Nelson's Applications for Employment.

CHAPTER III.

FROM 1790 TO 1795.

1

NELSON'S REPEATED AND FRUITLESS APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT HE IS COMMISSIONED TO THE AGAMEMNON HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO A MIDSHIPMAN PROCEEDS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN UNDER LORD HOOD - GOES TO NAPLES WITH DESPATCHES HIS FIRST INTRODUCTION TO SIR WILLIAM AND LADY HAMILTON ORDERED TO JOIN COMMODORE LINZEE-ENGAGES A SQUADRON OF FRENCH FRIGATES IS SENT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE BEY OF TUNIS

STATE OF AFFAIRS IN CORSICA LORD HOOD DETERMINES TO ASSIST THE CORSICANS IN EXPELLING THE FRENCH NELSON COMMANDS THE SEAMEN EMPLOYED IN THE SIEGE OF BASTIA-THE SQUADRON SAILS IN QUEST OF THE FRENCH FLEET SIEGE OF CALVI - NELSON LOSE.S THE SIGHT OF HIS RIGHT EYE- HIS SERVICES NOT REWARDED- - ADMIRABLE SPIRIT OF HIS CREW.

NELSON had passed two years in retirement, during which he had in vain sought professional employment, when, in 1790, the dispute with Spain relative to Nootka Sound encouraged him to renew his offers of service in the armament equipped on the occasion. Though his claims to notice were supported by the recommendation of his steady friend, Prince William Henry, to Lord Chatham, who was then at the head of the Admiralty, they failed to produce the desired effect; and the disappointment which he experienced in consequence so preyed upon his feelings, that, but for the urgent remonstrances of Lord Hood, it is likely he would have retired for ever from the service. Perhaps, however, he had reason to congratulate himself on not having obtained an appointment at that time, as the speedy adjustment of the differ

Nelson's Applications for Employment.

ences with Spain spared the heavy expence which he must have incurred to no purpose for his equip

ment.

Hearing, in the autumn of the same year, that the Raisonnable, the ship in which he had commenced his naval career, was to be commissioned, he applied for the command of her, but with no better success than before. In the course of the years 1791 and 1792, he renewed his earnest applications to the Admiralty, that they would not suffer him to rust in indolence; but, finding every attempt ineffectual, he began to despair of ever being again employed. Towards the conclusion of 1792, when the events of the revolution in France threatened a rupture with the new Republic, he thus wrote to Prince William Henry, then Duke of Clarence :-"Your Royal Highness will not, I trust, deem it improper, although I have no doubt it will be thought unnecessary at this time, to renew my expressions of invariable attachment not only to your Royal Highness, but to my king; for I think that very soon every individual will be called forth to show himself, if I may judge from this county, [Norfolk] where societies are formed and forming on principles certainly inimical to our present constitution both in church and state. In what way it might be in the power of such an humble individual as myself best to serve my king, has been matter of serious consideration, and no mode appeared to me so proper as asking for a ship. Accordingly, on Saturday last, Lord Chatham received my letter desiring the command of one. Still, as I have hitherto been disappointed in all my applications to his lordship, I can hardly expect any answer to my letter, which has always been the way in which I have been treated. But, neither on sea nor on shore, can my attachment to my king be shaken. It will never end but with my life."

Appointed to the Agamemnon.

In December, 1792, determined that, if he failed, it should not be for want of perseverance, he once more addressed the Board, and, after earnestly soliciting the command of a ship, he added-"Or, if their lordships should be pleased to appoint me to a cockle-boat, I shall feel grateful." On the 12th of December the secretary returned this answer, in the usual official form :- Sir, I have received your letter of the 5th instant, expressing your readiness to serve, and I have read the same to my lords commissioners of the Admiralty." Surely these repeated disappointments endured by the humble and apparently forgotten tenant of the parsonage of Burnham Thorpe, and the change made in a few short years in his prospects and condition, ought to furnish a useful lesson of patience to young professional men, and to warn them, even under the most untoward circumstances, against yielding to despair.

