degrees of amity they might either possess, or
profess, for this country. The address of our hero, in counteracting the
enemy's designs, with what may be denominated diplomatic combat, and
thus obtaining needful supplies as well as useful intelligence, has
scarcely ever been equalled. In corresponding with the various powers
with whom it was necessary thus to communicate, the abilities of the
Reverend Mr. Alexander Scott, now Dr. Scott, from his acquaintance with
most of the modern languages, proved eminently favourable to his
lordship's views. This gentleman was not only chaplain of the Victory,
but private and foreign secretary to Lord Nelson, who also often
employed him in confidential communications on shore. They had known
each other ever since the year 1793; when Mr. Scott was chaplain to Sir
John Collins in the Mediterranean, and Lord Nelson captain of the
Agamemnon. On the death of Sir John Collins, Captain Nelson asked Mr.
Scott to go with him as his chaplain; which he was under the necessity
of declining, having previously engaged to go with Sir Hyde Parker in
the St. George. During the expedition to Copenhagen, Lord Nelson, not
having his chaplain, Mr. Comyns, with him, borrowed Mr. Scott, then Sir
Hyde Parker's chaplain and foreign secretary, to read prayers in his
ship; and, on his lordship's going ashore, he chose Mr. Scott to
accompany him, as secretary to the commission for arranging the
convention: the articles of which were, in fact, penned by this
gentleman. Lord Nelson kindly advised Mr. Scott to subscribe the
Convention with his name, as secretary; but he diffidently declined the
honour: for which Lord Nelson greatly blamed him; and he has since often
blamed himself, as his lordship predicted would one day be the case.
From this period, Lord Nelson was always greatly attached to Mr. Scott,
and constantly kept up a correspondence with him. He had then first
asked this gentleman if he would attend him as his confidential foreign
secretary, in case of his ever getting the Mediterranean command; which
Mr. Scott readily promised to do, should his old friend, Sir Hyde
Parker, "be laid on the shelf." Had the then war continued, that
arrangement would have taken place. On the peace, Mr. Scott went to the
West Indies: from whence he returned, just before the present war broke
out, in a very deplorable state of health; having been struck by
lightning, and severely wounded. He had, however, no sooner arrived in