Lord Nelson could have had no other object in writing such a lenser than to leave an acknowledgment of his relationship, and a se mony of his affection for her, in case of his death. Two days before the date of that letter, he writes to Lacy Hamilton: “If Mr. Addington gives you the pension it is well; but do not let it feet pur Have you not Merton? It is clear-the first purchase ;-and my dear Hita is provided for: and I hope, one of these days, that you will be my own Duchess of Bronté, and then a fig for them all." He added-"I am glad to find, ny dear Emma, that you mean to take Horatia home. Aye! She is like ser mother; will have her own way, or kick up a devil of a dust. But you wil cure her. I am afraid I should spoil her, for I am sure I would shoot any sne who would hurt her. She was always fond of my watch; and very probates I might have promised her one: indeed, I gave her one, which cost sixpence: But I go no where to get anything pretty therefore do not think me neglectful"." It appears from this letter, that Lady Hamilton had actually proposed that she, Horatia, and Lord Nelson's niece, Miss Charlotte Nelson, should go out and live on board the Victory, or, at ail events, stay at Malta during his command in the Mediterranean; for, after pointing out the impossibility of complying with such a request, he said :— "I know, my own dear Emma, 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 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." In a Postscript on the 22nd, he added—"Remember me kindly to Charlotte. Shall always love those that are good to Horatia. I will write her by another oppor. tunity"." There are only two other Notes of which the dates can be fixed, from Lady Hamilton to Mrs. Gibson, in 1803; and there is none after that year :— [Post-mark, "Romford, 40 B, August 31, 1803."] "Dear Mrs. Gibson,-I am sorry Miss Thompson has been ill. Pray write and say she continues better. Tell her I shall bring her many pretty things, and she must love her god-mother. Write to me, and tell me what she says. I hope to see you, Mary, and her after this winter in Town. Ever believe me, yours sincerely. Kiss Horatia often for me.-E. H." [Post-mark," October 3, 1803, Nt."] "My dear Mrs. Gibson,-Be so good to bring Miss Thompson on Saturday morning at eleven o'clock, as to-morrow I am engaged. Ever yours most affec tionately.-E. HAMILTON." Of the thirteen Notes, the dates of which cannot be ascertained, only five have been now printed, and of the remaining eight only the annexed are of the slightest consequence, as the others merely contain anxious inquiries after Miss Thompson's health, or directions for bringing her to Piccadilly, Clarges Street, or Merton : "Dear Mrs. Gibson,-I send you fifteen pounds. Give ten to the Doet 7 Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i. pp. 157, Ibid. pp. 162, 3. Ibid. p. 168. and pay yourself, and the other may serve for coach-hire. I am going for today into the country, but shall be glad to see you on Saturday at one o'clock. Ever yours affectionately.-E. H. "Dear Mrs. Gibson,-Will you and Horatia be with me by eleven o'clock to go to Merton. We must defer Mary's visit till next week, as the house is full of company. Come by half-past eleven in the morning. Ever yours.-E. HAMILTON." In January 1804, Lord Nelson wrote the following letter to "MISS HORATIA THOMSON. "Victory, January 14th, 1804. "My dear Horatia,-I feel very much pleased by your kind letter, and for your present of a lock of your beautiful hair. I am very glad to hear that you are so good, and mind everything which your Governess and dear Lady Hamilton tell you. I send you a lock of my hair, and a one-pound note to buy a locket to put it in, and I give you leave to wear it when you are dressed and behave well; and I send you another to buy some little thing for Mary and your Governess. As I am sure that for the world you would not tell a story, it must have slipt my memory that I promised you a watch, therefore I have sent to Naples to get one, and I will send it home as soon as it arrives. The Dog2 I never could have promised, as we have no Dogs on board Ship. Only I beg, my dear Horatia, be obedient, and you will ever be sure of the affection of-NELSON and Bronte." On the 14th of March he said, in a letter to Lady Hamilton :— "I also beg as my dear Horatia is to be at Merton, that a strong netting about three feet high may be placed round the Nile, that the little thing may not tumble in" ... “I shall, when I come home, settle four thousand pounds in trustees' hands, for Horatia; for I will not put it in my own power to have her left destitute: for she would want friends, if we left her in this world. She shall be independent of any smiles or frowns! I am glad you are going to take her home; and, if you will take the trouble with Eliza and Ann', I am the very last to object. Tom, I shall certainly assist at college; and I am sure the Doctor expects that I should do the same for Horace: but I must make my arrangements, so as not to run in debt." . "I would not have Horatia think of a dog. I shall not bring her one; and I am sure she is better without a pet of that sort. But she is like her mother, would get all the old dogs in the place about her." On the 2nd of April 1804, Lord Nelson writes to Lady Hamil ton: "I have, my dearest beloved Emma, been so uneasy for this last month, desiring most ardently to hear of your well doing. Captain Capel brought me your letters sent by the Thisbe from