Immortal Lovers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 614, 16 March 1929, Page 19

Immortal Lovers

NELSON & LADY HAMILTON

When Ladv Nelson Fainted

' America nearly 2ih> original letters written *■ l&l bv Lord Nelson. Lady Hamilton. Sir William Hamilton and others of Nelson's intimates. These letters come together with the logbook of Nelson's flagship, the Victory, during the years when he was blockading Toulon, letters to his flag captains, and oflieial orders, in his own hand, written as Admiral of the Fleet. The first letter, says the Sydney “Sun,” was written in August. 1.94. almost a year after Nelson had made his first visit to Sir William Hamilton, at that time Ambassador to Naples, and Lady Hamilton. They were still in Naples, where they were to remain until ISOO. He probably had never visited them since first meeting them. He is here sending a letter of introduction for a certain Mr. Pierson recently under his command. The formality of the letter is excellent corroboration, if any were needed, of the very slight intimacy' which existed at this time between Nelson and the Hamiltons.

God. never gave one to anybody else. I think before March is out you will either see us back so victorious that we shall insure a glorious issue to our toils. Think what my Emma will feel at seeing me return safe, perhaps, with a little more fame, her own dear loving Nelson.” On the next day he added the postscript. “Kiss and bless our dear Horatia—think of that.” Horatio Nelson has been the object of a vast amount of discussion by the biographers of Nelson, many maintaining that she was an adopted child, and not related to either Lord Nelson or Lady Hamilton. The last of the documents here considered is the will of Lady Hamilton, written in October. ISOS, or about three years after Nelson’s death. The will speaks for itself, aud needs no introduction, except to say that in such books as J. C. Jeaffreson’s “Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson.” this is described as a “destroyed will.” The fact that it is now brought to light seems of great importance. It is in the handwriting of Lady Hamilton, aud the text of it seems to be well known. It follows in part:

Two other letters in the collection were written during a half-year of Nelson's life which has assumed great importance, through the efforts of the biographers. In the autumn of ISOO the Hamiltons left the ambassadorial post at Naples forever, and, in company with Nelson, made a triumphal journey home. Later Nelson went in company' yvith the Hamiltons, to do business about buying a peerage for Sir William, who yvas only a knight. The business never came to anything, but Nelson’s absence from his wife increased her feelings against him. When he and she sat one night in the box at the opera w'ith Sir William and Lady Hamilton, Lady Nelson’s hatred for Emma Hamilton w r as so violent that she fainted there in public. Nelson left her for about two weeks in December, soon after this occurrence.

“If l can be buried iu St. Paul’s. I should be very happy to be near the glorious Nelson, whom I loved aud admired, and as once Sir William, Nelson, and myself had agreed we should all be buried near each other if the King had granted him a public funeral this would have been that three persons who were so much attached to each other by virtue and friendship should have been laid in one grave when they quitted this illnatured. slanderous world. “I beg that Merton may be sold and all debts paid, and whatever money shall be left after all debts are paid. I give to my dear mother, and after her death to my dear Horatio Nelson. “I hope Mr. George Rose will be my executor and take care of my dear mother and Horatio, and if he shall not be living I hope his eldest son will do me this last favour to see justice done to Nelson’s daughter, and also l beg His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, as he dearly loved Nelson, that His Royal Highness will protect his child and be kind to her. For this l beg of him, for there is no one that I do highly regard as His Royal Highness, also my good friend the Duke of Queensbury. I beg of him as Nelson beseeclied him to be kind to me, so I recommend my dear mother and Horatio to his kind heart.

Just before the beginning of the new year, Nelson’s relations with his wife were strained to the breaking point, and before January 13, when he started from London for Plymouth, Lady Nelson had left him. Nelson, in his letters written to Lady Hamilton, declared that he burned her letters. In a letter written the day before his sailing on March 1, ISOI, he says: "1 burn all your dear letters, because it is right for your sake, and I wish you would burn all mine—they can do no good, and will do us both harm if any seizure of them, or the dropping even of one of them would fill the mouths of the world sooner than we intend.” In his own letter of the above date, however, he speaks quite frankly of his desires with regard to both Lady Hamilton and their child. “Now, my dear wife, for such you are in my eyes and in the face of heaven, I can give full scope to my feelings, for I dare say Oliver will faithfully deliver this letter. You know, my dearest Emma, that there is nothing in this world that I would not do for us to live together, and to have our dear child with us. ... I love, never did love any one else. I never had a dear pledge of love till you gave me one, and you, thank my

“I have done my King and country some service, but as they were ungrateful enough to neglect the request of the virtuous Nelson in providing for me. I do not expect they will do any thing for his child. But if there should be any administrators in at my death who have hearts and feelings, I beg they will provide for Horatio Nelson the child who would have had a father if he had not gone forth, to fight his country’s battles. Therefore he has a claim on them. “This I declare to be my last will and testament, and to do away all other wills. “Signed—EMMA HAMILTON, In the presence of ” (Copyright)