 Preface to the Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Daniel Watkins. The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton by Horatio Nelson. Advertisement In presenting to the public the Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, something may justly be expected elucidatory of them. Their mutual attachment is so generally known that for the editors to have given notes, however desirable and explanatory, might not, perhaps, have been deemed perfectly decorous. They now stand on their own real merits. Some parts, though not very numerous, have been suppressed from the most honourable feelings to individuals, as they would certainly have given pain. That portion of letters now offered to the British nation, written by the first of her naval commanders, will show his most private sentiments of men and measures, of countries and their rulers. It is the duty of the editors to state that every letter should be most accurately transcribed and faithfully compared with the originals in their possession. Should our immortal hero have expressed an erroneous opinion of some individuals and of things, let us ever remember they were written, often under the feelings of sickness and of disappointment, by him who so repeatedly fought, and almost as frequently bled for our country, for his dear England, and let us never forget that to him we owe more than to any man for our existence as a great and powerful nation. His country has truly honoured him, and it is not presumptuous in the editors to affirm that his deeds will be remembered not only in name, but in their consequences by our remotest posterity. Were we to de-educate them? Unto whom should we? To the British Navy, as the genuine sentiments of a true seaman, the first even of their own heroes, for Nelson could forgo all private feelings, all selfish motives, for that which will ever be the first object of a truly great and brave man, the glory and happiness of his country. Our task, which has, from various causes, been attended with more difficulties than could be imagined, is thus far accomplished, and we have the pleasure to inform the public of the very large collection of Lord Nelson's most important public and private correspondence, etc., with the most distinguished characters, at home and abroad, is now in preparation for the press. Many of the documents will certainly throw a light on political transactions at present very imperfectly understood, and those which we intend to present to the world, we doubt not, will be found more than usually interesting. End of Preface Part 1 of the Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Daniel Watkins The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton by Horatio Nelson Letters 1 to 8 Letter 1, Vanguard, Off Malta October 24th 1798 My dear madam, after a long passage, we are arrived, and it is as I suspected. The ministers at Naples know nothing of the situation of the island. Not a house or bastion of the town is in possession of the islanders, and the Marquis de Niza tells me they want arms, victuals and support. He does not know that any Neapolitan officers are in the island. Perhaps, although I have their names, none are arrived, and it is very certain by the Marquis' account that no supplies are of Syracuse or Messina. However, I shall and will know everything as soon as the Marquis is gone, which will be tomorrow morning. He says he is very anxious to serve under my command, and, by changing his ship, it appears as if he was so. However, I understand the trim of our English ships better. Ball will have the management of the blockade after my departure, as it seems the Court of Naples think my presence may be necessary and useful in the beginning of November. I hope it will prove so, but I feel my duty lays it present in the east. For until I know the shipping in Egypt are destroyed, I shall never consider the French army as completely sure of never returning to Europe. However, all my views are to serve and save the two Sicilies, and to do that which their Majesties may wish me, even against my own opinion, when I come to Naples, and that country is at war. I shall wish to have a meeting with General Acton on this subject. You will, I am sure, do me justice with the Queen, for I declare to God my whole study is how to best meet her approbation. May God bless you and Sir William, and ever believe me, with the most affectionate regard, your obliged and faithful friend, Horatio Nelson. I may possibly, but that is not certain, send him the enclosed letter. Show it to Sir William. This must depend on what I hear and see, for I believe scarcely anything I hear. Once more, God bless you. Letter 2 May 12th, 1799 My dear Lady Hamilton, accept my sincere thanks for your kind letter. Nobody writes so well, therefore pray, say not you write ill, for if you do I will say what your goodness sometimes told me, you lie. I can read and perfectly understand every word you write. We drank your and Sir William's health. Troubridge, Lewis, Hallowell and the new Portuguese captain dined here. I shall soon be at Palermo, for this business must very soon be settled. No one, believe me, is more sensible of your regard than your obliged and grateful Nelson. I am pleased with little Mary, kiss her for me. I thank all the house for their regard. God bless you all. I shall send on shore, if fine, tomorrow, for the Filuccas are going to leave us and I am seasick. I have got the piece of wood for the tea-chest, it shall soon be sent. Pray, present my humble duty and gratitude to the Queen, for all her marks of regard, for it is not thrown away on an ungrateful soil. Letter 3 Vanguard, May 19th, 1799 8 o'clock, calm My dear Lady Hamilton, Lieutenant Swiney coming on board enables me to send some blank passports for vessels going to Proquita with corn, etc. and also one for the courier boat. To tell you how dreary and uncomfortable the Vanguard appears is only telling you what it is to go from the pleasantest society to a solitary cell, or from the dearest friends to no friends. I am now perfectly the great man, not a creature near me. From my heart I wish myself the little man again. You and Good Sir William have spoiled me for any place but with you. I love Mrs Cadigan. You cannot conceive what I feel when I call you all to my remembrance. Even to Myra, do not forget your faithful and affectionate. NELSON Letter 4 May 20th, 1799 My dear Lady Hamilton, many thanks to you and Sir William for your kind notes. You will believe I did not sleep much with all my letters to read, etc. My letters from Lord St Vincent are May 6th. He says, We saw the breast squadron pass as yesterday under an easy sail. I am making every effort to get information to Lord Keith, who I have ordered here to complete their water and provisions. I conjecture the French squadron is bound for Malta and Alexandria I must leave you to judge whether the Earl will come to us. I think he will, but, entre nous, Mr Duckworth means to leave me to my fate. I send you, under all circumstances, his letter. Never mind, if I can get my eleven sail together they shall not hurt me. God bless you, Sir William and all our joint friends in your house Noble, Gibbs, etc. and believe me ever, forever your affectionate friend. NELSON February 3rd, 1800 My dear Lady Hamilton, having a commander in chief I cannot come on short till I have made my manners to him. Times are changed, but if he does not come on short directly I will not wait. In the meantime, I send Alan to inquire how you are. Send me word for I am anxious to hear of you. It has been no fault of mine that I have been so long absent. I cannot command, and now only obey. Mr Tyson and the consul have not been able to find out the betrothed wife of the priori. Although they were three days in their inquiries and desired the Neapolitan consul to send to Pisa I also desired the Russian Admiral as he was going to Pisa to inquire if the Countess Pushkin had any letters to send to Palermo but, as I received none I take for granted she had none to send. May God bless you, my dear Lady and be assured I ever am and shall be your obliged and affectionate. Bronte Nelson 26. Off la Vallette February 20th, 1800 My dear Lady Hamilton had you seen the peer receive me I know not what you would have done but I can guess. But never mind, I told him that I had made a vow if I took the generu by myself it was my intention to strike my flag to which he made no answer. If I am well enough I intend to write a letter to Prince Leopold and to send him the French Admiral's flag which I hope you will approve of as it was taken on the coast of his father's kingdom and by his faithful subject as any in his dominions. I have had no communication with the shore therefore have seen neither Ball, Troubridge or Graham nor with the Lion when I have I shall not forget all your messages and little Jack I only want to know your wishes that I may at least appear grateful by attending to them. My headaches dreadfully and I have none here to give me a moment's comfort. I send the packet to General Acton as I think it may go quicker and he will be flattered by presenting the flag and letter to the Prince. Malta I think will fall very soon if these other corvettes do not get in. Pray make my best regards acceptable to Mrs. Cadogan, Miss Knight, Little Mary Ray Giovanni, Gibbs etc etc and ever believe me you're truly faithful and affectionate Bronte Nelson. Letter 7 June 16th 1800 7 o'clock My dear Lady Hamilton what a difference, but it was to be from your house to her boat. Fresh breeze of wind the ship four or five leagues from the mole getting on board into truly a hogsty of a cabin leaking like a sieve consequently floating with water what a change. Not a falooka near us. I saw them come out this morning but they think there is too much wind and swell. Pray do not keep the cutter as I have not a thing for you. Only think of Tysons being left. May God bless you my