Chapter XXI: The Rout in Trafalgar Bay

(1805)

“_Thank God, I have done my duty._”

NELSON.

The 21st October 1805 is a red-letter day in the history of England. Dawn had scarcely succeeded night ere Nelson was up and doing. He wore his Admiral’s frock-coat, the only decoration being four stars of different Orders which were pinned on his left breast. “In honour I gained them,” he said, “and in honour I will die with them.” He had not buckled on his sword, and this is the only action he fought without it.

The previous night Villeneuve had signalled for the columns of his fighting squadron to form in close line of battle without regard to priority of place, his former intention having been to give the three-deckers the more important positions. Captain Lucas of the _Redoutable_ states that the ships “were all widely scattered” in consequence of this order. “The ships of the battle squadron and those of the squadron of observation were all mixed up,” although the commanders of the latter did their best to get into something approaching order.

Early the following morning--the glorious 21st--the French Admiral signalled to “clear for action!” and in response to the _Hermione’s_ message, “The enemy number twenty-seven sail-of-the-line,” he ordered each ship to leave but one cable’s length between its immediate neighbour. They were now on the starboard tack. Almost before these instructions had been completely carried out Villeneuve decided to alter their position, signalling them to form in line of battle on the port tack. The manœuvre was not easily effected. The wind was light, with a heavy swell, many ships missed their station, and there were several gaps and groups of ships along the line instead of vessels at regular intervals. The newly-formed line was consequently very irregular and almost crescent-shaped. Villeneuve, prudent to a fault, wished to have Cadiz harbour under his lee; he was apparently already lending his mind to thoughts of disaster.

Gravina, with the twelve reserve ships, seems to have pursued his own tactics. Instead of keeping to windward of the line, so that he might bring succour to Villeneuve if need should arise, the Vice-Admiral “moved to the rear to prolong the line”--now extending some five miles--“without having been signalled to do so.” Whether Villeneuve took particular notice of this false move at the time is uncertain, but later, on his attempt to get his colleague to take up the position previously arranged for him and which would have enabled Gravina “to reinforce the centre of the line against the attack of the enemy,” no attention was paid to the command. Never was there a more fatal error of policy. Had the Spanish Admiral been able to bring twelve ships to bear upon the battle when it was at its height he might have rendered valuable assistance.

Scarcely less reprehensible was the behaviour of Rear-Admiral Dumanoir Le Pelley, who with ten ships fell to leeward and formed a rear squadron.[70] Not until it was too late did he attempt to take any part in the battle.

The British fleet was formed into two columns, eleven ships following the _Victory_ (100), and fourteen in the rear of the _Royal Sovereign_ (100), under Collingwood. Nelson’s idea was to bear down upon the enemy with these two divisions and break the centre of the combined fleet in two places at once, Nelson leading the weather line, and Collingwood the lee. While Villeneuve was issuing his last order before the struggle, “Every ship which is not in action is not at its post,” the British Commander-in-chief was committing to paper 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 anyone 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 me to defend.”

Nelson also made his will, heading it, “October 21st 1805, then in sight of the Combined Fleets of France and Spain, distant about ten miles.” Blackwood and Hardy attached their signatures as witnesses. He left Emma, Lady Hamilton, “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, Horatia Nelson Thompson; and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson only.”

C. M. Padday]

Blackwood had gone on board the flag-ship at six o’clock in the morning, and found the admiral “in good, but very calm spirits.” He tells us in his “Memoirs” that “during the five hours and a half that I remained on board the _Victory_, in which I was not ten minutes from his side, he frequently asked me, ‘What I should consider a victory?’ the certainty of which he never for an instant seemed to doubt, although, from the situation of the land, he questioned the possibility of the subsequent preservation of the prizes. My answer was, that considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the enemy, their apparent determination for a fair trial of strength, and the proximity of the land, I thought if fourteen ships were captured, it would be a glorious result; to which he always replied, ‘I shall not, Blackwood, be satisfied with anything short of twenty.’ A telegraphic signal had been made by him to denote, ‘that he intended to break through the rear of the enemy’s line, to prevent them getting into Cadiz.’ I was walking with him on the poop, when he said, ‘I’ll now amuse the fleet with a signal;’ and he asked me ‘if I did not think there was one yet wanting?’ I answered, that I thought the whole of the fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about, and to vie with each other who should first get nearest to the _Victory_ or _Royal Sovereign_. These words were scarcely uttered, when his last well-known signal was made, ‘ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY.’ The shout with which it was received throughout the fleet was truly sublime. ‘Now,’ said Lord Nelson, ‘I can do no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of all events, and justice of our cause. I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty.’”

It has been pointed out that Blackwood is wrong in the matter of the cheer “throughout the fleet,” for several of the crews were not informed as to the purport of the signal. The Admiral’s first idea was to flag “Nelson confides that every man will do his duty.” Captain Blackwood suggested “England” in place of “Nelson,” which the Admiral told Pasco, the signal officer, to hoist, adding that he “must be quick” as he had “one more signal to make, which is for close action.”

“Then, your Lordship,” ventured Pasco, “if you will permit me to substitute ‘expects’ for ‘confides’ the signal can be more quickly completed, because we have ‘expects’ in the vocabulary, while ‘confides’ must be spelled.” The code-book therefore won the day, and a message which has inspired the Navy for over a century was soon floating on the breeze.

In this connection there is a tradition that a Scottish sailor complained to a fellow-countryman: “Not a word o’ puir auld Scotland.” “Hoots, Sandy,” answered his comrade, “the Admiral kens that every Scotsman will do his duty. He’s just giving the Englishers a hint.”

To continue Blackwood’s narrative: “The wind was light from the S.W., and a long swell was setting into the Bay of Cadiz, so that our ships, like sovereigns of the ocean, moved majestically before it; every one crowding all the sail that was possible, and falling into her station according to her rate of going. The enemy wore at about seven o’clock, and then stood in a close line on the larboard tack towards Cadiz. At that time the sun shone bright on their sails; and from the number of three-deckers amongst them, they made a most formidable appearance; but this, so far from appalling our brave countrymen, induced them to observe to each other, ‘what a fine sight those ships would make at Spithead.’[71] About ten o’clock, Lord Nelson’s anxiety to close with the enemy became very apparent. He frequently remarked to me, that they put a good face upon it; but always quickly added, ‘I’ll give them such a dressing as they never had before,’ regretting at the same time the vicinity of the land. At that critical moment I ventured to represent to his lordship the value of such a life as his, and particularly in the present battle; and I proposed hoisting his flag in the _Euryalus_, whence he could better see what was going on, as well as what to order in case of necessity. But he would not hear of it, and gave as his reason the force of example; and probably he was right.”

A sailor who rejoiced in the nickname of Jack Nasty-Face gives us an excellent view of the proceedings as the sail-of-the-line were got ready for action: “During this time each ship was making the usual preparations, such as breaking away the captain and officers’ cabins, and sending the lumber below--the doctors, parson, purser, and loblolly men were also busy, getting the medicine chests and bandages and sails prepared for the wounded to be placed on, that they might be dressed in rotation as they were taken down to the after-cockpit. In such bustling, and, it may be said, trying as well as serious time, it is curious to notice the different dispositions of the British sailor. Some would be offering a guinea for a glass of grog, while others were making a sort of mutual verbal will--such as, if one of Johnny Crapeau’s shots (a term given to the French) knocks my head off, you will take all my effects; and if you are killed, and I am not, why, I will have yours; and this is generally agreed to....”

