the life of horatio lord nelson-第5部分

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　shortened；　and　some　other　improvements　made　at　Nelson's　suggestion。　Still　he　always　insisted　that　her　first　owners；　the　French；　had　taught　her　to　run　away；　as　she　was　never　a　good　sailer　except　when　going　directly　before　the　wind。

On　their　return　to　the　Downs；　while　he　was　ashore　visiting　the　senior　officer；　there　came　on　so　heavy　a　gale　that　almost　all　the　vessels　drove；　and　a　store…ship　came　athwart…hawse　of　the　ALBEMARLE。　Nelson　feared　she　would　drive　on　the　Goodwin　Sands；　he　ran　to　the　beach；　but　even　the　Deal　boatmen　thought　it　impossible　to　get　on　board；　such　was　the　violence　of　the　storm。　At　length　some　of　the　most　intrepid　offered　to　make　the　attempt　for　fifteen　guineas；　and　to　the　astonishment　and　fear　of　all　the　beholders；　he　embarked　during　the　height　of　the　tempest。　With　great　difficulty　and　imminent　danger　he　succeeded　in　reaching　her。　She　lost　her　bowsprit　and　foremast；　but　escaped　further　injury。　He　was　now　ordered　to　Quebec；　where　his　surgeon　told　him　he　would　certainly　be　laid　up　by　the　climate。　Many　of　his　friends　urged　him　to　represent　this　to　Admiral　Keppel；　but　having　received　his　orders　from　Lord　Sandwich；　there　appeared　to　him　an　indelicacy　in　applying　to　his　successor　to　have　them　altered。

Accordingly　he　sailed　for　Canada。　During　her　first　cruise　on　that　station　the　ALBEMARLE　captured　a　fishing　schooner　which　contained　in　her　cargo　nearly　all　the　property　that　her　master　possessed；　and　the　poor　fellow　had　a　large　family　at　home；　anxiously　expecting　him。　Nelson　employed　him　as　a　pilot　in　Boston　Bay；　then　restored　him　the　schooner　and　cargo；　and　gave　him　a　certificate　to　secure　him　against　being　captured　by　any　other　vessel。　The　man　came　off　afterwards　to　the　ALBEMARLE；　at　the　hazard　of　his　life；　with　a　present　of　sheep；　poultry；　and　fresh　provisions。　A　most　valuable　supply　it　proved；　for　the　scurvy　was　raging　on　board：　this　was　in　the　middle　of　August；　and　the　ship's　company　had　not　had　a　fresh　meal　since　the　beginning　of　April。　The　certificate　was　preserved　at　Boston　in　memory　of　an　act　of　unusual　generosity；　and　now　that　the　fame　of　Nelson　has　given　interest　to　everything　connected　with　his　name；　it　is　regarded　as　a　relic。　The　ALBEMARLE　had　a　narrow　escape　upon　this　cruise。　Four　French　sail　of　the　line　and　a　frigate；　which　had　come　out　of　Boston　harbour；　gave　chase　to　her；　and　Nelson；　perceiving　that　they　beat　him　in　sailing；　boldly　ran　among　the　numerous　shoals　of　St。　George's　Bank；　confiding　in　his　own　skill　in　pilotage。　Captain　Salter；　in　the　STA。　MARGARETTA；　had　escaped　the　French　fleet　by　a　similar　manoeuvre　not　long　before。　The　frigate　alone　continued　warily　to　pursue　him；　but　as　soon　as　he　perceived　that　this　enemy　was　unsupported；　he　shortened　sail　and　hove　to；　upon　which　the　Frenchman　thought　it　advisable　to　give　over　the　pursuit；　and　sail　in　quest　of　his　consorts。

At　Quebec　Nelson　became　acquainted　with　Alexander　Davison；　by　whose　interference　he　was　prevented　from　making　what　would　have　been　called　an　imprudent　marriage。　The　ALBEMARLE　was　about　to　leave　the　station；　her　captain　had　taken　leave　of　his　friends；　and　was　gone　down　the　river　to　the　place　of　anchorage；　when　the　next　morning；　as　Davison　was　walking　on　the　beach；　to　his　surprise　he　saw　Nelson　coming　back　in　his　boat。　Upon　inquiring　the　cause　of　this　reappearance；　Nelson　took　his　arm　to　walk　towards　the　town；　and　told　him　that　he　found　it　utterly　impossible　to　leave　Quebec　without　again　seeing　the　woman　whose　society　had　contributed　so　much　to　his　happiness　there；　and　offering　her　his　hand。　〃If　you　do；〃　said　his　friend；　〃your　ruin　must　inevitably　follow。〃　〃Then　let　it　follow；〃　cried　Nelson；　〃for　I　am　resolved　to　do　it〃　〃And　I；〃　replied　Davison；　〃am　resolved　you　shall　not。〃　Nelson；　however；　upon　this　occasion；　was　less　resolute　than　his　friend；　and　suffered　himself　to　be　led　back　to　the　boat。

