 Section 8 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. Section 8, Letters 37 to 39. Letter 37. Victory, September the 10th, 1803. My dearest Emma, what can I send you, buffeting the stormy Gulf of Lyon? Nothing but my warmest affection in return for all your goodness to me and mine. I have sent to Naples to try to get some shawls from the King's Manufactory, and have requested Mr Falconet to ask his wife to choose some for you, and also some fine Venetian chains. I only wish, my dear Emma, that I knew what you would like, and I would order them with real pleasure. Therefore, pray tell me. We have so very little communication with the Mediterranean world. Malta and Toulon are in separate worlds. It takes, on the average, six or seven weeks to get an answer to a letter, and in fifteen to twenty days by the French papers which we get from Paris, we have news from London. Not the best side of the question, you may be sure, but enough to give us an idea of how matters go on. I am of opinion that we shall have a peace much sooner than is generally expected, and that will be, to me, the very highest pleasure in this world, to return to Merton and your dear beloved society. Then I agree with you that I would not give sixpence to call the King my uncle. I have wrote again to Gibbs about my Bronte affairs, and the copy of a letter to Mrs. Graefer I will send you, if I can, but you must preserve it, for I have no other. It may be necessary, situated as I am, to keep her in good humour, for a thousand pounds may be easily sold off the estate, and I never the wiser. However, you will see what I have said. I have wrote to Mr. Elliot about Sabatello. What a rascal he must be! Gaitano is going to Naples, and I shall tell him, but of course he would rather favour Sabatello, his brother-in-law, than Julia. I send you my dearest Emma, and hundred pounds, which you will dispose of as follows, a present for yourself, and if you like, a trifle to the servants, something to the poor of Merton, something for Mrs. Cadogan, Miss Connor, Charlotte, et cetera, et cetera, I only send this as a trifling remembrance from me, whose whole soul is at Merton. September the 16th. The day after I wrote the former part of this letter, Mr. Scott received from Venice, and desired to present to you two very handsome Venetian chains received from Venice. This I would not suffer, for I allow no one to make my own Emma presents, but her Nelson. Therefore he will be paid for them, but your obligation is not the less to him. He is a very worthy, excellent, modest man, and an excellent secretary. Dr. Scott is at times wrong in the head. Absolutely too much learning has turned him, but we all go on very well. I had a letter from Gibbs about Bronte, and from Noble, which will begin another letter, only believe me at all times, sides, and ends, most faithfully yours, forever, Nelson and Bronte. Letter 38. September the 26th, 1803. My dearest Emma, we have had for these fourteen days past nothing but gales of wind and a heavy sea. However, as our ships have suffered no damage, I hope to be able to keep the sea all the winter. Nothing but dire necessity shall force me to that out-of-the-way place Malta. If I had depended upon that island for supplies to the fleet, we must all have been knocked up long ago. For Sir Richard Bickerton sailed from Malta the same day I left Portsmouth, so that we have been a pretty long cruise, and if I had only to look to Malta for supplies, our ships' companies would have been done for long ago. However, by management I have got supplies from Spain and also from France, but it appears that we are almost shut out from Spain, for they begin to be very uncivil to our ships. However, I suppose by this time something is settled. But I never hear from England. My last letters are July 6th, near three months, but as I get French newspapers occasionally, we guess how matters are going on. I have wrote Mr Gibbs again a long history about Bronte, and I hope if General Acton will do nothing for me that he will settle something, but I know whatever is settled I shall be the loser, till next year the debt will not be paid off. How? Letter 39. Victory of Toulon, October the 18th, 1803. My dearest Emma, your truly kind and affectionate letters, from July 17th to August the 24th, all arrived safe in the Childers the sixth of this month. Believe me, my beloved Emma, that I am truly sensible of all your love and affection, which is reciprocal. You have, from the variety of incidents passing before you, much to tell me, and besides, you have that happy knack of making everything you write interesting. Here I am, one day precisely like the other, except the difference of a gale of wind or not. Since September the 1st, we have not had four fine days, and if the French do not come out soon, I fear some of my ships will cry out. You are very good to send me your letters to read. Mrs. D is a damned pimping bitch. What has she to do with your love? She would have pimped for Lord B or Lord L, Captain MN of, or anyone else. She is all vanity, fancies herself beautiful, witty, in short like you. She be damned. As I wrote to you, the consul ship at Civita Vecchia will not in itself pay their lodgings, and the bad air will tip her off. There will be no Lord Bristol's table. He tore his last will a few hours before his death. It is said that it was giving everything to those devils of Italians about him. I wish he may have given Mrs. Dennis anything, but I do not think it. And as for you, dear Emma, as long as I can, I don't want any of their gifts. As for old Q, he may put you into his will or scratch you out as he pleases. I care not. If Mr. Addington gives you the pension, it is well, but do not let it fret you. Have you not, Merton? It is clear the first purchase and my dear Horatio is provided for, and I hope one of these days that you will be my own Duchess of Bronte and then a fig for them all. I have just had a letter from Gibbs, of which I send you a copy. You will see what interest he is taking about Bronte. I begin to think without some assistance like his that I should never have touched a firthing. It will be 1805 before I touch the estate. Neither principal or interest of the seven thousand ounces have been paid, and it is now eight thousand ounces debt. You will see Gibbs at last has fixed on sending his daughter home and I shall be glad of so good an opportunity of obliging him as it will naturally tie him to my interest. He was a great fool not to have sent the child with you as you wished. I'm glad to find, my dear Emma, that you mean to take Horatio home. I, she is like her mother, will have her own way or kick up a devil of a dust. But you will cure her. I'm afraid I should spoil her, for I am sure I would shoot anyone who would hurt