Another intimate word-picture of what happened just before the contest of giants began is furnished by General Sir S. B. Ellis, K.C.B., who was a second lieutenant of Marines in the _Ajax_. “I was sent below with orders,” he writes, “and was much struck with the preparations made by the bluejackets, the majority of whom were stripped to the waist; a handkerchief was tightly bound round their heads and over the eyes, to deaden the noise of the cannon, many men being deaf for days after an action. The men were variously occupied; some were sharpening their cutlasses, others polishing the guns, as though an inspection were about to take place instead of a mortal combat, whilst three or four, as if in mere bravado, were dancing a hornpipe; but all seemed deeply anxious to come to close quarters with the enemy. Occasionally they would look out of the ports, and speculate as to the various ships of the enemy, many of which had been on former occasions engaged by our vessels.”

At about noon the first shot was fired. It came from the _Fougueux_, a French ship of 74 guns, under the command of Captain Louis Baudoin.

The _Royal Sovereign_, with the _Belleisle_ (74), _Mars_ (74), and _Tonnant_ (80) just behind her, forged ahead. Nelson had signalled Collingwood to break the enemy’s line at the twelfth ship from the rear, but on seeing that she was only a two-decker Collingwood changed his course and steered straight for the _Santa Ana_, a huge Spanish ship of 112 guns, commanded by Vice-Admiral Alava. The _Fougueux_ (74) then came up and endeavoured to prevent Collingwood from getting through the line. This caused the English Admiral to order his captain to make a target of the bowsprit of the Frenchman and steer straight for it. Fortunately for the enemy she altered her course, but although she saved herself she did not prevent the _Royal Sovereign_ from breaking the line.

Collingwood was in his element; his usual silent ways gave place to enthusiasm. “What would Nelson give to be here!” he observed, the while his double-shotted guns were hurling death into the hold of his adversary and raking her fore and aft. A broadside and a half tore down the huge stern gallery of the _Santa Ana_ (112), and killed and wounded a number of her crew, all of whom showed by deed and daring that they were worthy of their famous ancestors.

Both ships were soon in a pitiable condition, but they hugged each other in a last desperate struggle. A terrific cannonade ensued, the _Fougueux_ and the _San Leandro_ (64) raking the _Royal Sovereign_, and the _San Justo_ (74) and _Indomptable_ (80) lending their assistance some distance away, although it was difficult for them to distinguish between the two chief contestants, so dense was the smoke from the guns. Some fifteen or twenty minutes after Collingwood had maintained the unequal contest alone, several British ships came up and paid attention to those of the enemy which had gone to Alava’s assistance. At about a quarter past two the mammoth _Santa Ana_ struck her flag. On the captain delivering up his sword as deputy for the Vice-Admiral, who lay dreadfully wounded, he remarked that he thought the conquering vessel should be called the _Royal Devil_!

H. C. Seppings Wright]

Nelson, steering two points more to the north than Collingwood, so as to cut off the enemy’s way of retreat to Cadiz, came up about half an hour after the latter had begun his engagement. As the stately flagship entered the zone of fire a number of Villeneuve’s vessels poured a perfect avalanche of shot upon her decks. Down went a score or more of brave fellows, the wheel was smashed, necessitating the ship being steered in the gun-room, and a topmast dropped on the deck from aloft. A shot struck one of the launches, a splinter tearing a buckle from one of the shoes of either Nelson or Hardy, which is not quite clear. “They both,” writes Doctor Beatty, in his “Narrative,” “instantly stopped, and were observed by the officers on deck to survey each other with inquiring looks, each supposing the other to be wounded. His Lordship then smiled and said, ‘This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long’; and declared that, through all the battles he had been in, he had never witnessed more cool courage than was displayed by the _Victory’s_ crew on this occasion.”

Steering for the _Santissima Trinidad_ (130), at that time the biggest floating arsenal ever built in Europe, Nelson sought to engage her, but an alteration in position precluded this, and he tackled the _Bucentaure_ (80), Villeneuve’s flagship. The French Admiral was at last face to face with the man whose spirit had haunted him since he assumed command.

Crash went the 68-pounder carronade into the 80-gun Frenchman, and down came the greater part of the _Bucentaure’s_ stern. The _Victory_ then grappled with the _Redoutable_, at the same time receiving a hurricane of fire from the French _Neptuno_ (80).

Up in the fighting-tops of the _Redoutable_ (74) were riflemen trying to pick off the officers of the _Victory_. One marksman, a little keener sighted or more fortunately placed than the others, saw Nelson walking up and down with Hardy. There was a flash of fire, a sharp crack as the bullet sped through the air, and the master mariner of England, of the world, of all time, fell in a heap upon the deck.

The fatal ball entered his left shoulder by the edge of the epaulet, cut through the spine, and finally buried itself in the muscles of the back.

Three fellows rushed forward to his assistance.

“They have done for me at last, Hardy,” he murmured, as they carried him below.

“I hope not,” was the Captain’s reply, not knowing the extent of Nelson’s injuries, and probably thinking that it might be possible to remove the missile.

“Yes, my backbone is shot through,” and then Nelson placed a handkerchief over his face that the crew might not know who formed the central figure of the solemn little procession. Some sailors on the _Santissima Trinidad_, however, could see from the stars on his coat that an important officer had fallen, and cheered.

They laid him in a midshipman’s berth in the dimly-lit cockpit. He looked into the face of Death as he had looked into the face of the enemy, without flinching but not without hope. Sometimes a sentence would escape his lips. “Ah, Mr Beatty,” he said to the surgeon, “you can do nothing for me; my back is shot through,” and to Dr Scott, the chaplain, “Doctor, I am gone: I have to leave Lady Hamilton and my daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country.”

Very little relief could be afforded him. He sipped lemonade frequently, his breast was rubbed, and constant fanning helped to soothe his agonies a little. Nelson sent for Hardy, whom he valued as an able officer and friend, but as the Captain could not leave his post at once the dying man feared for his safety. “Will no one bring Hardy to me? He must be killed! He is surely dead!”

The cheers of the British tars were borne down to the cockpit as often as an enemy’s ship struck her flag, and a smile played over the pallid features. At last Hardy appeared and took his chief’s hand. “How goes the day with us?” was the eager question.

“Very well, my Lord. We have taken twelve or fourteen ships; but five of their van have tacked and mean to bear down on us; but I have called two or three of our fresh ships round, and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing.”

“I hope none of _our_ ships have struck?” Nelson hastened to ask, seeing that Hardy was anxious to return to his post.

“There is no fear of that,” was the reassuring answer.

Hardy, unable to restrain his tears, ascended the companion ladder. As the guns were fired into the passing squadron of Rear-Admiral Dumanoir, the ship shook violently, thereby causing the dying man intense agony. “Oh, _Victory_, _Victory_,” he cried, “how you distract my poor brain,” followed by “how dear is life to all men.” Then his wandering thoughts turned homeward, and the memory of happy hours at Merton made him add, “Yet one would like to live a little longer, too.” Hardy again entered the cockpit with the good news that fourteen or fifteen ships had struck. “That is well,” Nelson breathed, “but I bargained for twenty. Anchor, Hardy, anchor.” The Captain then asked whether Collingwood should not take the post of Commander-in-chief. The Admiral answered with all the force he could muster, “Not whilst I live, Hardy--no other man shall command whilst I live. Anchor, Hardy, anchor; if I live I’ll anchor.”

Nelson was sinking: the moment for taking his long farewell of his Captain had come. “Don’t throw me overboard, Hardy. Take care of my dear Lady Hamilton; take care of poor Lady Hamilton. Kiss me, Hardy.” As the sorrowful officer bent over him consciousness began to fade. “Who is that?” he asked. On being told that it was Hardy, he whispered, “God bless you, Hardy.”

His life flickered like the candle fixed on the beam above, and then slowly went out. He murmured that he wished he had not left the deck, that he had _not_ been a _great_ sinner, and said with deliberation, “Thank God, I have done my duty.” “God and my country” were the last words heard by the sorrowful little group gathered round their beloved master. In the arms of Mr Walter Burke, the purser of the ship, Nelson lay dead.