dear lady and believe me ever you're truly affectionate and sincere friend Nelson. Lady Hamilton put the candlestick on my writing table. Letter 8 January 28th 1801 What a fool I was my dear Lady Hamilton to direct that your cheering letters should be directed for Brexit. I feel this day truly miserable and not having them and I fear they will not come till tomorrow's post. What a blockhead to believe any person is so active as myself. I have this day got my orders to put myself under Lord St Vincent's command but as no order is arrived to man the ship it must be Friday night or Saturday morning before she can sail for Torbay. Direct my letters now to Bricson. My eye is very bad. I have had the physician of the fleet to examine it. He has directed me not to write and yet I am forced this day to write Lord Spencer, St Vincent, Davison about my lawsuit Truebridge, Mr Locker etc but you are the only female I write to. Not to eat anything but the most simple food not to touch wine or porter to sit in a dark room to have green shades for my eyes will you my dear friend make me one or two nobody else shall and to bathe them in cold water every hour I fear it is the writing as brought on this complaint my eye is like blood and the film so extended I can only see from the corner farthest from my nose what a fuss about my complaints but being so far from my sincere friends I have leisure to brood over them I have this moment seen Mrs Thompson's friend poor fellow he seems very uneasy and melancholy he begs you to be kind to her and I have assured him of your readiness to relieve the dear good woman and believe me forever my dear lady your faithful, attached and affectionate Nelson and Bronte I will try and write the duke a line my brother intended to have gone off tomorrow afternoon but this half order may stop him end of part 1 part 2 of the Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Daniel Watkins the Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton by Horatio Nelson Letters 9 to 13 Letters 9 San Yosef, February 8th, 1801 My dear lady Mr Davidson demands the privilege of carrying back an answer to your kind letter and I'm sure he will be very punctual in the delivery I am not in very good spirits and accept that our country demands all our services and abilities to bring about an honourable peace nothing should prevent my being the bearer of my own letter but my dear friend you are a real and English woman that you would hate those who would not stand forth in defence of our king, laws, religion and all that is dear to us it is your sex that makes us go forth and seems to tell us none but the brave deserve the fair and if we fall we still live in the hearts of those females you are dear to us it is your sex that rewards us it is your sex who cherish our memories and you my dear honoured friend it is your sex I have been the world around and in every corner of it and never yet saw your equal or even one which could be put in comparison with you you know how to reward virtue, honour and courage and never to ask if it is placed in a prince, Duke, lord or peasant and I hope one day to see you in peace before I set out for Bronte which I am resolved to do Darby's is one of the ships sent out after the French squadron I think they might come by the mail coach as a parcel wrapped up round a stick any print shop will give you one and directed as my letters the coach stops for parcels at the white bear I believe, Piccadilly Pray have you got any picture from Mrs Heads I hope Mr Bryden has executed the frames to your satisfaction the bill he is directed to send to me only tell me how I can be useful to you and Sir William and believe nothing could give me more pleasure the greatest truth, my dear lady your most obliged and affectionate friend Nelson and Bronte I am told the moment St George arrives that I am to be tumbled out of this ship as the v to parry is going to Plymouth to be paid and the earl will hoist his flag here and if I am as fortunate in getting a fresh painted cabin which is probable I should be knocked up at all events I should be made very uncomfortable by this hurry it has been very good and friendly of Mr Davison I am now upwards of 200 miles to make me a visit I rather think the great earl will not much like his not having called on him but his manner of speaking of Mr Davison for his friendship to me in the matter of the lawsuit Lord St Vincent states to my solicitors as offensive to him why should it only that Mr Davison wishes that I should have justice done me and not to be overpowered by weight of interest and money once more God bless you and Sir William NNB 3rd has gazetted true bridges hood etc as honours but is not gazetted mine and he has the king's orders for mine as much as the others letter 10 number 2 San Joseph February 16th 1801 my dearest friend your letters have made me happy today and never again will I scold unless you begin therefore pray never do my confidence in you is firm as a rock I cannot imagine who can have stopped my Sunday's letter that it has been is clear and the seal of the other has been clearly opened but this might have happened from letters sticking together yours all came safe but the numbering of them will point out directly if one is missing I do not think that anything very particular was in the letter which is lost believe me my dear friend that Lady A is as damned a blank as ever lived and Mrs W is aborted Mrs U a foolish pimp eat up with pride that a blank will consent to put her to expense only do as I do and all will be well and you will be everything I wish I thank you for your kindness to poor dear Mrs Thompson I sent her a note as desired by her dear good friend who dotes on her I sent you a few lines wrote in the late Gale which I think you will not disapprove how interesting your letters are you cannot write too much or be too particular though blanks polished verse superior shine though sensibility grace every line though her soft muse be far above all praise and female tenderness inspires her lays dain to receive though unadorned by the poetic art the rude expressions which bespeak a sailor's untaught heart a heart susceptible, sincere and true a heart by fate and nature torn in two one half to duty and his country due the other better half to love and you soon as your Britain's sons resign the empire of the sea then Henry shall renounce his faith and plighted vows to thee and waves on wares shall cease to roll and tides forget to flow ere thy true Henry's constant love or ebb or change shall know the weather thank God is moderating I've just got the letter from the new Earl at the Admiralty full of compliments but nothing shall stop my lawsuit and I hope to cast him I trust when I get to Spithead there'll be no difficulty in getting leave of absence the letters on service are so numerous from three days interruption of the post that I must conclude with assuring you that I am forever you're attached and unalterably yours Nelson and Bronte I should begin a letter at night letter 11 March 1801 you say my dearest friend why don't I put my chief forward he has put me in the front of the battle and Nelson will be first I could say more but will not make you uneasy knowing the firm friendship you have for me the St George will stamp an additional ray of glory to England's fame and that all mighty providence who has hitherto protected me in all dangers and covered my head in the day of battle will still if it be his pleasure support and assist me keep me alive in your and Sir Williams remembrance my last thoughts will be with you both for you love and esteem me I judge your hearts by my own may the great God of heaven protect and bless you and him is the fervent prayer of your and Sir Williams unalterable friend till death letter 12 Friday night nine o'clock St George March 1801 having my truly dearest friend got through a great deal of business I am enabled to do justice to my private feelings which are fixed ever on you and about you whenever the public service does not arrest my attention I've read all all your kind and affectionate letters and have read them frequently over and committed them to the flames much against my inclination can I rejoice not to have to read at the time it was where you consented to dine and sing with blank thank God it was not so I could not have borne it and now less than ever but I now know he never can dine with you for you would go out of the house sooner than suffer it and as to letting him hear you sing I only hope he will be struck deaf and you dumb sooner than such a thing should happen but I know it never now can you cannot think how my feelings are alive towards you probably more than ever and they never can be diminished my hearty endeavours shall not be one thing to improve and to give us new ties of regard and affection I've seen and talked much with Mrs Thompson's friend the fellow seems to eat all my words when I talk of her and his child he says he can never forget your goodness and kind affection to her and his dear dear child I have had you know the felicity of seeing it and a finer child never was produced by any two persons it was in truth a love begotten child I am determined to keep him on board for I know if they got together they would soon have another but after our two month trip I hope they will never be separated and then let them do as they please we are all bustle and activity I shall sail on Monday after your letter arrives Troubridge will send it as an admiralty letter on Tuesday I shall be in the downs if we have any wind and Troubridge will send under cover to admiral thatwidge it is not my intention to set my foot out of the ship except to make my take-leave bow to admiral Milbank I have been much pressed to dine ashore but no, never if I can help it till I dine with you 11 o'clock your dear letters just come on board they are sympathetic with my own feelings and I trust we shall soon meet to part no more Monday