按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
tree issuant； between a disabled ship on the dexter； and a ruinous battery on the sinister all proper； and for his crest； on a naval crown； OR； the chelengk； or plume； presented to him by the Turk； with the motto； PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT。 And to his supporters； being a sailor on the dexter； and a lion on the sinister； were given these honourable augmentations： a palm branch in the sailor's hand； and another in the paw of the lion； both proper； with a tri…coloured flag and staff in the lion's mouth。 He was created Baron Nelson of the Nile； and of Burnham Thorpe； with a pension of L2000 for his own life； and those of his two immediate successors。 When the grant was moved in the House of Commons； General Walpole expressed an opinion that a higher degree of rank ought to be conferred。 Mr。 Pitt made answer； that he thought it needless to enter into that question。 〃Admiral Nelson's fame；〃 he said；〃would be co…equal with the British name； and it would be remembered that he had obtained the greatest naval victory on record； when no man would think of asking whether he had been created a baron； a viscount； or an earl。〃 It was strange that； in the very act of conferring a title； the minister should have excused himself for not having conferred a higher one； by representing all titles； on such an occasion； as nugatory and superfluous。 True； indeed； whatever title had been bestowed； whether viscount； earl； marquis； duke； or prince； if our laws had so permitted； he who received it would have been Nelson still。 That name he had ennobled beyond all addition of nobility； it was the name by which England loved him； France feared him； Italy； Egypt； and Turkey celebrated him； and by which he will continue to be known while the present kingdoms and languages of the world endure； and as long as their history after them shall be held in remembrance。 It depended upon the degree of rank what should be the fashion of his coronet； in what page of the red book his name was to be inserted； and what precedency should be allowed his lady in the drawing…room and at the ball。 That Nelson's honours were affected thus far； and no further； might be conceded to Mr。 Pitt and his colleagues in administration； but the degree of rank which they thought proper to allot was the measure of their gratitude； though not of his service。 This Nelson felt； and this he expressed； with indignation； among his friends。
Whatever may have been the motives of the ministry； and whatever the formalities with which they excused their conduct to themselves； the importance and magnitude of the victory were universally acknowledged。 A grant of L10；000 was voted to Nelson by the East India Company； the Turkish Company presented him with a piece of plate； the City of London presented a sword to him； and to each of his captains； gold medals were distributed to the captains； and the first lieutenants of all the ships were promoted； as had been done after Lord Howe's victory。 Nelson was exceedingly anxious that the captain and first lieutenant of the CULLODEN should not be passed over because of their misfortune。 To Troubridge himself he said； 〃Let us rejoice that the ship which got on shore was commanded by an officer whose character is so thoroughly established。〃 To the Admiralty he stated that Captain Troubridge's conduct was as fully entitled to praise as that of any one officer in the squadron； and as highly deserving of reward。 〃It was Troubridge；〃 said he； 〃who equipped the squadron so soon at Syracuse； it was Troubridge who exerted himself for me after the action； it was Troubridge who saved the CULLODEN； when none that I know in the service would have attempted it。〃 The gold medal； therefore； by the king's express desire； was given to Captain Troubridge； 〃for his services both before and since； and for the great and wonderful exertion which he made at the time of the action in saving and getting off his ship。〃 The private letter from the Admiralty to Nelson informed him that the first lieutenants of all the ships ENGAGED were to be promoted。 Nelson instantly wrote to the commander…in…chief： 〃I sincerely hope；〃 said he； 〃this is not intended to exclude the first lieutenant of the CULLODEN。 For heaven's sakefor my sake； if it be soget it altered。 Our dear friend Troubridge has endured enough。 His sufferings were； in every respect； more than any of us。〃 To the Admiralty he wrote in terms equally warm。 〃I hope； and believe； the word ENGAGED is not intended to exclude the CULLODEN。 The merits of that ship； and her gallant Captain； are too well known to benefit by anything I could say。 