as a writer of prose, and his extraordinary powers of application enabled him to produce an enormous number of biographies, translations, histories, and social essays, all of which are distinguished by lucidity and virility of style. It was in biography that his abilities shone to best advantage. The lives of Bunyan and Wesley are hardly less attractive than his chef d'œuvre, the biography of Nelson. He wrote regularly for the Quarterly Review from its foundation in 1809 until 1839, and he thence derived an important part of his income. He was an indefatigable reader, and the two glorified commonplace books which he sent to press, Omniana (1812), and The Doctor (1834-7), prove the catholicity of his literary talents and taste, the encyclopædic character of his knowledge, and his easy fluency of composition. He managed by the heroic industry of his pen not only to provide for his own family, but for the families of his friends and brothers-in-law, Coleridge and Lovell, and he performed many acts of kindness to promising aspirants to literary fame, chief among whom was Henry Kirke White. He died after a singularly honourable career, in his sixty-ninth year, at Greta Hall, on March 21, 1843, and was buried in Crosthwaite Churchyard. Southey's Life of Nelson was published in 1813, nearly eight years after the hero's triumphant victory and death at the great naval battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. The book was based on an article which the writer contributed to the Quarterly Review for July 1809. Southey found his main material in the full life of Nelson which appeared in 1809 in two unwieldy quarto volumes from the joint pens of James Stanier Clarke and John McArthur. Clarke and McArthur had access to Nelson's private and official papers, and their information, though clumsily presented, is complete, if not exhaustive. An earlier, but far slighter and less trustworthy biography (Genuine Memoirs of Lord Viscount Nelson, 1806, 2 vols, 8vo), which was compiled under Lady Hamilton's direction by a bookseller named James Harrison, was also used by Southey, and led him into some subsidiary errors, which the researches of subsequent writers have exposed. But, in spite of the abundant energy recently devoted to investigations into Nelson's history, Southey's Life presents within its brief limits a vivid and brilliant picture of the great admiral's heroic career, which has enduring value. It is not merely the most perfect and the most delightful of all Southey's writings, but is the best biography of its length in the English language. The present text is printed from the edition of Southey's Life of Nelson, which was published by John Murray in 1830. The proofs have been collated with the original edition of 1813. SIDNEY LEE. TO JOHN WILSON CROKER, ESQ., LL.D., F.R.S. SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY WHO BY THE OFFICIAL SITUATION WHICH HE 80 ABLY FILLS IS QUALIFIED TO APPRECIATE ITS HISTORICAL ACCURACY AND WHO AS A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLIC OF LETTERS IS EQUALLY QUALIFIED TO DECIDE UPON ITS LITERARY MERITS THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HIS FRIEND THE AUTHOR CONTENTS 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 Capt. Phipps's Voyage of Discovery-Goes to the East Indies in the Seahorse, and returns in ill-health-Serves as acting Lieutenant in the Worcester, and is made Lieutenant into the Lowestoffe, Commander into the Badger Brig, and Post into the Hinchinbrook-Expedition against the Spanish Main-Sent to the North Seas in the Albemarle-Services during the American War 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 life while unemployed-Appointed to the Agamemnon on The Agamemnon sent to the Mediterranean-Commencement 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 under- takes 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 operate with the Austrian and Sardinian forces-Gross misconduct PAGE 18 31 Sir J. Jervis takes the command-Genoa joins the French-Buonaparte begins his career-Evacuation of Corsica-Nelson hoists his broad pendant in the Minerve-Action with the Sabina-Battle off Cape St. Vincent-Nelson commands the inner Squadron at the blockade of Cadiz-Boat action in the Bay of Cadiz-Expedition against Nelson rejoins Earl St. Vincent in the Vanguard-Sails in pursuit of the French to Egypt-Returns to Sicily, and sails again to Egypt- 72 |