Nor would he suffer his own wound to be examined till every man who had been previously wounded was properly attended to. Fully believing that the wound was mortal, and that he was about to die, as he had ever desired in battle and in victory, he called the chaplain, and desired him to deliver what he supposed to be his dying remembrance to Lady Nelson; he then sent for Captain Louis on board, from the Minotaur, that he might thank him personally for the great assistance he had rendered to the Vanguard; and ever mindful of those who deserved to be his friends, appointed Captain Hardy from the brig to the command of his own ship, Captain Berry having to go home with the news of the victory. When the surgeon came in due time to examine the wound (for it was in vain to entreat him to let it be examined sooner), the most anxious silence prevailed; and the joy of the wounded men, and of the whole crew, when they heard that the hurt was superficial, gave Nelson deeper pleasure than the unexpected assurance that his life was in no danger. The surgeon requested and, as far as he could, ordered him to remain quiet. But Nelson could not rest: he called for his secretary, Mr. Campbell, to write the despatches. Campbell had himself been wounded, and was so affected at the blind and suffering state of the admiral, that he was unable to write. The chaplain was sent for; but before he came, Nelson, with his characteristic eagerness, took the pen, and contrived to trace a few words, marking his devout sense of the success which had already been obtained. He was now left alone, when suddenly a cry was heard on deck that the Orient was on fire. In the confusion, he found his way up unassisted and unnoticed, and to the astonishment of every one, appeared on the quarterdeck, where he immediately gave orders that boats should be sent to the relief of the enemy. It was soon after nine that the fire on board the Orient broke out. Brueys was dead. The flames soon mastered his ship, and about ten o'clock the ship blew up, with a shock which was felt to the bottom of every vessel. About seventy of her crew were saved by the English boats. The firing, immediately on this tremendous explosion, ceased on both sides, and a short and awful silence reigned. Soon it recommenced with the ships to leeward of the centre, and continued till about three. At daybreak the Guillaume Tell and the Généreuse, the two rears of the enemy, were the only French ships of the line which had their colours flying: they cut their cables in the forenoon, not having been engaged, and stood out to sea, and two frigates with them. The Zealous pur captain who fell: 3105 of the French, including the wounded, were sent on shore by Cartel, and 5225 perished. Thus ended this eventful battle, which exalted the name of Nelson to a level at least with that of the celebrated conqueror, whose surprising success at the head of the French armies had then begun to draw the attention of the civilised world. sued; but as there was no other ship in a condition to support Captain Hood, he was recalled. It was generally believed by the officers, that if Nelson had not been wounded, not one of these ships could have escaped, the four certainly could not, if the Culloden had got into action; and if the frigates belonging to the squadron had been present, not one of the enemy's fleet would have left Aboukir Bay. These four vessels, how- After the battle of the Nile, ever, were all that escaped; a private gentleman caused a and the victory was the most medal to be struck in honour of complete and glorious in the the action, and at his own exannals of naval history. 'Vic- pense gave it to every man in tory,' said Nelson, is not a the victorious fleet. Some of name strong enough for such these men, common sailors, a scene.' He called it a con- were known, after many years, quest. when dying upon a distant station, to make it their last request that this medal should be sent home to their friends. And so ends the naval part of our book. Of thirteen sail of the line, nine were taken, and two burnt. Of the two frigates, one was sunk; another, the Artemise, was burnt in a villanous manner by her captain, M. Estandlet, who, having fired a broadside When Britain first, at Heaven's comat the Theseus, struck his colours, then set fire to his ship, and escaped with most of his crew to shore. The British loss! in killed and wounded amounted to 895. Westcott was the only mand, Arose from out the azure main, This was the charter of the land," And guardian angels sang the strain: Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves! Britons never shall be slaves.' Our country's welfare is our first concern, And who promotes that best, best proves his duty.'-HAVARD. JOHN HAMPDEN-OLIVER CROMWELL-ANDREW MARVELL-EARL OF JOHN HAMPDEN. THE name of Hampden is dear to every English patriot: his love of country was untainted by selfishness; his resistance to authority unstained by crime; he pleaded and remonstrated against the encroachments of power, until pleading and remonstrance were disregarded; and he only resorted to arms when the liberties of his country were so endangered as to render it criminal to remain any longer passive. John Hampden was descended from one of the most ancient families in Buckinghamshire. When he had attained his thirtieth year, he was chosen to represent his native county in Parliament, an event which roused to exertion those principles of virtue and patriotism which seemed latent in his character. He was consulted by the leading members of Parliament in all the important points of opposition. It was Hampden's peculiar talent to act powerfully when he seemed most disengaged. He made no