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 DA 87.1.N42M42 
 
 olin 
 
THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
BT THE SAME AUTHOR 
 
 A FORGOTTEN JOHN RUSSELL 
 
'-'7 
 
 
The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924027918782 
 
THE NELSONS 
 
 OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 A RECORD OF A NORFOLK FAMILY 
 COMPILED FROM UNPUBLISHED 
 LETTERS AND NOTEBOOKS 1787- 1842 
 
 ^ ^ BY M. EYRE ^TCHAM ^ ^ 
 WITH A PHOTOGRAVBTRE FRONTISPIECE 
 AND FOURTEEN OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 LONDON : JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD 
 NEW YORK JOHN LANE COMPANY : MCMXI 
 
THE BALLANTVNE PRESS TAVISTOCK STREET COVENT GARDKN LONDON 
 
DEDICATED TO 
 HORATIO THIRD EARL NELSON 
 
 ONE AMONG THOSE WHO STILL 
 
 REMEMBER SOME OF THE 
 
 BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 GENERATION 
 
PREFACE 
 
 CERTAIN winter evenings spent in turning 
 over bundles of old papers ; certain talks 
 with old people about still older genera- 
 tions, with whom they had once touched 
 hands and hearts. Thus the call comes to build up 
 again the picture of past days. 
 
 Grouped round a private memoir of the Reverend 
 Edmund Nelson and his youngest daughter, this record 
 has been compiled almost exclusively from the manu- 
 scripts of one branch only among his descendants. It is 
 therefore from his and their point of view that the rest 
 of the family are seen and their actions commented upon. 
 
 Its publication is due to the suggestion that, in so far 
 as it relates to the distinguished member among them, 
 it supplies a slight link between those works deahng with 
 the public career of Admiral Lord Nelson, and the many 
 sensational memoirs which have focussed so much atten- 
 tion upon one phase only in the last years of his life, 
 somewhat to the exclusion of the less obtrusive family 
 circle and affections, which influenced his character from 
 the first and absorbed so much of his interest to the end. 
 
 One book often makes many ; in the present case many 
 books are the occasion for touching once more upon the 
 same topic, drawn to it by companionship with a long- 
 
 9 
 
10 PREFACE 
 
 lived generation, whose words of early recollections passed 
 on to one a sense of fellowship and understanding with 
 those of whom they told. 
 
 Mr. Nelson had been rector of Burnham Thorpe for 
 thirty years, when his youngest daughter and last home 
 bird took flight, and it is chiefly from letters to her after 
 her marriage that this account is formed. 
 
 " My dear," one of them begins, " As you tell me that 
 every letter of mine is kept a prisoner in the pocket till 
 released by a Successor, it seems full time to dispatch this 
 Act of Grace, which I should recomend to be always 
 followed by a tot all annihilation by Fire, least mischeif 
 might arise from liberty." But against her father's 
 amused advice, Kitty kept and safeguarded them all, 
 and her coloured satin ribbons, dainty as her little self, 
 still tie them into separate packets. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 I. The Nelson Family and Connections 7 
 
 II. BuRNHAM Thorpe and Barton Hall 37 
 
 III. Captain Nelson at Home 52 
 
 IV. The Rector leaves the Parsonage and Catherine 
 
 DESERTS Norfolk 71 
 
 V. War with France — Captain Nelson goes to Sea 96 
 
 VI. The Rector at Bath 117 
 
 VII. St. Vincent — The Admiral Returns Home 
 
 Wounded 139 
 
 VIII. The Nile — Congratulations and Anxieties 159 
 
 IX. Trouble at Home — Copenhagen — Merton Place 
 
 — Death of the Rector 182 
 
 X. Lord Nelson at Merton and at Sea 199 
 
 XI. Lord Nelson's Last Home-Coming 219 
 
 XII. Trafalgar — Death of Lord Nelson — His 
 
 Funeral 237 
 
 XIII. Life at Bath, Ashfold Lodge, and Merton 249 
 
 XIV. Death of Mrs. Bolton — A New Arrival at Ash- 
 fold — Sketch of the Admiral 266 
 
 XV. Life in Paris — Last Days 289 
 
 T T 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Facing 
 Page 
 
 The Rev. Edmund Nelson, m.a., Rector of Burnham 
 
 Thorpe Frontispiece 
 
 Catherine Suckling, Aged i8 24 
 
 From a portrait in the possession of Earl Nelson 
 
 The Late Parsonage of Burnham Thorpe — from Memory 40 
 
 From a sketch in pencil and wash, by H. Crowe, in the possession 
 of Earl Nelson 
 
 Mrs. Catherine Matcham, Daughter of the Rev. Edmund 
 
 Nelson 58 
 
 From miniature at Newhouse 
 
 George Matcham 88 
 
 From miniature at Newhouse 
 
 Susannah Bolton, Mrs* 1755-1813. Aged 58 126 
 
 From a miniature in the possession of Earl Nelson 
 
 Rev. Edmund Nelson. Died 20TH April, 1802 146 
 
 From a photo of a painting, by Sir Wm. Beechey, in the possession 
 of Earl Nelson 
 
 Lady Nelson 160 
 
 From a water-colour drawing by G. P. Harding after Edridge, 
 formerly in possession of E. H. Locker, R.N., Greenwich Hospital 
 (From Mrs. Hilda Gamlin's "Nelson's Friendships" by permission 
 of Hutchinson & Co.) 
 
 Lord Nelson 188 
 
 From a drawing by an unknown Italian artist. Reproduced through 
 the kindness of Mr. A. M. Broadley 
 
 Merton Place in Surrey, the Seat of Admiral Lord 
 
 Nelson—Published 1804 202 
 
 From an Engraving by W. Angus after a drawing by E. H. Locker 
 
 Lady Hamilton as a Sibyl 228 
 
 From an engraving after a painting by Madame Lebrun 
 
 13 
 
14 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Facing 
 Page 
 
 Funeral Ceremony of Lord Nelson. At the Moment 
 WHEN Sir Isaac Heard Garter Principal King at 
 Arms Proclaimed the Style 246' 
 
 From print by R. Ackermann, 1806 
 
 Thomas Bolton, Father of Thomas Bolton, Second 
 
 Earl Nelson 254 
 
 From a miniature in the possession of Earl Nelson 
 
 The First Earl Nelson 262 
 
 From a Lithograph by E. G. Norman 
 
 George Matcham, Junior, ll.d., of Newhouse, Wilts 292 
 
THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 THE NELSON FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 
 
 A NY record of the Nelsons of Bumham Thorpe 
 
 / ^ must be expected to centre round the Admiral, 
 
 / ^ and to owe its interest to his personality. 
 
 But in this sketch no claim is made of adding 
 
 to the fierce light already thrown on his life, save by 
 
 such faint rays as may occur among family references. 
 
 We are therefore not concerned to yield him precedence, 
 
 and the foremost place in these pages is given to the 
 
 Reverend Edmund Nelson. 
 
 No newly strung words could bring Edmund Nelson's 
 character more faithfully before us, than those well-known 
 old ones in which Goldsmith thus introduces his Vicar 
 of Wakefield : 
 
 "The hero of this piece unites in himself the three 
 greatest characters upon earth ; he is a priest, an hus- 
 bandman, and a father of a family. He is drawn as 
 ready to teach, and ready to obey, as simple in affluence, 
 and majestic in adversity. In this age of opulence and 
 refinement, who can such a character please ? Such as 
 are fond of high life will turn with disdain from the 
 simphcity of his country fireside ; such as mistake 
 ribaldry for humour will find no wit in his harmless 
 conversation ; and such as have been taught to deride 
 
 17 A 
 
i8 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 religion will laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort 
 are drawn from futurity." 
 
 The letters of his later years are now used from the 
 wish to show something of a cheerful family circle, their 
 mutual love fostered and encouraged by the widowed 
 father, who made it one of the chief objects of his life 
 to keep his motherless children united and attached. 
 
 His difficulties were great, but his trust in God was 
 greater, and in the consciousness of having done his best, 
 no results could affect his calm. He was neither unduly 
 uplifted by their successes, nor cast down by their failures, 
 and however curtailed his power of material help in their 
 difficulties, his gentle forbearance and affection never 
 failed any of them. 
 
 While each and all of the children went out into the 
 world, their father still stayed on in the old home, with 
 a ready welcome to any one of the wanderers, come when 
 they would. His love they were sure of, though his 
 modesty made light of the entertainment. 
 
 " As to the Society in Me," he writes, " I never mixed 
 with the World eno' at a proper period of Life, to make it 
 entertaining or valuable on any account, except a willing- 
 ness to make my family comfortable when near me and 
 not urunindfull of me when at a distance, and as it has 
 fallen to my Lott to take upon me the care and affection 
 of double parent, they will Herafter excuse where I have 
 fallen short and the task has been too Hard." 
 
 The rector would very likely have refused to acknow- 
 ledge any favouritism among his children, who all owned 
 characters full of different vagaries as could well be, but 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 19 
 
 still it would seem as though there was some especial 
 warmth in his feelings towards "Horace," as he called 
 him, and " Kate " or " Kitty " from the first. To her 
 he writes so constantly and confidentially, and in all these 
 letters where " your Bro' " is mentioned, it is generally 
 Horace, the third brother, and neither of the two elder 
 ones who is intended. The others are distinguished by 
 name, but the brother par excellence has no need of his 
 for recognition. Yet they are aU spoken of affectionately, 
 and indeed it may be said at once, that there is no occasion 
 for cutting out any ill-natured words, which among this 
 correspondence would be looked for in vain, where none 
 exist. 
 
 Delicate health had been Mr. Nelson's lot from early 
 years. His father, the rector of Hilborough, in Norfolk, 
 had been educated at Eton, but Edmund, born in 1722, 
 the second son among eight children, was sent to a 
 private school in the county, before being admitted to 
 Caius College, Cambridge, in 1742. 
 
 On his father's death in 1747, he succeeded him in his 
 livings ; Hilborough, on his mother's presentation, who 
 had received the advowson as a gift from her father, Mr. 
 John Bland, and Sporle from the Provost and Fellows of 
 Eton ; the latter representing some eighty potinds a year, 
 while the profits of Hilborough went to the support of 
 his mother and sisters, who remained there with him. 
 
 In 1749 he made a most happy marriage with Catherine, 
 only daughter of a late Prebendary of Westminster, 
 Maurice Suckling, D.D., also rector of Barsham in Suffolk, 
 and Ann his wife, daughter of Sir Charles Turner, Bart., 
 of Warham, Norfolk. In 1755, Horace, afterwards Lord 
 
20 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Walpole of Wolterton, a great uncle of Mrs. Nelson's, 
 presented her husband to the living of Burnham 
 Thorpe in Norfolk, where, giving up Hilborough and 
 Sporle, they finally settled. Twelve years later, Mrs. 
 Nelson died at the age of forty-two, leaving a nine months 
 old baby and seven older children to her husband's care. 
 Faithful to his wife's memory, he supported that charge 
 alone and courageously. The debt of reUgious teaching 
 which his children owed him was never forgotten by them. 
 " Remember, boys, I leave it to your honour," was the 
 principle on which he brought them up. Respect and 
 affection from them all, was his reward. The second 
 daughter, Ann, died at Bath, to her father's grief, in 
 1783,* and by 1787, the date at which these letters begin, 
 aU the remaining children but one had left the parental 
 roof and taken their various ways in the world. Maurice, 
 the eldest, bom in 1753, had been placed as a clerk in the 
 Navy of&ce, by his uncle. Captain Maurice Suckling, a 
 Comptroller of the Navy, and a true friend to the whole 
 family. At his death in 1778 he left considerable legacies 
 to each of them. Maurice, it would seem, was rather apt 
 to be in debt and difficulties. A genial, unassuming 
 character, he declined, although he was the Admiral's 
 favourite brother, to be placed in the entail of the peerage, 
 pleading his modest position as the reason. But after 
 various disappointments, he struggled into independence, 
 and did good work in a quiet, unostentatious way. 
 
 * " She died at Bath after a nine days' illness in the 21st year of her 
 age ; it was occaisioned by coming out of the ballroom immediately 
 after dancing." Horatio Nelson to William Locker. "Letters and 
 Despatches," vol. i. p. 88. 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 21 
 
 ■ Susanna, bom in 1755, married in 1780 Mr. Thomas Bolton, 
 third son of Samuel Bolton, of Coddenham, Suffolk, and 
 was the mother of four children. After some years spent 
 at WeUs, in Norfolk, Mr. Bolton's affairs had brought the 
 family to Norwich. Susanna's cheerful, affectionate, 
 plucky temperament often appears in what is written of 
 and from her. 
 
 WiUiam, bom 1757, was according to tradition, always 
 credited when a boy with getting "the biggest Norfolk 
 dumpling" for himself. An M.A. of Christ CoUege, 
 Cambridge, he became rector of Little Brandon in 1783, 
 and the following year tried a sea life, as chaplain on 
 board his brother's ship, the Boreas. One voyage to the 
 West Indies was, however> enough, and he was soon back 
 again in England, thereafter living quietly and snugly, 
 while the honours destined to come upon him were being 
 heaped up by the life-toil and blood of his younger 
 brother. Yet William also shows to the best advantage 
 in filial attentions to his old father, and in some pitiful 
 words written by him long afterwards, on the death of his 
 own and only son. In 1783 he had succeeded his uncle, 
 the Rev. Robert Rolfe, at the rectory of Hilborough, and 
 in the autumn of 1786 married Sarah, daughter of the Rev. 
 Henry Yonge, vicar of Great Torrington, Devon. 
 
 The character of Horatio, the third son, bom Sep- 
 tember 29, 1758, is a matter of history, and may be 
 briefly recapitulated in so far as it touches the lives of 
 other members of the family. 
 
 With his brother WiUiam he was educated at the High 
 MM! School, Norwich, and later at North Walsham. ** I well 
 remember where you sat in the schoolroom," writes a 
 
 I ( ( ( 
 lilt 
 
 1 1 1 
 
22 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 schoolfellow in after years. " Your station was against 
 the wall, between the parlour door and the chimney. . . . 
 Nor do I forget that we were under the lash of Classic 
 Jones, as arrant a Welshman as Rees-ap-Griffith, and 
 as keen a fiogger as merciless Busby, of birch-loving 
 memory." * 
 
 The fear of Classic Jones' lash did not deter Horace 
 from stealing his pears. Coming forward to brave a 
 danger which staggered his companions, he was one night 
 lowered by sheets from their dormitory, returning with 
 the prizes, which he handed round without keeping any 
 for himself. " Five guineas was offered next morning to 
 discover the plunderer ; but young Nelson was too much 
 beloved for any boy to betray him." f 
 
 Left motherless at little over nine years old, the delicate, 
 warm-hearted child responded readily to his father's love 
 and confidence. When on a snowy day William and he, 
 having set out for school on their ponies, returned home 
 to report the difficulties of their road, it was the rector 
 who urged them to make another attempt. The matter 
 was to be left to their honour ; if the road was dangerous 
 they might return. The little lads set out again and, bad 
 as the travelling was, the younger stood out sturdily 
 against giving in. "We have no excuse. Remember, 
 brother, it was left to our honour." { 
 
 It was for the purpose of relieving his father's difficulties 
 that, at the age of twelve, he desired to enter the Navy. 
 His uncle. Captain Maurice Suckling, was written to, who 
 
 * Pettigrew's "Nelson," vol. ii. pp. 262-3. 
 •f Clarke and McArthur, vol. i. p. 15. 
 J Ibid. p. 16. 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 23 
 
 cheerfully replied, "What has poor Horatio done, who 
 is so weak, that above all the rest he should be sent to 
 rough it at sea ? But let him come ; and the first time 
 we go into action a cannon-ball may knock off his head 
 and so provide for him." 
 
 So, with his uncle, he made his first short expedition to 
 sea ; after which, to fill up spare time, he was sent to the 
 West Indies in a merchantman, where they taught him 
 good seamanship with a dislike for the Royal Navy. This 
 prejudice was overcome by his ambition and interest in 
 navigation during another year's experience near home, 
 which ended upon his hearing of the North Pole expedition 
 being fitted out. No boys were to be allowed, so nothing 
 would do but he must beg to go coxswain with Captain 
 Lutwidge, who, giving way before the ardour of fifteen 
 years, took him and became from that time a firm friend. 
 After the north he was off to the East Indies, until 
 invahded home. In 1777 he obtained his Lieutenancy, 
 passing the examination in the presence of his uncle. 
 Captain Suckling, who " concealed his relationship from 
 the examiners. When his nephew had recovered from 
 his confusion, his answers were prompt and satisfactory, 
 and indicated the talents he so eminently possessed. 
 They ended in a manner very honourable to him. His 
 uncle then introduced him as his nephew." * 
 
 By 1787, our starting-point, he was in the third year of 
 his command of the Boreas on the Leeward Isles station, 
 engaged in suppressing illegal traffic. It was here that 
 he had Prince WiUiam Henry, as captain of the Pegasus 
 frigate, placed under his command, from which period 
 
 * Clarke and McArthur, vol. i. p. 14. 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 25 
 
 were no excuse for the indulgence of spectacles. Catherine, 
 pretty, petted, lively Kitty, was nineteen years old ; 
 with her little petulances, warm heart, and energetic 
 nature, spending a sheltered life with a father from whom 
 she learnt the highest yet simplest piety, the refining 
 happiness found in a love of nature and study of great 
 writers, a thoroughness and contentment in domestic life, 
 with constant interest in men and things. 
 
 A few yeajs previously, at a time when the state of 
 their father's health made it probable that the child 
 would soon be left homeless, it was her brother Horace 
 who wrote that in such an event he should " immediately 
 come to England and most probably fix in some place 
 that might be most for poor Kitty's advantage. My 
 small income shall always be at her service, and she 
 shall never want a protector and a sincere friend while 
 I exist." * 
 
 Later on, writing again to his brother William of their 
 father's recovery he says, " We have fixed our plans for 
 next winter : you know I mean to come to you. We 
 shall be quite a party. Poor little Kate is learning to 
 ride, that she may be no trouble to us. She is a charming 
 young woman, and possesses a great share of sense." f 
 
 Thus Catherine, though with no mother's guidance, 
 had been cared for and trained in happy thoughts and 
 ways when we meet her in her father's first letter, written 
 in the quietness, solitude, and mid-winter dusk of the 
 little low-roofed Norfolk rectory. We may imagine the 
 parlour or study, prim and carefully kept, and in it sitting 
 
 * " Letters and Despatches," vol. i. p. 90. 
 f Ibid. p. 99. 
 
26 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 alone the rector, sixty-five years old and looking older. 
 Blue eyes, long pale face, heavy under-lip, very fine hair, 
 then nearly come to purest white, hanging in a soft wavy 
 line to his shoulders. He is writing without spectacles 
 in large clear characters to Kitty, who has left home, in 
 country mouse fashion, to stay with their relations, the 
 Scriveners, in the gay town of Bath, and the rectory parlour 
 no doubt looks extra dark without her. 
 
 The stout sheet of paper is dated from Bumham Thorpe, 
 on January i, 1787. 
 
 "Dear Kate. . . . The little ornament you requested 
 is sent this week by the Lynn Dihgence. . . . Till you 
 mentioned it, I did not know it was in my possession, so 
 was putt into a short Fuss about it. I have sent a Spoon, 
 which you will carry to Atkinson and order him to make 
 four more exactly like it, marked as this, and deliver them 
 to you. They were 5s. and 3^. per Spoon. 
 
 " December has visited us in all the pomp and parade 
 of Winter, wind and storm and rattling Hail ; cloathed 
 with frosted robes, powdered with Snow, all trimmed in 
 Guttering Icicles ; no blooming Dowager was ever finer. 
 But she has Figured and is gone, leaving the Throne to 
 ^8j, who begins with modesty and meekness, in a plain 
 rusty Green, with here and there the dead leaf spott. 
 Attended only by gentle weeping Zeph5n:s ; (all Hypo- 
 crysy I doubt). 
 
 " This is the thirty first Xmas I have been att Bumham, 
 and did the Duty of both my parishes on the Sunday and 
 Monday, with the addition of a walk thro ye Snow, and 
 (I thank God) without receiving any Injury. How far 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 27 
 
 Bladud's fountains may claim a merit cannot be known, 
 but in some future day they shaU be revisited. 
 
 '' You wiU not wonder the subject of a letter should turn 
 upon weather, as no other is at Hand, nor so much affects 
 me. I neither see, nor hear, nor know of any body nor 
 anything ; darkness and light to me are alike ; all is 
 Hush at High noon as at Midnight. No matter, I have 
 seen eno' and am perfectly at ease about those matters. 
 
 * ♦ As to the Hilborough family, Mrs. Bolton has and will 
 tell you much more than I can. Unless I am much 
 mistaken the Rector must Be Happy. 
 
 '* Since I began to write I have taken a 2d thought and 
 saved a postage. 
 
 ** The New year wiU I Hope add some Happiness to our 
 
 friends, as well as to yrSelf ; that it may is the Heartfelt 
 
 wish of yrs affectly 
 
 **Edm. Nelson." 
 
 A few years older than her cousin, and of far greater 
 importance in the eyes of the world, was Miss Dorothea 
 Scrivener. The Scriveners of Sibton Abbey, Suffolk,* 
 had lately lost their only son, leaving Dorothea, the sole 
 surviving child, a much-sought-after heiress. Pleasant 
 and good-natured, it is possible that she may also have 
 been a trifle spoilt and self-wiUed, but if so these char- 
 acteristics were shared by her father, a man of some 
 temper, increased by his recent loss, and to whose severity 
 future family disagreements seem to have been due. 
 One can picture the party. Autocratic father, and 
 
 * " John Freston Scrivener of Sibton Abbey, Yoxford, Suffolk. 
 Married Dorothea, daughter of Roger Howman of Norwich. Died 
 1797 aged 6y." Burke's "Landed Gentry." 
 
28 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 amiable mother, the rather worn medium on which any 
 family friction spent itself; and the young heiress, 
 supported by parents and fortune, the centre of attention, 
 with her lively little cousin by her side. 
 
 Their good house and position at Bath commanded 
 the best of whatever was going forward there. The pubhc 
 balls took place on Tuesdays and Fridays, opening at 
 six o'clock with minuets, now dechning in favour and 
 doomed to go out of fashion at the end of the century. 
 Nervous proceedings for the debutantes, in which the 
 single couple who performed at a time had to step forward 
 by precedence of rank before a room full of critical 
 spectators, and exhibit their steps to the same air, 
 repeated over and over again. 
 
 Though still carried on, these public balls and assemblies 
 had somewhat changed their character since the days of 
 Beau Nash, there being far more residents, and at the 
 same time less of fashion among the crowd of fleeting 
 visitors, so that the more select had grown to prefer 
 private receptions in consequence. This change and the 
 perceptible deterioration from the stately old manners 
 may have been partly due to the arrival of mailcoaches 
 upon the scene, first started by John Palmer in 1784. 
 Bath had consequently become far more accessible, the 
 hundred odd miles between it and London being traversed 
 in fourteen hours, against the three days' journey of the 
 stagecoaches. 
 
 Among other amusements was the theatre, which owed 
 its excellence to the same John Palmer of the mail- 
 coaches, a brewer and chandler, and later on M.P. for 
 Bath. Through him and at the Bath theatre, Mrs. Siddons 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 29 
 
 had made her first successes, and attracted public notice 
 to her genius, which had previously been so depreciated 
 by Garrick at Drury Lane. Bath gave a different verdict. 
 " There," she writes in her Memoranda, " my talents and 
 industry were encouraged by the greatest indulgence ...";* 
 and she left the Bath stage in 1782, only to complete her 
 triumph at Drury Lane, which had formerly rejected 
 her services. 
 
 The Bath theatre was destined to keep up its 
 reputation for many years to come, and "The judg- 
 ment of a Bath audience," writes Macready, "was 
 regarded as a pretty sure presage of the decision of the 
 metropolis." f 
 
 Besides the theatre, cards also held their dominion, 
 and play ran high, even to tragedy sometimes, for it was 
 near about this time that the story is told of one gambler 
 pinning his adversary's hand to the table with a fork, 
 and the cool remark, " Sir, if you have not a card hidden 
 under that hand, I apologise." J 
 
 But, save for being the gossip of the times, such doings 
 have nothing in touch with our demure pair, from whose 
 point of view it appears more as the place of which 
 Johnson had written to Mrs. Thrale, " Bath is a good place 
 for the initiation of a young lady. She can neither 
 become neghgent for want of observers, nor by the 
 imagination that she is concealed in the crowd, as in 
 London." § 
 
 * Campbell's " Life of Mrs. Siddons," pp. 80-81. 
 f " Reminiscences," vol. i. p. 91. 
 J " Bath Anecdotes and Characters," pp. 42-43- 
 § " Letters," ed. Birkbeck Hill, vol. ii. p. 160. 
 
30 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 No very uncommon results to their winter campaign 
 awaited the two cousins. Both made happy marriages, 
 although for Dorothea the path was at first far from 
 smooth, and spring found the heiress and her father in 
 hot disagreement over her future prospects. 
 
 Mr. Scrivener urged his own views as to his daughter's 
 disposal, which fitted in advantageously with fortune and 
 estates. Her fancy had meanwhile been caught by a 
 young clerical admirer, and disregarding her parent's 
 wishes, she insisted upon encouraging the addresses of the 
 Rev. John Fisher, a Canon of Windsor, who was at 
 different dates tutor to Edward, Duke of Kent, and the 
 Princess Charlotte of Wales, and destined eventually to 
 become Bishop of Salisbury. 
 
 " Gentle Mr. Fisher," as Miss Fanny Bumey calls him, 
 was, so she tells us, "in very high and very deserved 
 favour with all the Royal family." No wonder at such a 
 courtier proving attractive. Dorothea stuck to her lover, 
 and future years justified her choice. 
 
 Catherine's affairs meanwhile were making more rapid 
 progress, and the happiness which her father had wished 
 her at the beginning of the New Year was both near and 
 lasting. 
 
 At EnfieM, near Bath, had lately settled the widow and 
 only son of Simon Matcham, late Superintendent of the 
 Marine of the East India Company, and senior member of 
 the Council of Bombay, who had died in India some ten 
 years previously, leaving a good fortune to his family, 
 and, so adds his will, " All my slaves without exception 
 to be free. ..." Elizabeth, his widow, a daughter of Hugh 
 Bidwell, a merchant of Bombay ; whose miniature, together 
 
 .-^B- 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 31 
 
 with her beautiful collection of Oriental embroideries, 
 china, &c., are suggestive of a comfortable old lady, of 
 good taste and liberal expenditure ; thereupon returned 
 to England, and made her home at Charlton Place, 
 near Canterbury. 
 
 George, their son, bom 1753, is named in the "Dictionary 
 of National Biography *' as "a Traveller," and his claim 
 to this distinction being founded long before he came 
 among the Nelsons, a few pages are here devoted to his 
 early years ; for it would be unfair to them as to himself 
 to give no account of the man who became so substantial 
 a help and friend to the family.* 
 
 His travels had begun in early childhood, when he was 
 sent away from Bombay to Charterhouse School in 
 London. He was an only surviving child, an elder 
 brother having been kiUed by some accident in boyish 
 play. There are still in existence a pair of finely painted 
 
 * "Matcham, George (1753-1 833) traveller, son of Simon Matcham, 
 superintendent of the marine of the East India Company, and senior 
 member in council of the presidency of Bombay . . . educated at 
 Charterhouse School. Entering the civil service of the East India 
 Company, he subsequently became their resident at Baroche. On its 
 cession to the Mahrattas in 1783 Matcham retired from the service. 
 He had already travelled much in the East and now made his way to 
 England by an overland route, much of which he had previously 
 explored- . . . He kept journals of his travels, and an account of a journey 
 from Aleppo to Bagdad was published with the second edition of James 
 Capper's " Observations on the Passage to India," 1784, and bound up 
 with Eyles Irwin's " Voyage up the Red Sea." During his tour he 
 became acquainted with many persons of note, including the Emperor 
 Joseph II. In 1785 he finally settled in England, where he devoted 
 himself to the pursuits of a country gentleman. In 1802 he patented 
 an apparatus for preserving vessels in danger of shipwreck and made 
 several communications to the government on various public improve- 
 ments. ..." "Dictionary of National Biography." 
 
32 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Indian miniatures, showing two pasty-faced boys with 
 close-cropped hair and precocious dress of velvet coat, 
 laced waistcoat, frills and velvet ribbon, each set in gold 
 with a rim of pale Indian rubies. 
 
 George's guardian was Mr. Henry Savage,* a director 
 of the E.I.C., and the proofs of lasting regard between 
 the two are not wanting. Mr. Savage's portrait, with 
 horse and groom, still hangs near that of his favourite 
 ward, to whom, together with a large diamond ring, it 
 was bequeathed at his death. At the end of his school- 
 dajrs young George Matcham entered the civil service of 
 the E.I.C. and became their resident at Baroche. The 
 misery of the people, and the waste of fine agricultural 
 land, together with ambitious plans for both country and 
 Company, fill his journals during adventurous expeditions. 
 In 1777, his widowed mother having sailed for England, 
 he took the overland route to join her, not without 
 danger, for he was ill at the time, and two of his friends 
 consulted a doctor as to the wisdom of such a rough 
 
 * " Heniy Savage, Director E.I.C. 1754, after twenty -four years' resi- 
 dence in India, where he was employed in several very critical and 
 important trusts. Of a commanding address, open and direct, with 
 clear sound understanding and unblemished integrity. When Chief 
 of the Company's Factory in Persia, he was present at the triumphal 
 entry of the tyrant Kouli Khan into Ispahan, fraught with all the 
 riches of the Mogul empire, which he had just conquered. 
 
 "When the guards demanded Mr. Savage's sword, he peremptorily 
 refused to deliver it, and every moment expected an order for his 
 head. ' His Highness,' he said, ' might command his life, but he was 
 entrusted with the honour of his country, which nothing should force 
 him to surrender.' He was at length graciously received. When 
 Chief at Gombroon, he defended his Factory from the plunder of the 
 Persian troops, and in every enterprize in which he was engaged, he 
 did honour to the character he bore." From the Gentleman's Magazine, 
 April 1783. Obituary. 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 33 
 
 expedition. The doctor thought so badly of his state, 
 as to be no matter if he went or not. After many hard- 
 ships he arrived safely in Europe, describing himself on 
 the journey as "compelled to ride on untam'd horses 
 at the rate of sixty or seventy miles a day, sometimes 
 exposed to a burning sun, sometimes to the cutting air 
 of the mountains, and often obliged to sleep in the 
 open air." During this time he lived entirely upon 
 mare's milk, and slept on a little Persian carpet still 
 kept as a memento. His damaged lung healed in 
 the course of his travels, though to the end of a 
 long and healthy life he declared a portion of it was 
 gone. After his death an examination was made at 
 his special request and this found to be actually the 
 case. 
 
 From Egypt he writes to his old schoolfellow and life- 
 long friend, Charles Warre Malet, then beginning a 
 distinguished career in the Indian Civil Service: "The 
 wretched Egyptians are sadly oppressed by an aristocracy, 
 and as there is no security in the Government, it is poor 
 as to adventitious wealth, tho' rich in its native fertility. 
 . . . Our amusements were visiting the country merchants 
 . . . taking our airing in the day upon Jackasses, horses 
 being prohibited to Christians not travelling. . . . From 
 Cairo we went down the hill to Alexandria. . . . The 
 old walls are stiU remaining, flanked by towers, a noble 
 monument of antiquity. The reservoirs of water which 
 the canal supplied occupied as much space below as the 
 cits did above. . . . The beautiful and lofty column of 
 Pompey, the obelisks, the massy fragments of granite 
 porphjnry, and other marble with which the ground is 
 
34 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 everywhere covered, occasions a melancholy reflection of 
 what this city once was and what it now is. We cannot 
 sufficiently regret these despicable tyrants chacing away 
 from this happy country the arts, sciences, and commerce ; 
 for what it still retains of the latter may be compared 
 to the sweeping of a great warehouse, their merchants 
 could not even raise money enough to purchase the 
 Italian cargoes. ..." 
 
 From Egypt he dawdled home through Europe, 
 studying the height of civilisation in contrast to the East, 
 until at last, reaching England, he found his mother in 
 her country home. 
 
 Much of his holiday was spent in exploring England 
 and Ireland, and a few little sketches, etched in Indian 
 style for his mother's amusement, stiU remain, of Castle 
 Armstrong, the home of their Irish cousins,* with its 
 " chained ivy piUar," old castle and modem house. 
 
 Among the many letters he wrote to old friends in 
 India during this time is one in which there occurs the 
 following passage : "If the bulk of our fortune should 
 come home safe, I mean to buy an estate jointly with 
 my mother. I shaU then marry and have three principal 
 sources of amusement ; my wife, farming and hunting. 
 If our fortune should not be happily remitted, I must 
 again betake myself to Bombay,'* and this he was for a 
 time forced to do, a letter to his mother being dated 
 from Brussels in September 1780 on his way back to India. 
 
 * Andrew Armstrong, Captain E.I.C.S. ; of Castle Armstrong, 
 King's Co.: High Sheriff 1777. Married Mary, relict of George Scott, 
 Governor of Bengal, and daughter of Hugh Bidwell, merchant of 
 Bombay. 
 
THE FAMILY AND CONNECTIONS 35 
 
 " It must be our first thought to help our poorer 
 relations," he had previously told her, and now begs she 
 will make her home a " house of family peace, where all 
 our relations may meet each other, heal their little 
 differences and renew their affection. My dear Mother 
 do not say it is troublesome. Take a housekeeper you can 
 depend upon . . . and considering how you avoid all 
 publick diversions there can be no excuse for the greatest 
 abundance not being in your house. . . . My dear Madam. 
 ... I should be miserable if I thought your house was not 
 the pleasant country retreat of our relations. ... I shall 
 certainly not remain two years in India without some 
 considerable employment. ... I preserve my health, 
 am perfectly reconciled to returning and feel myself 
 quite happy. ..." 
 
 Again he enjoyed a leisurely route through Europe, 
 spending some weeks at Venice before joining the large 
 party with which he once more crossed the desert. An 
 account of this expedition was published by its organiser, 
 Mr. Eyles Irwin, the author and philanthropist of whom 
 it was said that " he never lost a friend or made an 
 enemy." 
 
 He retired from Baroche when that station was ceded 
 to the Mahrattas about 1783, and a later journal tells 
 of a final and more risky return journey to Europe in 
 1785. His ideas of an ample fortune, being now quite 
 satisfied, no offers of further employment or prospects 
 of greater wealth could tempt him out again. For the 
 time being he had had enough knocking about. " In 
 his travels," writes his son, " he had visited Persia, 
 
36 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Arabia, Egypt, Asia Minor, Turkey, Greece, the Greek 
 Islands (in the examination of which he passed several 
 months, having hired a vessel for that purpose), Hungary, 
 and almost all the countries and courts included in the 
 usual continental tour. Attended only by an Arab 
 suite, he performed a journey on horseback from Bagdad 
 to Pera . . . and traversing the wild regions of the 
 Kurds, he had an opportunity of verifying the account 
 of the lawless habits of the Carducci, their ancestors 
 (from whom they little differ), in Xenophon's narrative 
 of his Retreat." 
 
 The winter of 1786-7 found George settled with his 
 mother at Enfield, near Bath, and here, among the social 
 festivities of that gay neighbourhood, he met Catherine 
 Nelson. Family tradition says that he was desired by 
 mutual friends to attend a Bath ball, in order to meet 
 Miss Scrivener. He went accordingly ; only to fall in 
 love at first sight with her cousin and visitor. Kitty 
 proved equally susceptible, and two months later they 
 were married at Bath by her father the Rev. Edmund 
 Nelson. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 
 
 LONG years afterwards, Mr. Nelson still spoke 
 of Catherine's loss as "a wound," yet their 
 J separation came gently upon him, while his 
 gain in the affection and help of a son was 
 immediate and lifelong. Homely, peaceful Burnham 
 Thorpe was a magnet not long to be resisted by any of 
 the family, though its placid master made no grievance 
 of being sometimes left to the society of his two facto- 
 tums, " Will " indoors, and " Peter " without, described 
 by him as " the Aid de Camp, Peter Black, poor, forlorn; 
 tho' as wise as ever." The snug, little deep-roofed 
 house saw many family meetings. Here the young 
 couple, in intervals between other visits, spent their 
 first summer together. 
 
 Of course the place was found to need vast landscape 
 gardening improvements. " G.M." (the abbreviation 
 is adopted from his father-in-law's whim of using it) 
 at once set to work. Clearing and planting became 
 the order of the day, and even the stream running bright 
 and swiftly by the Rectory grounds must be coerced 
 into an altered course. His first visit is followed by a 
 message from Mr. Nelson that, '' Myself and Peter as 
 under Artists in Improvements, must have another lesson 
 from ' Capability M.' * before we can make a finish. 
 
 * " Capability Brown." The landscape gardener, celebrated for his 
 shrubberies. 
 
 37 
 
38 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " My Hind is reducing the Caos into order, which you 
 was pleased to make up (my dear Pair) with Boughs, 
 and broken trees, Stumps, Mould, Stones, &c." is an 
 autumn reproach, made after they had abandoned the 
 " nursery at Thorpe " to the care of Peter ; but in the 
 following spring he admits to some satisfaction, " Mr. 
 M.'s Improvments (truly so I think) put forth some of 
 their Infant charms. . . . His enquiries after this 
 place is a Rebuke I feell, as it touches a Sore, not to be 
 healed by a Balm of Giliad, but from Ophir." The 
 Rector's own labours were limited. Roses he knew 
 something of, however, sending gifts to lady friends of 
 promising plants and " slifts," with old-faishioned names, 
 " Burgundy rose plants, a cluster rose, a Hundred leaf 
 rose, moss roses and rose de Meaux." 
 
 Indeed, he loved, watched over and reported everj^hing. 
 
 " My Dear G.M.," he writes in March 1788, " Your 
 questions are of too much importance to be answered 
 in the postscript of any letter ; therfore must beg leave 
 to satisfy your patemall Enquiries so as to set you at 
 ease respecting the nursery at Thorpe. Suckhng " 
 (Suckling was then idling at home), " as other travellers, 
 willing to say something without any knowledge, could 
 not report farther then that the winds and floods had 
 carried nothing away. Nature, undisturbed, only begins 
 to rear her Head, and, as the Sleeping Venus, shows an 
 Inclination to get up. But where she has been so roughly 
 treated by the indelicate hand of a Peter ; breaking in 
 upon Her retirements, at the Moment she was undressing 
 for a Winter Night ; tearing away Her cloathing ; carry- 
 
BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 39 
 
 ing Her like an unfeeling Assassin to a cold, inhospitable 
 clime ; no kind friend at Hand to afford shelter, or 
 nourishment, the worst is to be expected. She is ashamed 
 to come forth. Half naked, in tattered cloathes, exposed 
 to the redicule of every dirty Boy, and therefor much 
 I fear will die in obscurity. However as yet do not 
 despair. The Beech seems to make slow efforts, and 
 may perhaps be tempted to come forward. The Scotch 
 are too sullen, silent and obstinate to afford their aid 
 where every pert Englishman shall call them. The 
 Aquatics will I believe Emerge. The Primrose, violets &c. 
 are forward Lasses and regard not who pluck Them. ..." 
 
 While these gardening operations were in progress, 
 Catherine in the meantime had been settled in her first 
 married home. Barton Hall, near Norwich, rented from 
 the Prestons.* 
 
 In May 1787, the Rector wrote to his daughter con- 
 gratulating her on having a house " compleatly furnished; 
 which keeps clear of all Hurry and Bustle of fitting up 
 so large a place. I am the only loser as Mr. M.'s polite 
 attention to me, and tender regard for you must have 
 secured him so much of my esteem and affection as to 
 regrett a separation. Tell him his mare is safe, tho under 
 the confinement of a small clog. Peter is Lazy, and the 
 Improvment goes slow. The wind is very cold, and I 
 repell its influence with a pudding battery. ..." 
 
 Kitty had just been making friends with her new sister- 
 in-law, Mrs. William Nelson, and in the same letter old 
 
 * The Prestons of Beeston St. Lawrence and Barton Hall, Norfolk, 
 Raised to the baronetage, 1815. 
 
40 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Mr. Nelson says : " The meeting gave a pleasant oppor- 
 tunity of . . . forming a friendship on a firm Basis ; 
 tho' (as you observed) you have only one Sister as to 
 consanguinity, yet I must think the near connection of 
 a Brother's wife is entitled to the same regard as Her 
 Husband, considering how their interests, their happiness 
 are blended together, that one cannot suffer without the 
 other. Every twig adds strength to the faggot and 
 encreases the difficulty of breaking it. 
 
 " Dorothea's intended Match does not at present 
 strike me in any other view than of her being disposed 
 of, with a small fortune. . . . Few ladies with Large 
 Estates and Good Hopes made a junction with the 
 Church. ..." 
 
 Catherine's journal of these days is a record of content- 
 ment. Both at Burnham and Barton they read, rode, 
 studied, and gardened to their heart's satisfaction. Rela- 
 tions and neighbours flowed in and out in a constant 
 stream of genial intercourse. Nelsons, Boltons, their 
 cousins Rolfe, children of Mr. Nelson's sister Alice, who 
 had married the Rev. Robert Rolfe, the former Rector 
 of Hilborough, where the William Nelsons now presided. 
 Then there was Kitty's godfather. Dr. Charles Pointz, 
 Parson of North Creake, a Canon of Windsor and after- 
 wards Prebendary of Durham. Their nearest neighbours 
 were the Crowes, at the " Hall," and Sir Mordaunt Martin, 
 Bart., of " a very ancient and Knightly family," who 
 had been Marshal of the Vice- Admiralty court in Jamaica, 
 and having married Miss Everilda Dorothea Smith, 
 daughter of a former Rector of Burnham, was now 
 
t 
 <; 
 
 V 
 
 ^ 
 
 ~=v 
 
BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 41 
 
 settled down in the parish, with a family of one son, 
 Roger, and seven daughters. Sir Mordaunt was a great 
 agriculturist, full of the newest methods and schemes; 
 to which that part of Norfolk was then awakening under 
 the master teaching of the great " Coke of Norfolk." 
 The loves and marriages of these various " Crowes and 
 Martins " gave vast interest to the Rector's party. 
 
 Visits were paid in Kitty's own phaeton, or " the 
 chariot," and letters are chronicled from " Brother 
 Horace," who in July was arriving at Portsmouth with his 
 bride. 
 
 The Rectory improvements carried on with unabated 
 zeal produce entries such as the following : " Aug. 6th 
 Began to turn Thorpe Stream. 7th Do. 8th Do. 9th. Do. 
 loth Finished in the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton 
 arrived in the afternoon." The finish, of course, being 
 hurried on for exhibition to the visitors. On September 
 8 they " Planted the Lay locks and dug the Ha ! Ha ! " 
 and five days later drove off to take possession of Barton 
 Hall. Open housekeeping began early, the Boltons 
 arriving the same day, their daughters Susannah and 
 Kate, with one of the Rolfe cousins, following soon after. 
 
 Here the chronicles are much the same, the neighbours 
 only changed to the " Aufreres," " Prestons of Beeston " 
 (their landlords), " Parson Gunn," and " Durrants of 
 Scottowe,"* with all of whom morning calls and tea- 
 drinking are interchanged. Friends stayed with them, 
 
 * Sir Thomas Durrant of Scottow Hall, Norfolk ; ist Baronet 
 created 1784. Married Susannah, daughter of Hambleton Custance 
 of Weston, High Sheriff of Norfolk, 1753. Died 1790. Succeeded 
 by his son, Thomas, 2nd Baronet. 
 
42 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Pembertons and Days among the names, while Mr. 
 Bolton, the sportsman of the family, would come over 
 from Norwich to shoot partridges and fish in " the Broad." 
 September 29 is marked " Brother Horace's birthday 
 . . . gave the Servants a bowl of punch." 
 
 Barton Hall is a handsome house, its pleasant park 
 sloping gently down to Barton Broad below, with distant 
 view of windmill and church steeple, the nearer and 
 lowest point enlivened with chocolate sails belonging 
 to the lazy little boats which creep about in its winding 
 channels. Standing by the wicket which opens at the 
 bottom of the field, it is easy to imagine the cheerful 
 companies, full of youth and good spirits, strolling on 
 warm evenings down the pathway and out upon the strip 
 of bordering common, with its many domestic beasts 
 and wild birds, their party the happier on those red- 
 letter days, when the favourite sailor brother had ridden 
 over from Bumham to join them on a welcome visit. 
 
 Their housekeeping affairs afforded the Rector much 
 interest. At Burnham he has " a Schooll of Semp- 
 stresses, old and young, making your Household linnen." 
 Catherine is to take advice from her Mother-in-law 
 " both as to dress and the stile you ought and can afford 
 to appear in. . . . Indeed your introduction is attended 
 with circumstances peculiarly fortunate. . . . Mrs. 
 Aufrere's offer was very pleasing as the notice of one 
 family of fashion at once introduces you properly. . . . 
 Conversation added to reading will be as Handmaids 
 to distinguished judgement and good understanding." 
 In spite of all changes, Catherine is " not altered I know 
 in any of those Virtues, whether sociall moral or religious, 
 
BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 43 
 
 ivhich endeared you to me, or recommended you to the 
 Few of the world which could be called even acquaint- 
 
 ances." 
 
 To G.M. he writes, " You are now in the vicinity of 
 literary plenty. . . . One thing is certain, your Amuse- 
 ments are in the compass of your own mind, which has 
 at home a Treasure not to be exhausted, tho it can 
 expand at pleasure over the Globe. Plant roses for 
 Sir T. D[urrant ?] if it pleases you, why not ? Ride, 
 walk, chatt, laugh at the foUies of an unthinking, un- 
 informed Many. . . . Monday being the day which 
 is dedicated by me to form a plan of some Information 
 to my poor. Honest (I hope) Ignorant too much so. 
 Neighbours, for the next Sunday, and having already 
 wrote letters to Mrs. Fisher and her Father, you will 
 excuse this Scrap only. ..." 
 
 Another time he rebels, and asks on a Sunday evening 
 how his " Dear G. and Kate Can with reason suppose 
 that my Hermit's ceU will furnish a HebdomidaU letter 
 when Barton Hall has not Materialls for such a work ? 
 Perhaps your Ideas are too enlarged to shrink into so 
 narrow a Compass, and your Mentall powers equall to 
 poetick flights, and disdain to tread the plain Homespun 
 , tract of prosaick chatt. You are travelling over the 
 Globe, on either side a shining light, mounted high on 
 pedestaUs of precious Met all. I see all things thro a 
 Mist, dispelled a little by a thin, small yallow Taper. 
 When the mind's eye is dark, it can now in me no longer 
 be relumined by a Johnson, Pope or Cooper. Under 
 these disadvantages you are to expect Little and receive 
 
44 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Less. Variety, the Great IdoU, has no shrine here. 
 Semper Eadem the motto on your new erected arch. . . . 
 But the fair paper disdains more of this uninforming, 
 disenteresting stuff. Take then the fresh inteUigence 
 of a few preceding days. 
 
 " I have received a letter from Mr. S[crivener ?] too 
 pathetick to be read without concern, and too confi- 
 dential! to be transcribed. . . . The house at Bath 
 will be Sold, and the resolution is to go into Switzerland. 
 ' How does Dear Titsy and Matcham ? Honest Soul ! ' 
 are his words respecting you. 
 
 " Poor Horace's Situation is unpleasant upon the 
 Impress Service. If there is a war ; which must be, 
 unless these vigorous Measures should make the Monsieurs 
 shake and relent ; He certainly will be employed, and 
 to the Tender passions you are no Stranger, passions 
 rooted and Twined into his constitution. ..." 
 
 Captain Nelson had returned with his bride to England 
 in the previous July, but was kept busy impressing 
 seamen until the Boreas was paid off on November 30.* 
 Throughout his whole youth and the uneventful years 
 on shore which now followed, the family confidence in 
 Horace's capabilities and talents never flagged. On one 
 occasion before he rose to greatness, some early action 
 of his which had found its way into the newspaper, was 
 read out to Catherine by her husband, who amused him- 
 
 * Mahan, "The Life of Nelson" (p. 66). "Here we are," wrote 
 Nelson on September 23, " lying seven miles from the land on the 
 Impress service, and I am as much separated from my wife;, as if I 
 were in the East Indies." 
 
BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 45 
 
 self by substituting another name for that given. But 
 he could not take her in. "I know that was my brother," 
 was the conclusive comment with which she received it. 
 
 The Rector at once welcomed his daughter-in-law as 
 a correspondent ; though it seems almost prophetic that the 
 poor woman's first letter reported by him is marked by 
 the note of complaint, which so often jarred on the 
 family nerves throughout their intercourse. How much 
 of it, with or without reason, her father-in-law had to 
 listen to in future years is sad to think of. These two 
 were much together, and he always spoke warmly of 
 her kindness to him, calling her gentle and considerate, 
 yet somehow their mutual arrangements seem to have 
 generally been an adaptation of his convenience to her 
 wishes. 
 
 In September Catherine is told to congratulate the 
 William Nelsons at Hilborough on the birth of a daughter ; * 
 and a more frequent correspondence is urged upon her 
 " for the encouragement of Morall entertainment, or at 
 least for the increase of the Revenue, Now, especially 
 needfuU on the Eve of a War. So portends my Daughter 
 F.N. whom I have just now heard of. She has been 
 unwell and in poor spirits. Hard, she says, is the Lot 
 of a Sailor's wife. Eleven Hundred men were pressed 
 last night, Fryday. But Horace is well. How happy 
 you, my Dear Children, with ease and affluence. Not- 
 withstanding what the ' Lounger ' sais of a Good Neigh- 
 bourhood, which might be signed G.M. yet I am not 
 sorry that you can see a rational! Being . . . from 
 
 * Charlotte. Married Viscount Bridport, and became Duchess of 
 Bronte in her own right. 
 
46 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 whom information may be had, and a kind of garnish it 
 is to Domestick Feasts. 
 
 "China pottage is cheap and Harmless, provided it is 
 not a prelude to Dogs, Guns, Great Dinners, claret and 
 champaign. These Toils your cautious wisdom will 
 foresee and your Gentle manner avoid with politeness 
 . . . past 9 oclock, Will gives the Signall for Bed. ..." 
 
 Later in the same month he writes : 
 
 " By Mrs. Fisher's stay at Barton (tho only a day) 
 still the Sparks of friendship were fanned, which by new 
 connections and fresh Incidents might be gradually 
 extinguished. I think from her good principles, her 
 acquaintance is worth preserving, tho' she may have her 
 errors in judgement. I wish it is not proved by this step. 
 
 " Publick tranquility is restored, and the reigning 
 Lord of Barton Hall rejoices, and Bombays gold is in 
 safty, whether in England or upon the Seas. . . . The 
 Boreas will soon be discharged, and I flatter myself 
 that there will be many Happy and chearfull meetings, 
 where all will be Harmony and love. . . . Sunday 
 Evening. Half past Seven. My Domesticks All in 
 Bed, Will excepted. 
 
 ** Oct : 7th. . . . My correspondent from the Nore 
 sais that the Boreas is ordered to be ready ; for what 
 service the Captain knows not, but supposes no long 
 service ; and if as he suspects, he should get into Yar- 
 mouth Roads, he shall ask of you a visit with your Kate. 
 This will be pleasing to all parties. Thank God I have 
 his assurance he is in perfect health, and fitt to go any- 
 where upon any Duty. 
 
BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 47 
 
 "... When you Hear the Trumpet sound for War, 
 order the Cook to Curtaill a Dish, and the Mogull to 
 slacken the Joram in its circulation. The Bank is strong ; 
 it may be shaken. . . . 
 
 " . . . O ! that yr ink was black as Sin, or my Eyes 
 as good yours." 
 
 Many little charities and kind thoughts peep out in 
 the intercourse between these three, who are in "as 
 perfect harmony as three persons can be." " My wishes 
 may expand ; my powers very contracted," laments 
 the Rector, when joining in help to the widow and orphans 
 of a brother priest. " I have offered it as from a Gentle- 
 man, tho I think a man in these respects might with 
 pharasaicall pomp let his light shine forth ; though not 
 an age of darkness, yet as much learning is employed in 
 obscuring as elucidating the Truth. ..." 
 
 In the same letter he comments on the Walpoles of 
 Wolterton : 
 
 " I could wish you had seen your titled relations when 
 at Scottow. Their manner bears no mark of dignity 
 and you would both have been pleased. 
 
 "Nothing has this week been dropt into my Lion's 
 mouth, except a letter from Cavendish Square. My 
 very polite Correspondent * from thence seems to think 
 it will not be many weeks before she visits these Arcadian 
 Scenes : Rivers represented by a Puddle, Mountains by 
 Anthills, Woods by Bramble bushes ; yet all in Taste, if 
 not hid by snow. Forbid it Fate. Let the bright Genius 
 
 Mrs. H. Nelson. 
 
48 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 of the Place smile on his own creations, and conduct 
 the Fair one to the Sweet Alcove. On my return from 
 Hilborough which will be on Thursday, fresh matters 
 may arise. Now Adieu. Remember G.M. the cultiva- 
 tion, little it ever tract of my soil, is wearing out apace, 
 and if it produce no weeds tis well, and eno remains to 
 
 love and esteem the good, in 
 
 " Edm. Nelson." 
 
 Two days later his attention is directed to Catherine's 
 progress after six weeks' housekeeping, advising " Caution 
 in issuing orders and firmness in the execution of them. 
 . . . Whilst you address those who have contracted 
 themselves to Serve with Gentleness and perfect good 
 humour in one hand, hold fast Authority in the other. 
 Amongst your friends be innocently young, gay, sociall, 
 but in your family concerns add some years to your brow. 
 . . . Let your husband be your Privy Council, your 
 Lord Chancellor, and rarly, very rarly make others 
 acquainted with the springs ef your intemall family 
 Police ; much less ever make it a subject of conversation 
 in company. A tedious Hour I have often spent in hearing 
 harangues of this sort as ' How were butter and eggs etc., 
 last Market day ? ' Information of that kind you will 
 always get from the wish of theirs to pubHsh their extra- 
 ordinary talents in the domestic line. Feel yourself 
 above it, except in time and place, there pay very strict 
 attention to it, duty demands it. . . . You are both too 
 well disposed to over look advice of this sort, tho it 
 comes inaccurate and from Grey Hairs. E.R. is with 
 you, she is cheerfull and pleasant, but as a Seive ; 
 Beware." 
 
BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 49 
 
 His own filial attentions to his old mother, aged eighty- 
 nine, were no less than those he himself received. She 
 was then, he reports, in health, with all her faculties as 
 strong as ever. " The little woman is recovering fast, 
 and in good spirits. She looks forward with pleasure 
 when she comes to Burnham. . . . 
 
 " All expectation of Mrs. F. H. N. are for the present 
 laid aside. Yr Bro's uncertainties daily seem to in- 
 crease. 
 
