NELSON’S CAPTURE OF LE GENEREUX.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2502, 6 September 1890, Page 6

NELSON’S CAPTURE OF LE GENEREUX.

(FROM NELSON, BY W. CLARK BUSSELL.) The deck is hailed from aloft, and a man-of-war reported a line-of-battle ship apparently, going large on the starboard tack. “Ah, an enemy, Mr. Staines !” exclaimed Nelson. 44 1 pray God it may be Iye Gonei*eux. The signal for a general chase, Sir Ed’ard (the Nelsonian pronunciation for Sir Edward, addressed to Sir Edward Berry). Make the Foudroyant fly !” Tbe Northumberland was now taking the lead, with tlie flagship on her quarter. “This will not do, Sir Ed’ard 1” cried Nelson ; “ it is certainly Le Genereux, and to my flagship she cun alone surrender. Sir Ed'ard, we must aud shall beat the Northumberland !” Every effort was made, Parsons tells us. “I will do the utmost, my lord,” answered Sir Edward Berry,and gives the folic wing orders: butts of water on tho stays—pipe the hammocks down, and each man place shot in tlx dm —slack the stays, knock up the wedges, aftd give the masts play—start off the water, hjx. James, and pump the ship.” Then, addressing whom it may concern, Sir Edward exclaims —“ The Admiral is working his Mn (tße stupp of his right arm) ; de not cross his hawse, I advise you !” The advice was good* for nt that moment Nelson opened furiously oa tho quartermaster at the wheel—“l’ll knock you off your perch, you rascal, if you are so inattentive ! Sir Ed'ard, send your best quartermaster to the weather is bed ? “ A strange sail ahead ©f the chase l** called the look-out man. “Youngster, to the masthead!—What ! going without your glass, and be to you ! Let me know w-hat she is immediately !” 44 A sloop-of - war or frigate, my lord !’* shouted the young signal midshipman. 44 Demand her number !” 44 The Success, my lord, Captain Peard.” “Signal to cut off the flying enemy! Great odds, though—thirty-two small guns to eighty large ernes.” “ The Success has hove-to athwart hawse with the Genereux. and is fixing her larboard broadside ! The Frenchman has hoisted hi* tri-colour, with the Rear- Admiral flag 1” “ Bravo ! Success, at her again !” 44 She has wore round, my lord, and firing her starboard broadside. It has winged her my lord, her flying kites are flying away altogether. The enemy is close on tne Success, who must receive her tremenduoo* broadside !”

The Genereux opens her fire on box little enemy, and every person stands aghast. afraid of the consequences. The smoke deal* away, and there is tho Success, crippled, it i* true, but, bulldog-like, bearing up after the cnomy. * 4 Signal for the Success to discontinue th action and come under my stern,” said Lofd Nelson. “She has done well for her sia». Try a shot from the lower deck at her, Si* Ed’ax*d.”

“ It goes over her.” 44 Beat to quarters, and fire coolly and dfi* liberately at her masts and yards.” At this moment, Parsons goes on to tell ra in this lively sketch, which may be accepted as a very real and correct portrait, a shot fro® the Genereux passed through the staysail. Nelson, patting one of the littls midshipmen on the head, asked him how he relished tho music. The lad and alarmed, and observing this, Nelson him that Charles XII. ran away from first shot he heixrd though he was afterwsrft called “ The Great,” because of his brarert “I therefore,” said Nelson, “hope m ll ' 3 * from you in future.” Shortly after this tho enemy hauled do*® his colours, and Sir Edward Berry was to board the prize, where he found Ba*f' Admiral Perroe dying on his quarter-doo* having had both his legs shot off by ** raking broadside of the little Success. Nelson, who appears to have been i o4 *** santlv in spirit with the Court of NsW* sent the French admiral’s flag as aU® young Prince Leopold.