Leslie Stephen's Studies of a Biographer, Vol. IV. (Essay on Southey.)

Saintsbury's History of Criticism, Vol. III, pp. 233-237, and History of Nineteenth Century Literature, pp. 63-69. See also his essay on Southey in Macmillan's Magazine, April, 1895.

Biographical sources:

NELSON

Clarke and M'Arthur's Life of Nelson, two vols., 1809. (A biography in which are inserted the more important of Nelson's official reports and letters-the letters considerably altered and mutilated.)

Nicolas's Despatches and Letters of Lord Nelson, seven vols., 1844-46. (A complete and well-edited collection.)

Nelson's Letters and Despatches, ed. J. K. Laughton, one vol., 1886.

Biographies:

Harrison's Life of Nelson, 1806.

(Untrustworthy; written in

the interest of Lady Hamilton from materials largely supplied by her.)

Clark Russell's Life of Nelson, Heroes of the Nations Series, 1890.

J. K. Laughton's Life of Nelson, English Men of Action Series, 1895, and The Nelson Memorial, 1896.

Admiral Mahan's Life of Nelson, two vols., 1897.

Additional references:

James's Naval History, six vols. (The best contemporary authority on Nelson's professional career.)

Pettigrew's Memoirs of the Life of Nelson, two vols., 1849. Jeaffreson's Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson, 1888, and The Queen of Naples and Lord Nelson, 1889.

Admiral Mahan's Influence of Sea Power on the French Revolution and Empire, two vols., 1892.

Clowes' History of the Royal Navy, vols. IV and V, 1900.

E. H. Hobhouse's Nelson in England, London, 1913.

H. Newbolt's The Year of Trafalgar, London, 1915.

THE LIFE OF NELSON

CHAPTER I

Nelson's Birth and Boyhood-He is entered on board the Raisonnable-Goes to the West Indies in a Merchant-ship; then serves in the Triumph-He sails in Captain Phipp's Voyage of DiscoveryGoes to the East Indies in the Seahorse, and returns in ill healthServes as acting Lieutenant in the Worcester, and is made Lieutenant into the Lowestoffe, Commander into the Badger Brig, and Post into the Hinchinbrook-Expedition against the Spanish Main-Sent to the North Seas in the Albemarle-Services during the American War.

HORATIO, Son of Edmund and Catherine Nelson, was born September 29, 1758, in the parsonage-house of Burnham-Thorpe, a village in the county of Norfolk, of which his father was rector. The maiden name of his mother was Suckling: her grandmother was an elder sister of Sir Robert Walpole, and this child was named after his god-father, the first Lord Walpole.3 Mrs. Nel

1. Suckling. Her father was a grandnephew of Sir John Suckling, poet, courtier, and soldier in the reign of Charles I.

2. Sir Robert Walpole (1676-1745). Leader of the Whig party and foremost figure in English politics during the reigns of George I and George II. He is regarded as having been the first to exercise the powers of a modern prime minister.

3. First Lord Walpole. Horatio, first Lord Walpole of Wolterton, was an elder brother of Sir Robert Walpole and a patron of Nelson's father. Since the first lord died in 1756, Nelson's godfather was presumably the second Lord Walpole, of the same name, who was about thirty-five years of age at the time of Nelson's birth. Neither the first nor the second Lord Walpole is to be confused with Sir Horace (or Horatio) Walpole of Strawberry Hill, the famous writer and antiquarian, who was a son of Sir Robert.

son died in 1767, leaving eight out of eleven children. Her brother, Captain Maurice Suckling, of the Navy, visited the widower upon this event, and promised to take care of one of the boys. Three years afterwards, when Horatio was only twelve years of age, being at home during the Christmas holidays, he read in the country newspaper that his uncle was appointed to the Raisonnable, of sixty-four guns.1 "Do, William," said he to a brother who was a year and a half older than himself, "write to my father and tell him that I should like to go to sea with uncle Maurice." Mr. Nelson was then at Bath,2 whither he had gone for the recovery of his health: his circumstances were straitened, and he had no prospect of ever seeing them bettered: he knew that it was the wish of providing for himself by which Horatio was chiefly actuated; and did not oppose his resolution: he understood also the boy's character, and had always said, that in whatever station he might be placed, he would climb, if possible, to the very top of the tree. Accordingly Captain Suckling was written to. "What," said he in his answer, "has poor Horatio done, who is so weak, that he, above all the rest, should be sent to rough it out at sea?-But let him

