THE "VICTORY." 5 



the strongest-built iron vessel. Many a brave tar has lost his life on her, but yet 

 she is no coffin-ship. On board, one notes the scrupulous order, the absolute perfection 

 of cleanliness and trimness; the large guns and carriages alternating with the mess- 

 tables of the crew. And we should not think much of the man who could stand 

 emotionless and unmoved over the spots still pointed out on the upper deck and cockpit 

 below where Nelson fell and Nelson died, on that memorable 21st, off Trafalgar Bay. 



THE "VICTORY" AT PORTSMOUTH. 



He had embarked, only five weeks before, from the present resting-place of his brave 

 old ship, when enthusiastic crowds had pressed forward to bless and take one last 

 look at England's preserver. " I had their hurrahs before," said the poor shattered 

 hero; "now I have their hearts!" And when, three months later, his body was brought 

 home, the sailors divided the leaden coffin into fragments, as relics of "Saint Nelson," 

 as his gunner had termed him. 



The Victory was one of the largest ships of war of her day and generation. She was 

 rated for 100 guns, but really carried 102, and was classed first-rate with such ships as the 

 Royal Sovereign and Britannia, both of 100, carrying only two in excess of the "brave old 

 T&ntraire " made still more famous by Turner's great picture and the Dreadnought, which 



