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Title: The Life of Nelson, Volume 2

Author: A. T. Mahan

Release date: October 21, 2005 [eBook #16915]
Most recently updated: December 12, 2020

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Steven Gibbs and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF NELSON, VOLUME 2 ***

THE LIFE OF NELSON

THE EMBODIMENT OF THE SEA POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN

BY

CAPTAIN A. T. MAHAN, D.C.L., LL.D.
UNITED STATES NAVY

AUTHOR OF
"THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON HISTORY, 1660-1783,"
"THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND EMPIRE,"
AND OF A "LIFE OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT"

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. II.

LONDON
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, & COMPANY,
LIMITED
1897

Vice-Admiral, Lord Nelson Vice-Admiral, Lord Nelson

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
 
BATTLE PLANS.
 
CHAPTER XIV.
 
NELSON TEMPORARILY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.—RELIEVED BY LORD KEITH.—APPLIES TO RETURN TO ENGLAND ON ACCOUNT OF ILL HEALTH.
 
AUGUST, 1799—JUNE, 1800.
 
Nelson left in temporary command 1
His disposition of the squadron 1
Made Duke of Bronté in Sicily 2
His hopes of remaining in command disappointed 3
His discontent 3
Energy and tact in exercising command 4
Affairs in Rome and Naples 5
Nelson visits Minorca 6
His anxiety about Malta 7
Portuguese squadron recalled to Lisbon.—Nelson's action 8
Characteristics of his intercourse with foreign officials 10
Urgency with army to support blockade of La Valetta 12
Partial success in this 13
Successes on the Continent of the Coalition against France 14
Subsequent blunders and disasters 15
Nelson's mortification at Bonaparte's escape to France 16
The French defeat the Turks at Aboukir 17
Nelson peremptorily forbids Sidney Smith to allow any French to leave Egypt 18
Smith nevertheless countenances the Convention of El Arish 19
His action disallowed by Keith and Nelson 20
Nelson's vivid expressions of disapproval 21
Nelson joins Keith at Leghorn 22
They visit Palermo and Malta together 22
Capture of "Le Généreux," 74, by Nelson's division 24
Nelson's relations with Keith, and bearing towards him 27
Keith orders Nelson to take personal charge off Malta 28
Nelson's annoyance and remonstrance 29
His restiveness under Keith's command 30
He returns from Malta to Palermo 31
The "Guillaume Tell," 80, captured in his absence 31
Displeasure of the Admiralty at his quitting his station 32
Letters of the First Lord 33
Nelson's soreness under them 34
He applies for leave to return to England 35
 
CHAPTER XV.
 
NELSON LEAVES THE MEDITERRANEAN.—THE JOURNEY OVERLAND THROUGH GERMANY.—ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.—SEPARATION FROM LADY NELSON.—HOISTS HIS FLAG IN THE CHANNEL FLEET, UNDER LORD ST. VINCENT.
 
JUNE, 1800—JANUARY, 1801.
 
Nelson escorts the Queen of Naples to Leghorn with two British ships-of-the-line 36
Keith's displeasure 37
Nelson at Leghorn 37
Austrians defeated at Marengo 37
Nelson and the Hamiltons leave Leghorn for Ancona 39
Journey to Trieste and Vienna 40
Enthusiasm shown towards Nelson by the people 40
Mention of him and Lady Hamilton by eye-witnesses 41
Anecdotes of him 42
His meeting with the Archduke Charles at Prague 43
Mrs. St. George's account of him at Dresden 43
Her disparaging mention of Lady Hamilton 44
Arrival of the party in England 45
Lady Nelson's attitude at this time 46
Her letters to Nelson 47
His reception and conduct in London 48
Growing estrangement between him and Lady Nelson 51
Anecdote of his visit to Fonthill 52
Final breach with Lady Nelson 53
Her blameless character, and subsequent life 54
Nelson's testimony to her conduct 55
Hoists his flag on board the "San Josef" at Plymouth 56
Birth of the child Horatia 56
Nelson's care to conceal his relations with Lady Hamilton 57
 
CHAPTER XVI.
 
