more brilliant than the fetes 
 which have been given to the hero of the Nile, par- 
 ticularly a fete champetre in the royal gardens, 
 by their majesties. A temple of glory was erect- 
 ed in the gardens, on which were placed three 
 figures, as large and as natural as life, modelled in 
 w ax : the centre figure represented Baron Nelson 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 1 89 
 
 of the Nile, Duke of Bronte inTicily, dressed in a 
 full British uniform ; on the brows of the figure 
 of the noble admiral was placed a wreath of laurel, 
 which his majesty with his own hand took from the 
 waxen figure, and placed it on the head of the real 
 hero, who wore it through the whole of the enter- 
 tainment, which was very superb. Egyptian pyra- 
 mids were placed around the temples, on which 
 were described the names of the most distinguish- 
 ed heroes of the war, English, Neapolitan, Rus- 
 sian, and Turkish 3 while on the zunick, or robe 
 of fame, were embroidered the names of those he- 
 roes in particular who fought in the battle of the 
 Nile. The music was superb ; and all the opera 
 band, with Senesino at their head, sung " Rule 
 Britannia/' and " God save the King," in which 
 they were chorussed by the whole assembly, who 
 had been previously drilled to the English pro- 
 nunciation." 
 
 To that, of which the account has been just 
 given, may be added a second, scarcely inferior in 
 brilliancy ; according to court etiquette, the pre- 
 tended host and author of the fete was the Prince 
 Leopold, a youth of nine years of age, v.dio had 
 tlien just entered on a course of nautical educa- 
 tion, being intended for the sea service. Their 
 majesties, with the nobility, the admiral?, and 
 chief officers of the English, Russian, and Turkish 
 squadrons, then in the port, were all present i and 
 the royal youth, appropriately dressed as a subor- 
 
190 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 dinate naval officer, officiated on the ocCa^idff 
 as master of the ceremonies. Among othef 
 splendid parts of the entertainment, was exhi-* 
 bited a most magnificent fire-work, represent- 
 ing the engagement off Aboukir, and conclu- 
 ding with the explosion of L'Orienc. To re- 
 peat the variety of compliments offered his lord- 
 ship on this, and similar occasions, would become 
 less interesting, because the desert v^^hich procured 
 them has never been doubted -, certain it is, that 
 in this instance at least, the varied honours so li- 
 berally, yet not too profusely shewn to this great 
 man, could not render the Neapolitan court sub- 
 ject to that charge of flattery, which has been so 
 often considered one of the vices of foreign coun- 
 tries. The people, from the prince to the pea- 
 sant, were grateful enough to pay proper adora- 
 tion to their preserver, and compliment, or adula- 
 tion w^ere completely out of the question. 
 
 The tribute paid to his lordship was not confined 
 to the territories of the two Sicilies ; Rome herself 
 felt the services he had rendered her, and joined 
 most heartily in displaying her warmest tokens of 
 esteem and veneration. The arrival of the British 
 ships under Commodore Troubridge at the mouth 
 of the Tiber, had fortunately prevented, for that 
 time, the removal to France of all the rare works 
 of art, as well of painting as of sculpture, together 
 with the most valuable remnants of, antiquity, 
 which she possessed, all which, the rapacious hand-s^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NBLSON. igt 
 
 of the French banditti had, according to their 
 wonted custom, most violently seized, and were 
 en^ag^ed in the absolute act of causing to be 
 transported to their own country. 
 
 So critical an escape failed not to make a most 
 sincere and lasting impression on the minds of the 
 people, and on the government itself; and it was 
 immediately resolved to erect a superb monument 
 to their deliverer in one of the most conspicuous 
 parts of the city. His lordship being informed of 
 the determination, returned the following very 
 polite answer to the proposal. 
 
 Dear Sir, '* Palermo, Dec. 19, 1799. 
 
 ** Sir William Hamilton has been so kind as to communi- 
 cate to me the distinguished honour intended me by the inha- 
 bicants, by you, and other professors and admirers of the line 
 arts at Rome, to erect a ilionument. I have not words suffi- 
 cient to express my feelings on hearing that my actions have 
 contributed to preserve the works which form the school of 
 fine arts in Italy, which the modern Goths wanted to carry off 
 and destroy. 
 
 ** That they may always remain in the only place worthy of 
 
 them, Rome, are and will be my fervent wishes, together with 
 
 the esteem of, 
 
 '' Dear Sir, 
 
 <* Your most obliged servant, 
 
 ** Bronte and Nelson.** 
 
 The distressed state of the Maltese garrison 
 caused, at this time, every possible exertion to be 
 made by France for its relief. Every ship that she 
 was possessed of in those seas was equipped in the 
 hope of effecting this grand desideratum of ser- 
 
192 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 vice. The greater part of them fell victims to|| 
 their terneritVj and it must have proved the greatest -■ 
 satisfaction, while at the same time it appeared one 
 of the most singular coincidences of circumstances 
 that ever took place, that the only two ships of the M 
 Jine^ which had njade their escape after the en- 
 counter at Aboukir, fell afterwards into the hands 
 of Lord Nelson, or of officers employed under his 
 orders. The first of these was * the Genereux, 
 
 * The vhilarice of the British anticipated the intention of 
 France, of attempting to throw succoure into La Valette j Lord 
 Keith, who then commanded in chief in the Mediterranean, 
 directed Lord Nelson to keep a strict look-out to windward of 
 the island, with the ships under his orders, while he himself 
 kept close in with the mouth of the harbour, in the Queen 
 Charlotte, and several frigates or smaller vessels, so that he 
 might ultimately intercept'the enemy, should they be even for- 
 tunate enough to elude the vigilance of Lord Nelson. The 
 latter, however, proved successful; the circumstances which 
 led to it will be best explained by the following letter. 
 
 " Foudroyant at Sea, cffCape di Corvo, eight leagues \V. 
 of Cape Passaro, oiFshoie about four miles, Feb. i8th. 
 
 <* My Lord, 
 ** This morning at day light, being in company with the 
 ships named in the margin,* I saw the Alexander in chase of 
 a linc-of-battle ship, .three frigates, and a corvette ; at about 
 eight o'clock she fired several shot at one of the enemy's fri- 
 gates, which struck her colours, and leaving her to be secured 
 by the ships astern, continued the chase. I directed Captain 
 Gould, of the Audacious, and the El Corso brig, to take charge 
 
 * Northumberland, Audacious, and El Corso brig. 
 
Lord viscount nelson. ig^ 
 
 tomrhanded by Admiral Ferret, captured in the 
 hionth of February, without contest. The second 
 
 of this prize. At half past one, P. M. the frigates and corvette 
 tacked to* the westward, but the line-of-battle ship not being 
 able to tack without coming to action with the Alexander, bore 
 up. The success being to leeward. Captain Peard, with great 
 judgment and gallantry lay across his hawse, and raked him 
 with several broadsides; in passing the French ship's broadside 
 several shots struck the Success, by which one min was killed, 
 and the master and eight men wounded. At half past four the 
 Foudroyant and Northumberland coming up, the former fired 
 two shot, when the French ship fired her broadside and struck 
 her colours. She proved to be the Genereux, of 74 guns, 
 bearing the flag of Rear-admiral Perree, commander in chief of 
 the French naval force in the Mediterranean, having a number 
 of troops on board from Toulon, bound for the relief of Malta. 
 
 ** I attribute our success-this day to be principally owing to 
 the extreme good management of Lieutenant William Harring- 
 ton, who commands the Alexander, in the absence of Captain 
 Ball ; and I am much pleased with the gallant behaviour of 
 Captain Peard, of the Success ; as also with the alacrity and 
 good conduct of Captain Martin, and Sir Edward Berry. 
 
 ** I have sent Lieutenant Andrew Thompson, first lieutenant 
 of the Foudroyant, to take charge of the Genereux, whom I 
 beg leave to recommend to your lordship for promotion, and 
 have sent her under the care of the Northumberland and Alex- 
 anderj to Syracuse, to wait your lordship's orders. 
 
 " I am, &c. 
 
 ♦* Bronte Nelson." 
 
 The capture of the Genereux must have been additionally 
 grateful to his lordship, from the circumstance of her having 
 taken the Leander, one of the ships which so gallantly fought 
 under his orders, being then commanded by Captain Thomp- 
 son, at the battle of Aboukir. That ship was afterwards very 
 >.andsomely restored to Britain by the Emperor of Russia, into 
 
 o 
 
19^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the GuiJlIaume Tell, of eighty guns,* taken on the 
 29th of March following, by the Foudroyant, his 
 
 whose possession she fell by the surrender of Corfu, where she 
 had been left by her captor. The particulars of the action 
 will be found in the biographical sketch given of the life of 
 Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson. 
 
 * This ship was the last remaining of the Toulon armament, 
 and at the battle of Aboukir bore the flag of Vice-admival 
 Villeneuve, the third in command. Although his lordship was 
 not personally concerned in the action, the circumstances at- 
 tending it will be found sufficiently interesting to warrant the 
 insertion of Captain Dixon's account. 
 
 Lion, at Sea, off Cape Passaro, 
 Sir, 3 1 St March, 1 800. 
 
 I have the honour to inform you, that yesterday morning, 
 at nine o'clock. Cape Passaro bearing N. half E. distant sevtn 
 leagues, the French ship of war Le Guilliaume Tell, of eighty- 
 six guns, and one thousand men, bearing the flag of Contre- 
 Amiral Decres, surrendered, after a most gallant and obsti- 
 nate defence of three hours and a half, to his majesty's ships 
 Foudroyant, Lion, and Penelope. 
 
 To declare the particulars of this very important capture, I 
 have to inform you, that the signal rockets and cannonading 
 from our batteries at Malta, the midnight preceding, with the 
 favourable strong southerly gale, together with the darkness 
 which succeeded the setting of the moon, convinced me the 
 enemy's ships of war were attempting to effect an escape, and 
 which was immediately ascertained by that judicious and truly 
 valuable officer. Captain Blackwood, of the Penelope, who had 
 been stationed a few hours before between the Lioa and Valette, 
 for the purpose of observing closely the motions of the enemy. 
 Nearly at midnight, an enemy's ship was descried by him, H 
 when the Minorca was sent to inform me of it, giving chase 
 himtelfi apprising me by signal that the strange ships seen 
 were hauled to the wind on the starboard tack. I lost notour 
 
 
LORD DISCOUNT NfiLSON. iQS 
 
 lordship's flag-ship, having at the same time the 
 Lion and Penelope in company. His lordship, 
 
 moment for making the signal for the squadron to cut, or slip, 
 and directed Captain Miller of the Minorca, to run down to 
 the Foudroyant and Alexander with the intelligence, and to 
 repeat the signal, liifnder a press of canvass, I chased until 
 five A. M. solely guided by the cannonading of the Penelope; 
 and, as a direction to the squadron, a rocket and blue light 
 were shewn every half hour from the Lion, As the day broke, 
 I found myself in gun-shot of the chase, and the Penelope 
 within musket shot raking her ; the effects of whose well di- 
 rectedfire during the night, had shot away the main and mizen 
 topmasts and main-yard. The enemy appeared in great confu- 
 sion, being reduced to his head sails, going with .the wind on 
 the quarter. The Lion was run close along side, the yard- 
 arms of both ships being just clear, when a destructive broad- 
 side of three round shot in each gun was poured in, luffing up 
 across the bow, when the enemy's jib-boom passed between 
 the main and mizen shrouds. After a short interval, I had tte 
 pleasure to see the boom carried away, and the ships disen- 
 tangled, maintaining a position across the bow, firing to great 
 advantage. I was not the least solicitous cither to board, or to 
 be boarded, as the enemy appeared of immense bulk, and full 
 of men, keeping up a prodigious fire of musketry, which, with 
 the bow chasers, she could for a long time only use, I found it 
 ab.so)utely necessary, if possible, to keep from the broadside of 
 this ship. After being engaged about forty minutes, the Fou- 
 droyant was seen under a press of canvass, and soon passed, 
 hailing the enemy to strike, which being declined, a very heary 
 fire from both ships, broadside to broadside, was most gallantly 
 maintained ; the Lion and Penelope frequently in situations to 
 do great execution. In short. Sir, after an action, the hottest 
 that probably was ever maintained by an enemy's ship, opposed 
 to those of his majesty, and being totally dismasted, the French 
 admiral's flag and colours were struck, I have not language 
 
 oa 
 
19^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 however, being at the time of the capture out of 
 health, was not on board. The same cause which 
 
 to express the high sense of obligation I feel myself under to 
 Captain Blackwrood for his prompt and able conduct in leadings 
 the line of battle ships to the enemy ; for the gallantry and 
 spirit so highly conspicuous in him, and for his admirable ma- 
 nagement of the frig ite. To your discriminating j udgment it 
 is unnecessary to remark of what real value and importance, 
 such an officer must ever be considered to his majesty's service. 
 The termination of the battle mu&t be attributed to the spirited 
 jireof the Foudroyant, whose captain. Sir Edward Berry, has 
 justly added another laurel, to the many he has gained during 
 the war. Captain Blackw cod speaks in very high terms of the 
 active and gallant conduct of Captain Long, of the Vincejo, 
 during the night. And I beg to mention the services of Cap- 
 tains Broughton and Miller. The crippled condition of the 
 Lion and Foudroyant made it necessary for me, to direct Cap- 
 tain Blackwood to take possession of the enemy, take him in 
 tow, and proceed to Syracuse. 
 
 I received the greatest possible assistance from Lieutenant 
 Joseph Paty, senior officer of the Lion, and from Mr. Spence, 
 the master, who, together with the other officers and ship's 
 company, shewed the most determined gallantry. Captains 
 Sir Edward Berry and Blackwood, have reported to me the same 
 gallant and animated behaviour, in the officers and crews of 
 their respective ships, I am sorry to say, that the three ships 
 have suffered mnch in killed and wounded; and that the loss 
 ©f the enemy is prodigious, being upwards of two hundred. 
 I refer you to the enclosed reports for further particulars, as to 
 the state of his majesty's ships, and have the honour to remain. 
 Sir, Sec. &c. Manley Dixow. 
 
 P. S. The Guilliaume Tell is of the largest dimensions, and 
 carries thirty-six pounders oivthe lower gun deck, twenty-four 
 pounders on the main deck, twelve pounders on the quarter 
 deck, and thirty-two carronades on the poop. 
 
I 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 19/ 
 
 had prevented his being personally concerned in 
 the encounter just mentioned, still continuing to 
 operate against his assuming the active function of 
 a naval commander, he was under the necessity of 
 striking his flag, and proceeding to Trieste, from 
 whence he passed to Hamburgh. The attentions, 
 the respect, and the honours, he received in all the 
 principal cities he passed through while on his jour- 
 ney, were unprecedented,, perhaps, but certainly 
 not unexpected, or unmerited: they proved only 
 that the inhabitants of other countries than Britain, 
 appreciated his merit equally with those of his 
 own, and that partiality was totally unconcerned 
 in the adoration, paid him by the latter. 
 
 Notwithstanding his lordship had landed at 
 Trieste in the month of June, so weak was the con- 
 dition of his health, that, added to the delays he 
 unavoidably met with in his route, the month of 
 October arrived ere he reached Hamburgh. The 
 QueenofNaplesherself accompanied him so far as 
 Vienna, as though unwilling to quit, till the last 
 moment^ the society of the man, to whom she pro^ 
 bably owed her existence, and to a certainty, the 
 rank of sovereign, which she then held. On the 
 eve of their quitting Palermo, her majesty pre- 
 sented his lordship with a picture of the kin^, hav- 
 ing on the reverse the initials of her own name, 
 the whole richly set with diamonds. 
 
 The attention paid to his lordship on his arrival 
 at Vienna, by the niost exalted personages at i\\^ 
 
igS MEMOIRS OF 
 
 imperial court, had rarely been exceeded by that 
 shewn to any visitor whatsoever. Tne emperor 
 received him as a prince ; at Prcgue, that ever to 
 be revered character^ the Arch-duke Charles, 
 treated him as his equal -, and the senate of Ham- 
 bljrgh, seemed to consider him as a person of 
 superior order to themselves. In short, greater 
 honours could not have been paid to him, though 
 to have paid him less, would have been ingrati- 
 tude. As to his reception in England, we shall 
 content ourselves with repeating the unadorned 
 account given of it, in the different journals and 
 periodical publications of the day, remarking, that 
 whatever a narrative so quoted may be deficient 
 m what is called literary elegance, that defect is, 
 almost invariably, fully compensated for, by its 
 truth and precision. 
 
 " His lordship landed at Yarmouth on the 6th of 
 November, after an absence of three years. The i 
 instant he stepped on shore, the populace assembled 
 in crowds to greet the gallant hero of the Nile, 
 and taking the horses from his carriage, drew him, 
 to the Wrestlers Inn. The mayor and corporation 
 immediately waited on his lordship, and presented 
 him with the freedom of the town, which had been 
 already voted to him for his eminent services. The • 
 infantry in the town paraded before the inn where fl 
 he lodged, with their regimental band, paying 
 every military honour, and firing feux de joye 
 of rnusquetry and ordnance till midnight, The 
 
LORD VISCOUKT NELSON, IQQ 
 
 corporation in procession, with a number of re- 
 spectabje officers of the navy, attended his lordship 
 to church, to join in thanksgiving vi^ith him. All 
 the ships in the harbour hoisted their colours, and 
 every honour was paid him by the admiral of the 
 fleet, Dickson, who endeavoured to evince, by 
 every means in his power, his respect for him. 
 
 " On leaving the town, the corps of cavalry un- 
 expectedly drew up, saluted, and followed the car- 
 riage not only to the town's-end, but to the boun- 
 dary of the county. On the 8th his lordship 
 arrived 'in London, and alighted at Nerot's Hotel, 
 King-street, St. James's. The noble peer, who 
 was dressed in full uniform, with three stars on his 
 breast, and two gold medals, was welcomed by re- 
 peated huzzas from the crowd, which the illustrious 
 personage returned with a low bow. In his way to 
 town, he stopped at the house of his father, who 
 however had left it on the Friday for London, and 
 the first interview between them, together with 
 Lady Nelson, was in the hall of Nerot's Hotel. 
 
 '' On the 9th, being Lord Mayor's day, his lord- 
 ship was invited to the civic feast, and joined the 
 cavalcade in its way to Guildhall. When the pro- 
 cession reached the top of Ludgate-hill, the mob 
 took the horses from his carriage, and drew him to 
 Guildhall, amidst repeated huzzas. Ail the way 
 he passed along Cheapside, be was greeted by the 
 ladies from the windows with their handkerchiefs, 
 and the loudest acclamations. At six o'clock the 
 
SOD MEMOIRS OF 
 
 company sat down to a very sumptuous dinner^ 
 After the usual toasts had gone round, a very 
 elegant sword, richly ornamented, the handle gold, 
 with blue enamel, studded with diamonds, the 
 guard supported with anchors, and the figure of a 
 crocodile, as emblematical of the grand event,which 
 had been voted to his lordship by the corporation, 
 after the battle of Aboukir, was presented tohim^, 
 with the following appropriate address, made by 
 Mr. Clarke, the chamberlain of the city. 
 " Lord Nelson, 
 
 *' In cheerful obedience to an unanimous reso^ 
 lution of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, 
 aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in 
 common council assembled, I present your lord- 
 ship with the thanks of the court, for the very im- 
 portant victory obtained by a squadron of his ma- 
 jesty's ships under your command, over a superior 
 French fleet, off the mouth of the Nile, on the ist 
 of August, 1798 : a victory splendid and decisive; 
 unexampled in naval history, and reflecting the 
 highest honour on the courage and abilities of your 
 lordship, and your officers, and the discipline and 
 irresistible bravery of British seamen ; and which 
 must be productive of the greatest advantages to 
 this country, and to every part of thp civilized 
 world, by tending to frustrate the designs of our 
 implacable enemy, and by rousing other nations 
 to, unite and resist their unprincipled ambition. 
 
 " As a farther testimony of the high esteem 
 ^hjch the court entertains of your lordship's publip 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 201 
 
 ices, and of the eminent advantages which you 
 lave rendered your country, I have the honour to 
 present your lordship this sword. 
 
 The consequences of the action I am thus 
 called upon to applaud, are perhaps unequalled in 
 the history of mankind. A numerous army, which 
 had triumphed in Europe over brave and veteran 
 troops, commanded by officers of the most esta- 
 blished reputation, landed in Egypt, under the 
 command ofhim,whonow sways the Gallic sceptre, 
 with designs of the most ambitious and extensive 
 nature. One of their objects, as acknowledged by 
 themselves, was to annihilate by degrees the Eng- 
 lish East India trade, and finalh to get into their 
 possession the whoje conimerce of Africa and 
 Asia. Such were the gigantic views of our im- 
 placable foe ; and such confidence had they in the 
 fleet which conveyed them, and in the station it 
 took on the coast of the devoted country, that it 
 bade defiance to the whole navy of Britain ; but 
 at this momentous period, the Almighty directed 
 your lordship as his chosen instrument, to check 
 their pride, and crush their force as a maritlm<^ 
 power, during the present contest. The circum- 
 stances attending this grand display of providential 
 interposition and British prowess, must interest the 
 feelings of every Englishman. Had a space been 
 chosen to exhibit to the world a struggle for supe- 
 riority in hautical skill and personal valour, be- 
 |:yv'een the two greatest naval powers of the glob^^ 
 
-02 ' MEMOIRS OF 
 
 none could have been more happily selected. Thf 
 three grand divisions of the antient world were 
 witnesses ; and the shores which had beheld the 
 destruction of the Persian navy by the Greeks, and 
 the heroic acts of Sesostris, now resounded with 
 the echo of British thunder. To your lordship 
 belongs the praise of having added glory to such 
 a scene : the heroes we applaud, would themselves 
 have applauded usj and he, who ages since led 
 his three hundred against an almost countless 
 host, might on that proud day have wished him-* 
 self a Briton^ 
 
 " The thanks of your country, my lord, attend 
 you ; its honours await you ; but a higher praise 
 than even these imply, is yours, in the moment 
 ©f unexampled victory, you saved your country — 
 in the next moment you did still more — you ex-. 
 emplifjed that virtue, which the heathen world 
 could not emulate ; and in the pious nm nobis 
 Damine / of your modest dispatches, you have en- 
 forced a most important truth — that the most in- 
 dependent conqueror felt, in the most intoxicating^ 
 point of time, the influence and protection of him> 
 whom our enemies, to their shame and ruin, had 
 foolishly and impiously defied. May that same 
 power, my Lord, ever protect and reward you; may 
 it long, very long, spare to this empire so illus- 
 trious a fea<:her, and so potent a champion/* 
 
 , •' To this speech the noble lord made the fol- 
 lowing short, but impressive reply : 
 
lord viscount nelson. 203 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " It is with the greatest pride and satisfaction I 
 receive from the honourable court this testimony oi 
 their approbation of my conduct ; and with this 
 very sword (holding it up in his left and remaining 
 hand) 1 hope soon to aid in reducing our impla- 
 cable and inveterate enemy to proper and due 
 limits, without which this country can neither 
 hope for, nor expe£l a sohd, honourable, and per- 
 manent peace." Nav. Chron, Vol. 4. p. 429. 
 
 Although these instances just recited, as being 
 the honours paid him by a public body, claim pre- 
 cedence, yet they were at least equalled by those 
 which he experienced from individuals of all ranks. 
 Popularity certainly was never more justly, or more 
 honestly acquired. 
 
 It might now have been expe6led by his coun- 
 trymen, and all the rest of the world, that his lord- 
 ship should have retired from the fatigues of public 
 duty, for a short time at least. The services in 
 which he had been engaged, had enervated his body 
 indeed, but produced no effect on his mind. The 
 necessities of his country appeared to require 
 his presence and assistance, and his pulse beat 
 too high with the true energetic feelings of a firm 
 and honest patriot to allow his passing into retired 
 or private life, while the flags of the enemies to 
 his country flouted as it were in defiance of her. 
 He was raised to the rank of Vice-Admiral of 
 the Blue on the ist of Januxiry, iSoi, it being 
 
504 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 at first intended he should have commanded a 
 divisionin of the main, or channel fleet, and the 
 San Josef, of one hundred and twelve guns, one of 
 the prizes taken by himself in the action off Cape 
 St. Vincent, was purposely fitted to receive his 
 flag. This arrangement had however scarcely 
 been made, ere the political situation of public af- 
 fairs rendered it necessary that it should be alter- 
 ed. The furious insanity of the emperor of all the 
 Russias, captious without offence, and violent 
 almost beyond precedent, in his attempt to revenge 
 an imaginary insult, contrived to prevail on the 
 northern powders of Sweden and Denmark to en- 
 ter into his views, and to oppose as it were, a me-^ 
 nacing front to Great Britain. It must, however, 
 have been apparent to the most shallow sighted 
 politician, that even though such conduct had been 
 successful to the summit of their.wishes, in pro- 
 ducing any effect on the British councils, and their 
 measures 5 such an interference would at least 
 have been unwise, to apply no harsher term to it. 
 
 The Emperor of the Russias might indeed be 
 almost said to stand single in the dispute, for hi§ 
 allies possessed hearts, by no means mimical to the 
 interests of Britain and their ovvn: but pajoled by j 
 the promises, or terrified by the threats, of the 1 
 former, whose fury, from his proximity to them, 
 they were compelled to dread, they entered intq 
 the war with a sangfroid suited to the occasion, I 
 f hey appeared as wishing only to preserve O-Ax 
 
tORD VISCOUMT NELSON. 205 
 
 national character from the imputation of pusillani- 
 mity, should they attend to the remonstrances 
 of the British court, rather than any real hope 
 they entertained, of being able to resist its resolves 
 with effect. 
 
 The principles of the confederacy, had Britain 
 quietly permitted them to be acted upon, would 
 not only have distressed, but humiliated her, in the 
 opinion of the world : though assailed at the same 
 time by the maritime force of all the rest of Eu- 
 rope, she felt her. dignity required the utmost ex- 
 ertion, and that the confederacy, the professed 
 object of which was to check and prescribe bounds 
 to her naval power, must be broken, or that she 
 must inevitably h\\ from the pre-eminent height 
 she had then reached, into the ordinary rank held 
 by other nations and countries. It v;as not a case 
 of desperation but of necessity; and the worst of 
 national evils might have resulted from the want 
 of success. A powerful fleet was accordingly as- 
 sembled, and placed under the orders of Sir Hyde 
 Parker; Lord Nelson was -appointed second in 
 command, and hoisted his flag on boai-d the St. 
 George, a second rate, of ninety-eight guns. The 
 force of the armament consisted of eighteen ships 
 of the line, four frigates, a number of bomb 
 ketches, and gun vessels, amounting in the whole 
 to fifty-two sail. The fleet however received an un- 
 fortunate reduction from the loss from the Invinci- 
 ble, of seventy- fourguns, which struck on a shoalolT 
 
205 MEMOIRS OF* 
 
 Winterton. The remaining ships and vessels 
 which sailed from Yarmouth on the 12th of March 
 arrived in safety at the place of their destination. 
 
 While these vigorous measures were pursued on 
 the part of Britain, Denmark, as the country al- 
 most certain of being the first to experience ag- 
 gression and attack, had taken every precaution 
 prudence and firmness could suggest, to parry it. 
 The most active preparations pervaded her ports ; 
 the King of Sweden, on his part, was on the alert, 
 and had not only inspected all his fortresses bor- 
 dering on the coast in person, but held an actual 
 conference with the crown Prince of Denmark, 
 for the sole purpose of concerting the means of 
 mutual defence. 
 
 Distressing in the extreme must it have been to 
 both these potentates, when they found themselves 
 involuntarily engaged in a dispute, from which they 
 could not with honour recede. The object which 
 obviously presented itself to the first notice of the 
 confederated courts, was the defence of the passage 
 through the Sound; it was protected on theSwedish 
 side by the fort of HeLingbefg, and on that of Den- 
 mark by the castle of Cronenberg, each of them 
 Were garrisoned sufficiently to withftand an attack; 
 ^nd in addition to that formidable opposition wnich 
 they threatened, numerous^ strong batteries were 
 erected on the Danish shore, through the fire of 
 which, it was considered impossible an hostile fleet 
 coulcl pass with impunity. For the security of Co- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 207 
 
 penhagen, the fortresses in existence were consi- 
 dered competent; the different batteries which had 
 already been erected for its defence, were in the 
 most perfect state ; the troops appointed to man 
 them were numerous and well disciplined. Added 
 to which, every precaution and terrific aid, that 
 modern science and invention could suggest, had 
 been used, to render resistance completely suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 Although Britain felt herself, in defiance of 
 every opposition that could be made against her, 
 totally at ease, as to the event of the contest, yet 
 honourable and philanthropic motives, imperiously 
 demanded that all the regular means of political 
 negotiation and explanation, should be employed, 
 ere the sword of war was actually drawn. The 
 Danish nation had been regarded for centuries 
 with a species of brotherly love ; the friendship be-^ 
 tween the countries was mutual, and nothing but 
 the hard necessity of political intrigue, appeared 
 capable of breaking the long established amicy. 
 
 There are instances however, where no expkna- 
 tion can possibly settle a dispute,- whether it be 
 national, or even of a private nature between two 
 individuals, without recourse to that most dreadful 
 €>f all settlements, violence and actual warfare. 
 
 Such was the political situation of public affairs 
 between the two countries in the present instance: 
 Great Britain prepared to attack Denmark, the 
 latter country was firm in her defence. 
 
 It will be necessary in this place to take a short 
 
view of the strength opposed to Great Britain b/ 
 the northern confederacy, though perhaps: thd 
 ostentatious pride of an Englishman may be dis- 
 covered in the act. Opposed as the navy of Bri- 
 tain was, by all the southern maritime powers of 
 Europe, it certainly displayed her magnanimous 
 spirit, to give her character the most quiet of all 
 names, that she should, environed as she was with 
 foes, provoke as it were the encounter w^ith new 
 enemies. The navy of Denmark consisted of 
 tW'Cnty-three ships of the line, not perhaps in the 
 best condition for remote service, bat certainly 
 capable of action for home defence, with the tri- 
 vial exception of one, or two only. Exclusive of 
 these, she possessed upwards of thirty frigates and 
 smaller vessels, independent of guard-ships* The 
 navy of Sweden was not inferior in numbers, but 
 far superior in point of equipment. Her navy 
 consisted of eighteen ships of the line, fourteert 
 frigates, sloops, and other vessels of war, together* 
 with seventy-four gallies, and smaller vessels, ex-* 
 elusive of gun-boats. The marine of Russiadoubled 
 the amount of both ; it comprized eighty-tw^o sail 
 of the line, together with forty frigates, and a con^ 
 siderable number of smaller vessels ; several ships 
 of the line, however, were unfit for service. Of 
 the force now stated, there were at Cronstadt, 
 Revel, Petersburgh, and Archangel, forty-seven 
 sail of the line, but the whole of the Russian fleet 
 Was badly manned and officered. Notwithstanding 
 Russia produces every species of naval stores, the 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^09 
 
 greatest part of the ships were in a very indiffer- 
 ent state of equipment. 
 
 Notwithstanding this important advantage, it 
 was evident to every political observer, that the 
 aggregate force of the northern confederacy 
 would attain an height extremely formidable, if 
 not injurious to Britain, provided the armaments 
 belonging to the different countries could be once 
 brought to act in unison, and concert with each 
 other; but the difiiculty of effecting that mea- 
 sure, the experience of all preceding ages, and 
 the example of all former confederacies, very 
 few of w^hich succeeded in their projects^ have 
 fully proved. 
 
 Although the British nation appears to have 
 roused her strongest energies, for the purpose of 
 breaking by force of arms that league, which 
 threatened to become so extremely dangerous to 
 her, she still remained unwilling to draw the 
 sword of war, while the smallest likelihood ap- 
 peared to exist, that it could be permitted to re- 
 inain peaceably and tranquilly within its scabbard, 
 Mr. Vansittart, properly invested with a di- 
 plomatic character, preceded the arrival of the 
 British fleet, and having reached Elsineur on board 
 a frigate, bearing a flag of truce, on the 20th of 
 March, a conference was immediately held by 
 that gentleman, in conjunction with Mr. Drum- 
 mond, the British minister at Copenhagen, with 
 the Danish court. The demands on the part of 
 
 p 
 
^10 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Britain, were the secession of Denmark from the 
 northern alliance ; the allowance of a free passage 
 through the Sound to the British fleet, and an 
 abandonment of the system of sending, in future, 
 convoys for the protection of Danish merchant 
 vessels. These proposals being rejected without 
 hesitation, the British plenipotentiaries received 
 passports for their return. 
 
 Such, however, was the existing force of that 
 so long continued national connexion, which sub- 
 sisted between the. people of England and of 
 Denmark, that although the government of both 
 countries appeared at variance with each other, 
 the people themselves seemed unwilling to be- 
 come parties in the quarrel. Notwithstanding a 
 positive order was officially issued in Copen- 
 hagen, for all persons in that city, and through- 
 out the Danish dominions, who owed allegiance 
 to the British government, to withdraw, very 
 few felt themselves so far interested in the or- 
 der, as to obey its and in justice be it said, in 
 no instance whatever was it known, that either 
 the freedom of the person, or the safety of the 
 property, was in the smallest degree violated. 
 
 It now appeared fixed beyond revocation, that 
 the dernier resort, the appeal to arms, was re- 
 solved on ; so the event proved ; and the British 
 fleet, during the night between the 2 2d and 23d 
 of March, sailed from Anholt to Gilleleve, on 
 the northern coast of Zealand, where it came to 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 211 
 
 anchor : even in this critical posture of affairs, 
 Britain appeared willing, to the latest moment, 
 to avoid encountering the miseries of war. On 
 the 27th of March, Sir Hyde Parker, acting un- 
 der the instructions he had received, and watching 
 
 . most correctly to ascertain the intention of Den- 
 mark, as to her future hostile or pacific con- 
 duct, dispatched a flag of truce to the governor 
 of Cronenberg castle, with the following note : 
 '^ From the hostile transactions of the court of 
 
 . Denmark, and sending away^ his Britannic ma- 
 jesty's charge d'affaires, the commander in chief 
 of his majesty's fleet is anxious to know, what 
 the determination of the Danish court is, and 
 whether the commanding officer of Cronenberg 
 castle has received orders to Are on the British 
 fleet as they pass into the Sound, as he must 
 deem the firing of the first gun a declaration of 
 w^ar, on the part of Denmark. 
 
 (Signed) Hyde Parker." 
 
 To this the subjoined answer was returned : 
 
 " I have the honour to inform your excellency, 
 that his majesty the king of Denmark did not 
 send away the charge d'affaires, but that on his 
 own demand he obtained a passport. As a 
 soldier I cannot meddle with politics ; but I am 
 not at liberty to suffer a fleet, whose intention is 
 not yet known, to approach the guns of the 
 ' castle, which I have the honour to commando 
 In case your excellency should think proper to 
 
 p 2 
 
212 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 make any proposals to the king of Denmark, I 
 wish to be informed thereof, before the fleet ap- 
 proaches nearer to the castle. 
 
 (Signed) '' Heer Stricker." 
 
 On the receipt of this note the British com- 
 mander in chief immediately again addressed the 
 governor. 
 
 " Finding the intentions of the court of Den- 
 mark to be hostile against his Britannic majesty, 
 he regarded his excellency's answer as a declara- 
 tion of war, and, therefore, agreeable to his in- 
 structions, could no longer refrain from hostilities, 
 however reluctant it might be to his feelings. 
 But, at the same time, the, admiral would be 
 ready to attend to any proposals of the court of 
 Denmark, for restoring the former amity and 
 friendship, which had for so many years subsisted 
 between the two courts. 
 
 (Signed) '' Htde Parker.'' 
 
 On the 30th of March, the wind having be- 
 come favourable, the British fleet passed the 
 Sound, the key of the Baltic ; and notwithstand- 
 ing the difficulty that had been previously appre- 
 hended by persons, who were fond of anticipat- 
 ing disasters, it was effected without the smallest 
 injury to the British fleet *. 
 
 * The annexed account of the several transactions imme* 
 diately preceding, and during the passage of the Sound, as 
 it is certainly a most correct, so will it most probably prove, 
 the most interesting transaction that could be given. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 21.3 
 
 The scene of future contest was now open, 
 and the prospect is described as wonderfully fitted 
 
 Early on the morning of the 1 8th- of May, the admiral 
 made the signal for seeing land ; and on the 19th, about noon, 
 we made the Scavv, which was the first general rendezvous of the 
 fleet. The Scaw, or Scagen, is a low point of land, the most 
 northerly of the peninsula of North Jutland. Apparently 
 sandy and barren, distant from Marstrand island, on the 
 Swedish shore, 11 or 12 leagues. On both these points the 
 Danes and Swedes jiave erected light-houses; towards the 
 support of which all vessels that pass the Sound, or enter 
 the Swedish ports, are obliged to contribute. The passage 
 between the Scaw lights and the Cattegat, is considered the 
 entrance of the Cattegat. 
 
 At a period, when every delay, however trifling, must 
 have been favourable to the northern coalition, and when it 
 was well known that the Danes were making every possible , 
 effort to obstruct the passage of the Sound, and render Co- 
 penhagen inaccessible to the approach of our gun vessels, it 
 excited a general surprise that our fleet did not pass the Cat- 
 tegat with a strong N.W, wind, which was favourable, and that 
 by lying to, and standing so many hours off the Scaw, the ad- 
 vantage should be lost resulting from expedition, and par- 
 ticularly so when the mildest winter known for many years in 
 these climates, had left the passage of the Sound, and the 
 navigation of the Baltic, completely open. 
 
 From the zistto the 24 h, we had, in general, foul winds, 
 heavy falls of sleet, snow, and rain, which, added to a chilling 
 cold, caused the officers and crews to suffer considerable fa- 
 tigue. The Russell had parted from the admiral, in conse- 
 quence of having been ordered to take the Tickler gun-brjg 
 in tow, on the 13th, and this circumstance had nearly caused 
 her destruction : she having, in her endeavours to preserve 
 this vessel during a dark and hazy night, been drifted on a 
 lee-shore, where she would inevitably have perished, but fqr 
 the unexampled exertions of the officers and crew. 
 
214 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 to excite a variety of emotions, mixing, or suc- 
 ceeding each other, of the liveliest and most 
 
 During the negotiations that were carried on, previous to 
 our passing the Sound, an incident occurred, which, though 
 trivial in itself, may tend to point out the mode of thinking 
 then prevalent at the court of Denmark, and the perfect state 
 of security in which the Danes considered themselves at the 
 time. An officer of distinction, high in favour with the 
 prince, came on board the admiral, with a verbal arsvver to 
 one of our proposals ; and finding som.e difficulty in expressing, 
 with sufficient accuracy, the sentiments of his court, was re» 
 quested to communicate them in writing. The pen whicJ^ 
 had been brought for this purpose happening to be ill-pointed| 
 he held it up, and observed with a sarcastic smile to those 
 about him, ** If your guns are not better pointed than your 
 pens, you will make little impression on Copenhagen." 
 
 Scarce had the admiral declared his intention of forcing the 
 passage of the Sound, when he was induced to relinquish it, 
 by the suggestions of some ignorant and designing pilots, who, 
 from motives of fear or interest, had considerably exaggerated 
 the difficulties and dangers of the enterprize, and had repre- 
 sented, as much more practicable and less hazardous, the circui- 
 tous passage of the Great Belt. The vague and inaccurate ac- 
 counts that had been communicated respecting the preparations 
 of the Swedes, and the strength of Helsinberg castle, where, as 
 it has since appeared, there were mounted only eight effective 
 guns of small calibre ; the difficulties in an hostile country of 
 repairing the calamities that might be expected in passing the 
 enemy's forts; the disadvantage of a southerly wind, with 
 some other important considerations ; and perhaps some secret 
 prudential motives, appeared to fix the determination of the 
 English admiral. The 26th, at day break, the fleet got un- 
 der weigh, and stood to the westward, for the purpose, as it 
 was generally believed, of passing the Great Belt. Captain 
 Murray of the Edgar, an active and intelligent officer, who, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 215 
 
 affecting nature ; a splendid theatre appeared for 
 war and victory ; but the face of nature, and the 
 
 the preceding summer had surveyed this entrance to the Baltic, 
 with a degree of accuracy hitherto unknown, proffered his 
 services to lead the fleet. It was now concluded, from the 
 high opinion of this officer's professional abilities, and the 
 facility with which the passage might be effected, in a place 
 where the Danes had but one guard-ship, his offers would be 
 accepted; but they were not. On the 26th and 27th, several 
 vessels from the Baltic, under Prussian colours, passed the 
 Sound ; and were permitted to proceed, although it was 
 known that Prussia was acting hostilely against Great Britain at 
 that time. The order given on the 28th to prepare for battle, 
 an order always received by British tars with acclamations of 
 joy, at length relieved us from a state of despondency ; and, 
 together with some previous manoeuvres of the admiral, con- 
 vinced us that the passage of the Sound was decided upon. 
 Nothing but the appointment of a popular leader was now 
 wanting, to maintain and direct to the accomplishment of an 
 enterprize, that spirit of heroic enthusiasm which served to 
 pervade every bosom ; and fortunately for the English nation 
 this service was allotted to the Hero of the Nile, who had so 
 often led the British tars to glory. 
 
 The afternoon of the 29th was principally employed in clear- 
 ing the ships for action, which was done with an alacrity and 
 expedition unexampled in the history of naval events ; and it 
 now remained to overthrow, by the force of cannon, a popular 
 error, which all the power of reasoning could never have re- 
 moved. It had long been a received opinion in Europe, that the 
 possession of Cronenberg castle gave to the Danes an uncon- 
 trouled command of the passage of the Sound ; and the Danes 
 seem to have so far adopted this opinion, and to have profited 
 by the imaginary advantage of their situation, that for more 
 than a century they have exercised the undisputed right of levy- 
 ing contributions on all vessels, in proportion to the value of the 
 
216 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 recollection of a common interest, a common 
 religion, and a common origin, or character, with 
 
 cargo, trading to and from the Baltic. The tacit assent 
 given by the European powers to this flagrant imposition, ap- 
 parently justified by the sanction of time, so far confirmed 
 the Danes in the validity of this opinion, that they considered 
 any augmentation to the works as superfluous ; and relying 
 on the co-operation of the Swedes, had neglected, by floating 
 batteries, to render the approach of the English more difficult 
 than otherwise it might have been. The v;ind being as fa- 
 vourable as the most sanguine expectation could desire, the 
 admiral, to the inexpressible joy of the whole fleet, made, on 
 the morning of the 30th, the signal to weigh and form the 
 order of battle. The nomination of the concjueror of Abou- 
 kir to lead the van division, seemed already an happy presage 
 of victory, and diffused a spirit of confidence and emu'ation, 
 which the name of Nelson never fails to excite among British 
 seamen. Sir Hyde Parker acted with his division in the rear, 
 as a corps de resernje. Such was the promptitude displayed in 
 executing the orders to form a line, and to engage, that at 
 half past six the Monarch, appointed to lead the fleet, was so 
 far advanced, that the enemy commenced a heavy and well- 
 supported fire, from the whole line of their positions, which 
 was instantaneously returned from the leading ships, and from 
 some of those of the centre and rear divisions. 
 
 No one circumstance during the operations of this memora- 
 ble day contributed so efficaciously towards their ultimate suc- 
 cess as the silence of the Swedish batteries. What might have 
 been the motives that determined the conduct of Sweden on 
 this occasion, whether a secret misunderstanding between the 
 courts of Stockholm and Copenhagen, or apprehensions that 
 the town of Helsinberg would meet a fate similar to that of 
 Elsineur, it is impossible to determine ; but certain it is, that 
 not a single shot was fired on the part of the Swedes; and at 
 half past ten, every ship had passed the Sound w ithout having 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^17 
 
 ihe nations on the shores of the Bahic, could not 
 but impress every intelligent and feeling mind 
 with sentiments of regret; these in the midst of 
 all the apparatus, and almost in the very throat 
 of war, tend, in some sort and degree, to har- 
 monize the mind to peace and concord. No- 
 thing in the northern parts of Europe, or of Asia, 
 presents a prospect equal to the channel of the 
 Sound, the territory of Denmark on the right, 
 the islands of Saltholm and Amak, with part of 
 Zealand, and the capital of the kingdom, Co- 
 penhagen, nearly in front 
 
 On the coast of Denmark appears a continued 
 succession of rich plains, woods, meadows, su- 
 perb mansions, neat villas, pleasant gardens, 
 adorned with all the embellishments of art ; 
 while the Swedish shore exhibits excellent pas- 
 tures, a mountainous and picturesque coast. The 
 island of Nuen, celebrated for the observatory 
 of Tycho Brahe, arrests the attention of the pas- 
 sing voyager. To the eye, looking back from 
 thence, the fortresses of Elsineur, Cronenberg, 
 and Helsingburg, seem to unite, and to bound on 
 
 sustained the slightest casualty, ex'cept six or seven men 
 killed or wounded on board the Isis, by the bursting of one of 
 her lower deck guns. 
 
 Thus vanished," like the baseless fabric of a vision, that 
 chimaera, on which the Danes had founded a most lucrative 
 impositrori, and obliged the captains of English merchantmen 
 to submit to insults, and rude injustice, that ought never again 
 to be tolerated. 
 
218 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the north, a vast Jake ; but as soon as it ad- 
 vances, it discovers the sea, and the whole ex- 
 tent of the plain of Copenhagen ; its port filled 
 with vessels, and its cultivated environs. On 
 the side next the sea this city presents itself in 
 all its magnificence. It is visible at the dis- 
 tance of several miles. The gothic towers with 
 which it abounds, and which, from a distance, 
 form a majestic appearance, engage and fix the 
 attention of the spectator, by the height of their S 
 spires, as well as by the variety of the ornaments : 
 with which they are decorated. The number of 
 inhabitants exceeds eighty thousand. It contains 
 the principal fortress of the country, the fleet, the 
 marine arsenals, the only university in Denmark, 
 several academies, a superb library, a veterinary 
 school, a school for cadets in the sea and land 
 service, a museum containing a great variety of 
 rare and curious objects, a number of fine edi-. 
 fices, statues, and monuments of every kind. The 
 streets are for the most part broad, and well paved. 
 There are excellent footways, as in London, and 
 every where the signs of comfort, wealth, and 
 magnificence. The garrison, in time of peace, 
 consists of six regiments of infantry, the foot 
 guard, the horse guard, a corps of artillery, a 
 corps of marines, amounting in the whole to 
 about ten thousand men; to which may be added 
 the city militia, the chief officers of which are 
 appointed by the King, and rank among the offi- 
 
\ 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 219 
 
 cers in the army. The fortress of Frederickstadt, 
 supported on one side by the batteries of one of 
 the arsenals, defends the entrance of the harbour> 
 where there is besides another battery, and where, 
 in case of necessity, a number of flat-bottomed 
 boats and floating batteries may be stationed, a? 
 in fact they were in the present juncture. Such 
 was the city, the capital of a congenial and long 
 friendly nation, that was now pointed out as an 
 object of attack to the British navy. 
 
 The first apparent difficulty being overcome, 
 the second, certainly the most important, in- 
 stantly presented itself j it was no less than the 
 attack of the capital of Denmark, as has been 
 already observed, the city of Copenhagen. As 
 on the success of this enterprize the event of 
 the campaign solely depended, so were the most 
 industrious and active means used to ensure it. 
 Lord Nelson, with that ardour which ever charac- 
 terized his conduct, voluntarily stood forth to en- 
 counter with his best exertions of mind and body, 
 the apprehended danger. The offer of his services 
 was accepted, and the command of the squadron 
 selected for the ^attack, conferred on him. The 
 necessary position to be taken upon the occasion, 
 together with the passage to it, were very little 
 known, and extremely intricate; but it is the 
 part of great men to overcome such impedi- 
 pients. His lordship personally attended to every 
 
220 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 preparatory measure, he saw the soundhigs accu- 
 rately made under bis own eye and obbcrvation, 
 and the several buoys laid, which were to direct 
 the passage of his fleet : the fatigue was exces- 
 sive, and had nearly proved too grievous for his 
 lordship's delicate constitution, and infirm state of 
 health , his ardour and zeal, however, enabled 
 him to overcome every obstacle ; and having ar- 
 ranged all these necessary preparatory measures, 
 he is said, with that truly christian spirit of devo- 
 tion, which marked every action of his life, to 
 have exclaimed, "Thank God, for having ena- 
 bled me to get through this difficult and fatiguing 
 part of my duty, which has really worn me down, 
 and is infinitely more grievous to me, than any 
 resistance I can experience from an enemy.'* 
 
 According to the plan of operations arranged 
 between his lordship and the commander in chiefj 
 the former was to proceed with twelve ships of 
 the line, all the frigates, bomb ketches, fire-ships, 
 and other vessels, to Draco Point, a short dis- 
 tance from Copenhagen, for the purpose of mak- 
 ing his last dispositions for the attack, and waiting 
 for a favourable wind to the southward, to effect 
 that purpose. The commander in chief, it was 
 agreed, was to weigh anchor with his division, at 
 the same time his lordship proceeded to the at- 
 tack, and menace, by his advance, the crown 
 batteries, together with four shipS;, or hulk^ thcic 
 
I 
 
c 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 k 
 
 ^' ? 
 
 
 ^ ol 
 
 i 
 
 a: 
 
 
 -:) 
 
 1 
 
 c 
 
 Is 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 G 
 
 
 C 
 
 ."^ 
 
 
 s 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 3 
 
 
 •^ 
 
 1 §^ 
 
 4= 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NgLSON. 221 
 
 lay near It, for the protection of the arsenal, as 
 well as to cover any vessels that might have the 
 misfortune to be disabled^ in his lordship's attack. 
 On the second of April the signal for that en- 
 counter, which was to decide the destruction of 
 the northern confederacy, or the humiliation of 
 England, was displayed by his lordship.'^ The 
 
 * The following orders were given for the attack : 
 As Vice-Admirai Lord Nelson cannot with precioion mark 
 the situation of the difFere«t descriptions of the enemy's 
 floating batteries and smaller vessels, lying between* their two- 
 deck ships and hulks, the ships which are to be opposed to the 
 floating batteries, &c. will find their stations by observing the 
 stations of the ships to be opposed to the two-decked .ship^ 
 and hulks. 
 
 LINE OF BATTLE. 
 
 pEdgar, -| 
 
 These ships are to | Ardent, 'i ^ , , . 
 
 . ; ^, J Arc to lead m suc- 
 
 nrc m passing on< Lrlatton; > 
 
 ^ ^ . f cession, 
 
 to their stations. | Isis, I 
 
 LAgamemnon,* J 
 
 The Edgar to anchor abreast of No. 5 (a sixty-four gun 
 
 ship hulk). The Ardent to pass the Edgar and anchor abreast 
 
 of No. 6 and No. 7. The Glatton to pass the Ardent and 
 
 anchor abreast of No, 9 (a sixty-four gun ship hulk). The 
 
 Isis to anchor abreast of No. 2 (a sixty-four gun ship hulk). 
 
 The Agamemnon to anchor abreast of No. i. 
 
 Bellona,* 
 
 Elephant, 
 
 Ganges, 
 
 Monarch, 
 
 Defiance, 
 
 Russell,* 
 
 Polyphemus, J 
 
 To take their station and anchor as is pre- 
 scribed by the following arrangements. 
 
^Qi UtMOlUS OF 
 
 particulars, and the events which took place, and 
 to which it gave birth, are most accurately and ^ 
 
 Memorandum. No. i begins with the enemy's first ship to ^ 
 southward. 
 
 Supposed number 
 Ko» Rate. of guns mounted 
 
 oh one side. 
 
 !Agamemnon,* 
 Desiree is to follow Agamem- 
 non, and take No. 2. 
 
 Sit is hoped the Desiree's fire 
 will not only rake No. i, but 
 also rake these 2 floating batte- 
 .,j^.,iui«.. i«., 1..1V,. j.w. ries. Capt.Rose is to place the 6 
 
 ^guia-brigs so as to rake them also 
 5 64 27 Edgar. 
 
 6cPontoon .... io7 
 
 \r^ . , ,, y Ardent. 
 
 7(r'ngate hulk ... 123 ^ 
 
 8 CSmall, no euns visible 7 
 
 i . VGlatton. 
 
 9t 04 203 
 
 10 Ship gun-boat of22 guns 1 1 1 
 
 ^„ [Bellona,* to give her attention 
 
 1 1 CPontoons, or . . . 12^ , ^, 
 •{„,.,. I to support the Glatton. 
 
 1 2 cFIoatmg batteries . 12 J \^ 
 
 13 74 36 Elephant. 
 
 i4CPontoons, or. . . 1^7^ 
 i5tFloating batteries . 123 ^"g^^* 
 
 16 64 30 Monarch. 
 
 17 64 ^ .... 30 Defiance. 
 
 18 64 30 Russel.* J 
 
 f<^ 64 30 Polyphemus. ^ 
 
 CA small ship, suppos-7 
 
 ^ ed a bomb . • J 
 
 Ships marked thus ( * ) were not in action, being ^n shore, 
 though, from their situation, they were exposed to the ene- 
 my's fire. 
 
 The six gun-boats, Captain Rose is to place with the 
 Jamaica, to make a raking fire upon No. i . The gun-boats, it 
 if presumed, may get far enough a-stern of No. i to take 
 
LORD VISCOtTNT NELSON. 2^3 
 
 concisely given, in the official report made by his 
 lordship to the commander in chief. It is neces- 
 sary only to observe, that as the situation of the 
 enemy was formidable in the extreme, so was the 
 
 Nos. 3 and 4J and Captain Rose is to advance with the ships 
 and vessels under his orders, to the northward, as he ma)'- 
 perceive the British fire to cease where he is first stationed* 
 
 Nos. I, 2y 3, and 4 being subdued, which is expected to 
 happen at an early period, the Isis and Agamemnon are to cue 
 their cables, and immediately make sail and take their sta* 
 tions a-head of the Polyphemus, in order to support that pari 
 of the line. One flat boat, nianiied and armed, is to remain 
 on the off side of each line of battle ship. The remaining 
 fiat boats, with the boats for boarding, which will be sent by 
 Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, under the command of a first lieu- 
 tenant of the London, are to keep as near to the Elephant as 
 possible, but out of the line of fire, and to be ready to receive 
 the direction of Lord Nelson. 
 
 The four launches, with anchors and cables, which will be 
 sent by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, under the command of a 
 lieutenant of the London, to be as near the Elephant as possi- 
 ble, cut of the line of fire, ready to receive orders from Vicc- 
 Admiral Lord Nelson. 
 
 The Alcmene, Blanche, Arrow, Dart, Zephyr, and Otter 
 fire-ships, are to proceed under the orders of Captain Riou, 
 of the Amazon, to perform such service as he is directed by 
 Lord Nelson. 
 
 The Agamemnon could not weather the shoal, and was 
 not in action. The Polyphemus could not get further than 
 No. I, so that Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. 19, and 20, were op- 
 posed to the Elephant, Ganges Monarch, Amazon, Blanche, 
 Alcmene, and Arrow ; added to which, there were two bat- 
 teries on shore, one mounting thirty-six brass twenty-four 
 pounders, and four mortars ; the other fifty-two brass twenty- 
 four pounders. 
 
224 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 resistance most gallant and determined. Lord 
 Nelson himself bore the most decided testimony, 
 of the high opinion with which the bravery of the 
 defenders had impressed him ; he has been known 
 to declare repeatedly, that the attack of Copen- 
 hagen was, of all the encounters in which he had 
 ever been engaged, the most tremendous. 
 
 During that pause of action, which, as we 
 shall presently see, took place in the afternoon 
 of the day of attack, he declared to Colonel 
 Lindhohn, aid-du-camp to the Crown Prince,,' 
 w^ho waited on him v/ith a message respecting ai 
 flag of truce which he had sent, that '' the French 
 fought bravely, but that they could not have stood 
 an hour, the fight which the Danes maintained ; 
 for four : I have been, saia his lordship, in one 
 hundred and five engagements, in the course of 
 my life, but that of to-day was the most terrible 
 of all." * 
 
 * The Bridsh official dispatches relative to the attack on 
 Copenha en. 
 
 ** Sir, '* Copenhagen Roads, April 6, 1801. 
 
 «* You will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commis- 
 sioners of the Admiralty, that since my letter of the 23d of 
 March, no opportunity of wind offered for going up the Sound 
 until the 25th, when the wind shifted in a most violent squall 
 from the S. W. to N. W. and north, and blew with such vio- 
 lence, and with so great a sea, as to render it impossible for 
 any ship to have weighed her anchor. The wind and sea 
 were even so violent as to oblige many ships to let go a se- 
 cond anchor to prevent them from driving, notwithstanding they 
 
LORD VISCOUKT NELSON. 225 
 
 Nothing indeed, without the slightest suspicion 
 flattery be it said, could exceed the firmness 
 
 rcre riding with two cables an end ; and, by the morning, the 
 wind V. ered again to the southward of the west On the 30th 
 of hist month, the wind having come to the northward, we 
 passed into the Sound with the fleet, but not before I had as- 
 sured mysef of the hostile intentions of the Danes to opprse 
 cur passage, Afer anchoring about five or six miles from 
 the island of Huin, I reconnoitred with Vice- Admiral 
 Lord Nelsor, and Rear-Admiral Graves, the formidable 
 line of ships, radeaus, ' pontoons, galleys, fire ships, and 
 gu'-boats, flanked and supported by extensive batteries on the 
 two islands enlled The Crowns ; the largest of whiti^h was 
 mounted with from 50 to 70 pieces of cannon ; these were again 
 commanded by two shipsof yoguns, and a Ia,ge fri.ate in the 
 inner road of Copenhagen and two 64 gun ships (without 
 masts), were moored on the flat, on the starboard side of the 
 entrance into the arsenal. The day after, the wind being 
 southerly, we again examined their position, and came to the 
 resolution of attacking them from the southward. Vice-Ad- 
 miral Lord Nelson, having offered his services for conducting 
 the attack, had, seme days before we entered the Sound, 
 shifted his flag to :he Elephant; and after having examined and 
 buoyed the outer channel of the middle ground, his lordship 
 proceeded with t-he twelve ships of the line named in the mar- 
 gin,* all the frigates, bombs, fire-r.hips, and all the small vessels, 
 and that evening Liii.horedoff Draco Point, to make his dispo- 
 sition-for the attacky-and wait for the wind to the southward, 
 Jt was agreed between us, that the remaining ships with me 
 sh uld weigh at the same moment his Lordship did, and me- 
 nace the Crown batteries, and the four ships of the lin^ that 
 
 * Elephant, Defiance, Monarch, Eellona, Evigar, Ru5S^I, 
 Ganges, Glation, Isis, Agamemnon, Polyphemus, Ardent. 
 
2^6^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 and intrepidity displayed by the Danes, and ne- 
 ver was there perhaps any situation whatever, 
 
 lay at the entrance of the arsenal; as also to cover our disabled 
 ships as they came out of action, 
 
 J have now the honour to enclose a copy of Vice- Admiral 
 Lord Nelson's report tome of the action on the 2d instant. 
 His lordship has stated' so fully the whole of his proceedings 
 on that day, as only to leave me the opportunity to testify my 
 entire acquiescence and testimony of the bravery and intrepi- 
 dity with which the action was a-upported throughout the line. 
 Was it jpossible for me to add any thing to the well earned 
 renown of Lord Nelson, it would be by asserting, that his 
 exertions, great as they have heretofore been, never were car- 
 ried to a higher pitch of zeal for his country's service. I have 
 only to lament that the sort of attack, confined within an in- 
 tricate and narrow passage, excluded the ships particularly un- 
 der my command from the opportunity of exhibiting their 
 valour ; but I can with great truth assert, that the same spirit 
 and zeal animated the whole of the fleet; and I trust that the 
 contest in which we are engaged, will, on some future day, 
 afford them an occasion of showing that the whole were in- 
 spired with the same spirit, had the field been sufficiently ex- 
 tensive to have brought it into action. 
 
 It is with the deepest concern I mention the loss of Cap- 
 tains Moss and Riou, two very brave and gallant officers, and 
 whose loss, as I am well informed, will be sensibly felt by the 
 families they have left behind them ; the former a wife and 
 children, the latter an aged mother. From the known gal- 
 lantry of Sir Thomas Thompson on former occasions, the 
 naval service will have to regret the loss of the future exer- 
 tions of that brave officer, whose leg was shot off* For all 
 other particulars, I beg leave to refer their Lordships to 
 Captain Otway, who was with Lord Nelson in the latter part 
 of the action, and able to answer any questions that may be 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 227 
 
 that called it forth more imperiously. The en- 
 counter took place in the presence ^of a Prince 
 
 thought necessary to put to him, A return of the k;Ued and 
 wou.ided you will receive herevvitbi 
 
 I have the honour to be, Sec. 
 
 H. Parker. 
 " Sir, " Elephant, off Copenhagen, 3d April, 180 1. 
 •* In obedience to your directions to report the proceedings of 
 the squadron named in the margin,* which you did n.e te ho- 
 nour to place under my command, I beg leave to inform you, 
 that having, by the assistance of that able officer, Captain 
 Riou, and the unremitting exertions of Captain Brisbane, and 
 the masters of the Amazon and Cruiser, in particular, buoyed 
 the channel of the Outer Deep, and the position of the mid- 
 dle Ground, the Squadron passed in safety, and anchored oS 
 Draco the evening of the first ; and that yesterday morning I 
 made the signal for the squadron to weigh, and to engage the 
 Danish line, consisting of six sail of the line^ eleven floating 
 batteries^ mounting from twenty- six twenty-four pounders, ,ta 
 eighteen eighteen pounders^ and one bomb ship, besides 
 schooner gun-vessels. These were supported by the Crown 
 Islands, mounting eighty-eight cannon, and four aail of the 
 line moored in the harbour's mouth, and some batteries on 
 the island of Amak. The boir.b-ship and schooner gun- ves- 
 sels made their escape, the other seventeen sail are sunk, 
 burnt, or taken, being the whole of the Danish line to the 
 louthward of the Crown Islands, after a battle of four hours. 
 
 * Elephant, Defiance, Monarch, Bellona, Edgar, Riissel, 
 Ganges, Glatton, Isis, Agamemnon, Polyphemus, Arc'ent, 
 Amazon, Desirce, Blanche, Alcmene; sloops. Dart, Arrow, 
 Cruiser, and Harpy ; fire-ships, Zephyr and Otter ; bombs. 
 Discover}"-, Sulphur, Hccla, Explosionj Zebra, Terror, and 
 Volcano. 
 
228 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 beloved and adored ; in the very front and* 
 view of the metropolis, where the parents*, 
 
 From the very intricate navigation, the Bellona and Rus- 
 scl unfortunately grounded ; but although not in the situation 
 assigned them, yet so placed as to be of great service. The 
 Agamemnon could not weather the shoal of the middle, and 
 was obliged to anchor ; but not the smallest blame can be at- 
 tached to Captain Fancourt ; it was an event to which all the 
 ships were liable. These accidents prevented the extension of 
 our line by the three ships before mentioned, who would, I 
 am confident, have silenced the Crown Islands, the two outer 
 ships in the harbour's mouth, and prevented the heavy loss in 
 the Defiance and Monarch, and which unhappily threw the 
 gallant and good Captain Riou (to whom I had given the com- 
 mand of the frigates and slopps named in the margin,* to assist 
 the attack of the ships at the harbour's- mouth,) under a very 
 heavy fire ; the consequence has been the death of Captain 
 Riou, and many brave officers and men in the frigates and 
 sloops. The bombs were directed and took their stations 
 abreast of the Elephant, and threw some shells into the arse- 
 nal. Captain Rose, who volunteered his services to direct 
 the gun-brigs, did every thing that was possible to get them 
 forward, but the current was too strong for them to be of 
 service during the action ; but not the less merit is due to Cap- 
 tain Rose, and, I believe, all the officers and crews of the 
 gun-brigs, for their exertions. The boats of those ships of the 
 £eet, who v/ere not ordered on the attack, afforded us every 
 assistance ; and the officers and men who were in them, merit 
 my warmest approbation. The Desiree took her station in 
 raking the southernmost Danish ship of the line, and performed 
 the greatest service. 
 
 The action began at five minutes past ten. The van, led 
 by Captain George Murray of the Edgar, who set a noble ex- 
 
 * Blanche, Alcmene, Dart, Arrow, Zephyr, and Otter. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON* QQQ 
 
 the children, the relatives, and friends of the de- 
 fenders, were not only spectators of their gallant 
 
 ample of intrepidity, which was as well followed up by every 
 Captain, officer, and man in the squadron. It is my duty to 
 state to you the high and distinguished merit and gallantry of 
 Rear- Admiral, Graves, To Captain Foley, who permitted me 
 the honour of hoisting my flag in the Elephant, I feel under 
 the greatest obligations, his advice was necessary oa many 
 important occasions during the battle. I beg leave to express 
 how much I feel indebted to every Captain, officer, and man, 
 for their zeal and distinguished bravery on this occasion. The 
 Honourable Colonel Stewart did rae the favour to be on board 
 the Elephant ; and himself, with every other officer and soldier 
 under his orders, shared with pleasure the toik and dangers of 
 the day. The loss in such a battle has naturally been very 
 heavy. Amongst many other br&ve officers and men who 
 were killed, I have, with sorrow, to place the name of Cap- 
 tain Mosse, of the Monarch, who has left a wife and six chil- 
 dren to lament his loss; and, among the wounded, that of 
 Captain Sir Thomas B. Thompson, of the Bellona. 
 i have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 Nelson and Bronte. 
 
 Officers, • ... 20 
 
 Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers, 234 — 254 
 
 W04/NDED. 
 
 Officers, .... 48 
 Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers, 651—689 
 
 Total killed and wounded, 943 
 
 Sir Hyde Parker, knight, who is now living, was the second 
 
 son of Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, baronet ; he entered 
 
 into the naval service of his country when very young, under the 
 
 auspices and protection of his father; and after having served 
 
230 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 conduct;, but actually depended on it as their sole 
 hope, refuge, and protection, from the fury of their 
 
 as a petty officer on board the Squirrel, was removed into the 
 Brilliant ; in which ship he was promoted to the rank of Lieu- 
 tenant, on the 25th of January, 1758. From this ship he 
 accompanied his faiher, in the same capacity, on board the 
 Norfolk, then under orders for the East Indies, and having 
 arrived there, was very rapidly promoted to the rank of 
 Post-Captain, by commission bearing date July 18th, 1763. 
 The ship he took the command of on this occasion is said, by 
 'Mr. Hardy, to have been the Bellaine, though no such ship ap- 
 pears on the list of the royal navy. From this period tiil the 
 year 1775 the naval annals are silent concerning this gentle- 
 man ; in the latter year, however, we find him appointed to the 
 Phcenix, in which ship he altuost immediately proceeded to 
 North America, where he distinguished himself in various 
 petty encounters in a most eminent degree, and most particu- 
 larly, when having, on the 9th of Oct. 1 7 76, been detached with 
 the Roebuck and Tartar under his orders, to force a pas- 
 sage, if possible, above the Atnerican works at Jeffry*s Hook, 
 on York Island, he, notwithstanding the very great obstacles 
 which the enemy had prepared to counteract his endeavours, 
 80 gallantly conducted the force under his command, in which 
 he was bravely s.^conded by the officers and men under his 
 orders, that he completely overcame all difficulties. For his 
 conductor! this occasion, his Majesty was pleased to confer on 
 him the honour of knighthood. Though Sir Hyde continued 
 in active service in the same seas for the two succeeding years, 
 nothing particularly inieresiing occurred to raise his character 
 higher than it already was, and the Phcenix being in want of a 
 complete repair, he returned in her to England about the begin* 
 Jiing of the year 1779. 
 