دو

after

At length, however, 'post nubila Phæbus · clouds comes sunshine so he wrote to his wife under the date of January 7, 1793.

The Admiralty so smile upon me, that really I am as much surprised as when they frowned. Lord Chatham yesterday made many apologies, for not having given me a ship before this time, and said that, if I chose to take a 64 to begin with, I should be appointed to one as soon as she was ready; and, whenever it was in his power, I should be removed into a 74.' This change

was due to the exertions of the Duke of Clarence, in which he was seconded by Lord Hood, and to the declaration of war by France. On the 30th of January his commission to the Agamemnon, 64,* was

*The Agamemnon, or, as she was humorously styled by the seamen, the "Old Eggs-and-Bacon," was wrecked when under the command of Captain Rose in Maldonado Bay, in the river Plate. This happened on the 20th of June, in the year 1809. Many of Nelson's hardy tars were still on board

Instructions to a Midshipman.

signed, and on the 7th of the following month he joined his ship, which was then at Chatham, equipping for the Mediterranean.

His ship's company was soon raised, chiefly from Norfolk and Suffolk, and not a few from his own immediate neighbourhood. So universally was he

esteemed, and such was even then the high opinion entertained of his conduct and abilities, that many gentlemen of his own county were anxious to place their sons under his command: and it must be admitted that if they wished them to obtain an insight into the profession, founded on practice and example, they could not have selected a fitter master. Among those who obtained this favour, may be mentioned the Rev. Mr. Bolton, whose brother had married Nelson's eldest sister, the Rev. Mr. Wetherhead, and the Rev. Mr. Hoste. He also took his step-son, young Josiah Nesbit, from school, equipped him as a midshipman, and carried him on board the Agamemnon. There are three things, young gentleman,' said Captain Nelson, addressing one of these youths, whose father he knew to be a stanch Whig, "which you are constantly to bear in mind. First. you must always implicitly obey orders, without attempting to form any opinion of your own respecting their propriety; secondly, you must consider every man as your enemy who speaks ill of your king; and thirdly, you must hate a Frenchman as you do the devil."

It was not till the middle of May that the Aga

of her; and I well remember witnessing the distress pictured on many a furrowed countenance, as they were compelled to quit a ship so powerfully endeared to them by old associations. The address of Captain Rose, previously to their being distributed amongst the fleet, (under Admiral de Courcy) drew tears from many an eye that had looked undismayed at danger, even when death appeared inevitable.-THE OLD SAILOR.

Employed in the Blockade of Marseilles and Toulon.

memnon sailed, in company with four other ships of the line and two frigates, for the Mediterranean station, under the command of Lord Hood, who followed with the rest of the fleet before the end of the month. In June the Agamemnon was one of six sail of the line which put into Cadiz to water, on which occasion he wrote that the Spaniards were very civil to them. He speaks of their ships as being very fine, but shockingly manned; and adds, "I am certain if our six barges' crews, who are picked men, had got on board one of their first rates, they would have taken her. The Dons may make fine ships, they cannot, however, make men." Writing in August to the Duke of Clarence, he says, that two Spanish frigates had brought news that the French were providing their ships with forges, for shot.

This, if true," he observes, "would have been as well kept secret; but, as it is known, we must take care to get so close that their red-hots may go through both sides, when it will not matter whether they are hot or cold." At a later date, he writes: The fleet has received orders to consider Marseilles and Toulon as invested, and to take all vessels of whatever nation, bound to those ports. This has pleased us; if we make these red-hot gentlemen hungry, they may be induced to come out.'

,,

In the same month he writes to Mrs. Nelson :"Whether the French intend to come out seems uncertain; they have a force equal to us. Our Jacks would be very happy to see it; and, as our fleet is in the fullest health, I dare say we should give a good account of them. How I long to hear from you!— next to being with you, it is the greatest pleasure I can receive. The being united to such a good woman I look back to as the happiest period of my life; and, as I cannot here show my affection to you, I do it doubly to Josiah, who deserves it as well on