her. She was always fond of my watch and very probably I might have promised her one. Indeed I gave her one, which cost sixpence. But I go nowhere to get anything pretty, therefore do not think me neglectful. I send you Noble's letter, therefore I hope you will get your cases in good order. They have had some narrow escapes. I'm glad you liked South End. How that coffin could come over and Palaver, Rowley, Keith, etc. and coffin to abuse the Earl. Now I can tell you that he is the Earl's spy. It is coffin who has injured Sir Andrew Hammond so much and his custom is to abuse the Earl to get people to speak out and then the Earl takes his measures accordingly. To me it is nothing, thank God. There can be no tales told of my cheating or I hope neglecting my duty. Whilst I serve I will serve well and closely. When I want rest I will go to Merton. You know, my dear Emma, that I am never well when it blows hard. Therefore imagine what a cruise of Toulon is. Even in summertime we have had a hard gale every week and two days heavy swell. It would kill you and myself to see you, much less possible to have Charlotte, Horatia, etc. on board ship. And I that have given orders to carry no women to see in the victory to be the first to break them. And as to Malta I may never see it unless we have an engagement and perhaps not then, for if it is complete I may go home for three months to see you. But if you was at Malta I might absolutely miss you by leaving the Mediterranean without warning. The other day we had a report the French were out and seen steering to the westward. We were as far as Minorca when the alarm proved false. Therefore my dearest beloved Emma, although I should be the happiest of men to live and die with you, yet my chances of seeing you is much more certain by your remaining at Merton than wondering wherever I may never go and certainly never to stay 48 hours. You cannot, I am sure, more ardently long to see me than I do to be with you. And if the war goes on it is my intention to get leave to spend the next winter in England. But I veryly believe that long before that time we shall have peace. As for living in Italy that is entirely out of the question. Nobody cares for us there and if I had Bronte which, thank God, I shall not it would cost me a fortune to go there and be tormented out of my life. I should never settle my affairs there. I know, my own dear Emma, that if she will let her reason have fair play will say I am right. But she is, like Horatia, very angry if she cannot have her own way. Her Nelson is called upon in the most honourable manner to defend his country. Absence to us is equally painful but if I had either stayed at home or neglected my duty abroad would not my Emma have blushed for me? She could never have heard of my praises and how the country looks up? I am writing, my dear Emma, to reason the point with you and I am sure you will see it in its true light. But I have said my say on this subject and will finish. I have received your letter with Lord Williams and Mr. Kembles about Mr. Palmer. He is also recommended by the Duke of Clarence and he says by desire of the Prince of Wales. I have, without him, twenty-six to be made captains and list every day increasing. It is not one whole French fleet that can get through it. I shall probably offend more than I can oblige. Such is always the case, like the tickets, those who get them feel they have a right to them and those who do not get them feel offended forever. But I cannot help it. I shall endeavour to do what is right in every situation and some ball may soon close all my accounts with this world of care and vexation. But never mind my own dear beloved Emma, if you are true to me I care not and approve all my actions. However, as you say, I approve of them myself, therefore probably I am right. Poor Reverend Mr. Scott is I fear in a very bad way. His head has been turned by too much learning and the stroke of lightning will never let him be right again. The Secretary Scott is a treasure and I am very well mounted. Everybody is everything I could wish or desire. Our days pass so much alike that having described one you have them all. We now breakfast by candlelight and all retire at eight o'clock to bed. Naples, I fancy, is in a very bad way in regard to money. They have not or pretend not to have enough to pay their officers and I very believe if Acton was to give up his place that it would become a province of France. Only think of Bo and a party's writing to the Queen to desire her influence to turn out Acton. She answered properly, at least so says Mr. Elliot, who knows more of Naples than any of us, God help him, and General Acton has, I believe, more power than ever. Gibbs's letter I see he has sent over about my accounts at Bronte. He can have no interest in being unfriendly to me. Why should he? I want no great matters from him and he can want nothing from me that it is not my duty to give his sovereigns. Therefore, why should he be against us? For my part, my conduct will not alter whether he is or not. Our friend Sir Alexander is a very great diplomatic character and even an admiral must not know what he is negotiating about although you will scarcely believe that the Bay of Tunis sent the man at my desire. You shall judge, Viz. The Tunisian envoy is still here negotiating. He is a moderate man and apparently the best disposed of Annie I ever did business with. Could even the oldest diplomatic character be drier? I hate such parade of nonsense, but I will turn from such stuff. You ask me, do you do right to give Charlotte things? I shall only say, my dear Emma, whatever you do in that way I shall always approve. I only wish I had more power than I have, but somehow my mind was not sharp enough for prize money. Lord Keith would have made twenty thousand pounds and I have not made six thousand. Poor Mr. Esty, how I pity him, but what shall I do with him? However, if he comes, I shall show him all the kindness in my power. October the twenty second. The vessel is just going off. I have not a scrap of news. Only be assured of my most affectionate regard. Remember me kindly to Charlotte. Shall always love those that are good to Horatia. I will write to her by another opportunity. Remember me to Mrs. Cadogan. You may be sure I do not forget Charles, who has not been well. Captain Caple is very good to him. I am ever, forever my dearest Emma, your most faithful and affectionate. Nelson and Bronte. End of Section 8 Section 9 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 Horatia Nelson, Chapter 9, Supplement Interesting Letters, Illucidatory of Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton, Volume 1 Letters from Lord Nelson to Mrs. Thompson Letters of Lord Nelson, etc., 1 See Letter 10, Page 29 I sit down, my dear Mrs. T, by desire of poor Thompson to write you a line. Not to assure you of his eternal love and affection for you and his dear child, but only to say that he is well and as happy as he can be, separated from all he holds dear in this world. He has no thoughts separated from your love and your interest. They are united with his, one fate, one destiny. He assures me awaits you both. What can I say more, only to kiss his child for him and love him as truly, sincerely and faithfully as he does you, which is from the bottom of his soul? He desires that you will more and more attach yourself to dear Lady Hamilton. 