 Sir Hyde scill retained the command of the same ship, 
 and it having been put in a state of complete repair, he 
 was ordered at the close of the year to Jamaica, for which 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 231 
 
 assailants. The feelings of all ranks were, as 
 may easily be conceived, wound up to the high- 
 place he sailed in the month of December, in company witlj 
 Sir George, afterwards Lord Rodney, who was destined for 
 Gibraltar. Sir Hyde having parted company, proceeded 
 with the convoy, which had been consigned to his charge, to 
 the place of his destination, and having seen it safe into port, 
 cortiiiued to cruise in those eeas till the month of October, 
 with considerable success against the enemy. 
 - A tremendous hurricane, which in the month last mentioned 
 almost Liid waste the whole of the islands in that quarter of 
 the world; proved fatal to the Phcenix. She was wrecked on 
 the island of Cuba, after having received the greatest injury 
 during the tempest; of the crew, twenty were unfortunately 
 ^^^ashed overboard with the main mast; all .the remainder, to- 
 gether with Sir Hyd«, amounting to two hundred and forty 
 persons, reached the shore in safety* In this disastrous and 
 trying situation, the abilities of the commander shone con- 
 spicuous ; by his exhortations the survivors were animated to 
 use every exertion for their preservation, not only from their 
 immediate evils, but from those they might naturally apprehend. 
 They were cast on a shore in the possession of their enemies, and 
 a fate not much superior to that which they had so narrowly 
 escaped, was the probable consequence of their being disco- 
 vered. To remedy, however, and prevent as far as possible, 
 any such disaster from happening to them, Sir Hyde Parker, 
 with indefatigable industry, caused a temporary fortification to 
 be erected, and haying procured some cannon, together with 
 ammunition, from the wreck, caused them to be mounted 
 in the best manner he could, so as to command the approach of 
 the enemy. He had also the precaution to send off immedi- 
 ;itely after the accident happened, his first lieutenant, Mr. 
 Archer, in one of the ship's boats, to Jamaica, for assistance, 
 and had the good fortune, in seven days after the loss of the 
 ship, 10 have his ajixiety for his brave cbmpanions in distress 
 
£32 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 est pitch of sensibility ; but the fears, the hopes, 
 and the presages of the individual, were lost in 
 
 alleviated, by the arrival of vessels from the latter island, 
 which conveyed them in safety^ to Montego Bay, which they 
 reached on the 1 5th of the same month. 
 
 Soon after the alcove unfortunate event. Sir Hyde arrived 
 in England, and was appointed to the Goliath, of seventy- 
 four guns, a ship then nder equipment for the Channel ser- 
 vice. In this command he accompanied Lord Howe in the 
 month of September, 1782, on the expedition for the relief 
 of Gibraltar, and in the partial encounter which took place 
 on that occasion between the British fleet and the combined 
 armament of France an>d Spain, led the van, and had four men 
 killed, with one of his lieutenants, and the master, together 
 with fourteen seamen or marines, wounded. Peace taking 
 place soon after this period, Sir Hyde returned to England in 
 the Goliath, and again sailed to Gibraltar on the i4tli 
 of October, 1783 : on his second return from thence, the 
 Goliath being stationed as a guard-ship at Portsmouth, he 
 retained the command of her during the customarily allotted 
 period. 
 
 On the apprehended rupture with France in the year 1787, 
 Sir Hyde was appointed. to the Orion, of seventy four guns; 
 but the point in dispute being soon adjusted, the Orion was 
 put out of commission, and Sir Hyde became unemployed. 
 He continued in retirement from tHe service till the month of 
 May, 1790, when he received the command of the Bruns- 
 wick, of seventy-four guns, on the prospect of a rupture with 
 Spain ; but this storm soon subsiding like the preceding, Sif 
 Hyde again resigned his command. 
 
 Hostilities having commenced against France in the year 
 1793, Sir Hyde was, on the ist of February, promoted to the 
 rank of rear-admiral of the white, and accepted the station 
 of first captain to vice-admiral Lord Hood, who was appoint- 
 tfd chief in command in the Mediterranean ; he accordingly pro. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. d|§ 
 
 ve general concern; and the magnitude of the 
 kake directed die minds of all to one point only. 
 
 ccedcd with him thither in the Victory, from which ship he 
 some time afterwards removed into the St. George, and hoisted 
 his flag as commandtT of a squadron. On the 12th of April, 
 1794, he was advanced to be rear-admiral of the red, and 
 on the 4.th of June following, to be vice-admiral of the blue, 
 Not long after he had been raised to the latter rank, he was pre- 
 sent at the partial encounter with the French fleet, in which 
 cngagemen: the Ca Ira, of eighty guns, and the Censeur of 
 seventy- four, became prizes to Admiral (since Lord) Hotham, 
 who had succeeded to the command in the Mediterranean. 
 On the 1st of June subsequent to the above engagement. Sir 
 Hyde was further advanced to be vice-admiral of the red. 
 No other very remarkable occurrence happened during this 
 gentleman's service in those seas, except a second trivial skir- 
 mish with the French squadron, on the 13th of July, suc- 
 ceeding his last promotion, in which I'Alcide, of seventy- 
 four guns, surrendered, but was afterwards unfortunately 
 blown up. 
 
 Sir Hyde returned to England in the year 1796, and was 
 very soon afterwards appointed to the Jamaica station, where, bv 
 the judicious arrangement of his cruisem, he most materially 
 annoyed the trade of the enemy. Having remained on this sta- 
 tion for the space of three years, he returned to England, and 
 was almost immediately appointed to a command in the 
 Channel fleet. Nothing interesting occurred in this species 
 of service, neither are there any further particulars worth 
 noticing till his appointment to the chief command of the 
 fleet destined for the Baltic, on which occasion he hoisted 
 his flag on board the London. His cond ict on this ser- 
 vice was deserving of the highest enComiun:s. After the 
 conclusion of the treaty, which the memorable engage- 
 ment at Copenhagen produced, Sir Hyde struck his flag, since 
 which time he has not occupied any active situarion in the 
 
#64 MEMOIRS 0^ 
 
 From the crown prince, say the most candid 
 observers and writers, whose cool intrepidity and 
 
 naval service of his country. On the 14th day of February! 
 1799, ^^ ^"^'^^ raised to the rank of admiral of the blue squads 
 ron ; he was further promoted to be admiral of the white 01 
 the Z3d cf April, 1804 ; and, lastly, on the 9th of November, 
 1805, to the same rank in the red squadron. 
 
 Sir T'homas Graves, K. B., is the second son of a respectabid 
 clergyman, who some time since settled in the north of IrelandJ 
 ilaving, at an early period of life, been placed under the pro- 
 tection of his uncle. Admiral Samuel Graves, he was, by that' 
 excellent officer, initiated into the naval service, and served 
 under him in the war prior to that with America, as a mid- 
 shipman on board several vessels. On the restoration of peace, 
 in the year 1763, Captain Graves, who was afterwards most 
 deservedly raised to a peerage of the kingdom of Ireland, by 
 the title of Lord Graves, took the young midshipman on 
 board the Antelope, in which capacity he afterwards, in the 
 year 1765, accompanied his relation to Africa, where he re- 
 ceived a commission as lieutenant on board the Shannon, ia 
 which ship he continued in the same situation when she re- 
 turned to Portsmouth. During his voyage to Africa, he is 
 said, although then very young, to have discovered those signs ^ 
 of emulation and intrepid courage, which became soconspicun^ 
 oiisin h m at a riper age. After he quitted the Shannon, no par- 
 ticular mention is made of him, till he became a lieutenant oft 
 board the Arethusa, at the time of the armament concerning 
 the Falkland Islands. He had at this time so far established 
 his character far courage and abilities, as to induce I^ord 
 Mulgrave, who was proceeding on a most hazardous expedi- 
 tion towards the North Pole, to select him as one of bis 
 ofEcers. Nor was his lordship disappointed in his choice, as 
 Mr. Graves gave several specimens of his nautical knowledge, 
 amidst the various dangers that surrounded them, combating * ^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^59 
 
 idgment were gloriously displayed in the sight 
 if his people, and of Europe, to the humblest 
 
 rery difficulty that occurred, with the greatest intrepidity and 
 irmness of mind. 
 
 Oil his return from this expedition, he sailed for America* 
 where his uncle. Admiral Samuel Graves, held the chief com- 
 mand. On this station he, on a great variety of petty en- 
 counters, fully established that fame, the germe of which had 
 disclosed itself at his first outset in the service of his country. 
 One particular instance, as it relates personally to himself, is 
 here selected, as, perhaps, it affords the best criterion of his 
 natural courage. "While Mr, Graves was scarcely recovered 
 from some wounds which he had received in burning of a 
 vessel, and was employed in a gun-boat at Noddle*s Island, 
 opposite Boston, an American boldly left his companions and 
 came forward, as if in direct challenge to the English; Mr. 
 Graves, whose natural courage was roused by the daring in- 
 sult, as he deemed it, instantly procured a musquet and 
 bayonet, and stepped forward to meet him. When he had ap- 
 proached his antagonist within about fifty yards, the American 
 seemed to decline the contest, which Mr. Graves perceiving, 
 invited him to approach, stimulating him with the observa- 
 tion, that the eyes of the two parties were upon them, and 
 anxiously watched the result, and that as he gave the chal- 
 lenge, so it was his place to advance and choose his distance. 
 This exhortation proving, however, of no avail, Mr. Graves 
 pressed on towards the American, who appeared motionless, 
 but in his eagerness fell into a swamp. An advantage im- 
 mediately was taken of this accident, and his intended op- 
 ponent fired his musquet, the ball of which narrowly missed 
 Mr. Graves, who, after firing his own without effect, was 
 obliged to retire, many of the enemy having by this time 
 joined their companion. It was not without considerable 
 danger, our intrepid countryman effected his retreat, and he 
 ■vyas annoyed by the lire of the whole party. 
 
25^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 citizen, one heroic mind and purpose seemed to 
 animate and unite the whole : never had the 
 
 Mr. Graves returned to England with his uncle the admiral, 
 as lieutenant on board the Preston, but very soon accompanied 
 • Commodore Hotham back to the same country in the same 
 ship, and on various occasions was eminently serviceable, by his 
 knowledge of the coast, being constantly employed in every 
 scene of difficulty and danger. He soon, however, quitted 
 America, and again sought for employment in England, 
 where actual hostilities having commenced with France, he 
 procured himself, through the recommeniation of his rela- 
 tion. Rear-admiral Thomas Graves, an active situation, being 
 appointed to the Savage sloop of war, then stationed in the 
 West Indies. While on this service no opportunity oiFered 
 to increase his reputation ; but it being necessary to send dis- 
 patches to Admiral Arbuthnot, the commander in chief on the 
 American station, Mr. Graves was the bearer of them, and 
 so ingratiated himself with that braye and worthy admiral, 
 especially by a daring and intrepid oiFer he made of pilot- 
 ing the leading ship of the English fleet under his command, 
 through the intricate navigation of Rhode Island, that from 
 that moment he promiised to become his friend and patron. 
 This offer of service was not a mere empty word, for Mr. 
 Arbuthnot very soon after proved his attachment to him, by 
 appoinnng him post captain in the Bedford of 74. guns, on the 
 5th of March, 1781, onboard which ship he served as captain 
 to the admiral, during the continuance of the latter in America. 
 After the departure of Admiral Arbuthnot for England, Mr, 
 Graves still retained the command of the Bedford, and served 
 in that ship in the engagement between the British fleet, com- 
 manded by his relaiion,Rear-admiral Thomas(afterwards Lord) 
 Graves, and the Frencharmament under the Count de Grasse, 
 off the Chc^sapeak. On the return of the English squadron to 
 Kcw York, Captain Graves was appointed to the Magiciennc 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, 237 
 
 Danish valour, in the brightest periods of their 
 history, shone out with more distinguished lustre. 
 
 frigate, then fitting out at Halifax ; but preferring a more ac- 
 tive line of service, declined accepting the command of her, 
 and proceeded in the Bedford to the West Indies, on board 
 which ship Commodore Affleck hoisted his broad pendant, which 
 bore a most distinguished share injne encounter between Sir 
 Samuel (now Lord) Hood, and the Count de Grasse, on the 
 35th of January, 1782, in Basse Terre road; indeed in so 
 great a degree was the Bedford conspicuous on this occasion, 
 as to be particularly noticed by the commander in chief. 
 The 1 2th of April following added fresh honours to the brow 
 of Captain Graves, and raised his reputation, for intrepidl 
 courage and ability as an officer, still higher, if possible, thaa 
 before. After the arrival of admiral Pigor, who succeeded 
 Lord Rodney as commander in chief, when the fleet had pro- 
 ceeded to America in the autumn of 1782, Captain Graves 
 quitted the Bedford and took the command of the Magicienne, 
 of 32 guns, the same he had before been appointed to ; and ia 
 this frigate he was employed in protecting different con- 
 voys to and from the West Indies. While on this service, 
 tedious to an active mind, it was his fortune to have an op- 
 portunity of distinguishing himself by an encounter, as dcs. 
 perate as any that had happened during the whole war. Oh 
 the 2d of January, 1783, he fell in with the Syb'ile French 
 frigate, of 40 guns, having on board, besides her''own com- 
 plement, 350 seamen belonging to le Scipion, which had 
 been siranded in Samana bay ; and another small ship of 24 
 guns : the latter vessel soon struck, but took advantage of the 
 disabled state of the Magicienne to get off. Captain Graves 
 had sustained so severe an action with the large frigate, that he 
 had not a mast standing ; and though the enemy's fire was 
 almost silenced, and an immediate conquest was expected, 
 the Sybiile being to windward, made her escape, although! 
 
238 MEMOIRS oP 
 
 The daring pirates of the ninth and tenth cen- 
 turies did not exhibit greater intrepidity and 
 
 with the utmost difficulty. The loss of killed and wounded, 
 on board the Magicienne, was very great, for, though her 
 original complement was 220 men, she had, at the time of 
 her engagement, only 189 ; of these 53 were killed and 
 wounded ; among the former were three officers and 16 sea- 
 men ; in the latter were hve officers, including those of 
 the marines. 
 
 An eye witness of the action speaks in the highest strains 
 of panegyric on the intrepidity of Captain Graves, whose 
 zealous ardour was such as to induce him to run so close to 
 the smaller frigate, which he first enccuntei'ed, that he carried 
 away her studding sail booms from her yard-arms 5 and when 
 she hp.d struck, disdainiug to take possession of so insignifi- 
 cant a prize, when a more noble one was in view, he stood 
 after the Sybille, run her also on board, and gave her at 
 the same time a most tremendous and destructive fire. 
 
 This was the last enterprize in which Mr. Graves was en- 
 gaged during the war, at the termination of v/hich he retired 
 from active service; and though he repeatedly made the neces- 
 sary applications for employment, continued without holding 
 any command till the year i Soo, when he was appointed to the 
 Cumberland, of 74 guns, and joined the western squadron, 
 under the orders of the Earl of St. Vincent. On the ist of 
 Jan. 1801, Captain Graves was raised to the rank of rear-ad- 
 miral of the white, and in March following having hoisted his 
 flag on board the Polyphemus, of 64. guns, proceeded to the 
 Baltic with the fleet, under the command of Sir Hyde Parker, 
 who was sent thither in order to crush the recent confederacy 
 entered into by the northern powers against the irterests and 
 welfare of Great Britain. He soon shifted liis flag into the 
 Defiance of 74 guns, and was appointed second in command 
 under Lord Nelson, in the men;oiable attack of Copenhagen, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. Q39 
 
 ^owess in invading, than their descendants of 
 the nineteenth century did, in resisting an invasion 
 
 on which occasion his innate gailantry amply displayed itself. 
 His conduct called forth, and most justly, the praises of tli€ 
 noble lord himself, and his grateful country joined their appro- 
 bation by an unanimous vote of the thanks of both houses of par- 
 liament; nor was the sovereign unmindful, or neglectful in re- 
 munerating his deserts; the most honourable order of the Bath, 
 an order peculiarly destined for the reward of gallant.exploits, 
 both in the seaand land service, was bestowed on him, and it wa^, 
 perhaps, rendered more highly valuable to him, from his being 
 invested with it, by the particular command of his majesty, 
 by his heroic commander, who, on this occp.don, represented 
 the sovereign. Sir Thomas was promoted to be rear-admiral 
 of the red on the 23d of April, 1804. He has, since the 
 commencement of the war, commanded in the home or chan- 
 nel fleet, having his flag latterly on board the Foudroy^nt, 
 but owing to an inflammation in his eyes, was obliged to strike 
 it for a temporary retirement on the 19th of Deceniber, i8o<, 
 which it is to be hoped, for the interests of his country, will 
 pot be long. He had been previouslv promoted, on the 9th of 
 Nov. preceding, to be vice-admiral of the blue squadron. 
 
 Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson, whose original name way 
 Boulden,is a native of Kent. The confined circumstances of his 
 father preventing his giving his son a necessary education, his 
 uncle, the late Captain Edward Thompson, whose name he 
 now bears, took him under his protection ; and observing a 
 predilection in his nephew for the sea service, bestowed on 
 him the instructions requisite to that science, for which Cap- 
 tain Thompson was himself most eminently qualified as a pre- 
 ceptor. Having perfected himself in the theoretical part of 
 nautical knowledge, young Mr. Thompson accompanied his 
 uncle, in the month of June, 1778, on board the Hyaena 
 frigate, which he then commanded, and in which ship he had 
 
£40 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 from England. If the recollection of a common 
 origin, a similarity of manners, and long habi't^ 
 
 l>een previously rated as a midshipman ; he served in her in 
 that capacity till the year 1780, beine chiefly employed in the 
 channel service. That frigate having been, on the i6th of 
 January, ordered to Gibraltar, as part of the fleet commanded 
 by the late Lord Rodney, the young midshipman had the op- 
 portunity of being present at the victory obtained over Don J. 
 Langara* Capt. Thompson being sent home with the duplic^.te 
 of the dispatches, his nephew consequently accompanied him, 
 and returned again with him soon afterwards to Gibraltar, 
 vi^here, in the following year, he became engaged in very 
 active service, and conducted himself with so moch resolu- 
 tion and gallantry, that he obtained the rank of ii^utenant, 
 which was confirti^ed to him the admiralty. He had not 
 long received his latter commission, before he had an engage- 
 ment with a French privateer of very superior force, which 
 he captured, having the command only of a small schooner. 
 From this period till the year 1790, , he was employed in 
 various services ; in which, though they were of no very im- 
 portant consequence, he distinguished himself by his mari- 
 time knowledge and assiduity. Having been raised to the 
 rank of post captain in the last mentioned year, he was, soon 
 after the commencement of the war, appointed to the Lcan- 
 der, of 50 guns, then stationed in the North Seas : his ser- 
 vices on this station were beneficial to his country, and 
 honourable to himself. In the year 1796, the Leander was 
 ordered into port to refit, and in the following year was sent 
 to Gibraltar. Very soon after Captain Thompson's arrival 
 at this port, the expedition against TeneriiFe was under- 
 taken, and he had the honour of being one of the captains 
 chcsen by Lord Nelson hinsjlf, to accompany him on that 
 service ; and who, with the Captains Troubridge, Hood, 
 Frcemantle, Bowen, Miller, and Waller, voluntarily offered 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 241 
 
 ^commercial and social intercourse, tends to im^ 
 press on both nations a conviction, that thev 
 
 to effect the landing the troops. His gallantry, on this oc- 
 casion, fully justified the choice of the commandef in chief. 
 In, the attack upon Santa Cruz, Captain Thompson received 
 a wound, though of a trivial nature, and on the failure of the 
 ehterpri2e returned to Gibraltar, where he remained till 
 June 1798. 
 
 The time was now approaching, destined to open a scene of 
 glory and.emulation for the naval officers of Britain. The arma- 
 ment sent to rescue the shores of Egypt from the despotism 
 of France, under the command of Sir Horatio Nelson> afford* 
 ed the opportunity for those employed in it, to gain the highest 
 honours; amongst this band of heroes, no one shone more 
 conspicuous than Captain Thompson, who,' in the Leander, 
 which mounted only $0 guns, took his station in the line, and 
 with a degree of skill and ability mo'st honourable to him,' 
 gallantly dropped his anchor athwart the hawse of le Frank* 
 hn, of 80 guns, and raked her with great success. 
 
 After the engagement was over, the Leander was sent by' 
 the Rear-Admiial with his dispatches to the commander 
 in chief. During the passage it was Captain Thompson's 
 fortune to fall in with le Genereux, a French ship of 74.' 
 guns, and finding himself unable to avoid an action, gallantly 
 prepared' for an engagement; which, notwithstanding his 
 great inferiority, he maintained for six hours and a half; nor 
 did hestHke until-he had consulted Captain Berry, the bearer 
 of the dispatches, who joined, in opinion, that every thing 
 had been done that was poBsible, to preserve his majesty's 
 ship from falling into the possession of the enemy. The 
 slaughter was very great; it amounted to thirty-five killed, 
 including three officers; fifty- seven were wounded, among 
 whom were seven officers. 
 
 The shipy being almost a wreck, was carried into Corfu, 
 vhere Captain Thompson and his crew were treated with th« 
 
 F 
 
tit MEMOIRS OF 
 
 are fitted and destined to act friendly towards each 
 other. The ever memorable battle of Copenha- 
 
 greatest inhumanity; the surgeon was even robbed of his in- 
 struments when preparing to attend the captain, who was very 
 near fallins a victim to their inhuman conduct. 
 
 On the 17th of December, 1798, Captain Thompson, 
 having been exchanged, underwent the necessary ceremony 
 of a trial, for the loss of the Leander, on board the America, 
 at Sheerness, when having been most honourably acquitted, 
 the president, after the judgment of the Court had been 
 read, addressed to him the following speech : 
 
 " Captain Thompson,— I feel the most lively pleasure in 
 returning to you the sword with which you have so bravely 
 maintained the honour of your king and country ; the more 
 so, as I am convinced, that when you are again called upon 
 to draw it in their defence, you will add fresh laurels to the 
 wreath which you have already so nobly won." 
 
 The honour of knighthood was soon after this time conferred 
 on him, together with a pension of three hundred pounds a 
 year. In the year 1799, he was appointed to the Bellona, of 
 74 guns, and served first under Lord Bridport in the fleet 
 stationed off Brest, and afterwards under the Earl of St. Vin- 
 cent in the Mediterranean ; Sir Thomas had, however, the 
 pleasure of hearing, during the course of this year, that the 
 Leander, he had so bravely defended, was restored to the 
 British service, by the magnanimity of the Emperor of 
 Russia, 
 
 No particular occurrence happened to him till the expedition 
 to the Baltic took place in the month of March, 1801, where 
 the Bellona, of which he still retained the command, was 
 one of the fleet sent thither under the orders pf Sir Hyde Par- 
 ker. In this expedition Sir Thomas was one of the officers 
 •mployed in the detachment under Lord Nelson, but unfor^ 
 tunately, on account of the intricacy of the navigation, ran on 
 
LOKD VISCOUNT NELSON. 243 
 
 gen, not more glorious to one party than the 
 other, ought also to be a long memento, that they 
 
 ground, before he could get into action. In this situation ^r 
 Thoma»was exposed tp the fire of the enemy's batteries, and had 
 the misfortune toj-eceive a shot, which deprived him of his leg, 
 and, from that time, his country of his services. For his con- 
 duct on this occasion. Sir Thomas received the thanks of 
 both houses of parliament, in common with the rest of 
 the officers, and received an increase of his pension, from 
 three to five hundred pounds a year. He has since been ap- 
 pointed to the command of the Mary yacht, which command 
 he still enjoys; and in the society of an amiable family, 
 devotes his time, to their comfort, and happiness. 
 
 Captain Edward Riou entered into the public service at a 
 very early age. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant 
 in the year 1780, and having particularly distinguished him- 
 self, not only by his attention to the service^ but by his skill 
 and knowledge as a navigator, was, after having held a varie- 
 ty of intermediate appointments, invested with the command 
 ©f the Guardian, a fifth rate, of 44 guns, but at that time 
 armed en Jlute : a vessel at that time employed as one of 
 the storeships, occasionally sent to the- infant colony of Botany 
 Bay on the coast of Nesv South Wales. 
 
 Mr. Riou, though invested with all the authority of a cap- 
 tain or commander, remained still a lieutenant, the rules of 
 the service not requiring an officer of higher rank td fill the sta- 
 tion he then held. The Guardian had a most favourable pas^ 
 sage to the day on which she met with the accident, having 
 been only three months from Portsmouth j to the time of her 
 leaving the Cape, including the five days which she remained 
 at the Cape de Verd Islands^ and three weeks at the Cape, to 
 take in provisions. She had proceeded thence towards Botany 
 Bay, as far as latitude 44 south, longitude 41! east; ^Vhen, on 
 the night of the 13th day of her departure from thi^Gape, she 
 
 K 2 
 
244 MffMOiRS OF 
 
 are not less fitted to be mutually dreadful and 
 destructive enenlies. 
 
 drove on an island of ice, the base of whridi projected under 
 wa^er, considerably beyond the limits of the visible part, and 
 caught the bow of the ship ; she instantly swung round, 
 and her head cleared ; but her stern coming on the shoal, 
 struck repeatedly, and the sea being vtiy heavy, the rudder 
 was torn away, and all her works abaft were shivered. The 
 ship in this situation became in a degree embayed, unaer 
 the terrific bulk cf ice; the height was twice that of the 
 main-mast of a third rate ; the prominent head of the ice was 
 every moment expected to break away, and overwhelm her. 
 At length, after every practicable exertion, she was got 
 0fF ,the shoal, but wirh six feet and a half of water in her 
 hold. The island of ice was discovered only one minute and an 
 half before the ship struck on it. By the exertions made by the 
 crew, in stopping the leak with oakum and canvas, the water 
 was reduced to two feet in the course of the next day ; and 
 great hopes were entertained of saving the ship; but the gale 
 of wind increasing, the fothering gave way, and the water 
 poured in again rapidly, so that it increased to near tea 
 feet. 
 
 The ship being discovered to be strained in all her works, 
 and the sea running very high, every endeavour to check the 
 progress of a particular leak proved ineffectual. An imme-, 
 diate project was fixed on to lighten the ship ; and the cows, 
 horses, sheep, and all the other live stock for the colony, 
 were, with their fodder, committed to the deep. The only 
 chance of safety for the crew now appeared in the possi- 
 bility of their saving themselves by taking to the boats, On 
 the morning of the 25th, therefore, they were hoisted out, 
 and being previously rigged and provisioned, a part of the 
 crew left the ship. 
 
 The cool intrepidity displayed by Mr. Riou, on this dread- 
 ful cccasion, may vie wiUi the most heroic act that Jias ever 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. £45 
 
 The disaster which had befallen three of the 
 British ships, the Agamemnon, the Bellona, and 
 
 graced thf nage of history ^nce the foundation of the world ; 
 he sat down with the utmost coolness, and wrote the follow- 
 ing affecting letter to the lords of the admiralty, which he 
 confided to the care of Mr. Clements the master, who was the 
 chief among those officers, who considering the case as despe- 
 rate beyond remedy, thought proper to quit the Guardian, 
 and ab mdon that ship, with her commander; and the rest of 
 the crew, to their fate : 
 
 <* His Majesty's Ship Guardian, Dec- 25, 1789. 
 " If any part of the officers or crew of the Guardian should 
 ever survive to get home, I have only to say, their, con- 
 duct, after the fatal stroke against an island of ice, was ad- 
 mir ble and wonderful in every thing that relates to their 
 duties, considered either as private men, or in his majesty's 
 service. 
 
 ** As there seems to be no possibility of my remaining 
 many hours in this world, I beg leave to recommend' to the 
 consideration of the admiralty agister, who, if my conduct 
 or services should be found deserving any memory, their favour 
 mi^ht be shewn to, together with a widowed n other. I am. 
 Sir, remaining, with great respect, your ever obedient ser- 
 vant, " E. Riou." 
 '** Philip Stephens, Esq.*' 
 As, however, when circumst?.nces appear most despernte, and 
 destruction almost absoliJtely inevitable. Providence fiequently 
 thinks proper to manif -st her power, and display 10 t'le world 
 th^ most irrefragable proofs of her ail-protecting interfer- 
 ence, so did she in the present cast* ; for after every human 
 exertion that could be r ade, bad failed, natural cause , 
 which, till they were experienced, had never been thought 
 of, contributed to tlie preservation of this urfortuna'e 
 ship. On the zjvh of April, 1790, advi e \vas received at 
 the admiraltv, that " the Guardian man ot w:ir, of 4^ g'-jns. 
 
?46 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the RusselJ, would have been sufficient to have 
 damped the ardour of less determined adver- 
 
 armed enfiutCy that is, as a storeship, had struck on an island 
 of ice, on the 24th of December, 1789, in her voyage to 
 Botany Bay, and that Mr. Clements the roaster had left her 
 in the launch, and arrived safe at the Cape of Good Hope, in 
 a French ship which picked him up; that part of the crew 
 also left the ship in four other boats, all of which it was feared 
 were lost ; and that Lieutenant Riou had resolutely deter- 
 mined to remain on board, with the remainder of the crew, 
 and to perish with the ship." 
 
 Late in the evening of the 28th, however, the happy in- 
 telligence arrived, that the Guardian had reached the Cape 
 of Good Hope, after one of the most miraculous escapes 
 which has ever been remembered. The news was brought 
 to the admiralty by the master of a iishing vessel, who had 
 been hailed off Dungeness by the captain of a Dutch packet 
 from the Cape, in eight weeks, and by him entrusted with 
 a letter from Lieutenant Riou at the Cape, to be forwarded 
 to the Admiralty. 
 
 *' Sir, •' Table Bay, February 22, 1790, 
 
 " I hope this letter will reach you before any account can 
 be given of the loss of his majesty's ship the Guardian ; if it 
 should, I am to make known to their lordships, that on the 
 23d of December the ship struck on an island of ice, and 
 that on the 25th all hope of her safety being banished, I con- 
 sented to a5 rrany of the officers and people to take to the 
 boats as thought proper; but it pleased Almighty God to. 
 assist my endeavours, with the remaining part of the crew, to 
 arrive with his majesty's ship in this bay yesterday. A 
 Putch packet is now under saii for Europe, which prevents 
 me from giving any further particijlars, especially as at this 
 instant I find it more necessary than ever to exert myself to 
 preserve the ship from sinking at her anciiors. I am. Sir, most 
 rcsptctfully, ever your obedient servant, ** E. Riou,'* 
 
I 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 247 
 
 aries than the British. But although the mis- 
 brtune failed to produce that species of effect, it 
 
 In the hopeless state, already mentioned, the ship continued 
 for several days without a rudder, and wholly unmanageable, 
 but the attention to the reduction of the water in her hold 
 was resumed whenever the remainder of her weary crew felt 
 the return of strength and power. In brief, the Guardian was 
 kept afloat until a Dutch packet boat from Batavia providen- 
 tially steering in a high southerly latitude fell in with her, 
 and by affording her the aid of men, and other succours, en- 
 abled her to make good her way back to the Cape of Good 
 Hope, having kept company with her during the passage. The 
 Guardian was at least four hundred leagues from the Cape 
 when she fell in with the island of ice. 
 
 The crew consisted of one hundred and twenty-three per- 
 sons, of whom twenty-five were convicts: It was with Cap- 
 tain Riou*s express permission that the boats left the ship ; he 
 was by no means averse to the measure, for he wished to pre- 
 serve as. many lives as he could, since he considered all at- 
 tempts that could be made to save the ship fruitless, though 
 he had himself, from the first moment, resolved to perish in 
 her. Ninety of the crew continued with him, and arrived 
 safe at the Cape. The Guardian was eight weeks to a day 
 in making a course something less than four hundred leagues. 
 During the whole of that time the crew were never for a 
 single hour protected fi-om the weather. An awning of sail- 
 cloth was extended over part ©f the quarter-deck, to afford the 
 best shelter circumstances would admit, to the men, in the 
 short intervals and respites from duty. 
 
 The fate of this unfortunate ship was. truly remarkable : 
 after having survived, if the term be allowed, the dreadful 
 disaster just mentioned, and arrived in safety at the Cape of 
 Good Hope, she was very soon afterwards driven on shore in a 
 violent gale of wind, and completely lost. To return, Jiowever, 
 to Mr. B>iou. In a very short time after his arrival in England, 
 
248^, ' MEMOIRS OF 
 
 became severely felt, from its Immediate and 
 active operation. In consequence of so great a 
 defalcation of force, the fire intended in many in- 
 stances to h-ave been divided, became concen- 
 trated, not unfrequently on^ objects little capable 
 of sustaining so mighty a pressure 5 but, under all 
 these disadvantages, the steadinc^^s of the British 
 attack prevailed. Towards the afterjioon the re- 
 sistance of^he Danes evidently became less forci- 
 ble; some of their ships were in flames, and the 
 
 he was promoted to the rank of commander, and in 1791, 
 to that of post captain. In a few month;? after the com- 
 mencement of hostilities with France, in lyg^t he was ap- 
 pointed to the Rose, of 28 guns, but retained the command 
 of that ship for a short time only. He was afterward ap- 
 pointed to the Beaulieu, a frigate of the first class, in which 
 he proceeded to the West indies, where he distinguished him- 
 self extremely in a variety of occasions, as well on shore, 
 as in actions with the enemy's cruisers. The ill condition of 
 his health, and the climate, which was by no means conge- 
 nial to it, compelled him, however, to return to England; 
 and the same course of ill. health still continuing, afier his 
 arrival, to operate against his acceptance of an active com- 
 mand, he was appointed captain of the Princess Augusta yacht. 
 C^ietude, however, added to the change of climate, having - 
 re-established his health, and the command he then held be- 
 ing by no means consonant to his wishes, he solicited a re- 
 moval into a more distinguished line of service, and was 
 accordingly appointed to the Amazon in 1799. in this ship 
 Jie was extremely active, and captured many armed ve^sel^ 
 of no mean consequence, in diiFcrent cruises which he had 
 made previous to his joining the fleet, on the expedition 
 against Copenhagen. He fell, as stated Tn the official di^* 
 patch, op the 2d of April, 1801. Virtus non moritur. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. *il49 
 
 greater part of those which remained, had re- 
 ceived SO .much damage as to be rendered almost 
 totally incapable of maintaining any longer con- 
 test; added to this circumstance, the carnag^e 
 had been immense, and the situation of the 
 wounded rendered the condition of those who 
 still survived, truly afflicting. 
 
 Owing either to the supposed ease with which 
 the wounded might be conveyed on shore, but 
 w^hich measure was found, when too .late, totally 
 impracticable, or to some unaccountable neg- 
 lect, caused, perhaps, ,by an idea, which the 
 Danes are said to 'have entertained, that the 
 navigation was so intricate the British assailants 
 would not be able to take the proper station for 
 attack, no surgeons had been previously provided ; 
 so that when the captured vessels were boarded 
 by the British seamen, after their surrender, the 
 numbers of mutilated personsj then actually 
 bleeding to death, in consequenbe of the omis- 
 sion, and from the want of proper assistance, 
 formed a scene truly shocking to humanity. The 
 moment, however, when all further resistance ap- 
 peared rather as an act of rashness, than of braveiy, 
 had no sooner arrived, than Lord Nelson, selling 
 the happy opportunity, which the despera,te 
 state of the Danish line of defence appeared -tgf^ 
 afford him, dispatched Sir Frederick Thcsiger * 
 
 * Sir Frederick Thesiger originally embraced a maritime 
 Jife, in ihc service of the East India Compai>yj bat after 
 
250 . MEMOIRS or 
 
 with a flag of truce, proposing an armistice, and 
 urging, as an inducement, that however drcad- 
 
 Baving made two or three voyages, finding that mode of life 
 far too inactive for his aspiring genius, he determined on 
 qoitting it, and on entering into the royal navy. Having- 
 gained the favour and protection of Sir Samuel Marshall, he 
 served under that gallant officer as a midshipman, at the pe- 
 Tio«i, when France taking a part in the American contest, be- 
 came the enemy of Great Britain : while in this subordinate 
 situation, he was particularly noticed by his commanding offi« 
 cer f&r his zeal and assiduity, as well as for his bravery, 
 and gallant conduct on various occasions. 
 
 On the appointment of Lord Rodney to the chief command 
 in the West Indies, Mr. Thesiger was promoted to be a 
 lieutenant on board his lordship's ship, and having acquired 
 great correctness in the art of repeating of signals, was parti- 
 cokrly recommended for that empfoyment, in consequence of 
 which lie was constantly near the person of his lordship dur- 
 ing the action of the 1 2th of April, having acted as his aid- 
 dui-camp, and is reported to have been the first person who 
 boarded the Ville de Paris, after that ship had struck, 
 
 Mr. Thesiger's reputation became so well established during, 
 the remainder of the war. that after peace was concluded, he 
 was induced to enter into the Russian service, that power 
 Kaving endeavoured to obtain the assistance of British officers, 
 irr thrir disputes with Sweden. Mr. Thesiger was accord- 
 Tiifgly recommended by his friend. Lord Rodney, to the Rus- 
 sian ambassador in such high terms as immediately procured 
 him the corrmand of a 74, gun ship, in the service of her im- 
 perial majesty. In the engagement that afterwards took placQ 
 between the Swedes and Russians, C:-iptain Thesiger fully 
 proved his title to the confidence which had been placed ii^i 
 him I and was, it may with jusiice be said, most conspicuously 
 instrumental in the triumph of that day. The Swedish admi- 
 ral, onboard the Gustavus, struck his flag to him; and the 
 
I LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 251 
 
 fully such a measure might operate on the feel- 
 ings of his humanity, he should, if resistance were 
 
 command of the prize was afterwards bestowed on him, 
 qn account of his bravery, as was the order of merit likewise. 
 
 In a subsequent engagement between the same powers, 
 he added very considerably to his former fame, and so despe- 
 rate was the encounter, that out of five English captains who 
 commanded in that engagement, Caprain Thesiger alone sur- 
 vived. The empress Catherine, who fully appreciated his ser- 
 vices on this, and former occasions, sent him a most gracious 
 letter, written with her own hand; in which, after paying the 
 tribute due to his gallant conduct, she bestowed on him tbs 
 fourth class of the military order of St. George, and having 
 sent him, at the same time, the ensigns of the order, she autho- 
 rized him to put them on, and wear them in the accustomed 
 and lawful manner. 
 
 On the death of the Empress Catherine, Sir Frederick, 
 wishing to retire from the Russian service, sent in his re- 
 signation to her successor, Paul, soliciting a passport for his 
 return to England. The emperor, however, being desirous of 
 detaining him, used every means of delay ; he made him the 
 most brilliant promises, even those of raising him to the rank 
 of admiral, but without effect, which irritated that monarch to 
 so great a degree, that he kept him in Russia twelve months 
 without either employment or pay ; and Sir Frederick, when 
 at last he obtained the desired permission, was glad to leave 
 that country, with no other remuneration, for his great ser- 
 vices, not even the prize money due to him, than the honour* 
 he had received from his august patroness, the Empress Cathe- 
 rine. 
 
 Soon after his arrival in England, the expedition to the 
 Baltic was undertaken, and Sir Frederick was particularly re- 
 commended by Lord Spencer, as a proper person to be em- 
 ployed in it. He accordingly attended Lord Nelson in the 
 capacity in which he had en a former occasion been service- 
 
!252 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 longer continued, be under the necessity of de- 
 stroying those vessels which were now incapable 
 of further defence, and with them the numbers 
 of brave men on board, who had till then sur- 
 vived the encounter, for that it could not be 
 expected he should risk his own people within 
 the line of the Danish fire, for the purpose of 
 saving the Danish subjects*. The measure was 
 too philanthropic not to be adopted by the crown 
 prince in its fullest extent. When two persi-ns, 
 having the highest confidence in the honour of 
 
 able to Lord Rodney, as his aid-du-camp, and was thepersqn 
 ^ chosen by his Irrdship to convey a message lo the crown 
 prince. This service he executed with the greatest address, 
 ihough not without infinite hazard to himself and the boat's 
 crew, for daring his passage to rJie shore, he wns hred at from 
 every quarter, but fortunately without receiving any injury; 
 nor was he in less danger on his- return from tiie negotiation, 
 since being ignorant, on account of their distance,* that a 
 truce had taken place, the batteries of the enen-.y still conti- 
 nued their fire. Indeed, on every occasion, both by his con- 
 ■ duct and his knowled^^e of the coast, he was cminGntly 
 ȣrviceable, and, soon after his return to England, was raised 
 to the rank of post captain in the British navy. 
 
 On the commencement of the present war Sir Frederick 
 was appointed agent for the prisoneis at I?ortsinouih : this 
 situation, he filled with 'the greatest credit till the time of his 
 death, which happened on the 26th of August, 1805. 
 
 * The annexed correspondence took place on the occasion. 
 
 No. I. ■ 
 '* Lord Nelson has directions to spare Denmark, when no 
 longer resisting ; but if the firing is continued on the part of 
 Denmark, Lord Nelson must be obliged to set on fire all the 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 2^3 
 
 each other, are employed in a political delibera- 
 tlon and discussion, a single instant will almost 
 suffice to arrange the preliminaries, and com* 
 pletely pave the way to future tranquillity; so 
 did the event prove in the present instance. 
 On the very same afternoon, his lordship, now 
 no longer an enemy to Denmark, landed at 
 
 floating batteries he has taken, without having the power cf 
 savins the brave Danes who have defended them. 
 
 *' Nelson and Bronte, 
 ** Vi<:e-adnural under command of admiral 
 ** Sir Hyde Parker.'* 
 *< Dated on board his majesty's ship Elephant, 
 Copenhagen Roads, April 2d, J 801." 
 
 " To the brothers of Englishmen, the Danes." 
 
 No. II. 
 
 ' '** His royal highness the prince royal of Denmark has sent 
 .fine. General Adjutant Lindholm, on board to his Briiannic 
 majesty's vice-admiral, the Right Honourable Lord Ne'.sou 
 ,to ask the particular object of sending the Sag of truce ?"' 
 
 No. III. 
 Lord Nelson's Answer. 
 
 ** Lord Nelson's object in sending the flag of truce \vr.s 
 humanity; he therefore consents that hostilities shall cease, 
 and that the wounded Danes may be taken on shore, and 
 Lord Nelson will take his prisoners out of the Vessels, and 
 burn and carry off his prizes as he shall think fit. 
 
 ** Lord Nelson, with humble duty to his royal highncss- 
 the prince of Denmark, will consider this the greatest victory 
 he ever gained, if it may be the cause of a happy reconcilia- 
 tion and union between his own most gracio!is sovereign, and 
 his majesty the king of Denmark. ** Nelson an^i Bronte." 
 «* On board, his majesty's ship Elephant, 
 
 Copenhagen Roads, April 2d, 180 i.** 
 
^04 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Copenhagen, for the purpose of adjusting mor6 
 folly the terms for the renewal of that amity so 
 long subsisting between the courts of London 
 and Denmark, which had been so recently and 
 unfortunately broken. His reception is different- 
 ly, and, indeed> oppositely described ; some per- 
 sons having insisted, that on the instant of his 
 reaching the shore, he was greeted with the loud- 
 est acclamations, and, in short, that his landing 
 rather resembled that of a conqueror, returning 
 to his native shore amidst the reiterated acclama- 
 tions of his countrymen, than that of an enemy^ 
 who, only two hours before, Vas spreading de- 
 struction and desolation over the city. 
 
 On the other hand, it has been asserted that the 
 treatment he experienced, though far different, 
 wassch as might naturally have been expected^ 
 allowinsr for the circumstances'under which it took 
 place ; that the populace at first hardly conducted 
 themselves with sufficient temper, but almost for- 
 getting the laws of hospitality, and the high charac- 
 ter his lordship then bore, in a public point of 
 view, received him with i sullen silence, which 
 was not prevented, without the greatest diffi- 
 culty, from bursting into a flame, by the spirited 
 exertions of the noblesse. 
 
 Betw^cen these two opposite statements the 
 truth may, as is generally the fact in all similar 
 cases, most probably be found. To have expected 
 a conduct like that first stated, would be to at^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^55-- 
 
 tribute to the Danes a levity and impropriety of 
 character they certainly do not possess. It would 
 have been unnatural to have supposed a people 
 could enthusiastically greet as a friend the mmi 
 who had just directed a contest, in which the 
 greater part of them had probably experienced 
 the loss of some amongst their dearest con- 
 nexions. 
 
 It is most probable, the behaviour of the peo- 
 ple toward the victor was silent and reserved ; it 
 is natural to conclude that it was so; they be- 
 held v^th admiration, and even astonishment, the 
 man who in the space of a few hours had over- 
 come every difficulty and obstacle, which the 
 best officers in their service had exerted chcit 
 utmost skill in presenting to an enemy, and 
 which their own bravery had contributed its best 
 efforts to render sufficient and effectual. 
 
 The Danish accounts candidly admit their dis- 
 comfiture ; and as this truth was strongly impressed 
 on the minds of the people, it could not fail 
 perhaps to sour the temper of the worsted, when 
 they beheld the man whom they were obliged to 
 consider as a conqueror, passing through them, 
 not as the herald and promoter of peace, but, for 
 any thing they knew to the contrary, in the im- 
 perious character of an haughty ambassador, com- 
 missioned to prescribe such terms as he thought 
 fit, to the vanquished. In this, however, they 
 were mistaken, and though his lordship's entrance 
 
^oO MEiMOIRS OF .iij 
 
 into the metropolis of his recent enemy, resem- 
 bled not the triumph of an emperor, for the con- 
 quest of a country, it bore a strict analogy to the 
 cvationof a Roman general, who had put a sudden 
 and unexpected period to the ravages of war *. 
 
 * The annexed series, of private accounts^, given by indi- 
 viduals, both of Britain and Denmark, together with the 
 oficial documents published under the authority of the govern- 
 ment of the latter country, will shew, that no material exag- 
 geration can have been used on either side ; it is a just tribute 
 to a candid and generous enemy, to proclaim and prove this fact. 
 
 '* On the morning of March the 30th, about seven o'clock, 
 the thundering peals of Cronburg put an end to suspense. 
 Very shortly after, we could discern the fleet, which approach- 
 ed rapidly. The tremendous cannonading from the fort gave 
 133 an idea of what it might effect, if it could reach its object. 
 His Majesty of Sweden who observed the passage of the fleet 
 from Helbingborg, appeared sensible of this ; and after the 
 cannonading had ceased, dispatched an officer to con.pliment 
 the governor of Cronburg. 
 
 *' As the gale'was blowing fresh, the British soon advanced 
 within seven or eight miles of the city, where they came to an 
 anchor. A frigate, a lugger, ^nd a brig, got rather nearer ; 
 but the battery of the three crowns, and the fire from the block 
 ships, compelled them to retire. The magnificence of this 
 spectacle naturally left various impressions on our minds ; but 
 whether favourble or unfavourable, they were soon forgotten 
 in the" enthusiasm, and unanimity which prevailed among all 
 clashes. The question was not, IVho is ihe ene?n\ F h\ii Where 
 ij the enemy? It was a moment of impending -danger; the 
 duty vve owed our country, therefore, inspired us with only 
 one sen'timen% The noblp spirit displayed by the students 
 at the siege in 1658-60, was equally conspicuous in their suc- 
 ctssors; who, with one handv and one heart, associated them- 
 selves into a corps of twelve hundred; Avhilte those sons of the 
 
:scouNr nelson. ^57 
 
 carriage having been provided for the convey- 
 ance of his lordship to the palace, it met him at the 
 
 tiuscs, wkom age and infirmity prevented from rallying round 
 le standard of patriotism, did all in their power to encourage 
 id confirm so laudable an effort. Chamberlain Lindenkr^ne 
 mt ji thousand dollars to the aid of those students whose 
 rivatc means were unequal to the cjcpense of their public 
 uties. 
 The first andisecond days passed quietly over ; but on the 
 morning of April isf, we could perceive an unusual bustle 
 among the English shipping. Some frigates and lighter ves- 
 sels got under weigh, and were employed in sounding. To- 
 ,wards evening., twelve sail of the line, all the frigates, and 
 most of the smaller vessels, weighed ; and with a northern 
 .breeze passed through the Hollander Deep. Admiral Parker, 
 with eight sail of the line, and two small vessels, preserved 
 Jhis station; while Admiral Nelson anchored, with his divi- 
 sion, beyond the fire of our otitermost ships. 
 
 Conjecture was now at an end. A change of wind to the 
 .-southward would enable Lord Nelson to bear down with hi^ 
 division ; and we anxiously awaited the awful moment. Our 
 ships were moored with four anchors, and manned, indiscri. 
 sninately, by people of all descriptions, hastily collected for 
 the present en;ergency : they had been constantly on the alert 
 during the former two nights, a third was now added to their 
 fatigue ; and when it is considered, that these people were 
 unacquainted with the exercise of great guns ; that they were 
 all day employed in practising, and all night in watt hing ; 
 the compliment paid them by Mr. Bardenfleth, first lieutenant 
 on board the Charlotte Amelia, in his professional account of 
 the battle, will not be deemed superfluous. 
 
 He says, ** the spirit which animated all hands on board, 
 and not their real strengthi enabled th >m to perform wh^ 
 ^ydid," 
 
 S 
 
,258 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 shore for that purpose. It was owing merely to the 
 suddenness of his visit, that one of the royal cqui- 
 
 The morning of April ad dawned, and the wind blowing 
 southerly, our commodore made a signal for the whole line to 
 lay their broadside to the enemy. 
 
 Between nine and ten, both divisions of the British weighed; 
 and our commodore hoisted the flag of defiance from the Danne- 
 brog. Admiral Parker, with the zeal that is characteristic 
 of a British seaman, beat up against wind and current, to- 
 wards the battery of the Three Crowns, proposing to awe our 
 ships in the inner roads, while the hero of the Nile bore right 
 down upon our line. 
 
 The Edgar led the British van, advancing in a most gal- 
 lant style against the Provesteen, 58 guns, which opened 
 her fire on the former, five minutes after ten. The Vagrien> 
 50 guns, then poured in a broadside, just as the Edgar waS 
 upon the tack to take her station ; a second broadside was 
 discharged from the Provesteen, when the whole of the 
 British line gained rapidly on ours : in a few minutes two- 
 third parts of our ships were in action. As our line was not 
 broken, only one half of the force on either side was conse- 
 quently engaged. 
 
 Our foremost ship, the Provesteen, was exposed, during 
 the whole of the action, to the fir^ of the Polyphemus, of 64 
 guns, the Russel, and the Bellona, which two latter ships 
 run r ground at the commencement of the battle; but this 
 misfortune, (as Lord Nelson observed,) did not impede their 
 service. The Provesteen was, at the same time, raked by 
 la Desiree, of 40 guns, and a gun-brig. 
 
 Great as was the distinction which Commodore Fischer, in 
 his report, conferred on the Provesteen and her gallant 
 Captain Lassen, ** notwithstanding my high sense of Danish 
 bravery, it was heightened by the conduct of the Proves- 
 teen, which continued to fight till all her guns were dis- 
 
LORD ^ISCOrr NT' NELSON. 259 
 
 pages was not sent for his accbminodation. Hi^ 
 ■lordship, however, had too great a soul to wait, on 
 
 K 
 
 ^fcaounted,** the compliment of Lord Nekon is in my opinion 
 
 ^Kl-eater*. 
 
 ^■* ** Captain Rusbrigh stood, on this occasion, as undaunted 
 upon the quarter-deck, of thfe Vagrien, as when a lieutenant 
 •on board the Formidable, under the gallint Rodney, on the 
 f2th April, 1782. For England he assisted to acquire glory 
 and success; for Denmark he obtained onl; the former.'* 
 
 Soon after eleven o'clock the Dannebrog, 64 guns. Captain 
 Braun, took iire, which compelled Commodore Fischer to 
 shift his broad pendant to the Holstein ; but Eraun continued 
 to fight her till he lost his right hand. Captain Lemning suc- 
 ceeded in the command ; and although the flames blazed 
 around them, threatening immediate destruction, the Danne- 
 hrog maintained her fire, till the dose of tiie engagement, 
 against her powerful adversary the Glatton; which latter 
 mounted 68 pound carronades on her lower deck. 
 
 When Commodore Fischer, famed for the coolness and 
 perspicuity of his judgment in the hour of trial, left the Danne- 
 brog, the battle raged with the utmost fury. The British 
 finding that our foremost ships were far from slackening their 
 fire, now extended their line, and at noon all our ships, as 
 well as the battery, were strenuously engaged in the awfiil 
 contest. 
 
 Captain Thura, of the Infoedsretten, 64. guns, fell at the 
 beginning of the action; and all the subaltern officers were 
 either killed or wounded, except a lieutenant and a marine 
 
 • Nos. I, 2, 3, and 4, being subdued, which is expected 
 to happen at an early period, the Isis and Agamemnon are to 
 cut their cables, and immediately make sail, and take their 
 station ahead .of the Polyphemus, in order to support that part 
 of the line. 
 
 S a 
 
£60 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 SO pressing an occasion, for the empty pageantry 
 and form of a regular conveyance, but proceed^' 
 
 officer. In this state of confusion, the colour? were, by ac- 
 cident, struck. The British, however, made no attempt to, 
 board the Infoedsretten, she being rather dangerously moored 
 athwart our battery, a boat was dispatched from the ship tQ 
 carry the tidings of her commander's death to the prince royal, 
 who had from the dawn of day taken his station upon a bat- 
 tery. Here, amidst showers of shells and cannon balls, Fre- 
 derick, the wise, the good, and the brave, superintended 
 calmly and actively, for the assistance of the ships engaged. 
 By shewing how a prince ought to meet danger, he taught 
 Others to despise it. 
 
 When the Prince received the message from the Infoed- 
 sretten, he turned round, and with an air that gave confi- 
 dence to all about him, said, ** Gentlemen, Thura is killed ; 
 who of you will take the command?"" — ** I will," replied 
 Mr. Schroedersee, in a feeble voice, and hastened eagerly 
 ©n board. This gentleman had been a captain in the navy ; 
 but on account of ill health had lately resigned. The hour of 
 necessity seemed to invigorate his wasted form, and in hopes 
 to serve his country, he forgot his want of strength. 
 
 The crew seeing a new commander coming alongside, 
 lioisted their colours and fired a broadside. When he 
 came on deck he found great numbers killed and wounded ; 
 and therefore instantly called to those that had rowed him to 
 get quickly on board. It was his last effort ; a ball struck 
 him, and Schroedersee was no more ! Mr. Nissen, a lieu- 
 tenant in the navy, who attended this gallant Tar to his noble 
 fate, next took the command, and continued to fight the ship 
 for the remainder of the day. 
 
 The engagement had now lasted upwards of three hours, 
 without any glimpse of victory on either side. A determined 
 perseverance appeared to inflame both parties. Our line 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSOlT. gfil 
 
 Hirough the streets with his best haste, whild 
 
 Kie people, thronged around him, eager to catch 
 eadfastly preserved its original position, and every ship 
 aintained its station except the Rendsbrog Prame, which 
 drove ashore, her cables having been shot away at the com- 
 mencement of the attack ; and the Elven, a repeating sloop 
 of war, which had sheered ofF a little after twelve, her mastd 
 being very materially damaged. 
 
 When the British fleet first bore down upon us, the eleven 
 gun-boats retired. 
 
 About two o'clock |he fire from the respective fleets abated 
 considerably, Jind our ships appeared very much disabled. 
 The damage si^stained by the British was apparently trivial, 
 from our ships having constantly directed their fire at the 
 enemy's hulls. This was undoubtedly the slowest method ot 
 disabling an adversary ; yet it was the surest ; and certainly 
 is, at all events, preferable to chance. 
 
 Considering the exposed situation of oiir men on board, it 
 was a matter of real surprize, that so few, comparatively^ 
 suffered from the immense quantity of shot which had been 
 poured in upon them. 
 
 Had every ball that Struck our masts wounded our hulls, 
 there would, in all probabilityi have been no prisoners o? 
 war. 
 
 At two o'clock the Nyeborg Frame having her main^ 
 mizen-masts, bowsprit, and foretop mast shot away, and the 
 captain perceiving her almost ready to sink, ordered the 
 cables to be cut, and the foresail to be set, that they might 
 steer for the inner roads. As he passed the line he descried 
 the Aggershuus, a vessel of the same description as his own> 
 in the most miserable plight ; her mas:s having all gone by 
 the board, and the hull on the eve of sinking. Captain Roth^ 
 shewed himself a true Seaman, who not only meets his own 
 danger, but also cheerfully shares in that of others. Having 
 made, faet a cable from his stern to the steraof the Agg^r- 
 
20x2 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 a single glimpse of the extraordinary person who 
 was come among them. 
 
 shuus, he towed her ofF; and thus obtained as glorious a 
 triumph as. if he had come in wich an enemy's ship. 
 
 Soon afcer two o'clock. Commodore Fischer removed his 
 broad pendant from the Holsrein to the battery of the Three 
 Crowns, whence he commanded during the latter part of the 
 engagement* 
 
 At this moment Lieutenant Lillienskiold finding his ship, 
 the Hielperen, surrounded by a superior force, cut his cables, 
 and brought her safe into the inner roadis, Mr. Lillienskiold 
 was no stranger to the business of the day ; he had, in the 
 year 1799, fought in the West Indies with a privateer; and 
 both contended so obstinately, that they were obliged to se- 
 parate for want of powder. 
 
 Last, though not least, is Mr. Villemoes, a second lieu- 
 tenant, who commanded the floaiing battery. No. i. Much 
 has been said abcut his skill in manoeuvering his raft, which 
 consisted merely of a number of beams nailed together ; on 
 them a flooring was laid to support the guns. It was square 
 with breast work, full of port holes, and without masts. I 
 shall not take upon myself to argue how far it were possible 
 to manage' such a log; but merely say, the manner in which 
 Villemoes manceuvered his guns, and ultimately saved his raft, 
 attracted the notice of Lord Nelson, whose ship lay for some 
 time opposite the floating battery. That admiral is said, in 
 the handsomest manner, to have noticed to the prince royal, 
 how much the country, on future 'occasions, might fairly expect 
 from the abilities, of young Villemoes. This trait of his 
 lordship I. consider as a never- failing flower in the wreath 
 wtutli military talents and success have twined around his 
 ^rpws. 
 
 At h.ilf past two our fire had nearly subsided ; but the Rut- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSONT. 263 * 
 
 is necessary to make a short digression in thi& 
 >lace, for the purpose of offerings a few observa- 
 
 land, the last ship that retutned the enemy's shot, was still 
 engaged, as was the Provesteen. However, the Three 
 Crowns had just opened its batteries with a dreadful effect, 
 when the white flag was unfurled from Lord Nelson's main- 
 top^ 
 
 An English boat, with a flag of truce, came alongside the 
 Elephant ; the Captain of which sent an officer in his boat to 
 accompany it on shore. The battery, in the mean time, kept 
 up a heavy cannonade, as did the Elephant. As the wind had 
 be«n south south-west, south, and south-east, the whole day, 
 with a strong current. Admiral Parker's division advanced 
 but very little ; insomuch, that a broadside from the Ra- 
 millies, a 74, (his foremost ship), fell very short of the 
 battery. 
 
 The flag of truce having delivered a dispatch to the Prince 
 Royal, returned ; and soon afterwards orders were sent to the 
 commander of the battery to cease firing ; their guns had, in 
 the interval, been pointed with the utmost effect on the Mo- 
 narch and Ganges, which ships were awkwardly situated on 
 the shoal of the battery. 
 
 Two flags were then dispatched from shore, to Admirals 
 Parker and Nelson ; while the British took possession of ele- 
 ven of our ships. 
 
 In the course of the forenoon Admiral Nelson ca,me in his 
 barge into the inner roads, and went on board of the Denmark, 
 where he partook of some refreshment, and then proceeded 
 ashore. On his landing he was received by the people neither 
 with acclamations nor with murmurs ; they did not degrade 
 themselves with the former, nor disgrace themselves with the 
 latter. The Admiral was received as one brave enemy ever 
 ought to receive another — he was received with respect* A 
 carriage was provided for his lordship, which he however dc* 
 
^2,64 MEMOIRS of 
 
 tions on the conduct of his lordship ; which, im-? .^ 
 material as it may seem, has given birth to somd 
 
 clined, and walked amidst an immense crowd of persons anr- 
 iDus to catch a glimpse of the British hero, to the palace of 
 the Prince Royal. After dinner, the Admiral was introduced 
 to the Prince, and the negociations commenced. The next 
 day his lordship came again on shore, and dined with th« 
 Prince Royal, as he did frequently till the ninth of Aprily 
 when the armistice was finally concluded. 
 
 On one of his visits to Copenhagen, Lord Nelson inspected 
 6ur Navaf Academy; to v^hich he, m a manner higWy honour* 
 able to himself and to us, presented some gold medals of va- 
 lue, to be distributed among the most skilful of tlie midship- 
 
 Letter from" the Royal College of Commerce at Copen- 
 hagen, dated the 4th of April, rSor, to M. M. Muldrup 
 and Salveson, his Danish Majesty's Cbnsuls for Scotland, 
 residing at Leith. 
 
 ^'Gentlemen, 
 
 ** We judge it necessary to make you ac<^iiainted with the 
 actual situation of our affairs, as well for your government, as 
 for the information of those of our nation, who may be at pre- 
 sent in your Consulage district*' 
 
 «« You must have heard that a British fleet, of fifty-four 
 sail, under the command of Admirals Sir Hyde Parker and 
 Lord Nelson, had proceeded to the straits of the Sound, with 
 an intention to enter the Baltic. The fleet actually appeared', 
 and having advanced towards Cronenberg, Admiral Parker 
 declared to the commandant that hostilities would commence, 
 upon which the fleet begat to pass the fortress onr the 30th ©f 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. t65 
 
 controversy and literary dispute. The most, gene- 
 rally, established opinion, even among the Danes 
 
 March, exposed to an obstinate fire from our batteries, which 
 tiras returned with equal spirit, but without material damage to 
 either party, as the fleet kept so close to the Swedish side, that 
 k was with difficulty our balls could reach them. After hav- 
 ing cleared the straits, the British formed themselves in a line, 
 in sight of our fioating batteries, and the ships placed for our 
 defence at the entrance of oiir port. There they remained 
 tranquil until the evening of the ist instant, when they as- 
 sumed a more threatening position. On the following day^ 
 2d of April, at half past ten o'clock in the morning, the most 
 bloody and obstinate engagement took place in our roads that 
 has ever beeh remembered. Our sailors have gained them- 
 selves honour and glory, and if the force of defence had beeni 
 equal to that of attack, the success would have been doabtful ; 
 but, after five hours fighting, the most of our crews were either 
 killed or wounded, the ships much shattered, and the floating 
 batteries dismounted, so that it became at last necessary ta 
 yield to superior force, at least triple to that which we could 
 employ at the point of defence. The rig.ht wing of our de- 
 fence was broken through by Nelson's squadron ; some of our 
 floating batteries, and ships of inferior size, have fallen into tht 
 hands of the enemy. Before the engagement had seriously 
 commenced with the fleet under Admiral Parker's orders^ 
 Nelson sent a flag of truce to propose a suspension of hostili- 
 ties, in order to transport the wounded on shore, which was 
 agreed to, and the suspension of arms has been prolonged, 
 and hostilities have not yet recommenced. Nelson was on 
 shore yesterday, and a negotiation is at present going forward, 
 and every thing for the moment tranquil. We do not know 
 precisely how much the enemy have suffered, nor the number 
 ©f their slain ; but, according to information from some of 
 
^66 MEMOIRS or 
 
 therruselves, is, that at the time the flag of truce 
 was dispatched, any further attempt to protract 
 
 their ofEcers, their ships have been considerably damaged, and 
 
 ibeir loss of men very numerous. 
 
 ** This, Gentlemen, is the result of a day ever memorable 
 
 to Denmark, and honourable for the intrepidity and bravery 
 
 of our warriors, whose conduct even the enemy has allowed 
 
 to have been most glorious. Make these facts known to their 
 
 countrymen, ane inform- ihem at the same time, that we shall 
 
 not fail to acquaint them of the ultimate result, of these 
 
 events. 
 
 (Signed) *«Schimmelman, 
 
 schested, 
 
 .Schmidt, 
 
 Phisseldeck, &c.'** 
 
 Correct particulars of the actioiv oiF Copenhagen, from a 
 private hand. 
 
 '* In my last, of the 50th of March, I informed you of the 
 intention of our fleet to pass Elsineur Castle the first fair wind : 
 it came on that very day. We weighed anchar, formed the 
 line, and stood past it with all sails set ; during the time we 
 were passing, a very heavy fire was kept up by the enemy, 
 but none of our ships received a shot. The Swedes, very for- 
 tunately, did not engage us at all : we were not above a mile 
 from their guns, as we kept their shore on board, to be out of 
 the Danes* gun shot; in the mean time we had several bomb- 
 ships firing on their town ; the shells which they fired killed 
 160 people a-shoreatElsinetir. 
 
 *• The whole fleet soon came to anchor off Copenhagen, 
 and immediately after Sir Hyde Parker, Lord Nelson, Captain 
 Freemantle, Colonel Stewart, and the Captain of the Fleet, 
 all went in a lugger to reconnoitre the enemy's force here ; 
 they soon opened a heavy fire on them, but they persevered 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NBLSON. 2^7 
 
 resistaace would have been an act of folly, if not 
 phrenzy. The line of naval defence was com- 
 
 in sounding, &c. till they were satisfied, and then came 
 away. 
 
 ** On the 3 1st of March we weighed, and stood close ia. 
 On the 1st of April, Lord Nelson having found out a new 
 channel, by which he could come at the enemy with more ad- 
 vantage, the ships that were ordered to put themselves imme- 
 diately under his command, weighed and stood through the 
 new found channel, and a very intricate one it is : in the af- 
 ternoon we anchored within reach of the shells of the enemy, 
 which, you may be assured, we were not long looking for. 
 They fired on us some part of the night without doing any da- 
 mage — several fell very near us« 
 
 **"! have now to recount to you the particulars of the action 
 fought so gloriously on the 2d of April, under the command 
 of Sir Hyde Parker, though more directly under the valiant 
 Nelson, whose fi.g was flying on board the Elephant, of 74. 
 guns, in the centre of the iiae engaged. I believe for the 
 want of water nearly one half of the line of battle ships were 
 not able to go the way we did to get upon the enemy, but 
 were, however, to come up the common channel, by whicli 
 they would have joined us. The channel forms nearly a cres- 
 cent ; and, consequently, the wind that was fair for us under 
 Xord Nelson, who were at one end of this channel, must 
 be contrary for the ships under Sir Hyde Parker at the other, 
 JEvery thing possible was apparently done by that squadron to 
 make a junction ; but the engagement, which lasted three 
 hours and a half, with the victory atchieved, was finished just 
 at the time I supposed them one gun-shot and a half from the 
 enemy. 
 