And above, the heavy guns thundered a funeral dirge.

As we have already seen, the _Victory_ was engaged in a duel with the _Redoutable_ when Nelson received his death wound. For a short period the Frenchman did not return the fire, and thinking that Captain Lucas was about to surrender, the _Victory’s_ guns also kept silence. But the interval had been used for another purpose. The French crew were swarming over the bulwarks of the British flagship, climbing chains, and even clambering over the anchor in their attempt to get on board. A desperate resistance was offered, Captain Adair was killed by a musket ball, as well as eighteen marines and twenty seamen.

Help came from a sister ship. The _Téméraire_ (98)--the fighting _Téméraire_ of Turner’s glorious picture--was now astern of the _Redoutable_. Had she possessed the machine guns of to-day she could hardly have swept the decks of the enemy with more deadly effect. The men who were attempting to board went down like ninepins. The carnage was awful; the sight sickening. When the smoke cleared, little heaps of corpses were seen piled up on the decks, while the bodies of other poor fellows floated on the sea, now tinged with the blood of victor and vanquished. Five hundred and twenty-two of the _Redoutable’s_ crew fell that day before she struck her colours.

W. L. Wyllie, A.R.A.

=By permission of the Art Union of London, 112 Strand, Publishers of the Etching=]

The _Bucentaure_ and the _Santissima Trinidad_ were together throughout the battle and received a succession of attacks from various ships until they surrendered. Both of them were then little more than dismasted hulks. Villeneuve fought with the strength of despair, but the case was hopeless, and resistance only prolonged the agony. No assistance came to him despite his frantic efforts to attract attention. “My part in the _Bucentaure_ is finished!” he cried at last, and so the gallant but weak-willed officer was taken.

In appearance Villeneuve was “a tallish, thin man, a very tranquil, placid, English-looking Frenchman; he wore a long-tailed uniform coat, high and flat collar, corduroy pantaloons of a greenish colour, with stripes two inches wide, half-boots with sharp toes, and a watch-chain with long gold links.”[72]

Other ships surrendered as the day wore on, the _Algéçiras_ (74) to the _Tonnant_ (80), the _Swiftsure_ (74) and the _Bahama_ (74) to the _Colossus_ (74), the _San Juan Nepomuceno_ (74) to the _Dreadnought_ (98). Eighteen ships of the Allied Fleet were captured; one, the _Achille_ (74), blew up with a terrific explosion.

The _Victory_ had been roughly handled by her adversaries. In Hardy’s report of the 5th December 1805, he says:

“The hull is much damaged by shot in a number of different places, particularly in the wales, strings, and spurketing, and some between wind and water. Several beams, knees, and riders, shot through and broke; the starboard cathead shot away; the rails and timbers of the head and stem cut by shot, and the falling of the mizen-mast; the principal part of the bulkheads, halfports, and portsashes thrown overboard in clearing ship for action.

“The mizen-mast shot away about 9 feet above the deck; the main-mast shot through and sprung; the main-yard gone; the main-topmast and cap shot in different places and reefed; the main-topsail yard shot away; the foremast shot through in a number of different places, and is at present supported by a topmast, and a part of the topsail and crossjack yards; the fore-yard shot away; the bowsprit jibboom and cap shot, and the spritsail and spritsail topsail yards, and flying jibboom gone; the fore and main-tops damaged; the whole of the spare topmast yards, handmast, and fishes in different places, and converted into jury geer.

“The ship makes in bad weather 12 inches water an hour.”[73]

At five o’clock Gravina made the signal for retreat. What a sorry lot they were, those eleven ships--six Spanish and five French--which with their consorts had attempted to dethrone the Mistress of the Seas. Another four under the command of Dumanoir had also made good their escape, but only to be captured off Cape Ortegal on November 4th, by Sir Richard Strachan.

An eye-witness on board the _Belleisle_ graphically describes the scene after the last shot had been fired: “The view of the fleet at this period was highly interesting, and would have formed a beautiful subject for a painter. Just under the setting rays were five or six dismantled prizes; on one hand lay the _Victory_ with part of our fleet and prizes, and on the left hand the _Royal Sovereign_ and a similar cluster of ships. To the northward, the remnant of the combined fleets was making for Cadiz. The _Achille_, with the tricoloured ensign still displayed, had burnt to the water’s edge about a mile from us, and our tenders and boats were using every effort to save the brave fellows who had so gloriously defended her; but only two hundred and fifty were rescued, and she blew up with a tremendous explosion.”

The battle was over, but much yet remained to be done. Eighteen sail-of-the-line of the Allied Fleet had struck their flag, and it was Collingwood’s difficult task to secure the prizes. “A continued series of misfortunes,” to use the Admiral’s own words, “... of a kind that human prudence could not possibly provide against, or my skill prevent,” alone precluded him from keeping more than four trophies of Trafalgar.

“On the 22nd, in the morning,” he states in a despatch to the Admiralty, “a strong southerly wind blew, with squally weather, which, however, did not prevent the activity of the officers and seamen of such ships as were manageable from getting hold of many of the prizes (thirteen or fourteen), and towing them off to the westward, where I ordered them to rendezvous round the _Royal Sovereign_, in tow by the _Neptune_. But on the 23rd the gale increased, and the sea ran so high that many of them broke the tow-rope, and drifted far to leeward before they were got hold of again; and some of them, taking advantage of the dark and boisterous night, got before the wind, and have perhaps drifted upon the shore and sunk. On the afternoon of that day, the remnant of the combined fleet, ten sail of ships,[74] which had not been much engaged, stood up to leeward of my shattered and straggling charge, as if meaning to attack them, which obliged me to collect a force out of the least injured ships, and form to leeward for their defence. All this retarded the progress of the hulks; and the bad weather continuing, determined me to destroy all the leewardmost that could be cleared of the men, considering that keeping possession of the ships was a matter of little consequence, compared with the chance of their falling again into the hands of the enemy; but even this was an arduous task in the high sea which was running. I hope, however, it has been accomplished to a considerable extent. I intrusted it to skilful officers, who would spare no pains to execute what was possible. The Captains of the _Prince_ and _Neptune_ cleared the _Trinidad_, and sunk her. Captains Hope, Bayntun, and Malcolm, who joined the fleet this morning, from Gibraltar, had the charge of destroying four others. The _Redoutable_ sunk astern of the _Swiftsure_, while in tow. The _Santa Ana_ I have no doubt is sunk, as her side is almost entirely beat in; and such is the shattered condition of the whole of them, that, unless the weather moderates, I doubt whether I shall be able to carry a ship of them into port....”

In a later letter Collingwood says, “There never was such a combat since England had a fleet.” Three of the prizes, the _Santa Ana_, the _Neptuno_, and the _Algéçiras_ escaped in the gale and entered Cadiz harbour, the former two having been retaken by Cosmao Kerjulien, who lost three ships over the transaction. The _Swiftsure_ (French), the _San Ildefonso_, the _San Juan Nepomuceno_, and the _Bahama_ were the only Trafalgar prizes saved; these were taken to Gibraltar.

Villeneuve was sent to England and afterwards exchanged, Alava was fortunate enough to reach Cadiz on board the shattered _Santa Ana_. Although severely wounded, he recovered and lived for many years. Cisneros, after a gallant resistance, also escaped, and was promoted Vice-Admiral in return for his distinguished services, later taking up the important positions of Captain-General and Minister of Marine. Magon, who fought his flagship the _Algéçiras_ until he was struck dead after receiving several wounds, is one of the most glorious names in the naval annals of France. Three officers in turn were dangerously wounded before the tattered flag of the battered hulk was finally lowered. Of the other admirals, Cosmao retook the _Santa Ana_ and the _Neptuno_, already noted, Dumanoir was court-martialed, and Gravina succumbed to his wounds as these words formed themselves on his almost nerveless lips: “I am a dying man, but I die happy; I am going, I hope and trust, to join Nelson, the greatest hero that the world perhaps has produced.”[75] Escano was injured in the leg, but reached Spain safely. Napoleon’s officers paid dearly for the fight in Trafalgar Bay, but Villeneuve was the scapegoat of Napoleon’s ambition. On his return to France he took his own life.