THE EXPEDITION TO THE BALTIC AND BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN.—NELSON RETURNS TO ENGLAND.
 
FEBRUARY—JUNE, 1801.
 
Origin of the trouble between Great Britain and Denmark 60
The entrance of the Czar Paul into the quarrel 62
Renewal of the Armed Neutrality of 1780 63
Relations of Bonaparte to this event 64
Nelson joins the fleet under Sir Hyde Parker, at Yarmouth 65
Relations between him and Parker 66
Nelson's disapproval of the plans for the expedition 68
Evident change in his general disposition 69
Anecdote of Nelson and the turbot 70
The fleet collected off the Skaw 70
Parker's slowness and Nelson's impatience 71
Alarming reports of the Danes' preparations 72
Nelson's attitude and counsels 73
Accuracy of his judgment of the conditions 74
Tact and discretion in his dealings with Parker 74
His letter to Parker upon the general situation 75
Parker's indecision 77
Nelson's plans adopted 78
The fleet passes the Sound 79
Detail and discussion of Nelson's plan of operations 80
His feelings and speech in the Council of War 82
Nelson's division anchors south of Copenhagen 82
Nelson on the night before the battle 83
The Danish dispositions for defence 85
Nelson's Plan of Attack—Detail and discussion 85
The Battle of Copenhagen 87
Parker makes the signal to leave off action 89
Nelson refuses to repeat it 90
Discussion of this incident 91
Incidents of the battle 94
Nelson addresses a letter to the Crown Prince under a flag of truce 94
Characteristic anecdote 95
Discussion of the sending of the flag of truce 96
The battle discontinued 97
Nelson removes his ships 97
Completeness of his success 98
Merit of his conduct throughout 99
He is advanced in the peerage to be a Viscount 99
No other rewards, or medals, bestowed for this action 99
Negotiations intrusted to Nelson by Parker 100
The murder of the Czar Paul 100
Armistice for fourteen weeks concluded with Denmark 103
Qualified approval of the British Government 104
The British fleet enters the Baltic 104
Nelson's ardor and personal recklessness.—Anecdote 105
Parker's sluggishness of action.—Nelson's impatience 106
Russia intimates her purpose to abstain from hostilities 107
Nelson's controversy with the Danish Commodore Fischer 108
Parker ordered home, and Nelson left in command 110
Dissatisfaction of the latter 110
His longing to return to Lady Hamilton 110
He insists upon being relieved, on account of his health 111
He starts at once with the fleet for Revel 111
Displeasure manifested by the Czar Alexander 112
Nelson withdraws from Revel to Rostock 113
The Czar thereupon raises the embargo on British merchant ships 114
Nelson's elation over this result of his conduct 114
Details of his life on board 115
His avoidance of social relations outside the ship 115
Relieved by Admiral Pole, and returns to England 117
 
CHAPTER XVII.
 
NELSON COMMANDS THE "SQUADRON ON A PARTICULAR SERVICE," FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE COAST OF ENGLAND AGAINST INVASION.—SIGNATURE OF PRELIMINARIES OF PEACE WITH FRANCE.
 
JULY-OCTOBER, 1801.
 
Nelson's longing for repose 118
His services immediately required again 119
His reluctant consent 120
Bonaparte's threats of invasion 120
Inadequacy of British preparations for coast-defence 121
Nature of British apprehensions in 1801 122
Nelson's Memoranda for the Defence of the Thames 123
Analysis and discussion of this paper 126
St. Vincent's sagacious views on national defence 131
Apparent divergence between him and Nelson 131
Nelson hoists his flag again 133
His tact and courtesy towards others 134
Activity of his movements 135
Satisfied that there can be no invasion 136
Boat attack upon the vessels before Boulogne 137
Its disastrous failure 138
Nelson's distress 138
His exasperation at being kept afloat 138
His alienation from Troubridge 140
Annoyances of his situation 142
Death of Commander Parker.—Nelson's grief 143
His liberality in money matters 143
Pecuniary embarrassments 144
Signature of the preliminaries of peace 144
Nelson's satisfaction at the prospect of release 144
His indignation at the excessive elation of others 144
Receives leave of absence and goes home 145
 
CHAPTER XVIII.
 
