the life of horatio lord nelson-第57章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d it； and when compelled to enforce it； he； who was familiar with wounds and death； suffered like a woman。 In his whole life； Nelson was never known to act unkindly towards an officer。 If he was asked to prosecute one for ill behaviour； he used to answer； 〃That there was no occasion for him to ruin a poor devil who was sufficiently his own enemy to ruin himself。〃 But in Nelson there was more than the easiness and humanity of a happy nature： he did not merely abstain from injury； his was an active and watchful benevolence； ever desirous not only to render justice； but to do good。 During the peace he had spoken in parliament upon the abuses respecting prize…money； and had submitted plans to government for more easily manning the navy； and preventing desertion from it； by bettering the condition of the seamen。 He proposed that their certificates should be registered； and that every man who had served； with a good character； five years in war； should receive a bounty of two guineas annually after that time； and of four guineas after eight years。 〃This；〃 he said； 〃might； at first sight； appear an enormous sum for the state to pay； but the average life of seamen is； from hard service； finished at forty… five。 He cannot； therefore； enjoy the annuity many years； and the interest of the money saved by their not deserting would go far to pay the whole expense。〃
To his midshipmen he ever showed the most winning kindness； encouraging the diffident； tempering the hasty； counselling and befriending both。 〃Recollect；〃 he used to say； 〃that you must be a seaman to be an officer； and also that you cannot be a good officer without being a gentleman。〃 A lieutenant wrote to him to say that he was dissatisfied with his captain。 Nelson's answer was in that spirit of perfect wisdom and perfect goodness which regulated his whole conduct towards those who were under his command。 〃I have just received your letter； and am truly sorry that any difference should arise between your captain； who has the reputation of being one of the bright officers of the service； and yourself； a very young man； and a very young officer； who must naturally have much to learn； therefore the chance is that you are perfectly wrong in the disagreement。 However； as your present situation must be very disagreeable； I will certainly take an early opportunity of removing you； provided your conduct to your present captain be such that another may not refuse to receive you。〃 The gentleness and benignity of his disposition never made him forget what was due to discipline。 Being on one occasion applied to； to save a young officer from a court…martial； which he had provoked by his misconduct； his reply was； 〃That he would do everything in his power to oblige so gallant and good an officer as Sir John Warren；〃 in whose name the intercession had been made。 〃But what；〃 he added； 〃would he do if he were here？ Exactly what I have done； and am still willing to do。 The young man must write such a letter of contrition as would be an acknowledgment of his great fault； and with a sincere promise； if his captain will intercede to prevent the impending court…martial； never to so misbehave again。 On his captain's enclosing me such a letter； with a request to cancel the order for the trial； I might be induced to do it； but the letters and reprimand will be given in the public order…book of the fleet； and read to all the officers。 The young man has pushed himself forward to notice； and he must take the consequence。 It was upon the quarter…deck； in the face of the ship's company； that he treated his captain with contempt； and I am in duty bound to support the authority and consequence of every officer under my command。 A poor ignorant seaman is for ever punished for contempt to HIS superiors。〃
A dispute occurred in the fleet while it was off Toulon； which called forth Nelson's zeal for the rights and interests of the navy。 Some young artillery officers； serving on board the bomb vessels； refused to let their men perform any other duty but what related to the mortars。 They wished to have it established that their corps was not subject to the captain's authority。 The same pretensions were made in the Channel fleet about the same time； and the artillery rested their claims to separate and independent authority on board； upon a clause in the act； which they interpreted in their favour。 Nelson took up the subject with all the earnestness which its importance deserved。 〃There is no real happiness in this world；〃 said he； writing to Earl St。 Vincent； as first lord。 〃With all content and smiles around me； up start these artillery boys （I understand they are not beyond that age）； and set us at defiance； speaking in the most disrespectful manner of the navy and its commanders。 I know you； my dear lord； so well； that with your quickness the matter would have been settled； and perhaps some of them been broke。 I am perhaps more patient； but I do assure you not less resolved； if my plan of conciliation is not attended to。 You and I are on the eve of quitting the theatre of our exploits； but we hold it due to our successors never； whilst we have a tongue to speak or a hand to write； to allow the navy to be in the smallest degree injured in its discipline by our conduct。〃 To Troubridge he wrote in the same spirit： 〃It is the old history； trying to do away the act of parliament； but I trust they will never succeed； for when they do； farewell to our naval superiority。 We should be prettily commanded！ Let them once gain the step of being independent of the navy on board a ship； and they will soon have the other； and command us。 But； thank God！ my dear Troubridge； the king himself cannot do away the act of parliament。 Although my career is nearly run； yet it would embitter my future days； and expiring moments； to hear of our navy being sacrificed to the army。〃 As the surest way of preventing such disputes； he suggested that the navy should have it's own corps of artillery； and a corps of marine artillery was accordingly established。
Instead of lessening the power of the commander； Nelson would have wished to see it increased： it was absolutely necessary； he thought； that merit should be rewarded at the moment； and that the officers of the fleet should look up to the commander…in…chief for their reward。 He himself was never more happy than when he could promote those who were deserving of promotion。 Many were the services which he thus rendered unsolicited； and frequently the officer； in whose behalf he had interested himself with the Admiralty； did not know to whose friendly interference he was indebted for his good fortune。 He used to say； 〃I wish it to appear as a God…send。〃 The love which he bore the navy made him promote the interests； and honour the memory； of all who had added to its glories。 〃The near relations of brother officers；〃 he said； 〃he considered as legacies to the service。〃 Upon mention being made to him of a son of Rodney； by the Duke of Clarence； his reply was： 〃I agree with your Royal Highness most entirely； that the son of a Rodney ought to be the PROTEGE of every person in the kingdom； and particularly of the sea…officers。 Had I known that there had been this claimant； some of my own lieutenants must have given way to such a name； and he should have been placed in the VICTORY： she is full； and I have twenty on my list； but； whatever numbers I have； the name of Rodney must cut many of them out。〃 Such was the proper sense which Nelson felt of what was due to splendid services and illustrious names。 His feelings toward the brave men who had served with him are shown by a note in his diary； which was probably not intended for any other eye than his own： 〃Nov。 7。 I had the comfort of making an old AGAMEMNON； George Jones； a gunner into the CHAMELEON brig。〃
When Nelson took the command； it was expected that the Mediterranean would be an active scene。 Nelson well understood the character of the perfidious Corsican； who was now sole tyrant of France； and knowing that he was as ready to attack his friends as his enemies； knew； therefore； that nothing could be more uncertain than the direction of the fleet from Toulon； whenever it should put to sea。 〃It had as many destinations；〃 he said； 〃as there we
