he two ships and was no more seen. The principal signalman, whose
name was White, and a captain of one of the guns on the poop, had his
right great toe nearly severed from his foot. He deliberately took his
knife and cut it away. He was desired to go below to the doctor. "No,
sir," was his reply; "I am not the fellow to go below for such a scratch
as that. I wish to give the beggars," meaning the enemy, "a few more hard
pills before I have done with them." Saying this, he bound his foot up in
his neck-handkerchief and served out double allowance until his carronade
was dismounted by the carriage of it being shattered to pieces. He then
hopped to another gun, where he amused himself at the Frenchman's expense
until the action ceased.

We had fought on nearly empty stomachs. At the time we began the action it
was dinner time, _i.e._ twelve o'clock; a small proportion of cheese had
been given out and half allowance of grog. During the latter part of the
action the captain, who was lying on a cot in the purser's cabin, sent for
me. On entering the cockpit I found fourteen men waiting amputation of
either an arm or a leg. A marine who had sailed with me in a former ship
was standing up as I passed, with his left arm hanging down. "What's the
matter, Conelly?" said I to him. "Not much," replied he; "I am only winged
above my elbow, and I am waiting my turn to be lopped." His arm was
dreadfully broken by a grape-shot. I regret to mention that out of sixteen
amputations only two survived. This was in consequence of the motion of
the ship during the gale. Their stumps broke out afresh, and it was
impossible to stop the haemorrhage. One of them, whose name was Smith,
after his leg was taken off, hearing the cheering on deck in consequence
of another of the enemy striking her colours, cheered also. The exertion
he made burst the vessels, and before they could be again taken up he
died.

When I was sent on board Admiral Collingwood's ship during the action I
observed a great anxiety in the officers' faces. It immediately occurred
to me that Lord Nelson had fallen, and I put the question to one of the
lieutenants, who told me he was mortally wounded and that he could not
live long. Thus gloriously fell in the arms, and on the deck, of
_Victory_, as brave, as intrepid, and as great a hero as ever existed, a
seaman's friend and the father of the fleet. The love of his country was
engraven on his heart. He was most zealous for her hono