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The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson-Part11_Robert Southey(1774-1843)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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offering any offence to the Genoese territory or flag, complaints were

so repeatedly made against his squadron, that, he says, it seemed a



trial who should be tired first; they of complaining, or he of answering

their complaints. But the question of neutrality was soon at an end. An



Austrian commissary was travelling from Genoa towards Vado; it was known

that he was to sleep at Voltri, and that he had L10,000 with him--a



booty which the French minister in that city, and the captain of a

French frigate in that port, considered as far more important than the



word of honour of the one, the duties of the other, and the laws of

neutrality. The boats of the frigate went out with some privateers,



landed, robbed the commissary, and brought back the money to Genoa. The

next day men were publicly enlisted in that city for the French army:



700 men were embarked, with 7000 stand of arms, on board the frigates

and other vessels, who were to land between Voltri and Savona. There a



detachment from the French army was to join them, and the Genoese

peasantry were to be invited to insurrection--a measure for which



everything had been prepared. The night of the 13th was fixed for the

sailing of this expedition; the Austrians called loudly for Nelson to



prevent it; and he, on the evening of the 13th, arrived at Genoa. His

presence checked the plan: the frigate, knowing her deserts, got within



the merchant-ships, in the inner mole; and the Genoese government did

not now even demand of Nelson respect to the neutral port, knowing that



they had allowed, if not connived at, a flagrant breach of neutrality,

and expecting the answer which he was prepared to return, that it was



useless and impossible for him to respect it longer.

But though this movement produced the immediate effect which was



designed, it led to ill consequences, which Nelson foresaw, but for want

of sufficient force was unable to prevent. His squadron was too small



for the service which it had to perform. He required two seventy-fours

and eight or ten frigates and sloops; but when he demanded this



reinforcement, Admiral Hotham had left the command. Sir Hyde Parker had

succeeded till the new commander should arrive; and he immediately



reduced it to almost nothing, leaving him only one frigate and a brig.

This was a fatal error. While the Austrian and Sardinian troops, whether



from the imbecility or the treachery of their leaders, remained

inactive, the French were preparing for the invasion of Italy. Not many



days before Nelson was thus summoned to Genoa, he chased a large convoy

into Alassio. Twelve vessels he had formerly destroyed in that port,



though 2000 French troops occupied the town. This former attack had made

them take new measures of defence; and there were now above 100 sail of



victuallers, gun-boats, and ships of war. Nelson represented to the

Admiral how important it was to destroy these vessels; and offered, with



his squadron of frigates, and the CULLODEN and COURAGEUX, to lead

himself in the AGAMEMNON, and take or destroy the whole. The attempt was



not permitted; but it was Nelson's belief that, if it had been made, it

would have prevented the attack upon the Austrian army, which took place



almost immediately afterwards.

General de Vins demanded satisfaction of the Genoese government for



the seizure of his commissary; and then, without waiting for their

reply, took possession of some empty magazines of the French, and pushed



his sentinels to the very gates of Genoa. Had he done so at first, he

would have found the magazines full; but, timed as the measure was, and



useless as it was to the cause of the allies, it was in character with

the whole of the Austrian general's conduct; and it is no small proof of



the dexterity with which he served the enemy, that in such circumstances

he could so act with Genoa as to contrive to put himself in the wrong.



Nelson was at this time, according to his own expression, placed in a

cleft stick. Mr. Drake, the Austrian minister, and the Austrian general,



all joined in requiring him not to leave Genoa; if he left that port

unguarded, they said, not only the imperial troops at St. Pier d'Arena



and Voltri would be lost, but the French plan for taking post between

Voltri and Savona would certainly succeed; if the Austrians should be



worsted in the advanced posts, the retreat of the Bocchetta would be cut

off; and if this happened, the loss of the army would be imputed to



him, for having left Genoa. On the other hand, he knew that if he were

not at Pietra, the enemy's gun-boats would harass the left flank of the



Austrians, who, if they were defeated, as was to be expected, from the

spirit of all their operations, would, very probably, lay their defeat






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