The Life Of Nelson, Volume II.
Chapter XVII.
Nelson Commands The "Squadron On A Particular Service," For The Defense Of The Coast Of England Against Invasion. -- Signature Of Preliminaries Of Peace With France.
July-October, 1801. Age, 43.
Before sailing for the Baltic, and throughout his service in that sea, the longing for repose and for a lover's paradise had disputed with the love of glory for the empire in Nelson's heart, and signs were not wanting that the latter was making a doubtful, if not a losing, fight. Shortly before his departure for the North, he wrote to St. Vincent, "Although, I own, I have met with much more honors and rewards than ever my most sanguine ideas led me to expect, yet I am so circumstanced that probably this Expedition will be the last service ever performed by your obliged and affectionate friend." His old commander was naturally perturbed at the thought that the illustrious career, which he had done so much to foster, was to have the ignoble termination to be inferred from these words and the notorious facts. "Be assured, my dear Lord," he replied, "that every public[37] act of your life has been the subject of my admiration, which I should have sooner declared, but that I was appalled by the last sentence of your letter: for God's sake, do not suffer yourself to be carried away by any sudden impulse."
[37] These suggestive italics are in the letter as printed by Clarke and M'Arthur, and reproduced by Nicolas.
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