Frank Dadd, R.I., from a sketch by C. W. Cole]

Collingwood gave the number of prisoners as 20,000, and the monetary loss of the enemy nearly £4,000,000, “most of it gone to the bottom.” The British loss was 1690 killed and wounded; that of the allies 5860, although no exact figures are obtainable. The captives were taken to England, and the officers allowed on parole, but the seamen and soldiers of the extinguished Allied Fleet were sent to the prisons of Porchester, Forton, Weedon, Norman Cross, Mill Bay, and Stapleton, locked up in local gaols, or interned in hulks. By a cruel fate the _Bahama_ and the _Swiftsure_ were added to the number of the latter. Few exchanges were made, and so the poor fellows either died in exile or remained until the downfall of Napoleon secured them liberty.

Thus ended the battle of Trafalgar--Napoleon’s maritime Waterloo. The idea of a great military commander conducting operations at sea was proved to be impracticable, while the superior qualities of British seamanship were once more evident. The method of warfare practised by the combined fleet, that of aiming at the rigging and picking off combatants by sharp-shooting, was less successful than our own principle of aiming at the vital parts of the hull. Whereas the British succeeded in firing a gun nearly once a minute, it took three minutes for the Allied Fleet to do so. The total armament on the English vessels numbered 2148 guns, while the French had 1356, and the Spanish 1270, bringing the combined force to 2626.

Great Britain gained enormously in prestige as a result of Nelson’s overwhelming victory. Amongst other important consequences Trafalgar led Napoleon to enforce his disastrous Continental System, by means of which he hoped to exclude from the Continent the goods of his persistent enemy. This, in its turn, brought on the war with Russia, a big step towards the final catastrophe of Waterloo.

More than two weeks passed before the people of England received certain intelligence of the great rout of the enemy in Trafalgar Bay. On the 6th November 1805, guns at the Tower and elsewhere announced the victory, and the glad tidings flashed through the length and breadth of the land--

_The heart of England throbbed from sea to sea._

But, alas! the idol of the nation lay dead in the keeping of his comrades and sorrowing England could never again greet in life the son who had loved her so well.

Nelson had touched the imagination of high and low, and only the sad circumstance of an early death in the moment of glorious victory was wanted to ensure him the proudest place in all the long annals of British naval history.

Mr William Canton has written an exquisite poem[76] which well expresses the mingled feelings of elation and grief with which the nation received the great news. He imagines a “glittering autumn morning” in Chester, the Cathedral bells clashing a jubilant peal for the victory. But while yet the air is filled with the glad tongues of the joy-bells--

_Hark, in pauses of the revel--sole and slow--
Old St Werburgh swung a heavy note of woe!
Hark, between the jocund peals a single toll,
Stern and muffled, marked the passing of a soul!
English hearts were sad that day as sad could be;
English eyes so filled with tears they scarce could see;
And all the joy was dashed with grief in ancient Chester on the Dee!_

After Nelson’s remains had been embalmed at Gibraltar they were conveyed in the _Victory_ to Portsmouth, which was reached on the 2nd December 1805. In the early days of the New Year there was a lying-in-state in the beautiful Painted Hall of Greenwich Hospital, but comparatively few of the many thousands of people who wished to pay a last tribute of respect to the Admiral’s memory were able to do so. The coffin, made out of the mainmast of the famous _l’Orient_ which blew up at the Nile, enclosed in an outer case, was then removed to the Admiralty, where it remained until the 9th January 1806, the day of the public funeral. The Prince of Wales, Dukes of the realm, prelates, statesmen, admirals, aristocrats and plebeians crowded into St Paul’s Cathedral, a fitting shrine for the dust of the greatest sailor of the country--

_Whose flag has braved a thousand years
The battle and the breeze._

An Earldom was conferred upon the Rev. William Nelson, a large sum of money was voted by Parliament for the purchase of an estate to be named after Trafalgar, and certain monies were given to the dead Admiral’s two sisters. By such means the country sought to discharge its heavy debt to the glorious memory of Nelson. Nothing was done for Lady Hamilton, and although, at the time of Nelson’s death, her income amounted to about £2000 a year she died in very reduced circumstances at Calais in the year of Waterloo. Her daughter, and in all probability Nelson’s, was married on the 24th February 1822 at Burnham, Norfolk, to the Rev. Phillip Ward, M.A. She is described as both witty and fascinating, and her portrait by Sir William Charles Ross makes one believe that she was so.

More than a century has passed since the great battle was fought “in Trafalgar’s Bay,” but the memory of the little, one-eyed, one-armed man is still treasured by those who believe, as he believed, that the strength of Great Britain rests upon her command of the sea.

_For he is England’s admiral,
Till setting of her sun._

Index of Proper Names

Aboukir Bay, 102, 103

Acre, Siege of, 146

Acton, Sir John, 55, 119, 137, 141, 149, 216

Adair, Captain, 242

_Achille_, the, 244

Addington, 176, 180, 192, 196, 201, 204, 212

_Aigle_, the, 203, 204, 209

_Admiral Barrington_, the, 40

Africa, 46, 145

_Agamemnon_, the, 53, 54, 55, 56, 60, 61, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69,
70, 169, 172

