ORIGINAL PREFACE “ M ANY lives of NELSON have been written: one is yet wanting clear and concise enough to become a manual for the young sailor, which he may carry about with him till he has treasured up the example in his memory and in his heart. In attempting such a work, I shall write the eulogy of our great naval Hero ; for the best eulogy of NELSON is the faithful history of his actions : the best history that which shall relate them most perspicuously.” Preface to Southey's Life of Nelson. “This, which was perhaps upon the whole the most popular of any of my father's works, originated in an article in the fifth number of the Quarterly Review (Feb., 1810), which was enlarged at Murray's request. My father received altogether £300 for it,-£100 for the Review ; £100 when the Life was enlarged ; and £100 when it was published in the Family Library.” Southey's Life and Correspondence, chap. xviii. “The Life of Nelson was completed this morning. This is a subject which I should never have dreamt of touching, if it had not been thrust upon me. I have Author's Preface. walked among sea- terms as carefully as a cat does among crockery; but if I have succeeded in making the narrative continuous and clear--the very reverse of what it is in the lives before me—the materials are in themselves so full of character, so picturesque and so sublime, that it cannot fail of being a good book.” (Id. Feb. I, 1813.) “I met a Mr. Brandreth at my brother's a few days ago, who has lately returned from the West Indies. He says the American Government has printed an edition of your Life of Nelson, sufficiently numerous for a distribution on fine paper to every officer, and on coarse paper to every man in their fleet. This is what should have been done here long ago, and would have been done, if our statesmen had been anything better than politicians, or considered the people of the country as anything but mere machines, unendowed with feelings or motives of action. It ought to be in the chest of every seaman, from the admiral to the cabin-boy.”—Grosvenor C. Bedford to R. Southey. (Id. ch. xxxi.) 'CONTENTS PAGE Nelson's Birth and Boyhood-He is entered on board the Raisonnable-Goes to the West Indies in a Merchant. ship; then serves in the Triumph-He sails in Captain Phipps's Voyage of Discovery--Goes to the East Indies in the Seahorse, and returns in ill-health-Serves as Act- ing-Lieutenant in the Worcester, and is made Lieutenant into the Lowestoffe, Commander into the Badger brig, and Post into the Hinchinbrook-Expedition against the Nelson goes to France during the Peace-Reappointed to the Boreas, and stationed at the Leeward Islands—His firm conduct concerning the American Interlopers and the Contractors—Marries and returns to England—Is on the point of quitting the Service in Disgust-Manner of The Agamemnon sent to the Mediterranean-Commence. ment of Nelson's acquaintance with Sir William Hamilton - He is sent to Corsica, to co-operate with Paoli-State of affairs in that Island-Nelson undertakes the Siege of Bastia, and reduces it-Takes a distinguished part in the Siege of Calvi, where he loses an Eye- Admiral Hotham's action—The Agamemnon ordered to Genoa, to coöperate ENGLISH SCHOOL-CLASSICS Edited by FRANCIS STORR, B.A., CHIEF MASTER OF MODERN SUBJECTS AT MERCHANT TAYLORS' SCHOOL, LATE SCHOLAR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND BELL UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR. 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By EDWARD STORR, B.A., late Scholar of New College, Oxford. Is. Selections from the Spectator. By OSMUND Airy, M.A., Assistant-Master at Wellington College. Is. Browne's Religio Medici. By W. P. SMITH, M.A., Assistant-Master at Winchester College. Is. Goldsmith's Traveller, and The Deserted Village. By C. Sankey, M.A., Head Master of Bury St. Edmund's Grammar School. is. Extracts from Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield. By C. SANKEY, M.A. IS. · Poems selected from the Works of Robert Burns. By A. M. BELL, M.A., Balliol College, Oxford. 25. MOORE'S LIFE OF BYRON. By Francis STORR, B.A. ed. Oxford. 1S. RIVINGTONS: WATERLOO PLACE, LONDON |