 ** As I apprehend you would wish for the particulars, I 
 shall give them, with the occurrences, as nearly as possible. I 
 
S()8 MExMOIRS OF 
 
 jpletely broken, and destroyed, many of the ves- 
 sels were totally disabled, and the remainder* 
 
 Kad a watch about me all the time, and was stationed on the 
 |)Oop. A. M. i®h. and 20m. answered the signal to weigh, 
 and at loh. 50m. the Edgar, being the leading ship of 
 the line, received from, and immediately opened a brisk fire 
 upon the enemy. At 1 1 h. the Elephant, Vice- Admiral Lord 
 Nelson, passed us in the line of battle, weighed anchor, and 
 stood after her, being stationed next ship to the Admiral. At 
 I ih. 15m, opened ouf fire on the enemy ; observed the Bel- 
 lona and Isis agrdund. At iihi 25:m. passed the Admiral, 
 who hailed and desired us to bring to close a-head of him j let 
 go the stern anchor ; wind right aft during the time the line 
 was inverting, by which the headmost became the stern* 
 most ship to anchor ; a very heavy fire was carried on both 
 by the enemy and us ; but when every ship had anchored in 
 her station, it became astonishingly sd. 
 
 *' Aboiit five minutes before we anchored, our master was 
 killed^ and the pilot almost so, by one shot. At ih, 20m; 
 P. M. Admiral Nelson sent an officer on boai-d, to say the Da- 
 hish Admiral had struck: ^t this timfe, as at several others> 
 three cheers were given. The Danish Admiral was supposed 
 to be nearly abreast of the Elephant, at the distance of half a 
 mile ; we a-head of the Elephant, and the Monarch next a- 
 head of us: ih. 50m. observed four d£ the enemy's vessels 
 with their colours struck. 
 
 *♦ At three o'clock the Admiral weighed or cut, and passed 
 us ; cut away our stern anchor, and made sail after the Admi- 
 ral. The fleet in general at this time mdved off to another 
 anchorage. The very formidable fort of the Crown, and se- 
 veral others along shore, were firing at the fleet all the latter 
 part of the engagement. The Bellona and Isis were ashore 
 within gun-shot of the enemy, the whole time » the Russel 
 
^ LORD VISCOUNT KiLSON, 269 
 
 were then burning, or in the hands, at least they 
 were in the absolute power, of the British ; the 
 
 and Agamemnon, two of our squadron, ashore clear of the 
 fcnemy-s shot. In coming out, the Elephant, the Defiance, 
 and Ardent, got nshore, the marks having all been taken up 
 by the enemy, in a very difRcult channel. They are all now 
 off, and joined Sir Hyde Parker again. 
 
 *' Soon after the action, flags of truce passed between u4. 
 Lord Nelson yesterday went ashore to Copenhagen, (as we 
 \vere all under a truce), and had an audience with the Danish 
 monarch, 
 
 «* The enemy's ships were moored in a line of great ex- 
 tent along the Channel, and it was thought by the Danes to be 
 impossible to take, or pass them. The loss on board our squa- 
 dron is very considerable, but nothing to be compared with 
 jhat of the enemy. I hear that some of their ships were 
 manned two or three times. 
 
 «* They do not know how many people they had, as they 
 were fairly forced out of the streets of Copenhagen, and 
 put on board. We have had no proper returns yet, but I 
 have sent you a list of the prizes. We were the luckiest 
 line of battle ship in the action, in our loss of men, but 
 are most shockingly cut up in masts and rigging. Lord Nel- 
 son never knew, he says, such a ship in his life, her sides in a 
 constant blaze with firing, and the men at the same time 
 always a cheering. I have only to say, our prizes being 
 chiefly hulks, and their hulls most marvellously shot to pieces, 
 we shall be obliged to destroy the most of them ; but there 
 are eleven fine new seventy-four's in the harbour, which 
 we must soon have. We likewise expect to meet the Rus* 
 sian fleet very soon, and have no doubt of serving them, as 
 we have done the Danes. There were twenty-three sail en- 
 gaged, eighteen • of which we completely conquered in the 
 ihort space of time mentioned. 
 
270 
 
 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Crown batteries had received considerable in- 
 jury, insomuch that they could not have with- 
 
 LIST OF DANISH SHIPS TAKEN. 
 
 Ships. 
 Wagner 
 Albesteen • 
 Rcnsberg . 
 Jutland • 
 Cronenberg 
 Sperseris • 
 
 One sunk, one burnt ; since also, one sunk, one burnt, three 
 destroyed, aground, names unknown. 
 
 ms. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 SO 
 
 Shark . 
 
 28 
 
 64 
 
 Charlotte-Amelia 
 
 . 9^ 
 
 34 
 
 Holstcin 
 
 . 64 
 
 50 
 
 Seahorse 
 
 20 
 
 26 
 
 Provesteen 
 
 • H 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 Danish Account of the Engagement. 
 
 The following is the official account of the same naval en- 
 gagement, transmitted to his Royal Highness the Crown 
 Prince, by the commander in chief, Olfert Fischer :-r- 
 
 « On the first of April, at half past three in the afternoon, 
 twodivisiors of the English fleet, under the command of Vice- 
 Admiral Lord Nelson, and a Rear- Admiral, weighed anchor, 
 and stood eastwa'-d, and by the south of the middle passage 
 of the road, where they anchored. This force consisted of 
 twelve ships of the line, and several large frigates, gun- 
 boats, and other smaller vessels ; in all, thirty-one sail. 
 
 " On the 2d of April, at three quarters past nine intHe 
 morning, the wind S. E., both the vessels to the south, and the 
 vessels to the north of the middle road, weighed anchor. 
 The ships of the line and heavy frigates under Lord Nelson, 
 steered for the Konigsdefe, to take their stations in ordeur 
 along the line of defence, confided to me. The gun-boats 
 and small vessels took their stations near the tcwn, and the 
 division of Admiral Parker, consisting of eight ships \^f 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 271 
 
 stood any serious attack. Many ships in the Bri- 
 tish line, it cannot be disputed, had sustained 
 
 the line and some small vessels, steered with a press of sail 
 southwards to the right wing of defence. 
 
 " At half past ten, the foremost ship of Admiral Nelson's 
 division passed the southernmost ship of the line of defence. 
 I gave those ships that were within shot, the signal for battle. 
 The block ships, Provesteen and Wagner, and immediately 
 after thcfc the Jutland, between which and the block ship 
 Dannebrog, the leading English ship (of 74 guns) fixed her 
 station by throwing out one of her rear anchors, obeyed the 
 signal by a well directed and well supported fire. By degrees 
 the rest of the ships came up, and as they sailed past on both 
 sides of the sljips already at anchor, they formed a thick line, 
 which, as it stretched northward to the ship cf the line, the 
 Zeland, engaged not more than two-thirds of the, line of de- 
 fence committed to me, while the Three Crowns Battery, and 
 the block ships. Elephant and Mars, with the frigate Hiclpe- 
 ren, did not come at all into the action, 
 
 <' In half an hour the battle was general. Ten ships of 
 the line, among which was one of So guns, the rest chiefly 
 seventy- four's, and from six to eight frigates on the one side. 
 On the other, seven block ships, of which only one of seventy- 
 lour, the rest of sixty-four and under, two frigates, and six 
 small vessels. This was the respective strength of the two 
 parties. The enemy had, on the whole, two ships to one; 
 and the block ship, Provesteen, had, besides a ship of the line, 
 and the Rear-Admiral, two frigates against her, by which 
 she was raked the whole time, without being able to re- 
 turn a shot. 
 
 <* If I only recapitulate historically what your highness, 
 and along with you a great portion of the citizens of Denmark 
 and Europe have seen, I may venture to call that an unequal 
 combat, which was maintained and supported for four hours 
 ^nd a half with unexampled courage and effect, in wiiich the 
 
i^y2 MEMOIRS 0? 
 
 very material damage j but, tliere were stiil 
 remaining, a sufficient number of them to present 
 
 ^re of the superior force was so much weakened for an hoijr 
 before the end cf the battle, that several English ships, and 
 particularly Lord Nelson's, were obliged to fire only single 
 shots ; that this hero himself, in the middle and very heat of 
 the battle, sent a flag of truce on shore to propose a cessation 
 of hostilities ; if I also add, that it was announced to me that 
 two English ships of the line had struck, but being supported 
 by fresh ships, again hoisted their flajgs ; I may, in such cir- 
 c^imstances, be permitted to say, and I believe I may appeal 
 tpthe enemy's own confession, that in this engagement Den- 
 mark's antient naval reputation blazed forth with such incredi- 
 ble splendour, that, I thank Heaven, all Europe are the wit- 
 nesses of it. ' 
 
 ^< Yet the scale, if not equal, did not decline far to the dis7 
 advantage of Denmark. The ships that were first and mcs; 
 ' obstinately attacked, even surrounded by the enemy, the in- 
 comparable Provesteen fought till almost all her gnns were 
 dismounted ; but these vessels were obliged to give way to 
 superior force, and the Danish fire ceased along the whole 
 line from North to South, 
 
 *« At half- past eleven, the Dannrbrog ship of the line, 
 which lay along side Admiral Nelson, was set on fire, I re. 
 paired, with my flag, on board the Holstein, of the lincji 
 belonging to the north wing ; but the Dannebrog long 
 kept her flag flying in spite of this disaster. At the end of 
 the battle she had two hundred and seventy men killed and 
 wounded. 
 
 *« At half past two, the Holstein was so shattered, and 
 had so many killed and wounded, and so many guns dis- 
 mounted, that I then carried the pennant to be hoisted instead 
 of my flag, and went on shore to the battery of the Three 
 Crowns, from which I commanded the north wing, which 
 
tORD VISCOUNT NEL30N. 27^ 
 
 ii hew clnd formidable line of attack, much nearer 
 to the town, than that which had been occupied 
 
 was slightly engaged with the division of Admiral Parker, 
 till about four o'clock, when I teceived oi-ders from your 
 Royal Highness to put an end to the engagement. 
 
 " Thus the quarter of the line of defence, from The Three 
 Crowns to the frigate Hielperen, was in the power of the 
 enemy ; and the Hielperen finding herself alone, slipped her 
 cables and steered to Stirbfeir. The ship iilwin, after she 
 had received many shots in the hull, and had her masts and , 
 rigging shot away, and a great number killed and wounded, 
 retreated within The Crowns. The gun-boats, Nyebrog <tnd 
 Aggershuus, which last towed the former away, when near 
 sinking, ran ashore ; and the Gurnarshe floating battery, 
 which had suffered much, together with the block-ship Danne-' 
 brog, shortly after the battle, blew up. 
 
 *< Besides the visible loss the enemy have suffered, I am 
 convinced their loss in killed and' wounded is consider- 
 able. The advantage the enemy have gained by their vie* 
 tory too, consists merely in ships which are not fit for use, 
 i.\ spiked cannon, and gun- powder damaged by sea- 
 water. 
 
 *' The number killed and wounded cannot yet be exactly 
 ascertained ; but I calculate it from i6 to 1800 men. Ainong 
 the former it is with, grief that I mention tr.e captain of the 
 block-ship, Infoedstratten, and the frigate Cronenberg, cap- 
 >tain Thura, and first Lieutenant Hauch, with several other 
 brave officersi Among the wounded the commander of the 
 Dannebrog, who besides other wounds has lost his right 
 Jiand. 
 
 ** I • want expression to do justice to the unexample4 
 courage of the officers and crews. The battle itself can 
 only enable you to fom) an idea of it. 
 
 ** Olfert Fischer.** 
 T 
 
274 
 
 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 in the first instance : added to this circumstance, the 
 division still remaining under the orders of Sir Hyde 
 
 The annexed list of the Danish naval force, as opposed to the Bri- 
 tish fleet, under the command of Vice-admiral Lord Nelson, in the 
 memorable engagement off Copenhagen, being copies of a pamphlet 
 published in that city, in the English language, soon after the aciionr 
 will very appropriately close the account. 
 
 No. ^ 
 
 Commanders. No. Guns. Men. Remarks. 
 
 ( Taken and burnt; 
 ^,-» T .-,- . ,« -.^ J forsaken when 
 
 Capt. Lassen. i 56 S^j the guns were 
 
 C useless. 
 
 ^^Rlt^hTM * ^« 36. Diuo. 
 
 C Driven on the 
 Capt. Lt. Egcde, 3 20 216^ shoals,and burnt 
 
 (J by the enemy. 
 
 Cap,.L..RoAc, 4 ^ "9^=3lUk"- 
 Cap.. Brand.. J 48 396 ^ ^/.hf e"n"mr' 
 
 ^ Lieut. ^Sommtr-^ * " ■■? Tak«, diuo. 
 
 Kames of Ships. 
 
 Frovestcen, 
 
 Vagrien, 
 
 Rcnsborg, 
 
 ♦Nyebrog> 
 
 lylland, 
 
 *Suerfisken, 
 
 Shronborg, 
 ♦Hagen, 
 
 Dannebrog 
 
 Description. 
 
 Block-ship, 
 
 Ditto, 
 
 Praam, 
 
 Ditto, 
 
 Block-ship, 
 
 Radeau, 
 
 Block-ship, 
 Radeau, 
 
 Block-ship* 
 
 Lieut. Hauch, 
 Lieut. M oiler, 
 
 7 22 196 Taken, ditto. 
 
 8 20 155 Taken, ditto. 
 
 <" Caught fire and 
 Capt. F.Brown, 9 62 336 < blew up after the 
 C action. 
 
 Elven, ^^i!ii^ki2te!"?^''"*-"°^'^''"» '° ^ ^° Esc^vti. 
 
 *GrcBier*sRadcau, No. I. Lieut. Villemoes, ii 24 120 Ditto. 
 
 Aggershuus, Praam, Lieut. Fasting, iz 20 213 S 
 
 f Driven by the 
 
 .' waves under ihc 
 
 Syaelland, Shipof the line, Capt. Harboe, 13 74 529 <( Trekroncr bat- 
 
 1 after the amiis- 
 (_ tice,s!ncc burnt. 
 
 Charlotte Amelia, Block-ship, Capt. Koford, 14 26 225 5 '^^^^'j Jurnf '^'* 
 
 $ Ditto, afterwards 
 
 sunk. 
 
 Sohescen, 
 Holstcin, 
 
 Radeau, 
 
 Lt. Middlebo, 15 18 126 Ditto. 
 
 f Taken, and put in 
 
 .' sailing condi- 
 
 Ship of the line, Capt. Arenfeldt, 16 6o 40c J tion by the ene- 
 
 my, and carried 
 
 \ away as a tro- 
 L phy. 
 
 Indfoedstratten, Block-ship, Capt. Thura, 17 64 39o^ '^burnt.'^"^'^'^'^^'' 
 
 Hielpercn. Frigate, ^ ^Ifcns^kiold,^'^'^ '^ ^° ^^>' ^''^^^^ 
 
 T«tal 62% 4849 
 
KO. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 ^9. 
 
 70 
 
 20 
 
 64 
 
 Zl 
 
 74 
 
 2» 
 
 74 
 
 as 
 
 40 
 
 -, 
 
 iS 
 
 «- 
 
 1% 
 
 LORD VISCOUNI* NELSON. 275 
 
 Parkeri had never been in action j the ships 
 which composed it were entirely fresh, while the 
 
 The force remaining ih the road to defend the harbour, un- 
 der the orders of Chamberlain Stein Bille : 
 
 Nmies of SI ips. Description. Commanders. 
 
 Elcphantcn, Block-ship, Capt. Von Thura, 
 
 Mars, Ditto, Capt. Gyldenfcldt, 
 Dannemark, Shipof the line, Chamber. Stein Bille, ai 
 
 Trekroner, Ditto, Capt. Riegelstcn, 
 
 Ihs, Frigate, Capt. W, Browo, 
 
 Sarpen, Brig, — — < , 
 
 Nodelven, Brig, « 
 
 Twelve chebecks, each of two 24 pounders ; two of ditto, 
 of 1 2 pounders ; the great Trekroner battery, of thirty 24 
 pounders ; ditto, thirty-eight $6 pounders, and one 96 
 pounder carronade, provided with three furnaces to heat 
 balls. 
 
 The ships and vessels marked * were placed a littk behind 
 the others, on account of their weakness ; but in the evening 
 of the 1st of April, commodore Fischer seeing the great 
 Bumber of the enemy, ordered them to come into the line. 
 
 It can easily be perceived, that this defension was to an- 
 swer no other end, than to keep a wise enemy at too great a 
 <listance to bombard the town, or to make an audacious ene- 
 my so great a resistance, as A^ould cost them many men, and 
 endanger their ships in such a degree as to render their future 
 proceedings of little consequence. 
 
 The result has answered these expectations. The enemy 
 taking advantage of the defension being immoveable, attacked 
 the weakest part thereof; but were so warmly received, and 
 met with such along and unexpected resistance, that they pre* 
 ferred negotiation to hostility. 
 
 No 2. 
 South Wing of Defension. 
 What state the ships were in, which composed the line of 
 defension, with the number of guns, and weight of metal 
 each ship carried, 
 
 T 2 
 
276" MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Danes on their part had no effective opposition 
 to offer, except from two ships, and as many 
 
 Proves TEEN. — An old three decker, cut down to two 
 decks, dismantled and condemned; twenty-eight guns of 
 36 pounders, and twenty -eight of 24 pounders. 
 
 Vagiven. — An old two decker, quarter deck cut down, 
 condemned; all her guns of 24 pounders. 
 
 Rendsborg. — An old praam for the transport of cavalry,, 
 ■with masts and sails, her guns of twenty- four pounders. 
 
 Nyebrog. — Ditto, completely rigged; hferguns of twenty - 
 four pounders. 
 
 Iyli^and. — An old two decker, condemned; without poop 
 or masts. Twenty-four guns of 24 pounders, and twenty- 
 four of 12 pounders. 
 
 SuERFJSKEN,— Square floating battery with masts; the 
 guns of 18 pounders. 
 
 Krone ROG.— An old condemned frigate, cut down and 
 dismantled ; the guns of 24 pounders, 
 
 Hagen. — A battery, like the SuesrSsken; the guns of iS 
 pounders. 
 
 Dannebrog, — An old condemned two decker, cut down 
 and dismantled ; the guns, twenty-four of 2:4 pounders, 
 twenty-four of 22 pounders, and fourteen of 8 pounders. 
 
 Elven. — A small repeating vessel rigged ; the guns of 24 
 pounders. 
 
 Grenier's Float. — Old, and without masts ; the guns of 
 ?4 pounders. 
 
 Aggershuus. — An old cavalry transport, without masts 
 or sails; her guns of 24 pounders. 
 
 SviELLAND. — A two decker condemned and unrigged ; 
 the guns, thirty of 24 pounders, thirty of 1 8 pounders, and 
 fourteen of 8 poujiders. 
 
 Chaj^lotte Amelia. — A condemned Indiaman; con- 
 demned and dismantled ; the guns of 24 pouft^iers. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT >JELSON. £/7 
 
 hulk?, moored in such manner as to protect 
 the entrance to the arsenal. The city and its 
 
 SoHEsTEN. — A battery like the Suerfisken ; the guns of 24 
 pounders. 
 
 HoLSTEi>j. — A two decker newly repaired, and able t« 
 serve for twelve years ; the guns, twenty-four of 24 pounders, 
 twenty-four of 12 pounders, and 12 of 8 pounders. 
 
 Info£ds TRATTEN. — x^n old Condemned two decker, cut 
 down and dismantled ; twenty-six guns of 24 pounders, 
 twenty-six of 12 pounders, and t\\'elveof 8 pounders. 
 
 HiELPEREN. — A good Completely rigged frigate; the 
 guns of 36 pounders. 
 
 North Wing of Defension. 
 Tlie Battery or Island of Trekroner. 
 
 Mars — of 64 gunSj an old two decker, condemned, with- 
 out masts. 
 
 Elephanten — of 70 guns, ditto. 
 
 This wing, which properly defended the entry of the har- 
 bour, was likewise supported by the advanced battery of the 
 citadel, and by a movable squadron, situated behind, which 
 consisted of the Dannemark, of 74 guns ; Trekroner, of 74 ; 
 the Isis, of 40 ; and the Sarpen and Nidelven brigs, of 1 8 guns 
 each ; under the orders of Chamberlain Bille. 
 
 No. 3. 
 Remarks. 
 
 The frigates that raked the Provesteen fore and aft, were 
 at anchor opposite the battery on Amak island, at about 
 3400 Danish feet distance. 
 
 The guns of the outermost fortificat'ons, at the S.E. of Co- 
 penhagen, being 4000 Danish feet distant from the nearest 
 ships of defension, were of no service while the action lasted; 
 they began to fire when the enemy t<^ok possession or the 
 abandoned ships, but it was at the same time that the p .rley 
 appeared, 
 
278 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 inhabitants would, in a very few hours, have 
 been completely exposed to the dreadful thunder 
 of the British bomb vessels. 
 
 Parker's division was engaging at a great distance. Thp 
 block-ships of the north wing and the Trekroner battery kept 
 him in awe, as well as Nelson-s van, so that Parker's motions 
 could have no other tendency than to hinder this part of the 
 defension from assisting the others, and to keep Steen Bille's 
 squadron from coming out to take possession of those Eng- 
 lish ships which had struck,' or to succour the neayest part 
 of the fighting wing. 
 
 This citadel, too far behind to use its great guns, threiy 
 several shells, but soon left off pn account of its great 
 distance. 
 
 The foe had not only the advantage of the wind,' which 
 sent the smoke on our ships, but likewise of the current, 
 which permitted them to stop where they thought proper, by 
 means of a stern anchors and thereby were enabled judiciously, 
 as Commodore Fischer mentions in his report, to assist, cover, 
 or draw back their ships, in order to distribute the damage 
 so equally on all, that none should be totally lost, but tha^ 
 they might all, at least in appearance, safely come out of sq 
 warm a fight. 
 
 The Danes had the misfortune, half an hour after the ac- 
 tion began, to have the R«ndesborg praam's cable shot oiF, 
 which caused him to drive on a bank behind the Cone, with 
 hex bows towards the enemy, so that she became useless. 
 
 The second misfortune, which happened almost immediate- 
 ly, was the Dannebrog's catching fire. The third, that the 
 Syselland's cables were shot away. The fourth was, that the 
 chief of the Infoedstratten was killed by the same fire from 
 the enemy. 
 
 The fight was, nevertheless, continuing, and the fire of, 
 the southernly fortification of the town became efl^ectivc, at 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 279 
 
 Tlie candour of Denmark itself admits the vic- 
 tory to have been complete, and that future re- 
 sistance would have been vain, and futile. Ad- 
 mitting, however,^ for a moment, and merely for 
 the sake of argument, this not to have been 
 strictly the case, our admiration, our wonder, and 
 our applause, in viewing the conduct of his lord- 
 ship, would, paradoxical as it may appear, rise 
 at least to the same height it would have done, 
 had he been in the actual situation of giving laws 
 to the vanquished. We know not how suffici- 
 ently to admire that greatness of mind, which, 
 when surrounded by the most imminent perils, 
 can form the most glorious and extensive plans, 
 nor can we appreciate sufficiently high the value 
 of that wonderful intellect, that, in the precise 
 and critical moment, can seize the happy oppor- 
 tunity of deciding the fate of battles and of king- 
 doms. He came, he saw, and he overcame, 
 might long have been considered his lordship's 
 motto, and the tale of his conduct ; but his 
 northern opponents had the felicity of experi- 
 encing, in their antagonist, the conduct of a truly 
 brave, generous, and benevolent man. 
 
 well as that of the block-ships, the Mars and Elephanten, 
 and the Trekroner battery, by the approach of the enemy, 
 when Lord Nelson sent a parley on shore ; he thereby gained 
 time to succour those of his ships that had struck; to help 
 others off that were aground, and to take a quiet possessioa 
 of those wrecks that were either surrendered or forsaken, 
 
280 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 It has been already observed, that negotiations 
 between persons of honour, having a firm reliance 
 on the conduct of each other, are, generally speak- 
 ing, quickly concluded, and never unduly pro- 
 crastinated for the purpose of furthering the pri- 
 vate views of either party. Such was the case in 
 the present instance ; for after a negotiation^ 
 which continued only seven days, all the prelimi- 
 nary terms w^ere completely arranged of a treaty 
 which promised fair to restore tranquillity to 
 noFthern Europe.^ 
 
 * The Danish government on the one hand, and Admiral 
 Sir Hyde Parker, knight, commander in chief of his Britan- 
 nic Majesty's forces in the road of Copenhagen, on the other, 
 being, from toptives of humanity, equally anxious to put a stop 
 to the further efFusior; of blood, and to save the city of Copenha- 
 gen from the disastrous consequences which may attend a fur- 
 ther prosecution of hostilities against that city, have mutu* 
 ally agreed upon a military armistice, or suspension of arms. 
 
 His Danish Majesty having for that purpose appointed Ma- 
 jor-General Ernest Frederick Walters toriT, Chamberlain to 
 his Danish Majesty, and Colonel to a regiment, and Adju- 
 tant-General Hans Lindholm, Captain in his Danish Majesty's 
 navy, his Commissioners for agreeing about the terms of the 
 said armistice ; and Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Knight, hav- 
 ing, with the same view, duly authorized the Right Honour- 
 able Horatio Lord Nelson of the Nile, Knight of the most 
 honourable Order of the Bath, Duke of Bronte in Sicily 
 Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Ferdinand 
 and of Merit, and of the Imperial Order of the Crescent, 
 Vice-Admiral in the fleet of his Britannic Majesty, and the 
 Honourable William Stewart, Lieutenant-Colonel in his Bri- 
 tannic Majesty's service, and commanding a detachment of his 
 ^ritannic Majesty's forces embarked 5 the said Commissioners 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 281 
 
 However writers and assertions may vary in re- 
 spect to the reception his lordship experienced 
 
 have met this day, and having exchanged their respective 
 powers, have agreed upon the following terms ; 
 
 Article I, From the moment of the signature of this ar- 
 misncL', all hostilides shall immediately cease between the 
 fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, and 
 the Citv of Copenhagen, and all the armed ships and vessels 
 of his Danish Majesty in the road, or harbour of that City, as 
 likewise between the different isknds and provinces of Den- 
 mark, Jutland included. 
 
 Article II. The armed ships and vessels belonging to his 
 Danish Majesty shall remain in their present actual situation, 
 as 10 armament, equipment, and hostile position ; and the 
 treaty, commonly understood as the treaty of armed neutra- 
 lity, shall, as far as relates to the co-operation of Denmark, 
 be suspended while the armistice remains in force. 
 
 On the other side, the armed ships and vessels under the 
 pommand of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, shall in no manner 
 whatsoever molest the City of Copenhagen, or his Danish 
 Majesty's armed ships and vessels on the coasts of the differ- 
 ent islands and provinces of Denmark, Jutland included; and 
 in order to avoid every thing which might otherwise create 
 uneasiness or jealousy. Sir Hyde Parker shall not suffer any 
 of the ships, or vessels under his command, to approach within 
 gun-shot of the armed ships, or fort of his Danish Majesty in 
 the road of Copenhagen. This restriction shall not, however* 
 extend to vessels necessarily passing and repassing through 
 the Casper', or King's channel. 
 
 Article 1X1. This armistice is to protect the City of Co- 
 penhagen, as also the coasts of Denmark, of Jutland, and is- 
 lands included, against the attack of any other naval force 
 which his Britannic Majesty may now, or hereafter, during its 
 remaining in force, have in those seas. 
 
282 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 when he first landed at Copenhagen, all accounts 
 seem to agree in one pointy that the reserve, or 
 
 Article IV. The fleet of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker shall 
 be permitted to provide itself at Copenhagen, and along the 
 coasts of the different islands and provinces-of Denmark, and 
 Jutland included, with every thing which it may require for 
 the health and comfort of its crews. 
 
 Article V. Admiral Sir Hyde Parker shall send on shore 
 all such subjects of his Danish Majesty as are now on board 
 the British fleet, under his command, the Danish government 
 engaging to give an acknowledgment for them, as also for all 
 such wounded as were permitted to be landed after the action 
 cf the 2d instant, in order that they may be accounted for in 
 favour of Great Britain, in the unfortunate event of the re- 
 newal of hostilities. 
 
 Article VI. The coasting trade carried on by Denmark 
 along all such parts of her coast as are included in the opera- 
 tion of this armistice, shall be unmolested by any British ships 
 or vessels whatever, and instructions given accordingly by 
 Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. 
 
 Article VII, This armistice Is to continue uninterrupted by 
 the contracting parties for the space of fourteen weeks, from 
 the signature hereof, at the expiration of which time it shall 
 be in the power of either of the said parties to declare a cessa- 
 tion of the same, and to recommence hostilities upon giving 
 fourteen days previous notice. 
 
 The conditions of this armistice are upon all occasions to 
 be explained in the most liberal and loyal manner, so as tore- 
 move all ground for further dispute, and facilitate the means 
 of bringing about the restoration of harmony and goodunder^ 
 standing between the two kingdoms. 
 
LORD VI5C0FNT NELSON. 283 
 
 sullenness, (if so coarse a word be allowed,) dis- 
 played by the Danes when they first beheld him, 
 quij^kly disappeared. His presence ever seemed / 
 to produce hilarity; and the joy of the populace in 
 a very few hours could hardly have been exceeded 
 by that, which his appearance would have excited 
 in any country where he was mest popular, or 
 even in his own. H<2 passed through them, not 
 elated by the pride of victory, but with all the 
 humility and affability of a courteous stranger, 
 whose chief, and only wish appeared to be that of 
 desiring to be pleased himself, and contribut- 
 ing at the same time to the pleasure of others. 
 The various instances of conspicuous conduct 
 which had taken place among the Danes during 
 
 In faith whereof, we, the undersigned commissioners, ia 
 virtue of our full powers, have signed the present armistice, 
 ^nd have affixed lO it the seal of our arms. 
 
 Done on board his Britannic Majesty's ship the 
 
 London, in Copenhagen Roads, April 9, 3 801. 
 (Signed) {L S) Nelson and Bronte, 
 
 {L S) William Stewart. 
 {L S) Ernest Frederick 
 
 Walterstoff, 
 [L S) Hans LiNDHOLM. 
 In pursuance of my above-mentioned authority, I ratify 
 this document with my hand, 
 
 (L S) Frederick. 
 Ratified by me, 
 
 (Z. S) Hyde Parker, 
 Admiral and commander in chief of 
 hii Britannic Majesty's fleet. 
 
284 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the late encounter, his ever active and penetrating 
 mind revolved v^ith care ; and the assiduity he 
 used in informing himself who those person^ 
 were, who had distinguished themselves, together 
 with the warmth he is said to have recommended 
 them to the Prince of Denmark, could not have 
 been exceeded, had he himself been the Admiral 
 who commanded them. Of this a singular in^ 
 stance is given in an account written by a modern 
 traveller, Mr. Carr, not only of the action itself^ 
 but of his lordship's reception by the Crow4 
 Prince. 
 
 '' The citizens of Copenhagen in a moment 
 flew to their posts, all distinctions were lost in the 
 Jove of their country j nobles and mechanics, 
 gentlemen and shopmen, rushed together in 
 crowds to the quays, the sick crawled out of 
 their beds, and the very lame w^ere led to the sea 
 side, imploring to be taken in the boats which 
 wer6 perpetually going off with crowds to the 
 block-ships : a carnage at once tremendous and 
 novel only served to increase their enthusiasm. 
 What an awful moment 1 The invoked vengeance 
 of the British nation, with the fury and velocity 
 of lightning, was falling with terrible havock 
 upon a race of gallant people in their very capita], 
 whose kings were once seated on the throne of 
 England, and in the veins of whose magnanimous 
 Prince, flowed the blood of her august family. 
 Nature must have shuddered as she contemplated 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 2S5 
 
 such a war with brethren : the conflict was short, 
 but sanguinary beyond example. In the midst of 
 the slaughter the heroic Nelson dispatched a flag of 
 truce on shore, with a note to the Crown Prince, ia 
 which h^ wished that a stop should be put to the . 
 effusion of human blood, and to avert the destruc- 
 tion of the Danish arsenal, and of the capital, which, 
 he observed, that the Danes miist then see, were at 
 his mercy. He once more proposed their withdraw- 
 ing from the triple league, and acknowledging the 
 supremacy of the British flag. As soon as the 
 Prince's answer was received, a cessation of hosti- 
 lities took place, and Lord Nelson left his ship to 
 go on shore : upon his arrival at the quay, he found 
 a carriage that had been sent for him by Mr. D., a 
 merchant of great respectability, the confusion be- 
 ing too great fo enable the Prince to send one of the 
 royal carriages. In the former the gallant Admiral 
 proceeded to the Palace, in the Octagon, through 
 crowds of people, whose fury was rising to 
 frenzy, and among whom his person was in more 
 imminent danger than even from the cannon of the 
 block-ships^ but nothing could shake the soul of 
 such a man. Arrived at the Palace in the Octa- 
 gon, he calmly descended the carriage, amidst 
 the murmurs and groans of the enraged concourse,^ 
 which not even the presence of the Danish 
 officers who accompanied him could restrain. 
 The Crown Prince received h^im in the hall, con- 
 ducted him up stairs, and presented him to the 
 
286 Memoirs of 
 
 King, whose long shattered state of mind, had left 
 liim but very little sensibility to display upon the 
 trying occasion. The objects of this impressive 
 interview were soon adjusted, to the perfect satis- 
 faction of Lord Nelson, and his applauding coun- 
 try ; that done, he assumed the gaiety and good 
 
 . humour of a visitor, and partook of some refresh-' 
 ment with the Crown Prince. 
 
 " During the repast. Lord Nelson spoke in rap- 
 
 , tures of the bravery of the Danes, and particularly 
 requested the Prince to introduce him to a very 
 young officer, whom he described as having per- 
 formed wonders during the battle, by attacking 
 his own ship immediately under her lower guns. 
 It proved to be the gallant young Villemoes, a 
 stripling of seventeen : the British hero embraced 
 him with the enthusiasm of a brother, and deli- 
 cately hinted to the Prince, that he ought to make 
 him an Admiral ; to which the Prince very hap- 
 pily replied, " If, my Lord, I were to make all 
 my brave officers Admirals, I should have no 
 
 ' Captains, or Lieutenants in my service. This he- 
 roic youth had volunteered the command of a 
 praam, which is a sort of raft, carrying six small 
 cannon and twenty-four men, who pushed off from 
 shore, and in the fuiy of battle placed them- 
 selves under the stern of Lord Nelson*s ship, 
 which they most successfully attacked in such a 
 manner, that although they were below the reach 
 X)f the stern chasers, the British marines made 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NILSON. £87 
 
 terrible slaughter among them ; twenty of these 
 gallant men fell by their bullets, but their young 
 commander continued, knee deep in dead, at his 
 post, until the truce was announced. He has 
 been honoured, as he most eminently deserved to 
 be, with the grateful remembrance of his country, 
 and of his Prince, who, as a mark of his regard, 
 presented him with a medallion commemorative; 
 of his gallantry, and has appointed him to the 
 command of the yacht, in which he makes his an- 
 nual visit to Holstcin. The issue of this contest 
 was glorious and decisive ; could it be otherwise 
 when its destinies were committed to a Nelson ?" 
 
 His affability prompted him to examine, and to 
 applaud without flattery, the diligence and abilities 
 of those, who had not as yet reached a sufficient 
 age to contribute towards the defence of their 
 country. Viewing them with the eye of bro- 
 fherly love, and wishing to fan the early rising 
 flame of genius, he accompanied the praises he 
 bestowed, with presents, certainly rendered incal- 
 culably valuable, when the character of the donor 
 was considered. In short, the page of Danish 
 history will in all probability candidly record to 
 future ages, that, Copenhagen, considering him 
 as a foe, she had never felt one whom she had 
 more occasion to> dread; and viewing him as a 
 friend, had never found a man who more impres- 
 sively demanded her veneration and love. 
 
 Although the British nation had been acciiis- 
 
288 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 tomed to contemplate with pleasure on the heroid'l 
 deeds of his lordship, yet there was a variety irt' 
 the present exploit which, if it could not raise 
 his greatness beyond that height it had already at- 
 tained, at least placed his abilities and intrepidity 
 in a new light. Scientific skill, professional know- 
 ledge, and manual expertness, were all out of the 
 question. The assault on Copenhagen ap- 
 proached as near to a military attack, and the act 
 of storming a fortified town, as it was possible it 
 could do, even had human invention exerted it- 
 self to the utmost, to render the cases as closely 
 parallel as possible. In defiance of the floating 
 batteries used on this occasion, as the succeda- 
 neum for trenches, he bore down like a torrent 
 every obstacle that presumed to oppose him ; and 
 his countrymen felicitated themselves, that it 
 would be only necessary to place him in new and 
 varied points of danger, to call forth the latent 
 energies of his mind, which were equal to every 
 exertion the service of his country might in fu» 
 ture demand of him* 
 
 The British Parliament, on the first news of the 
 victory, were warm and affectionate in their tri- 
 bute of gratitude, and of praise. Individuals of 
 the most distinguished rank paid him the highest 
 compliments on his conduct. In the House of 
 Peers, after a motion made on the i6th of April, 
 by the Earl St. Vincent, that the thanks of the 
 House should be given to Sir Hyde Parker, the 
 
^K^ LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 289 
 
 Gommander in chief, Lord Nelson, Rear-Admiral 
 Graves, and tKe rest of the officers and seamen, 
 for their very exemplary bravery displayed on 
 the memorable occasion alluded to. The Duke 
 of Clarence, among other observations and 
 compliments, when speaking of Lord Nelson, 
 said, '^ That fortune seemed to back his courage 
 and intrepidity in every enterprize he engaged ; 
 and acknowledged his own personal obligations, 
 as a Prince of the Blood, to the gallant comman* 
 ders, and to the whole fleet, for the accomplish- 
 ment of a victory, which, probably in its effects, 
 would restore the possessions on the Continent 
 to his family, together with the peace and secu- 
 rity of the British empire and of Europe.*' 
 
 In the House of Commons, Mr. Addington, at 
 'that time Chancellor of the Exchequer, who 
 made a motion of the same tenor and effect with 
 that of Earl St. Vincent, declared, '^ that no action 
 had taken place in the course of the present war, 
 which contributed more to sustain the character, 
 and ti) add to the lustre of the British arms. 
 For its execution. Sir Hyde Parker, Lord Nelson, 
 and Rear-Admiral Graves, three most distin- 
 guished officers, had been selected ; and thus pre- 
 pared, the armament proceeded to the north. To 
 enter into all ^ the particulars of the service w^as 
 unnecessary: it was sufficient therefore. to say, 
 that the fleet, after passing the Sound, advanced 
 to Copenhagen. Such was the situation of the 
 ■ •' u 
 
290 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 enemy's force, that all our ships could not possf-' 
 bly be engaged. In these circumstances, Sir 
 Hyde Parker had, with ^^liegree of judgment 
 which reflected the highest credit on his choice^ 
 appointed Lord Nelson, whose name has already 
 been covered with splendour and renown, to the 
 execution of the important enterprize. Great, 
 however, as was the courage, the skill, and the 
 success which had been formerly displayed by 
 this illustrious commander at Aboukir, it was not 
 greater than that which had been exhibited in the 
 attack upon the fleet moored for the defence of 
 Copenhagen ; but this was not all : after the line 
 of defence was destroyed, and whilst a tremen- 
 dous fire was still condnued. Lord Nelson retired 
 'to his cabin, and addressed a letter to the Prince 
 Royal of Denmark ; he then asked that a flag of 
 truce might be permitted to land, adding, at the 
 same time, that if this was denied, he must be 
 obliged to demolish the floating batteries which 
 were in his power, and that in such case he could 
 not answer for the lives of the brave men by 
 whom they had been defended. To the an- 
 swer, which required to know the motive of 
 such a message, his reply was — that his only mo- 
 tive was humanity ; that his wish was to prevent 
 the further eflfusion of blood, and that no victory 
 he could possibly gain, would aflbrd him so much 
 pleasure as would result from being the instru- 
 ment of restoring the amicable intercourse which 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 29l 
 
 laTso long existed between his Sovereign and the 
 government of Denmark. Lord Nelson, in con- 
 sequence, went on shore, and was received by a 
 brave and generous people — for brave they had 
 shewn themselves in their defence, and generous 
 in the oblivion of their loss : with the loudest 
 and most general acclamations, the Prince Royal 
 of Denmark had also received his lordship in a 
 manner conformable to his high character: the 
 negotiation which ensued between them it would 
 be highly improper for him now to state; but 
 this he must observe, that Lord Nelson had shown 
 himself as wise as he was brave, and proved, that 
 there may be united in the same person, the ta- 
 lents of the w^arrior and the statesman." 
 
 The rewards he received, however, were not 
 merely confined to the applause bestowed on him 
 by the legislative body, and which he so honestly 
 merited i for on the 19th of the ensuing tnonth 
 his elevation to the rank of Viscount of the united 
 kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, by the 
 name, stile, and title of Viscount Nelson of the 
 Nile, and of Burnham Thorpe, in the county of 
 Norfolk, w^as announced in the London Gazette ; 
 an addition of worldly honour which, contrary to 
 the effect too frequently produced by such marks 
 of royal favom*, excited envy in no one ; the only 
 symptom of disapprobation which was beards 
 being a species of sorrowful repining, that the 
 reward had been no greater. 
 
^92 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Notwithstanding ^t was known to all, that, in- 
 dependent of that event, which would certainly 
 have annihilated the northern confederacy, even 
 if no action had taken place with the Da- 
 nish fleet, the cause of the allied powers had re- 
 ceived a most fatal, and perhaps decisive, blow 
 by the encounter ; yet it was also evident there 
 still remained much to be done. The season of 
 naval warfare in the Baltic is confined by Nature 
 herself to a very short space ; the utmost alacrity 
 and promptitude were therefore necessary ; Rus- 
 sia, the most formidable power in the whole 
 league, hitherto remained, as well as Sweden, to- ^ 
 tally unattacked. The commander in chief, there- ' 
 fore, proceeded to the eastward in a very short 
 time after the convention already noticed was sign- 
 ed, with such ships of the fleet as were in a proper 
 condidon for service. Lord Nelson remained ac 
 Copenhagen under orders to follow him with 
 such ships of the fleet as he should judge fit fgr 
 further operations ; when those whose damages 
 were trivial had been repaired in the best man- 
 ner circumstances would permit, and the ne- 
 cessary' arrangements had been made for the re- 
 turn of their companions to England, with such 
 of the captured ships as should be fit to under- 
 take that voyage. The list of the latter was ex- 
 tremely confined; for with the single exception of 
 the Holstein of 64 guns, which was commissioned 
 as an hospital-ship, they were all ordered to be de- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. QQS 
 
 stroyed, as being completely unfit for service. 
 The progress of the fleet was continued with ac- 
 tivity and diligence, although accompanied with 
 danger. In its passage through- the narrow chan- 
 nel that divides the islands of Amak and Saltholm, 
 the greater part of the ships touched the ground, 
 and two or three of them actually stuck fast for a 
 short time : no very serious inconvenience or dis- 
 aster, however, took place^ and the arrival of the 
 British armament in the Baltic struck the still un- 
 assailed confederates, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, 
 with dismay -, and Denmark, who had so lately 
 felt its effects, with astonishment. The attack of 
 the Russian fleet, the most formidable member 
 of the league, and which then lay at anchor at Re- 
 vel, was intended to be the first operation ; but the 
 commander in chief having received intelligence, 
 while on his voyage thither, that the Swedish 
 fleet -^had put to sea, in the hope of effecting a 
 junction with that of Russia, Sir Hyde Parker 
 immediately steered for the island of Bornholm, 
 in the hope of intercepting it. He was in some 
 measure not disappointed; the Swedish fleet 
 were actually discovered, bpt its commander fear- 
 ing it might experience a repetition of that dis- 
 aster which he hadjustlearnt had befallen his allies, 
 retired on the first instant the approach of the Eng- 
 lish was perceived, and sheltered himself under 
 the protection of the numberless forts and batteries 
 
294 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 erected on the island at the entrance of Carl- 
 scrona, for the defence of that port. 
 
 During this interval. Lord Nelson was most 
 actively and unremittingly employed at Copen- 
 hagen ; and on the i8th of April, having pro- 
 vided for the most pressing emergencies of the 
 service, he caused the guns of the St. George, into 
 which ship he had again removed after the 
 action of the 6th, to be taken out, and put on 
 board an American ship, the passage over the 
 grounds not being practicable for so large a ves- 
 sel a^ that which then bore his flag, unless she 
 were previously lightened. An adverse wind pre- 
 vented his lordship, however, from moving; but, 
 on the same evening, having received information 
 of the relative situation between the Swedish and 
 British fleets, as well as that an engagement, or 
 iattack might be expected, and burning with that 
 anxious energy which so strongly characterized 
 his actions on every similar occasion, he ordered 
 his boat to be manned, for the purpose of follow- 
 ing the fleet, although it was then nearly ten 
 leagues distant from him, and the united opposi- 
 tion of the wind and current, threatened most 
 pow^erfully to impede his passage. 
 
 Two or three anecdotes are related concerning 
 him on this occasion, strongly indicative, as 
 well of the state and strength of his mind, ^s 
 of that w^onderful enthusiasm which he at all 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 295 
 
 times displayed in the service of his country. In 
 his haste he had quitted the St. George without 
 being provided with that necessary, and customary 
 defence against the inclemency of the v^^eather, a 
 boat cloak. This circumstance was discovered 
 soon after they left the ship, to which he refused 
 to return ; notwithstanding it was then night, the 
 weather extremely cold, and it was foreseen that 
 some hours must unavoidably pass ere he could 
 reach the commander in chief : the master of one 
 of the ships belonging to the squadron, who had 
 been ordered to attend him, happened to be fur- 
 nished with a great coat, which he in vain attempt- 
 ed pressing his lordship to make use of; even 
 his refusal did him honour, when the terms, and 
 tenor of it are considered. His answer was neither 
 that of a contemptuous arrogance, nor that of an 
 assumed pride, urging a man to acts, and words 
 contrived for the purpose of acquiring celebrity : 
 men possessing less nimds have sometimes acted 
 in this manner. The reply of Lord Nelson to 
 his companion's affectionate offer was in perfect 
 unison with every other action of his life : *^ I 
 thank you, said he, very much ; but to tell you the 
 truth, my anxiety keeps me sufficiently warm for 
 the present !'* 
 
 " Think you,*' said his lordship presently af- 
 terwards, " the British fleet have quitted Born- 
 holm ? If it has," added he, without waiting to 
 have his question answered, " we must follow it 
 
9g6 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 to Carlscrona :" as though be had known instinc- 
 tively the thoughts of his commander in chief 
 and the measures he would pursue. Thus we see, 
 that in every varied situation of danger, difficulty, 
 inconvenience, and distress, he was equally 
 great. That no pressure in either of the forego- 
 ing instances, let the magnitude be what it 
 might, could abate the ardour of his mind, or di- 
 vert ir, even for a single moment, from that tract 
 which the public service appeared, to demand. 
 
 His lordship happily reached his former flag- 
 ship, the Elephant, about midnight ; and, as 
 if his arrival had been waited for, being the ab- 
 solutely required preliminary to the attack, the 
 pursuit was continued with such success during 
 the ensuing morning, that in a few hours the Swe- 
 dish armament, amounting to nine sail of the 
 line, moored, as already described, under their bat- 
 teries, were clearly discovered from the deck of 
 the Elephant, and her companions. Sir Hyde 
 Parker, the commander in chief, anxiously wish- 
 ing to prevent all unnecessary effusion of blood, 
 dispatched the Dart sloop of war, under a flag 
 of truce, to the Swedish admiral, with informa- 
 tion of the different events which had so recently 
 taken place ; the destruction of the Danish line 
 of defence, the apparently pacific disposition of 
 Denmark, and the armistice which had been 
 agreed on with that court; requesting, at the same 
 time, to be informed whether the British fleet was 
 
u.^^^ h-^-^->^ .,^"^ <>: '^'^■' 
 
 
 
 ^-1^ 
 
 \x^A ^^^ NVf /v-^f-^^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. C97 
 
 to consider that of Sweden in the light of friends 
 or of foes ? The answer was appropriate ; it pre- 
 vented for the time the commencement of war- 
 fare, and the arrival of the King of Sweden 
 himself at Carlscrona, served to prolong the pub- 
 lic tranquillity *. 
 
 * Carlscrona, April 23. 
 On the igih the English appeared off the entrance of this 
 harbour, and sent a frigate with a flag of truce, and a letter 
 in the English language, to the Governor, of which the follow- 
 ing are the contents : 
 
 «' On board the London, April 18, 1801. 
 ** The Danish court having been induced to conclude an 
 armistice, by which the unfortunate disputes between the 
 Courts of Denmark and St. James's have been accommodated; 
 and as~ I am directed to require an explicit declaration from 
 the Court of Sweden, relative to its intention to adhere to, or 
 to abandon the hostile measures which it has taken against 
 the rights and interest of Great Britain, I have the honour to 
 transmit to your Excellency this letter, that I may receive in 
 answer a declaration of the resolution of the Court of Swe- 
 den with respect to this important object, and shall conduct 
 my future operations according to this answer, which I expect 
 to receive within forty-eight hours. 
 
 «* I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 " Hyde Parker, 
 *' Comm.ander in chief of tlie British 
 fleet in the Baltic." 
 
 Vice- Admiral Cronstadt, who has now the command here, 
 by order of his Swedish Majesty, who was then at Malmo, 
 immediately returned a provisionary answer to the following 
 effect : 
 
 ** That being only a military officer, he could not under- 
 take to answer a question which did not come within the par- 
 
598 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 The behaviour of his Swedish Majesty was 
 magnanimous, though mild ; spirited, though 
 
 ticular circle of his duty, but that his Swedish Majesty had 
 declared he should soon be at Carlscrona, and that he would 
 then notify to the Admiral hi* resolution.** 
 
 Yesterday afternoon his Majesty arrived here, and caused 
 the following official answer to be transmitted to Admiral 
 Parker, hy Vice- Admiral Cronstadt: 
 
 «* Admiral, 
 
 •« The King, my master, has commanded me to communis 
 cate to you the following official answer to the letter which I 
 had the honour to receive from you on the i8th instant. 
 
 *' Convinced that your Excellency is perfectly sensible of 
 the importance and sacred nature of promises when once 
 made, his Majesty conceives that the following explicit de- 
 claration cannot be unexpected by your Excellency ; viz. That 
 his Swedish Majesty will not for a moment fail to fulfil with 
 fidelity and sincerity the engagements he has entered into with 
 his allies ; and that, without any reference to the particular 
 intervention of another power, under whatever name it may 
 be, and the effects of which" can never be extended to the ^ 
 common interests of the hitherto neutral powers. This is the 
 firm and unalterable resolution of his Majesty ; equally induc- 
 ed by inclination and duty to consider the affairs of his faith - 
 ful allies as his own. His Swedish Majesty, however, will 
 not refuse to listen to equitable proposals for accommodating 
 the present disputes, made by deputies furnished with proper 
 authority by the King of Great Britain to the united northern 
 
 powers. 
 
 <• C. O, Cronstadt, 
 
 '• Adjutant-General to his Swedish Majesty for 
 
 the fleet, and Commander in Chief at 
 
 Carlscrona." 
 
 «* Carlscrona, April 23.'* 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 2,99 
 
 inclined to peace ; and the general complexion 
 of his conduct convinced the British admiral of 
 the sincerity of his assurances, and die rectitude 
 of his intentions. Satisfied of these, the continu- 
 ance of the fleet off the coast of Sweden was no 
 longer necessary. It was almost in the act of 
 proceeding to the gulf of Finland, when a dis- 
 patch-boat arrived express from the Russian 
 ambassador at Copenhagen, bringing the fol- 
 lowing declaration from the empc^ror of all the 
 Russias.to the commander in chief of the British 
 fleet :— 
 
 *' By the decease of his majesty the emperor, 
 Paul the first of glorious memory, the sceptre of 
 the Russian empire has descended, by right of 
 birth, into the hands of, his imperial majesty 
 Alexander the first. One of the first events under 
 this monarch has been, that he has accepted the 
 offer which the British court had made to his 
 illustrious predecessor, to terminate the disputes 
 which threatened the speedy breaking out of a 
 war in the north of Europe, by an amicable con- 
 vention. Faithful to the ens^a^^ements which he 
 has entered into with the courts of Stockholm, 
 Berlin, and Copenhagen, his imperial majesty 
 has signified to them his resolution not to act, but 
 in conjunction with his allies, in whatever may 
 concern the intepests of the neutral powers. Mis 
 imperial majesty could not have expected, that 
 the British court would have undertaken an hos- 
 
500 , MEMOIRS OF 
 
 tile attack upon Denmark, at the very time when 
 its envoy at Berlin was authorized anew to enter 
 into conferences with the Russian minister re- 
 siding there. 
 
 " The measures taken by his imperial majesty, 
 were only in consequence of his wish for peace, 
 and the welfare of mankind; and to avoid a 
 destructive misunderstanding between the con- 
 tending powers. The hostilities commenced 
 against Denmark, and the arrival of an hostile 
 fleet, w^ould have frustrated the w^ishof his impe- 
 rial majesty to maintain peace, had not this at- 
 tack upon his allies been made before his pro- 
 posals were known to the court of London ; but, 
 as, the British fleet had sailed for the Sound, before 
 his Majesty had ascended the throne, he will wait 
 the measures of the British court, when it shall 
 be informed of that event. 
 
 " The undersigned general of cavalry, and 
 minister of state for foreign affairs, desires there- 
 fore in the name of his illustrious sovereign, that 
 the admiral in chief of the fleet of his Britannic 
 majesty shall desist from all further hostilities 
 against the flags of the three united powers, till 
 his excellency shall have received further direc- 
 tions from his sovereign ; otherwise the admiral 
 must be personally responsible for the conse- 
 quences that may ensue, from the prosecution of 
 the war. 
 
 " Though prepared to repel force with force. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 301 
 
 his Imperial majesty persists in his pacific sentu 
 ments ; but the justice and moderation of the 
 cabinet of London must enable them to reconcile 
 the demands of humanity with the duties which 
 he owes to the honour of his crown and the 
 interests of his allies. 
 
 <' Von Der Pahlen." 
 
 Such was the state of affairs, when Sir Hyde 
 Parker, after having proceeded with the fleet to 
 Kioge Bay, a short distance to the eastward of 
 Copenhagen^ resigned his command to Lord 
 Nelson. He could not have confided it in abler 
 hands ; for although the flames of war had ceased 
 to rage, the science of preserving peace, after so 
 recent an interruption of amity, with all the 
 different powers concerned, became a task of no 
 small difficulty. The placid temper of his lord- 
 ship was extremely well suited to the occasion, 
 as the following correspondence, between him- 
 self and the Swedish admiral, will fully testify : — 
 '' Sir, " May 9th, 1801. 
 
 " The former commander in chief of the Bri- 
 tish fleet in the Baltic, having, at the request of 
 the emperor of Russia, consented not to interrupt 
 the Swedish navigation, it would be extremely 
 unpleasant to me, should any thing happen, 
 which might for a moment disturb the returning 
 harmony and friendship between Sw^eden and 
 Great Britain. Your excellency must therefore 
 
502 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 permit me to Inform you, that I am not directed 
 to abstain from hostilities, should I meet with the 
 Swedish fleet at sea. As it is therefore in your 
 power to prevent this, I am convinced that you 
 will consider this intimation as a friendly measure 
 on my part, and communicate the same to his 
 Swedish majesty. I entreat your excellency to 
 believe that I am, with the utmost respect, 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 
 " Nelson and Bronte," 
 
 " On board the Prince George, 
 in the Baltic." 
 
 (Answ^er by Vice-Admlral Cronstadt.) 
 
 *^ Admiral, 
 " I have had the honour to receive the letter 
 of your excellency of the 8th instant, and have 
 transmitted it to the king my master, who is 
 gone from hence to Stockholm. When I shall 
 receive his answ^er, I will do myself the honour 
 of forwarding it to you immediately. 
 
 ^^ C. O. Cronstadt, 
 •< Admiral and Commander in Chief of the 
 Fleet at Carlscrona." 
 
 " Carlscrona, May loth, 1801/* 
 
 Letter from Lord Nelson to Admiral Cron- 
 stadt, Commander in Chibf of the Swedish Fleet:, 
 r^cdv^d at Carlscrona the a4thof May, iSqi : 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 303 
 
 " St. George, at Sea, 
 " Sir, " May 23d, 1801. 
 
 " In the correspondence v-hich your excel- 
 lency had with the late commander in chief 
 of the British fleet in the Baltic, who notified to 
 you that the Swedish trade in the Cattegat and 
 the Baltic should not be molested by British 
 cruisers, I find no counter declaration on the 
 part of Sweden ; I must therefore request of your 
 excellency an explicit declaration, that the trade 
 of Great Britain In the Cattegat and the Baltic 
 shall in no manner be molested by Sweden. 
 Your excellency will perceive the necessity of 
 such a reciprocal declaration. 
 
 " I am, with the utmost respect, 
 " Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 
 
 " Nelson and Bronte." 
 
 To this the following answer was returned; 
 
 *^ Admiral, 
 
 '^ I have to-day had the honour to receive the 
 
 letter of your excellency of the 23d instant. As 
 
 my instructions do not permit .me to issue my 
 
 orders relative to the conduct to be pursued with 
 
 respect to the trade of Great Britain, I shall 
 
 transmit the letter of your excellency to the king, 
 
 ||v . my master ; and when I receive the commands 
 
 ■fcof his majesty on the subject, shall immediately 
 
 I 
 
S04 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 have the' honour to communicate to you an official 
 answer. I remain, with the utmost respect, 
 
 " Cronstadt.'* 
 
 On the following day his lordship had the sa- 
 tisfaction of receiving the subjoined note ; 
 
 *' Carlscrona, May 24. 
 " Admiral Lord Nelson, 
 " I have this moment received the orders of 
 the king, my master, for taking oiF the embargo 
 of the trade and navigation to England, a copy 
 of which I herewith transmit to your excellency, 
 as your excellency, in your excellency's letter of 
 yesterday, requested it of me, and as I am now 
 enabled, according to my promise, to return 
 you an official answer. I am, &c. 
 
 " Cronstadt." 
 
 A subsequent letter, dated on the 17th of 
 June, but which did not reach the fleet till after 
 his lordship had quitted the command of it, con- 
 cluded the epistolary correspondence in the hap- 
 piest manner. 
 
 " Admiral, 
 " With the gracious approbation of the king, 
 my master, I have the honour to signify to your 
 excellency, that, according to the latest accounts 
 from St. Petersburgh, his excellency, Lord St. 
 Helens, has arrived there, and that the present 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 305' 
 
 differences will soon be adjusted in an equitable 
 and pacific manner. I am hereby afforded a new- 
 opportunity of assuring your excellency of my 
 sincere and high esteem. 
 
 " CRONSTADTi 
 
 " His majesty's adjutant on board 
 the fleet, and commander at 
 Carlscrona." 
 
 The fatigue his lordship had undergone, had 
 considerably impaired his health, a circumstance 
 which, added to the tranquillized state of public 
 affairs in the Baltic, caused him, not long after 
 the departure of Sir Hyde Parker, to solicit his 
 recall also; but, previous to his quitting the com- 
 mand, he put forth the following public orders ; 
 orders as generally, as they are deservedly ap- 
 plauded. 
 
 " Lord Nelson has been obliged, from the 
 Very bad state of his health, to apply to the lords 
 commissioners of the admiralty, for leave to re- 
 turn to England, which their lordships have been 
 pleased to comply with; but Lord Nelson cannot 
 allow himself to leave the fleet without expressing 
 to the admirals, captains, officers, and men, how 
 sensibly he has felt, and does feel, all their kind- 
 nesses to him, and also how nobly and honour- 
 ably they have supported him in the hour of 
 battle, and the readiness they have shewn to 
 maintain the honour of their king and country, 
 
 X 
 
505 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 on many occasions which have offered ; and had 
 more opportunities presented themselves. Lord 
 Nelson is perfectly persuaded they would have 
 added more glory to their country. Lord Nelson 
 cannot but observe, with the highest satisfaction 
 which can fill the breast of a British admiral, that 
 (with the exception of the glaring misconduct 
 of the officers of the Tigress and Backer gun- 
 brigs, and the charges alledged against the lieu- 
 tenant of the Terror bomb,) out of 18,000, of 
 which the fleet is composed, not a complaint has 
 been made of any officer or man in it ; and he 
 cannot but remark, that the extraordinary health 
 of this fleet, under the blessings of Almighty 
 God, is to be attributed to the great regularity, 
 the exact discipline, and cheerful obedience of 
 every individual in the fleet. The vice-admiral 
 assures them, that he will not fail to represent to 
 the lords commissioners of the admiralty their 
 highly praise- worthy conduct ; and if it please 
 God, that the vice-admiral recovers his health, 
 he will feel proud, on some future day, to go 
 with them in pursuit of further glory, and to 
 assist in making the name of our king beloved 
 and respected by all the world 
 
 '' Nelson. and Bronte/' 
 
 "To the respective admirals^ captains, &:c.'* 
 
 '' St. George, Kioge Bay, June i8tlj." 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 30? 
 
 On the following day * his lordship resigned 
 the command of the squadron to Sir Charles 
 
 ♦ Four days previous to his quitting the fleet, his lordship 
 having received a commission from his majesty to invest Rear- 
 admiral Graves with the military order of the Bath, perform- 
 ed that ceremony on board the St. George. 
 
 His Majesty's ship St. George, Kioge Bay, June 14. 
 
 A chair was placed on the gratings of the sky-light, on the 
 quarter-deck, with the royal standard suspended over it, shew- 
 ing the king's arms. The chair was covered with the union 
 flag ; a guard was ranged on each side the quarter-deck, con- 
 sisting of the marines and a detachment of the rifle corps ; and 
 the captains of the fleet attended in their full dress uniforms. 
 The royal standard was hoisted the moment of the procession 
 beginning, which took place in the following order : 
 
 Lord Nelson came up the ladder in the forepart of the 
 quarter-deck, and made three reverences to the throne; he 
 then placed himself on the right hand side of it. Captain 
 Parker, bearing the sword of state, being that which was 
 presented to Lord Nelson by the captains of his majesty's 
 fleet, who fought under his command at the battle of the 
 Nile, followed Lord Nelson, and placed himself on his right 
 side, a little in advance, making three reverences to the 
 throne, and one to Lord Nelson. His lordship's secretary, 
 Mr. Wallis, then followed, bearing in his hand, on a satin 
 cushion, the ensigns of the order, making similar reverences to 
 the throne ana to Lord Nelson. Captain Parker then read the 
 Duke of Portland's order to Lord Nelson; which ended, Rear- 
 admiral Graves was introduced between Captains Hardy and 
 Retalick, making three reverences to the throne, and one to 
 Lord Nelson. The rear-admiral then kneeled down, and 
 Lord Nelson, in the name of his majesty, laid the sword on 
 the shoulders of the rear-admiral; the knight elect then tosc, 
 and bending his body a little forward, Lord Nelson, with the 
 X 2 
 
503 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Morice Pole, who had been sent out to relieve 
 him, and immediately returned to England. He 
 arrived at Yarmouth on the ist of July; and it 
 
 assistance of Captains Hardy and Retail- k> put the riband 
 overjthe new knight's right shoulder, and placed the star on his 
 left breast : Lord Nelson then made a suitable speech on the 
 occasion, which being finished, the procession retir&d in the 
 same n:anner it came, except the new knight, who went first, 
 making one reverence to Lord Nelsoa and three' to the 
 throne. 
 
 The moment the riband was put over Sir Thomas Graves's 
 shouIder> the signal being made preparative, the whole fleet 
 fired a salute of twenty-one guns ; when the ceremony was 
 finished, the standard was hauled down. 
 
 The troops and marines, on hoisting the standard, presented 
 their arms, and the drums beat a march, the troops kept their 
 arms presented during the ceremony, and on the standard 
 being hauled down a march was likewise beat. 
 
 The following was the speech made by Lord Nelson on 
 the occasion : 
 
 « Sir Thomas Graves — Having fulfilled the commands of 
 his majesty, in investing you with the ensigns of the most 
 honourable and military Order of the Bath, I cannot but ex- 
 press how much I feel gratified that it should have fallen to 
 my lot, to be directed to confer this justly merited honour 
 an4 special mark of royal favour upon you ; for I cannot but 
 reflect, that I was an eye-witness of your high merit and. 
 distinguished gallantry on the memorable 2d of Apiil, and 
 or which you are now so honourably rewarded. 
 ' *' I hope that these honours conferred upon you, will prove 
 to the officers in the service, that a strict persev«rance in the 
 pursuit of glorious actions, and the imitation of your brave 
 and laudable conduct, will ever ensure them the favours and 
 rewards of our most gracious sovereign, and the thanks and 
 gratitude of our country.'* 
 
LORD VISCOUNT KELSON. 309 
 
 might naturally have been supposed, that the 
 same cause \vhich compelled him to solicit his 
 recall from the Baltic, would have operated in 
 preventing his lordship from entering into active 
 •service again, at least till he had enjoyed some 
 relaxation from fatigue, and had acquired a most 
 perfect rc-establishment of his health. This, 
 iiowever, proved by no means the case ; France 
 •finding the ingenious project of the northern con- 
 federacy, to which her intrigues originally gave 
 birth, and which had been artfully fomented by 
 her emissaries, had completely failed, and that all 
 those sanguine hopes, which had been formed c f 
 the advantages that would result from it, were 
 now no more, now resorted to a second project, 
 for the purpose of amusing, if the term be al- 
 lowed, the indignation of England, and prevent- 
 ing its falling on some devoted spot, where, in 
 just retribution for the horrors which Buona* 
 parte and his predecessors had spread over the 
 face of Europe, it might pour its most terrific 
 vengeance. 
 
 It has been reiteratedly remarked with the 
 greatest justice, both by historical, and political 
 writers, that the phantom of invasion has in all 
 
 I instances of this sort, proved the best adapted to 
 answer the views of France. In repetition, there- 
 
 : fore, of the same measure, which experience 
 had proved so often successful, a considerable 
 number of French troops were drawn down to the* 
 
310 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 different parts of the opposite coasts nearest to 
 England; and a flotilla extensive in point of 
 numbers, and in report, as to its equipment, highly . 
 formidable, began to be collected in divers of the 
 minor ports, during ihe early part of the summer. 
 The accumulated reinforcement of soldiers, and 
 the additions made to this new fangled marine, 
 beo:an at lencrth to excite the attention of the 
 British ministry -, a considerable military force 
 marched towards the coast, the counties of Kent 
 and Sussex were warned to be constantly on 
 the alert, and extensive additions were made to 
 the armament of light vessels, which, during the 
 whole of the war, had been stationed in the 
 Downs, and its environs. 
 