Ajaccio, 98, 201, 216

_Ajax_, the, 228, 237

Alava, Vice-Admiral, 238

_Albemarle_, the, 36, 37, 38

Albert, Prince, 120, 121

_Alcmene_, the, 118

Alexandria, 100, 101, 103, 110

_Alexander_, the, 98, 106, 121, 130, 149, 153

Alexander I., 180

_Algéçiras_, the, 243

Algeziras, 194

Allemand, 226

Alessandria, 145

Ancona, 156, 157

Ancona, Siege of, 158

Andrews, Miss, 43, 58

Andrews, Lieutenant George, 58

Antigua, 44, 47, 48, 222

Antipodes, the, 201, 220

_Amazon_, the, 173, 187

America, 41, 46, 47

Amiens, Truce of, 196, 209

_Amphion_, the, 198

_Archimedes_, the, 120

Arezzo, 157

Asia, 46

_Audacious_, the, 107

Augereau, 183

Austria, 107, 116, 144

_Badger_, the, 32

_Bahama_, the, 243, 247

Baird, Dr, 192, 200, 211

Ball, Captain Alexander, 98, 106, 116, 121, 128, 133, 181, 197, 201

Barbadoes, 45, 221, 222, 223

Barcelona, 202, 203

_Barfleur_, the, 44, 77, 81, 82

Barras, 146

Barrington, 32

Bastia, 59, 60, 61, 62, 71

Batavia, 198

Batavia, Army of, 183

Bath, 35, 43, 50, 86, 94

Baudoin, Captain Louis, 237

Bavaria, 145

Baynes, Lieutenant, 90

Bayntun, Captain, 221, 245

Beachy Head, 183

Beatty, Dr, 239, 240

_Bedford_, the, 67

_Belleisle_, the, 201, 244, 248

_Bellerophon_, the, 107

_Bellona_, the, 157, 172, 178

Belmonte, Prince, 156

Berry, Captain, 83, 84, 97, 102, 104, 105, 108, 109, 150, 151, 152,
156

Berthier, 115

Bey of Tunis, the, 56

Bickerton, Sir Richard, 38, 50, 197, 226

Boigne, Comtesse de, 126

Birmingham, 196

Blackwood, Captain, 227, 231, 234, 235

_Blanche_, the, 74, 75

Blenheim, 195

_Blenheim_, the, 80, 81

Bonaparte, Napoleon, 57, 97, 145, 187, 192, 213, 218

_Boreas_, the, 44, 46, 49, 50

Borghetto, 69

Boulogne, 183, 184, 185, 186, 189, 200, 209, 215

Bowen, Captain Richard, 93

Box Hill, 182

Brecon, 195

Brereton, Brigadier-General, 222

Brest, 66, 67, 121, 127, 141, 143, 198, 202, 208, 209, 210, 212, 215,
219, 226

Bridport, Admiral Lord, 99

_Bristol_, the, 30

_Britannia_, the, 81

Bronté, 143

Brueys, Admiral, 103, 104, 108

Bruix, 128, 143

_Bucentaure_, the, 239, 242

Burke, Walter, 242

Burgh, de, Lieutenant-General, 76

Burnham Thorpe, 20, 43, 50

Bussorah, 29

Byron, Admiral, 31

Cadiz, 54, 55, 77, 79, 87, 88, 89, 96, 128, 143, 201, 203, 204, 209,
210, 213, 214, 218, 220, 222, 223, 226, 230, 231, 233-236, 239,
245

Cadogan, Mrs, 157, 160

Cagliari, 56, 216

Caimakan Pacha, the, 151

_Ça-Ira_, the, 66, 67

Calabria, 121

Calais, 183, 186

Campbell, Rear-Admiral, 202, 210, 214

Campbell, Commodore Donald, 221

Canada, 24

Candia, 109, 200

_Canopus_, the, 201

Canterbury, 23

Canton, William, 248

_Captain_, the, 67, 70, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 88

Capaci, 158

Capraja, island of, 72

Capri, 120, 125

Capua, 126, 139, 141

Capua, Siege of, 140

Caracciolo, Commodore, 110, 123, 126, 135, 136, 138

_Carcass_, the, 25, 26, 27

Carlyle, 31

Caroline, Queen, 126, 153, 154

Carthagena, 76, 141, 143

Caserta, 126

Castel San Giovanni, 157

Cayenne, 215

_Censeur_, the, 67

_Ceres_, the, 74, 75

Chatham, 23, 24, 25

Chatham, First Earl of, 188

Chatham, Second Earl of, 51

Cherasco, 71

Chesterfield, Lord, 52

Chevalier de Michaud, 32

Choiseul, 31

Cisneros, 246

Civita Vecchia, 98, 144

Clarence, Duke of, 90, 95, 126

Cochrane, 221, 223

Cockburn, Captain, 74

Collingwood, Captain, 35, 78, 79, 81, 82, 85, 196, 218, 223, 226,
228, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, 244, 246

Colomb, Admiral, 12

_Colossus_, the, 85, 231, 243

Colpoys, Sir John, 198

_Concepcion_, the, 54

Constantinople, 126, 146

Copenhagen, 165, 167, 168, 169, 171, 179, 181, 194

Copenhagen, battle of, 168, 171, 180, 181

Cordova, Don Josef de, 77

Corfu, 103, 109, 198

Cornwallis, Earl, 34, 35

Cornwallis, Sir William, 35, 198, 200, 209, 214, 215, 223, 226

Corsica, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64, 66, 71, 72, 73, 88, 128, 129, 145,
208

Coruña, 53, 202, 203

Cosmao, 246

Cronstadt, 180, 181

_Culloden_, the, 78, 79, 80, 81, 85, 90, 104, 118, 134, 144

Culverhouse, Lieutenant, 75, 76

Dacres, Captain, 78

Dalling, Sir John, 32, 34

_Dannebrog_, the, 172, 174, 175, 178

D’Aubant, General Abraham, 61, 62

Davison, Alexander, 193, 196, 205

Deal, 184, 191

Decaen, 197

Decrès, 230

_Defence_, the, 176, 231

_Defiance_, the, 178

Dego, 71

Denmark, 34, 163, 164, 167, 180

_Desirée_, the, 172, 178

Despard, Captain, 34

D’Estaing, Count, 31, 32, 33

_Diadem_, the, 80, 82

Diamond Rock, 223

Dieppe, 186

Dixon, Captain Charles, 40

_Dolphin_, the, 29

Dominica, 222, 223

_Donegal_, the, 201, 204

D’Orvilliers, Count, 31

Dover, 184, 185

Downs, the, 99

Draco, 167

_Drake_, the, 40

_Dreadnought_, the, 24, 243

Dresden, 159, 160

Drinkwater, Lieutenant-Colonel, 80

Duckworth, Rear-Admiral, 127, 141

Dumanoir, 229, 241, 244, 246

Dumouriez, 161

Dundas, Lieutenant-General David, 59, 60, 61

Dundonald, Earl of, 155

Dunkirk, 183

_Duquesne_, the, 56

_Egmont_, the, 81

Egypt, 98, 116, 118, 126, 143, 146, 194, 198, 202, 207, 208, 216, 219

Elba, 71, 73, 74, 87, 89, 216

El Arish, Convention of, 147

_Elephant_, the, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 178

Ellis, Sir S. B., K.C.B., 237

Elgin, Earl of, 146

Elliot, Sir Gilbert, 70, 71, 75, 85, 100, 206

Elsinore, 37

England, 29, 34, 35, 42, 43, 52, 70, 73, 78, 79, 107, 111, 155, 156,
161, 163, 179, 180, 183, 185, 197, 201, 203, 205, 208, 209,
213, 227, 232, 246

Erskine, Sir James, 144, 148

Essex, 183

Europe, 52, 117, 166, 179, 192, 213, 223

_Euryalus_, the, 228, 231, 236

_Excellent_, the, 78, 81, 82, 83

Fall, the pirate, 37

Farmer, Captain, 29

Fearney, William, 84

Ferdinand, King, 113, 117, 118, 126, 130, 137, 139, 140, 142, 149

Ferguson, Mr, 168

Ferrol, 198, 208, 219, 223, 224, 226

_Ferret_, the, 211

Finland, Gulf of, 181

Fischer, Commodore, 174

Fitchett, Dr, 104

Flanders, 186

Florence, 156, 157

Flushing, 183, 186, 188

Foley, Captain, 173, 177

Foote, Captain, 131, 132

Fornelli, 59

_Fougueux_, the, 237, 238

_Foudroyant_, the, 109, 129, 131, 133, 136, 137, 139, 149, 150,
152, 158, 159

Fox, General, 148

_Fox_, the, 91

France, 24, 31, 34, 41, 52, 53, 58, 68, 71, 73, 115, 116, 127, 145,
147, 163, 189, 192, 197, 198, 200, 202, 209

Frederick, Captain, 80

Frederick the Great, 117

Fremantle, 177

Frere, John Hookham, 204

_Freya_, the, 164

Froude, J. A., 31

Gaeta, 141

Galwey, Lieutenant, 105

_Ganges_, the, 177, 178

Ganteaume, Vice-Admiral, 212, 215, 219, 223, 226

Gardner, Lord, 198

Genoa, 65, 68, 69, 72, 98, 129, 149, 197

George III., 85, 95, 196

Gibraltar, 30, 87, 110, 202, 229, 231, 248

_Glasgow_, the, 32, 33

_Glatton_, the, 174, 178

Gloucester, 195

_Goliath_, the, 81, 104, 118, 130

Gourdon, 219

Gourjean, 65

Gozo, 109

Graham, Brigadier-General, 148

Græme, Admiral, 184

Graves, Admiral, 167, 173

Gravina, 218, 229, 233, 244

Great Britain, 24, 31, 33, 41, 46, 52, 53, 58, 72, 137, 145, 163,
164, 180, 183, 191, 197, 247, 249

