The Death of Lord Nelson | Page 9

goes the day with
us?"--"Very well, my Lord," replied Captain HARDY: "we have got
twelve or fourteen of the Enemy's ships in our possession; but five of
their van have tacked, and shew an intention of bearing down upon the
Victory. I have therefore called two or three of our fresh ships round us,
and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing." "I hope," said HIS
LORDSHIP, "none of our ships have struck, HARDY."--"No, my
Lord," replied Captain HARDY; "there is no fear of that." Lord
NELSON then said: "I am a dead man, HARDY. I am going fast: it will
be all over with me soon. Come nearer to me. Pray let my dear Lady
HAMILTON have my hair, and all other things belonging to me." Mr.
BURKE was about to withdraw at the commencement of this
conversation; but HIS LORDSHIP, perceiving his intention, desired he
would remain. Captain HARDY observed, that "he hoped Mr.
BEATTY could yet hold out some prospect of life."--"Oh! no,"
answered HIS LORDSHIP; "it is impossible. My back is shot through.
BEATTY will tell you so." Captain HARDY then returned on deck,
and at parting shook hands again with his revered friend and
commander.
HIS LORDSHIP now requested the Surgeon, who had been previously
absent a short time attending Mr. RIVERS, to return to the wounded,
and give his assistance to such of them as he could be useful to; "for,"
said he, "you can do nothing for me." The Surgeon assured him that the
Assistant Surgeons were doing every thing that could be effected for
those unfortunate men; but on HIS LORDSHIP's several times
repeating his injunctions to that purpose, he left him surrounded by

Doctor SCOTT, Mr. BURKE, and two of HIS LORDSHIP'S domestics.
After the Surgeon had been absent a few minutes attending Lieutenants
PEAKE and REEVES of the Marines, who were wounded, he was
called by Doctor SCOTT to HIS LORDSHIP, who said: "Ah, Mr.
BEATTY! I have sent for you to say, what I forgot to tell you before,
that all power of motion and feeling below my breast are gone; and
_you_" continued he, "very well know I can live but a short time." The
emphatic manner in which he pronounced these last words, left no
doubt in the Surgeon's mind, that he adverted to the case of a man who
had some months before received a mortal injury of the spine on board
the Victory, and had laboured under similar privations of sense and
muscular motion. The case had made a great impression on Lord
NELSON: he was anxious to know the cause of such symptoms, which
was accordingly explained to him; and he now appeared to apply the
situation and fate of this man to himself.[13] The Surgeon answered,
"My Lord, you told me so before:" but he now examined the
extremities, to ascertain the fact; when HIS LORDSHIP said, "Ah,
BEATTY! I am too certain of it: SCOTT and BURKE have tried it
already. You know I am gone." The Surgeon replied: "My Lord,
unhappily for our Country, nothing can be done for you;" and having
made this declaration he was so much affected, that he turned round
and withdrew a few steps to conceal his emotions. HIS LORDSHIP
said: "I know it. I feel something rising in my breast," putting his hand
on his left side, "which tells me I am gone." Drink was recommended
liberally, and Doctor SCOTT and Mr. BURKE fanned him with paper.
He often exclaimed, "GOD be praised, I have done my duty;" and upon
the Surgeon's inquiring whether his pain was still very great, he
declared, "it continued so very severe, that he wished he was dead.
Yet," said he in a lower voice, "one would like to live a little longer,
too:" and after a pause of a few minutes, he added in the same tone,
"What would become of poor Lady HAMILTON, if she knew my
situation!"
THE Surgeon, finding it impossible to render HIS LORDSHIP any
further assistance, left him, to attend Lieutenant BLIGH, Messrs.
SMITH and WESTPHALL Midshipmen, and some Seamen, recently
wounded. Captain HARDY now came to the cockpit to see HIS
LORDSHIP a second time, which was after an interval of about fifty

minutes from the conclusion of his first visit. Before he quitted the
deck, he sent Lieutenant HILLS to acquaint Admiral COLLINGWOOD
with the lamentable circumstance of Lord NELSON'S being
wounded.[14]--Lord NELSON and Captain HARDY shook hands
again: and while the Captain retained HIS LORDSHIP'S hand, he
congratulated him even in the arms of Death on his brilliant victory;
"which," he said, "was complete; though he did not know how many of
the Enemy were captured, as it was impossible to perceive every ship
distinctly. He was certain however of fourteen or