1. Sixty-four guns. In the eighteenth century the ships of the Brit1sh Navy were divided into "rates," or classes, according to the number of guns they carried, as follows: first-rates carried from 100 to 120 guns mounted on three decks; second-rates were ships of 98 or 90 guns; third-rates were 80's, 74's, or 64's. Vessels of 64 guns or more were called "ships-of-the-line," i. e., strong enough to be put in the first line of a battle formatior; smaller vessels were classified as frigates, sloops-of-war, brigs, etc., according to their rig and arrangement of guns. A frigate of Nelson's time was usually ship-rigged and carried about 24 guns mounted on the main deck and on raised decks fore and aft; she was used chiefly for scouting, carrying despatches, and transmitting signals in battle. A sloop-of-war (the French corvette) carried all her guns on the main deck.

2. Bath. A city near Bristol in southwestern England, celebrated for its mineral springs. In the eighteenth century it reached the height of its popularity as a center of fashion and health resort.

come, and the first time we go into action a cannonball may knock off his head, and provide for him at once."

It is manifest from these words, that Horatio was not the boy whom his uncle would have chosen to bring up in his own profession. He was never of a strong body; and the ague, which at that time was one of the most common diseases in England, had greatly reduced his strength; yet he had already given proofs of that resolute heart and nobleness of mind, which, during his whole career of labor and of glory, so eminently distinguished him. When a mere child, he strayed a bird'snesting from his grandmother's house in company with a cowboy: the dinner-hour elapsed; he was absent, and could not be found; and the alarm of the family became very great, for they apprehended that he might have been carried off by gipsies. At length, after search had been made for him in various directions, he was discovered alone, sitting composedly by the side of a brook which he could not get over. "I wonder, child," said the old lady when she saw him, "that hunger and fear did not drive you home."-"Fear! grand-mamma,' replied the future hero, "I never saw fear:-What is it?" Once, after the winter holidays, when he and his brother William had set off on horseback to return to school, they came back because there had been a fall of snow; and William, who did not much like the journey, said it was too deep for them to venture on. "If that be the case," said the father, "you certainly shall not go: but make another attempt, and I will leave it to your honor. If the road is dangerous, you may return: but remember, boys, I leave it to your honor." The snow was deep enough to have afforded them a reasonable excuse: but Horatio was not to be prevailed upon to turn back."We must go on," said he: "remember,

brother, it was left to our honor!"-There were some fine pears growing in the schoolmaster's garden, which the boys regarded as lawful booty; but the boldest among them were afraid to venture for the prize. Horatio volunteered upon this service: he was lowered down at night from the bedroom window by some sheets, plundered the tree, was drawn up with the pears, and then distributed them among his schoolfellows without reserving any for himself.-"He only took them," he said, "because every other boy was afraid.""

Early on a cold and dark spring morning Mr. Nelson's servant arrived at this school, at North Walsham, with the expected summons for Horatio to join his ship. The parting from his brother William, who had been for so many years his playmate and bed-fellow, was a painful effort, and was the beginning of those privations which are the sailor's lot through life. He accompanied his father to London. The Raisonnable was lying in the Medway. He was put into the Chatham2 stage, and on its arrival was set down with the rest of the passengers, and left to find his way on board as he could. After wandering about in the cold without being able to reach the ship, an officer observed the forlorn appearance of the boy; questioned him; and, happening to be acquainted with his uncle, took him home, and gave him some refreshments. When he got

1. Because every other boy was afraid. Anecdotes such as the foregoing are characterized by Professor J. K. Laughton (Life of Nelson, p. 7) as "made to order, or exaggerations of old family jokes." Southey was no doubt attracted by their narrative interest, and felt less keenly than modern biographers the need of searching into their validity. They have a value also as illustrating the contemporary feeling for Nelson.

2. Chatham. A port on the Medway River, which forms below Chatham a wide estuary often employed by the British fleet as a base and winter-quarters. The Dutch in 1667 raided the port and destroyed most of the British Navy.