Introduction
Horatio Nelson lost his right eye in battle off Corsica in 1793, and his right arm at Tenerife in 1797. Undeterred, and now a Rear Admiral, he was in the line of fire again at Copenhagen on April 2nd, 1801: a vital action, as Denmark was hampering England’s efforts to fend off invasion from Napoleon’s France. By lunchtime his Commander-in-chief Sir Hyde Parker, some way behind, was getting anxious.
AT one o’clock, perceiving that, after three hours’ endurance, the enemy’s fire was unslackened, he [Admiral Parker] began to despair of success. “I will make the signal of recall,” said he to his captain, “for Nelson’s sake. If he is in a condition to continue the action successfully, he will disregard it; if not, it will be an excuse for his retreat, and no blame can be imputed to him.” Under a mistaken judgment, therefore, but with this disinterested and generous feeling, he made the signal for retreat.*
Nelson was at this time, in all the excitement of action, pacing the quarter-deck. A shot through the mainmast knocked the splinters about; and he observed to one of his officers with a smile, “It is warm work; and this day may be the last to any of us at a moment:” — and then stopping short at the gangway, added, with emotion — “But mark you! I would not be elsewhere for thousands.” [...]
* Southey’s defence of the Admiral’s decision-making was given ‘upon the highest and most unquestionable authority’ in this edition of 1814, but it disappeared from later ones. “The simple version of this circumstance is,” said Nelson’s friend and chaplain, the Revd Alexander Scott, “that it had been arranged between the Admirals, that if it should appear that the ships which were engaged were suffering too severely, the signal for retreat should be made, to give Lord Nelson the option of retiring, if he thought fit.”
Précis
Horatio Nelson was in the thick of the Battle of Copenhagen on April 2nd, 1801, when Admiral Parker signalled retreat. Robert Southey assured his readers that Parker half expected Nelson to ignore the signal; indeed at first Nelson did not even see it, as he was too busy (and happy) dodging pieces of ship as Danish fire rained down. (59 / 60 words)
Horatio Nelson was in the thick of the Battle of Copenhagen on April 2nd, 1801, when Admiral Parker signalled retreat. Robert Southey assured his readers that Parker half expected Nelson to ignore the signal; indeed at first Nelson did not even see it, as he was too busy (and happy) dodging pieces of ship as Danish fire rained down.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, if, just, may, must, or, whether, who.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