Her misfortune was great in getting aground； while her more fortunate companions were in the full tide of happiness。 No： I am confident that my good Lord Spencer will never add misery to misfortune。 Captain Troubridge on shore is superior to captains afloat： in the midst of his great misfortunes he made those signals which prevented certainly the ALEXANDER and SWIFTSURE from running on the shoals。 I beg your pardon for writing on a subject which； I verily believe； has never entered your lordship's head； but my heart； as it ought to be； is warm to my gallant friends。〃 Thus feelingly alive was Nelson to the claims； and interests； and feelings of others。 The Admiralty replied； that the exception was necessary； as the ship had not been in action； but they desired the commander…in…chief to promote the lieutenant upon the first vacancy which should occur。
Nelson； in remembrance of an old and uninterrupted friendship； ap… pointed Alexander Davison sole prize agent for the captured ships： upon which Davison ordered medals to be struck in gold； for the captains； in silver； for the lieutenants and warrant officers； in gilt metal for the petty officers； and in copper for the seamen and marines。 The cost of this act of liberality amounted nearly to L2000。 It is worthy of record on another account；for some of the gallant men； who received no other honorary badge of their conduct on that memorable day than this copper medal from a private individual； years afterwards； when they died upon a foreign station； made it their last request； that the medals might carefully be sent home to their respective friends。 So sensible are brave men of honour； in whatever rank they may be placed。
Three of the frigates； whose presence would have been so essential a few weeks sooner； joined the squadron on the twelfth day after the action。 The fourth joined a few days after them。 Nelson thus received despatches； which rendered it necessary for him to return to Naples。 Before he left Egypt he burned three of the prizes； they could not have been fitted for a passage to Gibraltar in less than a month； and that at a great expense； and with the loss of the services of at least two sail of the line。 〃I rest assured；〃 he said to the Admiralty； 〃that they will be paid for； and have held out that assurance to the squadron。 For if an admiral； after a victory； is to look after the captured ships； and not to the distressing of the enemy； very dearly； indeed； must the nation pay for the prizes。 I trust that L60；000 will be deemed a very moderate sum for them： and when the services； time； and men； with the expense of fitting the three ships for a voyage to England； are considered； government will save nearly as much as they are valued at。 Paying for prizes；〃 he continued； 〃is no new idea of mine； and would often prove an amazing saving to the state； even without taking into calculation what the nation loses by the attention of admirals to the property of the captors； an attention absolutely necessary； as a recompence for the exertions of the officers and men。 An admiral may be amply rewarded by his own feelings； and by the approbation of his superiors； but what reward have the inferior officers and men but the value of the prizes？ If an admiral takes that from them； on any consideration； he cannot expect to be well supported。〃 To Earl St。 Vincent he said； 〃If he could have been sure that government would have paid a reasonable value for them； he would have ordered two of the other prizes to be burnt； for they would cost more in refitting； and by the loss of ships attending them； than they were worth。〃
Having sent the six remaining prizes forward； under Sir James Saumarez； Nelson left Captain Hood； in the ZEALOUS off Alexandria； with the SWIFTSURE； GOLIATH； Alcmene； ZEALOUS； and EMERALD； and stood out to sea himself on the seventeenth day after the battle。
CHAPTER VI
1798 … 1800
Nelson returns to NaplesState of that Court and Kingdom General MackThe French approach NaplesFlight of the Royal FamilySuccesses of the Allies in ItalyTransactions in the Bay of NaplesExpulsion of the French from the Neapolitan and Roman StatesNelson is made Duke of BronteHe leaves the Mediterranean and returns to England。
*
NELSON's health had suffered greatly while he was in the AGAMEMNON。 〃My complaint；〃 he said； 〃is as if a girth were buckled taut over my breast； and my endeavour in the night is to get it loose。〃 After the battle of Cape St。 Vincent he felt a little rest to be so essential to his recovery； that he declared he would not continue to serve longer than the ensuing summer； unless it should be absolutely necessary； for in his own strong