The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1Harrison, James
History
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1
Harrison, James
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805
By indulging these reflections, there is no other object in
contemplation, than that of assisting to afford an accurate view of the
ability which was exerted in this unfortunate enterprise; and thus
demonstrating, by a new example, the force of the old observation--that
success is not always acquirable, even where it is most merited.
About the middle of September 1797, Sir Horatio Nelson having arrived
safely in London, had apartments engaged in Bond Street; where he was
attended by Dr. Moseley, the late celebrated Surgeon Cruikshanks, and
other gentlemen of the faculty.
It appears that, in consequence of a nerve having been improperly
included in one of the ligatures employed for securing a bleeding
artery, at the time of the operation--which ligature, according to the
customary practice of the French surgeons, was of silk instead of waxed
thread--a constant irritation, and perpetual discharge, were kept up;
and, the ends of the ligature, hanging out of the wound, being daily
pulled, in order to effect their separation, occasioned the severest
agony to the heroic sufferer, who had scarcely any intermission of pain,
either by night or day. His excellent spirits, however, never deserted
him: and, in fact, he had not felt the slightest degree of fever on the
occasion; a very unusual circumstance, after the loss of a limb.
His deserved popularity had already acquired such a height, that the
nation might be said to participate in his sufferings; and he received
the most consoling civilities from the Prince of Wales, the Duke of
Clarence, and other illustrious and noble characters. Friends flocked
around him. His worthy relatives hastened to attend and console him,
from the country; and Mr. Bolton, in particular, was his constant
companion.
Besides the order of the Bath, and the gold medal, which he had received
from his sovereign, in consequence of his important share in the victory
of the 14th of February, he had also been presented with the freedom of
the city of London in a gold box; and, in the month of October 1797, it
was generously resolved, by his majesty, to recompence his services, and
ameliorate his sufferings, by granting him a pension of one thousand
pounds a year.
The indispensable custom of presenting a memorial to the sovereign,
before any such grant can be issued, stating the nature of the services
for which it is intended, gave rise to the following very singular
recapitulation.
"_To the King's Most Excellent Majesty._
"The Memorial of Sir Horatio Nelson, K.B. and a Rear-Admiral in
Your Majesty's Fleet,
"Sheweth--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account