the life of horatio lord nelson-第34部分
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！
ting their poverty； he believed their protestations； and was satisfied with their professions； instead of insisting that the restrictions upon the exportation of corn should be withdrawn。 The anxiety； however； which he endured； affected him so deeply that he said it had broken his spirit for ever。 Happily； all that Troubridge with so much reason foreboded； did not come to pass。 For Captain Ball； with more decision than Nelson himself would have shown at that time and upon that occasion； ventured upon a resolute measure； for which his name would deserve always to be held in veneration by the Maltese； even if it had no other claims to the love and reverence of a grateful people。 Finding it hopeless longer to look for succour or common humanity from the deceitful and infatuated court of Sicily； which persisted in prohibiting by sanguinary edicts the exportation of supplies； at his own risk； he sent his first lieutenant to the port of Girgenti； with orders to seize and bring with him to Malta the ships which were there lying laden with corn； of the numbers of which he had received accurate information。 These orders were executed to the great delight and advantage of the shipowners and proprietors： the necessity of raising the siege was removed； and Captain Ball waited in calmness for the consequences to himself。 The Neapolitan government complained to the English ambassador； and the complaint was communicated to Nelson； who； in return； requested Sir William Hamilton would fully and plainly state； that the act ought not to be considered as any intended disrespect to his Sicilian Majesty； but as of the most absolute and imperious necessity； the alternative being either of abandoning Malta to the French； or of anticipating the king's orders for carrying the corn in those vessels to Malta。 〃I trust；〃 he added； 〃that the government of the country will never again force any of our royal master's servants to so unpleasant an alternative。〃 Thus ended the complaint of the Neapolitan court。 〃The sole result was；〃 says Mr。 Coleridge； 〃that the governor of Malta became an especial object of its hatred； its fears； and its respect。〃
Nelson himself； at the beginning of February； sailed for that island。 On the way he fell in with a French squadron bound for its relief； and consisting of the GENEREUX seventy…four； three frigates； and a corvette。 One of these frigates and the line…of…battle ship were taken； the others escaped； but failed in their purpose of reaching La Valette。 This success was peculiarly gratifying to Nelson； for many reasons。 During some months he had acted as commander…in…chief in the Mediterranean； while Lord Keith was in England。 Lord Keith was now returned； and Nelson had； upon his own plan； and at his own risk； left him to sail for Malta； 〃for which；〃 said he； 〃if I had not succeeded； I might have been broke： and if I had not acted thus； the GENEREUX never would have been taken。〃 This ship was one of those which had escaped from Aboukir。 Two frigates； and the GUILLAUME TELL； eighty…six were all that now remained of the fleet which Buonaparte had conducted to Egypt。 The GUILLAUME TELL was at this time closely watched in the harbour of La Valette； and shortly afterwards； attempting to make her escape from thence； was taken after an action； in which greater skill was never displayed by British ships； nor greater gallantry by an enemy。 She was taken by the FOUDROYANT； LION； and PENELOPE frigate。 Nelson； rejoicing at what he called this glorious finish to the whole French Mediterranean fleet； rejoiced also that he was not present to have taken a sprig of these brave men's laurels。 〃They are；〃 said he； 〃and I glory in them； my children； they served in my school； and all of us caught our professional zeal and fire from the great and good Earl St。 Vincent。 What a pleasure； what happi… ness； to have the Nile fleet all taken； under my orders and regul… ations！〃 The two frigates still remained in La Valette； before its sur… render they stole out； one was taken in the attempt； the other was the only ship of the whole fleet which escaped capture or destruction。
Letters were found on board the GUILLAUME TELL showing that the French were now become hopeless of preserving the conquest which they had so foully acquired。 Troubridge and his brother officers were anxious that Nelson should have the honour of signing the capitulation。 They told； him that they absolutely； as far as they dared； insisted on his staying to do this； but their earnest and affectionate entreaties were vain。 Sir William Hamilton had just been superseded： Nelson had no feeling of cordiality towards Lord Keith； and thinking that after Earl St。 Vincent no man had so good a claim to the command in the Mediterranean as himself； he applied for permission to return to England； telling the First Lord of the Admiralty that his spirit could not submit patiently； and that he was a broken…hearted man。 From the time of his return from Egypt； amid all the honours which were showered upon him； he had suffered many mortifications。 Sir Sidney Smith had been sent to Egypt with orders to take under his command the squadron which Nelson had left there。 Sir Sidney appears to have thought that this command was to be independent of Nelson； and Nelson himself thinking so； determined to return； saying to Earl St。 Vincent； 〃I do feel； for I am a man； that it is impossible for me to serve in these seas with a squadron under a junior officer。〃 Earl St。 Vincent seems to have dissuaded him from this resolution： some heart…burnings； however； still remained； and some incautious expressions of Sir Sidney's were noticed by him in terms of evident displeasure。 But this did not continue long； as no man bore more willing testimony than Nelson to the admirable defence of Acre。
