The San Francisco call., 1897-05-30
MAHAN'S LIFE OF NELSON.

OF THE SEA POWER OF GREAT BRIT
AIN-By Captain A. T. Mahan, DC L., Ii D.,
l. tile Brown & Co. For sale this City all
bookstores. Price, 80
The publication simultaneously in this
country and in England of Captain Mahan's
"Llfe of Nelson" is the literary event of the
year The book has been anxiously and i'm
patiently awaited on both sides OF the water,
for it was felt that previous biographies o
Eng)and's naval hero-those OF Southey, of
Nicolas and of Russell, to cite the three best
we're all more or less detective. The student
OF maritime matters has long been on the look
out for a standard work free from technicali-
ties and couched in readable English, that
would deal impartial justice to one of the most
important characters in the history of Eng
land. The volumes before Us evidence
that the desired end has been reached, and it
is not too much to say that. dating from 1897,
Captain Mahan's work win be accepted
standard.
Captain Mahan possesses numerous qualifi-
cations for the work he has undertaken. He
is an officer OF the United States navy, and has
seen continual service since 1859. He has
also won considerable reputation as naval
historian, this being based upon his 'Guf and
Inland Waters" history OF the movements OF
our navy during the Civil War; THE Lie OF
Admiral Farragut; "The Influence OF Sea
Power Upon History, 1660-1793," and "The
luton, 1793-1S12," all these being recognized
as authoritative upon the subjects of which
they treat To this add a charming style of
English composition, combined with per-
fectly balanced and impartial method of han
ding facts, and it will be readily seen that we
have in Captain Mahan writer eminently
fitted to act as sponsor for new life of Nelson.
The idea of writing biography of the hero
OF Trafalgar first occurred to Captain MahAn
in 1898, when he was ordered to the comm and
of the United States ship Chicago he had
then already formed the purpose (Which he
has since carried ouD of retiring from the
navy at the expiration of forty years service.
With this idea he had peutioned the depart
ment to release him, in order that he might
continue with his literary work. The naval
authorities, however, refused to accept his
resignation, and two years cruise followed.
The captain endeavored to do his literary
work after his hours of duty, but, as
can well re imagined by those pos
sessed of the slightest acquaintance with life
on shipboard, he found this impracticable.
The Life of Nelson therefore, has been
written since Captain Mahan's return from
his cruise on the Chicago in May, 1895, with
the exception of the first couple of hundred
pages, and these nave been largely revised
and amended from the original draft. Owing
partly to official duties lecturer at the
naval WAT college and partly to other engage
ber 1895
If there is one laudable Characteristic pos
ses7ed by the author of the work under
view and manifested in his treatment of the
subject, it is q really liberal measure OF mod
esty. To use his own words: "Tne aim OF the
present writer while not neglecting other
sources of knowledge, has been to make Nell
son describe himself-tell the story OF his own
inner life as well as of his external actions.
To realize this object it has not seemed the
best way to insert numerous letters, because
in the career of g man OF action each one
commonly deals with variety of subjects
which bear to one another little relation,
except that at the moment of writing, they
all formed part OF the N ultifold life the writer
was then leading. The authors
method has been to make careful tudy OF
Nelson's Yoluminous corresponds nee analyz-
ing 1t in order to detect the leading features
of temperament, traits OF thought and motives
of action, and thence to conceive within him
self by gradual familiarity even more than
by formal effort, the character therein re-
vealed." Such is the plan of the work as out
lined by its au thor, who, steadfastly adhering
to his theories, has proved their superiority.
In his work Captain MahRn has been at
particular pains to set down nothing in malice
while extenuating nothing. He pictures TO
US the man as he was, exhibiting both his
many good traits and his undoubted failings.
]
mentioned by Nelson's biographers a factor
in his career which should not be lost to min d.
inGsmuch as ION the 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 aba teme mt
through such depressing conditions"
OF the mental characteristics of Nelson,
Captain Mahan has this to say:
UTha braadth and aputeneSs of NelS0n'S In
tellect have been too much overlooked in the
admiration excited ny his unusually grand
moral endowments of resolution and fearless
ness of responsibility. Though scarcely what
could be called an educated man he was Que
of close and constant observation, thereby
gaining great deal of information; and to
the use of this he brought practical sagseity
which coped with the civil political Ques-
tions placed before it. for action, much as it did
with military questions-for, after all, good
generalship on its intellectual side is simply
the application to the solution OF military
problem Of q mind naturally gifted therefor
and stored with experience, either personal or
of others. As strategist and tactician Mel
son made full proof of high native endow-
ments, of wisdom garnered through fruitful
study and meditation and OF clear insight into
the determining conditions of the various
military situations with which he had to
deal"
To frail body and powerful brain Nelson
united dash and daring hat were remark
able. Confirmation of this is to be found in
his correspondence before the occurrence of
the siege of Bastia under Lord Hood, who was
himself fe ul of hazarding the experiment.
s'I feel for the honor my country wrote
Nelson at this time, "and had rather be beat
than not make the attack. IL we do not try,
we can never be successful. l own l have no
fears for the final issue; it will be conquest.
Nv reputation depends upon the opinion ]
have given, but feel an honest conscious
ness that / have done right We must. we
will have it, or some of our heads will be laid
low. / glory in the attempt" And sgsin:
what would the immortal Wolfe have done
As he did, beat the enemy, If he perished in
the attempt" Still again, fortnight later:
owe are in high health and spirits besieging
Bastia; the final event. feel assured, will be
conquest"
The one great blot on the career OF Nelson
the Lady Hamilton episode-is handled by
Captain Mahan in q manner provocative of
our highest praise. Indeed, after reading
those portions of the book treating of the
matter one Is almost inclined to forgive the
ttdtSon between the two. The incident is a
singular contradiction of the ancient saw that
two OF q kind never agree. Nelson and Lady
Hamilton, as described to us by their BIZ
ographer, were very similar in temperament
and composition, especially in their common
love OF admiration and the hattery of courts.
6orn OF humble parents, possessed OF great