Nelson: Britannia's God of War (46 page)
Read Nelson: Britannia's God of War Online
Authors: Andrew Lambert
In the process he had proved himself a truly inspired mass communicator: the style and manner that won the hearts of seamen and officers worked equally well with civic worthies and tradesmen. Unlike many professional politicans, Nelson had none of the patrician hauetur that alienated the middle class: he spoke to them in a language they understood, about things that for the first time made them feel proud to be British. With a woman of common stock as his muse, he proved that Britain had greatness among all its people: heroism, beauty and talent were not the province of the elite. Little wonder he carped to Davison on his return that popular applause was ample reward for his efforts, ‘but the comparison is not flattering to King and Government’. He considered making a similar progress through the North the following year.
90
*
For all his talk of being cut off from the centre of power, Nelson remained integral to the national cause. This became obvious when the political world returned to London in late 1802. Bonaparte had used the Peace of Amiens to clear up a few anomalies, and extend his control over subject and client states, in ways that the British ministers
had simply not anticipated. By October his actions had thoroughly alarmed the ministers, and they prepared to mobilise the fleet. War could not be long delayed.
At the opening of Parliament on 16 November, the King’s speech reflected a strong desire to preserve peace, but only with honour. Brought to town by the long running 1799 prize case, Nelson also discussed the European situation with St Vincent and Addington. It was a mark of their mutual esteem that Jervis’s squalid conduct in the prize business did not ruin a vital command partnership. Nelson was more open with Minto on 26 September, arguing that the country needed to be much better prepared, and that he should have the Mediterranean command.
91
When war threatened St Vincent switched Nelson with Keith, the reliable ‘Scotch pack horse’, the right man for the job in both cases. Keith’s Channel command was a monument of sustained labour and perseverance. He stood the task for six years: six months would have been too much for Nelson.
The issue that was likeliest to precipitate war was Malta. After discussing the subject with Nelson, Addington decided to go to war rather than give it up. Nelson advised him that unless it was in safe hands ‘we had no choice but to keep Malta’ – it must never belong to France.
92
By late February the only hope for peace, Minto argued, was to send Nelson to the Mediterranean to demonstrate that Britain meant business.
93
He was the British deterrent.
With his stock rising in Government circles it was time to ask for a favour. With Sir William dying and Emma’s finances in ruins the hero had a problem: his income was quite unequal to his needs. From a gross income of £3,418, payments to Lady Nelson and other pensions and gratuities left him with a disposable figure of only £768, and he also had debts of £10,000. His only recourse was to ask Addington for an increase in his pension, noting that St Vincent and Duncan had each been awarded £1,000 a year by the Irish Parliament.
94
The following day, in the House of Lords, he let the Prime Minister know, ‘I am your Admiral.’
95
Despite sending two reminders about the money he needed before he went to sea, nothing was done; instead he went on full pay, and opened the possibility of a prize windfall.
96
By 22 March the future course was set: whether it was war or peace, Nelson had the Mediterranean command. George Murray, who had earned his admiration leading the attack at Copenhagen, would be Captain of the Fleet. Samuel Sutton would prepare the newly refitted
Victory
for his flag, while Hardy took the frigate
Amphion
.
The two men agreed to change ships, and share prize money. Nelson asked St Vincent, who had wanted to retire on health grounds but had been dissuaded by Addington, to find a ship for his nephew William Bolton, but did not trouble him for Berry, who would be left for the ‘day of battle.’
97
Sir William, meanwhile, died in the arms of his wife and her lover on 4 April, but Nelson was too busy for mourning.
However important Nelson had become to the national self-image, it was his international reputation that would dominate the next conflict. His European tour had demonstrated a level of popular fame unknown to any other sea officer, and his name had become common currency on every continent. Even Bonaparte could not escape the phenomenon of Nelson worship. During the brief peace, British visirs flocked to see Paris, and the new First Consul, their curiosity piqued by long absence and the novelty of a European republican colossus. In the Consular quarters at the Tuileries Bonaparte had installed busts of two Englishmen. Charles James Fox earned his place as a friend of France; Nelson was there as a god of war.
