the life of horatio lord nelson-第16章
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e and our religion were against us； our unaccommodating manners； it is to be feared； still more so。 The French were better politicians。 In intrigue they have ever been unrivalled； and it now became apparent that； in spite of old wrongs； which ought never to have been forgotten nor forgiven； their partisans were daily acquiring strength。 It is part of the policy of France； and a wise policy it is； to impress upon other powers the opinion of its strength； by lofty language： and by threatening before it strikes； a system which； while it keeps up the spirit of its allies； and perpetually stimulates their hopes； tends also to dismay its enemies。 Corsica was now loudly threatened。 〃The French； who had not yet been taught to feel their own inferiority upon the seas； braved us in contempt upon that element。〃 They had a superior fleet in the Mediterranean； and they sent it out with express orders to seek the English and engage them。 Accordingly； the Toulon fleet； consisting of seventeen ships of the line and five smaller vessels； put to sea。 Admiral Hotham received this information at Leghorn； and sailed immediately in search of them。 He had with him fourteen sail of the line； and one Neapolitan seventy…four； but his ships were only half…manned； containing but 7650 men； whereas the enemy had 16；900。 He soon came in sight of them： a general action was expected； and Nelson； as was his custom on such occasions； wrote a hasty letter to his wife； as that which might possibly contain his last farewell。 〃The lives of all；〃 said he； 〃are in the hand of Him who knows best whether to preserve mine or not； my character and good name are in my own keeping。〃
But however confident the French government might be of their naval superiority； the officers had no such feeling； and after manoeuvring for a day in sight of the English fleet； they suffered themselves to be chased。 One of their ships； the CA IRA； of eighty…four guns； carried away her main and fore top…masts。 The INCONSTANT frigate fired at the disabled ship； but received so many shot that she was obliged to leave her。 Soon afterwards a French frigate took the CA IRA in tow； and the SANS…CULOTTES； one hundred and twenty； and the JEAN BARRAS； seventy… four； kept about gunshot distance on her weather bow。 The AGAMEMNON stood towards her； having no ship of the line to support her within several miles。 As she drew near； the CA IRA fired her stern guns so truly； that not a shot missed some part of the ship； and latterly； the masts were struck by every shot。 It had been Nelson's intention not to fire before he touched her stern； but seeing how impossible it was that he should be supported； and how certainly the AGAMEMNON must be severely cut up if her masts were disabled； he altered his plan according to the occasion。 As soon； therefore； as he was within a hundred yards of her stern； he ordered the helm to be put a…starboard； and the driver and after…sails to be brailed up and shivered； and； as the ship fell off； gave the enemy her whole broadside。 They instantly braced up the after… yards； put the helm a…port； and stood after her again。 This manoeuvre he practised for two hours and a quarter； never allowing the CA IRA to get a single gun from either side to bear on him； and when the French fired their after…guns now； it was no longer with coolness and precision； for every shot went far ahead。 By this time her sails were hanging in tatters； her mizen…top…mast； mizen…top…sail； and cross…jack…yards shot away。 But the frigate which had her in tow hove in stays； and got her round。 Both these French ships now brought their guns to bear； and opened their fire。 The AGAMEMNON passed them within half…pistol shot； almost every shot passed over her； for the French had elevated their guns for the rigging； and for distant firing； and did not think of altering the elevation。 As soon as the AGAMEMNON's after…guns ceased to bear； she hove in stays； keeping a constant fire as she came round； and being worked； said Nelson； with as much exactness as if she had been turning into Spithead。 On getting round； he saw that the Sans…Culottes； which had wore； with many of the enemy's ships； was under his lee bow； and standing to leeward。 The admiral； at the same time； made the signal for the van ships to join him。 Upon this Nelson bore away； and prepared to set all sail； and the enemy； having saved their ship； hauled close to the wind； and opened upon him a distant and ineffectual fire。 Only seven of the AGAMEMNON's men were hurta thing which Nelson himself remarked as wonderful： her sails and rigging were very much cut； and she had many shots in her hull； and some between wind and water。 The CA IRA lost 110 men that day； and was so cut up that she could not get a top…mast aloft during the night。
At daylight on the following morning； the English ships were taken aback with a fine breeze at N。W。； while the enemy's fleet kept the southerly wind。 The body of their fleet was about five miles distant； the CA IRA and the CENSEUR； seventy…four； which had her in tow； about three and a half。 All sail was made to cut these ships off； and as the French attempted to save them； a partial action was brought on。 The AGAMEMNON was again engaged with her yesterday's antagonist； but she had to fight on both sides the ship at the same time。 The CA IRA and the CENSEUR fought most gallantly： the first lost nearly 300 men； in addition to her former loss； the last； 350。 Both at length struck； and Lieutenant Andrews； of the AGAMEMNON； brother to the lady to whom Nelson had become attached in France； and； in Nelson's own words； 〃as gallant an officer as ever stepped a quarter…deck；〃 hoisted English colours on board them both。 The rest of the enemy's ships' behaved very ill。 As soon as these vessels had struck； Nelson went to Admiral Hotham and proposed that the two prizes should be left with the ILLUSTRIOUS and COURAGEUX； which had been crippled in the action； and with four frigates； and that the rest of the fleet should pursue the enemy； and follow up the advantage to the utmost。 But his reply was〃We must be contented： we have done very well。〃〃Now；〃 said Nelson；〃 had we taken ten sail； and allowed the eleventh to escape； when it had been possible to have got at her； I could never have called it well done。 Goodall backed me； I got him to write to the admiral； but it would not do。 We should have had such a day as； I believe； the annals of England never produced。〃 In this letter the character of Nelson fully manifests itself。 〃I wish〃 said he； 〃to be an admiral； and in the command of the English fleet： I should very soon either do much； or be ruined： my disposition cannot bear tame and slow measures。 Sure I am； had I commanded on the 14th； that either the whole French fleet would have graced my triumph； or I should have been in a confounded scrape。〃 What the event would have been； he knew from his prophetic feelings and his own consciousness of power； and we also know it now； for Aboukir and Trafalgar have told it。
The CA IRA and CENSEUR probably defended themselves with more obstinacy in this action； from a persuasion that； if they struck； no quarter would be given； because they had fired red…hot shot； and had also a preparation sent； as they said； by the convention from Paris； which seems to have been of the nature of the Greek fire； for it became liquid when it was discharged； and water would not extinguish its flames。 This combustible was concealed with great care in the captured ships； like the red…hot shot； it had been found useless in battle。 Admiral Hotham's action saved Corsica for the time； but the victory had been incomplete； and the arrival at Toulon of six sail of the line； two frigates； and two cutters from Brest； gave the French a superiority which； had they known how to use it； would materially have endangered the British Mediterranean fleet。 That fleet had been greatly neglected at the Admiralty during Lord Chatham's administration： and it did not； for some time； feel the beneficial effect of his removal。 Lord Hood had gone home to represent the real state of affairs； and solicit reinforcements adequate to the exigencies of the time； and the importance of the scene of action。 But that fatal error of under… proportioning the force to
