Nelson & His World

Discussion on the life and times of Admiral Lord Nelson
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 Post subject: Kind Officers
PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:52 pm 
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We have an ongoing thread on 'Cruel and Bullying Officers.' Perhaps we might make occasional posts if members come across accounts of kind and considerate officers.

Nelson's kindness to all, particularly to youngsters, is well-known, and maybe I will quote some instances later; but to start, here is an account by Oliver Warner, re-told in 'Nelson's Battles'. He quotes Theophilus Lee's account of Davidge Gould's hospitality when a salvage operation failed. A young mid of only 10 years had been involved and 'after an hour's exhausting pull, they reached the Audacious, the nearest ship.

'Our young mid. on getting on board, said to Captain Gould that he hoped he would tell Captain Hallowell that he had done all in his power to save the yard; and the reply from that worthy man was: 'Do not fear, my fine little fellow, I watched you till dark with a spy glass, and since that, I entertained serious fears that you had all gone together; however, I am delighted to see you safe. Come into my cabin and get refreshment and lay down on my sofa for the night, and I will send a letter by you in the morning to your excellent captain, telling him how hard you struggled to save the spar........'

Gould and his first lieutenant added to their kindness by ‘housing the Swiftsure seamen snugly for the night'.

Davidge Gould, a Nile captain, was a Somerset man whose family lived at Sharpham Park. not far from where I live. Cornelia Knight, Emma Hamilton's friend in Naples was very taken with him, and he had to put up with a lot of good natured ribbing from his fellow officers as a result.

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