 A system of mere defence was by no means 
 suited to the ideas of the British government, or 
 the Welshes of the people; and although it might 
 have been considered an act of madness, or folly j 
 to have threatened a retaliation of warfare equally * 
 extensive with that vainly menaced by France, it 
 was nevertheless thought political, and judicious 
 to make desultory attacks on such of these marine 
 depots as appeared most vulnerable, and attempt 
 the destruction, not only of the vessels them- 
 selves, but of the batteries which protected them. 
 The project was wise, and appeared to promise 
 success; it was supposed, and properly so, that 
 no enterprize could be more degrading to France, 
 or could elevate the situation of Britain to a greater 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 311 
 
 height in the eyes of all Europe and of the 
 world, than an happy seizure of the critical mo- 
 ment of commencing the attack, when their 
 preparations were brought nearest to the summit 
 of supposed perfection. 
 
 The eyes of ministers were impulsively turn- 
 ed with , unanimous concurrence on Lord Nel- 
 son : the command was offered to him ; and 
 he disdained, notwithstanding the delicate state 
 of his health, and his recent return from a most 
 fatiguing service, to hesitate a single moment in 
 accepting of it. Some persons have asserted that 
 his lordship not only made a voluntary tender 
 of his services on this occasion, but was the ac- 
 tual proposer of the project. The matter is im- 
 material, which ever way the fact stands ; but 
 although the propriety of the choice must have 
 forcibly struck all ranks of persons, there were 
 not wanting some individuals, who affected rather 
 to disapprove of his lordship's appointment on this 
 occasion. It was very extraordinary, however, 
 that few, or none of them agreed together in 
 the reasons they gave for this dissent. All, how- 
 ever, reflected the highest honour on his lord- 
 ship. It was urged in one place, that the general 
 character of the service was hurt by the appoint- 
 ment ; in as much as it appeared to shew the 
 world, from his lordship's being again so sud- 
 denly called into service, that England could 
 produce no other person capable of conducting 
 
312 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 SO arduous an attack. In the opinion of others, 
 the appointment was considered an hardship, 
 owing to the services his lordship had already 
 performed, the dangers he had encountered, the 
 fatigues he had undergone, and the injury his 
 health, his constitution naturally weak, must 
 have sustained from anxiety and extraordinary 
 exertion. The third opinion was, if possible, 
 more flattering to his lordship's character, than 
 either of the foregoing; the expedition was 
 thought of too humble a nature, to demand the 
 services of this great man ; many persons Ireld, 
 that it was a degradation to the conqueror at 
 Aboukir, to be employed on an enterprize against 
 a paltry flotilla. Expeditions, added they, of 
 the first class only, should be confided to heroes, 
 whose character was so indelibly stamped as his 
 own; and by a very apposite quotation declared, 
 
 " Nee Deus intcrsit, ni dignus yindice nodus 
 *' Intererit.'* 
 
 Notwithstanding these different grounds of dis^ 
 agreement, all united in one point of opinion ; 
 that a fitter instrument to such an occasion could 
 not have been chosen, than Lord Nelson ; that 
 his very name was a tower of mighty strength ; 
 and that every thing which the power of man 
 could effect, was not only to be naturally ex- 
 pected from the skill as well as gallantry of his 
 conduct, but success was considered as the al- 
 
• LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 513 
 
 most inevitable consequence resulting from his 
 jappointment. 
 
 To return, however, for the present, to 
 simple narrative : his lordship, as has been al- 
 ready related, landed on the ist of July, at Yar- 
 mouth, where he was received, if not with all 
 the honours due to his great name and renown, 
 with such as the magistracy, the inhabitants, and 
 the military, were capable of displaying, to evince 
 their high respect and esteem. On this occasion 
 too did his lordship, never relaxing for a single 
 moment from those firm and genuine principles 
 of benevolence and humanity, which so indelibly 
 marked his character, again exhibit to the world a 
 fresh proof of both. His first occupation, after he 
 had reached the shore, was to visit the hospitals, 
 which contained those unfortunate persons who 
 had been wounded under his command at the 
 attack of Copenhagen. He inquired with the 
 attention of a parent, and a friend into the state 
 of their health, their wants, and their situation ; 
 ^nd in all cases, where his advice, his inter- 
 ference, or his assistance became necessary, his 
 aid was afforded with the affection of a true phi- 
 Janthropist, and with the tenderness of a foster 
 parent. Previous to his quitting the town, the 
 volunteer cavalry assembled, and insisted, as 
 an. humble token of their esteem, on escort- 
 ing his lordship on his journey as far as Lou^e- 
 stoffe. 
 
314 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 In a very few days after his arrival in London, 
 he received his new commission, which appointed 
 him commandef in chief of a squadron, em- 
 ployed uetween Orfordness and Beachyhead ; 
 together with the whole flotilla of gun-brigs, fire- 
 ships, bomb-ketches, and vessels of every other 
 description, together with the sea-fencibles, em^ 
 bodied within the same district, and all the boats, 
 or floating defence vessels, on board which they 
 were appointed to act. He, accordingly, pro- 
 ceeded almost immediately to Sheerness, and 
 hoisted his flag on board the Unite frigate of 32 
 guns. He sailed from thence in a very few 
 days afterwards, and, as if it was determined by 
 Ibrtune, that every action of this great man's life 
 should be accompanied with celebrity, in his 
 passage from the Nore, instead of pursuing the 
 usual course,, and proceeding through the King's 
 channel le chose to attempt, using the proper 
 precautions for the safety of the ship, a passage 
 which had always been considered impracticable 
 for ships of war, but which proving otherwise, 
 has ever since been appropriately termed Nel- 
 son's Channel. 
 
 As a proper preliminary to the intended enter- 
 prize, a general and strict embargo was imposed 
 for the prevention of all intercourse whatever, be- 
 tween the ports of England and those of the oppo- 
 site coasts ; the most positive orders were also given, 
 that no person of any description, or rank what-. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, 515 
 
 ever, should be permitted to land from France, the 
 ports of Flanders, or of Holland. Notwithstand- 
 ing, however, this strictly enforced precaution, 
 either that jealousy, naturally attendant on timidi- 
 ty, had excited apprehensions in the mind of 
 France, or she had been, with more truthj per- 
 haps, might it be asserted, correctly informed by 
 her trusty, and treacherous emissaries, of the blow 
 with which she was menaced. Every precaution 
 was immediately taken on her pari, to secure 
 herself, far as her powers permitted her, from 
 the violence of it. From Brest to the Texel the 
 shores were lined whh troops ; immense bodies 
 had been purposely marched from the interior on 
 the occasion, with astonishing rapidity ; batteries 
 were erected, and furnaces prepared for the pur- 
 pose of heating red hot shot ; in short, nothing 
 was left undone, or untried that the- knowledge 
 of the soldier, or the skill of the engineer, could 
 suggest, for the purpose of presenting the most 
 formidable obstacles to the success of their as- 
 sailants. 
 
 It was remarked with correctness, on this oc- 
 casion, that the war between France and Great 
 Britain assumed a new but highly interesting ap- 
 pearance to the individuals of both countries. 
 That in former wars, and indeed in the preced- 
 ing part of th^t which then existed, the distant 
 colonies of both had most severely felt its terrors, 
 while their vitals had, remained nearly untouched 
 
o\6 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 'and unmolested i now, hov/evcr, the encamp- 
 ments of France on the coast of Picardy, and 
 those of England on the shores of Kent, revived 
 in idea the days of the Henrys and the Edwards, 
 when a single battle frequently determined the 
 event of the war, and prescribed the terms of. 
 future peace. 
 
 On the 30th of July, his lordship, who had 
 then reached Deal, hoisted his flag on board the 
 Leyden, of 63 guns, from whence he very soon 
 afterwards removed it to the Medusa. His force, 
 independent of the Leyden, consisted of the 
 Ruyter and York, of 64 guns eachs the Isis, of 
 50; the Hind, Brilliant, Medusa, and seve- 
 ral other frigates, with gun-brigs, fire-ships, and 
 different vessels, raising the amount of the whole 
 armament to forty sail of various descriptions. 
 As the limits of the command were in consonance 
 with the abilities gf his lordship, extensive; so 
 were the powers also, on which he was on this 
 occasion invested, unusual. To remedy, as far 
 as human aid could render its assistance, the dif- 
 ficulty under which his lordship laboured, in 
 consequence of the loss of his right arm, he had 
 the extraordinary allowance of three marine aides^ 
 du-camp, and, in short, experienced every 
 other possible respect that could be shewn him by 
 the board of admiralty, in regard to his suite, and 
 appointments. 
 
 Though public opinion had for some days 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. fl7 
 
 prognosticated the general destination of the ex* 
 pedition, yet the spot destined first to feel its 
 force, remained unknown; so that expectation 
 was raised on tip-toe, when, on the ist of Au- 
 gust, his lordship quitted the Downs, and stood 
 over to the coast of France. Boulogne-sur-mer, 
 it appeared, was fixed on^as the debut of the en« 
 terprize; it had long been the principal point of 
 rendezvous on that coast, for the gun-boats and 
 other small craft, destined, according to report, 
 for the invasion of Britain. It had been, more- 
 over, a receptacle for the nest of small privateers, 
 which had at different periods very severely injur- 
 ed the coasting trade of Britain, carried on, gene- 
 rally speaking, in vessels totally defenceless. On 
 both these grounds, therefore, the destruction of 
 this port, with its contents, was judicious in re-^ 
 spect to the attempt, and would have been ex- 
 tremely grateful in the success of it. The flotilla 
 which had actually been prepared within itself, 
 had lately received a very considerable reinforce- 
 ment from Calais ^ aivd it appeared, that owing 
 to its very shallow draught of water, as well as 
 the proximity which it v. as constantly enabled 
 to keep in respect to the shore, that it was a mat- 
 ter almost amounting to impossibility for the Bri- 
 tish cruisers, with all their alertness, to prevent 
 such a junction, or any subsequent measure of the 
 same kind, in respect to vessels of the same de- 
 acription, that might be attempted by the enemy. 
 
318 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 The coast in the neighbourhood of Boulogne 
 runs in a direction nearly east, and west. To 
 the eastward a point of land juts out, which 
 forms a bay, in the centre of which is the 
 mouth of the harbour opening to the north. The 
 floating force of the enemy, consisting of six 
 large brigs, two schooners, and twenty gun- 
 boats, were anchored in a line along the shore, 
 at little more than a quarter of a mile's distance 
 from-it. The vessels were formed in two sepa- 
 rate divisions; the largest of these was stationed 
 to the westward of the entrance into the port, 
 the remainder to the eastward. The most power- 
 ful vessel belonging to the enemy was moored 
 off the mouth of the harbour, which was still 
 farther protected by a strong battery on the 
 beach, and a second on the eastern pier-head. 
 A considerable encampment was discovered on 
 the heights, extending on each side of the town. 
 Such w^as the formidable position of defence, 
 which presented itself to his lordship's view% 
 when he arrived off Boulogne on the 3d of 
 August. 
 
 The whole of the day was unremittingly em- 
 ployed in reconnoitering, and in making the 
 necessary arrangements for immediate attack; 
 and in the evening a trial was made by the bomb- 
 vessels; as to the extent of the ranges the shells 
 they thre.v, would make. The trial proving 
 completely satisfactory, the signal was made to 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 319 
 
 call them off, and the whole armament came to 
 an anchor, at a distance of four miles from the 
 town. At break of day, on the ensuing morning, 
 the preparations for commencing the attack 
 began. The vice-admiral himself at fouf o*clock 
 stationed the bomb-vessels, which were five in 
 number, extending in an oblique line from the 
 western point of the enemy's position. They all 
 reached their several stations, and the bombard- 
 ment actually commenced a little before five 
 o'clock. Behind, and in support of these terrific 
 assailants, a line, composed of ships of war, was 
 stationed under w^eigh, ready to protect them on 
 the instant, should any unforeseen molestation 
 take place. His lordship himself; having his 
 flag on board the Medusa, took his post 
 directly in the front of the harbour ; a line of 
 small ships of war extending from his right; 
 behind, and in support of these, the Leyden, of 
 64 guns, was stationed. 
 
 It had at first been his lordship's intention, to 
 have made the attack with the bomb-ketches only ; 
 and the motive for this determination was judi- 
 cious in the extreme, llie range of shells being 
 infinitely greater than that of shot, the vessels 
 from whence they w^ere thrown, were capa- 
 ble of being placed at such a distance, that 
 they could carry on their operations and attacks 
 completely undisturbed by the enemy. At six 
 o'clock, however, it being then nearly high w^ater. 
 
320 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 and It becoming expedient to acquire every p6s« 
 sible information with respect to the enemy's 
 force. Lord Nelson, in the hope of provoking 
 them to unmask their different batteries, whichy 
 on account of the cliffs and. their colour, were ex- 
 tremely difficult to be discovered v^ith any degree 
 of accuracy, as v^ell in respect to their numbers 
 as their force, ordered all the lighter ships to 
 stand as near into the shore as possible^ and 
 open their fire along the whole extent of the 
 bay, keeping constantly under sail, and patting 
 about when necessary, for the purpose of re- 
 commencing the attack. A heavy fire con- 
 sequently took place on both sides, but attended 
 with very little injury to either; and the ebbing 
 tide prevented its being of any long duration. 
 
 The bomb-ketches, not only on account of 
 their distance, but their position, lay completely 
 secure from the fire of the French batteries : but 
 the enemy, soon aware of their own impotence, 
 sent a considerable number of men and troops to 
 erect batteries on a hill to the eastward side of 
 the bay, from whence they w^ould have it in 
 their power to flank the whole line of coast 5 but, 
 notwithstanding this auxiliary aid, the bombs re-' 
 mained in tolerable security, owing to their being 
 placed at too great a distance from their new 
 assailants to the v^estward. The principal 
 object which his lordship had in view, in the 
 dispositions he made, was to drive the whole of 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 3^\ 
 
 the enemy's flotilla from the position they had 
 taken, and compel them to seek in haste for shel- 
 ter at the mouth of the harbour. If it were 
 possible, argued his lordship, to carry this mea- 
 sure completely into effect, the vessels of the 
 enemy becoming closely crowded together, would 
 naturally present a fairer object to the assailants ; 
 whose shells might fi'om thence be expected, 
 without much fear of disappointment, to become 
 much more destructive. It was intended to 
 have sent, under cover of the night, three of the 
 bomb- vessels, close in with the shore : all .of 
 them were to have been towed in by boats ; tem 
 being appropriated for that service to each, as 
 well as to aid in bringing them off, should any- 
 unforeseen disaster take place. A shift of the 
 wind, however, unfortunately taking place, the 
 attack became unadvisable, or perhaps imprac- 
 ticable, without incurring a risk, which his lord- 
 ship did not think himself justified in hazarding* 
 As a further continuance in the same station was 
 thus become unnecessary, at least for the present, 
 the whole armament was ordered to haul ofF to 
 the station it had occupied, before it proceeded 
 to the attack. 
 
 Thus ended the first attempt ; which, though 
 attended with but trivial disadvantage to the 
 cnemvj was, it must be remembered, effected 
 v^ithout loss on the side of\the assailants. Bri- 
 tain, on her part, had at least proved her naval 
 
 Y 
 
322 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 superiority to the world, by making the attempt; 
 and France had confessed her impotence, and 
 her fears, by the exertions she had felt herself 
 compelled to make, in order to parry the attack*. 
 In the official account given by his lordship of 
 the transaction, we again trace all those benign 
 sentiments of benevolence and philanthropy 
 which on every preceding occasion had marked 
 his conduct. He warred only with those who 
 
 * *'JSi!i, ** Medusa, ofF Boulogne. 
 
 ** The enemy's vessels, brigs, and fiats (lugger rigged), 
 and a schooner, twenty-four in number, were this morning at 
 daylight anchored in a line in the front of Boulogne. The 
 winds being favourable for the bombs to act, I made the 
 signal for them to weigh, and to throw shells at the vessels ; 
 but as little as possible to annoy the town. The captains 
 placed their ships in the best possible position, and in a few 
 hours three of the flats and a brig were sunk ; and in the 
 course of the morning six were on shore, evidently much da- 
 maged. At six in the evening, being high water, five of the 
 vessels which had been aground, hauled with difficulty into the 
 mole; the others remained under water. I believe the whole 
 of the vessels would have gone inside the pier, but for want 
 of water. What damage the enemy has sustained, beyond what 
 we see, it is impossible to tell. The whole of tliis affair is 
 of no further consequence, than to show the enemy they can- 
 not, with impunity, come outside the ports. The officers of 
 the artillery threw the shells with great skill ; and I am sorry 
 that Captain Fyers, of the royal artillery, is slightly wounded 
 by the bursting of an enemy's shell ; and two seamen are also 
 wounded. A gun-vessel is this moment sunk, 
 ** I am, &c. &c. 
 
 •' Nelson and Bronte." 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 323 
 
 opposed him -, the unoffending inhabitants he 
 assailed not : on the contrary, he issued the most 
 positive orders, that every possible precaution 
 should be used by those under his orders, to pre- 
 vent their sustaining an injury. It is a matter of 
 sufficient triumph to British humanity, that the 
 conduct of her commanders, when contrasted 
 with those of France, should cause the rest of the 
 universe to shudder at the comparison. 
 
 But however unequal to the wishes, and perhaps 
 expectations of his lordship, the event had proved, 
 he most magnanimously desisted from showing the 
 smallest mortification, or disappointment -, on the 
 contrary, he bestowed the highest encomiums on 
 the conduct of those who acted under his orders *. 
 
 • " Medusa, oiF Boulogne, Aug, 5th. 
 *' Lord Nelson has reason to be very much satisfied with 
 the captains of the bombs, for the placing of their vessels 
 yesterday. It wa^ impossible they could have been better 
 situated ; and the artillery officers have shown great skill in 
 entirely disabling ten of the armed vessels, out of twenty* four 
 opposed to them ; and many others. Lord Nelson believes, arc 
 much damaged. The commander in chief cannot avoid noticing 
 the great zeal and desire to attack the enemy in a closer and 
 different c.mbar, which manifested itself in all ranks of per- 
 sons ; and which Lord Nelson would gladly have given full 
 scope to, had the attempt at this moment been proper : but 
 the officers and others may rely, ;hat an early opportunity 
 shall be given them, for showing their judgment, zeal, and 
 bravery. The hired and revenue cutters kept under sail, and 
 performed the duty entrusted to them with a great deal of 
 
 skill. 
 
 (Signed,) " Nhlson and Brontb.** 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 On the 6th of August, his lordship quitted his 
 station ofF Boulogne, and repaired with the 
 greater part of his fleet to Margate roads, leaving 
 a sufficient force to watch the motions of the ene- 
 my : the gun-boats and smaller vessels pro- 
 ceeded however no farther than the Downs; 
 and the return itself was, in reality, one of those 
 ingenious feints, so frequently practised in war, 
 for the purpose of deceiving, or perplexing the 
 attention of the enemy. In the hope of carrying 
 this ingenious stratagem to its fullest extent, his 
 lordship, after continuing two days in Margate 
 roads, during which he never once came on 
 shore, again put to sea ; but, as if Flushing, or 
 some other port on the Dutch coast, had been 
 marked out as the intended object of his attack, 
 he steered an easterly course, though the real 
 object he had in view still remained the same. 
 The force under his orders became considerably- 
 augmented, by the arrival of a number of small 
 vessels, which had been fitted out with the ut- 
 most expedition, for the purpose of joining in the 
 second attack ; so that it now amounted, including 
 all rates and descriptions, to seventy sail. The 
 enemy, on their part, had been no less diligent 
 and active. The former attack had been of 
 essential use to therji : it enabled them to con- 
 template all the weak, as well as the stronger 
 and more advantageous parts of their position, 
 and erect batteries wherever they were considered 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 325 
 
 likely to be serviceable. In addition to these 
 measures, warned by the fears which had agitated 
 them on a former occasion, their army in the 
 neighbourhood had been again considerably rein- 
 forced ; so that the heights, to the extent of three 
 miles in length, were completely covered by 
 encampments. 
 
 Although the object, for the destruction and 
 defence of which such mighty preparations were 
 made, was so extremely insignificant, that the 
 expenses incurred on both sides more than tri- 
 pled that, which the flotilla itself had cost in the 
 equipment ; yet it appeared one of those nugatory 
 points which frequently occur in the course of 
 war, for the maintenance, or ruin of which, con- 
 tending nations, without any plausible, or per- 
 haps ostensible reasons, frequently make the 
 strongest exertions, France had long boasted 
 throughout Europe, and indeed every other quar- 
 ter of the world, of the meditated mischief which 
 was about to fall on Britain, under the fostering 
 protection of this contemptible armament. Bri- 
 tain, on her part, felt herself rather teased into 
 acting the part of a fro ward child, tormented 
 with the threat of an imaginary bugbear, than as 
 called upon to make exertions for the actual 
 preservation of her subjects, from the ravages of 
 a banditti. It was not sufficient for her to be 
 convinced in her own mind, that the threat 
 itself was probably nothing more than the mere 
 
3^6 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 effusion of French arrogance and vanity, without 
 any real intention of prosecuting the attempt 
 beyond alarm ; but she thought herself in some 
 measure called upon to manifest her own dignity 
 and consequence, to prove the arrogance, and 
 the emptiness of the threat. Such conduct, on 
 the part of an adversary, frequently excites those 
 feelings. 
 
 In respect to the views and the wishes of his 
 country, whatever might have been the first mov- 
 ing cause that gave them birth, no person could pos- 
 sibly have entered into them with more zeal, and 
 animation than his lordship. He appeared as if 
 roused almost above his customary ardour. To 
 an active and daring mind, it has been justly re- 
 marked, a mind habituated to overcome all 
 obstacles offered to impede the pursuit of victory 
 and glory, the late success, in disabling only a por- 
 tion of the flotilla, appeared as a defeat, or at best 
 a disappointment, rather than in the light of 
 a triumph. In brief, the destruction, or the 
 capture of the flotilla moored off Boulogne, was 
 an object as dear to his lordship's mind, notwith- 
 standing its insignificance, as the successful 
 atchievement of the most arduous enterprise in 
 which he ever had been engaged. 
 ^ His lordship arrived off Boulogne on the 
 15th, and immediately formed the necessary 
 arrangements for the mtended ;ittack. The ob», 
 stacks to success, it is certain, appeared formi- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. "i^H 
 
 dable, but by no means insuperable ; and the 
 cause which ultimately prevented that success, 
 in its fullest extent, as it was one of those minutiae 
 which a brave mind would almost invariably 
 overlook, so did the adoption of the precaution 
 reflect on the enemy as much disgrace, as their 
 defeat w^ould have done. On the evening of the 
 1 5th, the vessels composing the fleet were ordered 
 to form themselves, so soon as it became dark, in 
 four divisions *. The French line of vessels were 
 
 * Copy of Lord Nelson's dispatches. 
 
 '* Sir, *' Medusa off Boulogne, Aug. 16, 
 
 " Having judged it proper to attempt bringing off the ene- 
 my's flotilla, moored in front of Boulogne, I directed the at- 
 tack to be made by four divisions of boats, for boarding, under 
 the command of Captains Somerville, Gotgrave, Jones, ancj 
 Parker, and a division of howitzer-boats, under Captain Conn. 
 The boats put off from the Medusa at half past eleven last 
 night, in the best possible order, and before one o'clock this 
 morning the firing began ; and I had, from the judgment of 
 the officers, and the zeal and gallantry of every man, the most 
 perfect confidence of complete success ; but the darkness of 
 the night, with the tide and half tide, separated the divisions, 
 and to all not arriving at the same moment with Captain 
 Parker, is to be attributed the failure of success. But I beg 
 to be perfectly understood, that not the smallest blame at- 
 taches itself to any person ; for although the divisions did not 
 arriv^e together, yet each (except the fourth division, which 
 could not be got up before day) made a successful attack on 
 that part of the enemy they fell in with, and actually took 
 possession of many brigs and flats, and cut their cables. But 
 many of thenf being aground at the moment of the battle's 
 ceasing on board them, the vessels were ^lled witi) VQliieg 
 
328 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 defended by long poles, headed with spikes of iron 
 projecting from their sides; they were guarded also 
 
 upon voUies of musketry, the enemy being perfectly regard- 
 less of their own men, who must have suffered equally with 
 us ; it was therefore impossible to remain on board even to 
 burn them ; but allow me to say, who have seen much service 
 this war, that more determined persevering courage I never 
 witnessed ; and that nothing but the innpossibility of being 
 successful, froni the causes I have mentioned, could have prcr 
 vcnfed me from having congratulated their lordships. Bi^t 
 although in point of value the loss of such gallantry and good 
 men is incalculable ; yet, in point of number, it has fallen 
 short of my expectations I must also beg leave to state, 
 that greater zeal, and ardent desire, to distinguish themselves 
 by an attack on the enemy, were never shown than by all the 
 captains, officers, and crews of all the different descriptions of 
 vessels under my command. The commanders of the Hunter 
 and Greyhound revenue-cutters went in their boats in the 
 most handsome and gallant manner to the attack. 
 
 Among the many brave men wounded, I have, with the 
 deepest regret, to place the name of my gallant good friend, 
 and able assistant. Captain Edward T. Parker ; also my flag- 
 lieutenant, Frederick Langford, who has served with me 
 many years. They were both wounded in attempting to 
 board the French commodore. To Captain Gore of the Me- 
 dusa, I feel the highest obligations ; and when their lordships 
 look at the Iqss of the Medusa on this occasion, they will agree 
 with me, that the honour of my flag, and the cause. of their 
 king and country, could never have been placed in more gal- 
 lant hands. Captain Bedford of the Leyden, with Captain 
 Gore, very handsomely offered their services to serve under 
 a master and commander ; but I did not think it fair to the 
 latter, and I only menrion it to mark the zeal of those ofli- 
 cers. From the nature of the attack only a few prisoners were 
 |nade ; a lieutenant, eight seamen, and eight soldiers, s^re all 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ^329 
 
 from the attempts of boarders; a species of 
 attack which they feared more than any other, 
 
 they brought off. Herewith I send the reports of the several 
 
 commanders of divisions, and a return of the killed and 
 
 wounded, 
 
 *« I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ** Nelson and Bronte," 
 " P. S, Captain Somerville was the senior master and com- 
 mander employed." 
 
 ** My Lord, ** Eugenie, ofr Boulogne, Aug. 16, 1801. 
 •* In obedience to your lordship's directions to state the 
 proceedings of the first division of boats, which you did me 
 the honour to place under my command, for the purpose of 
 attacking the enemy's flotilla in the Bay of Boulogne, I beg 
 leave to acquaint you, that after leaving the Medusa last 
 night, I found myself, on getting ashore, carried considerably, 
 by the rapidity of the tide, to the eastward of the above-men- 
 tioned place ; and finding that I was not likely to reach it in 
 the order prescribed, 1 gave directions to the boats to cast 
 each other off: by so doing I was enabled to get to the ene- 
 my's flotilla a little before the dawn of day, and, in the best 
 order possible, attacked, close to the pier-head, a brig, which, 
 after a sharp contest, I carried. Previous to so doing her cables 
 were cut, but I was prevented from towing her out, by her 
 being secured with a chain ; and in consequence of a very 
 heavy fire of musketry and grape-shot, that was directed at us 
 from the shore, three luggers, and another brig, within half- 
 pistol shot, and not seeing the least prospect of being able to 
 get her ofi^, I was obliged to abandon her, and push out of 
 the bay, as it was then completely day-light. The undaunted 
 and resolute behaviour of the officers, seamen, and marines, 
 was unparalleled ; and I have to lament the loss of several of 
 those brave men, a list of whom I enclose herewith. 
 
 *• I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ** P. Somerville." 
 «' Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B." 
 
330 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 by strong nettings braced up on the upper side to 
 their lower yards. The smallest vessel contained 
 
 '* My Lor», " Medusa, off Boulogne, Aug. i6. 
 
 •* After the complete arrangement which was made» the 
 perfect good understanding and regularity with which the 
 boats you did me the honour to put under my command left 
 the Medusa, I have an anxious feeling to explain to your 
 lordship the failure of our enterprise, that, on its outset, pro- 
 mised every success. Agreeable to your lordship's instruc- 
 tions, I proceeded with the second division of the boats 'jnder 
 my direction, the half of which was under the direction of 
 Lieutenant Williams, senior of the Medusa, to attack the part 
 of the enemy's flotilla appointed for me, and at half past 
 twelve had the good fortune to find myself close to tiem, 
 when I ordered Lieutenant Williams, with his subdivision, to 
 push on to attack the vessels to the northward of me, while I, 
 with the others, run alongside a large brig off the Mole 
 Head, wearing the commodore*s pendant. It is at this mo- 
 ment that I feel myself at a loss for words to do justice to the 
 officers and crew of the Medusa, who were in the boat with 
 me, and to Lieutenant Langford, the officers and crew of the 
 same ship, who nobly seconded us in the barge, ui til all her 
 crew were killed or wounded ; and to the Honourable William 
 Cathcart, who commanded the Medusa's cutter, and sustained 
 the attack with the greatest intrepidity, until the desperate 
 situation I was left in obliged me to call him to the assistance 
 of the sufferers in my boat. The boats were no sooner along- 
 side, than we attempted to board; but a very strong netting 
 traced up to her lower yards baffled all our endeavours, and 
 an instantaneous discharge of her guns and small arms, from 
 about two hundred soldiers on her gunwale, knocked myself, 
 Mr. Kirby, the master of the Medusa, and Mr. Gore, a mid- 
 shipman, with two-thirds of the crew, upon our backs into 
 the boat, all either killed, or desperately wounded ; the barge 
 and cutter being on the ouuide^ sheered o^ with the tide ; but 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 531 
 
 one hundred and fifty, and some of them two hun- 
 dred soldiers ; added to which, the line they were 
 
 the flat boat, in which I was, hung alongside, and as there was 
 not an officer or man left to govern her, must have fallen into 
 the hands of rhe enemy, had' not Mr. Cathcart taken her in 
 tow, and carried her off. 
 
 Mr. Williams led his subdivision up to the enemy with the 
 most intrepid gallantry, took one lugger, and attacked a brig; 
 while his crews, I am concerned to say, suffered equally with 
 ourselves ; nearly the whole of his boat's crew were killed or 
 wounded : Lieutenant Pelley, who commanded the Medusa'* 
 launch, and the Honourable Mr; Maitland, midshipman, were 
 severely wounded j and Mr. William Bristow, master's mate, 
 in the Medusa's cutter, under Lieutenant Steward, was killed. 
 
 '< I now feel it my duty to assure your lordsliip, that no- 
 thing could surpass the zeal, courage, and readiness of every 
 description of officer and man under my command ; and I am 
 sorry that my words fall short of their merit, though we could 
 not accomplish the object we were ordered to. 
 
 <* I have the honour to be, &c. 
 (Signed) *« Ed^waud T. Parker." 
 
 *' Lord Viscount Nelson, &c.*' 
 
 *' My Lord, " Gannct, Aug. i6, 1801. 
 
 *' On the night of the 15th instant, the third division of 
 boats, whi<:h I had the honour to command, assembled on 
 board his majesty's ship York, agreeable to your lordship's 
 directions, and at eleven p. m., by signal from the Medusa, 
 proceeded, witliout loss of time, to attack the enemy's flotilla 
 off Boulogne, as directed by your lordship ; and as I thought 
 it most advisable to endeavour to reduce the largest vessel 
 first, I lest no time in making the attack ; but in conse- 
 quence of my leading the division, and the enemy opening 
 a heavy fire from|8everal of the batteries, thwight it advis- 
 able to give the enemy as little time as possible, cut the tow- 
 
532 ~ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 moored in, was so close to the shore, that they 
 were protected not only by the land batteries, 
 
 jopc, and did not wait for the other boats, so tiiat it was some 
 litdc time before the heavy boats could get up ; received so 
 many shots through the boats's bottom, that I soon found her 
 in a sinking state ; and as it was not possible to stop so many 
 shot holes, was obliged, with the men, to take to another 
 boat ; and have the pleasure to acquaint your lordship, that I 
 received :^articular support from the boats of his majesty's 
 ship York, which soon came up with the rest of the division 
 I had the honour to command ; but finding no prospect of 
 success, and the number of men killed and wounded in the dif- 
 ferent boats, and the constant fire from the shore of grape and 
 small arms, thought it for the gooci of his majesty's service, 
 to withdraw the boats between two and thr^e iu the morning, 
 as we could not board her, although every effort was made. 
 ** I have the honour to be, &c. 
 (Signed) *' Isaac Cotqjiave." 
 
 •* Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B.** 
 
 ** His Majesty's Ship Isis, 
 "My Lord, August i6, i8oi. 
 
 ** In consequence of directions received from your lordship, 
 I last night, on the signal being made on board the Medusa, 
 left this ship, with the boats of the fourth division, formed 
 with two close lines, and immediately joined tlie other divi- 
 sions under the stern of the Medusa, and from thence pro- 
 ceeded to put your lordship's orders into execution, attack- 
 ing the westernmost part of the enemy's flotilla ; but notwith- 
 standing every exertion made, owing to the rapidity of the 
 tide, we could not, until near day-light, get to the westward 
 of any part of the enemy's line : on approaching the eastern 
 part of which, in order to assist the first division then en- 
 gaged, we met them returning. Under these circumstances, 
 and the day breaking apace, I judged it prudent to direct the 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 333 
 
 but also by the musketry of troops iUationed 
 in, or near them. The assailants were provided 
 
 ofRcers commanding the different boats to return tofheir re- 
 spective ships. 
 
 ** I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ** Robert Jones.*' 
 ** Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B." 
 
 " P. S. None kiJIed or wounded on board any of the fourth; 
 division:" 
 
 *' Discovery, off Boulogne, 
 '* My Lord, August i6, 1801. 
 
 *' I beg leave to make the report to your lordship of the 
 four howitzer boats, that I had the honour to command in 
 the attack of the enemy last night. Having led in to support 
 Captain Parker's divisioni keeping between his lines until 
 the enemy opened their fire on him, we keeping on tovVards 
 the pier, until I was aground in the headmost boat, then 
 opened our fire, and threw about eight shells into it ; biit, 
 from the strength of the tide coming out of the harbour, was 
 not able to keep off the pier-head, but conthmed our fire on 
 the camp, until the enemy's fire had totally slackened, and 
 Captain Parker's division had passed without me. I beg 
 leave to mention to your lordship, that I was ably supported 
 by the other boats. Captain Broome and Lieutenant Beem, 
 of the royal artillery, did every thing in their power to an- 
 noy the enemy. 1 he other oiScers of artillery were detached 
 in the other four howitzer boats. 
 
 '* I have the honour to be. Sec. 
 
 " John Coxn.**' 
 
 " Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B.'* 
 
 Total amount of officers, seamen, and marines, kille-d and 
 wounded in the boats of his majesty*s ships and vessek on the 
 attack of the French flotilla, moored before Boulognei on thei 
 uigntofthe 15th of August. 
 
334 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 V7]th boaj;ding pikes, tomahawks, and cutlasses 
 oi>]y,the use of muskets having been most peremp- 
 
 4 office rs, 33 seamen,7 marines, killed; — 14 officers, eighty- 
 four sea'men, thirty marines, wounded ; — ^total, ija. 
 
 To The preceding accounts as well of the last» as of the for- 
 mer action, the annexed derails, furnished by the enemy, will 
 fornj. a very proper supplemental contrast ; but though we may 
 rid'xule the vanity, and despise the arrogance as well as the 
 f;?!lse]ioods which pervade them, it is incumbent on us to 
 'oestow every tribute of applause on the conduct of a gener- 
 ous enemy: such was one of the individuals against whom 
 the British assailants had to contend ; for it is reported on the 
 most indisputable authority, that when the first of the British 
 boats approached the French commodore, or commander of a 
 division, that officer hailed, and said in tolerable good Eng- 
 lish, * Let me advise you, my brave Englishmen, to keep your 
 distance, you can do nothing here, and it is only uselessly 
 shcddipg the blood of brave men to make the attempt." In- 
 deed it x^Oald have been singularly cruel to have supposed 
 that every person employed as an officer in the service of 
 France should equally disgrace themselves. It would be il- 
 liberal also to imagine, there are not several individuals, who 
 still possess virtue enough, to rescue the once so much boasted 
 honour of the French military character, from infamy and 
 contempt. 
 
 x^rench Account of the Attack at Boulogne on the ^.th of 
 August, 1 80 1. 
 *' • The day before yesterday, Auguft the 4th, at day break, 
 Adm iral Nelson, with thirty vessels of war of all sizes, ap- 
 peared i before Boulogne. A division of our light flotilla was 
 anchor, ed, at the distance of 500 fathoms, before the entrance 
 of the p ort. The three sections of the division were placed 
 close to e ach other, without any interval. The English bomb 
 vessels bi -gan the fire, which was returned ; but the enemy . 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 335 
 
 torily forbidden, lest a fire, casually began, in 
 spite of every precaution, might have alarmed 
 
 kept at a distance, which wc estimated at 1 900 fathom from 
 the line of our division. 
 
 " The English fleet attempted several times to advance ; 
 our soldiers requested leave to board ; and three battalion! 
 embarked in the three sections of the division ; the other di- 
 visions of the light flotilla were in port ready to proceed to the 
 assistance of the van. 
 
 «• Our flotilla kept up a well supported fire, and at noon 
 the enemy was obliged to resume his first position without 
 reach of our cannon ; he however continued to throw bombs ; 
 the number of those thrown in the course of the day amounted 
 to more than nine hundred. No person was either killed, or 
 wounded by them. Two gun-boa.ts, which they had da- 
 maged, were immediately put in a state of service. 
 
 <* Yesterday, the 5th, in the morning, the English fleet dis- 
 appeared ; Rear Admiral Latouche could have done more 
 hurt to the enemy, had the weather been calm. 
 
 ** The intention of the English Admiral was to compel 
 our van to return into port; he did not accomplish that 
 object: this combat took place in sight of both countries. 
 It is the first of the kind : the historian will have cause to 
 make tliis remark.** 
 
 French Official AccounU from Rear-jidmiral Latouche ^ to 
 the Minister of Marine, 
 " Citizen Minister, ** Boulogne, Aug. 16. 
 
 ** I had the honour to inform you, by my dispatch of the 
 17th Thermidor, of the battle of the 16th (August 4), in 
 which the leading division of the fleet of small vessels under 
 my command, of itself frustrated all the efforts of the English 
 fleet, and kept the enemy at a sufficient distance from Bou- 
 logne, to prevent the bombardment of the port, and to ward 
 oflfall danger from the other divisions of the fleet. Admiral 
 Nelson, seeing that all his efforts were ineffectual, disappeared 
 
336 MEMOIRS <5F 
 
 the enemy too soon. The mode of attack, an^ 
 the different events which took place during its 
 
 on the 17th, no doubt to procure reinforcements, and to lay 
 in ammunition. He again made his appearance yesterday 
 with several ships of the line, and a great number of frigates, 
 brigs, pixanaces, gun boats, &c. He anchored at the distance 
 of 300c loises from the landing division, which still kept its 
 original position, about 500 toises from the mouth of the har- 
 bour, I had augmented it by one section, and had strength- 
 ^ ened it by the addition of several bomb shipsd I could easily 
 perceive in the evening, that the enemy meditated an attack, 
 their ships being surrounded with boats, and small craft of 
 all sizes; I had therefore ordered several boats to keep 
 watch, that I migbt have timely notice of the approach of the 
 enemy. About three quarters of an hour after twelve, one of 
 the boats discovered the enemy, and was immediately attack- 
 ed. The fire opened with uncommon briskness on both sides ; 
 the bombs, the cannon, and the musketry, presented, amid the 
 waves, a spectacle truly grand ; the land batteries could be of 
 no assistance to us, for fear of firing or^ our own boats. The 
 enemy had embarked from two to three thousand men, in 
 pinnaces and boats. Six of these attacked the Etna gun- 
 boat, carrying Captain Peireux, who commanded the division, 
 and killed two English sailors with his own hand. Almost 
 all the gun -boats of the leading division were at the same 
 time boarded by the English pinnaces ; but these every where 
 found the same resistance ; every where they were repulsed. 
 The bravest of the English who attempted to board, were 
 cither thrown into the sea, ox made prisoners ; the farthest 
 off gun-brig on our right, the Vulcan, was attacked again 
 and again, but always repulsed the enemy. The gun-boat, 
 the Surprize, commanded by Lieutenant Carran, run down 
 four of the enemy's pinnaces, and took a considerable number. 
 While these things were going on in front, a division of the 
 enemy attempted to get between us and the shore : here, a& 
 
LORD VISCOUNt NELSON. 5Sf 
 
 centinuance, cannot be better related than in the 
 official detail annexed : it will prove the com- 
 pletest refutation of any malicious attempt, to 
 blame his lordship's want of a more extended 
 success, or his merit in having deserved it, if 
 such, owing to the strange depravity of the 
 human mind, should ever start up. 
 
 Perhaps the true principles of greatness were 
 never so manifestly conspicuous in his conduct, as 
 in the present instance. Mortified and chagrined 
 as he must have been, that a victory, the most 
 decisive in its nature, had not crowned his at- 
 tempt, yet he sought not to shelter himself, evea 
 from his own reflection, by resorting in the smallest 
 degree to the customary, though truly scandalous 
 / mode of inventing blame, and attaching it to 
 points and to persons, with which it ought by no 
 
 at Algesiras, the English were the dupes of this manoeuvre* 
 Our boats accompanied the retreat of the enemy with a heavy 
 cannonade, which did not cease till four in the morning, when 
 the English had got beyond gun shot. Of the enemy's boats, 
 eight were run down, and four were taken : I must be within 
 bounds, when I state their loss in killed, wounded, and pri- 
 soners, at four or five hundred men. Every moment the dead 
 bodies of the English are cast upon the beach; the battalions 
 of the 46th, 57th,' and io8th, embarked in the leading divi* 
 $ion, covered themselves with glory. I shall not fail to send 
 you the names of those brave fellows, who deserve to be par- 
 ticularly distinguished by the Chief Consul. On OBr side w# 
 had ten men killed, and thirty wounded," 
 
3SS &IEMOIRS OF 
 
 means to be connected. His lordship paid the sin- 
 cerest tribute to all engaged under his orders ; he 
 stated the most satisfactory reasons, in full ex- 
 culpation of those, whom fortune and natural 
 impediments prevented from joining in the 
 attack ; and he candidly recounted the causes 
 which opposed his triumph: one of them was 
 extremely singular, and to a generous, a spi- 
 rited foe, must have proved as fully mortifying, 
 as the most perfect defeat could have done. On 
 the 1 8th, his lordship seizing the earliest oppor- 
 tunity in his power, to quiet the harrassed feelings 
 of those he so ardently expected to have led to 
 unqualified victory, issued the following general 
 orders, than which, it was impossible, perhaps, to 
 contrive any, that would have more effectually 
 contributed to the desired purpose. 
 
 " Medusa, Downs, August i8. 
 '* Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson has the greatest 
 satisfaction in sending to the captains, officers, J 
 and men under his command, that were employed ^ 
 in the late attempt on the enemy's flotilla off Bou- 
 logne, an extract of a letter which he has received 
 from the first' lord of the admiralty ; not only 
 approving of their zeal and persevering courage, 
 but bestowing the highest praise on them. The 
 vice-admiral begs to assure them, that the enemy 
 will not have long reason to boast of their secu- 
 rity ; for he trusts, ere long, to assist them in 
 
LORD Viscount nelson. ^39 
 
 person, in a way which will completely annihilate 
 tlie whole of them. Lord Nelson is convinced, 
 that if it had been possible for men to have 
 brought the enemy's flotilla out, the men that 
 were employed to do so, would have accom- 
 plished it. The moment the enemy hav6 the 
 audacity to cast off the chains which fix their 
 vessels to the ground, that moment. Lord Nelson 
 is well persuaded, they will be conducted by his 
 brave followers to a British port, or sent to the 
 bottom. 
 
 (Signed) *' Nelson and Bronte." 
 
 While his lordship, on his part, was using 
 every possible means in his power, to sooth the 
 feelings of others ; to the high praise of the 
 admiralty board, be it added, that it was no less 
 solicitous to afford the same species of conso- 
 lation to him ; and the first lord, forgetting th^ 
 natural severity of his situation, and the customary 
 coolness, too often, very injuriously shown to the 
 most gallant men, where the success has sunk 
 below the expectation which attended the enter- 
 prise, is said to have written his lordship the 
 annexed letter ; a letter, which we consider as 
 bearing sufficient testimonies within itself of 
 its being authentic, to authorize our saying 
 we believe it to be so. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from the Earl of St. Vincent 
 
 to Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B., dated the 
 
 17th instant. 
 
 z 2 
 
340 • MEMOIRS OP 
 
 " It is not given us to command success.— 
 Your lordship, and the gallant officers and men 
 under your orders, certainly deserve it ; and I 
 cannot sufficiently express my admiration of the 
 zeal and persevering courage with which this 
 gallant enterprize was followed up, lamenting 
 most sincerely the loss sustained in it. The 
 manner in which the enemy^s flotilla was fastened 
 to the ground, could not have been foreseen. 
 The highest praise is due to your lordship, and 
 all under your command, who were actors in this 
 gallant attempt." 
 
 The toil and dangers attendant on the encoun- 
 ter itself being concluded, his Lordship's atten- 
 tion became, as it were, naturally, directed to the 
 care of those, who had received wounds while 
 fighting under his orders. Almost immediately 
 on his arrival at Deal, nay, the very first occupa- 
 tion in which he was engaged, was that of visiting 
 the hospital ^ and it is needJess to add, that this 
 kind and cordial proof of affection, not only 
 afforded the brave sufferers the most sensible con- 
 solation and pleasure, but that his all-penetrating 
 eye, scrutinizing every inconvenience under which 
 they laboured, enabled him, where circumstances 
 would permit, to apply the best palliatives, and 
 remedies towards them. Severa'l anecdotes are rc- 
 related of his conduct on this occasion ; one of them 
 in particular merits attention. On inquiring of one 
 man whom he recollected, what his ailment was. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 341 
 
 he learnt that he had lost an arm ; Lord Nelson told 
 him never to mind that, for that he himself had 
 lost one also, and perhaps should shortly lose a leg j 
 but that they could never be lost in a better cause, 
 than in the defence of their country. This had a 
 wonderful effect on the seamen ; several of them 
 exclaimed, that they only regretted their wounds, 
 as they prevented them accompanying him in 
 another attack on their enemies. In fine, he 
 treated each individual with all the affable 
 attention he could have done, had he been his 
 intimate friend, or his relative. After inquiring 
 into their several cases, left them, with the most 
 cordial expressions of his wishes and confidence, 
 that he should soon bring them good news, and 
 find their health perfectly re-established. 
 
 The preceding instances, and display of a truly 
 noble arid generous mind, were by no means new 
 in his lordship ; as will appear by the annexed 
 anecdotes relative to him, which are reported to 
 have taken place in the preceding year. During 
 his lordship's visit at Salisbury, in the month of 
 December 1 800, he discovered a sailor among the 
 crowd, before the council house in that city, who 
 proved to have been one of the persons who had 
 fought under the orders of his Lordship, at the 
 battle off Aboukir : the recollection of a man, who 
 had hazarded his life in company with himself, 
 and had contributed thereby to the service and 
 the glory of his country, connected with the idea of 
 
342 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 his having been one among the humble iht 
 struments of his own exaltation, a.Tected him 
 extremely ; he called to him, and -after mo^t 
 warmly expressing the satisfaction he should 
 always feel, on meeting any person who had borne 
 an active part in the transactions of that proud 
 day, made him an handsome present, to which he 
 added the most hearty wish, for his future welfare 
 and prosperity. Another man afterwards pre- 
 sented himself, w^ho^had experienced at the Hel- 
 der Point, a similar misfortune of the loss of an 
 arm, to that which had befallen his Lordship off 
 Tenerlffe: no thought attached to the distinction 
 of rank, appeared ever to have taken possession 
 of this brave man's mind ; he found himself as to 
 bodily injury, in a similar predicament with the 
 poor individual he then beheld ; his sympathy was 
 awakened ; and the only difference in their con- 
 dition his beneyolence allowed him to recollect, 
 was that, of his own better fortune ; a proof of 
 which his fellow sufferer immediately experienced, 
 by the liberal token he gave him of his generous 
 compassion for his misfortunes. The third anec- 
 dote is, if possible, much more interesting than 
 cither of the preceding: it is a fact, though cer- 
 tainly a very singular one, that he should next 
 discover, amidst the huzzaing multitude, a person 
 who had attended him at the time he lost his 
 arm, and had assisted at the amputation : the 
 poble Admiral beckoned him up the stairs of the 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSOK. S43 
 
 council house, and meeting him as he approached 
 the room, took him by the hand with a present 
 in his own, with looks expressive of the remem- 
 brance for the tended services he had experienced 
 from him, on that melancholy occasion: as the 
 man withdrew, he took from his bosom a piece 
 V of lace which he had torn from the sleeve of the 
 amputated arm, declaring he would preserve it to 
 his last breath, in memory of his late gallant com- 
 mander, whom he should always deem it the 
 honour of his life to have served. Lord Nelson 
 bade him farewell, with an emotion which no 
 effort could stifle. 
 
 In consequence of the preliminaries of peace, 
 which w^ere* signed presently afterwards, the 
 important services of his Lordship during. the 
 current w^ar, were closed by the attack on Bou- 
 logne. While he was. engaged in it, the following 
 notification, as to the extension of his Barony, 
 appeared in the London Gazette, dated August 
 the ist: *' Right Honourable Horatio Lord Vis- 
 count Nelson, K.B., Vice-Admiral of the Blue, 
 Duke of Bronte, in Sicily, Knight of the Grand 
 Cross of the Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit 
 and of the Imperial Order of the Crescent, created 
 a Baron of the united Kingdom of Great Britain 
 and Ireland, by the name, style, and title, of 
 Baron Nelson of the Nile, and of Hilborough in 
 the county of Norfolk, with remainder to the 
 heirs male of his body lawfuilly begotten s and In 
 
544 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 default of such issue, to Edmund Nelson, Clerk> 
 Rector of Burnham Thorpe, in the said county of 
 Norfolk, Father of the said Horatio Viscount 
 Nelson, and the heirs male of his body lawfully 
 begotten, and to the heirs male lawfully begotten, 
 and to be begotten, severally and successively, of 
 Susannah, the wife of Thomas Bolton, Esq., and 
 sister of the said Horatio Viscount Nelson ; and 
 in default of such issue, to the heirs male of 
 Catherine, the wife of George Matcham, Esq., 
 another sister of the said Viscount Nelson." 
 The preceding was followed by a second notifi- 
 cation on the i^th of the ensuing month, which 
 stated, that J^ord Viscount Nelson had been per- 
 jnitted, by his Majesty's warrant dated January 
 yth, 1801, to adopt for himself and heirs, the 
 title of Duke of Bronte, with the fief of the 
 Dutchy annexed thereto ; and also to receive the 
 Great Cross of the Order of St. Ferdinand and of 
 Merit, all conferred on him by Ferdinand the 4th, 
 King of the two Sicilies." 
 
 Such is the interesting catalogue of the impor- 
 tant services rendered by his Lordship to his 
 country, during one of the most bloody wars in 
 V^hich England had been engaged, for the space 
 of centuries. In respect to the length of its dura- 
 tion, it had rarely been exceeded ; in the impor- 
 tance of its object, never ; the principles on which 
 it had began, became changed indeed, during the 
 ^ntinuance of it, but were in no degree less 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 345 
 
 horrible than they had been in its commence- 
 ment. The preservation of the internal tran- 
 quillity of France, the restoration of the Bourbon 
 family to their just rights and functions, and the 
 arrangement of an established form of govern- 
 ment, framed according to the wishes of the 
 people, provided that arrangement did not inter- 
 fere with the peace and domestic safety of every 
 other state and government in Europe, were the 
 motives which first induced Britain to draw the 
 sword of war. 
 
 These motives however were soon put an end 
 to, by the fury of the savage banditti who had 
 usurped the French government Not content 
 with the annihilation of order throughout the 
 extensive dominions of that country, once called 
 France, they boldly avowed, they menaced their 
 intention and determination, of carrying the same 
 infernal purpose into effect, through every coun- 
 try that presumed to oppose them. The war 
 ceased to be conducted according to those regu- 
 lations, which had ever been considered as invio- 
 lable laws, in all contests between christian and 
 civilized nations 3 and Britain found, with the 
 sincerest sorrow, that if she wished to place her- 
 self on an exact and equal footing with her 
 opponent, she must totally divest herself of her 
 humanity, and call forth her druids from their 
 graves^ to attend her armies, as they were wont to 
 do in the days of barbarism, that they might 
 
346 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 commence their dreadful and sanguinary sacri- 
 fices to the god of battle, by the immolation of all 
 those unfortunate persons whom the chance of war 
 threw into their hands. 
 
 The ravages of the horde spread like a pes- 
 tilence, no country where they were once able 
 to obtain a footing, could withstand them j 
 where force failed, corruption succeeded ; so that 
 in a few years Britain had the dreadful mortifica- 
 tion of beholding the whole of those states, which 
 were strongly allied to her at the commencement 
 of the dispute, either leagued in arms against her, 
 or compelled to submit toan ignominious quietude. 
 She herself stood alone, great, and unappalled ; 
 nor will either the present, or any future age ven- 
 ture to deny, that among the first causes that 
 created her greatness, arid removed her fears, 
 was die conduct of Horatio Nelson. 
 
 When Spain, cajoled by the promises, or ter- 
 rified by the threats of that self-constituted body 
 of tyrants, called the French Directory, deserted 
 the honest cause in which she had been engaged, 
 her energies were paralyzed on the instant of their 
 first exertion ; she fell, as if awed by the interven- 
 tion of some preternatural power, and shrinking 
 within herself, made no efforts whatever to 
 remedy the disaster, or palliate the disgrace, 
 which she ha,d sustained in the encounter off 
 Cape St. Vincent's. To whom could she attribute 
 this disaster, this humiliation, and this disgrace r 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 34? 
 
 It was Imputable to only one cause ; and It would 
 be ap insult to the understanding of the world to 
 prescribe the answer : " i^t eighteen minutes 
 before one/* says the journal of the Captain, 
 ^' that ship having passed on the starboard tack 
 the last of the enemy's line of nineteen sail, which 
 were on the larboard tack, the Spanish admiral, 
 in the Santissima Trinidada, bore up, evidently 
 with a design to join a division of his fleet of 
 eight sail of the line, which were on the Cap- 
 tain's bow ; on which the commodore ordered 
 the ship to be wore: when passing between the 
 Diadem and the Excellent, she was immediately 
 engaged by the Santissima Trinidada, a four- 
 decked ship, and two other three deckers, and 
 several two deckers ; so that, at one time, w^e 
 were engaged by nine line of battle ships, in 
 which we were most nobly supported by Captain 
 Troubridge, of the Culloden : the Spanish admi- 
 ral desisted from his attempt of joining his other 
 divlsioq, and hauled to the wind on the larboard 
 tack.'* Although the journal has been already 
 given at full length, yet the repetition of the pre- 
 ceding extract will not perhaps be considered as 
 a redundancy, as it tends so effectually to explain 
 the circumstance, on which the event of the battle 
 turned. It will be seen also, on referring to the 
 short minute, written by Lord Nelson himself, of 
 the same transaction, with what peculiar modesty 
 
34B MEMOIRS OF 
 
 be passes over an occurrence so highly honourable 
 to himself, and displaying the utmost splendour of 
 his character, attributes his success as almost 
 entirely proceeding from the conduct of othe'rs ; 
 in justice to whom it must be owned, that as the 
 example of their leader seemed calculated to 
 inspire them with every proper confidence in 
 their own strehgth, so did they manifest to their 
 antagonists, and to the world, that their magnani- 
 mity appeared to rise to an unusual and unpre- 
 cedented height, as a counterbalance to those 
 fearful odds, to which they were opposed. 
 
 His Lordship's conduct in tbe action just 
 referred to, inControvertibly evinces the strongest 
 and most active comprehension of mind, together 
 with a quickness of ability in nautical manoeu- 
 vres, which certainly had never been exceeded on 
 any preceding occasion whatever. The delay, the 
 hesitation of a moment, would have placed vic- 
 tory beyond his reach ; and although by th^ act 
 Itself, he incurred a most heavy and serious 
 responsibility, a responsibility which, had his 
 measures failed of success, might have materially 
 affected himself; he nevertheless seized with 
 avidity, what he considered the glorious oppor- 
 tunity, and led his brave companions to conquest, 
 without coldly conforming to the antient code of 
 discipline, and waiting for orders, when fortune 
 offered him an opportunity of confounding the 
 plans invented by the enemies to his country. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. ' 349 
 
 The battle of Aboukir placed his Lordship's 
 nautical conduct and abilities, in a new point of 
 view. He there became the cool and deliberate 
 commander in chief; weighing his future plans 
 with the utmost care and circumspection ; pro- 
 viding for every difficulty that his sagacity and^ 
 penetrating mind could foresee, fie arranged dif- 
 ferent modes of attack, for every different situation 
 in which the enemy might be met with ; so that 
 it would be no empty vaunt to say, that however 
 the mortified pride, of France, may attempt to 
 cover her disgrace by imputing it to the misfor- 
 tune of their fleet having been surprised at anchor: 
 flimsy as the pretended apology is, it avails them 
 nothing. It appears on the most undeniable 
 testimony, that whether they had been discovered 
 at sea, or in port, at anchor, or under sail, en- 
 cumbered with a convoy of transports, or freed 
 from any impediment w^hatever to their best 
 exertions, still was his lordship equally well pro- 
 vided, against every case, which could possibly 
 occur; and arguing from what wc know% it would 
 almost be a libel on his character, to doubt, that 
 in every case he would have been equally sue- 
 ccssful. 
 
 IF, on the former occasion, victory produced 
 the effect of rendering the Spanish navy an inac- 
 tive spectator of the war, its influence on the pre- 
 sent, was equally advantageous and serviceable to 
 
OjO SIEMOIRS OF 
 
 Britain. The motley horde, denominated the 
 army of France, had subdued Italy, overran a 
 considerable part of the continent of Eurooe, and 
 had either conquered, or neutralized, ahnost evcryj 
 state^ aid government which it contained. Th< 
 Voracious appetite of conquest was not even yet 
 sufficiently glutted; India, and in particular thi 
 possessions of Britain in that quarter, appeared U 
 hold forth a mine of wealth, equal in its actuaj 
 and accruing value, to the aggregate plundel 
 which France had till that time carried off fron 
 afll the other, countries she had attacked, and sub-1 
 jugated, or had extorted as the price of a meanly ' 
 purchased, temporary quietude. Those who hacf 
 assumed the government of France had the 
 audacity to declare, that the fate of India was^ 
 irrevocably fixed ; that the possession of its trea- 
 sures was decreed to France ; with a myriad of 
 other expressions, bearing the same tendency, too 
 weak, too ridiculous for repetition. Such indeed 
 were the hopes and expectations perhaps of that 
 country, and its governors, and the effect of those 
 hopes and expectations being realized, would 
 have been so dreadful, that the contemplative 
 politician shudders almost at the recollection of art 
 event, so important ; anevent which, in all human 
 probability, depended on the termination of the 
 battle off Aboakir. 
 
 The modern Kouli Khan felt his progress 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. SH 
 
 arrested ; he found hirtiself deceived in the 
 romantic idea he attempted to promulge, that he 
 bore in his hand the destinies of the world ; when 
 his army ceased to be stationary, it was defeated, 
 and his own ridiculous and frantic folly increased 
 its disasters. Europe considered the spell as bro- 
 ken ; nations now no longer deemed the power 
 of France invincible ; many of them flew to arms, 
 for the recovery of their rights, and, aided by 
 Britain, freed themselves from the yoke of ty- 
 ranny and oppression. 
 
 The next action, the attack on Copenhagen, 
 again varied, in the circumstances that attended 
 it, from either of the preceding, and required a 
 distinct line of abihties, to render it in any degree 
 successful ; for though various naval attacks on 
 preceding occasions, and in former wars, had 
 been made on towns and fortresses, and had 
 proved fortunate in their conclusion, yet none of 
 them were attended with the same disadvantages 
 as the present : the Danes themselves were so 
 vvell satisfied of the impregnability of their posi- 
 tion^, that they considered the arrival of the British 
 fleet, rather as a vain attempt to intimidate them, 
 than as one seriously intended for their chastise- 
 ment. The success frequently obtained by ships 
 when opposed to fortresses, has been attributed, 
 with the strictest truth, to the great superiority of 
 fire, which the former are always capable of 
 
S52 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 maintaining against the defences of a fortification. 
 To be explicit, thiity-seven guns,being the num- 
 ber contained in the broadside of a battering ship 
 of a medium class, are probably opposed to four, 
 or at most six which the fortress itself is capable 
 of bringing to bear on her :• in the attack of Copen- 
 hagen, however, no such superiority existed ; her 
 ships had all the force of batteries, for they were 
 purposely prepared for the occasion, and rendered 
 superior to their assailants, by every artificial aid 
 scientific ingenuity could contrive 3 the number 
 of guns mounted on board them, equalled as near 
 as possible those in the British fleet ; added to 
 which, they derived the most important support 
 from the Trekroner, or crown batteries, on which 
 were mounted eighty-eight pieces of heavy qan- 
 non. These obstacles all gave way before the 
 assiduity, and spirit of Lord Nelson ^ and it were 
 difficult perhaps to decide, in which particular 
 his transcendant merit appeared most conspicuous > 
 •whether in his care and attention to the discovery 
 of the proper track, or course w^hich it was ne- 
 cessary his squadron should take previous to the 
 commencement of the contest, his firmness as an 
 hero during the continuance of it, or his abilities 
 as a statesman, after its conclusion. Taken to- 
 gether, they certainly effected a service to the 
 nation, which perhaps has never been equalled } 
 beyond all possibility of dispute, or cavil, never 
 
LOUD VISCOUNT NELSON. 55$ 
 
 ekceeded. The effects of the former victories 
 have been already stated ; those produced by the 
 present, were not less important. 
 
 The visionary conqueror of India, foreseeing the 
 ultimate, and perhaps not far distant termination , 
 to his Egyptian expedition, returned once more to 
 renew the scene of blood, of corruption, and every 
 base act of political chicane, on the political theatre 
 of Europe. What effect, or rather what was the 
 extent of the effect, which the secret machinations 
 of his diabolical emissaries, and himself, produced, 
 in giving birth to the northern confederacy> and 
 fostering it, till it arrived at mischievous matu- 
 rity, it is impossible to say, with any thing like 
 precision ; unless the perfect history of those 
 intrigues were fairly to be developed, and made 
 known to the world. Britain felt the influence, 
 andknew the source from whence it sprang, though 
 the eye was unable to trace the channel through 
 which it passed. It is sufficient to say, that 
 however warily this plan of humiliation and 
 destruction might be laid, the genius of Nel- 
 son appeared as selected by Providence, not 
 to circumvent and oppose, but to overwhelm ft. 
 Thus, for the third time, did the Supreme Dis- 
 poser of all human events, place the preservation of 
 England within his reach; and thus, for the third 
 time, did he nobly perform the trust reposed in 
 him. 
 
 A A 
 
354 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Fortunate as the exertions of his lordship 
 proved on all occasions to his country, there are 
 few persons who have been less subject to dis- 
 aster than himself. To recapitulate the number, 
 and the nature of the wounds which he received, 
 would be truly afflicting to humanity itself. Were 
 not the facts incontrovertible, future ages would 
 scarcely credit the fatigues he underwent, the 
 frequent indispositions induced by a constitution, 
 naturally of a most dehcate texture, which he 
 bore widi patience, and the bodily injuries re- 
 ceived in the exercise of his profession, which he 
 had survived. He appeared, if the expression be 
 allowed, to be all soul ; and that soul, to be un- 
 shakeably devoted to the service of his God, and 
 of his country. 
 
 The honours that were conferred on him, were, 
 it must be confessed, numerous ; they exceeded 
 far perhaps his own wishes, and expectations, but 
 not his merits : they were such, however, as the 
 Msage of his country warranted; and had they been . 
 less, his lordship would have accepted them 
 with grateful content. That they were not in- 
 finitely superior, was his misfortune, and not 
 the crime of those, who directed toward him 
 the favour of his sovereign. To have exceed- 
 ed those limits, which the long established 
 usage in bestowing honours 'had erected into a 
 law, would -have constituted a precedent highly 
 
**"^ LORD .VISCOUNT NELSON. 355 
 
 ^i^Hyrablo, and from which, the honour of the 
 noble peson hunself, feeling itself insulted 
 ^and disgraced, would have turned with indig- 
 nation. ' 
 
 The fact was, that at an age, when many men, 
 .and of excellent characters too, had risen to no 
 public and pre-eminent command. Commodore 
 Nelson had, by a continued series of the most 
 brilliant actions, raised himself as a child of the 
 highest expectation, and was most deservedly in- 
 vested with the command of a squadron. In this 
 capacity, he surpassed the highest expectations 
 that had been formed of him, and the power of 
 ^Spain shrunk beneath his grasp. Great as the 
 service' was, and superior as would have beeri 
 his reward, had his rank in the naval service, and 
 the station he then held, permitted it, the inten- 
 tions of those, who would willingly have confer- 
 red on him the highest honours, reluctantly felt 
 those intentions thwarted and cramped, by what 
 is quaintly termed the etiquette of the service. 
 
