He resigns the Command.

board, floating batteries prepared; and, except hauling out and completing their rigging, every thing has been done in defiance of the treaty.. I have made no representations yet, as it would be useless to do so until I have the power of correction. All

beg, in the name of the future commander-in-chief, is that the orders may be clear; for enough is done to break twenty treaties, if it should be wished." Of the hostile feelings of the Danes he was so thoroughly persuaded that he says: In this nation we shall not be forgiven our having the upper hand of them. I only thank God we have, or they would try and humble us to the dust."

66

The St. George made her last cruize with Lord Nelson's flag on board, between the 9th and 13th of June. On the latter day he received permission from the Admiralty to return to England, and directions from his majesty to invest rear-admiral Graves with the Order of the Bath. This ceremony was performed on the 14th, and a few days afterwards be resigned the chief command into the hands of Sir Charles M. Pole, who arrived in the Æolus frigate. Nelson's resignation was a subject of infinite regret to the whole fleet, throughout which it produced a complete depression of spirits. Before his departure, he issued a flattering circular addressed to the officers and men who had been serving under him, acknowledging the kindness and support which he had received from them, and concluding with this remarkable passage: "Lord Nelson cannot but observe, with the highest satisfaction which can fill the breast of a British admiral, that (with the exception of the glaring misconduct of the officers of the Tigress and Cracker gun-brigs, and the charges alleged against the lieutenant of Terror bomb), out of 18,000, of which the fleet is composed, not a complaint has been made of any officer or man in it; and he cannot but remark that

Nelson returns to England.

the extraordinary health of this fleet, under the blessing of Almighty God, is to be attributed to the great regularity, exact discipline, and cheerful obedience, of every individual in it. If it please God that the

vice-admiral should recover his health, he will feel proud on some future day to go with them in pursuit of further glory, and to assist in making the name of our king and country beloved and respected by all the world."

On the 19th of June, his lordship sailed for England in the Kite brig, declining the use of a frigate, from his usual solicitude for the good of the service, which with him was superior to every consideration of personal convenience. Indeed, he at one time had the intention of traversing Jutland in his boat, by the canal from Frederickstadt to Tonningen on the Eyder, in order that he might not remove a single pendant from the station. On landing at Yarmouth, on the 1st of July, he immediately proceeded to the hospital to visit the brave men who had been wounded before Copenhagen. With that benevolence and humanity which uniformly marked his character, he inquired into the state of their health, soothed their sufferings, and relieved their necessities. When he left the town, the volunteer cavalry escorted him to Lowestoffe, a distance of nine miles, on his way to London, where he alighted at the residence of Sir William Hamilton, which, having now no home of his own, he had consented, before his departure for the Baltic, to make in future his abode.

That Nelson should have been beloved, nay, almost adored, by all under his command, is not surprising, when his attention to their comforts and his treatment of them are considered. On these points some interesting details are supplied by an eye-witness during his service in the Baltic. The keeping his fleet continually on the alert, and thus amply fur

Traits of Character and Habits.

The

nishing it with fresh water and provisions, were the objects of his lordship's unremitted care; and to this may, in a great measure, be ascribed the uniform good health and discipline which prevailed. Another point to which he gave nearly equal attention was his economy of the resources of his fleet in regard to stores their consumption was as remarkable for its smallness as it was in the fleet that was afterwards under his command in the Mediterranean. His hour of rising was four or five o'clock, and of going to rest about ten. Breakfast was never later than six, and generally nearer to five o'clock. A midshipman or two were always of the party; and I have known him send during the middle watch to invite the little fellows to breakfast with him, when relieved. At table with them, he would enter into their boyish jokes, and be the most youthful of the party. At dinner, he invariably had every officer of his ship in their turn, and was both a polite and hospitable host. whole ordinary business of the fleet was invariably despatched, as it had been by Earl St Vincent, before eight o'clock. The great command of time which Lord Nelson thus gave himself, and the alertness which this example imparted throughout the fleet, can only be understood by those who witnessed it, or who know the value of early hours.". .." He was a decided enemy to any severe system of discipline, and never would consent to inflict corporal punishment on a man if it were possible to avoid it; when he was actually driven to it, he was more miserable during the execution of a sentence than the culprit himself. He understood mankind and could lead them where he pleased. No man was ever more faithfully obeyed, yet he knew not the use of His hold was on the affection and reason of man, aided by example; and such a hold that he could by it inspire cowardice itself with courage and

terror.

Traits of Character and Habits.

enthusiasm. He never was known to do an unfriendly act to any officer about him: if they behaved ill and he was asked to prosecute them, he used to answer that there was no occasion for him to ruin a poor devil, who was sufficiently his own enemy to ruin himself.' Expulsion from the ship was the severest punishment he inflicted. He was literally what I have heard his sailors in their plain, expressive language say of him, 'Our NEL is as brave as a lion and as gentle as a lamb.'"

Threatened Invasion by France.

CHAPTER X.

1801 TO 1803.

NELSON IS APPOINTED TO A COMMAND IN THE CHANNEL PREPARATIONS OF THE FRENCH FOR AN INVASION -ATTACK OF THEIR FLOTILLA AT BOULOGNE NELSON'S ATTENTION TO HIS WOUNDED OFFICERS AND MEN-HIS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE TREATMENT OF THE ADMIRALTY- HE PURCHASES MERTON PLACE CONCLUSION OF PEACE-NELSON REPAIRS TO MERTON - NEW HONOURS CONFERRED ON HIM- - HIS REMONSTRANCES CONCERNING THE VICTORY OF COPENHAGEN - HIS PARLIAMENTARY CONDUCT-TOUR TO MILFORD HAVEN-HIS PLAN FOR MANNING THE NAVY-DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM HAMIL

ΤΟΝ.

THE first weeks after Nelson's arrival in London were passed in rural excursions with his brother William and his family, and Sir William and Lady Hamilton. Some days were spent by this party at Laleham, for the purpose of visiting the blind widow of his recently deceased brother Maurice; and, besides providing for her immediate exigencies, he generously made up the pittance left her by her husband to a regular annuity of £200.

At this time, Bonaparte, who with the title of First Consul had acquired supreme authority in France, was making immense preparations for the avowed purpose of invading England. Though the nature of the French armament, which consisted chiefly of gunboats, might not seem to require the selection of the most distinguished officer of the British navy to oppose their design, ministers nevertheless intimated to his lordship that it was the general wish of the nation that he should undertake the defence of our southern coast, where an attack was most likely to