 " It looks as if the principal Engineer would lose the 
 aid of a much esteemed officer. Thomas Seaman has 
 engaged himself, who would have thought it ! in a 
 Matrimoniall contract. But Marriage is Honorable at 
 all Ages. 
 
 " Your's and G.M.'s I am affectionately 
 
 " Edm. Nelson." 
 
 The " nothing to say " excuse of all ages evidently 
 clings to Catherine's side of the correspondence. Mild 
 remonstrances follow, coupled sometimes with charges 
 of inaccuracy. 
 
 " As in yours of the 21st nothing was said," he writes, 
 " why the answer is made without much stretch of 
 thought in reply." 
 
 He had had an interview with Dorothea's husband, 
 3anon Fisher, "short, formall and afforded but little 
 'o either party that meritts reflection, or is likely to 
 contribute to any beneficiall arrangement of your 
 ime, conduct, or management as Wives. One thing is 
 lomwhat extraordinary that has already happened, — 
 It. James' chapell is removed to Windsor, where you 
 
 c 
 
50 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 say, it must be attended. So it ought, after so tedious 
 a journey ! 
 
 " I had the other day a letter from Mrs. S — (crivene)r, 
 wrote without the Esq. knowledge. Wrote in no good 
 spirits and worded cautiously. Good woman, in her 
 paths there has been little peace, and in the ways that her 
 Lot has been to walk thro, pleasures are few, and in this 
 Cup where a full draught of Sweet was expected, there 
 seems too large a portion of the Acid drops. 
 
 " This day has been very unfavourable to the clericall 
 choir. I must have shared the fate of many a worthy 
 brother, if my friend Sussex had not stoutly resisted the 
 incessant attacks of the pluvialist. Weather is one of 
 those excuses which is pleaded by those who prefer an 
 idle Lounge to Xtian Duty. Nay, pagans in this may 
 make a pretended believer Blush. Their temples are 
 crowded whilst ours are cold and empty. ... I appre- 
 hend your visitors and visiting will clash, and G. will 
 find that where good entertainment is, there Society will 
 not be slack. The rich have Many friends, and by their 
 Goodness often become poor. I am called upon to 
 conclude. . . . The Mare getts forward." 
 
 December brought the young couple over from Barton 
 where the mists threatened them with being " arrested 
 by the bailiff of Marshland " ; the old Norfolk saying for 
 the fevers and agues to which newcomers were subject 
 in the fenny parts of the country. They are desired to 
 arrive in time to dine with the old Rector " at 4 o'clock 
 on Dec. 4th. . . . Who can be So Lazy as not to gett 
 from Norwich by that hour with post Horses ? ... If 
 
BURNHAM THORPE AND BARTON HALL 51 
 
 the carriage comes and not the horses, take the harness. 
 Perhaps two Annimalls may be taken from the plow 
 into the exalted state of drawing in a Chariot. 
 
 All this is signed by Edmund Nelson. 
 
 Mrs. M. is requested to write, or according to the 
 example above — make some marks as an apology of 
 Letters." 
 
 It 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 
 
 THE years 1788-9, as we piece them together from 
 the fragments of half-made diaries and the 
 letters of the old Rector, show us Horatio 
 Nelson in closer contact with his family than 
 any of the published lives of him. The two years were, 
 moreover, full of events of family interest. 
 
 Catherine's short-lived journal chronicles a busy time 
 during the early months of the year. Barton was returned 
 to on December 27th, 1787, and the usual round, includ- 
 ing social meetings, and G.M.'s inspection of the " House 
 of Industry," was broken into by a visit to his relations 
 the Martins at Deptford, a sad catastrophe being related 
 on the way, when Kitty slept at Ipswich " and lost my 
 yellow hat ! " 
 
 They started for London on the January 12, 1788, 
 on a visit to Mrs. Matcham, who had settled there. Great 
 hopes were entertained of here meeting Captain Nelson; 
 but " Brother Horace gone to Bath, I was very low 
 spirited," writes Kitty, and the length of their separations 
 gives some reason for her father's sympathy, when he 
 writes, " Your disappointment (I will not say a little 
 one) I anticipated, and at the very Hour felt another's 
 Woe. . . . Respecting Self," he continues, " it now hails 
 and snows, no wonder I am as Meagre and as shivering 
 as Shakspear's Starved Apothecary or a poor Highland 
 
 52 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 53 
 
 curate. ..." Maurice had invited his father to London. 
 " A Great Nabob could not go farther than the offer of 
 a room when in a London lodging, where every man pays 
 by the Inch, and must shorten his own train. However 
 he is now, as on all occasions, very good, and must claim 
 an affectionate esteem with your Self from Edm, Nelson. 
 P.S. Dorothea in her Seal Skin Habit visited by His 
 Majesty, what say you to That ? " 
 
 Kitty's comments were doubtless made to Dorothea 
 herself, for she paid a visit to her cousin and the Canon 
 at Windsor. Married and settled we get news of the 
 Fishers this year from Miss Bumey, who gave Dorothea a 
 kind reception at her Windsor tea-parties, noting subse- 
 quently in her diary that, " Mrs. Fisher seems goodnatured, 
 cheerful and obliging, neither well nor iU in her appearance, 
 and I fancy, not strongly marked in any way. But she 
 adores Mr. Fisher, and has brought him a large fortune." 
 
 Hampton Court made another of their expeditions, in 
 the midst of dining out and "going a shopping." Wax- 
 works at the Lyceum, plays and the Opera are also written 
 down, but the journal is apt to die away in times of excite- 
 ment, and their attendance at Warren Hastings' trial in West- 
 minster Hall is unrecorded but for her father's comments, 
 written in satisfaction that the little daughter should enjoy 
 herself. To his son-in-law the Rector's confidences are 
 often more serious. Difficulties arising from careless sons 
 and unprofitable farming are laid before him, never in vain. 
 Timely help when needed was ever ready, gladly lent and 
 conscientiously repaid as times grew better, while the old 
 man made light of his own share of the burden, carried out 
 in constant economy and home-staying. 
 
54 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " By this time," he tells Kitty at the end of January, 
 *' Hor's wish to know my winter Movment is answered in a 
 letter, which tells Him that Bath is out of my reach this 
 season. Indeed the expence is by far too Great ; of late 
 years there have been other views than merly Health, for 
 moving. My wishes now, respecting my family are nearly 
 gratified, and it is more prudent to remain Stationary for 
 the recovery of that pecuniary Strength, which for them 
 has been exhausted perhaps too far. The Events of last 
 year were Highly pleasing, now retirment and very Small 
 expence must for a while take place. Whenever the 
 pleasing Interview with yr Bro. takes place, perhaps you 
 may coUect what their intentions are, as to a fixed residence. 
 
 " G. and you I think must go to court also, and form a 
 Family Groupe, with Jermy at ( ) Head, a fine Frontis- 
 piece ! 
 
 "The Holworthys are prevented going to Bury . . . 
 and little Sam is still Sole Heir apparent. With this anec- 
 dote I will close this Miscellaneous tract, dated from the 
 Thorpe Hermitage, now decorated with Frosted Icjcles, 
 which do not chill the warm and affectionate regeird of 
 E.N. towards G. and CM." 
 
 " Feb. 25th. I frequently avail myself of that distin- 
 guishing faculty given to man, of sending his thoughts into 
 distant places and viewing as it were different Scenes. I 
 can in imagination see the grand Tribunall in Westminster 
 Hall, and also more perfectly view you, decked with the 
 little innocent ornaments of the time . . . courteous 
 obliging, goodhumoured unto all ; smiling at the opera . . . 
 and hear you in consultation with your chamber council, 
 when to return to Barton, always attended to with the same 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 55 
 
 even, contented disposition . . . nothing better could I 
 wish. . . . 26th I was warmed and fed by you. Sussex 
 and the thick boots sheltered me. Two apples from Barton 
 gave me a contented supper. George and you take Dunmow 
 on your way home." 
 
 SoUtude must have told somewhat on the Rector's spirits 
 at this time, and his need of companionship led to the 
 anxious wish, expressed and gratified in the same summer, 
 that the Horatio Nelsons should share his home. But at 
 first he dreaded the arrival of a stranger, and the hope of 
 welcoming his favourite son was damped by nervousness 
 at meeting the unknown bride, who must accompany him 
 to Bumham. 
 
 Kitty's birthday, March 19, is marked with the warning : 
 
 "... Remember, Kate Time has stolen away your one 
 and twentieth year. A Subtle Nimble Thief. . . . 
 
 " From Captain Nelson I have heard nothing a long 
 time. When they come into Norfolk I shall like as well if 
 every visit is made before mine begins, and to say truth I 
 am not now anxious to see Them. Him for a day or two I 
 should be glad of, but to Introduce a stranger to an Infirm 
 and whimsicall old Man, who can neither eat nor drink, nor 
 talk, nor see, is as well let alone, 
 
 " Of Late I have been always an Inhabitant of the little 
 dressing room and bedchamber adjoyning, making the 
 Apartment somewhat like a Bath lodging, but could find 
 no substitute for the refreshing draught Kind nature has 
 compounded there. Neither wine, nor Huxom, nor Camo- 
 mile, no, nor pudding, does for Me. 
 
56 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 "I mean to go to Hilborough very soon to visit my 
 mother. Then shut up agaiin. 
 
 ''A Letter now come in from Hor*^^, sais they are returned 
 to Bath for a Fortnight, Then to Exmouth, and it will be 
 the end of May before they come into Norff. He adds, Mr. 
 S(crivener) has said He has forgiven his Daughter, yet still 
 the matter much affects them. I cannot help thinking, 
 however proper the match may be, yet such precipitate 
 conduct in Dorothea was not like fiUiall piety. I do indeed 
 respect him very much, with all his whimsies. God be 
 with you and your precious husband. Queen of Canter- 
 bury waits to carry this to B[arto]n. adieu." 
 
 Sunday, with its double duty of two churches to serve, 
 bore heavily on him through the winter months and cold 
 spring weather. 
 
 "April 7th. . . . This day the winds have abated in 
 fury. ... As to myself, there being hardly any corporeall 
 resistence, the cold perhaps passes thro' without leaving 
 any marks of violence ; and after struggling thro' a large 
 share of professionall duty in Stretching forth my hands 
 (or rather Lungs) to a Gain-sajdng people, I am retired to 
 my lodgings, fatigued and tired, but with this reward of my 
 own — Euge." 
 
 Kitty's happy-go-lucky answers, careless of date and all 
 too sparing for her father's pleasure, need constant whipping 
 up. 
 
 " My packets," he remarks, " generally travel by Simms ; 
 but whether he gives them to his Norwich Landlady for 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 57 
 
 pipe papers, is unknown to me, as no single word ever 
 intimates that they arrive in Barton." He begs, a little 
 pathetically, for correspondence to " throw a little variety 
 into my amusements." 
 
 Later on a hopeful com crop raises his spirits. "Tho 
 we boast not of those fruits with which the great luxurious 
 Nabobs can regale themselves " — a sly hit at the Anglo- 
 Indian G.M. — " yet Bread is the staff of youth, and pudding 
 a prop for Age. The wide, sequestered fields of Bumham 
 have (with nut brown ale) eno : and to spare for other's 
 wants. Most likely 3^ Bro Hor : will in a few weeks be 
 coming to begin his Norfolk Tour. . . . Be it as it may I 
 shall be glad to see and accommodate Him, as well as every 
 other branch of mine, as far as my Situation and circum- 
 stances wiU allow, which are well known to Mr. M. and 
 yrself ; and to ask you to eat your own Bread is a Farce 
 I cannot go thro' with Comfort. ..." 
 
 In May he " conjectures the Birthday must be past 
 before yr Brother leaves London. ... I have requested 
 him not to think of bringing his Lady and Suite to Bumham 
 tiU his other visits are at an end. Indeed I am in no haste 
 to see and receive a Stranger ; perhaps you may introduce 
 her by and by. I believe she will form a valuable part of 
 our family connections, and certain it is he has a claim to all 
 my affection, haying never transgressed. But every power 
 of mine is in decay. Insipid, Whimsicall and very unfitt 
 for society in truth, and not likely to revive by practice, 
 as my former Neighbors begin to understand. 
 
 " Poor Edward Crowe was happily released from his 
 trobles this morning. Indeed his Father have attended 
 and nursed him with great affection and concern. 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 59 
 
 beheld the river gliding thro' fertile meadows; this was his 
 Claude. ..." 
 
 " We walkt on the broad," she writes in May, " the water 
 was calm and of a deep blue, corresponding to the etherial 
 arch. How beautiful did the scenery round present itself, 
 the circling wood varied with steeples and mills, cattle 
 grazing on the water's brink, the fishermen with their eel 
 spears in pursuit of their prey ; the common spread with 
 the various domestics of the tennants, cows, pigs, geese, 
 ducks ; the whole afforded a picture of plenty and enjoy- 
 ment. Mr. Gunn passed the evening with us. ..." 
 
 " Parson Gunn " is still remembered as a very old man 
 in that part of Norfolk, and is responsible for a story, told 
 by him of these Barton days. How, on one occasion, when 
 Captain Horatio Nelson had ridden over to stay with his 
 sister, the family were disturbed when dining by being told 
 that his horse had bitten the Barton groom in the back. 
 On hearing which the Captain at once left his dinner and 
 with much concern went out and himself attended per- 
 sonally to the sufferer. 
 
 June found them busy in the ha37field, pursuits which 
 gained much approbation fronj the Rector. "Books," 
 he writes, " may amuse, but after a certain boundary 
 reading is very unsatisfactory, and makes one often peevish 
 when we find men of sense sometimes quarrelling about 
 mere trifles, and discover that pride and ambition make 
 authors, not a desire to inform others, or that by them 
 the world should be one jott the wiser . . . but walk forth 
 into your fields there nature will meet you smiling, yeild to 
 
6o THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 your will, and for one Grain, return you many a Golden 
 
 "... Hilborough Intelligence sais the Captain and his 
 Lady were expected ... so far your Bro : is on his way 
 to you ... my business is to sett still and wait events." 
 
 At last Horace arrived on a flying visit, and no sooner 
 do they meet than troubles are lightened, plans made for 
 straightening out his elder brother's difficulties and hopes 
 given of future companionship. 
 
 " Your Bro has made me a short visit " is the report. 
 " I Thank God he seems perfectly in Health, Happy and 
 as usuall replete with the most affectionate Love and Good 
 wishes towards His freinds. 
 
 *' Maurice' affairs we talked over and Hor : has imder- 
 taken and determined to go to Town in the course of a week 
 or two and discharge all his debts and estabhsh his future 
 Income in a way to keep him from the necessity of being 
 thus distressed. After his return he means to visit you, 
 and that Mr. M. and you shall conduct Him and His wife 
 to Thorpe, where probably they will cast their Anchor for 
 a time, and to see you both together wiU if possible add to 
 my pleasure in receiving you separately. ..." 
 
 But though cheerful, Horace had found his father lonely 
 and suffering, " more unweU then usuall by the addition of 
 a tertian Ague," and this set them with additional prompt- 
 ness about the execution of their plans. The old man 
 would not hear of Catherine's anxious prescription of rest 
 and change at Barton, replying a week later that "the 
 shaking Feind is driven off his Station and batteries of 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 6i 
 
 Peruvian Bark raised to prevent another Lodgment . . , 
 if otherwise some other auxiliary must be BUred, but not 
 the Effluvia of Barton Broad will. Do you think the 
 charming, open Lawns, and pure air collected from the 
 large fields of Thorpe, mixed with the fine parts of a clear, 
 purling stream, bordered with Cresses, Thjine and Vervain, 
 yield the Pahn to small low enclosures, boggs and morasses, 
 bounded by sedge and reed ? No, it must not Be ! " 
 
 Suckling, just arrived from Barton, "looks well and 
 happy. The Satisfaction you look forward too in receiving 
 the Capt and his Wife is a Banquett Mr. M. as well as you 
 wiQ feast upon, in which I hope no Bitter wiQ be Mixed." 
 
 And in the first week of July he is able to report on 
 "Your Bro's return from London where he entirely hbe- 
 rated poor Maurice from the Galling chain he has long been 
 Hampered with. I have his own assurance he did not owe 
 five shillings, and money was put in his pocket to start 
 with, and also an Income fixed to his content, depending 
 upon my life. The Ague is removed and no 2nd visit. ..." 
 
 Great was the fanuly content over the domestic plans 
 of the Parsonage. The active captain was constantly on the 
 move among them aU. Hilborough, Barton, the Boltons 
 at Norwich and Maurice in London, were all drawn into 
 closer touch by his affectionate interest in their various 
 situations. The poorer neighbours also shared in his sym- 
 pathy and help. He well knew the poverty of their hves 
 and tried to enlist higher powers to recognise their want. 
 The exact statistics sent by him to the Duke of Clarence, 
 allowed to a labourer with wife and three children, when 
 other necessary expenses were paid, "not quite two- 
 
62 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 pence a day " for the food of each person. Yet he urges 
 their loyalty and usual contentment.* 
 
 In the old home itself his energies expended themselves 
 in following up G.M.'s improvements in the Parsonage 
 grounds, and the rector awoke to fresh interest whilst 
 watching his son's labours and joining in new schemes. 
 
 "The whole staff; Browns, Rents, and the tribe of 
 Capabilities shall exercise all their powers here in the space 
 of about half an acre ! Your Brother's . . . good health 
 and aimable connection must greatly add to our pleasure 
 in receiving him. . . . As yr Bro' and Sister are so good as 
 to take the household matters upon themselves I shall be 
 more at liberty. ..." 
 
 When Mrs. Nelson with other visitors stayed at Barton, 
 Catherine is told that she is "particularly happy in the 
 company of three very sensible accompHshed women. . . . 
 Mrs. N. will I fear be disagreably sensible of the change 
 from the cheerful gaiety of your family to the soUtude 
 of Thorpe. Here indeed all shall be her own, and even 
 that may prove an encumbrance as to servants, not the 
 pleasantest part of Government. ..." 
 
 Fresh interests and companionship raised the rector's 
 spirits. " The arrangement which have lately taken place 
 here," he writes to Catherine, " promises to be productive 
 of those, comforts which are adapted to my powers of enjoy- 
 ment. Gentleness, quietude and good humour, neither 
 impetuous nor insensible ; but I hope G.M. with you will 
 come and experience the regular aeconomy of the establish- 
 ment and a Hearty welcome I verily believe will be your 
 
 * '.' Despatches." 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 63 
 
 reception. . . . You have told me Mrs. Matcham has a 
 House, but where that house is you say not, lest I should 
 wish to open a Correspondence with her. ..." 
 
 In October they are " looking to the day that will bring 
 you here, and have an eye to the 5th of November. ' ' Cathe- 
 rine, however, seems to have declined to bum bonfires, and 
 going to London instead, is begged for news, " the rather 
 as you know from experience that a smaU party of Recluses 
 are somtimes at a stand for Chatt. . . . Our friend Nanny 
 Raven is married, . . . this morning she makes an outcry 
 of all her old tables and chairs. Will is going to Bid up, 
 and I must only add that we are all Moving. Your Very 
 Good Sister in law finds it not so temperate as Nevis, and 
 the very robust Capt : begins to feel a rumatick Twinge now 
 and then. ..." 
 
 In December he advises her further stay in London and 
 " keeping at a distance from the cold of an Easterly wind 
 . . . and Newmarket Heath is not a Spott famous for soft 
 ZephjTS. . . . The sun is now at its farthest distance, and 
 we must wait his return for Spring entertainment of the 
 rose and hyacinth, and in hopes of these your Brother is 
 often amused in the garden, which Mr. M. has engaged to 
 beautify with some Barton roses. These we will thank 
 him to order hither, that they may be arranged in our 
 Parterre. These matters are New, and your Bro' is happy 
 in the thought of a future crop. I wish his Good Wife had 
 her amusement ; a Httle society and an instrument with 
 which she could pass away an hour. Her musicall powers 
 I fancy are beyond the common sort. I am sure nothing on 
 their part is wanting to make the winter comfortable and 
 
64 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 agreable to me. Lady Spencer* is at Creake, as usuall 
 extremely polite. Master Nisbet comes on Saturday for 
 the holidays." 
 
 It was well that the rector found comfort in his favourite 
 son to cheer him amidst the difficulties and deaths which 
 troubled 1789. Maurice Nelson, having been cleared of 
 debt and freshly started by his family's efforts, Suckling 
 in his tinri demanded expense and worry before being 
 settled with a tutor as a preHminary to college. 
 
 At HHborough the William Nelsons were nursing the old 
 grcindmother through her last illness, and meanwhile 
 Edmund, the third son, was dying of decline at the Bolton's 
 house near Norwich, from whence he was removed to 
 Bumham Thorpe a few weeks before his death in the 
 following autumn. 
 
 The winter cold sorely tried the spirits of the parsonage 
 party. " In our present cold, dreary, I had almost said 
 uncomfortable state," reports Mr. Nelson in his New Year's 
 letter, "The Severe Season . . . have affected both your 
 Brother and his Lady. They are moving just out of the 
 bedchamber, but both are brought to acknowledge they 
 never felt so cold a place. ... I am glad Barton is shut 
 up." 
 
 Later on foUow Suckling's troubles, bringing fresh de- 
 mands upon his brother-in-law's purse. " Suckling," writes 
 his father, " came here the day you left us ... at present 
 there is not one ray of Hght which will guide us to the way 
 he is . . . likly to walk in. . . . Suckling is such a philo- 
 sopher that he endures his change with absolute indifference 
 
 * Sister of Dr. Charles Po5mtz, before mentioned {vide p. 40, ante), 
 and wife of John, ist Earl Spencer. 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 65 
 
 and even cheerfulness, though the common necessaries of 
 life are scarcely in any prospect now before him. . . ." 
 
 i'The return of bad weather brings every unpleasant 
 sensation." 
 
 "Horace has been very unwell for some days, but is 
 recovering apace. Mrs. N. takes Large doses of the Bed; 
 and finds herself only comfortable when enclosed in Moreen. 
 My Self, more accustomed to the cHmate, give no heed to 
 small Illconveniencies. ..." Yet he confesses that a 
 greater share of professional duty brings more " Illcon- 
 veniences " than heretofore, and writes to them less, content 
 to hear of their doings from Sir Mordaunt Martin and 
 other visitors to Barton. In April a visit is paid to his 
 mother to take " a last farweU. The tender passions on such 
 occasions justly claim their moments of indulgence. . . . 
 This family have colds, no wonder. ..." 
 
 In July he was called once more to Hilborough "to be 
 present at the Melancholy scene of seeing the remains of 
 a parent decently laid to mix with Mother Earth. My 
 Sister will I hope soon be settled and enjoy the prospect of 
 ease and comfort she has before her." Nor would he 
 extend his journey to Barton. "Home I am only 
 fitt for, there then centres my enjoyment as it ought. 
 Captain Nelson wiU be at Barton for one day next 
 week. . . ." 
 
 Suckling is spoken of as settled with a tutor, " the Rev : 
 Mr. Baxter at Stathem near Melton Mowbray. He ex- 
 presses himself pleased and happy. May some future 
 good arise we all wish ..." and then he must finish 
 
 D 
 
66 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 abruptly, "Sunday 3 oclock afternoon. Going now to 
 Sett off for Alph Church." * 
 
 Among other kindly transactions is the double duty of 
 providing situations for his flock and thereby servants for 
 his friends ; such affairs being conducted with careful exact- 
 ness. At one time it is a coachman who, he says, "cer- 
 tainly had no promise beyond a Livery compleat, and a 
 stable Frock, or waistcoat, and 12 Guineas pr ann :, Whether 
 he deserves more, you must judge. I beheve a Fustian 
 frock is not uncommon." 
 
 Catherine then makes a demand to which he meekly 
 answers that " The important business of your letter is far 
 beyond my power to transact, and out of the line of any 
 acquaintance I have in that walk of life. Mine is among 
 those of a lower order, where I might assist a poor family 
 in the taldng away a GirU or Boy to lessen expence, and 
 putting a young one in an industrious train, but as to Cooks 
 for Gentleman's families I can do nothing, therfore depend 
 not on Me. If any should accidentally come in the way 
 you shall hear." 
 
 Another Bumham maidservant being invalided home, he 
 shrewdly desires to send her to Barton "though scarcely 
 able to undertake hard work for the present, but as her 
 nourishment wiU be much better at Barton than can be here, 
 it is best for her to return. I have supphed her with money 
 
 * Presumably the little church at Bumham Ulph or Wolf's Bum- 
 ham. It lies between Bumham Thorpe and Bumham Westgate. 
 Lord Chancellor Thurlow was " descended from the Thurlows of Burn- 
 ham-ulpe," according to an inscription in the south aisle of the Church 
 of St. Margaret, Bumham Norton. Of the seven Burahams, Westgate 
 Ulph and Overy lie together in an irregular line. Bumham Thorpe 
 lies to the south-east of these, and Burnham Sutton was just south 
 of where the railway line now passes. 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON x\T HOME 67 
 
 and shall do so. Nothing can be spared you know by the 
 parents who Hve mean and poor eno :." 
 
 Of " Dolly Jaccombe," another of his protegees, much is 
 written after she had followed Catherine to the west country. 
 " Is DoUy Jaccombe," he asks, " as good now as a woman 
 as when a GirU ? Tell her I hope she is, the benefit is hers." 
 And when good Dolly fell sick in later years no trouble was 
 too great to lavish on her. " Her father's house I doubt 
 has few comforts and you are her only friends to be relied 
 on, if anything will recover her it must be rest and good 
 nursing under your hospitable roof." Finally on a chance 
 of recovery DoUy was carried to the rector's own house at 
 Bath and neither doctoring nor care spared. 
 
 "The powders are stiU continued, she takes Asses milk 
 twice in the day. . . . You may rest assured every possible 
 care is taken. ... Sir Frazer has this moment been here, 
 redd his Fee, made a Httle alteration in his prescription; 
 merly that she may not think herself neglected." And all 
 failing he calms Kitty's regret with the reflection, " Poor 
 Dolly's death must have been long expected and her hfe 
 ending in innocence and Xtian hope, we have good founda- 
 tion to believe she is removed to a state of happiness." 
 
 A letter to Mr. Matcham in September 1789 speaks 
 of the hopeless state of Edmund, who indeed, for all 
 reference to him, hardly seems more than a shadow at 
 any time ; yet to the father it was no light trouble. 
 " I do most earnestly wish he could with safty be removed 
 hither," he writes. " Poor Mrs. Bolton has eno' and I 
 tremble for her safty by the addition of any melancholly 
 scene, nor is your kind offer of taking him to Barton 
 
68 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 void of difficulties. ... As far as naturall feelings will 
 allow, your own approaching addition of felicity I hear 
 of with the utmost pleasure. 
 
 " Oct. i8th. . . . Tho' my circumstances never can 
 be so affluent as to admitt of adding, yet I should be 
 sorry and ashamed to take anything from you. The 
 loan I have paid, if it came unlooked for at this time 
 may buy a cradle for the expected Stranger, whose arrival 
 I shall now with a pleasing anxiety expect. . . . Poor 
 Edm. declines very fast. ..." 
 
 At Norwich, whither they removed for the event, 
 Catherine's first child was born,* on which event the 
 earliest congratulations appear in the following form 
 from one of their Barton retainers : 
 
 " For Mr. George Matcham, Esqr. Norwich. 
 
 '' 1789 Novr. 8th Barton Toft. 
 
 " Sir we this morning received the happy News of 
 Md. Metchem being Saftly delivered of a Son, upon which 
 we took the liberty of your garden With our guns, and 
 fire'd three volies, myself being the Commander, after 
 devine service we rung the bells & fired 3 vollies more 
 on the tower, & to morrow we intend to renew our Accla- 
 
 * George Matcham born 1789, was educated at St. John's College, 
 Cambridge, where he graduated LL.B. in 18 14, and LL.D. in 1820. 
 In the same year he was admitted advocate in Doctor's Commons. 
 He became chairman of the Wiltshire quarter sessions in 1836, and 
 contributed accounts of the hundreds of Downton and Frustfield to 
 Hoare's "Modern History of Wilts," London, 1825, &c. ... He 
 died 1 8th Jan., 1877, leaving a son and two daughters by his 
 wife Harriet, eldest daughter and heiress of William Eyre, of Newlj 
 house, whom he married in 18 17. — "Dictionary of National Biog- 
 raphy." 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON AT HOME 69 
 
 mations of joy with ringing & firing of guns, and so con- 
 clude with drinking A health to Mr. and Md. Metchem 
 and likewise the young Esq. And wishing Md. Metchem 
 safe about again. 
 
 " Huet has behaved himself exceeding well and is 
 greatly rejoiced' at the news. From your most Obedient 
 Humble Servant Robt. Shackle." 
 
 The baby's grandfather had no objection to stand 
 godfather, giving "full liberty to use my name on the 
 Xtianing day, and asking you to distribute three Guineas 
 to the Nurses on this Festive occasion. If I should live 
 I will hear him his Catechism one of these days, and 
 present him with a Bible. ..." Then he returns to 
 his own immediate trouble : 
 
 " Poor Edmund seems to drop so gradually it is scarce 
 to be perceived. We hope he lives in no great pain and 
 he eats and drinks plentifully. He receives a pleasure 
 in that. Dame Smith is usefuU indeed, and is his constant 
 companion, as he seems to regard any of us but little 
 tho the whole family are often employed to serve him. 
 Poor Mrs. Nelson's tryall in this instance is not a light 
 one." 
 
 Edmund Nelson died at Burnham in December, and 
 soon after a fresh alarm occurred in the sudden illness 
 of Kitty, to whom all care of herself was irksome. Her 
 father journeyed to her side in a hasty visit, to find all 
 danger over, and returned cheered with the sight of 
 mother and baby. "Your dear little Boy," he tells 
 
70 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 her, " is a healthy, strong, Fine (I dont know so expressive 
 an Epithett) child, and will afford you an inexhaustible 
 treasure, from whence may you both draw Good Gold, 
 with no more alloy than is needfuU for currency in the 
 world. ..." 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE^ RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE AND 
 CATHERINE DESERTS NORFOLK 
 
 ** Tf AM alone ; that is, the domestick Society is 
 broken up for a time," writes the Rector to 
 Catherine in January 1790. " Indeed, your 
 Brother is my famihar friend in the strictest 
 sense, but that Daemon the toothache continued to 
 torment when he left me. 
 
 r Mrs. N. I believe will stay at Mrs. B[olton]'s till your 
 return, and will accept your invitation to Barton. 
 Whether Solitude and exclusion from all the world can 
 be comfortable to a young woman I know not. She does 
 not openly complain. Her attention to me demands my 
 esteem, and to her Good Husband she is all he can expect. 
 Your stay in London is short, no wonder. G. with you 
 are attached Home by a feeling none but parents know." 
 
 Later on ; the Captain with his wife having returned ; 
 he writes again : " With us there is no variation, and as far 
 as respects myself none is desired. I have every com- 
 fortable accommodation and have no reason to suspect 
 my Ways and Whimseys are thought troublesome. The 
 sharp north wind blows on me severely, not being fortified 
 with port or porter and the like, with palisades of roast 
 beef, or canals of Soup, or rich Ragou." 
 
 Life at the Rectory was rendered the more quiet and 
 uneventful by the needs of Maurice and Suckling, which 
 
 71 
 
72 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 drained their father's purse condemning him to strict 
 economy and homestaying. Bath, where his health had 
 formerly derived so much benefit, was given up through- 
 out these years, and only reverted to later on, when the 
 pressure on his means relaxed. Meantime his worries 
 were accepted serenely and without illusions ; a sugges- 
 tion made by G. M. for seeking patronage in favour of his 
 son Maurice, calling forth very practical and independent 
 views on the subject. 
 
 " You suppose that once I was in a habit of friendly 
 intercourse with Lord Thurlow.* No such thing. Near 
 40 years ago his Lordship, then a youth, visited a neighbour 
 and friend of mine. From that house as a Saunterer he often 
 called, walked, chatted, or took his tea, as it might happen. 
 There it ended. The whole parish of Swaffam separately, 
 much more as a collective body, might with the same 
 propriety ask a favour as a remembrance that once he 
 breathed their salubrious air. Let his Lordship's liberality 
 and candour be as extensive as I hope they are, he could 
 never frame an apology for my impertinence except 
 absolute insanity, or that age had deprived me of all 
 power of judging what was fit and right, or what was 
 foolish and absurd. . . . 
 
 " The few advantages I have had were from early con- 
 nections, improved by a conduct such as they did not see 
 was amiss. There was a day when he (Maurice) might 
 have catched a gleam of sunshine, it is now clouded. 
 
 * Lord Chancellor Thurlow — for so long the Tory autocrat of the 
 House of Lords, until his retirement in consequence of a quarrel with 
 Pitt. He has been described as " the enemy of all human action." 
 Fox said of him that " no man could be so wise, as Thurlow looked." 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 73 
 
 However a steady perseverance in publick Duty may 
 produce some good. ..." 
 
 The baby grandson, safely nursed through the small 
 pox in his first spring, affords immense interest, while 
 Master Fisher, his cousin of the same age, suppHes a 
 standard of comparison in their infant progress. 
 
 " May 30th. — By your undertaking a London journey so 
 very early after leaving Thorpe, it seems a Sure Indica- 
 tion that the Young Gov : took his Weaning as a Philo- 
 sopher, and will learn to know that all Sublunary enjoy- 
 ments are short and uncertain. Nurse Him Well, accord- 
 ing to the Established practise of old English Nurses, and 
 not by Rules of Theoretic Physicians. Air, Exercise, 
 warmth and cleanliness are essentialls to begin with. His 
 Cotemporary and Coz, young Fisher, has the advantage 
 of Breathing pure Classic Air, and Stepping first upon 
 poetic Ground ; for these George must early learn the 
 manners & Customs of the East. How to acquire 
 wealth, from the rich Mines of Tippo ? &c. 
 
 ** Hor : seems quite reconciled as to any Employment. 
 He has done all that was right and approved. The Event 
 is to be waited for. Mr. Matcham mentioned a Generous 
 wish of His to present Hor : with a Pipe of Wine when He 
 should have a Ship. Such a thing would no doubt be 
 very convenient and acceptable. But I think it Expensive, 
 therefore should like whenever you know of an appoint- 
 ment to a Ship, that Mr. M. in his pohteness would ask 
 and when a pipe of Wine should ( ) at the same 
 
 time I would take Half the price upon my Self, tho' must 
 desire the whole to be as from Mr. M.; you understand me. 
 
74 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 S waff ham is the place Mrs. N. has determined to make 
 her residence, in Case Her Husband is Calld away. You 
 may recollect that Mrs. N. told you that when the Tea 
 tray came, she conjectured the Case contained a Portrait of 
 your Person, to this anecdote I add my wish they had been 
 right. . . . June 6th. . . . If the Young Canon has more 
 Matter, little G. may equall him in Spirit. Charity bids 
 me pity Mrs. Fisher ; her Father's disposition she was no 
 stranger to. . . . However ... no true judgement can 
 be made of another's unhappiness ; what might wound me, 
 might to another be a mere scratch, So, vice versa. . . . 
 If Hor : should have a Ship you will soon get intelligence. 
 He is restless, as are thousands more in such a State of 
 Uncertainty and tho' his Merit is Great, still without 
 Interest I fear it may be overlooked, where a Boldness and 
 some parliamentary weight stands forward.." 
 
 The sixth Parliament of George III. was dissolved on 
 June 12, 1790, and a general election followed, which 
 resulted in the Pitt Administration being returned to 
 office. The effects of the election were felt even in the 
 retired districts of Nelson's homeland and the Rector 
 touches upon them with his whimsical pen in a letter dated 
 June 22. 
 
 "The unusuall velocity which now, in an especiall 
 manner, nine tenths of this Country are moving with, or 
 else exerting all the powers of the mind, how to acquire 
 and secure some much desired Object ; places me as an 
 Individuall of as small consequence as the poor Snaill, that 
 just creeps from shrub to shrub to spoill a rose. , . . The 
 Noisy Nonsense of Elections does not disturb me, nor the 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 75 
 
 neighbourhood in any great degree. Where the Course 
 is only Galloped over, the Victor gets the prize indeed, but 
 no great honor. . . . 
 
 "July 7th .. . Good Mrs. Turner* left this world 
 without a Sigh . . . Her legacy to your sister was hansom 
 and affectionate. . . . Her understanding was of a superior 
 class and from the narrow sphere of action as a female 
 and a recluse, it has been employed to the advantage of 
 many. . . . The very name of Turner dies with her, one 
 old man excepted. . . . Hor. spent a few days at Hil- 
 borough, all well. Mr. Chute's family much elated at 
 their success in Hampshire, no wonder. 
 
 " Norfolk has not the same feelings respecting their New 
 Member, t 
 
 i' Pride and Pomp ( ) Generosity and Humility, 
 
 a sad exchange. Your Bro. and Mrs. Nelson have great 
 Merit in their kindness to me, and if you know my mechani- 
 cal motions for one week, you see the whole year. . . ." 
 
 *' Sept. 1st . . . Since Eden's Gardens were Shut up, I 
 had rather be a Doorkeeper in England, then sit upon the 
 throne of a Tippo ; so much for partiality and igno- 
 rance . , . Harvest is getting in apace and is plentiful . . , 
 at this season the air from our light gravell soil, impreg- 
 nated with the sweet Farinse of the field is as healthy as 
 any spott whatever, bi^t for a few months after Xmas, 
 
 * A relation of his wife. " June, at Norwich, aged seventy-three, 
 Mrs. Mary Turner, a maiden lady, and great aunt to Sir C. T. Bart." 
 Gentleman's Magazine. 
 
 t The five new members among the twelve elected for Norfolk 
 were: Sir Martin Browne Folkes, Bart., F.R.S., for King's Lynn ; 
 Rt. Hon. Charles Townsend for Great Yarmouth; Robert John 
 Buxton and Joseph Randyll Buxton for Thetford, and Henry 
 Drummond for Castle Rising. 
 
76 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 exposed to the ocean one side, and the lakes of the Bedford 
 Levell on the other, a sedentary invaHd may feell some 
 unpleasant effects ; but Longevity being the Grand 
 Object, it is amongst the working temperate classes as 
 likely to be mett with here as els where. Lo ! a new 
 Subject offers. Captain Suckling, two brothers. Lady* & 
 two servants are arrived at the Inn Holkam, intending to 
 stay a fortnight. They have taken us by surprise ; how 
 we shall manage is unsettled. Be so good as to buy for 
 Mrs. Nelson a plain Hansom Bonne tt, such as she may 
 wear at Wolterton if need be, or what you would for 
 yourself buy for dining, visits &c. Send it down and if 
 any covering for the neck by way of a cloak is Needfull, 
 add that also. Place them to my account." 
 
 The partridge season brings over a family shooting- 
 party to Burnham, whose performances are keenly 
 criticised. 
 
 " Rurall sports now occupy a part of every day amongst 
 the Class licenced to destroy. Our party are all Inten- 
 tionally wiUing, but most Bloodshed lays at T. B[olton]*s 
 door." Another of them ; presumably the sea captain ; 
 j&nds that " An Enemye floating Game is a better Mark ; 
 and the Rector's (William's) fire chiefly evaporates in 
 threats I . . . Very soon the Captain will give you from 
 his own hand a testimony of his desire not to loose your 
 correspondence." 
 
 " Sept. 23rd ... If your Journey finished in the pur- 
 chase of an eligible residence it is a lucky circumstance. 
 
 * Distant cousins, probably the children of Robert Suckling, Dragoon 
 Guards, and his wife Susanna Webb. See Suckling Pedigree. 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE ^^ 
 
 Hampshire is one of England's Gardens . . . Mrs. N. as 
 you may suppose have not been from home, nor dont seem 
 endined to, and as Fashions vary so quick and Mourning 
 is soon over, you had better omitt the Bonnet business till 
 farther advice respecting so Important a Matter. 
 
 ** I have hired one of the very small houses near Ulph 
 church, which will lessen the fatigue of Sunday duty. If 
 the warlike preparations continue your Bro : most likly 
 will before long be called upon ; in that case we all move a 
 little. 
 
 V Kitty Bolton * is here for a few weeks and wonders her 
 Mamma should send her to so duU a place. As to visitors 
 it is assuredly more so than ever. I thank God who has 
 allowed me another plentifull harvest, the fruits of which 
 wiU contribute much to make me at ease. Respecting 
 money I am still in arrears. . . . Maurice will never have 
 enough. Suckling must be supported. He goes on as 
 usuall, good and bad alternately. Where or how it will 
 terminate is very doubtfuU." 
 
 Leaving Captain and Mrs. Nelson in possession of the 
 Parsonage, the distance of which, standing as it did a long 
 mile from Burnham Thorpe church must have added 
 considerably to his exertions ; Mr. Nelson decided to Hve 
 by himself in the cottage at Burnham Ulph, where a 
 service had Hkewise to be conducted. His little domicile 
 stood close to that church, the scene of another story of 
 his self styled " whimsical " ways, which records that the 
 sermon used to continue in steady progress until the 
 vestry door was seen to be softly opened by his house- 
 
 * His grand-daughter, born 178 1 ; afterwards married her cousin. 
 Sir WiUiam Bolton, Knt.. R.N. 
 
78 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 keeper. This was a sign that f/ pudding time" had 
 arrived and a conclusion was quickly put to the discourse. 
 
 Meanwhile the departure from Barton Hall had 
 become a settled plan of its inmates, who probably 
 felt less reluctant to leave Norfolk since the Horatio 
 Nelsons were likely to prove more or less constant 
 companions to their father in the future. 
 
 Although they never again lived in the country, the 
 love of it clung to the whole family through life. To be 
 *' Norfolk " was the utmost excellence that anything 
 could attain too. News of Norfolk and old Norfolk friends 
 always roused Catherine's warmest interest and of a new 
 acquaintance the fact of being " a Norfolk woman " is 
 the best recommendation. No hares taste so good as 
 those from the old country ; so with everything, and their 
 friends constantly join in the same opinion, for Norfolk 
 soon had reason for pride and boasted of its superiority. 
 
 The summer tour of the Matchams covered a wide 
 stretch of country before a suitable property was dis- 
 covered. From Liverpool, exploring Leasowes and 
 Hagley and delayed by the breaking down of their chaise 
 they journeyed to Worcester, to admire the " very neat " 
 cathedral, and view the china manufactory where they 
 saw " a dinner sett for the Duke of Clarence ; the figure 
 of Hope in different attitudes in the middle, a very rich 
 border of purple and gold." Past the Malvern hills and 
 on through Hereford " a delightful country quite a garden, 
 corn sown between the apple trees, quite ripe," they 
 went to Brecon where the good roads failed. At Glen 
 Irvon they " were obliged to walk both up and down the 
 mountains, it being almost impracticable for a carriage 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 79 
 
 to get forward." Exploring the show places on the way; 
 they passed by Bath, Stonehenge and Salisbury with the 
 object of seeing a property near Ringwood in Hampshire. 
 That was the present excuse, but these little tours were 
 ever their favourite recreation. To see, not always 
 " what would be most esteemed," writes G. M., " but such 
 as amused me at the time " and although " more disposed 
 to relish country scenery (yet) I confess I like whimsi- 
 calities if not very absurd. I would have gone fifty miles 
 to see dear Uncle Toby's fortifications ! " 
 
 The country near Ringwood satisfied them, " a delight- 
 ful view of the meadows and the river, a vaste tract of 
 waste." There was no house ; but what could please 
 them better than building one and planting the grounds 
 with woods still called by their name. All this was before 
 them, and though changed conditions cut short their 
 sojourn in Hampshire sooner than was anticipated, yet 
 the profits reaped by their successors in its possession, 
 showed that G. M.'s choice and improvements were 
 prompted by good judgment. 
 
 At the end of September they returned to Norfolk, and 
 their future plans were received by the Rector with ready 
 commendation. . . . He was busy " preparing my very 
 small house, where I shall have one clean. Spruce room 
 and amongst other Httle matters I will thank you if you 
 are shoping after you receive this, to buy me a small 
 neat pair of Girandoles, for each side the chimney, to 
 hold one Candle each, about a Guinea price." 
 
 ij If it is peace your Bro : I hope will find himself happy 
 here. If war I must dispose of the house furnished. 
 
8o THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 which is the only chance of letting anything upon so 
 uncertain a Tenure. 
 f'N.B. Broker's shops have plenty.*' 
 
 The history of these girandoles is a tragi-comedy in 
 the simple life of the Rector. Writing on November 
 12 with the address " From my Town Residence,''^ he 
 says : 
 
 " After showing the chairs &c into their destined places, 
 I turned my thoughts toward the ornamentall part of 
 the room, and simimoned Tom Stocking to open the Box 
 which came from London, with all possible caution. 
 But to our Great concern found the very Hansom Giran- 
 doles so broke, scattered and shattered by Bad packing 
 that no art of ours can repair them. Am therfore under 
 the necessity of sending them back, the tradesman will 
 put them again in order. ... I thank you Kindly for 
 the Elegant Caddy and Tea. . . . 
 
 " Your Bro : is well and I hope fixed at Thorpe, a 
 place He delights in, but I wish it was a little better 
 accomodated to Mrs. N., as a woman who would some- 
 times choose a little variety. . . ." 
 
 The repairs were evidently long a-doing ; but on 
 December 2 the Rector writes : " These fine, costly 
 Gingerbread ornaments have given you troble, and I 
 am justly punished for aspiring at such an expensive 
 piece of Nonsense." Then the December weather brings 
 its usual cautions. "Even Mr. M. ought to think of 
 another Waistcoat and additional! glass of Port, and no 
 Noctumall Lucubrations by the side of the Broad, 
 
 % * 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 8i 
 
 Next week if the Wolterton family can receive your 
 Bro : and Mrs. N. they make their visit to them. 
 
 " My town residence promises all that could be looked 
 for. It is near my chappell of Ease, warm, and in the 
 vicinity of what is usefull in food, cloathing and physick, 
 and most likly by and by a little Sociall chatt may take 
 place. No wonder young people are slow in noticing an 
 odd whimsicall old man, who knows nothing of the present 
 time and very little of any other. The Hampshire 
 purchase . . . though at present the prospect is barren 
 and naked plains, yet by taste, industry and money 
 withall, they will be changed to profitt and ornament, 
 and lawns, landscapes, gardens, and fruitful fields will 
 arise, where future Georges will sport and play." 
 
 " Jan : 6th 1791. . . . G. M. has told me his Estate was 
 in no danger this winter, but may not this blustering 
 deity remove a part of it far away ? Though if in better 
 temper he may add a Coat of Salts from the western 
 sea, which I take it would not be amiss — studying agri- 
 culture no doubt from Cain the Asiatick farmer down to 
 Sir M[ordaunt] M[artin] the great improver. . . . 
 
 " A happy union you tell me has taken place between 
 the Scriveners and Fishers. I am glad of it and have 
 wrote to Dorothea at Bath. 
 
 " I have not seen Mrs. N. since her return, but your 
 Kind brother almost every day. ..." 
 
 February brought an addition to Catherine's nursery, 
 and on its arrival the child was welcomed by its grand- 
 father with the hope " that the Babe is pleased with his 
 Existence . . . what name you have given to my New 
 
 E 
 
82 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 relation I do not guess but from certain circumstances 
 it might have been Moses " ; and consulted as to a God- 
 father replies, "As to asking Mr. S. there is no Impro- 
 priety. It is usuaU so to do on such occasions, but you 
 must determine I believe to accept his usuall present, 
 viz. 5 Guineas. It is always done amongst persons of 
 the highest ranks. 
 
 *' Mrs. Fisher have not noticed my letter of enquiry. 
 I doubt those rugged paths she formed will ne'er be 
 Smooth." 
 
 The spring is fuU of plans for their departure from 
 Barton. 
 
 " March 14th. . . . With respect to your removing, 
 your sentiments are quite proper. . . . Lady D. cant 
 be expected to make much alteration as to the agree- 
 ment, every one for themselves. ... If the large glass 
 in your present drawing room is in the catalogue of 
 saleables, one of your acquaintances Even My Self 
 would buy it. You kindly offered Mrs. Nelson to give 
 her the marble Slab. She declined it, still I believe it 
 would be pleasing to them Both. Still my opinion 
 is there is neither occasion nor obligation to give 
 away much. I dont think you are quite rich enough, 
 though our Mr. Norris was wont to say to me ' dont learn 
 your children to be covetous ' and thus far I may say, 
 whatever my precepts were I did not Sett them an 
 Example. 
 
 . " I' was this day told by Mrs. Francis, late Allison, 
 that the Chancellor * had given her brother, whom we 
 
 * Lord Thurlow, see ante, p. 72 (note). 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 8-3 
 
 call the Miller, three thousand pounds, and farther that 
 he did not forgett any part of the family. A happy 
 change of fortune indeed and a Noble example consider- 
 ing he has children though illegitimate. 
 
 " Horace is in London Bowing to Royalty. It 
 must one day come to account and therfore to be 
 persevered in." 
 
 This was the period of Nelson's neglect by the Admi- 
 ralty. " The five years — from 1788 to 1792 inclusive — 
 intervening between the cruise of the Boreas and the 
 outbreak of war with the French Republic were thus 
 marked by a variety of unpleasant circumstances of 
 which the most disagreeable, to a man of Nelson's active 
 temperament, was the apparently fixed resolve of the 
 authorities to deny him employment." * 
 
 It is fairly certain from the few letters which he wrote 
 during that period that he chafed under the inactivity, 
 but it is noteworthy that in all the letters of his father 
 during those years we find no word which lends any 
 colour to the suggestion in one of the biographies that 
 " his latent ambition would at times burst forth, and 
 despise all restraint. At others, a sudden melancholy 
 seemed to overshadow his noble faculties, and to affect 
 his temper ; at those moments the remonstrances of 
 his wife and venerable father alone could cahn the tempest 
 of his passions." Mr. Nelson speaks throughout his 
 letters to Catherine of "your kind brother," and of the 
 way Maurice and Suckling were rescued from their 
 difficulties by the energies of the man who is said to have 
 
 * Mahan. " The Life of Nelson " (2nd ed.). p. 77. 
 
84 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 been earnest only when he was brooding over the slight 
 with which he was treated. Captain Mahan presumes that 
 the biographers " drew upon contemporary witnesses 
 that were to them still accessible," But when in con- 
 junction with his own assurance, " Notwithstanding the 
 neglect I have met with I am happy," and in such few 
 letters as he wrote during that time which were dignified 
 and noble in tone, we get the total absence of all reference 
 in his father's chatty family letters to anything in the 
 shape of " the tempest of his passions," it seems fair to 
 conclude that the picture drawn by his early biographers 
 was too strongly coloured. 
 
 At the end of March 1791 the Rector has again to remon- 
 strate gently with Catherine for her neglect of her corre- 
 spondence : 
 
 " March 30. . . . Where Ladies do not employ a 
 private Secretary it is very unreasonable to expect they 
 should be continually at their writing desk, merly to 
 gratify the whims of a few distant folks who have little 
 to do except brood over their own gloomy fancies. As to 
 Mary Staines ... I can do nothing ; to recommend 
 servants is become a very Serious matter and to retain 
 good sober honest ones is wonderfully difficult. Change 
 as seldom as you can, small faults which you know are 
 better overlooked than the risque of greater in others. 
 
 " When Mr. M. is arranging his miscellaneous library 
 I wish he would select some reading for me. Good print, 
 history antient or modern, foreign or home or anything 
 he has collected in morality or divinity and has himself 
 give them one xeading. Architecture and agriculture, 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 85 
 
 with treatises on education will be subjects enough for 
 him to attend too for the next 20 years. ..." 
 
 The quiet, isolated life which he led throughout these 
 years was not Mr. Nelson's choice. Though there is 
 little complaint during the times when his yearly pere- 
 grinations were of scarcely more importance than those, 
 " from the blue bed to the brown ; " yet when set free 
 from petty worries his increased activities and social 
 tastes show how acceptable such interests and pleasures 
 were to his natural disposition. " A mere contemplative 
 life," he writes about this time to Catherine, " believe 
 me soon palls upon the mind. Perhaps what is past 
 has but little of the pleasant and what is to come is a 
 mere phantom and tis well and wise that there are Toys 
 for four score as well as for Infants." 
 
 He was, however, thorough in his sacrifice, and while 
 there was need for it continued to give up even such 
 " Toys " and journeyings as were not only tempting but 
 almost necessary to his failing constitution. 
 
 Suckling, chiefly responsible, as he was then, for his 
 father's self-denial, may have felt some compunction, 
 for he produced a better impression by his work, though 
 apparently nothing would permanently cure his easy- 
 going ways. "My intelligence both from Suckling and 
 his tutor are very pleasant," writes his father in August, 
 and a month later, " In about a fortnight Suckling will 
 be resident at Christ College, Cambridge, as the last 
 great effort for establishing his happiness." And in 
 December, " Suckhng is fixed at Cambridge with every- 
 thing about him that may be productive of much future 
 
86 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 happiness. Horace sais he looks as young as those just 
 come from school." 
 
 The furnishing and establishment of the Ringwood 
 party provides much to comment on : " . . . Whether 
 it is most prudent to buy cheap and often, or substantially 
 good, such as Gran- children may see and admire, is a 
 question fit for discussion in a SchooU of Aeconomy. ..." 
 Landed property, he tells G. M. is "a circumstance in 
 this country which gives weight and consequence to a 
 man's actions, makes him respectable and a usefull 
 member of society. . . . Look forward to what ever 
 your country can bestow and without adulation or a 
 deserved partiality in me, you may acquire all ; except 
 Gain by Farming. Believe not every spirit that would 
 tempt you into this snare. Use it as a plesisure, but not 
 a Trade. ... No doubt but you will possess in time some 
 select sensible companions ; I wish they may be as 
 honest and sincere as G. M. Selfish cunning is a passion 
 few are exempt from ; a Liberall Education is the only 
 antidote against it. Give that to your Boys and leave 
 lesser things to them. ... All Well at Thorpe, perhaps 
 it may be news to say Mr. and Mrs. Coke * have visited 
 there. . . ." 
 
 To Catherine : " . . . I propose sending the parch- 
 ments to Mr. Ryder. These Guardians of private property 
 are a kind of Standing Army maintained at great expence, 
 but sometimes necessary. The Law is not made for the 
 Just, but the deceitfull Knave. . . . 
 
 * Thomas V^illiam Coke of Holkham, known as " Coke of Norfolk." 
 One of the most prominent characters of his time. Afterwards created 
 Earl of Leicester. 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE %y 
 
 ** Oct : 2nd. Your Bro : Capt : and Mrs. N. are just 
 returned from Lynn feast, with their reception and 
 entertainment There they are well pleased. . . . You 
 say Gentlemen make the major part of your society. In 
 this improved age the understandings of women are on 
 most subjects as well cultivated, and their sentiments 
 are generally dehvered with a propriety of language equall 
 to men, and indeed their knowledge, a few parts of learn- 
 ing excepted, is equally extensive and their conversation 
 as void of trifles as their Lords. . . . 
 
 " A few weeks since Dorothea wrote to me, chiefly upon 
 the perfections of her son. . . . 
 
