the life of horatio lord nelson-第51节
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officers of the service； and yourself； a very young man； and a very young officer； who must naturally have much to learn； therefore the chance is that you are perfectly wrong in the disagreement。 However； as your present situation must be very disagreeable； I will certainly take an early opportunity of removing you； provided your conduct to your present captain be such that another may not refuse to receive you。〃 The gentleness and benignity of his disposition never made him forget what was due to discipline。 Being on one occasion applied to； to save a young officer from a court…martial； which he had provoked by his misconduct； his reply was； 〃That he would do everything in his power to oblige so gallant and good an officer as Sir John Warren；〃 in whose name the intercession had been made。 〃But what；〃 he added； 〃would he do if he were here？ Exactly what I have done； and am still willing to do。 The young man must write such a letter of contrition as would be an acknowledgment of his great fault； and with a sincere promise； if his captain will intercede to prevent the impending court…martial； never to so misbehave again。 On his captain's enclosing me such a letter； with a request to cancel the order for the trial； I might be induced to do it； but the letters and reprimand will be given in the public order…book of the fleet； and read to all the officers。 The young man has pushed himself forward to notice； and he must take the consequence。 It was upon the quarter…deck； in the face of the ship's company； that he treated his captain with contempt； and I am in duty bound to support the authority and consequence of every officer under my command。 A poor ignorant seaman is for ever punished for contempt to HIS superiors。〃
A dispute occurred in the fleet while it was off Toulon； which called forth Nelson's zeal for the rights and interests of the navy。 Some young artillery officers； serving on board the bomb vessels； refused to let their men perform any other duty but what related to the mortars。 They wished to have it established that their corps was not subject to the captain's authority。 The same pretensions were made in the Channel fleet about the same time； and the artillery rested their claims to separate and independent authority on board； upon a clause in the act； which they interpreted in their favour。 Nelson took up the subject with all the earnestness which its importance deserved。 〃There is no real happiness in this world；〃 said he； writing to Earl St。 Vincent； as first lord。 〃With all content and smiles around me； up start these artillery boys （I understand they are not beyond that age）； and set us at defiance； speaking in the most disrespectful manner of the navy and its commanders。 I know you； my dear lord； so well； that with your quickness the matter would have been settled； and perhaps some of them been broke。 I am perhaps more patient； but I do assure you not less resolved； if my plan of conciliation is not attended to。 You and I are on the eve of quitting the theatre of our exploits； but we hold it due to our successors never； whilst we have a tongue to speak or a hand to write； to allow the navy to be in the smallest degree injured in its discipline by our conduct。〃 To Troubridge he wrote in the same spirit： 〃It is the old history； trying to do away the act of parliament； but I trust they will never succeed； for when they do； farewell to our naval superiority。 We should be prettily commanded！ Let them once gain the step of being independent of the navy on board a ship； and they will soon have the other； and command us。 But； thank God！ my dear Troubridge； the king himself cannot do away the act of parliament。 Although my career is nearly run； yet it would embitter my future days； and expiring moments； to hear of our navy being sacrificed to the army。〃 As the surest way of preventing such disputes； he suggested that the navy should have it's own corps of artillery； and a corps of marine artillery was accordingly established。
Instead of lessening the power of the commander； Nelson would have wished to see it increased： it was absolutely necessary； he thought； that merit should be rewarded at the moment； and that the officers of the fleet should look up to the commander…in…chief for their reward。 He himself was never more happy than when he could promote those who were deserving of promotion。 Many were the services which he thus rendered unsolicited； and frequently the officer； in whose behalf he had interested himself with the Admiralty； did not know to whose friendly interference he was indebted for his good fortune。 He used to say； 〃I wish it to appear as a God…send。〃 The love which he bore the navy made him promote the interests； and honour the memory； of all who had added to its glories。 〃The near relations of brother officers；〃 he said； 〃he considered as legacies to the service。〃 Upon mention being made to him of a son of Rodney； by the Duke of Clarence； his reply was： 〃I agree with your Royal Highness most entirely； that the son of a Rodney ought to be the PROTEGE of every person in the kingdom； and particularly of the sea…officers。 Had I known that there had been this claimant； some of my own lieutenants must have given way to such a name； and he should have been placed in the VICTORY： she is full； and I have twenty on my list； but； whatever numbers I have； the name of Rodney must cut many of them out。〃 Such was the proper sense which Nelson felt of what was due to splendid services and illustrious names。 His feelings toward the brave men who had served with him are shown by a note in his diary； which was probably not intended for any other eye than his own： 〃Nov。 7。 I had the comfort of making an old AGAMEMNON； George Jones； a gunner into the CHAMELEON brig。〃
When Nelson took the command； it was expected that the Mediterranean would be an active scene。 Nelson well understood the character of the perfidious Corsican； who was now sole tyrant of France； and knowing that he was as ready to attack his friends as his enemies； knew； therefore； that nothing could be more uncertain than the direction of the fleet from Toulon； whenever it should put to sea。 〃It had as many destinations；〃 he said； 〃as there were countries。〃 The momentous revolutions of the last ten years had given him ample matter for reflection； as well as opportunities for observation： the film was cleared from his eyes； and now； when the French no longer went abroad with the cry of liberty and equality； he saw that the oppression and misrule of the powers which had been opposed to them； had been the main causes of their success； and that those causes would still prepare the way before them。 Even in Sicily； where； if it had been possible longer to blind himself； Nelson would willingly have seen no evil； he perceived that the people wished for a change； and acknowledged that they had reason to wish for it。 In Sardinia the same burden of misgovernment was felt； and the people； like the Sicilians； were impoverished by a government so utterly incompetent to perform its first and most essential duties that it did not protect its own coasts from the Barbary pirates。 He would fain have had us purchase this island （the finest in the Mediterranean） from its sovereign； who did not receive L5000 a year from it after its wretched establishment was paid。 There was reason to think that France was preparing to possess herself of this important point； which afforded our fleet facilities for watching Toulon； not to be obtained elsewhere。 An expedition was preparing at Corsica for the purpose； and all the Sardes； who had taken part with revolutionary France； were ordered to assemble there。 It was certain that if the attack were made it would succeed。 Nelson thought that the only means to prevent Sardinia from becoming French was to make it English； and that half a million would give the king a rich price； and England a cheap purchase。 A better； and therefore a wiser policy； would have been to exert our influence in removing the abuses of the government； for foreign dominion is always； in some degree； an evil and allegiance neither can nor ought to be made a thing of bargain and sale。 Sardinia； like Sicily and Corsica； is large enough to form a separate state。 Let us hope that these islands may one day be made free and independent。 Freedom and independence will bring with them industry and prosperity；and wherever these are found； arts and letters will flourish； and the improvement of the human race proceed。
The proposed attack was postponed。 Views of wider ambition were opening upon Buonaparte； who now almost undisguisedldy aspired to make himself master of the continent of Europe； and Austria was preparing for another struggle； to be conducted as weakly and terminated as miserably as the former。 Spain； too； was once more to be involved in war by the policy of France： that perfidious government having in view the double object of employing the Spanish resources against England； and exhausting them in order to render Spain herself finally its prey。 Nelson； who knew that England and the Peninsula ought to be in alliance； for the common interest of both； frequently expressed his hopes that Spain might resume her natural rank among the nations。 〃We ought；〃 he said； 〃by mut