The　ALBEMARLE　was　under　orders　to　convoy　a　fleet　of　transports　to　New　York。　〃A　very　pretty　job〃　said　her　captain；　〃at　this　late　season　of　the　year〃　（October　was　far　advanced）；　〃for　our　sails　are　at　this　moment　frozen　to　the　yards。〃　On　his　arrival　at　Sandy　Hook；　he　waited　on　the　commander…in…chief；　Admiral　Digby；　who　told　him　he　was　come　on　a　fine　station　for　making　prize…money。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Nelson　made　answer；　〃but　the　West　Indies　is　the　station　for　honour。〃　Lord　Hood；　with　a　detachment　of　Rodney's　victorious　fleet；　was　at　that　time　at　Sandy　Hook：　he　had　been　intimate　with　Captain　Suckling；　and　Nelson；　who　was　desirous　of　nothing　but　honour；　requested　him　to　ask　for　the　ALBEMARLE；　that　he　might　go　to　that　station　where　it　was　most　likely　to　be　obtained。　Admiral　Digby　reluctantly　parted　with　him。　His　professional　merit　was　already　well　known；　and　Lord　Hood；　on　introducing　him　to　Prince　William　Henry；　as　the　Duke　of　Clarence　was　then　called；　told　the　prince；　if　he　wished　to　ask　any　questions　respecting　naval　tactics；　Captain　Nelson　could　give　him　as　much　information　as　any　officer　in　the　fleet。　The　Dukewho；　to　his　own　honour；　became　from　that　time　the　firm　friend　of　Nelsondescribes　him　as　appearing　the　merest　boy　of　a　captain　he　had　ever　seen；　dressed　in　a　full　laced　uniform；　an　old…fashioned　waistcoat　with　long　flaps；　and　his　lank　unpowdered　hair　tied　in　a　stiff　Hessian　tail　of　extraordinary　length；　making　altogether　so　remarkable　a　figure；　that；　says　the　duke；　〃I　had　never　seen　anything　like　it　before；　nor　could　I　imagine　who　he　was；　nor　what　he　came　about。　But　his　address　and　conversation　　were　irresistibly　pleasing；　and　when　he　spoke　on　professional　subjects；　it　was　with　an　enthusiasm　that　showed　he　was　no　common　being。〃

