by some noble action was all their ambition. It was thus they endeavoured to secure the esteem of their countrymen in this they conceived true nobility to consist."y The soldiers thus hardened from their earliest youth, enjoyedz good health; and the Romans, who wageda war in so many climates, do not appear to have suffered much by illness; whereas it often happens, in our days,d that armies, without having fought, disappear in a single campaign. NELSON AT THE BATTLE OF 101. In March, 1801, Nelson sailed for the Baltic, as second in command, under Sir Hyde Parker; and on the 2nd of April he conducted the attack on the Danishk fleet at Copenhagen. Nothing could be1 more formidable than the means of defence which the Danesm had collected," or more gallant than the style in which they employed them; but the ardour of British P seamen, guided by the skill and determined courage of Nelson, overcame all opposition, and, after several hours' hard fighting, his Danish majesty agreed to an armistice of fourteen weeks, during which the treaty of armed neutrality was suspended. In the heat of this engagement Nelson is reported to have exclaimed:t "It is warm work; this day will be the last to many of us; but I would not be elsewhere for thousands!"" Sir Hyde Parker, being prevented by the wind and tide V chercher à acquérir. - c'est en quoi ils croire. consister la véritable noblesse.· Z jouir. - Y que qui faire. bles maladies. au lieu que.- a de nos jours.- En.. 1 contre.sembler. ⚫ la manière dont. m ble. Danois.- - rasAnglais. a triompher de tous les obstacles. -d'un rude combat. ་ -consentir à. * à ce que l'on rapporte, s'écrier.- -"tout au monde! ▾ empêcher. from coming to his assistance, and feeling alarmed at the duration of the contest, at length made the signal for retreat; but Nelson exclaimed: "Leave off action now! no! I have only one eye;-I have a right to bea blind sometimes." Then, putting the e glass to his blind eye, he added: "I really do not see the signal." Shortly afterwards he vociferated: Hange the signal! keep mine for closer battle! a That's the way I answer such signals. Nail mine to the mast!" In half an hour from this time the Danes began to slacken,s and several of their ships were forced to strike.h m 102. Nelson, seeing that his boats were fired uponi when they went to take possession of the prizes, wrote a note to the Crown-prince, stating, "That he was commanded1 to spare Denmark-that the line of defence which covered her shores had struck to his flag; but that, if the firing was continued on the part of Denmark, he must fire the prizes, and the crews1 must inevitably perish." A wafer being brought, he called for sealing-wax ;P but a ball struck off the head of the boy who was bringing the candle. Nelson, however, ordered another to be brought," and sealed the note with the accustomed formalities, observing, that to show confusion and want of calmness,t even in trifles, ata such a crisis, might be attended with injurious results. An answer consenting to a truce was returned; and, on the 9th of April, Nelson landed toy conclude the terms. On one point neither party would yield, and a Dane talked of renewing hostilities. "We are ready at a moment-ready to wêtre alarmé de la.- - donner. - de la. b sa lunette d'approche devant. bataille décisive. • C'est ainsi que. a droit d'être. C Au diable. fà de tels. faiblir. d'amener.on tirait sur. avoir ordre.il devait brûler les prises."les équipages. -il demander.de la cire à cacheter.a apportait. en fit apporter une autre.cacheter.de l'agitation. "dans. pouvait avoir de fâcheux résultats.le.y débarquer pour. Il y eut un article sur lequel.- à la minute. bombard this very night," was the reply of Nelson; and as he passed through the state-rooms, for the purpose of discussing the subject with the Crownprince, he observed to the officer on whose armf he was leaning: "Though I have only one eye, I can see that all this will burn well." For this signal service, in which Nelson appeared not less conspicuoush as a* statesman than as an* admiral, he was raised to the rank of viscount. FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. 103. Ferdinand, King of Aragon and Leon, surnamed "The Catholic," was bornk in 1452, and married1 the Infantam Isabella, of Castile. They jointly governed those kingdoms; and the firmness with which they caused justice to be administered, without regard to the rank or condition of their subjects, is laudable. t The Moors being still in possession of the kingdom of Grenada, Ferdinand and Isabella declared war against them; it lasted ten years; and, having conquered the Africans, they saw themselves masters of all Spain." Gonzalvo of Cordova, surnamed "The Great Captain," was the instrument of their victories. It was under their reign that Columbus fitted out the expedition which gave a new world to the crown of Spain: but, alas! it was also under that reign that the Inquisition appeared, -a monster which has devoured innumerable victims, and debased the Spanish character. X Isabella seems to have had the principal part in b cette nuit même. dans le dessein. a la question. e il dit. f sur le bras duquel. - il s'appuyait. distinguer pas moins. k naître. n о 1épouser. Castille.- • faire administrer la justice. a ni.- I clarer la guerre. - Ce être. digne de louanges. h ne se Infantc. P égard au. 8 Grenade. t leur dé - l'Espagne.- Gonzalve de Cordoue.- Colomb. paraître.- la plus grande. the direction of public affairs; the fervour of her religious zeal bordered one fanaticism; her character was proud, imperious, and enterprising. Ferdinand, on the contrary,d was cold and suspicious; he acquired the highest reputation as a skilful politician, but he owed it greatly to his profound dissimulation and bad faith. Oaths and the most sacred treaties never could bind him; yet, with all those vices, he showed some moderation and justice towards his subjects. PORTRAIT OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN. 104. The pious man is often disdained in society by men of the world; h he is often taxed with narrowness of geniusk and meanness of soul. He is often dismissed to keep company with those whom the world calls ". good folks."m But how unjust is man ** * kind! How little does it become them to° distribute с approcher du. fne le lier jamais. i accuser de. a au contraire.- - en grande partie.- ceux. les bonnes gens.- n les hommes.- 0 Qu'il leur y a de. - de même aussi. a That grandeur, of which the worldly hero imagines himself in possession, the Christian truly enjoys;f he forms the heroical design of takings the perfections of God for his model, and then surmounts every obstacle that opposesh his laudable career; he stems the immoral torrent,i repulses the pernicious maxims of the world, bears pain, and despises shame,1 and finally reaches the noblest end mankind can have in view."-ROBINSON. k ADMIRAL LORD EXMOUTH. * 105. Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth, the* second son of a commander of a post-office packet° on the Dover Station, was born P on the 19th of April, 1757. At fourteenTM he evinceds a passion for the sea, and through the interestt of Lady Spencer, his grandmother, was received into the naval service" in the year 1770. In 1783 he was made a post-captain, and in 1786 he was called from his home to commission the Winchelsea for the Newfoundlandy station, and on board this ship performed several acts of daring intrepidity. It was his boasta that he would never order a common seaman to do what he was not ready to set about himself. Some of his orders were, indeed, so perilous of execution, that his smartest hands hesitated to obey them. When he saw this, he invariably did what was required himself. i e с 106. At the general promotion of 1804, Pellew was advanced to the rank of rear-admiral,i and in a que. ―e s'imaginer posséder. sance du chrétien. 8 de prendre.. au torrent des vices.. m parvenir enfin. puissent se proposer. ale. crédit. h 'est la véritable jouisqui s'opposer à.supporter la peine. .1 le mépris. au but le plus noble que les hommes 0 d'un bateau-poste. P naître. A l'âge de quatorze ans. — $ montrer. t par le " au service de la marine. * pour commander le. y de Terre-Neuve. ▾ de chez lui. à bord de. Il dire avec une sorte d'orgueil. b commander à.⚫ de faire. dà faire lui-même. -° d'une exécution si périlleuse.f hommes. à leur obéir. - h promu au. 1 contre-amiral. |