I shall be here for letters Tuesday at deal Recollect I am forever yours I forever while life remains yours yours faithfully Nelson and Bronte I charge my only friend to keep well and think of her Nelson's glory I have written to Lord Eldon, the Chancellor as my brother desired Pray as you are going to buy a ticket for the Pigot Diamond by the right number or it will be money thrown away forever ever yours only yours kindest regards to my dear Mrs Thompson and my godchild Letter 13 shall be on board the Medusa before this letter go from the Downs July 31st 1801 My dearest Emma did you not get my letter from Sheerness on Thursday morning telling you I was just setting off for deal as I have no letter from you of yesterday only those of Wednesday which went to Sheerness it has been my downed blunter and not yours for which I am deservedly punished by missing one of your dear letters they are my comfort, joy and delight my time is truly fully taken up and my hand aches before night comes I got to bed last night at half past nine but the hour was so unusual that I heard the clock strike one to say that I thought of you would be nonsense for you are never out of my thoughts at this moment I see no prospect of my getting to London but very soon the business of my command will become so simple that a child may direct it what rascals your post-chase people must be they have been paid everything Captain Parker has won receipt for seven pounds odd and I am sure that everything is paid therefore do not pay a farthing the car chase I paid at Dartford you need not fear all the women in this world for all others accept yourself are pests to me I know but one for who can be like Miami I am confident you will do nothing which can hurt my feelings and I will die by torture sooner than do anything which could offend you give ten thousand kisses to my dear Horatia yesterday the subject turned on the cowpox a gentleman declared that his child was inoculated with the cowpox and afterwards remained in a house where a child had the smallpox the natural way and did not catch it therefore here was a full trial with the cowpox the child is only feverish for two days and only a slight inflammation of the arm takes place instead of being all over scabs but do what you please I did not get your newspapers therefore do not know what promise you are led to but this I know I have none made me the extension of the patent of peerage is going on but the wording of my brother's note they have wrote for a meaning to the patent must be a new creation first to my father if he outlives me then to William and his sons then to Mrs Bolton and her sons and Mrs Machum and hers farther than that I care not it is far enough but it may never get to any of them for the old patent may extend by issue mail of my own car case I am not so very old and may marry again a wife more suitable to my genius I like the morning chronicle ever forever yours only your Nelson and Bronte best regards to Mrs Nelson the Duke and Lord William I have totally failed for poor Madame Bray Bonaparte's wife is one of Martinique and some plan is supposed to be carried on end of part two section three of the letters of Lord Horatio to Lady Hamilton volume one this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Anne Boulay the letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton by Horatio Nelson chapter three letter 14 sheerness August 11th 1801 my dearest Emma I came from Harwich yesterday noon not having set my foot on shore although the volunteers et cetera were drawn up to receive me and the people ready to draw the carriage Parker had very near got all the honors but I want none but what my dear Emma confers you have sense to discriminate whether they are deserved or no I came on shore for my business lays with the admiral who lives in a ship hauled on shore and the commissioner slept at coffins and having done all that I can am off for the downs today if possible as far as September 14th I am at the admiral tease disposal but if Mr. Bonaparte do not choose to send his miscreants before that time my health will not bear me through equinatial gales I wish that Sir William was returned I would try to persuade him to come to either deal Dover or Margate for thus cut off from the society of my dearest friends tis but a life of sorrow and sadness but patienzia poor forza I hope you will get the house if I buy no person can say this shall or not be altered and you shall have the whole arrangement remember me most kindly to Mrs. Nelson the Duke and William write to me in the downs may the heavens bless and preserve you forever and ever is the constant prayer of my dear Emma your most affectionate and faithful Nelson and Bronte the mayor and corporation of Sandwich when they came on board to present me the freedom of that ancient town requested me to dine with them I put them off for the moment but they would not be let off therefore this business dreadful to me stands over and I shall be attacked again when I get to the downs but I will not dine there without you say approve nor perhaps then if I can get off oh how I hate to be stared at letter 15 deal August 18th, 1801 my dearest Emma your dear good kind and most affectionate letters from Saturday to last night arrived and I feel all you say and may heaven bless me very soon with the sight of your dear angelic face you are a non-periel no not one fit to wipe your shoes I am ever have been and always will remain your firm fixed friend I wish Sir William had come home a week ago then I should have seen you here I have this morning been attending the funeral of two young mids a Mr. Gore cousin of Captain Gore and a Mr. Bristo 119 the other 17 years of age last night I was all the evening in the hospital seeing that all was done for the comfort of the poor fellows I am going on board for nothing should keep me living on shore without you here I shall come in the morning to see Parker and go on board again directly I shall be glad to see Oliver I hope he will keep his tongue quiet about the tea kettle for I shall not give it till I leave the Medusa you asked me what Trowbridge wrote me there was not a syllable about you in it it was about my not coming to London at the importance of which I laughed and then he said he should never venture another opinion on which I said then I shall never give you one this day he has wrote a kind letter and all is over I have however wrote him in my letter of this day as follows namely and I am this moment as firmly of opinion as ever that Lord St. Vincent himself should have allowed my coming to town for my own affairs for everyone knows I left it without a thought for myself I know he likes to be with you but shall he have that felicity and he deprived me of it no that he shall not but this business cannot last long and I hope we shall have peace and I rather incline to that opinion but the devil did not get me out of the kingdom without being some days with you I hope my dear Emma you will be able to find a house suited for my comfort I am sure of being happy by your arrangements I have wrote a line to trove bridge about Darby Parker will write you a line of thanks if he is able I trust in God he will yet do well you ask me my dear friend if I am going on more expeditions and even if I was to forfeit your friendship which is dearer to me than all the world I can tell you nothing for I go out if I see the enemy and can get at them it is my duty and you would naturally hate me if I kept back one moment I long to pay them for their tricks the other day the debt of a drubbing which surely I'll pay but when where how it is impossible your own good sense must tell you for me or mortal man to say I shall act not in a rash or hasty manner that you may rely on which I give you my word of honor just going off ever forever your faithful Nelson and Bronte every kind thing to Mrs. Nelson Letter 16 Medusa Downs August 31st 1901 My dear Emma, dearest best friend of Nelson Sir William is arrived and well remember me kindly to him I should have had the pleasure of seeing him but for one of my lords and masters Trowbridge therefore I am sure neither you or Sir William will feel obliged to him the weather is very bad and I am very seasick I cannot answer your letter probably and I am writing a line to get on shore if possible indeed I hardly expect that your letter can get afloat I entreat you my dear friend to work hard for me and get the house and furniture and I will be so happy to lend it to you and Sir William therefore if you was to take the Duke's house a cake house open to everyone he pleases he had better have a booth at once you never could rest for a moment quiet why did not the Duke assist Sir William when he wanted his assistance why not have saved you from the distress which Sir William must every day feel in knowing that his excellent wife sold her jewels to get a house for him whilst his own relations great as they are in the foolish world's eye would have left a man of his respectability and age to have lodged in the streets did the Duke or any of them give him a house then forgive me you know if anything sticks in my throat it must out Sir William owes his life to you which I believe he will never forget to return to the house the furniture must be bought with and the sooner it is done the better I shall like it oh how bad the weather is the devils here wanted to plague my soul out yesterday just after dinner but I would have seen them damned before they should have come in the Countess Montmorris lady this lady that and the other came alongside and Mr. Lublock with them to desire they might come in I sent word I was so busy that no persons could be admitted as my time was employed in the King's service then they sent their names which I cared not for and sent Captain Gore to say well and that if they wanted to see a ship they had better go to the Overistle as 64 in the Downs they said no they wanted to see me however I was