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！
Soon after daylight Nelson came upon deck。 The 21st of October was a festival in his family； because on that day his uncle； Captain Suckling； in the DREADNOUGHT； with two other line…of…battle ships； had beaten off a French squadron of four sail of the line and three frigates。 Nelson； with that sort of superstition from which few persons are entirely exempt； had more than once expressed his persuasion that this was to be the day of his battle also； and he was well pleased at seeing his prediction about to be verified。 The wind was now from the west； light breezes； with a long heavy swell。 Signal was made to bear down upon the enemy in two lines； and the fleet set all sail。 Collingwood； in the ROYAL SOVEREIGN； led the leeline of thirteen ships； the VICTORY led the weather line of fourteen。 Having seen that all was as it should be； Nelson retired to his cabin； and wrote the following prayer：
〃May the great GOD whom I worship； grant to my country； and for the benefit of Europe in general； a great and glorious victory； and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it； and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet！ For myself individually； I commit my life to Him that made me； and may His blessing alight on my endeavours for serving my country faithfully！ To Him I resign myself； and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend。 Amen！ Amen！ Amen！〃
Having thus discharged his devotional duties； he annexed； in the same diary； the following remarkable writing：…
OCTOBER 21； 1805。。 THEN IN SIGHT OF THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE
AND SPAIN； DISTANT ABOUT TEN MILES。
〃Whereas the eminent services of Emma Hamilton； widow of the Right Hon。 Sir W。 Hamilton； have been of the very greatest service to my king and country； to my knowledge； without ever receiving any reward from either our king or country。
1。 That she obtained the King of Spain's letter； in 1796； to his brother； the King of Naples； acquainting him of his intention to declare war against England from which letter the ministry sent out orders to the then Sir John Jervis to strike a stroke； if opportunity offered； against either the arsenals of Spain or her fleets。 That neither of these was done is not the fault of Lady Hamilton； the opportunity might have been offered。
2。 The British fleet under my command could never have returned the second time to Egypt； had not Lady Hamilton's influence with the Queen of Naples caused letters to be wrote to the governor of Syracuse that he was to encourage the fleet's being supplied with everything； should they put into any port in Sicily。 We put into Syracuse； and received every supply； went to Egypt and destroyed the French fleet。
〃Could I have rewarded these services； I would not now call upon my country； but as that has not been in my power； I leave Emma Lady Hamilton therefore a legacy to my king and country； that they will give her an ample provision to maintain her rank in life。 〃I also leave to the beneficence of my country my adopted daughter； Horatio Nelson Thomson； and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson only。
〃These are the only favours I ask of my king and country； at this moment； when I am going to fight their battle。 May God bless my king and country； and all those I hold dear！ My relations it is needless to mention； they will of course be amply provided for。
〃NELSON AND BRONTE。
〃WITNESS； （ HENRY BLACKWOOD。
（ T。M。HARDY。
The child of whom this writing Speaks was believed to be his daughter； and so； indeed； he called her the last time he pronounced her name。 She was then about five years old； living at Merton； under Lady Hamilton's care。 The last minutes which Nelson passed at Merton were employed in praying over this child； as she lay sleeping。 A portrait of Lady Hamilton hung in his cabin； and no Catholic ever beheld the picture of his patron saint with devouter reverence。 The undisguised and romantic passion with which he regarded it amounted almost to superstition； and when the portrait was now taken down in clearing for action； he desired the men who removed it to 〃take care of his guardian angel。〃 In this manner he frequently spoke of it； as if he believed there were a virtue in the image。 He wore a miniature of her； also； next his heart。
Blackwood went on board the VICTORY about six。 He found him in good spirits； but very calm； not in that exhilaration which he had felt upon entering into battle at Aboukir and Copenhagen： he knew that his own life would be particularly aimed at； and seems to have looked for death with almost as sure an expectation as for victory。 His whole attention was fixed upon the enemy。 They tacked to the northward； and formed their line on the larboard tack； thus bringing the shoals of Trafalgar and St。 Pedro under the lee of the British； and keeping the port of Cadiz open for themselves。 This was judiciously done； and Nelson； aware of all the advantages which it gave them。 made signal to prepare to anchor。
Villeneuve was a skilful seaman： worthy of serving a better master； and a better cause。 His plan of defence was as well conceived； and as original； as the plan of attack。 He formed the fleet in a double line； every alternate ship being about a cable's length to windward of her second ahead and astern。 Nelson； certain of a triumphant issue to the day； asked Blackwood what he should consider as a victory。 That officer answered； that； considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the enemy； their apparent determination for a fair trial of strength； and the situation of the land； he thought it would be a glorious result if fourteen were captured。 He replied： 〃I shall not be satisfied with less than twenty。〃 Soon afterwards he asked him if he did not think there was a signal wanting。 Captain Blackwood made answer； that he thought the whole fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about。 These words were scarcely spoken before that signal was made； which will be remembered as long as the language； or even the memory； of England shall endure； Nelson's last signal：〃ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY！〃 It was received throughout the fleet with a shout of answering acclamation； made sublime by the spirit which it breathed； and the feeling which it expressed。 〃Now；〃 said Lord Nelson； 〃I can do no more。 We must trust to the great Disposer of all events； and the justice of our cause。 I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty。〃
He wore that day； as usual； his admiral's frock…coat； bearing on the left breast four stars； of the different orders with which he was invested。 Ornaments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark for the enemy were beheld with ominous apprehensions by his officers。 It was known that there were riflemen on board the French ships； and it could not be doubted but that his life would be particularly aimed at。 They communicated their fears to each other； and the surgeon； Mr。 Beatty； spoke to the chaplain Dr。 Scott； and to Mr。 Scott the public secretary； desiring that some person would entreat him to change his dress； or cover the stars； but they knew that such a request would highly displease him。 〃In honour I gained them；〃 he ha