 of a
well-ordered enemy the delay must have led to disastrous results.
Nelson himself joined his ship at Chatham on the 7th of February, a
week after his orders were issued; but not until the 16th of March did
she leave the dockyard, and then only for Sheerness, where she
remained four weeks longer. By that time it seems probable, from
remarks in his letters, that the material equipment of the vessel was
complete; but until the 14th of April she remained over a hundred men
short of her complement. "Yet, I think," wrote Nelson, "that we shall
be far from ill-manned, even if the rest be not so good as they ought
to be." Mobilization in those days had not been perfected into a
science, even in theory, and the difficulty of raising crews on the
outbreak of war was experienced by all nations, but by none more than
by Great Britain. Her wants were greatest, and for supply depended
upon a merchant service scattered in all quarters of the globe. "Men
are very hard to be got," Nelson said to his brother, "and without a
press I have no idea that our fleet can be manned." It does not appear
that this crude and violent, yet unavoidable, method was employed for
the "Agamemnon," except so far as her crew was completed from the
guard-ship. Dependence was placed upon the ordinary wiles of the
recruiting-sergeant, and upon Nelson's own popularity in the adjacent
counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, from which the bulk of his ship's
company was actually drawn. "I have sent out a lieutenant and four
midshipmen," he writes to Locker, "to get men at every seaport in
Norfolk, and to forward them to Lynn and Yarmouth; my friends in
Yorkshire and the North tell me they will send what men they can lay
hands on;" but at the same time he hopes that Locker, then
Commander-in-chief at the Nore, will not turn away any who from other
districts may present themselves for the "Agamemnon." Coming mainly
from the same neighborhood gave to the crew a certain homogeneousness
of character, affording ground for appeal to local pride, a most
powerful incentive in moments of difficulty and emulation; and this

of a 
 well - ordered enemy the delay must have led to disastrous result. 
 Nelson himself join his ship at Chatham on the 7th of February, a 
 week after his orders were issued; but not until the 16th of March did 
 she entrust the dockyard, and then only for Sheerness, where she 
 remained four week longer. By that time it seems probable, from 
 remark in his letters, that the material equipment of the vessel was 
 arrant; but until the 14th of April she remained over a hundred serviceman 
 short of her complement. " Yet, I think, " wrote Nelson, " that we shall 
 be far from ill - manned, even if the rest be not thus good as they ought 
 to be. " Mobilization in those days had not been perfected into a 
 skill, even in theory, and the difficulty of lift gang on the 
 outbreak of war was experienced by all nation, but by none more than 
 by Great Britain. Her wants were greatest, and for supply depend 
 upon a merchant service scattered in all quarters of the globe. " Men 
 are very hard to be got, " Nelson said to his brother, " and without a 
 press I have no idea that our fleet can be manned. " It does not appear 
 that this crude and violent, yet unavoidable, method acting was use for 
 the " Agamemnon, " except so far as her crowd was dispatch from the 
 guard - ship. Dependence was placed upon the ordinary trickery of the 
 recruiting - sergeant, and upon Nelson's own popularity in the adjacent 
 county of Suffolk and Norfolk, from which the bulk of his ship's 
 company was actually draw. " I have sent out a lieutenant and four 
 midshipmen, " he writes to Locker, " to get men at every seaport in 
 Norfolk, and to forward them to Lynn and Yarmouth; my friends in 
 Yorkshire and the North tell me they will send what men they can lay 
 hand on; " but at the like meter he hopes that Locker, then 
 Commander - in - chief at the Nore, will not turn away any who from early 
 districts may present themselves for the " Agamemnon. " Coming mainly 
 from the same neighborhood gave to the crew a certain homogeneity 
 of character, affording ground for appeal to local pride, a most 
 powerful bonus in moments of difficulty and emulation; and this
 of a
well-ordered enemy the aelay must have led to disasfrous rerults.
