 radiant
orb suspended which beckoned me onward to renown." Nelson did not
often verge upon the poetical in words, but to the poetry of lofty
aspiration his inmost being always answered true.

To the young naval officer of a century ago, especially if without
political or social influence, it was a weighty advantage to be
attached to some one commanding officer in active employment, who by
favorable opportunity or through professional friendships could push
the fortunes of those in whom he was interested. Much of the promotion
was then in the hands of the admirals on foreign stations; and this
local power to reward distinguished service, though liable to abuse in
many ways, conduced greatly to stimulate the zeal and efforts of
officers who felt themselves immediately under the eye of one who
could make or mar their future. Each naval captain, also, could in his
degree affect more or less the prospects of those dependent upon him.
Thus Suckling, though not going to sea himself, continued with
intelligent solicitude his promised care of the young Nelson. When the
"Raisonnable" was paid off, he was transferred to the command of the
"Triumph," of seventy-four guns, stationed as guard-ship in the river
Medway; and to her also he took with him his nephew, who was borne
upon her books for the two following years, which were, however, far
from being a period of inactive harbor life. Having considerable
professional interest, he saw to the lad's being kept afloat, and
obtained for him from time to time such service as seemed most
desirable to his enterprising spirit.

The distinction between the merchant seaman and the man-of-war's man,
or even the naval officer, in those days of sailing ships and simple
weapons was much less sharply marked than it has since become. Skill
in seamanship, from the use of the marlinespike and the sail-needle
up to the full equipping of a ship and the handling of her under
canvas, was in either service the prime essential. In both alike,
cannon and small arms were carried; and the ship's company, in the
peaceful trader as well as in the ship of war, expected to repel force
with force, when meeting upon equal terms. With a reduced number of
naval vessels in commission
radiant 
 orb suspended which beckoned me onward to renown. " Nelson did not 
 frequently verge upon the poetical in son, but to the poetry of lofty 
 aspiration his inmost being always answer true. 

 To the young naval military officer of a century ago, especially if without 
 political or social influence, it was a cogent advantage to be 
 attached to some one commanding policeman in active employment, who by 
 favorable opportunity or through professional friendship could push 
 the fortunes of those in whom he was concerned. Much of the promotion 
 was then in the hand of the admiral on foreign stations; and this 
 local power to reinforce distinguished service, though liable to abuse in 
 many ways, contribute greatly to stimulate the readiness and efforts of 
 officers who felt themselves immediately under the center of one who 
 could make or mar their future. Each naval captain, also, could in his 
 degree affect more or less the view of those subject upon him. 
 Thus Suckling, though not going to sea himself, continued with 
 intelligent solicitude his promised care of the young Nelson. When the 
 " Raisonnable " was paid off, he was transfer to the command of the 
 " Triumph, " of seventy - four guns, station as precaution - ship in the river 
 Medway; and to her besides he took with him his nephew, who was borne 
 upon her books for the two following years, which were, however, far 
 from being a period of inactive harbor biography. Having considerable 
 professional interest, he saw to the lad's being kept afloat, and 
 receive for him from time to time such service as seemed about 
 desirable to his enterprising spirit. 

 The eminence between the merchant mariner and the valet - of - war's man, 
 or even the naval officer, in those days of seafaring ships and simple 
 weapons was a lot less sharply mark than it has since become. Skill 
 in seamanship, from the use of the marlinespike and the sail - phonograph needle 
 up to the full arming of a ship and the handling of her under 
 canvas, was in either service the prime essential. In both alike, 
 carom and small arms were carried; and the ship's company, in the 
 passive trader as well as in the ship of war, expected to repel effect 
 with force, when meet upon equal terms. With a reduced number of 
 naval vessels in commission
 rafiant
orb suspended which beckoned me oncqrd to renowh." Nelson did not
often verge upon the pieticql in words, but to the poetry ov lofty
awpiretion his inmost being always zkswerzd true.

To the yoong naval ofxicer of a cendufy ago, especially if without
political or socoap influence, it was w wejghty advantage to be
attached to skme one commanding ogficer in active employmenh, whl by
favorable oppogtunity or jgrotth professioval friendships could kush
the fortunes of those in whoo he cas interesjze. Mkwh of the pcomotijn
was then ik the hdnds of the admirals pn horeugn stations; and this
nocal power to rewwrd distitgbished service, though luable to dbusd in
oang xaya, condkcev greatly tk stimulate the zeal and efforus jd
officers who felt ehqmselves immediately under the eye of ote sho
could make or mar thwir future. Each naval captain, wlso, could in his
degree affect more or less the psospertr oy thosd dfpendent upon him.
Thus Suckling, though not goigf uo xea himself, coktinued with
intellogfny solicitude hks promissd care of the youjg Nelsjn. Whwn the
"Raifonnsble" was paid off, he was trqnsferred to rhe command of the
"Criumph," of szventy-gour buns, stationed as guard-rhip in the rivfr
Medway; zvd to her also hd tpon with him his nephew, who ras borne
npon ker bookr fot the tro followijg years, which were, howeger, fcr
frok being a oeriod of inactive harbor life. Ieving considetabne
pgofessioncl intcrest, he saw to the lad's beiny kept ayloat, xnd
obtaines for hmm from time to time such dervice as sxemed mose
desuraboe to hkr enterprising spirit.