 " Dec. 5th. The postscript of your letter mentions 
 Lord Orford's death. You may therfore wish to know 
 somwhat respecting the disposall of his large property. 
 The Earldom devolves to his uncle, Mr. H. Walpole of 
 Strawberry Hill, who is as you may suppose a very old 
 man. The Norfolk estate, about £10000 p. ann. is with 
 the title, but after the decease of the present Earl when 
 the title drops, it is in doubt who succeeds, whether the 
 Wolterton family or Lord Chumley (sic). Here is great 
 confusion as there are many Wills, Codiciles and Instru- 
 ments. However thus far seems clear that an estate in 
 Dorsetshire of £2000 p. ann. is settled by a deed of con- 
 veyance upon Lord Walpole's eldest son, the member 
 for L5mn, so far it is Good. 
 
 " Your Bro : and Mrs. N. came from Wolterton yes- 
 terday. We are in mourning the same as that family 
 for a fortnight. You may with great propriety do the 
 same. If any ask why ? you may say that the late Lord's 
 granfather. Sir R. Walpole and your great grandmother 
 
88 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 were sister and brother. So stands the consanguinity. 
 The Devonshire estate about £12000 is bequeathed to his 
 mother's family Rolle. 
 
 " Mrs. B[olton] assures me she is pure stout." 
 
 Throughout 1792, the last year of his son's residence 
 at Burnham, Mr. Nelson still continued his plan of 
 economical immovability. All invitations are declined 
 and a little "private chatt about family occurences" 
 are, he tells G. M., the only excuse for letters. 
 
 " If you say," he writes to Catherine in January of 
 that year, " ' Surly my father intends to go to Bath,' 
 the answer is ' No.' The benefit from such a long trouble- 
 some expensive journey is not enough to outweigh the 
 conveniencies of setting quiet at Home and enjoying 
 many blessings, not the Least of which are those I daily 
 derive from Thorpe parsonage. Should any change 
 happen there my felicity would be interrupted. . . . 
 The only comfort I can conceive you had in travel- 
 ling through a cold winter night, was that of what is 
 Called ' Saving three or four guineas.' Of this delusion 
 Beware." 
 
 Later on it is " Lucky the ink was not froze " in Cathe- 
 rine's letter, by the severe weather which has brought 
 on an " obstinate cough . . . even so, that I am con- 
 strained to say that . . . unless I am better in health, 
 obstacles if possible shall be removed . . . and if I 
 should Live another winter shall not spend it here. . . . 
 Your Brother is in Town, Bowing to the High & mighty 
 
GEORGE MATCH AM 
 Fro7n mininture at NcvJiousc 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 89 
 
 potentates,* Mrs. N : is with Mrs. Bolton, who called 
 on me half an hour when on a short visit at Wells. She 
 sais she is in Good health, and I hope will be preserved 
 for Hearty Old Age. . . . Your Bro : will I dare say 
 return in about three weeks. 
 
 "25th March 1792. . . . Now and then you may 
 convey a letter through your Bro: Maurice' Office to 
 your Aunt Mary and you will cheer her in case my Glass 
 should be run out sooner than Hers. In such a case 
 the Interest of what drops to you, for the short time of 
 her course Mr. M. will not regard. 
 
 " Hor : is still in London. His Absence I think an 
 Age, and I doubt whenever I move it must be by mak- 
 ing Him and His very attentive wife to Me, of the 
 party, unless when all things concurr for residing with 
 you." 
 
 The building of " Shepherd's Spring," Catherine's 
 new home, claims his warmest interest, but farming is 
 still held up to be a snare, and G. M. is told " to super- 
 intend his buildings and improvments with his wonted 
 chearfullness, enjoying his easy fortune both in utile 
 and dulce, without speculations to encrease what is 
 already enough. He is no match for the chicanery and 
 cunning of illiberal men. Gentlemen Farmers are for 
 ever boasting of their Great Gain. The Real Farmer is 
 always complaining and He has the profit. . . ." 
 
 This distrust was further increased when others of 
 
 * According to a not improbable story, among the applications 
 which Nelson made for employment at about this time was one which 
 he ended : "If your Lordships should be pleased to appoint me to 
 a cockle boat I shall feel grateful." 
 
go THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 the family were bitten with fanning enterprises. The 
 Boltons were at this time planning to move from Norwich 
 with the same intention, though still in doubt as to their 
 destination ; but the rector continued to allure G. M.'s 
 energies towards other pursuits : " Farming fatigued 
 you and very wisly in my opinion you gave it up. Let 
 building be an amusement. ... As to the workmen 
 they will be positive as Mules ; not to be averted by 
 Reason from their purpose ; No, not by the Ferosity 
 of a S[crivene ?]r ; much less by the Civill argumenta- 
 tions of a Matcham, and indeed they generally are the 
 best judges. . . . 
 
 "... Your Bro : H. has been in London for a few 
 days upon the business of a publick tryall, similar to 
 that of Capt. Kimbers. The person honourably ac- 
 quitted. He returned very fortunately not in the Faken- 
 ham stage, whose passengers were very much hurt by an 
 over throw the night after your Bro : got home. Lady 
 Martin is better ; your invitation was very kindly taken. 
 . . . Travelling is a most weighty business to those who 
 have not a great abundance of spare money. I do 
 believe very many are brought into difficulties by needless 
 journeys. . . . Mrs. N[elson] is happy with her Son 
 these holidays. He improves fast. Norfolk is full 
 beauty as to corn crops. Hay very little." 
 
 In those days of rough-and-ready doctoring it was 
 seldom that large families could be brought up without 
 some losses, and the letter of condolence from Captain 
 Nelson, which follows the death of Catherine's baby son, 
 named after G. M.'s early friend, Henry Savage, expresses 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 91 
 
 the rather matter-of-fact way in which they were 
 regarded. 
 
 tBurnham, Oct. i^th 1792 
 
 *' My Dear Sister : Mrs. Nelson & myself were 
 most truly sorry for the loss you & Mr. Matcham 
 have sustained, but the loss of children is certainly 
 to be expected and we are surprised that from so many 
 complaints which the poor little things are subject to, 
 that so many are reared to Mature age. 
 
 " Nobody that I have seen have felt your loss more 
 then Miss Bolton, who is at Wells with Mrs. Girdle- 
 stone and who always enquires after you in the kindest 
 manner. 
 
 " Mr. Girdlestone . . . Mrs. Bolton desired to say to 
 our Father or myself that she was easier in her mind . . . 
 and that her only regret was leaving Norfolk. Mr. B. 
 has asked £1200 for Thorpe,* but I can hardly think 
 he will get it. . . . Our Brother Suckling is just gone to 
 Cambridge, where he is to reside till next year. He is 
 so attentive to his dutys at College that we hear he is 
 likely to acquit himself with credit to himself & friends. 
 Our Father I can with pleasure say is very tolerable. 
 He rode here for a few hours yesterday. Our Bumham 
 acquaintance are as usual. No marriage likely to take 
 place with any of them. Miss Crowe was at the Sessions 
 ball at Norwich, and danced I understand with Lt. 
 Suckling t of the Artillery and seemed much pleased 
 with her partner. We expect him & his Brother the 
 
 ♦ The Boltons' home near Norwich. 
 
 t Robert George Suckling, R.A. His father, Robert Suckling, 
 Dragoon Guards, was first cousin to Horatio Nelson. 
 
92 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Sailor here for a few days next week and I suppose he 
 will pay the Lady a visit. Mr. Robert Crowe drank tea 
 here by himself last Wednesday, on purpose I beheve 
 to enquire of me about him & when he heard that he was 
 likely to have one time or other £1500 a Year, he told us 
 his sister danced all the evening with him (so we put 
 these things together). Lord Spencer is at Creak and 
 Sir M[ordaunt] M[artin] has sent for Roger to show him 
 to his Relations. I wish they would serve the lad. 
 Love to Mr. M. Yours affec. H. N." 
 
 Though now settled far from their family, the Ringwood 
 party were by no means neglected. Visitors flocked to 
 them, undaunted by the abominable roads, which led 
 from Bath, their usual half-way house. " Nothing but 
 broken rocks ; scarce a day without some accident," 
 the postboys said ; and a lively description of the happy- 
 go-lucky travelling is given to Catherine by one of the 
 Castle Armstrong cousins, when on her way back to the 
 Emerald Isle after a long summer visit at Shepherd's 
 Spring. Guarded by an elderly maid, and provided 
 by her hosts with a map, notebook. Pennant's Guide 
 and telescope, Miss Harriet Armstrong, starting on 
 October 23, arrived at Bath on the " first Cottilon 
 night. Town very full. Margrave and Margravine 
 of Anspach. She looks rather bold, wears a scarlet 
 Habit turban round her Head and looks young. He 
 not old." 
 
 At Gloucester " a riot among the waiters, all drunk " 
 is hardly remarkable, and she is more interested in 
 meeting an unknown old gentleman at early service in 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 93 
 
 the Abbey, who, introducing himself as Mr. Raikes,* 
 offered to attend her to the sights ; amongst others 
 " the new prison, built for the purpose of separating the 
 debtors from the criminals. We talked of Poor Houses, 
 I mentioned one in Norfolk where they separated the 
 Cross from the good tempered people. He said the idea 
 was quite new to him, but was resolved to propose an 
 amendment on the Norfolk plan next day." In speaking 
 of other visitors to Gloucester, Mr. Raikes dwelt especially 
 on the charms of one, in his description of whom Miss 
 Armstrong recognises that very G. M. from whom she 
 had just parted. Mutual comparisons establish the 
 identity, and she leaves her guide " amazed at the adven- 
 ture " and saying that " he will never again omit attend- 
 ing 6 o'clock prayers at the Abbey." Her account of 
 the rest of her journey is vivacious. 
 
 " Passing Snowden, the Driver stopt in the middle of 
 this extensive waste to tell us that when the King was 
 at Cheltenham, a Farmer asked him for this ground to 
 make a kitchen garden, and he would have granted it, 
 but for the presence of a gentleman who knew the extent 
 of it. . . . We arrived at Bridgenorth unhurt, but there 
 
 * This " Mr. Raikes " appears identical with the well-known and 
 much respected printer, to whom Fanny Burney devotes a page or 
 two of her " Diary," when in 1788, he received and guided her over 
 these same Gloucester sights. She calls him " the original founder 
 of the Sunday schools," and " a very principal man in all these benevo- 
 lent institutions," describing him as "somewhat too flourishing, 
 somewhat too forward, somewhat too voluble ; but he is worthy, 
 benevolent, good-natured, and good-hearted, and therefore the over- 
 flowing of successful spirits and delighted vanity must meet with some 
 allowance." 
 
94 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 was a poor Boy broke both leg and thigh the same stage 
 a few minutes before we passed them. . . . We were 
 stopt at the turnpike last night for a long time to wake 
 the people. At length a Foxhunt er with his Huntsman 
 and dogs offered, and proved his Lungs were sound. 
 The people answered his Hollow by * Well spoke, pass 
 on Morris ! ' At Shrewsbury, the Waiter's account 
 ' Madam, you'l excuse me, but nobody ventures out so 
 early as six. Certain robbery.' ' Much obliged, but 
 not affraid. Never had more money than paid the 
 charges of that day.' 
 
 " By chance did not start till after eight. Out popt 
 the Waiter at the first turnpike, cheeked the Driver for 
 keeping the Lady so late and returned to Shrewsbury. 
 I think we have escaped a fright. Got very safe to 
 Borgon, though the Driver was Both Drunk and a Welch- 
 man, so had he been able to speak it would have been 
 of no consequence. With this man we attempted to 
 ascend Pannen Boss. A lucky showr awoke Darby and 
 he drove vastly well. Then over Pennen Maur. It had 
 been Borgon Fair day, so the road was full of farmers, 
 with all of whom our Darby was acquainted and with 
 all whom he shook hands, be it Hills or Vally. ... At 
 Borgon the Mistress knew me ; gave me her own bed 
 and would not charge for it. Crossed the Ferry. A 
 large party of Irish folks came up to order fresh horses 
 forward. The gentleman requested I would take four, 
 but only pay for one pair, as he wished both to get in 
 at the same time. . . . This night we sail for Ireland. 
 Everything there is in a ferment ; the gentlemen who have 
 property are hastening over in hopes their presence may 
 
THE RECTOR LEAVES THE PARSONAGE 95 
 
 have a proper effect on their tenantry. . . . My heart 
 sinks at the thoughts of passing the httle Brook that is 
 to separate me from my affection Mr. and Mrs. M. Ah ! 
 dont say ' fooHsh Harriet ! ' For nowhere can I hope 
 to find, the comfort I have left behind ... we traveled 
 at the rate of 74 miles aday. 296 miles in 4 days. ..." * 
 
 * Miss Armstrong subsequently married her cousin, George Arm 
 strong, who was lolled a few years after by falling in the dark into a 
 dock at Bristol, leaving Harriet with three children. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 WAR WITH FRANCE— CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO 
 
 SEA 
 
 NOVEMBER found the Ringwood couple snug 
 in London. "A kind of contradiction to be 
 quiet in a Crowd, yet so it often happens," 
 writes the Rector. Not wishing to keep Cath- 
 erine long from her children, he foregoes a visit and urges 
 her return to the nursery. " When the journey is almost 
 over, we see with trembling the rugged dangerous path we 
 have traveled thro'. I do ; and acknowledge many things 
 might have been better. . . . When G.M. is in a Book- 
 seller's shop I will thank him to enquire for a translation 
 of the Koran. . . . The Hilborough family are in the 
 Wolterton party. . . . 
 
 "Dr. P.* a good man, notwithstanding Evill reports 
 spread, most by his own family ; however I am hard 
 of belief. ... I am looking forward towards the day 
 of visiting you at Shepherd's Spring. By the time 
 Suckling leaves Cambridge, it will be compleated I hope. 
 WHiilst College Bills come quarterly, Stay at home must 
 be my Maxim." 
 
 The " Inhabitants of the Heath " and all their doings 
 thereon, constantly provided mild jokes among the 
 
 * Probably relating to Dr. Pointz, or possibly to the famous Dr. 
 Priestley, a Unitarian Minister, of whom Captain Nelson had com- 
 plained in a letter to the Duke of Clarence, as an agitator among the 
 country people. 
 
 96 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 97 
 
 Norfolk folk, and the year ends with a note from Brother 
 Horace to Catherine, on their return to that (supposed) 
 desolate region. 
 
 BuRNHAM, Dec. 15, 1792. 
 
 "My Dear Sister: Maurice tells me that you sett 
 off from London on last Wednesday week and are I think 
 now settled at Ringwood for the winter, which we must 
 soon expect to make its appearance. We have had 
 one very heavy fall of Snow, but it has thawed again. 
 
 " Our Good Father is very tolerable, and on Sunday 
 next Thorpe Church opens, when he will do duty twice 
 each Sunday. I hope he will be able to bear it, but he 
 cannot be expected to undergo the fatigues which he 
 has hitherto done. 
 
 " We were at the last Aylsham Assembly, where Lady 
 Durrant made many enquiries after you, and hoped 
 you, Mr. Matcham and the children are well. Mr. Church 
 the Clergyman was also there and made his enquiries 
 and was very sorry to hear that the heath did not answer 
 Mr. M.'s expectations, who he had heard had sold it for 
 little or nothing ; more especially as his friend Mr. 
 Marsh succeeded so well. And Miss Caroline Aufrere 
 and Miss Emily came to Mrs. Nelson (who are grown 
 extraordinary fine Ladies) and were sorry that Mr. 
 Mitcham {sic) had sold his heath, and had taken his 
 passage with all his family for the East Indies : and 
 therefore we were fully employed in convincing these 
 folk that you still intended to stay on the heath I 
 
 *'Mrs. Nelson desires me to say that Miss Durrant 
 is grown a very fine tall young Woman ; Lady D. is 
 
98 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 quite the old Woman, lost Her front teeth. Mr. Gunn 
 we heard winters at Rome. 
 
 " Our Father had a Letter from Mrs. Bolton today, 
 saying how very comfortably she was situated. The 
 Girls are just gone from Norwich, but she did not mention 
 they were to return to Miss Brants. 
 
 " Whenever you and Mr. Matcham chuse to come to 
 Norfolk, Mrs. Nelson will be very happy to receive you, 
 and think you will find the spring much pleasanter then 
 the winter. Mrs. Nelson joins in best respects to Mr. 
 Matcham and love to you with Your affectionate Brother 
 
 " Horatio Nelson. 
 
 " The Martins and Crowes are all single." 
 
 The anticipation of ' a war with France, brought an 
 offer of employment to Captain Nelson in January 1793. 
 From this time onward his father's letters are filled with 
 quotations from " Horace's " reports of his doings. 
 Some of the originals have been published, but these 
 little extracts handed through the family by his father's 
 pen and with his comments, bring one very near in 
 sympathy to the love and pride which the copies carry 
 with them, and the eager reception they met with. 
 Never again was the old Rector to enjoy such close 
 companionship with his son. The separation was sad, 
 and brought the contradictory emotions with it, which 
 those at home have to endure. Pride and pleasure at 
 the Admiralty's " handsome offer," pain and sorrow 
 in the loss awaited both father and wife. 
 
 January 16 finds Mr. Nelson writing to tell Catherine 
 " the result of your Bro; application for a ship, which 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 99 
 
 at last has been attended with all the Success He could 
 hope, or wish. With great politeness and expressions 
 of regard for His Character, the first Lord gave him his 
 choice of two 64 Gun Ships now getting ready. . . .* 
 
 " He, I believe has not quite determined which . . . 
 The St. Albans and the Agamemnon. This Event, though 
 wished for, puts us in a little Hurry. Poor Mrs. Nelson 
 will I hope, bear up with a degree of chearfullness at the 
 separation from so Kind a Husband and my own loss 
 of the constant freindly and filiall regard I have expe- 
 rienced, I do feell. However He himself is in Good 
 Spirits and Health. When He has his commission he 
 will write. He is at Thorpe." 
 
 "Feb. 4th. My Dear: Your Good Brother having 
 received from the Admiralty notice that the Agamemnon 
 is in readiness to be commissioned for Him ; this 
 morning left Thorpe in Health and Great Spirits. 
 
 " He will be Commissioned on Wednesday and means, 
 God willing, to get to Chatham on Thursday and enter 
 into the busy Scene of getting all things in proper Order. 
 If you can send Him any Good Sailors they wiU be accept- 
 able. Severall men in and about the Burnhams are 
 Entered for Him. Indeed his Character commands 
 respect and Esteem wherever it is known. A sonf of 
 Mr. Host the clergyman ; another of Mr. Weatherheads 
 
 * Mahan, p. 8i. " The Admiralty so smile upon me that really 
 I am as much surprised as when they frowned." (Extract from a 
 Nelson letter.) 
 
 j Afterwards Admiral Sir William Hoste. He remained Midship- 
 man with Nelson until 1797. As Commander of the Mutine he first 
 brought the news of the Battle of the Nile, to Naples, three weeks 
 before Nelson's arrival there. 
 
100 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 and ditto of W. Boltons* goes with Him as Midshipman. 
 He has been lucky in securing his old Servant Frank. 
 
 " Poor Mrs. Nelson has indeed a Severe Tryall. She 
 will be with me here and in the parsonage a week or two, 
 then makes a visit at Hilborough and look out for a 
 Comfortable lodging at Swaffham, where she means to 
 reside. The Thorpe House will be in some measure 
 forsaken ; I will not Let it, shall put in a Laboror and 
 keep my Self in this Cottage. This at present is all I 
 know of our domestick arrangements. If the warlike 
 storm blows over, then most likely the course of matters 
 will return to their old channell." 
 
 The preparation of a fleet for sea in those days was 
 a trying time, and the most difficult part was in securing 
 sufficient men for the ships. Nelson's own experience 
 in the Agamemnon at this time is an interesting instance. 
 Between February and April she was at Chatham and 
 then Sheemess fitting out, and even on April 14 she was 
 over a hundred men short of her complement. " Men 
 are very hard to get," the captain said to his brother, 
 " and without a press I have no idea that our fleet can be 
 manned." The activities of the press, or impress service 
 during the first months of the war were so great that 
 by the Navy list of 1794 it is recorded that three flag 
 officers, twenty-nine captains, and fifty-four lieutenants 
 were engaged upon the service. 
 
 Nelson, however, had not much need to rely upon 
 
 * Afterwards Sir William Bolton, Knt., Capt. R.N. Married his 
 (vousin, Catherine Bolton. His father was the Rev. William Bolton, 
 Rector of Hollesby, and later of Brancaster, Norfolk ; an elder brother 
 of Mr. Thomas Bolton. 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA loi 
 
 this method of completing his ship's company. He had 
 made himself popular in Norfolk and in Suffolk, and 
 his energy in collecting good material, brought together 
 a ship's company of Norfolk men mainly. 
 
 In a letter to his old friend Locker he says : "I have 
 sent out a lieutenant and four midshipmen to get men 
 at every seaport in Norfolk and to forward them to 
 Lynn and Yarmouth." The result of his energies was 
 that he had under him in the Agamemnon a band of 
 brothers, men actuated by that most powerful of all 
 motives, local patriotism and pride. And after but a 
 year's service in the Agamemnon Nelson declined Hood's 
 offer to have him promoted to a 74-gun ship, preferring 
 to stay with those who had shared his toils and dangers, 
 reluctant that they should find him willing to leave 
 them after their hard work together. 
 
 War was declared with France on February 11, and 
 Captain Nelson joined the Mediterranean squadron 
 under Lord Hood* in May, taking his step-son, Josiah 
 Nisbet, with him. The Rector was once more deserted, 
 Mrs. Nelson taking flight from the dulness of Burnham, 
 at the same time as her husband and son. For yet 
 another year Suckling's expenses compelled the same 
 retired economy on his father's part, but the strain was 
 telling and shows plainly through all his interest in his 
 children's far-away doings. 
 
 In April he tells Catherine. "... The Lent service 
 I have got through, but was tired, and I must confess, 
 
 * Given command of the Mediterranean Fleet, 1793. Nelson's 
 opinion of him ; " the best officer, take him altogether, that England 
 has to boast of." — Mahan, vol. i. p. 175. 
 
102 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 had not your Bro : S.'s expence pressed Hard, I should 
 have taken a recruit at Bladud's spring. 
 
 ** Captain N : sais his Head and hands are full of business. 
 May it all terminate to his, ours and the publick wish. 
 His advantage (Humanly) speaking will be sure, for the 
 more He is known the better, and respecting his conduct 
 even on the most trying occasions, I am quite at ease- 
 Not that it is the province of a Father to be the Censor 
 o f his children, when their Mature age claim a perfect 
 freedom to act from circumstances they can best judge 
 of the propriety about. . . . Mrs. N : have no wish to 
 return to Thorpe ; there are good reasons against it, 
 but as they please. The Legacy I doubt will make 
 no great addition to their income, though it is very 
 comfortable for Her to look too. 
 
 " My Neighbours, if they may be called so, are fully 
 engaged and pleased with Military people quartered 
 here . . . adieu." 
 
 To G.M. "April 27. . . , Respecting the Mill for 
 throwing up water, I have wrote to a Gentleman at 
 Wisbeck, where there are many engines of that construc- 
 tion, and a person who executes designs of that sort 
 with reputation. ... I have desired the Engineer 
 to write to you upon the subject. 
 
 " There lives in the Adelphi a person Emminent in 
 that way. . . . Mr. C[rowe ?] now and then calls. 
 Much as I love Silence and Solitude, since I have lost 
 my affectionate friend from Thorpe, I have full enough 
 of both." 
 
 " May 5th. ... My accounts of Capt : N :, his present 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 103 
 
 and future destination are so different, yet all well 
 authenticated, that I am in uncertainty and can only 
 Hope and with regard to Himself have perfect confidence 
 as to his publick Conduct. Am glad Mrs. N. is with 
 you. ... I have Mrs. Nelson's very acceptable present 
 of Almonds &c. and thank Her. . . , Shall be glad 
 to Hear a little Chatt from the Ladies. Let them be 
 of Good Cheer. Mrs. N.'s Good Sense will tell Her to 
 view everything on its fairest side." 
 
 Difficulties with regard to Suckling's future arose 
 again, though not, apparently of his own fault. On 
 May 27 the Rector writes to Kitty that " Trinity Sunday 
 he cannot be ordained not for want of Merit in himself, 
 which indeed is worthy of praise, nor any negligence 
 in his friends, but entirely owing to an Omission in the 
 Bishop's Secretary. His reception with the Bishop 
 was very friendly and polite, with a promise that the 
 mistake as soon as set right, should not prevent his being 
 ordained, as he would himself recommend him to some 
 other Bishop, or would have a private ordination to 
 accomodate him. So that I have good Hope in a few 
 weeks he will be in Deacon's Orders and qualified to earn 
 a penny. He has done a Great deall indeed. He was 
 at Hilborough a day or two. ... I tremble for your 
 new house as a habitation. Our sun is not so powerfull 
 in its exhalation as at Bombay. Only two years ago 
 this sleeping place was a Lump of Chaotic Mud. ..." 
 
 Reference to an accident with Horace's pony follows, 
 with cautious congratulations that Shepherd's Spring 
 was at last ready for habitation. Mrs. H. Nelson seems 
 
104 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 to have assisted at their housewarming, but as to its 
 further improvements G.M. is warned not to suffer 
 " the opinion of every Visitor to alter his ; we must in 
 all things derive our pleasures from those feelings which 
 are excited in our own minds, and generally a man is 
 the best councillor to himself. . . . The accident, 
 thank God, was productive of nothing materiall ; I am 
 recovered and upon Duty as usuall. The poney is not 
 vitious, the failure was entirly on my Side. Assure 
 Mrs. Nelson it shall not be Sold, and likewise thank her 
 for all her good intentions and enquiries. I have no 
 intention of going either to Bath or anywhere beyond 
 Thorpe parsonage, which I do sometimes see, though 
 with concern. What will be Suckling's destination I 
 know not. He must begin to think seriously about 
 maintaining himself. I am too poor to employ a Curate 
 at £60 pr ann, when he is ordained. College expence 
 goes on till Xmas 1795. Note, this clears my debt to 
 both Ladies. Adieu. ... A very dry Season." 
 
 In August his hopes for both Suckling and himself are 
 more cheerful. 
 
 " Suckling behaves well and kindly," he writes to 
 Catherine. " The Love Sick Kitty Frampton* is at 
 Burnham ; well for you that Stormy Season is past. 
 ... It is my thoughts to visit your New Creation, 
 and when . . . Xmas is past then, God willing, I mean 
 to go to Bath and So On. Suckling by that time will 
 be I hope in preist Orders so far qualified to do all my 
 parochiall duty, and indeed everything respecting him 
 
 * Her fianU, Lieutenant Suckling, was on board the Agamemnon, 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 105 
 
 has a favourable aspect. The Httle farm and garden 
 at Thorpe he takes great pleasure in. Mrs. Nelson is 
 got to her lodgings at Swaffham, in which no doubt, 
 allowing for circumstances respecting a separation from 
 so Kind a Husband, she will be happy. Her income 
 is now easy and independent. Anecdotes of neighbours 
 I don't deall in, but will venture to communicate a 
 fortunate event for Lady Martin ; Lady Camelford* 
 has settled upon her £100 pr ann for life. 
 
 " Sept. 14. . . . Mrs. Nelson has had a letter dated 
 Aug. 4th from our dear Freind in the Mediterranean. 
 All well, in good Spirits. May providence protect him, 
 his life is precious to Many. 
 
 " My hopes are still kept up respecting Suckling, that 
 former errors are and will be reclaimed. Not only his 
 person, allowing for differences, but also his neatness 
 and taciturnity, calls to my remembrance your dear 
 Sister who is gone before to a Place of Happiness. 
 
 Nothing new occurs worth Staining paper withall. 
 Oct. 5th. . . . Peace and plenty reigns among 
 us. . . . Respecting our dear Capt. the publick papers 
 are all my information. Suckling will be at Camb ; 
 about the 20th inst, and remain there till Xmas, when 
 I hope he will be ordained an honest preist, temperate 
 in all things. . . . 
 
 " Nov. 15 Sunday Even. To begin with our dear, 
 distant, Navall Freind. He makes no other mention 
 
 * Anne, daughter and co-heiress of Pinckney Wilkinson, a rich 
 merchant of Hanover Square, London, and Burnham, Norfolk. She 
 married Thomas Pitt, ist Baron Camelford, politician and connoisseur 
 of art. She died at Camelford House, Oxford Street, in 1803, aged 
 sixty -five, pining from grief at the career of her only son. 
 
 
io6 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 of himself then that He is well. In all other things his 
 word is Sacred. His Ship and Ship's Company have 
 felt some tryalls, and He feels for All. Since the 24th 
 of April they had been only 20 days att Anchor. At 
 Naples He received every Honor from the King down- 
 wards ;* if there had been anj^hing more Substantiall 
 it would not have been amiss, but riches are not his first 
 object. A peace with England is wished even in France, 
 pray God it be not far from All, and I wish our Good 
 King's proclamation may be the means of abating the 
 anger of His Foreign and domestick foes, and that all 
 his Subjects may be as blind to its defects as I am. 
 
 " Your Sister's little boy is quite recovered. She 
 writes of being soon at Hilborough with her husband. 
 . . . Lady M[artin] has now all her family about Her. 
 Good Girls they are. Everilda will soon be married. 
 Lady Camelford has brought it about by her Beneficence. 
 Lord Spencer promises to provide for the son, yet the 
 poor Bart is not easy in all points, what are Honors or 
 any advantages without care to use and manage them 
 properly. You see Lord Orford has given Massing 
 to Hor. Hamond.f It is at last got into the family 
 where it ought to have been long ago. ..." 
 
 " Nov. 30. . . . Though your good G.M. has paid 
 such attention to me, as to deprive himself of the pleasure 
 
 * Captain Nelson's first meeting with Sir William Hamilton, English 
 Minister at Naples, and with Lady Hamilton, took place at this date, 
 September 1793; ; but they apparently did not meet again until Sep- 
 tember 1798. See Mahan, vol, i. p. 372. 
 
 f A distant cousin. The son of Horace Hammond, D.D. (who was 
 the Admiral's godfather), and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Sir Charles 
 Turner, Bart. 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 107 
 
 which planting half a dozen trees gives yet I will only 
 thank him for his letter, without calling him again from 
 his Darlings on my account. The Season is not to be 
 played away if we expect future Harvests. 
 
 " Respecting Suckling, he comes to Bumham (I hope 
 a preist) at Xmas, but must continue another year to 
 vibrate between this place and Cambridge, and He will 
 pass (no doubt) amongst a Crowd of undistinguished 
 preachers, and gain some respect in the village of his 
 Residence from his quiet disposition, his liking to a little 
 conviviality, and his passion for Grey-Hounds and 
 Coursing. As to a Living that is beyond my sight, 
 most likly at a great distance or Never. A living from 
 me he must have, I mean from my purse, for he is not 
 calculated for £50 pr ann. 
 
 "This is not a war for Navall Capts. to get riches, 
 the prizes have hitherto been very trifling." 
 
 The prizes taken at this time were most of them cleared 
 
 as neutrals, which led to much disappointment. About 
 
 the end of September, Captain Nelson had his first fight 
 
 in this expedition ; an engagement with four French 
 
 frigates on his way to Sardinia. This is reported in 
 
 December by his father, who first writes to G. M. on the 
 
 9th. "As soon as the New Year is sett in, I mean to 
 
 hasten to the old Man's Cradle. ... To begin the 
 
 journey beleive me requires resolution. . . . Mrs. 
 
 F[rances] N[elson] is at Wolterton ; the Rector and his 
 
 Lady were last week at the same place. ... I do indeed 
 
 beleive from some experience that they are very good 
 
 people. 
 
io8 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " We are looking every day for Everilda's marriage.* 
 I am quite siiutt out from politicks, having no news- 
 reading Eyes. It is a Long, Long time to have been 
 Fogged at Sea. I dread much for the Health of my 
 Good, very Good Son. He is in the superlative beleive 
 me. . . . Adieu." 
 
 To Catherine. "Dec. 20. . . . To congratulate you 
 upon a happy recovery ... is now added another 
 event, in which we both partake in its happy Issue. 
 Your dear Bro's Safty after the unequall engagement 
 with the French squadron. The number of ships, their 
 force and weight of metall, the publick accounts are 
 exact in, as it was taken from his own letter to your Bro : 
 Maurice, which letter is now before me. ... He assures 
 us his health was never better. In the engagement 
 Agamemnon had only one man killed, and six wounded- 
 Wonderfull he sais. His Ship was Cutt to pieces in 
 sails, rigging &c. 8th of Nov. he was off Tunis Bay, with 
 the Bey or King of that Place. Our fleet was negotiating 
 for leave to attack some ships in his Port. One of the 
 Frigates your Bro : makes no doubt was Sunk, and the 
 remainder rather chose to keep back than renew the 
 attack upon Agamemnon, which might have been, though 
 as to taking her, that was not easy. The Action is spoken 
 off as Spirited, and has gained very great credit to the 
 Captain. Parent all feelings, and the infirmities of age 
 meeting, are a sharp tryall of spirits upon such occasions. 
 
 ♦ *• Jan. 2, 1794. Rev. Thomas Barnard, M.A., of St. John's 
 College, Cambridge, Vicar of Amnell, Herts: ; to Miss Everilda Martin, 
 second daughter of Sir Mordaunt M. of Burnham, co. Norfolk." — 
 Gentleman's Magazine. 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 109 
 
 " Josiah wrote to his Mother ; she is still at Wolter- 
 ton. . . ." 
 
 " Dec. . . . Upon your assurances that it will not 
 be inconvenient for Mrs. Matcham to have me and my 
 Suite (viz Will) sleep at her house, I shall gladly accept 
 the favour, being not a little terrified at the thought 
 of being at a London Inn. I have only to ask of you to 
 acquaint Mrs. M. with my intention of dining with her 
 Saturday sennight, the 4th most likely. ... I leave 
 Suckling in full possession. . . ." 
 
 No wonder the Rector found that it " required resolu- 
 tion " to set out upon any journey however easy, it 
 being now, except for Hilborough and Barton visits, 
 seven years since he had last broken through his quiet 
 life at Burnham. Indeed courage did so far fail him, 
 that the passing visit to London was abandoned, and 
 Mrs. H. Nelson having joined him, " We came Easy 
 and quiet," he reports from Bath on January 9, 1794, 
 *' though with some fatigue. . . . From the Agamemnon 
 we have heard nothing since the 8th of deer. Poor 
 Mrs. N.'s anxiety is no doubt doubled by the unfavor- 
 able events the publick cause have felt. There are 
 Here many partners of Her apprehensions, and 
 many that are really Sorrowing under the Calamities 
 of War. Pray God Avert them from falling Heavily 
 on us. 
 
 "We lodge No. 4 Milsom Street. The place is not 
 full yet. At Tyson's Ball there [were ?] iioo of Sixpences 
 My Freind jojns in Hearty Good wishes. . . . Maurice is 
 at Exeter, but will reside at Guernsey." 
 
no THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 The early months of 1794 gave Captain Nelson the 
 opportunity of showing his daring and leadership in 
 land attacks as well as at sea, during which time his 
 spirited exploits brought him into the greatest favour 
 and friendship with his chief, Lord Hood. The previous 
 year he had been constantly at sea and it may be noticed 
 that his habit of scarcely ever leaving his ship, which 
 has been said to have especially belonged to his later 
 years is quite as marked in the earlier ones. 
 
 "Saturday brought us two letters from the Mediter- 
 ranean," writes his father to the Ringwood party on 
 February 24. " One of the i8th, the other the 30th ult. 
 In the first your brother writes in full hope that Corsica 
 would very soon be in possession of the English. His 
 squadron had destroyed provision, and near subduing 
 a principall Fort, but unhappily on the 28th J any a 
 terrible Gale dispersed the fleet. The Victory Lord 
 Hood in Great danger, the transport ships were Scattered 
 they knew not where ; Agamemnon had all Her Sails 
 torn ; was obliged to get to Leghorn. However when 
 he wrote he sais ' We are all well, and I hope to get 
 to Sea in a day or two ' so that News may be soon ex- 
 pected. Horace declares since the 24th of April, not 
 one day has he been on shore except for provision.* 
 The men are Fagged, but if this work is prosperous 
 
 * * ■ I have not been one hour at anchor for pleasure in eight months," 
 he says in one letter, and later, in the middle of March, nearly three 
 months after the Agamemnon's last hasty visit to Leghorn, he writes 
 again (to Lord Hood) ; " We are really without firing, wine, beef 
 pork, flour, and almost without water. . . . Not a man has slept 
 dry for many months." 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA iii 
 
 he hopes they will be allowed a little releif from Hard 
 Service. 
 
 "Maurice's appointment is Assistant Commissary 
 as it was Gazetted." 
 
 The Shepherd's Spring party paid a visit to Bath the 
 same month, to be returned in April, and in the interval 
 while his daughter-in-law was also away on a visit the 
 Rector writes : " Bath March 28. . . . The abstracts 
 I have received from your Brother's letters sent to Mrs. 
 Nelson, contain every pleasing intelligence respecting 
 his Health, his military Success and the Satisfaction 
 he has in going through those active Scenes now engaged 
 in. Lord Hood has expressed much approbation of 
 his conduct and given him as much preference as the 
 service can admitt. The letters were dated March ist 
 off Bastia, which place will soon fall he thinks. On 
 the 19th February they landed and took a town a mile 
 and half from Bastia, there were in it 1200 troops which 
 being Routed the Captain Hoisted the English Colors.* 
 When they fired at Bastia, it was returned from 29 Guns 
 and 4 Mortars. They entirly destroyed a Battery of 
 6 guns which stood a mile from the town. Killed many 
 and beat down the houses. On the 25th the Fort fires 
 both at noon and Even with Balls and shot. The Aga- 
 memnon was very much shaken, was in action 3 hours, 
 but so fortunate as to loose no men, though the ship 
 was often struck. Lord Hood thinks the Army can 
 take the Town without sending the Ships. These are 
 the cheif occurences mentioned. It is a severe Service 
 
 * The village and tower of Miomo. 
 
112 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 yet it does not seem as if our Country could procure an 
 Honorable Peace. 
 
 " Mrs. N. returns Here on Monday. . . . Her Summer 
 Rout will be fixed, my motions depending theron." 
 
 *' April 5th. My dear : With your order from Oliver's, 
 I have sent for your Acceptance Dr. Blair's Sermons ; 
 discourses upon Religious and Morall Subjects, wrote 
 in so pleasing and elegant a Stile that they at once 
 Administer pleasure and profitable Instruction to the 
 Reader. 
 
 " Mrs. N. is returned and Have from your Bro : another 
 letter, date March 4th. Bastia not in possession of 
 the English. The army Lord Hood sais can take it 
 without hazarding the Ships &c. . . . Mrs. N. goes 
 to Plymouth the first part of the summer. . . . Then 
 my visitation shall take place." 
 
 This long delayed visit to Shepherd's Spring was at 
 last paid and at the end of May he was back at Burnham, 
 whence he addresses deferential thanks for their enter- 
 tainment. The grandchildren are spoken of as "very 
 promising and shrifty plants." At Cambridge he had 
 " met Suckling ; well, and what gave me the highest 
 gratification is that the Tutor spoke of him in terms of 
 great respect " and concludes abruptly as *' It has been 
 Levee morning. ..." 
 
 On May 19 Bastia had at last been captured ; its 
 four thousand men surrendering to one thousand troops 
 and marines and two hundred seamen. The months 
 of June to August were occupied with the siege and 
 capture of Calvi ; during which the attack of July 10 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 113 
 
 resulted in Captain Nelson's wound and loss of his right 
 eye, which he made light of to his people. 
 
 Another of his letters dated May 4th off Bastia, to 
 Mrs. Nelson, who was still at Plymouth; is quoted by 
 Mr. Nelson on June 4 to Catherine, then in London. 
 
 " * My health was never better, seldom so well ; the 
 Expedition I have no fears about the Success off ; it 
 will be victory, Bastia will be Ours ; the House what 
 will they say, for allowing a few brave men unsupported 
 to be on a Service like this ? Our Ships are Moored 
 across the Harbour's mouth, and from each Ship three 
 boats Guard every night. We have many deserters 
 who paint the Horrid Situation the Bastians are in, but 
 the French behave so 111 to the Corsicans they are afraid 
 to surrender. My ship is on the North Side of the town; 
 Lord Hood is on the South. Bastia has been Bombarded 
 and connonaded one month. My Sailors have been 
 hard worked, draging Guns up Incredible Heights. I 
 shall most probably be in England in August ' thus far 
 your Brother. 
 
 " Mrs. N. writes in Good Spirits, she wishes to know 
 your address in Town. I shall be rejojced to hear you 
 are safe at Shepherd's Spring, and that the dear children 
 are well, the Servants faithfull, the Horses without any 
 Injury and the Grass sprouting." 
 
 Catherine brought her little son to Burnham before 
 their return to Ringwood, where Mrs. H. Nelson was 
 proposing to pay them a second visit, " which I hope 
 will be mutually agreable," writes the Rector. . . . 
 " The summer months will pass pleasantly in the company 
 
 G 
 
114 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 of freinds of good sense; sound judgement and chearfull 
 converse; and also prepare you for the more retired 
 scenes of the Nursery and the Lawn with your play- 
 full pratlers ; amusements that can never Cloy. . . . 
 Hor: once hinted he might be home in August, but 
 as to peaceable times the Hope is distant. . . . 
 William speaks of your Sister as in Good Health; 
 a very nice house and good crops, but a very retired 
 Spott. 
 
 "Now and then remind Granson George of his visit 
 to Bumham when he understands perfectly the word 
 of command.'' 
 
 The Bath visits, henceforth to become a yearly institu- 
 tion certainly leave their mark of an increased brightness 
 in the Rector's tone. More easy circumstances, together 
 with Suckling's help, made Burnham a pleasanter retreat 
 than it had been since Horace's departure. Farming 
 is not as before entirely discredited. "The harvest 
 is begun and crops are plentifull (peas excepted with 
 us)," he writes (to " dear Kitty ") on August 7. " Turnips 
 will not be bad in generall and everything has a pleasing 
 aspect as to provisions for the ensuing year, and I hope 
 there are but few if any Murmurers in the politicall 
 world, seeing all ranks and stations eat, drink and are 
 merry. . . . Suckling received a letter last night from 
 before Calvee {sic); dated June 28, all well, but the 
 Batteries not opened. We hope ere now that the work 
 is successfully finished, and your sister Nelson always 
 looks upon the fairest side and sees Her Good Husband 
 with her Son returning chearfull, happy and well. He 
 
CAPTAIN NELSON GOES TO SEA 115 
 
 tells Suckling that in the fall of the year he hopes to 
 see him at Burnham. ... 
 
 " The Mr. Sucklings from Aylsham have made a visit 
 at Thorpe, and very civily wished to establish an intimacy 
 with your Bro : S : ; they seem sober, well behaved young 
 men. ... I can tell you nothing more comfortable 
 then that Suckling (is) perfectly regular; quiet; good 
 natured and free from ostentation of any species. Mrs. 
 B. I can hear nothing of, she never writes, but still 
 hope to see her by and by, . . . Dr. Pointz has pur- 
 chased Mr. Hatche's library . , . and other books. 
 He has made a Hansom room at Creak, detached from 
 the house and intends the collection for the use of the 
 publick under certain regulations. G. M. and his letter 
 writing pen have quarreUed and never meet upon good 
 terms, therfore I depend upon you as Secretary for the 
 Home department. If your Coz Martins, chearfuU 
 women, are with you, remember me to them. From 
 Mrs. H. N. hope to hear soon ; to the Major Domi and 
 the little Fry as well as to yourself and the aforesaid 
 Lady I am with much affection 
 
 "Edm. Nelson." 
 
 " Sept. 25th. My dear Kitty. ... As soon as Mrs. 
 Nelson has fixed about our House and feell a wish to get 
 to Bath, she will give me notice and I am ready. What 
 ever preliminaries she settles they have my hearty con- 
 currence. . . . Next week I mean to visit Hilborough 
 for a few days. Suckling accepts for the L3mn feast 
 on Monday next. 
 
ii6 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 '* The wedding at Holkham* was, and is to be in Stile. 
 The pair went to Mr. Button's house; are to return 
 by and by with some ceremonious Splendor, £50 Mr. 
 Carew's present from the bridegroom Wells Sailors. 
 £20 ringers and in proportion." 
 
 * "Sept. 15. At Holkham, co. Norfolk, Thomas Anson, esqr., 
 of Shugborough, co. Stafford, to Miss Anne Coke, youngest daughter 
 of Thomas-William C.esqr., of Holkham, M.P. for Noiidlk."— Gentle- 
 man's Magazine. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 THE RECTOR AT BATH 
 
 IN the best of spirits Mr. Nelson prepared for a 
 return to Bath in the autumn of 1794. His 
 family was prospering and his hopes cheerful. 
 Horace was likely to return. Suckling was satis- 
 factory and helpful. Maurice making steady progress, and 
 William able to start negotiations for purchasing the 
 advowson of Hilborough from the rest of the family, 
 a plan much approved by his father. "... £1200 
 is talked of." He writes to Catherine on October 3. 
 " William hints not so much, but of this herafter. William 
 and Suckling both at Lynn feast ; an overflowing of 
 company beyond what former times could boast. Our 
 Norfolk volunteer company s fill fast. 
 
 " The foreign foe seems not so much dreaded as enemies 
 in our own bosom. Indeed I shall be made happy to 
 see it (the purchase of the advowson) settled and they 
 will be made comfortable in viewing the Growing Rector* 
 who is a fine boy." 
 
 " Oct. II . . . part of my debt to your good husband 
 is liquidated, I am glad ; and he has done his part towards 
 the negotiation for the advowson, I thank him. . . . 
 The Victory you hear is coming, and there is a Hope 
 our dear Hor. will accompany her, an Event many there 
 
 * Horace, afterwards Viscount Trafalgar, only son of Rev. William 
 Nelson. 
 
 117 
 
ii8 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 are who will rejojce at, and he himself be a partaker of 
 those feelings which none but the Sincere and Good 
 Heart can know. I have to ask the favor of Mr. M. to 
 buy one doz bottles of the best old Mountain wine . . . 
 let the hamper be directed to Mary Nelson, Hilborough 
 . . . place at the expence to my current account. . . , 
 My Movment depends upon Mrs. Nelson. If her resi- 
 dence is not at Bath, then my being there is upon a small 
 scale, if she jojns me it will be more enlarged. If your 
 Bro: wish to see Bumham, then I make no journey as 
 yet ; if he is westerly, so am I, and am ready to start 
 even though the thought makes me sometimes tremble. 
 . . . When you see Mrs. Fisher assure her of my hope 
 of still being favored with her freindship." 
 
 Then follows the despatch of some Burnham treasures 
 to enrich the new garden of Shepherd's Spring ; seeds, 
 roots, " slifts " and plants all labelled. "... Suckling's 
 terms at Cambridge are all finished, one fortnight at 
 Xmas excepted. I thank God always for this event, 
 so much in the young man's favor ; once more a way 
 to get through life in a middle station is opened for him I 
 may he walk prudently therein. ..." 
 
 By November 28 he was once more in Bath, and 
 wrote : 
 
 " I begin to feell myself at Home and quiet. Mrs. 
 Nelson truly supplies a kind and watchful child over 
 the infirmities and whimsies of age. . . . Amongst 
 the few I have met here is Mrs. Baddeley who tells me 
 Scrivener is gone into Suffolk to live with Spinks, a 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 119 
 
 miserable wretch; a man who through life has spurned at all 
 the Gifts of Heaven which has been offered him. . . . 
 
 " No letters by Lord Hood from your Bro : His poor 
 wife is continually in a Hurry and frett about him and 
 I find many others are the same and worse. In such a 
 state the blessings of a Marriage union are thus made 
 a torment and most likely the Health is destroyed or the 
 ^emper soured so as never to be recovered. 
 
 " William and his wife are at Wolterton a pleasant 
 visit to them. . . . Return Mrs. M. [Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Matcham] many thanks for her friendly reception of 
 me. I am a troublesome guest. . . . Suckling is at 
 Burnham write somtimes to him and you may send 
 his letter through the Custom house by permission. . . ." 
 
 " Your Bro : " reports Mr. Nelson to Catherine in a 
 letter written in the same month, " then at Leghorn 
 repairing a womout Ship and sickly men. He himself 
 quite well, tired of laying in port and wishing to meet 
 the Toulon Fleet. When the ships get up the Mediter- 
 ranean he will certainly be releived and we shall rejojce 
 to see Him, though but for a short season, as no man 
 in such a time of war and tumult can rest long if in the 
 Military Line. 
 
 " A letter latly from Mrs Bolton tells us that a treaty 
 of Marriage is concluded between Mr Robert Rolfe* 
 and the Widow Mott, a wealthy, jointured Dame; and 
 must be a pleasing prospect to your Good Aunt. ..." 
 
 The "national calamity," as Captain Nelson called 
 
 * Rev. Robert Rolfe, son of the Rev. Robert Rolfe, a former Rector 
 of Hilborough, and his wife Alice, sister of the Rev. Edmund Nelson. 
 
120 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 it, of Lord Hood's return home from the Mediterranean 
 in October, was followed by the hauling down of his flag. 
 
 The change at the Admiralty in the early part of 1795, 
 Lord Spencer succeeding Lord Chatham, had much to 
 do with the trouble. Hood's letters to Spencer asking 
 for greater force to be sent to the Mediterranean were 
 charged with a good deal of bitterness, and ultimately 
 he begged to be relieved of his command as "with a 
 force so inadequate he could not consider his professional 
 character safe." That he felt himself hardly treated 
 is shown in his subsequent correspondence. In a letter 
 to Captain Wolseley he wrote : " Lord Spencer is not 
 content with marking me with indifference and inatten- 
 tion, but carries it to all who have any connection with 
 me ; you will therefore do well, in any application you 
 may make to his Lordship, not to make mention of my 
 name."* 
 
 Admiral Hotham took over the command, a poor 
 substitute, who irritated his more dashing subordinate 
 by the cool unenterprising methods which he pursued. 
 Meanwhile the hope of seeing Horace in England grew 
 more uncertain. 
 
 "Mrs. N. receives Great attention from Lady Hood 
 &c.," writes Mr. Nelson in December, " with which she 
 is pleased. Agamemnon your Bro : sais must come home 
 being old and decrepid, it will do so when other ships 
 can be got out, but I see not when that will be. He 
 himself was never so well as in Italy. 
 
 " We shall receive you and your Good Husband with 
 
 * J. K, Laughton. " Nelson and his Companions in Arms," p. 39. 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 121 
 
 joy. As Granson G. means to jojn the party I guess 
 his school! education has not yet begun ; therefore he 
 must keep under all his angry passions and submitt to 
 the discipline of Bath, which is to be quiet; polite and 
 under the command of superiors. When I was at Hil- 
 borough, my Sister entrusted me with a Silver Tankard; 
 which she desired might be given to your son Edmund 
 as a mark of her Love towards the name, and that he 
 might be taught to know it was his great Granfather's*. 
 
 "... Mr. Scrivener is got into Suffolk. Beautif5dng 
 with zeal and order the family Mansion. . . . Farwell." 
 
 All through 1795 the little Bath gazette ripples on, 
 for Mr. Nelson did not return to Burnham in that year. 
 The bitter cold and a hoped-for visit from Catherine 
 take up his thoughts in January. But Horace's doings 
 always hold first place. Horace, who himself not forgetful 
 of those at home, sent during this same cruel winter a 
 gift of £200 to his father for the poor folk of Burnham. f 
 
 " January 21. . . . At present Mountains of Snow 
 separate us, and it is not likly that roads will be safe 
 very soon. Colds are universall here ; I have a small 
 share ; Mrs. N: is well ; we both feell the severity of 
 the season. What the difference might be at Burnham 
 I cannot say, but at Bath I never experienced such 
 weather. But we get out to our Neighbours. Had last 
 night a small party, amongst others Lady Saumarez,J 
 
 * This cup is now at Newhouse. 
 f Lathom Browne, " Nelson," p. 88. 
 
 I Martha, daughter of Thomas le Marchant of Guernsey, and wife 
 of Sir James, afterwards Lord de Saumarez. 
 
122 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 who made kind enquiries and freindly expressions towards 
 you. . . . Mr. Sutherland has been a little distance 
 from Bath and sais it is ten degrees colder then we feel 
 it. All provision is very dear, but thank God not scarce, 
 and the contributions to the poor so Bounteous and 
 Benevolent that the parish of Walcott do give under the 
 direction of a committee £ioo pr week in bread, coals and 
 potatoes. Granson G. must know that many poor babes 
 are Crying for those Good things He quarrells with. . . . 
 Farwell. Agamemnon is got to Sea upon a cruise. 
 
 "Things here are much encreased in price, although 
 the place is very empty and times do bear a gloomy 
 aspect. . . . Mrs. N : meets with some of her freinds 
 and I hope will pass away the time from our Dear and 
 best Relation Chearfully." 
 
 Early in February he was full of preparations for the 
 visit of Kitty and her family, engaging rooms " very near " 
 lodging for the manservant and good stables for their 
 horses. " Monday is Ball night remember. Tuesday 
 is left Open. Wed : have engaged a party of yr old 
 Acquaintance here. It must be a Week given up to 
 Frolick." 
 
 And so it was, for Kitty brought cheerfulness and 
 joUity with her, and the visit was a happy one. It is 
 not until May of that year that regular correspondence 
 reappears. Then Mr. Nelson writes : " We are fixed 
 for one year at 51. It is said yr Bro : H : is coming home 
 with a convoy in the Cicero {sic)* I wish it may be so. 
 He has done enough and acquitted himself so Well that 
 
 ♦ At about this time the French ship Ca Ira had been captured 
 by the Agamemnon and consorts. Possibly this is the ship meant. 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 123 
 
 a hope of some reward may be with reason and justice 
 expected. ..." 
 
 "July 28. . . . You will probably have heard of 
 the death of poor Edm. Rolfe,* a severe affliction for 
 my good Sister. ... Sir R. Beddingfeild have made 
 over the next presentation to Cloy to Mr. Robert Rolfe. 
 . . . From the Med. 22nd ult. All Well, but nothing 
 as to yr Bro : return to England. I begin myself to 
 wish it. 
 
 "Charlott Nelson is entered for Schooll at Norwich. 
 Horace goes to Bury next month ; a work well begun 
 is half done. . . . Mrs. N : is in health and spirits."' 
 
 " August loth. . . . We have had letters from the 
 Medn : date July 14, the day after the Engagement, 
 Your Good Bro : was in very Great danger of being 
 Captured on the 9th, f when Chaced by 17 Sail of the 
 Line for 24 Hours, but very fortunately got safe to port. 
 All His Seamanship was necessary on this occasion. 
 On the 13th the whole Fleet were ordered to give the 
 enemy Chace ; A gam** with 6 others Led the Van and 
 came up with the enemys Rear. In this partiall and 
 running Fight we had but few men Killed, A gam** noneS 
 one wounded. When within Grape Shot the Signall 
 was made to give over the Chace. The Enemy had 
 the weather Gage (sic) and soon made their own coast. 
 
