Nelson's Lady Hamilton by Meynell, Esther (cheapest way to read ebooks .txt) 📗

sovereigns, to whose fury has succeeded the moderate system of the actual government of France; the superiority which her arms everywhere maintain ; the disunion

and wont of suite generally but too much displayed among those powers which at first appeared the most interested in restoring in France good faith, order, worship and the throne; the treaties of peace and amity made by some of them with the Convention; the loss of some fortresses and of a considerable portion of my frontier provinces ; and lastly (what weighs with me most of all) the desire of sparing the blood spent as yet so vainly by my faithful people,— these are motives, dear Brother, which have induced me finally to abandon the hostile system which I accurately followed so long as I could employ and uphold my armies with any hope of remedying, by force of arms, the evils of France. But, having clearly discerned that opinion cannot be altered by force, and considering on the other hand that the security and tranquillity of my kingdom are the first of my duties, I have begun to treat with the French for peace, which, though not yet concluded, will I hope not delay long in being settled to the full satisfaction of the two nations, and above all to the advantage of my own, so far as can be hoped from the circumstances, critical enough, in which we find ourselves. Whatever may be the result of the negotiations on foot, you may rest assured that I shall never be forgetful of Italy, and far less of your own states, and that you will always find me ready to obtain for you the same benefit of the peace

'THE SPINSTRESS'

GEORGE ROMNEY

which I so much desire, proportionate to my own, as to which object, I have already made some proposals in your behalf, which I apprehend will be well received. God send that it may be for us a means more to the purpose for sparing the blood of the rest of our ill-fated family than war has hitherto been."

Through the agency of the Queen and of his wife, Sir William Hamilton promptly forwarded the news contained in this interesting document to his own Government in London.

From amity to alliance was not a long step with the King of Spain. The desire of " sparing the blood of his faithful people " was not so strong as his desire to strike at England in union with France. During the spring and summer of 1796 he wrote constantly in a hectoring tone to Ferdinand, and in August of the same year Acton wrote to Sir William Hamilton that "the odd and open threatenings of the King of Spain to his brother do not leave any room to hope for a separation from the French, or change in that Court of their strange and most shameful system."

It is round the King of Spain's letter to the King of Naples, announcing his intention of joining France and making war, that much of the controversy as to Lady Hamilton's services to England at this point of her career centres. Nelson's statement of the matter in the famous

128 NELSON'S LADY HAMILTON

Codicil of Trafalgar Day is clear. " Lady Hamilton," he says, "obtained the King of Spain's letter, in 1796, to his brother, the King of Naples, acquainting him of his intention to declare war] against England; from which letter the Ministry sent out orders to the then Sir John Jervis to strike a stroke, if opportunity offered, against either the arsenals of Spain or her fleets. That neither of these was done is not the fault of Lady Hamilton."

In her Memorial to the King of England many years later, when compelled by her situation to bring her services to the attention of her country, Emma Hamilton recalls to George III " That it was the good fortune of your Majesty* memorialist, among many inferior services, t acquire the confidential friendship of that grea and august Princess, the Queen of Naples, you Majesty's most faithful and ardently attach Ally, at a period of peculiar peril, and when he august Consort . . . was unhappily constrain to profess a neutrality, but little in accordan with the feelings of his own excellent heart.B which means your Majesty's memorialist, among many inferior services, had an opportunity of obtaining, and actually did obtain, the King of Spain's letter to the King of Naples expressive of his intention to declare war against England. This important document, your Majesty's memorialist delivered to her husband, Sir William

Hamilton, who immediately transmitted it to your Majesty's Ministers."

This is a plain and simple statement which few people, considering all the circumstances, would have any difficulty in accepting as the substantial truth.But, unfortunately for herself, Lady Hamilton had a habit of exaggeration and a love of theatrical effect that could not rest content with anything so unadorned.In her Memorial to the Prince Regent,she added picturesque details which have tended to cast doubt on the authenticity of her claims.She refers again to her influence with the Queen of Naples, and goes on : "By unceasing application of that influence, and no less watchfulness to turn it to my country's good, it happened that I discovered a courier had brought the King of Naples a private letter from the King of Spain.I prevailed on the Queen to take it from his pocket unseen.We found it to contain