NELSON. 143 



Toulon and secured, without the knowledge of his superior officer, the promise 

 of 6,000 Italians to meet this need. In Corsica, when the relations between the 

 general and admiral became strained, he was the intermediary who secured the 

 desired cooperation. It was so throughout life. His own affectionate, winning 

 nature, his pertinacity, and thorough insight into the motives of men added to his 

 success. The hypokinetic man is the intellectual ruminant, the philosopher, 

 because in that state grosser movements are inhibited and there is time to think. 

 Nelson's depressed states made him a strategist and statesman; his excited states 

 made him a tactician and fighter. 



The advantage of Nelson's hysteroidal, feebly-inhibited temperament for a great 

 naval fighter is shown in the battle of Copenhagen in contrast with the calm, 

 deliberate (normal) temperament of Sir Hyde Parker, who was in command of 

 the expedition. Parker was very doubtful of the feasibility of attacking the enemy's 

 strong force in Copenhagen harbor, but permitted Nelson to go with 12 battle- 

 ships up close to the Danish ships and batteries; and against these Nelson fought 

 so successfully that the Danes readily agreed to an armistice on terms practically 

 of Nelson's dictation. The calm Parker, meantime, stands with the main fleet 

 some 5 to 4 miles out and, without having fired a gun himself, signals Nelson in 

 the midst of the battle to leave off action a signal which Nelson deliberately 

 disobeys. Nelson was able to throw precaution and other minor considerations 

 to the wind in the excitement of the anticipated battle; but Parker could not do 

 so and remained inactive. 



Three other traits of Nelson remain to be discussed ambition, sense of duty, 

 and pertinacity: 



Ambition. The desire to excel arises from love of esteem, an amour propre, 

 a dislike to be considered inferior. In extreme cases it leads, by perversion, to 

 a desire for power and supremacy at any cost. The instinct to be first, doubtless, 

 is a part of the sexual instinct. It shows itself in male animals which fight for 

 leadership in the herd; such leadership gives them the choice in matings. It 

 shows itself in females which make themselves as attractive as possible in order 

 to secure attention from the males. It was strong, but not to a perverted degree, 

 in Nelson. As a lad he would not be turned back from going to school by the 

 deep snow, as his father relied on his honor to get through if possible. While 

 second lieutenant, the captain called for volunteers to board a captured prize when 

 the sea was running high. The first lieutenant failed in the attempt; Nelson 

 succeeded and his success gave him the keenest satisfaction. Nelson expressed 

 himself as "determined to climb to the top of the tree" and neglected no chance, 

 however slight, that could help him on. Of this work at San Juan in Nicaragua 

 he says: "I made batteries and afterwards fought them and was the principal 

 cause of our success." Thus he shows a naive, almost childlike delight in his own 

 performances, which, indeed, he had not overstated. When on the North Atlantic 

 station, after the American Revolution, he desired to be transferred to a squadron 

 going to Jamaica, his chief reminded him that where he was was a good place to 

 make prize money. "Yes," he replied, "but the West Indies is the station for 

 honor" (Mahan, i. 37); and he said on another occasion: "True honor, I hope, 

 predominates in my mind far above riches." Thus Nelson's ambition and insight 

 combined led him to prefer the supremacy of achievement by daring and national 

 aggrandizement to the supremacy of wealth. 



