The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson Volume I Part 16

"Horatio Nelson."

Having received information, by Captain Troubridge, that the French were at Malta, on the 8th, going to attack it; and that Naples, being at peace with the French republic, could afford us no a.s.sistance; he seemed to lament that even a day had been lost, by visiting the Bay of Naples, and resolved instantly, by the shortest cut, to make the Pharos of Messina.

Such, at least, was the apparent face of the business; but, in truth, one grand object of Captain Troubridge's mission had been secretly successful to a very high degree. He had reached Naples at five in the morning: when Sir William Hamilton immediately arose, and communicated on the business with the King of the two Sicilies and General Acton; who, after much deliberation, agreed, that nothing could possibly be done, which might endanger their peace with the French republic. Lady Hamilton, in the mean time, aware what would be the decision; and convinced, by all she heard from Captain Troubridge, of the importance to the British fleet, as well as to the real security of the Neapolitan and Sicilian territories, that the ports of these countries should by no means be closed against those who were alone able to protect them from the force or perfidy of General Bonaparte; without consulting any thing but her own correct judgment, and well-intentioned heart, she contrived to procure, from some being of a superior order, sylph, fairy, magician, or other person skilled in the occult sciences, as many in Naples, as well as elsewhere, positively profess themselves to be, a small a.s.sociation of talismanic characters, fraught with such magical and potential influence, in favour of the possessor, that the slightest glance of this mystic charm no sooner saluted the eye of a Sicilian or Neapolitan governor, than he was incapable of regarding any other object except what the bearer presented to his dazzled view, or of hearing any other injunction but that which the same person addressed to his astonished ear; while his tongue was, at the same time, impelled to secrecy, by the dread of an a.s.sured death. Possessed of this treasure, Sir Horatio had immediately sailed; but, as his possession of this talisman was to remain a profound secret, till those periods should arrive when it must necessarily be produced, the same sort of correspondence continued to be kept up, between the parties, as if no such favour had been conferred on the hero by any friendly enchantress whatever. Accordingly, the following epistle, dated on board the Vanguard at Sea, the 18th of June 1798, was sent to Sir William Hamilton, apologizing for not having answered the letter of that worthy and most esteemed gentleman previously to sailing.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I would not lose one moment of the breeze, in answering your letter. The best sight--as an Irishman would say--was, to see me out of sight: especially, as I had not time to examine the Marquis de Gallo's note to you. I send you an extract of the Admiralty orders to the Earl of St. Vincent, by which it would appear as determined by the cabinet, to keep a superior fleet to that of the enemy in the Mediterranean; for the Admiralty, you know, can give no such orders, but by an order from the secretary of state. As for what depends on me, I beg, if you think it proper, to tell their Sicilian majesties, and General Acton, they may rest a.s.sured that I shall not withdraw the king's fleet, but by positive orders, or the impossibility of _procuring supplies_. I wish them to depend upon me, and they shall not be disappointed. G.o.d forbid it should so happen, that the enemy escape me, and get into any port! You may rely, if I am properly supplied, that there they shall remain, a useless body, for this summer. But, if I have gun and mortar boats, with fire-s.h.i.+ps, it is most probable they may be got at: for, although I hope the best, yet it is proper to be prepared for the worst; which, I am sure, all this fleet would feel to be, the escape of the enemy into port. My distress for frigates is extreme; but I cannot help myself, and no one will help me. But, I thank G.o.d, I am not apt to feel difficulties. Pray, present my best respects to Lady Hamilton. Tell her, I hope to be presented to her crowned with laurel or cypress. But, G.o.d is good; and, to him, do I commit myself and our cause. Ever believe me, my dear Sir, your obliged and faithful

"Horatio Nelson."

On the 20th of June, the British fleet pa.s.sed through the Pharos of Messina, with a fair wind. The joy with which the Sicilians hailed the squadron, when they discovered it to be British, gave the most heartfelt satisfaction to all on board. A vast number of boats came off, and rowed round with the loudest congratulations, and the most sincere exultations of delight; as they had been apprehensive that the French fleet, having secured Malta, was coming to act against them.

Having learned, from the British consul, that Malta had certainly been attacked, and was reported to have, at least, in part, surrendered to the French, he now addressed a letter to the most ill.u.s.trious Grand Master of Malta: apprizing him, that he was hastening to prevent that island from falling into the hands of the common enemy; and instructing him how to proceed till his arrival, which might be expected the following Friday.