2 See Letter 36, Page 135 My dearest Beloved, to say that I think of you by day, night and all day and all night, but to faintly express my feelings of love and affection towards you. Unbounded affection, our dear excellent good, is the only one who knows anything of the matter, and she has promised me when you, again, to take every possible care of you as a proof of her never-failing regard for your own dear Nelson. Believe me that I am incapable of wronging you in thought, word or deed. No, not all the wealth of Peru could buy me for one moment. It is all yours and reserved wholly for you, and certainly, from the first moment of our happy, dear, enchanted, blessed meeting, the thoughts of such happiness, my dearest only beloved, makes the blood fly into my head. The call of our country is a duty which you would deservedly in the cool moments of reflection reprobate, was I to abandon, and I should feel so disgraced by seeing you ashamed of me, no longer saying, this is the man who has saved his country, this is he who is first to go forth to fight our battles and the last to return, and then all these honours reflect on you. Ah, they will think, what a man, what sacrifices has he not made to secure our homes and property, even the society and happy union with the finest and most accomplished woman in the world. As you love, how must you feel? My heart is with you, cherish it. I shall, my best beloved, return if it pleases God a victory, and it shall be my study to transmit an unsullied name. There is no desire of wealth, no ambition, that could keep me from all my soul holds dear. No, it is to save my country, my wife in the eye of God, and will tell you that it is all right, and then only think of our happy meeting. Ever forever I am yours, only yours, even beyond this world. Nelson and Bronte, forever, forever your own Nelson. Question 10 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 Anne Boulet. The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton by Horatio Nelson. Chapter 10. Letters from Lady Hamilton to Lord Nelson. Letter 1. Naples, June 30th, 1798. Dear sir, I take the opportunity of Captain Hope to write a few lines to you, and thank you for your kind letter by Captain Bowen. The Queen was much pleased as I translated it for her, and charges me to thank you, and say she prays for your honor and safety. Victory she is sure you will have. We still have the Regicide Minister here, Gorat, the most impudent, insolent dog, making the most infamous demands every day. And I see plainly the Court of Naples must declare war if they mean to save their country. Her majesty sees and feels all you said in your letter to Sir William, dated off the Faro de Messina, in its true light. So does the General Acton. But alas, their First Minister, Gallo, is a frivolous, ignorant, self-conceited cox-comb, that thinks of nothing but his fine embroidered coat, ring, and snuff box, and half Naples thinks him half a Frenchman. And God knows, if one may judge of what he did in making the peace for the Emperor, he must either be very ignorant, or not attached to his masters, or the cause commune. The Queen and Acton cannot bear him, and consequently he cannot have much power. But still, a First Minister, although he may be a minister of smoke, yet he has always something, enough, at least, to do mischief. The Jacobins have all been lately declared innocent after suffering four years imprisonment. And I know, they all deserve to be hanged long ago. And since Garot has been here, and through his insolent letters to Gallo, these pretty gentlemen, that had planned the death of their majesties, are to be let out on society again. In short, I am afraid, all is lost here. And I am grieving to the heart for our dear charming Queen, who deserves a better fate. I write to you, my dear sir, in confidence and in a hurry. I hope you will not quit the Mediterranean without taking us. We have our leave and everything ready at a day's notice to go. But yet, I trust in God and in you, that we shall destroy these monsters before we go from hence. Surely their reign cannot last long. If you have any opportunity, write to us, pray do. You do not know how your letters comfort us. God bless you, my dear, dear sir. And believe me, ever you're most sincerely obliged and attached friend. Emma Hamilton. Letter 2 Thursday evening, June 12th, 1799. I have been with the Queen this evening. She is very miserable. Ann says that although the people of Naples are for them, in general, yet things will not be brought to their state of quietness and subordination till the fleet of Lord Nelson appears off Naples. She therefore begs, entreats, and conjures you, my dear Lord, if it is possible to arrange matters so as to be able to go to Naples. Sir William is writing for General Acton's answer. For God's sake, consider it and do. We will go with you if you will come and fetch us. Sir William is ill. I am ill. It will do us good. God bless you. Ever, ever you're sincerely E. Hamilton. End of Section 10. Section 11 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 of the Ratio Nelson Chapter 11. Letters from Reverend Edwin Nelson, Lord Nelson's father to Lady Hamilton. Letters of the Reverend Edwin Nelson. Letter 1 Madam, I am much favoured by your polite letter and the very friendly regard with which Sir William Hamilton and yourself always mention my dear son, who is certainly a worthy, good, brave man, parental partiality apart. But I myself and by no means satisfied with his present situation, as to its importance, its safety or its merited rewards. It is his to so, but others reap the yellow harvest. All things I trust, however, will work together for good. Captain Park is misfortune I see in every point of view with a friendly concern. Langford will quickly be upon his legs. Though the amusements of a dirty seaport are not the most refined, good health and domestic cheerfulness will be her happy substitute. I beg the whole party to accept this my remembrance and assurance of my regard, respect and love. And am, Madam, your most humble servant, Edwin Nelson. Burnham, August the 11th, 1801. Letter 2 Madam, your polite congratulation upon the entrance of a new year. I return sevenfold to you and the whole of the party now under the hospitable roof of Merton Place. Time is a sacred deposit committed to our trust and hereafter we must account for the use we have made of it. To me, a large portion of this treasure has already been granted even 79 years. The complaint my dear son has felt is I know very, very painful and can be removed only with much care and caution, not venturing without a thick covering, both head and feet, even to admire your parteries of snow drops which now appear in all their splendor. The white robe which January wears bespangled with ice is handsome to look at, but we must not approach too near her. I shall be very glad to know the Lord of Merton is recovered. I am, Madam, your most humble servant, Edwin Nelson. Bath, January 7th, 1802 End of Section 11 Section 12 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. Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, Volume 1 by Horatio Nelson, Chapter 12. Letters from the Reverend Dr. Nelson now Earl Nelson to Lady Hamilton. Letters of Earl Nelson. Letter 1. Hilbara, near Brandon, Wednesday, March 4th, 1801. My dear lady, I have sent you by this day's coach a hunted here which I hope will prove tender and good. It was killed yesterday. We are very much gratified by your kind and friendly letters. They are very interesting to us and they give an additional zest to our breakfast. Indeed, they are the only things give us any comfort in our absence. How unfortunate it was, we left town as we did. I had a letter yesterday morning from my great and beloved brother. He tells me he sent my letter to the new Lord Chancellor. God grant it may have the desired effect, but they are also engaged that I fear it much. At any rate, our good friend has done what he can. He tells me he should be at Yarmouth tomorrow or next day, a near relation of ours who has not seen my Lord since his return to England has offered to take me in his carriage. So we set out on Sunday afternoon for we Parsons can't go till the Sunday duty is over. We sleep at Norwich and hope to be at Yarmouth early on Monday. I have written to my brother by this post so that if he is likely to have sailed before Monday he has time to stop us. Yarmouth is 60 miles from Haines. I have written you all these particulars because I know you like to know all about us. Mrs. Nelson does not go with us so you must be charitable to her and give her a letter or two. We shall return by the following Sunday. I see by the papers the King was better on Tuesday. Mrs. Nelson is going out for a day. When she returns she will write. She will thank you to keep the two guineas my Lord left for Charlotte till you hear from her as she has thought of laying it out in a frock for her. We both join in united regards to Sir William and believe me your ladyship's faithful and most obliged and affectionate friend William Nelson. Letter 2. Hillborough, March 29th, 1801 My dear lady as I have duty today both morning and afternoon and to preach twice I have only time to scroll a few lines to you between the services. I will write to my dreary tomorrow. I do not much wonder we have no news from the Baltic considering the state of the wind and unless it changes it may be some time first. May God it may be good when it does arrive. I was rather surprised to hear Tom Tit, that bad bird had taken his flight to town but he is a prying little animal and wishes to know everything and as he is so small and insignificant his movements are not always observed but for God's sake take care of him and caution our little Jewel to be as much upon her guard as she can. I am terribly afraid this bird will endeavor to do mischief and he must be watched with a hawk's eye. I almost wish some hawk or Jove's eagle would either devour him or frighten him away. It is not very likely I should hear from Yarmouth before you because our Yarmouth letters generally go to London first but if I should accidentally your lady ship shall depend on hearing from me immediately. I am glad my little Horace looks well and that you think him so like his great, his glorious, his immortal uncle. Why should he not be like him? Is it so very uncommon for such near relations to have some similitude? They who say otherwise only say it out of envy, malice and hatred and all uncharitableness. Out upon all such miscreants say I. My love to Derry Charlotte and the hereditary Duke of Bronte. God bless you my dear lady and believe me yours faithfully William Nelson. Tell me on your next whether you have seen that little bird called Tom Tit. Letter 3 Hilbrough, August 23, 1801 My dear lady Hamilton I have written too long letters to my jewel but I still seem to have more to say. I can't find out whether a certain by countness is expected at Burnham or not. I am so pleased that you propose bringing Mrs. Nelson to Hilbrough. I hope Sir William will be able to amuse himself with fishing a little. The weather is too hot for me to come to London and I can't leave my parish at this time. Tell my brother I should have great pleasure in seeing him and we'll go with him to Plymouth or anywhere else if he particularly desires it. When you have seen Parker in Langford you can give me a particular account of the state of their wounds. I feel much for them. I think it is better the cub did not speak to Mrs. N. It will save some trouble. I wish you could get a comfortable house near London. You will find Mr. Naylor of the Herald's office a pleasant young man. I believe he is my friend and will readily give you every information in his power. If Jove gets a higher title perhaps things may be settled more to our minds. Now we are already in the patent as barons it will be no difficult matter in that case to have a entails advance to the highest honour if my brother wishes. This I only mention Entrez Noux without having a desire on the subject. I am perfectly satisfied that I am in the patent. I don't mean to say more to my brother. I am told there are two or three very old lives prepends of Canterbury in the minister's gift near 600 pounds a year and good houses. The deans of Hereford, Exeter, Litchfield and Coventry York and Winchester are old men. Write from deal and tell me when you are likely to return to London. You can't come from thence nearer than London unless my brother lands you on the other side of the river Thames on the Essex or Suffolk Coast. If that plan takes place Mrs. Nelson had better send Sarah home before you go. Compliments to Sir William and all friends yours faithfully William Nelson. Letter 4 Sunday morning September 6th, 1801 My dear lady to be sure you did promise to write me on Thursday last and I was very much disappointed at not receiving a letter yesterday and sent to the post office twice. To be certain