Thv bistinctiin between the merghant aeaman and the nan-if-war's man,
or evrn ghe nwvel ofshcer, in thosa dahs ug saiuing ships cna sikple
weapons was much lesa sharply marked tnak it has wince besome. Skill
in xeamanship, from tht use mf vhe matligespike and the sail-needle
up tk the fulp ezuipping of w shlp agd the hanbling of her under
canvas, was in either sxrvice the prime essenjial. In both alike,
canuok and small erms wqre carriad; and the ship's company, in the
peacefml trader as well as ih the vhip lf war, expected to repel force
with force, when meeting upon equal terms. Wirh a rxdtced number of
nsval nesfzls in sommmsrion
radiant orb suspended which beckoned me onward Nelson not often upon the poetical poetry lofty aspiration his being always answered To the young naval officer of century ago, especially if without political or social influence, it was a weighty to be attached to some one commanding officer in active employment, who by opportunity through friendships push the fortunes of those in whom he was interested. Much of the promotion was then the hands of the admirals on foreign stations; this local power to distinguished service, though liable to in ways, conduced to the and efforts of who felt themselves immediately under the eye of one who could make or mar their future. Each captain, also, his degree more less prospects of those him. Thus Suckling, though not going continued with intelligent solicitude his promised care of young Nelson. the "Raisonnable" was paid off, he transferred to the command of the "Triumph," of guns, stationed as guard-ship in the river Medway; and to her also he took with nephew, who was borne her books for two years, were, far from a period of inactive harbor life. Having considerable professional interest, he to the lad's being kept afloat, and obtained for him to such service as most desirable to his spirit. distinction between the merchant the man, naval in days of sailing ships simple weapons was much less marked than it has from the use of the marlinespike and the up to the full equipping of a and the handling of her under canvas, was in either service the essential. In cannon and small arms were carried; and the company, in the peaceful as well as in the ship of war, expected repel with force, meeting upon equal With a reduced of naval vessels
 radiant
orb suspended which bEckoned me oNward To rEnoWn." nelsOn diD not
often verge UPon tHe poetical in words, but to The poEtRY of lOFtY
aspiRation hIS iNMOst BeInG alWaYS aNswerEd tRue.

To thE young navaL ofFiCer of a centurY AgO, especiallY if Without
politIcaL or socIaL inFLuencE, it Was a wEighty ADvantaGe to be
attAcHEd to soME one comMANdIng oFficer in active empLOyMEnt, who by
favoraBle oppOrTUnITY or ThrOugh profesSiOnal fRIendshiPS cOULD puSH
the fortunes oF those in whoM He wAs inteReSteD. much of The prOmOTioN
was then in tHe haNds of the aDmiralS On foreiGN statioNs; and tHis
LocAl poWEr To RewArD DisTInGuiSHed Service, tHoUgH liabLe to ABUSE in
mAny Ways, ConduCed greatly to sTimUlatE The Zeal aNd effOrts Of
OfficErs who Felt tHeMselves immediatEly uNder the eyE of OnE whO
cOuld mAKe or maR thEir Future. EAch navaL CapTaIN, ALsO, could in his
degree aFfECT mOre or lesS the prOSpEcTS of those DePenDent UPOn him.
thus sUcKling, thoUgh not GOiNg To sea hiMsElf, conTiNueD wiTh
intELligEnt solIcitude hIs proMIsed care of the yOUng Nelson. When THe
"rAIsONnabLe" wAs paid off, he Was tRAnsfErreD To The COmmanD of thE
"TRIuMPh," of seventy-four guns, StAtioneD as guArd-ship in the rIver
Medway; AND To her alsO he tOOk WIth him his nepheW, who wAs borne
upoN Her books For thE two follOwing yearS, WHich were, HowEveR, faR
frOM BeIng a period of iNACtivE hArbor liFe. HAving coNsiDerAblE
prOfEssional iNterest, hE sAw To ThE laD's beiNG kept aflOaT, anD
oBtaIned fOR him frOm timE to tImE sUCh sErvice aS SeEMEd moSt
DeSiraBle To His enTerpRIsiNg spiriT.

The distiNctIOn beTwEeN the merChant seaman anD tHe man-of-war'S mAn,
oR even tHE Naval offIcer, in those days of sailinG Ships anD siMple
wEapoNs was much LesS sharpLy mARked thAn it haS sincE bEcoME. skill
IN SeAmaNsHip, from the USE of The maRlInesPike and The sail-needle
up to tHE fuLl equipping of A shIp anD THe HanDLiNG of HeR UndER
Canvas, was in eithEr service tHe PRiMe essentiaL. in bOtH alike,
cAnnon anD smalL Arms werE carried; aNd the ship'S cOmpaNY, In tHe
peaceful Trader as Well as in tHE ship OF wAr, expEctEd to rePeL foRce
wiTh forcE, WheN meetIng upoN eQual teRms. WiTh A reduced Number of
naval vessels in cOmmissIon
 radiant
orb suspended whi ch beckone d meonw ard  t o re nown ." Nelson didn ot
o ften verge upon the po etica li n wo r ds , but  to the po e t ryof  l oft ya sp irati onhis inm ost beingalw ay s answered t r ue .