stout and will not be shown about like a beast and away they went I believe Captain Gore wishes me out of his ship for the ladies admire him I am told very much but however more many than he is these ladies he told me afterwards were his relations I have just got your letters many thanks for them you do not say in the end Sir William is arrived I am glad that you approve you may rely my dear friend that I will not run any unnecessary risk no more boat work I promise you but ever you're attached and faithful Nelson and Bronte Lord William say everything which is kind and to Mrs. Nelson I am so dreadfully seasick that I cannot hold up my head Letter 17 September 21st, 1801 quarter past 10 o'clock my dear Emma I wish you would send the letter to Mrs. Dodds directly for otherwise he may inadvertently if done and it comes to London deliver some of the things to her and if any of her clothes are at Mr. Dodds they had better be separated from mine and indeed what things are worth removing to have them directly sent to Merton a bed or two I believe belong to my father but I am not sure I send you Dr. Baird's comfortable note this moment received you will find Parker is treated like an infant poor fellow I trust he will get well and take possession of his room at the farm ever you're affectionate Nelson and Bronte Letter 18 Amazon September 26th 1801 8 o'clock my dearest Emma your kind letters came aboard about 6 o'clock you may rely upon one thing that I shall like Merton therefore do not be uneasy on that account I have that opinion of your taste and judgment that I do not believe it can fail in pleasing me we must only consider our means and for the rest I am sure you will soon make it the prettiest place in the world I dare say Mr. Hazelwood acted like all lawyers whose only consideration was for their client but I am sure you will do for me all the civil things towards Mrs. Greaves if I can't afford to buy the duck clothes and the field it would be pleasant but I fear it is not in my power but I shall know when my accounts are settled at New Year's Day to be sure we shall employ the trades people of our village in preference to any others in what we want for common use and give them any encouragement to be kind and attentive to us from my heart do I wish that I was with you and it cannot be long from far from well violent headache and very cold but it may be agitation whatever my dear Emma you do for my little charge I must be pleased with probably she will be lodged at Merton at least in the spring when she can't have the benefits of our walks it will make the poor mother happy I am sure I do not write her today as this goes through the Admiralty but tell her all I would say you know my unchangeable thoughts about her I shall have the child christened when I come up have we a nice church at Merton we will set an example of goodness to the under parishioners would to God I was with you at Layleham I shall never forget our happiness at that place Mr. Davidson will pay Mrs. Nelson 50 pounds October 1st I dare say Mr. Shakespeare has some orders about it I had yesterday a letter from my father he seems to think that he may do something which I shall not like I suppose he means going to Somerset Street I shall to an old man enter upon the detestable subject it may shorten his days but I think I shall tell him that I cannot go to Somerset Street to see him but I shall not write till I hear your opinion if I once begin you know it it will all out about her and her ill treatment to her son but you shall decide our accounts of dear Parker I fear preclude all hopes of his recovery it was my intention to have gone ashore this morning to have called on Admiral Lutwidge but the winds coming fresh from the Southwest I declined it for I doubt I could get off again at ten o'clock with your letters came off Dr. Baird's note to say every hope was gone I have desired that his death should be sent by telegraph to the Admiralty they will surely honor his memory although they would not promote him what are our feelings my dear Emma but we must cheer up and with best regards to Mrs. Nelson believe me ever forever your most affectionate Nelson and Bronte best regards to Sir William I send you the last report who knows end of section 3 section 4 of the letters of Lord Horatio to Lady Hamilton volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Anne Boulay the letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton by Horatio Nelson Chapter 4 Letter 19 Amazon October 8th 1801 my dearest friend I do not expect although I am writing that any boat can communicate with us today what can be the use of keeping me here I can know nothing such weather and what a change since yesterday it came on in one hour from the water like a mill head to such a sea as to make me very unwell if I had gone to make my visit I could not have got off again I rejoice that I did not go until I leave the station I have no desire to go on shore for deal was always my abhorrence that Parker is a swindler Langford owed our dear Parker twenty five pounds of which there was no account but Langford desired his agents to pay Mr. Parker Langford requested that he would wait two or three months as it would be more convenient to him to which the other agreed I as long as you please but he got one pound eleven shillings and six pence from Samuel by casting his account wrong the first thing he does is to desire Langford's agents to pay thirty four pounds to Langford nine pounds more than the debt he is worse than a public thief his conduct to me was absolutely the worst species of thieving for it was under false pretenses he sent Dr. Baird on board to me to say that in London his pocket book was stolen in which was twenty pounds and begged my assistance to get him home and that he had not a farthing to buy mourning for his dear son at this time he had forty seven pounds in his pocket besides what he had sold of his sons he has behaved so unlike a gentleman but very like a black guard to both Captain Sutton Bedford and Hardy I am now clear that he never lost one farthing and that the whole is a swindling trick so you see my dear friend I am so vexed that he should have belonged to our dear Parker I have now done with the wretch forever I hope he has got nothing from you and if you have promised him anything do not send it ten o'clock your kind letters arrived I rejoice that you have got into Merton I hope to get the letter on shore but it is very uncertain ministry my dearest friend think very differently of my services from you but never mind I shall soon have done with them afloat make my kindest regards to Sir William and all our friends and believe me ever your faithful and affectionate Nelson and Bronte I have just got a very kind letter from Captain Reed he says he will come and see me be where it will he inquired after you and Sir William letter 20 Amazon 10 o'clock October 12th 1801 my dearest friend this being a very fine morning and smooth beach at 8 o'clock I went with Sutton and Bedford and landed at Walmart but found Billy fast asleep so left my card walked the same road that we came when the carriage could not come with us that night and all rushed into my mind and brought tears into my eyes ah how different to walking with such a friend as you Sir William and Mrs. Nelson called at the barracks on Lord George but he is gone to London from thence to the admirals found him up and waiting half an hour to see Mrs. Ludwig who and treated me to stay dinner came directly on board I did not even call to see poor Langford who has been worse these few days cast and God knows when he will be well I am afraid it will be a long time for several pieces of bone are lately come away and more to come but Trowbridge has completely prevented my ever mentioning anybody's service that I am become a cipher and he has gained a victory over Nelson's spirit I am kept here for what he may be able to tell I cannot but long it cannot shall not be Sutton and Bedford are gone a tour till dinner time but nothing shall make me but almost force go out of the ship again till I have done and the Admiralty in charity will be pleased to release me I am in truth not over well I have a complaint in my stomach and bowels but it will go off if you was here I should have some rhubarb but as you are not I shall go without Sutton has sent into Yorkshire for a cow that in the spring will give 14 pounds of butter a week and he has given Alan the finest goat I ever saw the latter I am afraid will be troublesome just as I was coming off I received your packet and thank you from my heart for all your kindness what can Reverend sir want to be made a doctor for he will be laughed at for his pains I thank you for the king's letters I shall write a line to Castel Sicala and answer the king's very soon and write to acton for he can make Bronte everything to me if he pleases I dare say I did wrong never to write him but as he treated Sir William unkindly I never could bring myself to it I am glad the Duke has been to see you and taking plants from him is nothing make my kindest promises to him I would have everybody like your choice for I am sure you have as fine a taste in laying out land as you have in music I'll be damned if Mrs. Billington can sing so well as you she may have stage trick but you have pure nature I always say everything for you and Sir William I wish you had translated the kings and acton's letters Banti cannot I may be disposed of Charles but not of the other and he would corrupt Charles forever yours Nelson and Bronte Mrs. Lutwidge inquires always particularly after you we all laugh and say she is more fond of soldiers than ever since General Don has shown her how he would keep off the French Letter 21 Amazon October 15th 1801 my dearest friend I have received all your letters of yesterday and the one sent from the post at Merton and also one missent to pool but I do not write direct to Merton till I hear that mine to Sir