there was no mistake and now this morning comes your roguish waggish letter on a Sunday morning amidst all my meditations for the good of my parishioners about love, courtship marriage, throwing the stock and going to bed and co and co quite shocking to write to a country person who can have no idea of such things it might do well for a king's chaplain or the church dignitary who is supposed to have more learning and more knowledge of things in general I wish you was here and you shouldn't not laugh at me for nothing I would give you as good as you bought at any time I'll have no emers at present stay till there comes one or two of another sort to keep the line of the Nelson's in true name and blood without being obliged to go to others to assume a name which scarcely belongs to them and then as many alfredas, evalindas and evalinas as you please but I hope to God the present younger ratio will go on as we all wish and transmit a long race to posterity I am delighted with Dr Heath's letter to my brother and the character he gives of him my only fear is that we shall spoil him among us I have not yet heard from him how he felt himself I should have liked to have peeped slightly into his room and seen how he acted on first receiving the joyful intelligence I don't know enough how to thank my brother for all his goodness to me and mine my heart overflows whenever I think of it but I can't sit down and write a formal letter of thanks that would be too observed for me to write or him to read he well knows me and I leave it to your ladyship my best and truest friend to say everything to him for and from me it will come best from your lips and adorn with your eloquence I wish my brother had done with his business I hope a peace will soon put an end to his toils and dangers Letter 5 Hilbara, September the 8th, 1801 My dear Lady Hamilton I hope you will have received my long letter of Sunday's date by this time I wonder you should accuse me of remissness and not writing to you I have told you then and I repeat it now that I would always give you as good as you bought and upon looking back to the last week's letters I find I have always answered yours whenever I had one and generally by the same post as I wrote so much on Sunday and you said you thought you should leave deal on Tuesday or Wednesday I said I should write no more till you got back to London nor should I now was it not to rebut the charge of remissness and attention to you I am glad Mrs Nelson is likely to come home soon but I hear nothing about your intentions I shall write to her tomorrow I will take my letter to Piccadilly where I hope it will find her and if this letter travels to deal and follows you to London it is no matter it is not worth having when you get it only I would not bear the thought of the appearance of neglect without deserving it One or two letters I wrote to Mrs Nelson last week I gave public notice were intended in a great degree for the whole party Mrs Bolton is here for a day to help my solitary life I find Lady N has taken a house in Somerset Street Portman Square she and my father are to spend the winter in London and I am informed he is to pay half whether it is really furnished or not I can't tell Mr Edwards is this moment gone and begs his compliments to you all believe me, yours most faithfully William Nelson compliments to Parker and Langford Letter 6 Canterbury, February the 9th, 1805 Dear Lady Hamilton I send you a small parcel which I will thank you to forward to my brother if you think there is a chance of his getting it before he leaves a Mediterranean but if you have reason to expect him home very soon you will be kind enough to return it to me again or keep it till I see you The ceremony of electing the new archbishop takes place on Tuesday morning I think it is more than probable we shall make choice of the person his majesty has recommended to us in his letter which the chapter received yesterday Mrs Nelson begs her love to you Charlotte, Mrs Bolton and Co and Co yours very faithfully William Nelson I received Mrs Bolton's parcel safely on Friday End of section 12 Section 13 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 Adrian Wheel The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton Volume 1 by Horatio Nelson Section 13 1 My dear madam The prodigies of valor performed by your new chevalier have, I fear, obliterated the memory of your ancient knight Nevertheless I beg your ladyship will lay me at the feet of the queen of the two Sicilies and assure her majesty of my profound respect for her person and that my life is devoted to the defence of it and for yourself accept every kind wish of your ladyships for the infinite and faithful knight St. Vincent Gibraltar 18 October 1798 2 My dear lady Hamilton 10,000 most grateful thanks are due to your ladyship for restoring the health of our invaluable friend Nelson on whose life the fate of the remaining governments in Europe whose system has not been deranged by these devils depends Do not let your fascinating Neapolitan Dames approach to near him for he has made a flesh and blood and cannot resist their temptations Ladies and Vincent will be transported with your attention to her I have sent the found mounts for Lady Melston and her by Sir James Samarith who, after seeing the French prizes safe and moored in the takers conveys the Duke de Vee He, poor man, although a grandi of Spain having been driven out of that kingdom by the insolent intrigues of Trugay I have obeyed your ladyship's commands respecting Tom Bowen who is now captain of Lacrylon and gone to Lisbon to take possession of her and his brother William, who married a daughter of Sir William Parker I have appointed to the Caroline the finest frigate I have and he is employed on the most advantageous service for filling his pockets any other protégé I desire you will not spare me I am very much penetrated with the condescension their majesties of the two Sicilers have graciously shown to me through your ladyship and I rely on your doing justice to my feelings upon the occasion I have taken up residence here for some months that I may be ready to afford succor to the detachments of the fleet I have honoured to command in the Levant and before Cadiz and when Sir William and you arrive I shall be able to give you some English mutton in a plain way continue to love me and rest assured of the most unfaigned and affectionate regard of, my dear Lady Hamilton your faithful and devoted knight St Vincent Admiral's House, Rosia Gibraltar 28th October 1798 3. My dear Lady Hamilton I have to thank you which I do most kindly for your obliging letters 7th and 10th November and for the gracious letter which your ladyship had received from the charming delightful Queen of the two Sicilers at whose feet I am anxiously desirous