double line, every alternate ship being about a cable's length to windward of her second ahead and astern.

Nelson's last signal was now made:-" ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY!" He wore that day, as usual, his admiral's frock, bearing on the left breast four stars, of the different orders with which he was invested. It was known that there were riflemen on board the French ships; and it could not be doubted but that his life would be particularly aimed at. This was a point upon which Nelson's officers knew that it was hopeless to remonstrate or reason with him; but Blackwood, and his own captain Hardy, represented to him how advantageous to the fleet it would be for him to keep out of action as long as possible; and he consented at last to let the Leviathan and the Téméraire, which were sailing abreast of the Victory, be ordered to pass ahead. Yet even here the last infirmity of this noble mind was indulged, for these ships could not pass ahead of the Victory who continued to carry all her sail; and so far was Nelson from shortening sail, that it was evident he took pleasure in pressing on, and rendering it impossible for them to obey his own orders. The French admiral, on beholding Nelson and Collingwood each leading his line, is said to have exclaimed, pointing them out to his officers, that such conduct could not fail to be successful.

At ten minutes before twelve the action commenced. Eight or nine of the ships immediately ahead of the Victory, and across her bows, fired single guns at her, to ascertain whether she was yet within their range. Nelson's column was steered about two points more to the north than Collingwood's, in order to cut off the enemy's escape into Cadiz: the lee line, therefore, was first engaged. The Royal Sovereign, steered right for the centre of the enemy's line, cut tnrough it astern of the Santa Anna, threedecker, and engaged her at the muzzle of her guns on the starboard side. The enemy continued to fire a gun at a time at the Victory, till they saw that a shot had passed through her maintop-gallant-sail; then they opened their broadsides, aiming chiefly at her rigging. The enemy showed no colors till late in the action. For this reason, the Santissima Trinidad, was distinguished only by her four decks; and to the bow of this opponent he ordered the Victory to be steered. Meantime an incessant raking fire was kept up upon the Victory. The Admiral's secretary was one of the first who fell. Presently a double-headed shot struck a party of marines, who were drawn up on the poop, and killed eight of them. A few minutes afterwards a shot struck the fore brace bits on the quarter deck, and passed between Nelson and Hardy, a splinter from the bit tearing off Hardy's buckle and bruising his foot. Nelson then smiled, and said, "This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long.'

The Victory had not yet returned a single gun; fifty of her men had been by this time killed or wounded, and her main-top

mast with all her studaing-sails and her booms, shot away. At four minutes after twelve, she opened her fire from both sides of her deck. The master was ordered to put the helm to port, and she ran on board the Redoubtable, just as her tiller ropes were shot away. The French ship received her with a broadside; then instantly let down her lower-deck ports, for fear of being boarded through them, and never afterward fired a great gun during the action. Her tops, like those of all the enemy's ships, were filled with riflemen. Captain Harvey, in the Téméraire, fell on board the Redoubtable on the other side. Another enemy was in like manner on board the Téméraire; so that these four ships formed as compact a tier as if they had been moored together, their heads lying all the same way. The lieutenants of the Victory, seeing this, depressed their guns of the middle and lower decks, and fired with a diminished charge, lest the shot should pass through, and injure the Téméraire. An incessant fire was kept up from the Victory from both sides; her larboard guns playing upon the Bucentaur and the huge Santissima Trinidad.

It had been part of Nelson's prayer, that the British fleet might be distinguished by humanity in the victory he expected. He twice gave orders to cease firing upon the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck. From this ship, which he had thus twice spared, he received his death. A ball fired from her mizen-top, which, in the then situation of the two vessels, was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was standing, struck the epualette on his left shoulder, about 8 quarter after one, just in the heat of the action. He fell upon his face, on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood. He was taken down into the cockpit, and it was perceived, upon examination, that the wound was mortal. This, however, was concealed from all, except Captain Hardy, the chaplain, and the medical attendants. All that could be done was to fan him with paper, and frequently to give him lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst. He was in great pain, and expressed much anxiety for the event of the action, which now began to declare itself. As often as a ship struck, the crew of the Victory huzzaed, and at every huzza, a visible expression of joy gleamed in the eyes, and marked the countenance of the dying hero. Nelson desired to be turned on his right side, when his articulation became difficult, but he was distinctly heard to say, "Thank God, I have done my duty." These words he repeatedly pronounced: and they were the last words which he uttered. He expired at thirty minutes after four, three hours and a quarter after he had received his wound. The man who had given the fatal wound, was recognised, and did not live to boast of what he had done. When the Redoubtable was taken possession of, he was found dead in the mizen top, with one ball through his head,

and another through his breast. The Spaniards began the battle with less vivacity than their unworthy allies, but they continued it with greater firmness. Once, amid his sufferings, Nelson had expressed a wish that he were dead; but immediately the spirit subdued the pains of death, and he wished to live a little longer;doubtless that he might hear the completion of the victory which he had seen so gloriously begun. That consolation—that joy— that triumph was afforded him. He lived to know that the victory was decisive; and the last guns which were fired at the flying enemy were heard a minute or two before he expired. The ships which were thus flying were four of the enemy's van, all French, under Rear-Admiral Dumanoir, who were afterwards captured by Sir Richard Strachan.