Nelson himself joined hms syip au Chatham on the 7th of Februwry, a
weej afuer his orders wecs issued; but hlt uutml the 16th of Match did
she laave the dockydra, cnd then only for Sheerness, where shq
remainrd four weeks logger. Fy tgat time it seems probable, from
remzrks in his letters, yhat the material equipmenh of the vessel was
comolete; but ubtil rhe 14th of Apfil she remained over z hundred men
short of her compldment. "Yet, I thibk," wrlje Nelson, "thet we fhall
be far ngom ill-kanned, rven if the rext ue nit so good as they oujht
to be." Mobilizatiog in thosa bays had not been perdexted hnto a
sckwncd, ebei ih theogy, end the difriculty of eaising crews on tht
ouevreak of war sas ex[ewienced by all nations, but by none more thzn
by Great Britain. Her qants were greatest, ajd for su[ply depended
upon a merchant service scattered in all sjaruevf if the globe. "Men
are very hard to be got," Nelson fzic no his brother, "anb without a
press I hsde no idea thxt our flset can be manned." Lt does not qppear
thau thix crude and violent, yet unacoidable, metkod was employed for
tke "Agamemnon," excgpt so far as her crew was cooplefed from thf
guard-shil. Dependence was olabed gpon the ordinary wiles of the
recrumting-xergeang, anc upon Nelson's oan poiglarity in the adjwcent
eounthes of Sufvolk and Norfolk, from which the bulk of his sni['s
cmmpany wcs actmally drawn. "I hwve sent out a lieuteuant avd four
midahipmen," he writes eo Locker, "to cgt men at evecy seapore in
Borfilk, and go forward thek to Lynn and Yarmoyth; my friends in
Yprkrgire and the Noxuh ueol me they wilk sdnd wjav men dhey can lay
vandr ov;" but xt the same gime he hopes that Lockes, thsn
Commander-in-chief ab the Norg, will noe turn away amy who from other
dlstrirts mab presrnt themselves for the "Agamemnon." Doming malnln
from the samq nelghbjrhood gavz to the crew a certain homogeneousness
oh character, affording geound for appeal to kocal pride, a moft
powerfun incentive in momenrs of difficulty snd emulation; and thia

of a well-ordered enemy the delay must to results. Nelson joined his ship of a week after orders were issued; not until the 16th of March she leave the dockyard, and then only for Sheerness, where she remained four longer. By that time it seems probable, from remarks in his letters, that material of vessel complete; but until the 14th of April she remained over a hundred men short of her "Yet, I think," wrote Nelson, "that we shall far from ill-manned, even the rest be not so as ought to Mobilization those had not been into a science, even in theory, and the difficulty of raising crews on the outbreak of war experienced by but by more by Britain. Her wants and for supply depended upon a in all quarters of the globe. "Men are hard to got," Nelson said to his brother, without a press I have no idea that fleet can be manned." It does not appear that this crude and violent, yet unavoidable, employed for the "Agamemnon," so far as crew completed the Dependence was upon the ordinary wiles of the recruiting-sergeant, and upon Nelson's own in the adjacent counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, from which of ship's company was drawn. "I have sent a and four midshipmen," he Locker, get seaport Norfolk, to forward them to and Yarmouth; my friends in and the North tell men they can lay hands on;" but at same time he hopes that Locker, then at the Nore, will not turn away any who from other districts present themselves "Agamemnon." Coming mainly from the same neighborhood gave the crew a certain of character, affording ground for appeal to local pride, most incentive in of difficulty and and this
 of a
well-ordered enemy the delAy must have Led to DisAstRoUs reSultS.
Nelson himself JOineD his ship at Chatham on the 7Th of FEbRUary, A
WeEk aftEr his orDErS WEre IsSuEd; bUt NOt Until The 16Th of MarCh did
she leAve ThE dockyard, and THeN only for ShEerNess, where she
RemAined fOuR weEKs lonGer. by thaT time iT Seems pRobable, frOm
REmarks IN his letTERs, That The material equipmENt OF the vessel was
cOmpletE; bUT uNTIl tHe 14tH of April shE rEmainED over a hUNdRED Men
SHort of her compLement. "Yet, I tHInk," Wrote NElSon, "THat we sHall
bE fAR frOm ill-manned, Even If the rest Be not sO Good as tHEy ought
To be." MoBilIzaTion IN tHoSe dAyS Had NOt BeeN PerFected inTo A
sCiencE, eveN IN THeorY, anD the DiffiCulty of raisinG crEws oN The
OutbrEak of War wAs ExperIenced By all NaTions, but by none mOre tHan
by GreaT BrItAin. heR wantS Were grEatEst, And for sUpply dePEndEd
UPON a Merchant service scaTtEREd In all quaRters oF ThE gLObe. "Men
arE vEry Hard TO Be got," nelsON sAid to his BrotheR, "AnD wIthout a
PrEss I haVe No iDea That oUR fleEt can bE manned." IT does NOt appear
that thIS crude and violENt, YET uNAvoiDabLe, method was EmplOYed fOr
thE "agAmeMNon," exCept sO fAR aS Her crew was completed FrOm the
gUard-sHip. Dependence Was placed uPON The ordinAry wILeS Of the
recruitinG-sergEant, and upoN nelson's oWn popUlarity iN the adjacENT
countieS of sufFolK anD nOrFolk, from which THE bulK oF his shiP's
cOmpany wAs aCtuAllY drAwN. "I have senT out a lieUtEnAnT aNd fOur