to throw myself and as I have relinquished my intention of returning to England although in possession of leave to go I hope the period is not far distant in the meanwhile have the goodness to keep me alive in the remembrance of her Majesty assure her of my profound respect and admiration for her as Queen I dare not give utterance to what I feel for her as one of the first and most lovely of her sex Our possession of the island of Menorca will relieve her Majesty and the government from one embarrassment touching their last treaty with France as Lord Nelson will now be able to refit his squadron without committing an infraction of the treaty Our excellent friend General O'Hara is very busy in erecting two rooms for the accommodation of your ladyship Prince William when you visit this curious rock He is among the most despicable and entertaining of men and we live together as all commanders of his Majesty's land forces and fleets ought to do and I hope will do from the examples which have been shown whenever I have acted with the army as to Charles Grey the governor of this garrison and General Stewart will testify and if the immortal wolf could be conjured from the grave he would do so too I hope soon to hear our dear Lord Nelson is quite well under your fostering care and with my warmest wishes for every blessing to be showered down upon you and yours I have the honour to be with the truest respect esteem and regard your ladyship's very affectionate humble servant St. Vincent Rosier House, Gibraltar 7th of December 1798 4. My dear Lady Hamilton Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance and protection another hero of the Nile in Captain Derby of the Balerophon who you will find a pleasant queer and faithful Irishman I also beg leave to interest you in favour of Mrs. Locke a daughter of the Duchess of Leenster by Mr. Ogilvy her husband is appointed consul at Naples which may occasion some difficulty in bringing her forward unless the etiquette is altered for touching consuls God bless you my dear madam and be assured I always am your ladyship's truly affectionate St. Vincent Rosier House, Gibraltar 1st of January 1799 5. My dear Lady Hamilton I cannot sufficiently thank you for sending me her Sicilian Majesty's most gracious letter the contents of which I feel becomes a good royalist and royal subject and for your goodness to Mrs. Locke who, poor thing, merits a more respectable situation than that of consul S she is certainly a very comely woman and truly amiable the designation Sir William has in contemplation for him will place them in an honourable style and I have no doubt from the protection they have at home will lead to ministerial character you are very good to my old friend Darby who is a good-humoured, blundering Irishman and will make you laugh in the midst of your pangs your ladyship must suffer for the destiny of the delightful city and country to which you have so long contributed a large portion of the gaiety and charming society of Sir William's suspitable mansion for although I had not the good fortune to revisit Naples after Sir William's return all my travelling friends did ample justice to the liberality of the representatives of our royal master and mistress Mr. Preston was chargé when I was at Naples with the Duke of Gloucester and though a worthy gentleman and since a pious bishop he was certainly a dry comedian have the goodness to commend me to the queen continue to nurse my excellent friend Nelson and when I have the happiness to see Sir William and your ladyship here or the effusions of my heart upon you both the governor has added two rooms to the convent for your accommodation and Mrs. Gray late Miss Whitbread, wife to the captain of the Ville de Paris will contribute all that this house affords for the entertainment of both God bless you my dear Lady Hamilton and be assured no man respects and esteems you more truly than your ladyship's truly affectionate St. Vincent 27th of February 1799 End of Section 13 Recording by Adrian Wheel Section 14 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 Ruth Narremore The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton Volume 1 by Horatio Nelson Chapter 14 The Letters of Sir Alexander John Ball to Lady Hamilton Letter 1 My dear Madam I cannot help loving and esteeming you very much although you have proved such a false gypsy to me Pray do you recollect looking into my hand and telling me a pretty story of carrying home Sir William and Lady Hamilton and Co and Co However, I forgive you as you did not take money and could only have in view giving me much pleasure I beg leave to introduce to your ladyship's notice the Abbey Savoy who is a sensible man and the most polished here He has great influence with the Maltese Pray, request Sir William to introduce him particularly to Le Chavallier Acton I shall have the pleasure of seeing you and Sir William Hamilton in England this summer How very much I wished to be near you when you were reading the parliamentary effusions of gratitude and joy for the services Lord Nelson has rendered his country I would rather be Lord Nelson than any Duke or indeed any man in England and you may guess how very proud I am in having such a friend Indeed I feel that I owe more to him than any man in this world I have written to Sir William God bless you both I remain with sincere respect and esteem My dear Madam noted and obliged humble servant Alexander John Ball Alexander 9th of February 1799 Davish Gold is signing for Palermo alias Miss Kay I wish the Admiral would let him recreate for a fortnight and send Hardy to me again Letter 2 My dear Madam I had the honour of writing to your ladyship and Sir William by the vanguard since which I have read the few lines of the goodness to address to me at the bottom of Lord Nelson's letter on the 9th inst I cannot entertain any hopes of personally paying my respects to you and Sir William before your departure for England but be assured that I can never forget the very flattering attention you have both been pleased to honour me with You must wait a month longer for the warm weather otherwise the transition may be too great for Sir William We are anxiously waiting for the end of the year The inhabitants are critically situated but I hope all will end well Good news from you will determine it I find that you fascinate all the navy as much at Palermo as you did at Naples If we had many such advocates everybody would be a candidate for our profession God bless and protect you and Sir William May prosperous gales attend you May you live a thousand years Believe me with sincere respect and esteem Your ladyship's most devoted and obliged servant Alexander John Ball 23rd February 1799 End of Section 14 Recording by Ruth Narremore Oxfordshire Section 15 