Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. RESPECTING LORD NELSON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3588, 21 October 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. RESPECTING LORD NELSON.

Much has been written about the hero ot Trafalgar, and to show the appreciation of press And jJUblid ftfr the great naval iotxiftkndeir, we publish reprints from the “ London Times ” of Nov. 7th, 1805, a month after the heroic battle: —“ The official account of the late naval action, which terminated in the most decisive victory that has ever been achieved by British skill and gallantry, will be found in our paper of this day. That, the triumph great and glorious as it is, has been dearly bought, and that sUch was the general opinidn, Was powerfully evinced in the deep and Univeisal affliction with which the news of Lard Nelson’s death was received. The victory created non® of those enthusiastic emotions in the public. mind, which the success df biir tiavil arras have in every former instance produced. There was not a man who did not think that the life 6t the hero of the Nile was too great a pried for the capture and ddstrudtidii df tWerity sail of French and Spanish men-of-war. No ebullitions of popular transport, no demonstrations uf public joy, marked this great and important event. The honesty and manly feeling of the people appeared as it should have done j they felt An inward satisfaction at the triumph of their favourite arms; they mourned with all the sincerity and poignancy of domestic grief their Hero slain. When Lord Nelson found that by his Skilful manoeuvres he had placed the enemy in such a position that they could not avoid an engagement, he displayed the utmost animation, and with bis usual confidence of victory he said to Captain Hardy, and the officers 4 who surrounded him on the quarter-deck, Now this cannot escape us; I think we shall at last make sure of twenty of them. I shall probably lose a leg, but that will be purchasing a. victory cheaply.’ About two hours before the close of the battle his Lordship received a wound in the shoulder from a musket ball. The ball penetrated his breast, and he instantly fell; he was carried below, and the surgeons pronounced the wound mortal. His Lordship received the intelligence with all the firmness and pious resignation to the will of Divine Providence, of which he gave such frequent and signal examples during his brilliant course of peril and of glory. He immediately sent an officer to Admiral Collingwood to continue the action at all cost. From the time of his wound until the few moments when death came, Lord Nelson remained perfectly collected, displaying in his last sentiments the heroism that had marked every action of his glorious life. In that trying moment, cut off from nature and from glory’s cause, all his anxiety, all his thoughts, were directed to his country and her fame. A few minutes before death. Nelson inquired from Captain Hardy how many of the enemy's ships had struck, and the Captain replied that as nearly as he could ascertain, fifteen sail of the line had struck their colours. His Lordship then, with that ( fervent piety which so strongly marked his character, returned thanks to tho Almighty ; then turning to the Captain he said, ‘ I know lam dying. I could have wished to have survived to breath my last upon British ground, but the will of God be done! ’ In a few moments he expired.” And it is this resolute commander the whole nation rightly reveres to-day.