nated, and consequently attracted the notice of the people, who forthwith began to make a disturbance; but when they were told that Nelson was disturbed by their shouting, they went off at once, and stationed guards to prevent other parties from annoying him.

He went, on one occasion, to receive a year's pay, as smartmoney, on account of the loss of his eye, but could not obtain payment, because he had neglected to bring a certificate from a surgeon that the sight was actually destroyed. A little irritated that this form should be insisted on, because he thought it was sufficiently notorious, he procured a certificate at the same time for the loss of his arm, saying, they might just as well doubt the one as the other. This put him in good humour with himself and with the clerk who had offended him. On his return, the clerk finding it was only the year's pay of a captain, said, he thought it had been more. "Oh!" replied Nelson, "this is only for an eye. In a few days I shall come for an arm, and probably in a little longer for a leg." Accordingly, he soon afterwards went, and with perfect good humour exhibited the certificate for the loss of his

GEORGE III. FROM 1806 TO THE END OF HIS REIGN 1820-GEORGE IV. 1820 TO 1830-WILLIAM IV. 1830 To 1837-VICTORIA, 1841

-THE FRENCH STILL HUMBLED AT SEA-BOMBARDMENT OF COPENHAGEN-DETACHED ACTIONS-WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES CRITICISM ON THE AMERICAN ACCOUNTS-PRACE

-COLLINGWOOD-COCHRANE-TROUBRIDGE-HOOD-BRIDPORT

-EXMOUTH-CODRINGTON-STOPFORD-NAPIER.

THE splendour of Lord Nelson's glory, throws that of every exploit in which he was not more or less engaged during his epoch, completely into the shade. Two actions, the one of which preceded, and the other followed Trafalgar, require however a brief notice.

Admiral Villeneuve, when driven from the West Indies by the very terror of Nelson's name, proceeded, uninterrupted in his retreat, until he reached Cape Finisterre, where he encountered an English squadron consisting of fifteen_sail of the line and two frigates, under the command of Sir Robert Calder. Villeneuve had twenty sail of the line, five frigates, and several brigs. The battle continued four hours, and ended in the defeat of the French, with the loss of two of their best ships.

SIR RICHARD STRACHAN'S ACTION.

501

The country, in these times, however, was not to be satisfied with so incomplete a victory even over a superior fleet, and Sir Robert Calder was censured by a court-martial for not having done enough; a censure, considering all the circumstances, more harsh than reasonable.

Towards the close of the battle of Trafalgar, the French vice-admiral Dumanoir, with four sail of the line, bore away to the south. On the 2d of November he was met by Sir Richard Strachan, off Ferrol, with four sail of the line and three frigates. Sir Richard immediately gave chase, which he continued the whole of the 2d and the next day. Two British frigates, the Santa Margarita and Phoenix, having outsailed the ships of the line, got up with the enemy by daybreak on the morning of the 4th, and immediately commenced the action in the most gallant style. By firing on the rear of the enemy, they retarded their flight so much, that the main body of Sir Richard Strachan's fleet was able to come up. The French admiral, about noon, perceiving that a general action was unavoidable, made his disposition accordingly. The battle lasted nearly three hours and a half, during the whole of which time the enemy fought remarkably well. At last, their ships being completely unmanageable, struck their colours, namely, the Formidable, of eighty guns, admiral Dumanoir, and the Duguai Trouin, Mont Blanc, and Scipion, of seventy-four guns each. The slaughter on board these ships was very great; the admiral himself was wounded, and one of the captains killed. The loss of the English was trifling. Sir Richard Strachan immediately proceeded to Gibraltar, where he arrived safe with his prizes.

The combined fleet originally consisted of thirty-five sail of the line; of these, two were taken by Sir Robert Calder; four captured at Trafalgar were carried into Gibraltar; four captured by Sir Richard Strachan, were carried into the same port; fifteen were burned, sunk, or wrecked; three escaped into Cadiz, serviceable; and seven escaped into the same port, complete wrecks; thus accounting for the whole original number, thirty-five sail of the line.

