10 fleet! For myself individually,-I commit my life to Him that made me, and may His blessing alight on my endeavours for serving my country faithfully! To Him I resign my 5 self, and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen, Amen, Amen." . . . Blackwood went on board the Victory about six. He found him in good spirits, but very calm; not in that exhilaration which he had felt upon entering into battle at Aboukir and Copenhagen; he knew that his own life would be particularly aimed at, and seems to have looked for death with almost as sure an expectation as for victory. His whole attention keep sight of the enemy. They were observed so well that all their motions were made known to him, and, as they wore twice, he inferred that that they were aiming to keep the port of Cadiz open, and would retreat there as soon as they saw the British fleet; for this reason he was very careful not to approach near enough to be seen by them during the night. At daybreak the combined fleets were distinctly seen from the Victory's deck, formed in a close line of battle ahead, on the starboard tack, about twelve miles to leeward, and standing to the south. Our fleet consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line and four frigates; 10 theirs of thirty-three and seven large frigates. Their superiority was greater in 15 was fixed upon the enemy. They tacked to the size and weight of metal than in numbers. They had four thousand troops on board; and the best riflemen who could be procured, many of them Tyrolese, were dispersed through the ships. Little did the Tyrolese, and little did 20 the Spaniards at that day, imagine what horrors the wicked tyrant whom they served was preparing for their country. northward, and formed their line on the larboard tack; thus bringing the shoals of Trafalgar and St. Pedro under the lee of the British and keeping the port of Cadiz open for themselves. This was judiciously done; and Nelson, aware of all the advantages which it gave them, made signal to prepare to anchor. Villeneuve 13 was a skilful seaman, worthy Soon after daylight Nelson came upon deck. of serving a better master and a better cause. The 21st of October was a festival in his family, 25 His plan of defence was as well conceived and because on that day his uncle, Captain Suckling in the Dreadnought, with two other line-ofbattle ships, had beaten off a French squadron of four sail of the line and three frigates."1 Nelson, with that sort of superstition from 30 of a triumphant issue to the day, asked Black which few persons are entirely exempt, had as original as the plan of attack. He formed the fleet in a double line, every alternate ship being about a cable's length1⁄44 to windward of her second ahead and astern. Nelson, certain wood what he should consider as a victory. That officer answered that, considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the enemy, their apparent determination for a fair trial of strength, and the situation of the land, he thought it would be a glorious result if fourteen were captured. He replied: "I shall not be satisfied with less than twenty." Soon afterwards he asked him if he did not think there was a signal wanting. Captain Blackwood made answer that he thought the whole fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about. These words were scarcely spoken before that signal was made which will be remembered as long as the language or even the memory of England shall endure-Nelson's last signal: "England EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY!" It was received throughout the fleet with a shout of answering acclamation, In 1805 Spain formed an alliance with France, and 50 made sublime by the spirit which it breathed agreed to furnish twenty-five ships of the line and eleven frigates for the combined fleet. 10 Sail of the line corresponded to the modern battle ships and were so called because of their heavy armament, which enabled them to take a place in the line of battle. Frigates were fast sailers, corresponding to the modern cruisers; Nelson called them "the eyes of the filcet." 11 The action referred to took place in 1757 off Cape Francis in the West Indies, when Capt. Suckling, under Commodore Forrest attacked and disabled a powerful French squadron. 