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
It may not be improper to mention, that these icebergs are large bodies
of ice which fill the vallies between the lofty mountains; and present,
towards the sea, an almost perpendicular face of a very lively light
green colour. In these regions, it will readily be conceived, the
numerous black mountains, white snow, and beautiful green of the ice,
must form a very romantic and peculiar picture. Large pieces frequently
break off from these icebergs on the Coast; and fall, with great noise,
into the water: one such piece, which was observed to have floated out
into the bay, grounded in fourteen fathom; yet was still fifty feet
above the surface of the water, and preserved all the lustre of it's
enchanting original colour. Thus, amidst the dreariest scenes, has
nature bounteously provided that there shall still be something to
delight the eye; amidst the most imminent dangers, something to animate
the heart.
The pleasures and the perils of this voyage, however, were now equally
at an end; but it's beneficial effects, and it's agreeable
recollections, were never to be eradicated or effaced.
In October 1773, the Racehorse and Carcass were both paid off; and these
friends and companions, fully sensible of each other's worth, separated
with sentiments of a sincere mutual esteem.
Captain Suckling, as usual, welcomed the young hero on his return; and
had the satisfaction to learn, from Captain Lutwidge, as well as from
Captain Phipps, that his nephew was in all respects worthy of every
encouragement that could be bestowed on him. There wanted not, however,
this stimulus, in the bosom of that worthy man, to excite his
affectionate regards for the promising son of his deceased sister. With
the honest and feeling heart of a true British naval commander, he ever
acted as a parent to all her children.
A squadron was, at this time, fitting out for the East Indies, under the
command of Admiral Sir Edward Hughes. Horatio, delighted with the
prospect of visiting regions so different from those which he had just
quitted, and anxious to enjoy all the professional advantages derivable
from so distant and interesting a voyage, earnestly solicited his
esteemed uncle to obtain him a situation in one of the ships intended
for this expedition. Captain Suckling, accordingly, procured him a birth
under that gallant and able officer, Captain Farmer: who, since, in the
year 1779, so nobly but unfortunately perished in the flames of the
Quebec of thirty-two guns, which had accidentally taken fire, during
it's engagement with La Surveillante of forty guns, off Ushant; which he
refused to quit, though severely wounded, and was blown up with his
ship, colours flying.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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