the life of horatio lord nelson-第32章
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ead； but my heart； as it ought to be； is warm to my gallant friends。〃 Thus feelingly alive was Nelson to the claims； and interests； and feelings of others。 The Admiralty replied； that the exception was necessary； as the ship had not been in action； but they desired the commander…in…chief to promote the lieutenant upon the first vacancy which should occur。
Nelson； in remembrance of an old and uninterrupted friendship； ap… pointed Alexander Davison sole prize agent for the captured ships： upon which Davison ordered medals to be struck in gold； for the captains； in silver； for the lieutenants and warrant officers； in gilt metal for the petty officers； and in copper for the seamen and marines。 The cost of this act of liberality amounted nearly to L2000。 It is worthy of record on another account；for some of the gallant men； who received no other honorary badge of their conduct on that memorable day than this copper medal from a private individual； years afterwards； when they died upon a foreign station； made it their last request； that the medals might carefully be sent home to their respective friends。 So sensible are brave men of honour； in whatever rank they may be placed。
Three of the frigates； whose presence would have been so essential a few weeks sooner； joined the squadron on the twelfth day after the action。 The fourth joined a few days after them。 Nelson thus received despatches； which rendered it necessary for him to return to Naples。 Before he left Egypt he burned three of the prizes； they could not have been fitted for a passage to Gibraltar in less than a month； and that at a great expense； and with the loss of the services of at least two sail of the line。 〃I rest assured；〃 he said to the Admiralty； 〃that they will be paid for； and have held out that assurance to the squadron。 For if an admiral； after a victory； is to look after the captured ships； and not to the distressing of the enemy； very dearly； indeed； must the nation pay for the prizes。 I trust that L60；000 will be deemed a very moderate sum for them： and when the services； time； and men； with the expense of fitting the three ships for a voyage to England； are considered； government will save nearly as much as they are valued at。 Paying for prizes；〃 he continued； 〃is no new idea of mine； and would often prove an amazing saving to the state； even without taking into calculation what the nation loses by the attention of admirals to the property of the captors； an attention absolutely necessary； as a recompence for the exertions of the officers and men。 An admiral may be amply rewarded by his own feelings； and by the approbation of his superiors； but what reward have the inferior officers and men but the value of the prizes？ If an admiral takes that from them； on any consideration； he cannot expect to be well supported。〃 To Earl St。 Vincent he said； 〃If he could have been sure that government would have paid a reasonable value for them； he would have ordered two of the other prizes to be burnt； for they would cost more in refitting； and by the loss of ships attending them； than they were worth。〃
Having sent the six remaining prizes forward； under Sir James Saumarez； Nelson left Captain Hood； in the ZEALOUS off Alexandria； with the SWIFTSURE； GOLIATH； Alcmene； ZEALOUS； and EMERALD； and stood out to sea himself on the seventeenth day after the battle。
CHAPTER VI
1798 … 1800
Nelson returns to NaplesState of that Court and Kingdom General MackThe French approach NaplesFlight of the Royal FamilySuccesses of the Allies in ItalyTransactions in the Bay of NaplesExpulsion of the French from the Neapolitan and Roman StatesNelson is made Duke of BronteHe leaves the Mediterranean and returns to England。
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NELSON's health had suffered greatly while he was in the AGAMEMNON。 〃My complaint；〃 he said； 〃is as if a girth were buckled taut over my breast； and my endeavour in the night is to get it loose。〃 After the battle of Cape St。 Vincent he felt a little rest to be so essential to his recovery； that he declared he would not continue to serve longer than the ensuing summer； unless it should be absolutely necessary； for in his own strong language； he had then been four years and nine months without one moment's repose for body or mind。 A few months' intermission of labour he had obtainednot of rest； for it was purchased with the loss of a limb； and the greater part of the time had been a season of constant pain。 As soon as his shattered frame had sufficiently recovered for him to resume his duties； he was called to services of greater importance than any on which he had hitherto been employed； which brought with them commensurate fatigue and care。
The anxiety which he endured during his long pursuit of the enemy； was rather changed in its direction than abated by their defeat； and this constant wakefulness of thought； added to the effect of his wound； and the exertions from which it was not possible for one of so ardent and wide…reaching a mind to spare himself；nearly proved fatal。 On his way back to Italy he was seized with fever。 For eighteen hours his life was despaired of； and even when the disorder took a favourable turn； and he was so far recovered as again to appear on deck； he himself thought that his end was approachingsuch was the weakness to which the fever and cough had reduced him。 Writing to Earl St。 Vincent on the passage； he said to him； 〃I never expect； my dear lord； to see your face again。 It may please God that this will be the finish to that fever of anxiety which I have endured from the middle of June； but be that as it pleases his goodness。 I am resigned to his will。〃
The kindest attentions of the warmest friendship were awaiting him at Naples。 〃Come here；〃 said Sir William Hamilton； 〃for God's sake； my dear friend； as soon as the service will permit you。 A pleasant apartment is ready for you in my house； and Emma is looking out for the softest pillows to repose the few wearied limbs you have left。〃 Happy would it have been for Nelson if warm and careful friendship had been all that waited him there。 He himself saw at that time the character of the Neapolitan court； as it first struck an Englishman； in its true light； and when he was on the way； he declared that he detested the voyage to Naples； and that nothing but necessity could have forced him to it。 But never was any hero； on his return from victory； welcomed with more heartfelt joy。 Before the battle of Aboukir the Court at Naples had been trembling for its existence。 The language which the Directory held towards it was well described by Sir William Hamilton as being exactly the language of a highwayman。 The Neapolitans were told that Benevento might be added to their dominions； provided they would pay a large sum； sufficient to satisfy the Directory； and they were warned； that if the proposal were refused； or even if there were any delay in accepting it； the French would revolutionise all Italy。 The joy； therefore； of the Court at Nelson's success was in proportion to the dismay from which that success relieved them。 The queen was a daughter of Maria Theresa； and sister of Maria Antoinette。 Had she been the wisest and gentlest of her sex； it would not have been possible for her to have regarded the French without hatred and horror； and the progress of revolutionary opinions； while it perpetually reminded her of her sister's fate； excited no unreasonable apprehensions for her own。 Her feelings； naturally ardent； and little accustomed to restraint； were excited to the highest pitch when the news of the victory arrived。 Lady Hamilton； her constant friend and favourite； who was present； says； 〃It is not possible to describe her transports； she wept； she kissed her husband； her children； walked frantically about the room； burst into tears again； and again kissed and embraced every person near her； exclaiming；〃O brave Nelson！ O God！ bless and protect our brave deliverer！ O Nelson！ Nelson！ what do we not owe you！ O conquerorsaviour of Italy！ O that my swollen heart could now tell him personally what we owe to him！〃 She herself wrote to the Neapolitan ambassador at London upon the occasion； in terms which show the fulness of her joy； and the height of the hopes which it had exc
