the life of horatio lord nelson-第26章
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diterranean； to relinquish； for that purpose； the blockade of the Spanish fleet； as a thing of inferior moment； but if he should deem a detachment sufficient； 〃I think it almost necessary；〃 said the first lord of the Admiralty in his secret instructions； 〃to suggest to you the propriety of putting it under Sir Horatio Nelson。〃 It is to the honour of Earl St。 Vincent that he had already made the same choice。 This appointment to a service in which so much honour might be acquired； gave great offence to the senior admirals of the fleet。 Sir William Parker； who was a very excellent naval officer； and as gallant a man as any in the navy； and Sir John Orde； who on all occasions of service had acquitted himself with great honour； each wrote to Lord Spencer； complaining that so marked a preference should have been given to a junior of the same fleet。 This resentment is what most men in a like case would feel； and if the preference thus given to Nelson had not originated in a clear perception that （as his friend Collingwood said of him a little while before） his spirit was equal to all undertakings； and his resources fitted to all occasions； an injustice would have been done to them by his appointment。 But if the service were conducted with undeviating respect to seniority； the naval and military character would soon be brought down to the dead level of mediocrity。
The armament at Toulon consisted of thirteen ships of the line； seven forty…gun frigates； with twenty…four smaller vessels of war； and nearly 200 transports。 Mr。 Udney； our consul at Leghorn； was the first person who procured certain intelligence of the enemy's design against Malta； and； from his own sagacity； foresaw that Egypt must be their after object。 Nelson sailed from Gibraltar on the 9th of May； with the VANGUARD； ORION； and ALEXANDER； seventy…fours； the CAROLINE； FLORA； EMERALD； and TERPSICHORE； frigates； and the BONNE CITOYENNE； sloop of war； to watch this formidable armament。 On the 19th； when they were in the Gulf of Lyons； a gale came on from the N。W。 It moderated so much on the 20th as to enable them to get their top…gallant masts and yards aloft。 After dark it again began to blow strong； but the ships had been prepared for a gale； and therefore Nelson's mind was easy。 Shortly after midnight； however； his main…topmast went over the side； and the mizen… topmast soon afterward。 The night was so tempestuous that it was impossible for any signal either to be seen or heard； and Nelson determined； as soon as it should be daybreak； to wear； and scud before the gale； but at half…past three the fore…mast went in three pieces； and the bowsprit was found to be sprung in three places。
When day broke they succeeded in wearing the ship with a remnant of the spritsail。 This was hardly to have been expected。 The VANGUARD was at that time twenty…five leagues south of the island of Hieres； with her head lying to the N。E。； and if she had not wore； the ship must have drifted to Corsica。 Captain Ball； in the ALEXANDER； took her in tow； to carry her into the Sardinian harbour of St。 Pietro。 Nelson； apprehensive that this attempt might endanger both vessels； ordered him to cast off； but that excellent officer； with a spirit like his commanders； replied； he was confident he could save the VANGUARD； and； by God's help； he would do it。 There had been a previous coolness between these great men； but from this time Nelson became fully sensible of the extraordinary talents of Captain Ball； and a sincere friendship subsisted between them during the remainder of their lives。 〃I ought not；〃 said the admiral； writing to his wife〃I ought not to call what has happened to the VANGUARD by the cold name of accident： I believe firmly it was the Almighty's goodness； to check my consummate vanity。 I hope it has made me a better officer； as I feel confident it has made me a better man。 Figure to yourself； on Sunday evening at sunset； a vain man walking in his cabin； with a squadron around him； who looked up to their chief to lead them to glory； and in whom their chief placed the firmest reliance that the proudest ships of equal numbers belonging to France would have lowered their flags； figure to yourself； on Monday morning； when the sun rose； this proud man； his ship dismasted； his fleet dispersed； and himself in such distress that the meanest frigate out of France would have been an unwelcome guest。〃 Nelson had； indeed； more reason to refuse the cold name of accident to this tempest than he was then aware of； for on that very day the French fleet sailed from Toulon； and must have passed within a few leagues of his little squadron； which was thus preserved by the thick weather that came on。
The British Government at this time； with a becoming spirit； gave orders that any port in the Mediterranean should be considered as hostile where the governor or chief magistrate should refuse to let our ships of war procure supplies of provisions； or of any article which they might require。
In these orders the ports of Sardinia were excepted。 The continental possessions of the King of Sardinia were at this time completely at the mercy of the French； and that prince was now discovering； when too late； that the terms to which he had consented； for the purpose of escaping immediate danger； necessarily involved the loss of the dominions which they were intended to preserve。 The citadel of Turin was now occupied by French troops； and his wretched court feared to afford the common rights of humanity to British ships； lest it should give the French occasion to seize on the remainder of his dominionsa measure for which it was certain they would soon make a pretext； if they did not find one。 Nelson was informed that he could not be permitted to enter the port of St Pietro。 Regardless of this interdict； which； under his circumstances； it would have been an act of suicidal folly to have regarded； he anchored in the harbour； and； by the exertions of Sir James Saumarez； Captain Ball； and Captain Berry； the VANGUARD was refitted in four days； months would have been employed in refitting her in England。 Nelson； with that proper sense of merit； wherever it was found； which proved at once the goodness and the greatness of his character； especially recommended to Earl St。 Vincent the carpenter of the ALEXANDER； under whose directions the ship had been repaired； stating； that he was an old and faithful servant of the Crown； who had been nearly thirty years a warrant carpenter； and begging most earnestly that the Commander…in…Chief would recommend him to the particular notice of the Board of Admiralty。 He did not leave the harbour without expressing his sense of the treatment which he had received there； in a letter to the Viceroy of Sardinia。 〃Sir；〃 it said； 〃having； by a gale of wind； sustained some trifling damages； I anchored a small part of his Majesty's fleet under my orders off this island； and was surprised to hear； by an officer sent by the governor； that admittance was to be refused to the flag of his Britannic Majesty into this port。 When I reflect； that my most gracious sovereign is the oldest； I believe； and certainly the most faithful ally which the King of Sardinia ever had； I could feel the sorrow which it must have been to his majesty to have given such an order； and also for your excellency； who had to direct its execution。 I cannot but look at the African shore； where the followers of Mahomet are performing the part of the good Samaritan； which I look for in vain at St。 Peter's； where it is said the Christian religion is professed。〃
The delay which was thus occasioned was useful to him in many respects； it enabled him to complete his supply of water； and to receive a reinforcement which Earl St。 Vincent； being himself reinforced from England； was enabled to send him。 It consisted of the best ships of his fleet； the CULLODEN； seventy…four； Captain T。Troubridge； GOLIATH； seventy…four； Captain T。Foley； MINOTAUR； seventy…four； Captain T。 Louis； DEFENCE； seventy…four； Captain John Peyton； BELLEROPHON； seventy…four； Captain H。D。E。Darby； MAJESTIC； seventy…four； Captain G。 B。 Westcott； ZEALOUS； seventy…four； Captain S。 Hood； SWIFTSURE； seventy…four； Captain B。 Hallowell； THESEUS； seventy…four； Captain R。 W。 Miller；
