the life of horatio lord nelson-第37章
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he head； and consider it as a proof of the writer's attachment to the crown。 With the first successes of the court the work of punishment began。 The judge at Ischia said it was necessary to have a bishop to degrade the traitorous priests before he could execute them； upon which Troubridge advised him to hang them first； and send them to him afterwards； if he did not think that degradation sufficient。 This was said with the straightforward feeling of a sailor； who cared as little for canon…law as he knew about it； but when he discovered that the judge's orders were to go through the business in a summary manner； under his sanction； he told him at once that could not be； for the prisoners were not British subjects； and he declined having anything to do with it。 There were manifestly persons about the court； who； while they thirsted for the pleasure of vengeance； were devising how to throw the odium of it upon the English。 They wanted to employ an English man…of…war to carry the priests to Palermo for degradation； and then bring them back for execution； and they applied to Troubridge for a hangman； which he indignantly refused。 He； meantime； was almost heart… broken by the situation in which he found himself。 He had promised relief to the islanders； relying upon the queen's promise to him。 He had distributed the whole of his private stock；there was plenty of grain at Palermo； and in its neighbourhood； and yet none was sent him： the enemy； he complained； had more interest there than the king； and the distress for bread which he witnessed was such； he said； that it would move even a Frenchman to pity。
Nelson's heart； too； was at this time a…shore。 〃To tell you；〃 he says； writing to Lady Hamilton； 〃how dreary and uncomfortable the VANGUARD appears； is only telling you what it is to go from the pleasantest society to a solitary cell； or from the dearest friends to no friends。 I am now perfectly the GREAT MANnot a creature near me。 》From my heart I wish myself the little man again。 You and good Sir William have spoiled me for any place but with you。〃
His mind was not in a happier state respecting public affairs。 〃As to politics；〃 said he； 〃at this time they are my abomination： the ministers of kings and princes are as great scoundrels as ever lived。 The brother of the emperor is just going to marry the great Something of Russia； and it is more than expected that a kingdom is to be found for him in Italy； and that the king of Naples will be sacrificed。〃 Had there been a wise and manly spirit in the Italian states； or had the conduct of Austria been directed by anything like a principle of honour； a more favourable opportunity could not have been desired for restoring order and prosperity in Europe； than the misconduct of the French Directory at this time afforded。 But Nelson perceived selfishness and knavery wherever he looked； and even the pleasure of seeing a cause prosper； in which he was so zealously engaged； was poisoned by his sense of the rascality of those with whom he was compelled to act。 At this juncture intelligence arrived that the French fleet had escaped from Brest； under cover of a fog； passed Cadiz unseen by Lord Keith's squadron； in hazy weather； and entered the Mediterranean。 It was said to consist of twenty…four sail of the line； six frigates； and three sloops。 The object of the French was to liberate the Spanish fleet； form a junction with them； act against Minorca and Sicily； and overpower our naval force in the Mediterranean； by falling in with detached squadrons； and thus destroying it in detail。 When they arrived off Carthagena； they requested the Spanish ships to make sail and join； but the Spaniards replied they had not men to man them。 To this it was answered that the French had men enough on board for that purpose。 But the Spaniards seem to have been apprehensive of delivering up their ships thus entirely into the power of such allies； and refused to come out。 The fleet from Cadiz； however； consisting of from seventeen to twenty sail of the line； got out； under Masaredo； a man who then bore an honourable name； which he has since rendered infamous by betraying his country。 They met with a violent storm off the coast of Oran； which dismasted many of their ships； and so effectually disabled them as to prevent the junction； and frustrate a well…planned expedition。
Before this occurred； and while the junction was as probable as it would have been formidable； Nelson was in a state of the greatest anxiety。 〃What a state am I in！〃 said he to Earl St。 Vincent。 〃If I go； I risk； and more than risk； Sicily； for we know； from experience； that more depends upon opinion than upon acts themselves； and； as I stay； my heart is breaking。〃 His first business was to summon Troubridge to join him； with all the ships of the line under his command； and a frigate； if possible。 Then hearing that the French had entered the Mediterranean； and expecting them at Palermo； where he had only his own shipwith that single ship he prepared to make all the resistance possible。 Troubridge having joined him； he left Captain E。 J。 Foote； of the SEAHORSE； to command the smaller vessels in the bay of Naples； and sailed with six shipsone a Portuguese； and a Portuguese corvettetelling Earl St。 Vincent that the squadron should never fall into the hands of the enemy。 〃And before we are destroyed；〃 said he； 〃I have little doubt but they will have their wings so completely clipped that they may be easily overtaken。〃 It was just at this time that he received from Captain Hallowell the present of the coffin。 Such a present was regarded by the men with natural astonishment。 One of his old shipmates in the AGAMEMNON said； 〃We shall have hot work of it indeed！ You see the admiral intends to fight till he is killed； and there he is to be buried。〃 Nelson placed it upright against the bulkhead of his cabin； behind his chair； where he sat at dinner。 The gift suited him at this time。 It is said that he was disappointed in the step…son whom he had loved so dearly from his childhood； and who had saved his life at Teneriffe； and it is certain that he had now formed an infatuated attachment for Lady Hamilton； which totally weaned his affections from his wife。 Farther than this； there is no reason to believe that this most unfortunate attachment was criminal； but this was criminality enough； and it brought with it its punishment。 Nelson was dissatisfied with himself； and therefore weary of the world。 This feeling he now frequently expressed。 〃There is no true happiness in this life；〃 said he； 〃and in my present state I could quit it with a smile。〃 And in a letter to his old friend Davison he said； 〃Believe me； my only wish is to sink with honour into the grave； and when that shall please God； I shall meet death with a smile。 Not that I am insensible to the honours and riches my king and country have heaped upon meso much more than any officer could deserve； yet am I ready to quit this world of trouble； and envy none but those of the estate six feet by two。〃
Well had it been for Nelson if he had made no other sacrifices to this unhappy attachment than his peace of mind； but it led to the only blot upon his public character。 While he sailed from Palermo； with the intention of collecting his whole force； and keeping off Maretimo； either to receive reinforcements there if the French were bound upwards； or to hasten to Minorca if that should be their destination； Captain Foote； in the Sea…horse； with the Neapolitan frigates； and some small vessels； under his command； was left to act with a land force consisting of a few regular troops； of four different nations； and with the armed rabble which Cardinal Ruffo called the Christian army。 His directions were to co…operate to the utmost of his power with the royalists； at whose head Ruffo had been placed； and he had no other instructions whatever。 Ruffo advancing without any plan； but relying upon the enemy's want of numbers； which prevented them from attempting to act upon the offensive； and ready to take advantage of any accident which might occur； approached Naples。 Fort St。 Elmo； which commands the town； was wholly garrisoned by the French troops； the castles of Uovo and Nuovo； which commanded the anchorage； were chi