 He became a flag officer j he w^as selected to. 
 command an expedition, on the success of which 
 the fate of Europe depended i he overtook the 
 armament of the enemy, and he atchieved a vic- 
 tory, which, in respect to extent, had never been 
 equalled. He was honoured with a peerage : on 
 this occasion, for the second time, was the muni- 
 ficence and liberality of his prince cramped by 
 
 A A 2 
 
S5S MEMOIRS or 
 
 custom. Notwithstanding he was a flag officer, 
 he was one of the youngest class, he commanded a 
 detachment only, and, consequently, acted inii su- 
 bordinate capacity. Under those circumstances, 
 there was no precedent for bestowing on him a su- 
 perior rank. At Copenhagen, the same cause, for a 
 third time, produced the same effect ; and he was 
 raised from the rank of baron to that of viscount 
 only. Thus it was, that with the most perfectly 
 acknowledged claim to the highest honours, for 
 the excellent service which he had rendered, in 
 the first, and every other of the instances just 
 related, he did not, owing to the peculiarity of 
 his situation, live to attain that honour, which 
 had been bestowed, we will not say undeservedly, 
 on the man, who, at the head of ninety-nine ship's 
 of the line, was represented as the saviour of 
 England, because he had defeated that of France, 
 which consisted of forty-four only* 
 
 The cessation of hostilities, the only event, 
 perhaps, that could have caused his lordship's 
 quitting the line of active service, afforded him 
 the means of renovating a constitution shattered 
 and enervated by the long, and very laborious 
 
 • The combined fleet of England and Holland, under the 
 command of Admiral Russel, at the battle off la Hogue, con- 
 sisted of ninety-nine ships, all of them of two, or three decks, 
 and considered of the line* 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 357 
 
 occupations in which he had been engaged. In 
 peace, however, he by no means sunk into ob- 
 scurity. In civil life he constantly displayed all 
 those virtues and qualifications, which render the 
 • private man honourable, and the honourable man 
 great. To the courtesy natural to an equal, he 
 added an affability, conjoined with the dignified 
 demeanour of a p/nce. Thus did he render 
 himself beloved, admired, respected, and adored 
 by all parties, and by all ranks and conditions of 
 men. In his retirement at Merton, he displayed 
 the genuine character of an old English baron ; for 
 benevolence and hospitality marked every action 
 of his life ; and without possessing the revenue of 
 a prince, he exhibited, so far as his means per- 
 mitted, the munificence of one. Here it was, as 
 has been justly remarked, that his unaffected 
 philanthropy first found an opportunity of render- 
 ing him intimately known to those, who before 
 knew of his .virtues, only by report As a senator, 
 he constantly manifested the integrity, and the 
 firmness of an honest upright legislator. When 
 he spoke^ he delivered himself in the most dig- 
 nified terms ; and if he thought he discovered any 
 thing injurious, or reprehensible in a measure, he 
 made it his constant rule to state decidedly his 
 objections, without suffering his mind to receive 
 - ;he smallest bias from the opinion even of men 
 ^ who, on every other occasion, he thought most 
 highly of. He afforded the world a strong and 
 
558 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 singular proof of his strict candour in this respect^, 
 during the debate which took place in the house of 
 lords on the 2ist of December, 1802, on the bill 
 for the appointment of a commission to inquire 
 into abuses, committed by certain boards em- 
 ployed in the naval department of public service, 
 and by prize agents. It would have been an act 
 of injustice to the character of his lordship, had 
 not the speech m.ade by him on that memorable 
 occasion never been recorded s and it would now be 
 one, were it omitted *. The subject of debate his 
 
 * ** My Lords, In the absence of my noble friend, who is at 
 th^ head of the admiralty, I think it my duty to say a few 
 words to your lord$bips, in regard to ^ bill, of which the ob- 
 jects have an express reference to the interefts of my profes- 
 sion, as a seaman. It undoubtedly originates in the feeling 
 of the admiralty, that they have not the power to remedy 
 certain abases, which they perceive to be most injurious to 
 the public service. Every man knows that there are such 
 abuses; and I hope there is none among us, who 'would not glad- 
 ly do all that could be constitutionally effected to correct them. 
 Yet, if I had heard of any objection of weight urged against 
 the measure in the present bill, I should certainly have hesi- 
 tated to do aught to promote its progress through the forms 
 of this house. But I can recollect but one thing with which 
 € have been struck, as possibly exceptionable in its tenet. It 
 authorizes the commissioners to call for, and inspect the books 
 of merchants, who may have had transactions of business with 
 any of the boards, or prize agents, into whose conduct they 
 are to inquire. But the credit of the British merchant is the 
 support of the commerce of the world; his books are not 
 Jightly, nor for any ordinary purpose, to be take.|i out of hi^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 359 
 
 jordshiprWas extremely conversant with ^he knew, 
 perhaps, from his own personal experience, the 
 
 own hands. The secrets of his business are not to be too cu. 
 riously pryed into. The books of a single merchant may 
 betray the secrets, not only of his own affairs, but of those 
 with whom he is principally connected in business ; and the 
 reciprocal confidence of the whole commercial world may, 
 by the authoritative inquiry of these commissioners, be shaken ; 
 all this, at least, I should have feared as liable to happen, if 
 the persons who are named in the bill had not been men 
 whose characters are above all suspicion of indiscretion, or ma- 
 lice. I may presume it to be the common conviction of the 
 merchants, that in such hands they will be safe ; since they 
 have made no opposition to the bill in its progress ; and since 
 they have offered no appearance against it by counsel, at 
 your lordships* bar. And truly, my lords, if the bill be thus 
 superior to all objection, I can affirm, that the neceffities, the 
 wrongs, of those who are employed in the naval service of 
 their country, most loudly call for the redress which it pro- 
 poses. From the highest admiral in the service, to the poor- 
 est cabin boy that walks the street, there is not a man but 
 may be in distress, with large sums of wages due to him, of 
 which he shall, by no diligence of request, be able to obtain 
 payment; not a man, whose entreaties will be readily answered 
 with aught but insults, at the proper places for his applica- 
 tion, if he come not with particular recommendations to a 
 preference. From the highest admiral to the meanest sea- 
 man, whatever the sums of prize money due to him, no man 
 can tell when he may securely call any part of it his own. 
 A man may have 40,0001. due to him in prize-money, and 
 yet may be dismissed without a shilling, if he ask for it at the 
 proper office, without particular recommendation. Are these 
 things ro be tolerated ? Is it for the interest, is it for the ho- 
 nour of the country, that they should not as speedily as pos- 
 4il)le be redressed f I should be as unwilling as any man tQ 
 
360 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 enormities that the agents for prizes had on some 
 occasions been guilty of, and he felt all proper 
 warmth for the interest of his profession. But \t 
 }s to be observedjthat he confined himself entirely 
 to that single principle of the bill^v/ithout interfer- 
 ing in the smallest degree with any of the remain- 
 ing points, which it was its object to embrace. 
 Like a cautious and prudent swimmer, be ventured 
 not beyond his depth, nor did he presume to ha- 
 zard his opinion on matters he did not thoroughly 
 comprehend, and understand. On such points and 
 parts of the bill his lordship displayed dignity, for 
 he preserved silence. Even the constitutional 
 objections started in opposition to it by no mean§ 
 tended to depreciate his character, or his disceruT 
 ment in haVing supported it : unversed in legal de- 
 finitions and distinctions, he sought only to rectify 
 an abuse, which he was certain had existed ; and 
 
 give an overweaning preference to the interests of my owr\ 
 profession. But I cannot help thinking, that under all the 
 circumstances of the aifair, your lordships will be strongly 
 disposed to advance this bill into a lave, as speedily as may be 
 consistent with the order of your proceedings, and with due 
 prudence of deliberation.'* 
 
 On the third reading of the bill, which took place on the fol- 
 lowing day. Lord Nelson expressed also his desire, that the 
 necessary inquiries into the flagrant abuses by prize agents, 
 might be made the subject of a separate act. His lordship 
 at the same time owned, that there might be instances ii; 
 which the delays of the payn^-ent of prize money resulted, 
 not from the villainy of the agents, but from accidents not 
 easily avoidable in the common course of human affairs, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. S6l 
 
 considering, though no lawyer, and spurning the 
 incomprehensible jargon of legal debate, that he 
 had an undoubted right, even though redress had 
 been perfectly unconstitutional, to shelter his 
 opinion from disgrace, or contumely, under the 
 universally admitted maxim, that In a free coun- 
 try there can .be no wrong, without a remedy. 
 
 Thus far, the merit and the praise of his lord- 
 ship may be considered negative; but in the 
 course of his speech, we shall find his opinioti 
 expressed in the most manly stile, entitling him 
 to the highest veneration and respect. His ob- 
 jections to the powers intended to be -given by 
 the bill, authorizing inquiries, at which his mind 
 revolted, as improper, were such, as must, to the 
 latest moment of parliamentary discussion, en- 
 title him to veneration as a senator, and to the 
 love of every man, who feels himself warm in 
 the welfare of his country, and in his wishes for 
 the prosperity of its commerce. 
 
 The relaxation from the fatigues of service 
 proved, unfortunately for his lordship, but of 
 short duration. The turbulent and insatiably 
 ambitious character of the French government, 
 again dragged his lordship from his domestic re- 
 pose, after it had continued for a period of eigh- 
 teen months. The instant it was foreseen that hos- 
 tilities were likely to recommence, the eyes and 
 attention of his majesty's ministers were strongly 
 
S62 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 impelled toward his lordship, as a person to whom 
 the most interesting and important services could 
 be confided. The former theatre of war, where 
 he had acquired so much glory, the tranquillity 
 of the Mediterranean, was the station on which he 
 was destined to act, and the object he was sent 
 to attain. To ensure the latter, it was necessary 
 for him to keep a constant watchful eye over 
 Toulon ; the port from whence, in a former war, 
 that fleet had issued, which he had so gloriously 
 annihilated. 
 
 The renewal of hostilities was announced in 
 the house of Commons on the 1 6th of May, 1 803, 
 and in four days afterwards, having previously 
 hoisted his flag on board the Victory, of lOp 
 guns, his lordship proceeded to Gibraltar. Ren- 
 dered wary by experience, and intimidated by 
 that terror which his very name carried with it, 
 the French armament was content to owe its 
 safety to its continuance in port ; so that, notwith- 
 standing every stratagem, every allurement his 
 lordship could contrive, in the hope of drawing 
 them from their ignoble security into fair and 
 manly contest was had recourse to, the enemy 
 constantly shrunk from the challenge, as though 
 honestly sensible of their own inferiority in skill 
 and actual strength, however nunrterically superior 
 their force might appear. In this uninteresting 
 state of tranquillity did the naval operations in the 
 Mediterranean continue, during the space of 
 
 \ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 363 
 
 rwelve months; and the only occurrence which 
 then took place, that could aiFord any variety to 
 the scene, was a skirmish of the most trivial na- 
 ture, for it was not thought sufficiently important 
 to render the publication of an official account 
 of it necessary*. 
 
 * This will, however, be supplied by the following de- 
 tails, transmitted to England by private hands. 
 
 Extract of a letter From an officer on board the Canopus, off 
 Toulon, dated May 24th. 
 ** Yesterday, in company with the Doniiegaland Amazon^ 
 we were nearly brought to action by a very superior squa- 
 dron of the enemy, whom Admiral Campbell had been sent out 
 by Lord Nelson to reconnoitre. The main body of the fleet 
 remained far out of sight of the land ; but the weather was 10 
 very fair, that the rear-admiral was tempted to stand in close, 
 to get a good view of them. To the eastward of the harbour'i 
 mouth, in which direction the road is open, on our near ap- 
 proach it fell nearly calm, and the gun-boats immediately 
 pulled towards us, and commenced firing, when we tacked, 
 but at such a distance that their shot fell short. The admiral 
 fired in return. A moderate breeze by this time sprung up, 
 and the squadron in the harbour were soon under sail afier us, 
 and in less than an hour consisted of five sail of the line, and 
 three heavy frigates. • They appeared determined to make a 
 grand push out after us. The frigates, and one of the line of 
 battle ships, appeared to gain considerably ; and the head- 
 most of the former, which was the same fellow that the Ama- 
 zon chased into Hieres Bay during the winter, opened a 
 distant teasing fire on the Donnegal, which was our sternmost 
 ship. This was not to be borne long patiently by Sir Ri- 
 chard Strachan, whq, watching his opportunity, luffed up, and 
 gave a liroadsidc, which made the headmost gentry heave 
 their sails aback, quicker than ever I saw them execute any 
 
S64 MIMOIRS OF 
 
 The vigilance of his lordship did not, however, 
 relax in consequence of the inertness of the 
 
 iranceuvre. The Canopus also threw some shot at the same 
 time, in a good direction. Although this fire was at such a 
 distance, that I have great doubts whether any. shot took 
 effect, yet it evidently served to check the progress of the 
 headmost seventy-four, supposed to be the Swiftsure ; for 
 notwithstanding she was coming up fast, and with four of her 
 own class at her heels, instead of closing with the Donnegal, 
 the moment she came within random shot, she rounded to, 
 to fire her broadside, by which she lost a great deal of way, 
 though perhaps this was her object. The sq"uadron that was 
 now in pursuit of us, and coming up fast, was so superior as 
 to preclude all chance of doing any thing with them. Ad- 
 miral Campbell therefore made sail, and they continued to 
 follow us some time, under a crowd of canvas, still keeping 
 the advantage of sailing : but fearful of being drawn off too 
 far, and decoyed into the jaws of the Viscount, by the time 
 they were about five leagues from Toulon, they were recalled 
 by their signal post from the hill, and all stood in again. 
 This was about three quarters of an hour past three o'clock 
 P. M. At six we saw our fleet to leeward, and joined them 
 about half past nine. They heard the fire indistinctly, and 
 the Leviathan was detached towards Toulon, but had not 
 proceeded far on her way before we were perceived return- 
 ing." 
 
 An extract of a letter from on board the Canopus, Admiral 
 Campbell's flag-ship, dated off Toulon, May 24th, says, 
 
 •* As it is possible you will see in the papers an account of 
 a slight acti6n with the French, magnified no doubt by them 
 into a retreat of the whole JBritish fleet, I will give it you 
 as it really was. The Canopus, the Donnegal, and a frigate, 
 were detached from the fleet to look into Toulon, which we 
 did yesterday morning ; and after being some hours as near 
 the mouth of the harbour as their batteries -would allow us^ 
 y/e were rejoiced to see them in motion, and, ere long, three 
 
IK 
 
 ^^ LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 565 
 
 y, and their apparent fixed determination 
 of avoiding all encounter. Their commerce was 
 istressed, their privateers captured, and, in fine, 
 he British flao^ waved over all parts of the Medi- 
 terranean, and along the coasts of France itself 
 triumphant, and unoppos^Bd* The most distm- 
 guished enterprize, undertaken during the re- 
 mainder of the year, was the destruction of a 
 number of merchant vessels at la Vandour, in 
 Hieres Bay; of udiich transaction Lord Nelson, 
 fully impressed with his invariable practice of 
 rendering justice to every officer he commanded, 
 makes the following concise and handsome re- 
 mark : — '* The importance of the service may be 
 but little, but the determined bravery of Lieu- 
 tenants Thompson, Parker, Lumley, and Moore, 
 and the petty, officers, seamen, and marines, cm- 
 ployed under them, could not be exceeded," 
 
 So mortified was his lordship at his compul- 
 sive state of inactivity, that in consequence of the 
 
 line of battle ships and three frigates came out : we imme- 
 diately tacked, in order to draw- them from the land, but went 
 under an ensy sail j and they soon came within range of our 
 ihot : when tliey began to fire, we were just sat down td 
 dinner, which we took quietly, and then returned their fire, 
 meaning to bring them to close action, though so far superior. 
 We were however disappointed, for at this moment we per- 
 ceived two more ships of the line and one frigate coming to 
 their aisistance. This was too great odds, under their Owa 
 batterks, we theieibrc were obliged to sheer off. 
 
$6f> MEMOIRS OF 
 
 corporation of London having voted him thanks 
 for the service he had rendered his country, by 
 blockading the port of Toulon, and thereby 
 preventing the enemy's fleet in that quarter 
 from putting to sea, he returned the subjoined 
 very characteristie.|P|^:er *, which embraced 
 
 ** My Lord, . * ** Victory, August f, 1804. 
 
 *' This day [ am honoured with your lordship's letter of 
 April 9th, transmitting me the resolutions of the corporatioft 
 of the city of London, thanking me, a^- commanding the Sept 
 blockading Toulon. I do assure your lordship, that there is 
 not that man breathing wlio sets a higher value upon the thanks 
 of his fellow citizens of London than myself; but I should 
 feel as much ashamed to receive them for a particular service 
 marked in the resolution, if I felt that I did not come within 
 that line of service, as I should feel hurt at having a great 
 victory passed over without notice. 
 
 *• 1 beg to inform your lordship, that the port of Toulon has 
 never been blockaded by me ; quite the reverse ; every oppor- 
 tunity has been offered the enemy to put to sea, for it is there 
 that we hope to realize the hopes and expectations of our coun- 
 try ; and 1 trust that they will not be disappointed. 
 
 *' Your lordship will judge of my feelings, upon seeing that 
 all the junior flag officers of other fleets, and even some of the 
 captains, have received the thanks of the corporation of Lon-: 
 don, wliilst the junior flag ofiicers of the Mediterranean flset 
 are entirely omitted. 1 own it has struck me very forcibly; 
 for, where the information of the junior officers and captains 
 of other fleets was obtained, the same information could have 
 been given of the flag officers of this fleet, and the captains ; 
 and it was my duty to state, that more able and zealous officers 
 and captains do not grace the British navy, thai) those I have 
 the honour and happiness to comman4. It likewise appears^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 36/ 
 
 many points extremely interesting, and honour- 
 able to his character, and at once explained the 
 real state of the case, together wi^h his opinion 
 of the situation and temper of the enemy. His 
 spirited, though modest species df remonstrance 
 to the city, in consequenC^ of their supposed 
 neglect in not bestowing their jthanks on the 
 officers joined with himself in command, would 
 cause a repetition of eulogium, which British gra- 
 titude might not, perhaps, conceive a redundancy, 
 
 my lord, a most extraordinary circumstance, that Rear-admi- 
 ral Sir Richard Bickerton should have been, as second in 
 command in tlic Mediterranean fleet, twice passed over by the 
 corporation of London : once after the Egyptian expedition, 
 when the first and third in command were thanked, and now 
 again: consciousnessofhighdesert, instead of neglect, made the 
 rear-admiral resolve to let the matter rest until he could have 
 an opportunity personally to call upon the lord mayor to ac- 
 count for such an extraordinary omission ; but from this second 
 omission, I owe It to that excellent officer, not to pass it by ; 
 and I do assure your lordship, that the constant, zealous, and 
 cordial support I have had in my command from both Rear- 
 admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, and Rear-admiral Campbell, 
 has been such as calls forth all my thanks and admiration. We 
 have shared together the constant attention of being more than 
 fourteen months at sea, and are ready to share the dangers 
 and glory of a day of battle. Therefore it is impossible that I 
 can ever allow myself to be separated in thanks from such fup- 
 porters. I have the honour to remain, with the very highest 
 respect, your lordship's most faithful and obedient servant, 
 
 ** Nelson and Bronte." 
 
 " To the Right Hon, the Lord Mayor." 
 
36s MEMOIRS Of 
 
 but which becomes unnecessary, because the act 
 itself was so truly great, as to render it unnecessary 
 that the merit of it should be pointed out. During 
 the remainder of the year* every thing continued 
 in the same passive state. The month of January, 
 howev^^r, appeared to promise a renewal of mofe 
 active scenes. Spain had entered herself as an 
 ally in the dispute, and the ports of that coun- 
 try claim.ed equal attention on the part of his 
 lordship with those of France. The fleet which 
 had so long been in a state of cornplete equip- 
 ment at Toulon, anxiously watching for the first 
 apparently safe opportunity of putting to sea, 
 pushed out of the harbour on the 15th of January, 
 it^ force consisting of eleven ships of the line 
 
 * In the Naval Chronicle, vol. xii. p. 494. the following 
 anecdote is given of his lordship, which reflects far too much 
 credit on him to be omitted. 
 
 •* On the nth of September, a seaman of the Victory, of 
 110 guns. Lord Nelson's flag-ship, fell from the forecastle 
 into the sea : on hearing the cry of a man overboard, Mr. 
 Edward Flin, a volunteer, jumped from the quarter-deck 
 after him, and had the good fortune to save the man, notwith- 
 standing the extreme darkness of the night, and the ship at 
 the time being under sail. The next morning Lord Nelson 
 sent for Mr. Flin, and presented him with a lieutenant's 
 commission, appointing hini to the Bittern sloop of war j and 
 at the sam.e time said, he would strongly recommend him 
 to the lords of the admiralty ; in consequence of which, their 
 lordships have confirmed him in that appoinfment." 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 369 
 
 and two frigates. Current report had assigned 
 Eg) pr as the most probable place of its destina- 
 tion ; and Lord Nelson, who, according to his 
 wonted custom, though out of sight of Toulon, 
 in continuance of the system of decoy, which he 
 had so long pursued without success, was, never- 
 theless, at no great distance from it; he was there- 
 fore quickly informed, that the temerity of Ville- 
 neuve, or positive orders sent to him for that pur- 
 pose, had at length induced him to quit port ; and 
 the British squadron, whose force was not superior 
 to that of the enemy, instantly shaped its cqurse to 
 the much wished for scene of future encounter. 
 Villeneuve, however, and those under whose orders 
 he acted, had far different views, than the renewal 
 of an expedition to Egypt. His lordship pursued 
 him in vain. He traversed the Mediterranean with- 
 out effect, and the force under his orders being 
 unfortunately mistaken in various places, parti- 
 cularly on the coast of Sicily and Egypt, for that 
 of France, the inhabitants of those countries 
 felt their fears alarmed to the utmost, dreading 
 a renewal of the same ravages from their new visi- 
 tors, which their conduct, on preceding occa- 
 sions, taught them so much to apprehend. 
 
 The armament of France having encountered 
 a storm, not long after it quitted port, returned 
 back to Toulon; while his lordship, deceived 
 by the reports and f^lse intelligence that had 
 
 B B 
 
570 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 been 'conveyed to him, pursued his fruitless 
 search. On the 3.0th of March Villeneuve again 
 put to sea ; and finding, on his arrival off Cartha- 
 gena, that the Spanish ships in that port were 
 not in a state of equipment sufficiently forward 
 to join him immediately. Tie pursued his voyage 
 fo Cadiz, off which port he an-jved on the 9th 
 of April *; and being reinforced by the Aigle, of 
 74 guns, a French ship of war, with six others be- 
 longing to Spain, under the orders of Admiral 
 Gravina, he proceeded, without a m6mcnt's loss 
 of time, to the West Indies. 
 
 The escape of so considerable a force as that 
 of the combined squadrons had now become, ex- 
 cited the highest emotion and anxiety in England ^ 
 an anxiety not a little increased by the in- 
 formation received, that the enemy's ships had 
 a land force embarked on board them, amount- 
 ing to upwards of ten thousand men. Doubt and 
 surmise served but to increase apprehension, and 
 in the beginning of the month of May, the latter 
 was considerably heightened in England, on its 
 being discovered that they had proceeded to the 
 West Indies. His lordship, in the interim, was 
 waiting with the utmost impatience for the ar- 
 rival of the enemy in the Sicilian seas : his usual 
 
 * Sij- John Orde, who was stationed off that port, with a 
 squadron of five ships of the line, retiring on his approach, 
 unitiolested, and unpursued* 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 371 
 
 good fortune appeared at length to have forsaken 
 him ; for though he had been a long time baffled 
 in his former pursuit to the same shores, yet suc- 
 ces had ultimately crowned his wishes; but in the 
 pesent instance, .Providence appeared to have 
 placed it beyond his reach. The middle of April 
 arrived ere he received any information that he 
 could depend on, either of the enemy's return 
 into port, or of their subsequent movements ; not 
 an instant was lost, in the endeavour to trace the 
 track of their flight ; and having found they no 
 longer existed in the Mediterranean sea, he pur- 
 sued his course to the Straits of Gibraltar, and ar- 
 rived at Tetuan early in the month of May. The 
 additional intelligence he received at that place, 
 and on his passage thither, confirmed his opinion, 
 that the combined squadrons of the enemy were 
 proceeding to the West Indies; and notwithstand- 
 ing the inferiority of his force, and various other 
 plausible objections that might have been started 
 by an Officer less warm in the cause of his coun- 
 trv than himself, he hesitated not a moment in 
 determining to pursue them, not only thither, but 
 to any other, even the most distant quarter of the 
 world, whither they might direct their flight, or 
 where they might attempt to carry on their mer- 
 ciless depredations. The- genius of the British 
 colonies appears on this occasion to have been 
 peculiarly active, in aflfording that limited pro- 
 
 B B 2 
 
572 MEMOIS.S OF 
 
 tection which Providence permitted her to extend 
 to the countries over which she watched. No 
 other line of conduct could possibly have pre- 
 served them from ruin ; and the adoption of such 
 a measure was such, that few, very few, even of 
 the bravest men, would have considered it proper 
 for them to pursue. 
 
 To attack, even at the most unequal odds, an 
 enemy supposed to have a great and particular 
 object in view, is an act of gallantry most highly 
 praise- worthy s and had his lordship, with his 
 squadron of ten sail of the line only, fallen in 
 with the combined force of France and Spain, 
 amounting, as it did, to eighteen, either in the 
 Mediterranean sea, the Straits of Gibraltar, or 
 any where in the vicinity to the westward of 
 them. ; had he engaged them, and without cap- 
 turing a single ship, crippled so great a part as to 
 have arrested their further progress, the act might 
 have vied with any that occurs in the naval his- 
 tory of Britain ; but on the present occasion, and 
 on his present conduct, the mind feels itself com- 
 pelled merely to contemplate the tribute of ap- 
 plause it wishes to pay, owing to the want of terms 
 sufficiently expressive of its truly grateful feelings. 
 
 No man, perhaps, who ever bore the charac- 
 ter of an officer, ever took on himself so heavy a 
 responsibility ; had he been deceived in his infor- 
 uiation, had he been impeded in his voyage by 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NtLSON. 373 
 
 any of those accidents to which navigation is 
 subject ; had he experienced any of those disasters, 
 which no prudence could foresee, nor any atten- 
 tion could prevent ; what would have been the 
 outcry, the clamour that would have b^n raised 
 against him ? He would have been stigmatized 
 in the most opprobrious terms, for his folly, his 
 frenzy, and his disobedience, in not centinuing 
 in a station where he was placed by the orders 
 of those, whom it was his duty implicitly to 
 obey ; all his former laurels would have been 
 blasted by the envenomed tongue of malice, and 
 he himself would have passed through the shat- 
 tered remains of a painful life, with a constitu- 
 tion w^orn out in the service of his country, neg- 
 lected and forgotten, even by those, who owed 
 him the highest tribute. This would have been 
 the slightest punishment he would have felt. It 
 is unnecessary to enlarge further on so hateful a 
 subject. 
 
 JUet us view, with this prospect before his 
 eyes, what his conduct was: conscious of his 
 own integrity, he des^sed to entertain appre- 
 hensions of incurring censure in the event ot the 
 most calamitous circumstance that could occur ; 
 and thus did he,with all the fervent zeal of pursuit^ 
 nobly trample on the cold system of prudential 
 caution. Ingratitude, however, is a national 
 crime too frec^uently committed s i^nd the man 
 
574' MEMOIRS OF 
 
 who is firm enough to despise it, displays a cha- 
 racter endued with a pecuhar and undescribafcle 
 quality, superior to heroism itself. 
 
 His lordship having determined on the mea- 
 sure, lost no time in carrying it into execution ; 
 and his activity rendered it incalculably valuable. 
 He remained in Tetuan Bay no longer than wa§ 
 merely sufficient to enable his ships to recruit their 
 water, and take on board such articles as were 
 of the first necessity, that they might be en- 
 abled to pursue their voyage without endanger- 
 ing the lives, or the healths of their crews. He pro- 
 ceeded immediately to Lagos Bay, where, as if 
 fortune specially favoured him, he found several 
 transports and store-ships, which had been in 
 company with Sir John Orde, when that officer 
 retired with his squadron from before Cadiz, oq 
 the approach of Villeneuve and his fleet. Here 
 the most pressing wants of the different ships in 
 respect to stores and provisions were still further 
 relieved ; and his lordship having received ad- 
 ditional confirmation of the reports already trans- 
 mitted to him, in respect of the course steered by 
 the combined squadrons, finally put to sea in 
 pursuit of them on the n th of May. 
 
 His passage was by no means unpropitious, and 
 on the 4th of June he came to an anchor in Car- 
 lisle Bay, off Barbadoes, without having experi- 
 enced any sinister accident during his voyagCo 
 
LOKD VISCOUNT NELSON. 375 
 
 lo a people dispirited and alarmed, as the in- 
 iblt;ants of that island were, on receiving infor* 
 tation of the very formidable force belonging to 
 ffbfi enemy v^hich had arrived at Martinique on the 
 14th of the preceding month, the sight of the 
 British squadron operated as a gift bestowed on 
 them by Heaven, for their deliverance from cer- 
 tain ruins for though the timid might express 
 their fears, that an attack made by ten ships of 
 the line on a squadron consisting of eighteen, re- 
 cently equipped, and fresh out of port, would be 
 an act exposing • them, not only to imminent 
 peril, but to absolute destruction ; yet those who 
 had weighed well the character of his lord&hip, 
 together with that of the officers and men serving 
 under his orders, and knew how to appreciate 
 their value fairly, felt no such terrors. Although 
 the fleet of France had reached Martinique near- 
 ly three weeks before the arrival of his lordship, 
 it had never yet attempted any further act of 
 hostility, than the attack of the Diamond Rock : 
 it was known, however, that the Spanish division, 
 un3er admiral Gravina, had separated from Vil- 
 leneuve, and was supposed to Bave proceeded on 
 a secret expedition ; report had selected the island 
 of Trinidad as the devoted place of attack. His 
 lordship, whose fleet, after his arrival at Barba- 
 dpes, had been reinforced by a junction with 
 Rea£-admiral Cochrane and two ships of the line. 
 
S76 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 lost not a moment in making the best arrange- 
 ments in his power for dispossessing the invad- 
 ing enemy. Twenty-four hours only were con- 
 sumed in watering the fleet, and in taking on 
 board a body of land troops under the orders of 
 Sir Wm. Myers, amounting to two thousand men. 
 On the 5th of June his lordship quitted Barba- 
 does, and shaped his course to the southward y on 
 the 7th he arrived oft Trinidad, where he found a 
 repetition of his former disappointments still pur- 
 suing him, and that the report of the attack was 
 equally unfounded with those which had so per- 
 plexed, and harassed him previous to his quitting 
 the Mediterranean. 
 
 The terror of the inhabitants was violent in the 
 extreme j they considered their visitors as the 
 enemies whom they so much dreaded; and so 
 strong was the delusion in which they were 
 held, that every exertion made by his lordship, 
 to convince them, by signals, of his identity, was 
 unable to effect that purpose, and prevent the 
 troops, posted in an advanced fort, from blowing 
 up the works, and retreating to the capital. As 
 it wa? now evident that nothing had been at- 
 tempted to tl^e southward, his lordship quitted 
 Trinidad on the 8th, and having arrived off 
 Grenada on the following day, received informa- 
 tion that the combined squadrons, consisting of 
 seventeen sail of the line, had quitted Martinique 
 
LORD VISCOUNT N^LSOK. 377 
 
 that very morning, and pursued a northerly course. 
 It immediately occurred to his lordship, that tl^ 
 fury of this formidable fleet was destined to fall 
 upon" Antigua, for he was as yet unacquaint- 
 ed with the French admlrars being aware of his 
 arrival ; nor, had he been informed of that cir- 
 cumstance, would his modesty perhaps have 
 allowed him to suppose, that the fleet of an 
 enemy, purposely fitted out for a particular ex- 
 pedition, and nearly doubling his own force, 
 could be induced from the knowledge of what 
 his active mind had effected, and the apprehen- 
 sion of what it might in future contrive, to quit 
 its object, and absolutely seek its safety by flight, 
 and return to Europe. 
 
 On his reaching Antigua, he found his expec- 
 tations of encountering the enemy there, still dis- 
 appointed ; but though his patience was tired, his 
 hopes were not extinguished : it was now reduced 
 to a certainty, that fearing to contest the domi- 
 nion of those seas, they were absolutely on their 
 return homeward : his lordship, with the utn^ost 
 expedition, landed those troops he had taken on 
 board for the purpose of supporting any islands 
 which might have been attacked, and prepared, 
 with all his accustomed alacrity, to pursue them, 
 consoling himself with the pleasing idea of being 
 even yet enabled to over.fake them, when on their 
 passage. 
 
378 . MEMOIRS OF 
 
 In the midst, however, of the hurry and confu- 
 sion, which might have been naturally expected 
 to prevail, while such rapid movements were 
 adopting, the coolness and circumspection of 
 his lordship never failed liim for an instant. On 
 the 13th of June he dispatched Captain Bettes- 
 worth^ in the Curieux sloop of war, to England, 
 with information of the movements made by the 
 enemy, together with his own operations, and the 
 measures adopted to overtake them. That no means 
 whatever might be left untried to apprize the squa- 
 drons employed in watching the different ports of 
 France and Spain, that the enemy approached, his 
 lordship dispatched Captain Rutherford in the 
 Decade frigate, on the 15th, to Lisbon, with in- 
 structions to order any light vessels be might 
 find there, to sail immediately for the purpose of 
 effectually spreading the alarm, and to proceed 
 afterwards in the same line of service herself; 
 the Martin sloop was almost on the same moment 
 with the Decade, sent off, on a similar errand, to 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 The expectation of Britain had, perhaps, never 
 been raised to an higher pitch ; but the genius of 
 disappointment appeared to have not even yet 
 sated her malice, in counteracting the operations 
 of the pursuers. His lordship reached Gibraltar on 
 the 19th of July, after having traversed the space 
 of ocean stretched between Europe and Americi; 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NJELSONT, 379 
 
 vHthin a pefiod almost incredibly short; for it 
 will be found, that from th^ day he quitted Te- 
 tuan Bay, to proceed through the Straits, to that of 
 his return to Gibraltar, after having made a regu- 
 lar tour of the Leeward West Indian Islands, in- 
 cluding all the time unavoidably consumed in tak- 
 ing on board stores and provisions, embarking 
 and re-embarking troops, together with that ne- 
 cessarily wasted in the pursuit of false intelli- 
 gence, or in waiting for such as might be deemed 
 authentic, includes a period of seventy-eight days 
 only. This display of activity was certainly un- 
 paralleled. The necessities of the fleet imperi- 
 ously requiring a recruit both of water and pro- 
 visions, his lordship once more repaired to his 
 original place of departure, Tetuan Bay, where 
 fie anchored on the 22d. Having used every possi- 
 ble expeditiori to supply those wants which press- 
 ed on him most grievously -, he again put to sea 
 on the 26th, and repassed the Straits, in the 
 }iope of meeting the long expected fugitives off 
 Cape St. Vincent ; or, failing in that, by pursuing 
 a northerly course, falling in with them in some 
 higher latitude.* Here again were the expecta- 
 
 * The force under his lordship at this time amounted to 
 
 eleven ships of the line, and two frigates ; the Victory, of 
 
 ' |00 guns ; the Canopus, Donnega!, and Tigre, of 80 ; the 
 
 Supcrbe, Spencer, Spartiate, Belleisle, Conqueror, Leviathan^ 
 
 sind Swiftaure, of 74 5 Amazon and Amphion frigates: all 
 
380 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 tions of this indefatigable man still frustrated; 
 he approached the port of Cadiz on the 27th, 
 near enough to ascertain they had not as yet 
 sought refuge there. He immediately steered for 
 Cape St, Vincent; he traversed the Bay of Bis- 
 cay ; but the enemy still remained invisible to 
 him. As the last source of disappointed hope, 
 he pursued his northerly course to the North-West 
 of Ireland ; still they appeared not ; and his lord- 
 ship considering it useless to attempt following 
 them farther, w^hile such an uncertainty prevailed 
 as to the destination or present station of the ene- 
 my, adopted, to the last moment, every measure 
 that prudence could suggest to him, as likely to 
 become serviceable to his country. He detached 
 nine ships of his squadron to reinforce Admiral 
 Cornwallis, who commanded off Brest, under the 
 idea of its being possible that the; enemy, shaping 
 their course .to the northward, and keeping close 
 along shore, might approach Brest, and, aided 
 by a diversion made on the part of the French 
 fleet, which had so long been blockaded in that 
 port, attempt, by placing Admiral Cornwallis 
 between two fires, to facilitate either the escape 
 of the latter, or, at least, their own junction with 
 it, as a reinforcement. 
 
 the ships of the line had been round with him to the West In^ 
 dies, the Spa-.tiate excepted, which latter he had brought 
 from thence as a small reinforcement to his original strength, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 381 
 
 His Lordship himself, in the Victory, accom- 
 panied by the Superbe, of 74 guns, came into 
 t*ortsmouth, where he arrived on the i8th of Au- 
 gust ; and notwithstanding the great length of his 
 voyage, the sudden change of climates, so de- 
 structive to the health of mankind, which his 
 people had experienced, and the additional cir- 
 cumstance of his fleet having visited the identical 
 spots in the universe from whence the importation 
 of a malignant distemper was most to be ex- 
 pected; such was the healthy condition of the 
 crews of both ships, that they were immediate- 
 ly released, without a demur, on the receipt of 
 his lordship's report respecting the existence of 
 this fact. 
 
 Among the various requisites necessary to form 
 a perfect naval officer, particularly one invested 
 ; with a chief command, no one perhaps can be 
 found more valuable than that which has been 
 just mentioned. History furnishes a variety of in- 
 stances, in which the most formidable enterprizes 
 have been overthrown, merely by a neglect of 
 this so necessary duty ; but it was not in the day 
 of battle only, that the talents and abilities of 
 his lordship were particularly distinguishable -, 
 they shone forth unclouded and undiminished in 
 every action of his life; but the world was ac-- 
 quainted only with the more splendid class of 
 his deeds, and the generality of mankind knew 
 
S82 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 not half his worth, or half his value- Nothing id 
 short escaped him ; even those minutiae of the 
 service^ which some persons, who have lived to 
 acquire elevated characters, have affected, very 
 strangely, to treat below their attention, w^ere re- 
 garded by him with aa active as penetrating a mind 
 and eye, as those which are considered among the 
 most serious, and important duties. 
 
 An anecdote is related of him, which places his 
 character, in this respect, in so strong a point of 
 view, as to render it unnecessary to apologize 
 for the digression. When a private captain, his 
 ship, which had been detached from the fleet on 
 some particular service, rejoined the fleet, need- 
 ing: no inconsiderable refitment and recruit of 
 stores, as well as provisions, ere it could be again 
 pronounced in a fit condition to put to sea. The 
 commander in chief, after having received the 
 report, is said to have taken his barge, and pro- 
 ceeding to the ship in question, hailed her, and 
 inquiring for Captain Nelson, told him he should 
 expect his ship to be ready by day-light the ensuing 
 morning. In the ordinary routine of service, 
 many days, at least, would have been necessary 
 for the purpose of re-equipment. Captain Nel- 
 son was struck with the magnitude of the task 
 imposed on him, and answered, without giving 
 himself time to recollect, '' that it was impossi- 
 ble." His superior oflicer, with rather unwar- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 383 
 
 ranted peevishness, replied, " I dont care for that, 
 I'll have it done." Captain Nelson put an end to 
 the conversation, by answering with the greatest 
 spirit, and still more laconically, ^^ then it shall 
 be done," and quitted the stern gallery without 
 adding another word.. 
 
 To return, however, to the transactions of his 
 lordship'slife. On the 20th of August he reached 
 London, and had the satisfaction of experiencing 
 that kind of reception from all ranks of people, 
 which very rarely attends the want of success. 
 Such is the frailty, the intemperance, or perhaps 
 the natural depravity of human nature, that the 
 disappointed man, instead of meeting with thai 
 consolation and comfort which would tend to 
 alleviate his misfortune, seldom fails to be treated 
 at least with neglect, if not with insult. His lord- 
 ship, however, stood as a singular exception to 
 this general rule ; his recent exertions appeared to 
 raise him in the minds even of those who were 
 not benefitted by them, to an higher pinna- 
 cle of fame and renow^n than he had before 
 reached j and the general congratulation shewed 
 that the public mind not only sympathized with him 
 in his disappointment, but that the energies which 
 he had displayed in the hope of acquiring victory, 
 entitled him to an equal share of fame with any 
 he could have derived from the most perfect and 
 unalloyed success. 
 
 Almost instantaneously on his arrival, and while 
 
384 MEIV^OIRS OF 
 
 the situation, as well as tlie intention of the enemy^ 
 appeared uncertain, the command of an arma- 
 mentj intended to oppose them, in tvhatever quar- 
 ter of the world rhey should appear, was offered to 
 bis lordship: a few days dispelled the mist which 
 enveloped the conduct of the enemy, and decided 
 the point of his future destination. After the 
 encounter off Cape Finisterre, the worsted squad- 
 rons of the enemy took shelter in, Ferrol, not 
 only for the purpose of procuring the refitment 
 they wanted, but also of forming a junction with 
 a considerable reinforcement of ships which lay 
 ready for sea in that port. On the 13th of Au- 
 gust, the enemy having accomphshed their neces- 
 sary objects, were discovered by a British frigate 
 stationed to watch that port, in the act of putting 
 to sea, and amounting, notwithstanding their dis- 
 comfiture, and the number of their ships disabled 
 in the late encounter, to at least twenty-seven 
 ships of the line, with eight attendant frigates, or 
 smaller vessels. No doubt was now entertained 
 as to the future scene of probable contest. The 
 squadron already employed on the station was 
 commanded by Vice-Admiral Collingwood ; but 
 its force was, comparatively speaking, so extreme- 
 ly trivial, that the utmost fears would most proba- 
 bly have been entertained for its safety, had not 
 Britain rested satisfied that the diligence and gene- 
 ral abilities of the commander were fully adequate 
 to supply the place of numbers. Not only the 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 3S5 
 
 government itself, but the people, as if with one 
 accord, turned their eyes on Lord Nelson, as the 
 person selected, as if byProvidcnce herself, to anni- 
 hilate, for the fourth time, the gigantic efforts of 
 a desperate and enraged foe. The public suf- 
 frage elected him to the fatal honour, and his 
 lordship, enfeebled as he was by fatigue, had too 
 much patriotism to decline complying with its 
 wishes.* 
 
 Reinforcements from various quarters were ra« 
 pidlyjdispatched to join Admiral Collingwood,and 
 prevent, if possible, the entrance of the enemy 
 into their much desired port ; they reached him 
 not, however, in sufficient time to effect that pur- 
 pose, and the strongest exertions were unremit- 
 tingly made in the ports of Britain to fit out 
 different ships, in particular, to refit the Vic- 
 tory, which was again destined to bear, unhap- 
 pily for the last time, the victorious flag of Lord 
 Nelson. Pending this preparation every tribute 
 
 * It IS reported of him, we know not with what truth, but 
 it is extremely probable that it is a fact, that he said to hit 
 friend. Admiral Stirling, just before he went upon the ser- 
 vice which has terminated so hononrably for himself, but 
 so lamentably for his country, *' My health is so bad, that I 
 ought to retire, but as my generous countrymen seem to 
 think I could do something if I were to meet the enemy, I 
 feel it to be a duty to do what I can : I shall therefore go, 
 and hope I shall be able to meet and conquer them, and X 
 shall think my life gloriously sacrificed in such a cause," 
 
 C C 
 
385 MEMOIRS Or 
 
 of applause his grateful countrymen could render 
 to his conduct, was liberally offered ; nor was that 
 tribute confined to the wild effusions of the po- 
 pulace, but persons of the highest rank bore 
 their part also, in augmenting, if possible, the 
 value, as they certainly did the extent, of the 
 honour. 
 
 On the aSth of August, a deputation from the 
 West-India merchants, planters, and other per- 
 sons connected with those islands, which his lord* 
 ship had so lately preserved from the fangs of a 
 rapacious enemy, waited on him with an address 
 of thanks, for the perseverance and vigour which 
 he had displayed in the protection of those valu- 
 able possessions. The answer returned by his 
 lordship was dignified and appropriate ; perfectly- 
 consonant to the greatness of his character, and the 
 patriotism of his mind. After thanking them, in 
 the most polite and modest terms, for the honour 
 they had done him ; he added, '* that disappoint- 
 ed as he was, by the late escape which the enemy 
 had effected from him, he was perfectly ready to 
 take upon him any duty his sovereign might think 
 proper to command, or the interests of his coun- 
 try appear to require." He concluded by saying, ^ 
 "I beg leave to express to you, and the commit- | 
 tee of West-India merchants, the great satisfac- f 
 tion I fcel in their approbation of my conduct. It 
 was, I conceived, perfectly clear, that the com- 
 bined squadrons were gone to the West Indies, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 387 
 
 therefore it became my duty to follow thein* 
 But I assure you, from the state of defence in 
 which our large Islands are placed, with the num- 
 ber of regular troops, a numerous, well-disci- 
 plined, and zealous militia, I was confident not 
 any troops which their combined squadrons could 
 carry, would make an impression upon any of 
 our large islands before a very superior force 
 would arrive for their relief/' 
 
 Early in the month of September, positive In- 
 formation having been received in England, that 
 the combined fleet, with the reinforcement it had 
 experienced, had effected their entrance into Ca- 
 diz on the 2 1 St of August; the exertions of Britain 
 were, if possible, redoubled, to augment the force 
 already stationed off that port ; the inferiority of 
 which was such, that it might be said to have been 
 employed rather in watching the motions of the 
 enemy, than in preventing their putting to sea. 
 Early in the month of September the Victory was 
 completely refitted, and on the 13th dropped down 
 to St. Helens, that she might be ready to sail the 
 instant his lordship might arrive. The confer- 
 ences with the admiralty board, as to the future 
 plan of operations, and other necessary arrange- 
 ments, occupied the whole of his lordship's time 
 previous to his quieting London: on the 14th be 
 reached Portsmouth ; and although five ships of 
 the line and a frigate, then in that port, were un- 
 der orders to join him, yet as they were not coni- 
 c c 3, 
 
388 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 pletely ready, he resolved not to lose a moment's 
 time in waiting for them, bQt put to sea on the 
 following day, accompanied by the pAiryalus fri- 
 gate only. When off Plymouth, on the 17th, he 
 was joined by the Ajax and the Thunderer of 74 
 guns each, and from thence finally proceeded 
 with all expedition towards the dreadful scene 
 of his future glory. 
 
 As the nature of the service, on which his lord- 
 ship was employed, was, perhaps, more import- 
 ant, considering all its circumstances, than any 
 that had ever before occurred in the naval history 
 of Britain; so were the powers, and the extent of 
 command entrusted to him, greater, perhaps, 
 than had ever before been confided to any naval 
 commander whatever. Of the prudence and the 
 activity which pervaded his lordship's conduct, 
 tbe proofs had been innumerable; and the know- 
 ledge of his possessing those valuable qualifica- 
 tions, procured the most unlimited confidence to 
 be reposed in him. He was fully empowered 
 to use his own discretion on all occasions, and 
 follow the enemy even to the most distant quarter 
 of the world, v.ithout being, on that account, 
 subject to the slightest blame, or reprehension. 
 
 On his arrival off Cadiz, he found his antago*^ 
 nists, though still in port, most actively employed 
 in the refitment of their sliips; which bore every 
 appearauce,as far as could be collected from obser- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 38^ 
 
 vation, or intelligence, of being very nearly ready 
 for sea; the idea of a blockade he totally dis- 
 approved of; he was confident, that it was the 
 intention of the enemy to push for the Medi- 
 terranean, for the purpose of collecting together 
 in one body all the naval force possessed by 
 France and Spain in that quarter, and forming an 
 immense armament, in the hope of overpowering 
 any opposition that could be made to it by Bri^ 
 tain. This project, however it might ultimately 
 fail, would, if carried into effect, have proved ex- 
 tremely injurious he interests of Britain ; and 
 the system of blockade would, on account of the 
 extensive farce necessary to be employed, have 
 proved little less riiinous, if required to be ex- 
 tended to any great length of time. His lordship, 
 therefore, again had recourse to stratagem, in the 
 hope of drawing the enemy once more from their 
 lurking place of security. A frigate was constant- 
 ly stationed off the harbour of Cadiz, for the pur- 
 pose of communicating, at a moment's warning, 
 any motion she might perceive among the ships 
 of the enemy : at a more remote distance, but 
 jBtill within sight of the port, a detachment of 
 several ships of the line was placed in con- 
 ,«tant readiness to act, against any single ships, 
 or small squadrons, that might attempt to push 
 to sea, in the hope of eluding the vigilance and 
 observation, of their naval besiegers. Between 
 the detachment just . mentioned, and the main 
 
 I 
 
3gO MEMOIRS OF 
 
 body of the fleet, with which his lordship re- 
 mained off Cape St, Mary's, a hne of frigates was 
 posted, sufficiently close to each other, so that 
 they could communicate by signal ; and by these, 
 ineans, his lordship become acquainted with any 
 movement, or change of position made by thfe 
 enemy, in a few minutes after it had__ taken place. 
 
 On the other hand, the British fleet, as well 
 in regard to its numbers, as its movements, was 
 completely concealed from the view of their 
 antagonists. Lord Nelson, about the middle of 
 October, received advice, that by the unremitting 
 assiduity of the admiralty board, a squadron, con- 
 sisting of seven ships of the line, was on its way 
 from England, as an additional reinforcement; 
 and woijld, to a certainty, join him in one, or two 
 days. Under these circumstances, he hesitated 
 not to detach Rear-admiral "Louis with a fourth 
 part of the force then actually under his com- 
 mand, and executed the measure so publickly 
 and openly, that his allied foes became perfect- 
 ly well acquainted with it; hoping, that the defal- 
 cation of his strength might inspire the enemy 
 with confidence in their own superiority. The 
 -event completely answered his expectation : Yil- 
 lencuve put to sea from Cadiz on the 19th ; a 
 circumstance that gave birth to the greatest eyent, 
 that ever ye.t graced the annals of Britain. 
 
 The most laboured narrative would but de- 
 grade its importance ; it rests, like the diamond^ 
 
I 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT KELSON. 391 
 
 lely on its native brilliancy, and needs not the 
 echanical aid of literary labour to enhance, or 
 mbellish it. Let then that narrative speak for 
 itself. 
 
 '' Euryalus, off Cape Trafalgar, 
 " SIR, October, 22, 1805. 
 
 '' The ever to be lamented death of Vice- Admi- 
 ral Lord Viscount Nelson, v^^ho, in the late con- 
 flict with the enemy, fell in the hour of victory, 
 leaves to me the duty of informing my Lords 
 Commissioners of the Admiralty, that on the 1 9th 
 instant it w^as communicated to the Commander 
 in Chief from the ships w^atching the motions of 
 the enemy in Cadiz, that the combined fleets had 
 put to seaj as they sailed with light winds Vv-est- 
 crly, his Lordship concluded their destination was 
 the Mediterranean, and immediately made all 
 sail for the Straits* entrance, with the British 
 squadron, consisting of twenty-seven ships, three 
 of them sixty-fours ; where his Lordship was in- 
 formed by Captain Blackwood, (whose vigilance 
 in watching and giving notice of the enemy's 
 movements, has been highly meritorious,) that 
 they had not yet passed the Straits. 
 
 On Monday the 21st instant, at day-light, when 
 Cape Trafalgar bore E. by S. about seven leagues, 
 the enemy was discovered six or seven miles to 
 the eastward, the wind about west, and very 
 light. The Commander in Chief immediately 
 made the signal for the fleet to bear up in two 
 
39^ MEMOIRS OF 
 
 columns, as they formed in the order of sailing ; 
 a mode of attack his lordship had previously 
 directed^, to avoid the inconvenience and delay 
 
 * The same grand energy of miad, so strongly discernible in 
 every act of his lordship's life, never shone forth with greater 
 brilliancy than in the arrangements he made, and the orders 
 he issued, preparatory to the great impending contest. The 
 tenor of those orders, incontrovertibly strengthens the opinion 
 we have already promulged, that his lordship was the first 
 man, 'whose abilities soaring far above the common trammels 
 of prejudice, rendered the system of naval encounter an 
 absolute science. This, we believe, was never before at- 
 tempted by any of the greatest naval characters that have 
 preceded him. It remained for Lord Nelson to form an 
 indissoluble union between gallantry and ability j an union, 
 which Britain may hail as the source of future victories ; and 
 lo which she may resort, on all sabsequeiit occasions,' to pre- 
 serve her from the assaults of any congregated foe that may- 
 attempt to oppress her. 
 
 Memorandum. 
 " Victory, off Cadiz, Oct, lo, 1805. 
 
 *' Thinking it almost impossible to bring a fleet of forty 
 sail of |he line into battle, in variable winds, thick weather, 
 and other circumstances which must occur, without such a loss 
 of time, that the opportunity would probably be lost, of 
 "bringing the enemy to battle, in such a manner as to make the 
 business decisive, I have therefore made up my mind, to keep 
 the fleet in that position of sailing, with the exception of the 
 Bfst and second in command, that the oi:der of sailing is to he 
 the order of the battle ; placing the fleet in two lines, of sixteen 
 ihips each, with an advanced squadron of eight of the fastest 
 sailing two-decked ships, which will always make, if wanted, 
 a line of twenty-four sail, on which ever line the commander 
 in chief may direct. The second in command will, aftet my 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 5i}3, 
 
 in forming a line of battle in the usual manned. 
 The enemy's line consisted of thirty-three ships, 
 
 intentions are made known to him, have the entire direcdon 
 of his line, to make the attack upon the enemy, and to follow 
 up the blow, until they are captured or destroyed. If the 
 enemy's fleet are seen to windward in line of battle, and that 
 the two lines and advanced squadron could fetch them, they 
 will probably be so extended, that their van could not succour 
 their rear. I should therefore, probably, make the second in 
 command's signal to lead through about the twelfth ship fron» 
 their rear, or wherever he could fetch, if not able to get so 
 far advanced ; my line would lead through about their centre, 
 and the advanced squadron two, three, or four ships a-head of 
 their centre, so as to ensure getting at their commander in 
 chief, whom every effort must be made to capture. The 
 whole impression of the British fleet must be to overpower 
 from two or three ships a-head of their commander in chief, 
 supposed to be their centre, to the rear of their fleet. I will 
 suppose twenty sail of the line to be untouched, it must be 
 some time before they could perform a manoeuvre to bring 
 their force compact to attack any part of the British fleet, ox 
 succour their own ships, which indeed would be impossible, 
 without mixing with the ships engaged. The enemy's fleet 
 is supposed to consist of forty- six sail of the line, British 
 forty ; if either .is less, only a proportion of the enemy to be 
 cut off; British to be one fourth superior to the enemy cut 
 off; something must be left to chance. Nothing is sure 
 in a sea-fight beyond ?.ll others ; shots will carry away masts 
 and yards of friends as well as foes ; but I look with confi- 
 dence to a victory before the van of the enemy could succour 
 their rear ; and then, that the British fleet would be ready to 
 receive the twenty sail of the line, or to pursue them, should 
 thty endeavour to make ofl^ If the van of the enemy tacks, 
 the captured ships must run to leeward of the British fleet. 
 If the enemy wear, the British fleet must place themselves 
 between the enemy and the captured^ and disabled British 
 
59^ MEMOIRS O? 
 
 (of which eighteen were French and fifteen 
 Spanish), commanded in chief bv Admiral Ville- 
 
 shlps; and should the enemy close, I have no fear as to the 
 result. Th^ second in command will, in all passible things, 
 direct the movenuius of his line, by keeping them as com- 
 pact as the nature of th« circumstances will admit. Captains 
 are to look to their particular line as their rallying point ; 
 but in ease signals cannot be seen, or clearly understood, 
 
 KO CAPTAIN CAN DO WRONG IF HE PLACES HIS SHIP 
 AL0KG5JDE THAT OF AU EWEMY. 
 
 p.., r^^dvanced squadron - 8 
 
 British I ,TT 1 r - r 
 
 j^. . . -{VV cat her line - - j6 
 
 IJiVisions f r r /: 
 
 tLee line - - - ib 
 
 Enemy - - 46 
 
 ^ ** The Divisions of the British Sect will be brouo»ht nearly 
 •wrlthin gun-shot of the enemy's centre; the signal will most 
 probably th6n be made for the lee line to bear up together, to 
 set all their sails, even their steering sails, in order to get as 
 quickly as possible to the enemy's line, and to cut through, 
 beginning at the twelfrh ship from the enemy's tear. Some 
 ships may not get through their expected place, but they will 
 always be at hand to assist their . friends. If any are thrown 
 iri the rear cf the enemy, they will complete the business of 
 twelve sail cfthe enemy. Should the enemy wear together, 
 or bear up and sail large, still the twelve ships, composing in' 
 the first position the enemy's rear, are to be the object of 
 atiack of the lee line, unless otherwise directed by the com- 
 mander in chief, which is scarcely to be expected, as the 
 entire management of tlie lee line, after the intentions of ti e 
 commander in chief are signified, is intended to be left to the 
 adiiiiral commanding that line. The icmainder of the 
 enemy's fleet, ihirty-five sail of the line, are to be left to the 
 management of the commander in chief, who will endeavoui' 
 to take care, that the movements of the second in command' 
 arc as liLiIe intejirupted as possible. 
 
 *' Nelson and Bronte." 
 
^^^ll/ 
 
 •«^^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 '^t^ ^ ^'5 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 .f 
 
 
 
 .^^ i 
 
 tf 
 
 ^ K 
 
 i-^ 
 
 >\s^*^^ if I- 
 
 4 
 
 4^ 
 
 :«r 
 
 ^=?f- 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 4r^ 
 
 * 
 
 85 
 
 •H P3 jS O 
 
 'I s ^ 
 
 s 
 
 .'^^ s^f 
 
 1^ 
 
 ^. 
 
 
 I .^ . 
 
 ^44 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 ^ 
 ^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 395 
 
 ncuve. The Spaniards, under the direction of 
 Gravina, wore, whh their heads to the northward, 
 and formed their line of battle with great close- 
 ness and correctness ; but as the mode of attack 
 was unusual, so the structure of their line was 
 new ; it formed a crescent; convexing to leeward ; 
 so that, in leading down to their centre, I had 
 both the van and rear abaft the beam. Before 
 the fire opened, every alternate ship was about 
 a cable's length to windward of her second a- 
 head and a-stern, forming a kind of double line, 
 and appeared, when on their beam, to leave a 
 very little interval between them j and this with- 
 out crowding their ships. Admiral Viileneuve 
 was in the Bucentaure, in the centre, and the 
 Prince of Asturias, bore Gravina's flag in the 
 rear; but the French and Spanish ships were 
 mixed, without any apparent regard to order of 
 national squadron. As the mode of our attack 
 had been previously determined on, and com- 
 municated to the fiag-officers and captains, few 
 signals were necessary, and none were made ex- 
 cept to direct close order as the lines bore down. 
 The Commander in Chief in the Victory led the 
 weather column, and the Royal Sovereign, which 
 "bore my flag, the lee. 
 
 The action began at twelve o'clock, by the 
 leading ships of the columns breaking throup^h 
 the enemy's line, the Commander in Chief about 
 the tenth ship from the van, the second in com- 
 
sgG MEMOIRS or 
 
 mand about the twelfth from the rear, leaving the 
 van of the enemy unoccupied ; the succeeding 
 ships breaking through in all parts a-stern of 
 their leaders, and engaging the enemy at the 
 muzzles of their guns. The conflict was severe ; 
 the enemy's ships were fought with a gallantry 
 highly honourable to their officers : but the at- 
 tack on them was irresistible ; and it pleased the 
 Almighty Disposer of all events to grant his 
 Majesty's arms a complete and glorious victory. 
 About three P. IM. , many of the enemy's ships 
 having struck their colours, their line gave way. 
 Admiral Gravina, with ten ships, joining their 
 iri<zates to leeward, stood tD-wards Cadiz. The 
 five headmost ships in their van tacked, and 
 standing to the southward, to windward of the 
 British line, were engaged, and the scernmost of 
 them taken ; the others went off, leaving to His 
 Majesty's squadron nineteen ships of the line, (of 
 which two are first rates, the Santissjma Trini- 
 dada, and the Santa Anna), with three flag offi- 
 cers ; viz. Admiral Villeneuve, the commander in 
 chief; Don Ignatio Maria d'Aliva, Vice- Admi- 
 ral ; and the Spanish Rear- Admiral, Don Balta- 
 zar Hidalgo Cisneros. 
 
 After such a victory, it may appear unnecessary 
 to enter into encomiums on the particular parts 
 taken by the several commanders ; the conclu- 
 sion says more on the subject than I have lan- 
 guage to express; the spirit which animated all 
 
LORD VISCOUMT NELSON. "397 
 
 was the same ; when all exert themselves zea- 
 lously in their country^s service, all deserve that 
 their high merits should stand recorded ; and 
 never was high merit more conspicuous than in 
 the battle I have described. 
 
 The Achille, a French 74, by some mis-- 
 management of the Frenchmen, after her sur- 
 render, took fire, and blew up : two hundred 
 of her men were saved by the tenders. 
 
 A circumstance occurred during the action, 
 which so strongly marks the invincible spirit of 
 British seamen, when engaging the enemies of 
 their country, that I cannot resist the pleasure I 
 have in making it known to their Lordships. 
 The Temeraire was boarded by accident, or de- 
 sign, by a French ship on one side, and a Spaniard 
 on the other ; the contest was vigorous ; but in 
 the end, the combined ensigns were torn from 
 the poop, and the British hoisted in their places. 
 
 Such a battle could not be foir^ht without 
 sustaining a great loss of men. I have not only 
 to lament, in common with the British Navy and 
 the British Nation, in the fall of the Commander 
 in Chief, the loss of a hero, whose name will be 
 ii-hmortal, and his memory ever dear to his coun- 
 try ; ' but my heart is rent with the most poignant 
 grief for the death of a fritnd, to whom, by many 
 years* intimacy, and a perfect knowledge of tha 
 virtues of his mind, which inspired ideas superior 
 to the common race of men, Lwas bound by the 
 
398 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Strongest ties of affection ; a grief to which even 
 the glorious occasion in which he fell, does not 
 bring the consolation which perhaps it ought: 
 his Lordship received a musket ball in his left 
 breast, about the middle of the action, and sent 
 an qfficer to me immediately with his last fare- 
 well j. and soon afterwards expired*." 
 
 * Extract from the Log Book of his Majesty's Ship 
 Victory. 
 " Tuesday, October 22, 1805. 
 
 ** Light airs and cloudy, standing towards the' enemy's van 
 with all sail set. At four minutes past twelve opened our fire 
 on the enemy's van, in passing down their line. At twenty- 
 minutes past twelve, in attempting to pass through the 
 enemy's line, fell on board the tenth and eleventh ships, when 
 the action became general. About fifteen minutes after one, 
 the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Nelson, and commander in 
 chief, was wounded in the shoulder. At ih. 30m. the 
 Redoubtable having struck her colours, we ceased firing our 
 starboard guns, but continued engaging the Santissima Tri- 
 nidada, and some of the enemy's ships on the larboard side. 
 Observed the Temeraire between the Redoubtable and 
 another French ship of the line, both of which had struck. 
 Observed the Royal Sovereign, with the loss of her main and 
 mizen masts, and several of the enemy's ships round her dis- 
 masted. At 3h. lom. observed four sail -of the enemy's van 
 tack, and stand along our line to windward ; fired our lar- 
 board guns at those within reach. At 3h. 40m. made the 
 signal for our ships to keep their wind, and engage the 
 enemy's van coming along our weather line. At 4h. 15m. 
 the Spanish Rear-Admiral to windward struck to some of our 
 ships which had tacked after them. Observed one of the 
 enemy's ships blow up, and fourteen sail of the enemy's ships 
 •tanding towards Cadiz ; three sail of the enemy'3 shipa 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NE-LSOM. 399 
 
 I have also to lament the loss of those excel- 
 lent officers, Captains Duft' of the Mars, and 
 Cooke of the Bellerophon ; I have yet heard of 
 none others, 
 
 I fear the numbers that have fallen will be 
 found very great when the returns come to me ; 
 but it having blown a gale of wind ever since the 
 action, I have not yet had it in my power to col- 
 lect any reports from the ships. 
 
 The Royal Sovereign having lost her masts, 
 except the tottering foremast, I called the Eury- 
 alus to me, while the action continued, which 
 
 standing to the southward ; partial firing continued till 4.h. 
 ^om. when a victory ha-ving beeen reported to the Right 
 Hon. Lord Nelson, K.B. commander v^ chief, he then died 
 of his wounds. At five the mizen-niast fell about ten feet 
 above the poop ; the lower mast yards, and bowsprit all 
 crippled ; rigging and sails very much cut. The ships around 
 us very much ciippled. Several of our ships pursuing the 
 enenay to leeward, and our Vice-Admiral Collingwood's flag 
 flying on boarti his Majesty's ship Euryalus, and some of our 
 ships taking possession cf the prizes. Struck top»gal]ant- 
 ousts, got up runners and tackles to secure the lower masts ; 
 employed clearing the wreck of the yards and rigging ; wore 
 ship, and sounded in thirty-two fathom, sandy bottom. Stood 
 to the southward under the remnant of the fore-sail and 
 main- top -sail ; sounded from nineteen to thirteen fathom; at 
 midnight moderate breezes, and cloudy. At zh. 30m. wore 
 ship, at daylight saw our fleet and prizes, forty sail, in sight ; 
 still closing with our fleet ; at six Cape Tral^algar bore S.E. 
 by E., distant four or five leagues ; at 6h. joiti. sav«. three of 
 the enemy's ships standing towards Cadi^. 
 
400 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ship lying within hail, made my signals, a service 
 Captain Blackwood* performed with great atten- 
 
 * This gallant ofHcar is the descendant of an Irish family, 
 being a younger son ot the late Sir John Blackwood, Bart, 
 whose widow was, on the 3oih of July, 1800, created a peer- 
 ess of that kingdom, by the title of Baroness DufFerin and 
 Claneboy, of Ballyleidy and Killileah, in the county of Down, 
 with remainder of the barony to her heirs male. Oh his first 
 entrance into the naval service, he had the happiness of profit- 
 ing \>y the professional knowledge of Admiral Macbride, and, 
 during the war with America, experienced frequent opportuni- 
 ties of reducing to practice what he had before studied theoreti- 
 cally, having been engaged in several brilliant actions. After 
 having served under various commanders, he was appointed 
 signal midshipman on board the Royal Charlotte, the flag- 
 ship of Lord Howe, at the time of the Spanish armament, and 
 was by him promoted to the rank of lieutenant.. In the action 
 of the 2d of June, 1794, he was first lieutenant of the Invin- 
 cible of 74 guns, and on the return of the fleet to Portsmouth 
 was made master and commander, and appointed to the 
 Msegepa fire-ship, from which ' he was after-wards advanced 
 to be acting captain of the Brilliant, of 28 guns. In this 
 ship he distinguished himself by his gallant conduct in an en- 
 counter with two French frigates of superior f^rce, each of 
 them mounting 44 guns, which he engaged with so much 
 success as to compel his enemies to desist from their attack. 
 As a reward for his conduct on the preceding occasion, he 
 was raised to the rank of post captain, in the year 1795:, and 
 commissioned to the Penelope, a frigate on service in the 
 Mediterranean, in which he continued for some time. Being 
 srationed by Lord Nelson off Malta, his zeal and assiduity 
 were displayed in the highest degree. By his" exertion and 
 gallant perseverance, le Guillaume Tell, which had escaped 
 fiom the battle of Aboukir, and taken shelter in Malta, from 
 ^hich post she attempted to elude the watchful vigilance of 
 
LORD VlSCOtTNT i^ILSON. 4dl 
 
 tion. After the action I shifted my flag to her> 
 that I might more easily communicate my orders 
 to, and collect the ships, and towed the Royal 
 
 tlie British commanders, was arrested in her course, and not- 
 withstanding her manifest superiority, was attacked by the 
 Penelope so advantageously, that it may not be too much to 
 say, he was at least the primary instrument of her capture. He 
 afterwards served with equal credit to himself and benefit to 
 his country under Lord Keith, on the coast of Egypt. In the 
 year 1 799, he sailed with d. Convoy to the West Indies, and 
 in February iSoo, took a Spanish zebec, mounting 18 guns, 
 off Malaga. In the year 1803 he was appointed to the com- 
 mand of the Euryalus, in which frigate he accompanied Lord 
 Nelson from Portsmouth to the late scene of glory off Cape 
 Trafalgar. In this action he had his full share of duty, so far 
 as his station in a frigate permitted, and he acq^uitted himself 
 with a gallantry that called forth the highest approbation of 
 his deceased commander in chief, Lord Nelson, and his succes- 
 sor. Lord Collingwood. On the Royal Sovereign being dis- 
 xnastedythe latter hoisted his flag on board the Euryalus, which 
 took her in tow, and assisted her to heave her head round, 
 by which means she gave the Santa Anna, her opponent, a 
 broadside, that drove her side almost in. During the heat of 
 the action Captain Blackwood rowed down in his own boat 
 between the two contending fleets in order to learn the situ- 
 ation of Lord Nelson, and is said to have got on board the 
 Victory through one of the ports, at the time she was engaged 
 with the Santissima Trinidada : nor were his services discon- 
 tinued with the engagement, he being appointed to carry on 
 the communication which took place between the British Ad- 
 miral, and the Governor of Cadiz,relative to the distribution 
 of the prisoners and wounded men. In that employment he 
 fully justified the trust confided to him, and gained not only the 
 approbation of hb country, but the esteem of the enemy* 
 
 P D 
 
402 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Sovereign out to seaward. The whole fleet were 
 now in a very perilous situation ; many dismast- 
 ed 'y all shattered -, in thirteen fathom water, off 
 the shoals of Trafalgar ; and when I made the 
 signal to prepare to anchor, few of the ships had 
 an anchor to let go, their cables being shot ; but 
 the same good Providence which aided us 
 through such a day, preserved us in the night, 
 by the wind shifting a few points, and drifting 
 the ships off the land, except four of the cap- 
 tured dismasted ships, which are now at anchor 
 off Trafalgar, and I hope will ride safe until 
 those gales are over. 
 
