The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson

by Robert Southey
TO JOHN WILSON CROKER ESQ.,

LL.D., F.R.S.,
SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY;

WHO, BY THE OFFICIAL SITUATION WHICH HE SO 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 WORK
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HIS FRIEND,

THE AUTHOR
Many Lives of Nelson have been written; one is yet wanting, clear and

concise enough to become a manual for the young sailor, which he may
carry about with him till he has treasured it up for example in his

memory and in his heart. In attempting such a work I shall write the
eulogy of our great national hero, for the best eulogy of NELSON is

the faithful history of his actions, and the best history must be
that which shall relate them most perspicuously.

CHAPTER I
1758 - 1783

Nelson's Birth and Boyhood--He is entered on Board the RAISONABLE--
Goes to the West Indies in a Merchant-ship; then serves in the TRIUMPH

--He sails in Captain Phipps' 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 HINCHINBROKE--

Expedition against the Spanish Main--Sent to the North Seas in the
ALBERMARLE--Services during the American War.

*
HORATIO, son of Edmund and Catherine Nelson, was born September 29,

1758, in the parsonage-house of Burnham Thorpe, a village in the county
of Norfolk, of which his father was rector. His mother was a daughter of

Dr. Suckling, prebendary of Westminster, whose grandmother was sister of
Sir Robert Walpole, and this child was named after his godfather, the

first Lord Walpole. Mrs. Nelson died in 1767, leaving eight out of eleven
children. Her brother, Captain Maurice Suckling, of the navy visited the

widower upon this event, and promised to take care of one of the boys.
Three years afterwards, when HORATIO was only twelve years of age, being

at home during the Christmas holidays, he read in the county newspaper
that his uncle was appointed to the RAISONNABLE, of sixty-four guns."Do,

William," said he to a brother who was a year and a half older than him-
self, "write to my father, and tell him that I should like to go to sea

with uncle Maurice." Mr.Nelson was then at Bath, whither he had gone for
the recovery of his health: his circumstances were straitened, and he

had no prospect of ever seeing them bettered: he knew that it was the
wish of providing for himself by which Horatio was chiefly actuated, and

did not oppose his resolution; he understood also the boy's character,
and had always said, that in whatever station he might be placed, he

would climb if possible to the very top of the tree. Captain Suckling
was written to. "What," said he in his answer,"has poor Horatio done,

who is so weak, that he, above all the rest, should be sent to rough it
out at sea?--But let him come; and the first time we go into action, a

cannon-ball may knock off his head, and provide for him at once."
It is manifest from these words that Horatio was not the boy whom his

uncle would have chosen to bring up in his own profession. He was never
of a strong body; and the ague, which at that time was one of the most

common diseases in England, had greatly reduced his strength; yet he had
already given proofs of that resolute heart and nobleness of mind which,

during his whole career of labour and of glory, so eminently
distinguished him. When a mere child, he strayed a-birds'-nesting from

his grandmother's house in company with a cowboy: the dinner-hour
elapsed; he was absent, and could not be found; and the alarm of the

family became very great, for they apprehended that he might have been
carried off by gipsies. At length, after search had been made for him in

various directions, he was discovered alone, sitting composedly by the
side of a brook which he could not get over. "I wonder, child," said the

old lady when she saw him,"that hunger and fear did not drive you home."
"Fear! grandmama:" replied the future hero,"I never saw fear:--What is

it?" Once, after the winter holidays, when he and his brother William
had set off on horseback to return to school, they came back, because

there had been a fall of snow; and William, who did not much like the
journey, said it was too deep for them to venture on. "If that be the

case," said the father, "you certainly shall not go; but make another
attempt, and I will leave it to your honour. If the road is dangerous

you may return: but remember, boys, I leave it to your honour!" The snow
was deep enough to have afforded them a reasonable excuse; but Horatio

was not to be prevailed upon to turn back. "We must go on," said he:
"remember, brother, it was left to our honour!"--There were some fine

pears growing in the schoolmaster's garden, which the boys regarded as
lawful booty, and in the highest degree tempting; but the boldest among

them were afraid to venture for the prize. Horatio volunteered upon this
service: he was lowered down at night from the bedroom window by some

sheets, plundered the tree, was drawn up with the pears, and then
distributed them among his school-fellows without reserving any for

himself. "He only took them," he said, "because every other boy was
afraid."

Early on a cold and dark spring morning Mr. Nelson's servant arrived
at this school, at North Walsham, with the expected summons for Horatio

to join his ship. The parting from his brother William, who had been for
so many years his playmate and bed-fellow, was a painful effort, and was

the beginning of those privations which are the sailor's lot through
life. He accompanied his father to London. The RAISONNABLE was lying in

the Medway. He was put into the Chatham stage, and on its arrival was
set down with the rest of the passengers, and left to find his way on

board as he could. After wandering about in the cold, without being able
to reach the ship, an officer observed the forlorn appearance of the

boy, questioned him; and happening to be acquainted with his uncle, took
him home and gave him some refreshments. When he got on board, Captain

Suckling was not in the ship, nor had any person been apprised of the
boy's coming. He paced the deck the whole remainder of the day without

being noticed by any one; and it was not till the second day that
somebody, as he expressed it, "took compassion on him." The pain which

is felt when we are first transplanted from our native soil--when the
living branch is cut from the parent tree is one of the most poignant

which we have to endure through life. There are after-griefs which wound
more deeply, which leave behind them scars never to be effaced, which

bruise the spirit, and sometimes break the heart; but never do we feel
so keenly the want of love, the necessity of being loved, and the sense

of utter desertion, as when we first leave the haven of home, and are,
as it were, pushed off upon the stream of life. Added to these feelings,

the sea-boy has to endurephysical hardships, and the privation of every
comfort, even of sleep. Nelson had a feeble body and an affectionate

heart, and he remembered through life his first days of wretchedness in
the service.

The RAISONNABLE having been commissioned on account of the dispute
respecting the Falkland Islands, was paid off as soon as the difference

with the court of Spain was accommodated, and Captain Suckling was
removed to the TRIUMPH, seventy-four, then stationed as a guard-ship in

the Thames. This was considered as too inactive a life for a boy, and
Nelson was therefore sent a voyage to the West Indies in a merchant-

ship, commanded by Mr. John Rathbone, an excellent seaman, who had
served as master's mate under Captain Suckling in the Dreadnought. He

returned a practical seaman, but with a hatred of the king's service,
and a saying then common among the sailors--"Aft the most honour;

forward the better man." Rathbone had probably been disappointed and
disgusted in the navy; and, with no unfriendly intentions, warned Nelson

against a profession which he himself had found hopeless. His uncle
received him on board the TRIUMPH on his return, and discovering his