Surrender of Calvi.

exertions conduced to preserve me in this general mortality." Only a week after this circumstance, in his report of the storming of Fort Mozello, to Lord Hood, he says: "I could have wished to have had a little part in the storm, if it had only been to have placed the ladders, and to have pulled away the palisadoes; however, we did the part allotted for us."

By the 19th of July the English were in possession of all the enemy's outposts. Terms of surrender, proposed by General Stuart, were at first agreed to, but finally rejected; on which masked batteries established against the citadel were opened with such effect, that much of the parapet was beaten down, and the houses in the citadel were either in ruins or in flames. A suspension of hostilities was solicited; the garrison capitulated on condition that the troops and such of the inhabitants as chose to depart should be conveyed to Toulon; and, on the 10th of August, this last stronghold of the French in Corsica was delivered up to the English forces.

66

In a letter written a few days before to his wife, Captain Nelson says: This day I have been four months landed, except a few days when we were after the French fleet, and I feel almost qualified to pass my examination as a besieging general." Though he acknowledged that Lord Hood's thanks to him, both public and private, were the handsomest that man could give, and though his journal of the operations in Corsica was transmitted by the commander-in-chief to the Admiralty, that Nelson might have an opportunity of telling his own story, still it does not appear that his pre-eminent merits were properly appreciated. Indeed, with the exception of the general vote of thanks from the House of Commons, in which he participated, they seem to have been wholly overlooked. His sensitive mind was keenly stung by "One hundred and ten days,' this neglect.

he

Nelson's Services not rewarded.

wrote to Captain Locker, "I have been actually engaged at sea and on shore against the enemy; three actions against ships, two against Bastia in my ship, four boat actions, and two villages taken, and twelve sail of vessels burnt. I do not know that any one has done more. I have had the comfort to be always applauded by my commander-in-chief, but never to be rewarded: and, what is more mortifying, for services in which I have been wounded, others have been praised, who at the same time were actually in bed, far from the scene of action." And to his eldest sister he says, 66 They have not done me justice in the affair of Calvi; but never mind!-I'll have a gazette of my own!"

To Mrs. Nelson he writes about this time: "I expect to see you in the fall of the year; and although I shall not bring with me either riches or honours, yet I flatter myself I shall bring an unblemished character. . . . When Lord Hood leaves this station, I should be truly sorry to remain; he is the greatest sea-officer I ever knew, and what can be said against him I cannot conceive: it must be only envy, and it is better to be envied than pitied. But this comes from the army, who have poisoned some few of our minds. The taking of Bastia, contrary to all military judgment, is such an attack on them that it is never to be forgiven."

Connected with Nelson's services in Corsica, it may here be mentioned, though not strictly in chronological order, that, in the following April, he wrote to Mr. Wyndham, then secretary at war, to apply for an allowance to which he considered himself entitled. His voluntary service on shore had occasioned additional expence, and all his ship furniture was totally lost, owing to the movements of a camp. After recapitulating the arduous duties in which he had been engaged during the sieges of Bastia and Calvi, he

Nelson is sent to Genoa with Despatches.

added: "I trust I do not ask an improper thing, when I request that the same allowance may be made to me, as would be made to a land officer of my rank, which, situated as I was, would be that of brigadiergeneral; or else my additional expences paid me. I have stated my case plainly, and leave it to your wisdom to act in it as is proper." Mr. Wyndham's reply barely acknowledged the receipt of his letter, and acquainted him that no pay had ever been issued under the direction, or to the knowledge, of the Waroffice, to officers of the navy serving with the army on shore.

With a crew greatly diminished by illness, consequent on the heat of the climate, and the harassing operations in which they had been engaged, Nelson was ordered by Lord Hood to proceed to Genoa, with despatches for Mr. Drake. He then rejoined the fleet, the command of which soon afterwards devolved on Admiral Hotham by the recall of Lord Hood. He writes about this time to his wife that he is in perfect health, but adds: "My ship's company are by no means recovered, and we are destined to keep the sea, until both ship and crew are rendered unfit for service. . . . Before spring I hope we shall have peace, when we must look out for some little cottage. I assure you I shall return to the plough with redoubled glee." And again: "I hope we have many happy years to live together, and if we can bring £2000 round, I am determined to purchase some neat cottage, which we should never have occasion to change. As to Josiah, I have no doubt but he will be a comfort to both of us; his understanding is excellent, and his disposition really good; he is a seaman every inch of him.'

The following passages show how great a pride he took in the high character acquired by his ship and her gallant crew.-" There has been a most diaboli

The Success and Activity of the Agamemnon accounted for.

cal report here, of Agamemnon's being captured and carried into Toulon, owing to my running into the harbour's mouth. I hope it has not reached England. Never believe any thing you may see in the papers about us, and rest assured that Agamemnon is not to be taken easily: no two-decked ship in the world, we flatter ourselves, is able to do it." And on a subsequent occasion he says: We have had nothing but gales of wind, but in Agamemnon we mind them not; she is the finest ship I ever sailed in, and, were she a 74, nothing should induce me to leave her while the war lasted; for not an hour this war will I, if possible, be out of active service."

The success and the activity of the Agamemnon, while under the command of Captain Nelson, may, perhaps, be imputed to a very simple cause-that of the national spirit of an English crew being awakened into full action, and directed towards a proper end, by the skill and courage of their commander. But the biographer, whose part it is not to remain satisfied with general causes, cannot but imagine that he perceives another: the greatest part of the ship's company, as already observed, were more peculiarly the countrymen of their commander. A moment's reflection on the human character will be sufficient to convince us of the force of this principle. The natural courage of the men is inflamed to greater exertions by their attachment to their commander and to each other. The body become animated with a spirit of emulation peculiar to themselves; they consider themselves as forming a separate community, as did the crew of the Agamemnon, who thus felt a pride in raising their appellation of " men of Norfolk" to reputation and distinction. In time of danger, when great exertions, and consequently great motives, are required, might not this principle be applied with

The Success and Activity of the Agamemnon accounted for.

considerable effect?—The greater the affinity between the officer and his men, and between the men and each other, in the same proportion will their attachment, their sympathy, and their efforts in the common cause, be augmented. The affections of private and domestic life are thus pressed into public service; men fight not only for their country, but for their commander, for themselves, and what is, perhaps, yet stronger than all, for the honour of their peculiar body, and the distinction of their native district.