RELEASE FROM ACTIVE SERVICE DURING THE PEACE OF AMIENS.—HOME LIFE AT MERTON.—PUBLIC INCIDENTS.
 
OCTOBER, 1801—MAY, 1803.
 
Nelson makes his home with the Hamiltons 146
His letter of final severance to his wife 146
His relations to his stepson, Josiah Nisbet 147
Desire to have a home of his own 149
Lady Hamilton selects Merton for him 150
The purchase effected, and the Hamiltons reside with him 150
Position of Sir William and of Lady Hamilton in the house 151
Differences between them 152
Minto's account of the household at Merton 154
Reminiscence of the same by Nelson's nephew 155
Incident narrated by Lieutenant Layman 157
Recollections of Nelson by the vicar's daughter 159
Nelson's strong religious sense of Divine Providence 159
Takes his place in the House of Lords 160
His controversy about rewards for the Battle of Copenhagen 161
His action justified 165
Nelson's warm and avowed sympathy with his followers 165
His consistent maintenance of the ground assumed 166
His interest in public questions 168
Dissatisfaction with the general conduct of the Admiralty 169
His sense of neglect 170
Embarrassment in money matters 171
Inadequacy of his pension to his services 171
His doubts as to the continuance of peace 172
His antagonism to Bonaparte illustrated 172
Speech in seconding the address to the throne 173
Designated for the Mediterranean in case of war 174
Volunteers his services 174
Hoists his flag in the "Victory," and sails 175
Breaks in his home-ties during this period 176
Death of his father 176
Death of Sir William Hamilton 177
Hamilton's expressed confidence in Nelson 178
Relations of Nelson's family to Lady Nelson and to Lady Hamilton 178
 
CHAPTER XIX.
 
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.—THE LONG WATCH OFF TOULON.—OCCUPATIONS OF A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
 
MAY, 1803—JANUARY, 1805.
 
