the life of horatio lord nelson-第47节
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ed to abstain from hostilities should he meet with the Swedish fleet at sea。 Meantime he himself； with ten sail of the line； two frigates； a brig； and a schooner； made for the Gulf of Finland。 Paul； in one of the freaks of his tyranny； had seized upon all the British effects in Russia； and even considered British subjects as his prisoners。 〃I will have all the English shipping and property restored；〃 said Nelson； 〃but I will do nothing violently； neither commit the affairs of my country； nor suffer Russia to mix the affairs of Denmark or Sweden with the detention of our ships。〃 The wind was fair； and carried him in four days to Revel Roads。 But the Bay had been clear of firm ice on the 29th of April； while the English were lying idly at Kioge。 The Russians had cut through the ice in the mole six feet thick； and their whole squadron had sailed for Cronstadt on the 3rd。 Before that time it had lain at the mercy of the English。 〃Nothing；〃 Nelson said； 〃if it had been right to make the attack； could have saved one ship of them in two hours after our entering the bay。〃
It so happened that there was no cause to regret the opportunity which had been lost； and Nelson immediately put the intentions of Russia to the proof。 He sent on shore； to say that he came with friendly views； and was ready to return a salute。 On their part the salute was delayed； till a message was sent to them to inquire for what reason； and the officer whose neglect had occasioned the delay； was put under arrest。 Nelson wrote to the emperor； proposing to wait on him personally and congratulate him on his accession； and urged the immediate release of British subjects； and restoration of British property。
The answer arrived on the 16th： Nelson； meantime； had exchanged visits with the governor； and the most friendly intercourse had subsisted between the ships and the shore。 Alexander's ministers； in their reply； expressed their surprise at the arrival of a British fleet in a Russian port； and their wish that it should return： they professed； on the part of Russia； the most friendly disposition towards Great Britain； but declined the personal visit of Lord Nelson； unless he came in a single ship。 There was a suspicion implied in this which stung Nelson； and he said the Russian ministers would never have written thus if their fleet had been at Revel。 He wrote an immediate reply； expressing what he felt； he told the court of Petersburgh； 〃That the word of a British admiral； when given in explanation of any part of his conduct； was as sacred as that of any sovereign's in Europe。〃 And he repeated； 〃that； under other circumstances； it would have been his anxious wish to have paid his personal respects to the emperor； and signed with his own hand the act of amity between the two countries。〃 Having despatched this； he stood out to sea immediately； leaving a brig to bring off the provisions which had been contracted for； and to settle the accounts。 〃I hope all is right；〃 said he； writing to our ambassador at Berlin； 〃but seamen are but bad negotiators； for we put to issue in five minutes what diplomatic forms would be five months doing。〃
On his way down the Baltic； however； he met the Russian admiral； Tchitchagof； whom the emperor； in reply to Sir Hyde's overtures； had sent to communicate personally with the British commander…in…chief。 The reply was such as had been wished and expected； and these negotiators going； seamen…like； straight to their object； satisfied each other of the friendly intentions of their respective governments。 Nelson then anchored off Rostock； and there he received an answer to his last despatch from Revel； in which the Russian court expressed their regret that there should have been any misconception between them； informed him that the British vessels which Paul had detained were ordered to be liberated； and invited him to Petersburgh； in whatever mode might be most agreeable to himself。 Other honours awaited him： the Duke of Mecklenburgh Strelitz； the queen's brother； came to visit him on board his ship； and towns of the inland parts of Mecklenburgh sent deputations； with their public books of record； that they might have the name of Nelson in them written by his own hand。
