the life of horatio lord nelson-第15部分

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t。　Nelson　thought　at　the　time　that；　if　the　whole　fleet　were　offered　him　for　transports；　he　would　find　some　other　excuse；　and　Mr。　Drake；　who　was　now　appointed　to　reside　at　the　Austrian　headquarters；　entertained　the　same　idea　of　the　general's　sincerity。　It　was　not；　however；　put　so　clearly　to　the　proof　as　it　ought　to　have　been。　He　replied　that；　as　soon　as　Nelson　could　declare　himself　ready　with　the　vessels　necessary　for　conveying　10；000　men；　with　their　artillery　and　baggage；　he　would　put　the　army　in　motion。　But　Nelson　was　not　enabled　to　do　this：　Admiral　Hotham；　who　was　highly　meritorious　in　leaving　such　a　man　so　much　at　his　own　discretion；　pursued　a　cautious　system；　ill　according　with　the　bold　and　comprehensive　views　of　Nelson；　who　continually　regretted　Lord　Hood；　saying　that　the　nation　had　suffered　much　by　his　resignation　of　the　Mediterranean　command。　The　plan　which　had　been　concerted；　he　said；　would　astonish　the　French；　and　perhaps　the　English。

There　was　no　unity　in　the　views　of　the　allied　powers；　no　cordiality　in　their　co…operation；　no　energy　in　their　councils。　The　neutral　powers　assisted　France　more　effectually　than　the　allies　assisted　each　other。　The　Genoese　ports　were　at　this　time　filled　with　French　privateers；　which　swarmed　out　every　night；　and　covered　the　gulf；　and　French　vessels　were　allowed　to　tow　out　of　the　port　of　Genoa　itself；　board　vessels　which　were　coming　in；　and　then　return　into　the　mole。　This　was　allowed　without　a　remonstrance；　while；　though　Nelson　abstained　most　carefully　from　offering　any　offence　to　the　Genoese　territory　or　flag；　complaints　were　so　repeatedly　made　against　his　squadron；　that；　he　says；　it　seemed　a　trial　who　should　be　tired　first；　they　of　complaining；　or　he　of　answering　their　complaints。　But　the　question　of　neutrality　was　soon　at　an　end。　An　Austrian　commissary　was　travelling　from　Genoa　towards　Vado；　it　was　known　that　he　was　to　sleep　at　Voltri；　and　that　he　had　L10；000　with　hima　booty　which　the　French　minister　in　that　city；　and　the　captain　of　a　French　frigate　in　that　port；　considered　as　far　more　important　than　the　word　of　honour　of　the　one；　the　duties　of　the　other；　and　the　laws　of　neutrality。　The　boats　of　the　frigate　went　out　with　some　privateers；　landed；　robbed　the　commissary；　and　brought　back　the　money　to　Genoa。　The　next　day　men　were　publicly　enlisted　in　that　city　for　the　French　army：　700　men　were　embarked；　with　7000　stand　of　arms；　on　board　the　frigates　and　other　vessels；　who　were　to　land　between　Voltri　and　Savona。　There　a　detachment　from　the　French　army　was　to　join　them；　and　the　Genoese　peasantry　were　to　be　invited　to　insurrectiona　measure　for　which　everything　had　been　prepared。　The　night　of　the　13th　was　fixed　for　the　sailing　of　this　expedition；　the　Austrians　called　loudly　for　Nelson　to　prevent　it；　and　he；　on　the　evening　of　the　13th；　arrived　at　Genoa。　His　presence　checked　the　plan：　the　frigate；　knowing　her　deserts；　got　within　the　merchant…ships；　in　the　inner　mole；　and　the　Genoese　government　did　not　now　even　demand　of　Nelson　respect　to　the　neutral　port；　knowing　that　they　had　allowed；　if　not　connived　at；　a　flagrant　breach　of　neutrality；　and　expecting　the　answer　which　he　was　prepared　to　return；　that　it　was　useless　and　impossible　for　him　to　respect　it　longer。