12 Cuthbert Collingwood (1750-1810) was next in command to Nelson, with the rank of Vice-Admiral. and the feeling which it expressed. "Now," said Lord Nelson, "I can do no more. We must trust to the great Disposer of all events and the justice of our cause. I thank God for 55 this great opportunity of doing my duty." He wore that day, as usual, his Admiral's frock-coat, bearing on the left breast four stars of the different orders with which he was in13 The French Admiral. "A cable's length is 600 feet. vested. Ornaments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark for the enemy were beheld with ominous apprehensions by his officers. It was known that there were riflemen on board the French ships, and it could not be doubted but that his life would be particularly aimed at. They communicated their fears to each other, and the surgeon, Mr. Beatty, 15 spoke to the chaplain, Dr. Scott, and to Mr. Scott, the public secretary, desiring that some person would 10 entreat him to change his dress or cover the stars; but they knew that such a request would highly displease him. "In honour I gained them," he had said when such a thing had been hinted to him formerly, "and in honour I will 15 prescribed mode of attack they found it im Villeneuve had made his own dispositions with the utmost skill, and the fleets under his command waited for the attack with perfect coolness. Ten minutes before twelve they opened 5 their fire. Eight or nine of the ships immediately ahead of the Victory, and across her bows, fired single guns at her to ascertain whether she was yet within their range. As soon as Nelson perceived that their shot passed over him he desired Blackwood and Captain Prowse, of the Sirius, to repair to their respective frigates, and on their way to tell all the captains of the line-of-battle ships that he depended on their exertions, and that, if by the die with them." Mr. Beatty, however, would not have been deterred by any fear of exciting his displeasure from speaking to him himself upon a subject in which the weal of England, practicable to get into action immediately, they might adopt whatever they thought best, provided it led them quickly and closely alongside an enemy. As they were standing on the the hand, saying he hoped soon to return and find him in possession of twenty prizes. He replied, "God bless you, Blackwood; I shall never see you again." Nelson's column was steered about two points more to the north than Collingwood's, in order to cut off the enemy's escape into Cadiz. The lee line, therefore, was first engaged. "See," cried Nelson, pointing to the as well as the life of Nelson, was concerned; but 20 front of the poop, Blackwood took him by he was ordered from the deck before he could find an opportunity. This was a point upon which Nelson's officers knew that it was hopeless to remonstrate or reason with him; but both Blackwood and his own captain, Hardy, 25 represented to him how advantageous to the fleet it would be for him to keep out of action as long as possible, and he consented at last to let the Leviathan and the Téméraire, which were sailing abreast of the Victory, be ordered 30 Royal Sovereign," as she steered right for the to pass ahead. Yet even here the last infirmity of this noble mind was indulged, for these ships could not pass ahead if the Victory continued to carry all her sail, and so far was Nelson from shortening sail that it was evident he 35 took pleasure in pressing on, and rendering it impossible for them to obey his own orders. A long swell was setting into the Bay of Cadiz. Our ships, crowding all sail, moved majestically before it, with light winds from the south-west. 40 The sun shone on the sails of the enemy; and their well-formed line, with their numerous three-deckers, made an appearance which any other assailants would have thought formidable; but the British sailors only admired the 45 board the Victory to receive instructions, Nelson beauty and the splendour of the spectacle, and, in full confidence of winning what they saw, remarked to each other what a fine sight yonder ships would make at Spithead.16 centre of the enemy's line, cut through it astern of the Santa Anna, three-decker, and engaged her at the muzzle of her guns on the starboard side; "see how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action!" Collingwood, delighted at being first in the heat of the fire, and knowing the feelings of his Commander and old friend, turned to his captain and exclaimed, "Rotherham, what would Nelson give to be here!" Both these brave officers perhaps at this moment thought of Nelson with gratitude for a circumstance which had occurred on the preceding day. Admiral Collingwood, with some of the captains, having gone on inquired of him where his captain was, and was told in reply that they were not upon good terms with each other. "Terms!" said Nelson, "good terms with each other!" Immediately him, as soon as he arrived, to Collingwood, and saying, “Look, yonder are the enemy!” bade them shake hands like Englishmen. The French Admiral, from the Bucentaure 50 he sent a boat for Captain Rotherham, led beheld the new manner in which his enemy was advancing-Nelson and Collingwood each leading his line; and pointing them out to his officers, he is said to have exclaimed that such The enemy continued to fire a gun at a time conduct could not fail to be successful. Yet 55 at the Victory till they saw that a shot had 15 Afterwards Sir William Beatty, physician to the fleet. Beatty's Narration of Lord Nelson's Death was Southey's chief authority for this part of his book. 16 