CHAPTER XX. CONCLUSION. (1805 to 1806.) Nelson's funeral--Letters and speeches of the Duke of Clarence and others-Effect of Nelson's death on Pitt-Lord Malmesbury's record of the general sorrow-Rewards by the Crown and ParliamentPurchase of the estate of Trafalgar-Memorials and monumentsNelson's will and codicils-Poetical tributes, Canning and Lord Carlisle-The Queen's visit to the Victory-The bust of Nelson in the armoury at Windsor-Lady Castlereagh's letter to her son. N the 5th of November, 1805, the Pickle schooner arrived at Spithead from the fleet, and the news of Trafalgar began to spread about the country. Early on the following morning an extraordinary Gazette announced the gain and the irreparable loss. It is no fiction to record so universal was the sorrow for the death of Nelson, that the victory, great as it was, was almost forgotten in the grief for the loss sustained by England of her own hero. "England did mourn," as Collingwood had written, for there was nothing left like him. From Royalty to the poorest subject condolence preceded congratulation, and the victory was deemed too dearly purchased by the death of Nelson. When the King, on the receipt of Collingwood's despatch, realized the truth of the rumour that Nelson had fallen in the hour of victory, he was so deeply affected that some time passed ere he could speak. When the Queen read the despatch to the Princesses, the whole Royal group burst into tears. When the despatch was read by all classes the tear stood in many an eye, and all devoured it in silence. Its effect on Pitt and the English public is thus related by Lord Malmesbury : "On the receipt of the news of the memorable battle of Trafalgar (some day in November, 1805)," writes Lord Malmesbury, "I happened to dine with Pitt, and it was naturally the engrossing subject of our conversation. I shall never forget the eloquent manner in which he described his conflicting feelings when roused in the night to read Collingwood's despatches. Pitt observed that he had been called up at various hours in his eventful life by the arrival of news of various hues, but that, whether good or bad, he could always lay his head on his pillow and sink into a sound sleep again. On this occasion, however, the great event announced brought with it so much to weep over, as well as to rejoice at, that he could not calm his thoughts, but at length got up, though it was three in the morning.": I Of the effect of the sad news on the public the same diarist furnishes the following graphic and affecting record : "The first impression was not joy, for Nelson fell! The Hero, who was regretted with all the tenderness of gratitude, and all the more selfish feeling that the bulwark of England was gone, and this circumstance would be equivalent to Buonaparte for the loss of his fleet. He added to genius, valour, and energy, the singular power of electrifying all within his atmosphere, and making them only minor constellations to this most luminous planet. The confidence he inspired in his followers, and the terror of his name to our enemies, are what make his loss an irreparable one. Others may be great in many points: nay, admit that another, like himself, might appear again amongst the disciples he has formed, there would yet be wanting all he had done, and all the circumstances of the times in which he did these wondrous deeds. Every victory was greater than the last. Every additional difficulty seemed only to bring out some new proof of the combination and powers of his mind as well as the invincible force of his arms; and had he survived this last victory, the next and the 'Lord Malmesbury's Diary, vol. iv. p. 311. 1805-6.] PUBLIC SORROW AT NELSON'S DEATH. 425 next would have still surpassed each other. All this is sorrow for ourselves, but still more deeply do I regret that he cannot see the effect his death has produced. Not one individual who felt joy at this victory, so well timed, and so complete, but first had an instinctive feeling of sorrow, not selfish sorrow (for it came before the reflection of the consequences of his loss to us), but the sorrow of affection and gratitude for what he had done for us; and the first regret was, that he who did the deed should be deprived of the enjoyment which he, above all other men, from his character, would have derived from its effects. "Could he have lived but long enough to have known, that no victory-not even his victories, could weigh in the hearts of Englishmen against his most precious life, it would have been some consolation. I never saw so little public joy. The illumination seemed dim, and, as it were, half-clouded by the desire of expressing the mixture of contending feelings; every common person in the streets speaking first of their sorrow for him, and then of the victory. Collingwood's letter (which is admirable) proves that it was his act to make all under him love him, and own his superiority without a ray of jealousy. "He never was a party man himself, and there never was a party in his fleets. All were governed by one mind, and this made them invincible. He was a