William sent yesterday gets to you before those by London the Admiralty will not give me leave till the 22nd and then only 10 days what a set of beasts my cold has now got into my head and I have such dreadful pain in my teeth that I cannot hold up my head but none of them cares a damn for me or my sufferings therefore you see I cannot discharge my steward and yet I think upon consideration that I will send up all my things and take my chance as to they're sending me down again what do you think at all events everything except my bed I have tablespoons at least I shall have soon 200 pounds worth what a bee that Miss Knight is as to the other I care not what she says my poor dear father is wrong but more of this when we meet which will be Friday the 23rd at farthest if possible the 22nd but the Admiralty are hard upon me I am sorry to hear that you have been ill and my cold is so dreadfully bad that I cannot hold up my head and am so damn stupid that you must my dear friend forgive my letter Admiral Ludwig is going to Port's mouth Sir William Parker is going to be tried for something make my kindness respects to Sir William and believe me ever yours most faithfully Nelson and Bronte I have wrote a line to Merton excuse my letter letter 22 Amazon October 16th 1801 my dearest friend it being a very fine morning and the beach smooth I went to call on Admiral Ludwig and returned on board before 10 o'clock Mrs. Ludwig is delighted with your present Sutton et cetera we're called forth to admire it she joins in abusing the Admiralty she pressed me very much to dine with them at three o'clock I would not dine with the angel Gabriel to be dragged through a night's surf her answer was that she hoped soon I should dine with an angel for she was sure you was one in short she adores you but who does not you are so good so kind to everyone old young rich or poor it is the same thing I called on poor Langford who has a long time to look forward to forgetting well he told me your goodness in writing him a line and I called upon Dr. Baird he disapproves of rhubarb and has prescribed magnesium and peppermint and I called on Mr. Lawrence so you see I did much business in one hour I was on shore civility to Ludwig was proper for me and indeed my duty the moment I got your letters off I came and have read them with real pleasure they have made me much better I think at least I feel so I admire the pigs in poultry sheep are certainly most beneficial to eat off the grass do you get paid for them and take care that they are kept on the premises all night for that is the time they do good to the land they should be folded is your headman a good person and true to our interest I intend to have a farming book I am glad to hear you get fish not very good ones I fancy it is I thank God only six days before I shall be with you and to be shown all the beauties of Merton I shall like it leaves or no leaves no person there can take a miss our not visiting the answer from me will always be a very civil thanks but that I wish to live retired we shall have our sea friends and I know Sir William thinks they are the best I have a letter from Mr. Trevor begging me to recommend a youngster for him but none before your Charles Banti I suppose must return but at present we know not what ships are to be kept in commission I have a letter from a female relation of mine she has had three husbands and he Mr. Sherstone three wives her brother a Nelson I have been trying ever since I have been in England to get promoted the last and present Admiralty promised I never saw the man he is in a ship in the North Seas 45 years of age I have a letter from Trowbridge recommending me to wear flannel shirts does he care for me no but never mind they shall work hard to get me back again remember me kindly to Sir William the Duke and all friends and believe me ever your most affectionate Nelson and Bronte do you ever see Castle Ciccala he is a good man and faithful to his master and mistress letter 23 Amazon October 16th 1801 my dearest friend I send you a letter for Allen's wife and one for Germany which I wish you would make Oliver put in the foreign post office and pay what is necessary I would send you the letter to which it is an answer but it would be overweight it is all compliments and the man says it is all truth the wind is fresh and cold but very fine day best regards to Sir William Mrs. Cadogan Mr. Oliver and all friends forever yours faithfully Nelson and Bronte I have a letter from Reverend doctor he is as big as if he was a bishop and one from the battle of the university to say how well he preached I hope you ordered something good for him for those big wigs love eating and drinking end of section 4 section 5 of the letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton volume 1 by Horatio Nelson letters 24 to 29 letter 24 Amazon October the 17th 1801 my dearest friend although my complaint has no danger attending it yet it resists the medicines which doctor Baird has prescribed and I fancy it has pulled me down very much the cold has settled in my bowels I wish the Admiralty had my complaint but they have no bowels at least for me I had a very indifferent night but your and William's kind letters have made me feel better I send you a letter from Lord Pelham I shall certainly attend and let them see that I may be useful in counsel as I have been in the field we must submit and perhaps these Admiralty do this by me to prevent another application you may rely that I shall be with you by dinner on Friday half past three or four at Fathast I shall not dine with Pitt as Mr. and Mrs. Long are staying there not that I ever saw her in my life nor care if I ever do I pray that I may not be annoyed on my arrival it is retirement with my friends that I wish for thanks to William kindly for his letter and the enclosure which I return Sutton is much pleased with your letter and with Bedford will certainly make you a visit they are both truly good and kind to me our weather has been cold these two days but not bad I have got a fire in the cabin and I hope my complaint will go off may heaven bless you I send this through Trowbridge direct in Piccadilly I shall you may rely admire the pig's die ducks, fowls and sea for everything you do I look upon as perfect Dr. Baird has been aboard to see me he thinks I shall be better and that a few days on shore will set me up again make my kind remembrances for William the Duke and all friends and believe me ever your most affectionate Nelson and Bronte Bedford has made me laugh Mrs. Lutvidge has been babbling that she will go to Portsmouth with the admiral who says he shall be so fully employed that he cannot be much with her she whispered Bedford I have many friends in the army there she will certainly marry a soldier if ever she is disposable but perhaps you will agree with me that no good soldier would take her I'm sure the purchase would be dear even if it was a gift don't call this a bull Sutton's man was on the farm and the sheep when not belonging to the farm always paid so much sheep so much lambs but I dare say you manage well Sir William's letter has delighted me with your activity and prudence letter 25 the two letters would have been overweight so I sent you the letter I have answered pray take care of it it is a curiosity ever your faithful Nelson and Bronte Amazon 2pm Yorkins Yorkins is in great distress his cutter paid off and he, like many others very little to live upon he begs his best respects to Sir William he breakfasted here this morning many very long faces at peace letter 26 my dearest friend hardy begs you will send the enclosed to Naples I wish Tyson would come home for many are pulling at him and I want to pay him I will not be in his debt 48 hours after his arrival hardy is just anchored and his Commodore gone on shore ever your most faithful Nelson and Bronte Mrs. Nelson had better direct her letters to me unless I am on the spot you see you paid a postage and it lays me open to their post office conversation letter 27 Amazon October the 19th 1801 my dearest friend what a gale we have had Admiral Ludwig's boat came off and as your letter was wrote it got on shore at least I hope so for the boat seemed absolutely sea none of our boats could have kept above water a moment therefore I could not answer all the truly friendly things you told me in your letters for they were not opened before the boat was gone I am sure you did well to send Mrs. Ludwig again and she loves you very much but there is no accounting for taste she admires entirely red coats of blue they dine with Billy Pitt today or rather with Mr. Long for Pitt does not keep house in appearance although he asked me to come and see him and that I shall do out of respect to a great man although he never did anything for me or my relations I assure you my dear friend that I had rather read all your little story of a white hen getting into a tree an anecdote of Fatima or here you call Cupidie, Cupidie than any speech I shall hear in Parliament because I know although you can adapt your language and manners to a child yet that you can also thunder forth such a torrent of eloquence that corruption and infamy would sink before your voice in however exalted a situation it might be placed poor Oliver what can be the matter with him I must leave my cot here till my discharge when it shall come to the farm as cots are the best things in the world for our sea friends why not have the pictures from Davisons and those from Dodds and Davisons apropos Sir William has not sat a fear to be chie I want a half length the size of my fathers and Davisons I wonder your pictures are not come from Hamburg you have not lost the directions for unfolding them or the measure that I may have frames made for them for up they shall go as soon as they arrive what have your picture and not hang it up no I will not submit in the farm to every order but that the weather today is tolerable but I do not think