 * The Rev. Edmund Rolfe, B.A., of Cranworth, Norfolk, Rector 
 of Cockley Clay, Norfolk. Eldest son of the Rev. Robert Rolfe and his 
 wife Alice, sister of the Rev. Edmund Nelson. He died July 1795, 
 aged thirty-two, leaving two sons by his wife Jemima Alexander; 
 the elder was created Baron Cranworth in 1850, and became Lord 
 Chancellor, 1852. 
 
 t Mahan (p. 152) says the chase was on the night of July 6--y. 
 
124 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Hor : as usuall regretts that More was not done. A 
 Finer fleet he sais never Graced the Ocean. . . . Mrs. 
 N : is well and chearfull." 
 
 " Sept. nth. Our letters from yr Bro Hor are of 
 the 7th ult, Vado Bay, in Health and Spirits, assisting 
 the Austrian Generall* in driving the French from the 
 River of Genoa, in Managing his own little Squadron 
 & writing letters. He loves to be Active. Respecting 
 the Prize you allude too, captured from Marsailes to 
 Genoa, if it is condemned it will bring him some Gain. 
 As to his coming to' England, unless Agam*" is ordered 
 Home and no Commission goes out for another Ship 
 for Him to command, it is not likly. His present station 
 is creditable, and perhaps a little Gainfull, and if there 
 is no peace. He will have no rest. 
 
 "The unexpected Event of poor Mrs. Searles death, 
 vacated a House which I very much liked, and Her 
 Heir & Nephew, Ch. Searle, being disposed to Let the 
 House Furnished, I Have Hired it for three years. It 
 is a High rent. But my children have so often Urged 
 my Residence Here, that I hope they will not accuse 
 me of Great extravagance. Yr Sister assures me Mr. 
 Bolton is better in Health. Robt. Rolf will Soon be 
 United to the Widow Mott. Burnham News Suckling 
 is very Sparing of. I doubt Mr. Raven has not done 
 kindly to his Daughter Newton. 
 
 " Allison, yr Bro : 2nd Leiut is come Home very 111." 
 
 "Oct. 15 1795. ... We had a letter fro yr Bro: 
 H : dated Sep. 16 then in the Mole of Genoa, going to 
 
 * This was De Vins. Nelson, when he first saw the General, thought 
 him an able man. (Southey, " Life of Nelson," in Hutchinson's 
 Library of Standard Biographies, p. 91.) 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 125 
 
 consult the British Minster.* He is constantly wishing 
 that more was done. Mrs. Bolton expresses a warm 
 wish that she could see you after so long an absence. 
 The Rector after Xmas has fixed a visit to you as well 
 as London and here. Mr. Rolfe is married. ... Mr. 
 Raven dies worth about £13000, much less than was 
 expected. Bett Thurlow is coming to Mrs. N., so shall 
 have a Burnham Gazette soon. . . ." 
 
 *' Oct. 24th. I certainly live here at a very considerable 
 expence, justifiable only by my experience that, if the 
 day of Life is not lengthened, it may in its decline be 
 somewhat freer from those dark shades of pain and 
 bodily affliction, which are incident to age. Morover 
 my Son's wife, whose attention to me is very kind ; she 
 certainly passes the days of Her Good Husband's absence 
 more comfortably Here, than in any other situation. 
 
 "We have letters from Hor^: dated 29th ult. from 
 Leghorn. He tells us that the Austrian Generall had 
 after an engagement of ten Hours Gained a Post from 
 the enemy, fixed on the Heights, and he hopes if the 
 army can be prevailed upon to act vigorously, we shall 
 get forward. But He adds, the politicks of foreign courts 
 are Governed by Interest more than the Hope of con- 
 quest. Horace is always eager that more should be 
 done, but thinks he has done all in power as an In- 
 dividual! under the command of a Superior, Unless 
 there should be a promotion of Admirals, I see no pros- 
 pect of his coming home. ..." 
 
 * Mr, Drake, British Envoy to Genoa, afterwards Envoy Extra- 
 ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Munich. He 
 received pension of £iSOO a year, and in addition pensions of ;£ioo 
 a year were granted to each of his sons, in consideration of the dis- 
 tinguished services Mr. Drake rendered abroad. Lord Nelson was 
 godfather to one of Mr. Drake's sons. 
 
126 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 "November 19th. . . . Your Bro : assures us his 
 Health was never so perfect as in the Italian air, and 
 adds that in the Spring Agamemnon is ordered Hojne. 
 Poor AlHson is dead. Frank discharged for drunkeness. 
 Bath begins to fill. The Royall pair are retired people 
 and add but little to the Gaiety of the Place. Mrs. N : 
 is perfectly well, and as the winter Campaign is begun; 
 is often going to places where she can see a little variety. 
 We expect the Mansfeilds to be neighbours, what are 
 Here called Good.'* 
 
 At the beginning of 1796 the family were still looking 
 for the return of the sailor brother, and Mr. Nelson was 
 undecided as to his own plans till he knew those of his 
 son. In February he wrote to Catherine : 
 
 " For know you that until your Bro : returns to a 
 home, it is my wish that his wife would consider herSelf 
 to be only at her home where I am, hoping she would feell 
 herSelf more at ease and comfortable than by frequent 
 changes, and I hope she will accept my endeavours to 
 make her as comfortable as the necessity of her situation 
 will admitt of." When^ however, she left Bath with 
 other friends, he looked forward to a return to quiet 
 Bumham; and meanwhile awaited visits from others of 
 the family " whenever G. M. can rob his Nursery of his 
 attention." Maurice also " from Exeter has excursed (sic) 
 a day or two to visit us. He is perfectly pleased with 
 his Appointment and has now a very happy prospect 
 that in future He shall secure the Income of a Gentleman. 
 He has had a hard pull to attain the Summitt, from 
 whence he could take a pleasing view." 
 
.MRS. SUSANNAH BOLTON. I755-1813. A(iED 58 
 From a Jiiiniature hi the possession 0/ Karl Xelsmi 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 127 
 
 In April William, too, appeared upon the scene, with 
 the wish of carrying his father back in his own carriage, 
 " that he might accomodate me with an easy conveyance 
 into Norfolk; but as my exact time of moving is un- 
 certain ... I declined the proposal! " 
 
 The year was full of family meetings, and an expected 
 visit from the Boltons to Shepherd's Spring having been 
 postponed, Catherine went off instead to her sister's 
 Suffolk home, returning with pleasant reports for their 
 father's satisfaction, who responds thereupon that "the 
 circumstances of your Suffolk journey gives me hopes 
 that your dear Sister has nothing farther to trouble her 
 than the unavoidable cares of so large a family." 
 
 Bumham affairs were being conducted peacefully 
 enough under Suckling's government, and Mr. Nelson's 
 anxiety was now chiefly centred in pleasing his daughter- 
 in-law and awaiting news from the Mediterranean. 
 
 " Mrs. N : " he writes to Catherine from Bath on 
 February 10; "is, I hope, in pretty good Health, tho' 
 now and then a little Nervous, from anxious expectations, 
 Hopes and fears; passions not always under the Control] 
 of Human wisdom. We have not had any letters since 
 the date of dec. 30, nor has the publick print said where 
 Agam^ now is. 
 
 " Lady Saumarez; with her Father & Son; a fine jolly 
 boy, have Called upon me, which I took kindly, as 
 it was with their wonted expressions of regard to 
 you. Our King Street freinds are very civill, ex- 
 cept Mrs. Goddard, who has Cutt ; an Odd old dame 
 
128 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 you know ; if we would play, to be Sure it would be 
 better. . . ." 
 
 " Feb. 15th. ... As you make no mention of the 
 progress of Inoculation, I hope all goes well. . . . Letters 
 fro Agam^ Jan. 19th. Then going to St Florenzio (sic)* 
 to jojn the Fleet. The French will be able to send Great 
 Force this Spring, and will make efforts to get into Italy 
 no doubt, but Sir J. Jarvisf wishes to keep yr Bro. in 
 the Medn. He has (been) offered either the St. George 
 or Zealous, but I believe has declined taking either, and 
 still has an Eye towards coming Home, if it can be done 
 with Honor. I wish it may be so. Mrs. N. is well and 
 jojns in best respects. ..." 
 
 " Feb. 19. ... In case your Bro: should come into 
 any English Port, no doubt but Mrs. N. would directly 
 go there, and my plan might be changed. . . . Mrs. N. 
 is under an engagement to return to Plymouth. In that 
 case I am at liberty ... In so fine a planting season; 
 Mr. M. win I doubt scarcely prevaill with himself to give 
 up a day. On my account I would not have it so. I am 
 troblesome eno. already. . . . Mrs. Nelson is going 
 this even: to Mrs. Western's Great Rout." 
 
 " Feb. 29. . . . Of the accommodation I could give 
 yr Suite, I have a stable and can lay in Horse meat and 
 
 * San Fiorenzo. 
 
 f Sir John Jervis, afterwards Lord St. Vincent. This veteran had 
 first entered the Navy in 1744, but was still in the midst oi a stirring 
 and honourable career. After the Battle of St. Vincent he com- 
 manded at Gibraltar, where from his constant energy and appearance 
 at his work at the dawn of day, decorated with the insignia of his rank, 
 he was known as " The Morning Star." As late as 1806, he was in 
 command of the Channel Fleet, and died, 1823, aged ninety- 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 129 
 
 get a private bed for the servant. ... All Hangs in 
 doubt as to coming Home. He has declined taking 
 either the St George or Zealous. ... If a promotion 
 takes place, that will determine him, but there is reason 
 to fear the Medn Fleet will meet with much work the 
 ensuing summer." 
 
 "April 3rd. ... As things now are Mrs. Nelson 
 means to leave Bath about Midr and reside at Clifton 
 for the Summer months. Most likely I shall go to 
 Burnham. ... If not already known, it must give 
 you a real pleasure to be told that Maurice is reinstated 
 in his former place and rank in the Navy Office, and has 
 £300 pr ann. settled upon him. ..." 
 
 "Ap 26 . . . our Hopes are revived by telling us, 
 as far as an Officer can promise, He (Captain Nelson) 
 means to be in England before Xmas. Mrs. N : is now 
 at BristoU for a few days . . . and as my movments 
 shall depend on Hers, it is very uncertain when or whether 
 at all I go to Burnham this year. ..." 
 
 ''May 26. . . . My intention is to go to Burnham 
 early in July, if Mrs, N :'s summer route is fixed to our 
 satisfaction. I say Ours, as it would be much pleasure 
 to see her with yr Good Bro : in that perfect health she 
 now enjoys. His return home may be expected surly 
 before Xmas, when all the various domestick and family 
 concerns can be more firmly settled than in his absence. 
 ... I will send George's Agamemnon with the &c, . . . 
 Our Cozen Lucas* will very soon take to her a third 
 
 * Charlotte, daughter of Bartholomew Nelson of King's Lynn, a 
 first cousin of the Rev. Edmund Nelson. She had married first Edward 
 Pearce, and secondly, the Rev. William Lucas of Burgh, Norfolk. 
 
 H 
 
130 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Husband, Mr. Sherstone; all preliminaries are settled. 
 She will be his third venture, the children eight between 
 them, But a Coach and four; with a large Settlement; 
 outweighs every appendage that looks like an Encum- 
 brance. Pooj Andrews has been very unsuccessfuU 
 with his Miss Adams. After leading him so far as within 
 Sight almost of Hymen's Temple, the Lady declared her 
 affections were engaged elsewhere.'* 
 
 " Bath June ist . . . not the least prospect of yr 
 Bro : coming Home. No, not whilst the war continues, 
 nor do I see it could be any use to Him, tho' his friends 
 may wish it. Roger Martin was safe under Mr. M.'s 
 hospitable roof, but I see no pretence Lady Cam[elfor]d 
 had to ask it; except her Title gave it. . . ." 
 
 *'July 29. . . . Seldom without a fire. . . . Our 
 letters come very slow from the Med : 5 and in the present 
 arrangement of the navy there, we know not where to 
 direct letters, therefore can only hope nothing adverse 
 has, or will happen to our dear friend. ... I shall be 
 glad to hear of yourself and chopping Boy; as the Father 
 called him. . . ." 
 
 *'Aug 9th. . . . Mrs. N. sett off this morning for 
 Lime,* Sea Bathing, and I am about to take wing to 
 Burnham till her return. . . . Yesterday reed a letter 
 from the Commodore, all well the 21st June. Has 
 changed his ship for the Captain a 74. Agam*" coming 
 home."t 
 
 In August Mr. Nelson at last returned to Burnham; 
 
 * Lyme Regis, in Dorsetshire. , 
 
 f Nelson shifted his broad pendant from the Agamemnon to the 
 Captain, on June ii, 1796, at San Fiorenzo. 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 131 
 
 after an absence of twenty-one months. From the first 
 letter he wrote to Kitty when he got back to Norfolk, 
 it would appear that he was stronger in health than 
 two years before, for the journey seems to have caused 
 him but little fatigue. It is dated August 23, and the 
 Rector records : 
 
 " I stoped 2 days at Hilborough; and can only say of 
 my Sister, that she is a feeble old woman, yet may con- 
 tinue with care to go on in the same way she is in now, 
 severall years. Mrs. Rolfe & family are well, and the 
 comfortable situation of her Son Robert is doubtless 
 a consolation for the Loss of poor Edm*^, whose family 
 live at Bury. William and his very Notable Wife, are 
 busy in their Harvest and perfectly Happy in 2 very 
 fine children." 
 
 This letter also gives an account of the youngest son; 
 who had been left in charge at Bumham. 
 
 "Suckling's Silent and reserved temper, renders it 
 difficult to discover the real Sentiments of His mind. 
 He is in Good Health, and has the appearance of a Sober, 
 well behaved man ; is by no means deficient in his pro- 
 fessionall duty, and I believe is well with the farmers. 
 His Income you know, must all come from Me, it would 
 be a happy event to Secure Somthing more permanent. 
 The West end of this town, take but little notice of Him; 
 They seem elevated with the Supposed Smiles of their 
 Noble connections. Mrs. Barnard is upon a visit there; 
 2 jolly Boys and a third not far off. Mrs. Smith the 
 
132 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Sister, is in a very Languishing state, will hardly survive 
 the autumn. Kitty Fram : is with Mr. C[ro]we, where 
 she is to receive the Lover when A gam"* comes Home. 
 The poor old Lady at Woodton is dead, so they (The 
 Sucklings) are a step nearer the Estate, and some present 
 advantages. Mrs. Bolton will spend a few days with 
 me, my stay will be till the middle of Sep"^, when I shall 
 hope to meet Mrs. N. at Bath, and shall be glad to know 
 that Bathing has been of use. Poor woman, she is 
 wearied with anxious expectation." 
 
 There is only one other letter dated from Burnham 
 before the Rector returned to his winter quarters at 
 Bath. 
 
 "Sept. i6th 1796. Your request respecting a proper 
 direction to the Commodore, it is not in my power to 
 answer. . . . My Neighbours have noticed me very little. 
 The B — ■■ — t (Sir M.M.) once called to say he was Sponser 
 for your son. The Harvest is chiefly ended, after a 
 wonderfuU favorable Season and plentifull crops ; the 
 farmers are cheerfuU and the poor resting in a Hope 
 they shall have eno. Mrs. B. was with me ten days, 
 in good health. . . . Kitty Fram : is expecting her 
 Lieut. Governer, presuming she herself shortly to be part 
 of His Cargo. They, the Sucklings hope to go into the 
 family mansion as Committees to the Estate. Suckling 
 yr Bro is as usuall slow in Communication. . . . The 
 Love business is all ended. The Lady was Coy, and He 
 not very warm in the affair. . . ." 
 
 This brief love-affair of Suckling's is referred to again 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 133 
 
 —with some show of reHel it must be admitted— in the 
 next letter, sent from Bath on October 8. "The love 
 affair is ended, the Miss was coy, or had more prudence 
 then to marry a man without an Income. However 
 all parties are quite easy." 
 
 This letter the Rector indites : " from my Elbow chair, 
 and have good hopes that the winter may pass off as 
 Hertofore, in an Idle Sort of Mechanicall Rotine. Mrs. 
 N. was Here before me, returned from Lyme, not at all 
 well, much worse, for the change of Air. She is not yet 
 established in good Health, but I hope will soon be 
 perfect, she is now under the care of Mr. Nichols. Your 
 Bro sais He is Now a Commodore, with a Capt in the 
 Ship,* with all other advantages belonging to that Rank. 
 
 Will°^ and His Good Wife were a little uneasy about 
 their farm, being quite concerned that Gentlemen Farmers 
 must lose money, but I have just heard the Farm, Glebe 
 and Tithe are all Lett, I am glad of it. 
 
 " My Stay at B™ was short, and a perpetuall Hurry 
 of spirits from Necessary business. Some things I could 
 have wished otherwise ; what can I say of poor Suck- 
 ling ? He certainly has amiable qualities, and I hope 
 they will do more for Him, then those Imprudences 
 which are against may Injure Him in the Eye of the 
 world." 
 
 " Nov. 19 1796. Hor : himself did once say ' probably 
 I may take my Xmas dinner at Bath.' But even this 
 
 * It was not until two months after joining the Captain that Com- 
 modore Nelson was given a Captain for his ship. This was Captain 
 R. VJ. Miller, for whom in later life Nelson had a great friendship. 
 
134 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 is doubtfull, as the Spanish business has since come 
 forward. Our last letter was Sep. 30 from Bastia ; the 
 Commodore had the day before taken possession of the 
 Island Caprea,* indeed his publick services are so many, 
 that we may without vanity, expect the Government 
 will hansomly notice them.f Mrs. H. N. still has a very 
 troblesome complaint in Her throat, and is at Times in 
 want of spirits, no wonder. Lord Hood's family are 
 just arrived. Our Coz Sherstons are also come, so that 
 I hope She will get a little amongst her freinds. I have 
 hitherto been quite close as to Evening parties, in fear 
 of colds, But as usuall take my walks to Markett &c. and 
 thank God must be called Well." 
 
 " Dec. 29. I am sluggish and Indulge in many a 
 useless Hour at the Fire, in a easy chair, reflecting on 
 the various Events of a long life. It is this day 29 years. 
 Since your poor Mother was laid in the peacefull Grave. 
 How I have acquitted myself in the Important charge 
 which then fell upon me, posterity must be my judge, 
 in many Instances I fear I shall not be acquitted. Provi- 
 dence has Blessed me. 
 
 "... Our Commodore has Gained fresh Laurells 
 in His Indefatigable conduct in Evacuating Corsica, J 
 which was Entirly left to Him. He brought off the 
 Viceroy &c with some thousand Troops and two Hundred 
 thousand pounds worth of Merchandize ; not a Man 
 left, nor a Sixpence of property. He landed all Safe 
 
 * Capraia, lying between Genoa and Corsica. 
 
 f A few months before this Nelson had written to his wife the 
 famous words : " One day or other I will have a long Gazette to 
 myself." 
 
 X Cf. Mahan, p. 210. Nelson disliked the task. 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH 135 
 
 at the Island of Elba; which was taken by Himself. 
 Thus Ended the Corsican business which He saw the 
 first and last off. If He can live by compliments from 
 the Great and PowerfuU, no want, but We Hope they 
 are a prelude to more Substantialls. 
 
 " I have not been at One party this winter, nor drank 
 my tea from Home. Mrs. N : has had a bad cold, and 
 she is somtimes a little Low in spirits, for as we do not 
 go abroad, we see but few, and only Hear of the Gaiety 
 and Luxury of this place, now full of Royalty." 
 
 A change of plans, first discussed in the early days 
 of 1797, resulted in the Rector's gaining far more of 
 Catherine's companionship during his later years. The 
 abandonment of Ringwood for a house at Bath was 
 regretfully decided upon. The near prospect of the 
 children's education was the cause, for in such a situation 
 the home at Shepherd's Spring did not offer many advan- 
 tages, yet the first mention of departure was made long 
 before they finally reconciled themselves to parting 
 with their pretty property ; the house they had built; 
 and the precious plantations so lately put in. No wonder 
 that Mr. Nelson asked if they really had " the firmness 
 to stand against the reflection of being for ever separated 
 from a spott Mr. M. has been so much pleased with in 
 the present and looked forward to future benefits ther- 
 from. . . . £4000 had been laid in its purchase and 
 the constant amusement to the mind and an employment 
 healthy and rational was laudable and pleasant." 
 
 The deaths of two of their babies had, however, given 
 a sad impression which lessened their regret. " Build, 
 
136 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 improve but do not rely. Improve a country house, 
 but rest not your affections upon a perpetual residence — 
 death — disgusts may alter your sentiments." So, accord- 
 ing to their own experience wrote G. M. in after years. 
 
 The question of schooling was a serious one. " No 
 less necessary than expensive," writes the Rector to 
 G. M. " It will for the next ten years take £200 for 
 George ; the other boy will soon be treading on his heels. 
 Girls may perhaps be trained as Gentlewomen for less. 
 Here is a Grammar schooU and I believe a tolerable one 
 for Girls, but I apprehend £500 (sic) pr ann. for rent." 
 Such are "the overflowings of a heart anxious about 
 him and his, not in the smallest degree dictating what 
 he ought or ought not to do. . . ." 
 
 So the sacrifice came about, for a good education was 
 their children's right, and G. M. of all fathers the least 
 likely to deny it to them. The precepts of an Anglo- 
 Indian of that day might amuse, but in many he was 
 ahead of his times. He " saw no difference to be attended 
 to in the education of boys and girls except their being 
 taught Latin and Greek." Early religious impressions 
 demanded his greatest care. " Foreigners," he writes, 
 " observe that the English are the worst tempered people 
 in Europe; and that it is unanswerably evinced by the 
 impossibility of two English families living in concord 
 under the same roof. Persons conversant with our 
 domestic history ascribe this change, for it was not so 
 formerly, to our present neglect of assembling our families 
 to prayers. . . . 
 
 " Many foreigners conceive we are an uncleanly race 
 from our not having a warm bath in every gentleman's 
 
THE RECTOR AT BATH I37 
 
 house. Are they quite wrong in their conjecture ? 
 Clean linen alone will not make a person clean . . . 
 nothing secures us so much from ill effects of cough 
 &c, than warm baths, and yet we see houses built at the 
 expence of tens of thousands of pounds, without the 
 consideration of spending a few pounds for a bath, a 
 defect which excites the ridicule of Foreigners and the 
 regret of traveled Englishmen. ... It is in the power 
 of every person of even confined circumstances to have 
 a useful bath. I should not be surprised if in a few 
 years no gentleman will presume to be without a warm 
 bath in his house, lest his family should be deemed 
 unclean. ... To the honour of the present race of 
 young man, neatness has superceded tawdry finery, and 
 certainly as far as that goes has increased their manli- 
 ness of character. The mind is withdrawn from the 
 contemplation of the stupid expence of gawdy apparel 
 and a much greater attention paid to actual cleanliness. 
 The display of clean linen is certainly more pleasing 
 than that of dirty point lace ruffles &c. on a shirt perhaps 
 worn a week, but well concealed by a broad laced coat 
 buttoned over it. The frequent change of linen I think 
 is owing to our greater intercourse with India." 
 
 Discussing vegetarianism he questions : "If meat be 
 necessary to the constitution, is it invariably necessary ? 
 Should there not be stated Banyan days* once a week 
 for instance? Suppers should be rarely indulged in. 
 
 * At that time Banyan days, or compulsory fast days when no 
 meat was served out, were still known in the Navy. The restriction 
 which originated in the middle of the seventeenth century, was removed 
 in 1824. 
 
138 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 ... All spirits to be avoided; but if the indulgence 
 of wine cannot be forgone; meat should be avoided and 
 bread or batter pudding should be the dinner meal . . . 
 Is taking snuff ever excusable ? Taken very moderately 
 it is certainly some relief to the harassed mind. I would 
 recommend it to any person of too voracious an appetite, 
 which it checks. ... No person ought to carry a snuff- 
 box but have it in a room where he doth not sit, that 
 he may not be pinching inadvertently. Taken in great 
 quantities it is not only a very filthy custom; but cer- 
 tainly prejudicial to the health. . . . Smoaking tobacco 
 is in England a forbidden indulgence ; it is not so now 
 in Germany. Smoaking has some advantages ; its 
 pauses prevent vehement discussion and dispute ; it 
 gives time to think before we speak; it checks quick 
 drinking and so far promotes sobriety. ..." 
 
 He was also an advocate for physical exercises such as 
 were used by the people of India ; but of all subjects; 
 nobility of character concerned him most. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 ST. VINCENT— THE ADMIRAL RETURNS HOME 
 
 WOUNDED 
 
 EARLY in 1797 the sailor brother began that 
 meteoric series of achievements which marked 
 the eight years' conflict in which he and 
 Napoleon Bonaparte were the protagonists. 
 From this time till the culmination of his career in the cock- 
 pit of the Victory at Trafalgar, he and his affairs dominate 
 the correspondence of the family just as they dominated 
 the news-letters of the age. And it is not a little signifi- 
 cant of the reverence with which he came to be regarded 
 by the family, that in one of the first letters of the year 
 1797 preserved for us among the correspondence 
 of Catherine Matcham, Mr. Edmund Nelson speaks of 
 " your distinguished Brother." A few months before it 
 had been the more informal " your kind Brother." 
 
 The letter was written on the occasion of the promotion 
 of Captain Nelson to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue, in 
 the ordinary course of seniority. He was then thirty- 
 eight and a half years of age. 
 
 The battle of St. Vincent was fought on February 14; 
 1797, but the news did not reach London until March 3. 
 Before it was known, Captain Nelson had been gazetted 
 Rear-Admiral on February 22. " I never saw anything 
 elevate your father equal to this," Mrs. Nelson wrote 
 to her husband on the following day. "He repeated 
 
 139 
 
140 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 with pleasure the last words your good uncle (Captain 
 Maurice Suckling) told him. ' That he would live to 
 see you an admiral.' "* 
 
 Mr. Nelson wrote to Catherine on the day the news 
 of St. Vincent arrived, but evidently before he had heard 
 it, on " the pleasant subject of your Distinguished Bro : 
 promotion," and added, " The Flag will be sent to him." 
 
 On the same day the distinguished brother himself 
 wrote to her, and in this letter the new-made Admiral 
 repeats some of the expressions used in a previous one 
 to his wife, already published. 
 
 "Irresistible:" Lisbon March 3rd 1797! 
 
 " My dear Sister, Your letter without a date came 
 to me last night and believe me my affection is as great 
 for you as ever, but thank God you have less occasion 
 now for those particular marks of affection, than I could 
 in former days have hoped for. I desire you will say 
 to Mr. Matcham every kind thing. I have a most sincere 
 esteem for him. 
 
 " I long to see England but whether ever I shall have 
 that pleasure God only knows, but perhaps I may laughing 
 come back, rich in the Praises of all Mankind, Friends 
 & Enemies. I will not brag of my purse, at present I 
 am not sixpence richer for the War, but my road has 
 hitherto been the path of Honor not of Wealth, but I 
 hope Riches will now flow in a gentle manner to me. 
 My Ambition goes no farther than a Cottage which I 
 
 * Lathom Browne, " Nelson," p. 145. 
 
 f Nelson shifted his Commodore's pendant to the Irresistible on 
 the evening of the battle, the Captain being unmanageable owing to 
 the damage to her spars and rigging. 
 
ST. VINCENT 141 
 
 hope to accomplish, for these Dons know not how to 
 take care of their Money. 
 
 " I have heard and rejoice that our dear Sister Bolton 
 and You can meet again and I should rejoice to hear 
 Mr. Bolton had got a fixed home for her and the large 
 family. 
 
 " As to Squire Scrivener if I knew how to get a letter 
 to him I should like to hear from him. 
 
 "Sir James Saumarez who I believe you know, tells 
 me more of my Father than I have heard lately, all agree 
 he looks better than formerly. I pray God it may be 
 so, but old age must now be fast advancing. I am now 
 detained in port by Contrary Winds or I should not have 
 received your letter for a month. I am going to look 
 for the Vice Roy of Mexico. 
 
 " Believe me ever my Dear Sister 
 
 Your most affectionate Brother 
 
 "Horatio Nelson." 
 
 (docketed) "The last Letter I received from the best 
 of Brothers written with his right hand." 
 
 Sir James, afterwards Lord de Saumarez, had com- 
 manded the Orion at the battle of St. Vincent. He after- 
 wards relieved Nelson in the blockade of Cadiz, and 
 accompanied him as second in command in the Nile 
 expedition. Mahan says that Saumarez and Nelson 
 were not in close personal S3nnpathy,* but a friendship 
 seems to have been kept up between their families, and 
 when, for his decisive victory, following a reverse, in 
 1801; off Algeciras, Saumarez was nominated a K.B.; 
 
 * Vol. ii. p. 160. 
 
142 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 the thanks of Parliament, moved by Lord St. Vincent, 
 was seconded by Nelson, who said, "The promptness 
 with which he refitted, the spirit with which he attacked 
 a superior force after his recent disaster, and the masterly 
 conduct of the action; I do not think were ever sur- 
 passed. " 
 
 Lord de Saumarez is described as rather formal and 
 ceremonious in his manner; but without affectation or 
 pride, and more than ordinarily attentive to his religious 
 duty. The following story of him, related by Admiral 
 Fanshawe, is taken from some MSS. of the Long family.* 
 
 ** One Sunday I went to call on old Lord de Saumarez; 
 then Sir James, on board the Victory. After a time the 
 bell for prayers rung. I got up to take my leave. * We 
 are going to prayers,' he said, * will you not stay ? ' I 
 excused myself, saying I had some friends to call on. 
 'Young man,' he said, 'who can you better call upon 
 than your God ? ' I felt what he said, but was too proud 
 to yield, but I never forgot it." 
 
 A week later Mr. Nelson finds more to write of. 
 
 Bath, March lo 1797 
 
 "My dear: I have only delayed my writing since 
 this Great and glorious victory, till I could with 
 assurance tell you somthing authentick of your Bro. 
 This morning brought us letters from Himself, of the 
 i6th Feb. which contain little more then these few 
 words ' I am perfectly Well, as is Josiah.' 
 
 " His character is raised to the very pinnacle of Honor. 
 
 * In the writing of Lady Catherine Long, wife of Henry Lawes 
 Long of Hampton Lodge, Surrey. 
 
ST. VINCENT 143 
 
 This Great City Echoes his courage and judgment in 
 every street; and the Hansome things said by Strangers 
 as well as acquaintances were Indeed too much for my 
 feelings, so that I was glad to Hasten from pubhck 
 places. 
 
 " Whatever may have unluckily prevented the passing 
 of letters, This I Know, that his affection is the Same, 
 and his Enquiries have been Invariable."* 
 
 A Baronetcy was the honour proposed for Admiral 
 Nelson's services, but it was not a welcome one. "To 
 take hereditary honours without a fortune to support 
 the dignity, is to lower that honour it would be my pride 
 to support in proper splendour," he wrote to Sir Gilbert 
 Elliot on February I7,t and the honour was therefore 
 changed to that of the Order of the Bath. 
 
 An interval in Mr. Nelson's letters always suggests 
 a family meeting, which probably took place at Bath 
 in the spring, while the family excitement ran high over 
 such great events. Two scraps in Catherine's hand- 
 writing show the jovial mood prevailing among them. 
 One contains a solemn warning addressed to the Admiral 
 in G, M.'s most serious style. 
 
 " I should be wanting in Common humanity, my Dear 
 Sir, if I did not warn you of the danger of returning to 
 England. I have not been inattentive to the open & 
 avowed Machinations of your Countrymen, and from 
 
 * See letter written to Nelson by his father; Clarke and MacArthur, 
 vol. i. p. 524. 
 t " Minto Papers," Despatches, vol. ii. p. 350. 
 
144 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 all that I can learn, every description of Persons, Especially 
 the young Women, have a serious intention to eat you 
 up alive (and God knows the Barbarians). Your 
 Physical Corporeal Substance will not go much farther 
 than a Sprat, but I suppose they mean to intoxicate 
 themselves with the Spirit. Others, more moderate, 
 will always keep you alive in their Mind's eye ; among 
 which Number you will class yrs very Sincerely 
 
 "G. Matcham." 
 
 Another family jest refers to the same gallant achieve- 
 ment, which is thus mentioned by the Admiral himself. 
 " N.B. There is a saying in the fleet too flattering for 
 me to omit telling, viz. ' Nelson's Patent Bridge for 
 boarding First-rates ' : alluding to my passing over an 
 enemy's 80 gun ship. "* 
 
 !! Commodore Nelson's Receipt for an OUa Podrida ; 
 
 " Take a Spanish first Rate and an 80 Gun ship, and 
 after well battering and basting for an hour, keep throw- 
 ing in your force balls, and be sure to let them be well 
 season'd. 
 
 " Your fire must Never slacken for a single Moment, but 
 must be kept up as brisk as possible during the whole time. 
 
 " As soon as you perceive your Spaniards to be well 
 stew'd and blended together, you must then throw your 
 own ship on board of the two decker, lash your Sprit 
 sail yard to her mizen mast, then Jump into her quarter 
 gallery, sword in hand, and let, the rest of your boarders 
 follow as they can. 
 
 * '' Despatches," vol. ii. p. 344-7. 
 
THE ADMIRAL RETURNS WOUNDED 145 
 
 " The Moment you appear on the 80 gun ship's quarter 
 deck, the Spaniards will all fly. You will then have 
 only to take a hop, step and jump from your stepping 
 stone and you will find yourself in the middle of a first 
 rate's quarter deck, with all the Spaniards at your feet. 
 
 "Your OUa Podrida may now be consider' d as com- 
 pletly dish'd, fit to set before His Majesty. 
 " Nelson's New Art of Cookery." 
 
 Sorrow was mixed with their rejoicings; when later 
 on, the Admiral was invalided home; in a miserable 
 state of suffering, having lost his right arm in the attack 
 on Santa Cruz in July.* 
 
 Joining his wife and father at Bath in September, he 
 soon after left with the former for London, where he was 
 invested with the Order of the Bath and received in 
 audience by the King, but all through the autumn, the 
 wound continued to torture him, until at the end of 
 
 * " One of the Family " writing in later years with reference to 
 some comments in an American publication on the subject of the 
 Admiral's loss of a limb, says : " We are further informed that ' Lord 
 Nelson was proud of the loss of his arm, and always wore his coat 
 sleeve empty.' I do not know why his lordship should have felt proud 
 at this particular bereavement, as it was occasioned by a wound which 
 he received in an unsuccessful attack on the island of Teneriffe ; but 
 a reference to his biography will show how long and how deeply he 
 lamented the loss, as likely to impede, if not prevent, any further 
 exertions in the cause of his country. That Lord Nelson ' wore his 
 coat sleeve empty ' can scarcely be received as a proof of ostentatious 
 obtrusion of the fact. To have filled it would have occasioned a useless 
 inconvenience, but the sleeve was fastened to the body of his coat, 
 so that at a distance the loss would scarcely have been noticed. Had 
 it hung loose and empty at his side, as I have seen in the case of other 
 officers, some pretence might have been afforded for the remark." — 
 The Reader, Oct. 14, 1865. 
 
 I 
 
146 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 November it at last began to heal, so that on December 
 8 he was able to offer up thanksgiving in church for his 
 perfect recovery. 
 
 *' My brother," writes the Rev. William Nelson about 
 this time, " says he has been in this war, more than 
 one hundred and twenty days actually engaged against 
 the enemy, at sea, on shore, in boats and against 
 batteries. . . ." 
 
 In this autumn the Rev. Edmund Nelson severed his 
 connection with Burnham Sutton parish. He makes 
 the announcement very simply to Catherine on October 
 30. It is typical of this modest gentleman that he retires 
 quietly, and without a word of the regret that he must 
 have felt at the close of his many years' labours. 
 
 " You often hear of your Good Worthy Bro ; such a 
 Son falls to the Lott of few Fathers. He has Since in 
 London particularly availed himself of His own publick 
 character, by requesting the Lord Chancellor to Give 
 the next presentation of Sutton Living to Suckling, 
 which was immediately Granted. I have resigned that 
 Living and am no Longer Rector of that preferment ; 
 in a very short time you will see Him in full possession 
 of it, a very fortunate Event, it gives to Him a Hansome 
 provision. I pray God He may make a proper use of 
 it ; I have discharged my Duty and most chearfuUy 
 give up that share of Income to Him. By a Letter 
 yesterday from Lady N. I learn they are gone to Look 
 at a House very near Ipswich, which they mean to pur- 
 chase if no Great obstacle prevents. They will return 
 
REV. EDMUND NELSON. DIED 20TH APRIL, l802 
 From a photo of a painting by Sii- 11 'illiain Bccclny in the possession of Earl Xelson 
 
THE ADMIRAL RETURNS WOUNDED 147 
 
 Here as Soon after the Lord Mayor's Feast is over as 
 possible, viz Nov. 9th. and I hope you & Mr. M. will 
 find your Selves at Leisure to See your Bro. at Bath." 
 
 Again on December 4 he writes, after referring to 
 himself as " strong and Stout, allowing something for 
 the wear and Tear of Time. 
 
 " Suckling has wrote to tell you of His preferment, 
 an Event, which has very much eased my mind respecting 
 Him, who I now am so far at ease about, that He must 
 during Life be well provided for, except from notorious 
 neglect, purly his own. But I please my Self in the Hope 
 that will not be the Case. 
 
 " Lady N. tells me she has heard from you and therfore 
 probably their movments are as well known to you as 
 my Self. Their coming Here is postponed on acct of 
 the King's going to St Pauls. Sir H : is appointed to 
 the Foudroyant;* she will not be Lanched till February; 
 nor ready to Sail before Aprill. His Health by every 
 Account is Good, His Spirits extraordinary. The wound 
 is not Healed, but in no danger. His Surgeon attends 
 Him to Bath. 
 
 " I feell myself very desirous of getting home, but 
 must necessarily wait the return of the Sun, as well as 
 for seeing how Lady N : will fix herself in the absence of 
 her Husband. ... I Hear the publick amusements 
 are well attended, but never going amongst them, know 
 no Scandal." 
 
 * She was not ready, in time, and in consequence Nelson was actually 
 appointed to the Vanguard. 
 
148 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 At the end of the month he was preparing for their 
 visit. " A Lodging near us " and " a bed for Miss Martin 
 shall be prepared in this house, if she can bring her mind 
 to accept it. Under these circumstances it must be 
 what is called by the vulgar name of a Garret, conse- 
 quently on the same floor as some of the servants, but 
 . . . clean, warm, and lined with paper and fire may 
 be made. . . . Sittingrooms, chairs, plates and Mutton 
 chops I have plenty and very much at your service. . . . 
 Your Bro. is perfectly well and in great spirits as usual." 
 
 In January 1798, a happy family party gathered at 
 Bath, its pleasures enhanced by the delight of the Admiral's 
 presence in renewed health and spirits. 
 
 Years afterwards the Boots at the Pelican Inn at 
 Newbury would tell how the Admiral on this or some 
 similar occasion, put up for the night on his way to join 
 his old father at Bath. John brought his slippers, and 
 before leaving the room, was told by the Admiral to sit 
 down and tell him the news of the place. " The first 
 question he asked," said John the Boots, " was ' Can 
 I get from here to London by water ? ' " The answer 
 given was " Yes, my Lord* yon can go by the Canal to 
 Reading and on by the River Thames to London." 
 
 Another literary joke marks the good spirits of the 
 whole party. Shortly before, the Admiral, then in 
 London, had been refused the pension due for the loss 
 of his eye, until he could produce a formal certificate. 
 
 * story told to the Hon. and Rev. J. H. Nelson about 185 1. But 
 as there is no record in these letters of any journey from London to 
 Bath between the date of his being created a peer and that of his father's 
 death, the " My Lord " would seem to be an anachronism. 
 
THE ADMIRAL RETURNS WOUNDED 149 
 
 Having got over a momentary vexation, his humour 
 took a comic vein in which he insisted on the surgeon 
 supplying at the same time a certificate of the loss of 
 his arm, which he declared might just as well be doubted 
 as the other.* Another formality took the form of a 
 Memorial to the King without which the pension of £1000 
 a year which it had previously been decided to grant 
 him, in recognition of his service and wounds, could 
 not be carried out. 
 
 Such documents being therefore much in the family 
 minds, yet another was devised which remains in its 
 original form. Its first paragraph is drawn up in the 
 writing of the Rev. William Nelson, the rest in 
 Catherine's more running hand, and the final four words 
 are signed in the Admiral's own well-known left-handed 
 scrawl. 
 
 "To THE Nurses, Parents & Guardians of the 
 Kingdoms of Great Britain & Ireland 
 
 " Whereas your himible Petitioner has had the mis- 
 fortune to lose his Brother in His Majesty's Service, & 
 is now obliged to do all his Master's work himself, to which 
 he is by no means competent. This is to certify in 
 behalf of himself & the whole race, that they have been 
 from time immemorial, greatly abridged of their Just 
 rights & Privileges. 
 
 " They therefore respectfully submit to your considera- 
 tion the following observations & humbly hope that you 
 will condescend to take Notice of their lamentable case. 
 
 " And first, no person has ever endeavoured to insinuate 
 
 * Southey.- 
 
150 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 that right hands were made before left ; so that no 
 pecuhar privilege can be claimed by either party, on the 
 score of seniority. 
 
 " Secondly, the left hand is as long & strong by Nature 
 as the right, has as many joints, fingers & nails ; where- 
 fore no Just title to pre-eminence can be asserted by 
 either, founded upon superior capability. 
 
 " For these reasons, we would have an equitable, true 
 & perfect equality to be established between us according 
 to the laws of Reason & Nature : & neither of us to be 
 superior or inferior to the other. 
 
 " Instead of which, you must acknowledge that at 
 present. We the left hands have been kept in a state of 
 comparative ignorance, & barbarism. 
 
 " This arises solely from our want of education, for 
 while the favoured right hand is attended by the very 
 best masters in writing, drawing, & fencing &c. the poor 
 left hand is neglected, forgotten & hangs aukwardly 
 dangling by the side ; except now and then when called 
 in to assist in some drudgery which the right hand does 
 not choose to do by himself. Barbarous custom too 
 has excluded us from a participation of the most pleasant 
 offices that our nature is capable of ; if we meet our 
 friends & acquaintances, we are not suffered to move, 
 but the right hands instantly leap to embrace each other 
 & enjoy the delight of friendship. How often has your 
 petitioner itched to take a Lady by the hand, but yet 
 never was permitted, tho' the right was engaged in all 
 the offices of Gallantry, and in battle, when my noble 
 Master, God bless him, was hewing down the Dons with 
 the right hand, your petitioner remained unemployed; 
 
THE ADMIRAL RETURNS WOUNDED 151 
 
 liable to all the injuries of war without the means of 
 defence or retaliation. 
 
 " In this age of innovation it is considered dangerous 
 to propose reforms of any kind & they seem somewhat 
 suspicious when they come from the party alone to be 
 benefitted, but as the reform which your petitioner stands 
 up for, does not to the best of his knowledge bear in its 
 remotest consequences upon the constitution in Church 
 or state, he trusts that the objects of it will not be accused 
 of temerity, folly, malevolence & so forth. Qualities 
 too often he fears justly chargeable upon political 
 Reformers. 
 
 " Should his arguments have any weight with You 
 & the prayer of his humble petition be taken into con- 
 sideration & produce a change of system. Your petitioner 
 will together with all his fellow sufferers be bound in 
 Your service by the strong ties of gratitude & your 
 petitioners shall ever pray 
 
 " Admiral Nelson's left hand." 
 
 The Admiral being appointed to the Vanguard, in 
 place of the Foudroyant, which was not ready in time; 
 the Rector's party dispersed at the end of February; 
 and the 23rd finds him once more writing to Catherine 
 at Ringwood, where preparations for a final departure 
 were going on. 
 
 " Last Monday my party all left me to Lament the 
 Loss, perhaps never to be renewed, Tho the Admirall 
 as usuall in Great Good Spirits, panting to be in ActuaU 
 Service, which is likly to happen in a few weeks. They 
 
152 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 are at No. 96 Bond Street. Lady N. will return to me as 
 Soon as her Husband Leaves her, and Intends to bring 
 Kitty Bolton with her for the Summer at Least, if your 
 Sister seems willing to Separate the Girls. Your House 
 at Bath, they speak of as a very good, pleasant dwelling. 
 The Walk is by no means Longer then I seem able to 
 Encounter, even tho I cannot boast my usuaJl speed." 
 
 He speaks of his loneliness again in a letter on March 5. 
 
 " I hope I am not mistaken respecting your Intentions 
 of coming Here towards the end of this Month, But in 
 truth my good child, you write so delicate a Hand, with 
 such White Ink, That with my very bad Eyes without 
 the good offices of a Neighbor I never could have been 
 perfect in the whole of the Letter, do, pray write (and that 
 Soon) in a Larger and blacker Type. I believe Kitty 
 Bolton is Got to London, tho I know nothing of their 
 Intended Movments. Thus far I know and am glad 
 that Lady N. Intends being very Kind to the Girll, 
 whose behavior will I trust Merit & Secure so Good a 
 Freind. Habit in a great degree reconciles all Situations, 
 But I my Self feell it very irksome to be quite alone, as I 
 can receive no Information either by reading or freindly 
 chatt, and too much reflection is often unpleasant. 
 
 " Mrs. Kerrick takes the small house I quit at Bum- 
 ham, and it is said Mr. Crowe will preferr her present 
 dwelling to the Hall on account of the heavy taxes. I 
 shall be very glad to get into Norfolk." 
 
 The family moves of this year included some more or 
 less permanent changes. The Admiral sailed in the 
 
THE ADMIRAL RETURNS WOUNDED 153 
 
 Vanguard on April i, to join Lord St. Vincent off Cadiz ; 
 leaving Lady Nelson settled at Roundwood, Ipswich, 
 the " cottage in the country " of his wishes and letters. 
 Here Mr. Nelson often joined her, and meanwhile G. M. 
 and Catherine finally hardened themselves to the sale of 
 Shepherd's Spring, which they left with regret, and fre- 
 quently revisited. Nor were their interests confined to 
 places or to one class of friends only, for pleasant terms 
 of help and kindness were always established with their 
 poorer neighbours. 
 
 " Foreigners," writes G. M., " complain of the incivility 
 of our lower class of people. They are mistaken ; the 
 common people of England are civil and even respectful; 
 but when assailed in a high tone and abrupt manner, 
 they feel indignant and return insult for insult. One 
 set of Beings are proverbially rude. Hackney Coachmen. 
 . . . This arises from their daily dealing with various 
 people, some of whom attempt to trick them. . . . But 
 from country labourers you may be assured of civil 
 attention, provided your own conduct merits it. Affected 
 politeness would be absurd . . . but gentle and orderly 
 commands, kind enquiries of their families, of their own 
 healths &c. will ensure their respect. ..." 
 
 He might have added love and confidence : a curious 
 little letter which owes its survival to the receipt which 
 ends it, bearing witness to the latter. 
 
 " G. Matcham, Esqre near Bath. 
 " Sir, — I knowed your honor to be a good Gentleman, 
 always kind to we poor folk in Hampshire and that makes 
 
154 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 me bold to ax you to do good to a good and charitable 
 woman. I was sick and she relieved my distress. I can 
 never be out of her debt in my mind. Send to herself 
 but not to her father the £12 and letter in this cover 
 and God blessing be on you and family ever and amen. 
 If so be as how she wont tak it, tell her as I says she must, 
 cause your honour doan't know me, nor where to return 
 it." 
 
 " Reed, of Mr. Matcham twelve pounds sent him for 
 me in an anonymous letter Novr. 16 1801 
 
 " Elizabeth Fuller." 
 
 Yet another reference to Shepherd's Spring occurs in 
 a letter of 1808 from Sir Charles Malet to G. M.; then 
 once again building up a country home : 
 
 " I am glad you have begun to plant, but I hope it 
 will not be like your last Labors in the same way, for the 
 benefit of Aliens. I was lately told that the people who 
 purchased your Shepherd's Spring have or will make 
 £4 or 5000 by it." 
 
 No. 19 Kensington Place, Bath; became their home 
 for some years, and at this address Mr. Nelson next writes 
 to Catherine from Ipswich : 
 
 " My dear, — ^My chearfull, good natured fellow traveller 
 has no doubt informed you we arrived safe at Kensing- 
 ton. ... On Sunday Lady N. my Self, Kitty Bolton 
 and the two servants came to Roundwood and took 
 possession of a Neat, strong, wellbuilt and convenient 
 House, consisting of 2 parlors, a small hansome vestibule 
 
THE ADMIRAL RETURNS WOUNDED i55 
 
 and staircase, 6 bedrooms 'and 2 dressingrooms, with 
 offices of every denomination and good cellars. The 
 little pleasure ground and small garden are laid out in 
 good taste and All looks like a Gentleman's House. Seems 
 to answer every wish of yr Bro : and His wife. The Farm 
 is 50 acres of Good Land adjoining, divided into severall 
 small enclosures and lett to a very substantial! civil 
 Tenant. The Adm : wrote from Gibralter May 4th. 
 All Well." 
 
 " Ipswich June 13 1798. . . . Your Sister has made a 
 visit here for one week. . . . Kitty went with her mother. 
 Susan is left, a very fine young woman she is. Lady N. 
 is well pleased with everything at Ipswich, has been at 
 two Balls, and I hope the situation will be very com- 
 fortable." 
 
 " July 30th. ... By a letter from your Bro : dated 
 off Naples, June 15th he tells us he is perfectly well 
 and satisfied now with the Force he has with him. Indeed 
 the Eyes of all Europe are upon him, and big with Expec- 
 tation. No wonder we are full of Anxiety, as well for 
 his publick success, as private Safty. Letters are sent 
 to Lisbon. Lady N. desires best respects. . . ." 
 
 Many copies have been made of the letter next quoted 
 by Mr. Nelson, it being considered by his family as 
 peculiarly typical of the Admiral's character. For this 
 reason, though already so well known, his father's appre- 
 ciation of its feeling is not omitted here. 
 
 " Ipswich. 
 
 " My dear, — By a letter yesterday from yr Bro : H : 
 we have an account of a Most tremendous Gale, which 
 
156 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 happened on the 20th of May. The Letter is gone to 
 Lord Spencer, but the following is nearly a Copy.* ' I 
 will not ' (He piously expresses himSelf ) ' Call what has 
 happened to the Vanguard by the cooU name of Accident, 
 But Immediate act of Providence to Check the con- 
 summate vanity of Man. I hope it has made me a 
 better Officer, and am Sure it has made me a better 
 Man. Figure to your Self on the Sunday Even, a 
 vain Man walking in his Cabin, with his fleet around 
 him. Looking up to their Cheif to Lead them unto 
 Glory, and their Cheif ready to answer their wishes, 
 with a Force which with Equall numbers, would make 
 the proudest fleet of France to Bow, and with a rich prize 
 before Him. 
 
 " ' Figure to your Self the Same vain Man in the Mom : 
 with His Fleet dispersed. His ship dismasted, Ever5rthing 
 gone overboard and totally disabled. So that the meanest 
 frigate in France would have been an unwelcome Guest. 
 It was the Will of heaven and with all Humility I Kiss 
 the rod. But the Almighty has brought us into a Safe 
 Port, and tho. denied the common rights of Humanity, 
 by wonderfull exertions we shall be refitted and in four 
 days ready to put to Sea as an English Man of War.' 
 The above is dated the 24th of May from St. Petero in 
 Sardinia.f this letter came to Leghorn Aug. 6th, was 
 Forwarded on by (Adney Jun ?) arrived in London Sep. 
 8th and there Endorsed from the Admy. ' Sir Horatio 
 was Well on the 22 of July, between the 4th and the 8th 
 
 * For differences cf. Mahan, op. cit., 278. 
 
 •j- San Pietro is the southern extremity of the island, where the 
 necessary refit was carried out in four days. 
 
THE ADMIRAL RETURNS WOUNDED 157 
 
 of July we have Great Reason to believe there was an 
 action between the 2 fleets, but this we cannot announce 
 as yet.' * 
 
 " But this we know, that on the 19th of July yr Bro 
 was Safe off Syracuse. 
 
 " Mr. Suckling left Here this Morning, very Infirm." 
 
 *' IpswichJ Sepii ly 1798, 
 
 "My dear, I am glad to tell you that yesterday a 
 letter arrived Here from your Good Bro : dated July 20th 
 off Syracuse, wherin He sais ' I have little to add to my 
 former letters, except I am in perfect Health. Have not 
 yet seen the French fleet, after Having been at Malta, 
 Alexandria, Asia, Syria &, But hope for better Success.' 
 By a letter from Mr. Napier we farther know, that on the 
 26 of July, Sir H : sailed from Syracuse in pursuit of and 
 that since that Date no officiall accounts have been 
 reed in England ; consequently no Engagement have 
 before ever taken place. Newspapers All Erroneous. 
 
 " Lady N. is apprehensive this place may be too cold 
 for the winter, and Morover the House wants paint &, 
 therfore Intends, no accident preventing, to remove to 
 Bath about the End of Nov:, or early in December. 
 Must therfore request you to Look at your Leisure for a 
 House, for 4 or 5 months certain, in a Good Situation; 
 that is in Bladud's Buildings or Axford, Fountain build- 
 ings, Edgar or Belmont as far as No. 5 or 6, the field 
 side of Gay Street. A small House abt 4 Guineas pr 
 
 * This was the period of the chase which culminated in the Battle 
 of the Nile, and, as Mahan says, a miserable period of suspense and 
 embarrassment. 
 
158 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 week. Kitty Bolton and George are at Roundwood. 
 Your Sister will spend a week or 2 with us before she 
 removes to Cranwich. Pray God prosper Her. 3 or 4 
 months this winter, your Bro : Wm, His wife and 
 daughter intend being at Bath for tha improvment of 
 Charlott. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 THE NILE— CONGRATULATIONS AND ANXIETIES 
 
 THE family was stirred to its depths by the 
 victory of the Nile ; and Bumham Thorpe; 
 though old Mr. Nelson and most of the mem- 
 bers of the family were absent, celebrated 
 the occasion with great rejoicings. 
 
 The news of the battle which was fought on August i; 
 1798, was two months in reaching England. The Rector 
 was then living with Lady Nelson at Ipswich, and im- 
 mediately on receipt of the tidings he despatched a 
 message to Catherine, at Kensington Place, Bath. 
 
 " This Mom an Express from Lord Duncan* arrived 
 at Roundwood, with the News of the Glorious victory 
 your Great & Good Brother has obtained. The Letter 
 to Lady N. is nearly as follows : ' Mr. Capell, Leiut. 
 of the Vanguard is this Inst. Landed from the Kite, 
 His account is that He left Sir Hor : walking the Deck, 
 perfectly recovered from the wound He had received 
 in the Action. t He has taken thirteen Sail of the Line, 
 
 * "Adam Duncan, ist Viscount Duncan (1731-1804). In 1797 
 he achieved a splendid victory off Camperdown over the Dutch fleet, 
 under Admiral de Winter, for which he was elevated to the peerage ; 
 received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament ; the City of London 
 gave him the freedom and a sword, and from the Crown a grant of 
 ^^3000 per annum for his life and next two successors." — " Dictionary 
 of National Biography." 
 