He had, at this time, reason to suppose, that the French were only in possession of the old city; and, that their fleet was anch.o.r.ed between Goza and Malta. Accordingly, he again wrote to Sir William Hamilton, requesting him to procure, from the court of Naples, at least, a few gun-boats, if they could supply nothing more, to a.s.sist in dislodging the enemy from Malta, and prevent their expected subsequent designs on Sicily.

Both the above letters were delivered to the British consul, who had gone on board from Messina on the 20th; and, next day, the fleet proceeded, with a press of sail, for Malta.

In the evening, being close off Syracuse, they hoisted their colours, when a boat rowed out for about a mile; but, though the fleet brought to, and the Mutine was sent in sh.o.r.e, it immediately rowed back again.

At day-break, the following morning, La Mutine, being off Cape Pa.s.saro, spoke a Genoese brig which sailed from Malta the day before; and the master informed Captain Hardy, that Malta having surrendered on Friday the 15th, the French fleet had left it the very next day, and were gone, as it was supposed, for Sicily. The wind then blowing Strong from the west north-west, there was no possibility of getting to Malta till it should moderate; and, even there, no better information might be obtainable, while the French were in possession of the place. In the mean time, he greatly suspected the truth of what the Genoese reported; well knowing how often vessels had been stationed by the enemy to give misinformation respecting their intended course. He would himself have examined the master, but found that he had been gone some hours.

Thus situated, the admiral had no other guide than his own judgment; and, after a due consideration of all the circ.u.mstances, having been a.s.sured, by Sir William Hamilton, that Naples was at peace with the French, and Sicily positively declared, by Bonaparte, not to be the object, he determined to steer for Alexandria; with the hope of frustrating the intentions of this armament, whatever those intentions might finally prove.

From this period, to the 28th of June, only three vessels were spoken with; neither of which, though two were from Alexandria, had seen any thing of the enemy's fleet. This day, the Pharos tower of Alexandria was perceived by the British squadron: and they continued wearing the land, with a press of sail, till the whole of them had a distinct view of both harbours; where, to the general surprise and disappointment of all, not a French s.h.i.+p was visible.

Having arrived off this port, Captain Hardy was directed to run close in with La Mutine, and send an officer on sh.o.r.e with the following letter to Mr. Baldwin--

"SIR,

"The French having possessed themselves of Malta, on Friday the 15th of this month, the next day the whole fleet, consisting of sixteen sail of the line, frigates, bomb vessels, &c. and near three hundred transports, left the island. I only heard this unpleasant news on the 22d, off Cape Pa.s.saro. As Sicily was not their object, and the wind blew fresh from the westward; from the time they sailed, it was clear that their destination was to the eastward: and, I think, their object is, to possess themselves of some port in Egypt, to fix themselves at the head of the Red Sea, in order to get a formidable army into India; and, in concert with Tippoo Saib, to drive us, if possible, from India. But, I have reason to believe, from not seeing a vessel, that they have heard of my coming up the Mediterranean, and are got safe into Corfu.

Still, I am most exceedingly anxious to know, from you, if any reports or preparations have been made in Egypt for them; or any vessels prepared in the Red Sea, to carry them to India: or for any other information you would be good enough to give me, I shall hold myself much obliged. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

The officer charged with this letter, brought back information that Mr.

Baldwin had left Alexandria nearly three months. There were, it appeared, in the old port, one Turkish s.h.i.+p of the line, four frigates, and about twelve other Turkish vessels; and, in the Franks port, about fifty sail of vessels belonging to different nations. The line of battle s.h.i.+p was observed to be landing it's guns, and the place filling with troops.

What the brave admiral felt, at being thus disappointed, it would be less difficult to conceive than to describe: certain it is, that the anxiety which he suffered in consequence of this so long baffled pursuit, brought on such violent spasms in the regions of his heroic heart as continued occasionally to afflict him during the remainder of his days.

In a letter which he wrote to his commander in chief, the Earl of St.

Vincent, immediately on discovering that the French were not at Alexandria, after relating the particulars of his unfortunate progress, he pours forth the effusions of his honourable bosom, in a strain so affecting, that his biographer has been incapable of transcribing the pa.s.sage without tears.

