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

The story of " Nelson and the North," with all its picturesque and fiery incidents, the fleet sailing up the Sound, past " thy wild and stormy steep, Elsinore," the hard-fought action, the disregarded signal fluttering in vain its message of recall while the guns " spread a death-shade round the ships," the triumphant truce — all these things belong to the history of Nelson's professional career, and are enshrined for popular remembrance in the lines of a famous ballad.

After this victory we have no letter such as Emma wrote Nelson after the Battle of the Nile, owing to his scrupulous care to destroy her letters. But Sir William Hamilton gives some little picture of her agitation—she was still " the

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same Emma,'* still ardent, exclamatory, enthusiastic as a schoolgirl.

" What can I say, my Dear Lord I" asks Sir William, " that would convey the smallest idea of what we felt yesterday, on receiving the authentic letters confirming your late most glorious victory. . . . We can only repeat what we know well, and often said before—that Nelson was, is, and to the last will ever be, the first. However, we all agree that, when we get you safe home once more—that you should never more risk your shattered frame. . . . You would have laughed to have seen what I saw yesterday ! Emma did not know whether she was on her head or heels—in such a hurry to tell your great news, that she could utter nothing but tears of joy and tenderness."

Nelson was kept in the North some months after the battle, and when off Rostock, on the 24th of May, he wrote to Emma—

" MY DEAREST BELOVED FRIEND, —Yesterday I joined Adml. Totty, when I found little Parker with all my treasures, your dear kind friendly letters, your picture as Santa Emma, for a Santa you are if ever there was one in this world; for what makes a saint, the being so much better than the rest of the human race ; therefore as truly as I believe in God do I believe you are a Saint, and in this age of wickedness you sett

an example of real Virtue and goodness which if we are not too far sunk in Luxury and Infam ought to rouse up almost forgot Virtue, and ma God's curse alight upon those who want to dra you, my dearest friend, from a quiet home int the company of men and women of bad characte and I am one of those who believe that in Eng land the higher the class the worse the compan I speak generally. I will not think so bad o: any class but that there may be some good individuals in it.How can I sufficiently thank you for all your goodness and kindness to me, a forlorn outcast except in your generous soul My health I have represented to the admiral in such terms that I have no doubt but a Admiral has sailed to take my place. The Harpy has carried a stronger letter than any of the former. This vessel states that I do not know that I shall go to sea again, as my health requires the shore and gentle exercise, and so it does; and really, if the Admiralty had allowed me to go home, and in the event of hostilities being renewed in the Baltic, I might perhaps in that case care to command the fleet, but the Baltic folks will never fight me if it is to be avoided. In my humble opinion we shall have peace with the northern powers if we are Just in our desires. ... I want not to conquer any heart if that which I have conquered is happy in its lot. Iam confident, for the conqueror is

a

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become the Conquered. I want but one true heart. There can be but one love, although many real well-wishers."

But he was kept from the sight of Emma till

I his successor could be found, and that, as Earl

St. Vincent told him, " your lordship knows is no

easy task; for I never saw the man in our pro-

| fession, excepting yourself and Troubridge, who

, possessed the magic art of infusing the same

spirit into others which inspired their own

; actions ; exclusive of other talents and habits

of business, not common to naval characters.' 1

But at last his successor was appointed, and

Nelson wrote to Lady Hamilton :—

" I was so overcome yesterday with the good and happy news that came about my going home, that I believe I was in truth scarcely myself. The thoughts of going do me good, yet all night I was so restless that I could not sleep. It is nearly calm, therefore Admiral Pole cannot get on. If he was not to come, I believe it would kill me. I am ready to start the moment I have talked with him one hour."

Nelson landed at Yarmouth on the istof July, and joined the Hamiltons. But as London is not ideal in midsummer, they all went into the country; first to Box Hill for a few days,