 •f He was struck upon the upper part of the forehead by a flying 
 
 159 
 
i6o THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 and has added to the Laurels he had already obtained as 
 much as possible.' This from Miss Duncan : ' My Father 
 desires me to add that Sir H. was in the Greatest 
 Spirits, when Leiut. Capell left Him.' All the rest 
 Gazettes &c will tell you. A universall Joy is Spread. 
 " God Bless you All. Lady N. is Well." 
 
 Further details followed in a letter on October 8. 
 
 " You will easily believe that excessive Joy has its 
 power of Enervating for a time, Equall to adverse fortune, ' 
 and this feeling prevented my acknowledging your letter 
 yesterday. The publick Sais So much on this occasion 
 that nothing can be added except words of affection 
 and Pious Thanksgiving for the Safty of your Great & 
 Good Bro. We have reed one letter from Himself, who 
 tells us He is as well as can be expected from the In- 
 expressible Fatigue both of body & mind. He has Sufferd.* 
 He sHghtly mentions that He may be at Home in Novem- 
 ber, But of this we Hope to Know more by Capt. Berry, f 
 
 piece of iron. The skin was cut at right angles, hanging down over 
 his face, covering the one good eye, and with the profuse flow of blood 
 blinding him completely for the moment. 
 
 * Nelson at first thought of coming home to recruit from his wound, 
 but on finding himself better, decided " not to go home until this {the 
 destruction of the French fleet) is effected." He then reluctantly 
 sailed for Naples, hoping " not to be more than four or five days at 
 Naples, for these times are not;, for idleness " (Mahan, vol. i. p. 368-9). 
 Here, in September, took place his second meeting with the Hamiltons, 
 resulting in their close intimacy, from which time Naples became his 
 headquarters, until their return to England two years later. 
 
 f Captain Edward Berry had served with Nelson since his appoint- 
 ment to the Agamemnon in 1776. At the Battle of St. Vincent, " The 
 first man," wrote Nelson, " who jumped into the enemy's mizen chains 
 was Captain Berry, late my first lieutenant. ..." He also assisted 
 
LADY NELSON 
 From a ivate7--colour drawing by S. P. Harding after Edriage, formerly in possession o/ 
 
 E. H^ Locker, R.N., Greenly ich Hospital 
 
THE NILE i6i 
 
 You say nothing of my Commission respecting a House, 
 altho there may be some alteration as to the Generall 
 Plan, yet when you have Seen anything you think will 
 suit, write particulars. 
 
 " The Peerage is not what the publick are fully Satisfied 
 with, But we are told it is only to begin with,* the Comps, 
 Letters, &c., without number. He is this day to receive 
 the Freedom of Ipswich, next Monday is fixed for a Grand 
 Ball there on the Occasion. The Rt. Honble. Lady N. 
 jojns in kindest wishes to you & yours. 
 
 " The Rector of Hilboro is Here, not a little rejojced 
 you wiU Suppose." 
 
 Nelson into the main chains of the San Josef. Berry was posted on 
 the 6th of March following, and, being in England in October, was taken 
 to court by Nelson, who, on the king remarking on the loss of his right 
 arm, presented Berry as his right hand (Nelson " Despatches," ii. 342). 
 He was one of Nelson's " Band of Brothers," of the Nile Campaign, 
 and, as Captain of the Flag-ship, had his full share in the battle of the 
 Nile, and when Nelson was wounded and falling, caught him in his 
 arms. Captain Berry published a narrative of this campaign. He 
 was afterwards wounded at the capture of the GenereuJc. In December 
 1797, he was knighted and returned to the Mediterranean as Captain 
 of the Foudroyant. He subsequently commanded a ship at Trafalgar, 
 and was created a baronet in 1806, and K.C.B. in 181 5. He had 
 married his cousin Louisa, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Forster of Norwich, 
 in 1796. 
 
 * Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe, with a pension 
 of ;^2000. When the grant was moved in the House of Commons 
 General Walpole expressed an opinion that a higher degree of rank 
 ought to be conferred. Mr. Pitt made answer that he thought it need- 
 less to enter into that question. '' Admiral Nelson's fame," he said, 
 !■< would be coequal with the British name ; and it would be remem- 
 bered that he had obtained the greatest naval victory on record, when 
 no man would think of asking. Whether he had been created a baron, 
 a viscount, or an earl ? " — Southey. 
 
 From Sicily he received the dukedom and domain of Bronte. 
 
 K 
 
i62 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Among other scraps of this date, in Catherine's hand- 
 writing, is an extract from one of the French Redacteurs, 
 
 " Did not Nelson act like Xerxes, who with a numerous 
 Army defeated 300 Spartans and fired Athens ? But 
 Themistocles lived and Xerxes was destroyed ? If 
 Brueys like Leonidas preferred death to disgraceful 
 capitulations, have we not another Themistocles left 
 to punish and avenge the blood of so many heroes ? 
 And does not Nelson himself owe his immortality to the 
 glory of the vanguished rather than to his great exploits ? " 
 
 To which the copiest adds in triumph (" Allowing 
 thereby that Nelson's name will be immortalised ! "). 
 
 Among their letters of congratulation; one from Sir 
 Charles Malet to G. M. bears the earliest date. 
 
 97 N: Bond Street 3 Octr. 1798 
 
 " My dear Friend ; In the joy of my Heart I cannot 
 refrain from letting out a little of its Fullness, in con- 
 gratulating you, & still more than you, your amiable 
 Lady, on that glorious Success of her Brother, by Which 
 He has bound Every Individual of his Country to their 
 latest Posterity, in a Debt which their warmest Gratitude 
 cannot adequately remunerate. 
 
 " You & Yours are happy in being related to such a 
 a Man. I sympathize in your Feelings and am Yours 
 affectionately, 
 
 " C. W. Malet " * 
 
 * Sir Charles Warre Malet, Bart,, of Wilbury House, Wilts. In 
 1785 appointed plenipotentiary to the court of the Pashwa, or head 
 of the Mharattas ; previously to which he had visited the Great Mogul^ 
 
THE NILE 163 
 
 Burnham Thorpe was not behindhand in its rejoicings 
 and pride. The festivities were led by Sir Mordaunt 
 Martin,* their old friend and neighbour, who supplies 
 a long account of their celebrations. 
 
 (( 
 
 George Matcham, Esqr., near Bath. 
 
 Burnham, Norfolk Octr': 13 1798 
 
 " Dear Sir ; Reflection that it was from the long- 
 standing Friendship between the Family of your gallant 
 Brother in Law & mine, that I acquired the highly valued 
 Friendship & protection which you so kindly exhibited 
 to my son upon his departure for India and the Honour 
 you confered upon me by permitting me to be Godfather 
 to a Child of yours (who I hope is well & do not doubt 
 is good) makes me feel myself authorized or rather called 
 
 and had been created one of the nobles of his Empire. He was also 
 for some time acting-governor of Bombay. He was created a baronet 
 in 1791, and left India in 1798. He died at Bath, January 181 5, aged 
 sixty -two. 
 
 " One of the most perfect men I know," was G. M.'s opinion of him. 
 
 * " At Burnham Westgate, Norfolk, aged seventy-five, Sir Mor- 
 daunt Martin, Bart., the 4th baronet of that family. He was born 
 in 1740, succeeded his father. Sir Roger, 1762 ; married Aug. 1765, 
 Everilda Dorothea, third daughter of the Rev. William Smith, Rector 
 of Burnham, Norfolk, by whom he had one son, Roger, born Feb. 1778, 
 and six daughters. 
 
 " A portion of his early life was passed in the army, and he retained 
 to his last moments that high sense of honour which a military educa- 
 tion so frequently instils. He was remarkable for generosity of senti- 
 ment, as well as liberality to those who were within the reach of his 
 bounty. He was benevolent to all, warmly loyal to his King, and 
 regular in the service of God. He passed the last fifty years of his 
 life in retirement at Burnham, devoting his time principally to the 
 study and practice of agriculture." — Gentleman's Magazine, September 
 25, 1815. 
 
164 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 upon to inform you of all that I have done in concert 
 with my Neighbours to Celebrate the glorious Victory 
 of the 1st of August. 
 
 " The smallness of my property here has ever prevented 
 my attempting to take the lead in any publick measures, 
 but being called upon to act my part I hope I have never 
 been backward in exerting myself to the best of my 
 abilities. 
 
 " You will probably see in the Newspapers an account 
 of our Sheep roasted whole & the excellent song formed 
 for the occasion from the old Rule Britania & sung by 
 Mr. Carter & the Burnham Alph Band. The last Verse 
 of which is 
 
 ' Now let us all with cheerful songs, 
 Give Glory to our Heavenly King, 
 Salvation to our God belongs 
 Thro' his protection we can sing 
 Rule Britania, Britania rule the Waves 
 Britons never shall be Slaves.' 
 
 " I do not mean to expose myself to ridicule by publish- 
 ing the Speech I had prepared to have delivered by way 
 of Grace to our Dinner had 1 not been prevented being 
 there in time. The drift of it was to boast of the Friend- 
 ship the Gallant Admiral ever honoured me with, to point 
 out his private Virtues & his reliance upon God's Provi- 
 dence as the firm basis of his astonishing Valour, and 
 to recommend a Subscription for the Families of those 
 Heroes who were killed or disabled in the glorious conflict ; 
 rather than an idle expence in Illuminations. As I am 
 unused to publick speaking (and had shortened my address 
 from the form in which I had first drawn it which would 
 perhaps have made me blunder) I was glad that I had 
 
THE NILE 165 
 
 not the opportunity I expected to deliver it, but (as any 
 Text may do for a good Sermon) I seized an opportunity 
 which offered in the course of the Evening from a Hunting 
 Song which concluded with ' chuck in your half Crowns ' 
 to chuck my Guinea upon the Table as a Nest Egg to 
 see how many Halfcrowns would be laid to it for the 
 benefit of the Families of those who had been killed or 
 disabled in the late Glorious Conflict. I might have 
 collected a considerable sum, but I abated the ardour 
 of many of the Company by requesting them not to give 
 more than Half Crowns as it was to the universality of 
 the measure & not to large Sums from a few that I looked 
 for success. I was immediately entrusted with three 
 pounds 19s 6d & the next Morning I distributed & pasted 
 up the following Handbill : 
 
 " To the Inhabitants of Burnham 
 " Gentlemen & Neighbours Having last night taken 
 the Liberty of promoting a subscription from the Company 
 at the Pitts Arms For the purpose of relieving the Families 
 of those who have been killed or disabled in the Glorious 
 Victory obtained by our Gallant Townsman 
 
 Admiral Lord Nelson 
 The Sum of three pounds nineteen shillings & sixpence 
 was immediately entrusted to my Care & I shall remit 
 it to the Committee in London as the Contribution of 
 that Company. I expressly specified that I wished no 
 person to contribute through me any Sum which he 
 might think worth sending in his own Name, as I did 
 not wish to promote an ostentatious display of Bounty 
 from a few, but a universal acknowledgment of Gratitude 
 
i66 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 from all. I shall therefore gladly receive the smallest 
 sums any of you may be disposed to Lodge in my Hands 
 for that purpose before the i6th instant, when I will 
 remit whatever I may have collected in the Name of the 
 inhabitants of Burnham. 
 
 " Burnham, Octr. loth, 1798. 
 
 " MoRDAUNT Martin. 
 
 and on Thursday morning I sent the following letter 
 to the printer of the Norwich Mercury. 
 
 *' Sir, — I conclude you will receive from other Hands 
 an account of our Dinner for the Poor & the excellent 
 Song made & sung by Mr. Carter in Celebration of our 
 Gallant Townsman's Victory. I am sorry to find that 
 the zeal of our Collectors carried them beyond the bounds 
 of our Parish. 
 
 " It is not my wish by sending you the enclosed Hand- 
 bill to (add ?) a Shilling from anybody but the in- 
 habitants of the Parish I reside in to the Sum which I 
 hope to be fully employed in receiving & registering from 
 Noon till two o'clock & from Six till Eight every Evening 
 within the time I have specified, But I am sanguine in 
 the hope that reflection on the many distressed Families 
 which are the inevitable result of such Triumphs will 
 induce many if not all Parishes to adopt the Principle 
 which will perhaps be the most effectual means of induc- 
 ing Men to engage in that service in which they may so 
 effectually protect & promote the Glory of Old England. 
 
 " I am Sir Your Obedt. Sert. 
 
 "MoRDAUNT Martin. 
 "Oct. II, 1798. 
 
THE NILE 167 
 
 " Till this appears I apprehend many of my Neighbours 
 expect me to collect from House to House which shall 
 not be undone if I find it necessary. In the mean time 
 I have prepared a Book to register the Subscribers in 
 the Title page of which I will transcribe 
 
 " An Account of the Sums received by Sir Mordaunt 
 Martin from the inhabitants of Burnham towards the 
 relief of the Families of those Heroes who were killed 
 or disabled in the glorious Victory obtained on the first 
 of August 1798 under our Gallant Neighbour Admiral 
 Lord Nelson Whose exemplary conduct (which was so 
 much admired while he lived amongst us) gave the finest 
 assurance of his astonishing Valour. Who that has the 
 Honour of knowing him will not bear testimony to his 
 Humanity & Gentleness, to his invincible sobriety, 
 to his unremitting assiduous attention to his Reverend 
 Father, and to his constant attendance at Divine Worship. 
 For ' Fearing God ' he has shown that ' He knows no 
 other Fears ' In proof of which his Admirable Letter in 
 the Gazette extraordinary of Oct. 2 1798 begins thus. 
 
 " ' Almighty God has blessed his Majesty's Arms in 
 the late Battle by a great Victory over the fleet of the 
 Enemy.' 
 
 *' Among my first names stands Saml Dolman for 
 himself his Wife & seven Children id. each — gd. I 
 purpose to have the whole transcribed & pasted upon 
 the Church doors. The original I shall preserve among 
 my Title Deeds as ground for an addition to my Armorial 
 bearings & a copy in a Book I shall request to have pre- 
 served in the Church Chest. The Statue of his Lordship 
 will no doubt have proper Inscriptions on the Pedestal 
 
i68 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 relative to his glorious Victories, but an honester Tribute 
 to his private Worth will no where be recorded. Could 
 I without ostentatious officiousness introduce it to the 
 Publick I own it would be a high gratification to the 
 feelings of Dear Sir 
 
 " Your much obliged Friend & obedt sert 
 
 "MoRD AUNT Martin/' 
 
 " P.S. Lady Martin & my Girls unite with me in 
 affectionate congratulations & respectful Compliments 
 to Mrs. Matcham. We have not yet had the satisfaction 
 of hearing from Roger since he left the Cape, but by 
 the third Bill of exchange arriving first for the last Sum 
 he drew for, it is evident the two first were lost & probably 
 Letters from him with them; as I know he & his sister 
 Caroline keep Journals to send to each other. We know 
 he has an appointment up the Country which Lord Spencer 
 assures me is a mark of Confidence & his Lordship assured 
 me he should hear of him from Lord Mornington." 
 
 By the end of November Mr. Nelson was again in 
 London; on his way to Bath; and still in the midst of 
 shoals of compliments and congratulations. 
 
 ** As soon as possible after the next drawing room 
 viz. the 6th Dec; all will be ready to sett ofi for Bath. 
 
 . . With repeated Joy, Congratulations; and London 
 Hurry, you must believe my whole Frame is disturbed. 
 Every creature Here is as full of the most exalted praise 
 as Ever, from St. James to Tower Hill. God bless you 
 all. Capt. Berry dines Here," 
 
THE NILE 169 
 
 Both of them being settled at Bath, Mr. Nelson en- 
 joyed far more of Catherine's companionship than in 
 previous years. The letters consequently fall short in 
 number, and the old characteristic ruminations gradually 
 fail. 
 
 The trouble of his son Suckling's death at Burnham 
 on April 30, 1799, recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine 
 as that of the "younger brother to the gallant Lord 
 Nelson," probably made his daughter's presence and 
 comfort especially needful to him at that time, though 
 as they were together no written record remains of the 
 event. 
 
 After an interval of ten months he again visited Burn- 
 ham and Ipswich, from which place a letter dated " Sept. 
 29 — a memorable day to all who bear the name of Nelson," 
 is followed by another of Oct. 8. "... From your 
 Bro : H. nothing has transpired. I mySelf do Now 
 really desire his return; and my reasons are more than 
 those of slight Gratifications. However I must confide 
 in His own judgement to Act as he thinks Best. He soars 
 in spheres unknown to private Stations. My journey 
 to Burnham, however needfuU, had its Alloy, but I am 
 recovering from the Labor of it. . . . Lady N. talks 
 of writing to you; consequently will furnish you with 
 the common Anecdotes of Society. By invitation S. 
 Bolton is here, and truly behaves with propriety and 
 Good humor, so I hope a few years will fix her conduct 
 so as to give her friends pleasure, and Joy to her Good 
 Mother." 
 
 A fortnight later he wrote again from Ipswich (October 
 22). 
 
170 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " Newspaper Intelligence is so little to be depended 
 upon, that what is built theron generally falls to the 
 ground. However, what has been said as to His Sicilian 
 Majesties Creation of your Brother, Duke of B. (Bronte) 
 is I believe a Fact.* The territory annexed to the Title 
 is £4000 pr. ann :, is very Capable of Improvement and 
 is Situated at the foot of Mount Etna ; it may be truly 
 said, that He to whom this encrease of Income is Granted; 
 encreases his Happiness only as it enlarges his power 
 of doing Good. We have had no letter Immediately 
 from yr Bro : tho I believe our Authority for the above 
 is to be depended upon {note in di-fferent writing * as it 
 comes from Capt. Nisbet and Ad. Young '). 
 
 " Lady N. remembers Her engagement as Sponsor 
 and I daresay wishes to fuUfiU it. 
 
 (Different Writing — " ' I have within these few days 
 seen an officer who left My Lord Nelson on the 8th of 
 Sepr. quite well at Palermo.' ") 
 
 On October 28 he writes forwarding 
 
 ** The inclosed letter from your Good Bro." It 
 concerns matters of family heritage. " He, I believe 
 has wrote to Mr. M. concerning the succession, But respect- 
 ing me, I do not intend at present to make it known; 
 therefore request that it may rest with yr Selves, and 
 that you would return the Letter into my hands, at a 
 proper opportunity. But I have farther to Inform you 
 of another Generous Act of this benevolent man. As 
 soon as he heard of the Hansome present made Him by 
 
 ♦ Cf. Mahan, p. 405-6. Southey, pp. 204-9, says £3000 per 
 annum, as did Nelson himself in his letter to his father {see post, p. 171 ). 
 
THE NILE 171 
 
 the East India Company, He wrote to His Wife Signifying 
 His desire That when the money was paid £500 might 
 be Given to each of His Brothers & Sisters, as a mark 
 of his affection. The money viz. the £10,000, is now 
 paid into the Hands of yr Bro. Banker, Marsh &c, it 
 therefore rests with you to let him know how the above 
 Sum of £500 is to be disposed off. Lady N. next week 
 goes to London for a few days only, and will then be 
 particular to (whom the) money is to be distributed, 
 therefore (in abt) a fortnight Marsh will be ready for 
 Mr. M.'s orders respecting it. 
 " I am tired. Excuse more." 
 
 The original of the following letter from the Admiral 
 to his father, which has constantly appeared in print, 
 still remains among Catherine's collection, together with 
 the copper-plate on which she herself engraved the 
 facsimile of it. 
 
 Palermo, Aug. 15th 1799 
 
 " My dear Father, — His Sicilian Majesty having 
 created me a Duke by the title of Bronte to which he 
 has attached a feud of, it is said about £3000 a Year, 
 to be at my disposal I shall certainly not omit this oppor- 
 tunity of being useful to my family always reserving a 
 right to the possessor of leaving one third of the Income 
 for the payment of legacys. it shall first go to you my 
 Dear Father and in Succession to my Elder Brother and 
 children male, Willm the Same, Mrs. Boltons Boys, Mrs. 
 Matchams and my nearest relations, for your natural 
 life the estate shall be taxed with £500 a year but this 
 is not to be drawn into a Precedent that the next heir 
 
172 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 may expect it, No, my honord Father, receive this small 
 tribute as a Mark of Gratitude to the Best of Parents 
 from His Most Dutiful Son 
 
 " Nelson." 
 
 At the end of November the Rector and Lady Nelson 
 came to London, settling at 54 St. James St. *' A 
 house engaged until the Sun returns to us," he writes 
 to Catherine. " Susan (Bolton) will most likely spend 
 the winter with Lady N. in Town, where, by very many 
 indulgences, she must be benefited. What the papers 
 say respecting the Adms return, you know, we, nothing 
 further, except that He himself sais rather the con- 
 trary. . . . 
 
 " Dec. 31. . . . Capt. Hardy gave us the pleasing 
 intelligence that He left your Bro : as well as usuall on 
 the 14th of November ; at that time no thoughts of 
 coming home. But this good news of the Admiral's 
 Health had a bitter Alloy jojned with it. Poor little 
 Bolton* died in his passage. After a very short illness. 
 Your dear Sister will be greatly affected, but I hope a 
 little time will abate the smart, and she will console 
 herself that it is one of those events which must be 
 resolved into the Will of Providence. I cannot write 
 much upon any subject. . . . 
 
 " Jan. 1800. ... A great deal of civility and attention 
 from Mrs. S[uckling], who tells me she thinks Mr. M.'s 
 box had better be removed from Mr. Walpole's house, 
 as she apprehends they may get damps. . . . Lady 
 
 * George, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Bolton. 
 
THE NILE 173 
 
 N.'s health I hope is improved, tho still imperfect. . . . 
 Yr bro : Wm and family came on Tuesday, all well, and 
 in Good Spirits. They are with their relations in St. 
 James' St., and I think go to Eton next week, and will 
 finish the important business of placing out their children 
 as soon as may be. . . . We last week received letters 
 from Palermo, Your Good Bro : writes in Spirits, and still 
 thinks there is a probable hope of his being in England 
 this summer, if he is fortunate eno : to reestablish their 
 Sicihan Majesties. ..." 
 
 February brings reports of failure in the Rector's 
 health, with " The Attendant train of Medicall advice ; 
 but being myself the best judge of my own feelings, see 
 at present no occasion for any fresh alarms respecting 
 real personall safty. Lady N. you may be well assured 
 is kind and unremitting in her attendance to me. My 
 appetite wants as much humouring as my disorders, 
 and all the Luxuries of London, does not wean me from 
 the good things of Bath." 
 
 A list of the desired Bath delicacies " Lamb, Larks, 
 asparagras, etc.," is followed by the reflection, " Your 
 Father in Appetite is qualified for a Mitre. O ! the 
 wants of Age and Infirmities are many." 
 
 " The Memorable 14 of February " brings an assurance 
 that " Nature is recovering her wonted Course. I am 
 weak and enervated, but the mind is Strong ; the body 
 well taken care of by Best advice and best of care, by 
 the unabated attention of yr Good Sister in Law, who 
 is the very counterpart of her Great and Good Husband. 
 
174 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Your Bath Luxuries are most excellent. Send no more 
 at present. I shake at the very thoughts of your cold 
 journey" (from Bath to Ringwood). 
 
 More commissions in March include " a Dorey or 
 two, if not very expensive, but do not confine yourself 
 to a day, take the most favourable opportunity of the 
 Market ; don't forget Cale, Lady N.'s favorite Green.'* 
 
 Having once again turned the corner, he indulged 
 in no more fancies, declaring that " London Markets 
 will now satisfy my Appetite, nice as it can be. I am 
 getting very Stout again." 
 
 The same letter announces the death of his eldest 
 sister Mary Nelson, at Hilborough, " where the Last 
 Solemn Ceremony was performed exactly as my late 
 Good Sister had ordered. . . . Poor Soul. She has 
 done what is Equitable by us All. . . ." 
 
 News of the Admiral is scanty. " From your Bro : 
 a short letter dated Palermo, Feb. 7th, and from him 
 I collect these two things, first that he is in good health, 
 and further that he has at present no thoughts of coming 
 to England. His words are ' I hope we shall one day 
 meet, but When, or Where, God only knows.' " 
 
 To which a postscript is added : "I have this moment 
 heard that yr Bro : has taken the Genereux, the only 
 Line of Battle ship* that escaped at the battle of the 
 Nile. She was going into Malta ; a great prize." 
 
 The Admiral's manner in the excitement of this chase; 
 has been sketched by Lieutenant Parsons, and another 
 
 * The Guillaume Sale as well as the Gener^UPf escaped, but was alsg 
 captured later. 
 
THE NILE 175 
 
 glimpse of the same sort appears in a description of him 
 as " always Mgetty," given by Sir Henry Duncan to 
 Mr. H. L. Long.* 
 
 " Lord Nelson put his head up on deck. ' Quarter 
 Master, you can put her head a little more to the wind.' 
 ' No, my Lord.' Went down. In a few minutes up 
 again. ' Quarter Master, can't you put her head a little 
 more to the wind ? ' ' No, my Lord.' Down again. 
 Up again. ' Quarter Master, I think you can put her 
 head a little more to the wind.' ' No, my Lord.' ' Then 
 I lie ? ' ' Yes, my Lord.' ' Then you're a pig ! ' " 
 
 From London Mr. Nelson writes to Catherine in April. 
 
 " Long days and spring weather Invites us to look 
 towards the Country, and if present circumstances do 
 not change, it is fixed that about the middle of May, 
 we leave London and go to Round wood. Lady N. intend- 
 ing to use the Yarmouth Baths instead of Brighton, or 
 elsewhere. I wish by such means she may pass her time 
 tolerably easy, for I see only very distant hopes of Her 
 Good Husband's return, without whom she cannot be 
 quite well in any place. Our last accounts are Feb. 27th, 
 not very satisfactory respecting his Health. 
 
 " The (Rector's) children are both in Town during the 
 Holidays and very promising young people they are. 
 In the autumn I look forward for our Tate a Tate, over 
 a Bath fire. ..." 
 
 The Rector and Lady Nelson lived together all the 
 
 * Written down by Lady Catherine Long. 
 
176 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 winter, and he made his plans to suit hers in the early 
 summer also. On April 28 he wrote to Catherine : 
 
 " A journey to Bath is not my Intention this Summer, 
 under the present existing circumstances, Lady N. has 
 given up the thought of going to any other Bathing place 
 than Yarmouth, not far distant from Her home. Upon 
 the I2th of May, I mySelf shall leave London and go 
 directly for Ipswich ; she will follow in a few days, and 
 whenever she leaves me. Some of my freinds shall know 
 it. I will endeavour to avoid the 2 extremes of being 
 quite alone or being talked into a peevish disquietude. 
 Such as a perpetuall chattering might occasion. Letters, 
 dated Palermo, so late as March 22nd we have reed, or 
 Seen ; Your Bro's Health I doubt is not quite perfect, 
 nor his politicall mind quite at Ease,* and whether He 
 will come Home or not, from what we can Learn, is very 
 doubtful. Think no more about Fish." 
 
 In another brief note sent on May 10, just before his 
 departure for Ipswich, he reports again hopes of Lord 
 Nelson's return. 
 
 " You will be pleased to know that in a short note 
 from the Admiralty to Lady N., is this agreeable Intelli- 
 gence, That from Lord Keith's dispatches, it appears 
 probable tho not certain, that Lord Nelson will have 
 leave to come Home. The note farther adds that the 
 
 * There had been one or two letters of mild reproof from Lord St. 
 Vincent and from Earl Spencer regarding his desire to return home 
 on account of his health. 
 
THE NILE 177 
 
 William Tell is captured by the Foudroyant and Lion. 
 This compleats the destruction of the whole French 
 Fleet at the Nile. 
 
 " On Tuesday I hope to be at Round Wood House. 
 
 " To G.M. . . . We have some other Authority then 
 the Newspapers to think Adm Nelson is now upon His 
 passage to England.* When he is really arrived you 
 shall know it. God prosper your affairs. . . ." 
 
 Mr. Nelson; while naturally anxious for the return 
 of his famous son, foresaw that that return would be 
 followed by change in his own circumstances. He 
 mentions this in a letter to Catherine on July 18, 1800, 
 from Ipswich. 
 
 (C 
 
 The hope of receiving the news of your Bro. arrival] 
 in England, has been so long deferred, we know not 
 from what cause, that I could not omitt writing. . . . 
 You must not allow any report of my Indisposition, at 
 any time whatever, to effect your mind . . . tho there 
 may be some few instances of stronger men at 77, yet 
 they are Rare. . . . Whenever your Bro. Comes to 
 Settle at Home; some new domestick arrangements most 
 likely will take place, But whatever they are, I have 
 no doubt of my ease & comfort being considered, and 
 our meeting will Some where be amongst the promised 
 pleasures. . . . Mr. White's request is not forgott, 
 tho I know not precisely what He means as to the mode 
 
 * There is no date to this letter, but Nelson and the Hamiltons 
 with the Queen of Naples did not leave Leghorn for Florence and 
 Trieste until July 1 1 . 
 
 t 
 
178 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 of your Bro. Signing His name. You are in possession 
 of it, as well as my Self."* 
 
 Catherine becomes very shadowy in this one-sided 
 correspondence, of which no letter on her side remains^ 
 but a glimpse of her this summer on one of their many 
 little post-chaise trips is chronicled by her eleven-year- 
 old son. 
 
 Six o'clock in the morning was not too early for these 
 active-minded people to explore Wells Cathedral, and 
 other antiquities. " Wookey hole," the paper mills and 
 Glastonbury followed, on their way to Exmouth to see 
 Wemsy, a former home of the Scriveners, of which Cathe- 
 rine had girlish recollections. Stopping at Sir Alexander 
 Hamilton's to dine and walk round his plantations, they 
 passed on by Exeter and Dawlish to visit the Bowaters 
 at Plymouth, where they explored Mount Edgcumbe, 
 looked at Lord Borrington's " fine paintings and magni- 
 ficent furniture," went over the Royal Sovereign, and 
 saw the St. Joseph'f and Culloden lying in dock. " After 
 dinner went to hear General Bowater's Band . . . 24th 
 Sir Thomas Troubridge called ; after Lady Saumarez 
 and Sir James . . ." at St. Austell " We went to the mines 
 and Papa went down one. He staid two hours. He 
 then came out with his miner's coat and met Mama in 
 the lane, and followed her down the lane. Mama cried 
 out in her fright, to one of the men ' I am very much 
 frightened at that man, and should be much obliged to 
 
 * '* Bronte Nelson," *' Bronte Nelson of the Nile " were among the 
 various signatures at first used by the Admiral on his elevation to the 
 peerage, before finally adopting the " Nelson and Bronte." 
 
 t The San Josef. This was the ship in which Nelson hoisted his 
 flag on January 17, 1801, for the Copenhagen campaign. 
 
THE NILE 179 
 
 you if you will open the Carriage door.' Papa then told 
 who he was." Truro is "a very neat place, but smells 
 of fish." So on through Cornwall by Penzance, Launces- 
 ton, Torrington and Barnstable, " Papa making expe- 
 ditions on horseback to see curiosities," and so pre- 
 sumably home again to Bath, to which end, however, 
 the journal fails to conduct them. 
 
 In October they were still in uncertainty as to the 
 Admiral's movements. Since no ship could be spared 
 to convey him to England,* he had started in July with 
 the Hamiltons, on his way home through Germany. 
 Passing through Florence, Trieste, Vienna, Prague, 
 Dresden and Hamburg, he was everywhere received with 
 enthusiastic welcome and applause. f Ultimately the 
 party landed at Yarmouth on November 6, and the 
 Admiral joined his wife and father at Nerott's Hotel in 
 St. James' Street on November 8. 
 
 Early news of the arrival of the travellers was sent 
 by Mr. Nelson to Bath, and he seems to have written 
 the following letters on consecutive days. 
 
 "Nerott's Hotel, 
 
 " London. 
 
 "My dear, — No wonder that your affectionate and 
 
 anxious mind should have felt a great deal both for me 
 
 * Sou they. 
 
 f Notwithstanding the regret felt by his best friends at Lady Hamil- 
 ton's obtrusive domination over him, " I don't think him altered in 
 the least," wrote Lady Minto at Vienna. " He has the same shock 
 head and the same honest simple manners ; but he is devoted to Emma ; 
 he thinks her quite an angel . . . and she leads him about like a keeper 
 with a bear. . . . He is a gig from ribands, orders and stars, but he 
 is just the same with us as ever he was." — Mahan, vol. ii. pp. 40-1. , 
 
i8o THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 and your Good Brother's safty. It has not in good truth 
 been in my power to give you much satisfaction on either 
 subject sooner then the present day. I am my Self 
 arrived Here with as little inconvenience, nay with less 
 than was to be expected, considering some infirmities 
 that even age does not always bring with it. But I 
 certainly am not worse for the journey, and I think I 
 may now venture to say with more certainty than ever, 
 that your Brother was in Yarmouth yesterday. When 
 the Mail left that Place the populace was in the Action 
 of drawing Him in his Carriage about the Town ; morover 
 a Message is this morn come to the Treasury of His 
 Safe arrivall. Bless God. What I know more tomorrow 
 you shall hear from me." 
 
 Nop. iBth, 1800 
 
 " My dear, — As I have no other, nor better news to 
 tell you, then the safe arrivall of your Good, long expected 
 Brother, a very few lines will give you much pleasure. 
 He looks well, is active & cannot rest Long in a place 
 therfore I my Self can only see Him for a minute. He 
 has asked for Employment, therfore no doubt but His 
 Services will be accepted. If you wish to know more 
 particulars I will answer you as far as is in my power. 
 God Bless you all, 
 
 "He dines at the Guildhall, would desire His best 
 Love, was He at my Elbow. 
 
 *'Edm. Nelson." 
 
 Lord Nelson was soon settled in a town house, 17 
 Dover Street, and on November 15 Mr. Nelson wrote to 
 Catherine from there : 
 
THE NILE i8i 
 
 " My dear, — The Cause which at present hinders your 
 travelling, I hope in proper time will be happily removed 
 and we shall rejojce in each other. 
 
 *' Your Brother has taken this house for a year which, 
 tho not Small, is really filled with Servants. The Suite 
 of nobility is long. 
 
 " When Mr. Matcham with ease can come to London, 
 I can answer every one will be truly glad to see him. 
 
 " Your Bro. is so constantly upon the wing that I can 
 but get a short glimpse myself. Wm. & Mrs. N. have 
 lodgings very near and mean to stay some time. 
 
 "My dear child write to me as often as you can, my 
 anxiety is great for you. I cannot write with Great 
 Ease." 
 
 So came about the long-looked-for reunion of the 
 Admiral with his wife and his father. But his friendship 
 with Sir William and Lady Hamilton destroyed their 
 peace, and the Rector's joy was tempered by the domestic 
 storm that rose with the New Year. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 TROUBLE AT HOME— COPENHAGEN— MERTON 
 PLACE— DEATH OF THE RECTOR 
 
 A BITTER alloy was mixed with the Admiral's 
 home-coming. After some weeks of mutual 
 unhappiness, Lady Nelson finally desired that 
 ■" her husband's friendship with Lady Hamilton 
 should cease. His answer failing to satisfy her, she left 
 him in distress and anger.* Their " country cottage " 
 dream was abandoned. In January a separation was 
 agreed upon, and they never afterwards lived together. 
 The pain thus brought upon the Admiral's family 
 greatly affected the old Rector, who must long before, 
 in the companionship of his daughter-in-law, have been 
 subject to the depressing grievance and sorrow which 
 had grown up in her mind. Her best friend he remained, 
 and when, after a time of uncertainty and doubt, he 
 became convinced that his son's conduct had not been 
 such as should estrange them, he was enabled to go from 
 Lady Nelson's house to visit the Admiral at Merton, 
 privileged by his own sincerity to be friends with both. 
 The private trouble so far overwhelmed the public triumph 
 
 * See letter to Sir H. Nicholas from Mr. Haslewood, the lawyer and 
 confidential friend of the Nelson family. Mr. Haslewood gives an 
 account of the final dispute, at which he was himself present. He 
 also asserts that Lord Nelson's *' Father, brother, sisters and their 
 husbands well knew that the separation was unavoidable on Lord 
 Nelson's part." — '^ Despatches," vol. vii. pp. 391-2. 
 
 182 
 
TROUBLE AT HOME 183 
 
 that his letters speak Httle of either one or the other, and 
 no criticism on the state of affairs is offered. Their 
 father's belief and example was shared and followed 
 in a measure by his children. Neither the influence of 
 the wife, who had been unsympathetic and often ungra- 
 cious to them, nor that of Lady Hamilton — a woman 
 whose unhappy past, though whitewashed, could never 
 be forgotten, with all her gushing attentions, enthusiasm; 
 beauty, and vulgarity — could bring estrangement between 
 the Admiral and his family. 
 
 To her dying day Catherine would flush hotly at any 
 criticism of her brother's conduct, but even to the most 
 privileged she only said " He had great excuses " or 
 " She was so very cold." The breach which for a time 
 ensued between the two sisters-in-law was, however; 
 eventually bridged over, and they met once more in 
 friendship. The final conclusion among Catherine's 
 family in after years seems to be summed up in the 
 words of her son George, " I do not defend his one great 
 error (though in that, with some palliation, there were 
 united elements of a generous and noble nature)." 
 
 The advent of another addition to her nursery had 
 prevented Catherine from coming to London, but early 
 in December G. M. had joined the party in town to attend 
 a diimer given to Lord Nelson by the East India Directors 
 at the London Tavern ; and it was just at this troublous 
 time that the Admiral lent a helping hand to one of the 
 pet philanthropic schemes of his brother-in-law. 
 
 A keen believer in the future of our colonies, G. M. 
 was then helping some emigrants to Australia, for whom 
 Government grants of land were procured, and through 
 
i84 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 the Admiral's interest an introduction to Mr. King, 
 Governor of New South Wales, was also obtained. To 
 this day, so successful were their endeavours, the descen- 
 dants of these families, and of others sent later on to 
 join them, still remember those through whose help 
 their future prosperity was as far as possible ensured. 
 
 *' Long ago Mr. King has asked the question about 
 your friend's journey to Botany Bay," writes the Admiral 
 to G. M. in January 1801. " Mr. K. says they shall be 
 sent free of cost, and desires their names, ages, professions 
 may be sent. Mr. Davison has kindly undertaken to go 
 between you and Mr. King, therefore send him the neces- 
 sary answers to the questions. The fleet sails for that 
 Colony in March. ..." 
 
 Nor did the Admiral's interest in the scheme end there. 
 He kept the matter in mind all through the rest of his 
 life. Three years later, in forwarding a letter from 
 Governor King, he wrote : "I hope your other friends 
 arrived at last, if not there is an end long ago of all their 
 cares." The emigrants themselves, Mr. King tells him, 
 " are comfortably settled and will be as they have been, 
 the peculiar object of my caje, which they have rendered 
 themselves highly deserving of, and are the best examples 
 as settlers of any sent here. My feeble suffrages of gratu- 
 lation," adds the Governor, " on the Brilliant achieve- 
 ments of your Lordship, altho past the usual date of 
 Merit, yet I hope you will consider me as one that prides 
 himself on being personally known to the Nation's 
 Champion. . . ." 
 
 Again, on August 22, 1805, only three days after his 
 
TROUBLE AT HOME 185 
 
 last arrival at Merton, the Admiral wrote spontaneously 
 to Catherine in the postscript of a warm invitation to 
 Merton : '* I need not my dear Sister say how happy 
 I shall be to see you and Mr. Matcham. He must send 
 me the names of his friends in New South Wales, as the 
 New Governor has promised me his protection of them." 
 Knowing his brother-in-law's generous nature, the 
 desire felt by G. M. to foster a spirit of independence in 
 his family appears in his reply, dated 1801, to some 
 childish question asked by his little son, aged twelve : 
 
 *' Of Lord Nelson, n>y dear George, I know no more 
 than you. He cannot attend to all his numerous rela- 
 tions. He has therefore very much to his own comfort 
 confined his attentions to his nephew and niece the 
 Nelsons, but if his other nephews accomplish themselves 
 and are of the genus Nulla pallascere culpa ; I daresay 
 when they are grown up he will assist them with his 
 interest. There will be another condition insisted on, 
 that they do not disturb or intrude themselves upon 
 him till they are fit to be launched into busy life." 
 
 Through the early weeks of 1801 Mr. Nelson stayed 
 on in London with his daughter-in-law, while the rest 
 of the family dispersed, and he himself, worried and 
 unwell, was looking forward to joining the more cheerful 
 part of them at Bath. The Admiral hurried on his own 
 departure, writing to G. M. on January i : "I leave town 
 for Plymouth next week, which is much sooner than I 
 expected. My Sister's letter is just received, but it is 
 wrote so fine that neither myself or Father can even with 
 
i86 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 glasses make out a word. Better eyes will be employed. 
 We long to hear. ... Remember us kindly to her & 
 Mrs. Matcham and believe me ever your affectionate 
 Nelson. . . . (P.S.) This moment hear of the magnificent 
 present from Mrs. Matcham. I shall write thanks." 
 
 From the Rev. Edm. Nelson : " Jan. gth. ... My 
 Good Sir I have for several days been in expectation to 
 hear of the arrivall of your New Years Gift, and do now 
 rejojce with you and my Dear Kate. ... 
 
 " Of the movments of our Good Freind I can say nothing 
 certain, except in a few days He leaves London, But 
 what road has not transpired, But Himself will tell you 
 all That. As things are now circumstanced it is my 
 intention to get down to Bath at no distant day." 
 
 " London January 13th. . . . Early this morning; 
 our Good friend left London for Plymouth, and wishing 
 to Hoist his flagg as soon as possible, also finding a 
 necessity to make some visits, which will- take him a 
 little way out of the Great road, it will not be in His 
 power to pass thro Bath, nevertheless it is yet probable 
 he may visit you before he leaves England. Son Wra. 
 is gone to Plymouth for a short time. I still intend to 
 spend some time in your Salubrious city. I must have 
 some airy place, not distant from you, a dining floor with 
 three rooms, as my man must sleep near me. I think 
 the Square, Sunny side, might please me . . . shall not 
 set forward till next week." 
 
 The Admiral having sailed for the Baltic,* and Mr. 
 
 * He had been promoted to Vice- Admiral of the Blue on New Year's 
 Day. He hoisted his flag in the San Josef on January 17, to join St. 
 
TROUBLE AT HOME 187 
 
 Nelson having settled at Bath, the family letters cease 
 until Maurice, the eldest son, writes to Catherine from the 
 Navy Office, April 4, 1801 : 
 
 " My Dear Sister, — I thank you & My Father for 
 your kind congratulations on my appointment to the 
 principal seat in the Office. It is one of the things I have 
 always been looking up too, and it has proved the more 
 gratifying to me as there was not any Interest made for 
 it, but devolved upon me as a matter of right. . . . 
 No Official accounts yet from the Baltic, but we must 
 have some very soon. Give my love to Our Father & 
 best wishes to Mr. Matcham and all your family and 
 believe 
 
 " Your truly affectionate Brother 
 
 "Maurice Nelson." 
 
 In the same month, just as fortune was at last favouring 
 him, and in the midst of all the rejoicings over the victory 
 of Copenhagen, a sudden illness put an end to Maurice's 
 career. Indeed all the family triumphs seem to have 
 been invariably tempered by private sorrows, and w 
 this case the unexpected loss of his favourite brothei 
 must greatly have saddened the Admiral's return. 
 Maurice was generally liked. " You can have no con- 
 ception how hard the loss of Maurice Nelson bears upon 
 this office," * writes Admiral Gambler to Mr. Matcham 
 
 Vincent in the Channel Fleet. He was, however, immediately recalled 
 in order to serve as second-in-command to Sir Hyde Parker in the 
 Baltic, and transferred his flag to the St. George, a lighter ship, better 
 fitted for work in the narrower waters of the north. 
 The Navy Ofl&ce; 
 
i88 THE NELSONS GF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " He was a very honest, worthy and good fellow, and his 
 death must be greatly lamented by all who knew him." * 
 
 The battle of Copenhagen was fought on April 2, and 
 won almost entirely by Nelson's initiative. That the 
 Admiralty took this view was evidenced by the fact that 
 on May 5 Parker was relieved from the command, Nelson 
 being appointed in his stead. He was also created a 
 Viscount. 
 
 Again congratulations abounded, and among those 
 written to G. M., one from a French refugee, the Count 
 Delile, with another from Sir Charles Malet, may stand 
 as representative of the two nations. 
 
 "No. 104 High Street Marylebone 19 april 1801 
 
 " My dear Sir, — recieve if you please and Madam 
 Matcham My Sincere compliments for the new laurels 
 gathered by lord nelson, never one have seen two so 
 great victorys obtained in the same fleet's situation, as 
 this of alboukir and this of Copenhagen, but this last 
 has been More difficult by the strong batteries of the 
 forts. 
 
 " the emperor paul's death is happier an event for all 
 
 ♦ The Gentleman's Magazine gives the ioWowing dbituaxy : "April 24, 
 1 801. Of a brain fever, after a very few days illness, Maurice Nelson, 
 esq. One of the secretaries to the Navy Board, and brother to Lord 
 N. He was upon the point of receiving, from the justice and liberality 
 of ministers, an appointment suitable to his near consanguinity to 
 the Hero of the Nile, and to his own individual merit. He was about 
 to be appointed a Commissioner to the Customs or Excise, till a vacancy 
 should have happened at the Navy Board, to which he would then 
 have been removed. He was the favourite and elder brother of Lord 
 N. No man ever lived more truly beloved and respected by his friends 
 and acquaintance, and none ever carried to the grave a more sincere 
 and tender regret." 
 
LORD XKLSOX 
 
 From a drawing' by an iinkinni^'ii Italian a^-tist 
 
 Rc/irodiiccii through the kindness o/ Mr. A. .'/. l>rondU-y 
 
COPENHAGEN 189 
 
 europa than this of Robespiere, because it interest all 
 powers, but that of Robespiere only the french nation. 
 
 " if i had known the lodging of lady nelson i should 
 pay to her a visite to express my interets for the glory 
 and the prosperity of all your familly. great deal of 
 frinch emigrants are goyng in their country, but i will 
 never follow their exemple. i prefer to live with my 
 english friends than to Kneeling to an usurpator if 
 the providence will not restaur our King she will grand 
 me the leave to never See my country, i am now bussy 
 reading the Blear's Sermons, i have never found a reading 
 so interesting, by his deep thoughts and his gentle moral. 
 
 " give me if you pleese Sir, good news of all your family, 
 i will be always grateful of all your Kindness during my 
 stay in bath. 
 
 '* receive My dear Sir assurences of the faithful friend- 
 ship of 
 
 " Your Servant etc. 
 
 " Delile. 
 
 *' My respects to Madam Matcham. Send me if you 
 please the direction of lady nelson, the news from 
 egypte are very good this evening." 
 
 '' George Matcham Esqr 
 
 " Let me join my dear Friend my joyful lo Pean to 
 your & your or rather our venerable Patriarchs devout 
 Te Deum ! In a Word I rejoice more than Words can 
 Express & felicitate You All accordingly, in which and 
 every proper Compliment Lady M. begs to join. I 
 suppose our Hero will make another Peer on this occasion 
 We should have a Statue of Him in every Town as a 
 
190 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Pattern to make Heroes by, but tho his Example may 
 make many Heroes & Peers, He will remain peerless ! ! 
 
 " Adieu Yr affect 
 
 "C. W. Malet. 
 
 " How enviable must be all your Feelings I 
 
 " i6 April 1801." 
 
 Lord Nelson returned to England in July, landing at 
 Yarmouth on the i8th. 
 
 On July 27 Mr. Nelson, being once more on his way 
 from Bath to Norfolk, met his son and wrote to Catherine 
 from "Lothians Hotell. . . . Your Brother Reed His 
 Commission yesterday, and is gone to Sheemess this 
 morning on a most Important and most Honorable 
 employment * that any Navall officer has been entrusted 
 with for many many years, not since the Armada business. 
 He is in Great Spirits and Seems Well. . . . Shall be 
 Here till the, End of this Week. . . ." 
 
 There is another lengthy gap in the correspondence, 
 covering the stressful period when Nelson watched the 
 Channel for the coming of the invader. 
 
 Mr. Nelson next writes from Burnham on October i : 
 
 "... The tax for wearing powder was paid at the 
 usuall time. ... All Annuall taxes are unpaid and left 
 to Mr. M.'s Care, which I hope He will properly discharge 
 that my character may Stand Clear from any Impeach- 
 ment, and my Name shall be Answerable to Him. Lady 
 N. has been Here one week, returns to morrow to Wolter- 
 
 * The command of the defence flotilla against Napoleon's projected 
 invasion flotilla ; it was ofi&cially known as the Squadron on Particular 
 Service. 
 
MERTON PLACE 191 
 
 ton. To London by & by, for the winter. No prospect 
 of better Times for Her, nay I think worse. I shall 
 remain here longer. Miss Rolfe is married." 
 
 " Burnham Oct. 20 : ... When the definitive Treaty 
 is Signed, your Brother will be Sett Free from the Service 
 of the publick, and will then fix at Merton, his new pur- 
 chase. As to private accommodation, all that must be 
 given up. I hope the Breach will not extend farther ; 
 my part is very distressing. I am invited to Merton» 
 and have for the present engaged to be elsewhere, but 
 am Inclined to think Bath must shelter me, and for that 
 quiet retirement, will thank you to be looking around 
 you. Lady N. is not here, but I believe at Cromer. 
 I will advertise you of the time I leave Burnham." 
 
 During his absence the Admiral had commissioned 
 Lady Hamilton to find him a house, with the result that 
 Merton Place, in Surrey, was bought as a mutual home 
 for the Hamiltons and himself. 
 
 The letters which passed at this time between the 
 Admiral and his father, printed from the Cricket corre- 
 spondence; show the trouble and uncertainty of the old 
 man, and how his son assured him that no reason existed 
 to enforce any separation between them, and induced 
 him to visit Merton, where the Admiral himself arrived 
 on October 24, having previously written to Lady Hamil- 
 ton on the loth : 
 
 " I have a letter from Mr. Addington. He says, ' I 
 owe it to my regard for your Lordship's high character 
 and to my public duty to declare it to be my opinion 
 
192 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 that it is of the utmost Importance to the Interests of 
 the Country that your flag should be fl3dng till the Defi- 
 nitive treaty is signed. You will then have seen the 
 ship safe into Port and may close with honor ( ) 
 
 career of unexampled success & glory.' 
 
 " I shall most assuredly not stay one hour after hos- 
 tilities cease which must be the 22nd, and I hope the 
 Admiralty will release me before. I can only offer if 
 it is necessary to come down again. You see how I am 
 situated and I must not on my brother's account fly 
 in these people's faces, but I am by no means so well 
 as I could wish. Your letter has agitated me not a little, 
 and I have one from my Father which has hurt me. I 
 shall not answer it till I hear from you on Monday, but 
 more of this tomorrow. I am sending off many of our 
 Ships to Sheemess to be paid ofl, would to God my turn 
 was come. I am glad you are going to Merton, and I 
 hope Sir William will like it, I am sure I shall. . . ." 
 
 In November his father joined them at Merton, having 
 written to Catherine from London : " Nov. 9th : Yes- 
 terday I came to Lady Nelson's House . . . where I 
 mean to stay a fortnight and then go to your Brother 
 at Merton, from whence it is my design to move to 
 Bath. ..." 
 
 ** Nov. 20 Merton Place Surrey : ... My dear The 
 trouble of looking for lodgings that will exactly suit an 
 absent freind, is I know more than a little, as we really 
 do not know what we like when we can have what we 
 please. . . . Air is now a necessary object. Perhaps 
 I may continue some Time in your City. What do you 
 
MERTON PLACE 193 
 
 think of Laura Place? - . . t will be Satisfied with 
 whatever you do, and for one Month no Mischeif can be 
 done. Your Good Bro : is truly in better Health and 
 Happier in himSelf then in Good truth I have in any 
 passed Time observed Him to be. He is not likly to be 
 employed on any publick Service. His love and affec- 
 tion to you and yours depend upon it is very Sincere 
 & unshaken. God Bless you All. . . ." 
 
 " 26th.* My Dear On Tuesday next I propose set- 
 ting out for Bath and do Intend being at your House on 
 Thursday about 4 oclock. Whatever lodging is engaged 
 I will be satisfied with. ... I am requested to say that 
 the Screen Mr. M. made a present of to yr Brother, is 
 now unpacked without damage ; is Esteemed allmost 
 Invaluable, as few so Handsome are to be seen in England. 
 God Bless you all, is the Sincere prayer of H. N. as well 
 as E. N." 
 
 "Can you give me an idea when you may chuse to 
 make us a visit at Merton . . . any time will suit us," 
 writes the Admiral to Catherine, who, however had her 
 family to consider, and was writing herself to George 
 junior at school : " We are all wishing for the HoUidays. 
 I hope you will be able to amuse yourself without the 
 Poney, as Housekeeping is so extravagant at Bath your 
 rides would cost a Guinea every time you went out, which 
 even you would think too expensive, so we must be 
 content with walking. . . ." 
 
 Some childish epidemic upset their winter plans later 
 
 * This letter is dated " Mar,," but as there is no other record of a 
 second visit, it appears to have been a mistake for Nov. 
 
 M 
 
194 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 on, for the Admiral again writes : *' The 23rd January 
 will suit us perfectly well, therfore let it rest for that day. 
 The late weather has given me a most violent Cold, but 
 I am a little better today. I shall write my Father 
 tomorrow to thank him for his New Years present, and 
 with many happy New Years. ..." 
 
 The visit, however, fell through altogether; Nelson 
 writing on January 21; 1802 : "... I am truly sorry 
 for the cause which has deprived us of the pleasure of 
 seeing you . . . but to say truth I think a Journey the 
 latter part of April or beginning of May will afford more 
 pleasure to all parties, for then you will I trust be quite 
 well and our weather much better. ..." 
 
 With April, however, there came a heavier trouble; 
 the death of the Rev. Edmund Nelson. The end was 
 foreseen a few days before; and the Admiral was warned 
 by a letter from G. M.; to which he replied on April 26; 
 the day his father died : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Matcham from your kind letter of 
 yesterday describing my Father's situation I have no 
 hopes that he can recover. God's will be done. Had 
 my Father expressed a wish to see me unwell as I am 
 I should have flown to Bath, but I believe it would 
 be too late; however should it be otherwise and he 
 wishes to see me, no consideration shall detain me a 
 moment. 
 
 " I have sent for William to come to Merton, for should 
 my Father be no more, he is his sole Executor, as I 
 have understood. I shall therefore only say that He 
 is to be buried at Bumham. With kindest affections 
 
DEATH OF THE RECTOR 195 
 
 to my Sister. Believe me Ever Your most affectionate 
 Brother, . . ." 
 