Changed political conditions in the Mediterranean 179
Attitude of the Great Powers 180
Situation of Spain and Portugal 181
Policy of the Italian States 181
Nelson's sense of the importance of the Mediterranean 182
Bonaparte's policy 184
The course advocated by Nelson 185
Accuracy of his general forecast 187
Impatience to reach his station 188
Unwilling detention off Ushant 188
Quits the "Victory," and proceeds in a frigate 189
Momentary stop in Gibraltar 189
Arrival at Malta 190
Extensive correspondence 190
Policy as regards the Two Sicilies 191
His impatience with blind observance of orders 192
Departure from Malta for Toulon 194
Emotions at the sight of Naples 194
Opinion on Malta's value to England 195
Strategic importance of Malta and Gibraltar 195
Nelson joins the fleet before Toulon 196
Bad condition of the ships 196
His skilful administration of the fleet 197
Difficulty of obtaining supplies 198
His attitude towards Spain 199
Importance of Sardinia in Nelson's eyes 200
The valuable anchorage at Madalena 201
Station taken by him off Toulon 202
Fears loss of Sardinia, and serious consequences 203
Significance of Napoleon's inactivity in the Mediterranean 204
The winter rendezvous of the fleet.—Number 97 205
Seamanlike care of ships and spars 206
Preserves health of seamen by constant activity 206
Sanitary conditions of the fleet 208
His personal health, and anxieties 209
Fears a break-down 210
Speculations as to French intentions 211
Characteristic distrust of Frenchmen 211
Increasing perplexities 212
Firmness of his resolution 213
The French manoeuvre outside Toulon 214
Nelson's tactical conclusions and arrangements 215
His care to impart his ideas to his officers 216
Methods of intercourse with them 217
Exasperation at a statement of Latouche Tréville 217
Endeavors to force or to lure the French to sea 219
Effect of worry upon his mind 221
His last promotion.—Vice-Admiral of the White 221
Wearing effect of protracted monotony 222
Refuses to let Lady Hamilton join him 223
The daily life on board 224
Account of Nelson's health and habits 225
Occupations in business hours 228
Diplomatic ability and conciliatory temper 229
Sharp reply to remonstrance about blockades 230
Difficulties with Algiers 230
Nelson's diligent pursuit of information 233
Interest in listening to conversations 233
Examination of foreign journals and captured letters 234
Kindliness in intercourse with others 236
Exercise of official patronage 239
Protection of British trade 241
Want of frigates and small cruisers 243
Collection and protection of convoys 244
Nelson applies for sick leave 245
Desire to return to the station afterwards 246
Leave is granted by the Admiralty 246
The Mediterranean Station divided 247
Sir John Orde given the portion west of Gibraltar 247
Nelson's dissatisfaction and complaints 247
His change of mind about going home 249
Learns Cornwallis's order to seize Spanish treasure-ships 251
Directs captains under his orders not to obey 251
Letter illustrative of the characteristics of his orders 252
Adequacy of his measures to the requirements of the case 254
Determines not to use his leave of absence 255
Orde arrives off Cadiz 256
Indications of the French fleet leaving Toulon 257
Nelson receives word of the seizure of Spanish ships 258
Promptness of his measures.—Reasons therefor 258
Rumors of French departure 260
Annoyances caused Nelson by Orde 261
The mission of the frigate "Amazon" 261
Nelson's hope of meeting the French fleet 263
Opinions on general subjects 263
Sympathetic insight into Bonaparte's purposes 265
The French fleet sails from Toulon 266
 
CHAPTER XX.
 
THE ESCAPE AND PURSUIT OF THE TOULON FLEET.—NELSON'S RETURN TO ENGLAND.
 
JANUARY-AUGUST, 1805.
 
Object of Napoleon's combinations in 1805 267
Details of his plan 268
Nelson's share in thwarting it 269
The difficulties of one dealing with Napoleon 271
Nelson's guiding principle 271
The sailing of the Toulon fleet 272
Nelson's movements and perplexities 273
Goes to Alexandria 277
Returns to Gulf of Palmas, Sardinia 278
British disasters in Western Mediterranean 278
Characteristic letter of Nelson in behalf of an officer 279
Explanations to the Admiralty about his own course 280
Makes a round off Toulon and Barcelona to deceive the enemy 282
Returns to the Gulf of Palmas 283
The Toulon fleet sails again 284
Its movements and those of Nelson 284
Distress and misfortunes of the latter 286
Learns that the French fleet has passed the Straits 287
Thoroughness and sagacity of his measures 287
Continued head winds and distress of mind 289
The excitement in London 290
Gloom at the Admiralty 291
Nelson's constancy against bad fortune 292
Hears that the French and Spaniards are gone to the West Indies 292
Determines to follow them there 295
Sails in pursuit 296
Incidents of the voyage 297
Arrives in Barbadoes 298
Misled by false information 299
Rapid measures to retrieve the mis-step 299
Infers that the enemy have returned to Europe 301
He starts back immediately for Gibraltar 302
His judgments rapid, but not precipitate 302
Strength of his convictions 303
Relief from the anxiety previously felt 303
Movements of the allies and of Nelson 304
Precautions of the latter 305
His own explanation of his reasons 305
Discussion of this utterance 306
Indecisive engagement between the allies and Sir Robert Calder 307
Alarm in London at the failure of the latter 307
Nelson's protracted pursuit and mental depression 308
Reaches the Straits again 309
Appreciation of his action by others 310
Exchange of views between Nelson and Collingwood 311
Movements of Villeneuve, Calder, and Nelson 313
Nelson's arrival in Gibraltar 314
Subsequent rapid movements 315
Learns the news brought by the "Curieux" 315
Starts at once for the northward 315
Joins the Channel Fleet off Ushant 317
Leaves his squadron with Cornwallis, and proceeds to England 317
Anchors at Spithead 318
His sympathy with Calder 318
Tenacity of his opinions 319
 
CHAPTER XXI.
 
