The Life of Nelson, by Robert Southey

Tim Fulford

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN:
  9780367023089
• eBook ISBN:
  9780429682315
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: English Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

The Life of Nelson is one of Robert Southey's most influential and bestselling works. This new edition will contain a comprehensive critical apparatus that will make sense of the major issues posed by the text and how it contributes to studies of both Southey and Romanticism. The edition will feature a critical and contextual introduction, which will set out the origins and composition of the text together with its publication history, as well as offer a carefully considered view of the interplay between the Life and other biographies of Nelson, bringing into view the wide array of sources and influences Southey drew from.

THE LIFE OF NELSON.

BY
ROBERT SOUTHEY

‘Bursting through the gloom

With radiant glory from thy trophied tomb,

The sacred splendor of thy deathless name

Shall grace and guard thy Country’s martial fame.

Far-seen shall blaze the unextinguish’d ray,

A mighty beacon, lighting Glory’s way;

With living lustre this proud Land adorn,

And shine, and save, through ages yet unborn.’

ULM and TRAFALGAR.¹

IN TWO VOLUMES.²

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR JOHN MURRAY,

BOOKSELLER TO THE ADMIRALTY AND TO THE BOARD OF LONGITUDE, 50, ALBEMARLE STREET.

…….

1813.

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

THEIR HISTORICAL ACCURACY;

AND WHO,

AS A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLIC OF LETTERS, IS

EQUALLY QUALIFIED TO DECIDE UPON

THEIR LITERARY MERITS,

These Volumes

ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,

BY HIS FRIEND,

THE AUTHOR.³

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME

CHAPTER I

Nelson’s Birth and Boyhood. – He sails in Captain Phipps’s Voyage of Discovery. – Goes to the East Indies in the Seahorse, and returns in ill Health. – Expedition against the Spanish Main. – Sent to the North Seas in the Albemarle. – Services during the American War.

CHAPTER II

Nelson goes to France during the Peace. – Re-appointed to the Boreas, and stationed at the Leeward Islands. – His firm Conduct concerning the American interlopers, and the Contractors. – Marries and returns to England. – Is on the Point of quitting the Service in Disgust. – Manner of Life while unemployed. – Appointed to the Agamemnon on the breaking out of the War of the French Revolution.

CHAPTER III

The Agamemnon sent to the Mediterranean. – Commencement of Nelson’s Acquaintance with Sir W. Hamilton. – He is sent to Corsica, to co-operate with Paoli. – State of Affairs in that Island. – Nelson undertakes the Siege of Bastia, and reduces it. – Takes a distinguished Part in the Siege of Calvi, where he loses an Eye. – Admiral Hotham’s Action. – The Agamemnon ordered to Genoa, to co-operate with the Austrian and Sardinian Forces. – Gross Misconduct of the Austrian General.

CHAPTER IV

Sir J. Jervis takes the Command. – Genoa joins the French. – Buonaparte begins his Career. – Evacuation of Corsica. – Nelson hoists his broad Pennant in the Minerve. – Action with the Sabina – Battle off Cape St. Vincent. – Nelson commands the inner Squadron at the Blockade of Cadiz. – Boat Action in the Bay of Cadiz. – Expedition against Teneriffe. – Nelson loses an Arm. – His Sufferings in England, and Recovery.

CHAPTER V

1798 Nelson rejoins Earl St. Vincent in the Vanguard: sails in Pursuit of the French to Egypt; returns to Sicily, and sails again to Egypt. – Battle of the Nile.

THE LIFE OF NELSON

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.⁴ 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
CONTENTS

Nelson’s Birth and Boyhood – He is entered on Board the Raisonnable – 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 Hinchinbrook – Expedition against the Spanish Main – Sent to the North Seas in the Albemarle – Services during the American War.

HORATIO, son of EDMUND⁵ and CATHERINE⁶ 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. The maiden name of his mother was SUCKLING,⁷ her grandmother was an elder sister of SIR ROBERT WALPOLE,⁸ and this child was named after his godfather, the first LORD WALPOLE.⁹ Mrs. Nelson died in 1767, leaving eight, out of eleven children. Her brother, Captain MAURICE SUCKLING,¹⁰ 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 holydays, he read in the county newspaper that his uncle was appointed to the Raisonnable,¹¹ of 64 guns. ‘Do, William,’¹² said he to a brother who was a year and a half older than himself, ‘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. Accordingly 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.’¹³

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 birds-nestingⁱ from his grandmother’s house in company with a cow-boy: 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 theⁱⁱ 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! grandmamma,’ replied the future hero, ‘I never saw fear: – What is it?’¹⁴ Once, after the winter holydays, when he and his brother William had set off on horseback to return to school,¹⁵ 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!’¹⁶ – 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 bed-room 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.’¹⁷

i birds-nesting] a-birds’-nesting 1814, 1827, 1831, 1840.

ii the] 1814, 1827, 1831, 1840 omit.

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.¹⁸ 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.¹⁹ 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 apprized 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.’²⁰ 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 neverⁱ 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 endure physical 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.

i never] 1814, 1825, 1827, 1830, 1831, 1840 omit.

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,²¹ and Captain Suckling was removed to the Triumph, 74,²² then stationed as a guard-ship²³ 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,²⁴ commanded by Mr. John Rathbone, an excellent seaman, who had served as master’s-mate under Captain Suckling in the Dreadnought.²⁵ 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.’²⁶ 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 dislike to the navy, took the best means of reconciling him to it. He held it out as a reward that, if he attended well to his navigation, he should go in the cutter and decked longboat, which was attached to the commanding-officer’s ship at Chatham. Thus he became a good pilot for vessels of that description from Chatham to the Tower,²⁷ and down the Swin Channel²⁸ to the North Foreland,²⁹ and acquired a confidence among rocks and sands of which he often felt the value.

Nelson had not been many months on board the Triumph, when his love of enterprise was excited by hearing that two ships were fitting out for a voyage of discovery toward the North Pole. In consequence of the difficulties which were expected on such a service, these vessels were to take out effective men, instead of the usual number of boys. This, however, did not deter him from soliciting to be received, and by his uncle’s interest he was admitted as coxswain under Captain Lutwidge,³⁰ second in command. The voyage was undertaken in compliance with an application from the Royal Society. The Hon. Captain Constantine John Phipps, eldest son of Lord Mulgrave, volunteered his services.³¹ The Racehorse and Carcass bombs³² were selected, as the strongest ships, and therefore best adapted for such a voyage; and they were taken into dock and strengthened, to render them as secure as possible against the ice. Two masters of Greenlandmen³³ were employed as pilots for each ship. No expedition was ever more carefully fitted out; and the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Sandwich,³⁴ with a laudable solicitude, went on board himself, before their departure, to see that everything had been completed to the wish of the officers. The ships were provided with a simple and excellent apparatus for distilling fresh from salt water, the invention of Dr. Irving,³⁵ who accompanied the expedition. It consisted merely in fitting a tube to the ship’s kettle, and applying a wet mop to the surface, as the vapour was passing. By these means, from thirty-four to forty gallons were produced every day.³⁶

They sailed from the Nore³⁷ on the fourth of June. On the sixth of the following month they were in lat. 79° 56’ 39”; long. 9° 43’ 30” E. The next day, about the place whe...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• List of abbreviations
• List of figures
• Editorial introduction
• Glossary of nautical terms
• Southey’s Life of Nelson
• Appendix A: Southey’s review of publications on Nelson, Quarterly Review, 3(February 1810), 218–62
• Appendix B: Reviews of Southey’s The Life of Nelson
• Notes