chaplain, to whom Nelson frequently said, "Pray for
me, Doctor," ejaculated with him short prayers from time to time. The
agony of mortal pain wrung from him repeated utterance, though no
unmanly complaint; and his thoughts dwelt more upon home and the
battle than upon his own suffering and approaching death. His mind
remained clear until he became speechless, about fifteen minutes
before he passed away, and he took frequent notice of what occurred
near him, as well as of sounds on deck.

The hour that succeeded his wounding was the decisive one of the
fight; not that the issue admitted of much doubt, after once Nelson's
plans had received fulfilment, and the battle joined,--unless the
delinquent van of the allies had acted promptly,--but in those moments
the work was done which was thenceforth, for the enemy, beyond repair.
Overhead, therefore, the strife went on incessantly, the seamen
toiling steadily at their guns, and cheering repeatedly. Near the
admiral lay Lieutenant Pasco, severely but not fatally wounded. At one
burst of hurrahs, Nelson asked eagerly what it was about; and Pasco
replying that another ship had struck, he expressed his satisfaction.
Soon he became very anxious for further and more exact information of
the course of the battle, and about the safety of Captain Hardy, upon
whom now was devolved such guidance as the fleet, until the action was
over, must continue to receive from the flagship of the
commander-in-chief. In accordance with his wishes many messages were
sent to Hardy to come to him, but for some time it was not possible
for that officer to leave the deck. During this period, up to between
half-past two and three, the ships of the two British divisions, that
followed the leaders, were breaking successively into the enemy's
order, and carrying out with intelligent precision the broad outlines
of Nelson's instructions. The heads of the columns had dashed
themselves to pieces, like a forlorn hope, against the overpowering
number of foes which opposed their passage--an analysis of the returns
shows that upon the four ships which led, the "Victory" and
"Temeraire," the "Royal Sovereign" and "Belleisle," fell one-third of
the entire loss in a fleet of twenty-seven sail. But they had forced
their way through, and by the sacrifice of themselves had shattered
and pulverized the local resistance, destroyed the coherence of the
hostile line, and opened the road for the successful action of their
f