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
The present of this worthy and brave officer, however singular, was
received with an affectionate regard equal to that felt by himself. So
highly, indeed, did the hero prize this gift, that he had it immediately
placed upright in his cabin; and, though he was at length prevailed on,
by the intreaties of an old and favourite servant, to have the coffin
carried below, nothing could possibly prevent his resolution to have it
finally made use of for the purpose originally intended by the gallant
and esteemed donor.
While the various dispatches were preparing to be sent by Captain Capel
to England, as soon as La Mutine could be got ready for sailing, those
of Bonaparte to France were fortunately intercepted; as appears in the
continuation of the following letter from Admiral Nelson to Sir William
Hamilton.
"Vanguard,
Mouth of the Nile,
8th August 1798.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"Almighty God has made me the happy instrument of destroying the
enemy's fleet; which, I hope, will be a blessing to Europe. You
will have the goodness to communicate this happy event to all the
courts in Italy; for my head is so indifferent, that I can scarcely
scrawl this letter. Captain Capel, who is charged with my
dispatches for England, will give you every information. Pray, put
him in the quickest mode of getting home. You will not send, by
post, any particulars of this action; as I should be sorry to have
any accounts get home before my dispatches. I hope there will be no
difficulty in our getting refitted at Naples. Culloden must be
instantly hove down, and Vanguard have all new masts and bowsprit.
Not more than four or five sail of the line will probably come to
Naples: the rest will go with the prizes to Gibraltar. As this army
never will return, I hope to hear the emperor has regained the
whole of Italy. With every good wish, believe me, dear Sir, your
most obliged, and affectionate,
"Horatio Nelson.
"9th August. I have intercepted all Bonaparte's dispatches going to
France. The army is in a scrape, and will not get out of it."
These intercepted dispatches were transmitted to Earl Spencer, as First
Lord of the Admiralty, with the following letter.
"Mouth of the Nile,
9th August 1798,
"MY LORD,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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