The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21

1t is not to DO expected that we should have of
ute records as those which illustrate the compare
lively brief but striking period of his active fight
ing career, from 1893 to 1905. when he at once
rose to prominence and established intimate re-
lations with numbers Of his contemporaries.
Only a few anecdotes, more or less character
fstic, have been preserved concerning his boy
hood and youth. The external details of tho
uneventful first thirty years of the life of Hora-
ito Nelson are rapidly summarized by the author
Of these volumes. He was born on Sept. %.
1888. the fifth son and sixth child OF Edmund
Nelson, then rector Of the parish OF Burnham
Thorpe, in Norfolk, a county which. it will be re-
membered, lies along the eastern coast of England
bordering the North Sea. His mother. whose
name before marriage was Catherine Sucking,
was grandniece to Sir Robert Walpolc, the we'll
known Prime Minister of Great Britain during
twenty years of the reigns Of the first two
Georges. Sir Roberts second brother was
rallied Horatio, and 1t was from the latter or his
bon that the future hero took his baptismal
hame, which, in a more common form. was also
that of Sir Roberts younger son, the celebrated
writer of letters and memoirs, Horace Walpole.
Of the eleven children borne by Nelson's mother
only two lived to grow old. She herself died at
az, and her brother was also cut off in the prime
Of his life. AS the earlier Nelson's were unusually
long-livcd. Capt. Mahan suggests that a certain
delicacy of constitution may have been transmit
ted through the Stockings to the generation
to which the Admiral belonged. He was himself
at various periods through life a great sufferer,
and frequently an invalid. illusions to illness,
often of q most prostrating type, and to his sus.
ceptibility to tho influences Of climate or
weather. occur repeatedly and at brief intervals
throughout his correspondence. This Is con-
sidered by our author a factor in Nelson's career
which should not be overlooked; for, on tho
one hand, it explains In part the fretfulness
which at times appears; and, on the other,
brings out with increased force the general
kindly sweetness Of his temper. which breathed,
with slight Attachments. through such distressing
conditions. 1t enhances, at the same time, the
strength of purpose that almost unconsciously
trod bodily weakness under foot at the call of
duty or OF honor.
We are told that the immediate occasion Of
his going to sea was as follows: In 1910 the
Falkland Islands, a desolate and then unimpor-
tant group lying in tho South Atlantic to the
eastward Of Patagonia, were claimed as a pos
session by both Spain and Great Britain. The
latter had upon them n settlement called Port
Edmond. before which, In tho year named, an
overwhelming Spanish squadron suddenly ap-
peared and compelled the British occupants to
lower their flag. ~Peremptory demands for rep
aration were forthwith despatched to Spain and
q number of English ships OF war were ordered
at once into commission. Among these was
tho fashionable of sixty-four guns, TO tho
of which was appointed Nelson's
uncle, Capt. Maurice Sucking. The latter had
some time before promised to provide for one
Of his sisters children, the Nelson family
being very poor; and the custom of the day per.
hitting naval Captains, as a kind Of patronage,
TO take into the Kings service on board their
own ships a certain number of lads as IN idship-
mon or otherwise, the opportunity Of giving a
nephew n start In life was now in his hands. The
story Is that Horatio. though then but IL years
old, realized the burden of pecunlary care that
his father was carrying and himself volunteered
the wish that his uncle would take him to sea.
However 1t happened, the suggestion staggered
Sucking. who was not ignorant OF the lads puny
frame and fragile constitution. "What has poor
little Horatio done" cried he, that he, being 30
weak, should DO sent to rough 1t at sea I But let
him come and. II a cannon ball takes OF his
head. he will at least be provided for"
Thus began Nelson's career at sea. But We can
notdwell on the successive steps OF his promotion
from service In a West India merchantmen to
Acting Lieutenant In the Channel feet, Lieuten-
ant In the Iowestofe. and to Commander and
Post-Captsin, Before. however, wo mark his
personal appearance at the age of 90 and "a,
as described by the author, we should pause TO
recall two anecdotes relating to his childhood,
which. ~ Capt. Mahan points out. are In entire