The events which we have narrated in the two previous chapters, completely broke the French power at sea, and were no inefficient causes of the ultimate destruction of the gigantic power of Napoleon by land. He found all attempts to resuscitate his navy in vain. No sooner were a few ships

made ready for sea, than they were blockaded by the vigilance of British squadrons, or even destroyed in harbour, while, in other instances, where they either escaped or were permitted to leave port, they only did so to fall a prey to our fleets, now indisputably supreme at sea.

The enemy's operations were thus completely impeded, their attempts to transport troops by sea rendered impossible, and their supplies of warlike stores, provisions, and colonial produce, rendered precarious or altogether cut off.

The first attempt made by Buonaparte after the blow he had received, was to secure what remained to France of her colonies. Accordingly, a fleet of eleven sail of the line, and a number of frigates, in two squadrons, escaped the vigil. ance of the English, and, early in 1806, arrived in the West Indies.

Admiral Duckworth, with seven sail, fell in with and completely defeated the first of these squadrons, of five ships, two frigates, and a corvette. All the five line of battle ships were either taken or destroyed.

The other division of the French fleet was lost in a violent storm, with the exception of one ship. Sir Sidney Smith and lord Cochrane were both conspicuous for gallantry about this period, as we have more particularly stated elsewhere.

About the close of the year, another attempt was made to send reinforcements to the West Indies. Accordingly a squadron of five frigates and two corvettes, having on board two thousand troops, was despatched on this service, were engaged by Sir Samuel Hood, and four frigates captured, with a great number of men, and a large quantity of stores.

In the year 1807, it being pretty well ascertained that the French emperor was resolved to replace the loss of his own fleets by taking possession of that of Denmark; and as it was equally well known that Denmark, even if willing, was quite unable to resist him, the British Government resolved, by a questionable policy, to frustrate, by anticipating his intentions. Upon this service were sent twenty thousand troops under lord Cathcart, and forty-two ships, of which twenty-two were of the line, under admiral Gambier. To this formidable force, the Danes at first offered a determined resistance, nor did they yield until a great part of Copenhagen was in flames or laid in ruins.

In consequence of their capitulation, we were put in possession of sixteen ships of the line, fifteen frigates, six brigs, and twenty-five gun-boats, which were nearly all ready for

DESTRUCTION OF THE FRENCH FLEET AT AIX.

503

sea; there were besides several vessels on the stocks, which we were at liberty to destroy, take to pieces, or carry away. A vast abundance of stores of all kinds necessary to equip or build a fleet, were found in the arsenals, so that it was necessary to load all the ships of the line and frigates, with masts, spars, and timber: after all, so great a quantity remained, that ninety-two transports were employed to bring the rest to England.

In an attempt to overawe Constantinople, the Sultan having now joined the French alliance, admiral Duckworth was not equally successful, and was much blamed for his inactivity and mismanagement, in having omitted the proper season of attack, and being obliged to retreat without striking a blow.

A

Nothing very remarkable now occurs in our naval annals for some time. The Walcheren expedition in 1809, was both in plan and execution, a disgrace to our councils and commanders, but in so far as the naval service was concerned, no blame is imputable. Even yet, the French had not been able to send to sea anything deserving the name of a fleet, and the few line of battle ships which still remained were closely watched by our vessels. This year, an opportunity occurred of destroying some of them; and it was embraced with the usual alacrity of British seamen. French squadron, consisting of nine sail of the line and some frigates, was understood to be lying in the roads of Aix, under the protection of the forts of that island. The attempt to destroy this fleet was committed to the direction of lord Gambier, who selected lord Cochrane on the occasion: for this purpose, a number of frigates, fire-ships, and other small vessels were employed. On the 10th of April, the fire-ships joined the fleet, and the next night they were sent into Aix roads, each manned and conducted by a lieutenant and five men: there were sixteen of them, and some of them of a larger construction than usual. As soon as the fireships got within the roads, the French vessels cut their cables, and run on shore in the Isle of Aix; by this means, the fireships were enabled to effect little, and it was ascertained that the destruction of the enemy must be accomplished by other means. Great skill, however, as well as courage, was necessary for this purpose: the place where the French ships lay, was strong, both by nature and by art; they lay, apparently, almost as secure as ships would have been in Portsmouth harbour: they were under the protection of two batteries,