But　though　this　movement　produced　the　immediate　effect　which　was　designed；　it　led　to　ill　consequences；　which　Nelson　foresaw；　but　for　want　of　sufficient　force　was　unable　to　prevent。　His　squadron　was　too　small　for　the　service　which　it　had　to　perform。　He　required　two　seventy…fours　and　eight　or　ten　frigates　and　sloops；　but　when　he　demanded　this　reinforcement；　Admiral　Hotham　had　left　the　　command。　Sir　Hyde　Parker　had　succeeded　till　the　new　commander　should　arrive；　and　he　immediately　reduced　it　to　almost　nothing；　leaving　him　only　one　frigate　and　a　brig。　This　was　a　fatal　error。　While　the　Austrian　and　Sardinian　troops；　whether　from　the　imbecility　or　the　treachery　of　their　leaders；　remained　inactive；　the　French　were　preparing　for　the　invasion　of　Italy。　Not　many　days　before　Nelson　was　thus　summoned　to　Genoa；　he　chased　a　large　convoy　into　Alassio。　Twelve　vessels　he　had　formerly　destroyed　in　that　port；　though　2000　French　troops　occupied　the　town。　This　former　attack　had　made　them　take　new　measures　of　defence；　and　there　were　now　above　100　sail　of　victuallers；　gun…boats；　and　ships　of　war。　Nelson　represented　to　the　Admiral　how　important　it　was　to　destroy　these　vessels；　and　offered；　with　his　squadron　of　frigates；　and　the　CULLODEN　and　COURAGEUX；　to　lead　himself　in　the　AGAMEMNON；　and　take　or　destroy　the　whole。　The　attempt　was　not　permitted；　but　it　was　Nelson's　belief　that；　if　it　had　been　made；　it　would　have　prevented　the　attack　upon　the　Austrian　army；　which　took　place　almost　immediately　afterwards。

General　de　Vins　demanded　satisfaction　of　the　Genoese　government　for　the　seizure　of　his　commissary；　and　then；　without　waiting　for　their　reply；　took　possession　of　some　empty　magazines　of　the　French；　and　pushed　his　sentinels　to　the　very　gates　of　Genoa。　Had　he　done　so　at　first；　he　would　have　found　the　magazines　full；　but；　timed　as　the　measure　was；　and　useless　as　it　was　to　the　cause　of　the　allies；　it　was　in　character　with　the　whole　of　the　Austrian　general's　conduct；　and　it　is　no　small　proof　of　the　dexterity　with　which　he　served　the　enemy；　that　in　such　circumstances　he　could　so　act　with　Genoa　as　to　contrive　to　put　himself　in　the　wrong。　Nelson　was　at　this　time；　according　to　his　own　expression；　placed　in　a　cleft　stick。　Mr。　Drake；　the　Austrian　minister；　and　the　Austrian　general；　all　joined　in　requiring　him　not　to　leave　Genoa；　if　he　left　that　port　unguarded；　they　said；　not　only　the　imperial　troops　at　St。　Pier　d'Arena　and　Voltri　would　be　lost；　but　the　French　plan　for　taking　post　between　Voltri　and　Savona　would　　certainly　succeed；　if　the　Austrians　should　be　worsted　in　the　advanced　posts；　the　retreat　of　the　Bocchetta　would　be　cut　off；　and　if　this　　happened；　the　loss　of　the　army　would　be　imputed　to　him；　for　having　left　Genoa。　On　the　other　hand；　he　knew　that　if　he　were　not　at　Pietra；　the　enemy's　gun…boats　would　harass　the　left　flank　of　the　Austrians；　who；　if　they　were　defeated；　as　was　to　be　expected；　from　the　spirit　of　all　their　operations；　would；　very　probably；　lay　their　defeat　to　the　want　of　assistance　from　the　AGAMEMNON。　Had　the　force　for　which　Nelson　applied　been　given　him；　he　could　have　attended　to　both　objects；　and　had　he　been　permitted　to　attack　the　convoy　in　Alassio；　he　would　have　disconcerted　the　plans　of　the　French；　in　spite　of　the　Austrian　general。　He　had　foreseen　the　danger；　and　pointed　out　how　it　might　be　　prevented；　but　the　means　of　preventing　it　were　withheld。　The　attack　was　made　as　he　foresaw；　and　the　gun…boats　brought　their　fire　to　bear　upon　the　Austrians。　It　so　happened；　however；　that　the　left　flank；　which　was　exposed　to　them；　was　the　only　part　of　the　army　that　behaved　well：　this　division　stood　its　ground　till　the　centre　and　the　right　wing　fled；　and　then　retreated　in　a　soldierlike　manner。　General　de　Vins　gave　up　the　command　in　the　middle　of　the　battle；　pleading　ill　health。　〃From　that　moment；〃　says　Nelson；　〃not　a　soldier　stayed　at　his　post：　it　was　the　devil　take　the　hindmost。　Many　thousands　ran　away　who　had　never　seen　the　enemy；　some　of　them　thirty　miles　from　the　　advanced　posts。　Had　I　not；　though　I　own；　against　my　inclination；　been　kept　at　Genoa；　from　8000　to　10；000　men　would　have　been　taken　prisoners；　and；　amongst　the　number；　General　de　Vins　himself；　but　by　this　means　the　pass　of　the　Bocchetta　was　kept　open。　The　purser　of　the　ship；　who　was　at　Vado；　ran　with　the　Austrians　eighteen　miles　without　stopping；　the　men　without　arms；　officers　without　soldiers；　women　without　assistance。　The　oldest　officers　say　they　never　heard　of　so　complete　a　defeat；　and　certainly　without　any　reason。　Thus　has　ended　my　campaign。　We　have　established　the　French　republic：　which　but　for　us；　I　verily　believe；　would　never　have　been　settled　by　such　a　volatile；　changeable　people。　I　hate　a　Frenchman：　they　are　equally　objects　of　my　detestation　whether　royalists　or　republicans：　in　some　points；　I　believe；　the　latter　are　the　best。〃　Nelson　had　a　lieutenant　and　two　midshipmen　taken　at　Vado：　they　told　him；　in　their　letter；　that　few　of　the　French　soldiers　were　more　than　three　or　four　and　twenty　years　old；　a　great　many　not　more　than　fourteen；　and　all　were　nearly　naked；　they　were　sure；　they　said；　his　barge's　crew　could　have　beat　a　hundred　of　them；　and　that；　had　he　himself　seen　them；　he　would　not　have　thought；　if　the　world　had　been　covered　with　such　people；　that　they　could　have　beaten　the　Austrian　army。