 " Having thus detailed the proceedings of the 
 fleet on this occasion, I beg to congratulate their 
 lordships on a victory which, I hope, will add a 
 ray to the glory of his Majesty's crown, and be 
 attended with public benefit to our country. 
 
 " I am, &c. 
 (Signed,)' '' C. Collingwood." 
 
 « William Marsden, Esq." 
 
 ." The order in which the British Squadron at- 
 tacked the Copibined Fleets on the aist of 
 October, 1805. 
 
 VAN. 
 
 REAR. 
 
 Victory 
 
 Royal Sovereign 
 
 Temeraire 
 
 Mars 
 
 Neptune 
 
 Belleisle 
 
 Conqueror 
 
 Tonnant 
 
 .Leviathau 
 
 Bellerophon 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 40S 
 
 VAN. 
 
 Ajax 
 Orion 
 
 Agamemnon 
 Minotaur 
 
 REAR. 
 
 Colossus 
 Achille 
 Polyphemus 
 Revenge 
 
 Spartiate 
 Britannia 
 
 Swiftsure 
 Oefence 
 
 Africa 
 
 Thunderer 
 
 FRIGATES. 
 
 Defiance 
 
 Euryalus 
 Sirius 
 
 Prince 
 Dreadnought 
 
 Phoebe 
 
 
 Naiad 
 
 Pickle Schooner 
 
 
 Entreprenante Cutter 
 (Signed) 
 
 " C. CoLLING) 
 
 " GENERAL ORDER. 
 
 " Euryalus, October 22, i8oj. 
 " The ever to be lamented death of Lord Vis* 
 count Nelson, Duke of Bronte, the commander 
 in chief, who fell in the action of the 21st, in the 
 arms of victory, covered with glory, w^hose 
 memory will be ever dear to the British Navy, 
 and the British Nation ; whose zeal for the 
 honour of his king, and for the interests of hi$ 
 country, will be ever held up as a shining exam- 
 ple for a British seaman — leaves to me a duty 
 to return my thanks to the Right Hon. Rear- 
 Admiral, the Captains, Officers, Seamen, 5^n<i 
 
 detachments of Royal Marines serving on board 
 D D 2 
 
404 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 his Majesty's squadron now under my command, 
 for their conduct on that day ; but where can I 
 find language to express my sentiments of the 
 valour and skill which were displayed by the 
 officers, the seamen, and marines, in the battle 
 with the enemy, where every individual appeared 
 an Hero, on whom the glory of his country de- 
 pended ! the attack was irresistible, and the 
 issue of it adds to the page of naval annals a bril- 
 liant instance of what Britons can do, when their 
 king and country need their assistance. 
 
 *' To the Right Honourable Rear- Admiral the 
 Earl of Northesk, to the Captains, Officers, and 
 Seamen, and to the Officers, Non-commissioned 
 Officers, and Privates of the Royal Marines, I 
 beg to give my sincere and hearty thanks for their 
 highly meritorious conduct, both in the action, 
 and in their zeal and activity in bringing the 
 captured ships out from the perilous situation in 
 which they were, after their surrender, among 
 the shoals of Trafalgar, in boisterous w^eather. 
 
 '* And I desire that the respective Captains will 
 be pleased to communicate to the Officers, Sea- 
 men, and Royal Marines, this public testimony 
 of my high approbation of their conduct, and 
 
 my thanks for it. 
 
 (Signed) *' C. Collingwood." 
 
 " To the Rt. Hon. Rear-Admiral 
 the Earl of Northesk, and the 
 respective Captains and Com- 
 manders." 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 405 
 
 " GENERAL ORDER. 
 
 " The Almighty God, whose arm is strength, 
 having of his great mercy been pleased to crown 
 the exertions of his Majesty*s fleet with success, 
 in giving them a complete victory over their ene» 
 mies on the 21st of this month 5 and that all praise 
 and thanksgiving may be offered up to the Throne 
 of Grace for the great benefits to our country 
 and to mankind, 
 
 " 1 have thought proper that a day should be 
 appointed of general humiliation before God, 
 and thanksgiving for this his merciful goodness, 
 imploring forgiveness of sins, a continuation of his 
 divine mercy, and his constant aid to us, in the 
 defence of our country's liberties and laws, with- 
 out which the utmost efforts of man are nought ; 
 and direct therefore that be appointed for 
 
 this holy purpose. 
 
 " Given on board the Euryalus, off Cape Tra- 
 falgar, 22d October, 1805. 
 
 (Signed) «^ C. Collingwoop." 
 
 " To the respective Captains 
 and Commanders," 
 
 " N. B. The fleet having been dispersed in a 
 gale of wind, no day has yet been able to be ap-» 
 pointed for the above purpose '* 
 
 *' Euryalus, off Cadiz, 
 " SIR, October 24, 1805. 
 
 '* In my letter of the »2d, 1 detailed to you, for 
 the information of the Lords Comissioners of thp 
 
406 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Admiralty, the proceedings of his Majesty's 
 squadron on the day of the action, and that pre- 
 ceding it, since which I have had a continued 
 series of misfortunes, but they are of a kind that 
 human prudence could not possibly provide 
 against, or my skill prevent. 
 
 On the 2 2d, in the morning, a strong southerly 
 windblew, with squally weather, which however did 
 not prevent the activity of the officers and seamen 
 of such ships as were manageable from gettinghold 
 of many of the prizes (thirteen or fourteen), and 
 towing them off to the westward, where I order- 
 ed them to rendezvous round the Royal Sove- 
 reign, in tow by the Neptune : but on the 23d 
 the gale increased, and the sea ran so high, that 
 many of them broke the tow rope, and drifted 
 iar to leeward before they were got hold of 
 again -, and iome of them taking advantage of the 
 dark and boisterous night, got before the wind, 
 and have perhaps drifted upon the shore and 
 sunk: on the afternoon of that day the remnant 
 of the combined fleet, ten sail of ships, who had 
 not been much engaged, stood up to leeward of 
 my shattered and straggled charge, as if meaning 
 to attack them,which obliged me to collect a force 
 out of the least injured ships, and form to ]ee- 
 ward for their defence ; all this retarded the pro- 
 gress of the hulks, and the bad weather continu- 
 ing, determined me to destroy all the leewardmpst 
 that could be cleared of the men, considering 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSO>^. 407, 
 
 that keeping possession of the ships was a matter of 
 little consequence compared with the chance of their 
 falling again into the hands of the enemy : but even, 
 this was an arduous task in the high sea which 
 was running. I hope, however, it has been ac- 
 complished to a considerable extent ; I entrusted 
 it to skilful officers, who would spare no pains to 
 execute what was possible. The Captains of 
 the Prince and Neptune cleared the Trinidad, 
 and sunk her. Captains Hope, Baynton, and 
 Malcolm, who joined the fleet this moment from 
 Gibraltar, had the charge of destroying four 
 others. The Redoubtable sunk a-stern of the 
 Swiftsure, while in tow. The Santa Anna I 
 have no doubt is sunk, as her side was almost 
 entirely beat in ; and such is the shattered con- 
 dition of the whole of them, that unless the wea- 
 ther moderates, I doubt whethersi shall be able 
 to carry a ship of them into port *. I hope their 
 
 * Notwithstanding the mcxdesty and apprehensions of his lord- 
 ship, the activity and perseverance of the British officers and 
 seamen enabled them to preserve one French and three Spa- 
 nish ships, of seventy-four guns each ; the Rayo, a Spanish 
 first-rate, one of the squadron, which came a second time out 
 of Cadiz under Admiral Gravina, in the hopes of rescuing 
 some of the prizes from the possession of their captors, was 
 on that occasion dismasted, and fell into the hands of the Bri- 
 tish, but was afterwards unhappily lost ; so that although the 
 Santa Anna, and some other ships, contrived to effect their 
 retreat into Cadiz, notwithstanding their actualsurrender, yet 
 the loss of the enemy in the battle itself, and on the two fol- 
 lowing days, amounted to nineteen ships, none of them mount- 
 
408 MIMOIRS OF 
 
 lordships will approVe of what I (having only in 
 consideration the destruction of the enemy's fleet) 
 have thought a measure of absolute necessity. 
 
 '^ 1 have taken Admiral Villeneuve into this 
 ship ; Vice-Admiral Don Aliva is dead. Whenever 
 the temper of the weather will permit, and I can 
 spare a frigate, (for there were only four in the 
 action with the fleet, Euryalus, Siriu§, Phoebe, 
 and Naiad j the Melpomene joined the iidy and 
 the Eurydice and Scout the 23d), I shall collect 
 the other flag officers, and send them to Eng- 
 land with their flags, (if they do not all go to 
 the bottom), to be laid at his Majesty's feet. 
 
 " There were four thousand troops embarked, 
 under the command of General Contamin, who 
 was taken with Admiral Villeneuve in the Bu- 
 centaure. 
 
 « I am. Sir, Sic. 
 (Signed) '^ C. Collingwood *.'■ 
 
 ing less than 74 guns. To these may be added, as a conse- 
 quence resulting from the same brilliant source, the squadron 
 consisting of one of 80, and three of 74 guns each, taken 
 ><^ith Rear-Admiral Dumanoir, by the squadron under Sir 
 R, Strachan. 
 
 • VICI-APMlRAL tORD COLLINGWOOD 
 
 Was the relative of Commodore Thomas Collingwood, 
 who, after having served with the most distinguished re- 
 futation on the West India station, under the late Vice- 
 Admiral Byron, and Sir George Brydges Rodney, after- 
 wards Lord Rodney, was compelled to return to Englan4 
 for the recovery of his health, but unhappily died at sea^ 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, 409 
 
 Of an event so recent, so great, so unparal- 
 leled, a myriad of anecdotes and circumstances 
 
 when on his passage home, on the 2d of June 1780. The 
 noble Lord, of whom we are speaking, appears to have been, 
 from his earliest years, connected not only in service, but 
 in the closest tics of intimacy, and affection, with the late 
 Lord Viscount Nelson, Numerous, and indeed innumerable 
 are the testimonies rendered by the deceased hero to the 
 abilities, the goodness, the intrinsic worth of the survivor; 
 he constantly named him with the affection, not merely of 
 a friend, but of a l>rother. The intimacy commenced in 
 their earliest youth ; and continued unabated, unalloyed, till 
 the death of one friend left nothing to the survivor, but to 
 mourn unceasingly the loss he had sustained ; aggravated, if 
 possible, by his private feelings, beyond that which the 
 rest of his country were compelled to feel in sorrow, and in 
 silence. After the requisite probation and service in the 
 subordinate capacity of lieutenant, he was appointed to be 
 pommander of the Badger sloop of war ; and singular as it 
 may (je thought, when compar.^d to the subsequent events of 
 |iis life, was the successor of the late Lord Viscount Nelson 
 In the command of that vessel. In the following year, 1780, 
 he was advanced to the rank of post captain, but met with no 
 opportunity of displaying that gallantry, good conduct, and 
 zeal for the service of his country, which has ever been con- 
 spicuous, in every action of his life, where the smallest op- 
 portunity appeared to present itself, of his displaying either, 
 pr all of them. In the encounter of the first of June, 1794. 
 between the British fleet commanded by the late Earl Howe, 
 and that of France, he served as Captain on board the Bar- 
 ^eur, which ship had the honour of bearing the flag of Rear* 
 Admiral Bowyer. Though no ship in the fleet was more ably, 
 pr more bravely conducted, yet the noble commander in chief, 
 p'lther through inattention, or for some reason which has ne- 
 yer yet been publicly explained, omitted to include Captain 
 
410 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 are related, in which truth and fiction, simple 
 fact, and exaggeration, are so intimately inter- 
 
 CaIlin?rwood in the number of those ofScers to whom he re- 
 torned his thank^:, for their conduct en that occasion. AU- 
 though it may be considered by some persons, a nautical trea- 
 »n, to utter a breath of censure on the conduct of Earl Howe, 
 vc cannot withstand the honest^.impulse of our own feelings, 
 which coaipell us to declare, that if such omission was the con- 
 jcquenee Of neglect, it was censurable in the highest degree ; 
 if o-f intention, unpardonable. Earl Howe is no more, may hia 
 failings and his faults perish with him, and those virtues which 
 may still remain in public recollection, survive to all eternity. 
 Jt were needless to enter into any detail" of the gallant and 
 heroic conduct by Captain Collingwood in the encounter 
 viih the Spanish fleet off St. Vincent in the month of February 
 i';97, at which time he commanded the Excellent. Lord 
 Nelson rendered the mo&t noble, and at the same time the 
 most honest tribute of praise, in the private memorandum 
 afforded by him of the observations he made during that en- 
 gagement ; see page 75, et seq. To add any further eulo- 
 gium would be ridiculous and impertinent. On the fourteenth 
 of February 1799, he was promoted to the rank of Rear* 
 Admiral of the v/hite, and not long afterwards hoisted his flag 
 ©n board the Triumph, being appointed to command in the 
 channel fleet, at that time under the orders of Lord Bridport. 
 It may be remembered, that during the latter part of the war, 
 the fleets of France never met those of England on the At^ 
 lantic, consequently no opportunity was afforded, either to 
 the flag officers, or captains employed in that quarter, of par^ 
 ticularly distinguishing them^selves. He continued on board 
 the Triumph till the month of June. 1800, when he removed 
 into the Barfieur, a second rate, and retained his former line 
 of commahd till the conclusion of the war j daring which pe««. 
 riod he was, on tjie first of January 1801, advanced to be 
 Rear-Admiral of the Red. Afcer the recoramcaeemeut of 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 
 
 woven with each other, that it would require 
 almost an age of investigation to separate one 
 from the other. In point of fact, to adopt the 
 emphatic words used by Mr. (now Lord) Col- 
 lingwood, on whom the command devolved, we 
 know, '* that it pleased the Almighty Disposer of all 
 events, to grant his majesty's arms a complete and 
 glorious victory." Let us now bestow a few mo- 
 ments in observing on its extent and its conse- 
 quences. In respect to the former, it stands 
 Unequalled. The memorable victory off Cape 
 la Hogue, by which the asph'ing gigantic power 
 of Levi^is the XlVth was nearly crushed into 
 obscurity, sinks, before the battle of Trafalgar, al- 
 most into a petty skirmish. The fleets of Britain 
 and of Holland more than doubled that of their an- 
 tagonists : the number of the ships destroyed can- 
 not be raised with any degree of truth, or authen- 
 ticity, beyond seventeen sail; several of which were 
 under sixty guns. Such is the real state of the 
 loss sustained by France ; for however it may be 
 
 hostilities with France, he was, on the twenty-third of April, 
 1804., advanced to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue. In 1805, 
 he was invested with the command of the fquadron stationed 
 off Cadiz. His noble conduct in the encounter with the French 
 and Spanish fleets ofF Trafalgar, has already been recompensed 
 by his advancement to a peerage by the title of Baron Colling- 
 wood, and his promotion in the service to Vice- Admiral of the 
 Red «quadron. France and Spain must long lament the effects 
 of his gallantry, and we trust as well as hope, that his coun« 
 jrymen v>^iii ever have sufficient gratitude not to forgQt them. 
 
412 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 extended in some of the manuscript journals *, 
 which have been preserved to the present day, it 
 appears from the strongest concurrent testimonies, 
 those accounts cannot, in the smallest degree, be 
 depended upon. In the battle of Trafalgar, the 
 fleet of Britain had to contend, not only with 
 ships in the most perfect state of equipment, on 
 the very instant of their issuing from their own 
 ports, but also against a superiority of no less 
 than six ships of the line ; yet against these 
 mighty odds, the transcendant abilities of his 
 lordship, and the bravery of those whom he com-? 
 manded, acquired a victory, which would pro* 
 bably have extended much farther than it really 
 did, had not the elements themselves risen, as it 
 were in opposition to the mighty conquerors. 
 
 It is related, and certainly is ^ circumstance 
 highly interesting, that the instant the French 
 admiral observed the manner in which the British 
 fleet was formed, together with its manner of ad- 
 vancing, he hesitated not to express his appre- 
 hensions of the approaching discomfiture : he 
 foresaw that a stroke, which he was unprepared 
 for, was meditated against him -, and he knew him- 
 self unable to parry its effects. When Vice-ad- 
 miral Colhngwood, at the head of the division 
 under his orders, began the attack, and broke 
 through the French line, Lord Nelson, turning 
 
 ♦ See Biographia Navalis, Vol. I, page j|6i« 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 413 
 
 round with the highest exultation and joy, said, 
 *' Look at that noble fellow ! observe the style 
 in which he carries his ship into action !" Such 
 an eulogiuiii, and from such a man, surpasses 
 in value the most laboured panegyric. 
 
 In respect to the consequences of the victory, 
 it may perhaps be difficult to appreciate them to 
 iheir full, or proper value. Had the ruined 
 armament effected its passage into the Mediter- 
 ranean in safety, it is impossible to calculate the 
 extent of the advantage that might have accrued 
 to the enemy. The increased distance of its 
 station would not ofily materially have aug- 
 mented the difficulties under which his lordship, 
 or any other commander who had been employed 
 in watching its motions, viould have lain, but the 
 accumulation of force it would have acquired, by 
 the junction of such ships as had long been pre- 
 paring and were ready for sea, at Carthagena, to- 
 gether with those belonging to France left behind 
 at Toulon, would have required a considerable 
 reinforcement of ships, the necessity of which, 
 even the gallantry and ability of his lordship 
 could not have obviated. 
 
 But, amidst all these cheering events, the death 
 of his lordship intercepted the rays of conquest, 
 and threw a cloud over the w^hole transaction, 
 which prevented the eyes of his countrymen 
 from contemplating otherwise than with sorrow 
 and regret, honours and triumphs which had 
 
414 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 been purchased at so inestimable a price. It has 
 been a remark, too obvious indeed was it for to 
 be neglected, that his lordship fell, like the im- 
 mortal Wolfe, in the arms of victory herself. 
 There was indeed the closest similarity, not only 
 between their fates, but in their habits and their 
 tempers. It would be improper to relate the se- 
 veral circumstances which are reported to-have 
 been connected with it, on account of the diffi- 
 culty that must, as already observed, attend ascer- 
 taining the authenticity of them. Those which ap- 
 pear best entitled to public notice and attention, 
 are given in the Gibraltar Chronicle of the 2d and 
 9th of November last, and reprinted in the Naval 
 Chronicle, Vol, XIV, pages 455, 484. 
 
 Extract from the Gihr altar Chronicle of November the 9th, 
 
 '^ It appears, from every account which has been receired 
 from the Spanish officers, who have been taken prisoners, 
 that Admiral Villencuve certainly sailed from Cadiz with a 
 determination of giving battle to the English fleet. There 
 is, howcTer, the strongest reason to- believe, that this mea- 
 sure was contrary both to the views and instructions of 
 Buonaparte, whose intentions were, that the combined fleet 
 should proceed from Cadiz to Toulon, forming a junction 
 with the Carthagena squadron in their way, that he might, 
 by these means, hare the greatest part ol" the'Spanish navy in 
 a French port, and immediately in his power, m case any 
 reverse of fortune might tempt the Spanish government 
 to seize a favourable opportunity to throw off the galling 
 yoke he has imposed upon it. But VlUeneuve seems io have 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 415 
 
 been impelled by motives of personal resentment, and wound- 
 ed honour, to act in opposition to the wishes of his master. 
 He had becir deeply stung by a severe remark in the Moni- 
 teur, upon what the conduct of the French fleet would be, if 
 commanded by a man of abilittes ; the Spaniards had also 
 openly upbraided him with not supporting them in the action 
 ©ff Cape Finisterre ; Buonaparte^ he likcv. ise knew, had 
 |)ublicly spoken of him in the most sarcastic manner ; and to 
 complete his misfortunes, he had received private int^li- 
 gence, that Admiral Rosily was ordered from Paris to super- 
 sede him in the command of the combined iieets at Cadiz. 
 Under such circumstances, he naturally felt, that even a 
 defeat could add but little to his disgrace ; whilst, on the 
 contrary, a victory over a British fleet, commanded by the 
 •first Hero of the age,'wonld wipe ofl" every supposed stain on 
 his character, and cover him with immortal honour. Thuf 
 situated, he resolved to put to sea before Admiral Rosily 
 could arrive, 'in spite of every remonstrance of Admiral 
 Gravina and other Spaiiisli officers of rank, who vainly- 
 attempted to dissuade him from his design of giving battle 
 to the British fleet, which they foresaw would be attended 
 with the most disastrous consequences. Yilleneuve, how- 
 ever, was immovable ; and the intelligence he had received 
 of Admiral Louis, and six sail of the line, being then absent 
 from the fleet, induced him to believe that I^rd Nelson had 
 only twenty-one sail of the line along with him, as he wag 
 ignorant of the reinforcement which had arrived from Eng- 
 land, owing to the great distance at which the British fleet 
 kept from Cadiz. On this supposition, Vitleneuve's original 
 disposition of his fleet is generally allowed to have bean 
 extrcinely judicious — Twenty-one of his ships were to be 
 drawn up in the usual line of battle, to receive the first attack 
 of the British fleet, whilst twelve of his select ships, forming 
 z body of reserve to windward^ were to bear down, and to 
 
416 Memoirs of 
 
 double upon the British line, after the action had coraihencedj 
 and thus to place it between two fires. Every other precau- 
 tion was also taken that was thought most likely to ensure 
 success. Ten thousand of their choicest troops were distri- 
 buted throughout the fleet ; the French ships were furnished 
 with every species of fire-balls and combustibles to throw on 
 board the English ships, in hopes of being able either to burn 
 them, or to produce such confusion as might greatly facilitate 
 their design of boarding, where an opportunity oflered ; and 
 several of the ships were repeatedly set on fire, and many 
 ©four seamen were dreadfully scorched, from this unusual 
 mode of warfare. British skill and intrepidity were, how- 
 ever, completely triumphant over every obstacle that was 
 opposed to them : and notwitlisto.ndiug the enemy in gene- 
 ral, and particularly the Spaniards, fought with great obsti- 
 nacy, it is the opinion of the ablest officers in the fleet, that 
 had there been a little more Avind during the action, to have 
 enabled the rear of our fleet to have come up in proper time^ 
 hardly a ship of the enemy would have escaped. 
 
 *' The French Admiral, on seeing our fleet so much 
 •tronger that he expected, abandoned his original plan, and 
 formed the whole of his ships into one line, firmly waiting 
 the attack of the British, which was conducted in a manner 
 so bold and unexpected, as to throw them into the greatest 
 confusion. The Royal Sovereign, Yice-xidmiral Colling- 
 wood, in particular, which first broke through the enemy's 
 line, excited the general admiration of both fleets. 
 
 '^ The bravery of our seamen has neyer been doubted ; 
 but the uncommon success and marked superiority which 
 they displayed over the enemy on this glorious day, are 
 chiefly to be attributed to that cool intrepidity and discipline 
 which prevailed throughout the fleet in a high degree : a very 
 remarkable prpof of which is, that we hate not heard of any 
 one accident having happened on board any of our ships, 
 
I 
 
 LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 4l7 
 
 ffom hurry or carelessness, during the whole of the engage* 
 ment. 
 
 '* We do not recollect a^y general action, where so many 
 of our ships ran on board those of the enemy ; no less than 
 five of the French captured ships were engaged so closely^ 
 that the muzzles of our lower-deck guns touched tho^e of the 
 enemy ; and it is worthy of remark, that in every instance 
 where tliis occnrVed, the Frenchmen immediately lowered 
 their ports and deserted their guns on that deck, whilst our 
 seamen, on the contrary, were deliberately loading and firing 
 their guns with two, and often with three round shot, which 
 soon reduced the enemy's ships to a perfect wreck. 
 
 " The dreadful slaughter on board, and the shattered con- 
 dition of all the captured ships, whilst it shows with what ob- 
 stinacy the enemy in general fought, is a convincing proof of 
 the decided superiority our seamen possess over the enemy in 
 close action. 
 
 *' It seems to be generally allowed, that the French fired 
 with more vivacity at the commencement of the action than' 
 the Spaniards ; but that the Spaniards showed more firmhess 
 and courage to the end than the French. Amongst the Spa- 
 nish ships, the Argonauta and Bahama were defended to the 
 last extremity, each of them having about 400 men killed or 
 wounded. The San Juan Nupomucena was also fought with 
 the utmost gallantry, till her Captain and 360 of her crew 
 were killed or wounded. 
 
 " The Prince d'Asturias and Santa Anna both likewise 
 showed great bravery in the action. 
 
 " However disastrous this victory may have proved to the 
 Spanish navy, the national character of that country has 
 risen greatly in our estimation even by their defeat. As 
 enemies, though vanquished, their gallantry commands the 
 highest respect ; and thfe humanity with which every English 
 sailor^ that fell into their hands, was treated, exceed* all 
 E E 
 
418 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 praise. They refused to consider as prisoners of war such 
 of our officers and men as were driven on their coast in the 
 captured ships by the violence of the storm ; erery exertion 
 was made from the shore to save their lives, and the Spanish 
 soldiers were turned out of their beds to accommodate our 
 shipwrecked seamen, who experienced every mark of kind,i 
 ness and attention that a generous enemy could bestow. 
 
 '^ The behaviour of the French, on the contrary, in 
 several instances, both during and after the engagement, 
 forms so melancholy a contrast to the bravery and humanitj 
 of the Spaniards, that, as we have felt it our duty to render 
 Tne latter that applause, which their conduct so truly entitles 
 them to, we think it equally an act of justice to record, with 
 impartiality, the baseness of the French, both to their allies 
 and foes, 
 
 ** It has been stated as an extraordinary, and almost incre- 
 dible, fact, that three French ships, under a rear-admiral, 
 who had no share in the action, did, in their flight, fire for 
 some time upon the Santissima Trinidada, and others of the 
 Spanish prizes, after they had struck their cplours to the 
 English. We now find, from the concurring testimony of 
 seTcraJ Spanish officers of rank, who were on board the 
 ships to which we have alluded, that Rear-Admiral Duma- 
 noir was the person who led on his division to the perpetra- 
 tion of this bloody deed, so worthy the days of Robespierre, 
 by which several hundreds of the Spaniards were killed and 
 wounded. 
 
 *' We believe that Bumanoir, (whose fate is as yet, how- 
 ever, uncertain,) is the only French Admiral that can have 
 escaped to tell the tidings of that fatal day ; and we have no 
 doubt but that, in his relation of the battle, of which he pru- 
 dently chose to be a distant spectator, he will enlarge with 
 peculiar satisfaction on the uncoramon exertions, which ho 
 undoubtedly made, to sink or destroy the Spanish ships after 
 
 tlc} had bum^idcrtd to the Fnglibh. 
 
LOkD VISCOUNT melson. 419 
 
 ^^ We have already stated, that all the English sailors, on 
 board of the Spanish prizes, which fell into the hands of (he 
 Spaniards, were treated with the utmost humanity, and not 
 considered as prisoners. How widely different the conduct 
 of the French was, the following will show :^— 
 
 *' On the surrender of the Bucentaure, an officer and a 
 hundred men were sent to take possession of her, who con- 
 ducted themselves with that moderation and forbearance to a 
 vanquished enemy which is characteristic of Britons. The 
 violent storm, which so soon followed the engagement, pre- 
 vented the removal of the prisoners, and drove the Bucentaure 
 towards Cadiz, when the Frenchmen, from their superior 
 numbers, were easily enabled to take possession of the ship 
 and carry her into the harbour, Where, however, she was 
 stranded, and completely wrecked. The drew, and the 
 party of Englishmen, were taken off the wreck by the boats 
 of one of the French frigates in the harbour, and carried on 
 bolrd of the vessel, where, will it be believed ? the infamous 
 and cowardly crew of the frigate^ when they saw some of iht 
 gallant conquerors of their admiral and his fleet completely 
 in their power, unarmed, and exhausted with fatigue and 
 shipwreck, and incapable of resistance^ in this situation, did 
 these dastardly Frenchmen, in revenge for the defeat they 
 had sustained, assault and treat with the utmost cruelty, and 
 with every species of insult and inhumanity, manj^ of the un- 
 fortunate and defenceless English prisoners, whom the fury 
 of the elements, and not the fate of battle, had thus sub* 
 jected to their power. 
 
 " We sincerely hope that the officers and ci*eW of the fri- 
 gate, who allowed or committed this detestable act, will not 
 escape with impunity ; in the mean time it gives us real satis- 
 faction to find, that orders are given, that no more of the 
 French prisoners, now in our possession, shall be permitted 
 to return to Spain upon their parole^ but they art to be wnt 
 to England by the first opportunity. 
 £ £ 2 
 
4^0 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 '' All the^panish prisoners, on the contrary, who hare 
 ■been brought to this place, to the amount of upwards of three 
 thousand, have been sent back to Spain, except one wounded 
 officer, now in the Naval Hospital, who earnestly requested, 
 to be allowed to remain under tlie care of the English sur- 
 geon,s, till his wounds were cured *. 
 
 . " We have also the pleasure to learn, that the Spaniards, 
 since their return to Spain, have universally expressed the 
 liveliest sense of gratitude for the generosity and humanity 
 they invariably experienced whilst they were prisoners on 
 board of the difterent English men of war, where it seemed to 
 be the study of their conquerors to make them forget their 
 misfortunes. 
 
 "■ Indeed, our navy will deserve this tribute of applause 
 from their enemies ; upwards of a hundred of our gallant 
 seamen have perished, du,ring the gale of w ind after the 
 action, in their generous efforts to save the prisoners out of 
 the different prizes. To record the numerous and singular 
 exertions that were made on this occasion, by all the ships of 
 the fleet, v/ould for exceed the limits prescribed to us ; we 
 cannot, however, pass over in silence the heroic conduct of 
 Captain ]^Ialcolm, and his ship's company, in the Donnegal, 
 «ho, at the imminent hazard of being totally lost, rescued 
 hundreds of the enemy from a watery grate. 
 . *' Two instances of the noble humanity, shown by this 
 ship, we shall mention : — During the violence of the gale> 
 .when she was riding at anchor near tl>e Berwick, then in 
 possession of the English, some of the French prisoners, on 
 board of the prize, in a fit of madness, or desperation, cut 
 the cables of the Berwick, by which means she immediately 
 
 * It is proper to acknowledge here, that General Cas- 
 tanos, commander in chief of the camp before the garrison, 
 and M. Abadia, Spanish agent for the exchange of prisoners, 
 have omitt(5(l no exertion of theirs to facilitate the generoua 
 intentions of the Englisl^ admiral. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT KELSON. 421 
 
 drove towards the dangerous shoals of St. Lutar, then toiee. 
 Tfard, where there was hardly a chance of a man being saved' 
 In this situation, Captain Malcolm, Mithout hesitation, 
 ordered the cables of the Donnegal to be iqstaiitly cut, arfd 
 stood after the Berwick, to which he dispatched his boats 
 with orders first to save all the wounded Frenchmen, before 
 they brought off any of the English, which order was most 
 punctually complied with ; the English were next remove^, 
 but, before th^ boats could return, theBerwick struck upon 
 the shoals, and every soul on board perished, to the number 
 of three hundred. 
 
 ^' The wounded Frenchmen, who were thus saved, were 
 supplied with th'e cots and bedding which had been prepared 
 for our own sick and w ounded ; and, after being treated 
 with every kindness and mark of attention, they wer« sent 
 into Cadiz by a flag of truce, with all the cots and bedding 
 in which they had been placed, that they might suffer as little 
 pain or inconvenience as possible in their removal. 
 
 '^ The other instance we shall notice was as follows :-^ 
 On the 26th of October, whilst the Donnegal was at anchor 
 off Cadiz, in a violent gale of wind, with upwards of 600 
 prisoners then on deck, an unfortunate Spanish prisoner fell 
 overheard. Notwithstanding the sea was then running so 
 high that they had not ventured to hoist out a boat for twelve 
 hours before, two seamen belonging to the Donnegal imme* 
 diately jumped overboard after him, in hopes of saving his 
 life, to the admiration of the Spaniards, who were lost 
 in astonishment at so daring an act. The poor man, how- 
 ever, sunk, and was drowned, just as one of the English 
 teamen had nearly hold of him; a boat was immediately 
 lowered, and fortunately the two gallant fellows were got on 
 board safe. 
 
 ^' The English officers who have returned from Cadiz, 
 state, that the account of Lord Nelson's death was received 
 
422 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 there with extreme sorrow and regret by the Spaniards, and 
 that some of them were even observed to shed tears on the 
 occasion. They said, <^ that though he had been the ruin of 
 their navy, yet they could not help lamenting his fall, as 
 being the most generous enemj/, and the greatest Commander 
 of the age !" 
 
 Extracts from the Supplement to the Gibraltar Chronicle 
 for Nov. 2, X805. 
 
 ^' We have endeavoured, since the arrival of the Victory, the 
 ship on board of which Lord Nelson's flag was flying during 
 the whole of the late action, to obtain every information in 
 Our power on the subject. It was his lordship's intention 
 to have broken through the enemy's line, between the tenth 
 and eleventh of the enemy's ships in the van ; at the same 
 time that Admiral Collingwood penetrated their line about 
 the twelfth ship from the rear : but finding the enemy's line 
 in that part so close, that there was not room to pass, he 
 ordered the Victory to be run on board of the ship that op- 
 posed him ; and the Temerairc, by which the Victory was 
 seconded, also ran on board of the next ship in the enemy's 
 line, so that these four ships were for a considerable time en., 
 gaged together in one mass as it were, and so close, that 
 the flash of almost every gun fired from the Victory set fire 
 to the Redoubtable, to which ship she was at thz^t time op- 
 posed ; whilst our seamen, with the greatest coolness, were 
 at intervals employed, in the midst of the hottest fire, in 
 throwing buckets of water to extinguish the flames on board 
 of the enemy's ship, lest, by their spreading, they might 
 involve both ships in destruction. We question if ancient 
 or modern history can prpduce a more striking instance 
 of cool and deliberate valour ; and it certainly reflects thp 
 highest honopr upon the disciplijic anil intrepidity of that 
 ship's crew. 
 
LORD VISCOUNT ,NELSON. 423. 
 
 ^' Lord Nelson, on recciying his wound, was immediately 
 sensible it was mortal; and said with a smile to Captain 
 Hardy, with whom he had been talking at that moment, 
 *' they have dune for me at last.''^ He was soon obliged to 
 be carried off the deck; and as they were conducting him be- 
 low, he remarked the tiller-rope being too slack, which he 
 desired them to acquaint Captain Hardy with, and have it 
 tightened. His anxiety for the eycnt of the day was such, 
 as totally to surmount the pains of death, and erery other 
 consideration; he repeatedly sent to incjuire how the battle 
 went, and expressed the most lirely satisfaction to find it fa- 
 vourable. Whilst bearing down on the enemy's line, he had 
 repeatedly said, '' that it zcas the happiest daj/ of his life, 
 and that from the plan of attack he had laid dozcn^ he ex- 
 pected that he should have possession of iicenty of their 
 Ships before 7iight,'* His lower extremities soon became 
 cold and insensible, and the effusion of blood from his lungs 
 often threatened suffocation: but^till his eyes seemed to 
 brighten, and his spirits to revive, at hearing the cheers 
 given by the crew of the Victory, as the different ships of 
 the enemy surrendered. About four o'clock he became ex- 
 ceedingly anxious jto see his friend Captain Hardy ; and lui 
 sent for him several times, before that gallant Olficcr thought 
 it prudent to quit the deck at so interesting a moment. About 
 five o'clock, however, when he saw that the victory was 
 completely decided, and the battle nearly ended, he was 
 enabled to attend to the last wishes of the dying hero, who 
 eagerly inquired how many ships were captured? On being 
 told by Captain Hardy, that he was certain of twelve ha\ ing 
 struck, which he could see, but that probably more had 
 surrendered, his Lordship said, " What, only twelve! there 
 should at least have been fifteen, or sixteen, by my calcula- 
 tion: however, (after a short pause, he adde 1), twelve are 
 pretty well!" He now said, " that he f It death fast ap- 
 
4^ MiMOIRS OF 
 
 proaching, and that he had but a few minutes to live : lie 
 could have wished to survive a little longer, to have seen 
 the fleet in safety ; but, as that was impossible, he thanked 
 God that he had outlived the action, and had been enabled 
 to do his duty to his country." About this time he was 
 roused by another cheer from the crew of the Victory, at 
 their seeing some more of the enemy's ships strike their 
 colours ; at which he expressed the highest satisfaction on 
 learning the cause, and shortly after expired without a groan. 
 The Frenchman by whose hand this matchless hero fell, was 
 soon afterwards shot by Mr. Pollard, Midshipman of the 
 Victory, and was seen to fall out of the mizen-top. 
 
 '' It was his lordship's intention to have engaged the Bu- 
 Centaure, the French commander in chiefs ship, at first, if 
 "he could have distinguished her: but singular as it may ap» 
 pear, no person on board could discover the French ad- 
 miral's flag to be flying during the whole of the day ; though 
 the Victory was for a considerable time within pistol-shot 
 of her, and handled her so severely, as to render her inca- 
 pable of taking any share in the engagement afterwards. 
 
 '' Three of the French ships in the van, who had no part 
 in the action, and one of which carried a Rear-admiral's 
 fiag, had the inhumanity, and cowardice, as they were 
 making their escape, to fire for a considerable time upon 
 the Santissima Trinidada, and several others of the crippled 
 Spanish prizes, after they had surrendered to us, which, from 
 their situation, were incapable either of opposition or flight, 
 and an immense number of the Spanish were killed and 
 wounded, from this unprecedented and bloody deed of their 
 good 2iTidfailhful allies. We solemnly pledge our credit for 
 the truth of this extraordinary fact, to which every officer 
 on board of our victorious squadron now in the bay can bear 
 witness. Indeed such was the indignation felt and expressed 
 by the Spaniards, at the conduct of the French ; that when, 
 
LORD VISCOUNT KELSON. 425 
 
 two days after the action, seven of the enemy's ships came 
 out of Cadiz, in hopes of retaking some of the disabled 
 prizes, the Spanish crew of the Argonauta, in a body offered 
 their services to the British officer who had charge of tho 
 prize, to man the guns against any of the French ships ; and 
 they were actually stationed at the lower-deck gniis for that 
 purpose, whilst the English seamen manned those of the up- 
 per deck. The Englisli officer on boajrd returned all tlic 
 Spanish officers their arms, and placed the most implicit cori- 
 iidence in the honour of the Spaniards ; which he had no rea- 
 son to repent : for though their numbers were so superior, 
 as easily to have enabled them to retake the ship, yet they 
 on every occasion showed the utmost submission and good 
 conduct, and declared, that if a Spanish ship came alongside 
 of them, they would quietly go* below and leave th» English 
 to act for themselves.— His Majesty's ship Prince, of Vb 
 guns, Captain Grindall, is come in. here, having on boarrf 
 Rear- Admiral Don Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, with the 
 Captain and 500 men belonging to the Santissima Trinidada. 
 Also the Revenge, of 74 guns, Captain Moorson; Aga- 
 memnon, 64, Captain Sir E. Berry ; Thunderer, 74, Lieu- 
 tenant Stockam; Bellerophon, 74, Lieutenant Cun^by ; 
 Colossus, 74, Captain Morrice ; and Victory, 100, Captain 
 Hardy, on board of which is the body of Lord Nelson. Abo 
 just arrived his Majesty's ships Conqueror, 74, Temeraii'€, 
 98, Royal Sovereign, 100, Defence, 74, Orion, 74, and 
 Phcebe frigate, with two pf the prizes, the French Swiftsurf j 
 74, and Rdefonso, 74. 
 
 " Though it is highly honourable to the bravery of tht^ 
 ^anish nation, we most sincerely regret to find, that the loss 
 both in sMps aud men on this occasion has chiefly fallen upon 
 them; they were unwillingly dragged into the contest by 
 their good and faithful allies the French ; who were, as 
 usual, the first to fly, and desert them in tlie middle of tht' 
 
At6 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 action; it appearing from every account that four of the 
 French ships were seen running away, about two hours 
 and an half after the battle had began." 
 
 In respect to what immediately preceded the 
 horrid event, which the trembling pen of his- 
 tory almost feels itself unequal to the melancholy 
 task of recording, it appears, that immediately 
 previous to the dreadful shot being fired, which 
 deprived his country of its brightest ornament, his 
 lordship was standing on the quarter deck of the 
 Victory, moving, as was his custom, whenever he 
 was much pleased, the shoulder, or rather sleeve of 
 his right arm, up and down with the greatest ra- 
 pidity, but having unfortunately remained too 
 long in the same posture and situation, he afforded 
 sufficient time to a marksman on the poop of 
 the Bucentaure, which then lay on the Victo- 
 ry's quarter, to take a deliberate, and unhappily 
 too correct an aim at him. Captain Hardy, 
 who was standing near his lordship, observed 
 him in the very act, and had hardly time to 
 exclaim, " Change your position, my Lord ! 1 see a 
 rascal taking aim at you,'* the fatal shot unhappily 
 took place at the same instant. 
 
 I COME TO BURY CJESAIl, KOT TO PRAISE HI 
 
 M, 
 
 For he possessed all the nobleness conspicuous 
 in Caesar's character, those lineaments only wh ch 
 destroyed the perfection of its symraetry, being 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 42/ 
 
 wanting. It m'ght be truly said of him, this Was 
 A mAn. He sought not to raise himself on the 
 stilts of popularity, by assuming a temporary 
 patriotism, foreign to the feelings of his heart ; 
 or pretending to qualifications, which, when in 
 reality possessed, serve only to degrade the mind, 
 in other respects great, and noble. That he was 
 ambitious, no person acquainted with his cha- 
 racter will venture to deny ; but his ambition 
 was of the mildest quality, and nourished only 
 by the reflection, of its becoming serviceable to 
 his country. Venerated with a degree of en- 
 thusiasm, nearly equal to idolatry, he disdained 
 to render that advantage, so much envied by 
 many, but which he had so honestly acquired, 
 subservient to the cause of faction, or the clamour 
 of party. His ambition, let the term be repeated, 
 would have induced him to undertal^e the most 
 dangerous, and desperate service, if he thought 
 his abilities could be useful. Had he considered 
 the interests of his country demanded it, he 
 would, even at the latest moment of his life, have 
 acted with pleasure in the most subordinate capa- 
 city, or exulted in taking upon himself the danger, 
 and the responsibility, of commanding half the 
 naval force of the universe. 
 
 As a naval officer, in whatever rank, or com- 
 mand he appeared, he was greeted by the 
 acclamations, and foUpw^ed by the reiterated ap- 
 
428 MEMOIRS OT 
 
 plauses of those he was sent to protect. The 
 shores of the Mediterranean hailed him as the^r 
 friend ; and the most valuable colonies of Britain, 
 as their deliverer. Benevolent, humane, and 
 gentle, even in the hour of conquest, the terrors 
 of his arms ceased on the same moment with 
 resistance; the foe became instantly converted 
 into the guardian, and instead of being followed 
 by the curses, he was blessed in the prayers of 
 the vanquished. 
 
 It could scarcely be denominated his good 
 fortune, that although a conqueror, he uniformly 
 escaped the charge of having encouraged ex- 
 tortion, or connived at plunder, and thereby 
 alienated the affections of the newly-acquired 
 subjects of the British government. Such ideas 
 were foreign to his soul ; and his captives, freed 
 from their imaginary chains, constantly beheld 
 their victor converted into their parent, and friend. 
 
 Of the commerce, and true interests of his 
 country, he formed the most correct ideas ; he 
 was aw^re, that independent of all speculative 
 opinions, and abstracted from the wild, the ro- 
 mantic effusions of a distempered, and splenetic 
 party, the commerce of Britain had become so 
 intimately connected with its welfare^ that the 
 interruption of one, must inevitably cause ^the 
 destruction of the other. Impressed with this 
 truth, his exertions were so actively, and unre- 
 
LORD VISCOUNT NELSON. 4^9 
 
 mittlngly made, that he may be said, at the same 
 time, to have increased the commercial wealth, 
 while he advanced the naval glory of his country. 
 
 But come — no time's for lamentation now; 
 
 ' Samson hath quit himself. 
 
 Like Samson, and, heroically, hath fmish'd 
 
 A life heroic ; to his enemies 
 
 Hath left years of mourning 
 
 And lamentation : to Israel 
 
 Honour hath left, and freedom : 
 
 To himself, and father*^ house, eternal fame. 
 
 Samson's Aoonistes^ 
 
 FIKIS, 
 
 rt>l'CE GOi.J>, PRIN'jf.R. *HOr.-L„N- 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 WRITTEN BY 
 
 LORD riSCOUNT NELSON, 
 
 ILLUSTRATIYB OF VARIOUS EVENTS RELATED IN T^fLZ 
 MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE. 
 
 I 
 
Of all evidence whatever, there is none perhaps more 
 interefting, or fatisfadory, than that which is colIe£led 
 from letters, written immediately fubfequent to the event 
 they record ; they become particularly fo, when pro- 
 ceeding from the pen of a man, who never fuppofed, or 
 expeded they would meet the public eye; fuch is the 
 hurry and carelelTnefs, which the generality of the world 
 accuftom themfelves to, in epiftolary correfpondence, that 
 there are perhaps but few inftances, where the publication 
 of fuch documents, would refle6l material honour on the 
 writer. This, however, is by no means the cafe, in refpe£l 
 to Lord Vifcount Nelfon ; fo general, and fo unafFedcd 
 a fpirit of piety, benevolence, philanthropy, perfever- 
 ance, loyalty to his fovereign, and love for the true in- 
 terefts of his country, pervades every line, that to with- 
 hold them from the infpedion of the world, would be 
 an a(Sl not of ingratitude, but of injuftice. 
 
 Let mankind read the letters, and judge for themfelves : 
 whether, in the detail of the virtues attributed to the 
 noble vrriter, the fmallefl trace is difcernible, either of 
 flattery, or exaggeration. 
 
 N. B. Thefe letters, without exception, were addrefled 
 by Lord Nelfon, toWilliam Locker, Efq. late Lieutenant- 
 governor of Greenwich Hofpital. 
 
 S, GosNBLi., Prjatcr, Little Queen Street. 
 
ORIGINAL LETTERS. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Page 27. — On the follGWing day he received a commiffion as 
 fecond lieutenant of the Lowejioffe. 
 
 ' Lowejicffey at Sea, 
 
 MY MOST WORTHY FRIEND, Jug» 12, 1777. 
 
 I AM exceedingly obliged to you for the good 
 opinion you entertain of me, and will do my utmoft that 
 you may have no occafion to change it. I hope God 
 Almighty will be pleafed to fpare your life, for your 
 own fake, and that of your family ; but fhould any 
 thing happen to you (which I fincerely pray to God may 
 not), you may be aflTured that nothing fhall be wanting 
 on my part, for the taking care of your efFe£is, and de- 
 livering (afe to Mrs. Locker fuch of them, as may be 
 thought proper not to be difpofed of. You mentioned 
 the word " confolation" in your letter — I fhall have a 
 very great one, when I think I liave ferved faithfully the 
 bed of friends, and the moft amiable of women. 
 
 All the fervices I can render to your family, you may 
 be afiurcd fhall be done, and Ihall never end but with 
 my life ; and may God Almighty of his great goodnefs 
 keep, blefs, and preferve you and your family, is the 
 moft fervent prayer of your faithful fervant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson 
 
 P. S» Though this letter is not couched in the befl 
 manner, be afTured it comes from one entirely devoted to' 
 your fervice. H. N. 
 
 [It is necdlefs to add, that this letter v^^as written in confe- 
 quence of Captain Locker's extreme ill health, a circumltance 
 
4: AFPEKDIX. 
 
 which at length compelled him to leave the Jamaica ftation, atnd 
 return to England for his recovery two years afterwards : the fore- 
 going letter fpeaks for itfelf; it needs neither comment, nor 
 praife.J 
 
 No. II. 
 
 Page 35. — He was aftervuardi pr ornate d to the Badger fioop 
 
 cf war. 
 
 DEAR SIR, Badger f May 13, 1 779. 
 
 I AM very forry I made you fo uneafy about 
 the men that were preiTed from the Amity Hall ; but I 
 will relate the ftory in particular for Mr. Taylor's fa- 
 tisfa£lion, whom I ihould be very forry to difoblige, not 
 only becaufe he has been fo exceedingly civil to me, but 
 alfo upon your account. 
 
 When I firft faw the (hips in Port Antonio, I took 
 them for part of the Cork fleet, and fent the boat for 
 men, with orders not to prefs from homeward-bound 
 Ihips ; they went on board two, and did not meddle with 
 their people ; but as there were thirty-five men on 
 board the Amity Hall, they were tempted to bring away 
 five ; I was not pleafed when they came on board, and I 
 returned into port on purpofe to releafe them, for I en- 
 tertained not a thought of detaining any one of them ; 
 the mafter came on board, and aded in a moft imperti- 
 nent manner. In very abuflve language he told me he 
 Ihould take the law. See. I cannot fay but I was rather 
 warm at being talked to in fuch a manner ; however, I 
 immediately returned two men and a neutral, but told 
 him I ihould keep the other two, on account of his im- 
 pertinent behaviour. (This is the whole of the matter.) 
 
APPENDIX, 5 
 
 If- you tell the ftory, I beg you will mention, that the 
 mafter forgot to advertife he had on board two deferters 
 from the Badger. 
 
 The mafter is juft coming on board^ fo I muft flop a 
 little. He is juft gone, and I never was more furprifed 
 than at his denying the advertifement, and faying that 
 feveral circumfiances were not fuch as he had written 
 about, either in regard to the number, or, that it pre- 
 vented his proceeding with the convoy ; he fays he wrote 
 to a gentleman in Kingfton his account of the affair, 
 and begged he would get his men rcleafed, or take fuch 
 methods as might preferve him from blame, if he did 
 not fail; he tells me he never defired the bufmefs to be 
 advTsrtifed, he has begged my pardon for his behaviour 
 on that day, and we are parted very good friends 
 (though I believe all he told me is falfe) ; however, it will 
 convince people what fort of man he is. I have now com- 
 pleted our water, and (hall fail in the morning. 1 intend 
 going cfF the eaftern end, to fee if the report of the four- 
 teen-gnn brig be true. 
 
 Since I wrote laft I have loft a very fine brig, which 
 we chafed twenty leagues to leeward of the ifland, and loft 
 I am fure, for want of a night-glafs. I intend to come 
 in again on Tuefday to fave poft if pollible, but for fear 
 I Ihould not, I leave this here. I fee you are quite deter- 
 mined about going home, and in all probability may 
 fail before you can hear from me again ; but 1 fhall 
 always write to you in England. I hope you will have 
 a good voyage, and find Mrs. Locker, together with all 
 your family, in good health : I hope you will foon re- 
 cover when you get home. The friendlhip you have 
 fhewn me I fhall never forget ; and though I lofe my 
 beft friend by your going, I would not have you ftav a 
 
 ^3 
 
O APPENDIX. 
 
 day longer in this country. I am^ very forry indeed 
 Captain Deane is ill ; I beg you \7ill give him my bed 
 wifhes for his fpeedy recovery. May health and happinefs 
 attend you is the fincere wi(h of your 
 
 Much obliged and faithful fervant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 I am afraid the admiral has got the wrong end of the 
 flory about the men; if you think proper, mention it ; I 
 beg you will return Mr. Taylor my fincere thanks, for 
 the kind part he has taken in this affair. 
 
 No. III. 
 
 Page 35. — His prefence of mind prejerved from deflru^ion 
 Captain Lloyd, and all the crew of the Glafgow, a twenty- 
 gun jhip^ commanded by that gentlefnan, which had un-t 
 fortunately taken fire, 
 
 PEAR SIR, Badger, off St, Ann's, June 7, 1779. 
 
 I SUPPOSE before this you have heard of the 
 fate of the poor Glafgow ; indeed it was a moft fhocking 
 iight ; and had it happened half an hour later, in all 
 probability a great many people would have been loft : 
 flie anchored at half paft three, and at fix fhe was in 
 flames, owing to the fteward attempting to fteal rum out 
 of the after-hold. Captain Lloyd is very melancholy 
 indeed on the occafion, and I fincerely wi{h I was at 
 Port Royal for his fake, and that of the fhip's company, 
 for the men are falling fick very faft, owing to the con- 
 , flant rains we have experienced fince we left Montego 
 Bay ; for we have no place on board the Badger to fhelter 
 fuch a number of men. I fuppofe 1 have letters at Port 
 Antonio from you, but I have not been there thefe three 
 
APPENDIX. ^ 
 
 polls ; and am much afraid I fliall be obliged to go round 
 the weft end, and attempt the fouth fide, the current 
 having fet us nine leagues to leeward thefe laft twenty- 
 four hours, although we have had favourable winds : for 
 I have heard of no packets arriving, and hope to fee you 
 at Port Royal. 
 
 I beg you will remember me very kindly to Mr. Rofs, 
 and Captain Deane, who I hope is recovered. May 
 health and happinefs attend you_, is the real fincere wifli 
 of 
 
 Your moft humble fervant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 The lieutenant of the Glafgow will take care of this ; 
 he is a very good young man I believe, and has not faved 
 a rag but what was on his back. 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 Page 36. — An attacl upon the tjland of Jamaica being ihetK 
 daily apprehended, Sec, 
 
 DEAR SIR, Port Royal, Augujl 12, 1779. 
 
 Jamaica is turned upfide down fince you left 
 it ; the Count d'Eftaing is at the Cape with twenty fail of 
 the line, and a flag-fliip, with eight or nine more at 
 Port au Prince ; the latter fleet fell in with the Charon 
 and Pomona in the night, but they got off by good 
 failing. They fay there are 20,000 men at the Cape 
 ready to embark, and 5000 at Port au Prince. He 
 arrived at the Cape laft Saturday fortnight with 125 
 fail, men of war and tranfports. He pafTed Captain 
 Lambert'g fquadron, which arrived here yefterday, in a 
 very thick day ; fo that all our fhips are in port, except 
 
 ^4 
 
J5 APPENDIX. 
 
 the Hinchinbroke, Hound, and Porcupine, which wc 
 have reafbn to believe are taken; as reports are very 
 flrong from the Bahama iflands. Now I have told you 
 what we expert, I will tell you the meafures taken to 
 defend the ifland : 5000 men are encamped between the 
 ferry and Kingfton, 1000 in Fort Augufta, 300 at the 
 Apoftles' Battery, and we expe£i to have 500 in Fort 
 Charles, where I am to command. The Lion, Salifbury, 
 Charon, and Janus, are moored in a line from the Point 
 to the outer fhoal, the Ruby and Briftol in the narrows 
 going to Kingfton, to rake any fhips that may attack Fort 
 Augufta ; the Pomona and Speke Indiaman above Rock 
 Fort, and the Loweftoffe at the end of the dock- wall. 
 Exprefles go to-morrow morning to all quarters. TheRe- 
 fource and Penelope are to cruife off the eaft end : four fire- 
 fhips are down here, two of them commiflioned. I have 
 fairly ftated our fituation^ and leave you in England to 
 judge what ftand we fhall make ; I think you muil not 
 be furprifed to hear of my learning to fpeak French. J 
 hope you have had a good paftage, and are now in peace 
 and plenty with your family. Rofs has behaved in a 
 very public-fpiriled manner, has fent the Gayton and 
 his vefTels to the admiral, to be employed as he may 
 think proper, and has even fent a confiderable part of 
 his negroes to the different batteries ; as the packet fails 
 to-morrow, and that circumftance has been kept a fecret, 
 I have not time to fay any more \ I know we fhall have 
 you^ wifhes for fuccefs. May health, peace, and happi- 
 Tiefs, always^ furround your good family, to whom I beg 
 \o be kindly remembered, is the conflant wifh of, &c. 
 
 Horatio Nelsoji^ 
 
APPENDIX, 9 
 
 No. V. 
 
 Page ^o*-^On hh arrival in England y he happily received 
 fo niuch benfjity &c. 
 
 PEAR SIR, Bathy Feb* 15, 1781, 
 
 It is really fo long fince I wrote to you, that 
 I am almoft afhamed to write at all ; but I know your 
 goodnefs will forgive me, although I hardly dcferve it. 
 My health, thank God, is very near perfedly redored, 
 and I have the complete ufe of all my limbs, except 
 rny left arm, which I can hardly tell the ailment 
 of; from the (houlder to my fingers' ends it feels as if 
 half dead ; but the furgeon and do£lors give me hopes it 
 will all go off. I mod fmcerely wifh to be employed, 
 ;ind hope it will not be long. I have thought feveral 
 times you were appointed to a fhip, elfe you would 
 have written, if only to fcold me for my neglect : if I 
 am not employed, I intend coming to town the begin- 
 ning of March. I hope when I come to town to fee a 
 fine trio in your room. If Mr. Rigaud has fintfhed the 
 picture fend word in the next letter you write to me, and 
 I will fend you an order upon Mr. Paynter. When you 
 get the pi6lures I muft be in the middle, for God 
 knows, without good fuppori^rs *, I (hall fall 10 the 
 ground. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 * The portrait alluded to was placed by Captain Locker, to 
 whom it was prefented, between thofe of the prefcnt Admiral 
 p^orge Montague and Sir Charles Pole, 
 
10 AfPENDIX. 
 
 No. vr. 
 
 Page 43. — After a k::g and fatiguing ^ 6cc. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Tarmouth Roads ^ Dec, 22, i 781. 
 
 I WOULD have written a line before this, but 1 
 cxpe£led every moment would have brought a wind, that 
 would have fent me to the Downs, whither I am bound 
 with a large convoy of flore-fliips for Portfmouth and 
 Plymouth. I affure you I have almoft been froze on the 
 other fide of the water, here we find it quite fummer -, 
 we have not met with any fuccefs, indeed there is nothing 
 you can meet, but what is in force ; the Dutch have not 
 a fingle merchantman at fea ;- one privateer was in our 
 fleet, but it was not poflible to lay hold of him ; I chafed 
 him an hour, and came faft^ up with him, but was obliged 
 to return to the fleet. I find fince it was the noted Fally 
 the Pirate. Macbride failed from hence yefterday with his 
 two Dutch prizes ; they are privateers fchooner rigged, 
 but very different from what you would fuppofe by his 
 letter; whoever gets them as fine lloops of war, will be 
 very much difappointed when they fee them. Dickfon in 
 the Sampfon was our commander. What fools the Dutch 
 muft have been not to have taken us into the Texel ! the 
 convoy confifted of 260 fail; they behaved as all convoys 
 that ever I faw did ; lliamefully parting* company every 
 day : no fail* are now in the Roads. I hope to hear you 
 have a ihip, at leaft that your health will permit you to take 
 «nc. 
 
 The Albemarle, although you abufed her at Woolwich, 
 has fome good failing in her ; the Argo, a new forty-four, 
 we can fpare a great deal of fail, and I think we go full 
 
APPENDIX. II 
 
 as well as the Enterprife. If you write a line to the 
 Downs, I fhall get it there, &c. 
 
 Horatio Nelson, 
 
 No. VII. — Extract. 
 Page 43.— i7<? was fent to Newfoundland. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Port/mouthy April 2^, 1782. 
 
 I OUGHT to be fcolded for not having wrote to 
 you for this long tln;ie paft. I can make very lameexcufe^. 
 The weather has been fo very bad for thefe ten days, and 
 foutherly winds fo ftrong, that I have not been able to get 
 the old Albemarle out of the harbour. I am ordered to 
 Cork to join the Dsedalus, Captain Pringle, and go with 
 a convoy to Quebec, where worfe than all to tell, I 
 underfland I am to winter. I want much to be off from 
 this voyage, and believe if I had time to look a little about 
 me, I could get another fhip. Mr. Adair, who attends 
 on Mr. Keppel, might tell him that in fuch a country I 
 (hall be laid up, for he has told me that if I was fent to a 
 cold damp climate, it would make me worfe than ever ; 
 many of my navy friends have advifed me to reprefent my 
 fituation to Admiral Keppel, and they have no doubt but 
 he would givt me other orders, or remove me ; but as I 
 received my orders from Lord Sandwich, I cannot help 
 thinking it wrong to afk Mr. Keppel to alter them. 
 
 I hope to hear by next pofl you have a fhip. 
 Farewell, &c. 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 [The parts omitted are fuch as relate to private family concerns 
 only, therefore totally uninterefting to the public. The preceding 
 cxtradt proves the fliattered (late of his conftitution, even at that 
 early age, and the zeal with which he chofe to encounter the in« 
 
 4 
 
11 APPENDIX. 
 
 temperature, and inclemency of any climate whatever, rather tha» 
 make a complaint which he thought could in the moft diftant 
 degree afFe(Sl the fen'ice.J 
 
 No. VI L 
 
 St, Johns Harhour, Newfoundland^ 
 MY DEAR SIR, June i/?, 1782. 
 
 We arrived at this difagreeable place laft Mon- 
 day at daylight (the 2';th) with four fail of the convoy ; 
 we parted from the Dasdalus on the 7th of May, 300 
 leagues to the weftward of Cape Clear in a hard gale of 
 wind ; as the wind has blown (Irong from the ealhvard, 
 ever fince our arrival here, I imagine that Captain Pringlc 
 could not fetch this port, and is therefore gone on to 
 the weftward ; if he is, this wind will carry him to Que- 
 bec, while I am fo unfortunate to be kept here with a fair 
 wind; for the entrance of this harbour is fo narrow, that 
 you cannot fail unlefs the wind blows right out: as foon 
 as the wind changes I (hall fail. The Leocadla arrived 
 here three days before us with the fait fhips from Lifbon, 
 Captain Hope defires his compliments ; he took a ihip 
 privateer, the day he made the land, of fourteen guns. 
 We have heard the news from the Weft Indies, but not 
 the particulars ; it is reported that the Duke blew up in 
 the adlion * : I hope to God it is not true, I had rather the 
 French were at the devil, than have loft Captain Gardner ; 
 he is a real lofs to the fervice. You know the particulars 
 long before this. My fecond lieutenant left the (hip at 
 Cork ; the, other lieutenant not having joined the Ihip, I 
 gave Bromwich an order to a6l as a lieutenant : in all 
 probability it will get him fome prize-money, and I hope 
 
 ♦ This refers to the encounter between Sir George Rodney and 
 the Count de Grafle. 
 3 
 
APPENDIX. 13 
 
 get him confirmed a lieutenant ; he does his duty exceed- 
 ingly well as an officer : indeed I am very well off. As to 
 myfelf, the voyage agrees with me much better than I 
 cxpeded. — I think the chance is much againft your letter, 
 as it goes by the way of Lifbon. 
 
 yune 3. The remainder of the Quebec fleet are arrived 
 at a harbour a few leagues to the leeward of this, and I am 
 now getting under fail to join the other part of the fleet 
 from this place. The Irilh Newfoundland fleet arrived 
 here on the ift of June, and the Arethufa with the Eng- 
 lifli fleet at a place, where the Quebec fleet are, on the 2d 
 inftant, with their whole fleets ; not a ihip taken in any 
 of the fleets. 
 
 Farewell, &c. 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. VIII. 
 Page 43. — Being ordered on a critife off Bojlon, &c. 
 
 Albemarle J IJle of Eec, River St.Lavjrencey 
 MY DEAR SIR, 0^, '^<)th, 1782. 
 
 My letter from Newfoundland, by way of 
 Lifl)on, if you ever will receive, you have got long before 
 tl.is time ; but this I moft fincerely hope will not find you 
 at Gray's Inn ; but that Old England, at this time of need, 
 will have the fervices of fo good an officer. We arrived here 
 with the convoy on the ifl of July, and failed upon a 
 cruife the 4th, and returned to Quebec on the 17th of 
 September, knocked up with fcurvy ; having myfelf for 
 eight weeks, together with all the officers, lived upon fait 
 beef; nor had the fhip's company a fingle frefh meal fince 
 the 7th of April, In the end, our cruife has been an unfuc- 
 
14 APPENDIX. 
 
 cefsful one ; we have taken, feen, and deftroyed more 
 enemies than is feldom done in the fame fpace of time, 
 hut not one arrived in port ; I do not repine at our lofs ; 
 we have in other refpeds been very fortunate, for on the 
 14th of Augufi: we fell in with, in Bofion Bay four fail of 
 the line and the Iris French man of war, part of Monf. 
 Vaudreuil's fquadron, who gave us a pretty dance for 
 nine or ten hours, but we beat all except the frigate, and 
 though we brought to for her, after we were out of fight 
 of the line of battle fhips, fhe tacked and Hood from us : 
 our efcape I think wonderful ; they were upon the clear- 
 ing up of a fog within (hot of us, and cliafed us the whole 
 time about one point from the wind : the frigate I fancy 
 had not forgotten the dreffing Captain Salter had given 
 the Amazon, for daring to leave the line of bitile fhips. 
 A fortnight ago when I was at Qiiebec with no other 
 cxpedlation, or dcfires than to return to England, arrive 
 the Drake floop, and Cockatrice cutter, wiih orders for 
 the tranfports to be fitted for the reception of troops, and 
 to be fent to New York : in confequence thereof old 
 Worth has given me orders to carry the fleet to 
 New York — a very pretty job at this late feafon of the 
 year, for our fails are at this moment frozen to the yards. 
 The wind has this moment flown round from the eaftward 
 to the vveit, and I have juft made the fignal to unmoor : 
 ypu fhall hear from me again when I reach New York. 
 Adieu, ^c. 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 [Tbat fingular modefty, which pervaded every action of his Lord- 
 fhip*s life, is remarkably confpicuous'in the foregoing letter, al- 
 though his condudt had been fo exemplary and gallant on the pre- 
 ceding occalion ; yet, even in a private communication to a moft 
 intimate friend, he forbore not only from afluming the fmaiicit 
 
APPENDIX. 15 
 
 merit to himfelf, but attributes the conclufion of that event to the, 
 bravery of another officer, on an occafion totally unconnected witk 
 kimfelf.] 
 