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 Adrian Wheel The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton Volume 1 by Horatio Nelson Chapter 15 Letters from the Earl of Bristol Bishop of Derry in Ireland to Lady Hamilton Letter 1 Naples Sunday Morning Sometime in 1795 I return you the enclosed of my dearest Emma, which does equal honour to the excellent head and heart of the writer I shall begin for the first time in my life to have a good opinion of myself after such honourable testimonials In the meantime, I send you an extraordinary piece of news just written to me from Ratisbon a courier from the Elector of Ments desiring the Empire to make a separate piece with France Couriers have been sent from the Diet to Sweden and Denmark for their mediation and it is clear, says my letter somebody is at the bottom of all this the Elector of Ments only lends his name The suburbs of Warsaw taken the capitulation of the city daily expected the King of Prussia totally retired beyond Potsdam and supposed to be at the eve of madness Oh Emma, who would ever be wise if madness be loving of thee B Letter 2 Munich 14th of July 1795 Dearest Emma, here is great news from England My letters of the 26th of June assure me 7000 men are embarked for St. Paul de Leon together with an immense number of emigres that the week before a bishop and 60 priests were most prosperously landed at the same place and received with the greatest acclamations That sixth sale of the line from Russia were in sight and the pilots gone to conduct them that in Amsterdam and other towns of Holland there is the greatest insurrections in favour of that full the stat holder All this, however, can only tend to facilitate peace but not at all to restore that despicable odious family of Bourbons the head of which is now at Verona where we left him eating two capons a day to the pity the whole family are not capons and what is more, dressing them himself in a superb kitchen the true chapel of a Bourbon Prince Emma, if that dear Queen of Naples does not write herself to Prince Doria for me I won't look at your beautiful face of these six months koot koot tomorrow for Piedmont near Hanover Emma, Adia letter three there was no doubt, but Don Louisey is implicated that very circumstance argues the extent of the mischief for so cautious a man and one whose sentiments are so publicly known would not engage without good support I've conversed with one of his intimates one who is no stranger to his dearest secret the evidence will be difficult perhaps impracticable unless his most confidential friends can be gained but that I deem impossible but the character of the garrison at Capua is of the most alarming complexion and yet is what I can best depend on I think Wade could tell much if he would speak out Adia Lovell and I were on Vesuvius he goes like a true parson only to eat the better I will see he will once more fall into Nudis hands Precita will be another duo for I hate large parties on such and especially females unless they be phoenixes like yourself it is a great discouragement to a concerto party to view the whole town buried in a mist and the belvedere alone like a boy to point out the shoal sweet Emma Adia every wish of my heart beats for the dear queen metaphor send me a word dearest Emma my dear adorable queen finds herself the weather changed so unmercifully yesterday that Lovell and I both grew ill and this makes me the more anxious to hear of our too sensible and inestimable queen my warmest wishes physical, political and moral ever attend to be here is my cousin's answer dearest Emma Eolug Bisco a brother assured me there is not the semblance of an insurrection and that our dear dear queen is misled by a set of scoundrels send me a word where you will be Adia letter six yesterday we dined on Mount Vesuvius today we were to have dined on its victim Pompey but by the grace of God which barceth all understanding since Bartolomeo himself that weather soothsayer did not foresee this British weather we are prevented in the meantime all this week and the next is replete with projects, disquiet, proceto etc etc so God only knows when I can worship again my Diana of Ephesus write me word explicitly how you are, what you are and where you are and be sure that where so ever I am still I am yours my dearest Emma letter seven Wednesday the very unexpected intelligence which Prince Augustus has most delicately communicated to me of poor Lord Herve's decease has quite bouleversiae my already shattered frame I would not allow your friendly mind to learn an event so interesting to me from any other hand than that of your affectionate and devoted friend Bristol that's right my ever dearest Lady Hamilton I should certainly have made this Sunday and holiday to me and have taken a Sabbath day's journey to Cicerta had not poor Mr. Lovell been confined to his bed above three days with a fever today it is departed tomorrow Dr. Newdy has secured us from its resurrection and after tomorrow I hope virtue will be its own reward and that my friendship for Lovell will be reckonspensed with the enjoyment this moment I receive your beidou and the very dulcet it is all public and private accounts agree in the immediate prospect of a general peace it will make a delicious foreground in the picture of the new year many of which I wish from the top, bottom and centre of my heart to the incomparable Emma careless sense of paragonia in this moment Mr. Comeyance is taken I do not guarantee you deep novel but you may flat call a pace of faith that's a nine ever dearest Emma I went down to your opera box two minutes after you left it and should have seen you on the morning of your departure but was detained in the arms of Murphy as Lady Eden expressed it and was too late you say nothing of the adorable Queen I hope she has not forgotten me but as Shakespeare says I will come on Friday or Saturday but our British colony are so numerous that my duties obstruct my pleasures ever and invariably dearest dear Emma most affectionately your be you see I am but the second letter of your alphabet I will come on Friday or Saturday but our British colony is but the second letter of your alphabet although you are the first of mine letter 10 Melanne 24th of November 1798 I know not dearest Emma where the friends of William has been able to obtain my passport or not but this I know that if they have refused it they are damned fools for their pains for never was a Malta orange better worth squeezing or sucking and if they leave me to die to tell the contents don't peace poor in the meantime I will frankly confess to you that my health most seriously and urgently requires the barmy air of dear Naples and the more barmy atmosphere of those I love and who love me and that I shall forgo my Garrett with more