miDShipmen," hE wRitEs To LOcker, "TO get meN at evEry sEaPoRT in
norfolk, ANd TO ForwArD tHem tO LyNn And YaRmouTH; my Friends In
YorkshiRe aND the noRtH tell me They will send wHaT men they caN lAy
hAnds on;" BUT at the saMe time he hopes that Locker, THen
CommAndEr-in-cHief At the Nore, WilL not tuRn aWAy any wHo from Other
DiStrICTs may PREsEnt ThEmselves foR THe "AGamemNoN." ComIng mainLy
from the same neighBOrhOod gave to the cRew A cerTAIn HomOGeNEouSnESs
oF CHaracter, affordiNg ground foR aPPeAl to local pRIde, A mOst
poweRful incEntivE In momenTs of diffiCulty and eMuLatiON; And This

 of a
well-ordered enemy t he delay m ust h ave  le dto d isas trous results. Nels on himself joined hisshipat Chat h am  on t he 7tho fF e bru ar y,  awe e kafter  hi s order s were iss ued ;but not unti l  t he 16th of  Ma rch did
shelea ve the  d ock y ard,and  then  onlyf or She erness, w he r e sher emained f ou r we eks longer. By th a tt ime it seems p robabl e, fr o m 
re mar ks in hisle tters ,  that t h em a t eri a l equipment o f the vesse l  wa s
comp le te; but un til t he 14t h of Aprilsheremainedover a hundred men
sho rt ofher  co mple m en t.  "Y et ,  It hi nk, "  wr ote Nels on ,"that  wes h a l l
be  fa r fr om il l-manned, eve n i f th e  re st be  notso g oo d asthey o ughtto  be." Mobilizat ionin thoseday shad  n ot be e n perf ect edinto ascience ,  ev en i n  t heory, and the dif fi c u lt y of rai sing c r ew so n the
ou tb rea k of w ar wa s ex p er ienced b y alln at io ns, but  b y none  m ore  th an
by Grea t Brit ain. Her  want s  were greatest ,  and for supp l yd e pe n dedupo n a merchan t se r vice  sca t te red in al l qua rt e rs of the globe. "Menar e very  hard  to be got,"Nelson sai d t o his br othe r ," and without apress  I have no idea tha t our  fleet c an be man n e d." It d oes  no t a ppe a r 
t hat this crud e andvi olent,yet  unavoi dab le,  me tho dwas emplo yed forth e"A ga mem non," except s ofar  a s h er cr e w wascompl eted  f ro m  th e
guard - sh i p . De pe nd ence  wa splace d up o n t he ordi nary wile s o f  the 
r ec ruiting -sergeant, an dupon Nelso n' s o wn pop u l arity in  the adjacent
countieso f Suffo lkand N orfo lk, fromwhi ch the  bu l k of h is shi p's
c om pan y was a c t ua lly  d rawn. "I h a v e s ent o ut  a l ieutena nt and four
midshi p men ," he writestoLock e r ,"to ge t  me na t e v e ry seaport in
N orfolk, an dt oforward th e m t oLynn an d Yarmo uth;m y frien ds in
Yor kshire an dtheN o rth  tell me t hey will  send wha t  ment he y can  la y
hand son; " but  at th e  sa me ti me heho pes th at Lo ck er, then 
Commander-in-chief atthe No re, w ill  not turn  aw a y a ny who fr om o ther
distr ict s m ay pr ese n t the msel v es  fo r  the"Aga m emnon." C o mi ngm a in ly
from the s a meneigh bor h ood ga ve t o the crew a cert a in homogeneous ness o f c har a cter ,affording grou ndfo r appeal t olocal pride , a most 
p o werfu l ince ntivein mome n t so f diff icul tyand emula tio n; and thi s
 of_a
well-ordered enemy_the delay must have_led to_disastrous_results.
Nelson himself_joined_his ship at_Chatham on the_7th of February, a
week_after his orders_were_issued; but not until the 16th of March did
she leave the dockyard, and then_only_for Sheerness,_where_she
remained_four weeks longer. By that_time it seems probable, from
remarks_in his_letters, that the material equipment of the vessel_was
complete;_but until the_14th of April she remained over a hundred men
short_of her complement. "Yet, I think,"_wrote Nelson, "that_we_shall
be_far from ill-manned, even_if the rest be not so_good as they ought
to be." Mobilization_in those days had not been perfected_into a
science, even in theory, and_the difficulty of raising crews_on the
outbreak_of war was experienced by_all nations, but_by none_more than
by Great_Britain. Her wants were greatest, and_for supply depended
upon_a merchant service scattered in all_quarters_of the globe._"Men
are_very_hard to_be got," Nelson_said_to his_brother,_"and without a
press I have no_idea_that our fleet can be manned." It_does not appear
that this_crude_and violent, yet unavoidable,_method was employed for
the "Agamemnon,"_except so far as her crew_was completed_from the
guard-ship._Dependence was placed upon the ordinary wiles of the
recruiting-sergeant, and upon_Nelson's own popularity in the adjacent
counties_of Suffolk and Norfolk,_from which_the_bulk of his_ship's
company_was actually_drawn. "I have sent out a lieutenant_and four
midshipmen,"_he writes to Locker, "to get_men at every seaport_in
Norfolk,_and to forward them to Lynn_and Yarmouth; my friends in
Yorkshire and_the North tell me they_will_send_what men they can lay
hands_on;" but at the same time_he hopes that_Locker, then
Commander-in-chief at the Nore, will not_turn_away any who from other
districts may_present_themselves for the "Agamemnon." Coming mainly
from_the_same_neighborhood gave to the crew_a certain homogeneousness
of character, affording ground_for appeal to local pride, a most
powerful incentive in_moments of difficulty_and emulation; and this
