New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-05


Caytain Mahan has written the one biography |
OF Lord Nelson which Is likely 10 hold its own
as a complete authority on the hero's life.
So>they's doliahtfIl book will always be pre-
scry,N because it is literature. and the voumi-
mons work OF Nicolas will stand as the official
source in all matters relating 10 the document |
ary side Of Nelson's biography. The dispatches
I'm Nicolas arc indispensable. But Captain Mahan
10 the chief tiographer. He stands FIRST, ana
the rest are nowhere On the other hand.
hook like this OF Professor I.auGhioh's Is IN |
valuable tothe student Of that period in English
naval history which Nelson not only adorned
bat glorifcd and dominated. II is invaluable be-
cause II Strengthens the perspective in when
Nelson must be seen to be appreciated, it helps
US to realize the man on his human side. Eng
land remembers her admrals. more or less but
she has set the victor of Cops nhagen. the Me
and Trafalgar as high up and as much apart
in her historical memory as she has SET MN up
in the centre OF London. The rest of the world
has followed suit. Nelson is dem.-Sod. phe- ;
nomenon a prodigy and po:tcnt; lie Is any
thing but a member Of force which gained the
dominion of the seas because it was. force.
well manned and effectively directed. The first
CT these claims may be disputed. The crews
pressed into the service Of His Majesty were
often composed Of prison swcepngs and the
moral ona Of British ports. Against this there
may be st the testimony of Captain Miller set
down just after the battle of the Nile: Toward
morning my people were so extremely jaded thaf'
az soon as they had hove our sheet-anchor up.
they dropped under the capstan bars and were
asleep in q moment In every sort OF posture.
having been then working at their fullest ex-
erti0n or fighting for nearly twelve hours.
This answers for the fighting qualities OF the
men. and even II I; had not been declared By
Nelson himself that the men were wei differed
Il would be learned from tho biographies sum-
married. in Professor LauGhtOn's book
These emphasize the fact. so apt to be FOR
gotten. that Nelson was maGnilc,ntly supported.
And to lallncc the pretty tradition that he
eprang full -ncdged from the forehead Of Jovc we
have the fact that he owed much TO the COM
,nandcrs under whom h. served and with whom
he was associated. II would be shor,-sghted to
exaggerac the debt. yet 1T is interesting to rur-
sue the subject. Nelson's very first appoint
ment he owed to family interest his uncle. Cap
tain Maurice Sucking. taking him 10 sea with
him. and the latters influence WAS potent In his
favor throughout his apprenticeship. When
Sucking obtained for him the pos; OF lieutenant
On the Lowcstoft he was still eighteen months
under the regulation age. Here. in his first I'M
portant ship Nelson came IN contact WITH an
officer whose example and teaching were In tho
highest degree useful to him Captain Lock
had fame twenty years previously when.
lieutenant the Experiment. he played the
trump card in the capture OF n French privatc"r
How fruitful complniOnship with him was
bound to be is shown by n letter Of Nelson's
written after the battle OF the Nile Il have
been your scholar" writes the man with whose
prowcss all Europe WAS ringing. 1T IS you VINO
taught me 10 board a Frcnchman by your con
duct when IN the Experiment. 1t Is YOU who
always told me. Lay a Frcnchman close and
you will beat him: and my only merit In my
profession Is being good scholar" II would
not be more foolish TO forget Nelson's Unborn
genius than to forget this training Of his lie
WAS quick to perceive commanding qualities I'm
others Hence he preserved all his life long Il
profound admiration for Lord Hood. though
there were important differences Of Characi r
between Them. When events were leading up 10
the battle Of -. Vincent it seemed TO Lord Hood
that the Mediterranean fleet was seriously In
need Of rcnforccmcnts He Wrote TIL ADM
rally that with a fore" 80 inadequate he cjuIi
not consider his professional character safe. and
begged 10 be relieved Of his command II IS
doubtful il Nelson would have done tho sam"
thing But that he looked UP 10 Hood ana
proitcd by tn. lattcrs experience Is revealed
IN his exclamation aprop's 4 his friends r"sis-
nation: This fleet must regret tn" loss ~ Lord
Hood" he says, "the best officer takc him alto
Ce:hcr. that England has 10 boast ~. Lord
Howe certainly il great officer In ia" inannG
inca. # a Nc,t But that t. AL Lord Hood Is
equally great in all situations which an admiral
can bc placed in.
We get a glimpse Of another character in the
oh L. ~ 4