I could well get on shore but Thursday I hope will be a fine day I shall call on Mr. Pitt to take my visit at the hospital and get off very early on Friday morning my cold is still very troublesome I cannot get my bowels in order in the night I had not a little fever but never mind the admiralty will not always be there everyone has their day God bless you my dear friend and believe me ever yours most faithfully Nelson and Bronte right on Wednesday your letters of yesterday are received Reverend Doctor would like to be a bishop I have sent poor Thompson's letter and the distressed Mrs to the Earl kindest regards to Sir William letter 28 Amazon October the 20th 1801 my dearest friend how could you think for a moment that I would be a time server to any minister on earth and if you had studied my letter a little closer you would have seen that my intention was to show them that I could be as useful in the cabinet as in the field my idea is to let them see that my attendance is worth soliciting for myself I can have nothing but for my brother something may be done living with Mr. Addington a good deal never in your sense of the word shall I do it what leave my dearest friends to dine with the minister damn me if I do beyond what you yourself shall judge to be necessary perhaps it may be once and once with the Earl but that you shall judge for me if I give up all intercourse you know enough of courts that they will do nothing make yourself of consequence to them and they will do what you wish in reason and out of reason I never should ask them it must be a great bore to me to go to the house I shall tell Mr. Addington that I go on the 29th to please him and not to please myself but more of this subject when we meet Doctor Baird is laid up with the rheumatism he will now believe that the cold may affect me this is the coldest place in England most assuredly Trobridge writes me that as the weather is set in fine again he hopes I shall get walks on shore he is I suppose laughing at me but never mind I agree with you in wishing Sir William had a horse why don't you send to the Duke for a pony for him I am just parting with four of my ships captains Conn Rowley, Martin and Whitter who are proceeding to the Nor in their way to be paid off the surf is still so great on the beach that I could not land dry if it was necessary today but I hope it will be smooth on Thursday if not I must go in a boat to Dover and come from thence to deal Sutton says he will get the Amazon under sail and carry me down for that I shall not take cold Bedford goes with a squadron to Margate so that all our party will be broke up I am sure to many of them I feel truly obliged make my kindest respects to Sir William and believe me ever your most faithful and affectionate Nelson and Bronte I wish Banty was separated from Charles for he is a knowing one I wish I could get him with a good captain who would keep him strict to his duty Hardy cannot get paid a hundred pounds he advanced for Mr. Williams's nephew many thanks for Mrs. Nelson's letters the reverend doctor likes going about only think of his wanting to come up with an address of thanks why the king will not receive him although he is a doctor and less for being my brother for they certainly do not like me letter 29 Amazon October the 20th 1801 my dearest friend only two days more the admiralty could with any conscience keep me here not that I think they have any conscience I dare say Master Truebridge is grown fat I know I am grown lean with my complaint which but for their indifference about my health would never have happened or at least I should have got well long ago in a warm room with a good fire and sincere friends I believe I leave this little squadron with sincere regret and with the good wishes of every creature in it how I should laugh to see you my dear friend rowing in a boat the beautiful Emma rowing a one armed admiral in a boat it will certainly be caricatured well done farmers wife I'll bet your turkey against mrs. Nelson's but sir William and I will decide Hardy says you may be sure of him and that he has not lost his appetite you will make us rich with your economy I did not think tell sir William that impudence had got such deep root in Wales I send you the letter as a curiosity and to have the impudence to recommend a midshipman it is not long ago a person from Yorkshire desired me to lend him 300 pounds as he was going to set up a school are these people mad or do they take me for quite a fool however I have wisdom enough to laugh at their folly and to be myself your most obliged and faithful friend Nelson and Bronte best regards to sir William mrs. Cadigan and all friends end of section 5 part 6 of the letters of lord Nelson to lazy Hamilton volume 1 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the letters of lord Nelson to lady Hamilton volume 1 by Horatio Nelson letters 30 to 32 letter 30 amazon October the 21st 1801 my dearest friend it blows strong from the westward and it is a very dirty day with a good deal of surf on the beach but Hardy and Sutton recommend my going ashore this morning as they believe it may blow a heavy gale tomorrow but what comfort could I have had for two whole days at deal I hope the morning will be fine but I have ordered a deal boat as they understand the beach better than ours and if I cannot land here I shall go to Ramsgate Pier and come to deal in a carriage has Mrs. Cattergin got my pier's robe for I must send for Mr. Webb and have it altered to a Viscounts Lord Hood wrote me today and he is to be one of my introducers he wanted me to dine with him the 24th but I'll be damned if I dine from home that day and it would be as likely we should dine out the 23rd if you and Sir William ever wish me to dine with his brother it must be the time of a very small party for it would be worse than death to me to dine in so larger party I expect that all the animals will increase where you are for I never expect that you will suffer any to be killed I am glad Sir William has got the Duke's pony riding will do him much good I am sorry to tell you that Dr. Baird is so ill that I am told it is very probable he may never recover this places the devils for dreadful colds and I don't believe I should get well all the winter for both cough and bowels are still very much out of order you are now writing your last letter for deal so am I for Merton from deal at least I hope so for if I can help it I will not return to it I have much to do being the last day on board but ever my dearest friend believe me you are truly affectionate Nelson and Bronte I am literally starving with cold but my heart is warm I suppose I shall dine with Lydwidge but I am not very desirous of it for I shall have Sutton Bedford and Hardy with me you must prepare Bantie's mother as it is a peace for some other line of life than the navies yesterday he sold a pair of silver buckles he would soon ruin poor Charles who is really a well-disposed boy I never shall get warm again I believe I cannot feel the pain make my kindest regards to Sir William Mrs. Categin, Oliver and Co Sutton, Hardy and Bedford all join in kind remembrances as Monday is Horace's birthday I suppose I must send him a one pound note letter 31 May the 22nd, 1803 8 o'clock in the morning my dearest Emma we are now in sight of Uschant and shall see Admiral Cornwallis in an hour I am not in a little fret on the idea that he may keep the victory and turn us all into the amphia it will make it truly uncomfortable but I cannot help myself I assure you my dear Emma that I feel a thorough conviction that we shall meet again with honour, riches and health and remain together till a good old age I look at you are my God's child's picture but till I am sure of remaining here I cannot bring myself to hang them up be assured that my attachment and affectionate regard is unalterable nothing can shake it and pray say so to my dear Mrs. T. when you see her tell her that my love is unbounded to her and her steer sweet child and if she should have more it will extend to all of them in short my dear Emma say everything to her which your dear affectionate heart and head can think of we are very comfortable Mr. Elliot is happy has quite recovered his spirits he was very low at Portsmouth George Elliot is very well say so to Lord Minto Murray Sutton in short everybody in the ship seems happy and if we should fall and with the French man of war I have no fears but they will do as we used to do Hardy has gone into Plymouth to see our Dutchman safe I think she will turn out a good prize Kitano desires his duty to Melidi he is a good man and idea say will come back it cannot be a long war just enough to make me independent in pecuniary matters if the wind stands on Tuesday we shall be on the coast of Portugal and before next Sunday in the Mediterranean to Mrs. Cadogan say every kind thing to good Mrs. Nelson the doctor and co and co if you like you may tell him about the entailing of the pension but perhaps he will be so much taken up with Canterbury that it will do for some dull evening in Hillborough I shall now stop till I have been on board the Admiral and he tell Mrs. T that I will write her the first safe opportunity I am not sure of this I shall direct to Merton after June 1st therefore as you change make Davison take a direction to Napaian but I would not trouble him with too many directions for fear of embroil May 23rd we are close in with Bress yesterday and found by a frigate that Admiral Cornwallis had a rendezvous at sea tether we went but to this hour cannot find him it blows strong what wind we are losing if I cannot find the Admiral by six o'clock we must all go into Amphion and leave the victory to my great modification so much for the wisdom of my superiors I keep my letter open to the last for I still hope as I am sure there is no good reason for my not going out to the victory I am just embarking in the Amphion cannot find Admiral Cornwallis may