first knew, maintained his kindest friendship and regard to the
last moment of his life. When the boats were fitting out to quit
the two Ships blocked up in the ice, I exerted myself to have
the command of a four-oared cutter raised upon, which was given
me, with twelve men; and I prided myself in fancying I could
navigate her better than any other boat in the Ship."

It will be recognized from this brief yet suggestive and
characteristic narrative, that, however valuable and even
indispensable may have been his uncle's assistance in forwarding his
wishes, it was his own ambition and his own impulse that even at this
early day gave direction to his course, and obtained opportunities
which would scarcely have been offered spontaneously to one of his
physical frailty. In this Arctic expedition he underwent the
experiences common to all who tempt those icebound seas. During it
occurred an incident illustrative of Nelson's recklessness of personal
danger,--a very different thing from official recklessness, which he
never showed even in his moments of greatest daring and highest
inspiration. The story is so hackneyed by frequent repetition as to
make its relation a weariness to the biographer, the more so that the
trait of extreme rashness in youth is one by no means so rare as to be
specially significant of Nelson's character. It will be given in the
words of his first biographers:--

"There is also an anecdote recollected by Admiral Lutwidge,
which marked the filial attention of his gallant cockswain.
Among the gentlemen on the quarter-deck of the Carcass, who were
not rated midshipmen, there was, besides young Nelson, a daring
shipmate of his, to whom he had become attached. One night,
during the mid-watch, it was concerted between them that they