the life of horatio lord nelson-第11章
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f his life。
But his time did not pass away thus without some vexatious cares to ruffle it。 The affair of the American ships was not yet over； and he was again pestered with threats of prosecution。 〃I have written them word；〃 said he； 〃that I will have nothing to do with them； and they must act as they think proper。 Government； I suppose； will do what is right； and not leave me in the lurch。 We have heard enough lately of the consequences of the Navigation Act to this country。 They may take my person； but if sixpence would save me from a prosecution； I would not give it。〃 It was his great ambition at this time to possess a pony； and having resolved to purchase one； he went to a fair for that purpose。 During his absence two men abruptly entered the parsonage and inquired for him： they then asked for Mrs。 Nelson； and after they had made her repeatedly declare that she was really and truly the captain's wife； presented her with a writ； or notification； on the part of the American captains； who now laid their damages at L20；000； and they charged her to give it to her husband on his return。 Nelson； having bought his pony； came home with it in high spirits。 He called out his wife to admire the purchase and listen to all its excellences： nor was it till his glee had in some measure subsided that the paper could be presented to him。 His indignation was excessive； and in the apprehension that he should be exposed to the anxieties of the suit and the ruinous consequences which might ensue； he exclaimed； 〃This affront I did not deserve！ But I'll be trifled with no longer。 I will write immediately to the Treasury； and if government will not support me； I am resolved to leave the country。〃 Accordingly； he informed the Treasury that； if a satisfactory answer were not sent him by return of post； he should take refuge in France。 To this he expected he should be driven； and for this he arranged everything with his characteristic rapidity of decision。 It was settled that he should depart immediately； and Mrs。 Nelson follow； under the care of his elder brother Maurice； ten days after him。 But the answer which he received from government quieted his fears： it stated that Captain Nelson was a very good officer； and needed to be under no apprehension； for he would assuredly be supported。
Here his disquietude upon this subject seems to have ended。 Still he was not at ease； he wanted employment； and was mortified that his applications for it produced no effect。 〃Not being a man of fortune；〃 he said； 〃was a crime which he was unable to get over； and therefore none of the great cared about him。〃 Repeatedly he requested the Admiralty that they would not leave him to rust in indolence。 During the armament which was made upon occasion of the dispute concerning Nootka Sound； he renewed his application； and his steady friend； Prince William； who had then been created Duke of Clarence； recommended him to Lord Chatham。 The failure of this recommendation wounded him so keenly that he again thought of retiring from the service in disgust； a resolution from which nothing but the urgent remonstrances of Lord Hood induced him to desist。 Hearing that the RAISONNABLE； in which he had commenced his career； was to be commissioned； he asked for her。 This also was in vain； and a coolness ensued； on his part； toward Lord Hood； because that excellent officer did not use his influence with Lord Chatham upon this occasion。 Lord Hood； however； had certainly sufficient reasons for not interfering； for he ever continued his steady friend。 In the winter of 1792； when we were on the eve of the revolutionary war； Nelson once more offered his services； earnestly requested a ship； and added； that if their lordships should be pleased to appoint him to a cockle…boat he should feel satisfied。 He was answered in the usual official form： 〃Sir； I have received your letter of the 5th instant； expressing your readiness to serve； and have read the same to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty。〃 On the 12th of December he received this dry acknowledgment。 The fresh mortification did not； however； affect him long； for； by the joint interest of the Duke and Lord Hood； he was appointed； on the 30th of January following； to the AGAMEMNON； of sixty…four guns。
CHAPTER III
1793 … 1795
The AGAMEMNON sent to the MediteraneanCommencement of Nelson's Aquaintance with Sir W。 HamiltonHe is sent to Corsica； to co… operate with PaoliState of Affairs in that IslandNelson undertakes the Siege of Bastia； and reduces itTakes a distinguished Part in the Siege of Calvi； where he loses an EyeAdmiral Hotham's ActionThe AGAMEMNON ordered to Genoa； to co…operate with the Austrian and Sardinian ForcesGross Misconduct of the Austrian General。
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〃THERE are three things； young gentleman；〃 said Nelson to one of his midshipmen； 〃which you are constantly to bear in mind。 First； you must always implicitly obey orders； without attempting to form any opinion of your own respecting their propriety； secondly； you must consider every man your enemy who speaks ill of your king； and； thirdly； you must hate a Frenchman as you do the devil。〃 With these feelings he engaged in the war。 Josiah； his son…in…law； went with him as a midshipman。
The AGAMEMNON was ordered to the Mediterranean under Lord Hood。 The fleet arrived in those seas at a time when the south of France would willingly have formed itself into a separate republic； under the protection of England。 But good principles had been at that time perilously abused by ignorant and profligate men； and； in its fear and hatred of democracy； the English Government abhorred whatever was republican。 Lord Hood could not take advantage of the fair occasion which presented itself； and which； if it had been seized with vigour； might have ended in dividing France：but he negotiated with the people of Toulon； to take possession provisionally of their port and city； which； fatally for themselves； was done。 Before the British fleet entered； Nelson was sent with despatches to Sir William Hamilton； our envoy at the Court of Naples。 Sir William； after his first interview with him； told Lady Hamilton he was about to introduce a little man to her； who could not boast of being very handsome； but such a man as； he believed； would one day astonish the world。 〃I have never before；〃 he continued； 〃entertained an officer at my house； but I am determined to bring him here。 Let him be put in the room prepared for Prince Augustus。〃 Thus that acquaintance began which ended in the destruction of Nelson's domestic happiness。 It seemed to threaten no such consequences at its commencement。 He spoke of Lady Hamilton； in a letter to his wife； as a young woman of amiable manners； who did honour to the station to which she had been raised； and he remarked； that she had been exceedingly kind to Josiah。 The activity with which the envoy exerted himself in procuring troops from Naples； to assist in garrisoning Toulon； so delighted him； that he is said to have exclaimed； 〃Sir William； you are a man after my own heart！you do business in my own way：〃 and then to have added； 〃I am now only a captain； but I will； if I live； be at the top of the tree。〃 Here； also； that acquaintance with the Neapolitan court commenced； which led to the only blot upon Nelson's public character。 The king； who was sincere at that time in his enmity to the French； called the English the saviours of Italy； and of his dominions in particular。 He paid the most flattering attentions to Nelson； made him dine with him； and seated him at his right hand。
Having accomplished this mission； Nelson received orders to join Commodore Linzee at Tunis。 On the way； five sail of the enemy were discovered off the coast of Sardinia； and he chased them。 They proved to be three forty…four gun frigates； with a corvette of twenty…four and a brig of twelve。 The AGAMEMNON had only 345 men at quarters； having landed part of her crew at Toulon； and others being absent in prizes。 He came near enough one of the frigates to engage her； but at great disadvantage； the Frenchman manoeuvring well and sailing greatly better。 A running fight of three hours ensued； during which the other ships； which were at some distance； made all speed to come up。 By th
