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The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson-Part5_Robert Southey(1774-1843)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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presently filled, for the purpose of carrying on the cause in behalf of

the American captains; and the admiral, whose flag was at that



time in the roads, stood neutral. But the Americans and their

abettors were not content with defensive law. The marines, whom



he had sent to secure the ships, had prevented some of the masters

from going ashore; and those persons, by whose depositions it



appeared that the vessels and cargoes were American property,

declared that they had given their testimony under bodily fear, for



that a man with a drawn sword in his hand had stood over them

the whole time. A rascally lawyer, whom the party employed,



suggested this story; and as the sentry at the cabin door was a man

with a drawn sword, the Americans made no scruple of swearing



to this ridiculousfalsehood, and commencing prosecutions against

him accordingly. They laid their damages at the enormous amount



of L40,000; and Nelson was obliged to keep close on board his own

ship, lest he should be arrested for a sum for which it would have



been impossible to find bail. The marshal frequently came on board

to arrest him, but was always prevented by the address of the first



lieutenant, Mr. Wallis. Had he been taken, such was the temper of

the people that it was certain he would have been cast for the whole



sum. One of his officers, one day, in speaking of the restraint which

he was thus compelled to suffer, happened to use the word PITY!



"Pity!" exclaimed Nelson: "Pity! did you say? I shall live, sir,

to be envied! and to that point I shall always direct my course."



Eight weeks remained in this state of duresse. During that time

the trial respecting the detained ships came on in the court of



Admiralty. He went on shore under a protection for the day from

the judge; but, notwithstanding this, the marshal was called upon



to take that opportunity of arresting him, and the merchants

promised to indemnify him for so doing. The judge, however, did his



duty, and threatened to send the marshal to prison if he attempted

to violate the protection of the court. Mr. Herbert, the president



of Nevis, behaved with singulargenerosity upon this occasion.

Though no man was a greater sufferer by the measures which



Nelson had pursued, he offered in court to become his bail for

L10,000 if he chose to suffer the arrest. The lawyer whom he had



chosen proved to be an able as well as an honest man; and

notwithstanding the opinions and pleadings of most of the counsel of



the different islands, who maintained that ships of war were not

justified in seizing American vessels without a deputation from the



customs, the law was so explicit, the case so clear, and Nelson

pleaded his own cause so well, that the four ships were condemned.



During the progress of this business he sent a memorial home to

the king, in consequence of which orders were issued that he should



be defended at the expense of the crown. And upon the representation

which he made at the same time to the Secretary of State, and



the suggestions with which he accompanied it, the Register Act was

framed. The sanction of Government, and the approbation of his



conduct which it implied, were highly gratifying to him; but he was

offended, and not without just cause, that the Treasury should have



transmitted thanks to the commander-in-chief for his activity and

zeal in protecting the commerce of Great Britain. "Had they



known all," said he, "I do not think they would have bestowed thanks

in that quarter, and neglected me. I feel much hurt that, after the



loss of health and risk of fortune, another should be thanked for

what I did against his orders. I either deserved to be sent out of



the service, or at least to have had some little notice taken of what

I had done. They have thought it worthy of notice, and yet have



neglected me. If this is the reward for a faithfuldischarge of my

duty, I shall be careful, and never stand forward again. But I have



done my duty, and have nothing to accuse myself of."

The anxiety which he had suffered from the harassing uncertainties



of law is apparent from these expressions. He had, however,

something to console him, for he was at this time wooing the niece of



his friend the president, then in her eighteenth year, the widow of Dr.

Nisbet, a physician. She had one child, a son, by name Josiah, who



was three years old. One day Mr. Herbert, who had hastened

half-dressed to receive Nelson, exclaimed, on returning to his






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