James Saumarez when a captain, and concluded by apologizing to the house for the trouble he had given their lordships.

On the 3rd of November following, when the preliminaries of peace with France were under consideration in the House of Lords, and ministers were censured for consenting to give up Malta, the noble admiral made some observations relative to the importance of that island. He said, "that when he was sent down the Mediterranean, Malta was in the hands of the French, and on his return from Aboukir it was his first object to blockade the island, because he deemed it an invaluable service to rescue it from their possession. In any other view it was not of much consequence, being at too great a distance from Toulon to watch the enemy's fleet from that port in time of war. A few days afterwards, when Lord Hobart rose to move the thanks of the house to the naval officers and seamen who had co-operated in the conquest of Egypt, Lord Nelson said, that "the service of Egypt was of a double nature, yet of equal importance; it fell to the lot of the army to fight, and of the navy to labour; they had equally performed their duty, and were equally entitled to thanks."

Earl St. Vincent, in 1802, projected a plan for the correction of abuses committed by certain boards employed in the naval department of the public service, and by prize-agents, on which occasion Lord Nelson stood forth as his zealous supporter. On the second reading of the bill for appointing commissioners to inquire into these abuses, on the 21st of December previously, he spoke to the following effect:-"In the absence of my noble friend who is at the head of the Admiralty, I think it my duty to say a few words to their lordships, in regard to a bill, of which the objects have an express reference to the interests of my profession as a seaman. It undoubtedly originated in the feeling of the Admiralty, that they have not the power to remedy certain abuses which they perceive to be the most injurious to the public service. Every man knows that there are such abuses; I hope there is no one among us who would not gladly do all that can be constitutionally effected to correct them. Yet, if I had heard of any objection of weight urged against the measure in the present bill, I should certainly have hesi

tated to do anything to promote its progress through the forms of this house. And truly, my lords, if the bill be thus superior to all objection, I can affirm that the necessities, the wrongs of those who are employed in the naval service of their country most loudly call for the redress which it proposes. From the highest admiral in the service to the poorest cabin-boy that walks the street, there is not one but may be in distress, with large sums of wages due to him, of which he shall by no diligence of request be able to obtain payment: not one wh whose entreaties will be readily answered with aught but insult at the proper places for his application, if he come not with particular recommendations to a preference. From the highest admiral to the meanest seaman, whatever may be the sums of prize-money due to him, no man can tell when he may securely call any part of it his own. A man may have forty thousand pounds due to him in prize-money, and yet may be dismissed without a shilling, if he ask for it at the proper office, without particular recommendation. Are these things to be tolerated? Is it for the interest, is it for the honour of the country that they should not be as speedily as possible redressed? I should be as unwilling as any man to give an overweening preference to the interests of my own profession. But I cannot help thinking that, under all the circumstances of the business, your lordships will be strongly disposed to advance this bill into a law, as speedily as may be consistent with the order of your proceedings, and with due prudence of deliberation."

One of the circumstances which had weighed heavily upon Nelson's spirits was occasioned by his venerable father, for whom he had always entertained much affection, and who had been deluded into the belief that Nelson's passion for Lady Hamilton was criminal. The old man had, therefore, become estranged from his son; but having satisfied himself that, however absurd and romantic the attachment really was, he had been deceived as to its real nature, a reconciliation took place-an event which contributed much to Nelson's happiness. A few months afterwards, Mr. Nelson died at the age of seventy-nine.

The short peace now gave a little breathing time to the belligerent nations; and news having arrived of our successes in Egypt, the usual compliment was paid by the

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city of London to the army and navy. Nelson had never been able to divest his mind of the slight cast upon the hard-fought battle of Copenhagen, and impelled by his feelings, he addressed a letter to the Lord Mayor upon the subject. "The smallest services rendered by the army and navy to the country," he wrote, "have always been noticed by the great city of London, with one exception-the glorious second of April." His letter vigorously set forth the advantages gained by the victory; but the citizens having had no opportunity of seeing the prizes, could not, or probably would not, understand that an important battle had been fought. Another grievance connected with the Copenhagen victory was the withholding of gold medals. In writing to Earl St. Vincent upon the subject, Nelson said, "he would not give it up, to be be made an English duke." But the medal was never granted, neither was any cause assigned for the omission. It is too much to be feared that some unaccountable jealousy occasioned the refusal; and this supposition took such a strong hold upon Nelson's sensitive mind, that it led to a coolness between Lord St. Vincent and himself, which was never wholly removed.