Gibraltar. I opened-opened-found none but December, or early in January. I was in such an agitation. At last I found one without a date-which, thank God, told my poor heart that you was recovering; but that dear little Emma was no more! and that Horatia had been so very ill-it quite upset me. But it was just at bed-time, and I had time to reflect, and be thankful to God for sparing you and our dear Horatia. I am sure the loss of one-much more both-would have drove mad. I was so agitated as it was, that I was glad it was night, and that I could be by myself. Kiss dear Horatia for me, and tell her to be a dutiful and good child, and if she is, that we shall always love her. You may, if you like, tell Mrs. G. that I shall certainly 1 Mrs. Gibson's daughter, afterwards Mrs. Johnstone. Mrs. Ward says that Lord Nelson sent her, instead, a locket with a Dog engraved upon it, which she still has, though the letter that accompanied it has been lost. 3 Autograph in the possession of Mrs. Ward. His nieces, daughters of Mrs. Bolton. s Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, pp. 14, 18, 20. settle a small pension on her. It shall not be large, as we may have the pleasure of making her little presents: and, my dearest Emma, I shall not be wanting to everybody who has been kind to you, be they servants or gentlefolks. Admiral Lutwidge is a good man, and I like Mrs. Lutwidge, and shall always more, because she is fond of you. Never mind the great Bashaw at the Priory. He be damned! If he was single, and had a mind to marry you, he could only make you a Marchioness; but as he is situated, and I situated, I can make you a Duchess, and if it pleases God, that time may arrive. Amen! Amen :"* In April Lord Nelson sent Horatia some books of Spanish dresses, with the following letter: ** Victory, April 13th, 1804. "My dear Horatia,—I send you twelve books of Spanish dresses, which you will let your Guardian Angel. Lady Hamilton, keep for you, when you are tired of looking at them. I am very glad to hear that you are perfectly recovered; and, that you are a very good child. I beg, my dear Horatia, that you will always continue so; which will be a great comfort to your most affectionate NELSON AND BRONTE." The following passages respecting the child occur in his letters to Lady Hamilton of the dates assigned to them. On the 10th of April 1804, he wrote: "I rejoice that dear Horatia is got well; and, also, that you, my dearest Emma, are recovered of your severe indisposition I am glad to hear that you are going to take my dear Horatia, to educate her. She must turn out an angel, if she minds what you say to her; and Eliza and Ann will never forget your goodnesss." On the 19th of April he said :— "I am pleased with Charlotte's letter; and, as she loves my dear Horatia, I shall always like her. What hearts those must have, who do not! But, thank God, she shall not be dependent on any of them." On the same day he writes to Miss Nelson : "I thank you very much for your kind letters of January 3d and 4th; and I feel truly sensible of your kind regard for that dear little orphan, Horatia. Although her parents are lost, yet she is not without a fortune: and I shall cherish her to the last moment of my life; and curse them who curse her, and Heaven bless them who bless her! Dear innocent! she can have injured no one. I am glad to hear that she is attached to you; and, if she takes after her parents, so she will, to those who are kind to her1." On the 30th of May, after saying to Lady Hamilton, "Your resemblance is so deeply engraved in my heart, that there it can never be effaced; and, who knows? some day, I may have the happiness of having a living picture of you!" he added, "every thing you tell me about my dear Horatia charms me. I think I see her, hear her, and admire her; but, she is like her dear, dear mother" "I wish I could but be at dear Merton, to assist in making the alterations. I think I should have persuaded you to have kept the pike, and a clear stream; and to have put all the carp, tench, and fish who muddy the water, into the pond. But, as you like, I am content. Only take care, that my darling does not fall in, and get drowned. I begged you to get the little netting along the edges, and particularly on the bridges2." • Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii. pp. 21-23. 7 Ibid. p. 107. 1 Ibid. p. 109. Ibid. pp. 27, 28. On the 6th of June: "Remember me most kindly to Horatia, good Mrs. Cadogan, Charlotte, Miss Connor, and all our friends at dear Merton3." On the 1st of July he says:— "Kiss my dear Horatia for me. I hope you will have her at Merton." On the 12th of August he said: "I have wrote you, my dear Emma, about Horatia; but by the Kent, I shall write fully "." On the 31st of August he says: "I am very uneasy at your and Horatia being on the coast: for you cannot move, if the French make the attempt; which, I am told they have done, and been repulsed. Pray God, it may be true! I shall rejoice to hear you and Horatia are safe at Merton; and happy shall I be, the day I join you. Justem"." On his birthday, 29th of September: Gannam "This day, my dearest Emma, which gave me birth, I consider as more fortunate than common days; as, by my coming into this world, it has brought me so intimately acquainted with you, who my soul holds most dear. I well know that you will keep it, and have my dear Horatia to drink my health" "Kiss dear Horatia, I hope she is at Merton fixed"." On October the 13th: "Kiss our