some ropes and canvas on the Victory’s booms, the Redoubtable, having lost her bowsprit, main and mizen-masts, and fore-top-mast, and being, as we may readily imagine, in a dreadfully shattered condition, ceased her opposition and surrendered.
Towards the close of the combat, Captain Hardy again visited the cockpit, and reported to his dying chief the number of ships that had struck. “God be praised, Hardy!” replied the expiring hero; “bring the fleet to an anchor.” The delicacy of Captain Hardy’s situation, there being no Captain of the Fleet[1], was peculiarly embarrassing; and, with as much feeling as the subject would admit of, he hinted at the command devolving on Vice-Admiral Collingwood. Nelson, feeling the vast importance of the fleet being brought to anchor, and with the ruling passion of his soul predominant in death, replied somewhat indignantly, “not whilst I live, I hope, Hardy;” and vainly endeavouring, at the moment, to raise himself on the pallet, “Do you,” said he, “bring the fleet to anchor.” Captain Hardy was returning to the quarter-deck, when the Admiral called him back and delivered his last injunctions, desiring, among other matters of a private nature, that his body might be carried home, and, unless his Sovereign should otherwise command it, be buried by the side of his parents. He then took his faithful follower by the hand, and observing, that he would most probably not see him again alive, desired Captain Hardy to kiss him, that he might seal their long friendship with that affection which pledged sincerity in death. Captain Hardy stood for a few minutes in silent agony over the body of him he so truly regarded, and then kneeling down, again kissed his forehead: “Who is that?” said the dying warrior: “It is Hardy, my Lord.” “God bless you, Hardy,” replied Nelson feebly, and shortly after added, “I wish I had not left the deck, I shall soon be gone;” his voice then gradually became inarticulate, with an evident increase of pain: when, after a feeble struggle, these last words were distinctly heard, “I have
- ↑ Rear-Admiral George Murray, who had formerly filled the honorable post of Captain of the Fleet, having occasion to remain in England to settle some family affairs, left his Lordship on his return from the West Indies.
