shot through the right elbow, and fell; Lieutenant Nisbet, who was close to him, placed him at the bottom of the boat, and laid his hat over the shattered arm, lest the sight of the blood, which gushed out in great abundance, should increase his faintness. He then examined the wound; and taking some silk handkerchiefs from his neck, bound them round tight above the lacerated vessels. Had it not been for this presence of mind in his son-in-law, Nelson must have perished. Lieutenant Nisbet then collected half a dozen seamen, by whose assistance he succeeded, at length, in getting the boat afloat, for it had grounded with the falling tide; and, himself taking an oar, rowed off to the Theseus, under a tremendous, though ill-directed fire, from the enemy’s batteries.
In a private letter to Sir John Jervis, the first which he wrote with his left hand, Nelson recommended his youthful companion for advancement, in the following terms: “by my last letter[1], you will perceive my anxiety for the promotion of my son-in-law, Josiah Nisbet. * * * * * * . If from poor Bowen’s loss[2] you think it proper to oblige me, I rest confident you will do it. The boy is under obligations to me; but he repaid me, by bringing me from the mole of Santa Cruz.” In his first letter to Lady Nelson, he says: “I know it will add much to your pleasure to find that Josiah, under God’s providence, was principally instrumental in saving my life.”
Lieutenant Nisbet, according to the wish of his father-in-law, was immediately promoted, and appointed to the command of the Dolphin hospital-ship, attached to the Mediterranean fleet. On Nelson’s recovery after the loss of his arm, and return to join his former chief, he received the following letter:
- ↑ In a letter addressed to the commander-in-chief, a few hours before he set out upon the enterprise, he recommended Lieutenant Nisbet to the protection of Sir John, and of the nation; adding, “the Duke of Clarence, should I fall, will, I am confident, take a lively interest for my son-in-law, on his name being mentioned.”
- ↑ Captain Bowen, of the Terpsichore, killed in the attack, brother of the present Commissioner James Bowen, see p. 94; and Vol. 1, note †, at p. 391, et seq.