Grenville, Lord, 69, 154, 155

Gutierrez, Don Antonio, 93

Haïti, 33

Hallowell (is Carew, Sir Benjamin), 63, 79, 109, 129

Hamburg, 161

Hamilton, Lady, 110, 112, 113, 115, 116, 118, 120, 121, 122, 123,
130, 131, 133, 137, 138, 140, 151, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159,
160, 165, 182, 184, 187, 190, 193, 225, 227, 230, 234, 240,
241, 249

Hamilton, Sir William, 61, 110, 111, 113, 115, 118, 121, 124, 131,
133, 140, 151, 153, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 182, 195

Hardy, Thomas, Masterman, etc., 75, 76, 121, 129, 162, 234, 239, 240,
241, 243

Haverfordwest, 195

Haydn, 159

Helvoet, 188

_Hermione_, the, 232

Hières, Islands of, 205, 211

_Hinchinbrook_, the, 33, 34

Hispaniola, 30, 33

Holland, 31, 34, 41, 53, 99, 198

Hood, Lord, 39, 40, 41, 50, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63,
65, 67, 92, 110, 129, 189

Hope, Captain, 118, 119, 245

_Holstein_, the, 172

Hotham, 32, 65, 66, 68, 70

Howe, Lord, 31, 43, 50

Hughes, Sir Richard, 45, 47, 50

Hughes, Sir Edward, 29

Hughes, Lady, 44

Hyde Park, 193

_Inconstant_, the, 66

_Incorruptible_, the, 211

_Indomptable_, the, 238

India, 100

Inman, Captain, 172

_Invincible_, the, 165

Ipswich, 96

Ireland, 77, 108, 202, 209, 223

_Iris_, the, 39

_Irresistible_, the, 80, 81, 82

Ischia, 120, 125

_Isis_, the, 172

Italy, 57, 88, 118, 122, 126, 143, 145, 162, 229

_Jamaica_, the, 169, 172

Jamaica, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 221, 223

James II., 75

_Janus_, the, 35

Jervis, Sir John, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 82, 85, 86, 94
(see St Vincent).

Josephine, 49

Juan, Fort San, 34

Keith, Lord, 123, 128, 129, 130, 131, 134, 139, 140, 141, 143, 146,
147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 155, 164, 194, 198

Kent, 183

Keppel, the Hon. Vice-Admiral A., 31

Kiöge Bay, 180, 181

Kléber, 147

Knight, Miss Cornelia, 110, 156, 160, 161

Knight, Sir Joseph, 110, 156

_La Diane_, 107

_La Justice_, 107

_La Minerva_, 136

Langara, 54

_L’Aquilon_, 105

_L’Artemise_, 106

_La Sérieuse_, 106

La Touche Tréville, 189, 190, 209, 210, 211, 213

Laughton, Sir J. Knox, 123, 135, 163

Lauriston, General, 192

_Leander_, the, 100, 109

_Le Conquérant_, 105

_Le Généreux_, 106, 107, 109, 148, 149, 151

Leghorn, 55, 64, 71, 117, 118, 148, 153, 197

_Le Guerrier_, 105

_Le Guillaume Tell_, 106, 107, 150, 156

Leopold, Prince of Salerno, 149

_Le Souverain Peuple_, 105

_Le Spartiate_, 105

_Le Timoleon_, 107

_Le Tonnant_, 107

Levant, the, 202

_L’Heureux_, 105

Lincoln, 33

Lindholm, Adjutant-General, 177

Linzee, Commodore, 56, 57, 59

_Lion_, the, 35, 150

Lisbon, 96

_Lively_, the, 82

Lloyd, Sir Thomas, 32

Locker, William, 30, 33, 35, 46, 51

London, 19, 36, 43, 50, 86, 94, 182, 183, 191, 194

_London_, the, 172, 177, 178

_L’Orient_, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 145, 248

Loudon, Field-Marshal, 117

Louis XV. of France, 24, 126

Louis XVI., 53

_Lowestoffe_, the, 30

Lucas, Captain, 232

Lutwidge, Admiral, 25, 27, 183

Macaulay, 53

Mack, General, 117, 119

Macdonald, Marshal, 135

Madalena Islands, 200, 207, 216

Madrid, 204

Magon, Admiral, 229, 246

Mahan, Admiral, 31, 122, 131, 134, 138, 171

Mahon, 148

Malcolm, Captain, 245

_Malta_, the, 150

Malta, 98, 100, 101, 116, 118, 121, 122, 123, 127, 128, 130, 144,
148, 149, 150, 153, 156, 197, 207, 216, 217, 219

Malta, Siege of, 143

Man, Admiral, 203

Mantua, 145

Margate, 184

Marlborough, Duke of, 195

Maria Antoinette, 116

Maria Carolina, Queen, 111, 116

Maria Theresa, 116

Maritimo, 128, 130, 131

Marquis de Niza, 117, 118

Marquis d’Osmond, 126

Marseilles, 201

_Mars_, the, 231

Martinique, 33, 215, 218, 221, 223

McArthur, Mr John, 144

Masséna, 145

_Medusa_, the, 187

_Melpomène_, the, 56

Melville, Lord, 217

_Mercedes_, the, 214

Merton Place, 193, 195, 196, 227, 241

Messer, Captain, 158, 159

Messina, 100, 128, 148

Milford, Duke of, 195

Miller, Captain R. W., 83, 84, 92, 107

Millesimo, 71

_Minerve_, the, 74, 75, 76, 77

Minto, Lord, 149, 151, 225

Minorca, 126, 139, 141, 143, 148

Miomo, 62

Missiessy, Admiral, 215, 218, 223, 226

_Monarch_, the, 172, 176, 178

Mondovi, 71

Monmouth, 195

Moore, Sir John, 53, 58, 59

Montague, Admiral George, 198

Montenotte, battle of, 71

Montreuil, 42

Montserrat, 222

Morea, the, 200, 202, 208, 210, 216

Moreau, 145

Morpeth, 193

Morris, Judge O’Connor, 122

Mortello, tower of, 59

Moseley, Dr, 208

Moutray, Captain, 47

Mulgrave, Lord, 25

Myers, Sir William, 222

_Namur_, the, 81

Naples, 54, 55, 71, 107, 110, 112, 113, 116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123,
125, 127, 130, 131, 133, 139, 142, 143, 154, 163, 198, 216, 219

Napoleon, 32, 57, 71, 73, 88, 98, 102, 107, 111, 117, 145, 146, 180,
183, 184, 186, 188, 191, 194, 200, 208, 209, 211, 212, 214,
215, 218, 226, 229, 247

Nelson, Catherine, 20

Nelson, Edmund, 20, 23, 143

Nelson, William, 22, 202, 212, 249

_Neptune_, the, 245

_Neptuno_, the, 239, 246

Nevis, 49, 50

Newfoundland, 39

Newhouse, Captain, 110

New York, 39

Nicolas, Sir Harris, 156, 193

Nile, battle of, 102, 142, 148

Nisbet, Josiah, 53, 54, 90, 91, 93

Nisbet, Mrs, 49, 182

Nore, the, 99

_Northumberland_, the, 149

Norfolk, 20, 36, 86, 88, 94

North America, 31

North Walsham, 20, 22

Norwich, 20, 86, 94

Nuovo, fort of, 132, 134

Nova Scotia, 46

Novi, 145

Nuovo, fort of, 132, 134

Otto, M., 191

Oldfield, Captain, 90

Oporto, 127

Orde, Sir John, 214, 220

Orfordness, 183

_Orion_, the, 78, 80, 81, 82

Oxford, 195

Paget, the Hon. A., 153, 154, 155

Palermo, 118, 120, 121, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 135, 137, 142, 148,
150, 153, 155, 216

