the life of horatio lord nelson-第15节
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〃Now；〃 said Nelson；〃 had we taken ten sail； and allowed the eleventh to escape； when it had been possible to have got at her； I could never have called it well done。 Goodall backed me； I got him to write to the admiral； but it would not do。 We should have had such a day as； I believe； the annals of England never produced。〃 In this letter the character of Nelson fully manifests itself。 〃I wish〃 said he； 〃to be an admiral； and in the command of the English fleet： I should very soon either do much； or be ruined： my disposition cannot bear tame and slow measures。 Sure I am； had I commanded on the 14th； that either the whole French fleet would have graced my triumph； or I should have been in a confounded scrape。〃 What the event would have been； he knew from his prophetic feelings and his own consciousness of power； and we also know it now； for Aboukir and Trafalgar have told it。
The CA IRA and CENSEUR probably defended themselves with more obstinacy in this action； from a persuasion that； if they struck； no quarter would be given； because they had fired red…hot shot； and had also a preparation sent； as they said； by the convention from Paris； which seems to have been of the nature of the Greek fire； for it became liquid when it was discharged； and water would not extinguish its flames。 This combustible was concealed with great care in the captured ships； like the red…hot shot； it had been found useless in battle。 Admiral Hotham's action saved Corsica for the time； but the victory had been incomplete； and the arrival at Toulon of six sail of the line； two frigates； and two cutters from Brest； gave the French a superiority which； had they known how to use it； would materially have endangered the British Mediterranean fleet。 That fleet had been greatly neglected at the Admiralty during Lord Chatham's administration： and it did not； for some time； feel the beneficial effect of his removal。 Lord Hood had gone home to represent the real state of affairs； and solicit reinforcements adequate to the exigencies of the time； and the importance of the scene of action。 But that fatal error of under… proportioning the force to the service； that ruinous economy； which； by sparing a little； renders all that is spent useless； infected the British councils； and Lord Hood； not being able to obtain such rein… forcements as he knew were necessary； resigned the command。 〃Surely；〃 said Nelson； 〃the people at home have forgotten us。〃 Another Neapolitan seventy…four joined Admiral Hotham； and Nelson observed with sorrow that this was matter of exultation to an English fleet。 When the store… ships and victuallers from Gibraltar arrived； their escape from the enemy was thought wonderful； and yet； had they not escaped； 〃the game；〃 said Nelson； 〃was up here。 At this moment our operations are at a stand for want of ships to support the Austrians in getting possession of the sea…coast of the king of Sardinia； and behold our admiral does not feel himself equal to show himself； much less to give assistance in their operations。〃 It was reported that the French were again out with 18 or 20 sail。 The combined British and Neapolitan were but sixteen； should the enemy be only eighteen； Nelson made no doubt of a complete victory； but if they were twenty； he said； it was not to be expected； and a battle； without complete victory； would have been destruction； because another mast was not to be got on that side Gibraltar。 At length Admiral Man arrived with a squadron from England。 〃What they can mean by sending him with only five sail of the line；〃 said Nelson； 〃is truly astonishing； but all men are alike； and we in this country do not find any amendment or alteration from the old Board of Admiralty。 They should know that half the ships in the fleet require to go to England； and that long ago they ought to have reinforced us。〃
About this time Nelson was made colonel of marines； a mark of approbation which he had long wished for rather than expected。 It came in good season； for his spirits were oppressed by the thought that his services had not been acknowledged as they deserved； and it abated the resentful feeling which would else have been excited by the answer to an application to the War…office。 During his four months' land service in Corsica； he had lost all his ship furniture； owing to the movements of a camp。 Upon this he wrote to the Secretary at War； briefly stating what his services on shore had been； and saying； he trusted it was not asking an improper thing to request that the same allowance might be made to him which would be made to a land officer of his rank； which； situated as he was； would be that of a brigadier…general： if this could not be accorded； he hoped that his additional expenses would be paid him。 The answer which he received was； that 〃no pay had ever been issued under the direction of the War…office to officers of the navy serving with the army on shore。〃
He now entered upon a new line of service。 The Austrian and Sardinian armies； under General de Vins； required a British squadron to co…operate with them in driving the French from the Riviera di Genoa； and as Nelson had been so much in the habit of soldiering； it was immediately fixed that the brigadier should go。 He sailed from St。 Fiorenzo on this destination； but fell in； off Cape del Mele； with the enemy's fleet； who immediately gave his squadron chase。 The chase lasted four…and…twenty hours； and； owing to the fickleness of the wind； the British ships were sometimes hard pressed； but the want of skill on the part of the French gave Nelson many advantages。 Nelson bent his way back to St。 Fiorenzo； where the fleet； which was in the midst of watering and refitting； had； for seven hours； the mortification of seeing him almost in possession of the enemy； before the wind would allow them to put out to his assist… ance。 The French； however； at evening； went off； not choosing to approach nearer the shore。 During the night； Admiral Hotham； by great exertions； got under weigh； and； having sought the enemy four days； came in sight of them on the fifth。 Baffling winds and vexatious calms； so common in the Mediterranean； rendered it impossible to close with them； only a partial action could be brought on； and then the firing made a perfect calm。 The French being to windward； drew inshore； and the English fleet was becalmed six or seven miles to the westward。 L'ALCIDE； of seventy…four guns； struck； but before she could be taken possession of； a box of combustibles in her fore…top took fire； and the unhappy crew experienced how far more perilous their inventions were to them… selves than to their enemies。 So rapid was the conflagration； that the French in their official account say； the hull； the masts； and sails； all seemed to take fire at the same moment； and though the English boats were put out to the assistance of the poor wretches on board； not more than 200 could be saved。 The AGAMEMNON； and Captain Rowley in the CUMBERLAND； were just getting into close action a second time； when the admiral called them off； the wind now blowing directly into the Gulf of Frejus； where the enemy anchored after the evening closed。
Nelson now proceeded to his station with eight sail of frigates under his command。 Arriving at Genoa； he had a conference with Mr。 Drake； the British envoy to that state； the result of which was； that the object of the British must be to put an entire stop to all trade between Genoa； France； and the places occupied by the French troops； for unless this trade were stopped； it would be scarcely possible for the allied armies to hold their situation； and impossible for them to make any progress in driving the enemy out of the Riviera di Genoa。 Mr。 Drake was of opinion that even Nice might fall for want of supplies； if the trade with Genoa were cut off。 This sort of blockade Nelson could not carry on without great risk to himself。 A captain in the navy； as he represented to the envoy； is liable to prosecution for detention and damages。 This danger was increased by an order which had then lately been issued； by which； when a neutral ship was detained； a complete specification of her cargo was directed to be sent to the secretary of the Admiralty； and no legal process instituted against her till the pleasure of that board should be communicated。 This was requiring an impossibility。 The cargoes of ships detained upon this station； consisting chiefly of corn； would be spoiled long before the orders of the Admiralty could be known； and then； if they should happen to release the vessel； the owners would look to the captain for damages。 Even the only precaution which could be taken against this danger； involved another danger not less to be apprehended： for if the captain should direct the cargo to be taken out； the freight paid for； and the vessel released； the agent employed might prove fraudulent； and become bankrupt； and in that case the captain became responsible。 Such things had happened： Nelson therefore required； as the only means for carrying on that service； which was judged essential to the common cause； without exposing the officers to ruin； that the British envoy should appoint agents to pay the freight； release the vessels； sell the cargo； and hold the amount till process was had upon i