98
Having fascinated the greatest soldier of the age, it is little wonder Nelson terrified the French admirals who served him.
The peace, short and unsatisfactory as it had been, was a vital intermission in the twenty-two-year Anglo-French conflict. It established the British willingness to sacrifice national interest to the wider cause of European stability, and exploded the Whig myth that opposition to France was selfish and partisan. Addington’s determined effort to preserve peace exposed the dishonest, grasping policy of the French ministry and the underhand diplomatic methods and limitless ambition of Bonaparte himself. By May 1803, when the conflict resumed, there was little disagreement in Britain that it had to be fought, and fought to a finish.
99
That Britain and her people had the confidence to take on such a task reflected their new sense of national identity, shared purpose, and a common trust in the unique, iconic figure of Horatio Nelson. He, and he alone, had the presence and track record to stop the otherwise irresistible Bonaparte.
CHAPTER XII
1
Gash,
Lord
Liverpool
, pp. 41–2
2
Monaque, ‘Latouche Tréville; the Admiral who defied Nelson’
3
St Vincent to King George III 24.7.1801; George III p. 582. Admiralty to Nelson 26.7.1801; Morrison II pp. 157–9. St Vincent to Admiral Lutwidge 24.7.1801; St Vincent pp. 125–6. Lutwidge had been Nelson’s captain on the Arctic expedition. Nelson Memorandum 25.7.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 425–8
4
White, ‘The Public Oder Book’, pp. 253–5 giyes a full list.
5
Nelson to Admiralty 27 and 28.7.1801; to St Vincent 28.7.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 429–32.
6
It had opened in 1796. Wilson,
The
Old
Telegraphs
, pp. 17–20
7
St Vincent to Nelson 29.7.1801; CRK/11. also St Vincent 1 pp. 127–8
8
Nelson to Admiralty 30.7.1801; to St Vincent 30 and 31.7.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 432–3. St Vincent to Nelson 31.7.1801; CRK/11 and St Vincent I pp. 128–9
9
Nelson to Addington 31.7.1801; Nicolas IV p. 434
10
Ware, C.
The
Bomb
Vessel:
Shore
Bombardment
in
the
Age
of
Sail
, pp. 54–8
11
Nelson to St Vincent 2.8.1801; Nicolas IV p. 434. St Vincent to Nelson 3.8.1801; CRK/11
12
Nelson to Lutwidge and Admiralty 3.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 435–8
13
Nelson to Admiralty 4.8.1801; to Addington (quote) 4.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 438–41
14
Nelson to Clarence 5.8.1801; Nicolas IV p. 441
15
Nelson to Admiralty; to Captains of the Sea Fencibles 6.8.1801; Nicolas IV PP. 443–5
16
Nelson to St Vincent 6.8.1801; Nicolas IV p. 445
17
St Vincent to Nelson 7 and 8.8.1801; St Vincent I pp. 131–3
18
Nelson to St Vincent 7.8.1801 and Nelson to Admiralty 10.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 446–7 and 451–2
19
Nelson to St Vincent 10.8.1801; Nicolas IV p. 449
20
Nelson to Emma 11.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 454–5
21
Nelson to Emma 4.8.1801; Morrison II p. 160
22
Wareham pp. 145–7.
23
Owen to Nelson 9.8.1801; Add. 34,918 ff. 123 and 125.
24
Nelson to Bedford 10.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 452–3
25
Troubridge to Nelson 13.8.1801; CRK/13
26
St Vincent to Nelson 10, 11 and 12.8.1801; St Vincent I pp. 133–6
27
Nelson to St Vincent 13.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 456–7
28
Nelson to Davison 13.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 458–9
29
Collingwood to Edward Collingwood 13.8.1801; Owen ed.
