Columbus Democrat

LORD NELSON.

A late English writer, an eye-witness to the scene, gives the following description of the amputation of this hero's arm, and his subsequent death, after the glorious affair of Trafalgar.

It makes one's blood run quicker to read it:

"No sooner had Nelson been examined by the surgeon than immediate amputation was recommended. I undressed him myself, and laid him down on the cabin table, making him as comfortable as possible, but the wound was one which must have been dreadfully painful, for the bone was shattered to pieces, and I never remember to have seen such a fracture before. 'I'm ready,' said Nelson; 'so, doctor, despatch. You know business too well for me to fear, or you to cause useless pain.' I thought I should have dropped when I saw the first cut. Nelson's face never moved. His lips, it is true, were closely pressed together; but that, I have been told, is a strong sign of determination. His cheeks were pale from the loss of blood; and he appeared faint from the exertion of rescuing some of the men whom he saved from the Fox. Oh! how I felt when I saw the long knife, bright as the pinnacle lamp, dazzling all around. Nelson looked at it, and in a moment it was down to the bone, right round and round the arm. He did not flinch from this, but just before, when the surgeon drew the skin back, he looked up. Then came the saw; and I'm blessed if the carpenter sawing off the heel of a studding-sail boom could have set to work with more coolness than the doctor. Off fell the limb—Nelson's good right arm; one that in the attack not a month previous with the Spanish gun boats, had defended its owner, and saved his life, as well perhaps, as John Sykes' skull. No sooner was the limb dressed, the knives removed, the assistant surgeon despatched to look for others, than up gets the Admiral, and 'Brace,' says he, 'get some paper, and write down the despatch as I tell you.' And it's true as Gospel, he told every word, and held the paper and read it himself, to see that it was all correct, although it was eleven o'clock at night before it was finished."