public figure, however, till 1636, when he became universally known by a solemn trial at the King's Bench, on his refusing to pay the ship - money. carried himself, as Clarendon tells us, through this whole suit with such singular temper and modesty, that he obtained more credit and advantage by losing it than the king did service by He gaining it. The infamous judgment given by the judges on this cause only roused the nation to a more serious attention to the conduct and views of the court, and encouraged those men of genius and abilities who laid the grounds for the succeeding revolution to concert measures how to improve, to an effectual height, the growing discontent. From this time Hampden soon grew to be one of the most popular men of the nation, and a leading member of the Long Parliament. placid, his manner eminently courteous and gentlemanlike. Even with those,' says Clarendon, 'who were able to preserve themselves from his infusions, and who discerned those opinions to be fixed in him with which they could not comply, he always left the character of an ingenuous and conscientious person.' His talents for business were as remarkable as his talents for debate. 'He was,' says Clarendon, 'of an industry and vigilance not to be tired out or wearied by the most laborious, and of facts not to be imposed upon by the most subtle and sharp.' "The memorable crisis which gave birth to the civil war,' Lord Macaulay observes, 'called forth Parliamentary abilities such as Yet it was rather to his moral England had never before seen. than to his intellectual qualities Among the most distinguished that he was indebted for the members of the House of Com- vast influence which he posmons were Falkland, Hyde, sessed. When this Parliament Digby, young Harry Vane, began'-we again quote ClarenOliver St. John, Denzil Hollis, don-' the eyes of all men were Nathaniel Fiennes. But two fixed upon him as their pater men exercised a paramount in-patria, and the pilot that must fluence over the Legislature and steer the vessel through the the country-Pym and Hamp- tempests rocks which den; and by the universal consent threatened it. And I am perof friends and enemies, the first suaded his power and interest place belonged to Hampden.' at that time were greater to do good or hurt than any man's in the kingdom, or than any man of his rank hath had in any time; for his reputation of honesty was universal, and his affections were so publicly guided, that no corrupt or private ends could bias them. .. He was indeed a very wise man, and of great parts, and possessed with the most absolute spirit of popularity, and the most absolute On occasions which required set speeches, Pym generally took the lead. Hampden very seldom rose till late in a debate. His speaking was of that kind which has, in every age, been held in the highest estimation by English Parliaments-ready, weighty, perspicuous, and condensed. His perception of the feeling of the House was exquisite, his temper unalterably faculties to govern the people, of any man I ever knew.' Clarendon's portrait of Hampden, though marked with those partial lines which distinguished the hand of this historian, is the testimony of an enemy to virtues possessed only by the foremost rank of men. All the talents and virtues which render private life useful, amiable, and respectable, were united in Hampden, in the highest degree, with those excellences which guide the jarring opinions of popular counsels to determine points; and, whilst he penetrated into the most secret designs of other men, he never discovered more of his own inclinations than was necessary to the purpose in hand. In debate he was so much a master, that, joining the art of Socrates with the graces of Cicero, he fixed own opinion under the modest guise of desiring to improve by that of others, and contrary to the nature of disputes, left a pleasing impression, which prejudiced his antagonist in his favour, even when he had not convinced or altered his judgment. His behaviour was so generally uniform, and unaffectedly affable, and his conversation so enlivened by his vivacity, so seasoned by his knowledge and understanding, and so well applied to the genius, humour, and prejudices of those he conversed with, that his talents, to gain popularity, were absolute. With qualities of this high nature, he possessed in council penetration and discernment, with a sagacity on which no one could impose, an industry and vigilance which were indefatigable with the entire command of his passions and affections, an advantage which gave him a decided superiority over less regulated minds. Whilst there were any hopes that the administration of the country could be corrected without the entire overthrow of the constitution, Hampden chose, before other preferment, the superintendence of the prince's mind, aiming to correct the source from whence the happiness or misfortunes of the empire, if the government continued monarchical, must flow: but the aversion which the king discovered to those regulations which were necessary to secure the freedom of the constitution from any future attempt of the Crown, with the schemes he had entered on to punish the authors of reformation and rescind his concessions, determined the conduct. of Hampden. Convinced that Charles' affections and understanding were too corrupt to be trusted with power in any degree, he sought the abolition of monarchy as the only cure to national grievances, warmly opposing all overtures for treaties as dangerous snares, or any other expedient than conquest for accommodation. This virtuous patriot was shot in the shoulder by a brace of bullets on Chalgrove Field in the year 1642, and after linger |