Off the south coast of England, between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth; a station for the British navy. passed through her main-top-gallant sail; then 17 Collingwood's ship, being new-coppered, outsailed the other ships by three-quarters of a mile, and for twenty minutes stood the combined fire of the enemy alone. they opened their broadsides, aiming chiefly at her rigging, in the hope of disabling her before she could close with them. Nelson, as usual, had hoisted several flags, lest one should be shot away. The enemy showed no colours till late in the action, when they began to feel the necessity of having them to strike. For this reason the Santissima Trinidad-Nelson's old acquaintance, as he used to call her-was in his tops; he had a strong dislike to the praetice, not merely because it endangers setting fire to the sails, but also because it is a murderous sort of warfare, by which individuals 5 may suffer, and a commander now and then be picked off, but which never can decide the fate of a general engagement. Captain Harvey, in the Téméraire, fell on board the Redoubtable on the other side; an distinguishable only by her four decks, and to 10 other enemy was in like manner on board the the bow of this opponent he ordered the Victory to be steered. Meantime an incessant raking fire was kept up upon the Victory. The Admiral's secretary was one of the first who fell; he was Téméraire; so that these four ships formed as compact a tier as if they had been moored together, their heads all lying the same way. The lieutenants of the Victory, seeing this killed by a cannon-shot while conversing with 15 depressed their guns of the middle and lower decks, and fired with a diminished charge, lest the shot should pass through and injure the Téméraire; and because there was danger that the Redoubtable might take fire from the Hardy. Captain Adair, of the marines, with informed that it was indeed so, exclaimed, her side when they were run out, the fireman of each gun stood ready with a bucket of water, which, as soon as the gun was discharged, he dashed into the hole made by the shot. An incessant fire was kept up from the Victory from both sides; her larboard guns playing upon the Bucentaure and the huge Santissima Trinidad. It had been part of Nelson's prayer that the British fleet might be distinguished by humanity in the victory which he expected. Setting an example himself, he twice gave orders to cease firing upon the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck, because her great guns were silent; for, as she carried no flag, there was no means of instantly ascertaining the fact. From this ship, which he had thus twice spared, he received his death. A ball fired from her mizzen-top, which in the then situation of the two vessels was not more than fifteen yards away. Nelson declared that in all his battles 40 from that part of the deck where he was stand ing struck the epaulette on his left shoulder about a quarter after one, just in the heat of action. He fell upon his face, on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood. Hardy, who was a few steps from him, turning round, saw three men raising him up. "They have done for me at last, Hardy!" said he. "I hope not!" cried Hardy. "Yes," he replied, "my back-bone is shot through!" Yet even he had seen nothing which surpassed the cool courage of his crew on this occasion. At four minutes after twelve she opened her fire from both sides of her deck. It was not possible to break the enemy's line without running on 45 board 18 one of their ships; Hardy informed him of this, and asked him which he would prefer. Nelson replied: "Take your choice, Hardy; it does not signify much." The master was ordered to put the helm to port, and the Victory 50 now, not for a moment losing his presence of ran on board the Redoubtable just as her tillerropes were shot away. The French ship received her with a broadside, then instantly let down her lower-deck ports for fear of being boarded through them, and never afterwards 55 mediately. Then, that he might not be seen fired a great gun during the action. Her tops, like those of all the enemy's ships, were filled with riflemen. Nelson never placed musketry 18 Alongside, for boarding purposes. mind, he observed, as they were carrying him down the ladder, that the tiller-ropes, which had been shot away, were not yet replaced, and ordered that new ones should be rove im by the crew, he took out his handkerchief, and covered his face and his stars. Had he but concealed these badges of honour from the enemy, England perhaps would not have had ascertain this, said to him: "You know I am gone. I know it. I feel something rising in my breast"-putting his hand on his left side"which tells me so." And upon Beatty's inquiring whether his pain was very great, he replied, "So great that he wished he was dead. Yet," said he in a lower voice, "one would like to live a