The Life of Nelson, Volume 2 - The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great Britain

A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan

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• Publié par: chiwyang
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 31
• Langue: English

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Nelson, Vol. II. (of 2) by A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: The Life of Nelson, Vol. II. (of 2) The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great Britain Author: A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan Release Date: October 21, 2005 [EBook #16915] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF NELSON, VOL. II. *** Produced by Steven Gibbs and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE LIFE OF NELSON THE EMBODIMENT OF THE SEA POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN BY CAPTAIN A. T. MAHAN, D.C.L., LL.D. UNITED STATES NAVY AUTHOR OF "THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON HISTORY, 1660-1783," "THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND EMPIRE," AND OF A "LIFE OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT" IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. II. LONDON SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, & COMPANY, LIMITED 1897 VICE-ADMIRAL, LORD NELSON CONTENTS OF VOL. II. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. BATTLE PLANS. CHAPTER XIV. NELSON TEMPORARILY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.—RELIEVED BY LORD KEITH.—APPLIES TO RETURN TO ENGLAND ON ACCOUNT OF ILL HEALTH. AUGUST, 1799—JUNE, 1800. Nelson left in temporary command His disposition of the squadron Made Duke of Bronté in Sicily His hopes of remaining in command disappointed His discontent Energy and tact in exercising command Affairs in Rome and Naples Nelson visits Minorca His anxiety about Malta Portuguese squadron recalled to Lisbon.—Nelson's action Characteristics of his intercourse with foreign officials Urgency with army to support blockade of La Valetta Partial success in this Successes on the Continent of the Coalition against France Subsequent blunders and disasters Nelson's mortification at Bonaparte's escape to France The French defeat the Turks at Aboukir Nelson peremptorily forbids Sidney Smith to allow any French to leave Egypt Smith nevertheless countenances the Convention of El Arish His action disallowed by Keith and Nelson Nelson's vivid expressions of disapproval Nelson joins Keith at Leghorn They visit Palermo and Malta together Capture of "Le Généreux," 74, by Nelson's division Nelson's relations with Keith, and bearing towards him Keith orders Nelson to take personal charge off Malta Nelson's annoyance and remonstrance His restiveness under Keith's command He returns from Malta to Palermo 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 24 27 28 29 30 31 The "Guillaume Tell," 80, captured in his absence Displeasure of the Admiralty at his quitting his station Letters of the First Lord Nelson's soreness under them He applies for leave to return to England 31 32 33 34 35 CHAPTER XV. NELSON LEAVES THE MEDITERRANEAN.—THE JOURNEY OVERLAND THROUGH GERMANY. —ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.—SEPARATION FROM LADY NELSON.—HOISTS HIS FLAG IN THE CHANNEL FLEET, UNDER LORD ST. VINCENT. JUNE, 1800—JANUARY, 1801. Nelson escorts the Queen of Naples to Leghorn with two British ships-of-the-line Keith's displeasure Nelson at Leghorn Austrians defeated at Marengo Nelson and the Hamiltons leave Leghorn for Ancona Journey to Trieste and Vienna Enthusiasm shown towards Nelson by the people Mention of him and Lady Hamilton by eye-witnesses Anecdotes of him His meeting with the Archduke Charles at Prague Mrs. St. George's account of him at Dresden Her disparaging mention of Lady Hamilton Arrival of the party in England Lady Nelson's attitude at this time Her letters to Nelson His reception and conduct in London Growing estrangement between him and Lady Nelson Anecdote of his visit to Fonthill Final breach with Lady Nelson Her blameless character, and subsequent life Nelson's testimony to her conduct Hoists his flag on board the "San Josef" at Plymouth Birth of the child Horatia Nelson's care to conceal his relations with Lady Hamilton 36 37 37 37 39 40 40 41 42 43 43 44 45 46 47 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 56 57 CHAPTER XVI. THE EXPEDITION TO THE BALTIC AND BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN.—NELSON RETURNS TO ENGLAND. FEBRUARY—JUNE, 1801. Origin of the trouble between Great Britain and Denmark The entrance of the Czar Paul into the quarrel Renewal of the Armed Neutrality of 1780 Relations of Bonaparte to this event Nelson joins the fleet under Sir Hyde Parker, at Yarmouth Relations between him and Parker Nelson's disapproval of the plans for the expedition Evident change in his general disposition Anecdote of Nelson and the turbot The fleet collected off the Skaw Parker's slowness and Nelson's impatience Alarming reports of the Danes' preparations Nelson's attitude and counsels Accuracy of his judgment of the conditions Tact and discretion in his dealings with Parker His letter to Parker upon the general situation Parker's indecision Nelson's plans adopted The fleet passes the Sound Detail and discussion of Nelson's plan of operations His feelings and speech in the Council of War Nelson's division anchors south of Copenhagen Nelson on the night before the battle The Danish dispositions for defence Nelson's Plan of Attack—Detail and discussion The Battle of Copenhagen Parker makes the signal to leave off action Nelson refuses to repeat it Discussion of this incident 60 62 63 64 65 66 68 69 70 70 71 72 73 74 74 75 77 78 79 80 82 82 83 85 85 87 89 90 91 Incidents of the battle Nelson addresses a letter to the Crown Prince under a flag of truce Characteristic anecdote Discussion of the sending of the flag of truce The battle discontinued Nelson removes his ships Completeness of his success Merit of his conduct throughout He is advanced in the peerage to be a Viscount No other rewards, or medals, bestowed for this action Negotiations intrusted to Nelson by Parker The murder of the Czar Paul Armistice for fourteen weeks concluded with Denmark Qualified approval of the British Government The British fleet enters the Baltic Nelson's ardor and personal recklessness.—Anecdote Parker's sluggishness of action.—Nelson's impatience Russia intimates her purpose to abstain from hostilities Nelson's controversy with the Danish Commodore Fischer Parker ordered home, and Nelson left in command Dissatisfaction of the latter His longing to return to Lady Hamilton He insists upon being relieved, on account of his health He starts at once with the fleet for Revel Displeasure manifested by the Czar Alexander Nelson withdraws from Revel to Rostock The Czar thereupon raises the embargo on British merchant ships Nelson's elation over this result of his conduct Details of his life on board His avoidance of social relations outside the ship Relieved by Admiral Pole, and returns to England 94 94 95 96 97 97 98 99 99 99 100 100 103 104 104 105 106 107 108 110 110 110 111 111 112 113 114 114 115 115 117 CHAPTER XVII. NELSON COMMANDS THE "SQUADRON ON A PARTICULAR SERVICE," FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE COAST OF ENGLAND AGAINST INVASION.—SIGNATURE OF PRELIMINARIES OF PEACE WITH FRANCE. JULY-OCTOBER, 1801. Nelson's longing for repose His services immediately required again His reluctant consent Bonaparte's threats of invasion Inadequacy of British preparations for coast-defence Nature of British apprehensions in 1801 Nelson's Memoranda for the Defence of the Thames Analysis and discussion of this paper St. Vincent's sagacious views on national defence Apparent divergence between him and Nelson Nelson hoists his flag again His tact and courtesy towards others Activity of his movements Satisfied that there can be no invasion Boat attack upon the vessels before Boulogne Its disastrous failure Nelson's distress His exasperation at being kept afloat His alienation from Troubridge Annoyances of his situation Death of Commander Parker.—Nelson's grief His liberality in money matters Pecuniary embarrassments Signature of the preliminaries of peace Nelson's satisfaction at the prospect of release His indignation at the excessive elation of others Receives leave of absence and goes home 118 119 120 120 121 122 123 126 131 131 133 134 135 136 137 138 138 138 140 142 143 143 144 144 144 144 145 CHAPTER XVIII. RELEASE FROM ACTIVE SERVICE DURING THE PEACE OF AMIENS.—HOME LIFE AT MERTON.—PUBLIC INCIDENTS. OCTOBER, 1801—MAY, 1803. Nelson makes his home with the Hamiltons His letter of final severance to his wife His relations to his stepson, Josiah Nisbet Desire to have a home of his own Lady Hamilton selects Merton for him The purchase effected, and the Hamiltons reside with him Position of Sir William and of Lady Hamilton in the house Differences between them Minto's account of the household at Merton Reminiscence of the same by Nelson's nephew Incident narrated by Lieutenant Layman Recollections of Nelson by the vicar's daughter Nelson's strong religious sense of Divine Providence Takes his place in the House of Lords His controversy about rewards for the Battle of Copenhagen His action justified Nelson's warm and avowed sympathy with his followers His consistent maintenance of the ground assumed His interest in public questions Dissatisfaction with the general conduct of the Admiralty His sense of neglect Embarrassment in money matters Inadequacy of his pension to his services His doubts as to the continuance of peace His antagonism to Bonaparte illustrated Speech in seconding the address to the throne Designated for the Mediterranean in case of war Volunteers his services Hoists his flag in the "Victory," and sails Breaks in his home-ties during this period Death of his father Death of Sir William Hamilton Hamilton's expressed confidence in Nelson Relations of Nelson's family to Lady Nelson and to Lady Hamilton 146 146 147 149 150 150 151 152 154 155 157 159 159 160 161 165 165 166 168 169 170 171 171 172 172 173 174 174 175 176 176 177 178 178 CHAPTER XIX. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.—THE L