The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-18
BATTLE OF THE NILE.
ITS EFFECT AND ITS INFLUENCE WERE
FARREAcHlNo.

FARREAchlNo.
The Continent Of Europe was Convulse,
From End % End When tho News We
Known - Honors and Congratulstion
We're showered Upon Nelson.
OF IS French ships of the line all bu
two were taken or destroyed. The fee
was annihilated. Victory" said Nelson
Justly, "is certainly not name stronl
enough for such scene as have passed.
In completeness of immediate results upol
the field no feet action has ever equalet
the battle Of the Nile. Upon the fortunes
of the particular enterprise which elicitet
it-Bonaparte's oriental expedition--th'
effect was absolutely decisive. IL became
impossible, and was by experience demon
strated to be impossible, to afford to the
sxpeditionary force the renewal of men and
supplies, upon which depended not only the
prosecution Of the undertaking, but even
the maintenance Of the position already
achieved.
The influence of the battle Of the Nile
was more farreaching still. The conti-
nent of Europe became convulsed from end
20 end as soon as the news was received.
Elated by Bonaparte's 8 career OF victory In
Italy and by the submission of Austria to
terms of peace, the French government
had entered upon q course OF arrogant ag-
gression toward other countries-of which
the unprovoked Egyptian expedition was
only one example-that had aroused the
wrath Of all nations Even the United
States was forced from its attitude Of be-
nevolent neutrality, which had depended
upon the tradition of the war of independ-
ence and the adoption by France Of repub-
lican institutions.
The general resentment In Europe was,
however, curbed by experience of the might
of the French revolutionary movement,
and Of the French armies when welded by
q man like Bonaparte, and there was
wanting the demonstration of some power
capable Of imposing an absolute check up
on their future progress. The battle of
the Nile gave such demonstration. As
Nelson said, 1t was more than a victory;
IL was catastrophe The French feet
was arnihilated. the Mediterranean passed
into the absolute control Of Great Britain,
the flower Of the French army and the in
vincible Bonaparte were cut of hopelessly
from France Turkey, previously over
awed by the feet, declared war In
month. Austria, Russia and Naples had
already drawn together in coalition. They
were emboldened, as the permanence of
the conditions due to the battle became
evident, to pursue their military enter
prises upon a scale which brought the re-
public to the brink of ruin, from which Ii
was saved only by the unexpected and for
tuitous return Of Bonaparte and his acces-
sson TO supreme power year later Be-
fore the year 179S expired combined Rus
sian and Turkish feet entered the Medi-
terranean from the Black sea and under
took to wrest the Ionian islands from
France. In India the movements against
the British domination which had been 70.
mented by French negotiations, and which
Bonaparte expected to foster, fell stillborn
when the disaster became known there
Nelson, aware Of the Importance of the
news to British interests, had at once dis
patched special messenger overland tC
Bombay.
The general satisfaction, not to say ex.
ultation, was shown by the honors and re-
wards showered from all sides upon the
victor. The sultan and the czar, the kings
OF Sardinia and Of the two Sicilies, sent
messages of congratulation and rich pres.
ents, the car accompanying his with an
autograph letter. On the part of his own
country, the two houses of parliament yot-
ed their thanks and pension of 22, 600
year. The East India company by gift OF
$40. 900 acknowledged the security gained
for the Indian possessions. Other individ.
ual corporations took appropriate notice
OF the great event, instances SO far apart
as the cities of London and Palermo and
the island Of Zante showing how wide
spread was the sense of relief.
In titular rank Nelson was raised to the
lowest grade Of the peerage as Baron Mel
son Of the Nile. Indignant comment war
made In some quarters upon the made
Quacy OF this advancement to the brilliancy
and Importance of the service done The
ministry justified Its action upon the tech
nioal ground that, though no superior was
within 1000 miles of Aboukir, Nelson was
nevertheless subordinate flag officer, not
q commander in chief.
Not least gratifying to him, with his
sensitive appreciation of friendship and
susceptibility to flattery, must have been
the numerous letters of congratulation he
received from friends in and out Of the
servioe, and especially from men whose
eminence and professional standing made
their praise q sound criterion for the calm
after Judgment Of mankind. Besides many
!, Jther officers of character and reputation,
the three great admirals, Lords Howe,
Hood and St Vincent the leaders Of the
navy In rank and distinguished service,
wrote to him In the strongest terms Of ad.
miration. The latter two did not hesitate
TO style the battle the greatest achievement
that history could produce, while Howee
Language, more measured, was 90 only be-
cause, like himself, 1t was more precise In
characterizing the special merits Of the ac-
tion and was therefore acknowledged by
Nelson with particular expressions OF pleas
ure.-"Nelson In the Battle Of the Nile"
by Captain A. L. Mahan, in Century.
Average Age OF Doctors.
1t has been discovered by French
statistician that the average age of doctors
An s.1nch hiUhqr than that NJ apv ,.ho- III