"To do nothing," says this incomparable man, was, I felt, disgraceful; therefore, I made use of my understanding: and, by it, I ought to stand or fall. I am before your lords.h.i.+p's judgment--which, in the present case, I feel, is the tribunal of my country--and if, under all circ.u.mstances, it is decided I am wrong, I ought, for the sake of our country, to be superseded: for, at this moment, when I know the French are not in Alexandria, I hold the same opinion as off Cape Pa.s.saro; viz. that, under all circ.u.mstances, I was right in steering for Alexandria; and, by that opinion, I must stand or fall. However erroneous my judgment may be, I feel conscious of my honest intentions; which, I hope, will bear me up under the greatest misfortune that could happen to me as an officer, that of your lords.h.i.+p's thinking me wrong."

It was now the object of his incessant contemplation, to ascertain the possible course of the enemy, and what could be their ultimate design.

He feared, indeed, that Sicily, in his absence, had fallen under the French yoke. With a mind too perturbed for repose, he was wholly incapable of remaining inactive. He shaped his course, therefore, to the northward, for the coast of Caramania; that he might, as expeditiously as possible, arrive at some quarter where information was likely to be obtained. On the 4th of July, he made that coast; and, steering along the south side of Candia, and carrying a press of sail, both night and day, with a contrary wind, being also in want of water, the fleet came, on the 18th, in sight of the island of Sicily, and he determined to enter the port of Syracuse.

Such instructions, however, had been sent to the governor of Syracuse, through the preponderancy of French interest at this period, that he would have found it difficult even to enter, and probably have obtained little or no refreshment of any kind, though much was absolutely necessary, had he not, very fortunately, experienced the beneficial effects of Lady Hamilton's powerful influence secretly exerted in the only quarter which was not rendered impenetrable by the menacing insinuations of the then Gallic resident at Naples. It was the a.s.sistance he now procured, by virtue of the talismanic gift received from Lady Hamilton, and without which he could not, in any reasonable time, have pursued the French fleet, and possibly might never have come up with them, that he so solemnly recognized, a short time before his death, as to make it the subject of a codicil annexed to his will, in which he expressly _bequeaths that lady to the remuneration of his country_. On the 20th, in a letter to Sir William Hamilton, he says--

"It is an old saying, the devil's children have the devil's luck. I cannot find, or to this moment learn, beyond vague conjecture, where the French fleet are gone to. All my ill fortune, hitherto, has proceeded from want of frigates. Off Cape Pa.s.saro, on the 22d of June, at daylight, I saw two frigates, which were supposed to be French; and, it has been said, since, that a line of battle s.h.i.+p was to leeward of them, with the riches of Malta on board; but it was the destruction of the enemy, and not riches for myself, that I was seeking. These would have fell to me, if I had had frigates: but, except the s.h.i.+p of the line, I regard not all the riches in this world. From my information off Malta, I believed they were gone to Egypt: therefore, on the 28th, I was communicating with Alexandria, in Egypt, where I found the Turks preparing to resist them, but knew nothing beyond report. From thence, I stretched over to the coast of Caramania; where, not speaking a vessel who could give me information, I became distressed for the kingdoms of the two Sicilies: and, having gone a round of six hundred leagues, at this season of the year, with an expedition incredible, here I am, as ignorant of the situation of the enemy, as I was twenty-seven days ago. I shall be able, for nine or ten weeks longer, to keep the fleet in active service, when we shall want provisions and stores. I send a paper on that subject herewith. Mr. Littledale is, I suppose, sent up by the admiral to victual us; and, I hope, he will do it cheaper than any other person. But, if I find out that he charges more than the fair price, and has not the provisions of the very best quality, I will not take them: for, as no fleet has more f.a.g than this, nothing but the best food, and greatest attention, can keep them healthy. At this moment, we have not one sick man in the fleet. In about six days, I shall sail from hence; and, if I hear nothing more of the French, I shall go to the Archipelago; where, if they are gone towards Constantinople, I shall hear of them. I shall go to Cyprus; and, if they are gone to Alexandretta, or any other part of Syria or Egypt, I shall get information. You will, I am sure, and so will our country, easily conceive what has pa.s.sed in my anxious mind; but I have this comfort, that I have no fault to accuse myself of: this bears me up, and this only."

