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e dressing of his arm； till she had acquired sufficient resolution and skill to dress it herself。 One night； during this state of suffering； after a day of constant pain； Nelson retired early to bed； in hope of enloymg some respite by means of laudanum。 He was at that time lodging in Bond Street； and the family were soon disturbed by a mob knocking loudly and violently at the door。 The news of Duncan's victory had been made public； and the house was not illuminated。 But when the mob were told that Admiral Nelson lay there in bed； badly wounded； the foremost of them made answer： 〃You shall hear no more from us to…night：〃 and in fact； the feeling of respect and sympathy was communicated from one to another with such effect that； under the confusion of such a night； the house was not molested again。
About the end of November； after a night of sound sleep； he found the arm nearly free from pain。 The surgeon was immediately sent for to examine it； and the ligature came away with the slightest touch。 From that time it began to heal。 As soon as he thought his health established； he sent the following form of thanksgiving to the minister of St。 George's； Hanover Square：〃An officer desires to return thanks to Almighty God for his perfect recovery from a severe wound； and also for the many mercies bestowed on him。〃
Not having been in England till now； since he lost his eye； he went to receive a year's pay as smart money； but could not obtain payment； because he had neglected to bring a certificate from a surgeon that the sight was actually destroyed。 A little irritated that this form should be insisted upon； because； though the fact was not apparent； he thought it was sufficiently notorious； he procured a certificate at the same time for the loss of his arm； saying； they might just as well doubt one as the other。 This put him in good humour with himself； and with the clerk who had offended him。 On his return to the office； the clerk； finding it was only the annual pay of a captain； observed； he thought it had been more。 〃Oh！〃 replied Nelson；〃this is only for an eye。 In a few days I shall come for an arm； and in a little time longer； God knows； most probably for a leg。〃 Accordingly he soon afterwards went； and with perfect good humour exhibited the certificate of the loss of his arm。
CHAPTER V
1798
Nelson rejoins Earl St。 Vincent in the VANGUARDSails in Pursuit of the French in EgyptReturns to Sicily； and sails again to Egypt Battle of the Nile。
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EARLY in the year 1798； Sir Horatio Nelson hoisted his flag in the VANGUARD； and was ordered to rejoin Earl St。 Vincent。 Upon his departure； his father addressed him with that affectionate solemnity by which all his letters were distinguished。 〃I trust in the Lord；〃 said he； 〃that He will prosper your going out and your coming in。 I earnestly desired once more to see you； and that wish has been heard。 If I should presume to say； I hope to see you again； the question would be readily asked； How old art thou？ VALE！ VALE！ DOMINE； VALE！〃 It is said that a gloomy foreboding hung on the spirits of Lady Nelson at their parting。 This could have arisen only from the dread of losing him by the chance of war。 Any apprehension of losing his affections could hardly have existed； for all his correspondence to this time shows that he thought himself happy in his marriage； and his private character had hitherto been as spotless as his public conduct。 One of the last things he said to her was； that his own ambition was satisfied； but that he went to raise her to that rank in which he had long wished to see her。
Immediately on his rejoining the fleet； he was despatched to the Mediterranean with a small squadron； in order to ascertain； if possible； the object of the great expedition which at that time was fitting out under Buonaparte at Toulon。 The defeat of this armament； whatever might be its destination； was deemed by the British government an object paramount to every other； and Earl St。 Vincent was directed； if he thought it necessary； to take his whole force into the Mediterranean； to relinquish； for that purpose； the blockade of the Spanish fleet； as a thing of inferior moment； but if he should deem a detachment sufficient； 〃I think it almost necessary；〃 said the first lord of the Admiralty in his secret instructions； 〃to suggest to you the propriety of putting it under Sir Horatio Nelson。〃 It is to the honour of Earl St。 Vincent that he had already made the same choice。 This appointment to a service in which so much honour might be acquired； gave great offence to the senior admirals of the fleet。 Sir William Parker； who was a very excellent naval officer； and as gallant a man as any in the navy； and Sir John Orde； who on all occasions of service had acquitted himself with great honour； each wrote to Lord Spencer； complaining that so marked a preference should have been given to a junior of the same fleet。 This resentment is what most men in a like case would feel； and if the preference thus given to Nelson had not originated in a clear perception that （as his friend Collingwood said of him a little while before） his spirit was equal to all undertakings； and his resources fitted to all occasions； an injustice would have been done to them by his appointment。 But if the service were conducted with undeviating respect to seniority； the naval and military character would soon be brought down to the dead level of mediocrity。
The armament at Toulon consisted of thirteen ships of the line； seven forty…gun frigates； with twenty…four smaller vessels of war； and nearly 200 transports。 Mr。 Udney； our consul at Leghorn； was the first person who procured certain intelligence of the enemy's design against Malta； and； from his own sagacity； foresaw that Egypt must be their after object。 Nelson sailed from Gibraltar on the 9th of May； with the VANGUARD； ORION； and ALEXANDER； seventy…fours； the CAROLINE； FLORA； EMERALD； and TERPSICHORE； frigates； and the BONNE CITOYENNE； sloop of war； to watch this formidable armament。 On the 19th； when they were in the Gulf of Lyons； a gale came on from the N。W。 It moderated so much on the 20th as to enable them to get their top…gallant masts and yards aloft。 After dark it again began to blow strong； but the ships had been prepared for a gale； and therefore Nelson's mind was easy。 Shortly after midnight； however； his main…topmast went over the side； and the mizen… topmast soon afterward。 The night was so tempestuous that it was impossible for any signal either to be seen or heard； and Nelson determined； as soon as it should be daybreak； to wear； and scud before the gale； but at half…past three the fore…mast went in three pieces； and the bowsprit was found to be sprung in three places。
When day broke they succeeded in wearing the ship with a remnant of the spritsail。 This was hardly to have been expected。 The VANGUARD was at that time twenty…five leagues south of the island of Hieres； with her head lying to the N。E。； and if she had not wore； the ship must have drifted to Corsica。 Captain Ball； in the ALEXANDER； took her in tow； to carry her into the Sardinian harbour of St。 Pietro。 Nelson； apprehensive that this attempt might endanger both vessels； ordere