The　defeat　of　General　de　Vins　gave　the　enemy　possession　of　the　Genoese　coast　from　Savona　to　Voltri；　and　it　deprived　the　Austrians　of　their　direct　communication　with　the　English　fleet。　The　AGAMEMNON；　therefore；　could　no　longer　be　useful　on　this　station；　and　Nelson　sailed　for　Leghorn　to　refit。　When　his　ship　went　into　dock；　there　was　not　a　mast；　yard；　sail；　or　any　part　of　the　rigging；　but　what　stood　in　need　of　repair；　having　been　cut　to　pieces　with　shot。　The　hull　was　so　damaged　that　it　had　for　some　time　been　secured　by　cables；　which　were　served　or　thrapped　round　it。



CHAPTER　IV

1796　…　1797


Sir　J。　Jervis　takes　the　CommandGenoa　joins　the　FrenchBounaparte　begins　his　CareerEvacuation　of　CorsicaNelson　hoists　his　broad　Pennant　in　the　MINERVEAction　with　the　SABINABattle　off　Cape　St。　VincentNelson　commands　the　inner　Squadron　at　the　Blockade　of　Cadiz　Boat　Action　in　the　Bay　of　CadizExpedition　against　TeneriffeNelson　loses　an　ArmHis　Sufferings　in　England；　and　Recovery。

*


SIR　JOHN　JERVIS　had　now　arrived　to　take　the　command　of　the　Mediterranean　fleet。　The　AGAMEMNON　having；　as　her　captain　said；　been　made　as　fit　for　sea　as　a　rotten　ship　could　be；　Nelson　sailed　from　Leghorn；　and　joined　the　admiral　in　Fiorenzo　Bay。　〃I　found　him；〃　said　he；　〃anxious　to　know　many　things　which　I　was　a　good　deal　surprised　to　find　had　not　been　communicated　to　him　by　others　in　the　fleet；　and　it　would　appear　that　he　was　so　well　satisfied　with　my　opinion　of　what　is　likely　to　happen；　and　the　means　of　prevention　to　be　taken；　that　he　had　no　reserve　with　me　respecting　his　information　and　ideas　of　what　is　likely　to　be　done。〃　The　manner　in　which　Nelson　was　received　is　said　to　have　excited　some　envy。　One　captain　observed　to　him：　〃You　did　just　as