tinguished characters were also entertained at Merton, among these Dr. Wolcot, generally known by his poetic appellation of Peter Pindar, of whom we have reserved an anecdote for the reader.

One evening this eccentric character having indulged somewhat too freely in his favourite potation, set fire to his night cap ere he fell into the arms of Morpheus. The cap belonged to Lord Nelson, and the next morning the bard pinned a paper to it with these lines—

Take your night cap again, my good Lord, I desire,

For I wish not to keep it a minute;

What belongs to a Nelson, where'er there's a fire,
Is sure to be instantly in it.

But short was the duration of Nelson's repose; he had not been many days at Merton, before the Honourable Captain Blackwood brought intelligence that the combined fleets, re-inforced by two more Spanish squadrons, and now amounted to thirty-four sail of the line, had left Ferrol, and got safely into Cadiz. All this however seemed as nothing to him; "let the man trudge it, who has lost his budget!" gaily repeated his lordship. But in spite of the apparent indifference with which he received the news, his friends, and especially Lady Hamilton, observed that his countenance wore marks of deep and anxious thought.

He went accordingly next morning, accompanied by Lady Hamilton and his sisters, to the Admiralty, and, as might have been expected, his lordship's services were not only accepted, but he was vested with powers less limited than had, perhaps, ever before been confided to any naval commander. He was to send home Sir Robert Calder, who had joined Admiral Collingwood in blocking up the enemy off Cadiz harbour, with twenty-six sail of the line, and to take on himself the chief command of all his Majesty's ships and vessels throughout the whole extent of the Mediterranean sea; having full liberty to use his own discretion in following the enemy wherever he should think proper, without the slightest degree of censure or control.

During the few days which he continued in England after being appointed to this important command, he so devoted the little leisure which his professional preparations allowed, to his beloved family and friends, that he refused all public visits, and dined only twice from Merton-place; once with his Grace the Duke of Queensbury, and once with his esteemed friend Abram Goldsmid, Esq., and family at Morden. On both these occasions he was accompanied by Lady Hamilton, and some of his own relations. The Duke of Clarence, previous to Nelson's departure, took a dinner with him at Merton; when his lordship, pointing to his nephews, nieces, &c., who were seated at a separate table, observed to his Royal Highness, that the sight of these young persons associated under his roof, constituted the chief bliss of his life.

As the day approached when Lord Nelson must take his departure from Merton, his friends were not insensible to feelings of regret and sorrow. On Friday, the 13th of September, the Victory having been completely prepared, dropped down to St. Helen's, ready for the hero's reception. Many of his friends and relatives had previously left Merton that they might escape the hour of separation; and to those left this was a terrible day. At ten o'clock at night, after visiting the chamber of his adopted daughter, and praying over the sleeping infant, his lordship tore himself from his friends and entered a post-chaise, which conveyed him by six the following morning to Portsmouth. Nelson, on arriving at Portsmouth, immediately arranged all his business; and having embarked at the bathing machines, got on board the Victory at two o'clock. The next morning, Sunday, the 15th September, at daylight, the Victory weighed with light airs and immediately sailed. Though five ships of

the line, and a frigate, were then at Portsmouth, almost ready for sea, and under orders to join his lordship, he was resolved not to lose a moment in waiting for them. He had sailed therefore from St. Helen's, accompanied only by the Honourable Captain Blackwood, in the Eurylas frigate; but on the 17th, being off Plymouth, they were joined by the Ajax of 74 guns, Captain Brown, and the Thunderer of the same force, Captain Lechmere.

It would appear, from a variety of circumstances, that the hero had a strong presentiment of the fate that awaited him. After his last return from the West Indies, he is said to have frequently expressed to his intimate friends that life had almost become burdensome and indifferent to him, and that his principal desire of living arose from the wish that he might have an opportunity of meeting, once more, the enemies of his country on his proper element; and declaring his perfect confidence, that whenever he should next encounter them, he should either return to his country a corpse, or bring the greatest part of the fleet of his opponents into a British port. In some of the private letters which he wrote after joining the fleet, he thus expressed himself:-" It is the first wish of my heart to bring the enemy to action, and to die in the arms of victory." Nay, only the day before his departure from London, he called at the house of Mr. Peddison, undertaker, in Brewer-street, to whose care the coffin presented to him by Captain Hallowell was confided; and with that familiar good-humour which accompanied his address on every occasion, desired him to have the attestation engraved on the lid, as he thought it highly probable he should want it on his return."

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The wish of his gallant spirit was too speedily realised. He joined his fleet off Cadiz on the 28th of September, but at such a late hour that the communication of his arrival was not made till the following morning. Here he resolved again to adopt the plan he had followed off Toulon. He neither remained directly off Cadiz, nor within sight of port. His great object was to induce the enemy to venture out. "Let them come out," he would often say; "my object is not to induce them by the display of all my force to remain in port, but to do everything in my power to tempt them to come out." In pursuance of this design, he never kept all his fleet before Cadiz.

