Here his disquietude upon this subject seems to have ended. Still he
was not at ease; he wanted employment, and was mortified that his
applications for it produced no effect. "Not being a man of fortune," he
said, "was a crime which he was unable to get over, and therefore none
of the great cared about him." Repeatedly he requested the Admiralty
that they would not leave him to rust in indolence. During the armament
which was made upon occasion of the dispute concerning Nootka Sound, he
renewed his application; and his steady friend, Prince William, who had
then been created Duke of Clarence, recommended him to Lord Chatham.
The failure of this recommendation wounded him so keenly that he again
thought of retiring from the service in disgust; a resolution from which
nothing but the urgent remonstrances of Lord Hood induced him to desist.
Hearing that the RAISONNABLE, in which he had commenced his career,
was to be commissioned, he asked for her. This also was in vain; and a
coolness ensued, on his part, toward Lord Hood, because that excellent
officer did not use his influence with Lord Chatham upon this
occasion. Lord Hood, however, had certainly sufficient reasons for not
interfering; for he ever continued his steady friend. In the winter of
1792, when we were on the eve of the revolutionary war, Nelson once more
offered his services, earnestly requested a ship, and added, that if
their lordships should be pleased to appoint him to a cockle-boat he
should feel satisfied. He was answered in the usual official form:
"Sir, I have received your letter of the 5th instant, expressing your
readiness to serve, and have read the same to my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty." On the 12th of December he received this dry
acknowledgment. The fresh mortification did not, however, affect him
long; for, by the joint interest of the Duke and Lord Hood, he was
appointed, on the 30th of January following, to the AGAMEMNON, of
sixty-four guns.
CHAPTER III
1793 - 1795
The AGAMEMNON sent to the Mediterranean --Commencement of Nelson's
Aquaintance with Sir W. Hamilton--He is sent to Corsica, to cooperate
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.
"THERE are three things, young gentleman," said Nelson to one of his
midshipmen, "which you are constantly to bear in mind. First, you must
always implicitly obey orders, without attempting to form any opinion of
your own respecting their propriety; secondly, you must consider every
man your enemy who speaks ill of your king; and, thirdly, you must hate
a Frenchman as you do the devil." With these feelings he engaged in the
war. Josiah, his son-in-law, went with him as a midshipman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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