NELSON'S LAST STAY IN ENGLAND.
 
AUGUST 19—SEPTEMBER 15, 1805.
 
Nelson hauls down his flag and goes to Merton 320
Interviews with the Admiralty 320
His one meeting with Wellington 321
Interview with Lord Castlereagh 323
Popular demonstrations of affection 325
Home life at Merton 326
Presentiments 327
Intimations of early summons into service 327
News arrives that the combined fleets are in Cadiz 328
Determination of the British Government 328
Nelson's opinion on the License System 330
His services requested by the Government 330
Lady Hamilton's part in his decision 331
It is settled that he return to the Mediterranean 332
His health and spirits 332
His insistence upon the need for numbers 333
Final departure from home 335
Flag re-hoisted on board the "Victory" 335
Anecdote of Nelson and the gypsy 335
 
CHAPTER XXII.
 
THE ANTECEDENTS OF TRAFALGAR.
 
SEPTEMBER 15—OCTOBER 19, 1805.
 
Popular demonstrations when Nelson embarked 337
The passage to Cadiz 338
Precautions to deceive the enemy 339
His reception by the officers of the fleet 339
The "Plan of Attack" of May, 1805 341
The "Nelson Touch" 343
Discussion and comparison of these two papers 346
Comparison between the second and the Battle of Trafalgar, as fought 350
Nelson and Sir Robert Calder 353
Nelson's concession to Calder, and his own comments upon it 355
His disposition of the fleet before Cadiz 356
His fear lest the enemy should evade him 358
Growing presentiments, and cheerful calmness 359
Anecdote showing his considerateness 359
Necessity for sending away a detachment 360
Numbers of the British, and of the allies in Cadiz 360
Nelson's general intentions, made known to his subordinates 361
The enemy begins to leave Cadiz 362
 
CHAPTER XXIII.
 
TRAFALGAR.—THE DEATH OF NELSON.
 
OCTOBER 19-21, 1805.
 
Numbers and composition of the opposing fleets 363
Difficulties of the allies in leaving port 364
Respective movements of the two fleets 364
Nelson's last letter to Lady Hamilton 365
His last letter to his child 366
Events and incidents of October 20 366
Relative positions of the fleets at midnight 368
Conditions at daybreak of the 21st 369
The manoeuvres of the two fleets 370
Nelson's intercourse with Blackwood on the 21st 372
He bequeaths Lady Hamilton and Horatia to the care of his Country 375
The hostile fleets forming for battle 377
Nelson's impatience to close the enemy 378
The anxiety of others for his personal safety 379
The order of the allies while awaiting attack 379
Nelson's last prayer as entered in his journal 380
The origin and development of his famous signal 382
The battle opens 383
The "Victory" comes under fire 384
Nelson bids Blackwood a final farewell 385
Exposure and loss of life on board the "Victory" 386
The "Victory" breaks the enemy's line 387
Her duel with the "Redoutable" 387
Nelson falls, mortally wounded 388
The death-scene in the cockpit 389
The decisive hour of the battle 390
The second and closing phase of the battle 391
Nelson's anxiety about Hardy 391
Hardy's first visit to his death-bed 392
The final exchange of shots 393
Hardy's second visit and Nelson's farewell 394
The last moments 395
The death of Nelson 396
The close of the fight 396
The significance of Nelson's life 397
The perfect fulfilment of his life's work 398
 
INDEX.