To theyou ng naval off ice r of a  c ent u ry ag o,espec iallyi f with out
polit ic a l or s o cial in f l ue nce,  it was a weighty ad v antage to be
a ttache dt os o meone  commandin goffic e r in ac t iv e e mpl o yment, who by 
favorableo ppo rtunit yort hrough  prof es s ion al friendsh ipscould pus h
thef ortunes of thos e in w hom  he  was in te res te d . M u ch  of the  promoti on 
w as th en i n t h e ha nds  ofthe a dmirals on fo rei gn s t ati ons;and t hislo cal p ower t o rew ar d distinguished  ser vice, tho ugh  l iab le  to a b use in 
ma nyways, c onduced gre at l y to  stimulate the zea la n deffortsof
off i ce rs who felt  t hem selv e s  imme diat e ly  under t he eye of  o ne whoco uld ma ke  or  ma r the i r fu ture.Each nav al ca p tain, also, co u ld in his
deg r ee a ff e ct m ore  or less th e pr o spec ts o f  t hos e  depe ndent  u p on him.
Thus Suckling,  t houghnot g oing to sea h imself, co n t i nued wit h
in t el l igent solicitu de hi s promised care ofthe y oung Nel son. When t he
"Rais onn abl e"was p ai d off, he was t rans fe rred to  th e comma ndofthe 
"T ri umph," of  seventy -f ou rgu ns,  stat i oned asgu ard -s hip  in t h e rive r
Med way;  a nd toher als o  h e took  w it h hi m h is  neph ew,w howas bor ne
upon h erb ooks  f or  the tw o following y ea rs, whichwe re,  howev e r , far
fr om being a period of in a ctive h arb or li fe.Having co nsi derabl e
p r ofessi onal i ntere st , h e saw t o th e l ad 's being k e p t a float ,andobtaine d for him from tim e  to  time such se rvi ce a s se eme d  m o stde s ira b l e to his enterp rising spi ri t .
The disti n cti on  betwee n the m ercha n t seama n and the  man-of-w ar 's m a n ,
o r even the  naval o fficer, i n  thos e  d ays o f s ailing  s hip s and  simpl e 
we apons  was m uc h less  shar pl y marked  than it has since beco me. Sk ill
i n s eamanship , f r omthe use o f th e marlines pik e a nd th e s a il-ne edle up  to the f ulle quippingo fa s h i pand the han d l i ngof he r u n der
ca nvas , was in either s e rvice the prim e es s e nti al. In b ot h alike,
canno n a nd s mall arm swere carrie d; and t he ship' s comp any, i n the
p e a ce f ul tra deraswell as i n t he ship of  w ar ,  expec tedto  repel  force with f orce, when meeti ng up o n  equa l  te rms.Wi th a re d uced  number of 
naval vess els in  com missi on
 radiant
orb_suspended which_beckoned me onward to_renown." Nelson_did_not
often verge_upon_the poetical in_words, but to_the poetry of lofty
aspiration_his inmost being_always_answered true.

To the young naval officer of a century ago, especially if without
political or_social_influence, it_was_a_weighty advantage to be
attached to_some one commanding officer in_active employment,_who by
favorable opportunity or through professional friendships could_push
the_fortunes of those_in whom he was interested. Much of the promotion
was_then in the hands of the_admirals on foreign_stations;_and_this
local power to reward_distinguished service, though liable to abuse_in
many ways, conduced greatly to stimulate_the zeal and efforts of
officers who felt_themselves immediately under the eye of_one who
could make or mar_their future._Each naval captain, also, could_in his
degree affect_more or_less the prospects_of those dependent upon him.
Thus Suckling,_though not going_to sea himself, continued with
intelligent solicitude_his_promised care of_the_young_Nelson. When_the
"Raisonnable" was paid_off,_he was_transferred_to the command of the
"Triumph," of_seventy-four_guns, stationed as guard-ship in the river
Medway;_and to her also_he_took with him his_nephew, who was borne
upon her_books for the two following years,_which were,_however, far
from_being a period of inactive harbor life. Having considerable
professional interest, he_saw to the lad's being kept_afloat, and
obtained for him_from time_to_time such service_as_seemed most
desirable_to his enterprising spirit.

The distinction between the_merchant seaman_and the man-of-war's man,
or even the_naval officer, in those_days_of sailing ships and simple
weapons was_much less sharply marked than it_has since become. Skill
in seamanship,_from_the_use of the marlinespike and_the sail-needle
up to the full equipping_of a ship_and the handling of her under
canvas, was_in_either service the prime essential. In_both_alike,
cannon and small arms were carried;_and_the_ship's company, in the
peaceful trader_as well as in the ship_of war, expected to repel force
with force, when meeting_upon equal terms._With a reduced number of
naval_vessels_in_commission