God in heaven bless you praise you most sincere Nelson and Bronte Steven's publication I should like to have I have left my silver seal at least I cannot find it letter 32 July 1803 my dearest Emma although I have wrote letters from various places merely to say here I am and there I am yet as I have no doubt but they would all be read it was impossible for me to say more than here I am and well and I see no prospect of any certain mode of conveyance but by sea which with the means of the Admiralty has given me of small vessels can be but seldom our passages have been enormously long from Gibraltar to Malta we were 11 days arriving the 15th in the evening and sailing in the night of the 16th that is 3 in the morning of the 17th and it was the 26th before we got off Capri where I ordered the frigate which carried Mr. Eliot to Naples to join me I send you copies of the King and Queen's letters I am vexed that she did not mention you I can only account for it by hers being a political letter when I wrote to the Queen I said I left Lady Hamilton the 18th of May and so attached to your Majesty that I am sure she would lay down her life to preserve yours your Majesty never had a more sincere attached and real friend than your dear Emma you will be sorry to hear that good Sir William did not leave her in such comfortable circumstances as his fortune would have allowed he has given it amongst his relations but she will do honour to his memory although everyone else of his friends called loudly against him on that account I trust my dear Emma she has wrote you if she can forget Emma I hope God will forget her but you think that she never will or can now is her time to show it you will only show the King and Queen's letters to some few particular friends the King is very low lives mostly at Belvedere Mr. Eliot had not seen either him or the Queen from the 17th the day of his arrival to the 21st on the next day he was to be presented I have made up my mind that he was part of the plan of that Corsican scoundrel to conquer the Kingdom of Naples he has much 13,000 men into the kingdom on the Adriatic side and he will take possession with as much shadow of right of Gator and Naples and if the poor king remonstrates or allows us to secure Sicily he will call it war and declare a conquest I have cautioned General Acton not to risk the royal family too long and Naples will be conquered sooner or later as it may suit Bonaparte's convenience the Morayah and Egypt are likewise in his eye an army of full 70,000 men are assembling in Italy Gibbs and Noble are gone to Malta I am you may believe very anxious to get off too long to join the fleet Sir Richard Bickerton went off Naples the day I left Gibraltar we passed Monte Cristo Bastia and Cape Corsa yesterday and are now moving slowly direct for too long what force they have I know not indeed I am totally ignorant some say 9 sail of the line some 7 some 5 if the former they will come out for we have only the same number including 64's and very short man however I hope they will come out and let us settle later you know I hate being kept in suspense July the 8th I left this hole to put down what force the French have it too long 7 sail of the line ready 5 frigates and 6 corvettes 1 or 2 more in about a week we today 8 sail of the line tomorrow 7 including 264 gun ships you will readily believe how rejoiced I shall be to get one of your dear excellent letters that I may know everything which has passed since my absence I sincerely hope that Mr Booth has settled all your accounts never mind my dear Emma a few hundred pounds which is all the rigid gripe of the law not justice can rest from you I thank God that you cannot want although that is no good reason for it being taken from you whilst I have 6 minutes you shall not want 5 pints of it but you have bought your experience that there is no friendship and money consents and your good sense will make you profit of it I hope the minister has done something for you but never mind we can live upon bread and cheese independence is a blessing and although I have not yet found out the way to get prize money what has been taken has run into our mouths however it must turn out very hard if I cannot get enough to pay off my debts and that will be no small comfort I have not mentioned my Bronte affairs to Acton as yet but if Naples remains much longer I shall ask the question but I expect nothing from them I believe even Acton wishes himself well and safely removed I think from what I hear that the king's spirits are so much depressed that he will give up the reins to Naples at least to his son and retire to Sicily Sir William, you know, always thought that he would end his life so certainly his situation must be heartbreaking Kitano returned to the frigate I believe he saw enough of Naples he carried his family money and Mr Falkenette Gibbs being absent will pay Mr Gruvel's pension to Kitano's family I have now sent Kitano to the post and he desires to present his duty and to tell you that Mr Ragland from Sir William's death will not pay any more pensions without orders from Mr Gruvel Vincenzo has had none paid he is very poor, keeps a shop his son wanted I find to come to the frigate to me I cannot afford to maintain him therefore I shall give no encouragement Old Antonio was allowed a car line a day but his now not paid Sabatalo lives with Mr Elliott Nicola and Mary Antonio have left Mr Gibbs for some cause Kitano says he believes for Amor Francesca has two children living and another coming she lives the best amongst them like Galant Hom Pascal lives with the Duke Monte Leone and Joseph with the old Russian your house is a hotel that kept for the Marquis, the owner Mr Elliott has taken the house of the Bale Franconi on the Chia Dr Noody inquired currently after us and all the women at St Lucia expected when they saw Kitano that you have was arrived bread never was so dear everything else is plenty the wage is not being raised Kitano says the poor of England are a million times better off than much for Kitano's news he desires his duties to Senora Madre and the remembrances to Mary and Fatima and Co. July the 8th we joined this morning the fleet the men in the ships are good but the ships themselves are a little the worse for we are and very short of the compliments of men we shall never be better therefore let them come the sooner the better I shall write a line to the Duke my friends and I rely my dearest Emma on your saying every kind thing for me to the Doctor Mrs Nelson, Mrs Bolton Mr and Mrs Matchum Mrs Cadigan whose kindness and goodness I shall never forget you will have the goodness to send the enclosed as directed and be assured that I am to the last moment of my life your most attached faithful and affectionate Nelson and Bronto End of section 6 Recorded by Brian Stapley Dunedin, New Zealand Section number 7 of the Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton Volume 1 by Horatio Nelson Chapter 7 Letter 33 Victory of Toulon August the 1st, 1803 I do not know that you will get this letter my dearest Emma your letter of May the 31st which came under cover to Mr Noble of Naples enclosing Davison's correspondence with Plymouth arrived by the Phoebe two days ago and this is the only scrap of a pen which has been received by any person in the fleet since we sailed from England you will readily conceive my dear Emma the sensations which the sight and reading even your few lines occasioned they cannot be understood but by those of such mutual and truly sincere attachment as yours and mine although you said little you understood a great deal and most heartily approve of your plan and society for next winter and next spring I hope to be rich enough to begin the alterations at Dear Merton it will serve to amuse you and I am sure that I shall admire all of your alterations even to planting a gooseberry bush Sutton joined me yesterday and we are all got into the victory and a few days will put us in order everybody gives a very excellent character of Mr. Chevalier the servant recommended by Mr. Davison and I shall certainly live as frugal as my station will admit I have known the pinch and shall endeavor never to know it again I want to send two thousand one hundred pounds to pay off Mrs. Greaves on October the first but I have not received one farthing but I hope to receive some soon but Mr. Hazelwood promised to see this matter kept right for me Hardy is now busy hanging up your and Horatia's picture and I trust soon to see the other two safe arrive from the exhibition I want no others to ornament my cabin I can contemplate them and find new beauties every day and I do not want anybody else you will not expect much news from us we see nothing I have great fear that all Naples will fall into the hands of the French and if Acton does not take care Sicily also however I have given my final advice so fully and strongly that let what will happen they cannot blame me Captain Caple says Mr. Elliot cannot bear Naples I have no doubt but that it is very different to your time the queen I fancy by the seal has sent a letter to Castel Sicala her letter to me is only thanks for my attention to the safety of the kingdom if Dr. Scott has time and is able I shall write a copy for you the king is very much retired he would not see the French general who came to Naples to settle the contribution for the payment of the French army the queen was ordered to give him and the French minister a dinner but the king stayed at Belvedere I think he will give it up soon and retire to Sicily if the French will allow him Acton has never dared give Mr. a dinner or one Englishman a dinner the fleet are ready to come forth but they will not come for the sake of fighting me I have this day made George Elliot post Lieutenant Petit a master and commander and Mr. Hindmarsh Gunner's son of the Balerophon who behaved so well this day five year a lieutenant I reckon to have lost the French seventy fours