From Rostock the fleet returned to Kioge Bay。 Nelson saw that the temper of the Danes towards England was such as naturally arose from the chastisement which they had so recently received。 〃In this nation；〃 said he； 〃we shall not be forgiven for having the upper hand of them： I only thank God we have； or they would try to humble us to the dust。〃 He saw also that the Danish cabinet was completely subservient to France： a French officer was at this time the companion and counsellor of the Crown Prince； and things were done in such open violation of the armistice； that Nelson thought a second infliction of vengeance would soon be necessary。 He wrote to the Admiralty； requesting a clear and explicit reply to his inquiry； Whether the commander…in…chief was at liberty to hold the language becoming a British admiral？ 〃Which； very probably；〃 said he； 〃if I am here； will break the armistice； and set Copenhagen in a blaze。 I see everything which is dirty and mean going on； and the Prince Royal at the head of it。 Ships have been masted； guns taken on board； floating batteries prepared； and except hauling out and completing their rigging； everything is done in defiance of the treaty。 My heart burns at seeing the word of a prince； nearly allied to our good king； so falsified； but his conduct is such； that he will lose his kingdom if he goes on； for Jacobins rule in Denmark。 I have made no representations yet； as it would be useless to do so until I have the power of correction。 All I beg； in the name of the future commander…in… chief； is； that the orders may be clear； for enough is done to break twenty treaties； if it should be wished； or to make the Prince Royal humble himself before British generosity。〃
Nelson was not deceived in his judgment of the Danish cabinet； but the battle of Copenhagen had crippled its power。 The death of the Czar Paul had broken the confederacy； and that cabinet； therefore； was compelled to defer till a more convenient season the indulgence of its enmity towards Great Britain。 Soon afterwards Admiral Sir Charles Maurice Pole arrived to take the command。 The business； military and political； had by that time been so far completed that the presence of the British fleet soon became no longer necessary。 Sir Charles； however； made the short time of his command memorable； by passing the Great Belt for the first time with line…of…battle ships； working through the channel against adverse winds。 When Nelson left the fleet； this speedy termination of the expedition； though confidently expected； was not certain； and he； in his unwillingness to weaken the British force； thought at one time of traversing Jutland in his boat； by the canal to Tonningen on the Eyder and finding his way home from thence。 This intention was not executed； but he returned in a brig； declining to accept a frigate； which few admirals would have done； especially if； like him； they suffered from sea…sickness in a small vessel。 On his arrival at Yarmouth； the first thing he did was to visit the hospital and see the men who had been wounded in the late battlethat victory which had added new glory to the name of Nelson； and which was of more importance even than the battle of the Nile to the honour； the strength； and security of England。
The feelings of Nelson's friends； upon the news of his great victory at Copenhagen； were highly described by Sir William Hamilton in a letter to him。 〃We can only expect；〃 he says； 〃what me know well； and often said before； that Nelson WAS； IS； and to the LAST WILL EVER BE； THE FIRST。 Emma did not know whether she was on her head or heelsin such a hurry to tell your great news； that she could utter nothing but tears of joy and tenderness。 I went to Davison； and found him still in bed； having had a severe fit of the gout； and with your letter； which he had just received； and he cried like a child； but； what was very extraordin… ary； assured me that； from the instant he had read your letter； all pain had left him； and that he felt himself able to get up and walk about。 Your brother； Mrs。 Nelson； and Horace dined with us。 Your brother was more extraordinary than ever。 He would get up suddenly and cut a caper； rubbing his hands every time that the thought of your fresh laurels came into his head。 But I am sure that no one really rejoiced more at heart than I did。 I have lived too long to have ecstasies！ But with calm reflection； I felt for my friend having got to the very summit of glory！ the NE PLUS ULTRA！ that he has had another opportunity of rendering his country the most important service； and manifesting again his judgment； his intrepidity； and his humanity。〃
He had not been many weeks on shore before he was called upon to undertake a service； for which no Nelson was required。 Buonaparte； who was now first consul； and in reality sole ruler of France； was making preparations； upon a great scale； for invading England； but his schemes in the Baltic had been baffled； fleets could not be created as they were wanted； and his armies； therefore； were to come over in gun…bo