Pantellaria, 216

Paoli, 58

Paris, 98, 145

Parker, Captain, 33, 190, 191

Parker, Lady, 35

Parker, Sir Peter, 30, 32, 35

Parker, Sir Hyde, 70, 80, 81, 164, 166, 167, 168, 178, 180

Parker, Sir William, 100

Parsons, Lieutenant G. S., 77, 78, 80, 136

Pasco, 235

Paul I., 164, 180

_Pegasus_, the, 50

Pellew, 202

_Penelope_, the, 150

Percy, Josceline, 115

Perrée, Rear-Admiral, 149

Petersburg, 126

Pettigrew, 7

Phipps, Captain Constantine John, 26

Piccadilly, 195, 196

Piedmont, 69, 71

Pierson, Lieutenant, 83, 84

Pigot, Captain James, 29

Pisaro, 158

Pitt, William, 52, 53, 180, 213

Plymouth, 37, 50

Polson, Sir John, 35

_Polyphemus_, the, 169

Ponza Islands, 125

Pope, 43

Porqueroles, castle of, 212

Port Mahon, 127, 129, 144

Porto Ferrajo, 71, 73, 76, 87

Port Royal, 33

Portsmouth, 29, 37, 41, 197

Portugal, 73, 107

Prague, 159

Preston, Captain D’Arcy, 75

Prince Regent, the, 177

_Prince George_, the, 80, 81

_Principe d Asturias_, the, 89

Procida, Islands of, 125, 133

_Proselyte_, the, 62

Prussia, 34, 180

Quebec, 39

_Racehorse_, the, 26

_Raisonnable_, the, 23, 24

_Ramilies_, the, 176

Ramsgate, 184

Rathbone, John, 24

_Redoutable_, the, 232, 239, 242, 245

_Revenge_, the, 203

Richery, Admiral, 203

Riou, Captain, 172, 173, 174

Robinson, Captain Mark, 29, 30

Rochefort, 198, 202, 209, 210, 215, 216, 226

Rogers, Samuel, 37

Rogliani, 58

Rome, 117, 144

Romney, 61, 160

Rose, Captain, 172

Rosily, 229

Ross, 195

Ross, Sir William Charles, 249

_Royal Sovereign_, the, 233, 235, 237, 238, 244, 245

Ruffo, Cardinal, 126, 131, 132, 134, 135, 137

_Russell_, the, 169, 172, 178

Russia, 34, 107, 126, 163, 200, 213, 247

_Santissima Trinidad_, the, 77, 78, 80, 84, 239, 240, 242

Sardinia, King of, 115

Sardinia, 55, 56, 71, 129, 201, 207, 212, 216

Saumarez, Captain Sir James, 78, 79, 109, 193

Savannah, 33

Scott, Dr, 240

_Seahorse_, the, 29, 79, 94, 131, 132

Sheerness, 184

Sicily, 100, 122, 127, 131, 139, 148, 150, 198, 207, 216, 219

_Siren_, the, 211

Smith, Sir Sidney, 123, 125, 143, 145, 146, 147

Smith, Spencer, 146

Smyrna, 126

Southey, 7, 138

Southolm, 167

Spain, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 72, 73, 89, 99, 199, 203, 204, 242, 246

Spencer, Lord, 100, 113, 124, 126, 134, 139, 140, 141, 145, 152, 155

Spezia, 129, 153

Spithead, 50, 64, 94, 96, 99, 223, 236

St Cyr, General, 208

St George, Mrs, 159

_St George_, the, 164, 165, 167, 178

St Kitts, 48

St Lucia, 32, 222

St Omer, 42

St Vincent (see Jervis), 85, 88, 89, 93, 96, 98, 99, 109, 118, 122,
123, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 151, 152, 164, 177, 181, 183,
185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 205

San Domingo, 198, 201, 202

San Fiorenzo, 58, 59, 60, 62, 68

_San Josef_, the, 84, 86, 162

_San Juan Nepomuceno_, the, 243, 246

_San Justo_, the, 238

_San Leandro_, the, 238

_San Nicholas_, the, 84

_Sannite_, the, 120

_Sans Culottes_, the, 67

_Santa Ana_, the, 238, 246

Santa Cruz, 89, 94, 95

_Santa Sabina_, the, 74, 75

Spry, Mr, 35

Staines, 182

Sterne, 42

Stewart, Colonel William, 168

Stirling, Admiral, 223

Strachan, Sir Richard, 201, 203, 244

Stuart, Captain Don Jacobo, 74, 76

Stuart, General, 64

_Success_, the, 149

Suckling, John, 20

Suckling, Captain Maurice, 20, 23, 24, 91

Suckling, William, 36, 43, 56

Suffolk, 183

_Superb_, the, 223, 225

Surrey, 193, 196

Sussex, 183

Suwarrow, 144, 145, 160

Swansea, 195

Sweden, 34, 163, 168, 180

_Swiftsure_, the, 243, 245

Switzerland, 145

Sykes, John, 88

Syracuse, 101, 150

Taranto, 208

_Téméraire_, the, 242

Teneriffe, 89

Tetuan, 220

_Thalia_, the, 110

_Theseus_, the, 88, 91, 94, 107

Thesiger, Captain Sir Frederick, 175, 177

Thompson, Horatia Nelson, 234, 240, 249

_Thunderer_, the, 228

Thurn, Count, 136

Thursfield, James R., 123, 124

Tippoo Saib, 100

Tobago, 221

_Tonnant_, the, 105, 237, 243

Toro, 216, 219

Toulon, 54, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 76, 77, 96, 97, 98, 132, 133,
145, 197, 201, 202, 205, 207, 208, 210, 215, 217, 218, 222

Trabaccoli, 157

Trafalgar, 53, 86, 90, 109, 230, 246, 247

Trench, Mrs, 159, 160

Trench, R. C, Archbishop of Dublin, 159

Trieste, 109, 126, 156, 158

_Triumph_, the, 24

Trinidad, 221, 222

Troubridge, Captain, 78, 79, 80, 90, 92, 93, 95, 127, 129, 131, 133,
139, 143, 144, 149, 150

Tucker, Colonel J. M., 26

Tunis, 56, 59, 216

Turin, 54, 68, 115

Turkey, 107

Tuscany, Grand Duke of, 57

Tuscany, 115, 117, 118, 126

_Unité_, the, 184

Ushant, 31, 198, 223

Vado Bay, 130

Valetta, 150

_Vanguard_, the, 96, 97, 98, 103, 104, 105, 110, 113, 119, 120,
121, 129

Vansittart, Mr, 165, 166, 181

Vaudreuil, M., 39

_Vestale_, the, 66

_Victory_, the, 19, 65, 66, 78, 79, 81, 82, 115, 197, 198, 200,
201, 223, 225, 228, 231

Vienna, 126, 155, 156, 159

Vigo, 224, 226

Villeneuve, 209, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 223, 229, 232, 234, 239,
242, 243

Villettes, Lieutenant-Colonel, 62

Vincent, Earl of St (see Jervis)

Voinovitsch, Count, 158

Voltri, 69

Wales, 195

Walpole, Galfridus, 120

Walpole, Sir Robert, 20

Ward, Rev. Phillip, 249

Warwick, 196

Waterloo, 247

Wellington, Duke of, 113

West Indies, 24, 31, 39, 46, 202

Whitehall, 227

William, Prince (or William IV.), 40, 50

_William Tell_, the, 151

Wolfe, 61

Woodward, Dr., 35

Woolwich, 29, 36

Wooton, 20

Worcester, 196

_Worcester_, the, 29

Wroxham, 94

Yarmouth, 161, 165, 181

Yorktown, 34

_Zealand_, the, 172

_Zealous_, the, 107

Zurich, battle of, 145

FOOTNOTES

[1] Robert Browning.

[2] The Report is given in full in Laughton’s edition of “Nelson’s Letters and Despatches,” pp. 409-11. The editor discovered it in the Record Office, Admiral’s Despatches, Mediterranean, xxxi. 272.

