plan of calumny began to assume a firmest spirits on so trying an occamore settled form; and a report was casion. But the stigma of the charge industriously circulated about the still lingered in his mind; and one town, that a charge would soon be or two illiberal allusions to it, which brought forward in a judicial form: were made by some unfeeling people, against the manager ofthe Haymarket preyed deeply on his heart. The Theatre for an attempt to commit a man who for so many years bad very odious assault.' basked in the sunshine of public faIn fact a legal charge was instituted vour, who was to live in a round of against him, and he took his trial; wit and gaiety " or not to live at but after a long and strict investiga- all," was ill caleulated to be at the tion, he was acquitted by the sjrection mercy of every coarse fool, or inof the judge the slrock, however, human enemy. which he received from this disgrace- Foote died at Dover, on his way ful situation is supposed to have had to France, Oct. 21, 1777. a fatal effect upon. him. - Though he had many respectable Narrative of the Death of Lord persons much interested in his behalf, Nelson. By Wm. Beatty, M.D. none seemed more anxious than his [late Surgeon of the Victory, noio old friend, and fellow-labourer in Physician of his Majesty's Chane the dramatic vineyard, the late Mr. nel Fleet.] Murphy: who, as soon as the trial It was from tle Redoubtable that was over, took a coach, and drove to lord Nelson received his mortal Foote's house in Suffolk-street, Char- wound.. About fifteen minutes past ing-cross, to be the first messenger of one o'clock, which was in the heat the good tidings. of the engagement, he was walking - Foote had been looking out of the middle of the quarter-deck with the window, in anxious expectation captain Hardy, and in the act of turnof such a message. Murphy, as soon ing near the hatchway, with his face as he perceived lim, waved his hat towards the stern of the Victory, in token of victory; and jumping out when the fatal ball was fired from of the coach, ran up stairs to pay his the enemy's mizen-top; which, from personal congratulations: but alas! the situation of the two ships (lying instead of meeting his old friend in on board of each other), was brought all the exultation of high spirits on just abaft, or rather below, the Victhis occasion, he saw bin extended tory's main-yard,' and of course not on the floor, in strong hysterics; in more than fitteen yards distant from which state he continued near an hour that part of the deck where his lordbefore he could be recovered to any ship stood. The ball struck the kind of recollection of himself, or the epaulette ou his left shoulder, and object of his friend's visit. penetrated his chest. He fell with On the return of his senses, find- his face on the deck. Captain Hardy, ing himself honourably acquitted, he who was on his right, on turning received the congratulations of bis round, saw the serjeant-major friends and numerous acquaintances, (Secker) of the marines with two and seemed to be relieved from those seamen raising him from the deck, pangs of uncertainty and suspence where he had fallen on the same spot which must have weighed down the on which, a little before, his secré 3 F 4 tary tary had breathed his last, with whose blood his lordship's clothes were much soiled. Captain Hardy expressed a hope that he was not severely wounded; to which the gallant chief replied: "They have done for me at last, Hardy." "I' bope not," answered captain Hardy. "Yes," replied his lordship, "my backbone is shot through." Captain Hardy ordered the seamen to carry the admiral to the cockpit. While the men were carrying him down the ladder from the middle-deck, his lordship observed that the tiller-ropes were not yet replaced; and desired one of the midshipmen stationed there, to go upon the quarter-deck and remind captain Hardy of that circumstance, and request that new ones should be immediately rove. Having delivered this order, he took his handkerchief from his pocket and covered his face with it, that he might be conveyed to the cockpit at this crisis unnoticed by the crew. Several wounded officers, and about forty men, were likewise carried to the surgeon for assistance just at this time; and some others had breathed their last during their Conveyance below. Among the lat ter were lieut. Wm. Andrew Ram, and Mr. Whipple, captain's clerk. The surgeon had just examined these two officers, and found that they were dead, when his attention was arrested by several of the. wounded calling to him, "Mr. Beatty, lord Nelson is here: Mr. Beatty, the admiral is wounded." The surgeon now, on looking round, saw the handkerchief fall from his lordship's face; when the stars on his coal, which also had been covered by it, appeared. Mr. Burke, the purser, and the surgeon, ranzimme" diately to the assistance of his lordship, and took him from the arms of the seamen who had carried him below. In conveying him to one of the midshipmen's births, they stumbled, but recovered themselves without falling. Lord Nelson then inquired who were supporting him; and when the surgeon informed him, his lordship replied, "Ah, Mr. Beatty! you can do 00thing for me. I have but a short time to live: my back is shot through." The surgeon said, "He hoped the wound was not so dangerous as his