Nelson's Lady Hamilton by Meynell, Esther (cheapest way to read ebooks .txt) 📗

yourself," he tells his wife, " a vain man, on Sunday evening at sunset, walking in his cabin with a squadron about him, who looked up to their chief to lead them to glory, and in whom this chief placed the firmest reliance. . . . Figure to

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yourself this proud, conceited man, when the sun rose on Monday morning, his ship dismasted, his fleet dispersed, and himself in such distress that the meanest frigate out of France would have been a very unwelcome guest."

And the worst of all was that the very northerly wind which half-wrecked the Vangiiard enabled the whole French armament and fleet under Buonaparte's command to put to sea.

The day before this happened Lord St. Vincent had received orders to detach a squadron of twelve sail-of-the-line, with frigates, from hi< fleet, and to send it into the Mediterranean under the command of "some discreet flag-officer," in quest of the French armament. Lord Spencer had said to him in a private letter, " li you determine to send a detachment, I think it almost unnecessary to suggest to you the propriety of putting it under the command of Sir H. Nelson, whose acquaintance with that part of the world, as well as his activity and disposition, seem to qualify him in a peculiar mannei for that service."

Without such advice St. Vincent would prc bably have chosen Nelson for this important service, as he believed in him strongly, like all wh< had real knowledge of his abilities. Also Nelsoi was already in the Mediterranean. So the Com-mander-in-Chief sent him reinforcements and th< following instructions:—

" I do hereby authorize and require you, on being joined by the Culloden, Goliath, Minotaur, Defence, Betterophon, Majestic, Audacious, Zealous ', Swiftsure, and Theseus, to take them and their captains under your command, in addition to those already with you, and to proceed with them in quest of the armament preparing by the enemy at Toulon and Genoa. ... On falling in with the said armament, or any part thereof, you are to use your utmost endeavours to take, sink, burn, or destroy it. ... On the subject of supplies, I inclose also a copy of their lordships' order to me, and do require you strictly to comply with the spirit of it, by considering and treating as hostile any ports within the Mediterranean (those of Sardinia excepted), where provisions or other articles you may be in want of, and which they are enabled to furnish, shall be refused. . . ."

This was pretty definite; but, to leave no doubt possible, St. Vincent added, "It appears that their Lordships expect favourable neutrality from Tuscany and the Two Sicilies. In any event, you are to exact supplies of whatever you may be in want of from the territories of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the King of the Two Sicilies, the Ottoman territory, Malta, and ci-devant Venetian dominions now belonging to the Emperor of Germany."

It has been necessary thus to make clear the sort of instructions Nelson had to back him in

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order to maintain a sense of proportion when dealing with the much-discussed question of Lady Hamilton's services in helping the British fleet to victual and water at Syracuse.

Nelson knew quite well the condition imposed on the King and Queen of Naples, that not more than four English ships must enter their ports; he also knew that the Queen, at any rate, chafed at this restriction, and was anxious to help the British squadron. He had the instructions of his own Government to take what might be refused him; but he had no desire to use force if it could be avoided. Therefore he wrote to Sir William Hamilton on the i2th of June—

"As I am not quite clear, from General Acton's letters to you of 3 and 9 April, what cooperation is intended by the court of Naples, I wish to know perfectly what is to be expected, that I may regulate my movements accordingly, and beg clear answers to the following questions and requisitions: Are the ports of Naples and Sicily open to his Majesty's fleet ? Have the governors orders for our free admission, and for us to be supplied with whatever we may want ? "

On the 16th of June the van of his squadron hove in sight, and the next day Nelson sent Troubridge and Hardy to Naples, while he himself remained with the rest of his fleet off Capri. Troubridge went at once to the British embassy —Troubridge of whom Nelson had written to Sir

EMMA, LADY HAMILTON

SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE

William Hamilton a day or so earlier, " I send Captain Troubridge to communicate with your excellency, and, as Captain Troubridge is in full possession of my confidence, I beg that whatever he says may be considered as coming from me." To this he added, with that generous love of praise so characteristic, " Captain Troubridge is my honoured acquaintance of twenty-five years, and the very best sea-officer in his Majesty's

service."

Sir William Hamilton at once took Troubridge and Hardy to an informal council at Sir John Acton's house. Nelson wanted an order authorizing him to use the Sicilian ports with more freedom than the French compact permitted—he wanted a sort of informal credential. The King, of course, could not sign such a thing, but Acton might—in his name. There was discussion, hesitation ; but " Captain Troubridge went straight to the point"—just as he went straight at the towering ships of Spain off Cape St. Vincent. Acton was prevailed upon to write an order—not very effectual, but, as it seemed, the best that could be done under the circumstances.