Nor did it fail to communicate itself to those under him, who served him in the like spirit.

When he rode into one of his infantry squares at Waterloo, as its diminished numbers closed up to receive a charge of French cavalry, he said to the men, "Stand steady, lads; think of what they will say of us in England;" to which the men replied, "Never fear, sir--we know our duty." Duty was also the dominant idea in Nelson's mind.

The spirit in which he served his country was expressed in the famous watchword, "England expects every man to do his duty," signalled by him to the fleet before going into action at Trafalgar, as well as in the last words that passed his lips,--"I have done my duty; I praise God for it!" And Nelson's companion and friend--the brave, sensible, homely-minded Collingwood--he who, as his ship bore down into the great sea-fight, said to his flag-captain, "Just about this time our wives are going to church in England,"-- Collingwood too was, like his commander, an ardent devotee of duty.

"Do your duty to the best of your ability," was the maxim which he urged upon many young men starting on the voyage of life.
To a midshipman he once gave the following manly and sensible advice:- "You may depend upon it, that it is more in your own power than in anybody else's to promote both your comfort and advancement.

A strict and unwearied attention to your duty, and a complacent and respectful behaviour, not only to your superiors but to everybody, will ensure you their regard, and the reward will surely come; but if it should not, I am convinced you have too much good sense to let disappointment sour you.