MENTION OF NELSON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22434, 2 June 1936, Page 10

MENTION OF NELSON

CAPTAIN HARDY'S LETTER AUCKLAND RESIDENT'S RELIC One hundred and thirty-one years ago Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy, R.IS., wroto a letter to his cousin, Mr. William Hardy, who lived at Claypole Mill, Claypole, Nottinghamshire. Ho was the Captain Hardy who stood beside tho dying Lord Nelson after Trafalgar and heard his last words, and part of tho letter which he wroto on board H.M.S. Victory beforo tho battle is now in tho possession of Mr. J. F. Montague, of Swanson Street.

Although tho writing of the letter has faded to a rusty brown with age it is still legible, and extracts show Hardy's loyalty to his admiral, his affection for his cousin and his observance of naval discipline. "I do not think it wise to say what is reported about our dear chief," says Hardy. "Wo know now that a great deal of the gossip is falso, and our joy at his return is general throughout tho fleet.

"We shall soon bo in touch with the Dons and Froggies again and we shall give a. good account of them, in spite of Calder's bungling in July, for we all feel that there was bungling to let the Dons show their heels when he had them by the throat off Finisterre. But this is rank mutiny, so you must not repeat it." Captain Hardy gave his cousin somo instructions regarding two miniatures which were being painted for him by a portrait painter named Henry .Bone and finished his letter on a homely note, with a reference to a family servant, "old Joseph at the cottage," whom he had arranged should be paid a crown every week and a pound at Christmas. He signed himself "Yours in truth and faith, Thomas Master- j man Hardy, Captain, 8.N."