NELSON'S LEGACY TO HIS COUNTRY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1516, 22 January 1886, Page 4

NELSON'S LEGACY TO HIS COUNTRY.

It came to pass that on the morning of the 21st of October, ISOS, Nelson sat in his cabin aboard the Victory, off' Cape Trafalgar, writing his last bequest : " Whereas the eminent services of Emma Hamilton, widow of the Right Hon. Sir William Hamilton, have been of the very greatest service to our King and country to my knowledge. . . . Could I have rewarded these services I would not now call upon my country ; but as that has not been in my power, I leave Emma Hamilton ,|therefore, a legacy to my King and country, that they will give her an ample provision to maintain her rank in life. I also leave to the beneficence of my country my adopted daughter, Horatio Nelson Thomson, and I desire she will in future use the name of Nelson only. These are the only favours I ask of my King and country at this moment when I am going to fight their battle. May Ood bless my King and country and all those I hold dear." The results of this affecting despatch are only too well known. The great admiral's brother was created an Earl, with a grant of £6OOO per annum, a sum of £IO,OOO to each of his sisters, and £200,000 for the purchase of an estate; bat Lady Hamilton's claim was utterly ignored, alike by the poor, respectable creature who succeeded to Horatio's state and fame, and by the nation in whose defence Horatio died, and whose safety Horatio achieved. She died a pauper at Calais, and was buried as a pauper by subscription in " the heret'es' burying ground " outside the walla In 1816 her grave was already forgotten, so that Sylvanus who passed that way and made inquiries, could find no vestige of her. •• Alas! aays Mr Urban, in bis gentlemanly way, " how fleeting are the honours of this patting world?'~Jtyaijfli pf Art