 No. IX. — Extracts. 
 
 Page 45. — He proceeded from thence to the JVefl Indies^ &c. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Albemarky New fork, Nov, 17//??, 1782, 
 
 I FOUND Lord Hood her^ 
 
 upon my arrival, and I have requefted hitn to take me 
 with him, to the Weft Indies ; he has written to Admiral 
 Digby for me, and I was to have failed with the fleet this 
 day, but for fome private reafons, when my (hip was 
 under fail from New York to join Hood, I was fent for 
 on fhore, and told I was to be kept forty-eight hours after 
 the failing of the fleet : it is much to my private advantage, 
 but I had rather have failed with the fleet ; if thero 
 is wind enough they fail this day 
 
 I am a candidate (with Lord Hood), for a line of battle 
 ihip : he has honoured me highly by a letter, for wifliing 
 to go off this ftation, to a ftation of fervice, and has 
 promifed me his friendfhip : Prince William is with him, 
 I think it is the prelude to the Digby's going off this 
 ftation ; money is the great objedt here, nothing elfe 
 attended to. 
 
 The French are ftill in Bofton. The packet fails to- 
 morrow, and I have been fo much employed in fitting my 
 fhip, that I could not get time to write before to-day, an4 
 you muft excufe me for not faying more ; though I could 
 fill another (heet very well ; when I arrive io the Weft 
 Indies you will hear immediately from me. 
 Farev^ell, Sec, 
 
 Horatio NsLsaif, 
 
l6 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. X. 
 Page 4g»''^Having been ordered to attend his Royal Highnefs* 
 
 Albemarle y Cape Tiberoony Feb, 25, 1783. 
 My fituation in Lord Hood's fleet, muft be in 
 the higheft degree flattering to a young man. He treats 
 me as if r was his fon, and will, I am convinced, give 
 me any thing I can afli of him ; nor is my fituation with 
 Prince William lefs flattering. Lord Hood was fo kind 
 as to tell him (indeed I cannot make ufe of expreflions 
 ftrong enough to defcribe what I felt) that if he wifhed to 
 a(k queftions relative to naval ta£tics, I could give him as 
 much information as any officer in the fleet. He will be, 
 I am certain, an ornament to our fervice. He is a feaman, 
 which, perhaps, you would hardly fuppofe. Every other 
 qualification you may expert from him. A vaft deal of 
 notice has been taken of him at Jamaica; he has been 
 addreflfed by the Council, and the Houfe of AflTembly were 
 to addrefs him the day after I failed. He has his levees 
 at Spanifh Town : they are all highly delighted with him. 
 With the beft temper, and great good fenfe, he cannot 
 £»il of being pleafing to every one. 
 
 No. XL 
 Page 49. — He returned from thence to England, See, 
 
 Salijbury Street y Strand^ July 12, 1783. 
 When I look at the date of your letter I 
 received at Portfmouth, I ought to be afhamed at not 
 having written to you, but you always knew I was a 
 carelefs fellow, although, be aflured, my great efteem 
 and refpedt for you can never be leflened. My time, ever 
 
APPENDIX. 17 
 
 £nce I arrived in town, has been taken up in attempting 
 to get the wages due to my good fellows for various fhips 
 they have ferved in during the war. The difguft of the 
 feamen to the navy is all owing to the infernal plan of 
 turning them over from (hip to fhip, fo that men cannot 
 be attached to their officers, or their officers care twopence 
 about them : my (hip was paid off laft week ; and in fuch 
 a manner as muft flatter any officer ; particularly in thefe 
 turbulent times : the whole (hip's company offered, if I 
 could get a (hip, to enter for her immediately, but I have 
 no thoughts of going to fea, for I cannot afford to live on 
 board fhips, in fuch a manner as is going on at prefent. 
 Yefterday Lord Hood carried me to St. James's ; the King 
 ■was exceedingly attentive; on Monday, or Tuefday, I 
 am to be at Windfor, to take leave of Prince William, 
 previous to his embarkation for the continent. 
 
 No. XII. 
 Page 49. He Immediately went over to France, 8cc* 
 
 ^lY DEAR SIR, St. Omer, Nov, 2d, 1783. 
 
 Our travels, fince we left you, have been extended 
 to much greater length than I apprehended ; but I muft 
 do Captain Mac the juftice to fay it was all my doing, 
 and in a great meafure againft his advice ; but experience 
 bought is beft ; and all my experience I have paid pretty 
 dearly for. We dined at Canterbury, the day we parted 
 from you, and called at Captain Sandys' houfe, but he was 
 juft gone out to dinner, in the country, therefore wc did not 
 fee him : we flept at Dover, and next morning at feven 
 o'clock, put to fea with a fine N. W. wind, and at half 
 jpaft ten we were fafe at breakfaft in Monf. Grandfire's 
 
 B 
 
CS APPENDIX. 
 
 houfe at Calais. His mother kept it when Hogarth 
 wrote his Gate of Calais. Sterne's Sentimental Journey is 
 the beft defcription I can give of our tour. Mac advifed 
 me to go firft to St. Omer, as he had experienced the 
 difficulty of attempting to fix in any place where there are 
 no Englifli ; after dinner we fet off, intending to go to 
 Montrieul, fixty miles from Calais : they told us we tra- 
 velled enpojley but I am fure we did not get on more than 
 four miles an hour : I was highly diverted in looking 
 what a curious figure the poftillions in their jack boots, 
 and their rats of horfes made together. Their chaifes 
 have no fprings, and the road generally paved like London 
 ftreets; therefore you will naturally fuppofe we were 
 pretty well (haken together by the time we had travelled 
 two ports and a half, which is fifteen miles, to Marquees ; 
 here we were (liewn into an inn, (they called it, J I (hould 
 have called it a pigftie ; we w^ere (hewn into a room with 
 two ftraw beds, and with great difficulty they muftered up 
 clean flieets ; and gave us two pigeons for fupper, upon 
 a dirty cloth, with wooden-handled knives — O what a 
 iranfttlon frsm happy England! But we laughed at the re- 
 paft, and went to bed with the determination that nothing 
 fhould ruffle our tempers. Having llept very well, we fet 
 off at daylight for Boulogne, where we breakfafted : this 
 place was full of Englifh, I fuppofe becaufe wine is fo 
 very cheap ; we went on after breakfaft to Montrieul, 
 and pafled through the finefl corn country that my eyes 
 ever beheld, diverfified with fine woods fometimes for 
 two miles together, through noble forefls. The roads 
 moftly were well planted with trees, which made as fine an 
 avenue as to any gentleman's country feat. Montrieul is 
 thirty miles from Boulogne, fituated upon a fmall hill, in 
 the middle of a fine plain, which reached as far as the eye 
 
APPENDIX. 19 
 
 could carry you, except toward the Tea, which is about 
 twelve miles from it. We put up at the fame houfe, and 
 with the fame jolly landlord that recommended Le Fleur 
 to Sterne. Here we wiihed much to have fixed, but nei- 
 ther good lodgings, or mailers could be procured ; for 
 there is no middling clafs of people ; fixty noblemen's 
 families lived in the town, they owned the vaft plaia 
 round it, and the reft are very poor indeed. This is the 
 fineft country for game that ever I was in ; partridges 
 are fold at twopence halfpenny a couple, pheafants and 
 woodcocks in proportion, and in Ihort every fpecies of 
 poultry. We dined, fupped, lay, and breakfafted next 
 day, Saturday ; then we proceeded upon our tour, leaving 
 Montrieulyou may fuppofe with great regret; we reached 
 Abbeville at eight o'clock : but unluckily for us, two 
 Engliflimen, one of whom called himfelf Lord Kingjland^ 
 I cannot poflibly fuppofe it to have been him, and a Mr. 
 Bullock, decamped at three o'clock that afternoon in 
 debt to every (hopkeeper in the place. Thefe gentlemen 
 kept elegant houfes, horfcs, &c. fo that we found the 
 town in an uproar. No maflers could be had at this place 
 that could fpeak a word of Englilh, and all mafters that 
 can fpeak Englifh grammatically, attend at the places fre- 
 quented by the Englilh, that is to fay, St. Omer's, Lille, 
 Dunkirk, and Boulogne, to the northward of Paris, io 
 that as I had no intention of travelling to the fouth of 
 France till the fpring at any rate, I determined, with 
 Mac's advice, to fteer for St. Omer's, where we ar- 
 rived laft Tuefday : and I own I was furprifed to find, 
 inftead of a dirty, nafty town, whicTi I had always 
 heard it reprefented, a large city, well paved, good ftreets, 
 and well lighted. We lodge in a plsafant French fa- 
 intly, and have our dinners fent from a trditeufs* There 
 
 B 2 
 
ao APPENDIX. 
 
 are two very agreeable young ladies, daughters, who hs^ 
 mur us with their company very often : one always makes 
 our breakfafl, and tlie other our tea ; and play a game of 
 cards in the evening. Therefore I muft learn French 
 if it is only for the pleafure of talking to them, for they 
 do not fpeak a word of Engliih. Here are a great num- 
 ber of Engliih in this place, but we vifit only two fa* 
 milies ; if I did I fhould never fpeak French, Two 
 noble captains are here ; you do not know, I believe, either 
 of them ; they have not vifited me, and I (hall not, be 
 afliired, court their acquaintance. If Charles Pole is ar- 
 rived, and you write to him, give my kind lefpeds to him ; 
 I efteem him as a brother : tell me where I can v^rrite to 
 him. You muft be heartily tired of this long epiftle, if 
 you can read it, but I have the worfl pen in the world, 
 and I can't mend it. God blefs you, and be aflurcd 
 I am your fmcere friend, 
 
 And affe^ionate humble fervant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson, 
 
 Captain Macnamara defires his compliments to you ; 
 his and mine to Mrs. Bradley, Dyne, &c. — Diredl to 
 me A Monfieur Monfieur Nelfon, chez Madame La 
 Mourie, St. Omer, en Artois. 
 
 No. xni. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, St, OrfUr's, NoV, 22, I 783. 
 
 Your kind letter I received laft night. I con- 
 cluded you were in London, as I had not the pleafure of 
 hearing from you fooner. Since I wrote laft I have been 
 very near coming to England, occafioned by the melan- 
 choly account I received of my dear fiftcr's death ; my 
 
-APPENDIX. 21 
 
 father, whofe grief on the occafion was intolerable, is, I 
 hope, better ; therefore I fhall not come over ; fiie died 
 at Bath after a nine days illness, in the twenty- firfl year 
 oi her age ; it was occafioned by coming out of the ball- 
 room immediately from dancing. Your time with Captain 
 Reynolds muft have been very agreeable : the good opi- 
 nion he is pleafed to entertain of me is highly flattering ; 
 it is more than my fhort acquaintance with him had a 
 right to expe£l. French goes on but flowly ; but pa- 
 tience, of which you know I have not much, and perfe- 
 verance, will make me mafter of it. Here are two navy- 
 captains at this place, but we do not vifit ; they are very 
 fine gentlemen with epaulets : you may fuppofe I hold 
 them a little cheap for putting on any part of a French- 
 man's uniform, Macnamara is very much obliged to you 
 for the trouble you have taken about his picture ; he will 
 write a poftfcript at the end of his letter. Captain Young 
 vifited me to-day, and to-morrow we meet at dinner ; 1 
 (hall certainly deliver your compliments ; he is come over 
 to place his brother, who is a lieutenant, in a French fa- 
 mily. He returns immediately to England. Mac was 
 prefent laft: night at a very elegant ball, but my mind is 
 too much taken up with the recent account of my dear 
 fifler's death to partake of any amufcments. 
 
 I am much obliged to Charles Pole for his remem- 
 brance ; I fhould have written to him had I known 
 where to have dire(Sied a letter. When you write to 
 Captain Reynolds give my beft compliments, and to Cap- 
 tain and Mrs. Gardner alfo. If I am not in England 
 before the winter is over, I ihall go to Paris in the fpring; 
 where I have received a mod polite invitation from the 
 ©fficej whom I detained off Porto Cavallo ; 1 did not know 
 
 S 3 
 
22 APPENDIX. 
 
 his rank at that time, or after, till I came here ; he went 
 by the name of Count de Deux Fonts. He is a prince of 
 the Empire, a general of the French army, knight of the 
 grand order of St. Louis, and was fecond in command at 
 the capture of York Town. His brother is heir appa- 
 rent of the eledorate of Bavaria, and of the Palatinate. 
 The prefent Eledor is eighty years of age, and this gen- 
 tleman's brother is upon his death-bed ; fo mofl: probably 
 I Ihall have had the honour of having taken prifoner a 
 man, who will be a fovereign prince of Europe, and 
 brings into the field near a hundred thoufand men : his 
 letter is truly expreflive of the attention that was paid 
 him, when on board my {hip. There are a vaft number 
 of English at this place ; I vifit but few of them. In 
 two of them I am very happy in their acquaintance ; one 
 is the brother of Mailingberd, who was in the Lowef- 
 tofFe ; he is very polite^ and his lady a very complete 
 gentlewoman ; we are quite at home : — the other is an 
 Engliih clergyman, who has a very large family, two 
 very agreeable daughters grown up, about twenty years 
 of age, who play and fing to us whenever we go, I 
 mufi take care of my heart I aflTure you. God blefs you, 
 my dear friend. 
 
 I am yours, mofl: fincerely, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 EXTRACTS. 
 
 Page 49. — He was foon after commijjioned to the Boreas. 
 
 No. 2i Lancajler Court y March 2^y 17S4. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 Not having written for fo long a time, I am 
 almofl: afhamed of telling you 1 am yet in town. On 
 
APPENDIX. Z1 
 
 Friday laft I was commiflioned for the Boreas in Long 
 Reach, at prefent under the command of Captain Wells 
 (Lord Keppel's), and I am alfo forry to fay, that the 
 fame day gave me an ague and fever, which has returned 
 every other day fince, and pulled me down moft aftonifli- 
 ingly : I underfland fhe is going to the Leeward Iflands, 
 and I am afked to carry out Lady Hughes and her family. 
 The fhip is full of young midihipmen, and every body is 
 aiking me to take fome one or other ; I am told fhe is 
 well officered and manned ; I have not feen her as yet, 
 but fhall go down to-morrow. • * * * * I muft conclude 
 with faying, if there is any young gentleman you wifti me 
 to take, I fhall have great pleafure in paying every at- 
 tention ip my power to Jiim, 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XIV. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Portfmouth, April 21, 1784. 
 
 Since I parted from you, I have encountered 
 many difagreeable adventures. The day after I left you, 
 we failed at daylight, juft after high water. The d — d 
 pilot, it makes me fwearto think ofjit, ran the (hip aground, 
 where (he lay with fo 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 fnow ; Tuefday I got into the Downs ; 
 Wcdnefday I got into a quarrel with a Dutch Indiaman 
 who had Engliihmen on board, which we fettled, though 
 with fome difficulty. The Dutchman has made a com- 
 plaint againft me ; but the Admiralty fortunately have 
 approved my condu6l in the bufinefs, a thing they are not 
 
 £ 4 
 
24 APPENDIX. 
 
 very guilty of where there is a likelihood of a Jcrape. 
 And yefterday to complete me, I was riding a blackguard^ 
 horfe that ran away with me at Common, carried me 
 round all the works into Portfmouth, by the London 
 gates, through the town out at the gate that leads to Com- 
 mon, where there was a waggon in the road, which is fo 
 very narrow that a horfe could barely pafs. To favq 
 my legs, and perhaps my life, I was obliged to throw 
 myfelf from the horfe, which I did vi^ith great agility : 
 but unluckily upon hard ftones, which has hurt my back 
 and my leg, but done no other mifchief. It was a thou- 
 fand to one that I had not been killed. To crown all, a 
 young girl was with me ; her horfe ran away as well as 
 mine ; but mpil fortunately a gallant young man feized the 
 horfe's bridle a moment before I difmounted, and faved 
 her from the deftru6lion (he could not have avoided, 
 Kingfmill came to town on Sunday, and has taken pof- 
 feflion of his fhip and land frigate again. Lady Hughes 
 is here, but I have not received my orders. Give my 
 compliments to Madam Bradley, &c. and reft alTured 
 I am yours, 
 
 Moft fipcerely, 
 
 Horatio Nelson, 
 
 No. XV. 
 Boreas, Spithead, May 14, 1784. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 The Commiilioner is now paying my fhip^ 
 and I am making ufe of the lime, that I may be able to 
 fave poft, for none goes out to-morrow. I was agreeably 
 Airprifed by your letter, for I did not expeft to hear you 
 \vas in London. I thank you much for your news, 
 
APPENDIX. $5 
 
 which if true, hoftilities muft commence foon again 
 with the French : God fend, I fay. But if Cornwallis 
 is going out, I (hall be a little vexed I am not to be one 
 pf the (hips, Whenever I go to Dominica, you may be 
 aflured that every circumftance relative to your eftatc 
 fliall be inquired into. Jamaica is the place I wifli to 
 go to. I have fcarccly time to fay, how much 
 I am your devoted, 
 
 HoRATi-o Nelson. 
 
 No. XVI. 
 
 Boreas y Madeira y June *], 1 7 84. 
 My DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 The opportunity that offers of a veflel's failing 
 for London, makes me embrace the opportunity of writ- 
 ing to my friends ; therefore you are fure of hearing, or 
 J muft be ingrate indeed. 1 have received on board a 
 quarter cafk of wine for you from our friend Mr. Hig- 
 gins, who has been extremely civil : Mr. Murray, the 
 conful, I have not dined with, owing to a little etiquette 
 about vifiting. We arrived here on the ift, after a plea- 
 fant paflage, the ladies quite well, and fatisfied with 
 the fhip. To-morrow I fail, for I am tired of this 
 place. I beg the favour of Kingfmill to inclofe this. By 
 every opportunity be afTured that I fhall fcrawl a line, for 
 no man has a higher fenfe of the obligations he is under 
 to you, than 
 
 Your faithful and devoted 
 
 HoRATjo Nelson. 
 
Jl6 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. XVIL 
 Boreas, EngViJb Harbour ^ Sept, 24, 1 7 84. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 I WAS in hopes that the firft letter I ftiould 
 write you from this country would have given you fome 
 information of your Dominica eftate, but that is not in 
 my power. I was one day in Prince Rupert's Bay to 
 wood and water ; there you know I could get no inform- 
 ation. If Sandys fhould go to Dominica, I ihall give 
 Bradley's letter to him, and write to Orde upon the fub- 
 je£^, Collingwood is at Grenada, which is a great lofs to 
 me ; for there is nobody that I can make a confidant of. 
 
 The little man 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. M. who is very very good 
 to me, I Ihould almoft hangmyfelf at this infernal hole, 
 
 is tolerable, but I do not like him, he bows and 
 
 fcrapes too much for me ; his wife has an eternal clack, 
 fo that I go near them as little as poflible ; in (hort, I de- 
 left this country, but as I embarked on this ftation i fhall 
 remain in my fhip. Our ears are full of wars in the eaft ; 
 is there any likelihood of a war ? I am in a fine trim for 
 the beginning of one; well officered and manned. I 
 have not heard from a Tingle creature in England fince I 
 arrived. I have written to every body, and to you from 
 Madeira, but not a line. Give my befl remembrance to 
 Kingfmill and to friends in his neighbourhood ; and I beg 
 ^Ifo you will reft aftured 
 
 I am 
 
 Your devoted faithful friend and fervant, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
appendix;, 27 
 
 No. xviir. 
 
 EngUjh HarbQur, Nov, 23, 1784. 
 
 Mr DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 Your kind letter I received yefterday upon my 
 arrival here, though I cannot fay much, as my time 
 is very fhort, being obliged to fail this morning for the 
 Virgin Iflands. Coliingwood is here ; he defires to be 
 kindly remembered. This ftation is far from a pleafant 
 one. Coll defires me to fay he will write you foon fuch 
 a letter, that you will think it a hiftory of the Weft In- 
 dies. What an amiable good man he is ! all the reft arc 
 gt^^Q, I have not had a letter from Kingfmill this 
 packet : when you write remember me to him. I am in 
 my way to examine an harbour faid to be fituated in the 
 ifland of St. John's, capable, it is fuppofed, to contain 
 a fleet of men of war during the hurricane feafons. It 
 is odd this fine harbour, if fuch a one there is, ftiould 
 not have been made ufe of long ago ; but there is an order 
 from the Admiralty to fend a frigate to examine it : it is 
 faid here to belong to the Danes ; if fo, they will not 
 let me furvey it. I muft have done, for the fignal gun 
 is fired for us to fail. God blefs you, my dear friend, 
 and believe I am 
 
 Yours moft afFe6lionately, 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XIX. 
 
 page 50. — The jimer icons , after having ere^edthemf elves ^ 
 
 &c. 
 Boreas, Bajjeierre Roady jfan, 15, 1 7 85. 
 The longer I am upon this ftation the worfe I 
 like it. Our commander has not that good opinion of 
 
28 APPENDIX. 
 
 his own fenfe which he ought to have. He is led by the 
 advice of the iflanders to admit the Yankies to a trade ; 
 at leaifl to wink at it. He does not give himfelf that 
 ■weight that I think an Englith admiral ought to do. I, 
 for one, am determined not to fufftr the Yankies to 
 come where my (hip is ; for 1 am fure, if once the Ame- 
 ricans are admitted to any kind of intercourfe with 
 thefe iflands, the views of the loyalifts in fettling Nova 
 Scotia are entirely done away. They will firft become 
 the carriers, and next have pofieffion of our iflands. If 
 we ever again are embroiled in a French war, the refi- 
 dents of thefe iflands are Americans by connexion and by 
 intereft, and are inimical to Great Britain. They are as 
 great rebels as ever were in America, had they the power 
 to Ihew it. After what I have faid, you will believe I 
 am not very popular with the people. They have never 
 viflted me, nor have I fet a foot in any houfe firice I 
 have been on the ftation, and all for doing my duty in 
 being true to the intereft of Great Britain, A petition 
 from the governor and council has gone to the general 
 and admiral, to requeft the admiffion of Americans. I 
 have given my anfwer to the admiral on the fubjedl ; 
 how he will take it I know not : but I am determined to 
 fupprefs the admiflion of foreigners to the utmoft of my 
 power. I have told the cuftom-houfe people that I will 
 complain if they admit any foreigner to an entry : — an 
 American arrives ; he has fprung a leak, or a maft ; he 
 makes a proteft ; gets admittance ; fells the cargo for 
 ready money ; goes to Martinique, buys molafles, and 
 fo round and round. But I hate them all. The loyalill 
 cannot do it, confequently muft fell dearer. 
 
APPENDIX. C^ 
 
 No. XX. 
 Boreas, St, Kilt's, March 1 6, 1785. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 Since my Lift I have been at Prince Rupert's 
 Bay, and with great difficulty reached the houfe which 
 Admiral Parry built upon his land ; the houfe is levelled 
 with the ground, nor (hould I have known it was any 
 thing but a wood, had not my guide told me this was the 
 eftate. I made every inquiry it was poffible for me to dp 
 as to worth, or what could be done with it ; from the 
 whole I have heard it is not polTible to fell, or let it. If 
 you claim it, the taxes are far more than it is worth in its 
 prefent ftate, and they have proclamations for giving the 
 loyalifts lands gratis, fo much do they want fettlers for 
 the ifland. The foil is bad, fo much fo, that feveral 
 mulattoes fettled upon the cleared part after Admiral 
 Parry left it, and lived in the houfe, but at laft they aban- 
 doned it, not being able to get roots to grow in it. Go- 
 vernor Stewart has an eftate at Prince Rupert's, but 
 quite in another fituation ; I am told he wifhes for the 
 money he has laid out upon it. And now let me tell you 
 a very extraordinary anecdote of Dominica : — When the 
 Engliih firft took poflTeflion of it, they thought it a fine 
 fugar ifland ; they built by far the beft works of any 
 ifland in our pofleffion, but time has proved that the foil 
 is not proper for fugar, as it takes fome hundred gallons 
 of juice to make a hogftiead more than at any other ifland. 
 Cotton and coffee are the only commodities it will pro- 
 duce in perfection. If ever I go to Rolfeau, I will aflc 
 Governor Stewart if any thing can be done, and I v/ill 
 do what is right in the bufinefs ; but from what I have 
 (aid little can be expedled. News from this ili-fateJ 
 
3© APPENDIX. 
 
 corner you will not exped ; Moutray is gone home a 
 few days ago, fo that I lofe my only valuable friend in 
 thefe iflands. Every day convinces how fuperior the Ja- 
 maica ftation is to this ; every thing is extravagantly dear, 
 and no comforts. All the navy are very unpopular, 
 from the governor downwards, for hindering the Ame- 
 rican fhips from trading to the iflands, I feldom go on 
 fhore, hardly once a month ; Mr. and Mrs. Georges are 
 the only people I know upon this ifland. How have you 
 been this cold winter ? quite ftout, I hope, and all your 
 
 children ; Collingwood recommends , he fays 
 
 you ought to marry her ; what a charming good man ! he 
 is a valuable member of fociety. Our admiral with his 
 family are juft making the tour of the iflands ; they find 
 probably more fatisfadion in vifiting than I do, for they 
 are a fad fet. Yefterday being St. Patrick's day, the 
 Irifli colours with thirteen ftripes 'in them were hoifted 
 all over the town ; I was engaged to dine with the Prefi- 
 dent, but font an excufe, as he fufFered thofe colours to 
 fly ; I mention this only to fhew the principles of thefc 
 vagabonds. God blefs you — farewell ; and believe me, 
 I am ever, 
 Your afFedlionate humble fervant, 
 Horatio Nelson, 
 
 Collingwood defued me to make his compliments. 
 Alanb i8. 
 
APPENDIX. 51 
 
 No. XXI. 
 Boreas, EngUp) Harbour^ Sept. 4, 1785. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 Our friend Kingfmill will have told you of 
 my captivity, and of all the difallers I have fufFered for 
 having aded with a proper fpirit againft the villanies of 
 a certain fet of men fettled in thefe iflands from America, 
 who have brought their rebellious principles with them. 
 If minifters do not fupport me, may they find the want 
 of officers to fupport them ! You know by this vile note 
 that we hardly hear of the arrival of the packet at St. 
 John's before her time of failing arrives, therefore from 
 this place you will not exped a long letter ; indeed my 
 mind has been fo much taken up with law, that I have 
 very much negleded my befl: friends, who I am fare have 
 great reafon to complain of me ; but I throw myfelf upon 
 their generofity, and hope they will be foiry for the em- 
 ployment which has appertained to me for fome time 
 paft. On the 24th lafl we had a moft fevere gale of 
 wind ; the mifchief is great, but not fo much as might 
 have been expeded. The men of war rode out the gale, 
 but very many fmall veflels are loft about the iflands. At 
 Martinico we have a flying report that almoft every thing 
 is deftroyed. From Barbadoes and Grenada we have 
 not heard. I fhould hope they have efcaped. I wifli I 
 could give you any good tidings relative to your Dominica 
 eftate, but you muft not be fanguine about it. Farewell, 
 my dear friend, and refl: aflfured with what fmcere re- 
 gard and efteem I am 
 
 Your much obliged friend and fervant, 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
32 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. XXII. 
 
 Page ^O. — TJje 6uUry againjl him roje to Jo great art , 
 height, &c. 
 
 Boreas, off MartlnlcOy March 5, 1 786. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 Your kind letter of December 5th I only re^ 
 celved a few days ago at Antigua, for the poft-oflices 
 here are fadly carelefs of our letters, and if we do not 
 happen to be at the ifland where they arrive, they will 
 not be at the trouble of forwarding them to us. You 
 accufe ine too juflly of not writing; I know myfelf to 
 be a fad carelefs fellow in that rtfped, and too often 
 negleft my beft friends ; but really for this laft year I 
 have been plagued to death ; this ftation has not been over- 
 pleafant, had it not been for Collingwood, it would have 
 been the moft difagreeable I ever faw. 
 
 I don't like to fay much againfl any man ; there has been 
 too much of that the late war; but as I only tell it to 
 you as a friend, you will not let it go further than you 
 think right. Not that I care who knows it ; for I fhall 
 produce my orders whenever I come home, from fome 
 circumftances which have lately happened. It was near 
 the hurricane months when I arrived in this country, 
 confequently nothing could be done till they were over 
 in November, when the fquadron arrived at Barbadoes, 
 and the (hips were to be fent to the different iflands, with 
 orders only to examine the anchorages, and whether 
 there was wood and water. This did not appear to me 
 the intent of placing men of war in peaceable times, 
 therefore I afked Collingwood to go with me (for his 
 3 
 
APPENDIX* 3J 
 
 fentiments and mine were exaflly fimilar) to » ; I 
 then afked him if we were not to attend to the commerce 
 of our country, and to take care that the Britiih trade 
 was kept in thofe channels that the navigation laws 
 pointed out. He anfwered, he had no orders, nor had 
 the Admiralty fent him any a£^s of parliament. I told 
 him it w^as very odd, for every captain of a man of war 
 was furniflied with the ftatutes of the Admiralty, in 
 which the Navigation A&. was included, which a6l was 
 directed to admirals, captains, &c. to fee it carried into 
 execution. He faid he had never feen the book ; but 
 having produced and read the laws to him, he feemed 
 convinced that men of war were fent abroad for fome 
 other purpofe, than to be made a (how of. (The rebel 
 
 Americans at this time filled our ports.) then gave 
 
 orders to all the fquadron to fee the Navigation A61 
 carried into execution. When I went to my ftatioh 
 at St. Kitts, I turned away all the rebels, not choofing 
 to feize them at that time, as it would have appeared a 
 trap laid for them. In December, to my afl:oni(hment, 
 down comes an order from him, telling us he had received 
 good advice, and requiring us not to prevent the Ameri- 
 cans from coming in, and having free egrefs and regrefs, 
 if the governor chofe to allow them ; he enclofed at the 
 fame time a copy of the orders he fent to the governors 
 
 and prefidents of the iflands. and others began by 
 
 fending letters not far different from orders, that they 
 fhould admit them in fuch and fuch fituations, &c. tell- 
 ing me had left it to them, but they thought it 
 
 right to let me know it. Mr. I foon trimmed up 
 
 and filenced. 's was a more delicate bufincfs; I 
 
 mufl either difobey my orders, or difobey adls of parlia- 
 ment which ■ ■ ' - ■ was difobeying. I determined upon 
 
 C 
 
34 ' APPENDIX. 
 
 the former, trufting to the uprightnefs of my intention^ 
 and believing that my country would not allow me to be 
 
 ruined, by protecting her commerce. I fent to f 
 
 expatiated on the navigation laws to the beft of my abi- 
 lity ; told him I was certain fome perfon had been giving 
 him advice, which he would be forry for having taken, 
 . againft the pofitive directions of a6ls of parliameat ; and 
 I was certain he had too much regard for the commerce 
 of Great Britain, to fufFer our worft enemy to take it 
 from us ; and that too at a time when Great Britain was 
 flraining every nerve to fupprefs illegal- trade at home, 
 which only afFeded her revenue ; that I hoped we fhould 
 not be lingular in allowing a much more ruinous traffic to- 
 be carried on under the king's flag j I added, in fhort, 
 that I fliould decline obeying his orders, till I had an op- 
 portunity of feeing and talking to him, at the fame time 
 making him an apology. At firft he was going to fend 
 a captain to fuperfede me ; but having mentioned the mat- 
 ter to his captain, the latter faid he believed all the fqua- 
 dron had thought he had fent illegal orders, and therefore 
 did not know how far I was obliged to obey them ; this 
 being their fentiments, he could not try me here, and 
 now he finds I am all right, and thanks me for having 
 fet him right. I told the cuftom-houfe people I (hould, 
 after l^uch a day, feize all foreigners I fhould find in our 
 iflands, and keep them out to the utmofl of my power 
 till that time ; they fancied I could not feize without a 
 deputation, and therefore difregarded my threats. In 
 May laft I feized the firft ; I had the governor, the officers 
 of the cuftoms, all the planters upon me ; fubfcriptions 
 ■were foon filled to profecute me ; and the admiral flood 
 neuter, although his flag was then in the roads. Before 
 the firfl: veflel was tried, I had feized four others, and 
 
APPENDIX, 35 
 
 having ordered the mafters on board to examine them, 
 and fent marines on board the veflels, not allowing fome 
 of them to 'go on (bore, I had fuits taken out againft me, 
 and damages laid at the enormous fum of 40,000/. fterling. 
 When the trial came on, I was protected by the judge for 
 the day ; but the marfhal was defired to arreft me, and the 
 merchants promifed to indemnify him for the a£l ; but 
 the judge having declared he would fend him to prifon if 
 he dared to do it, he defifted. L fortunately attached 
 myfelf to an honeft lawyer, and don't let me forger, the 
 prefident of Nevis offered the court to become my bail 
 for 10,000/. if I chofe to fuffer the arreft. He told them 
 I had done only my duty, and although he fuffered more 
 in proportion than any of them, he could not blame me. 
 At laft, after a trial of two days, we carried our caufe, 
 and the veffels were condemned. I was a clofe prifoner 
 on board for eight weeks, for had I been taken, I moft 
 affuredly ftiould have been cafl for the whole fum. I 
 had nothing left but to fend a memorial to the king, and 
 he was good enough to order me to be defended at his ex- 
 pen fc, and fent orders to Mr. Shirley to afford me every 
 affiftance in the execution of my duty, referring him to 
 my letters, &c. as there was in them, what concerned 
 him not to have fuffered. The Treafury, by the laft 
 
 packet, has tranfmitted thanks to and the officers 
 
 under him, for their activity and zeal in proteding the 
 commerce of Great Britain; had they known what I 
 have told you (and if my friends think I may, without 
 impropriety, tell the ftory myfelf, I (hall do it when 1 
 get home), I don't think they would have beftowed thanks 
 in that quarter, and negle£lcd me, I feel much hurt, 
 that after all the lofs of health and ri(k of fortune, ano- 
 ther fhould be thanked for that, which I did, and againft 
 
 C ^ 
 
36 APPENDIX. 
 
 his orders. I either deferved to be fent out of the fervicc, 
 or at leaft have had fome little notice taken of me. They 
 have thought it worthy of notice, and have negle£led 
 me ; if this is the reward for a faithful difcharge of my 
 duty, I (hall be careful, and never ftand forward again ; 
 but I have done my duty, and have nothing to accufe 
 myfelf of. 
 
 Moft probably the next time you fee me will be as a 
 Benedict ; I think I have found a woman who will make 
 me happy ; I will tell you more of the matter ihortly, 
 for my paper is full. Remember me to Kingfmill ; he is 
 more in practice than myfelf in writing. To Lord Ducie 
 fay compliments ; why has he never fent the younker ? I 
 am forry he has left the fervice. Adieu, my dear friend, 
 and believe me I am. 
 
 With the moft unfeigned regard and efleem. 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXIII. 
 
 Englijh Harboury Dec, 29, 1786. 
 
 ilY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 I AM fure it' is a full twelvemonth fince I 
 have had a line ; you will fay I do not deferve it ; oftener 
 than that however ; for fince May I know of three let- 
 ters which I put myfelf into the packet. If you think me 
 unmindful of the favours and kindnefles I received at 
 your hands, you do me injuftice. I am at this moment 
 more thankful for them than I was when they were 
 granted ; then I was not capable of judging of their 
 value. Let this be your opinion of your Horatio, and I 
 truft it will be for the future. 
 
APPENDIX. 37 
 
 You will know long before this reaches you, that 
 Prince William is under my command. I (hall endea- 
 vour to take care that he is not a lofer by that circumftance. 
 He has foibles, as well as private men, but they are far 
 overbalanced by his virtues. In his profelTional line he is 
 fuperior to near two thirds, I am fure, of the lift ; and 
 in attention to orders, and refpe£l to his fuperiors, I 
 know hardly his equal. The iflanders have made vaft en- 
 tertainments for him 5 but all this you will fee in the 
 Englifti papers. 
 
 I am in momentary expe£lation of Sir Richard Bicker- 
 ton, from reports; for the Admiralty are wonderfully 
 fecret. I wifli he was arrived, for this ftate of uncer- 
 tainty is very unpleafant. The Prince is to remain in 
 thefe feas till May, when he returns to Nova Scotia, at 
 which time I hope to fet fail for Old England, for 1 am 
 moil heanily fick of thefe iflands. 
 
 Heaven blefs you, my dear friends, and believe that 
 I am unalterably your 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXIV. 
 Page 51. — He continued on the fame Jiation» 
 
 Boreas J Engltjh Harbour^ Feb, 9, 1787. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 Your letter of November 29th I received by 
 a merchant-ftiip ; it is the only one I have got, although 
 I fee you have written feveral ; but not a line has ever 
 reached me till now. I was fearful I had unknowingly 
 offended, but am happy to find it is not {o, I am at a 
 
3^ APPENDIX. 
 
 lofs how to dire£l this letter, but fhall fend it to youF 
 agent ; for I iiave never heard of your removal to Ken- 
 fington, nor am I certain you live there now, but it muft 
 take its chance. I am here without fhips enough to hold 
 court-martials; and difcipline, you know, cannot be kept 
 up Virithout that refort. 
 
 Montferrat, Feb. 14. 
 I AM here with the Pegafus and Solebay ; the 
 ifland has made fine addreffes and good dinners, &c. To- 
 morrow we fail for Nevis and St. Chriftopher's, where 
 the fame fine things will be done over again. His Royal 
 Highnefs keeps up ftrid difcipline in his (liip, and with- 
 out paying him any compliment, {he is one of the firll 
 ordered frigates I have feen. He has had more plague 
 with his officers than enough ; his firft lieutenant will, I 
 have no doubt, be broke ; I have put him under arreft ; 
 he having written for a court-martial on himfelf to vin- 
 dicate ids condudl, becaufe his captain thought proper to 
 reprimand him in the order-book : in (hort, our fervice 
 has been fo much relaxed during the war, that it will 
 cofl many a court-martial to bring it up again. 
 
 I am kept in utter darknefs who is coming to this 
 country. Since Auguft, when Sir Richard Hughes left the 
 ftation, the Admiralty have not written me a fingle line, 
 except an order to take the Pegafus and Solebay under 
 my command. Many things have happened, and they 
 have neither approved, n^r otherwife, of my conduft — 
 that Lord Howe is a ftrange character — it may be all 
 right, but I can't underftand it. Pray remember me 
 kindly to Lord Ducie, and many others that may pleafe 
 to honour me with their remembrance, I am forry for 
 
APPENDIX. 39 
 
 your wine, but I have five dozen of it faved and in 
 bottles. Rum I have plenty of on board, and you fhall 
 have as much as you pleafe, and whatever elfe 1 am in 
 polFeflion of, being, as I ought to be, with the tnieft efleem. 
 
 Your moft faithful 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXV. 
 Page 51. — His Royal Highnefs, Sec, 
 
 Boreas, on her PaJJage to Tortola^ 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, March 21, I787. 
 
 Your letter of December 26th I received a 
 few days ago ; as this is the fecond I have received dated 
 Kenfington, I (hall diredl this thither. I wifli I may 
 be able to procure any of the things your friend wants, 
 but I fear it is too late on the ftation to exped much : 
 indeed, my time fmce November, has been entirely taken 
 up attendmg the Prince in his tour round thde iflands. 
 However, except Grenada, this is the lali, when I fhail 
 repair to Englifli Harbour, and fit the Poreas for a voyage 
 .to England ; happy (hall I be when that time arrives ; 
 no man has had more illncfs, or more trouble on a ftation 
 than I have experienced ; but let me lay a balance on 
 the other fide — I am married to an amiable woman that 
 far makes amends for every thing: indeed till I married her 
 I never knew happinefs. I fhall have great pleafurc in in- 
 troducing you to her. Prince William did me the honour 
 to ftand her father upon the occafion, and has fhewn every 
 a£l of kindnefs that the moft profeflbd friendfhip could 
 beftow. His Royal Highnefs leaves this country in June, by 
 
 C4 
 
40 APPENDIX. 
 
 which time I hope my orders wiU arrive, or fomebody be 
 appointed to the command of this ftation. The wonder to 
 me is, that any independent man will accept it, for there 
 is nothing pleafant to be got by it. Farewell, my dear 
 Sir, and believe me to be 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXVI. 
 
 MY DEAR S?R, Fortjmouthy July 3, 1 787. 
 
 Your truly kind letter 1 received laft night ; 
 you are, as ever, too kind. What is to be my immediate 
 deftinaiion I know not, but I rather think I (hall go out 
 with the fleet now at Spithead. We are ultimately to be 
 paid off at Woolwich. My dear wife is much obliged 
 by your kind inquiries. I have no doubt but you will 
 like her upon acquaintance, for although I muft be par- 
 tial, yet fhe pofl'efiTes great good fenfe and good temper. 
 We are at a court-martial. 
 
 Ever yours truly, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 Charles Pole defires me to fay every thing that is kind 
 for him. 
 
 No. XXVII. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, FortJmouthy Aug, 12, 1787. 
 
 It is not kind that our native air fhould treat a 
 poor wanderer as it has done me fince my arrival ; thp 
 rain and cold at firft gave me a fore throat and its accom- 
 paniments 5 the hot weather has given a flow fever, not 
 
APPENDIX, 4t 
 
 abfolutely bad enough to keep my bed, yet fufficient to 
 prevent me from doing any thing. I could not have 
 written a letter for the world ; now the wind has fet 
 in to the weftward, and the air is cool, I am quite well 
 again. You have but too much caufe to fcold me for not 
 writing, but all my other friends have the fame caufe, if 
 that is any excufe. However, be aiTured that the things 
 I have for you are perfe<5lly fafe, and although I may be 
 carelefs in not writing, yet your former kindnefs to me 
 is never out of my mind. When Boreas is to be paid 
 off feems as uncertain as ever. If we are to have a 
 buftle I do not want to come on fhore ; I begin to think 
 I am fonder of the fea than ever. Mrs. Nelfon returns 
 her beft thanks for your kind inquiries; I fhall have 
 great pleafure in making her known to fo valuable a 
 friend, but fhe knows you already moft perfedly. Charles 
 Pole is gone to Southampton ; he is perfe(511y well. I 
 beg my kind remembrances to your fons, and believe me 
 to be ever Your mod afFedionate 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. xxvin. 
 
 Page 51. — From this time Captain Nelfon ^ &c. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Bathy Jpril 2^ 1788. 
 
 I HAVE for this longtime been very negligent 
 about writing, nor, thank God, have I the caufe of ill- 
 nefs, for never was I fo well ; but we have been for this 
 laft month at a relation's near Briftol, and am only juft 
 returned here in order to drink the waters another fort- 
 night, after which, we are going to Exmouth for a vifit 
 for a month, from whence we fhall pafs through Londoo 
 
42 APPENDIX. 
 
 on our way to Norfolk. — Pray remember me kindly to 
 Captain Kingfmill ; I would direct this letter under cover 
 to him, but I am told he has let his houfe. (yur fea-folks 
 here are pretty numerous ; but I am tired of this place, 
 and long to get into the country. Our friend Charles 
 Pole has been fortunate in his trial, but the lottery is fo 
 very much againft an officer, that never will I knowingly 
 involve myfelf in a doubtful caufe. Prize-money is 
 doubtlefs very acceptable, but my mind would havefufFered 
 fo much, that no pecuniary compenfaiion at fo late a pe- 
 riod, M ould have made nie amends. I am at this moment 
 under a prof( cution by fomc Americans, for (eizing their 
 veflTels in the Wei. Indies, but I have written them word 
 thai I will have nothing to lo with them, and they mud 
 a6f as they think proper : Government, I fuppofe, will do 
 •what is right, antl not leave me in the lurch. We have 
 heard enough alely of the confequence of the A61 of 
 Navigation to this country ; they may take my perfon ; 
 but if fixpence would fave me from a profecution, I would 
 not give it. In fome meafure I agree with you about 
 the guard-fhips and fmall vefTels, fo far certainly, that I 
 would take half of every ihip's company that are cruifers 
 in the Channel, and put ihem into the new-commiilioned 
 large fhips, and let the fmall ones raife more. What 
 the papers tell us to be the condudl: of this country towards 
 Ruflia, is retaliation ; at leaft, if our friendihip is worth 
 buying, we may have our own price. Spain appears 
 fixed not to let their fleet come into the Straits ; the 
 armed neutrality of the Emprefs falls mofl: defervedly on 
 herfelf ; I think if her fleet is abh: to get out of the 
 Baltic, we Ihould have a fqi'adron of large (hips in Gib- 
 raltar Bay to keep the peace, or affift one fide, or other ; 
 fomething #*»♦*** 
 
 CiVtera difunt. 
 
APPENDIX. 43 
 
 No. XXIX. 
 
 Page ^^.^-He was apfomUd to the Agamemnon, 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Bumham, Jan, 26, 1793. 
 
 Lord Hood tells me that I am now fixed for 
 the Agamemnon at Chatham, and that whatever men are 
 l-aifed for her will be taken care of on board the Sand- 
 wich ; I have fent out a lieutenant and four midfhipmen 
 to get men at every fea-port in Norfolk, and to forward 
 them to Lynn and Yarmoqth : my friends in Yorkfhire 
 and the north tell me they will fend what men they can 
 lay hands on to the regulating captain at Whitby and 
 Newcaftle. The name of the Ihip was fixed for the 
 avowed purpofe of my raifing men for fea, therefore I 
 hope if any men from London are inclined to enter for 
 her, you will not turn your back upon them, as although 
 my bills are difperfed over this country, &c. I have defired 
 that no bills may be ftuck up in London, till my commiifion 
 is figned. Lord Hood has been very kind indeed. From 
 what Lord Howe writes me, I think the Ihip will be 
 CommiiTioned within a fortnight, and I (liall join her di- 
 fedlly. Mrs. Nelfon joins in kindeft refpedl with 
 Your obliged and affedionate 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXX. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Navv Office, Feb, 6, 1793. 
 
 I SHALL join rry fhip to-morrow ; and if 
 poifible will get to Sheerncfs to pay my refpe6ts to you, 
 but fear it mud be Friday. The lieutenant and maftei: 
 join the (hip with me ; and I have to requeft, as I hear 
 an admiral is coming down, that yoy will have the good- 
 
44 APPENDIX. 
 
 nefs to difcharge Maurice Suckling, and fuch men as may 
 be on board the Sandwich, into the Agamemnon. Pray 
 have you got a clerk which you can recommend ? I want 
 one very much ; I urge nothing ; I know your willing- 
 iiefs to ferve. The Duke of Clarence defires me to fay 
 that he requeils you will difcharge Jofeph King into the 
 Agamemnon, or that I am welcome to any other man, to 
 affift me in fitting out ; he is but poorly, but exprefles 
 the greateft fatisfadion at the appointment you are likely 
 to fucceed to, and in which no one rejoices more than 
 
 Your aiFedionate 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXXI. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, Chatham, Feb. 21, 1793. 
 
 Most truly do I rejoice at your appointment*, 
 and hope you .will derive every comfort from it. I am 
 very much difpofed to like Mr. Fellows, and have told 
 him fo, and that every prote£lion of mine he fhall cer- 
 tainly have, againft a wafte of his ftores, Szc. but that he 
 muft be very careful, that no juft caufe of complaint can 
 be made againft him, for I will not fufFer any poor fel- 
 low to be leflened of his dues : he feems perfedtly to un- 
 derftand me, and I dare fay we fhall do very well together. 
 Don't be in a hurry about the charts ; I fhall fee you be- 
 fore we fail. Remember me to your fons, and believe 
 me Yours moft aiFeclionately, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 * To be Lieutenant-governor of Gieenwich HofpitaL 
 
APPENDIX. 4^ 
 
 No. XXXII. 
 
 Page 53. — And proceeded to his JiaUon in tht month of 
 
 May, 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, Gibraltar y June 24, 1 793. 
 
 We arrived here lad night from Cadiz, where 
 fix fail of the line have been to water. I have got for 
 you a calk of^ I hope, good fherry, which I (hall take 
 an early opportunity of fending home, and which I beg 
 you to accept as a proof of my remembrance. We have 
 done nothing, and the fame profpeiSl appears before us : 
 the French cannot come out, and we have no means of 
 getting at them in Toulon. We are to be joined off 
 Barcelona by twenty-one fail of the line, Spanifh ; if 
 they arc no better manned than thofe at Cadiz, much 
 fervice cannot be expedled of them, although, as to 
 (hips, I never faw finer men of war. The Lord is in a 
 hurry to get from here : we think he is to hoift the Union. 
 If any thing interefting fhould happen, you may be af- 
 fured I will let you know it, for believe me, with great 
 truth, 
 
 Your moft obliged and afFed^ionate 
 
 Horatio Nelsons 
 
 Remember me kindly to'all your family, Kingfmill, &c. 
 
 No. XXXIII. 
 
 Augvjl 20, 1793, 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, off Toulon, 
 
 I SHALL fend by Troubridge, if I can find 
 his fhip, a calk of fherry, which I hope will prove good. 
 The fleet has hitherto done nothing but look intoToulon; 
 
46 APPENDIX. 
 
 Lord Hood went with the fleet ten days paft to fpeak to 
 the Genoefe, about fupplying the French with corn, and 
 bringing back French property under neutral papers 5 
 for our being here is a farce, if this trade is allowed. By 
 all the accounts we learn, the diftri6t of Provence would 
 gladly become a feparate republic under the protection of 
 England. The people of Marfeilles have faid, they would 
 deftroy Toulon to accomplifh thii meafure. In (hort, 
 France will be difmembered ; but in all their mifery they 
 have no thought of kingly government. Lutwidge arid 
 Man have been very ill indeed ; we had fears for them. 
 Lord Hood is very kind. Agamemnon fails well and is 
 healthy, but we want to get into port for refrefhments. 
 Remember "me to KingfTOili,' Ivbojie his flag is flying ; 
 alfo to all our friends, and kindly to your family. Be- 
 lieve me yours 
 
 Mofl afFe£llonately, 
 
 No. XXXIV. 
 
 Agamemnony off Sardin'iny 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, Dec, I, I792. 
 
 Your letter of Auguft 8th I got two days pad 
 in Tunis Bay ; where Commodore Linzee has been ne- 
 gotiating for a French convoy under Le Duquefne, of 
 "80 guns, and a corvette. The Englifh never yet fuc- 
 ceeded in a negotiation againft the French, and we have 
 not contradivflcd our pradice at Tunis, for the Monfieurs 
 have completely lipfet us with the Bey, and had we lat- 
 terly attempted to take them., I am certain he would have 
 declared again (1: us, and done our trade fome damage.- 
 Lord Hood has ordered me from Linzee 's command, to 
 take the command of a fquadron of frigates off Corfica, 
 
 3 
 
APPENDIX. 47 
 
 and the adjoining fliore of Italy, to look out for fome 
 French frigates who are in St. Fiorenzo, in Corfica. 
 They are the fliips I had a little brufli with, joined with 
 one, or two others : if they are adiive, they may do our 
 trade fome damage ; but to fay the truth, I believe they 
 are more inclined to be paiTive, at lead they had much of 
 that inclination when I faw them. Lord flood has 
 written me a very handfome letter, and given me this 
 command. At Toulon I think they will have plenty of 
 fighting this winter. Captain Torlano, of the 30th, I 
 believe you know him, or fome of his relations at Ken- 
 fmgton, is killed ; but fhot and fliell are very plentiful 
 all over the harbour : I wonder more damage has not 
 been done. General 0*Hara, I hope, will be able to 
 drive the French from the heights, near the harbour, or 
 we (hall be unpleafantly fituated ; not that I think 
 Toulon is in the fmalleft danger : at all events, we can 
 deftroy the French fleet and arfenal. They are fome of 
 them the fineft (hips I ever faw ; the Commerce de Mar- 
 feilles has feventeen ports on each deck ; the Victory 
 looks nothing to her. You know Pole is gone to the 
 Weft Indies ; I have not feen him fince his order ; but I 
 know it was a thing he dreaded : had I been at Toulon, 
 I fhould have been a candidate for that fervice ; for I 
 think our fea war is over in thefe feas. Agamemnon has 
 had her (hare of fervice ; we have only had our anchor 
 down thirty-four times fince we failed from the Nore, 
 and then only to get water, or provifion. I have now 
 upw^ards of one hundred of this fhip's company abfent ; 
 we are not much better than a fifty-gun fhip. Lord Hood 
 has fent for Suckling, who was in the Sandwich, and I 
 dare fay has made him a lieutenant by this time. The 
 Lord is a very good friend to me : he is certainly the beft 
 
45 APPENDIX. 
 
 officer I ever faw ', every thing from him is fo clear, it is 
 impoflible to mifimderftand him. If I (hould go to 
 Cadiz, be afTured I will get you a hogCh^ad, or two of 
 fherry. Troubridge will tell you I did not fee him, or 
 his ftiip, after my letter by St. Alban's, Dec. 8. I am 
 glad to fee by the papers that Kingfmill is to hoift his 
 flag; pray, when you write to him, remember me kindly 
 to him ; fay, Can I get him any thing in thefe parts r if 
 fo, I will do it with real pleafure. I have been in fight 
 of the French fquadron all day, and we hear they have 
 been joined by a frigate from Calvi ; and really I think 
 that the frigate who received moft of our fire is not here ; 
 tltcy want one of their number is certain ; we have not, 
 ever fmce the firing, wanted thofe who fay they faw her 
 fink. 1 own it remains doubtful. Remember me kindly 
 to all your fons and daughters, Mr. Bradley, and all 
 friends. Believe me 
 
 Your moft affe6lionate 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXXV. 
 Page 54. — At ihejiege of Baft'ia, 
 
 JgamemnQn, Baftia^ 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, May 30, I 794. 
 
 I AM jufl got on board, after eight weeks 
 fervice on fhore, where I truft I have acquitted myfelf 
 in a manner my friends will be pleaftd with. The more 
 we fee of this place, the more we are aftonifhed at its 
 being given up: but the truth is, the different parties were 
 afraid to truft each other ; the furrender can be juftified on 
 no other ground. I only yefterday got your letter of 1 2th 
 
 2 
 
APPENDIX. 49 
 
 of December, which my brother fent in a boi. I have 
 now on board two captains, twenty-four other officers, 
 and 300 feamen of the fhips we fell in with laft Odober; 
 the officers abufe the crews, the people their officers, all 
 join againft their commodore for not coming down to us, 
 after we were crippled ; not that I have any idea they 
 coold have taken us^ but they certainly behaved fhame- 
 fully ill. The Fortunee is burned, the Minerve and Le 
 Fleche taken, the Melpomene is at Calvi, and I truft 
 will fall into our hands. We are now taking on board 
 (hot, powder, Sec, for Calvi ; which, although very 
 flrongly fituated, will, I believe, foon fall ; this done, 
 Agamemnon goes to Gibraltar to get fomething like a 
 refitment, having now been without the flighted re- 
 pair in hull, or rigging, fixteen months. Baftia is moft 
 pleafantly fituated, contains 14,000 inhabitants, will hold 
 20,000 ; a few hours carries parties to Italy. If the 
 Corficans know their own intereft: they will be happy 
 with us, but they cannot bear dependance. Remember 
 me kindly to all your family, whom I hope to fee ia 
 Auguft or September, and believe me 
 
 • Your moft obliged and afFecSlionate 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 Dire6l me a letter to Gibraltar. 
 
 No. XXXVI. 
 
 ylgamemfiOTiy St. Fiorenzo, 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, Jan. 17, 1794. 
 
 I HAD fome hop« of feeing my friends in 
 England very foon, but at prefent they are at an end, and 
 if I do not fail from this country before the fpring very 
 far advances, I believe I fhall give up all thoughts of 
 
 D 
 
5d APFENDIX. 
 
 goipg home till the campaign is finilhcd ; for I fhould be 
 truly forry to have the chance of lying by the walls for 
 two or three months in the height of fummer, and 
 when probably we Ihall have a6live fervice in this coun- 
 try. We are a week arrived here from a cruife of three 
 weeks off Toulon, during, which time we were fifteen 
 days under ftorm-ftayfails ; indeed fuch a feries of bad 
 weather I never experienced ; the fhips moft of them 
 ftrained a good deal, but fuftained no material damage, 
 nor did a fmgle fhip part company. We faw three 
 French frigates, but from the admiral's anxiety to keep 
 the fleet together, he did not make the fignal for the fri- 
 gates to chafe them till too late in the day, and they 
 moft unluckily efcaped. One of them was a crippled 
 fliip ; Agamemnon was the next to them by fix or feven 
 miles, but a line-of-battle fhip never chafes. I have no 
 doubt hut we fliculd have taken one, if not two, of 
 them, for few (liips fail equal to us, none I believe at 
 prefent in this fleet. The admiral is anxious to get to 
 fea again, to cover our convoy and expeded reinforce- 
 ments from England, and was only waiting till the Ber- 
 wick, commanded by our fliipmate Smith, was got ready 
 for fea ; but waiting for her muft now be at an end, for 
 laft night a very heavy fea rolling into the Gulph, 
 the Berwick not having, I underftand, her rigging fet up> 
 loft all her mafts, and is now a moft complete wreck. 
 The admiral, as you may believe, is much out of hu- 
 mour, thinking we have not a feventy-four to fpare, the 
 French fleet in the outer road of Toulon being as fol- 
 lows: Sans Culotte 12O, Tonnant 80, Ca Ira 80, Lan- 
 gucdoc 80, Genereux 74, Cenfeur 74, Duquefne 74^ 
 Certeaux 74, Commerce de Bordeaux 74, Mercure 74^ 
 Conqucrant 74, Gucrricr 74,. Souverain 74, Heureux 74, 
 
APt»ENDlX, 51 
 
 Batras 74; i^ the Inner, Hardi 64, Alcide 74; eight 
 of thcfe very good, fix bad but will go to Tea, three very 
 bad, with twelve frigates in the harbour, and five cor- 
 vettes. Fifty fail of Marfeilles ihips are fitting for 
 tranfports ; they have fome expedition on foot moft cer- 
 tainly, I think Port Eftecia ; many others Corfica. Re- 
 member me moft kindly to all your family, and believe 
 me ever 
 
 Your moft obliged 
 
 H. N. 
 
 No. XXX VI I. 
 
 Page 55. — In the encounters which took place. 
 
 Agamemnon^ Porto EJiecla^ 
 
 MY DEAR FRFEND, March 21, 1795' 
 
 You will have heard of our brufii with the 
 French fket, a battle it cannot be called, as the enemy 
 would not give us an opportunity of clofing with them ; 
 if they had, I have no doubt, from the zeal and gal- 
 lantry endeavoured to be fhewn by each individual cap- 
 tain, but we fhould have obtained a moft glorious con- 
 queft. Admiral Hotham has had much to contend with, 
 a fleet half manned, and in every refpe£l inferior to 
 the enemy; Italy calling him to her defence, our newly- 
 acquired kingdom calling might and main, our rein- 
 forcenrients and convoy hourly expe6ted ; and all to be 
 done without a for<:e, by any means adequate to it. The 
 French were fent out as for certain conqueft, their or- 
 ders Were pofitive to fearch out our fleet, and to deftroy us, 
 of which they had no doubt, if we prefomed to come 
 to adion with them ; then, their troops were to have been 
 knded, and Corfica retaken: however, thank God, all 
 
 D % 
 
$2 APPENDIX. 
 
 is reverfed ; I firmly believe they never would have 
 fought us, had not the Ca Ira loft her top-mafts, which 
 enabled the Agamemnon and Inconftant to clofe in with 
 her, and fo cut her up, that (he could not get a top-maft 
 up during the night, which caufed our little brufh the 
 next day. Providence, in a moft miraculous manner, 
 preferving my poor brave fellows, who worked the (hip 
 in manoeuvring about her flern and quarters, with as 
 much exadnefs as if fhe had been working into Spit- 
 head. The adion never ceaftd for upwards of two 
 hours ; no of the enemy were killed and wounded on 
 that day, and only feven of ours wounded. Agamemnon 
 had only 344 at quarters, myfelf included. I am flat- 
 tered by receiving the approbation of my own fleet, as 
 well as the handfomeft teftimony from our enemies. The 
 Sans Culotte at laft bore down, when the admiral called 
 me off. A gale of wind came on two days after the 
 adlion, which forced us in here, and moft unluckily put 
 the Illuftrious on fliore, where flie lies in great danger; 
 our fleet, except Courageux and. Illuftrious, is perfe6lly 
 refitted, and ready for fea ; we fail to-morrow for Leg- 
 horn to join Blenheim and Bombay Caftle, when the 
 admiral will immediately put to fea, to fee if we can 
 find any of thefe crippled fellows ; for fome went off 
 towed by frigates, and fome without bowfpxits. The 
 Sans Culotte is in Genoa, others are in Vado Bay. I 
 think we are quite up again in thefe feas, and if we 
 could only have had a breeze, I have no doubt but we 
 fhould have given a deftru£live blow to the enemy's fleet : 
 but however, it is very well. I beg my beft and kindeft 
 remembrances to all your family ; Jofiah is a fine young 
 man, and a brave fellow. Believe me ever 
 Your moft faithful friend 
 
 Horatio Nblson. 
 
APPENDIX. 53 
 
 All the enemy's fhips are fitted with forges, and fired 
 confiantly, from fiDme of their guns, hot (hot and (hells ; 
 but they appear afliamed of their orders, which are po- 
 fitive from the Convention, and find nothing is fuperior 
 to the old mode of fighting ; I only wifh fome of their 
 own fhips may fufFer by having a furnace in their cock- 
 pits ; that will end fuch a diabolical practice. If yon 
 fee Admiral Lutwidge, or ever write to Kingfmill, re- 
 member me to him. 
 
 No. XXXVIII. 
 
 Page 60. — That c'lrcumjiance led to a Jecond partial 
 encounter* 
 
 Agamemnony Leghorn^ 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, May ^^ ^195' 
 
 We have been here a whole week, expecting every 
 hour to hear fomething from England, but nothing comes 
 to us, neither mefienger, nor pods ; fure the people at 
 home have forgotten us. The admiral has not received 
 the fcratch of a pen for a mouth paft ; no reinforcements 
 arrived, nor have we heard of their having failed, and 
 yet the fix fhips of the enemy left Breft laft December 
 with the grand fleet, and have been arrived fix weeks in 
 Toulon harbour; and had we not fortunately crippled 
 the mails of the enemy fo much in the action, we fhouKl 
 have been left here in a very inferior Uate. The King 
 of Naples has fent us one more feventy-four, and the 
 Courageux will be finiflied to-morrow. We fhoufd 
 otherwife have had only fourteen fail of the line 
 to twenty, now we fhall have fixteen — fourteen 
 EnglilTi, two Neapolitans. But if, as reported by 
 ;he French minifter at Genoa, ihc preliainarijes of 
 
 ^3 
 
54 APPENDIX. 
 
 peace are a£lually figned with Spain, we (hall of 
 courfe lofe our Naples friends ; which will, in our 
 prefent flate, be a very heavy ftroke upon us, for our 
 ininider at Naples tells vs, as do Spain, fo do Naples. 
 Reports of the day fay, that the French fleet failed on 
 the I ft of May from Toulon eighteen, or twenty fail of 
 the line ; we fliall hear more, if it is true, in twenty- 
 four hours ; if only the former, I have no doubt but 
 we fhall obtain a complete victory ; if the latter, we 
 cannot exped it ; and what is worfe, a battle without a 
 complete vidlory is deftrudion to us, for we cannot get 
 another maft this fide Gibraltar : but Providence will, I 
 truft, order all for the befl. We are likely to get an 
 exchange of prifoners ; the vefTels are ready to fail from 
 Toulon with Englifh, who are to be exchanged at this 
 place ; we fail certainly from hence on Friday the 8th ; 
 we believe the French fleet to be ft ill in port, and we are 
 to proceed to the weft ward for Lord Hood, or fome re- 
 inforcements. You mention your fonjohn having writ^ 
 ten me a letter; I am forry never to have received it. Re- 
 member me kindly to him, and the reft of the family. 
 When I am to fee England, God knows, and have in 
 the prefenl fituation of affairs determined on ftaying here 
 till the autumn, or till another a£lion takes place, when all 
 a6live fervice will probably be over, in thefe feas. Re- 
 member me to our naval friends, or fuch others as in- 
 quire after me. I flatter myfelf^ if the promotion of 
 flags comes very foon, I fliall ftand a fair chance for the 
 marines ; if fcrviccs this war may be allowed a claim, I 
 may ftand to a certainty. One hundred and ten days 1 
 have been aduaily engaged at fea,and on fhore againftthc 
 enemy ; in three a61ions againft (hips, two againft Baftia, 
 m my fhip, four boat adions, and two villages taken, 
 together with (welve fail of veffels burned. I don't kpow 
 
APPENDIX. 55 
 
 any one has done more, and I have had the comfort to 
 he ever applauded by my commander in chief, but never 
 rewarded ; and what is more mortifying, for fervices ia 
 which I have been ilightly wounded, others have been 
 praifed, who at the time were actually in bed, far from 
 the fcene of acElion, But we ihall, I hope, talk of the 
 whole matter over the fire, next winter, at Greenwich. 
 Believe me ever 
 
 Your obliged and affedionate 
 
 HoKATio Nelson. 
 
 No. XXXIX. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, Off Minorca, June i8, 1795. 
 
 I RECEIVED your kind letter, dated April 15, 
 on the 14th of June, when Admiral Man joined, and 
 my friend William yelterday, with a book by Mr. Sum- 
 mers, whom I (hall be glad to be attentive to. Great 
 changes have taken place in this fleet, and more are on 
 the eve of taking place, as the admiral experts a mef- 
 fenger every day, with the j^count of the promotion of 
 feveral captains here : perhaps the Admiralty may com- 
 miflion me for fome (hip here ; if fo, provided they give 
 me the marines, I fhall feel myfelf bound to take her, 
 much as I obje(5l to ferving another winter campaign 
 without a little reft. We are now waiting for a convoy's 
 arrival from Gibraltar, but as the winds hang eafterly, 
 they may be fome time before they arrive. The French 
 fay they will fight us again, provided we are not more 
 than two or three (hips fuperior; I can hardly believe 
 they are fuch fools, pray God they may. The people 
 are all fquabbling at Toulon, one party in polTeflion of 
 the heights and fort Le Malgue, the Jacobins of the ar- 
 
 Z>4 
 
56 APPENDIX. 
 
 fenal and town. The fleet put to Tea for two days, but 
 are gone back, and found the Jacobins, the Auftrians, 
 and Piedmontefe, are only waiting for our getting to the 
 coaft of Italy and entering Vado Bay, which will be a 
 fine anchorage for us. We have our wants and our 
 wiOies in the fleet ; but, upon the whole, I believe we 
 are much more comfortable than the home fleet, and our 
 people very healthy, the fcurvy not known ; we eat 
 very little fait meat. I fliall keep this letter open till 
 I hear of a veflel going to Leghorn ; but our admiral 
 gives us but very little notice. — June 19. Mr. Summers is 
 recommended by Lord Hood to Admiral Hotham, and 
 Holloway has put your good wifhes for the young man 
 againfl: his name ; and he will certainly be very foon 
 made a lieutenant. — June 20. A vefTel going to Leghorn, 
 no convoy in fight, with kindeft remembrance to your 
 family, and Mr. Bradley, believe me ever your 
 Mofl: obliged, afFedionate 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 Hotham defires his compliments. 
 