by my not coming out in the victory but I hope they will come soon with interest this goes to Gibraltar by Satin in the Amphion I shall write to the doctor in a day or two I see by the French papers that he has kissed hands with kindness regards to your good mother and all at Merton etc etc etc ever yours most faithfully and affectionately Nelson and Bronte letter 34 victory off Toulon August the 10th 1803 my dearest Emma I take the opportunity of Mr. Accord's going through Spain with Mr. Elliot's dispatches for England to send this letter for I would not for the world miss any opportunity of sending you a line by Gibraltar I wrote to you as lately as the fourth but all our ways of communicating with England are very uncertain and I believe the admiralty must have forgot us for not a vessel of any kind or sort has joined us since I left spithead news I absolutely am ignorant of except that a schooner belonging to me put her nose into Toulon and four frigates popped out and have taken her and a transport loaded with water for the fleet however I hope to have an opportunity very soon of paying them the debt with interest Mr. Accord says at Naples they hope that the mediation of Russia will save them but I doubt if Russia will go to the war with the French for any kingdom and they poor souls relying on a broken reed will lose Sicily as forgetting anything for Bronte I cannot expect it for the finances of Naples are worse than ever patience however I will I see many bishops are dead is my brother tired of Canterbury I wish I could make him a bishop if you see him or write say that I have not 10 minutes to send away Mr. Accord who cannot be detained I hope Lord St. Vincent has sent out Sir William Bolton as soon as I know who is first Lord I will write him letter 35 my dear Lady Hamilton your friend's godson arrived safe yesterday afternoon and I shall you know always feel too happy in obeying your commands for you never ask favors but for your friends in short in every point of view from ambassadors to the duties of domestic life I never saw your equal that elegance of manners accomplishments and above all your goodness of heart is unparalleled and only believe forever and beyond it your faithful and devoted Nelson and Bronte victory August the 24th 1803 letter 36 N.B. the mysterious letter appears to have been enclosed in this packet August the 26th 1803 wrote several days past my dearest Emma by the canapas Admiral Campbell I have received all your truly kind and affectionate letters from the 19th to July the 3rd with the exception of one dated May the 31st sent to Naples this is the first communication I have had with England since we sailed all your letters my dear letters are so entertaining and which paints so clearly what you are after that they give me either the greatest pleasure or pain it is the next best thing to being with you I only desire my dearest Emma that you will always believe that Nelson's your own Nelson's alpha and omega is Emma I cannot alter my affection and love is beyond even this world nothing can shake it but yourself and that I will not allow myself to think for a moment is possible I feel that you are the real friend of my bosom and dearer to me than life and that I am the same to you but I will neither have peas nor cues come near you, no, not the slice of a single Gloucester but if I was to go on it would argue that want of confidence which would be injurious to your honour I rejoice that you have had so pleasant a trip into Norfolk and I hope one day to carry you there by a nearer tie-in law but not in love and affection than at present I wish you would never mention that person's name it works up your anger for no useful purpose her good or bad character of me or thee no one cares about this letter will find you at dear Merton where we shall one day meet and be truly happy I do not think it can be a long war and I believe it would be much shorter than people expect and I shall hope to find the new room built the grounds laid out neatly but not expensively new Piccadilly gates kitchen garden etc only let us have a plan and then all will go on well it will be a great source of amusement to you and Horatia shall plant a tree I dare say she will be very busy Mrs. Nelson or Mrs. Bolton etc will be with you and time will pass away till I have the inexpressible happiness of arriving at Merton even the thought of it vibrates through my nerves for my love for you is as unbounded as the ocean I feel all your good mother's kindness and I trust that we shall turn rich by being economists spending money to please a pack of people is folly and without thanks I desire that you will say every kind thing from me to her and make her a present of something in my name Dr. Scott is gone with my mission to Algiers or I would send you a copy of the King and Queens letter I send you one from the Queen both King Queen and Acton were very civil to Sir William Bolton he dined with Acton Bolton does very well in his brig but he has made not a fire thing of prize money if I knew where to send him for some he should go but unless we have a Spanish war I shall live here at great expense though Mr. Chevalier takes every care and I have great reason to be satisfied I have just asked William who behaves very well whether he chooses to remit any of his wages to his father it does not appear he does at present he is paid by the King 18 pounds a year as one of my retinue therefore I have nothing to pay I have told him whether he chooses to send any to tell Mr. Scott or Captain Hardy and he will receive a remittance bill so he may now act as he pleases apropos of Mr. Scott he is very much obliged to you for your news of Mrs. Scott being brought to bed no letters came in the cutter but to me and he was very uneasy he is a very excellent good man and I am very fortunate in having such a one I admire your kindness to my dear sister Bolton I have wrote her that certainly I will assist Tom Bolton at college it is better as I tell her not to promise more than I am sure I can perform it is only doing them an injury I tell her if vacancies please God should happen that my income will be much increased with respect to Mr. Bolton everyone knows that I have no interest nobody cares for me but if he will point out what he wants I will try what can be done but I am sure he will not be half so well off as at present supposing he could get a place of a few hundreds a year he would be a ten times poorer man than he is at present I could convince you of it in a moment but if I was to begin then it would be said I wanted inclination to render them a service I should like to see Sir H.P.'s book I cannot conceive how a man that is reported to have been so extravagant of government's money to say no worse can make a good story I wrote to the old Duke not so long since I regard him but I would not let him touch you for all his money no that would never do I believe Mr. Bennett's bill to be correct but it was not intended that you should pay that out of the allowance for Merton and how could you afford to send Mrs. Bolton a hundred pounds it is impossible out of your income I wish Mr. Addington would give you five hundred pounds a year then you would be better able to give away than at present but your purse, my dear Emma will always be empty your heart is generous beyond your means your good mother is always sure of my sincerest regard pray tell her so Connor is getting on very well but I cannot ask Captain Capel to rate him that must depend upon the boy's fitness and Capel's kindness I have placed another year's allowance of thirty pounds in Capel's hands and given Connor a present what a story about Oliver and Mr. Machum buying an estate in Holstein and to sell out at such a loss I never heard the like I sincerely hope it will answer his expectation it is a fine country but miserably cold how can Tyson be such a fool I sincerely hope he will never want money I am not surprised at Trowbridge's abuse but his tongue is no scandal you make me laugh when you imitate the doctor I'm quite delighted with Miss Yong's goodness and I beg you will make my best respects to her and her good father I am sure Mr. Yong how much obliged I feel for his kind attentions to you those who do that are sure of a warm place in my esteem I have wrote to Dumourier therefore I will only trouble you to say how much I respect him I fancy he must have suffered great distress at Altona however I hope he will now be comfortable for life he is a very clever man and beats our generals out and out don't they feel his coming advise him not to make enemies by showing he knows more than some of us envy knows no bounds to its persecution he has seen the world and will be on his guard I put suckling into a frigate with a very good man who has a school master he does very well bulkly will be a most excellent sea officer it is a pity he has not served his time I have answered Mr. Suckling's letter Gaetano is very well and desires his duty I think sometimes that he wishes to be left at Naples but I am not sure Mr. Dennis's relation has been long in the victory but if the admiralty will not promote my lieutenants they must all make a retrograde motion but I hope they will not do such a cruel thing I have had a very affectionate letter from Lord Minto I hope George will be confirmed but the Earl will not answer his application I shall send you some sherry and a casque of Pax Orretti by the convoy perhaps he'd had better go to Merton at once or to Davidson's cellar then Cooper can draw it off I have two pipes of sherry that is bad but if you like you can send the doctor a hog's head of that which is coming Davidson will pale the duties send it entirely free even to the carriage you know doing the thing well is twice doing it for sometimes carriage is more thought of than the prime cost the Pax Orretti I have given to Davidson and ordered one hog's head of sherry to Canterbury and one to Dear Merton End of Section 7