His lordship had received from the Admiralty such information as induced him to believe that the enemy would soon put to sea. He had arranged, before he left London to assume the command of the fleet, a plan by which he would fight the enemy upon a new principle; it was extremely simple, but it was no sooner made known than it carried conviction to every naval officer; it afforded a complete remedy for that inconvenient system, which requires a great variety and frequent changes of signals. "I shall never distract my fleet," said he, "in the day of battle with a superabundance of signals.' He ordered all the captains on board the Victory, and laid before them his new plan. It was one of the peculiar features of Lord Nelson's character, to be able, by the clearness and precision of his plans and orders, to make every man understand him in an instant: the new plan carried immediate conviction to them-they all exclaimed, that it could not but be successful.

One of the last letters he wrote was dated about a fortnight before the battle in which he yielded his invaluable life. The following is an extract :

"The reception I met with on joining the fleet caused the sweetest sensation of my life. The officers who came on board to welcome my return, forgot my rank as Commander-in-Chief in the enthusiasm with which they greeted me. As soon as these emotions were passed, I laid before them the plan I had previously arranged for attacking the enemy, and it was not only my pleasure to find it generally approved, but clearly perceived and understood. The enemy are still in port, but something must be immediately done to provoke or lure them to a battle. My duty to my country demands it, and the hopes centered

in me will, I hope in God, be realised. In less than a fortnight, expect to hear from me or of me; for who can foresee the fate of battle. Put up your prayers for my success, and may God protect all my friends!"

CHAPTER IX.

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OUR hero is now brought to an eventful period of his history-to within a few days of a fearful, a deadly conflict with the enemy. On the 10th he issued his celebrated instructions for attacking the combined squadrons; the order of sailing was to be the order of the battle. Placing the fleet in two lines of sixteen ships each, with an advanced squadron of eight of the fastest sailing two-decked ships; which will always make, if wanted, a line of twenty-four sail on whichever line the commander-in-chief may direct; the second in command will, after my intentions are made known to him, have the entire direction of his line, to make the attack upon the enemy, and to follow up the blow, until they are captured or destroyed. * * The second in command to lead through about the twelfth ship from their rear; or wherever he could fetch, if not able to get so far advanced: my line would lead through about the centre, and the advanced squadron two, three, or four ships a-head of their centre, so as to insure getting at their commander-in-chief, whom every effort must be made to capture. The whole impression of the British fleet must be, to overpower from two or three ships a-head of their commander-in-chief, supposed to be their centre, to the rear of their fleet. * * Captains are to look to their particular line as their rallying point; but in case signals cannot be seen, or clearly understood, no captain can do wrong if he places his ship alongside that of an enemy."

The commanders of the combined fleet had received orders to put to sea the first opportunity that should be afforded them, either if the British fleet should be weakened by detachments, or compelled by stress of weather to quit the blockade of Cadiz. Their object is supposed to have been, to collect in their passage the squadron at Carthagena, and to proceed to Toulon, where, being joined by the vessels in that port, they would have formed a fleet of between 40 and 50 sail, with which it was their design to have prevented, if possible, the sailing of any expedition with British troops from Malta, or with Russian troops from Corfu. The course they were steering, and the accounts given in Vice-Admiral Collingwood's subsequent dispatches, justify this presumption.

As, however, the combined fleet did not immediately come out, his lordship soon grew apprehensive that they were very little disposed speedily to venture from port, and therefore began to consider how he might anuoy them even

there.

In writing to Captain Blackwood, Nelson observes-"If they do not come forth soon, I shall then rather incline to think they will detach squadrons; but I hope either in the whole, or in part, we shall get at them. I am confident in your look-out upon them. I expect three stout fire ships from England; then with a good breeze, so that the gun-boats cannot move, and yet not so much but that at least a gig can with ease row out, I should hope that at least the gentry might be disturbed; and I should not be surprised if Mr. Francis and his catamarans were sent, and Colonel Congreve and his rockets. But all this keep to yourself; for officers will talk, and there is no occasion to put the enemy upon their guard. When these things arrive, we will consult how to manage them, and I shall have the two bombs ready by that time."

A most painful task devolved upon Nelson on his arrival in the Mediterranean; we refer to the sending home Sir Robert Calder, whose conduct relative to the imperfect victory he obtained, to which we have already adverted, was to

be made the subject of a court martial. In one of his letters to a friend, Nelson has observed-"I had never but two enemies in the profession that I know ofSir Robert Calder and Sir John Orde; nor do I feel conscious of having ever given either of them just cause of offence. However, I will at least endeavour to make Sir Robert love me."

