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LORD NELSON.

THIS celebrated character, whose exploits have reflected so much glory on the British nation, was the son of the Rev. Edmund Nelson, and was born at Burnham Thorpe, in Norfolk, in the year 1758. He received his education at the school at North Walsham, and at an early age discovered a strong predilection for the naval profession, and went on board the Raisonable, of sixty-four guns, commanded by his mother's brother, Captain Maurice Suckling.

In the month of April, 1773, the enterprising spirit of Horatio Nelson manifesting itself, he went in capacity of cockswain to Captain Lutwidge, in a voyage of discovery to the north Pole. Upon the return of the ships, in October, he was placed in the Seahorse, of twenty guns, Captain Farmer; and in April, 1777, he obtained the professional order of lieutenant, and received his commission the next day. On the eleventh of June, 1779, he rose to the rank of post captain, and during the nine years he had been in the service he not only became an able officer by his constant attention to every part of his duty, but he also laid the foundation of being a pilot of distinguished eminence.

The first ship to which he was appointed, after being made a post captain, was the Hinchinbroke. In the month of January, 1780, it was resolved on to reduce Fort Juan, in the gulf of Mexico, when Captain Nelson was made choice of to command the naval department, and that of the military was committed to Major Polson. Here his usual intrepidity was exhibited, and his vigorous exertions were so extolled by Major Polson and General Dalling, that he was appointed to the Janus, at that time stationed at Jamaica. In 1781, he obtained the command of the Albemarle, and was employed during the ensuing winter in the north seas In 1783, hostilities having previously ceased, the Albemarle was paid off, and he set out on a visit to France. In 1787, he married the widow of Doctor Nesbit, of the island of Nevis, and retired to the parsonage-house of Burnham Thorpe, given him by his father, where he lived for many years in domestic felicity.

On the breaking out of the war in 1793, he again came forward, and being appointed to the command of the Agamemnon, of sixty-four guns, he became peculiarly conspicuous as a naval officer, under the orders of Lord Hood, who at that period was destined to com mand in the Mediterranean. Toulon, Bastia and Calvi, witnessed his gallant and intrepid deportment. At the siege of the latter he had the misfortune to lose the sight of his right eye. On the thirteenth and fourteenth of March, and the thirteenth of July, 1795, he again rendered himself pre-eminent in the actions which then took place with the French fleet. After various other active and important services during the preceding months, Sir Horatio Nelson, in April, 1793, hoisted his flag on board the Captain, of seventy-four guns, as rearadmiral of the Blue. On the fifteenth of April, in the same year, having shifted his flag from the Captain 10 the Theseus, he was detached with a small squadron to attack the town of Santa Cruz, in the island of Teneriffe; from which, not being able to attain the decisive ENGLAND.]

LORD NELSON.

object, he was induced to retreat. In this unfortunate expedition, the brave Nelson lost his arm by a cannon shot.

But a more splendid scene of the life of our hero is now opening. On the thirteenth of April, 1798, he was detached by Earl St. Vincent's fleet, in pursuit of the French to the coast of Egypt, with twelve sail of the line and one frigate, while the enemy's fleet consisted of thirteen sail of the line and some frigates, protected by the batteries on shore, and several gun brigs. This memorable action commenced at sun set, and terminated gloriously for the honour of our hero, and that of the British navy. Nine sail of the line fell into the hands of the conqueror, two were burnt, and two effected their escape. In the action Nelson received a wound on the head. From this moment Lord Nelson was regarded as the great defence of the empire, and the support of the national glory. It is to his gallantry and skill that we are indebted for the victory of Copenhagen, and the annihilation of that formidable northern confederacy which menaced the prosperity, the commerce, and even the very existence of the rest of Europe.

Passing over one of the most important and beneficial, although unsuccessful enterprizes for which his life was distinguished, his pursuit of the combined fleets of France and Spain to the West Indies, we come to the concluding scene of this extraordinary man's naval career, which kindles emotions of admiration and regret, and at once excites both transport and extreme sorrow. Perhaps no action in point of splendour and magnanimity, can equal that which deprived this

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