Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-30

The following descriptive of the last moments Of
Lord NELSON, is extracted from James Naval
History, recently published in London. 1t will be
perrsel with melancholy interest, by the reader: :
Never allowing mere personal comfort to inter-
fere with what he considered 10 be the good OF the
SCI vice. Lord Nelson, when the Victory was fitting
20 receive las flag, ordered the large skylight over
his cabin TO be moved, and the space plankej up
so as to afford MIN walk amldshps, clear OF the
guns AMI ropes. Here, along an extent Of deck OF
about wenty one feet in length, bounded abaf by
the staucheon Of the wheel, and forward by the
combings of the cabin ladder way, were the Ad
miral and Captain Hardy, during the whole Of the
operations we have just mentioned taking their Gus
tomary promenade. At about h. % IN. L. Just
the two had arrived within one pace OF the re-
gular turning spot at the cabin ladder way, Lord
Nelson, who, regardless Of quarter-deck etiquette,
was walking On the larbord side, suddenly faced
left about. Captain Hardy, soon as he had ta-
ken the other step, turned also, and saw the Adj
miral in the act of falling. lie was then or his
knees, with his left hand Just touching the deck.
he arm giving way, Lord Nels fell on his lett
side, exactly on the spot where his Secretary, Mr..
Scctt, had hreathed his last, and with whose blood
ms lordship's clothes were soed. On Captain
fIardys expressing hope that he not severely
wounded, Lord Nelson replied they have one
for me at last Hardy" II hope not" answere
Captain Hardy" Yes" replied his'lordship," my
backbone is shot through" The wound was by
musket ball, which had entered the left shoulder
through the fore part of the epauet and, descend
ing, had lodged in the spine, That the wound had
been given by some one stationed in the hecoubta-
ble's mzen top. was rendered certain not only from
the nearness (about fifteen yards) and situation OF
the mizen top reference to the course OF the ball,
but from the circumstance that the French ships
main top screened by portion OF the Victory 5
mainsail as it hung in the biails That the ball
was intended for Lord Nelson is doubtful, because
" hen the aim must have been taken, he was walk
ing the outer side, concealed in great measure
from view by much taller and stouter man
Admitting also (Which is very doubtfuD thai the
French seaman or marine, whose shot had proved
so fatal had selected for his object as the British
Commander Chief the best dressed officer OF the
two, he would most probably have fixed upon
Captain Hardy, or, indeed, such, in spite oi Dr
Beatty's print, was Lord Nelson's habitual care
lessness, upon any one of the Victorys Leutenans'
that might have been walking by the side OF him.
Sergeant Seeker, and two marines, who had come
up on seeing the Admiral fall nows by Captain
Hurdy's direction, bore the revereed and much
lamented chief to the cockpit"
After Lord Nelson had been laid upon bed N
the cockpit he stripped OF his clothes Tor the
purpose Of having the wound examined anu the
course of the ball probod. The surgeon soon as
certaned that the wound was mortal; and l.ord
Nelson himself appears from the first to have enter
tanned similar opinion. His sufferings from pain
and thirst were maniiestly great. lie frequently
called for drink, and to be famed with paper, max
| ing use of these words" Fan, FAM" and "drink'
drink" He kept constantly pushing away the
sheet, the sole covering upon him and one at
| tendant was as constantly employed IN drawing IL
up again over his slender limbs and emaciaed oody.
This recklessncss about exposing his person aiioroed
strong proof of the injury done to his inte'iec' >,
and well would it have been for Lord Nelson me-
had the listeners around his dying couch pos
| sessed dicernmeut enough to Distinguish, ano
friendship enough Gas wrAers) to separate the irrei
| evant utterings of mind in a paroxysm ot dchr
| um from the patriotic efusions OF the same mino
when lit up for n moment or so, by ray oi return
| ing reason. Ia about an hour and ten minutes al
fer Lord Nelson had received his wound, or at abou
2 h. 25 N. P. Nj. Captain Hardy found moment
| leisure from his anxious duty on deck, to comp,
with the frequently repeated request OF tho ADM,
raj, TO visit him IN the cockpit They shook nanu'
aectionately, and Lord Nelson said" Well' ma ;t
dy, how goes the battle. How goes the aay WI, m
us p, avery well, my Lord replied captain am ,, ano
| dy-" we have got twelve or fourteen o. . u ,.ar
my's ships in our possession; but hve ol .cu ~.
have tackled and show an intention oi oes','s WV
upou the Victory. have therefore eaiieo Wo .
three of our fresh ships round us, and have no oouo
If gvino them a drubbinS." "lhope," SAID NJ
In,i.h;1 q that none Of our ships have struck
U,rdv.5F "No, my Lord" replied Captain Hardy
there is no fesr Of that" Lord Nelson then sa''