He differed from Sir Sidney as to the policy which ought to be pursued toward the French in Egypt； and strictly commanded him； in the strongest language； not； on any pretence； to permit a single Frenchman to leave the country； saying that he considered it nothing short of madness to permit that band of thieves to return to Europe。 〃No；〃 said he； 〃to Egypt they went with their own consent； and there they shall remain while Nelson commands this squadron； for never； never； will he consent to the return of one ship or Frenchman。 I wish them to perish in Egypt； and give an awful lesson to the world of the justice of the Almighty。〃 If Nelson had not thoroughly understood the character of the enemy against whom he was engaged； their conduct in Egypt would have disclosed it。 After the battle of the Nile he had landed all his prisoners； upon a solemn engagement made between Troubridge on one side and Captain Barre on the other； that none of them should serve until regularly exchanged。 They were no sooner on shore than part of them were drafted into the different regiments； and the remainder formed into a corps； called the Nautic Legion。 This occasioned Captain Hallowell to say that the French had forfeited all claim to respect from us。 〃The army of Buonaparte；〃 said he； 〃are entirely destitute of every principle of honour： they have always acted like licentious thieves。〃 Buonaparte's escape was the more regretted by Nelson； because； if he had had sufficient force； he thought it would certainly have been prevented。 He wished to keep ships upon the watch to intercept anything coming from Egypt； but the Admiralty calculated upon the assistance of the Russian fleet； which failed when it was most wanted。 The ships which should have been thus employed were then required for more pressing services；and the bloody Corsican was thus enabled to reach Europe in safety； there to become the guilty instrument of a wider…spreading destruction than any with which the world had ever before been visited。
Nelson had other causes of chagrin。 Earl St。 Vincent； for whom he felt such high respect； and whom Sir John Orde had challenged for having nominated Nelson instead of himself to the command of the Nile squadron； laid claim to prize money； as commander…in…chief； after he had quitted the station。 The point was contested； and decided against him。 Nelson； perhaps； felt this the more； because his own feelings； with regard to money； were so different。 An opinion had been given by Dr。 Lawrence； which would have excluded the junior flag…officers from prize…money。 When this was made known to him； his reply was in these words： 〃Notwithstanding Dr。 Lawrence's opinion； I do not believe I have any right to exclude the junior flag…officers； and if I have； I desire that no such claim may be made： no； not if it were sixty times the sumand； poor as I am； I were never to see prize…money。〃
A ship could not be spared to convey him to England； he therefore travelled through Germany to Hamburgh； in company with his inseparable friends； Sir William and Lady Hamilton。 The Queen of Naples went with them to Vienna。 While they were at Leghorn； upon a report that the French were approaching （for； through the folly of weak courts and the treachery of venal cabinets； they had now recovered their ascendancy in Italy）； the people rose tumultuously； and would fain have persuaded Nelson to lead them against the enemy。 Public honours； and yet more gratifying testimonials of public admiration； awaited Nelson wherever he went。 The Prince of Esterhazy entertained him in a style of Hungarian magnificencea hundred grenadiers； each six feet in height； constantly waiting at table。 At Madgeburgh； the master of the hotel where he was entertained contrived to show him for moneyadmitting the curious to mount a ladder； and peep at him through a small window。 A wine merchant at Hamburgh； who was above seventy years of age； requested to speak with Lady Hamilton； and told her he had some Rhenish wine； of the vintage of 1625； which had been in his own possession more than half…a…century： he had preserved it for some extraordinary occasion； and that which had now arrived was far beyond any that he could ever have expected。 His request was； that her ladyship would prevail upon Lord Nelson to accept six dozen of this incomparable wine： part of it would then have the honour to flow into the heart's blood of that immortal hero； and this thought would make him happy during the remainder of his life。 Nelson； when thi
