f the two
anchors which moor a ship being lifted.

[119] The author wishes to guard himself from seeming to share the
perversion, as he thinks it, of this saying, into an argument against heavy
ships, because the heavier the ships, the smaller the number. Without here
expressing any opinion upon this controverted subject, he would simply
quote on the other side the view attributed to Nelson during the chase to
the West Indies. "He knew that the French had no three-decked ships in
their fleet, and he reckoned on the great superiority in close action of
three batteries of guns over two." (Last of Nelson's Captains, p. 137.)
With this may be joined a quotation from himself involving implicitly the
same idea: "Two [two-deckers] alongside an enemy are better than
three-deckers _a great way off_." This evidently suggests the idea that one
three-decker was better than two seventy-fours, conditions being similar.
In truth, numbers should be read "numbers of guns"--or, better still,
"numbers, other things being equal."

[120] The author has to thank the present Earl Nelson for this anecdote.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE ANTECEDENTS OF TRAFALGAR.

SEPTEMBER 15--OCTOBER 19, 1805. AGE, 47.

The crowds that had assembled to greet Nelson's arrival at Portsmouth,
four weeks before, now clustered again around his footsteps to bid him
a loving farewell. Although, to avoid such demonstrations, he had
chosen for his embarkation another than the usual landing-place, the
multitude collected and followed him to the boat. "They pressed
forward to obtain sight of his face," says Southey; "Many were in
tears, and many knelt down before him, and blessed him as he passed.
England has had many heroes, but never one," he justly adds, "who so
entirely possessed the love of his fellow countrymen as Nelson." There
attached to him not only the memory of many brilliant deeds, nor yet
only the knowledge that more than any other he stood between them and
harm,--his very name a tower of strength over against their enemies.
The deep human sympathy which won its way to the affections of those
under his command, in immediate contact with his person, seamen as
well as officers, had spread from them with quick contagion throughout
all ranks of men; and heart answered to heart in profound trust, among
those who never had seen his face. "I had their huzzas before," he
said to Captain Hardy, who sat beside him in the boat. "Now I have
their hearts."

He wa