little longer too!" And after a few minutes, in the same under-tone, he added: cause to receive with sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar. The cockpit was crowded with wounded and dying men, over whose bodies he was with some difficulty conveyed, and laid upon a pallet in the midshipmen's 5 berth. It was soon perceived upon examination that the wound was mortal. This, however, was concealed from all except Captain Hardy, the chaplain, and the medical attendants. He himself being certain, from the sensa- 10 "What would become of poor Lady Hamilton if she knew my situation?" Next to his country she occupied his thoughts. Captain Hardy, some fifty minutes after he had left the cockpit, returned, and again taking the hand of his dy on having gained a complete victory. How many of the enemy were taken he did not know, as it was impossible to perceive them distinctly, but fourteen or fifteen at least. "That's well!" cried Nelson, "but I bargained for twenty." And then in a stronger voice he said: "Anchor, Hardy, anchor." Hardy upon this hinted that Admiral Collingwood would take upon himself the direction of affairs. "Not while I live, Hardy," said the dying Nelson, ineffectually endeavouring to raise himself from the bed. "Do you anchor." His previous order for preparing to anchor had shown how clearly he foresaw the necessity of this. Presently, calling Hardy back, he said to him in low voice: "Don't throw me overboard!" and he desired that he might be buried by his parents unless it should please the king to order otherwise. Then, reverting to private feelings, "Take care of my dear Lady Hamilton, Hardy; take care of poor Lady Hamilton. Kiss me, Hardy!" said he. Hardy knelt down and kissed his cheek, and Nelson said: "Now I am satisfied. Thank God I have done my duty!" tion in his back and the gush of blood he felt momently within his breast, that no human care could avail him, insisted that the surgeon should leave him, and attend to those to whom he might be useful; "for," said he, "you can 15 ing friend and Commander, congratulated him do nothing for me." All that could be done was to fan him with paper, and frequently to give him lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst. He was in great pain, and expressed much anxiety for the event of the action, which 20 now began to declare itself. As often as a ship struck, the crew of the Victory hurraed, and at every hurra a visible expression of joy gleamed in the eyes and marked the countenance of the dying hero. But he became im- 25 patient to see Captain Hardy; and as that officer, though often sent for, could not leave the deck, Nelson feared that some fatal cause prevented him, and repeatedly cried: "Will no one bring Hardy to me? He must be killed! 30 He is surely dead!" An hour and ten minutes elapsed from the time when Nelson received his wound before Hardy could come to him. They shook hands in silence; Hardy in vain struggling to suppress the feelings of that most 35 painful and yet sublimest moment. "Well, Hardy," said Nelson, "how goes the day with us?"-"Very well," replied Hardy, "ten ships have struck, but five of the van have tacked and show an intention to bear down upon the 40 Hardy stood over him in silence for a moment Victory. I have called two or three of our fresh ships round, and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing."-"I hope," said Nelson, "none of our ships have struck?" Hardy answered, "There was no fear of that." Then, 45 and not till then, Nelson spoke of himself. "I am a dead man, Hardy," said he, “I am going fast; it will be all over with me soon. Come nearer to me. Let my dear Lady Hamil-. ton have my hair and all other things belong- 50 ing to me." Hardy observed that he hoped Mr. Beatty could yet hold out some prospect of life. "Oh, no!" he replied, "it is impossible; my back is shot through. Beatty will tell you so." Captain Hardy then once more shook 55 hands with him, and with a heart almost bursting hastened upon deck. By this time all feeling below the breast was gone; and Nelson, having made the surgeon or two, then knelt again, and kissed his forehead. "Who is that?" said Nelson; and being informed, he replied: "God bless you, Hardy!” And Hardy then left him for ever. Nelson now desired to be turned upon his right side, and said: "I wish I had not left the deck, for I shall soon be gone." Death was indeed rapidly approaching. He said to the chaplain: "Doctor, I have not been a great sinner." And after a short pause: "Remember that I leave Lady Hamilton and my daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country." His articulation now became difficult, but he was distinctly heard to say: "Thank God, I have done my duty!" These words he repeatedly pronounced, and they were the last words which he uttered. He expired at thirty minutes after four, three hours and a quarter after he had received his wound. . . hero in the hour of victory; and