Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-02-05
BATTLE OF THE NILE.
ITS EFFECT AND ITS INFLUENCE WERE
FARREACHlNG.

ITS EFFECT AND ITS INFLUENCE WERE
FARRE ACHING.
The Continent Of Europe Was Convulsed
From End to End When the News Was
Known Honors and Congratulations
Were Showcred Upon Nelson.
OF 10 French ships Of the line all but
two were taken or destroyed. The fleet
was annihilated. "victory," said Nelson
Justly, "is certainly not name strong
enough for such scene az have passed. -
In completeness of immediate results upon
the field no fleet action has ever oqualcd
the battle Of the Nile Upon the fortunes
of the particular enterprise which elected
it-Bonaparte's oriental expedition--the
effect WAS absolutely decisive. 1t became
impossible, and was by experience demon
strated to be impossible, to Afford to the
expeditionary force the renewal of mon 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 farrenching still. The conti-
nent of Europe became convulsed from end
to end as soon us tho news was received.
Eatcd by Bonaparte's career Of victory In
Italy and by the submission Of Austria to-
terms of peace, tho French government
had entered upon course of arrogant ng-
gression toward other countrics-of which
the unprovoked Egyptian expedition was
only one example-that had rSSnused tho
wrath of all nations. Even 80 United
States was forced from It's attitude OF tie.
nevolent neutrality, which hud depended
upon the tradition Of tho war Of tndcpond-
ence and the adoption by Franco of repub-
loan institutions.
The general resentment In Europe WINS,
however, ourbed by experience Of the might
of the French revolutionary movement,
and of the French armies when welded by
man like Bonaparte, and there was
wanting tho demonstration OF some power
capable of imposing an absolute check up
OH their future progress. Tho battle OF
tho Nile gave such u demonstration. As
Nelson said, 1t was more than victory;
1t was catastrophe. The French feet
was annihiiated, tho Mediterranean passed
into the absolute control OF Great Britain,
the flower of tho Fronch army and tho In
vincible Bonaparte were cut of hopclessly
from Franco. Turkey, previously over
awed by the feet, declared war In
month. Austria, Russia and Naples Ind
already drawn together In coalition They
were omboldenod, 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 1t
was saved only by the Unexpected and for
tuitous return of Bonaparte and his acces-
sion to supreme power Il year later. 30
fore the year 1898 expired combined Rus
sian and Turkish fleet entered the Medi-
terranenn from the Black sen and under
took to wrest the 1onian islands from
France. In India the movements against
tho British domination which had been TO-
monte.l by T :ench negotiations, and which
Bonaparte expected to foster, fe1. stillborn
whom tho disaster became knuTn there
Nelson, aware OF tho Importance of tho
news to British interests, had ut once dis
patched a special messenger overland to
Bombay.
The general satisfaction, not to say ex-
ultatioli, was shown by the honors and ro-
wards showored from all sides upon the
victor. The sultan and the ozar, the kings
I of Sardinia and of the two Sicjlies, sont
messages Of congratulation and rich pres
ents, tho car accompanying his with m
autograph letter. On tho part of his own
country, the two houses of parliament vot-
ed thoir thanks and pension Of $4,000 Il
year. The East India company by gift OF
&lO, 900 acknowledged the security gained
for tho Indian possessions. Other individ-
ual corporations took appropriate notice
of the grent event. instances SO far apart
as tho cities of London and Palermo and
the island of Zanto, showing how wide
spread was the sense Of relief.
In titular rank Nelson was raised to the
lowest grade of the peerage as Baron mol.
son of tho Nile. Indignant comment was
made IN sOmo quarters upon the tnado-
ouacy of this advancement to the brillianoy
and Importance of the service DONE The
ministry justified It's action upon this tech
nical ground chat, though no superior was
within 1000 miles of Aboukir, Nelson was
nevertheless subordinate 1ag officer, not
commander IN chief.
Not least gratifying to him, with his
sensitive appreciation Of friendship and
susceptibility to nattery, must have been
the numerous letters of congratulation he
received from friends in and out of the
service, and especially from men whose
ominenoe and professional standing nude
their praise sound criterion for the calm
after judgmentof mankind. Besides many
other 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 Howe's
language, more measured, was SO only be-
cause, like himself, 1t was more precise In
characteriziA1 the special merits of the ao-
ton and was therefore acknowledged by
Nelson with particular expressions of pleas
ure.-"Nelson In the Battle Of the Nile, J"
by Captain A. r.. Mahan, in Century.
Average Ago Of Doctors.
1t has been discovered by French
statistician that the average age OF doctors