The total British loss in the Battle of Trafalgar amounted to one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven. Twenty of the enemy struck; but it was not possible to anchor the fleet, as Nelson had enjoined; a gale came on from the south-west; some of the prizes went down, some went on shore; one effected its escape into Cadiz; others were destroyed; four only were saved and these by the greatest exertions. The Spanish_vice-admiral Alava, died of his wounds. Villeneuve was sent to England, and permitted to return to France. It is almost superfluous to add, that all the honors which a grateful country could bestow, were heaped upon the memory of Nelson. A public funeral was decreed and a public monument. The leaden coffin, in which he was carried home, was cut in pieces, which were distributed as relics of Saint Nelson,- -so the gunner of the Victory called them; and when, at his interment, his flag was about to be lowered into the grave, the sailors, who assisted at the ceremony, with one accord rent it in pieces, that each might preserve a fragment while he lived. There was reason to suppose, from the appearances upon opening the body, that, in the course of nature, he might have attained, like his father, to a good old age. Yet he cannot be said to have fallen prematurely, whose work was done; nor ought he to be lamented, who died so full of honors, and at the height of human fame.

CASABIANCA.*

The boy stood on the burning deck,
Whence all but him had fled;

The flame that lit the battle's wreck,

Shone round him o'er the dead.

Young Casabianca, a boy about thirteen years old, son to the admiral of the Orient, remained at his post (in the battle of the Nile,) after the ship had taken fire, and all the guns had been abandoned; and perished in the explosion of the vessel, when the flames had reached

the Dov'der

Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to rule the storm;
A creature of heroic blood,
A proud, though childlike form.

The flames rolled on-he would not go,
Without his father's word;
That father, faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.

He called aloud-"Say, father, say
If yet my task is done?"

He knew not that the chieftain lay
Unconscious of his son.

"Speak, father!" once again he cried,
"If I may yet be gone!"

-And but the booming shots replied,
And fast the flames rolled on.

In the dreadful hurricane which took place at Antigua, on the 4th of September, 1804, several vessels were lost; and among others, the Duke of Cumberland Packet. Every precaution had been taken, by striking the yards and masts, to secure the vessel; and the cable had held so long, that some faint hope began to be

entertained of riding out the gale, when several of the crew were so indiscreet, as to quit the deck for some refreshment; no sooner had they sat down, than a loud groan from the rest of the crew summoned thein on deck. The captain ran forward, and exclaimed, "All's now over: Lord God have mercy upon us!" The cable had parted; the ship hung about two minutes by the stream and kedge, and then began to drive broadside on. At this moment the seamen, torn by despair, seemed for a moment to forget themselves; lamentations for their homes, their wives, and their children, resounded through the ship. Every man clung to a rope, and determined to stick to it as long as the ship remained entire. For an hour they drifted on, without knowing whither, the men continued to hold fast by the rigging while their bodies were beaten by the heaviest rain, and lashed by every wave. The most dreadful silence prevailed. Every one was too intent on his own approaching end, to be able to communicate his feelings to another; and nothing was heard but the howling of the tempest. The vessel drove towards the harbor of St. John's, and two alarm guns were fired, in order that the garrison might be spectators of their fate, for it was in vain to think of assistance. They soon drove against a large ship, and went close under her stern. A faint hope now appeared of being stranded on a sandy beach; and the captain therefore ordered the carpenter to get the hatchets all ready to cut away the masts, in order to make a raft for those who chose to venture upon it. The vessel however drove with extreme violence on some rocks, and the cracking of her timbers below was distinctly heard. Every hope now vanished, and the crew already began to consider themselves as beings of another world. In order to ease the vessel, and if possible prevent her from parting, the mizen-mast was suffered to remain, to steady the vessel. The vessel had struck about two o'clock, and in half an hour afterwards the water was up to the lower deck. Never was daylight more anxiously wished for, than by the crew of this vessel. After having hung so long by the shrouds, they were forced to cling three hours longer before the dawn appeared. The sea was making a complete breach over the ship, which was laying on her beam ends; and the crew, stiff and benumbed, could with difficulty hold against the force of the waves, every one of which struck and nearly drowned them.

The break of day discovered to the wretched mariners all the horrors of their situation; the vessel was lying upon large rocks, at the foot of a craggy overhanging precipice, twice as high as the ship's mainmast; the wind and rain beat upon the crew with unabated violence, and the ship lay a miserable wreck. The first thoughts of the crew in the morning were naturally directed to the possibility of saving their lives; and they all agreed, that their only chance of doing so, was by means of the mizen mast. The top-mast and top-gallant-mast were launched out, and reached