Part 9 (1/2)
”May the great God whorant to reat and glorious victory, and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet! For myself individually, I coht onn myself, and the just cause which is entrusted tothus discharged his devotional duties, he annexed, in the sa:--
OCTOBER 21, 1805-- THEN IN SIGHT OF THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE AND SPAIN, DISTANT ABOUT TEN MILES
”Whereas the eht Hon
Sir W Ha and country, toany reward fro or country
1 That she obtained the King of Spain's letter, in 1796, to his brother, the King of Naples, acquainting hiland from which letter the ministry sent out orders to the then Sir John Jervis to strike a stroke, if opportunity offered, against either the arsenals of Spain or her fleets That neither of these was done is not the fault of Lady Haht have been offered
2 The British fleet under ypt, had not Lady Hamilton's influence with the Queen of Naples caused letters to be wrote to the governor of Syracuse that he was to encourage the fleet's being supplied with everything, should they put into any port in Sicily We put into Syracuse, and received every supply; went to Egypt and destroyed the French fleet
”Could I have rewarded these services, I would not now call upon my country; but as that has not been in acy to ive her an ample provision to maintain her rank in life
”I also leave to the beneficence of hter, Horatia Nelson Thompson; and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson only
”These are the only favours I ask of ht their battle May God blessand country, and all those I hold dear! My relations it is needless to mention; they will of course be amply provided for
”NELSON AND BRONTE
”WITNESS, ( HENRY BLACKWOOD
( TMHARDY”
The child of whohter, and so, indeed, he called her the last time he pronounced her na at Merton, under Lady Hamilton's care The last minutes which Nelson passed at Merton were e A portrait of Lady Ha in his cabin; and no Catholic ever beheld the picture of his patron saint with devouter reverence The undisguised and roarded it amounted almost to superstition; and when the portrait was now taken down in clearing for action, he desired the el” In this manner he frequently spoke of it, as if he believed there were a virtue in the ie He wore a miniature of her, also, next his heart
Blackent on board the VICTORY about six He found hiood spirits, but very cal into battle at Aboukir and Copenhagen: he knew that his own life would be particularly aimed at, and seems to have looked for death with almost as sure an expectation as for victory His whole attention was fixed upon the enemy They tacked to the northward, and for the shoals of Trafalgar and St
Pedro under the lee of the British, and keeping the port of Cadiz open for themselves This was judiciously done; and Nelson, aware of all the advantages which it gave thenal to prepare to anchor
Villeneuve was a skilful sea a better master, and a better cause His plan of defence was as well conceived, and as original, as the plan of attack He for about a cable's length to ard of her second ahead and astern Nelson, certain of a triumphant issue to the day, asked Blackhat he should consider as a victory That officer answered, that, considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the eneth, and the situation of the land, he thought it would be a glorious result if fourteen were captured He replied: ”I shall not be satisfied with less than twenty” Soon afterwards he asked hi Captain Blackwood ht the whole fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about These words were scarcely spoken before that signal was e, or even the nal:--”ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY!” It was received throughout the fleet with a shout of answering acclamation,which it expressed ”Now,” said Lord Nelson, ”I can do no reat Disposer of all events, and the justice of our cause I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty”
He wore that day, as usual, his ad on the left breast four stars, of the different orders hich he was invested Ornaments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark for the enemy were beheld with ominous apprehensions by his officers It was known that there were riflemen on board the French shi+ps, and it could not be doubted but that his life would be particularly aimed at They coeon, Mr Beatty, spoke to the chaplain Dr Scott, and to Mr Scott the public secretary, desiring that soe his dress, or cover the stars; but they knew that such a request would highly displease hi had been hinted to him formerly, ”and in honour I will die with them”
Mr Beatty, however, would not have been deterred by any fear of exciting his displeasure fro to hiland, as well as the life of Nelson, was concerned; but he was ordered from the deck before he could find an opportunity
This was a point upon which Nelson's officers knew that it was hopeless to remonstrate or reason with him; but both Blackwood, and his own captain, Hardy, represented to hieous to the fleet it would be for hi as possible; and he consented at last to let the LEVIATHAN and the TEMERAIRE, which were sailing abreast of the VICTORY, he ordered to pass ahead Yet even here the last infired, for these shi+ps could not pass ahead if the VICTORY continued to carry all her sail; and so far was Nelson fro sail, that it was evident he took pleasure in pressing on, and rendering it i sas setting into the bay of Cadiz: our shi+ps, crowding all sail, ht winds from the south-west The sun shone on the sails of the enemy; and their well-formed line, with their numerous three-deckers, made an appearance which any other assailants would have thought formidable; but the British sailors only admired the beauty and the splendour of the spectacle; and in full confidence of winning what they saw, reht yonder shi+ps would make at Spithead!
The French admiral, from the BUCENTAURE, beheld the new wood each leading his line; and pointing them out; to his officers, he is said to have exclaimed that such conduct could not fail to be successful Yet Villeneuve had made his own dispositions with the utmost skill and the fleets under his command waited for the attack with perfect coolness Ten ht or nine of the shi+ps immediately ahead of the VICTORY, and across her bows, fired single guns at her, to ascertain whether she was yet within their range As soon as Nelson perceived that their shot passed over him, he desired Blackwood and Captain Prowse, of the SIRIUS, to repair to their respective frigates; and, on their way, to tell all the captains of the line-of-battle shi+ps that he depended on their exertions; and that if, by the prescribed et into action iht best, provided it led theside an ene on the front of the poop, Blackwood took hi, he hoped soon to return and find him in possession of twenty prizes He replied, ”God bless you, Blackwood; I shall never see you again”
Nelson's coluwood's, in order to cut off the eneaged ”See,” cried Nelson, pointing to the ROYAL SOVEREIGN, as she steered right for the centre of the eneh it astern of the SANTA ANNA three-decker, and engaged her at the uns on the starboard side--”see how that noble fellow, Collingwood, carries his shi+p into action!” Collingwood, delighted at being first in the heat of the fire, and knowing the feelings of his commander and old friend, turned to his captain, and exclaiive to be here?” Both these brave officers, perhaps, at this ratitude, for a circu day
Adone on board the VICTORY to receive instructions, Nelson inquired of him where his captain was and was told, in reply, that they were not upon good terood terms with each other!”
Immediately he sent a boat for Captain Rotherha, ”Look; yonder are the enelishun at a time at the VICTORY, till they saw that a shot had passed through her allant sail; then they opened their broadsides, ai her before she could close with thes, lest one should be shot away The enean to feel the necessity of having them to strike For this reason, the SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD, Nelson's old acquaintance, as he used to call her, was distinguishable only by her four decks; and to the bow of this opponent he ordered the VICTORY to be steered Meanti fire was kept up upon the VICTORY The admiral's secretary was one of the first who fell; he was killed by a cannon-shot while conversing with Hardy Captain Adair of the marines, with the help of a sailor, endeavoured to reard for Mr Scott; but he anxiously asked: ”Is that poor Scott that's gone?” and being informed that was indeed so, exclaimed: ”Poor fellow!” Presently, a double-headed shot struck a party of ht of them; upon which Nelson immediately desired Captain Adair to disperse his ht not suffer so ether A few minutes afterwards a shot struck the four-brace bits on the quarter-deck, and passed between Nelson and Hardy, a splinter fro his foot