dear Horatia a thousand times, for your own faithful Nelson "." On the 23rd of November, in a letter which he says goes by "such a roundabout way that he cannot say all that his heart wishes," he writes: "Thomson desires to be most kindly remembered to his dear wife and children. He is most sincerely attached to them, and wishes to save what he can for their benefit "." On the 9th of March 1805, he said:— "How is my dear Horatia? I hope you have her under your guardian wing, at Merton. May God bless her '!" On the 16th of May in that year, he wrote to Mr. Haslewood, and to Lady Hamilton, the Letters in vol. vi. p. 444, in which he expressed his intention of settling an annuity on Mrs. Gibson, the nurse "When that she gives up my adopted daughter, Horatia Nelson Thompson, to the guardianship of my dear friend Lady Emma Hamilton, and promises not to have anything more to do with the child either directly or indirectly," and requested Lady Hamilton to take his "adopted daughter from under the care of Mrs. Gib. son, and to place her under her guardianship, in order that she may be properly educated and brought up." On the 17th of September, he says: "I entreat, my dear Emma, that you will cheer up; and we will look forward to many, many happy years, and be surrounded by our children's children. God Almighty can, when he pleases, remove the impediment. My heart and soul is with you and Horatia *." On the 11th of October 1805, he wrote the following letter to Lady Hamilton, the autograph of which is in the possession of Mrs. 3 Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, Ibid. • Ibid. p. 61. pp. 73-76. 1 Ibid. p. 90. vol. ii., p. 51. Salter, and which was not sent to the Editor until the Letters in the Addenda were printed : "Victory, October 11th, 1805. "My dearest Emma,-Mr. Davis' request of Lieutenant Hargrave's introduction shall be attended to, but it must be considered that very few opportunities offer of ever getting on board the Commander-in-Chief's Ship in the winter months, and our Battle, I hope, will be over long before the summer days. "October 12th.-The wind has blown so fresh these two days, that the Enemy, if so disposed, have not had the power of putting to sea, which I am firmly of opinion they intend. God send it; for our sakes as well as that of our Country, well over. Our friend Sutton is going home for his health. Hoste has Amphion, and Sir William Bolton, Eurydice, which I hope the Admiralty will approve. This is the last chance of Sir Billy's making a fortune. If he is active and persevering, he may do it, and be easy for life. Ah, my beloved Emma, how I envy Sutton going home; his going to Merton and seeing you and Horatia. I do really feel that the twenty-five days I was at Merton, was the very happiest of my life. Would to God they were to be passed over again, but that time will, I trust, soon come, and many, many more days added to them. I have been, as you may believe, made very uneasy or rather uncomfortable by the situation of Sir Robert Calder. He was to have gone home in another Ship and a vast lumber. However, I have given way to his misery, and directed the Prince of Wales to carry him to Spithead; for whatever the result of the inquiry may be, I think he has a right to be treated with respect therefore, my dear Emma, do not form any opinion about him till the trial is over. "October 13th.-I am working like a horse in a mill, but never the nearer finishing my task, which I find difficulty enough in getting and keeping clear from confusion, but I never allow it to accumulate. Agamemnon is in sight, and I hope I shall have letters from you, who I hold dearer than any other person in this world, and I shall hope to hear that all our family goes on well, at that dear, dear cottage. Believe all I would say upon this occasion, but letters being in quarantine, may be read, not that I care who knows that I love you most tenderly and affectionately. I send you Abbé Campbell's letter, and copy of those from the King and Queen. You see they would never wish me out of the Mediterranean. Kiss dear Horatia a thousand times for your faithful NELSON AND BRONTE." The next time the child is mentioned is in that pathetic letter addressed to her on the 19th of October 1805, when the Combined Fleets were coming out of Port, and which should not be separated from the other evidence: 66 Victory, October 19th, 1805. "My dearest Angel,-I was made happy by the pleasure of receiving your letter of September 19th, and I rejoice to hear that you are so very good a girl, and love my dear Lady Hamilton, who most dearly loves you. Give her a kiss for me. The Combined Fleets of the Enemy are now reported to be coming out of Cadiz; and therefore I answer your letter, my dearest Horatia, to mark to you that you are ever uppermost in my thoughts. I shall be sure of your prayers for my safety, conquest, and speedy return to dear Merton, and our dearest good Lady Hamilton. Be a good girl, mind what Miss Connor says to you. Receive, my dearest Horatia, the affectionate Parental Blessing of your Father, NELSON AND BRONTE." In the memorable Codicil to his Will, written with his own hand a few hours before he fell, he thus mentioned her: "I also leave to the beneficence of my Country my adopted daughter, Horatia Nelson Thompson, and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson only." To this evidence is to be added the repeated, solemn, and express 2 Autograph it the possession of Mrs. Ward. VOL. VII. 2 c |