 Being too ill at the time to attend his Father either 
 in his illness or at the funeral, the Admiral again writes 
 on April 28 : 
 
 Merton, April 28 1802 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Matcham, — My brother William does 
 not come up, but he has offered to arrange all the business 
 at Bumham which I shall write him to do this day 
 therfore (if it is according to your Ideas) it is my wish 
 that my Father should be sent attended by a Mourning 
 Coach, Abram and some other person with him, to Bum- 
 ham to be put down at the Parsonage House, from whence 
 he will be buried with all that respect and attention 
 becoming His Excellent Life and the Worthy and Bene- 
 ficent Pastor of His Parish for 45 years. No proper expense 
 shall be wanting and beyond that is not necessary. The 
 minute parts of the Ceremony my Brother shall settle. 
 I am not yet fixt whether I shall go to Burnham, my state 
 of health and what my feelings would naturally be might 
 be of serious consequence to myself. I will in the first 
 place defray the whole of the accounts, and afterwards 
 we can look to the settling them if any Effects remain ; 
 therefore I beg you will open the writing Box and see 
 the Will, you will find some money I beheve to go on 
 with, and whatever you do I am sure will meet my entire 
 approbation. Respecting Abraham, till I can get him 
 some small place I will give him an annuity, so far his 
 mind may be easy, I promised it to my Father. I should 
 have been sorry if my Sister had not the Tea Pot, or any 
 
196 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 other little thing she chose, Mrs. Bolton may also wish 
 for some dear remembrance. 
 
 "The Cane my Father always told me was for You 
 therefore for his & my sake keep it.* 
 
 " I have exerted my spirits to endeavour to be Clear, 
 and forgive my writing more today for in truth I am 
 unable, but with kindest love to My Dear Sister 
 
 " I am ever your affectionate Brother 
 
 5* Nelson and Bronte/' 
 
 " I had heard ye melancholly intelligence from my 
 Brother ..." the Rev. William Nelson wrote to his 
 brother-in-law on April 29 from Hilborough. "The 
 suddeness of ye account shocked me much, as I had no 
 idea of his illness 'till my Brother sent me your letter. . . . 
 God's WiQ be done ; he has lived to a good old age, and 
 we must be thankful we had him so long ; he has scarce 
 left his fellow behind him. ... If nothing is said to the 
 contrary of course he will be buried at Bumham. . . . 
 Whatever you and my Sister may do, I shall be satisfied 
 . . . Probably you will discharge the coachman and 
 horses soon, as I understand they are a job. You will 
 do what is proper about mourning for servants, and 
 everything belonging to my father will be kept together, 
 'till after the funeral, when we will consider what to do 
 with them ... we leave everything to you and my 
 
 * The Malacca Cane, now at Newhouse, was a present to the Admiral 
 from the inhabitants of the Island of Zante. In token of their gratitude 
 and admiration, every diamond in the island was contributed to form 
 the ring and studs with which it is ornamented, these stones being 
 consequently of very unequal sizes. 
 
DEATH OF THE RECTOR 197 
 
 Sister, to whom I beg my love, shall be glad to hear she 
 bears ye shock tolerably. . . ." 
 
 . Unable to leave Merton; the Admiral again wrote to 
 G. M. on April 29 : " . . . My Brother dont know whether 
 my Father ever executed a Will making him sole Exe- 
 cutor, but you will know, and is of no consequence. 
 I have wrote my Brother that I wrote to you that I 
 expected him at Merton on the 27th, for he seems hurt 
 very nonsensically that he was not wrote to from Bath. 
 ... I am still very much indisposed, but Ever your 
 affecte Brother Nelson & Bronte." 
 
 The Admiral being too ill to attend the funeral, the 
 Rev. William Nelson awaited the procession at Bumham, 
 while on G. M. fell the immediate arrangements at Bath. 
 
 Lord Nelson was, however, constantly consulted as 
 to the disposal of the effects and settling up of the estate. 
 
 " May 8th. Your letter is gone to the Dr. We shall 
 hope to see you on Tuesday. I think Mr. Spry from 
 very old acquaintance and other circumstances should 
 be most handsomly noticed. Do you think Twenty 
 Pounds will be sufficient ? If not increase it ; he has 
 not been like a Common Apothecary to my Father. The 
 Bath undertaker to supply as little as possible, as Kerrison 
 of Burnham has got the orders. You will do what is 
 generous and right, and I am sure I shall approve with 
 many thanks. Sir William and Lady Hamilton desire 
 their kindest wishes to you & my Sister." 
 
 The Rector was buried in the chancel of Burnham 
 
igS THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Thorpe church, by the side of his wife, whom he had 
 survived thirty-four years. On her grave he had placed, 
 together with the old Nelson coat-of-arms, a Latin 
 inscription, ending with the protest, " Let these alone ; 
 let no man move these Bones." 
 He had been Rector of the parish forty-six years. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 LORD NELSON AT MERTON AND AT SEA 
 
 FOR over a year Lord Nelson was not employed 
 afloat. Such letters and memoranda as may 
 be of interest turn mostly upon small family 
 matters, needing only a slight outline to con- 
 nect them. In 1802 these deal chiefly with the Admiral's 
 wish to enlarge the Merton estate, by the purchase of an 
 adjoining property ; an investment shared in by the 
 Matchams* who meanwhile were themselves divided 
 between the wish to spend a year or two in France for educa- 
 tional purposes, or giving way to the persuasions of the 
 Merton party that they should settle in that neighbour- 
 hood. 
 
 "Mr. Este and his son; the Banker at Paris; came 
 down here on Sunday in hopes of meeting you," the 
 Admiral writes to G. M. from Merton on May 11. ** Mr. 
 Este came over with the remains of his Father in law. 
 Sir R. Smith ; and returns in a few days. He has sent 
 me letters for you to his House at Paris, but as it is 
 probable this will pass you on the road I keep them 
 here. . . . Kind love to my Sister." 
 
 * The allowance of ;£i8oo per annum made to Lady Nelson, with 
 other demands and interest on money borrowed for the Merton pur- 
 chase, amounting to £8 so. left the Admiral with only £768 per annum 
 for his own expenses. See statement to Mr. Addington, Lathom 
 Browne, " Nelson," p. 384. 
 
 199 
 
200 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 On the 14th he wrote again : "I am now far advanced 
 in my purchase of Mr. Axe's estate. The first £4000 
 is prepared for payment and the last was I thought to 
 be paid without any interest at Michaehnas 1804, when 
 I am put in possession, but my att[ome]y tells me that 
 Mr. Axe will expect interest for that £4000. If that 
 should be the case; rather than Mr. Axe's Executors 
 should have any Law business with me (for He will be 
 dead long before 1804.) I may as well pay you the 
 interest as Mr. Axe, therefore if you will see no objection 
 to £4000 of my Sister's marriage settlement being fixed 
 upon the Merton Estate, I shall take the necessary steps, 
 the interest to be paid half yearly, and a provision made 
 that it cannot be in arrears. This will accommodate 
 me very much. I wish to have your answer before 
 Saturday, as I shall see Mr. Haslewood on that morn- 
 ing. ... On Wednesday we fix to dine at Oxford. I 
 wish you to fix the Inn, we have yet seen nobody who 
 can tell us anything about it. 
 
 "Mr. Parrot; who we have begged to look out for a 
 house, says there is one at Streatham, which will be 
 vacant in September ; a good house; 30 acres of Land, 
 £120 a year, lease 14 years to come to be sold, ... He 
 is to ask permission for us to see it; and I hope it will 
 be before we meet at Oxford. If we think it wiU suit, 
 you can run up and look at it and in a Concern of that 
 Importance I know Ladys must be consulted; therefore 
 we may have you both for a fortnight at Merton when 
 we return from Wales; which will be in August cer- 
 tainly. . . ." 
 
LORD NELSON AT MERTON 201 
 
 The suggestion was evidently accepted and was carried 
 through, for Lord Nelson writes again; on 
 
 "July i6th. . . . Many thanks for your kindness. 
 I will take care if the money is wanted that all shall be 
 done properly for my Sister & family, who are of more 
 consequence to me than 50 Axe's Estates. 
 
 " What bad weather. We have now fixed for to- 
 morrow afternoon to see the house at Streatham." 
 
 "The Star Inn, Oxford, Wednesday the 21st July. 
 Dinner at 5 o'Clock. Dinner for 8. Be so good as 
 to order it. Need not say for who. I hope your Mina- 
 ture will be like. However that may be from the Painter, 
 you have made many yourself." 
 
 On this Oxford trip young George Matcham; who 
 accompanied his father, mentions being introduced by 
 his uncle Lord Nelson, to Sir William Scott,* as a future 
 advocate of Doctor's Commons. " I shall be happy 
 to give you the right hand of fellowship," said Sir William 
 kindly to the little chap ; " and in fact," writes George; 
 1! he afterwards treated me with much civility and 
 consideration." 
 
 The Admiral with the Hamiltons continued the summer 
 tour through Wales,t with the object of visiting Sir 
 William Hamilton's property at Milford, and also of 
 
 * Afterwards Lord Stowell, Judge of the Consistorial and Admiralty 
 Courts. 
 
 f Extract from letter written 189 — . " Velindre, Llandovery, S. 
 Wales. There is a picture of Nelson in this house, rather a nice print. 
 Head and shoulders. The story goes that once he was stopping at 
 the Castle Hotel in Llandovery, and asked if any one in the neighbour- 
 hood had his picture. He was told of the one here, and he sent for 
 
202 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 ascertaining the capabilities of that place as a Govern- 
 ment port ; whilst George returned to school, his mother 
 writing to him in August ^ "... Mr. Bolton . . . only 
 staid one night. I have had no letters from the Welch 
 party. I shall not now expect to see them at Bath, as 
 I see by the papers they are returned to Gloucester. 
 How is your poney ? " 
 
 " Your sisters dance reels every night," writes his 
 father. " I am the Piper, but it exhausts my old lungs. 
 You young ones must take my place. Our intention is; 
 if it please God, to go about May and remain with the 
 whole family in France two years . . . sufficient to 
 make you all perfect in the French language. ..." 
 
 " Lady Hamilton to Mrs. Matcham at Bath 
 "Merton Sept. 13th 1802. We have just been to 
 see the place at Epsom for you & of which I enclose 
 you the particulars. . . . We are so busy getting our 
 house in order that I have not had time to write. . . . 
 Oh how our Hero has been received. I wish you could 
 come to hear all our Story; most enteresting. Could 
 you not come for two or three days. . . ." 
 
 V Admiral Lord Nelson to Mr. Matcham 
 "Merton Sept. 23rd 1802. ... I am not sure that 
 I did acknowledge the receipt ... if I did not I was 
 very wrong for they came perfectly safe. We are at 
 a stand for Mr. Axe's Lawyers cannot find the papers 
 of the estate, but as the agreement is signed, Mr. A. 
 
 it, and wrote his name on the back, and there it is now. 'N«lson & 
 Bronte, Llandovery, July 28th, 1802.'" 
 
LORD NELSON AT MERTON 203 
 
 cannot sell to any one else. This comforts me or I 
 should suspect, for there is scarcely honor or honesty 
 in man. The Dr is in Town. . . ." 
 
 "Octr 25th 1802. ... Mr. Haslewood desires me 
 to say that He shall take care that all shall be regularly 
 and properly done, for Believe Me my Dear Sisters interest 
 in this matter & your family stands nearer to me than 
 even the purchase of the Estate, and you know the impor- 
 tance of the purchase to me. Mr. Linton the farmer 
 has sent to offer me the field ; so things alter. 
 
 "I for one do not think we shall have War. Neither 
 this Country or France can desire it, and if Buonaparte 
 ventures on it, not to serve France, but to gratify his 
 Insatiable ambition, I think he will be thrown from his 
 high & perilous situation. When I go forth, war may 
 be expected, for I shall not go till then. 
 
 " We are all Well and Merton looks even now beautiful. 
 Sir Willm has been many excursions on the Thames and 
 two days ago brought Home more than 60 lbs of fish ; 
 this has delighted him. All here join in kind Wishes. 
 . . . Ever Your most affectionate & obliged." 
 
 " Merton Dec. 23rd 1802. ... I send you a paper 
 which Mr. Haslewood has given me to explain the business 
 of the mortgage. I am not clear that it is so advantageous 
 to you as it ought (except that I must replace the Stock 
 when called upon, be the price what it may.) as when 
 you was so good to offer me the money the 3 pr Cents 
 Consols were at 74 or near it, therefore you ought in 
 Justice to have had £9 a year more, but Lawyers will 
 manage matters their own way. Near 100 acres are 
 secured for the pa57ment, should I ever die insolvent. 
 
204 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 I shall never forget your Kindness on this, as on all other 
 occasions. 
 
 " Our house is tolerably filled. Tom is still little Tom; 
 but seems a meek; well disposed lad. We all join in 
 kindest love to my Sister & family. ... I will call 
 on Sir Geo. Shee very soon. . . . 
 
 (Postscript by Lady Hamilton). "I hope my Dear 
 Mrs. Matcham you will not think me neglectfull, but 
 really I have not had anything particularly interesting, 
 & I told our Dear Mr. Matcham all I knew. You cannot 
 think how happy we were to see him; & how sorry we 
 were to lose him ; however his heart & mind were at 
 Bath. 
 
 " Here we are as happy as Kings & much more so. 
 We have 3 Boltons, 2 Nelsons & only want 2 or 3 Little 
 Matchams to be quite en famille, happy & comfortable, 
 for the greatest of all Joys to our most Excellent Nelson 
 is when he has his Sisters or their Children with him ; 
 for sure no brother was ever so much attached as he is. 
 How I long for Spring to be again happy with you & 
 Mrs. Bolton, who has promised to meet you : not that 
 that time was not Dampt with the idea of losing you for 
 sometime ; perhaps yet you will not go, but if you do 
 it is for the good of your family, that will console us 
 a little & but Little. 
 
 '* Our Hero was most Graciously & particularly received 
 by her Majesty when he went with Sir Wm to the Drawing 
 Room. Sir Wm, who is often in private with the R.F.; 
 has had opportunitys of letting them know many truths 
 concerning our incomparable Nelson, dont you think 
 
LORD NELSON AT MERTON 205 
 
 he speaks like an angel in the House of Lords ? As he 
 must & shall go to Court (on) the Birthday, to pay his 
 devoirs to Her Majesty ; we shall go for a month to 
 Picadilly near that time. Lady Mansfeild has promised 
 me to take Charge of him & Sir Wm that day, & get 
 them near the K. &c without Crowd. On this condition 
 he goes he says, but dont you think it right ? I Love 
 him, adore him, his virtues, his Heart, mind. Soul, 
 Courage. His Honour, Glory & happiness will ever 
 be Dear' to his & Yours My Dear Mrs. Matcham ever 
 affectionate friend Emma Hamilton Charlotte is Charm- 
 ing & so improved." 
 
 " Admiral Lord Nelson to Mr. Matcham 
 "Merton, January 4th. 1803. . . . Writing is not 
 my forte except on business, therefore I now only take 
 up my pen to say that I have directed £4000 to be the 
 Specific Mortgage. I agree with you it is so best, but 
 (every) Lawyer thinks his own mode the best ; they never 
 allow anybody else to know anything. . . . Lady 
 Hamilton gave a little Ball last night to the children ; 
 they danced till 3 this morning and are not yet up. 
 Remember my kind love to my Sister & your family 
 & Believe me ever your much obliged & affectionate 
 Brother Nelson & Bronte." 
 
 " January nth. ... I should have gone to London 
 today to have settled with my agents. ... I shall 
 go tomorrow or Thursday, for our friends will not let 
 me go this tile falling day. 
 
 " The Environs of both Dresden & Vienna are beautiful 
 I believe. Dresden much the cheapest place. If God 
 
2o6 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 sends mouths, he will send meat I hope. It must go on 
 to make up for these Warfares. . . . Love to my Sister. 
 I called on Sir George Shee, but he was not at Home. . . . 
 (P.S. from Lady Hamilton to Mrs. M.) . . . never mind, 
 you will have i8 like the Queen of Naples. It will be 
 delightfull to see you with them all round the table. We 
 have had a Delightfull Ball. Charlott outdid herself. 
 Like an angel she was that night. The little Boltons 
 were Charmed. Tom Bolton is a good Boy & is well 
 behaved & we like him much. Sir W. is better & gets 
 his appetite. We are all very comfortable and happy. 
 .... God bless you all Prays your affectionate." 
 
 The Admiral's increasing loss of eyesight was a constant 
 source of anxiety to all his family. In the spring of 
 1803 he suffered sadly from it, most of his letters being 
 consequently written by their secretary Oliver. On 
 April 2, 1803, he wrote to the Matchams from London : 
 
 " Our Poor Dear Sir Willm is no better today, there 
 is not the smallest hopes of his recovery. Dr. Moseley 
 attends, My Lady & Mrs. Cadogan nurse him. He sees 
 all his Relations. He feels no pain. There has been 
 a Consultation of Physicians ; aU advice human aid is 
 now too late. He is going off as an Inch of Candle. 
 
 " I can give you no information on the price of land 
 in the several districts you mention. Shall be proud 
 to serve you within the narrow compass of my Capacity. 
 
 "The sorrow & Affliction that reigns in this house 
 is distressing in the Extreme. I lose a friend who has 
 spoke well of me for thirty seven years. We have all 
 
LORD NELSON AT MERTON 207 
 
 paid ample tribute of tears. I think the occasion for 
 a flood is very near at hand. I expect my Lord to date 
 this." 
 
 For the third year in succession; April brought death 
 among the family party. Sir William Hamilton passed 
 away at the age of seventy-three, on the 6th ; while 
 G. M. lost an affectionate mother by the death of Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Matcham, three days earlier at Bath, in her 
 seventy-fifth year. She is buried in the churchyard 
 of Bathford, by the side of her daughter-in-law's sister; 
 Miss Ann Nelson. 
 
 Nelson's letter of condolence to Catherine at Bath is 
 brief. 
 
 "London. April 8th 1803 : My Dear Sister. In a house 
 full of affliction I can readily conceive feelings so nearly 
 similar to what we are feeling. 
 
 " I shall almost hate April ; look at the last three 
 years. Good Mr. Matcham has seen our Parent go out 
 of the World and now his own. I now trust that the 
 Work of Death will cease for many years. Lady Hamil- 
 ton suffers very much, but desires her kind love to you 
 and Mr. Matcham. Mrs. Nelson is here & well & desires 
 her love." 
 
 The peace of Amiens signed in March 1802, having 
 served its turn for Napoleon's convenience, war was 
 once more declared with France, in May 1803, and the 
 Admiral sent as Commander-in-Chief to the Mediter- 
 ranean fleet. His anxiety to be off was extreme, and 
 
2o8 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 he writes in fuss and hurry to Lady Hamilton from the 
 Victory at Portsmouth. 
 
 " May 19th 1803. Portsmouth: I have been examining 
 the list of things which are coming down this evening 
 and what comes tomorrow. . . . My sopha & the Large 
 chair are not in any of the list, therefore I fear for them ; 
 my linnen I am likewise not sure of, as it was not marked 
 Linnen. My Wine will go to the Custom House and 
 come to me as it can. . . . The Victory is in a pretty 
 state of confusion, and I have not moved my Cot from 
 the Amperion (szc).* I shall take my chance I get it to 
 morrow. Lord Gardner made such a point of my dining 
 with him, with Davison & Mr. Elliot, that I could not 
 be off without offence, but I shall get from him as soon 
 as I can, for they say there is much drinking. Believe 
 me I have everything here; the misery of the Place 
 is striking, and without you I am sure every place will 
 be the Same. Davison goes off with me, and will not 
 leave me until the Victory is under Sail. The Wind is 
 fair, and I am mad at being detained. You will say all 
 that is proper for me to the Young Bride, My Dear Sister 
 & Sir Wm Bolton, who I hope will make her a good 
 Husband. t The Doctor I hope is content. Remember 
 me to him and Mrs. Nelson. Poor Mr. Scott is almost 
 
 * On May 23, ofE Ushant, after vainly waiting for Cornwallis to join 
 him at the rendezvous arranged by the Admiralty, Nelson left the 
 Victory for the frigate Amphion. It is possibly this vessel which is 
 meant here. The Victory was not needed to strengthen Cornwallis's 
 fleet, and rejoined Nelson two months afterwards off Toulon. 
 
 f Catherine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bolton, married her first 
 cousin, Sir William Bolton, Knt., Captain R.N. 
 
LORD NELSON AT SEA 209 
 
 work[ed ?] out, running about for me. We shall get 
 no rest till we get to Sea. I am half vexed, but Sutton * 
 is a good Man, but not so active as Hardy. 
 
 " Ever my Dearest Emma Your faithful & affectionate 
 Nelson & Bronte Lord Minto is just arrived (& Gov ?) 
 Elliot, who goes out in the Victory to get made Post. 
 Heavens Bless & preserve you. regards to the Duke, 
 Lord Wm. &." 
 
 " ' Victory '■ " Deer 7th 1803 
 
 "My Dearest Emma, — Friend Gayner an honest 
 Quaker who lives at Rosas in Spain has taken charge 
 of a letter for you, he will enclose it to his correspondent 
 at Bristol. This good man having supphed our Ships 
 who I sent to Rosas had a mind to see me, therefore he 
 embarked in a small Spanish Vessel and luckily join'd 
 next day off Toulon. I was of course attentive to him 
 and he is gone back quite delighted with our regularity 
 and he went to our church on Sunday, He had never 
 before been aboard a Man of War at Sea. He is to get 
 me Sages and other good Spanish Wines for Our Cellar 
 at Merton, for there if it pleases God I shall spend next 
 Xmas. My dear Emma how easy people's characters 
 are blasted, what can poor Dr. Scott have done to injure 
 any one, instead of the character you have heard of him; 
 hear mine. He is a very sober unassuming man, very 
 learned, very Religious and very Sickly; and he reads 
 
 * Captain Samuel Sutton ; present as Midshipman in five general 
 actions. Lieutenant of the Culloden in Lord Howe's action, 1794. 
 Commanded the Alcmene at Copenhagen. Flag Captain of Lord Nelson 
 for a few weeks in 1803. Commanded the Amphion in an action with 
 four Spanish frigates, 1805. Died Rear- Admiral of the Red, 1832, 
 
 N 
 
210 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 which is more I dare say than any of our proud Church- 
 men, the lessons for the day, in German, Latin, Greek 
 and EngHsh every day, and even was he disposed to be 
 irregular in his conduct it is not catching, and although 
 I am good friends with all, yet I am intimate with none 
 beyond the cheerful hours of meals. As you may judge 
 from Dr. Scott's letter every moon his head is gone, at 
 this moment he is abed not scarcely knowing any one, 
 owing to the dreadful Stroke of Lightening ; as for 
 Hardy I am sure he cares not 3 straws for Troubridge 
 or any, at the same time he is too wise to say any thing 
 against them. Murray is the intimate friend of both, 
 but I care not there is nothing thank God my Dear Emma 
 to tell of me, but what you may judge of from Gov. (or 
 Geo.) Campbells letter of this day, I have but one object 
 in view to them, to find the French fleet and to beat them 
 soundly, and then all the reward I shall ask is to be 
 allowed to come to England, for this constant wearing 
 of the mind must shake any constitution, but some happy 
 day I doubt not I shall be amply repaid. We are very 
 healthy and very unanimous, but nearly all the fleet 
 were perfect strangers to me and therefore I can expect 
 no particular marks of private friendship and they have 
 all their own friends as agents who they will appoint, 
 some of them have as a compliment raised my Secretary 
 as a part agent. I am sometimes vexed as Good Davison 
 thinks that I can appoint who I please, what I can do 
 he may be sure of, and if I am offered in case of our success 
 against the french fleet to name an Agent He will be the 
 man. I am glad you have kept Bows picture at Merton 
 although the other is arrived safe and they all hang in 
 
LORD NELSON AT SEA 211 
 
 my Bed room. The Watch string came in the right 
 time for the other was very rotten, and as it comes from 
 Ha, it is of more value to me than if it was covered with 
 diamonds. She must be grown very much, how I long 
 to hear her prattle. Heavens bless her. I am sure she 
 will be mistress. If Mr. Addington ever means to give 
 you the pension it is done before this time, if he does 
 not never mind ; you have a good house and Land at 
 Merton which he cannot take from you, and I do not 
 believe the French will, for although I Hear of their 
 blustering at Bolounge and of Buonapartes being there 
 parading, I can never believe that they can succeed 
 beyond getting a few thousands on Shore to be massacred. 
 When he has tried and failed I think we shall have peace. 
 I will write a line to the old Doctor. . . . 
 
 " I have got a little box of chains & earrings & Brace- 
 lets which Mr. Falconet* writes me Mrs. Falconet was 
 so good as to chuse for you, as he says they are nicely 
 packed I have not open'd them, but I doubt whether 
 I can send them in the Admiralty packet. I have few 
 opportunitys of getting any little thing for you and must 
 trust to the taste of our friends, but my beloved Emma 
 will take my intentions as well meant. Deer 13th 
 although I have not been ill yet the constant anxiety 
 I have experienced have shook my weak frame and my 
 rings will hardly keep upon my finger, and what grieves 
 me more than all is that I can every month perceive 
 a visible (if I may be allowed the expression) loss of sight. 
 A few years must as I have always predicted render me 
 blind ; I have often heard that Blind people are cheerful, 
 
 * The Fr«nch banker at Naples. 
 
212 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 but I think I shall take it to heart, however if I am so 
 fortunate as to gain a great Victory over the Enemy 
 the only favor I shall ask will be for permission to retire, 
 and if the contrary I sincerely pray that I may never 
 live to see it. We must all have an end, but my dearest 
 Emma let us hope the best, my last thoughts will be for 
 you and those we hold most dear, but I will have done 
 this triste subject. Adm Campbell desires me to make 
 his kind regards. I had his Nephew on board yesterday 
 and to meet him Capt. Conns Son, not 3 feet high., Mrs. 
 Lutwidges (eleve) young Dalton who is a very fine lad. 
 Sir John Sinclair, Lord Wm Gordons nephew, and Mr. 
 Bulkeley, the last grown one of the finest and active 
 young men I ever saw, I only regret that he has not served 
 his time. All the Grandees dined with Campbell & I 
 had a midshipman's party. 
 
 " We are refitting some of our shattered Barks but we 
 cannot even get one Cask of Water, a river is found but 
 it is a fine anchorage. 
 
 " I am waiting for our Victuallers from Malta which 
 have sailed more than 14 days, but you remember our 
 beat round Maritime in the Foudroyant. 
 
 " Hardy is well and the Victory in high order." 
 
 " Deer 2ist off Toulon here we are and there (in Toulon) 
 are the french. I have not heard a scrap of news from 
 any quarter except Malta and Constantinople. I am 
 as popular there as ever so Mr. Drummond writes me. 
 You know the Turkish mode of writing the Grand Vizier 
 begins his letter. 
 
 *'To the Model of Lords believng in the Messiah, 
 The Support of the Grandees of the Xtn nations &c &c. 
 
LORD NELSON AT SEA 213 
 
 and the Captain Pachas is in the same style ; good people 
 they want my help to protect the Morea & Egypt. Macau- 
 lay is still living, he has sent me out milch sheep, but 
 unfortunately they got dry before they arrived. 
 " remember me Dear Emma to all our kind friends Mrs. 
 Cadogan,* Charlotte, Miss Connor &c &c I have wrote 
 to the Dr. & to Horace and be assured I am to the last 
 moment of my life Yours only Yours faithfully 
 
 Nelson & Bronte 
 
 " I have had a very kind letter from Tyson, he took 
 the opportunity of Capt Duncan of the Serapis to send 
 me some good things." 
 
 Letter to Catherine 
 
 '"Victory"' Deer 12th 1803 
 
 " My dear Sister : I was made very happy by the receipt 
 of your letter of Sept. 7th and if it is in my power to be 
 useful to Mr. Blankley in the way he wishes I shall be 
 very glad. Mr. Blankley wrote me word that he knew 
 our dear father very well & you & Mr. Matcham, but 
 our dear friends the Spaniards will not suffer us to use 
 Minorca, and if they would, I would not trust them with 
 the British fleet. 
 
 " I heard of your expedition to Southend and I hope 
 by the time I get back that you will have found a house 
 near Merton. 
 
 " You did well to write large I can read it very well. 
 
 " I suppose Buonaparte have not taken you yet nor 
 have I much fears that he will, but I wish it was all over 
 
 * Lady Hamilton's mother. 
 
214 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 for I can't help being anxious. My friends in Toulon 
 are very well and look very gay, compared to our weather 
 beaten Ships, but should they come out, I dare say they 
 will wish themselves in again. I beg my kind remem- 
 brances to Mr. Matcham to George with the toto. and be 
 assured I ever am My Dear Sister 
 
 " Your most affectionate Brother 
 
 "Nelson & Bronte." 
 " To Mr. Matcham 
 
 "•Victory"* fehy 14th 1804 
 
 " . . . . I have so much to write, that I neglect, 
 I fear My friends think, those I ought to be attentive 
 to, but be assured my Dear Mr. Mm, that whether I 
 write or not, my heart always stands in the right place 
 to you. My Dear Sister & your family. 
 
 " I am momentarily expecting the french fleet to put 
 to sea. We have been long anxiously looking for them. 
 With my kindest Love to my Dear Sister and to all your 
 family. Believe me 
 
 Ever your most affectionate Brother 
 
 Nelson & Bronte, 
 To Lady Hamilton 
 
 *' * Victory ' " fehry 25th 1804 
 *' God knows whether you will ever get this letter my 
 Dearest Emma for Lord Nelson tells me it is very probable 
 never to reach you. Lord N. has been very anxious about 
 your recovery and charges me to say every kind thing 
 for him. You know him and how sincerely he is devoted 
 
LORD NELSON AT SEA 215 
 
 to ( ), nothing will probably leave (th ) fleet 
 
 till after the battle. Lord N. thinks (so I hear) that 
 as so many troops are prepared for embarkation and 
 a general Embargo at Genoa, Leghorn & reports say at 
 Civita Vecchia and the Ships seized for transports that 
 the french will certainly try and get more Ships into the 
 Medn. We saw the French fleet in Toulon on the 22nd 
 perfectly ready. I have heard very lately from Naples 
 the french army is ready for Service and have baked a 
 months bread for their army. The Stroke is ready, 
 where will it fall, but this fleet is prepared for all events 
 and for our numbers it cannot (be rivalled) our only wish 
 is to meet (them) 
 
 " May God in heaven bless and preserve you and those 
 I hold most dear is My dearest Emma the fervent prayer 
 of your most faithful & attached 
 
 *' Kind regards to all friends." 
 
 This letter is in the correspondence at Newhouse 
 Another very similarly worded letter and dated the same 
 is in the Morrison collection. For purposes of comparison 
 it may be interesting to reproduce it here. 
 
 Morrison MSS. No. 747 
 
 A. L. from Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton. Dated 
 February 25th, 1804. One and a half pages 4to, with 
 Superscription. 
 
 "As Lord Nelson tells me that it is very probable 
 this letter may not only be read, but never arrive to 
 your hands, I only write this line to say, here we are, 
 
2i6 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 and have for the whole of this month experienced such 
 a series of bad weather, that I have seldom seen the like. 
 I am anxious in the extreme to hear that you are perfectly 
 recovered from your late indisposition. Lord Nelson 
 has heard very lately from Naples. The French army 
 is prepared for service, and have a month's bread baked 
 in readiness ; an embargo is laid at Genoa and Leghorn, 
 and all the vessels seized as transports, so that we must 
 have some work very soon. I only hope to keep my 
 health till the battle is over, but my spasms have been 
 very bad lately. We saw the French fleet very safe 
 on the 22nd, at evening. Lord Nelson rather expects 
 the ships from Ferrol in the Mediterranean. With my 
 kindest love and affection to all I hold dear, beheve me 
 for ever, my dearest Emma, your most faithful and 
 attached. This goes by Spain." 
 
 A curious piece of tampering is shown in the following 
 fragment, which being only the torn off end of a letter 
 is therefore undated. Mark the corrections. 
 
 *' Admiral Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton 
 . . . Gibbs sent it me. I am owing very great 
 obligations to Gibbs, his heart seems over powered with 
 gratitude for my sending his Daughter to Gibralter. I 
 have a letter from Farcelli claiming great merit & wanting 
 my interest with the Bey of Tunis. He says our G^ 
 child Horati0 is the finest child in the world. Comps to 
 ... Mr. & Mrs. Denis, Sir Willm Scott. I have wrote so 
 
 (( 
 
LORD NELSON AT SEA 217 
 
 much to you that I fear I shall have no time, so once 
 more God Bless you and Believe me for ever 
 Your most faithful and affectionate 
 
 Nelson & Bronte 
 
 If you like my line to Mrs. Mills give it her, if not put 
 it in the fire." 
 
 These corrections of " our God child Horatio " * to 
 
 " our child Horatia," are not made in the same ink 
 
 as the original writing, though they appear to have been 
 added in very early days. The correct reading is quite 
 plain beneath them, so that there could have been no 
 intention of using the letter itself for the purpose of 
 deception, but it is none the less suggestive (as a plan 
 for substituting a false reading in some proposed forged 
 copy of it). 
 
 In another letter of November of the same year the 
 
 * The Admiral's love of children was well known. A letter written 
 to the Times, so late as November 1861, signed Edwin Zealand, gives 
 the following reminiscences of him : 
 
 "His Lordship spent much of the little time he had on shore at 
 Gibraltar, in the house of my wife's Grandfather, with whom he was 
 on the most intimate terms, they having fought most of his great 
 battles side by side. On board ship he was almost adored, and had 
 a kind word for every one ; even the powder monkey did not escape 
 his pleasant smile, yet his word was all potent in every position. In 
 the house he of all men was kind and unassuming almost to a fault ; 
 he would play by the hour with the children, and when asked to stand 
 Sponsor to my esteemed mother-in-law, he most willingly undertook 
 the office, and was often found nursing the child in the most affectionate 
 way. I have the pleasure of holding several contributions for the 
 child's amusement. Thus he proves himself, tho' engaged in destruc- 
 tive warfare, the dread of England's foes, and holding the highest posi- 
 tion in the country's service ; he could appreciate a happy home and 
 sympathise with Infant weaknesses. ..." 
 
2i8 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Admiral writes : " My last letter having been sent back 
 from Rosas, not suffered to be landed, assures me that 
 we are at war with Spain, but I have not a word from 
 our minister at Madrid upon the subject. God knows, 
 my dearest Emma what the admiralty mean to do with 
 me, but if I stay much longer I should not much like 
 to arrive in the very depth of Winter. I hardly think 
 my shattered constitution would stand such a shock. 
 I am now for the first time in my life likely to pick up 
 some money, which shall make all those we hold dear 
 comfortable. If I had it, many of my near Relations 
 should have benefited by it. I am as you may believe 
 sending Ships in all directions, and this line is wrote 
 at 2 in the morning. . . ." 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 
 
 THE outbreak of war, having cut off all prospect 
 of a migration to France, Catherine's family 
 remained on at Bath, which they had no wish to 
 exchange for the proposed establishment near 
 Merton. G. M. , however, still cherished visions of a foreign 
 education for the children, which led to the purchase of a 
 considerable estate in Schleswig, an unfortunate specula- 
 tion, for in the end they decided against such exile, while 
 continental wars so depreciated its value that much 
 money was lost over its re-sale a few years later. This 
 white elephant brought no little worry to G. M., who 
 wrote to his agent as early as February 1804, *' My appre- 
 hensions have been extreme, from the dread that it might 
 have made my wife miserable, who, with her usual 
 goodness, has been comforting and encouraging me at 
 the expence of her own health." 
 
 Other old friends were ready to help. Sir George Shee* 
 writing from London in May, " If you wish to be presented 
 to Mr. Pitt before you set out I will with great pleasure 
 go with you to him this morning, or if you would prefer 
 postponing your visit until a time of less hurry, after 
 
 * "A rich Indian nabob," see Dictionary of National Biography. 
 He was grandson of George Shee of Castlebar, Co. Mayo ; and cousin 
 of SirMartin Archer Shee, President of the Royal Academy, whom he 
 assisted in his career. 
 
 219 
 
220 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 your return from the Continent, I shall then be at your 
 Command. Should you wish to have letters to the 
 Ambassador from the Secretary of State, I will get them 
 for you/' 
 
 He approves of the decision not to go to Schleswig 
 in a letter dated July 30 : 
 
 . . . Your Reasons for thinking of relinguishing your 
 Plan of setthng on the Sleswick (sic) Estate are very 
 strong. I thought as you did on the Subject, before you 
 went to the Continent, but certainly as you observe 
 Inducements ought to be very strong indeed where our 
 habitual comforts are to be relinquished. . . . Matters 
 here are pretty much in the same state as when you were 
 in London. It is impossible to foiTa any more distinct 
 opinion now, than it was then of the probability of 
 Invasion. The preparations for the French are it is 
 believed compleated and the Season of the year is the 
 most favourable for the FlotiUa, so that if the Intention 
 be serious, it will probably be soon cairied into effect. 
 However the same InteUigence was received and the 
 same Opinion formed two months ago. 
 
 "I have long wished to visit our friend Malet, if I 
 should be able soon to carry my Intention into effect I 
 wiU let you know the time, as I think it would be rather 
 pleasant to all parties (if we) three were to meet. (If) 
 the Court of Directors were wise, they would endeavour 
 to find emplojmient for his Talents in these critical times.*' 
 
 A visit to the place was undertaken by G. M. in May 
 1805 under urgent pressure from Colonel Coehoon, a 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 221 
 
 resident in Schleswig, who wrote on May 11, 1805 : " My 
 dear friend hesitate not a moment. . . . The season is 
 favourable. . . . Your presence is absolutely necessary. 
 ... I hope Mrs. Matcham will appreciate the necessity 
 of your coming over to this country, and I am sure that 
 the sister of Lord Nelson will have resolution and be 
 reasonable enough to feel the urgency of the circumstance, 
 and I promise her that your absence will not be above 
 a month. . . . M. O. Coehoon.'* 
 
 After this expedition no more is heard of plans for 
 leaving England, nor was advantage taken of the sugges- 
 tion from Sir Charles Malet made in January 1805, for 
 employment in the establishment of some New Indian 
 Docks : *' . . . There are disputes about filling the 
 place of 2nd in Council with £4500 a year salary. My 
 friend Uhthoff has suggested whether if you have served 
 the Comps 12 in India, it may not be a desirable object 
 for you, not only as eligible in itself, but opening intro- 
 ductions for your boys. . . .'' 
 
 Of these boys, George, the eldest, was doing credit to 
 an education under the various advantages for learning 
 which Bath then afforded. Boys seem to have been 
 brought early into Society in those days, and George's 
 journal beginning in January 1805 is full of social fes- 
 tivities amongst records of study. One of his earhest 
 experiences is thus described : 
 
 "Journal." 
 "Tuesday May 21st 1805. . . . Went to ye Gardens 
 to see the Fete given by the Gentlemen of ye Harmonic 
 Society to ye Ladies. 4 Bands attended. Oranges 
 
222 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 suspended from the trees. The breakfast was bad, tho 
 the Arbours over the Tables were beautiful. At 12 
 oclock all the Bands played God save ye King & the 
 refreshments were given out. Here a scene of great 
 confusion ensued. The young men got into the room 
 from whence they were issued and took twice their suare, 
 so that many of the Ladies went without. As the waiters 
 went out to distribute the ices, they were surrounded on 
 all sides and many ices with their glasses were thrown 
 
 on the threshold. Sir George C came into the room, 
 
 and Mr. B requested him to stand back till the ladies 
 
 had been served. Sir George demanded what he paid 
 
 his 5s. for if he was not to have ice ? Mr. B replyed 
 
 he could not tell, but the ladies had a right to be 
 helped first ; upon which the Bart, called him an impudent 
 fellow. The other returned the like compliment. Sir G. 
 then very inconsiderately (having a glass of jelly in one 
 hand & an ice in the other) flung the latter into the 
 Parson's face, whose Welsh blood rising with indignation, 
 without regarding his Black Coat (which was now by the 
 bye not a little bedaubed with ice) aimed a blow at the 
 Baronet's head and would have given him another had 
 not the Bystanders interfered. Sir G. walked out very 
 sheepishly & left the Parson in triumphant possession 
 of ye field. Sir G.'s friends, much ashamed at his conduct, 
 declared that if he did not immediately beg Mr. B/s 
 pardon for the Insult, they would turn him out of ye 
 Gardens. Sir G. thought proper to comply and they 
 shook hands. The party next repaired to the Bowling 
 Green, where they danced till past 6 oclock. I came 
 away at 5 much tired." 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 223 
 
 Plays, musical parties, fetes, dinners, breakfasts, 
 dances, long rides and walks, fishing-parties and anti- 
 quarian excursions filled up the round of life at Bath. 
 Friends flocked round them. The Bowens, Mrs. Warden, 
 the authoress, Mr. Barry, with his brother Lord Barry- 
 more, well known for their eccentricities in the fashionable 
 world, the Malets from Wilbury, Pieles, of Spye Park, 
 and the Days at Hinton, where much happy time was 
 passed, young Master Sam Day being George's contem- 
 porary and special friend. There is no space for many 
 extracts of everyday life, but his boyish comments on 
 public events show the common opinions of Bath society. 
 
 " July 31st. Papa went to Mr. Days on horseback 
 with Mr. Piele to see Iford. News came that Sir R. Calder 
 had met the combined fleets, attacked them and took 
 two sail of the line, which were arrived. . . . 
 
 " Aug 1st. Every one now, from the first minister of 
 state to the Publican, seems to be waiting with some 
 anxiety for despatches from Lord Nelson. Various are 
 the reports . . . people at this juncture catch up every- 
 thing without much discriminating between truth and 
 falsehood. The Pubhc justly place great confidence in 
 Lord Nelson for his great professional skill, his victories 
 and his bravery, but the French are greatly superior to 
 him in numbers and in vessels. How long this force 
 may last seems uncertain, for they say that their men 
 are afflicted with the Jail fever, which carries off a vast 
 number daily. In that case I should almost think it 
 hazardous to attack them, lest our men should take 
 the contagion. Bonaparte has lately been created King 
 
224 THE NELSOMS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 of Italy, upon which the King of Prussia has sent a 
 remonstrance to him, and it is even said that his ambas- 
 sador was going or had already departed from Paris, 
 But as my Father observes, it does not seem to mean 
 much, as the Prussian monarch is almost daily receiving 
 presents and orders from the Emperor of the French. . . /' 
 
 On June i8th, the Admiral had returned to Gibraltar 
 after his fruitless rush to the West Indies in search of 
 the French fleet. Besides their share in the pubhc 
 anxiety, the private reports of his broken health put his 
 family into the utmost fear and apprehension of losing 
 their idol. ** I am equally perplexed with what you 
 mention about Lord Nelson,*' writes Colonel Coehoon 
 on June 30 from Schleswig, in reply to some comment 
 on this subject from G. M. " My imagination cannot 
 bear the thought of the loss of this man, and your country 
 could not suffer a severer one. He is the wonder of the 
 age, and I think his voyage to the West Indies equal to 
 any of his former victories. Where is the Admiral who 
 would after a severe cruise of very near two years with 
 a squadron which must be, after such a long cruise, in 
 a very indifferent condition, have followed and pursued 
 an enemy with such an inferior force ? and I am sure 
 he would have followed them to the East Indies, for there 
 is nothing impossible for him. Without his energy the 
 question is if England would have a single colony left 
 at this moment in the West Indies. ..." 
 
 George junior wrote in his journal on August 3 : 
 
 " . . . Went to Mrs. Douce's, made me a present of a 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 225 
 
 medal of Lord Nelson's . . . intelligence arrived of Sir 
 R. Calder having fallen in with the combined fleet about 
 140 leagues west of Ferrol ; that he captured two sail 
 of the hne, one of 74, the other of 84, which were arrived 
 under convoy of the Windsor Castle, all much damaged. 
 . . . However, many people, I am sorry to say, blame 
 Sir Robert's conduct, for not taking more of the enemy 
 and why he did not resume the action, as he observed he 
 could do it as soon as he pleased. But ... I think he 
 has done great things by capturing two ships and having 
 less than the enemy by 5 sail of the line. However people 
 seem never to be content.* Should Lord N. join him, 
 I think the enemy stand little chance. . , . Here we 
 have had an indifferent summer, much rain and wind 
 and little sunshine . . . nor does my Father talk of 
 leaving Bath this summer ; tho' the country is delightful, 
 Bath has not been too hot. ..." 
 
 ** Aug. 15th. Yesterday it was reported that Sir R. 
 Calder was recalled. It appears somewhat unjust that 
 a man, after having five sail of the line less than the 
 enemy, and with that disadvantage, that he took 2 sail, 
 should be dishonourably recalled. Men who sit at home 
 by their fireside are apt to expect too much from those who 
 are to fight for them. Lord Nelson is certainly at Gibraltar, 
 taking in provisions to join Admiral Collingwood. ..." 
 
 * George apparently did not inherit his famous uncle's sentiment, 
 " Had ten ships been taken and the eleventh escaped, we being able 
 to get at her, I should never consider it well done." Colonel Coehoon, 
 in a letter later in the year to George Matcham, sen., wrote : ** I am 
 surprised to see that you are dissatisfied in England with Sir R. Calder. 
 Lord Nelson has spoiled the business for all others, but they should 
 consider that thefp is but one Lord Nelson." 
 
 O 
 
226 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " i6th. Politicians now think that an invasion is 
 about to take place. Bonaparte is arrived at Boulogne, 
 in order as they say to superintend the embarkation of 
 the troops. ... He seems always governed by the 
 passions of the moment, and as his fleet have failed in 
 their enterprise and two ships taken, he may in revenge 
 be induced to try the effect of an invasion. All officers 
 and corps are ordered to be in readiness to meet the 
 enemy at a moments notice. . . . Amongst such commo- 
 tions and dangers you would be astonished at the sur- 
 prising activity with which our public and private works 
 go on. Cutting new roads, canals carried on and with 
 wonderful expence, nor do they appear to have flagged 
 from what they were in peaceable times. ..." 
 
 August saw the last home-coming of the Admiral, a 
 disappointed man, but more popular than ever. Lady 
 Hamilton wrote to Mrs. Matcham from Clarges Street : 
 " Our Nelson begs his love to you and Mr. Matcham, 
 and shall be most most happy to see you at Merton and 
 I need not say how glad I shall be to see you in Clarges St. 
 I shall meet you at Merton. Nelson when he is in town 
 goes to an Hotel. The town is wild to see him. What 
 a day of rejoicing was yesterday at Merton. How happy 
 he is to see us all. I have not time to say more than God 
 bless you Yours affectionately Emma." 
 
 She wrote again from Merton on August 22 : " . . . We 
 have Room for you all, so Come as soon as you can. We 
 shall be happy, most happy. Here are Sir Peter Parker 
 and God knows who, so Nelson has not time to say more 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 227 
 
 then that he Loves you and shall rejoice to see you Ever 
 your affectionate 
 
 "Emma." 
 
 This is endorsed with a postscript from Lord Nelson : 
 ** I need not my dear Sister say how happy I shall be to 
 see you and Mr. Matcham. . . . Ever . . . Your affec- 
 tionate Brother Nelson & Bronte." 
 
 But Catherine was in trouble. She had lost a fine 
 baby boy quite suddenly, whose death is thus phlegmati- 
 cally recorded in his brother's ever-ready journal : 
 
 " Aug. 27. ... I heard when I came home that the 
 child was dead. Ran for Mr. Spry ; of no use, quite 
 gone. . . . William Alexander was named after Mr. 
 Davison and Dr. William Nelson. He was a well formed 
 child, with fair complexion and fine blue eyes. Being 
 innoculated with the Vacine he had taken medicine to 
 carry it off, which bringing on a dyssentary shortened 
 his days. ..." 
 
 Mrs. Bolton was at Merton and wrote to Catherine : 
 
 " We all feel for your situation, but I write now in the 
 name of Both my Lord & Lady to say they think the 
 sooner you leave such a melancholy scene the better. 
 Therefore let me beg of you to come Imediately, lest 
 you should not be in time to see our Dear Brother. It 
 is very uncertain. He looks remarkably well & you will 
 find him such a kind & affectionate Relation and Friend 
 as seldom is to be met with. Seeing and hearing him 
 will soothe your Griefs. Mr. Bolton too will I fear be 
 
228 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 gone if you do not come Immediately & he will be much 
 vexed if he does not see you Both. 
 
 " (Postscript) My dearest friend pray sett off & Come 
 imediately. Lord Nelson begs his Love to you 8c Mr. 
 Matcham. I can only say you will meet with affectionate 
 Hearts. Ever ever your most affectionate 
 
 *' Emma Hamilton. 
 
 '* I took the pen from Mrs. Bolton, but I will subscribe 
 for her 
 
 " Susan A Bolton." 
 
 Thus pressed Catherine set out, and a few days later 
 George junior records a summons to join his parents at 
 Merton " to see Lord N. my Uncle before his departure." 
 
 He describes the journey thus in his Journal : 
 
 " 3rd Sept. Set out at half past 4 A.M. . . . Found in 
 the Coach an Elderly Gentleman, an old Gentleman and a 
 Young Lady, who began the Conversation. . . . Devizes 
 about 9. . . . After breakfast we were joined by an 
 Outside passenger, who proved to be a Young Lieutenant, 
 comehome with the West India fleet. . . . Wereascended 
 our coach, when the Old Lady covering her face with a 
 Coloured Silk handkerchief again Composed herself to 
 sleep & the rest of us entertain'd ourselves with common- 
 place conversation. ... At some distance we saw the 
 White Horse on the Downs, they have cut out another 
 close by Marlborough where I exchanged seats with the 
 Lieutenant & took my station on the Coach Box. I 
 observed to the Coachman that one of the Passengers 
 was unwell. ' Ah (said he) he mix'd Milk with his Rum 
 
LADY HAMILTON AS A SIBYL 
 From an engraving after a painting hy Madame Lebrun 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 229 
 
 in the Morning ; had he taken the Rum alone, he would 
 have been the better for it/ I found him like most of 
 his Brethren a great lover of strong liquors. When 
 we came within a Mile of Newbury it began to rain very 
 hard & by the time I aHghted was pretty well drenched 
 thro. Here we din'd, our party was encreas'd by 4 
 demy Beaus from the hinder Carriage who attempted to 
 shew their Gentility by complaining of the dinner & 
 Cursing the Waitors &c. . . . As we proceeded on, the 
 Old Gentleman informed us of the names of the several 
 Gentleman's Seats we pass'd by & by whom they were 
 occupied. At length he directed our attention to a 
 Noble Mansion surrounded with Woods, which he said 
 he formerly liv'd in. This rais'd a high Idea of his Impor- 
 tance in my mind, which was strengthen'd when we got 
 to Salt Hill, where he alighted & was met by a Servant 
 in a very handsome Livery, who took his Trunk. My 
 fellow Travellers afterwards said he was a Baronet & 
 liv*d somewhere in the Neighbourhood of Bath. He 
 appeared sensible & well informed ; one thing I observed 
 which was particularly pleasing ; his Modesty at dinner, 
 for he sat at the Lower part of the Table unobserved & 
 yielded every kind of distinction to the other Passengers, 
 which he had a right to expect from them. 
 
 *' At Slough we were joined by the Guard. When we 
 came to Brentford our company was encreas'd by a Fat 
 Farmer, who soon fell into a sound nap. . . . London 
 look'd brilHant on approaching it. About 10 o'clock 
 arriv'd at the White Horse Cellars. On alighting was 
 accosted by a man who offer'd to take my Trunk. 
 Refused thinking him some thief. Told me he was Ld 
 
230 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 N.'s Gardener, waiting with an open Chaise to take me 
 
 to M . After providing a Coach for the Young Lady ; 
 
 went to C— — St., where I waited for the Chaise & then 
 set out with the man. 
 
 ''It rain'd. ... On arriving at M., found them all in 
 bed. Lady H. came out en chemise, & directed me to 
 my Cousin T.'s* room, where I was to sleep. Had not 
 seen him for ten years, soon made acquaintance. 
 
 *' Wednesday 4th Paid respects to Ld N., the Dr., 
 
 Mrss. B & N . Went out with my Cousin Horacef 
 
 a Shooting. After a tedious morning he shot a brace. 
 Large Company at dinner. . . . Lost iis. 6^. at Cards. 
 Lady H. presented me with £2 2s. from Lord N. 
 
 " Friday 6th. Fished in the Pond. Caught nothing. 
 Sauntered about ye Grounds. H.R.H. the Duke of 
 C(larence) din'd here. Like the King. Col. & Mrs. 
 Suckhng came here with their Child to be Christened. . . . 
 Christening by Mr. Lancaster, H. & Ld N. Godfathers. 
 Lady H. God Mother. Introduced to ye D. of C(larence) 
 Talked much. His deference to Ld N.'s opinion. Violent 
 
 against Mr. P 1 ; found out the reason. Seem'd 
 
 estranged from ye K . Lord Errol with him. Heavy. 
 
 " Sunday 8th. Went to Church. Sr Sydney S th 
 
 came in. Handsome. Talked of Acre. T. B. din*d 
 here. 
 
 " Monday 9th. Went with Horace, Charlotte & Anne 
 to Mr. Goldsmids. . . . Fine house. Reminded me of 
 the ' Citz Country House/ Saw his sons. . . . After 
 
 * Thomas Bolton, afterwards 2nd Earl Nelson, 
 t Horace, only son of Rev. William Nelson, afterwards Viscount 
 Trafalgar. 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 231 
 
 breakfast row'd in the Boat. Horace shew'd his Skill. 
 Grounds Poor. Very pohte. Did not like their dinner ; 
 Jewish. The Hall the height of the house, very gaudy ; 
 as are all the rooms, but tasteless. H. cut his jokes on 
 me, let him go on. His Lordship and the rest din'd in 
 
 Town. Duke of D complimented my Mother on her 
 
 appearance. 
 
 '' Wed. nth. . . . This day Mr. Beckford din'd here. 
 Talkative. Praised his own composition. Play'd extem- 
 pore on the Harpsichord. Sung. T thought it a very 
 horrible noise. H. got into a scrape." 
 
 V My three props " was the Admiral's form of intro- 
 duction, when presenting his three nephews to the Duke 
 of Clarence. 
 
 Another page of George's notebook is devoted to a 
 story which, though a well-known one, is perhaps curious 
 as related to him by Lady Hamilton. 
 
 " The following curious anecdote I heard from Lady 
 Hamilton, widow of Sir W. Hamilton, who is in posses- 
 sion of ye notes in which they were related. 
 
