IN THE MASTERTON LIBRARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8510, 12 August 1907, Page 5

IN THE MASTERTON LIBRARY.

THE LIFE OF NELSON. —H. T. Mahan.. PART C. This portion of the series of articles on the life of Nelson deals with the period from 1770, when as a boy of twelve he went to sea in the Raisonnable under hi 3 uncle, Sir John Suckling, down to 1703, when he was appointed to the Agamemnon. The Raisonnable remained in commission for a very short period. When she went out of commission Sir John Suckling was appointed to the Triumph, stationed as a guardship in the Medway, and he took his nephew with him, but after two years on the I Triumph Sir John, with a view to [ obtaining for the boy a training in practical seamanship put him for a year on a merchant ship trading to the West Indies. At the end of theyear Nelson returned to the Triumph. Two years later he succeeded in getting Captain Lutwidge to take him as captain's coxswain on the Carcass, which was proceeding to the Arctic regions. The years on the Triumph, though uneventful, were of great use to Nelson owing to the fact that his uncle used to send him on semi-detached duty in command of the ship's boats. This duty not only gave him the habit of command, but familiarised him with the art of pilotage in shallow waters, and to this service Nelson himself ascribed the birth of that confidence among rocks and shoals which stood him in such good stead at the Nile and at Copenhagen. The one outstanding incident of the Arctic cruise was the bear hunt, upon which Nelson and a youthful friend engaged. Being consumed with a desire to get a Polar bear skin the two hopefuls slipped off' over the ice one foggy night with a couple of rusty muskets. In the morning when the fog lifted they were seen some distance off face to face with an exceedingly angry Polar bear, which they were endeavouring to club across a narrow crevasse in the ice with the butt ends of their muskets —which had missed fireThey took no notice of signals to return, and only returned when Lutwidge fired a cannon, which had the e<fect of frightening the bear away.

During the next few years he served first in the West Indies and then on convoy duty in the Channel, and again in the West Indies. He passed his examinations, and in 1779, while in the West Indies, he hecame post captain of the Hinchinbrook, frigate, being then three months short of 21 years. This rapid rise was due to the high rate of mortality among the officers exposed to the West Indian climate. Although his rapid rise in the service without having been actually in battle may be accounted fortunate, yet we can imagine how Nelson with his mind ever fixed upon glory chafed at his fcreed inactivity. His character, however, had impressed his fellow captains even at this early date, for we find the usually self-contained Collingwood at this period writing ! o Nelson expressing "the respect a: i veneration" he feels for the latter s character. - ; Nelson's first chance of fighting took place in 1780. He had to convoy troops to Nicaragua to operate against fort San Juan. With the landing of the troops his duties ended. But he took a party of seamen and went ashore to bear a hand. Major Poison, who commanded the expedition, reported as follows: — "He (Nelson) was first on every service whether by day or night." His health shortly after broke down, and he was invalided to England. In 1782 we find him on the North American station in command of the AJbermarle. His desire for glory caused him to apply to be transferred to Lord Hood's West Indian Fleet, which was defending Jamaica from the French. To Admiral Digby, who pointed out that he was leaving a good station for prize money, he characteristically replied: "Yes, but the West Indies is the station for honour." The transfer was effected., and this was really the outset of his career. He obtained the full confider.ee of Lord Hood, who said of him about this» time that he knew as much aboutjtactics as any man in the navy.

William IV., who was then a midshipman on Hood's ship gave an interesting pen picture of Nelson at that period, of which the following is a precis:—"Captain Nelson appeared to be the merest boy of a captain I ever beheld. He had on a full-laced uniform; his lank, unpowdered hair was tied in a stiff Hessian tail, of an extraordinary length; the old-fashioned flaps of his waistcoat added to the general quaintness of his figure, and I could not imagine who he was or what he came about. My doubts, however, were removed when Lord Hood introduced me to him. There was something irresistabiy pleasing in his address and conversation; and an enthusiasm when speaking on professional subjects that showed he was no common being."

After the close of the American War, Nelson was for a time ashore on half-pay. In March 1784 he was appointed to the command of the Boreas, and sent to the West Indies. Sir Richard and Lady Hughes were passengers, and Lady Hughes in a letter gave the following testimony as to that remarkable kindness and consideration that was such a distinguishing feature of his character — "The timid, among the midshipmen, he never rebuked, but always wished to show them that he desired nothing of them that he would not instantly do himself, and I have known him say:' Well, Sir, I am going a race to the mast-head, and beg I may meet you there.' After this excellent example I have seen the timid youth lead another and rehearse his "captain's words." Lady Hughes also says it was his custom to take a midshipman when he went to dine officially so as to introduce them to good company. This feature of Nelson's character is not only- charming to read of, but it constitutes one of the chief causes of his greatness. Great as he

was in actual battle he was, if possible, still greater in his capacity for making good seamen and encouraging that espirit de corps that is so essential to the success of any fighting force. It was during this command that Nelson's determination to assert his dignity, and that of his Sovereign, first prominently displayed itself. Many instances occurred which space forbids to quote, but one minor instance must be recorded, because of the characteristic Ne'sonian reply. He had tendered some advice to the Governor of the West Indies, who .replied that "Old Generals were not in the habit of taking advice from young gentlemen." Nelson replied: "I have the honour, Sir, of being as old as the Prime Minister of England, -and think myself as capable of commanding one ot His Majesty's ships as that Minister is of governing the State." But the most remarkable incident of his command was the enforcement by him of the navigation laws, in face of his Admiral's instructions, in defiance of the whole population of the West Indies, and in spite of an adverse opinion by the local Attorney General. These laws confined trade to the colonies to British ships, the idea being not so much the protection of British trade as the encouragement of British seamanship against war time. When the United States broke away i iey continued their trade, which suited the West Indian pockets very well. Nelson, however, insisted on the law being enforced. The history of the trouble and expanse resultant on his actions, and his ultimate vindication are told by Captain Mahan in the lucid style that is maintained throughout the work. But the story is too long of repetition here. Nelson remained on the West Indian station till the end of 1787. Then he returned to England, and owing to a cessation of warlike preparation, he was put upon half-pay. While in the West Indies he met Mrs Nisbet, whom he married, on March 11th, 1797, and brought home to England. For five years after his return to England he could get no co imand. But in 1793 war was declared by the French Republic, and on January 30th, 1793, he was appointed to that ship, which next to the Victory, became most closely associated with his r.ame—the Agamemnon (64). With this appointment begins Nelson's page in history.