The next day, July 21st, he writes to Sir William--

"What a situation am I placed in! as yet, I can learn nothing of the enemy; therefore, I have no conjecture, but that they are gone to Syria; and, at Cyprus, I hope to hear of them. If they were gone to the westward, I rely that every place in Sicily would have information for me; for, it is too important news to leave me one moment in doubt about. I have no frigate, or a sign of one. The masts, yards, &c. for the Vanguard, will I hope be prepared directly: for, should the French be so strongly secured in port that I cannot get at them, I shall immediately s.h.i.+ft my flag into some other s.h.i.+p, and send the Vanguard to Naples, to be refitted; for, hardly any person but myself would have continued on service so long in such a wretched state."

The following letter of complaint, calculated to blind the Neapolitan government, as well as the French resident, is a masterpiece of requisite political duplicity, fabricated at the very instant when he was receiving every possible a.s.sistance.

"Vanguard, Syracuse, 22d July 1798.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I have had so much said about the King of Naples's orders only to admit three or four of the s.h.i.+ps of our fleet into his ports, that I am astonished. I understood, that private orders, at least, would have been given for our free admission. If we are to be refused supplies, pray send me, by many vessels, an account; that I may, in good time, take the king's fleet to Gibraltar. Our treatment is scandalous for a great nation to put up with, and the king's flag is insulted at every friendly port we look at. I am, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant,

Horatio Nelson.

P.S. I do not complain of the want of attention in individuals, for all cla.s.ses of people are remarkably attentive to us."

"His Excellency, the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton, K.B."

A secret epistle, at the same time, addressed to Sir William and Lady Hamilton, has these words--

"MY DEAR FRIENDS,

"Thanks to your exertions, we have victualled and watered: and, surely, watering at the Fountain of Arethusa, we must have victory!

We shall sail with the first breeze; and, be a.s.sured, I will return either crowned with laurel, or covered with cypress."

Though no person in the fleet was acquainted with the harbour of Syracuse, such was the skill and exertion of the officers that every s.h.i.+p got safely in: and, full permission having been secured, by the admirable management and address of Lady Hamilton, not only water, but other articles of the first necessity, were obtained with the greatest expedition. Indeed, though there was no proper or regular water-place, the cla.s.sical Fountain of Arethusa, that celebrated daughter of Ocea.n.u.s, and nymph of the G.o.ddess of Chast.i.ty, supplied them copiously with her pure and traditionally propitious libations; and the hero, it has been seen, did not fail to antic.i.p.ate, with becoming gratulations, his sense of their indisputable efficacy. Such were the exertions of the officers and men, and such were the facilities, in other respects, which they now enjoyed, that the whole squadron were in a condition to put to sea by the 25th.

In the mean time, Admiral Nelson had addressed a letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, on the 20th instant, stating what he had done since his last, and his future intentions. "Yesterday," says he, "I arrived here; where I can learn no more than conjecture, that the French are gone to the eastward. Every moment, I have to regret the frigates having left me; to which must be attributed my ignorance of the movements of the enemy. Your lords.h.i.+p deprived yourself of frigates, to make mine, certainly, the first squadron in the world; and I feel that I have zeal and activity to do credit to your appointment: and yet, to be unsuccessful, hurts me most sensibly. But, if they are above water, I will find them out; and, if possible, bring them to battle. You have done your part, in giving me so fine a fleet; and I hope to do mine, in making use of them. It is my intention to get into the mouth of the Archipelago; where, if the enemy are gone towards Constantinople, we shall hear of them directly: if I get no information there, to go to Cyprus; where, if they are in Syria or Egypt, I must hear of them. We have a report that, on the 1st of July, the French were seen off Candia; but, near what part of the island I cannot learn."

Being now ready for sea, and finding that the French fleet had neither been seen in the Archipelago, nor the Adriatic, nor gone down the Mediterranean, he concluded that the coast of Egypt must still be the object of their destination. With this impression on his anxious mind, it is not to be supposed that he would for a moment hesitate in again seeking them there, through any consideration of the immoderate heat of climate, or other experienced or apprehended hards.h.i.+ps.

On the 25th of July, accordingly, the British squadron sailed from Syracuse; and, hoping some positive information might be obtained in the Morea, he steered first for that coast: having, on the 28th, made the Gulph of Coron, Captain Troubridge was dispatched with the Culloden, into the port of Coron; off which place, owing to the usual active exertion of that able officer, the fleet was not detained longer than three hours. The Turkish governor, with great pleasure, gave Captain Troubridge the welcome intelligence, that the enemy had been seen steering to the south-east, from Candia, about four weeks before. The captain had, also, during his very short visit, the satisfaction of observing that the inhabitants of Coron entertained the most serious apprehensions from the French armament, and expressed the greatest possible detestation and abhorrence of that people.