 " Sir William Hamilton's father, Sir Archibald Hamil- 
 ton, son of William Douglas, Duke of Hamilton, was an 
 Admiral & Governor of Greenwich Hospital. He married 
 when advanced in years a beautiful young lady, T believe 
 a dau. of ye Earl of Selkirk. To this lady, Frederick 
 Prince of Wales was much attached, but such was the 
 conduct of Lady A. H., that her honour was never called 
 into question even by the breath of calumny. Her 
 influence over his conduct was ever employed in directing 
 
232 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 him to honourable actions, and she joined with the 
 wishes of the nation & prevailed on him at length to marry 
 suitably a person of his own rank. He at length consented 
 to the general voice, and the Princess of Saxe Gotha was 
 pitched on to receive his hand. It is well known that 
 although possessed of abundance of pride (these petty 
 princes of Germany) their means are rarely adequate 
 to their desires. Thus it happened with the intended 
 bride. On her arrival her wardrobe was a miserable 
 one ; her silk stockings were absolutely darned and 
 collections of paintings, as she termed them, consisted 
 of a few german prints, coloured and set in tin frames. 
 . . . On her arrival Lady A. H. was made lady of ye 
 Bedchamber and some months after ye birth of ye 
 Princess Augusta, the unhappy dispute broke out between 
 the Prince of Wales and his Royal Father. The former 
 retired with his party from the court and as the second 
 accouchment of the Princess was daily expected, the 
 Duke of Norfolk lent them his house in St. James Sq. 
 On the 24th May O.S. the Princess was delivered of what 
 was thought a dead child, which was laid out in an 
 adjoining room, and all hands were called to the rehef 
 of the mother. Sometime after. Lady A. H. who was 
 present as Maid of ye Bedchamber, examining the child 
 perceived that there was a shght pulsation at the heart. 
 She immediately sent for her son's, the late Sir Wm.'s, 
 nurse, who wrapped the child in cotton, which was its 
 only clothing for the first three months. It was so 
 extremely diminutive that the Lady A. H. could put 
 her wedding ring up its leg as far as the thigh. The 
 identical ring is now in possession of ye present Lady 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 233 
 
 Hamilton. The child at length thrived and is now 
 seated on ye British throne by the title of George the 
 third. 
 
 "It is worthy of notice that the young Prince was 
 foster brother and brought up with Sir Wm. H., who 
 afterwards so honourably represented the person of his 
 Royal Master at the court of Naples.'* 
 
 It was during this visit that Catherine, meeting her 
 brother one day in London, anxiously remarked on his 
 tired and depressed appearance. " Ah ! Katty, Katty, 
 that Gipsy,*' he answered ; reminding her of the gipsy, 
 who, when telling his fortune, had closed it at that very 
 year, with the words " I can see no further.*' 
 
 It was aJso at this time, after a visit to Pitt, that the 
 Admiral commented with pleasure on the compliment 
 which Pitt had paid him in attending him to the door.* 
 The following account of this meeting is taken from a 
 notebook of later days written by Catherine's youngest 
 son from his father's account of the incident : 
 
 (( 
 
 A few days before he quitted England, to take 
 command of the Trafalgar fleet, he seemed more than 
 usually pensive. I heard him say ' They are mistaken, 
 I will myself go and talk with Mr. Pitt.* Early the next 
 
 * The Admiral's belief in Pitt was of long standing. " If I should 
 ever go to Cricket again I will ask Ld. and Lady B. to allow me to majke 
 some extracts from the Admiral's correspondence. I can advert to 
 one letter which will delight Lord Stanhope, written in 1783, where he 
 laughs at his brother's provincial politics, and tells him Mr. Pitt is the 
 only man fit to govern the country." — George Matcham, junr., to his 
 brother, 1861. 
 
234 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 morning, Sunday, he went and according to general 
 orders was admitted to the minister's presence. On 
 asking where he conceived the French fleet was destined. 
 ' Certainly,' Mr. Pitt repHed, ' Iheir destination is to 
 the West Indies, does it not appear so to you, my 
 Lord ? ' 
 
 " ' No,' said Lord Nelson, ' I may be wrong, but I have 
 a different conception of their purpose.* 
 
 '' ' What is it ? ' 
 
 " ' My idea is that they purpose going to Cadiz and 
 being joined by the Spanish ships lying there, then start 
 for Toulon and assemble all their fleet ; they will then 
 have collected sixty or seventy sail of the line and then 
 there will be a difficulty in overcoming them.' Then he 
 pointed out to Mr. Pitt what he imagined would be their 
 course. After a long discussion Mr. Pitt became a convert 
 to Lord Nelson's opinion. After agreeing upon the 
 number of ships that should be sent, ' Now,' said Mr. 
 Pitt, * who is to take command.' 
 
 ** * You cannot have a better man than the present 
 one, CoUingwood.' 
 
 " * No,' said Mr. Pitt, ' that won't do, you must take 
 the command.' 
 
 " * Sir,' said Nelson, ' I wish it not, I have had enough 
 of it, and I feel disposed to remain quiet the rest of my 
 days.' 
 
 '* Mr. Pitt having overruled his objections, told him 
 he must be ready to sail in three days. ' I am ready 
 now,' replied Lord Nelson. 
 
 *'At one o'clock in the morning (Monday) Capt. 
 B[lackwoo]d stopped at Merton in his way to town with 
 
LORD NELSON'S LAST HOME-COMING 235 
 
 despatches, and confirmed what Lord Nelson had fore- 
 told to Mr. Pitt. 
 
 " This remarkable anecdote, I have often heard related 
 by my Father, to whom Lord Nelson repeated it after 
 his return from town, in nearly the same words as above. 
 N.M. Jan. 1832." * 
 
 In still later years, another letter of 1805, also referring 
 to the same interview, was sent to George Matcham 
 junior by Lord Stanhope, then writing his *' Life of Pitt," 
 with the following comment : '* Perhaps it may be of 
 some interest to you if I on my part now enclose for your 
 perusal a letter which I found among Mr. Pitt's papers, 
 and which states in a very gratifying manner the impres- 
 sion which that last meeting had left on Lord Nelson's 
 mind. 
 
 *' When Lord Nelson on this occasion stated that he 
 ' had done nothing ' he meant that he had not succeeded 
 in overtaking Admiral Villeneuve, in his pursuit from the 
 West Indies. I have the honor to be 
 
 " Sir, Your very faithful and obedient Servant 
 
 " Stanhope." 
 
 Mr. Crawfurd's Letter to Mr. Pitt. 
 
 "Piccadilly Nov. loth 1805. 
 
 '* Dear Sir, — I don't know whether I am right or wrong 
 in troubhng you with these few lines. I saw Lord 
 
 * It has been the fashion to say that Nelson could never have 
 played a great part in the broad world of affairs. Yet Pitt thought 
 differently. "Of his political talents Mr. Pitt, a few days before his 
 death, declared at the table of a gentleman now living that Nelson 
 was as great a statesman as he was a Warrior." See p. 288, sketch 
 by G.M. 
 
236 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Nelson several times when he was last in England, and 
 he conversed very openly and confidentially with me. 
 I asked him among other things if he was satisfied with 
 your reception of him and he told me that he was per- 
 fectly so ; that you had received him as the Minister 
 of a great country ought to receive an Officer whom he 
 wished to distinguish ; that you were kind and cordial 
 to him in the greatest degree, and that (though ?) he 
 had done nothing ; you gave him full credit for what 
 you knew he would have done if he could have found the 
 opportunity. 
 
 "Considering what has since happened, I thought it 
 would please you to know from good authority what 
 Lord Nelson's sentiments were towards you. I have 
 the honor to be with great respect 
 
 V Dear Sir. Your obliged & faithful humble Servant 
 
 " John Crawfurd." 
 
 Following on his interview with Pitt, Lord Nelson 
 left Merton for the last time on September 13 and the 
 family party broke up. On September 18 the Journal 
 records the return of " Papa, Mama, and my Aunt," 
 with the laconic addition " Mama lost her purse." 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 TRAFALGAR—DEATH OF LORD NELSON— HIS 
 
 FUNERAL 
 
 THERE is no need here to enlarge upon the battle 
 of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. In the 
 journal of young George Matcham an account 
 is given of the train of events that followed on 
 the victory of October 21, which may be allowed to tell 
 the story in its own way. 
 
 ** Tuesday Nov. 6th. This day heard the Melancholy 
 news that Lord Nelson had gained a glorious Victory 
 over the French and Spanish Fleets and was killed in the 
 Action. The Fleets under the command of Admiral 
 Villeneuve & Gravina were driven out of Cadiz (which 
 Lord N. was blocking up) by Famine and were descried by 
 our Fleet making towards the Streights. Lord N. at 
 first sight of them exclaimed ' Twenty at least of these 
 are ours ' " They came to Action. The Santissima 
 Trinidada was lashed to the Victory. Lord N. had on 
 all his stars and orders. His Captain, Hardy entreated 
 him to put on his Great Coat, he declared he had no time. 
 While giving orders he was observed by the brilliancy of 
 his dress, by the Ennemy and a Musket was fired at him 
 from the top of the San Trinidada. It entered his 
 left shoulder, he fell and was carried below. While the 
 Surgeon was preparing to look at the Wound, he said 
 with that kindness and philanthropy which ever marked 
 
 237 
 
238 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 his character, that he would take his turn, and desired 
 that he would first finish with the other Patients, before 
 he was examined. The Surgeon immediately declared 
 the Wound — Mortal. The Brave and intrepid man 
 received the news with that resolution that became his 
 exalted name and sent his last Adieu to his Friend 
 Collingwood, his second in command. From this time he 
 employed himself in giving orders and directions con- 
 cerning the movements of his Ships & repeatedly received 
 news that the Ennemy was giving way, but when he was 
 informed that 15 sail of the line were taken or sunk, he 
 thanked his God that his death was crowned with Victory. 
 He then desired that his blessing might be given to those 
 whom he most tenderly loved and whom he should have 
 wished himself to have embraced As life was ebbing 
 away, he exclaimed * I could have wished to have breathed 
 my last breath in my Native Country, but God's will be 
 done.' and in a few minutes after he expired. Meanwhile 
 the action continued uncommonly bloody on both sides, 
 but at last it proved favourable . . . Thus ended the 
 life of this Wonderful Man, who to his greatness, his 
 Bravery, and extraordinary Talents, added that kindness 
 and benevolence which made him so much admired and 
 will add to the regret which every one must feel who 
 have known him. 
 
 "Thursday Nov. 7th. All the ill news confirmed. 
 Admiral CoUingwood's letter received. Mama very ill. 
 Received a letter from the Admiralty. Lady Hamilton 
 very ill. 
 
 "Nov. 8th. Received a letter from Horace Nelson. 
 Papa and Mama resolved to go to Town. Set off about 2." 
 
DEATH OF LORD NELSON 239 
 
 Two letters from the same friends who had sent 
 congratulations on earlier victories, but who now send 
 condolences, belong to this date. 
 
 WiLBURY House, Nov. 8 1808. 
 
 '* My dear Friend, — When our Friend Col. Kerr & 
 Family left on Tuesday morning little did we dream of 
 the lamentable Intelligence that our servants who accom- 
 pany ed them to Amesbury were to return with. In truth 
 my Friend I am utterly at a loss on so mournful an occasion 
 to express either our own Grief or our Concern for that 
 Excess of Sorrow with which you & your amiable Lady 
 must be overwhelmed. God grant you a Temper to 
 bear it with that Fortitude of which the departed Hero 
 has left us so glorious an Example. Could the diffusion 
 of Grief lessen yours, light would be your Share of a 
 Calamity that is wofully felt by every Individual in the 
 land. Not a Peasant have I met since the disastrous 
 Story has been told, that has not with a warmth which 
 I scarce conceivd them capable of, enquired the Truth 
 of the disastrous Event & on receiving the painful Con- 
 firmation, the poor Fellows have hung their Heads & 
 mourned the fallen Flower of English Manhood. Farewell 
 brave Spirit, but why so ? no, it is the Body only that 
 is dead, alas how great the Loss ! but the Spirit, the Soul, 
 the glorious Example of the Hero will never die, never 
 cease to exist in every generous heart & to perpetuate to 
 his Country an eternal Emulation of his glorious Deeds. 
 
 " But my Friend I began this Letter with an Intention 
 not of renewing your Sorrows but of proposing a visit of 
 Mrs. Matcham yourself, & as many of your dear Children 
 
240 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 as you & she wish shoud accompany you, to our quiet 
 abode, where Time & TranquiUty may gradually calm 
 the Anguish of your Distress. Adieu, Lady M. joins in 
 every affectionate Regard to Mrs. Matcham yourself & 
 Family with my dear Friend 
 
 Yrs sincerely 
 
 C. H. Malet." 
 Added by George junior : 
 
 " My dear Father ... I find this from Sir Charles. 
 . . . How is my Mother & how did she bear the journey. 
 let us hear soon & let us know how my Dear Aunt Bolton 
 is & my Lady & my Cousins. I trust now my Mother 
 will get a little more composed." 
 
 Ember Court, 12 November 1805. 
 
 " My Dear Sir, — belive, that hearing the great victory of 
 lord nelson which courone with lorels the ashes of that 
 immortal hero, i had not forget how much your Heart 
 and of your respectable lady were afflicted. 
 
 receive both my Sincere compliments of condolence 
 on that event, i know too much your Sentiments of 
 religion, to not be persuaded that you will find in it all 
 the Secours necessary, in that occurence, to be con- 
 vinced, that being ail Mortal, we are happy to dei in 
 God's hands, doing our duty, but how very few had that 
 advantage to dei with so much glory : after having been 
 four times victorious, i pray you My dear Sir to give me 
 tidings of you and of Mrs. Matcham. tho it is long time 
 ago that i have not had the pleasure of your company, 
 belive that my gratitude and friendship for you is the 
 same, and will be always so. 
 
DEATH OF LORD NELSON 241 
 
 the defait of the austrians will be repaird by the 
 allies' armies, and i hope that the usurper will very soon 
 receive the reward of all his crimes, i remain here and 
 will remain till our King will be restaured. 
 
 i have past all the October month at the earl of 
 Chichester, and after that some days at prince of conde. 
 i am now at Mr. Tailor near hampton court, and tomorow 
 13 nov. i go at Sir Richard Sulivan and his aimiable wife, 
 my ancien friends, where i will remain till the ( ) of 
 december. i hope that you will be so good to writte me 
 there, i hope that favour of you. receive and your lady, 
 the assurances of the respect and Sincere friendship my 
 dear Sir of 
 
 your obedient and devoted servant 
 
 COMTE DE LELY 
 
 my direction is under the cover of 
 Sir Richard sullivan Bart M.P. 
 
 thames ditton Kingston Surry." 
 
 " My dear George," writes Catherine from Merton to 
 her son, on November 17 " Let us have a letter either 
 from you or Kate every day ... I shall expect to see 
 your Sisters very much improved in every respect, as it 
 would not be proper for them to be walking about the 
 streets, they will have time to attend to every part of 
 their education . . . You may always direct to Merton 
 as we are only a day or two each week in London and the 
 letters are always sent to us. We are only anxious to 
 wait here for the last sad scene, when that will happen 
 God only knows, there is no intelligence when the frigate, 
 is likely to arrive. If we hear nothing in a few days we 
 
242 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 shall think of returning home, for here we feel our Loss 
 more every day, but it really is cruel to mention our going 
 to my Lady at present. Merton is very dull ; quite the 
 reverse to what you knew it ... I do not mean your 
 sisters should not walk out, but I don't wish them to be 
 seen much in the streets till all is over." 
 
 Journal of George jun. : 
 
 "Monday 17 (?). Heard from Merton, franked by 
 William now Earl Nelson. Horace by the title of Viscount 
 Merton.* Saw in the paper the Emperor's proclamation, 
 a noble speech. Lord N. greatly lamented. 
 
 " Sunday 23rd. Papa and Mama came about 6. 
 Heard concerning the Will. Merton with 70 acres to fall 
 to Lady H. £1000 p.a. to Lady Nelson, the Dr. an 
 Earl and Mr. Haslewood Executors. Mr. B. and my 
 Father residuary legatees. Left Mrs. B. the Silver Turkey 
 Cup and to Mama the Sword given to him by the City 
 of London. 
 
 " Nov. 29. Account in the papers that the Arch Duke 
 Charles had died of Fatigue. He was reckoned a good 
 General. 
 
 *' (N.B. On Tuesday 25th Colonel Coehoon came down 
 from London. Very glad to see us . . . Brought down 
 my Mourning ring. Very handsome ... He came to 
 England being sent for by Government. 
 
 " Thursday Dec. 5. . . . Went down to Mr. Phillots 
 to know if the subscription books were open for the relief 
 of the Widows. This day appointed for a fast for the late 
 
 ♦ Afterwards changed to that of Trafalgar. 
 
DEATH OF LORD NELSON 243 
 
 Glorious Victory. A collection to be made at the churches 
 for the Widows. 
 
 '* Monday Dec. 9th. . . . This day Mama received a 
 letter from Lady Charlotte saying that whether the 
 Brothers attended or not, the Nephews must be at the 
 Funeral. The Observer of this day mentions the arrival 
 of the Victory from Gibraltar with the body. It is said 
 that it is to be taken by a frigate up the River, when it is 
 to be laid in state at Greenwich Hospital and buried at 
 St. Pauls. 
 
 '* 28th. Went with Papa and Juste to see a collection 
 of Medals in the Orange Grove. . . . Out of a small 
 enamel box about 4 inches long a little bird arose, who 
 performed some beautiful notes, every sound of which 
 came through his beak, all by the powers of mechanism. 
 It was made by a man in Switzerland. Saw also a stone 
 (a lusus Natura) which resembled the Queen. . . . 
 
 " Sunday Dec. 29. . , . Mama received a letter from 
 Lady Charlotte & also one from Mr. Haslewood saying the 
 relations must attend the Funeral, which is fixed for the 
 ninth. . . . 
 
 " 30th. Mr. D. came & drank tea and suppd here. 
 He presented Mama with a smelHng bottle on which were 
 engraved by himself some verses on Lord Nelson. 
 
 '* 31st. This day Mr. Chatter ton, the man who supplied 
 the Row with Water, died, being very active on Monday 
 in quenching a fire in the Town, he was hemmed in by 
 the Flames. To save his life he jumped from the window, 
 but broke his backbone which occasioned his death. 
 
 " 1806. Jan. 2. Went to Mr. Bowens to hear some 
 music, much dehghted. Mr. Bowen played on the 
 
244 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 Musical glasses. Mallinson & Snell sang the Cat & Dog 
 duett in fine style. 
 
 '* Jan. 4th. . . . Went out to provide for my journey. 
 Mr. Palmer the Member offered to go with us, but after- 
 wards found he could not. Papa took our places in the 
 Castle and Ball coach for Sunday at 2 p.m. 
 
 " Sunday Jan. 5th. . . . Packed up my cloaths. Mr. 
 Coucher called & his son who was in the Victory off 
 Trafalgar. Took leave of my Mother and Sisters, and 
 accompanied by Papa set off about a quarter after three. 
 Got to l^ewbury at ^ past 12. A fine night. 
 
 " Monday 6th. Arrived at the Gloucester Coffee house 
 about 12. Saw our apartments and had breakfast ; then 
 went to Lady Hamiltons. Saw Lady H. in bed and low. 
 Saw also my Cousins. Went to the EarFs. Talked much 
 about his precedence at the Funeral and very angry at 
 not being presented with tickets. Mr. Suckhng gave in 
 his name, but could not go. Went with papa to Mr. 
 Haslewood. Dined at my lady's. Saw Mr. B-r-y. 
 T. B-l-n came about 7. 
 
 '' Tuesday Jan. 7th. Rose at about 7. Went to Mr. 
 Salter s about the mourning swords. Went to Lady 
 Hamilton's. Found them at breakfast. Went out with 
 T.B. and Papa. Went thro Leicester Fields, a noble 
 Square, and to Cary, the Taylor to make dress Coats. 
 Went round St. Pauls, admired the architecture much. 
 Called at Mr. Vollers for Tom's Coat, came to Clarges St. 
 Dined there, but Papa did not. He came after dinner. 
 
 " Wednesday Jan. 8th. Rose about 7. Went to Vere 
 St to see Sir Charles (Malet). Breakfasted with him. 
 He wanted a ticket for St. Pauls, but Papa could not 
 
FUNERAL OF LORD NELSON 245 
 
 procure him one. Went then to Clarges St. Father 
 found Mr. Bolton was gone on to the Heralds Office, where 
 he was to have accompanied him, to ask some questions 
 relating to the procession. Missed him and went by 
 himself. Lady H. and the young Ladies went to Brumton. 
 We went to Mr. Salters, and in the evening accompanied 
 Mr. B. and Tom to B., found it a nice house, came home 
 about 12 o'clock. 
 
 '* Thursday Jan. 9th. Rose at 6. Put on our full 
 dress, and went to Clarges St. Took up the Boltons. 
 Drove to the Earls, where breakfast was laid out Saw 
 the two sons of Lord Walpole, gentlemanly looking. 
 Were not received at all by the Earl, nor introduced to 
 anybody. Put on there the Cloaks, &c. About half past 
 eight the Mourning Coaches came. Lords Merton and 
 Nelson went in the first, drawn by six horses. My Father, 
 Mr, Bolton, Tom and myself in the second, and Messers 
 Barney, Walpole and Fielding (son to the great Fielding) 
 went in the third as Relations. Went into St. James 
 Park. Found there a vast number of carriages, waited 
 for some time. Saw the Duke of York at the head of his 
 Troops, a handsome man, but shorter than the rest of the 
 Royal Family. He talked a good deal to the Aids de 
 Camp. Saw Mr. Naylar as Herald, I thought his dress 
 very ridiculous, his garment being covered with Armorial 
 Bearings, &c. Saw all the Captains and Admirals much 
 confused, not being able to find their carriage. From 
 hence we moved by slow degrees and about one arrived 
 at the Horse Guards, where the Procession was joined by 
 the Prince of Wales, and Duke of Clarence. The body 
 was then put into the Car, which represented the stern 
 
246 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 and of the Victory. (This description was taken 
 
 from the Times.)" The Case modelled at the ends in 
 imitation of the hull of the Victory, its head towards the 
 horses was ornamented with a figure of Fame, the Stern 
 carved and painted in the naval style with the word 
 " Victory " in yellow raised letters on the lanthom over 
 the Poop. The Coffin with its head towards the Stem 
 with an English Jack pendant over the Poop, and lowered 
 half Staff. There was a Canopy over the whole supported 
 by Pillars in the form of Palm Trees and partly covered 
 with Black Velvet richly fringed, immediately above which 
 in the front was inscribed in gold the word Nile at one 
 end, on one side the following motto hoste der victo 
 REQUiEViT behind the word Trafalgar and on the other 
 side the motto of his arms ** Palmam qui meruit ferat." 
 The Car was drawn by six led horses. 
 
 When the Coffin was brought out of the Admiralty 
 there seemed to be a general Silence, and every one 
 appeared to feel for the Death of so noble and such a 
 good Man. Poor Mr. Scott (with another gentleman) 
 came to our Carriage and requested the Heralds to let him 
 go in the same Coach with us. We were happy to receive 
 him. After he had shaken us all heartily by the hand, 
 he said with Tears in his Eyes " Ah poor Fellow ! I 
 remained with him as long as I could and then they 
 turned me away." The procession moved on slowly, the 
 soldiers lining the streets, and the Band playing the Dead 
 March in Saul. At Temple Bar it was joined by the Mayor 
 and suite, who took their place after the Prince of Wales. 
 As it past the Regiments of the Dukes of York and Sussex, 
 they stood still, and ordered that no salute should be made. 
 
FUNERAL CEREMONY OF LORD NELSON. AT THE MOMENT WHEN 
 SIR ISAAC HEARD GARTER PRINCIPAL KINC AT ARMS rROCLAIMED 
 
 THE STYLE 
 From f>yint by R. Ackeriuann, iSob 
 
FUNERAL OF LORD NELSON 247 
 
 At St. Pauls we got out, and walked in procession up the 
 Passage. It was the most aweful sight I ever saw. All 
 the Bands played. The Colours were all carried by the 
 Sailors and a Canopy was held over the Coffin, supported 
 by Admirals. When we arrived at the Choir, the relations 
 were placed at each side of the coffin, on which was the 
 Coronet placed on a Cushion. The service was read by 
 the Bishop of Lincoln, but he did Httle justice to the 
 occasion as his tone was monotonous and heavy. The 
 Bishop of Chichester read the first lesson. When the 
 body was conveyed to the Dome for interment, the Prince 
 of Wales passed close by us. He was dressed in the Order 
 of the Garter. Next him was the Duke of York, and he 
 was followed by the Duke of Clarence, who shook my 
 Father by the hand, saying " I am come to pay my last 
 Duties here, and I hope you and I shall never meet on 
 such a hke occasion.'* The organ played a Dirge mean- 
 while, the service went on, the Body was lowered and 
 the Herald declaring the Titles of the Deceased broke the 
 Staves and threw them into the Grave. There were 5 
 Dukes, besides the Royal Family. Mr. Fox, Mr. Sheridan 
 and Tierney were present. After waiting some time we 
 got to Clarges St and went to Bromton about 8 with Mr 
 Scott. 
 
 '* Friday Jan loth. Breakfasted at the Coffee House. 
 Called at Sir George Shees, found him not at home. 
 Walked to Bromton with Papa, found Anne Bolton in- 
 disposed, from thence proceeded to Kensington, found the 
 Martins at home, glad to see us. Accompanied the Ladies 
 thro the Park. At the gate we took leave and walking 
 
248 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 up Piccadilly met Mr. Bolton who insisted on my going 
 with him to Bromton. Papa promised to come in the 
 evening. Found Tom B. there on our arrival. After 
 dinner Papa appeared. Mrs. Lind and her daughter dined 
 there, thought them both good tempered and agreable. 
 Captain Sutton was also of the Party, he talked of 
 coming to Bath. We came home about i in the morning. 
 
 " Saturday Jan ii. Rose about 7 Breakfasted and 
 went to Clarges street at 12. Accompanied Dr. Fisher's 
 son and Papa to Mrs Fisher's, who wrote yesterday to say 
 she should be glad to see him and myself. Found the 
 House charmingly situated in a Noble Garden at Bromton. 
 She was glad to see us, and asked kindly after my Mother. 
 My Father and Mrs. F. talked much of Lord N. She 
 seemed much averse to Lady H — 1 — n, but allowed her 
 to have been perfectly proper in her conduct. After 
 taking leave, we went to Lady H's to take leave. Pre- 
 vailed on Mr. B. to let Tom go with us to Bath the next 
 day ; he consented, and we returned to Town. Mr 
 Oliver dined with us at the Gloucester. 
 
 *' Sunday Jan 12. . . . Went to Mr. B. took leave and 
 brought Tom to the Coffee house, had a sandwich. At 3 
 we got into the coach. A foreigner formed the fourth 
 passenger. He praised Enghsh travelling. The night 
 was very cold and dark and the roads so bad that we did 
 not arrive at Newbury before 4 o'clock in the morning. 
 It then began to snow violently. . . .'* 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 LIFE AT BATH, ASHFOLD LODGE AND MERTON 
 
 THE records of the Nelson family henceforward 
 are to be derived in the main from the diary 
 of young George Matcham, and from his 
 correspondence. He was evidently, though 
 still only in his teens, fully in the confidence of his 
 father and mother as to family affairs. 
 
 In the spring of 1806 they were still living in Bath; 
 and there are glimpses of life in the fashionable watering- 
 place scattered throughout the diary's pages for that 
 year. 
 
 His cousin Tom's visit was spent in attending balls 
 and plays, picture sales at Plura's auction rooms, and 
 the opening of two new locks on the canal. Tom having 
 left on January 22, the journal next notes " Mr. Jackson 
 to dinner, also Mr. Piele and his daughter. A long 
 discussion respecting Lord N.'s private conduct. Mr. 
 J. affirmed that he was a Great Public character, but 
 not a Moral Man. How people are led away by hasty, 
 unfounded opinions." 
 
 George's own opinion of Lord Nelson was written 
 many years later and may be quoted in this connection. 
 
 " His talents were not unequalled by the tenderness 
 and worth of his disposition. The affection he invariably 
 
 entertained for his family, the regard in which he held 
 
 249 
 
250 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 his friends, and the ardent zeal, with which he excited 
 himself for their welfare, whilst one remains can never 
 be forgotten. . . . He loved to lose the remembrance 
 of his warlike actions in the endearments of private life. 
 . . . Perhaps of all men, the most free from envy, 
 selfishness and every mean alloy. ... In a private 
 record it might be perhaps allowed to dwell on the lamenta- 
 tions of his family, but who that remembers the combina- 
 tion of national and personal affliction will venture to 
 describe it ? Be it for us, whilst we recall with fond 
 affection his image to our minds, to cherish his virtues 
 and protect his memory with pious care." 
 
 In a letter to his brother he also wrote : " My uncle 
 was an uncautious writer, and often gave offence by his 
 strictures. I wish they would let the great man rest 
 in peace. His actions speaks for themselves and on them 
 his fame may safely rest." 
 
 The Admiral's family was often a subject of gossip 
 among the Bath neighbours, Mr. Tyson calling on the 
 26th to say that " the match between a young Gent: 
 and Lady C[harlotte Nelson] was quite off, and that 
 the Lady was to quit Lady H[amilton]'s and go home.'* 
 
 On the 29th " Papa dined at Mr. Barry's at York 
 House," and a day or two later having a number of 
 friends to drink tea with them, " at about ten oclock 
 Mr. Barry came ; very eccentric in his manners. They 
 played one of his compositions, which I thought excel- 
 lent. After supper Papa read the (Copenhagen) Manu- 
 script to him, which seemed to engage his attention 
 
LIFE AT BATH 251 
 
 deeply, and he was lavish of his praises to the memory 
 of the first Hero in the World." 
 
 A visit from the Malets ; plays with " Master Betty " 
 as an attraction, and a grand Rout, where "my ring 
 was handed about " follows. G. M., who had been 
 summoned to London by Mr. Bolton, returned, bringing 
 among other presents and mementos " a shirt, waistcoat 
 and stock of our dear Lord's, and some medals. He said 
 he had called on ye Duke of Clarence, who promised 
 to call on ye Prince of Wales, for to obtain a little un- 
 alienable land.* He had seen Sir Thomas Hardy, and 
 my Lady was better." 
 
 On the 24th there arrived a "young Midshipman, 
 who had just come from ye Ville de Paris, and was then 
 going to his friends in Wales. He supt here and said 
 he had not been on shore before for 18 months. That 
 he dined every Sunday with ye Admiral, whom he liked 
 much ; that at his (Cornwallis) being sent for, he was 
 much hurt and from the moment of recall had never 
 spoken a word." 
 
 Another midshipman, who had been on board the 
 Victory, related the following story : "In the very heat 
 of the battle of Trafalgar certain Spanish sailors, who 
 had probably escaped from the French ship Achilles, 
 which had taken fire, drifted under the stern of the 
 Victory, and were drawn up into her by some of the Sea- 
 
 * Probably the grant in Australia, to which Charles, their second 
 surviving son, emigrated in after years. 
 
 The Duke of Clarence never forgot his friendship with the Admiral's 
 family. On one occasion he insisted on himself escorting Catherine 
 from a concert room, thinking that " The Death of Nelson " which 
 was about to be played, would be too much for her feelings. 
 
252 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 men. An English sailor perceiving them to be cold 
 and shivering, went up to one of the upper decks, and 
 after searching for some time, found his bag, wherein 
 there was some shag tobacco. With this he again 
 descended and presented it to the Spaniards. The latter 
 bursting into tears, declared that such men as these, 
 it was impossible to conquer." 
 
 " April 20th. Sam Day called to ask us to Hinton. 
 He said that ye crowd was very great at ye theatre, 
 the places being in much request, the young Roscius* 
 having arrived here to perform a few nights." 
 
 " April 24th. . . . After dinner my Father made 
 me accompany him to the Play house, to endeavour to 
 get a place. At the Pit door we saw Mr. Williams (Mr. 
 Days tutor) as there were not many people there, he left 
 me under Mr. W's protection. The crowd however 
 increased very much before the doors opened and the 
 crowd pressing forward, I lost sight of my Protector 
 and was absolutely borne to the middle door, which only 
 allowing an entrance for one, the confusion became 
 greater, and after making several fruitless attempts, 
 I resolved to wait in a corner I luckily got into, till the 
 crowd should disperse. Many women fainted and some 
 lost their shoes. I was rather bruised and very tired. 
 
 * Master Betty, the famous child actor, who took England by 
 storm at the beginning of the nineteenth century. He first appeared 
 in London at Co vent Garden on Dec. i, 1804, and for his first twelve 
 performances received six hundred guineas. He then went over to 
 Drury Lane, and in twenty -eight performances drew ;^ 17,000 to the 
 theatre. At Bath, in March 1808, he made his last appearance as a 
 boy-actor. His efforts as an adult player were not so popular, and 
 he retired definitely from the stage in 1824. He lived till 1874. 
 
LIFE AT BATH 253 
 
 Determined however to make one more attempt to see 
 this new wonder of the world I luckily found Mr. Bowen's 
 seat, where my Father crammed me in. At length Master 
 Betty made his appearance in the character of Norval. 
 His figure graceful but his limbs not well turned. Every 
 part of stage possession seemed perfectly known to him. 
 His voice was thick, but his pronunciation correct and 
 his cadences well managed, except that he sometimes 
 dropt his voice so low that the last words of the sentences 
 were often undistinguishable. His manner appeared 
 to be bold, natural, easy and graceful, not outstepping 
 ' the modesty of nature,' but totally free from all appear- 
 ance of restraint and from the rules of art. In the 
 pathetic parts of his character he (to my eyes) more 
 particularly excelled. It was then he appeared to have 
 droppd the character of the actor and resumed in its 
 place that of the bold, daring Douglas, softened into 
 the filial affectionate child. At the last scene where 
 he falls a victim to the jealousy of the husband and the 
 hatred of his rival, he drew the feeling of the whole house 
 to his situation and drew from his auditors signs of 
 (emotion ?) ten thousand times more natural and convinc- 
 ing than the loudest thunder of applause that ever 
 theatre could boast." 
 
 " May 5th. ... At ten Mr. Day's carriage came to 
 take us to Hinton. ... Mr. H-l-t-n of F-rl-y Castle, 
 L-d-d a rich clothier and Dr. New-n a clergyman dined 
 there, being the first meeting of a club. They are to 
 assemble once a month, and no made dishes are to 
 
 55 
 
 appear. , 
 *'i5th Mr. Lovibond called to wish us joy on the 
 
LIFE AT BATH 255 
 
 not cheap for the money ; he assented and the com- 
 placency on both sides increased." The place included 
 " a fine extent of pasture and grain enclosed by a thick 
 wood of oaks. A small valley belonging to the estate 
 to the left runs down to the water, which forms the 
 boundary. Above, the downs present literally ' their 
 misty mountain tops.' . . . The vicinity to Brighthelm- 
 stone, now transformed to the less intricate name of 
 Brighton, being only 17 miles, appeared a great advan- 
 tage." 
 
 A quick bargain is often the happiest. This one 
 brought no regrets, and 10 o'clock the next morning 
 found its new owners returning in their " chaise for 
 London." 
 
 "At Morden, Mr. Goldsmid's villa, Mr. B. got out 
 to see him. He sent for my Father, and my uncle speak- 
 ing of the importance it would be to have the P[rize] 
 money soon, on account of the rise of stocks, Mr. G. 
 said ' Go to such a house ' mentioning an eminent Bankers, 
 ' and use my name for the money tomorrow.' His 
 fortune is princely and he has the heart of a prince in 
 putting it to use. 
 
 "We stopped at Merton. Notwithstanding the vast 
 Improvements that have taken place since I last saw 
 it, it appeared dull and lonely." 
 
 After a few days of society and sightseeing, including 
 a visit to Astley's and to see the Llama at Brooke's, 
 George returned home to his mother, full of brave reports 
 of their new purchase. 
 
256 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 It certainly was not a time to go abroad, and the 
 Schleswig investment turned out a fiasco. " I have 
 tried to dispose of your mortgage, but without any 
 success whatever," writes Colonel Coehoon from Ham- 
 burg on September 5. "Money is scarce here beyond 
 conception ; those who have any keep it disposable, 
 and the unfortunate catastrophe of Franckfort has 
 frightened them all out of their wits. . . . The whole 
 garrison of Berlin has marched, and the troops from 
 Silesia are pouring into Saxony with forced marches. 
 The Russians are in full march to Germany, the King 
 of Prussia will join his army in a few days, and the 
 Emperor of Russia is expected at Berlin. The king of 
 Sweden has reoccupied Hanover on this side of the Elbe 
 (Lauenbourg) in the name of his British Majesty and 
 reestablished his government. The Landgrave Charles 
 passed here the day before yesterday coming from Cassel. 
 His opinion was for peace and then the French would 
 give up some points in discussion and evacuate Ger- 
 many ... if it come to a war, it will be a dreadful one, 
 the irritation all over Germany is beyond expression. . . . 
 When I come I hope to bring you my pockets full of 
 money. . . . Dec. 11 With your country I am deter- 
 mined to live or to perish and I am confident that with 
 fortitude she may weather the storm, but her utmost 
 exertion will be required. Our fortunes will suffer much. 
 . . . The prince was extremely pleased and flattered 
 with what you sent him, and he often talks with real 
 attachment of the Hero, and his relations he is acquainted 
 with. ..." 
 
LIFE AT BATH 257 
 
 Their last Bath season was a very gay one. Although 
 this young beau professed himself " tired of the unmean- 
 ing and unchanged round of a town life, where the great 
 business was to kill time," he nevertheless cheerfully 
 resigned himself to continual dinners and ball-going, 
 sometimes alone, sometimes escorting his mother when 
 she had a mind to meet old friends and comment on the 
 fashions. Plays were continual. Master Betty was 
 again at Bath in December. "Saw the young Roscius 
 in the character of Tancred," writes George, "thought 
 his figure and voice disgusting, but his air and manner 
 highly graceful, easy, natural and unstudied and at 
 times his conception perfect." 
 
 "March 21st 1807 To ye play, where my Mother 
 was with Mrs. R. Mrs. Siddons played Margaret of 
 Anjou. Much pleased with her voice, wonderfully fine 
 except when elevated to a scream, which spoils the effect. 
 Her actions easy and natural, devoid of that horrid 
 stiffness, affectation and self attention, which I had 
 observed in all ye rest. This appears to me her great 
 excellence. She gives up her thoughts not to the appear- 
 ance of Mrs. Siddons, but to the character she is perform- 
 ing. On the whole she is the most correct actress I 
 have seen. It is not in figure or outward show that she 
 excells, but in perfect conception of character, in un- 
 affected and correct action, wonderful transformation 
 of countenance and apt modulation of voice, tho' when 
 she elevates it to a rant, ' I had as leave hear the common 
 crier recite.' " 
 
 " April 22nd. Mr. W. came. I asked him his opinion 
 of Catalini, the Italian singer, who was to sing at the 
 
 
 
258 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 concert for the Low Price of £500. He said he thought 
 that she did not excell Mona in softness, that Billington 
 surpassed her in compass and in the execution of passages 
 and that her tones were very unequal." 
 
 The farewell visits paid, three postchaises carried 
 off the whole party from Bath in June. Country pursuits 
 and interests took the place of town gaieties. Ashfold 
 Lodge, in the really beautiful village of Slaughan, is a 
 delightful spot, and so satisfactory was its purchase 
 a warm friendship with Dr. Lawrence, its former owner, 
 sprang up. The summer found them fully established, 
 dinner-parties given to new friends and neighbours, and 
 themselves absorbed in improvements of the place. 
 Young George while professing perfect contentment 
 with his studies, library, harpsichord, flageolet, and 
 a smart little mare of his own, yet had little time to weary 
 of them between constant visits to London. 
 
 In August the party from Merton arrived at Ashfold 
 " Consisting of Lady Hamilton, Lady Bolton, with her 
 sister Anne, Mrs. Cadogan, Mrs. Bianchi and Miss Horatia 
 Nelson. ... In the evening her Ladyship accompanied 
 by Mrs. B. favoured us with some favourite airs. The 
 next morning I accompanied the latter to Worthing 
 to look for lodgings . . . were fortunate in finding a 
 good house. On Sunday afternoon the Ladies went 
 in the sociable to see Mr. Beauclerk's in the forest. I 
 accompanied them on horseback. The house is a large 
 plain building, situated on a bold terrace and commanding 
 one of the finest sequestered views I ever saw. My Father 
 and Lady Hamilton said it was a scene in the Apennines 
 
LIFE AT ASHFOLD LODGE 259 
 
 and the house a convent Mr. B. is the son of 
 
 Topham Beauclerk, the friend of Dr. Johnson, who said 
 of him ' that his body was all vice and his mind all virtue.' 
 His mother the celebrated Lady Diana B. . . ." 
 
 Their visitors having left, the Ashfold party with 
 Lady Bolton, also took a ja\mt,^first stopping at Brighton 
 to see Miss Brunt on act Lady Townley at the " tawdry " 
 theatre there, and then joining the others for a day or 
 two of sea air at Worthing then "lately risen into emi- 
 nence as a fashionable summer residence." 
 
 George, now nearly eighteen years old, affected to 
 look down on the girls of the party, who made merry 
 on the beach while he squired the elder ladies, " I rode 
 out with Mrs. Bianchi, who poor thing became so much 
 alarmed as made the ride none of the pleasantest. She 
 had however courage to meet our friends on the shore, 
 where the younger half i.e. Miss A[nne] B[olton], Miss 
 H[oratia] N[elson], Miss C[onner] and Miss M[atcha]m 
 were driving themselves in little vehicles drawn by 
 asses. In the evening we were favoured by some duets 
 by Lady H. and Mrs. B." 
 
 "Next morning ... we breakfasted with Lady H. 
 where we met the Rev. Mr. Fusilique, chaplain to the 
 Bellerophon in the battle of the Nile. He called at 
 our house in his way to Worthing, and came there so 
 late that he could not find a bed and consequently rode 
 about till 3, when a Centinel took him to his quarters. 
 After breakfast (we) returned home . . . accompanied by 
 Mr. F., who talked incessantly, and slept at Handcross." 
 
26o THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " gth Sept. Mr. Fusilique with his Lady came in a gig 
 ... he brought Repton on landscape gardening and 
 also a manuscript volume of his own composition. Nothing 
 could stop his tongue, not even a reproof from his wife." 
 
 A pressing letter took George again to Worthing on 
 September 23, '* arriving soaked with rain about 3 p.m. 
 and found them about to set down to dinner with a 
 party ... as Mrs. Bianchi had set off for London ye 
 same morning, I had a room at their house. Among 
 the party was a Mr. Robertson, a relation of the celebrated 
 historian. His manners were very pleasing and un- 
 affected. We went in ye evening to ye play. The 
 house is remarkably neat, the corps dramatique miserable. 
 . . . After combating steadily against the hospitable 
 arguments of her Ladyship, I was at length obliged to 
 yield, on being informed that my heels might be required 
 to make up one at a farewell ball to be given on Thursday 
 evening. . . . The next morning was spent in escorting 
 the ladies on the beach. We dined en famille and in 
 ye evening went to ye ball, where we danced till 1/2 
 past 3 a.m. As the party resolved to dine at Ashfold 
 next day I rose at 7 and mounting my horse arrived home 
 wet to the skin. After remaining with us till Tuesday, 
 the Hamilton party set out for Merton. Her Ladyship 
 first invited me to come to her house on ye 28th October, 
 that being Anne's and Horatia's birthday." 
 
 "24th Oct. I set off for Merton, where I arrived 
 about 4 P.M. and found Tom B. had been there since 
 Friday. We all went in ye evening to Mr. Perry's (the 
 
LIFE AT MERTON 261 
 
 editor of the Morning Chronicle) who was extremely 
 poHte to us. He appears a good tempered man and 
 seems to leave all the asperity of party politics at his 
 newspaper office. Mr. Johnston the Tragedian was 
 there, he imitated Cooke and Kemble in the character 
 of Octavian. 25th. Sunday morning we went to church 
 and dined at Merton ... on Tuesday Mr. Harrison 
 was there, he is the editor of the British classics. On 
 Wednesday went to town with her Ladyship, Mrs. Graffa, 
 the widow of the superintendant of Bronte, and Tom. 
 Lady H. gave us a curious account of Mad. du Barri, 
 whom she visited in 1792. . . . 
 
 " We found Captain G ch at Merton on our return 
 
 and great preparations were made for the celebration 
 of the little Horatia's birthday. 28th. A large party 
 assembled at dinner, among the rest a Miss R-ch-d, 
 a very unaffected, handsome girl, and niece of Dr. Parrot. 
 . . . There was a dance in the evening, which I had 
 the honour of opening with the little Horatia. There 
 were only country dances. . . . After supper Mr. 
 Lan-ster with solemn deportment . . . favoured us 
 with a song, which I mistook for a funeral oration. . . . 
 
 He also describes Mrs. Billington whom he saw there, 
 "a stout, thickset woman, tho' her face still retains 
 the stamp of former beauty. ... We were not favoured 
 with a song at which I was chagrined." 
 
 "Nov. I. Took leave of the Mertonian party, and 
 with Tom came to town." 
 
 " Jan 6th, 1808. To Pall Mall to see the famous gas 
 lights. . . , Should the system succeed, it is estimated 
 that the government will save annually in oil &c the 
 
262 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 almost incredible sum of two millions sterling, nth. 
 Set out for Merton. Found her Ladyship at home; 
 there were likewise Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Billington and 
 the Duke of Sussex, who was confined in his room with 
 a fever. . . ." 
 
 1808 brought a sad event in the sudden death of young 
 Lord Trafalgar the only son of William Earl Nelson, 
 on whom it fell as a most cruel and unexpected blow. 
 
 George notes it in his diary with the comment : 
 
 " . . . , Poor fellow I am truly sorry for him and 
 his loss is irretrieveable to his family. ... I believe 
 he was naturally of a good disposition and might had 
 he survived have added to the fame his noble (uncle) 
 so plentifully left to his family. 22nd. My Father who 
 went to town on Wednesday returned, having seen Lady 
 H. and the Earl. Poor Ld T. . . . had been for some 
 time indisposed, but was not supposed in a dangerous 
 state, till a few days before his death." 
 
 The entries in February are broken and there is a 
 note from Lady Hamilton which hints at general illness. 
 She adds : 
 
 " Mr. Rose is trying on for you, but parliamentary 
 business has been the cause it has not been done yet. 
 Be assured your father has a staunch friend in him." 
 
 Calling on her in March George finds a party of two 
 Boltons, Mr. Este, " and that devil in ye shape of a man 
 Font 1 B-ck rd." 
 
'v . 
 
 -=r 
 
 Lithograph by E. G. Norman 
 
 THE FIRST EARL NELSON 
 
LIFE AT MERTON 263 
 
 "March 22. Called on the E ^IN. He was tolerably 
 
 civil. Went to ye play with Mrs. Bolton and her daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 *' Mrs. Jordan and Bannister were very great as Jobson 
 and his wife in f Ye Devil to pay.' ... On arriving in 
 Clarges St.* we found ye Duke of Sussex there (a Gentle- 
 man of enormous stature) in his Highland dress. He 
 had been to dine with the Scotch society, and sung a 
 tender Vaudeville, which was OF COURSE rapturously 
 received. Next morning set out for duke domum . . . 
 on Thursday her Ladyship arrived at Ashfold with my 
 Aunt Bolton, her two daughters, Mrs. Pierceson, her 
 daughter and Horatia . . . staid till the following 
 Tuesday and then with Horatia went to town, leaving 
 the rest of the party here. ..." 
 
 William, Earl Nelson, who figures rather comically 
 in some of his nephew's remarks, is the one of the whole 
 family most hardly treated by various writers. That 
 some estrangement with his sisters had followed his 
 own sudden elevation in rank is obvious but unexplained. 
 So many difficulties are traceable throughout in connec- 
 tion with Lady Hamilton, and her position among the 
 family, that it would be futile to judge of their actions 
 resulting from it. William certainly owed her more 
 than most of them, but on the other hand, his position 
 may have made it less easy for him to deal with her 
 demands. There is now little possibility of judging 
 fairly between them in such matters. In his more 
 private station it was perhaps easier for G. M. to follow 
 
 ♦ Lady Hamilton's house. 
 
264 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 his lifelong instinct of never deserting any one, however 
 blameable their faults. Thus acting out his own written 
 reflection " Reason prompts us to search the truth, but 
 humanity enjoins us to lament and palliate when we 
 honestly can the faults of others. ' Be it mine, father 
 of mercy, never to transgress thy laws, be it mine also 
 to pity those who do.' " 
 
 Besides this side of the matter, it is likely enough 
 that the new-made peer gave himself airs, which his family 
 did not choose to put up with, but though far from court- 
 ing his favour, they were ready to treat him with regard 
 when he again felt the need of their friendship. His 
 nephews he was inclined alternately to encourage and 
 rebuff, but George would have none of it and in the end 
 won an esteem from his uncle, who as an old man showed 
 him much kindness, while himself turning to the younger 
 man for help and advice. At this date, however, there 
 was not much regard between the two, and George 
 refused his invitations and could hardly be got to show 
 him proper attention. On March i6 the journal records 
 an expedition to Brighton. " Mrs. Bolton and my Father 
 and Mother in the first carriage. Mrs. Pierceson, Eliza 
 Bolton, Kate and myself in the last . . . walked over 
 the town till dinner . . . after which Mrs. Pierceson 
 and Parents renewed their ambulations. On their return 
 we learnt with some surprise that they had met the 
 
 E ^1 and C-t-ss N-l-n and their daughter. By all 
 
 accounts the meeting was uncommonly cordial, as the 
 N-blem-n received his sisters after an absence of two 
 years with (Oh 1 excess of fraternal affection) a — Grunt — 
 Lady C. with Dr. 0-tr-m, the tutor of ye late Lord T.; 
 
LIFE AT MERTON 265 
 
 called about 10 minutes after. ..." It is only fair to 
 add another extract from a letter written so late as 
 1819, to G. M. by Mr. Haslewood. " I rejoice," he writes, 
 " to confirm your observation, that Lord Nelson never 
 looked better or happier ! There are many men more 
 courteous, but few of more sterling worth. . . ." 
 
 Despite his want of graciousness, friendliness was 
 once more established between the brother and sisters, 
 soon after his son's death, though a first invitation to 
 dine was evaded by George, when on his way to Cambridge 
 in April. Once established at St. John's, the Ashfold 
 news is told in " Subscription letters " as his Mother 
 calls them, from the family at Ashfold, which Catherine 
 " still prefers to every other place." 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 DEATH OF MRS. BOLTON— A NEW ARRIVAL AT 
 ASHFOLD— SKETCH OF THE ADMIRAL 
 
 FOR the rest of her life, Lady Hamilton's affairs 
 were a source of worry to those who, for the 
 Admiral's sake, would have wished her to live 
 in comfort and quietness. But this was beyond 
 her powers. In June 1808 young George, on his way 
 home from college, notes : 
 
 " Saturday went off in ye landau and four ; going over 
 Westminster bridge I met Lady Hamilton, who was 
 low on account of ye house at Merton not being sold 
 when put up to auction the day before." Two 
 months later she succeeded in disposing of the Merton 
 property.* 
 
 Meanwhile she settled at Richmond, where George 
 again called upon her in October, and records his impres- 
 sions thus : " There were some citizens at dinner, but 
 alas I how different was that table now to what I had 
 before been accustomed ; where formerly elegance 
 presided, vulgarity and grossi^ret6 was now introduced. 
 I could have almost wept at the change. A plan of 
 eaconomy has been most laudably laid down by her 
 L p, but I could have wished that the crowd of 
 
 * The sale of Merton had been foreseen and approved of. "I hope 
 Lady H. will dispose of the place, for there is something gloomy hangs 
 over the spot, which Time will never do away. Such at least it will 
 ever appear to you and me." — G.M. to Catherine, 1806. 
 
 266 
 
DEATH OF MRS. BOLTON 267 
 
 obsequeous attendance had [been entirely dismissed, 
 instead of being partially diminished. 
 
 " 14th. Called on Mr. Haslewood. On my way met 
 poor Oliver (who has been dismissed from her Ladyship's 
 service). Dined with Mr. H. — , he is as fond of planting 
 as ever." 
 
 *' Lady Hamilton has been harassed and grievously 
 insulted by her creditors," writes G. M. to his son in 
 November. " Her eyes are open and she seems deter- 
 mined to strike at the root of the evil. Two maids and 
 a foot boy are all her household servants. I hope she will 
 contrive to be prudent and feel the comforts of it. . . ." 
 
 A hot quarrel between Oliver, the secretary, and Lady 
 Hamilton was one of many vexatious cases in which 
 G. M. found himself appealed to. Help was given the 
 man by means of Dr. Lawrence in the sale of a patent 
 medicine which he had invented. " You did right in 
 giving him the £2, he was in real distress," G. M. writes 
 to his son. He has received ten pounds from me, which 
 will relieve him from present difficulties. I received a 
 letter from Lady H. accusing him of ingratitude, in my 
 answer I endeavored to mollify her resentment. . . . 
 We know not the grounds of quarrel, perhaps they will 
 again be friends. . . ." Writing of the same affair. 
 Dr. Lawrence tells G. M., " Oliver expressed much grati- 
 tude for your kindness, and promises not to publish 
 anything. I hope you have written to Lady H., as it 
 might be the means of making her mind easy on that 
 head. . . . If (she) would testify to the efficacy of Oliver's 
 remedy ... it would be the means of reconciling all 
 
268 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 matters in dispute between herself and poor Oliver. 
 Was she to sanction it, Oliver would never dare to defame 
 her as it would destroy that sanction and injure the sale 
 of his medicine, besides gratitude would I think bind 
 him to desist from any foolish publication should Lady H. 
 leave England. ..." 
 
 Oliver himself writes to G. M. on Feb. 4, 1809 : "... 
 The Worthy Doctor has expressed your wishes for my 
 rule and governance with respect to Lady H. . . , Her 
 Ladyship, her Mother, who has all along been my in- 
 veterate foe, and the Miss Connors; let them defame, 
 revile and discredit me ever so cruelly ; now I know your 
 pleasure I shall neither address Mr. Rose, the Lord 
 Chancellor, or any one (as in justice I ought to do) since 
 you disapprove. You, dear Sir have repaired the ruin 
 She has brought me to, by her false, illusive, wicked 
 duplicity. I shall not mention her name when I am 
 asked about Her, much less seek to justify myself. Your 
 S^ill and pleasure are commands that I shall obey as long 
 as I live. I hear the Earl comes to town today . . . 
 what I.O.U. is inexpressible." 
 
 Oliver, however, was an unsatisfactory person. " I 
 have parted with my house in Soho with a view to get 
 rid of Oliver in the handsomest manner I could/' writes 
 Dr. Lawrence, a few months later on. And again on 
 June 14 : "... Poor Oliver I could not do with, so I 
 allow him 20s. a week, and he gets about 30s. more by 
 giving lessons in Italian and French. . . ." 
 
 " 20th. . . . Oliver has lost himself. He came yester- 
 day and abused me with great asperity, accusing me of 
 
DEATH OF MRS. BOLTON 269 
 
 having informed you that he was a great rogue, in conse- 
 quence of attempting to obtain another wife in England, 
 his first being living in Venice. . . ." 
 
 Finally, on July 2 the doctor writes : "... I long 
 since pointed out to Oliver the folly and inutillity of 
 speaking so freely agamst Lady H. and the possibility 
 there was of its being injurious, not to her but to himself, 
 but believe me my dear Sir, OHver is ... as weak a 
 man as I ever met with. ... I would advise Lady H. 
 to desire an Attorney to write a letter threatening him 
 with an action for defamation, which will fully put a 
 stop to his nonsense. . . ." 
 
