The Death of Lord Nelson | Page 8

William Beatty

BEATTY! you can do nothing 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 Reverend Doctor
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 grief wrung his hands, and said:
"Alas, BEATTY, how prophetic you were!" alluding to the
apprehensions 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 effecting, he said to Doctor
SCOTT, "Doctor, I told you so. Doctor, I am 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 examined 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 probably lodged in the spine. This being explained to His
LORDSHIP, he replied, "he was confident his back was shot 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 only Captain HARDY, Doctor SCOTT, Mr. BURKE, and
Messrs. SMITH and WESTEMBURG the Assistant Surgeons.
The Victory's crew cheered whenever 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 air, till a very few minutes before
he expired. Lemonade, and wine and water, were given to him
occasionally. 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 living," and said "he trusted that Divine Providence would
restore him once more to his dear Country and friends."--"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 impatient 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. BULKLEY, 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. BULKLEY, my Lord."--"It is his voice," replied His LORDSHIP:
he then said to the young gentleman, "Remember me to your father."
An hour and ten minutes however elapsed, from the time of His
LORDSHIP's being wounded, before Captain HARDY's first
subsequent interview 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
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