"He ex

Early in 1803 Sir William Hamilton died. pired," says Southey, "in his wife's arms, holding Nelson by the hand, and almost in his last words left her to his protection, requesting him that he would see justice done. her by the government, as he knew what she had done for the country. He left him her portrait in enamel, calling him his dearest friend, the most virtuous, loyal, and truly brave character he had ever known. The codicil containing this bequest concluded with these words :God bless him, and shame fall on those who do not say, Amen!'"

CHAPTER VIII.

1803-1805

On the 16th May, 1803, the tocsin of war again sounded, and Nelson's services were once more in requisition; and on the 20th, his flag being hoisted on board the Victory, he sailed for the Mediterranean, to take command of the fleet. The immediate service upon which he was engaged was the blockade of the French fleet in Toulon. Nothing of importance happened to break the monotony of this employment for the space of nearly fourteen months. Capes Sepet and Sicie were eternally figuring before him. broken only by an occasional resort to Pulla bay for water. Every inducement was offered to the enemy to come out, but in vain. None but those who have been engaged on such a service can imagine its wearisomeness. A few prizes were taken from time to time, but upon the whole nothing could be more trying to the patience of so active minded a man as Nelson.

On the 24th May, 1804, Lord Nelson ordered RearAdmiral Campbell, in the 84-gun ship Canopus, with the Donegal, Captain Sir Richard Strachan, and the Amazon frigate, Captain William Parker, to reconnoitre the outer road of Toulon. This service was boldly performed by the squadron, which remained for some hours just out of gunshot of the batteries. While thus engaged, two French 84-gun ships, three of 74 guns, three 44-gun frigates, and a corvette, got under way, and stood out towards them. The frigates, and the Scipion, of 74 guns, gained considerably, and the headmost of the former opened a fire on the Donegal. This was borne patiently for some time, but at length the Donegal luffed up and fired a broadside, which checked the ardour of the enemy. Some shot from the Canopus at the same time retarded the progress of the Scipion. The force of the French fleet was so far superior, that it would have been madness to hazard an engagement. The enemy continued to follow under a crowd of sail; but fearing lest he should be decoyed into the jaws of the fleet, then about nine leagues distant,

relinquished the chase. On the 13th June, another skirmish took place off Toulon with a division of the French fleet, when Admiral Latouche Treville commanded. The occasion was the cover of three French frigates entering the port; and having effected this object, Latouche Treville hauled to the wind, and returned to Toulon covered with glory, alleging that he had chased the whole British fleet off the port. M. Latouche's idle boast, childish as it was, gave Nelson much uneasiness, and induced him to send to England a copy of the log of the Victory, to prove how untrue were the French admiral's statements. Shortly afterwards M. Latouche died, the French papers said, from fatigue in walking so frequently to the signalpost at Cape Sepet.

For his conduct during this long interval of fruitless expectation, Nelson received the thanks of the corporation of London, which elicited the following spirited reply:

"This day I am honoured with your lordship's letter of April 9th, transmitting me the resolutions of the corporation of London, thanking me as commanding the fleet blockading Toulon. I do assure your lordship that there is not that man breathing who sets a higher value upon the thanks of his fellow-citizens of London than myself; but I should feel as much ashamed to receive them for a particular service marked in the resolution, if I felt that I did not come within that line of service, as I should feel hurt at having a great victory passed over without notice. I beg to inform your lordship that the port of Toulon has never been blockaded by me; quite the reverse, every opportunity has been offered the enemy to put to sea, for it is there that we hope to realize the hopes and expectations of our country, and I trust that they will not be disappointed. Your lordship will judge of my feelings upon seeing that all the junior flag-officers of other fleets, and even some of the captains, have received the thanks of the corporation of London, whilst the junior flag-officers of the Mediterranean fleet are entirely omitted. I own it has struck me very forcibly; for where the information of the junior flag-officers and captains of other fleets was obtained, the same information could have been given of the flag-officers of this fleet and the captains; and it is my duty to state, that more able and zealous flag-officers and captains do not grace the British