the life of horatio lord nelson-第17章
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and the importance of the scene of action。 But that fatal error of under… proportioning the force to the service； that ruinous economy； which； by sparing a little； renders all that is spent useless； infected the British councils； and Lord Hood； not being able to obtain such rein… forcements as he knew were necessary； resigned the command。 〃Surely；〃 said Nelson； 〃the people at home have forgotten us。〃 Another Neapolitan seventy…four joined Admiral Hotham； and Nelson observed with sorrow that this was matter of exultation to an English fleet。 When the store… ships and victuallers from Gibraltar arrived； their escape from the enemy was thought wonderful； and yet； had they not escaped； 〃the game；〃 said Nelson； 〃was up here。 At this moment our operations are at a stand for want of ships to support the Austrians in getting possession of the sea…coast of the king of Sardinia； and behold our admiral does not feel himself equal to show himself； much less to give assistance in their operations。〃 It was reported that the French were again out with 18 or 20 sail。 The combined British and Neapolitan were but sixteen； should the enemy be only eighteen； Nelson made no doubt of a complete victory； but if they were twenty； he said； it was not to be expected； and a battle； without complete victory； would have been destruction； because another mast was not to be got on that side Gibraltar。 At length Admiral Man arrived with a squadron from England。 〃What they can mean by sending him with only five sail of the line；〃 said Nelson； 〃is truly astonishing； but all men are alike； and we in this country do not find any amendment or alteration from the old Board of Admiralty。 They should know that half the ships in the fleet require to go to England； and that long ago they ought to have reinforced us。〃
About this time Nelson was made colonel of marines； a mark of approbation which he had long wished for rather than expected。 It came in good season； for his spirits were oppressed by the thought that his services had not been acknowledged as they deserved； and it abated the resentful feeling which would else have been excited by the answer to an application to the War…office。 During his four months' land service in Corsica； he had lost all his ship furniture； owing to the movements of a camp。 Upon this he wrote to the Secretary at War； briefly stating what his services on shore had been； and saying； he trusted it was not asking an improper thing to request that the same allowance might be made to him which would be made to a land officer of his rank； which； situated as he was； would be that of a brigadier…general： if this could not be accorded； he hoped that his additional expenses would be paid him。 The answer which he received was； that 〃no pay had ever been issued under the direction of the War…office to officers of the navy serving with the army on shore。〃
He now entered upon a new line of service。 The Austrian and Sardinian armies； under General de Vins； required a British squadron to co…operate with them in driving the French from the Riviera di Genoa； and as Nelson had been so much in the habit of soldiering； it was immediately fixed that the brigadier should go。 He sailed from St。 Fiorenzo on this destination； but fell in； off Cape del Mele； with the enemy's fleet； who immediately gave his squadron chase。 The chase lasted four…and…twenty hours； and； owing to the fickleness of the wind； the British ships were sometimes hard pressed； but the want of skill on the part of the French gave Nelson many advantages。 Nelson bent his way back to St。 Fiorenzo； where the fleet； which was in the midst of watering and refitting； had； for seven hours； the mortification of seeing him almost in possession of the enemy； before the wind would allow them to put out to his assist… ance。 The French； however； at evening； went off； not choosing to approach nearer the shore。 During the night； Admiral Hotham； by great exertions； got under weigh； and； having sought the enemy four days； came in sight of them on the fifth。 Baffling winds and vexatious calms； so common in the Mediterranean； rendered it impossible to close with them； only a partial action could be brought on； and then the firing made a perfect calm。 The French being to windward； drew inshore； and the English fleet was becalmed six or seven miles to the westward。 L'ALCIDE； of seventy…four guns； struck； but before she could be taken possession of； a box of combustibles in her fore…top took fire； and the unhappy crew experienced how far more perilous their inventions were to them… selves than to their enemies。 So rapid was the conflagration； that the French in their official account say； the hull； the masts； and sails； all seemed to take fire at the same moment； and though the English boats were put out to the assistance of the poor wretches on board； not more than 200 could be saved。 The AGAMEMNON； and Captain Rowley in the CUMBERLAND； were just getting into close action a second time； when the admiral called them off； the wind now blowing directly into the Gulf of Frejus； where the enemy anchored after the evening closed。
Nelson now proceeded to his station with eight sail of frigates under his command。 Arriving at Genoa； he had a conference with Mr。 Drake； the British envoy to that state； the result of which was； that the object of the British must be to put an entire stop to all trade between Genoa； France； and the places occupied by the French troops； for unless this trade were stopped； it would be scarcely possible for the allied armies to hold their situation； and impossible for them to make any progress in driving the enemy out of the Riviera di Genoa。 Mr。 Drake was of opinion that even Nice might fall for want of supplies； if the trade with Genoa were cut off。 This sort of blockade Nelson could not carry on without great risk to himself。 A captain in the navy； as he represented to the envoy； is liable to prosecution for detention and damages。 This danger was increased by an order which had then lately been issued； by which； when a neutral ship was detained； a complete specification of her cargo was directed to be sent to the secretary of the Admiralty； and no legal process instituted against her till the pleasure of that board should be communicated。 This was requiring an impossibility。 The cargoes of ships detained upon this station； consisting chiefly of corn； would be spoiled long before the orders of the Admiralty could be known； and then； if they should happen to release the vessel； the owners would look to the captain for damages。 Even the only precaution which could be taken against this danger； involved another danger not less to be apprehended： for if the captain should direct the cargo to be taken out； the freight paid for； and the vessel released； the agent employed might prove fraudulent； and become bankrupt； and in that case the captain became responsible。 Such things had happened： Nelson therefore required； as the only means for carrying on that service； which was judged essential to the common cause； without exposing the officers to ruin； that the British envoy should appoint agents to pay the freight； release the vessels； sell the cargo； and hold the amount till process was had upon it： government thus securing its officers。 〃I am acting；〃 said Nelson。 〃not only without the orders of my commander…in…chief； but； in some measure； contrary to him。 However； I have not only the support of his Majesty's ministers； both at Turin and Genoa； but a consciousness that I am doing what is right and proper for the service of our king and country。 Political courage； in an officer abroad； is as highly necessary as military courage。〃
This quality； which is as much rarer than military courage as it is more valuable； and without which the soldier's bravery is often of little avail； Nelson possessed in an eminent degree。 His representations were attended to as they deserved。 Admiral Hotham commended him for what he had done； and the attention of government was awakened to the injury which the cause of the allies continually suffered from the frauds of neutral vessels。 〃What changes in my life of activity！〃 said the indefatigable man。 〃Here I am； having commenced a co…operation with an old Austrian general
