consulted him as
to the best method of attack.

"What think you," said the Admiral, "of engaging the enemy to-night?"

"I don't know the soundings," was the answer, "but, with your
permission, I will lead in and try."

The result is well known; but I believe it is not so generally known
that, in the first draft of the despatch which Nelson wrote, he gave
to Captain Hood the merit of confirming him in his determination of
attacking the French fleet that night. On showing this letter,
however, to Hood himself, he entreated that it might be altered,
saying "that they were all brothers, engaged in the cause, and that
the admiral would have received exactly the same advice from any other
captain in the fleet whom he might have consulted." The paragraph was
therefore omitted in the despatch.

I have this anecdote of the change in the despatch from one of his
nearest connections, and one of the dearest friends to his memory. He
himself particularly wished the alteration in the despatch not to be
told at the time; but, as the story crept out somehow, it seems very
material that the facts should be well authenticated. When the
circumstance was mentioned to Sir Samuel Hood many years afterwards,
by the friend from whom I have received authority to state it, he
confessed that it was so; but exclaimed,--

"How the devil could all this have got wind?--I never mentioned it
before to a living soul."

As there is hardly any professional anecdote which retains its
freshness of interest more entire than the memorable parley above
described between Nelson and Hood, on the eve of the battle of the
Nile, I venture to give another version of it, which is substantially
the same, and is calculated to confirm, in a pleasing manner, all that
is essential. The following particulars I have been favoured with by
Captain Webley Parry, then first lieutenant of the Zealous.

When steering for the enemy's fleet, Sir Horatio Nelson hailed the
Zealous, and asked Captain Hood if he thought he might venture to bear
up round the shoals. The answer was,--

"I cannot say, sir; but if you will allow me the honour of leading
into action, I will keep the lead going."

"You have my permission, and I wish you good luck," was the reply;
and, as Nelson said this, he took off his hat. Captain Hood, in his
hurry to return the courtesy of his admiral, dropped his hat
overboard. He looked after it, laughed, and exclaimed,--

"Never mind, Webley, there it g