I agree, an interesting article. However, I think the author makes a few assumptions.
To begin with, it would seem as though he is surprised that Nelson is religious, even though this was quite normal for the Georgian period. He also makes no mention of the fact that Nelson's father was a rector, which would surely make his faith even more important to him, and perhaps over and above that of others. It would seem quite natural then, that he should have sensibilities towards the islanders' religion, albeit that it was catholic. I think Nelson had regard for all faiths, and this would have presented no problems to him.
As to the amount and type of wine and spirits taken abord Victory, I rather get the impression that the author believes that most of it was for Nelson's personal consumption whereas, as you say Anna, he was most fastidious when it came to food and drink. I also believe that the bulk of the alcohol was intended for others at Nelson's table, since he liked to entertain, and with him drinking only a moderate amount. The 'others' may have included any civilians that were met with, but I surmise that most of it was intended for the officers of the fleet, when summoned to the flagship, which was quite frequent. Nelson probably also knew that they might be at sea for some time and that anything could happen, which would preclude entering any port to replenish. I was a bit surpised that the author makes no mention of the dash to the West Indies and back, in the wake of Villeneuve, and which took place between the Victory's weighing anchor from Maddelena in the January of 1805, and Trafalgar some nine months later in October! Admittedly at the time Nelson didn't know this was going to occur, but presumably he knew that something would. Before the Scouts adopted the motto 'Be Prepared', I think Nelson was in the habit of using it!
Appear, I note that the article was written for some journal, but do you know which, and have you any more information about the author?
_________________ Kester.
|