It　was　expected　that　the　French　would　attempt　some　of　the　passages　between　the　Bahamas；　and　Lord　Hood；　thinking　of　this；　said　to　Nelson；　〃I　suppose；　sir；　from　the　length　of　time　you　were　cruising　among　the　Bahama　Keys；　you　must　be　a　good　pilot　there。〃　He　replied；　with　that　constant　readiness　to　render　justice　to　every　man　which　was　so　conspicuous　in　all　his　conduct　through　life；　that　he　was　well　acquainted　with　them　himself；　but　that　in　that　respect　his　second　lieutenant　was　far　his　superior。　The　French　got　into　Puerto　Cabello；　on　the　coast　of　Venezuela。　Nelson　was　cruising　between　that　port　and　La　Guapra；　under　French　colours；　for　the　purpose　of　obtaining　information；　when　a　king's　launch；　belonging　to　the　Spaniards；　passed　near；　and　being　hailed　in　French；　came　alongside　without　suspicion；　and　answered　all　questions　that　were　asked　concerning　the　number　and　force　of　the　enemy's　ships。　The　crew；　however；　were　not　a　little　surprised　when　they　were　taken　on　board　and　found　themselves　prisoners。　One　of　the　party　went　by　the　name　of　the　Count　de　Deux…Ponts。　He　was；　however；　a　prince　of　the　German　empire；　and　brother　to　the　heir　of　the　Electorate　of　Bavaria：　his　companions　were　French　officers　of　distinction；　and　men　of　science；　who　had　been　collecting　specimens　in　the　various　branches　of　natural　history。　Nelson；　having　entertained　them　with　the　best　his　table　could　afford；　told　them　they　were　at　liberty　to　depart　with　their　boat；　and　all　that　it　contained：　he　only　required　them　to　promise　that　they　would　consider　themselves　as　prisoners　if　the　commander…in…chief　should　refuse　to　acquiesce　in　their　being　thus　liberated：　a　circumstance　which　was　not　likely　to　happen。　Tidings　soon　arrived　that　the　preliminaries　of　peace　had　been　signed；　and　the　ALBEMARLE　returned　to　England　and　was　paid　off。　Nelson's　first　business；　after　he　got　to　London；　even　before　he　went　to　see　his　relations；　was　to　attempt　to　get　the　wages　due　to　his　men　for　the　various　ships　in　which　they　had　served　during　the　war。　〃The　disgust　of　seamen　to　the　navy；〃　he　said；　〃was　all　owing　to　the　infernal　plan　of　turning　them　over　from　ship　to　ship；　so　that　men　could　not　be　attached　to　their　officers；　nor　the　officers　care　the　least　about　the　men。〃　Yet　he　himself　was　so　beloved　by　his　men　that　his　whole　ship's　company　offered；　if　he　could　get　a　ship；　to　enter　for　her　immediately。　He　was　now；　for　the　first　time；　presented　at　court。　　After　going　through　this　ceremony；　he　dined　with　his　friend　Davison　at　Lincoln's　Inn。　As　soon　as　he　entered　the　chambers；　he　threw　off　what　he　called　his　iron…bound　coat；　and；　putting　himself　at　ease　in　a　dressing　gown；　passed　the　remainder　of　the　day　in　talking　over　all　that　had　befallen　them　since　they　parted　on　the　shore　of　the　River　St。　Lawrence。




CHAPTER　II

1784　…　1793

Nelson　goes　to　France　Reappointed　to　the　BOREAS　at　the　Leeward　Islands　in　the　BOREASHis　firm　conduct　concerning　the　American　Interlopers　and　the　ContractorsMarries　and　returns　to　EnglandIs　on　the　point　of　quitting　the　Service　in　DisgustManner　of　Life　while　unemployed　Appointed　to　the　AGAMEMNON　on　the　breaking　out　of　the　War　of　the　French　Revolution。

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〃I　HAVE　closed　the　war；〃　said　Nelson　in　one　of　his　letters；　〃without　a　fortune；　but　there　is　not　a　speck　in　my　character。　True　honour；　I　hope；　predominates　in　my　mind　far　above　riches。〃　He　did　not　apply　for　a　ship；　because　he　was　not　wealthy　enough　to　live　on　board　in　the　manner　which　was　then　become　customary。　Finding　it；　therefore；　prudent　to　economise　on　his　half…pay　during　the　peace；　he　went　to　France；　in　company　with　Captain　Macnamara　of　the　navy；　and　took　lodgings　at　St。　Omer's。　The　death　of　his　favourite　sister；　Anne；　who　died　in　consequence　of　going　out　of　the　ball…room　at　Bath　when　heated　with　dancing；　affected　his　father　so　much　that　it　had　nearly　occasioned　him　to　return　in　a　few　weeks。　Time；　however；　and　reason　and　religion；　overcame　this　grief　in　the　old　man；　and　Nelson　continued　at　St。　Omer's　long　enough　to　fall　in　love　with　the　daughter　of　an　Eng…　lish　clergyman。　This　second　attachment　appears　to　have　been　less　ardent　than　the　first；　for　upon　weighing　the　evils　of　a　straitened　income　to　a　married　man；　he　thought　it　better　to　leave　France；　assigning　to　his　friends　something　in　his　accounts　as　the　cause。　This　prevented　him　from　accepting　an　invitation　from　the　Count　of　Deux…Ponts　to　visit　him　at　Paris；　couched　in　the　handsomest　terms　of　acknowledgment　for　the　treatment　which　he　had　received　on　board　the　ALBEMARLE。

The　self…constraint　which　Nelson　exerted　in　subduing　this　attachment　made　him　naturally　desire　to　be　at　sea；　and　when；　upon　visiting　Lord　Howe　at　the　Admiralty；　he　was　asked　if　he　wis