by John Marshall

“ Yet it is pleasing to think that the qualities of patient forbearance and of conciliatory kindness may, at times, prove as useful to the public service, as the more energetic talents of enterprise and action. In South America, indeed, where we were at peace, any shew of violence must have been mischievous to the British interests, and could have accomplished nothing. ”

“ We now come to the great and terrible day of the battle, When, as it has been well expressed, “God gave us victory, but Nelson died.” The two columns of the British fleet, led on by the commander-in-chief and his worthy second, the gallant Collingwood, advanced with light airs and all sail set, towards the van and centre of the enemy; the former steering for the bow of the huge Santissima Trinidada, the latter cutting through their line astern of another Spanish first-rate. The succeeding ships of each column vied with each other in following their leaders’ example. ”

“ On the 4th of April Lord Nelson landed at Copenhagen, accompanied by Captains Freemantle and Hardy, and received all possible attention from the Crown Prince. A strong guard secured his Lordship’s safety, and appeared necessary to keep off the mob, whose rage, although mixed with admiration at his thus trusting himself amongst them, was naturally to be expected. The events of the 2d, had plunged the whole town into a state of terror, astonishment, and mourning: the oldest inhabitant had never before seen a shot fired in anger at his native country. ”

“ This dislocation of society was not confined to a single port, or a single state, but extended, with more or less distraction, over the whole continent, threatening all social order and security of persons, as well as destruction to the great mass of commerce which, notwithstanding the forbidding aspect of affairs, was always ready to flow in at every casual opening, in spite of all prudence and experience. ”

“ Englishmen represented themselves as being unjustly imprisoned – each party charged us with favoring their opponents – the crews of ships, taking advantage of the general state of confusion, mutinied and refused to do their duty:– in short, all was out of order, nothing was flowing in its natural course, every thing being, in fact, under the guidance of men whose bad passions were at their height, and whose minds were in such a frame, that they interpreted every thing in the worst language it would bear. ”

“ As it had ever been usual to station men of war wherever commerce was in activity, there was nothing novel, or calculated to excite jealousy, in having a squadron in South America. The duties of this squadron became important in proportion as the new States, feeling their growing strength, were inclined to give trouble, either by new and oppressive commercial laws, or by interfering with the personal liberty, and sometimes by. ”

“ The eyes of the British public were instantly directed toward their invincible Admiral; and, agreeably to the national wish, Lord Nelson was immediately appointed to the chief command of the Mediterranean fleet. His Lordship sailed for that station in the Victory of 100 guns, accompanied by Captain Hardy in the Amphion; and on his arrival off Brest shifted his flag to that frigate, where it remained till he was rejoined by the Victory off Toulon at the latter end of July [5] . From this period till the termination of that hero’s glorious career, Captain Hardy was his constant companion. ”

“ Some of their ports were blockaded, and every source of jealousy and distrust let loose. Others had more than one government and the consequent confusion was greatly augmented by the eagerness of commercial speculation, which led many individuals to despise all prudence, and all local regulations, in order, at every hazard, to force their trade: this was naturally followed by seizures, confiscations, and a long train of appeals. ”

“ In this dashing affair the British had not a man killed, and only 15 wounded, including Lieutenant Hardy, who was immediately advanced for his bravery to the rank of Commander, and appointed to la Mutine, in which vessel he afterwards became more nearly associated with the services of Nelson, who had already borne public testimony to his merit, and immediately after his late achievement had exerted his influence with the commander-in-chief to obtain him the reward his gallant conduct merited. ”

“ We shall not attempt to comment on an act, the success of which would have hurled so many hundred persons as were on board the Ramillies into eternity; every friend of humanity rejoiced at its failure.
Towards the conclusion of the war with America, Sir Thomas M. Hardy, in conjunction with a detachment of the army under Lieutenant-Colonel Pilkington, took possession of the islands in Passamaquoddy Bay. ”

“ For about fifteen minutes after Lord Nelson received his mortal wound, the Redoubtable continued to sustain the fire of the two British 3-deckers, she herself pouring in constant discharges of musketry upon the decks of her antagonists. To obviate the danger of the Temeraire’s suffering from the Victory’s shot passing through the French ship, the starboard guns of the former were depressed, and fired with a diminished charge of powder, and three shot each, into the enemy. ”

“ His mind continued intent on the great object that was always before him, his duty to his country; he therefore anxiously inquired for Captain Hardy, to know whether the annihilation of the enemy might be depended on; but it was upwards of an hour before our officer could, at so critical a period, leave the deck, and Lord Nelson became apprehensive that his brave associate was dead. The crew of the Victory were now heard to cheer, and he anxiously demanded the cause ”

“ He served for some time as Master’s-Mate in the Hebe frigate, commanded by the late gallant Captain Alexander Hood, in which ship Vice-Admiral Sir George Cockburn, whilst a Midshipman, was his messmate. After being separated by the vicissitudes of service for many years, they again met in la Minerve, of which frigate Mr. Hardy had been appointed a Lieutenant early in the revolutionary war, and in which capacity he served under his friend Captain Cockburn during the various operations already related in our memoir of that officer [1] . ”

“ The Redoubtable, in lieu of her great guns, kept up a heavy fire of musketry from her decks and tops, by which alone the Victory had upwards of 40 men killed and wounded. About an hour and a quarter after the commencement of the battle, Lord Nelson and Captain Hardy were observed to be walking near the middle of the quarter-deck: the Admiral had just commended the manner in which one of the British ships near him was fought: Captain Hardy advanced from him to give some necessary directions ”

“ Beatty’s Narrative, the real number of wounded was 102; 27 men having reported themselves too late to be included in the returns [10] .
The Victory having been made sea-worthy at Gibraltar, where she arrived seven days after the battle, passed through the Straits during the night of the 4th of November, and the next day at noon joined Vice-Admiral Collingwood off Cadiz. Captain Hardy parted company in the evening, and stood for England. The body of Lord Nelson had been preserved with the greatest care and attention by the Surgeon ”