The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-10-21
LORD NELSON
CONTINUED from page ~

miralty order, on the 10th of January
1904, and these new flags were the
ones used at Trafalgar and, in fact,
until the end of 1870
Brltain's Food Supply.
The recent strike of dock-laborers
and railroad men in Great Britain,
was a sharp reminder to the English
people, that if their overseas supply
of foodstuffs should be cut off for
thirty days, the half of the population
would be starving. In other words,
the British navy is the guardian of
the life blood of the Empire. To en-
phasize this fact and keep it wildly
before the people, the executive COM
mittee of the Navy League have de-
cided to make an appeal for the an
nual observance of Trafalgar Day
October 21st, and it is appropriate
that a people whose national exist
ence depends upon sea power, should
set apart one day in the year for a
naval festival.
Nelson and Steam.
That Nelson favored the introduce
ton of steam into the navy, is a fact
not generally known; the proposition
was made by Scottish engineer to
the lords of the Admiralty who refus-
ed to entertain the idea, but Nelson
made this emphatic statement, de
pend upon it, gentlemen, if we do not
do this some other nation will, and
in the end vex every vein of the en-
pire." This willingness on his part
to accept new ideas is all the more
notable when we remember, that Ad-
miral Porter many years after said
that steam could never be of practi-
cal use except as an auxiliary to sail,
and that the great Napoleon himself
would not listen to Robert Fulton
which suggests the idle but interest
ing reflection that if he had done so
he might have seized a favorable OPP
portunity, and ferried his Army of
England" across the Channel, leaving
the British fleet with Tapping sails,
, hopelessly out of range, and so have
changed the course of events and
realized his dream of world empire.
/ His Autograph in Honolulu.
There is in Honolulu an autograph
letter written and signed by Nelson
= with his left hand), which illus
| trates his habitual anxiety that all
who had served him faithfully should
be rewarded 1t is addressed to Cap
l tain Somerville, who had won Mel
sons admiration and esteem, by his
gallant conduct, when senior officer
2 in command of the attack upon the
t French fotilla in Boulogne harbor
5 august 10th, 1900 that ended so dis.
astrously for the British. Nelson in
a characteristic letter to Earl st. Vim
: Admiralty, took all the blame for
failure upon himself, and especially
. mentioned Somervilles efficiency and
bravery, and later in more than one
letter urged that he be promoted
: Somerville evidently thought the pro
motion slow in coming, and begged
Nelson to use his influence for him
= once more, hence the letter which is
= here presented. Anyone who has
;, read Mahans Life of Nelson" closely
|, will notice the allusion to the es
! arrangement that had come about be
= tween Nelson and st. Vincent on ac
r count of the Copenhagen medal con
q troversy.
!. Merton, April Goth, 1902.
h My Dear Sir:-You know exactly
5 what has happened between Lord st
II Vincent and myself about your promo
ton, and l should conceive that you
r promotion is approved, but as l havr
5, been on other occasions mistaken il
II understanding Lord st. Vincent,
|, may be possible; but really | think oil
t, this occasion l am correct. My opin
II ion of you was formed from your con
?, duct, therefore my opinion can not al
i ter. with every klnd Wish DelleVe MI
IS my dear sir, your most ob'dt servant
NELSON AND BRONTE.
u Convey my kindest respects to tn,
e Admiral and Mrs Lutwidge, Captain
SomeTville.
u 1t is interesting to note that Somer
vile was promoted three days afte
- = the date of this letter, which by thu
/ way was written on the day that Ne
- sons father died
Anecdotes.
Nelson was by nature kind hearted
lover of children and forever helE
:, ing some needy relative or friend, ant
= yet he was infexible in the face o
- any serious break of discipline. o.