 [N. B. Captain Nelson was appointed, in confequence of a 
 promotion of flag officers which then took place, to be one of ih^ 
 colonels of marines, on the 6th of June 1795-3 
 
 No. XL. 
 
 Page 60. — That circumjiance led to a Jecond partial 
 encounter, 
 
 Jgamemnon, off Cape Corfoj 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, J^b^i ^19S* 
 
 Mk. Summers is now fourth lieutenant of the 
 Agamemnon ; but as the vacancy is not by death, and only 
 in'the room of an officer invalided, it may be necelfary to 
 
APPENDIX. 57 
 
 have a friend to fay a word at the Admiralty for his im- 
 mediate confirmation : not that it is likely they will fend 
 out lieutenants to fuch vacancies. I told Admiral Ho- 
 tham of your good wifhes for the young man. We arc 
 now at fea, looking for the French fleet, which chafed 
 myfelf and two frigates into Fiorenzo, yefterday after- 
 noon. The admiral had fent me, with fome frigates, to 
 co-operate with the Auftrian general in the recovery of 
 Genoa, when I fell in with the enemy, who, expeding 
 to get hold of us, were induced to chafe us over, not 
 knowing, I am certain from their movements, that our 
 fleet was returned into port. The chafe lafted twenty- 
 four hours, and, owing to the frefhnefs of the winds, 
 in thefe feas, at times I was hard prefled : but they being 
 neither feamen, or officers, gave us many advantages. 
 Our fleet had the mortification to fee me feven hours 
 almoft in their pofleflion ; the fliore w^as our great friend, 
 but a calm and fwell prevented our fhips from getting out 
 till this morning. The enemy went off yefterday even- 
 ipg, and I fear we fhall not overtake them ; but in this 
 country no perfon can fay any thing about winds. If wg 
 have that good fortune, I have no doubt but we fhall 
 give a very good account of them, feventeen fail of the 
 line, fix frigates ; we twenty-three of the line, and as 
 fine a fleet as ever graced the feas. — July 14. Yefterday 
 we got fight of the French fleet ; our flyers were able to 
 near them, but not nearer than half gun-(hot : had the 
 wind lafted twenty minutes longer^ the fix fliips would 
 have each been alongfide fix of the enemy. Man com- 
 manded us, and a good man he is in every {cni'e of the 
 word. I had every expedtation of getting Agamemnon 
 clofe alongfide an eighty-gun fhip, with a flag, or broad 
 pendant j but the weft wind firfl: died away, then came 
 
5? APPENDIX. 
 
 cad, which gave tlicm the wind, and enabled theoi to 
 reach their own coafl, from which they were not more 
 than eight, or nine miles diftant. Rowley and myfelf 
 were juft again getting intoclofe adion, when the admiral 
 made the fignals to call us ofF; the Alcide* 74, ftiiick, but 
 foon afterwards took fi|:e, owing to a box of combuftibles 
 in her fore-top, and fhe blew up ; about 200 French were 
 faved by our fleet. In the morning I was certain of 
 taking their whole fleet, latterly of fix. fail. I will 
 fay no (hip could behave better than ours ^ few men 
 are killed, but cur fails and rigging are a good deal cut 
 up. Agamemnon, with her ufual good luck, has none 
 killed, and only one badly wounded ; by chance, . for I 
 am fure they only fired high : they put feveral lliot under 
 water, which has kept us fince at the pumps. The 
 enemy anchored in Frejus Bay, and we are fleering for 
 FiorcnzQ. 
 
 Believe me ever yours, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 The CuUoden lofl his topmaft as he was getting along- 
 fide a feventy-four, 
 
 Vi(Slory, Admiral Man, Captain Reeve; Agamemnon, 
 Nelfon ; Defence, Wells ; Culloden, Troubridge ; Cum- 
 berland, Rowley i Blenheim, Bazeley; I think thefe were 
 the names of every lliip that was engaged: if I have omitted 
 any, I beg their pardons. 
 
 No. XLI. 
 
 Page 6q. — Jn the etjjuin^ months i3c, 
 
 M V D E A R F R IE N D, Vado Bay^ Aug* 1 9, 1 795. 
 
 I HA VE leceivcd your letter of July 8th, with 
 g very l»tc newfpaper. I hope Lord Bridporl's fuccefs, 
 
APPENDIX. 59 
 
 if^Y\d, the appearances of the emigres landed in Britany, 
 will bring the war to a happy conclufion. The peace of 
 Spain is unfortunate, infomuch as it lets loofe an addi- 
 tional force againft the Auffcrian army here ; otherwife, 
 owing to the ina6tivity of the Spaniards, no benefit 
 whatever arofe to the common caufe. As the conditions 
 of the peace are not to be made public till September 23, 
 we may fuppofe there arc fome of the articles by no 
 rneans pleafant to the allied powers : I think myfelf, be« 
 fides money, the Spaniards have confented to give fhips, 
 I know the French long fince offered Spain peace for 
 fourteen fail of the line fully ftored, I take for granted 
 not manned, as that would be the readied way to lofc 
 them again. My command here of thirteen fail of fri- 
 gates and floops is not altogether unpleafant ; with the 
 fleet we do nothing, not a frigate is allowed to chafe out 
 of fight. As I have been fo much in the habit of fol- 
 diering, the moment it was known the Auftrian army 
 was coming, it was fixed the Brigadier muft go. How- 
 ever, I have fucceeded in all my attempts, and I truft 
 I ihall not fail in our prefent undertaking; nothing 
 fhall, as far as my force goes, be wanting on oui^ 
 parts; but Hotham hates this co-operation. We 
 expert Sir John Jervis to take the command, who, 
 I underftand, is a man of bufinefs. It is with real 
 forrow that I fhould appear to you fo negligent in not 
 fending you wine, which I fully intended, by Cap- 
 tain Burgefs of the Argo ; but my (hort hi (lory, I hope, 
 will plead my excufe. On the 4th of July the Argo came 
 into Fiorenzo from Leghorn, and I failed for Genoa 
 the fame night : I was chafed back on the 7th by the 
 French fleet, but did not go into Fiorenzo. After ouir 
 very little bufinefs, we anchored at St. Fiorenzo at one 
 P. M. andl I failed at dark 5 the Argp was then at Leg, 
 
6o APPENDIX. 
 
 horn waiting for a convoy ; this is the truth, and it mud 
 plead my excufe for apparent neglect. Do you ever 
 hear from Kingfmill ? If you write to, or fee him, temem- 
 ber me to him. I thank you for your remembrance of mo 
 to Simon Taylor. Weft India affairs feem to look but 
 black, but I hope they are at the worft, and that no more 
 blood will be fhed there. Admiral Ford, I am told, has 
 made 180,000/.— what a fortune ! Remember me moft 
 kindly to your fons, and all the family ; and believe me, 
 with the fincereft afFedlion, 
 Sir, 
 
 Yours moft truly, 
 Aug. 23. Horatio Nelson. 
 
 No. XLII. 
 
 Page 6^*-^Promoted Captain ISJelfon to the temporary rank 
 
 of Commodore. 
 
 Agamemnon, Genoa Mole, 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, March 4., I'jgS, 
 
 I RECEIVED, the day before 1 left Leghorn, 
 your letter of December 30, for which I thank you. As 
 to my failing for England, it is impofTible to fay when it 
 is to happen, for fo many fhips are in a bad ftate, that I 
 know not who is to have the preference. The convoy 
 muft, I fuppofe, fail next month ; but the Fiench are 
 fo nearly equal to us, that the admiral will not part with 
 many fnips. I am juft come from looking into Tou- 
 lon, where thirteen fail of the line and five frigates are 
 ready for fea, and fome others fitting in the arfenal : I 
 think by the end of this montl^ the enemy's fleet will be 
 at fea, and as they have a great number of tranfports 
 ready at Marfeilles, I firmly believe the fleet from Cadiz, 
 joined by fome from L'Orient or Bxp^^ will join them \ 
 
APPENDIX. 6l 
 
 when having a very fuperior fleet for one week, they 
 wrll efFe6l a landing between Port Eftecia and Leghorn, 
 I mean on that part of the coaft of Italy, when they 
 will of courfe poffefs themfelves of Leghorn, and 
 there is nothing to flop their progrefs to Rome and 
 Naples : we may fight their f^eet, but unlefs we can 
 deftroy them, their tranfports will pufh on and efFe£l 
 the landing. What will the French care for the lofs 
 of a few men of war ? it is nothing if they get into Italy. 
 This is the gold-mine, and what, depend on it, they 
 will pulh for. The little that I have feen of Sir John 
 I like ; he feems pleafed with my condii6l, and does not 
 feem very willing to let me go home, even if Agamemnon 
 does. I left the admiral on the 23d ult. to the weftward 
 of Toulon. I told him of your remembrances to him.. 
 Mr. Summers has fent home his eommiflion, and al- 
 though the officer in whofe room he came, was only in- 
 valided, yet the vacancy ought to be a good one, as he 
 died very foon afterwards ; therefore the lift is not in- 
 creafed by his appointment. I fuppofe Admiral Hotham 
 will be thinking of homeward fleering ; he has fpent 
 the winter at Naples, and been well received. 
 
 How unfortunate Admiral Chriftian has been 1 I hope 
 our Weft India illands will not fuffer more than they 
 have done ; but I fee Wilberforcc is meddling again with 
 the flaVe-trade, I feel very much obliged by Simon 
 Taylor's remembrances ; pray do not forget me to him 
 when you write. Were I an admiral, there is no ftation 
 I fhould like fo much in a war, as Jamaica ; I think I 
 could give fatisfa6iion by keeping the illand free from 
 privateers, which I know is the general complaint againft 
 our admirals. We are this day covered with fnow, and 
 it is intenfely cold ; this will make the campaign later 
 in opening, but every day French troops are arriving to 
 
6jl APPENDIX. 
 
 reinforce the army, I have my fears for Piedmont, 
 unlefs the Etriperor orders many more troops than 
 he has at prefent. I beg you will remember me kindly 
 to evQry part of your family, and do not forget me to 
 fu6h of our friends as you may meet with. Believe mc 
 Yours mod truly, 
 
 Horatio Nelsoi^. 
 
 No. XLIIL 
 
 Captain, at Sea^ June 20, 1 796. 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 For this lafl fortnight my deftination has been 
 fo often changed, that I have been very uncertain whc- 
 ther I was to go home, or ftay. The Egmont, Captain 
 Sutton> was under orders for England, with Admiral 
 Linzee's flag on board, and had carried the convoy from 
 Leghorn to Corfica ; at this time orders came out for a 
 third rate, the word fhip in the line, to go l^ome with 
 the convoy ; there could be no doubt but the Agamemnon 
 muft be the (hip. Sir John knowing Sutton's anxiety to 
 get home, and the intereft wliich had been made for that 
 purpofe, ordered the captain of the San Fiorenzoto take 
 the Egmont, and Sutton to take my ihip, when to my 
 great artonifhment Sutton declined going liome, unlefs 
 his fhip went, the beft conditioned and beft manned of 
 all thofe which came firft out of England : for more than a 
 week Agamemnon ftood for England, and had the corn- 
 (hips, which were momentarily expedlcd, arrived, I 
 muft have gone. However, when it was known in the 
 fleet, many wiflied to go, and the captain of this fhip had 
 the preference, he being in a very bad ftate of health ; if 
 i hoift my flag here, the Goliath I fancy will be my fhip j- 
 
APPENDIX. 63 
 
 ihe is, I hear, wretchedly manned ; however, I don't 
 mind, if I have but good ftufF to work upon. 1 left 
 Sir John yefterday off Toulon, in good health and fpirits; 
 he mod particularly defired me to make his kindeft re- 
 membrances to you, and to fay, that he would write, 
 but that I mufl fay the truth, he had not a moment for 
 writing: this ftation is particular for correfpondence, for 
 our minifters at all the Italian courts 4re ever writing. 
 Should the French come out, I am faiisfied we (hould 
 give a very good account of them. As to the news of 
 the armies, the French fo far outnumber General Beau- 
 lieu, that he has been obliged to retreat into the Tyrol ; 
 Mantua is befieged, but we hope it will hold out a very 
 long time. With kindeft remembrances to every part of 
 vouT family^ believe me ever 
 
 Yours moft faithfully, 
 
 Horatio Nelson, 
 
 No. XLIV. 
 
 Page 68. — The hlockade of Leghorn ^ the capture of For t-9' 
 Ferragioy &c. 
 
 Captain, Leghorn Roads , Aug* 2, 1796,^ 
 
 MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 I SHALL confine my prefent letter principally to 
 the fubje£l of your recommendation, with that of many 
 other friends of Mr. Summers. Very foon after his arrival^ 
 Admiral Hotham appointed him, in what was confidered 
 at the time a real vacancy, for it was certain Lieutenant 
 Wenman Allifon could not furvive, and he died a very few 
 days after his arrival in London. Lieutenant Summers 
 feels chagrined, and To do I» that after having been a year 
 
64 APPENDIX. 
 
 with me, and in a good vacancy, he is not confirmed; 
 and I feel it the more, as thofe made fmce him in inva* 
 liding vacancies, are confirmed. Indeed the Admirahy 
 have confirmed a Mr. Compton to a vacancy, when they 
 had adlually fent out another lieutenant, and tv/o are now 
 ferving in the vacancy of lieutenant, now captain Andrews. 
 This bufinefs I am fare wants nothing but a fair expla- 
 nation, which I beg you to do, I have fent one certificate 
 to Mr. Summers's agents, Marfh and Creed, and fend 
 you another, which pray prefent to fom.e of our friends 
 at the board. I have every reafon to believe Admiral 
 Young will ftate the matter fairly to Lord Spencer. 
 
 I may almoll congratulate yoti on our re-entry into 
 Leghorn ; the country, from the Grand Duke down- 
 wards, is fo completely in diftrefs by the blockade of 
 Leghorn, that all is in motion^ and if the French are 
 not out of Leghorn before the 15th, there will be a ge- 
 neral infurredion. The Leghornefe have told the French, 
 they mall not celebrate their fete of Auguft to, to which 
 the French mull fubmit ; they fay the Grand Duke is a 
 young man, but they do not fhare his miniftry. The 
 prefent governor of Leghorn, who is fixed fince the 
 French came, they fay is a traitor, and if there is an in- 
 furredtion his head will go off: but I believe we fhall 
 manage all without blood, and that the French will go ofF, 
 No perfon in Leghorn will buy the Englilh property, for 
 they could not fend it away; therefore except what is 
 deftroyed all is fafe. Some Englifli merchants compro- 
 mifed with Buonaparte for their effecSls ; they will lofe, 
 which I am not forry for. The fear of the French has been 
 the caufe of all their fuccefles in Italy. With kindeft 
 remembrances to every one of your family, believe me, 
 Sir, Your affectionate and obliged 
 
 HoRATiO Nelson. 
 
APPENDIX* 65 
 
 No. XLV. 
 
 Captain, at "Sea, Nov. 5, 1796. 
 MV DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 It is true that my time has lately been fo fully 
 employed, that I have not had that time I wiflied, to write 
 to all my friends. However, as I am now attached to the 
 fleet, I have not fo many affairs on hand. Sir John de- 
 flres rae to fay when I write to you, that he is forry he can- 
 not, fo much as he wifhes, write to you himfelf. We have 
 now done with Corfica ; 1 have feen the firft, and the laft 
 of that kingdom : its fituation certainly was moft defira- 
 ble for us, but the generality of its inhabitants are fQ 
 greedy of wealth, and io jealous of each other, that it 
 would require the patience of Job, and the riches of 
 Crcefus to fatisfy them : they fay thet^ifelves they are 
 only to be ruled, by the ruling power fhootlng all it^ ene- 
 mies, and bribing all its friends. They already regret 
 our departure from them, for no more filver harvcH will 
 come to their lot. I remember when we quitted Toulon 
 we endeavoured to reconcile ourfelves to Corfica ; now 
 we are content with Elba — fuch things are : however,^ we 
 have a fine port, and are at no expenfe for the government 
 of the idand. We are anxious to hear what the King 
 of Naples has determined on, in confequence of our re- 
 maining to fupport him \ if he is marched, I hope foon 
 to be in pofTeffion of Leghorn again. The condudl of 
 the Pope i^-extraojrdinary ; although he is at war with 
 the French, yet he has not opened his ports to us ; he is 
 fearful of a turn in theprefent happy profpe6ls : in (hort, 
 Italy has been loft by the fears of its princes; had they 
 expended Half the money to preferve their territories^which 
 
 E 
 
66 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 they paid the French for entering them, their countries 
 would have been happy, inftead of being filled with pre- 
 fent mifery, and diabolical notions of government. 
 
 We left St. Fiorenzo on the 2d at night, and are now 
 feeing our Smyrna convoy part of the way down the 
 Straits, and hope to meet Admiral Man, who has more 
 than a month paft, known the fituation of our gallant ad- 
 miral ; orders have been fent to him to join us, which 
 fame fays were received October loth, but if that is the 
 fadl. Admiral Man could not have failed on the receipt 
 of them. 
 
 So foon as our fleet is united, I have no doubt but 
 we (hall look out for the combined fleet, who I 
 fuppofe are about thirty-four fail of the line, badly 
 manned, and worfe ordered, whilfl: ours is fuch a 
 fleet as I never before fa vv at fea ; there is nothing hardly 
 beyond our reach : I need not give you the chara6ler of 
 Sir John Jcrvis, you know him well ; therefore 1 (hall 
 only fay, he is worthy of fuch a fleet, for he knows how 
 to ufe us in the moft beneficial manner for our country. 
 You will not forget me kindly to every part of your fa- 
 mily, and alfo to Mr. Bradley and our naval friends ; alfo 
 to Simon Taylor. As I read in the paper St. Domingo 
 is to be evacuated, I hope Jamaica will be fafe. All the 
 French army in Italy is going to the devil very faft. Wc 
 are on fliore, upon velvet. — Ever believe me 
 Your mcft affedtionate 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 A^«v. II, »^ Minorca, 
 
 I write this to go when opportunity oflfcrs. 
 Have you done the bufincfs for Mr. Summers ? 
 
APPENDIX. 67 
 
 No. XLVI. 
 
 Page 74. — A Jhort memorandum made hy the Csmmodore 
 
 hmjelf. 
 
 Irrejtjiibk, Lagos Bay y Feb, 21 y 1797. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 I WAS too unwell to write to you by the 
 Lively ; but as I know how anxious you are for my wel- 
 fare, both in health, and reputation, I fend you a fhort 
 detail of the tranfadions of the Captain ; and if you ap- 
 prove of it, you are at perfe£l liberty to infert in the newf- 
 papers ; inferting the name of Commodore inftead of /. 
 Captains MiUer and Berry, &c. authenticated the truth, 
 till I quitted the San Jofeph to go on board the Mincrve, 
 and farther than this the detail Ihould not be printed. As 
 I do not write for the prefs, there may be parts of it which 
 require the pruning-knife, which I defire you will ufe 
 ■without fear. I pretend not to fay that thefe fhips might 
 not have fallen, had I not boarded them ; but truly it 
 was far from impoflible, but they might have forged into 
 the Spanifti fleet as the other two (hips did. 1 hope for 
 a good account of the Santiflima Trinidada ; fhe has been 
 feen without mafts, and fome of our frigates near her. 
 Sir John has juft fent me word the Rofe goes for Eng- 
 land in a few minutes. I can only fay, believe me ever 
 Your mOil affedionate friend, 
 
 Horatio Nelson. 
 
 Captain Martin defires I make his beft refpe£ls. My 
 pendant i^ in this fliip. 
 
68 API'S ND15&. 
 
 No. XLVIL 
 Page 185. — On the lyh having holjlcd hh fiandard, 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, NapkSy Julyl^, *799* 
 
 Although I am fo ill that I can fcarcely fit 
 up, yet I will not let the courier go off, without afTuring 
 you that all your kindnefTes to me are frefh in my me- 
 mory ; I remember all my fricHds ; 1 forgive, from my 
 heart, my envious enemies. May God Almighty grant 
 you, my revered friend, that health and happinefs which 
 has never yet been obtained by 
 
 , Your afFedlionate grateful friend. 
 
 Nelson, 
 
 My friend Troubridge is a general officer. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 S. GosNELL, Piijitej, Little Queen Street. 
 
1805. 
 
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 H. D. SYMONDS, No. 20, PATERNOSTER:.ROWj 
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 AGRICULTURE AND BOTANY, 
 
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 1. \ GENERAL TREATISE ON CATTLE. The Ox, the 
 p, and the Swine : Comprehending their Breeding, 
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 Authorofthe*' NEW FARMER^s CALENDAR," "MODERN 
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 the kind has hitherto been published. 
 
 N. B. To prevent mistakes, and the obtrusion of former and infe- 
 rior works on the subject, the Public are requested to ask for, or 
 order, BARR*s New and Beautiful Edition of BUFFO N's NA- 
 TURAL HISTORY; which is executed in a degree of very supe- 
 rior excellence. 
 
 9. A NEVV EDITION of the ABOVE, in Fifteen Volumes, 
 l2mo. v^hich will be found to be the Ch.apest Edition of Buffon 
 ever offered to the Public. 
 
 In Boards, price , £.3 
 
 Bound in Sheep, and lettered 4 
 
 Ditto, Calf, and leftered 4 
 
 Elegantly bound in Calf, gilt and lettered.. 4 
 
 10. ORGANIC REMAINS of a FORMER WORLD ; or, 
 
 an E^camination of the Mineralized Remains of the Vegetables and 
 Aiiimals of the Antediluvian World, generally termed Extraneous 
 
 1.5 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 5 
 
 Fossils. By James Parkinson. Volume the First ; containing the 
 Vegetable Kingdom, 4to. with Plates, elegantly coloured. 2\.2:i. 
 boards. 
 
 In almost every part of this globe, the remains of a former 
 world are continually oftering themselves, for the contemplation 
 of mankind ; teaching, that the planet we inhabit has suffered 
 considerable changes by the ravages of an universal deluge, and 
 by the influence of other causes, acting with vast power, and to a 
 wide extent. Among these remains, the spoils of the vegetables 
 and animals of those da)'s are frequently discovered; evinciiig that 
 several species of beings then existed, which are now entirely un- 
 known, and perhaps extinct : their mutilated remains only being 
 left to prove, that they once lived, and luerc destroyed xji'ith the former 
 world. 
 
 These ntedals of nature, yielding incoatesfaMe record of one 
 of tiie most important a;ras in the history of the universe, exist in 
 great quantities in this island ; but whilst France and Gernialiy 
 have produced several valuable essavs on these important sub- 
 jects. Great Britain owns not a single systematic work on Ibis 
 branch of Natural History Reflection on this circumstance led to 
 tlie present attempt to form a history of all those bodies which 
 have been hitherto discovered; trusting that encouragement to 
 such an undertaking will be secured by the laudable curiosity of 
 those who dwell in those parts, where these wouderful relics of 
 tlie OLD WORLD, are daily, even by accident, brought to view. 
 
 11. DONOVAN'S NATURAL HISTORY OF THE 
 INSECTS OF CHINA, with elegant coloured Figures. In One 
 Volume ^to. 51. 5s. in boards. 
 
 12: DONOVAN'S NATURAL HISTORY OF THE IN- 
 <SECTS OF INDIA. 6l. 6s. in boards. 
 
 GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, 
 
 13. ELEMENTS OF GEOGRAPHY AND OF NATURAL 
 AND CIVIL HISTORY. CONTAINING, 
 
 1. The Order of the Spheres. 
 
 2. The Economy ot" the Sublunary Works 
 of Creation, inanimate and livingf. 
 
 3. Picturesque and general Sketches of 
 the different Parrs <>f the Earth ; and 
 the varied Appearances and Manners 
 of its Inhabitan s. 
 
 4. The Rise, RevoluHon, and Fa!?, of 
 llie priuiipa) Empires of the World. 
 
 5. Changes through different A^es in 
 the Manners of Manlciad. 
 
 6, 7 > 8, 9. Description of the different 
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 Africa, and America. Tl>eir Divi- 
 sions into Countries, Provinces, &c. 
 Their Climates Soils; Animahj, 
 Plants, Minerals, MomUain>, Ri\ers, 
 Laiv.cs, Canals, Commerce, Manufac- 
 ture , Curiosiijes, Schouls, Learutpg, 
 "Literati, Relignnis Prohssions, L.an- 
 gua ge Government, lliitory, &;c. 
 
 By John Walker. Third Edition, 9 ;> bound. 
 
 14. THE UNIVERSAL GAZETrEER; being a toncisc 
 Description, alphabetically arranged, of th ■ 
 
 Nations, Towns, Cities, Harbour; 
 Kingdoms Lmpiies, Oceans, Rivers, 
 States, Provinces, Seas, Lakes, 
 
 I Canals, 
 
 1 Mountains," 
 
 I Cajjca, dec. 
 
 III the Known World. 
 
6 BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
 TheGovERNMENT, Manners, and Religion, of the Inha- 
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 enlarged, and improved, by Arthur Kershaw, !2s. bound or, 
 with the Maps coloured, 15s. 
 
 15. The MAPS and CHARTS separately, forming a Com- 
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 loured, 8s. half-bound. 
 
 16. BROOKES's GENERAL GAZETTEER; or, Compen- 
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 of the Empires, Kingdoms, States, Provinces, Cities, Towns, Forts, 
 Seas, Harbours, Rivers, Lakes, Mountains, Capes, &c. in the 
 known World ; with the Government, Customs, Manners, and 
 Religion of the Inhabitants, &c. &:c. Illustrated by Maps. Eleventh 
 edition, 8vo. 10s. 6d. bound; or with Maps coloured, 12s. 
 
 17. THE NAVAL GAZETTEER ; or. Seaman's com- 
 plete Guide. Containing a full and accurate Account, alphabeti- 
 cally arranged, of the several Coasts of all the Countries and 
 Islands in the known World ; shewing their Latitude, Longitude, 
 Soundings, and Stations for Anchorage. With a particular Descrip- 
 tion of the several 
 
 Shoals, 
 
 Sounds, 
 
 Straits, 
 
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 Variation of the Compass, &c. &c. 
 
 Together with a particular Relation of the Shape and Appearance 
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 Pilot, Commander, or Seaman of any Ship or Vessel, in navigating 
 the watery Element. Also comprehending ample Directions for 
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 the Four Quarters of the World, and for avoiding Dangers on the 
 various and extended Coasts, in which near Sixteen Thousand dis- 
 tinct Names of Places, &c. are treated of and explained. By John 
 Malham, Author of Navigation made Easy and Familiar, and 
 other Works on Naval Affairs. Illustrated with Seventeen Charts, 
 including a Whole Sheet Chart of the W^orld, on Mercator's Pro- 
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 the Addition of near Four Thousand Articles. Two Volumes 
 Octavo, ll. 4s. bound. 
 
 18. The COPPER PLATE MAGAZINE; or. Cabinet 
 OF Picturesque Engravings ; comprising the most inte- 
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BOOKS PRINTED FOR H.D.SYMONDS. 7 
 
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 to many prints of a similar kind sold at treble the price. 
 Unitbrmly and elegantly printed on a fine wove Demy Paper, and 
 
 comprised in Thirty-four Numbers, the whole, or any part of 
 
 which may be had separate, as the Purchaser may think proper, 
 
 at Is. each, making Four large Volumes in 8vo. 
 
 19. An HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, COMMER- 
 CIAL, AND PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW OF THE PRESENT 
 SITUATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ; 
 comprehending a Description of the United States, their Extent, 
 Civil Divisions, Chief Towns, Climate, Curiosities, Soils, Moun- 
 tains, Lakes, Bays, Rivers, Springs, and Islands, Natural History, 
 Productions, Population, Character, Government, Provincial Con- 
 stitutions, Courts of Justice, Religion, Literature, Agriculture, Com- 
 merce, and History ; Copious and interesting Account of the late 
 War. — General and Particular Description of the Western Terri- 
 tory, Kentucky, &c. To which is prefixed, A General Account of 
 the Discovery of America, by Columbus; General Description of 
 the whole Continent of America, and the numerous Tribes of 
 American Indians, their Manners, Customs, Szc. &c. 
 
 To wliich is added, a View of tlie present State of the Spanish, French, English, 
 and Dutch Possessions in America an<i the West India Islands. Also an Appendix, con- 
 laiuiiiij varions interesting and valuable Papers and Instruclions relative to cultivating 
 Tobacco, Rice, Maize, Sircar, Maple-tree, &c. The Maps, Charts, and Plans, which 
 accompanv this Work, are laid down on a very large Scale, svith great Accuracy-, from 
 actual Surveys, made under the Inspection of the American Government, and are en- 
 graved in the best Manner. To these are added, elegant Portraits of Dr. Franklin, 
 General Washington, Vviiliain Penn, &c. &c. &c. all taken from original Painfingi. 
 7'he Plates, which for»i> the Natural History of America, arc elegant and accurate Re- 
 presentations of all the mo<!t remarkable Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Insect-;, Fishes, 
 Vegetables, &c. peculiar to the American Continent. Compiled froni the labours of 
 Ramsey, BulTon, Captain Morris, 
 
 Bris'-ot, 1 Brian Edwards, Gen. Tarleton, 
 Iralay, General Lee, Harper, 
 
 Barlow, ' John Aoams, Monro, Sec. &c. 
 American and En§li^h Pliilosophical Societies, and from variott^ original and authen- 
 tic Communications. By the Reverend W. WiNi erboTham, "i Hows-Lane 
 Chapel, Plymoutn, 11. 16-. boards, or 21. "is. hound. 
 
 •* The Puh'ic are certainly much indebted to Mr. Winterboiham. for having, ia 
 the tediouj Hours of Imprisonment, laudably exerted himM-lf in compiling this 
 Work. Like lifde't'rh, who produced his valuable History of tl\e (;/</ iTor/i/ while he 
 was confined as a State FriiO/ter in the Tower of London, thi. Historian of the Ntro 
 World writes in a simdar unfortunate situation ; may he finally meet with a better Rfl- 
 quital than that which h^s great predecessor experieiiced. 
 
 '♦ Mr. W. has availed himself, in this publication, of the labour of n>ost of the 
 Historians w ho have written on the subject of America, and lias broHijht into one corn- 
 
 Franklin, { Cooper, 
 
 Robertson, j Mor^e, 
 
 Jefferson, I Cate^by, 
 
 AbbeRavnal, Gordon, 
 
8 • BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
 prehensive view the result ofthdr inquiries and observations. Where he had not the 
 vanity to conceive him»elf capable of correcting their language, he has ado) ted their 
 expression; so that, in a long narrativ.*, he has often, as he niodestK expresses 
 himself, no other chiini to merit, than what arises from selection, and a few connecting 
 sentences, 
 
 <' The general utility of this Work, with the judgment and diligence discovered by 
 the Editor, will, we doubt not, ensure it that encouragement t.) which it is en- 
 titled." Monthly Lleviexv for De.c. 1795. 
 
 20. The MAPS and CHARTS separately, forming a complete 
 American Atlas, on line Paper, coloured. Folio, ll. Is. halfbound. 
 
 21. Dr. MAYOR'S ABRIDGEMENT OF THE TOURS 
 THROUGH GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, in Si.j 
 Pocket Volumes, embellished with an emblematical Frontispiec e, 
 and four accurate coloured Maps, viz. England, bcoTi.AND, 
 ICELAND, and Wales, I 8s. or, on superfine paper, ll. 4s. sewed, 
 
 22. Dr. MAYOR'S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT of the most 
 celebrated Yoyages, Travels, and Discoveries, from the Time of 
 Columbus to the present Period. In 25 volumes. 31. 15s. sewed. 
 
 23. An interesting NARRATIVE of the TRAVELS of 
 JAMES BRUCE, Esq. into ABYSSINIA, to discover the Source 
 of the Nile. Abridged from the Original Work, by Samuel Shaw^, 
 Esq. Fourth edition, with copper-plates. 4s. boards. 
 
 *.j^* Notwithstanding the utility and pleasure that may be derived 
 from Mr. Bruce's Travels, yjct that work, occupying five large volumes 
 in quarto, and being sold for five guineas, but few individuals can 
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 readers might not be debarred from the perus^,! of a work fraught 
 with so much entertaining and interesting information, this narra- 
 tive is extracted from those celebrated travels ; and on a fair and 
 candid perusal it will appear Mr. Shaw has brought into the 
 compass of a single volume every thing worthy the reader's atten- 
 tion. 
 
 24. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FRENCH RE- 
 VOLUTION, from its Commencement to the Establishment of the 
 Republican Constitution ; with a Transcript and Examination of 
 that Constitution. As also. Philosophical Remarks on the predis- 
 posing Causes of this wonderful Change in the Political IMcture of 
 Europe, and ^n Explanation of the chief Events which accompanied 
 it in its Progress. By S. Perry ; who, in consequence of the De- 
 cree of the National Convention of France, was, with the other En- 
 glishmen in Paris, imprisoned in the Madolonettes, Ecossais, and 
 Luxembourg. 2 Vol. 8vo. 14s. boards. 
 
 25. NEW PICTURE OF PARIS, translated from the French 
 of M. Mercier. 2 vols. Bvo. 16s. boards. 
 
 *^* This Work will be found to contain not only a lively de- 
 scription of the French Metropolis, but an accurate delineation of the 
 Manners of the Inhabitants, the Public Amusements, and every 
 thing worthy of the attention of foreigners. It also abounds with cu- 
 rious, interesting, and original Anecdotes of the French Revolution j 
 and, perhaps, gives a better picture of those wonderful Transactions 
 than any publication extant. 
 
 26. PARIS DELINEATED ; including a Description of the 
 principal Edifices and Curiosities of that Metropolis ; from the 
 
BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D SYMONDS. 9 
 
 Frenchof Mergiek,2 vols. 8vo. 13s. boards, embellished with aa 
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 *** A picture of the Manners and Customs of a foreign city is 
 not less useful to the Traveller than a description of the Streets and 
 Buildings ; and for want of such a Guide many an Englishman has 
 visited Paris, and returned almost as ignorant of its inhabitants as 
 those of Otaheite. 
 
 27. SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND LITERARY CAREER 
 OF AUGUSTUS VONKOTZEBUE; with the Journal of his 
 Tour to Paris at the Close of the Year 1790. Written by Him- 
 self. Translated from the German by Anne Plumptke. To which 
 is subjoined. An Appendix, including a general Abstract of Kotze-r 
 bue's Works, and a Portrait of the Author. 8vo 7s. boards. 
 
 ** A more entertaining Work v.e never perused. We bi lieve it to be a faithful 
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 common degree of animation." Monihli/ Visilorjor April, 1800. 
 
 28. INTERESTING ANECDOTES of the Heroic Conduct of 
 Women during the French Revolution ; amongst which are. 
 
 The Queen of France, 
 
 Princess Lambaile — Prince-s Stanville de Monoca, 
 
 Princess Maria Helena Elizabeth — Duchess ot' Orleans, &c. &c, &c. 
 
 Translated from the French of M. Dubro^a. 
 
 The greater part of the?e Anecdotes are new to the world, having 
 been rescued from oblivion by the generous assiduity of the Writer ol 
 this Work ; and such as are well known are related with new and au- 
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 Printed on fine Foolscap, with an elegant Frontispiece. 5s. in boards. 
 For a Character of the above work, see <« British Critic^' and " Critical Review,^ 
 
 PHYSIC, SUBGEBY, ANATOMY, AND 
 CHEMISTRY. 
 
 29. The WORKS complete of John Brown, M. D. of Edin- 
 burgh ; consisting of — -1. Observations on former Systems of Medi- 
 cine, and Outlines of the New Doctrine. — 2. A Refutation of the 
 Doctrine of Spasm. — 3. Elements of Medicine, a corrected Transla- 
 tion. To which is prefixed, a Biographical Account of the Author, 
 By his Son William Cullen Brown, M. D. in 3 volumes, 
 8vo. II. Is. boards. 
 
 30. Dr. THORNTON'S MEDICAL EXTRACTS, on the 
 Nature of Health and Disease, with Practical Observa- 
 tions; including the Laws of the Animal CEconomy, and 
 the Doctrines of Pneumatic Medicine, In Five large and ele- 
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 Portraits of the most eminent Teachers of Medicine. Fifth Edition 
 with very considerable Additions. 31. boards. 
 
 " In conciudinEj our Review, we mii.st observe, that the very able Author of Medical 
 Extracts has rendered an important service to the profession, and mankind in general, 
 by bringing into a more connected point of view, and affording a more clear and saMs- 
 factory detail of ih ' numerous facts and reasonings which form the basis of the present 
 improved state of medical science." Vifk Critical Revievo. 
 
10 BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
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 Blood. Elegantly printed in Colours, with Descriptions. By 
 R. J. Thornton. 15s. sewed. 
 
 32. FACTS DECISIVE IN FAVOUR OF THE COW POCK, 
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 By R. J. Thornton, M. D. 2d. Edition with Plates, 7s. boards. 
 
 «*'0n comparing the Title Page of the present with that of the former edition of 
 this Book, the reader will perceive that the Work has been considerably extended, and 
 its object enlarged. It contains, indeed, a sufficiently clear and ample account of all 
 the subjects it professes to notice. To those who axe yet strangers to, or have any 
 doubts on the subject of VACCINE INOCULATION, it will afford both interest 
 and instruction,^* Medical and Chirurgical Review for July 1, 1803. 
 
 *^* May be had a few remaining Sets of Dr. Thornton's New 
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 each. 
 
 S3. The CHExMICAL POCKET-BOOK; or. Memoranda 
 Chemica; arranged in a Compendium of Chemistry, ac- 
 cording to the latest Discoveries, with Bergman's Table of Single 
 Elective Attractions, as improved by Dr. G. Pearson. Calculated 
 as well for the occasional Reference of the professional Student, as 
 to supply others with a general Knowledge of Chemistry. By James 
 Parkinson, Hoxton. Third Edition, including every New Dis- 
 covery to the present Time. 6s. boards. 
 
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 mendation of it to all students in chemistry." Vide Medical and Physical Journal. 
 
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 of nurses and attendants, through the whole course of different disorders." 
 
 Critical Review, 
 
 ** We have perused the above Work with uncommon satisfaction with the design, 
 as well as with the manner in which it is executed." Atedical and Fhysical Journcl. 
 
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 Four Letters: 1st. On the Qualifications necessary for a Youth in- 
 tended for the Profession of Medicine or Surgery. 2nd. On the 
 Education of a Medical Student, improved Course of Hospital 
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 according to the present System of Medical Education. 1th. Hints 
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 boards. 
 
 «« The work before us will be found not less interesting than instructive by the 
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 to answer the benevolent intentions of the writer." British Critic. 
 
BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. U 
 
 '* Th« author lias treated his various subjects in so judicious a manner, and ex- 
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 London Medical Review. 
 
 36. PARKINSON'S HINTS FOR THE IMPROVEIVIENT 
 OF TRUSSES, intended to render their Use less inconvenient, and 
 to prevent the Necessity of an Understrap. With a Description 
 of a Truss of easy Construction, and slight Expence, for the Use 
 of the Labouring Poor; to whom this little Tract is chiefly ad- 
 dressed. 9d. 
 
 ** These Hints are certainly entitled to the attention of all who have the misfortune 
 to be afflicted with this dreadlul disorder." Anti-Jacobin, Oct. 1802. 
 
 ** The contrivance here recommended is at once so simple, and apparently so 
 effectual for the purpose to which it is designed, that mc question whether the mo^ 
 skilful artist could add materially to its advantages, much /fw pretensions to improve- 
 ment, than are here held forth, and much rvurse founded ones have led to a monopolj*, 
 by patent, in innumerable instances." Medical and Chirurgical Reviezv, January, 1803. 
 
 37. THE PHYSICIAN'S VADE MECUM ; being a Compen- 
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 Rev. JcsephTownsend, Rector ofPewsey,Wilts. SixthEdit. 4s. 
 
 38. A PRACTICAL TREATISE on the different FEVERS 
 of the WEST INDIES, and their Diagnostic Symptoms. By Wil- 
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 Royal College of Physicians, and Physician to the Forces. 2s. 6d. 
 
 39. The Second Part ofan ESSAY ONTHE ANTIVENE- 
 REAL EFFECTS OFNITROUS ACID, and other analogous Sub- 
 stances, which have lately been proposed as Substitutes for Mercury. 
 By Wm. BLAiRy a. M. F. M. S. Member of the Royal College 
 of Surgeons in London, Surgeon of the Lock Hospital and Asylum, 
 of the Finsbury Dispensary, and Lecturer on the Diseases and 
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 *' We do not hesitate to recommend this work to the perusal of every medical prac- 
 titioner, especially the surgeon." London Review. 
 
 40. A Second Edition of the First Part, 4s. 6d. 
 
 41. A DICTIONARY OF SURGERY, or, the YOUNG 
 surgeon's Pocket Assistant, by Benjamin Lara, 6s. bound. 
 
 42. A COMPENDIUM OF ANATOMY, being a Pocket 
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 ductions of Surgery, and the Arts of Designing, Painting, and 
 Sculpture ; in twelve Figures. In which the Bones and Muscles of 
 the Human Body are represented, as they appear in the best chosen 
 Attitudes, when c'^ared of the Skin, the Membrana Adiposa, and 
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n BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
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 43. THE ACCOMPLISHED TUTOR; or, Complete 
 System of Liberal Education ; being an Introduction to 
 Scientifical Knowledge and Genteel Accomplishments : containing 
 the most improved Theory and Practice of the following Subjects ; 
 
 English Grammar and 
 Elocution, 
 
 Penmanship and Short- 
 hand, 
 
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 Decimal, 
 
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 chants Accompts, 
 
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 tecture, 
 
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 Trigonometry, 
 
 Logarithms, 
 
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 Electricity, 
 
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 and Painting, and a 
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 (or in Seventeen Numbers, to be Jifed by One or more at a Time, 
 Is. each) each Number containing Fifty-six Pages of Letter-press, 
 and the Whole embellished with Twenty-six useful and elegant 
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 To enumerate the various classes of individuals to whom the preservt Work will be 
 highly acceptable, Mould be to particularize almost every description of mankind. 
 The Scholar, under the tuition of a Master, would find his labours greatly abridged by 
 a reference to svich a Treatise. The Mechanical Youth, and Man of Business, will 
 find all that is necessarj' to qualify ihem for the Shop and Countirg-honse. Those 
 "Who have missed the advantages of a liberal Education, may here supply that defect; 
 and the experienced Scholar ma.v find his account in reviewing the earlier part of his 
 education. 
 
 *' This certainly is a useful and cheap Work ; the modern improvements on eacli 
 subject are introduced j and we have no scruple in giving it our general recom- 
 mendation." Vide British Critic y November, 1802. 
 
 44. DICTIONARY OF POLITE LITERATURE; or. Fa- 
 bulous History of the Heathen Gods and Illustrious 
 Heroes. 2 vols. ISrao. embellished with numerous elegant en- 
 gravings. 12s. boards ; or, on fine Paper, hot-pressed, with first 
 impressions of the Plate.s. ll. Is. boards. 
 
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 and perspicuous." British Critic, June, 18l)4. 
 
 " This- is a work of much merit, ornamented with a number of well executed and 
 appropriate copper-plates. All the personages, whether divinities or heroes, that 
 swell the pages of ancient poetry and mythology, are here described in a very ample 
 arvd correct manner. To boys who are studying the Latin and Greek Authors, these 
 V€vlumes wjU be a most acceptable present." Critical Review, July, 1804. 
 
 45. MENTOR; or. The Moral Conductor of Youth 
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 painful Experience, candidly stated, and usefully adapted to the 
 Level of youthful Understanding. To which is added, as an Incite- 
 ment to the Study of it in grown Youth, during their Hours of 
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 Advantages, and Amusement of Mathematical Learning. By David 
 Morrick, Author of The Art of Teaching, &c. &c. os. boards. 
 
 ** We have- with great satisfaction perused this V»)lume ; and ferl ourselves bound^ 
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BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 13 
 
 rxtensive circulation. The Lessons which it inculcates are, we are assured, founded 
 on actual experience, and have, therefore, tiie strongest claims to attention." 
 
 European Magazine, July, 1802. 
 
 46. AN ABSTRACT OF THE ART OF TEACHING, or 
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 Writing, Arithmetic, &c. &c. By David Morrice. Is. 6d. sewed. 
 
 47. ENGLISH COMPOSITION, on a Method entirely new; 
 with various contrasted Examples from celebrated Writers. The 
 Whole adapted to common Capacities, and designed as an easy 
 Help to form a good Style, and to promote an early Acquaintance 
 with the Works of the best Authors, l^y the Rev. G.G. Scraggs, 
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 an English Reader, with Remarks. 3s. 6d. bound. 
 
 We have now so many well written books in the English 
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 Blair's Lectures, and similar works, are either too expensive, or else 
 written in such a scholastic manner, that they are never likely to be 
 so extensively useful as the subject requires. This Volume com- 
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 the Author has given various contrasted Examples, by w^hich error 
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 48. BEAUTIES OF HISTORY; or. Pictures of Virtue 
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14 BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
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 54. By the same Author, SELECT ESSAYS ON THE MORAL 
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BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 15 
 
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f6 BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
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 EDUCA T ION— LA TIN. 
 
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 87. A METHOD ENTIRELY NEW OF LEARNING 
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 theory and practice, rules and examples, observations, and all the 
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 91. EXERCISES to the Rules and Constructix)n^ of FRENCH 
 SPEECH ; consisting of passages extracted out of the best French 
 authors, with a reierenceto the grammar-rules to be turned back into 
 French. By Lewis Chamuaud, 17th Edition revised and cor- 
 rected, \\«^th great Improvements. By Mr. Des Caihiieres. 3s. 
 
 EDUCA TION—GEBMAN, 
 
 A NEW GERMAN GRAMMAR : under the Patronage of 
 His Royal Highness the Duke of York. 
 
 92. A CONCISE PRACTIAL GRAMMAR OF THE GER- 
 MAN TONGUE. By the Rev. Dr. Render, Teacher of the 
 German Language in the University of Cambridge. 2d edition. 5s. 
 
 ** This is a useful Practical Grammar for beginners, ati(i the method adopted in it is 
 a sufficient recomineiKlation of the autlior as a teacher of the German Language. The 
 exercises are well introduced to ground the learner in the knowlerlge of the parts of 
 speech iii the proper order, and will be of great service to tlie teachers." 
 
 CriinaJ Reviezc, April, 1800. 
 
 93. REIsIDER's EXERCISES, io facilitate the Acquisition of 
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 94. A CONCISE ENGLISH AND GERMAN SPtL- 
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 Parts. By Godfrey Augustus Muller, Teacher of the 
 German Language. 4s. bound. 
 
 ARTS AND SCIENCES, TRADE, NATURAL 
 PHILOSOPHY, AND MATHEMATICS. 
 
 95. TH^ NEW CYCLOPyEDIA;or,UNivERSAL Dictionary 
 of Arts, Sciences, and Literature. P'ormed upon a more 
 enlarged Plan of Arrangement than the Dictionary of Mr. Cham- 
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 of the last edition of Mr. Chambers's Dictionary ; with the as- 
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 1 Ss. <?ach, in boards. 
 
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BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYM0ND3. 
 
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 Dedicated, by special Permission, to His Majesty f a nnu and 
 practical >l'ork, entitled, 
 
 96. THE DOMESTIC ENCYCLOPyliDIA j or, , a cdncise 
 Analysis ot such Discoveries, Inventions, and Impiovement<, as arc 
 more immediately applicable to u.e Purposes otT.jie; coinprehcnding 
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 perity in ilie various Branches o: rural and domestic GLtonomy : 
 calculated tor the Use of Private Fa.nilies, but more especially for 
 the Accommodation of tho-e who are not inclined to purchase the 
 more volammous and'expeiisive A orks. By A F. M. Will ch, 
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 97. A TREATISE ON BREWING : v^diereln Is exhibited 
 the whole Process of the Art and Mysteiy of Brewing the various 
 Sorts otMalt Liquor: with practical Examples upon each Species. 
 Together with the Manner of using the Ihermometer and Sac- 
 charometer : elucidated by Examples, and rendered easy to any 
 Capacity, in brewing 
 
 Wirtemberg Ale 
 Scurvey-grass do. 
 Table Beer, and 
 Shipping do. 
 
 London Porter Hock 
 
 Brown Stout London Ale 
 
 Reading Beer Windsor do. 
 
 Amber Welch do. 
 
 Also general Instructions for the making of Malt. By Alexander 
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 just pi'opoition of the various Quantities of Malt,, Hops, and other 
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 sibly be requisite for the young Common Brewer, or the Private 
 Family, in Town or Country : and as it is that kind of Knowledge 
 which none but the experienced Common Brewer can communi- 
 cate, the Author flatters himself that this Treatise will be found, 
 ibr Practice, superior to any other hitherto published. 
 
 *• The Author, it must be acknowledged, writes like an honest as well as an in- 
 telligent brewer ; and \ve have no doubt that this book will prove useful to those 
 Readers lor wliom it is calulated. He has nho prefixed a History of the London 
 Breiveryy which must be interesting to every Description of Readers.'' 
 
 Monthly Revieu.', July, 1S02. 
 See also A/iti-Jacobin Revie^^, An^. 1802. ' 
 
 98. THE LABORATORY ; or. School of Arts. Con- 
 taining a large Collection of Valuable Secrets, Experim.ents, and 
 Manual Operations of the Arts and Manufactures, higlily useful to 
 
 Gilders, Dykrs, 
 
 Jewellers, Cutlers, 
 
 Enamellers, Pewter ers. 
 
 Goldsmiths, Joiners, 
 
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 99. LAVATER's PHYSIOGNOMY, and PHYSIOGNO- 
 MONICAL RULES ; Essays on Physiognomy, for the Promotion of 
 tjie Knowledge and the Love of Mankind. Translated from the 
 German of the Reverend John Caspar Lavater, by Thomas 
 HoLCROFT, Esq. A new Edition, with Additions, corrected and 
 improved by W. Beaumont, Esq. in 4- large Volumes 8vo. 4 1, is. 
 in boards, or in 24- Parts at Is. each. 
 
 To this Edition is added a Translation of a valuable posthu- 
 mous Physiognomonical Work, by Mr. Lavater, lately published 
 ut Zurich, by Mr, G. Gessner, Son-in-Law to the Author, en- 
 titled One Hundred Physiognomonical Rules, elucidated by Fifty- 
 eight additional Engravings, together with a Life of Lavater, 
 
 Tlic most noble and truly praisie-worthy characteristic of these Essays, is the pure 
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 Christianity inculcates is enforced in every Page, and the whole Work, as the Title 
 imports, has for its principal Object to promote at once the Knowledge of huraaa 
 Nature, and the purest l^hilanthropy. 
 
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 and now first translated, and annexed to this Edition, form ol themselves a Work truly 
 curious, and highly valua!)Ie to ail who would v.ish to study Physiognomy as a 
 Science. They were not intended for publication by the !\uthor during his Life-time, 
 and only entrusted to a tew select Friends, under the strictest Inhibition from making 
 them public. They appear to have been considered by Mr. Lavater as containing 
 'the most important and profound Secrets of his Art. Their authenticity is unquestion- 
 able, both from the Testimony of the Editor of the posthumous Works of Lavater, 
 Mr. George Gessner, his Son-in-Law, and the internal marks they bear of the Styl|} 
 and Spirit of his Writings. . , 
 
 100. MERCANTILE, INTEREST, ANNUITY, and IRISH 
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 Directors of the Hon. East India Company, and patronised by the 
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 Times examined since printing, its Correctness may be relied on. 
 
 101 . The Twenty-second Edition of LEYBOURNE's READY 
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 bought or sold by Tale or Measure of any kind. Third Edition, 
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 101-. THE MATHEMATICAL PRINCIPLES OF NA- 
 TURAL PHIbQSOPHY. By StriSAAC Newton. Translated into 
 English by Andre\V Motte. To which arc added, Newton's 
 System of the World; a short Comment on, and Defence 
 of, the Principia. By W. Emerson ; with the Laws of the Moon'.-? 
 Motion according to Gravity. By John 1\L\c^iin, Astronomical 
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 The inconvenience ari>ing from the great scarcity of former Editions of Sir Isaac 
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 ts looked upon as a necessary acquisition in the,polite world. 
 
 105. THE CELESTIAL COMPANION; or, Projectiqns 
 IN FLANo of the Starry Heavens : simple, original, and useful, 
 accompanied by Observations explanatory of their LTse, and a 
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 tended to facilitate and promote the Study ot that sublime Science. 
 By Robert Wools by, Gent. Price 1 1. Is. 
 
 106. DAVIS'S COMPLETE TREATISE OF LAND SUR- 
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 107. THE DOCTRINE and APPLICATION of FLUXIONS, 
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 RELIGIOUS, MORAL, AND INSTRUCTIVE. 
 
 u^ "cery comprehensive , useful^ and cheap Work, for every 
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 108. INSTRUCTIVESELLCTIONS;ortheBEAUTiEsoF Sen- 
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 By the Rev. G. G. Scraggs, of Buckingham. Two V^oiumes, 
 12mo, Second Edition. 9s. bound. - 
 
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22 
 
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 109. LETTERSfrom the late Rev. William Romaine, M.A, 
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 111. A TRUE ESTIMATE OF HUMAN LIFE, in which 
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 1 
 
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 12 Developenient of the 
 
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 By an eminent Literary Character, 
 
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 *' Without entering at large into tlie merits of each plate, all of which are done in 
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BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 27 
 
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 ■ ' works are such 
 
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 8 The Wreath — Containing 
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 • Grave; Essay on the 
 Death of Lady Coven- 
 try ; Monody to the Me- 
 6 mory of a Yoking Lady ; 
 
 6 Ode to Melancholy ; 
 
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 Oliver Goldsmith 
 
 Thomas Gray 
 
 William Shenstone 2 
 
 Alexander Pope..... 2 
 
 Young's Night Thoughts, 
 
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 Milton's Paradise Lost 2 
 
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 Somerviilc's Chase, and 
 
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 Gleanings from the Works 
 
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 152. LETTERS written from France, in the year 1802; con- 
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 tics. By Henry Redhead Yorke, Esq. 2 vols, octavo. 15%. 
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50 BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
 have, from political Motives, remained in the Hands of the Printer, 
 
 ThtfoUoivmg are a part of ike Contents of tkislFork. 
 
 Arrival at Calais 
 
 Character of the Citizens of Calais 
 General Observations on the Mode of tra- 
 velling in France, 
 Journe\ to Amiens, M-ith an Account of 
 
 the present State of the Country 
 Description of Amiens, and happy Re- 
 lease from the Lion d'Or. 
 Journey to Chantiily, and Description of 
 
 that Place. 
 Journey to St. Denys: Description of that 
 Place and the Feudal Castle of Ecouen : 
 Arrival at Paris. 
 A Description of the Mode. 
 Attendance at the Bureau of the Minister 
 
 of Police. 
 General View of the State of France. 
 Description, of the Promenade of Long- 
 champ, the Bois de Boulogne, and the 
 Boulevards. 
 Tiie Garden of the < huilleries — Founda- 
 tion of the Republic — Anecdote of Ma- 
 <lenioiselle Therouanne—Knights of the 
 Poignard — Hall of the National Con- 
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 tempt to save him. 
 Garden of the Palais Royal — Manners of 
 
 the People. 
 Excursion to Versailles. 
 Account of an Establishment at Chaillot, 
 for^the Reception of aged Persons of 
 both Sexes. 
 Garden of Plants — Gallery of Natural 
 
 History — Philosophical Lectures. 
 The Arsenal — Site of the Bastile — Faux- 
 burgh St. Antoine — ^The Donjon de 
 Vincennes — Short Account of tiicEx- 
 '•Director Francois de Neufchateau — 
 The Temple. 
 Celebration of the Establishment ofOene- 
 -ral Bonaparte's Catholic Religion, and 
 of the General Peace-— Procession to 
 Notre Dame — Illuminations of Pans. 
 Theatres — Opera Bufla — Coronation of 
 
 Paeaiello. 
 Revi^'w of the Consular Guard — Extraor- 
 -tiinary Conversation with one of tlie 
 Heads of the Republic respecting Bo- 
 
 Visit to David — Account of his Paint* 
 
 ings. 
 Visit M. Denon — M. Huet — Collec- 
 tion of Drawings of the principal Ar- 
 tists of France. 
 Excursion toRincy — Amusements of the 
 
 Villagers on Sunda\ E\eniug. 
 The Pantheon 3iid its Lii)rary-— Halle au 
 
 ^ Bled — The Sarbonne — Obsei vatories. 
 Excursion to St. Cloud — Porcelain Manu- 
 factory a; Seve — A Duel. 
 Establishments for Public Instruction. 
 Tiie Military School-— Champ de Mars— 
 The M .nufactory of the Gobelins— 
 Manicl|5al Hall — -Garde Maublc. 
 The Conservatory of Arts and Machinci, 
 The National Institute. 
 The Central Museum of the Arts — Gal- 
 lery oi the Louvre. 
 The Gallery of Antiquities at the Central 
 
 Museum of Arts. 
 The Museum of French Monuments. 
 The National Library. 
 Humane Institutions — The Hospital of 
 Invalids — Soup E-tabliihments — La 
 Salpetritre — Hotel Dicu — Ho*pit^l of 
 Jesus — of Charity — Of X^iety, &c. — 
 The Foundling Hospital, 
 National Institution for the Deaf and 
 Dumb, under the Direction of Abbe 
 Sicard-;-The Savage of Aveyron. 
 Economical Establishments — Progressive 
 Annuity Fund — Society for the En- 
 couragement of National Industry. 
 The Agricultural Society for the Depart- 
 ment of the Seinel— General Vieiv of 
 the State of Agricuture in France. 
 The Post Office-Hal K of the Legislative 
 Bodies — Courts of Justice— Tlie Judge- 
 n^ent of Solomon revived. 
 Newspapers — Characters of those con- 
 cerned in them. 
 Philosophical, Literary, and other Pe- 
 riodical Publications. 
 Thomas Paiae— Joel Barlow — The Ab£>6 
 
 Casti — Dr. Suedaeur. 
 Helen Maria William* — Madame Talli- 
 eu — Kosciusko, 
 
 uaparte. I 
 
 1 5l A NEW SERIES OF THEUNIVERSALMAGAZINE ; 
 commencing January, 180], and published regularly on the first day 
 of every month. Is. 6d. (v;very six montiis' iorming a complete vo- 
 j'ume) occasionally embellished with faithful Hkenes.-;es, accompanied 
 with biographical memoirs of distinguished personages. Each num- 
 ber con taihing at least 6 sheets of letter-press : consistmg of origuial 
 communications in history, philosophy, belles lettres,- politics, amuse- 
 meiits, &c &c. 
 
 The department of original communications will c.ompreliend en- 
 quiries into every subject ot human knowledge; philosophical spe- 
 culations, moral disquisition?, historical and biographical re- 
 marks, antiquities, mikellaneous criticism, original essays, and other 
 communication;! on subjeclg vf literature in gencrajil. 
 
BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 31 
 
 Ori^nal Criticism, — In this department wc shall confine ourselves 
 to such vNorkv as are of acknowledged importance, interest, amuse- 
 ment, or uLJiity. 
 
 Original Poetry — will form a part of our miscellany : but we c*an- 
 dldlv avow to the Public our determination rather to devote the 
 pages reserved for poetry to some oth.-?r object, than to fatigue or in- 
 sult our readers with the vapid effusions of mere mediocrity. 
 
 What mav be termed the permanent part of a magazine, will in 
 this-consist of . 
 
 Parliamentary Debates, 
 Political Information, 
 Events in and near London, 
 Provincial Occurrences, 
 Deaths, 
 Marriages, &c. &c. 
 
 Proceedings of Learned Societies, 
 
 Literary Notices, 
 
 The Art^ and Sciences, 
 
 Cominerce, 
 
 Agriculture and Rural Economy, 
 
 The Drama, 
 
 In a word, our best endeavours will be exerted to render the Uni- 
 versal Magazine an accurate and faithful history of the times, to me- 
 rit its wonted distinction as a favourite repository of what may en- 
 tertain the vacant hour, and engage theattention of an intelligent and 
 inquisitive mind. 
 
 ] 54. The VILLAGER'S FRIEND AND PHYSICIAN ; or, 
 A Familiar Address on the Preservation of health, 
 AinD THE Removal of Disease on its first Appearance. 
 Supposed to be delivered by a Village Apothecary. By James Parkin- 
 son, Hoxton. With Cursory Observations on the Treatment of 
 Children, on Sobriety, Industry, &c. intepded for the Promotion of 
 Domestic Happiness. Second edition with a frontispiece. Is. 
 
 «< Wc cannot help expressing our opinion, that the'excellent society for betterinj: t!»e 
 condition of the poor, coiild not employ a small portion of their fund in a manner 
 more conducive to tlsat purpose, than by encouraging and facilitating the circulation of 
 tliis book among them." British Critic. 
 
 155.THE WAY TO HEALTH; a Selection of Maxims for the 
 Preservation of Health, extracted from the Villager's Friend; and 
 printed on a Single Sheet, for the Cottager's^ Fire- Side. Embellished 
 with an emblematical Print. 6d. 
 
 1 56. DANGEROUS SPORTS,-a Tale, addressed to Children, 
 warning them against wanton, careless,, or mischievous Exposure to 
 Situations, from which alarming Injuries so often proceed. Bv 
 James Parkinson, Hoxton. £rabellished with a Frontispiece and 
 II Wood Cuts. 2s. Vallum. 
 
 *' Iflij knozvs but one of my stories may one day save the life of some ch'ld."* 
 
 Old Milson'. 
 ** Parents and tutors are in duty bound to put so engaging a piece Into the hands of- 
 the rising generation. The benevolence of the Author entitles him to tiie fervent grati- 
 tude of young persons, \vM)0 by their volatility oftentimes injure themselves in a man- 
 ©cr which" baffles recovery." • "^ Monthly Visitor. 
 
 157. xMANUAL OF LIBERTY; or Testimonies in Behalf 
 OF tmk Rights of Mankind, selected from the best Authorititis 
 in Prose and Verse, methodically arranged. Svo. 63. boards. 
 
 158. DODSLEY's ORIGINAL CELLAR-BOOK: or, tf.e 
 Butler's As-sisant, in keeping a regular' Account of his Liquors. 
 Published annually. With Directions for Brewing, and useful infor- 
 mation respecting- the Management of Malt Liquors, &c. Sec. in 
 tiie CeJlar. Is. 6'd. sewed. 
 
^2 BOOKS PRINTED FOR H. D. SYMONDS. 
 
 159. THE STATE OF THE NATION with respect to Its 
 Public Funded Debt, Revenue, and Disbu R:^E^fKNT ; oom- 
 prized in the Reports of the Select Committee on Finance, app .nt- 
 ed by the House ofGommons to examine and state the total Amount 
 •of the Public Debts, and of the Interest and Champs attenaing the 
 same, to the present Time; particularizing the Receipts ana Dis- 
 bursements of all the Public Offices ; the Names of the Superior 
 Officers and Clerks in each Department ; their Salaries and Fees ; to- 
 gether with the Amount of whatever additional Pensions or Salaries 
 they receive from other Situations, paid by the Public. 4- vols. 8vo, 
 ll. 8s. boards.. 
 
 In Great Britain every farthing dravn from the Subject on accnimt of the Public 
 Revenue, and all deductions thoretrom, until th* Net Produce is paid intc Ut^ Exche- 
 quer, and faUs under the view ot Parliament, can be a>certHined with a mathematical 
 accuracy. Sucfi bcin^ the resruiarity and exactness with which the Public Accounts of 
 the Nation are kept ; it must be a pleasing gratification to krov\ the Causes and Na- 
 ture of the expenditureof such lart^e Suil\s of money which are drawn from Vlic pockets 
 ot' tf>6 Subject, under the deiiomination of Taxes. / 
 
 By means of such investigations being made public by the Legislature, every indl- 
 •vidual interested in the Public Funds will see the Amount of (he Funded Debt, what 
 remains of the Public Debt unfunded, and the Reso.^rcrs of the Country to di!,c!ia-ge 
 the claims of the Public Creditor. He will see the Produce of every article of revenue 
 liable to impost, Foreign, and for Home Consumption, wfth their variations at different 
 periods. 
 
 LastJyj The Merchant and Manufacture will see the Regulations recommended to 
 Parliament in those great Branche5 of Revenue, the Cnstpms, Excise, Stamp Duties, 
 Post Office, Sfc. ; by which, notonly themselves will he prevented much trouble aad 
 expence, but the Public will be moch benefited, by stopping of many useless Offices, 
 and abolishing many sinecure Places and Pensions charged upon the industry of every 
 individual in this country, should the recommendation of the Committee be adopted. 
 
 160 THE ONEIROCRITIC j being a Treatise on the Art of 
 
 Foretelling Future Events by 
 
 Dreams, Cards, j Zodiac, and the 
 
 Moles, The Signs of the j Planets. 
 
 Carefully done from the Arabic Manuscripts of Ibraham Ali 
 
 Mahomed Hafez. Is. 
 
 161. THE LETTERS OF JUNIUS ; with Notes and Illus- 
 trations, Hisiorifal,Tolitical, Biographical, and Critical. By PvOBert 
 Heron, Esq. The Second Edition, with Additions, in 2 hanusome 
 volumes, 8 vo. hot-pressed, ll. Is. in boards. 
 
 *^'^" This Edition contains, besides an Introduction to each parti- 
 cular Letter, with Notes and other Illustrations, several interesting 
 preliminary Essays, written b^ Mr. Heron: particularly, 1. On 
 the British Constitution: 2. On theEloquence of Junius ;,and, 3, 
 On the much agitated Question— *' Who was the Author r" In 
 thelastof these Essays, Mr. Heron has fully proved, that the late 
 cielebrated John Dunning, Lord Ashburt(.n, was actually the 
 real Author of Junius's Letters. An App^^ndix containing several 
 curious and interesting Articles, is now also, <br the (irst time, added : 
 so as to render it, in all respects, the most complete Edition of 
 Junius ever yet published. 
 
 162. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE BRITISH 
 GRASSES; containing accurate Figures, coloured from Nature, of 
 the most approved Grasses for Meadow and Pasture Land; hints for 
 the improvement and laynig down of 'Land to the b^ st advani^ige, 
 accompanied with a descriptive Catalogue of all the British Glasses. 
 4th Edition. By the late Wm. Curtis, author of the Botanical 
 Magazine, S:c. o:c. is,, octavo, v^ ■■., 
 
14 DAY USE 
 
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 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 This book is due on the last date stamped below, or 
 
 on the date to which renewed. 
 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
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