Miscellany
VI
PP. 173–5
30
St Vincent to Nelson 14.8.1801; St Vincent I pp. 135–6
31
Nelson to Admiralty ; to St Vincent 16.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 464–7
32
St Vincent to King 17.8.1801; George III p. 594
33
Addington to Nelson 17.8.1801; CRK/1, St Vincent to Nelson 17.8.1801; St Vincent I pp. 136–7. Nelson to Squadron Captains 18.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 471–2.
34
Nelson to Emma 18.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 473–4
35
Hood to Cornwallis 31.8.1801;
Manuscripts
of
Cornwallis
p. 395
36
St Vincent to Nelson 18.8.1801; St Vincent I pp. 137–8. Addington to Nelson I9.8.1801; CRK/1
37
Nelson to Addington 21.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 474–6
38
Nelson to Admiralty 23.8.1801; Nicolas IVB pp. 476–7
39
Troubridge to Nelson 13.8.1801; CRK/13. Owen to Nelson 21.8.1801; CRK/9. Owen to Nelson 22.8.1801; Add. 34,918 f. 189. Nelson to Owen 23.8.1801; Nicolas IV p. 476.
40
Nelson to Lutwidge and St Vincent 24.8.1801. Nelson to Admiralty 25.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 477–80.
41
Nelson to Stewart 26.8.1801;
Cumloden
Papers
.
42
St Vincent to Nelson 19 and 26.8.1801; St Vincent I pp. 138–40. Troubridge to Nelson 28.8.1801; CRK/13
43
Nelson to Davison 31.8.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 481–2
44
St Vincent to Countess of Malmesbury 20.8.1801; St Vincent I p. 209
45
Nepean to Nelson 28.8.1801; Add. 34,918 f. 200
46
Haslewood to Nelson 25.8. , 31.8. and 2.9.1801; Add. 34,918 ff. 193, 210, 215
47
Nelson to Davison 18.12.1801; Nicolas IV p. 556
48
Troubridge to Nelson 20.9.1801; CRK/13
49
Troubridge to Nelson 9 and 12.9.1801; CRK/13
50
Nelson to Hercules Ross 12.9.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 487–8
51
Nelson to Davison 14.9.1801; Nicolas IV p. 489
52
Nelson to Admiralty 14.9.1801; to St Vincent 15.9.1801; Nicolas p. 487–90
53
St Vincent to Nelson 14, 21 and 22.9.1801; St Vincent I pp. 144–5
54
Nelson to Stewart 23.9.1801;
Cumloden
Papers
55
W. Owen to Nelson 26.9.1801; CRK/9. Nelson to Owen 1. 10. 1801; Nelson to Admiralty 3.10.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 500–2. Burrows, E. H.
Captain
Owen
of
the
African
Survey,
1774
–
1857,
Rotterdam, 1979, pp. 31–2.
56
Nelson to St Vincent 29.9.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 499–500
57
St Vincent to Nelson 2 and 5.10.1801; St Vincent I p. 146
58
Nelson to Lutwidge 3.10.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 503–4
59
Nelson to Admiralty 3 and 4.10.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 502–5
60
Nelson to St Vincent 4?.10.1801; Nicolas IV p. 505. George III to Addington 20.9.1801; Aspinall,
George
III
p. 613.
61
Addington to Nelson 8.10.1801; Nelson to Davison 9.10.1801, to Addington and St Vincent 10. 10. 1801; Nicolas pp. 506–8. Nelson to Lutwidge 14.10.1801; Nicolas IV p. 511
62
Nelson to Admiralty 14 and 15.10.1801; Nicolas IV p. 511
63
St Vincent to Nelson 20 and 24.10.1801; St Vincent I pp. 147–8
64
Addington to Nelson 26.10.1801; Add. 34,918 f. 290.
