Nelson.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 March 1913, Page 2

Nelson.

1 SOME UNPUBLISHED -MEMORANDA. England's great naval hero, Nelson, is receiving further public attention of hi to through the discovery of some unpublished "s rvice letters" in London, lucliidod in these aro detailed instructions lor the, desperately dangerous attack on the Danish fleet at Copenhagen, bearing date March *2(i. 1801. In this memorandum which is now, i> an order for all battleships to detach launches, which are each to have a hawser coiled in them, "three earronades (light canons') mounted with six marines," and a party of seamen armed only with cutlasses, poleaxes and pikes, and broad axes. There are instructions for the .ships to be prepared to warp and tow. Altogether this memorandum is of great tactical interest. Through the stiff formalism of the official ritual shines the personality of Nelson. There is one characteristic order to Admir.nl Totfy. directing him to look after the Swedish fleet. •Should the .Swedish fleet come out; you are, without loss of time, to close with it, and send notice in writing to its commander that, his putting to sea cannot avoid being cconsideml as an act of hostility, and that you have instructions to request he will immediately accompany you with his whole force and join the Coinnuinder-in Chief of the British ileet (Nelson). Should lie refuse to comply with this reasonable request, you are hereby required without further hesitation to uee your host endeavours to take |>osspssion of his whole fleet by a close and vigorous attack. Another order directs that if the Swedish fleet puts to sea the British commander is "to take <y destroy the whole." An order issued on July 29th, 1908, (if which no part has as yet been published, directs the force watching Napoleon's flotilla in the Channel, which was then preparing invasion, to He at single anchor and "to be kept night and day always in readiness for weighing at the shortest notice." The British vessels were to attack with determination. The order proceeds: As much of our success must depond on the cordial unanimity of every person. T strongly recommend that no little jealousy oF seniority should he allowed to creep into any of our minds, hut that the directions of the senior officer or the judicious plans of the junior should be adopted with the greatest cheerfulness. . . T rely with confidence on the judgment .'Hid support of every individual, under my command, and T can assure them of my readiness to represent their services ,'„ f nn s t ron . gost point of view t<i the Admiralty. Here is the germ of the great Trafalgar signal, the Ut ~f Nelson's life •el'ore hi,s "Kngage more closely," •vhich. in its original form, was to ■lave run. "Nelson confides that '•very man will do his duty." And '";<•■ 100, is the germ of that touching message (o Collingwood in his h>si campaign. "We can. my. <l enr toll, have n<, little jealousies."' It is these -'Nelson touches," Jik o ~ilsil,' s "f 'ire, illuminating tJio 'iiwii. fime-discoloured writing o f ''is clerks .and secretaries, tluit" oX''lain why. in his own word*. "John Hull has always h,ad faith in inn." ViKl though in the volume then- is •'«»* " «T.ip of writing by Nelson "imsclf. yet in it life spirit Jirce