The reasons now became evident, which had before seemed unaccountable, how it happened that the enemy should have been missed by the British squadron, both in it's pa.s.sage to Alexandria, and in it's return to Syracuse. The French, having steered a direct course for Candia, had necessarily made an angular pa.s.sage towards Alexandria; while Admiral Nelson, by immediately proceeding to Alexandria, most materially shortened the distance. The smallness of his squadron, too, making it expedient to sail in close order, the s.p.a.ce which it occupied was extremely limited; and, having no frigates to detach on the look out, the chance of descrying the enemy, unless very near, amid the haze of the atmosphere in that climate, was prodigiously circ.u.mscribed. Under these circ.u.mstances, the distance of about thirty-five leagues, between Candia and the Barbary coast, must be considered as leaving more than sufficient s.p.a.ce for two of the largest fleets ever known mutually to pa.s.s without the smallest observation of one another. In returning to Syracuse, the British squadron, by steering up to the northward, while the enemy kept a southern coast for Alexandria, had the chance of falling in with them rendered still less likely than before.

Pleased with the information which they had received, though still unable implicitly to rely on the fact, after such repeated disappointments, not a moment was lost in carrying all possible sail for Alexandria.

On the 1st of August, at noon, they had the happiness to descry the port of Alexandria; with an aspect, however, far different from what it had before presented to their disappointed view. They perceived, with delight, that it now appeared filled with s.h.i.+ps; and had, soon, the undescribable transport to behold the French flag flying on board several of them. A tumult of joy animated every bosom in the British squadron, at sight of the enemy. The humblest individual felt himself a hero; and had a great right so to feel, since every individual was eagerly prepared to risque his life for the safety and glory of his king and country. The brave admiral was calm, but no mortal can convey to another the sense of ineffable delight which glowed in every fibre of his frame. The bliss of his bosom, at this impressive moment, was that of extatic perfection; for, it admitted not the smallest doubt of success. His calmness was the result of his piety; for his n.o.ble heart was pouring forth to Heaven the sacred effusions of grat.i.tude, antic.i.p.atory of the glorious conquest which he was about to prove the honoured medium of atchieving. This perfection of bliss is felt but by a few favoured mortals, and with none will it consent to abide. That it was, for a moment, felt by the immortal Nelson, when he first beheld the French fleet, a due consideration of his entire character, so powerfully presses on the mind of his biographer, that he cannot resist the temptation to tender it as an a.s.sumed fact.

In a narrative, formed from the minutes of an officer of rank, reported to be the present Sir Edward Berry, then captain of the Vanguard, first published in the Naval Chronicle, it is observed, that the pleasure which the admiral himself felt was perhaps more heightened than that of any other man, as he had now a certainty by which he could regulate his future operations. "The admiral had," continues this narrative, and, as it subsequently appeared, most justly, "the highest opinion of, and placed the firmest reliance on, the valour and conduct of every captain in his squadron. It had been his practice, during the whole of his cruise, whenever the weather and circ.u.mstances would permit, to have his captains on board the Vanguard: where he would fully develope to them his own ideas of the different and best modes of attack; and such plans as he proposed to execute, on falling in with the enemy, whatever their position or situation might be, by night or by day. There was no possible position in which they could be found, that he did not take into his calculation, and for the most advantageous attack of which he had not digested and arranged the best possible disposition of the force which he commanded. With the masterly ideas of their admiral, therefore, on the subject of naval tactics, every one of the captains of his squadron was most thoroughly acquainted; and, on surveying the situation of,the enemy, they could precisely ascertain what were the ideas and intentions of their commander, without the aid of farther instructions.

Thus, signals became almost unnecessary; much time was saved; and the attention of every captain could almost undistractedly be paid to the condition of his own particular s.h.i.+p: a circ.u.mstance from which, on this occasion, the advantages to the general service were almost incalculable. It cannot here be thought irrelevant, to give some idea of what were the plans which Admiral Nelson had formed, and which he explained to his captains with such perspicuity as to render his ideas completely their own. To the naval service, at least, they must not only prove interesting but useful. Had he fallen in with the French fleet at sea, that he might make the best impression on any part of it that should appear the most vulnerable, or the most eligible for attack, he divided his force into three sub-squadrons, viz.