regret than most people of my silly rank in society forgo a palace or a drawing room but I will all give better things from the justice of my neighbour and them against all rules of probability one of their best friends unheard especially one who if he be heard can say so much my project then in case I receive the passport is to travel on horseback as far as Spoleto in Dalmatia and from thence cross over to Manfredonia a passage of a few hours and which in the year 1772 I performed with my horses on board and afterwards had a most delightful jaunt through that unexplored region Dalmatia where the very first object that strikes both the eye and the imagination is a modern city built within the precincts of an ancient palace for Spoleto stands within the innermost wall of Diocletian's palace for that wise sovereign quitted the scepter for the pleasures of an architect's rule and when he completed imagining that delightful climate enjoyed that and life to a most advanced old age the world forgetting by the world forgot a proposal to Spoleto do not fail hinting to Sir William that a most safe, convenient and expeditious packet boat might be established in these perilous times between that and Manfredonia by which all dispatches and all travellers, either for business or pleasure might make a very short and safe cut between Naples and Vienna and Naples and the rest of Europe without touching one palm of any ground a pedestrian and neapolitan and of course without the risk of being ever stopped the small towns too are in quick succession and the whole country being a limestone rock the roads will make themselves and afterwards pay themselves by means of good turnpikes nothing can exceed the dreariness, gloominess and humidity of a Milanese sky in winter which I conclude under the old regime is all the hospitality and conviviality practised here by their voluptuous but social nobility now we have nothing left to comfort but another Newdy a son of Escalapius born in Italy but an enthusiast for England and all that is English an excellent physician but a still better friend and like Newdy when he has a pint of Madeira in his belly and the fumes of it in his brain a most cheerful and improving companion he asks to you that during my convalescence I made greater strides to recovery by his attic evenings than by his morning potions or even his beef broth sweet Emma, Adia remember me in the warmest and most enthusiastic style to your friend and my friend and the friend of humankind and if Sir William does not contrive to send me my passport I will excommunicate him and send him to the devil before his time end of section 15 recording by Adrian Wheel section 16 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 Adrian Wheel the letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton volume 1 by Hiroshio Nelson chapter 16 letter from the Honourable Charles Greville nephew of Sir William Hamilton to Lady Hamilton August the 18th 1794 Dear Lady Hamilton you will I am sure be glad to hear that a favourable change has been announced to me and that I am reinstated in the King's household and honoured with a gold key as his Vice Chamberlain and I hope in a few days to be in Parliament you have seen me in prosperity and in adversity and know how much I estimate worldly concerns according to their influencing the opinion of my real friends friendship has borne me up in the most difficult times and the general satisfaction which my friends express on my promotion renders me very happy at present and to make me more so I have anticipated to my own mind the sincere satisfaction with which you will receive this news I should not flatter myself so far if I was not very sincerely interested in your happiness and ever affectionately yours C F G letters from Lady Hamilton to the Honourable Charles Greville nephew of Sir William Hamilton letter 1 25th February 1800 Dear Sir I received your letter by Mr Campbell he is lodged with us we find him a pleasant man and shall write fully by him he will tell you a little how we go on as to our domestic happiness we are more united and comfortable than ever in spite of the infamous Jacobin papers jealous of Lord Nelson's glory and Sir William's and mine but we do not mind them Lord Nelson is a truly virtuous and great man and because we have been fagging and ruining our health and sacrificing every comfort in the cause of loyalty our private characters are to be stabbed in the back first it was said Sir William and Lord Nelson fought then that we played and lost first Sir William and Lord Nelson live like brothers next Lord Nelson Lord Nelson never plays and this I give you my word of honour so I beg you will contradict any of these vile reports not that Sir William and Lord Nelson mind it and I get scolded by the Queen and all of them for having suffered one day's uneasiness our fleet is off Malta Lord Nelson has taken the genera and was after the frigates so the attempt to relieve Malta has failed I have had a letter from the Emperor of Russia with the cross of Malta Sir William has sent his Imperial Majesty's letter to Lord Grenville to get me the permission to wear it I have rendered some services to the poor Maltese I got them £10,000 and sent corn when they were in distress the deputies have been lodged in my house I have been their ambassadress so his Imperial Majesty has rewarded me if the King will give me leave to wear it abroad it is of use to me the Queen is having the order set in diamonds for me but the one the Emperor sent is gold I tell you this little history of it that you may be of a ball has it also but I am the first English woman that ever had it Sir William is pleased so I am happy we are coming home and I am miserable to leave my dearest friend the Queen she cannot be consoled we have sworn to be back within six months and I will not quitter till Sir William binds himself to come back however I shall have a comfort in seeing some of my old friends and you in particular we have also many things to settle I think I can situate the person you mention about the court as a cameraist to some of the royal family if her education is good it is a comfortable situation for life so I will bring her out the Queen has promised me let this remain on Trenoux letter 2 April 1803 Lady Hamilton will be glad to know how long Mr Greville can permit her to remain in the house in Piccadilly as she must instantly look out for a lodging and therefore it is right for her to know the full extent of time she can remain there she also begs to know if he will pay her debts and what she may depend upon that she may reduce her expenses in establishment immediately End of section 16 recording by Adrian Wheel and end of the letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton volume 1 by Horatio Nelson