true patriot, which is nearly as rare a character as to be the hero he was. He had the aim and spirit of chivalry, and he was the most loyal subject-living and dying for his country, without reference to those who held the helm under that sovereign, to whom, next to her, he considered himself bound. This completes a character which cannot, I fear, appear again in our time." 1 I On the 4th of December the Victory, with Nelson's corpse in charge of his faithful chaplain, Dr. Scott, arrived in St. Helen's Road, Nelson's honoured flag flying halfmast high. Immediately every ship lowered their flags and pendants to the same position. From Spithead the Victory sailed to the Nore, and there the corpse was transferred to the Admiralty yacht, and conveyed to Greenwich. From the 5th to the 8th of January in the following year the Painted Hall at Greenwich was I Lord Malmesbury's Diary, vol. iv. p. 311. filled from morning to evening with crowds that passed through it before the coffin of Nelson-the old L'Orient coffin—as he lay in state in that noble chamber. On the last day the river presented a singular scene, as the State barge bore the body up the stream; the banks were filled with eager crowds, and the procession was lengthened out by numerous other barges and boats. On its arrival at Whitehall stairs, the coffin was carried with every solemnity to a room in the Admiralty purposely prepared for its reception. On the next day the funeral ceremony filled the streets with an attentive and serious crowd, as it passed slowly to St. Paul's. Nelson's oldest friend, Sir Peter Parker, was there as chief mourner, every prince of the Royal family was present, and some of the oldest and ablest of Britain's admirals bore their part in the solemn ceremony. When the Duke of Clarence ascended the steps of St. Paul's he suddenly stopped, and took hold of The fact that a waxen figure of Nelson is exhibited in the cupboard in Westminster Abbey, has given rise to the report that at his funeral one of those effigies in old days carried in the funerals of Royal and great personages, was present in the procession to St. Paul's. The truth is that finding that the unabated popularity of the hero led sightseers to flock to the tomb at St. Paul's, and to desert the sights at the Abbey, induced its vergers to have such a figure made in hopes of reviving the attraction to that fane. It is probably little known that for a time the coffin of Wellington rested on that of Nelson, after the funeral of the former, for more than a year. Hence Tennyson's lines in which Nelson asks "Who is he that cometh like an honoured guest, With banners and with music, with soldiers and with priest? And the answer "Mighty sailor, this is he Was great by land, as thou by sea. Thine Island knew thee well, thou famous man The greatest sailor since the world began! Now to the roll of muffled drums, To thee the greatest soldier comes; For this is he Was great by land, as thou by sea." 1806.] NELSON'S FUNERAL. 427 the colours that were borne by the Victory's men, and, after a few words with one of the gallant fellows, burst into tears. When the tattered flags were borne within the altar rails the Prince of Wales requested that they might be carried as near the grave as possible; and when he looked on these records of the fight he could not forbear from weeping. At last when the coffin slowly descended into the grave, and Nelson's flag that covered it was about. to be withdrawn, with one accord the sailors who held it rent it into pieces, and eagerly treasured up these relics of their beloved chief.1 "I wish," wrote the Duke of Clarence to Captain Hargood, "another brave fellow could have witnessed our rejoicing for this victory, but he is gone-I mean my friend Nelson. You know well my attachment and friendship for him, and you can, therefore, easily conceive what I must have felt, at the moment of the most brilliant victory, to lose my friend covered with glory, and entitled to the first honours of a grateful country. I did not think it was possible, but for one of my dearest relations, to have felt what I have, and what I do still for poor Nelson." Again, when offering a sword to Collingwood, the Duke wrote: "To LORD COLLINGWOOD. 66 ST. JAMES, November 9, 1805. "DEAR SIR,-As a brother admiral, and as a sincere well-wisher to my King and country, permit me to congratulate you on the most important victory gained on the 21st of October under your gallant self and the brave officers, seamen, and royal marines under your command, and formerly under my lamented and valuable friend, Lord Nelson. The country laments the Hero, and you and I feel the loss of our departed friend. Five-and-twenty years have I lived on the most intimate terms with Nelson, and must ever, both publicly and privately, regret his loss. Earl St. Vincent and Lord Nelson both in the hour of victory accepted from me a sword, and I hope you will now confer on me the same pleasure." "12 2 "Life of Nelson," by the author, S. P. C. K., 1851. Despatches, vol. vii. p. 240, note; Correspondence of Lord Collingwood, vol. i. p. 220. |