the life of horatio lord nelson-第18章
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said the indefatigable man。 〃Here I am； having commenced a co…operation with an old Austrian general； almost fancying myself charging at the head of a troop of horse！ I do not write less than from ten to twenty letters every day； which； with the Austrian general and aides…de…camp； and my own little squadron； fully employ my time。 This I like； active service or none。〃 It was Nelson's mind which supported his feeble body through these exertions。 He was at this time almost blind； and wrote with very great pain。 〃Poor AGAMEMNON〃 he sometimes said； 〃was as nearly worn out as her captain； and both must soon be laid up to repair。〃
When Nelson first saw General de Vins； he thought him an able man； who was willing to act with vigour。 The general charged his inactivity upon the Piedmontese and Neapolitans； whom； he said； nothing could induce to act； and he concerted a plan with Nelson for embarking a part of the Austrian army； and landing it in the rear of the French。 But the English commodore soon began to suspect that the Austrian general was little disposed to any active operations。 In the hope of spurring him on； he wrote to him； telling him that he had surveyed the coast to the W。 as far as Nice； and would undertake to embark 4000 or 5000 men； with their arms and a few days' provisions； on board the squadron； and land them within two miles of St。 Remo； with their field…pieces。 Respecting further provisions for the Austrian army； he would provide convoys； that they should arrive in safety； and if a re…embarkation should be found necessary； he would cover it with the squadron。 The possession of St。 Remo； as headquarters for magazines of every kind； would enable the Austrian general to turn his army to the eastward or westward。 The enemy at Oneglia would be cut off from provisions； and men could be landed to attack that place whenever it was judged necessary。 St。 Remo was the only place between Vado and Ville Franche where the squadron could lie in safety； and anchor in almost all winds。 The bay was not so good as Vado for large ships； but it had a mole； which Vado had not； where all small vessels could lie； and load and unload their cargoes。 This bay being in possession of the allies； Nice could be completely blockaded by sea。 General de Vins affecting； in his reply； to consider that Nelson's proposal had no other end than that of obtaining the bay of St。 Remo as a station for the ships； told him； what he well knew； and had expressed before； that Vado Bay was a better anchorage； nevertheless； if MONSIEUR LE COMMANDANT NELSON was well assured that part of the fleet could winter there； there was no risk to which he would not expose himself with pleasure； for the sake of procuring a safe station for the vessels of his Britannic Majesty。 Nelson soon assured the Austrian commander that this was not the object of his memorial。 He now began to suspect that both the Austrian Court and their general had other ends in view than the cause of the allies。 〃This army；〃 said he； 〃is slow beyond all description； and I begin to think that the Emperor is anxious to touch another L4；000；000 of English money。 As for the German generals； war is their trade； and peace is ruin to them； therefore we cannot expect that they should have any wish to finish the war。 The politics of courts are so mean； that private people would be ashamed to act in the same way； all is trick and finesse； to which the common cause is sacrificed。 The general wants a loop…hole； it has for some time appeared to me that he means to go no further than his present position； and to lay the miscarriage of the enterprise against Nice； which has always been held out as the great object of his army； to the non…co… operation of the British fleet and of the Sardinians。〃
To prevent this plea； Nelson again addressed De Vins； requesting only to know the time； and the number of troops ready to embark； then he would； he said； dispatch a ship to Admiral Hotham； requesting transports； having no doubt of obtaining them； and trusting that the plan would be successful to its fullest extent。 Nelson thought at the time that； if the whole fleet were offered him for transports； he would find some other excuse； and Mr。 Drake； who was now appointed to reside at the Austrian headquarters； entertained the same idea of the general's sincerity。 It was not； however； put so clearly to the proof as it ought to have been。 He replied that； as soon as Nelson could declare himself ready with the vessels necessary for conveying 10；000 men； with their artillery and baggage； he would put the army in motion。 But Nelson was not enabled to do this： Admiral Hotham； who was highly meritorious in leaving such a man so much at his own discretion； pursued a cautious system； ill according with the bold and comprehensive views of Nelson； who continually regretted Lord Hood； saying that the nation had suffered much by his resignation of the Mediterranean command。 The plan which had been concerted； he said； would astonish the French； and perhaps the English。
There was no unity in the views of the allied powers； no cordiality in their co…operation； no energy in their councils。 The neutral powers assisted France more effectually than the allies assisted each other。 The Genoese ports were at this time filled with French privateers； which swarmed out every night； and covered the gulf； and French vessels were allowed to tow out of the port of Genoa itself； board vessels which were coming in； and then return into the mole。 This was allowed without a remonstrance； while； though Nelson abstained most carefully from offering any offence to the Genoese territory or flag； complaints were so repeatedly made against his squadron； that； he says； it seemed a trial who should be tired first； they of complaining； or he of answering their complaints。 But the question of neutrality was soon at an end。 An Austrian commissary was travelling from Genoa towards Vado； it was known that he was to sleep at Voltri； and that he had L10；000 with hima booty which the French minister in that city； and the captain of a French frigate in that port； considered as far more important than the word of honour of the one； the duties of the other； and the laws of neutrality。 The boats of the frigate went out with some privateers； landed； robbed the commissary； and brought back the money to Genoa。 The next day men were publicly enlisted in that city for the French army： 700 men were embarked； with 7000 stand of arms； on board the frigates and other vessels； who were to land between Voltri and Savona。 There a detachment from the French army was to join them； and the Genoese peasantry were to be invited to insurrectiona measure for which everything had been prepared。 The night of the 13th was fixed for the sailing of this expedition； the Austrians called loudly for Nelson to prevent it； and he； on the evening of the 13th； arrived at Genoa。 His presence checked the plan： the frigate； knowing her deserts； got within the merchant…ships； in the inner mole； and the Genoese government did not now even demand of Nelson respect to the neutral port； knowing that they had allowed； if not connived at； a flagrant breach of neutrality； and expecting the answer which he was prepared to return； that it was useless and impossible for him to respect it longer。
But though this movement produced the immediate effect which was designed； it led to ill consequences； which Nelson foresaw； but for want of sufficient force was unable to prevent。 His squadron was too small for the service which it had to perform。 He required two seventy…fours and eight or ten frigates and sloops； but when he demanded this reinforcement； Admiral Hotham had left the command。 Sir Hyde Parker had succeeded till the new commander should arrive； and he immediately reduced it to almost nothing； leaving him only one frigate and a brig。 This was a fatal error。 While the Austrian and Sardinian troops； whether from the imbecility or the treachery of their leaders； remained inactive； the French were preparing for the invasion of Italy。 Not many days before Nelson was thus summoned to Genoa； he chased a large convoy into Alassio。 Twelve vessels he had formerly destroyed in that port； though 2000 French troops occupied the t
