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!
devolved on Admiral Hotham。 The affairs of the Mediterranean wore at this time a gloomy aspect。 The arts; as well as the arms of the enemy; were gaining the ascendancy there。 Tuscany concluded peace relying upon the faith of France; which was; in fact; placing itself at her mercy。 Corsica was in danger。 We had taken that island for ourselves; annexed it formally to the crown of Great Britain; and given it a constitution as free as our own。 This was done with the consent of the majority of the inhabitants; and no transaction between two countries was ever more fairly or legitimately conducted: yet our conduct was unwise;the island is large enough to form an independent state; and such we should have made it; under our protection; as long as protection might be needed; the Corsicans would then have felt as a nation; but when one party had given up the country to England; the natural consequence was that the other looked to France。 The question proposed to the people was; to which would they belong? Our language and our religion were against us; our unaccommodating manners; it is to be feared; still more so。 The French were better politicians。 In intrigue they have ever been unrivalled; and it now became apparent that; in spite of old wrongs; which ought never to have been forgotten nor forgiven; their partisans were daily acquiring strength。 It is part of the policy of France; and a wise policy it is; to impress upon other powers the opinion of its strength; by lofty language: and by threatening before it strikes; a system which; while it keeps up the spirit of its allies; and perpetually stimulates their hopes; tends also to dismay its enemies。 Corsica was now loudly threatened。 〃The French; who had not yet been taught to feel their own inferiority upon the seas; braved us in contempt upon that element。〃 They had a superior fleet in the Mediterranean; and they sent it out with express orders to seek the English and engage them。 Accordingly; the Toulon fleet; consisting of seventeen ships of the line and five smaller vessels; put to sea。 Admiral Hotham received this information at Leghorn; and sailed immediately in search of them。 He had with him fourteen sail of the line; and one Neapolitan seventy…four; but his ships were only half…manned; containing but 7650 men; whereas the enemy had 16;900。 He soon came in sight of them: a general action was expected; and Nelson; as was his custom on such occasions; wrote a hasty letter to his wife; as that which might possibly contain his last farewell。 〃The lives of all;〃 said he; 〃are in the hand of Him who knows best whether to preserve mine or not; my character and good name are in my own keeping。〃
But however confident the French government might be of their naval superiority; the officers had no such feeling; and after manoeuvring for a day in sight of the English fleet; they suffered themselves to be chased。 One of their ships; the CA IRA; of eighty…four guns; carried away her main and fore top…masts。 The INCONSTANT frigate fired at the disabled ship; but received so many shot that she was obliged to leave her。 Soon afterwards a French frigate took the CA IRA in tow; and the SANS…CULOTTES; one hundred and twenty; and the JEAN BARRAS; seventy… four; kept about gunshot distance on her weather bow。 The AGAMEMNON stood towards her; having no ship of the line to support her within several miles。 As she drew near; the CA IRA fired her stern guns so truly; that not a shot missed some part of the ship; and latterly; the masts were struck by every shot。 It had been Nelson's intention not to fire before he touched her stern; but seeing how impossible it was that he should be supported; and how certainly the AGAMEMNON must be severely cut up if her masts were disabled; he altered his plan according to the occasion。 As soon; therefore; as he was within a hundred yards of her stern; he ordered the helm to be put a…starboard; and the driver and after…sails to be brailed up and shivered; and; as the ship fell off; gave the enemy her whole broadside。 They instantly braced up the after… yards; put the helm a…port; and stood after her again。 This manoeuvre he practised for two hours and a quarter; never allowing the CA IRA to get a single gun from either side to bear on him; and when the French fired their after…guns now; it was no longer with coolness and precision; for every shot went far ahead。 By this time her sails were hanging in tatters; her mizen…top…mast; mizen…top…sail; and cross…jack…yards shot away。 But the frigate which had her in tow hove in stays; and got her round。 Both these French ships now brought their guns to bear; and opened their fire。 The AGAMEMNON passed them within half…pistol shot; almost every shot passed over her; for the French had elevated their guns for the rigging; and for distant firing; and did not think of altering the elevation。 As soon as the AGAMEMNON's after…guns ceased to bear; she hove in stays; keeping a constant fire as she came round; and being worked; said Nelson; with as much exactness as if she had been turning into Spithead。 On getting round; he saw that the Sans…Culottes; which had wore; with many of the enemy's ships; was under his lee bow; and standing to leeward。 The admiral; at the same time; made the signal for the van ships to join him。 Upon this Nelson bore away; and prepared to set all sail; and the enemy; having saved their ship; hauled close to the wind; and opened upon him a distant and ineffectual fire。 Only seven of the AGAMEMNON's men were hurta thing which Nelson himself remarked as wonderful: her sails and rigging were very much cut; and she had many shots in her hull; and some between wind and water。 The CA IRA lost 110 men that day; and was so cut up that she could not get a top…mast aloft during the night。
At daylight on the following morning; the English ships were taken aback with a fine breeze at N。W。; while the enemy's fleet kept the southerly wind。 The body of their fleet was about five miles distant; the CA IRA and the CENSEUR; seventy…four; which had her in tow; about three and a half。 All sail was made to cut these ships off; and as the French attempted to save them; a partial action was brought on。 The AGAMEMNON was again engaged with her yesterday's antagonist; but she had to fight on both sides the ship at the same time。 The CA IRA and the CENSEUR fought most gallantly: the first lost nearly 300 men; in addition to her former loss; the last; 350。 Both at length struck; and Lieutenant Andrews; of the AGAMEMNON; brother to the lady to whom Nelson had become attached in France; and; in Nelson's own words; 〃as gallant an officer as ever stepped a quarter…deck;〃 hoisted English colours on board them both。 The rest of the enemy's ships' behaved very ill。 As soon as these vessels had struck; Nelson went to Admiral Hotham and proposed that the two prizes should be left with the ILLUSTRIOUS and COURAGEUX; which had been crippled in the action; and with four frigates; and that the rest of the fleet should pursue the enemy; and follow up the advantage to the utmost。 But his reply was〃We must be contented: we have done very well。〃〃Now;〃 said Nelson;〃 had we taken ten sail; and allowed the eleventh to escape; when it had been pos