[3] See lines on page opposite.

[4] A Chippendale arm-chair, which was given to Nelson by his great grandfather, was presented by the boy to Mrs Luckins, his nurse, when he left home to join the Navy. It appeared in an auction room so recently as 1908.

[5] In other words, tow the vessels.

[6] Ships of war sent to accompany merchantmen during hostilities so as to protect them from the enemy.

[7] A private vessel commissioned to attack and capture the vessels of an enemy.

[8] See _post_, Chapter xix.

[9] Nelson’s successor and friend.

[10] Sir Richard Bickerton (1727-92) sailed from England with a convoy on the 6th February 1782. He took part in an indecisive engagement with Suffrein, off Pondicherry, on the 20th June 1783. Not more than two-thirds of the British crews were effective owing to scurvy.

[11] In his Autobiography Nelson gives the number as three.

[12] More detailed particulars of this thrilling siege will be found in the author’s companion volume, “The Story of Napoleon,” pp. 60-64.

[13] See _ante_, page 43.

[14] Captain Benjamin Hallowell (1760-1834). He afterwards assumed the name of Carew, and became a Vice-Admiral in 1819.

[15] “The Royal Navy,” by Wm. Laird Clowes, vol. iv., p. 153, vol. v., pp. 9-10.

[16] “The Navy League Annual, 1910-11,” p. 226.

[17] Parsons gives Nelson the title which he had not then won. See _post_, p. 85.

[18] “Larboard” has now been superseded by “port,” _i.e._ the left.

[19] See _post_ p. 224.

[20] See _ante_, p. 90.

[21] The Earl of St Vincent appointed him a Master and Commander.

[22] Captain Richard Bowen, of H.M.S. _Terpsichore_, who was killed at Santa Cruz.

[23] This is in marked contrast to the generous words he wrote to the Earl of St Vincent on the 24th July.--See _ante_, p. 90.

[24] To bring the vessel round with her stern to the wind.

[25] _i.e._ the Toulon fleet.

[26] His “Authentic Narrative” of the battle was published in 1798, and is a plain, straightforward account of Nelson’s first great naval action without a superior in command. We shall have occasion to quote it freely in this chapter. Berry was Nelson’s captain.

[27] See “Deeds that Won the Empire,” p. 100.

[28] _Ibid._ p. 103.

[29] See _Comment_, ii. 341-2, also Mahan’s “Sea Power,” i. 269.

[30] Among those who perished were Commodore Casabianca and his young son, whose bravery is immortalised in the well-known poem by Mrs Hemans.

[31] Battle of the Nile.

[32] Miss Knight is referring to the Earl of St Vincent’s flagship, and not to a vessel named after him.

[33] See _ante_, pp. 72-3.

[34] He had held the position since 1765.

[35] In 1804.

[36] Maria Theresa (1717-1780), Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, and Empress of Germany. She crossed swords with Frederick the Great on more than one occasion, and participated in the partition of Poland, 1772.

[37] Parthenopeia was the ancient name of Naples.

[38] Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

[39] After the fall of the Bastille on the 14th July 1789, many of the French nobility left the country. In 1790, hereditary nobility was abolished by the National Assembly. _Émigrés_ who had not returned to France by the 1st January 1792 were declared traitors.

[40] See _post_, pp. 131-8.

[41] See _post_, Chapters xiv. and xv.

[42] This additional corroborative evidence has not been noticed by many of Nelson’s recent biographers.

[43] The squadron in Naples Bay was placed under Troubridge.

[44] Pius VI.

[45] See _ante_, p. 24.

[46] The arrival of _La Marguerite_ on the 14th June, with provisions for the French garrison. Keith’s letters are printed as he wrote them.

[47] Vol. i., pp. 212-7. Dated Palermo, May 13, 1800.

[48] Compare this statement with that of Paget, given on p. 154.

[49] Lady Hamilton’s mother.

[50] Miss Knight and Mrs Cadogan sailed on one of the frigates, commanded by Captain Messer, an Englishman.

[51] She was the daughter of a domestic servant, and at the age of thirteen became a children’s nurse.

[52] Afterwards increased to eighteen.

[53] Subsequently Lord Bexley.

[54] Parker’s flag-ship.

[55] This incident is bereft of much of its romance by the knowledge that Sir Hyde Parker sent a verbal message to the effect that the question of discontinuing the action was left to the discretion of Nelson.

[56] TO THE GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK. _Elephant, 2nd April, 1801_: Lord Nelson’s object in sending on shore a Flag of Truce is humanity: he, therefore, consents that hostilities shall cease till Lord Nelson can take his prisoners out of the Prizes, and he consents to land all the wounded Danes, and to burn or remove his Prizes. Lord Nelson, with humble duty to His Royal Highness, begs leave to say, that he will ever esteem it the greatest victory he ever gained, if this Flag of Truce may be the happy forerunner of a lasting and happy union between my most gracious Sovereign and his Majesty the King of Denmark.

[57] TO THE BROTHERS OF ENGLISHMEN, THE DANES. Lord Nelson has directions to spare Denmark, when no longer resisting; but if the firing is continued on the part of Denmark, Lord Nelson will be obliged to set on fire all the Floating-batteries he has taken, without having the power of saving the brave Danes who have defended them. Dated on board his Britannic Majesty’s ship _Elephant_, Copenhagen Roads, _April 2nd, 1801_.

[58] Nelson afterwards found it necessary to address the Rt. Hon. Henry Addington, then Prime Minister, on the subject. In a letter written on the 8th May 1801, he refers to those who thought the sending of a flag of truce a _ruse de guerre_, to others who “attributed it to a desire to have no more fighting, and few, very few, to the cause that I felt, and which I trust in God I shall retain to the last moment, _humanity_.”

[59] The letter will be found in full in footnote 1, p. 175.

[60] See “Napoleon and the Invasion of England,” by H. F. B. Wheeler and A. M. Broadley, especially vol. i. pp. 159-194.

[61] A volunteer corps enrolled for the purpose of defending the coast.

[62] See “Annual Register,” for 1801, p. 269.

[63] The _Aigle_ had taken refuge in Cadiz harbour.

[64] The despatch is quoted in French by Professor Sir W. Knox Laughton in his edition of Sir N. Harris Nicolas’s great work (pp. 354-5).

[65] See Mahan’s “Nelson,” p. 661, and Laughton, p. 202.

[66] These were crippled ships detached by Villeneuve.

[67] Mahan accepts this, but Laughton discredits it.

[68] The total British broadside was 1000 lbs. less.

[69] Not by telegraph as we understand it, but by semaphore.

[70] De la Gravière, p. 252.

[71] Blackwood is, of course, generalising.

[72] “Seadrift,” p. 253.

[73] “The Three Dorset Captains at Trafalgar.” By A. M. Broadley and R. G. Bartelot, M.A., p. 286.

[74] Eleven ships in all escaped into Cadiz.

[75] “Diary of the first Earl of Malmesbury,” vol. iv., p. 354.

[76] _Trafalgar_ in “W. V. Her Book and Various Verses.”

Transcriber’s Notes

Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.

Simple typographical errors were corrected.

Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.

Index entries were not checked for proper alphabetization or correct page references. They were not systematically compared with their spellings on the pages they reference, but when differences were found, the Index entries were changed to match the references.

In the Index, ships’ names were printed in italics and all other entries were printed in boldface. To improve readability in this eBook, the boldface entries are shown in normal weight.

Page 27: “walrusses” was printed that way.

Page 33: “Haïti” was printed that way; in the Index, it is printed as “Häiti”.

Page 149: Closing quotation mark added after “command in the Mediterranean.”

Page 246: “court-martialed” originally was printed as “court-marshalled”.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Boys' Nelson, by Harold F. B. Wheeler