If it is His good providence to cut short my days upon earth", I bow with the greatest submission, relying that He will protect those so dear to me, that I may leave behind.—His will be done: Amen, Amen, Amen. Saturday, September 14th, 1805. At six o'clock arrived at Portsmouth, and having arranged all my business, embarked at the Bathing Machines with Mr. Rose and Mr. Canning at two; got on board the Victory at St. Helens, who dined with me; preparing for sea. * Lord Nelson's mind was so strongly impressed with the probability that he inight never return to England that, “before he quitted London, he called at Mr. Peddieson's, his Upholsterer, in Brewer-street, where the Coffin presented him by Captain Hallowell (vide vol. iii. p. 89) had been sent, and with his usual gaiety and good humour desired him to get the attestation of its identity engraved on the lid, 'for,' added his Lordship, I think it highly probable that I may want it on my return."" Harrison's "Life of Lord Nelson," vol. ii. p. 468. Lord Nelson's last departure from Merton, and from England, is described by his biographers as having been singularly affecting. His last act, a few minutes before leaving Merton, about ten at night, the 13th of September, was to visit and pray over his Child. He then took leave of Lady Hamilton, entered the chaise, and arrived at the George Inn, Portsmouth, about six o'clock the next morning. At two o'clock on Saturday the 14th, he embarked from the beach where the Bathing Machines were placed, instead of from the usual landing-place, "to elude the populace," says Southey; "but a crowd collected in his train, pressing forward to obtain sight of his face: many were in tears, and many knelt down before him, and blessed him as he passed. England has had many heroes, but never one who so entirely possessed the love of his fellow-countrymen as Nelson. All men knew that his heart was as humane as it was fearless; that there was not in his nature the slightest alloy of selfishness or cupidity; but that, with perfect and entire devotion, he served his Country with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his strength; and therefore they loved him as truly and as fervently as he loved England. They pressed upon the parapet to gaze after him when his barge pushed off, and he was returning their cheers by waving his hat. The sentinels, who endeavoured to prevent them from trespassing upon this ground, were wedged among the crowd; and an Officer, who not very prudently upon such an occasion, ordered them to drive the people down with their bayonets, was compelled speedily to retreat; for the people would not be debarred from gazing till the last moment upon the hero-the darling hero of England!" It was not in Nelson's nature to witness such affection in his Countrymen unmoved; and he touchingly exclaimed to Captain Hardy, "I had their huzzas before-I have their hearts now!" Lord Nelson was accompanied to the Victory by his friends Mr. Rose and Mr. Canning, who dined on board while she was preparing to sail; and, ever interested in the welfare of those he regarded, he took the opportunity to recommend to Mr. Rose, in the strongest terms, his Chaplain Mr. Scott. TO REAR-ADMIRAL MURRAY'. [Autograph in the possession of George Murray, Esq.] My dear Admiral, Portsmouth, September 14th, 1805. Many thanks for your kind note and haunch of venison. I am this moment getting in the Boat at the Bathing Machines. May every success attend you, and health, that greatest of blessings. I beg my best respects to Mrs. Murray; and ever, my dear Murray, believe me your most faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. "September 14. A.M. at 11.30, hoisted the Flag of the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Nelson, K.B. Sunday, 15th. 8, A.M., weighed and made sail to the S.S.E. Euryalus in company."-Victory's Log. Sir, Victory, at St. Helens, 14th September, 1805. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that I arrived at Portsmouth this morning at six o'clock, and hoisted my Flag on board the Victory at this anchorage about noon. The Royal Sovereign, Defiance, and Agamemnon, are not yet ready for sea, so that I must leave them to follow, the moment they are complete. The Ships named in the margin only accompany me. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ. [Original in the Admiralty.] Sir, Victory, at St. Helens, 14th September, 1805. Not knowing where His Majesty's Ships named in the margin are at present, I beg to transmit orders for their 3 This is supposed to be the last letter Lord Nelson ever wrote in England. 2 Victory, Euryalus, (Captain the Honourable Henry Blackwood). 