65
Nicolas IV pp. 520–1
66
Nelson to St Vincent 29.9.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 499–500. Nelson to Lord Mayor, Addington, St Vincent 20.11.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 524–7
67
Nelson to St Vincent 21.11.1801; Nicolas IV p. 527
68
St Vincent to Addington 3.1.1802; S
T
V
INCENT
I pp. 105
69
Addington to Nelson 27.11.1801; Nicolas IV pp. 525–6
70
Cumloden
Papers
. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Graham Eden Hamond (1779–1862) commanded the
Blanche
in the battle. Hamond Papers; William R. Perkins Library, Duke University.
71
Nelson to Sir Brooke Boothby 1.5.1802; Nicolas IV pp. 12–13
72
Baird to Nelson 27.1.1803; CRK/1
73
Nelson to Suckling 15.4.1802; Nelson to Mrs Bolton 11. 6 1802; Nicolas V pp. 10 and 15
74
Ball to Emma 30.4.1802; Morrison II p. 187
75
Diary entry 4.1.1810 at Bath; Bickley, F. ed.
The
Diaries
of
Sylvester
Douglas,
Lord
Glenbervie
, London, 1928, II, p. 50.
76
Guerin,
Horatia
Nelson
, pp. 24–58 is very hostile and a powerful corrective to the usual gushing romantic nonsense.
77
Nelson to McArthur 23 and 28.4.1802; 7.5.1802; 11.6.1802; Nicolas V pp. 11–15.
78
Nelson to St Vincent 28.1.1803; endorsed by Nelson 25.2.1803; Nicolas V pp. 40–1. Nelson gave up some of his own share to ensure that Stewart took the same proportion as a junior flag officer. Clearly he had impressed Nelson as much as Nelson had impressed him.
79
e. g. over Malta see; Ziegler,
Addington
pp. 120, 124. Nelson to Boothby 1.5.1802; Nicolas V pp. 12–13. Nelson to Addington 17.7.1802; Nicolas VII p. ccxii.
80
Nelson to Addington 31.1.1802; Nicolas V p. 3
81
Addington to Nelson 19.2.1802 and 30. 5. 1802; Morrison II pp. 185–6. and CRK/1. See Ziegler at pp. 139–40 for Addington’s Episcopal appointments.
82
Nelson to Addington 23.2.1802, 25.3.1802; Nicolas V pp. 6 and 8–9
83
Nelson to Addington 30.6.1804; Ziegler p. 226
84
Nelson to Troubridge 17.2.1802; Nicolas V p. 5
85
Nelson to Sutton 15. 1. and 6.2.1802. Nicolas V p. 2
86
Nelson to St Vincent 16.6.1802; Nicolas V p. 16
87
Ziegler, p. 101
88
Nelson to Boothby 1.5.1802; Nicolas V pp. 12–13
89
Stewart to Nelson 10.10.1802; Morrison II pp. 198–9. Nelson to Stewart 12. 10. 1802; Cumloden Papers
90
Nelson to Davison 11 and 14.9.1802; Nicolas V pp. 29–31
91
Minto II p. 258
92
Nelson to Addington 4. 12. 1802, covering his Memorandum on Malta; Nicolas V pp. 36–7. Ziegler p. 182
93
Minto 23.2.1803; Minto II pp. 273–4
94
Nelson to Addington 8.3.1803; Nicolas V pp. 47–9. Curiously Vincent misdates this letter to 1802, pp. 472–4
95
Ziegler,
Addington
p. 184, citing the original note
96
Nelson to Addington 23.4.1803; to Rose 15.5.1803; Nicolas V pp. 59–60, 65
97
Nelson to Murray 22.3.1803; Nelson to St Vincent 24.3.1803; Nelson to Berry 26.3.1803; Nicolas V pp. 50–1
98
Glenbervie I p. 338. Farington II p. 20. The busts were modelled by Whig artist Mrs Darner. Foreman,
Georgiana
, p. 47.
99
Ziegler,
Addington
p. 184.