lordship imagined, and that he might still survive long to enjoy his glorious victory." The Rev. Dr. Scott, who had been: absent in another part of the cockpit administering lemonade to the wounded, now came instantly to his lordship, and in the anguish of his grief, wrung his hands, and said, "Alas, Beatty, how prophetic you' were?" alluding to the apprehens sions expressed by the surgeon for his lordship's safety previous to the battle. His lordship was laid upon a bed, stripped of his clothes, and covered with a sheet. While this was effect. ing, he said to doctor Scott," Doc. tor, I told you so; doctor, I ame gone:" and after a short pause, he. added, in a low voice, "I have to. leave lady Hamilton, and my adopted daughter Horatia, as a legacy to my country." The surgeon then ex amined the wound, assuring his lordship that he would not put him: to much pain in endeavouring to discover the course of the ball; which he soon found had penetrated · deep into the chest, and had proba-i bly lodged in the spine. This being explained to his lordship, he replied, he was confident his back was shot through. through." The back was then examined externally, but without any injury being perceived; on which his lordship was requested by the surgeon to make him acquainted with all his sensations. He replied, that he felt a gush of blood every minute within his breast: that he had no feeling in the lower part of his body and that his breathing was difficult, and attended with very severe pain about that part of the spine where he was confident that the ball had struck; "for," said he, "I felt it break my back." These symptoms, but more particularly the gush of blood which his lordship complained of, together with the state of his pulse, indicated to the surgeon the hopeless situation of the case; but till after the victory was ascertained and announced to his lordship, the true nature of his wound was concealed by the surgeon from all on board except captain Hardy, Dr. Scott, Mr. Burke, and Messrs. Smith and Westemburg, the assistant surgeons. 1 sionally. He evinced great solicitude for the event of the battle, and fears for the safety of his friend captain Hardy. Doctor Scott and Mr. Burke used every argument they could suggest to relieve his anxiety. Mr. Burke told him "the enemy were decisively defeated, and that he hoped his lordship would still live to be himself the bearer of the joyful tidings to his country," He replied, "It is nonsense, Mr. Burke, to suppose I can live: my sufferings are great, but they will all be soon over." Doctor Scott entreated his lordship "not to despair of liy ing," and said, "he trusted that Divine Providence would restore him once more to his dear country and frends."." Ah, doctor!" replied. his lordship," it is all over; it is all over." Many messages were sent to captain Hardy by the surgeon, requesting his attendance on his lordship: who became inpatient to see him, and often exclaimed, "Will no one bring Hardy to me? He must be killed he is surely destroyed." The captain's aide-de-camp, Mr. Bulkeley, now came below, and stated, that "circumstances respecting the fleet required captain Hardy's presence on deck, but that he would avail himself of the first favourable moment to visit his lordship." On hearing him deliver this message to the surgeon, his lordship inquired who had brought it. Mr. Burke answered," It is Mr. Bulkeley, my lord.""-" It is his voice,” replied his lordship: he then said to the young gentleman, "Remember me to your father."ana The Victory's crew cheered when ever they observed an enemy's ship surrender. On one of these occasions, lord Nelson anxiously inquired what was the cause of it; when lieutenant Pasco, who lay wounded at some distance from his lordship, raised himself up, and told him that another ship had struck, which appeared to give him much satisfaction. He now felt an ardent thirst; and frequently called for drink, and to be fanned with paper, making use of these words: "Fan, fan," and “Drink, drink." This he continued to repeat, when he wished for drink or the refreshment of cool An hour and ten minutes, however, air, till a very few minutes before elapsed, from the time of his lordhe expired. Lemonade and wine ship's being wounded, before cap. and water were given to him occtain Hardy's first subsequent inter view with him; the particulars of which are nearly as follow: They shook hands affectionately, and lord Nelson said, "Well, Hardy, how goes the battle? how goes the day with us?" "Very well, my lord," replied captain Hardy: "we have got twelve or fourteen of the enemy's ships in our possession; but five of their van have tacked, and shew an intention of bearing down upon the Victory. I have therefore called two or three of our fresh ships round us, and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing." "I hope," said his lordship, "none of our ships have struck, Hardy." "No, my lord," replied captain Hardy; there is no fear of that." Lord Nelson then said, "I am a dead man, Hardy; I am going fast: it will be all over with me soon. Come nearer to me. Pray let my dear lady Hamilton have my hair, and all other things belonging to me." Mr. Burke was about to withdraw at the commencement of this conversation; but his lordship, perceiving his intention, desired he would remain. Captain Hardy observed, that “he hoped Mr. Beatty could yet hold out some prospect of life." "Oh! no," answered his lordship," it is impossible. My back is shot through. Beatty will tell you so." Captain Hardy then returned on deck, and at parting shook hands with his revered friend and commander. His lordship now requested the surgeon, who had been previously absent a short time attending Mr. Rivers, to return to the wounded, and give his assistance to such of them as he could be useful to; "for,” said he, "you can do no thing for me." The surgeon as sured him that the assistant surgeons were doing every thing that could be effected for those unfortunate men; but on his lordship's several times. repeating his injunction to that pur-. pose, he left him surrounded by: Dr. Scott, Mr. Burke, and two of his lordship's domestics. After the surgeon had been absent a few minutes, attending lieutenants Peake and Reeves of the marines, who were wounded, he was called by Dr. Scott to his lordship, who said: "Ah, Mr. Beatty! I have sent for you to say, what I forgot to tell you before, that all power of motion or feeling below my breast are gone; and you," continued he, “very well know I can live but a short time.” The emphatic manner in which he pronounced these last words, left no doubt in the surgeon's mind, that he adverted to the case of a man who had some months before received a mortal injury of the spine on board the Victory, and bad laboured under similar privations of sense and mus cular motion. The case had made a great impression on lord Nelson: he was anxious to know the cause of such symptoms, which was accordingly explained to him; and he now appeared to apply the situation and fate of this man to himself. The surgeon answered, "My lord, you told me so before:" but he now examined the extremities, to ascer tain the fact; when his lordship said, Ab, Beatty! I am too certain of it; Scott and Burke have tried it already. You know I am gone." The surgeon replied: "My lord, unhappily for our country, nothing can be done for you;" and having made this declaration, he was so much affected, that he turned round and withdrew a few steps to conceal his emotions. His lordship said: "I know it. I feel something rising in my left breast," putting his hand on his left side, "which tells me I am gone." Drink was recommended liberally, and Dr. Scott and Mr. Burke fanned him with paper. He often exclaimed, "God be praised, I have done my duty;" and upon the surgeon's inquiring whether his pain was still very great, he declared," it continued so severe, that he wished he was dead." Yet," said he, in a lower voice, one would like to live a little longer, too;" and after a pause of a few minutes, he added in the same tone, "What would become of poor lady Hamilton, if she knew my situation!" The surgeon, finding it impossible to render his lordship any further assistance, left him, to attend lieu tenant Bligh, Messrs. Smith and Westphall, inidshipmen, and some seamen, recently wounded. Captain Hardy now came to the cockpit to see his lordship a second time, which was after an interval of about fifty minutes from the conclusion of his first visit. Before he quitted the deck, he sent lieutenant Hills to acquaint admiral Collingwood with the lamentable circumstance of lord Nelson's being wounded. Lord Nelson and captain Hardy shook hands again; and while the captain retained his lordship's hand, he congratulated him even in the arms of death on his brilliant victory; "which," he said, "was complete; though he did not know how many of the enemy were captured, as it was impossible to perceive every ship distinctly. He was certain, however, of fourteen or fifteen having surrendered." His lordship an Alluding to some wishes previously expressed by his lordship to captain Hardy respecting the place of his interment, swered, "That is well, but I bar gained for twenty;" and then emplatically exclaimed, "Anchor, Hardy, anchor!" To this the captain replied: "I suppose, my lord, admiral Collingwood will now take upon himself the direction of affairs." "Not while I live, I hope, Hardy!”. cried the dying chief; and at that moment endeavoured ineffectually to raise himself from the bed. "No,' added he; "do you anchor, Hardy." Captain Hardy then said: "Shall we make the signal, sir?" "Yes," answered his lordship; " for if I live, I'll anchor." The energetic manner in which he uttered these his last orders to captain Hardy, accompanied with his efforts to raise himself, evinced his determination never to resign the command while he retained the exercise of his transcendant faculties, and that he expected captain Hardy still to carry into effect the suggestions of his exalted mind; a sense of his duty overcoming the pains of death. He then told captain Hardy," he felt that in a few minutes he should be no more;" adding, in a low tone, "Don't throw me overboard, Har-dy." The captain answered, “Oh, no! certainly not." "Then," re-. plied his lordship," you know what to do: and," continued he, “take care of my dear lady Hamilton, Hardy; take care of poor lady Hamilton. milton. Kiss me, Hardy." The captain now knelt down, and kissed his cheek; when his lordship said, "Now I am satisfied. Thank, God, I have done my duty!" Captain Hardy stood for a minute or two in silent contemplation: he then knelt down agaia, and kissed his lordship's forehead. |