ket balli from ber mizen-top, which was not then above fifteen yards from hitn, struck the epaulette of his left shoulder and he fell prostrate, on the spot still wet with the blood of Mr. Scott, his secretary, who had been struck down at his hand before the Victory's firing com menced. Nelson felt that he was mortally wounded, ancl said so to Hardy ; yet such was his composure, that, having observed the tiller-ropes to be shot away, he stopped the men who were carrying him down to the cock-pit, and gave orders to repair the damage ; and then took out a handkerchief to cover his face and stars, that he might not be noticed by the crew.
On reaching the cock-pit, which was crowded with wounded and dying men, Nelson desired the surgeon to leave him, and attend to others for whom his services might be useful. He was laid on a pallet, and all that could be done for him was to fan his face, and give him frequent draughts of lemonade to allay the death-thirst. He lay in great pain, but this bodily pain extended not to his mind. The Victory's crew cheered loudly as often as an enemy struck : and at each cheer a gleam of plea sure was observed to illuminate his countenance. It was about an hour, before Hardy, for whose appearance hc had now got very impatient, could come down to him. They shook hands in silence ; Nelson inquired how the day went ; to which Hardy answered, that ten ships had already struck, and more were likely to follow them. Nelson again shook hands with him, and sent him upon deck, from which in about fifty minutes he once more returned to sooth the dying moments of his commander, with intelligence of a complete and signal victory : fif teen ships at least had struck. 6' It is well," said Nelson, 46 but you know I bargained for twenty."1- With a great er emphasis he bade Hardy anchor : then said in a lower tone, that he wished to be buried near his parents ; and so lemnly charging this affectionate and agitated friend with the care of Lady Hamilton,t he took farewell of him for ever. Soon afterwards his articulation became difficult ; lie was, however, distinctly heard to whisper, 66 Thank God, I have done my duty !" He repeated the words oftener than once, and never uttered more. The last gun was fired at the enemy about two minutes before Ire departed—with great calmness, three hours and a quar ter after being wounded.
The victory of Trafalgar, the greatest ever gained, completed the fabric which a succession of brave men, since the time of Queen Elizabeth, had been slowly rear ing with their toils and their blood. It stamped with increased importance and durability, as it were, thc deeds of our Drakes, and Frobishers, our Blakes and Ben bows; and rendered the English flag. indisputably tri
umphant in every sea. The man at whose expense it was purchased, and as we thought dearly purchased, had merited to stand at the head of such a list. His life was a series of triumphs nobly earned by the unre initting exertion of a mind, _gifted with the most acute penetration, the loftiest aruour, the most inflexible de termination; and the last scene of it was fitly, though mournfully adapted to its general tenor.
But in estimating the character of Nelson, a defective judgment would be formed, were he viewed only as a great captain. Whoever inspects his history minutely, will find in it traces of a spirit possessing a higher and more general species of excellence. His mind, it is true, was not unfolded by personal education, or by intercourse with cultivated men; his understanding turned almost exclusively on naval tactics; bis enthusiasm was bent towards the attainment of naval honour ; his sense of rectitude embodied itself in a feeling of loyalty to the King of England, and of hatred to all Frenchmen. Yet the high powers of genius existed in him, less palpably indeed, but not less certainly, for being obscured and distorted by his professional habits. The quick intellect was there, the fervid imagination, the keen susceptibility nourished by it—and contributing to impart that force of will, which nothing could oppose. As a necessary consequence, there was also the restless inquietude which great objects alone, and those but for a time, could satisfy or assuage. Now and then this latter peculiarity might be unpleasantly manifested: in vulgar natures it vvould have been named discontent ; but with him it was the impulse to generous feeling and daring enterprise.
Melancholy experience has never ceased to shew that great warlike talents, like great talents of any kind, may be united with a coarse and ignoble heart. But in Nel son, the sterner qualities of a conqueror were embel lished by all that is elevated in a sense of honour, and tempered by all that is soft and romantic in human affec tions. Time has abated the first glow of our admiration for his exploits; exploits of a rnore exciting character have occupied men's thoughts, and cast his glories par tially into the shade; the period is advancing, whet) the naval superiority which he completed will pass away : but Nelson's name will always occupy a section in the history of the ‘lorld, and be pronounced, wherever it is understood, as that of a IIERo.