In strict accordance with this resolution, on communicating his orders to this commander, he earnestly advised him not to return home immediately, but to serve with himself on the expected glorious occasion, after which there would be little to apprehend from any inquiry respecting what might previously have happened. Sir Robert, however, though he was undoubtedly sensible of his lordship's kindness, was determined to proceed homewards, that his conduct might be immediately tried. Nelson, finding him determined to proceed to England, as a last proof of his tenderness and regard for one thus disagreeably situated, insisted that Sir Robert, instead of departing in a frigate as directed, should have the honour of returning in his own ninety gun ship, ill as it could at that eventful crisis be spared from that station. Such was the noble conduct of Nelson, to one whom he had no slight grounds for believing his enemy,

Nelson, who was in hourly expectation of being re-inforced by seven ships of the line from England, purposely detached Rear-Admiral Louis with that number of ships in the most public manner, by way of encouraging the enemy to risk an action with his apparently diminished force. Admiral Villeneuve was induced by this stratagem to set sail from Cadiz. The expected reinforcement arrived, and on the 20th of October Nelson had the pleasure to learn, by comanunication with the Phoebe, Defence, and Colossus, that the combined fleet were outside of Cadiz the evening before; but the wind being southerly, the enemy, consisting of nearly forty sail, could not get to the mouth of the

straits.

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How anxiously did Nelson await the dawning light! The enemy were all but in his power; his whole soul burned with desire; the moment was nigh when an important-a decisive blow was to be struck! Morning came, and as the beaming sun tinged the horizon, it disclosed to the heroic Nelson a sight which thrilled his soul with patriotic ardour for his king and country. Monday, Oct. 21st, 1805. At daylight, saw the enemy's combined fleet, from east to east south east. Bore away! made signal for order of sailing, and to prepare for battle; the enemy with their heads to the southward. At seven, the enemy wearing in succession." And then follows his appeal to Heaven for success'; these being probably the last words written by this great and brave commander

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May the great God whom I worship, grant to my country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory! and may no mistake in any one tarnish it! And may humanity, after victory, be the predominant feature in the British fleet! For myself, individually, I commend my life to Him who made me! and may his blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my country faithfully! To him I resign myself, and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen! Amen! Amen!"

Nelson annexed to his diary the following remarkable statement, in the form of a testamentary bequest :

"October 21, 1805.-Then in sight of the combined fleets of France and Spain, distant about ten miles.

"Whereas the eminent services of Emma Hamilton, widow of the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton, have been of the very greatest service to my King and country, to my knowledge, without ever receiving any reward from either our King or country.

ઃ

First, that she obtained the King of Spain's letter, in 1796, to his brother,

the King of Naples, acquainting him of his intention to declare war against England; from which letter the ministry sent out orders to the then Sir John Jervis to strike a stroke, if opportunity offered, against either the arsenals of Spain or her fleets. That neither was done is not the fault of Lady Hamilton; the opportunity might have been offered.

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Secondly: The British fleet under my command could never have returned the second time to Egypt, had not Lady Hamilton's influence with the Queen of Naples caused letters to be wrote to the governor of Syracuse, that he was to encourage the fleet's being supplied with everything, should they put into any port in Sicily. We put into Syracuse, and received every supply; went to Egypt and destroyed the French fleet.

"Could I have rewarded these services, I would not now call upon my country; but as that has not been in my power, I leave Emma Lady Hamilton therefore a legacy to my King and country, that they will give her an ample provision to maintain her rank in life.

"I also leave to the beneficence of my country my adopted daughter, Horatia Nelson Thompson; and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson only.

"These are the only favours I ask of my King and country, at this moment when I am going to fight their battle. May God bless my King and country, and all those I hold dear. My relations it is needless to mention they will, of course, be amply provided for.

"Witness-Henry Blackwood, T. M. Hardy."

"NELSON AND BRONTE.

Concerning the child thus referred to, much has been surmised. The general opinion favours the suspicion that the child was his own. She was certainly an object of Nelson's tender care and attention, and as we have already stated, the last moments he spent at Merton were employed in praying over this child, as she lay sleeping. She was placed under the immediate care of Lady Hamilton, and Nelson, in a secret codicil to his will, bequeathed to his adopted daughter, Miss Horatia, the sum of four thousand pounds: appointing Lady Hamilton her sole guardian, until she shall have arrived at the age of eighteen years; the interest of the said four thousand pounds to be paid to Lady Hamilton for her education and maintenance.

With respect to Lady Hamilton, his lordship ever evinced the most ardent esteem and attachment for one he loved. He had a portrait of her constantly hung up in his cabin, and he also wore a miniature of her next his heart.

The Honourable Captain Blackwood, after watching the enemy all night, came on board the Victory, about seven o'clock in the morning on the 21st, and with Captain Capel, of the Phoebe, and Captain Prowse, of the Sirius, remained in consultation with his lordship for several hours. Confident of victory, he exclaimed to Captain Hardy, and the other officers by whom he was surrounded-" They cannot now escape us! I think we shall, at last, make sure of them. I may probably lose a leg, but that will be cheaply purchasing a victory."

A short time before the action, Captain Blackwood, in taking leave of Nelson, observed, that he hoped they would meet again in a few hours. In reply to which his lordship, in a firm tone, said, as he shook hands with his friend"God bless you, Blackwood, I shall never again speak to you!" This, alas! proved but too true.

The enemy's line consisted of thirty-three ships, eighteen of which were French, and fifteen Spanish. The British fleet consisted of only twenty-seven sail of the line. The enemy had not only the advantage in point of size, as well as numbers, but a superiority of about three hundred and fifty guns: besides this, ten thousand of their choicest troops were also distributed through