Gore, Hotham, Stiles, Andrews, and Brisbane, have an equal claim to, my
gratitude; as the seamen, under their management, worked the guns with
great judgment and alacrity. Never was a higher spirit, or greater
perseverance exhibited; and I am happy to say, that no other contention
was at any time known, than who should be most forward and indefatigable
for promoting his majesty's service; for, although the difficulties they
had to struggle with were many and various, the perfect harmony and good
humour that universally prevailed throughout the siege overcame them
all."
This, certainly, is no singular praise of Captain Nelson; who, it is
well known, greatly signalized himself on the occasion.
In the very next paragraph of the same Gazette, Lord Hood says--"I
cannot but express, in the strongest terms, the meritorious conduct of
Captain Duncan and Lieutenant Alexander Duncan, of the Royal Artillery,
and Lieutenant De Butts, of the Royal Engineers: but my obligation is
particularly great to Captain Duncan, as more zeal, ability, and
judgment, was never shewn by any officer than were displayed by him; and
I take the liberty of mentioning him as an officer highly entitled to
his majesty's notice."
Such superior praise and recommendation of a military officer, however
deserving, by the naval commander in chief, could not be very pleasing
to Captain Nelson; who felt conscious of having merited at least equal
attention, by ably performing more than could be in any way considered
as his actual duty.
The slight sketch modestly given of this affair, by himself, in a
letter to Captain Locker, will afford some idea of it's importance. It
is dated, at Bastia, May 30, 1794, on board the Agamemnon: and states,
that he has just got on board, after eight weeks service on shore;
where, he trusts, he has acquitted himself in a manner his friends will
be pleased with. The more he saw of this place, the more he was
astonished at it's being given up: but, the truth was, that the
different parties were afraid to trust each other; the surrender could
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