2l8 THE CALL OF THE SEA 



fears to each other ; and the surgeon, Mr. Beatty, 

 spoke to the chaplain, Dr. Scott, and to Mr. Scott, 

 the pubhc secretary, desiring that some person 

 would entreat him to change his dress, or cover 

 the stars : but they knew that such a request 

 would highly displease him. " In honour I gained 

 them," he had said when such a thing had been 

 hinted to him formerly, " and in honour I will die 

 with them." Mr. Beatty, however, would not have 

 been deterred by any fear of exciting his dis- 

 pleasure, from speaking to him himself upon a 

 subject in which the weal of England as well as 

 the life of Nelson was concerned, but he was 

 ordered from the deck before he could find an 

 opportunity. This was a point upon which Nelson's 

 officers knew that it was hopeless to remonstrate 

 or reason with him ; but both 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 

 Temeraire^ which were sailing abreast of the Victory^ 

 be ordered to pass ahead. Yet even here the last in- 

 firmity of this noble mind was indulged ; for these 

 ships could not pass ahead if the Victory con- 

 tinued 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 impos- 

 sible for them to obey his own orders. A long 



