WITH NELSON BEFORE TRAFALGAR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 958, 27 October 1910, Page 5

WITH NELSON BEFORE TRAFALGAR.

'< -.': At VOICE FOR THE :PAST.

•; One of those human touches that seem ia bring ■'. the'- historic past very near.. wae contained in: a document which \the Hon; Dr. Findlay read last night at the Trafalgar supper.", He mentioned that;.a relative of • the .writer of the letter" "he 'was'-

about to read'.. (Mr,, Rutherford, of Kelwas present. The letter was written by .Captain William Gordon Ruther- : fiird:tb."J.,C; i ßerosford,.Esq.; Beresford Place, ".Dublin," audi dated from ... His. . Majesty'sV ship Swiftsure, at ,sea, on, "August i, 1805," about ten weeks before'lho -battle:of Trafalgar., At: that:time Captain. Rutherf urd. was returning: with Nel-

/Eon.from his will-o'the-wisp chase to and / frdm.'.the West Indies, 'after the .Toulon. ■" fleet,' whioh, under, VilleneuvS.Yhad given Nelson, the' slip;';••,'■- '•':■ /. In:.,the. course .of, .his .letter, ■ Captain Rutherf urd, said -.."Lord Nelson, I believe; J3:gc'neraHy thought; to be" merely, a fighting man/.but he:. 1 is. a resource and 'abilities 1 ; more so, I think, 1 : : than' even .'Lord St.; Vincent. ■: lam afraid the; constant'?.anxiety he/ has., undergone, has much'hurt his health.: The privations 'this, little ;fieet of, eleven, sail of the-line •', las -gone through 'havoi been great; .but ■ it. has been-borne with cheorf illness, :be-: .jause Lord Nelson' commanded, theih. AIL ''tour ships-have ; now'a;great many men down with the scurvy,, which' makes me : think.we must go to England". If you do" not.'knowi'Lord Nelson,,.he is the most: : gentlemanlike, mild/ pleasant,breatnre that : jraa erer seen;":.': '•■ ',>/':■'!v '"'"'■,,:•■"