if the charist and the horses of fire had been vouchsafed for Nelson's translation, he could scarcely have departed in a brighter blaze of glory. He has 5 left us, not indeed his mantle of inspiration. but a name and an example which are at this hour inspiring thousands of the youth of Eng land-a name which is our pride, and an example which will continue to be our shield and our strength. Thus it is that the spirits of the great and the wise continue to live and to act after them, verifying in this sense the language of the old mythologist: Τοί μεν δαίμονες εἰσί, Διός μεγάλου διὰ βουλὰς Charles Lamb 1775-1834 DREAM CHILDREN: A REVERY The death of Nelson was felt in England as something more than a public calamity; men started at the intelligence and turned pale, as if they had heard of the loss of a dear friend. An object of our admiration and affection, of our pride and of our hopes, was suddenly taken from us; and it seemed as if we had never till then known how deeply we loved and reverenced him. What the country had lost in its great naval hero-the greatest of our own and 10 of all former times-was scarcely taken into the account of grief. So perfectly indeed had he performed his part that the maritime war after the battle of Trafalgar was considered at an end: the fleets of the enemy were not merely 15 defeated, but destroyed; new navies must be built, and a new race of seamen reared for them, before the possibility of their invading our shores could again be contemplated. It was not, therefore, from any selfish reflection 20 upon the magnitude of our loss that we mourned for him; the general sorrow was of a higher character. The people of England grieved that funeral ceremonies, and public monuments, and posthumous rewards were all which they 25 could now bestow upon him whom the king, the Legislature, and the nation would have alike delighted to honour; whom every tongue would have blessed; whose presence in every village through which he might have passed 30 would have wakened the church bells, have given school-boys a holiday, have drawn children from their sports to gaze upon him, and "old men from the chimney-corner" to look upon Nelson ere they died. The victory 35 of Trafalgar was celebrated, indeed, with the usual forms of rejoicing, but they were without joy; for such already was the glory of the British navy through Nelson's surpassing genius that it scarcely seemed to receive any 40 addition from the most signal victory that ever was achieved upon the seas; and the destruction of this mighty fleet, by which all the maritime schemes of France were totally frustrated, hardly appeared to add to our security or 45 stead, with no story upon it. Here Alice put strength; for while Nelson was living, to watch the combined squadrons of the enemy, we felt ourselves as secure as now, when they were no longer in existence. There was reason to suppose, from the ap- 50 pearances upon opening the body, that in the course of nature he might have attained, like his father, to a good old age. Yet he cannot be said to have fallen prematurely whose work was done, nor ought he to be lamented who 55 died so full of honours and at the height of human fame. The most triumphant death is that of the martyr; the most awful that of the martyred patriot; the most splendid that of the (Essays of Elia, 1822-24) Children love to listen to stories about their elders, when they were children; to stretch their imagination to the conception of a traditionary great-uncle, or grandame whom they never saw. It was in this spirit that my little ones crept about me the other evening to hear about their great-grandmother Field, who lived in a great house in Norfolk (a hundred times bigger than that in which they and Papa lived) which had been the scene so at least it was generally believed in that part of the countryof the tragic incidents which they had lately become familiar with from the ballad of the Children in the Wood. Certain it is that the whole story of the children and their cruel uncle was to be seen fairly carved out in wood upon the chimney piece of the great hall, the whole story down to the Robin Redbreasts, till a foolish rich person pulled it down to set up a marble one of modern invention in its out one of her dear mother's looks, too tender to be called upbraiding. Then I went on to say, how religious and how good their greatgrandmother Field was, how beloved and respected by everybody, though she was not 19 "Shining spirits there are that dwell upon earth Prompting illustrious deeds, and fulfilling the counsel 1 Lamb's maternal grandmother, Mary Field, was for fifty years housekeeper to the Plummer family. Recollections of their "fine old family mansion" at Blakesmoor enter into his essay, and form the subject of the essay Blakesmoor in H shire. Lamb, in his fondness for disguising facts, here places it in Norfolk. 2 The familiar old ballad, known also as Babes in the Wood. |