3 Chiffoné, Unité, Nautilus, Beagle, Pylades, Moselle, Scout, Merlin, Entreprenante, Pickle. respective Captains, and request you will be so good as forward them as early as possible. Inclosed is a copy of the said Orders and Rendezvous for their Lordships' information, and also a copy of the Order given to the Captains of His Majesty's Ships Renommée and Melpomené, directing them to proceed to Malta with money, agreeably to their Lordships' instructions, communicated to me in your letter of the 12th instant. The Orders for the Ajax and Thunderer are gone to Plymouth; and those for the Amazon to dock and refit, not knowing when she may arrive, are herewith transmitted. L'Aimable will proceed with the Lisbon Convoy, agreeably to their Lordships' orders of the 11th and 12th instant, and join me on my Rendezvous the moment the service is performed. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN ROBERT DUDLEY OLIVER, H. M. SHIP MELPOMENE. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, at St. Helens, 14th September, 1805. You are hereby required and directed to complete His Majesty's Ship under your command with the utmost dispatch for Foreign Service; and the moment that is done, and the Melpomené in all respects ready for sea, you are to receive the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling in dollars on board the said Ship, and instantly proceed and join me on the enclosed Rendezvous in your way to Malta; but should you learn that the Fleet under my command has gone into the Mediterranean, and that it would be taking you out of your way to join me, it is my directions that you proceed direct to Malta; and after having delivered the said money to Sir Alexander Ball, you will return and join me wherever you may learn the Fleet under my command may be. NELSON ANd Bronte. N.B.-An order of the same tenor and date given to the Captain of the Renommée. 4 Now an Admiral of the Blue. Victory, St. Helens, 14th September, 1805. As I am about to proceed from hence down Channel, you are hereby required and directed to join me in His Majesty's Ship under your command on the enclosed Rendezvous; and I am to desire that every possible exertion is used to put the said Ship in a state for immediate service, with stores and provisions complete to six months, and that you will join me as above directed. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM LECHMERE, H. M. SHIP THUNDERER. [Original in the possession of Sir John Lechmere, Bart.] Secret Rendezvous. Victory, at Sea, 15th September, 1805. Off Cape St. Vincent, where a Frigate will be stationed to give information where I am to be found. In the event of not meeting the said Frigate, after cruizing twenty-four hours, the Ship in search of me must call off Cape St. Mary's and Cadiz, approaching them with the utmost caution. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Victory, September 16th, 1805. I regret most exceedingly, for many reasons, my not having had the pleasure of seeing you; but my fate is fixed, and I "He was made a Rear-Admiral in 1808, and died, a Vice-Admiral of the White, in December 1815. am gone, and beating down Channel with a foul wind. I am, my dear friend, so truly sensible of all your goodness to me, that I can only say, thanks, thanks: therefore I will to business. I wish I could have been rich enough, with ease to myself, to have settled my Account with you; but as that is not done, I wish for my sake that you would have it closed, and receipts pass between us; and then I will give you a bond for the balance, as for money lent. Those bonds relative to Tucker, being all settled, should be returned to me. Be so good as to give them to Haslewood. If you and I live, no harm can happen; but should either of us drop, much confusion may arise to those we may leave behind. I have said enough. Haslewood will settle the Account with all legal exactness. I have requested you to pay Chawner's account for work to be done in his line; and what is ordered, viz. the kitchen, ante-room, and for altering the dining-room, which you would have been provoked to see spoiled. The alteration will cost three times as much as if it had been done at first. However, Chawner now knows all my plans and wishes. Poor blind Mrs. Nelson I have given 150l. to pay her debts, and I intend to pay her house-rent in future, in addition to the 2001. a year, which I take will be about 407. a year. I wished also to have seen you respecting my Proxy, for as it passed through your hands without an immediate communication with Lord Moira, so it should have returned that way. I ever was against giving my Proxy to any man, and now I have it again, it will probably never be given again. Lord Moira made me break my intention; and as very few can equal our friend for honour and independence, it is not very likely that I shall give it, without strong reasons, again. With every good wish, believe me ever, my dear Davison, your most obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. I have settled Chawner's account for all which has been hitherto done at Merton. |