 The Ashfold letters record plenty of fun and festivities 
 — Cuckfield Place, belonging to Colonel Surgison, being 
 a constant resort. 
 
 Of Norfolk news so little is to be heard that George's 
 account of a trip there, written for his mother's benefit, 
 may be admitted as a link with their old life. 
 
 "St. John's Nov. 21st 1808. 
 
 " When I received Kate's last letter you will perhaps 
 be somewhat surpris'd to hear that I was about to set 
 out on a trip into Norfolk with my cousin Tom & Mr. 
 Girdlestone, for the purpose of being at the Coursing 
 meeting ball, which was held at Swaffham on Thursday. 
 All the Boltons were there & Lady B. introduced me to 
 some of your old Norfolk friends. I was first made 
 known to two comely dames who sat in state at the end 
 of the room, namely Mrs. Day & Mrs. Suckling, the 
 former ask'd me many questions concerning you, & said 
 she had lastly heard of you from Col : Warne & concluded 
 
270 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 by desiring her best remembrances with the hope of 
 seeing you one day in Norfolk. Then there were three 
 sons, all sufficiently gauche. Mrs. Suckling (I believe 
 the sister) did not speak so much. I was also introduced 
 to a Mrs. Rolfe, a plain woman with a cast in her left eye. 
 She was likewise particular in her enquiries. Our Cousin 
 Robin Rolfe * also grac'd the room, he was as kind as 
 formerly, desir'd his love to you, & scolded my Father 
 for not coming with me to Cambridge & visiting him 
 according (as he says) to his promise. He is about to be 
 married, having apprised my aunt Bolton of his intention 
 by letter. The intended bride is, if I do not mistake, a 
 Miss Rose, according to his account sufficiently aimiable 
 and prepossessing. Among the company were also 
 Mr. Anthony Hammond of Westacre, with his sons and 
 two daughters, the youngest a very pretty fashionable 
 woman, likewise Mr. Motte, the high Sheriff (who made 
 very polite enquiries about my Father) with his lady a 
 pleasing looking woman studded with diamonds. I 
 observed there besides Mrs. Yonge & her daughters, the 
 former a great beauty in decay. We returned the same 
 evening to Cranwich, thro' Hilborough, the parsonage 
 was pointed out to me, but the night was too dark to 
 make observations. I could only see the house was old, 
 low, and near the road. We found my Aunt very well, 
 but some of the young folks of the family hardly recover'd 
 from recent illness. Miss Bolton of Brancaster (then 
 there) has had a sore throat which nearly cost her her 
 
 * The Rev. Robert Rolfe, B.A., Rector of Cockley Cley, 1795-1804, 
 Domestic Chaplain to Viscount Nelson ; married his second wife, 
 Elizabeth, daughter qf Jol^n Rp??, Esq., of Eye, December 1808, 
 
DEATH OF MRS, BOLTON 271 
 
 life, & Susanna has likewise been much indisposed. 
 They press'd me to (go) there before my return home. 
 . . This letter I have address'd to you, as you will (be) 
 most interested in the contents, as they relate to northern 
 folk. . . ." 
 
 Mrs. Bolton's failing health, Lady Hamilton's com- 
 plaints, and " the Earl's " vagaries afford the chief topics 
 throughout these years. The Ashfold neighbours in- 
 creased yearly, Mr. A. Goldsmid renting a property near 
 by, while the Haslewoods took possession of Slaughan 
 Park. " They are highly delighted at being so near us," 
 writes Kate, the eldest daughter, " Mr. Haslewood ran 
 across to us this morning before breakfast and back 
 again ; with his long legs I shall expect he will make 
 nothing of coming over two or three times a day." 
 
 In the spring of 1809 Lady Hamilton reports herself 
 too ill to pay visits, and a few weeks later is too gay to 
 leave London ; and upon her complaints of neglect 
 shown her by some of the family, George is desired by his 
 parents "to call upon her in spite of any advice that 
 may be given to you." Yet she could still awaken interest 
 in others. " I envy you the entertainment and informa- 
 tion of Lady Hamilton's company," writes Sir Charles 
 Malet to G. M. in 1810. " She has I think been very 
 ungratefully treated for her great publick services and I 
 am persuaded that the attraction between her and our 
 Hero was something of a kindred enthusiasm in the 
 cause of their country. ..." 
 
 And again : " Your accounts of Lady Hamilton and 
 
272 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 of our old friend Sir James Sibbald were highly enter- 
 taining. ... I wish Lady Hamilton had been kept as 
 Ambassadress at the Sicilian Court. We should then 
 probably have been spared the Embarrassments we are 
 now experiencing there. ..." 
 
 Another of Sir Charles' letters contains a request that 
 oung George should take a company in the regiment of 
 local militia, of which he was colonel. The refusal given 
 seems partly connected with the wishes of the Admiral; 
 thus quoted by G. M. : " It was the earnest wish of your 
 gallant Uncle, expressed to me, that whatever boys of 
 mine might live to be of age, that they would adopt any 
 profession but that of arms, either as Sailors or Sol- 
 diers. ..." 
 
 Another son, the last of Catherine's family, was born 
 in February 1811. "I most sincerely congratulate you 
 on the birth of another Son," wrote Lord Nelson upon the 
 occasion to G. M., " and that my Sister and the Infant 
 are likely to do well. You are indeed fortunate to have 
 more supports added to your family, whilst I who had 
 but One, should have had the irretrievable misfortune to 
 have that One snatched from me. But perhaps it is 
 wrong to complain. God's will be done. He alone 
 knows what upon the whole is best for us, so I will drop 
 the subject, tho' it is never absent from my thoughts 
 either sleeping or waking. ..." 
 
 Lord Nelson's only surviving child Charlotte had 
 married the Hon. Samuel Hood, afterwards Viscount 
 
DEATH OF MRS. BOLTON 273 
 
 Bridport, in October 1810. She was pretty and popular. 
 " I wonder she is not married ; she is a piece of goods 
 that is worth any ones while to look after," said Lord 
 Stowell to her cousin George, shortly before the event. 
 Young George's journal revived during 1812, and when 
 staying with Lord Nelson he speaks of an inquiry about 
 Lord Byron's estate for his uncle's establishment. The 
 purchase of a property had been delayed for many years. 
 Newstead, however, was not bought. 
 
 The death of their warm friend, Dr. Lawrence, much 
 affected them, for many had been the mutual interests 
 shared in since the Ashfold purchase. One among the 
 doctor's letters begs for G. M.'s advice in the matter of a 
 medicine supplied for the use of George III. in his lunacy 
 and attended at first with favourable results. The Court 
 physicians, however, were slow to acknowledge the 
 doctor's claim as the inventor of this remedy, and the 
 king's subsequent relapse brought the matter to an end. 
 
 Again, in the spring preceding his death it was the 
 doctor who urged G. M. to claim recognition in the matter 
 of the Pljnnouth breakwater, the estimates for which 
 were at that time before the House of Commons. The 
 plan of using upright columns for the purpose, in a manner 
 of which he had known and reaHsed the value in India; 
 was originated at Ashfold Lodge, but the credit went 
 elsewhere. " Several of my friends have urged me for 
 some time not to omit asserting my claim to the first 
 suggestion of Mr. Rennie's new project of the Break- 
 water," G. M. writes to Mr. Rose.* "... I have 
 
 * Rt. Hon. George Rose. He had been Clerk of the Parliament, 
 joint secretary of the Treasury and Master of the Plea Ofl&ces. 
 
 R 
 
374 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 hitherto withheld from addressing you lest it should be 
 inferred I expected a remuneration in any shape, which I 
 certainly do not. Government hath been very bountiful 
 to me* . . . but I cannot say I am free from the honest 
 pride of having it known I was the projector of a plan 
 which has been so generally approved of, the adoption 
 of which I should never have known had it not been from 
 the communication of Dr. Lawrence. ..." 
 
 The doctor meanwhile begged Lady Hamilton for an 
 introduction of himself to Mr. Rose on the same subject, 
 but the lady was not equally active in the matter. " Lady 
 H.'s ideas flow altogether in another channel," writes 
 the doctor, and after an interview with her adds, "if 
 I took a just estimate of her the five minutes I was at 
 her house, she is one of those characters that promise 
 everything and do nothing, nevertheless she is possessed 
 of great good nature and has great abilities with much 
 benevolence. ..." This seems to have been the only 
 occasion on which G. M. courted any recognition of his 
 efforts, although a landscape gardening design for the 
 pleasure-grounds of St. James' Park was officially 
 announced in the same words as in a letter written by 
 him. 
 
 Gilray's caricature, relating to the loss of the Westminster election 
 by Lord Hood in 1788, entitled "Election troops bringing in their 
 accounts to the pay Table," shows Pitt behind the Treasury Gates, 
 plausibly protesting to his quondam allies : "I know nothing of you, 
 my friends. Lord Hood pays all the expenses himself"; then in a 
 whisper. "Hush! go to the back door in Great George Street, under 
 the Rose.'' 
 
 * According to a letter written by his son (Nelson Matcham) G.M. 
 had been offered and had declined a baronetcy. 
 
DEATH OF MRS. BOLTON 275 
 
 *' I have written letters on subjects which appeared to 
 me of public interest/' he tells his children. *' But 
 excepting in one instance they were anonymous. Some 
 of these have been adopted and others will be.'* 
 
 In May 1813 Mrs. Bolton's last illness brought Catherine 
 and her husband to Bradenham, where the Boltons then 
 lived. " We compleated our journey within twenty- 
 four hours," writes Catherine to her son, " which delighted 
 your poor Aunt, to think I could be with her in that time 
 . . . she feels no pain, is perfectly cheerful and the 
 happiest creature you ever saw. When they think she 
 will exert herself too much to talk to me, she smiles and 
 says ' then if you will let me look at her I shall be con- 
 tent.' " 
 
 Two months later a letter from Mr. Haslewood to 
 Catherine speaks of her sister's death : " Though your 
 mind has been prepared for the blow, I know the reflec- 
 tion that you will not again embrace on this side the 
 grave a sister whom you loved so affectionately, will 
 give you many a pang. And all who knew Mrs. Bolton's 
 serene, benevolent and friendly spirit will reverence 
 her memory and lament her loss." 
 
 Mrs. Bolton was survived by her brother Wilham for 
 twenty-two years, and not until 1842 was the last of the 
 Burnham Thorpe Nelsons called to join the rest. These 
 later years need but a few pages of record. Life at 
 Ashfold shpped briskly along, as recorded in George 
 junior's spasmodic journal. 
 
 All the world joined in the Peace celebrations of 1814, 
 and after having seen 1200 people feasted near home 
 
276 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 the Ashfold party set off sight-seeing to Brighton on June 
 25. As they entered the town peace was being pro- 
 claimed through the principal streets and illuminations 
 followed in the evening. On Sunday the 26th George 
 writes : " After breakfast we placed ourselves by the 
 West Cliffe, to see the Royal Personages pass by. The 
 King of Prussia had already gone thro incognito. About 
 12 two avant couriers announced their approach and a 
 few minutes afterwards came the Emperor (of Russia) 
 and the Dutchess of Oldenburg in an open berlin drawn 
 by six artillery horses and accompanied by a troop of 
 dragoons. I saw the profile of the Emperors countenance 
 distinctly. We cheered and he took off his hat and 
 waved it. We returned and stationed ourselves on the 
 Lewes road to see the royal party depart. About half 
 an hour after they entered the town, came the Emperors 
 coachman on the box of a travelling carriage, he had a 
 long beard. Platoff was within, he seemed younger than 
 I expected. In another was the Prince of Saxe Weimer, 
 a handsome young man with a dark complexion. Next 
 came the Emperor. As they proceeded more slowly 
 than before, and we were on the same side, I saw his 
 front face perfectly. His hat was off and he bowed 
 with a smile of benevolence which added to the interest 
 of seeing the Great Preserver of Europe. His Majesty 
 is bald, his hair and eyes light, his face rather full ; and 
 he would be considered handsome, independant of that 
 expression of mildness and benevolence which would 
 illumine the most irregular features. Such he looked 
 and seemed, that T could readily conceive that feeling 
 of devotedness with which he has inspired his subjects, 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL AT ASHFOLD 277 
 
 and which can alone repay him for his constant attention 
 to their welfare & that firm perseverance which has 
 preserved and restored the liberties of Europe." 
 
 In the following year a new inmate was welcomed at 
 Ashfold, but young George's journal chronicles the event 
 very curtly, under the date Friday January — , " The 
 Squire arrived with Horatia from Dover." There is no 
 reference to the death of Lady Hamilton ; and the last 
 letters written by her, among this correspondence, are 
 addressed to her friend Alderman Smith. To him she 
 wrote in the previous August, '* I am got into a farm- 
 house 2 miles from Calais and Live Comfortably " ; and 
 again in the month following, referring to the papers which 
 had been stolen from her, " I have begd of Sir Wm. 
 Scott to speak to you and the Lord Chancellor to Lay an 
 Injunction on the scoundrels Harrison and Lovel for the 
 stolen letters and let me beg of you not to let one letter 
 be taken from your House. Mr. Dorrott has so enraged 
 me against those villans that I can only say when I am 
 more calm I will write fully. ..." 
 
 Although she had recourse to raising money from pawn- 
 brokers. Lady Hamilton never experienced actual want.* 
 All letters referring to her affairs were opened or detained 
 at the Calais Post Office, and this added much to the 
 difficulty of setthng them, but through the exertions and 
 influence of Mr. Haslewood and G. M. most of Horatia's 
 
 * See "Nelson," G. Lathom Browne, pp. 417-8. He calculates 
 the yearly interest of the money and property left to her at over ;^2000. 
 Her poverty was the result of sheer extravagance. 
 
278 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 scattered property was eventually restored to her, as 
 appears from the following letter written to Mr. Hasle- 
 wood by Mrs. Cadogan, the wife of a kindly resident at 
 Calais, who assisted them in the task. 
 
 *' Dover, April 2 18 15. 
 
 " Your letter to Mr. Cadogan on the subject of Miss 
 Nelson's pictures, little ornaments, gold cups &c. I have 
 fortunately been able to save with some of my own 
 property and shall feel very great pleasure in forwarding 
 the same to my Amiable friend Miss Nelson. Some time 
 since I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Mr. 
 Matcham which my good Gentleman immediately 
 answered, but we have discovered through a friend at 
 Calais that all letters written by Mr. Cadogan, or directed 
 to him, have been opened at the Calais Post office, from 
 what reason we are yet unacquainted, all letters relating 
 to the late Lady Hamilton were always detained, and 
 Mr. Matcham's letters were on that subject, which 
 induces Mr. Cadogan to suppose they shared the same 
 fate. 
 
 " Mr. Matcham requested me to receive what dupli- 
 cates of Miss Nelson's I could, which I have done, and 
 taken the Ornaments from the Pawn brokers & that he 
 would pay the Amount of these Articles & &c. to any 
 hands that Mr. C. chose to name. I am requested by 
 Mr. Th ( ) to say if it is paid into the House of 
 
 Hoare Barnet & Co. Lombard Street he will immediately 
 acknowledge it and send the things belonging to Miss 
 Nelson as directed. The Articles in hand paid for inclu- 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL AT ASHFOLD 279 
 
 ding Mr. Cadogan's bill of Money lent to the late Lady H. 
 and Wine and Spirits amounts as follows 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 Mr. Cadogan's bill r^^ q 
 
 Paid woman for duplicates £4 10 
 
 Necklace and trinkets from the Pawnbrokers £16 5 o 
 
 Paid Jeweller for watches, gold pin & necklace £15 
 Paid for an India Shawl, silk dress, one long 
 silk shawl, several small do, two gowns & 
 
 basket £350 
 
 £116 o o 
 
 I shall feel obliged if you Sir will communicate the above 
 to Mr. Matcham, which Mr. Cadogan is desirous of having 
 settled. 
 " I remain Sir yours respectfully 
 
 V. S. F. Cadogan." 
 
 That the child was not without friends in her forlorn 
 and difficult position is shown by the two following 
 letters,* written by Mr. Haslewood to Mr. Matcham, 
 and by the fact that she was weU cared for at Ashfold 
 for some time and subsequently by other members of 
 the family. 
 
 FiTZ Roy Square, 7 Feb. 1815. 
 
 " I received your kind letter yesterday after the post 
 hour. Today I have ascertained, that Mr. Cadogan has 
 left London & I have forwarded your letter to him. 
 
 * The first of these has already been published. 
 
28o THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " Miss Nelson appeared not to be in good health whilst 
 she was here. The kind of life she has passed during 
 the last two years must have given a shock to her con- 
 stitution. But I trust, the invigorating breezes of Sussex 
 will restore her bloom & increase her strength. What 
 Mr. Smith spoke of as ' sacred deposits ' he often called, 
 in his conversation with me. Lady H/s ' love-letters.' 
 I apprehend, he will not have the least reluctance to give 
 up every paper he has which concerns Miss Nelson. I 
 will see him again in a few days, & in the mean time, 
 will write to request him to separate from the ' sacred 
 deposits ' every letter & other paper which belongs to 
 Miss Nelson to any of the family of the late Lord Nelson 
 or to myself; that they may be ready for me to bring 
 away. 
 
 *' I collected from Mr. Smith's conversation, that he 
 was reluctant to communicate what he knew, or rather 
 what he suspected (for I beUeve he knows nothing) of 
 Miss Nelson's history — from an apprehension of exposing 
 her to neglect, if not to ridicule or contempt. 
 
 "He formed, as I told him, a most erroneous judge- 
 ment of those who prided themselves in the title of the 
 great Lord Nelson's friends, & above all a most erroneous 
 judgement of you, if he thought that any of us could 
 neglect, much more despise, one who, whatever might 
 be her extraction, was most dear to our illustrious friend ; 
 if she were not, in herself, unworthy. 
 
 *' I will press this upon him more closely, & have little 
 doubt but that I shall extract all he knows & imagines, 
 the conclusions he has formed as to Miss Nelson's birth 
 & the grounds of them. It is, to say the least, highly 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL AT ASHFOLD 281 
 
 improbable, that Lady Hamilton should confide to Mr. 
 Smith a secret which she carefully concealed from your- 
 self & Mr. Rose. But, I believe, when warm with wine 
 & with anger, Lady H. sometimes bestowed upon 
 Miss Nelson, epithets less kind & flattering than that 
 of Lord Nelson's child. But all this would prove 
 nothing. 
 
 "Lady Hamilton had a motive for concealing Miss 
 Nelson's origin ; & she has concealed it. 
 
 *' I am ever most truly & faithfully Yours 
 
 "Wm. Haslewood." 
 
 FiTZ Roy Square; 15 Fehi 1815; 
 
 "Thus long I have deferred writing in the hope of 
 having something satisfactory to communicate concerning 
 your interesting ward. I will no longer be silent, though 
 what I have to say is not so satisfactory as I could wish. 
 First, concerning Miss Nelson's birth. When the will 
 was deposited in Mr. Smith's care, Lady Hamilton 
 said, — * the documents which prove Horatia's parentage 
 are deposited in the hands of Mr. Haslewood, sealed up 
 & not to be opened until I shall be no more.' 
 
 "I need not say, this was not true. But the relation 
 of it by Mr. (Smith, has recalled to my mind, what I had 
 forgot, that, at the time of executing her will, or shortly 
 afterwards. Lady Hamilton said to me — ' I have a packet, 
 concerning that dear child, which you must permit me 
 to deposit with you.' 
 
 " I made no objection. But the words, which I con- 
 sidered merely as idle talk, made no impression on my 
 memory. I am however now led to hope, such a packet 
 
282 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 is in existence & will be found among the papers left 
 in France. 
 
 *' Next, concerning Lord Nelson's appeal to his country 
 on behalf of his adopted child. This has been taken 
 up by Lord Liverpool ; who says, nothing could be done 
 for Miss Nelson whilst she remained under Lady Hamil- 
 ton's roof ; but now that she is released from that unfit 
 situation, the last request of the great Nelson must be 
 remembered. Mr. Rose, who claims to be joint guardian 
 with yourself to Miss Nelson, has had several interviews 
 with Lord Sidmouth on the subject. And the latter 
 has repeatedly spoken upon it to Lord Liverpool. All 
 concur in thinking, something should be done. Mr. 
 Rose has strongly urged, that, in addition to Miss Nelson's 
 private fortune, the country should bestow on her an 
 annuity of £300 a year. 
 
 " Lord Liverpool conceives, that Parliament will 
 think this too much, & has named £200 a year. But 
 Mr. Rose & Lord Sidmouth have warmly contended 
 for the larger sum & I have little doubt but they will 
 be successful. 
 
 *' Miss Nelson should I think, be introduced to her 
 other guardian, and I hope, in a few days, to be able 
 to say, your old quarters are at your service. At present, 
 Mrs. W. H. & two of the children are confined with 
 erysipelas, which has been quite epidemic in London. 
 My friend, Mr. Adam Smith, whom you have expressed 
 a wish to know, is at present in town and will remain 
 here for about six weeks. . . . 
 
 " Lord Liverpool has applied to the French Govern- 
 ment for Lady Hamilton's papers, which his Lord- 
 
A NEW ARRIVAL AT ASHFOLD 283 
 
 ship will deliver to those whom they may be found to 
 concern." 
 
 The packet of letters here spoken of as left behind 
 by Lady Hamilton was apparently identical with one 
 eventually found at Coutts' Bank, as mentioned in 
 George's journal thus. 
 
 "Wednesday March 22 (1815). The Squire went to 
 London with Horatia Nelson for some papers entrusted 
 to Mr. Coutts. They proved to be two letters from the 
 late Lord N: the last dated Oct. 20 1805, to Horatia, 
 to whom he calls himself Father.' 
 
 fi 
 
 Whether these letters were or were not accepted as 
 final by the Admiral's family does not appear. Had 
 they been written at an earlier date and deposited 
 at Coutts' by the Admiral himself, they would seem 
 decisive, but no certainty can be felt about any written 
 evidence which passed through the hands of Lady 
 Hamilton. 
 
 In the MS. of one of the privately printed books 
 which G. M. beguiled his later years by compihng for 
 his family, is to be found a realistic sketch of his brother- 
 in-law. 
 
 Placing it in the midst of a scene in fiction, he imagines 
 a party of friends, one of whom having been an intimate 
 friend of the Admiral's, proceeds to give the others " An 
 epitome of the history of the Hero, from his solitary 
 hunting the white bear on the polar ices, when a little 
 boy ; to his death. 
 
284 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " When a Lieutenant, by his personal exertions quelling 
 a mutiny. When a Commander his going to ' Terra 
 Firma '{sic) (San Juan expedition Jan. 1780), where Major 
 Poison commanded, and as the Major observed ' A hght 
 haired boy came to me in a little frigate, of whom I 
 at first made little account ; in two or three days he 
 displayed himself, & afterwards he directed all the 
 operations.* His firm integrity when sent with the 
 command of three frigates to the West Indies to subvert 
 the American contraband trade ; his conduct in the 
 Mediterranean ; his restoring the battery in Corsica & 
 being the cause of the capture of the Island. His great 
 and astonishing conduct in the Baltic, at Cape St. Vincent, 
 the Nile, Copenhagen, Trafalgar. His conference with 
 the great Pitt, & his convincing him of his error in suppos- 
 ing the combined fleets destined for the West Indies. 
 His two and forty wounds, and one hundred and twenty 
 three engagements, & numerous other circumstances 
 which would be lost to the world ; and finally his dpng 
 injunction to bring the fleet to an anchor, which had it 
 been followed would have saved several sail of captured 
 line of battle ships.'* 
 
 Continuing his subject, G. M. next gives a character 
 of the Admiral under the name of " Lord Victory." 
 
 " It would be presumptious either to attempt a studied 
 panegyrick or to give a detailed Ufe, of the late Lord 
 Victory, but there are a few points of his character so 
 little known & still less understood that they may merit 
 explanation & may be worthy of notoriety. To chronicle 
 
SKETCH OF THE ADMIRAL 285 
 
 the fame of Lord Victory would, in the first place take 
 volumes upon volumes, & in the next, would be per- 
 forming a most arduous task, without any added 
 effect. 
 
 " Fame has, upon her aether wing, borne his name and 
 his renown to the remotest parts of the world, from the 
 rising to the setting sun, from the equator to the pole. 
 His name will never die until time be no more ! His 
 spirit will never decay whilst there exists the bosom of 
 a Briton to cherish the vital spark. He will be recorded, 
 idohzed & wept to the most distant period. 
 
 '* Of a dehcate structure, of a reflective mind, strongly 
 tinged with melancholy, retired and domestic in his 
 habits; it might have been imagined that he was ill- 
 fitted for war & hardship. But what nature had denied 
 to him in bodily strength, she had lavishly made up in 
 mental capacity. He had a mind which soared above 
 all petty calculations & minor considerations, & possessed 
 a decision which led him to the most intrepid imdertak- 
 ings; to conceiving and compassing the most arduous 
 objects. Warmed with the most sublime patriotism, 
 he lived but to exalt his country's glory, he breathed 
 only to place her fame at the pinacle of admiration. 
 As he had contempt for bodily ease or comfort, so he 
 had a total & heroic disregard of danger. He went a 
 wiUing victim to his country's safety and renown, and 
 seemed from the moment that he entered on his profes- 
 sion, to devote his Hfe to this great end, with the firm 
 beUef, which he expressed to many of his intimates, 
 that he was to breathe his last in the arms of victory 
 under the British flag. 
 
286 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " It might be said that he bkd at every vein to serve 
 his dear Country. Wounds, privation of the organ of 
 sight on one side, loss of Hmb, sickness, fatigue, exhaus- 
 tion, debihty of frame, consumption of strength, sacrifice 
 of ease and comfort, everything most valuable to the 
 selfish or sensual man, did he immolate on the altar of 
 patriotism. 
 
 " Little versed in the mean arts of lesser man, and 
 wholly unacquainted with worldhness, his intercourse 
 with man and womankind was confined. Generous 
 in heart, feehng, and full of sympathy, he would easily 
 have been engaged in friendship, and as readily have 
 been attached in love ; but, paired with materials very 
 different from those of which his mind and heart was 
 composed, he early felt the want of that domestic comfort 
 on which he might have rested in the brief hour of peace 
 — in the short interval betwixt active service, imminent 
 peril, and momentary recreation. Lauded, admired, 
 and sought everywhere but at home, where complaining 
 and reproach formed a sad contrast to the merited 
 reception he met with elsewhere, he naturally turned 
 from the spot, his heart sickened and revolted, and was 
 at last completely estranged. 
 
 *' The connection which he formed with a certain lady 
 has been the cause of much blame and much ungrateful 
 calumny. It was certainly in its commencement of a 
 purely platonic kind ; nor is it much to be wondered 
 that it afterwards assumed a warmer complexion.* 
 
 * In a later copy of this sketch, in the writing of G.M.'s youngest 
 son (Nelson Matcham) the following words are added at this point : 
 "When we reflect that that hand led him on to glory, that that head 
 
SKETCH OF THE ADMIRAL 287 
 
 "His warm heart eagerly strove to attach itself to 
 some object of primary affection: if Lady Hamilton 
 had not artfuUy endeavoured to inveigle it, some other 
 female would. Long before Lady H. came to England, 
 he had made up his mind not to remain in this country. 
 Better would (it) have been for him, to have adopted 
 his resolution of retiring alone to the Continent ; years 
 might have softened mutual seeming asperities, and he 
 and his wife might have hved at the close of life, peace- 
 fully and comfortably. 
 
 '* But Lady H.'s disposition was satirical, not I beheve 
 from malignity of disposition (or), temper, but from an 
 affectation of point and wit. Her letters and even 
 casual notes were never free from this despicable pro- 
 pensity. Lord N. in reply to her, could not but some- 
 what flatteringly adopt her style ; that he ever did an 
 act, to the prejudice of another, we may defy the whole 
 world to prove ; the whole invariable tenour of his life 
 was beneficent ; with gentle manners, and of a 
 temper never raffled, but of unparalleled sweetness, 
 he was the dehght of every house he blessed with his 
 company. 
 
 planned and devised means of intelligence which paved the way to 
 his boldest enterprizes, that the flatiiering distinction of a crowned 
 head, and the praises of an admiring world, followed those valorous 
 achievements, and that the unfortunate lady, now no more, possessed 
 a devotion to his glory, to his welfare, and to his interest, which knew 
 no bounds, and hesitated at no means to promote these ends. She 
 was moreover the depositary of every secret of his life, as well as the 
 frequent adviser, or rather approver, of his laudibly ambitious projects ; 
 and lastly, she was of that cheerful turn which beguiled many a tedious 
 hour, smoothed many a rough moment of melancholy musing, and 
 banished many an unwelcome intrusion of painful remembrance." 
 
288 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 " Much pains have been taken to vilify him, the 
 endeavour will be vain ; posterity will do him justice. 
 
 " Of his political talents Mr. Pitt, a few days before 
 his death declared at the table of a gentleman now Uving 
 that Nelson was as great a statesman as he was a Warrior. 
 
 " ' Take him all in all, we ne'er shall look upon his 
 like again. Hallowed, thrice hallowed be his memory. 
 Well it deserves the voice of fame and truly, rehgiously 
 may we hope that the words of the most eloquent Roman 
 are true, which state that ' Omnibus qui patriam con- 
 servaverint, adjuverint, auxerint, Cortus in Caelo est 
 definitus locus, ubi beati aevo sempeterno fruantur.' " 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 LIFE IN PARIS— LAST DAYS 
 
 ABOUT this time the estate of Stan(il5nich, near 
 Salisbury, was bought for WiUiam, Earl Nelson, 
 and rechristened Trafalgar. 
 
 " Lord and Lady Nelson are gone to Trafal- 
 gar/' Lord Bridport wrote to George in September 1816, 
 *' The House is not yet furnished, consequently the Earl 
 would not receive us this year. Tom Bolton was at 
 Southampton for a month and accompanied his uncle to 
 and fro every week. . . . The Earl is very tenacious 
 about his game. I went out two days and had five shots." 
 
 The establishment at Trafalgar brought further con- 
 nections with that part of the country, for there George 
 met and married early in 1817 a near neighbour of his 
 uncle's, Miss Harriet Eyre of Newhouse, Wilts. So 
 pleased was Lord Nelson at the success of his match- 
 making that the young couple spent their first year of 
 married life in his house. 
 
 Meanwhile Catherine's country life was once more and 
 finally broken up. The death of their son Frank had 
 cast a gloom over their home, and having now seen George 
 fairly settled and Ashfold let, the rest of the family 
 betook themselves to Paris, from whence they travelled 
 further south in the summer of 1818. 
 
 In May 18 19 Catherine wrote from Marseilles to con- 
 gratulate George on the birth of a son. On the latest 
 
 289 s 
 
290 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 addition to the family, *' Most sincerely," writes Lord 
 Bridport to George, *' do I congratulate you on the 
 birth of a son, who will be a great pet with his 
 Grandmama and Aunts, and run a great risk of being 
 spoilt. The event has given very great satisfaction 
 to the Earl." 
 
 "As for Petman," writes Catherine from Paris on 
 June 22, at once providing a pet name for the httle 
 grandson, " you would suppose we all expect to hear he 
 is nothing like any other child, quite a superior being. 
 We tell Nelson (the youngest uncle, aged eight) his nephew 
 will teach him to read, but he says No, the Child can only 
 Squawl." 
 
 " We are very much concerned to hear that the match 
 is broken off between Horatia and Mr. Blake. A letter 
 we received here from her, mentions his bad temper to 
 be the only reason, and that it was with the full con- 
 currence of all her friends. Poor, dear Girl, her lot in life 
 I fear will not be so quiet as we could have wished, and 
 she is very yoimg, and I am sure there is no fault in her, 
 only a few childish foibles, which I daresay time has 
 remedied." 
 
 '* Nov. Paris is so full we think England must be 
 quite deserted. . . We have been to the play to see the 
 famous Talma, who I think is remarkable for his quietude 
 of acting, the French in general being too furious both in 
 speaking and action . * . Horatia N. writes me word 
 she never was so happy as at present ; whether there is 
 another Lover in the way I know not, but should think 
 some other motive than the one assigned must exist for 
 
LIFE IN PARIS 291 
 
 that match being off. From Mr. Bathurst, the Bishop's 
 son, we find it was entirely on her side." 
 
 The following year found them still in Paris, though 
 " within the distance of possibihty of seeing you, which 
 is everything to me,'' writes Catherine. One daughter, 
 Harriet, was married to Captain Edward Blanckley, and 
 of the other children she reports, " Charles is grown very 
 much. The Boy (Nelson the youngest) is the Master of 
 the house, so like the Earl you would be quite surprised. 
 The Girls are all in high feather, as you would say, no 
 particular Beaux. ..." 
 
 In July 1820 she has more news " which will give you 
 as much pleasure as it does us. Our dear Kate is going to 
 be married to a young man who appears worthy of her, 
 which is saying a great deal for him. He made his bow 
 only yesterday. He is the son of Mr. Bendy she, who has 
 good estates in Cambridgeshire. . . . Mr. and Mrs. 
 Blanckley have known him for years and say a better 
 creature never lived. Thank God, our dear Girl has the 
 prospect of being as happy as she deserves to be." 
 
 Another marriage of 1821 was that of Mr. Thomas Bolton 
 and Miss Frances Eyre, the heiress of estates bordering on 
 Trafalgar and a distant cousin of George's wife. " Why 
 doth not Tom marry ? Years roll on, and he should not 
 wait for the appellation of ' Old Batchelor ' " G. M. had 
 commented to his son some years before. 
 
 About the same time Lord Nelson seems to have busied 
 himself in trying to get his nephew George into Parliament. 
 
292 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 For some unrecorded reason, George never stood a poll, 
 but the following letter from one of his promised sup- 
 porters, shows how warm a feehng was still to be evoked 
 by his famous uncle's memory. 
 
 " Mr. Barley's letter, in reference to the Borough of 
 Collington " (docketed) : 
 
 "No. I Emma Place Stonehouse 
 
 Dec. 20, 1 82 1. 
 
 " Dear SjR, — I am dehghted in naming the nephew of 
 the Immortal Nelson to my Friend, who with his Colleagues 
 will I am certain receive him with open arms. . . . 
 When the period arrives there is no doubt of his gaining 
 the Election. The very name of that Immortal Hero 
 is dear to me, perhaps no one excepting his family met a 
 greater loss or regretted his death more than myself. 
 I had the good fortune to share in the Glory of that 
 day, having joined the Fleet seven days previous to the 
 Action. ... 
 
 " On the Friday preceding the Action I waited on his 
 Lordship with letters of introduction from my Uncle and 
 others which he procured for me, & was received with 
 Marked kindness & assurances of his bearing me in 
 Memory ; observing, we should soon see the Combined 
 Fleets, when Vacancies would occur in which I might 
 anticipate to enjoy. I joined my Ship as you may suppose 
 much Elated, and the morning that presented us with 
 a distant sight of our foe & hopes seemed to cover every 
 Countenance with joy, in which your Humble Servt 
 enter'd with more than common spirits, but at 2 O'clock 
 when it became generally known this Hero was Mortally 
 

 GEORGE ^rA'JCHA.M, JUxXIOR, LL.D., OF XEWHOUSE, WILTS 
 
LIFE IN PARIS 293 
 
 Wounded ; no language I am master of, can convey the 
 Sorrow & Gloom, notwithstanding we were surrounded 
 with Glory and Triumph, portrayed on every counte- 
 nance. The Father of the Family was gone, leaving his 
 actions & his sons surrounded with Glory of which Old 
 England will ever boast & will ever hold dear the Memory 
 of that Great & unequalled Man. 
 
 «* On this occasion my hopes were blasted with many 
 others left to the fate of future chance. Providence has 
 now I trust so placed me as in some degree to facilitate 
 the means of placing a descendant of that Family in 
 Parliament, in (the) event of which I have not the smallest 
 doubt my exertions will be fully rewarded in the success. 
 Nor will any one be more gratified than myself, not even 
 you to whom I beg through your kindness to offer 
 my kind respects & assurance of my most strenuous 
 exertions. . . . The Borough is CoUington. This must 
 be kept a secret." 
 
 Half settled at Paris, half spent in visits to England, 
 a good many years passed away. Their friends argued 
 unavailingly. 
 
 " I deeply lament the resolution you mention, to be so 
 firmly fixed not to revisit Ashfold Lodge," wrote Mr. 
 Haslewood, " looking back to the days when you were 
 there so beloved and respected and, as I thought; so 
 happy." 
 
 Catherine, however, even when coming to England, 
 " Cannot bear the thoughts of Ashfold." Alternate plans 
 
294 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 of letting and selling the place ended finally in its sale, 
 for George had no need of other property than his wife's 
 Wiltshire home, and the younger children had to be 
 provided for. 
 
 "Never did I leave England with a heavier heart," 
 G. M. tells his son in the summer of 1822, "but it is 
 necessary we should go. My French and Spanish con- 
 cerns call for my attention . . . perhaps we may return 
 in the autumn." 
 
 George, however, was very sore at this desertion of 
 Ashfold and England, and chose to lay all the blame on 
 the women of his family. " I consider them as completely 
 domiciled (at Paris)," he writes to his wife, " and that 
 my Mother and sisters have succeeded in finally driving 
 my Father from this country. I lament his facility, and 
 they must take upon their own responsibility the con- 
 sequences, good, bad, and indifferent, which proceed 
 from it. If he had been left alone he would have still been 
 a respectable country gentleman with an income of near 
 £3000 a year and universally beloved and respected by all 
 the neighbourhood." 
 
 And again he makes further complaint. " I can tell 
 you nothing more of the Paris party. . . . They have 
 wandered so much about, and have so completely lost 
 the English habits of society, &c., that what is best for 
 them I cannot tell." 
 
 For some years longer, however, the stay-at-home one 
 of the family grumbled in vain. Paris still suited them. 
 
LIFE IN PARIS 295 
 
 Here they had a happy lively time, the daughters making 
 friends and marrying one by one. Among other con- 
 nections also settled there, they found " the little Vis- 
 countess," last survivor of that unlucky tragedy, living 
 with her son and daughter-in-law, and not sorry to renew 
 old acquaintanceships. "We see the old Viscountess 
 Nelson ahnost every day," writes one of the girls. " We 
 have drank tea with her once and are going again this 
 evening." 
 
 With her son and daughter-m-law the Nisbets, they 
 were also friendly, and in still later years Josiah's widow 
 wrote feelingly to Catherine of "the great pleasure it 
 would give to me to see you all once more. The great 
 and steady kindness I have always received from you 
 must ever remain in my recollection, and I trust we shall 
 meet in this world again. . . ." 
 
 Frances, Viscountess Nelson, lived until 1831, and on 
 her part too, kindness was not wanting. "I thought 
 that the Viscountess would have remained among us 
 some years longer " Mr. Delisle, their Paris banker, wrote 
 at that time to G. M.; " I am sorry I have been deceived 
 in that, and in deploring her loss, let us be thankful that 
 Providence spared her long enough to place Captain 
 Blanckley (their son-in-law) in the situation in which 
 flags are to be obtained." 
 
 At last, Paris abandoned and Ashfold sold, a house in 
 Holland Street, Kensington, became their final home. 
 From thence, long yearly visits were paid to George and 
 his wife, each equally devoted to the old couple. By the 
 grandchildren they were adored. 
 
 Full as ever of his hobbies, G. M. would potter about 
 
296 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 on his long-tailed pony, with a stream of little grandsons 
 running or riding after him, to whom he was a perpetual 
 delight and playfellow. 
 
 He would have his own workmen; and carry on im- 
 provements to his heart's desire. A large pond was dug 
 one year. Planting and cottage building absorbed him. 
 Stories of him and his factotum; one Noyce, still linger 
 in the family. 
 
 A cottage was built by Noyce, two miles away from the 
 house; but visible upon a distant ridge of hill. To him; 
 in the afternoon, would appear G. M., pony and grandsons. 
 ** Noyce; where were you at eleven this morning ? " 
 *' At worrk Sur." " Ah ! and where at twelve Noyce ? " 
 ** At worrk Sur ! " " And didn't you step across to the 
 Bat and Ball between whiles Noyce ? " " No Sur," with 
 great asseveration; accompanied by a distracted aside 
 to one of the small boys of " CanH thenk how the old 
 genelman knows on it ! " Nor was he likely to discover 
 that the old gentleman had spent the morning, two miles 
 off indeed; but in company with a large and strong 
 telescope, raking the cottage and revealing the slackness 
 of operations there. 
 
 Noyce was also made the subject of many experiments; 
 and is reported to have once been persuaded into eating 
 a rat. He certainly submitted on another occasion to be 
 locked into a room; as the victim of his master's latest 
 invented form of steam baths, and to console his discomfort 
 was liberally supplied with a compound (possibly also of 
 G. M.'s invention) called " treacle-beer." G. M. himself 
 awaited progress outside. " How are you getting on; 
 Noyce ? " he asked anxiously at intervals, always receiving 
 
LAST DAYS 297 
 
 the answer, " Very hot, sur, very hot," and responding 
 thereto; " Well, drink some more treacle-beer, Noyce." 
 At last curiosity impelled him to open and peer through 
 a chink of the door, whereupon the perspiring Noyce burst 
 through it, and fled forthwith from the scene of his steamy 
 imprisonment ; into which no further threats or allure- 
 ments could induce him to return. 
 
 In Blackwood's Magazine of March 1827 a few kindly 
 words were given to this old Anglo-Indian by Christopher 
 North himself. It was a waggish article on Anglo-Indians 
 generally, in which such words as " epicure," " sensualist," 
 " bore," " stelf-importance," &c. were freely used ; but 
 in his own fashion he melts at the end of these severities. 
 Scarcely have the words left his pen which declare that 
 " no Indian whatever should return to this country under 
 a plum " (as the only excuse for the intrusion of such 
 unwelcome personages), " If he does he shall not number 
 Christopher North among his friends," than he relents 
 and winds up accordingly. 
 
 " Yet we have a great regard for returned Orientalists 
 in general. They are kind, warm-hearted and generous ; 
 their foibles are those perhaps necessarily attached to the 
 circumstances of their life ; the quahties we like are their 
 own. We cannot read what we have already written of 
 them, but if we have said anything severe, we already 
 repent it. By the by, we dine this very day with our 
 friend G.M., one of the cleverest and best-hearted Indians 
 we have ever known and entirely free from all the pecu- 
 liarities which generally mark his tribe. C. N." 
 
 A playfellow to his grandchildren, an interesting and 
 
298 THE NELSONS OF BURNHAM THORPE 
 
 respected man of the world to his neighbours, dearly 
 loved by his own circle ; G. M. had learnt the true value 
 of things, when having experienced the rubs of the world, 
 he recommends meeting any unkindness or slights from 
 others with the following treatment. "On returning 
 home I read Milton ; the offenders sink to pigmies ! " 
 
 His old age, passed without infirmity or depression of 
 spirits; ended peacefully in February 1833. 
 
 Catherine's widowed years were spent at Kensington 
 with her youngest son. Of the others, Kitty Bendyshe 
 had died two years before her father, and another sister 
 had since followed her. The rest were married and 
 scattered ; Charles, her second surviving son, having 
 emigrated to Australia. Her brother William, with a 
 new young Countess, would drive down to visit her once 
 a week when in London, but he died in February 1835, 
 to be succeeded as second Earl by Mr. Thomas Bolton, 
 who was himself fated to die in the same year. 
 
 Still Catherine was not forgotten. King William; she 
 was told, asked " Why does not my old friend ever come 
 to see me ? " but her going out dajrs were over ; a few 
 quiet friends at Kensington and her own people sufficed. 
 
 At Kensington in 1842 she died. The Slaughan 
 clergyman asked leave to preach a funeral sermon. In 
 declining this request her son George wrote as follows: "My 
 Mother was indeed an excellent woman, who performed 
 her duty efficiently in every relation of life. I have known 
 her as a dutiful daughter and affectionate wife, an 
 anxious and most indulgent parent, and withall pious, 
 friendly, and though of a high spirit, of a forgiving 
 disposition, but perhaps it was her highest praise that 
 
LAST DAYS 299 
 
 these qualities were exemplified and exercised among her 
 own immediate family, children and neighbours." 
 
 Yet her fresh and friendly spirit endeared her to many. 
 "To have been permitted so often to partake of her 
 hospitality and to witness in her person the most perfect 
 pattern of the female character which ever came under 
 my personal observation, I have always deemed a high 
 and valued privilege.*' So wrote Mr. Benson, Recorder 
 and Historian of Salisbury, who, only knowing her as an 
 old woman, had not failed to find something of that 
 " charm " which existed in her famous brother as well as 
 the " Nelson touch '* and of which Catherine, in old age 
 yet remembered, kept her share to the last. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Addington, Mr., 191, 211 
 Agamemnon, H.M.S., 99, 100, 
 
 108, 120, 123 
 Amiens, peace of, 207 
 Anspach, Margravine of, 92 
 Armstrong, Andrew, n. 34 
 
 Harriet, 92 
 Ashfold Lodge, 258, 293 
 Aufrere, the Misses, 97 
 Axe, Mr., 200 
 
 Bannister, Mr., 263 
 
 Barley, Mr., 292 
 
 Barney, Mr., 245 
 
 Baroche, 32, 35 
 
 Barry, Mr., 223, 250 
 
 Barton Hall, 39, 40, 41, 42, 58 
 
 Bastia, iii, 112, 113 
 
 Bath, 28, 29, 121, 157, 169, 248, 
 
 257 
 Bathurst, Mr., 291 
 
 Beauclerk, Mr., 258 
 
 Lady Diana, 259 
 Beckford, Mr., 231, 262 
 Bendyshe, Mr., 291 
 
 Mrs., 298 
 Benson, Mr., 299 
 Berry, Captain Edward, 160, 
 
 168 
 Betty, Master, 251, 252, 253, 
 
 257 
 Bianchi, Mrs., 258, 259 
 
 Bidwell, Hugh, 30 
 
 Billington, Mrs., 258, 261, 262 
 
 Blackwood, Captain, 234 
 
 Blair, Dr., 112, 189 
 Blake, Mr., 290 
 Blanckley, Captain, 291 
 
 Mr., 213 
 Bland, Mr. John, 19 
 Bolton, Mr., 21, 42, 245, 248, 
 254* 255, 291 
 
 Mrs., 21, 67, 91, 127, 141, 
 172, 227, 242, 263, 264, 
 271, 275 
 
 Miss Anne, 247, 259 
 
 Miss Catherine, 41, 77 
 
 George, 172 
 
 Lady, 258 
 
 Sir William, 208 
 
 Miss Susannah, 41, 155, 
 169 
 
 Mr. Tom, 204, 206, 230, 
 244, 248, 249, 260, 289 
 
 Mr. William, 100 
 Bombay, 30 
 Bonaparte, 213, 226 
 Boreas, H.M.S., 21, 23, 46 
 Bowater, General, 178 
 Bowen, Mr., 243 
 Bridport, Lord, 289, 290 
 Bristol, Men of, 254 
 Bronte, title and territory, 
 
 170 
 Bronte, 171 
 Brunton, Miss, 259 
 Bulkeley, Mr., 212 
 Burney, Fanny, 30 
 Burnham Sutton, 146 
 
 Thorpe, 20, 26, 37, 163 
 
 301 
 
302 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Cadogan, Mrs., 206, 258, 279 
 
 Mr. and Mrs.» 278 
 Calder, Sir R., 225 
 Camelford, Lady, 105 
 Campbell, Admiral, 212 
 Carter, Mr., 166 
 Castle Armstrong, 34 
 Catalini, 257 
 Charles Landgrave, 256 
 Charlton Place, 31 
 Chatterton, Mr., 243 
 Chichester, Bishop of, 247 
 Church, Mr., 97 
 Clarence, Duke of, 230, 231, 
 
 245, 247, 251 
 Coehoon, Colonel, 220, 224, 
 
 242, 256 
 Coke, Mr. T. W., 86 
 Collingwood, Admiral, 238 
 Commons, House of, 254 
 Conner, Miss, 259 
 
 The Misses, 268 
 Copenhagen, Battle of, 188 
 Cornwallis, Admiral, 251 
 Coucher, Mr., 244 
 Coutts, Mr., 283 
 Cranwich, 270 
 Crawfurd, Mr., 235, 236 
 Crowe, Miss, 91 
 Mr. Robert, 92 
 
 D , Duke of, 231 
 
 Davison, Mr., 208, 210 
 Day, Mrs., 269 
 
 Mr. Sam, 223, 252 
 
 Mrs.. 253 
 Delile, Count, 188, 240 
 Delisle, Mr., 295 
 Dorrott, Mr,, 277 
 Drummond, Mr., 212 
 Duncan, Lord, 159 
 
 Sir Henry, 175 
 Durrant, Lady, 98 
 
 Sir Thomas, 41 
 
 De Vins, General, 125 
 
 East India Company, 171 
 Egypt. 33 
 
 Elections, 74, 75 
 Errol, Lord, 230 
 Este, Mr., 199 
 Eyre, Miss Harriet, 289 
 Miss Frances, 291 
 
 Falconbt, Mr., 211 
 Fanshawe, Admiral, 142 
 Fielding, Mr., 245 
 Fisher, Canon, 30, 49 
 
 Mrs., 46, 53, 74, 82, 248 
 
 Master, 73 
 Fox, Mr., 247 
 Frampton, Miss, 104, 132 
 Funeral, description of, 245 
 Fusilique, Rev., 259, 260 
 
 Gambler, Admiral, 187 
 Gardner, Lord, 208 
 Gaslights, 261 
 Gayner, Mr., 209 
 Genereux, 174 
 George III,, 233, 273 
 Gibbs, Mr., 216 
 Girdlestone, Mr., 269 
 Goldsmid, Mr., 230, 255, 271 
 Goddard, Mrs., 127 
 Graff er, Mrs., 261 
 Gunn, Rev., 59 
 
 Hamilton, Sir Alexander, 178 
 Lady Archibald, 231, 232 
 Lord Archibald, 231 
 Lady, 182, 183, 191, 202, 
 204, 205, 206, 209, 214, 
 215, 2x6, 226, 228, 230, 
 231, 244, 248, 250, 258, 
 260, 262, 263, 266, 267 
 268, 269, 271, 277, 279 
 281, 282, 283, 287 
 
INDEX 
 
 and 
 
 303 
 
 Hamilton, Sir William 
 Lady, 179, 181 
 Sir William, 201, 203, 204, 
 206, 207, 233 
 Hammond, Mr. Anthony, 270 
 
 Rev. H., 106 
 Hardy, Captain, 210 
 Harrison, Mr., 261, 277 
 Haslewood, Mr., n. 182, 243, 
 265, 267, 271, 275, 277, 278, 
 279, 281, 293 
 Herbert, President, 24 
 Hilborough, 19, 64, 65 
 Holkham, 116 
 Hood, Hon. Samuel, 272 
 
 Lord, loi, no, in, 120 
 Horatio, Nelson's godchild, 217 
 Hoste, Mr., 99 
 Hotham, Admiral, 120 
 
 Ipswich, 161 
 Irwin, Eyles, 35 
 
 Jaccombe, Dolly, 67 
 Jackson, Mr., 249 
 Jervis, Sir J., 128 
 Johnston, Mr., 261 
 Jones, "Classic," 22 
 Jordan, Mrs., 263 
 
 King, Governor, 184 
 
 Lawrence, Dr., 254, 267, 273, 
 
 274 
 Lincoln, Bishop of, 247 
 Lind, Mrs., 248 
 Liverpool, Lord, 282 
 Long, Mr. H. L., 175 
 Lovibond, Mr., 253 
 Lucas, Mrs., 129 
 Lutwidge, Captain, 23 
 
 Macaulay, Mr., 213 
 
 Malet, Sir Charles Warre, 33, 
 
 162, 190, 220, 221, 239, 240, 
 244, 271, 272 
 Mansfield, Lady, 205 
 Martin, Lady, 105, 106 
 
 Sir Mordaunt, 40, 41, 163, 
 
 166, 167, 168 
 Roger, 92 
 Matcham, Mrs. Catherine, 52; 
 58, 68, 78, 84, 113, 122, 
 135, 162, 171, 178, 183, 
 193, 202, 213, 221, 226, 
 227, 233, 239, 242, 264, 
 262, 275, 289, 290, 293, 
 295, 298, 299 
 Mr., 31, 32, 36, 37, 73, 79, 
 86, 89, 136, 143, 153, 
 178, 179, 183, 184, 185, 
 I93» 196, 199, 207, 219, 
 244, 250, 254, 263, 264, 
 272, 273, 274, 278, 283, 
 291, 294, 296. 297, 298 
 Charles, 291, 298 
 Mrs. Elizabeth, 30, log, 207 
 George, junr., 68, 73, 178; 
 185, 201, 221, 223, 228, 
 249, 255, 257, 258, 259, 
 264, 266, 267, 269, 271; 
 276, 289, 292, 294, 298 
 Miss Kate, 241, 259, 271, 
 
 291 
 Nelson, 290, 291 
 Mr. Simon, 30 
 Mayor, Lord, 246 
 Merton, 191, 199. 242, 266 
 Milford, 201 
 Motte, Mr., 270 
 Mrs., 119 
 
 Naylor, Mr., 245 
 
 Nelson, Admiral, 139. 141. 
 
 145, 146. 148, i5i» ^55» 
 
 157, 160 
 Admiral Lord, 167, 171, 
 
 175, 176, 179, 181, 182, 
 
304 
 
 INDEX 
 
 185, 186, 192, 193, 194, 
 
 195. I97» 200. 203, 204, 
 211, 213, 214, 215, 216, 
 218, 223, 224, 226, 227, 
 230, 233. 236, 237. 238, 
 249, 272, 280, 283, 284, 
 285, 286, 287, 292 
 Nelson, Ann, Miss, 20 
 
 Captain, 44, 52, 55, 59. 
 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 74, 
 
 83* 90, 97. 98, 99. 100, 
 loi, 102, 106, 107, 108, 
 no. III, 113. 119, 123, 
 224, 225 
 Catherine, Miss, 25, 36 
 Charlotte, Miss, 205, 206 
 Lady Chcirlotte, 243, 250, 
 
 272 
 Commodore, 134 
 Rev. Edmund, 17, 19, 
 26, 27, 36, 37, 38, 39, 
 44, 48, 49, 60, 61, 71, 
 80, 84, 85, 97, loi, 114, 
 115. 117. 134, 146, 152, 
 168, 169, 170, 173, 174, 
 177, 180, 182, 186, 190, 
 192. 194, 195, 196, 197, 
 198 
 Mrs. Edmund, 19, 20, 65 
 Edmund, 24, 64, 67, 69 
 Mrs. H., 45, 47, 62, 63, 
 71, 76, 90, 100, 103, 
 105, 109, 114, n8, 119, 
 125, 126, 127, 128, 129 
 Mrs. 262 
 *' Horace," 41 
 Mr. Horace, 230, 231 
 Miss Horatia, 258, 259, 
 261, 277, 278, 280, 281, 
 282, 283, 290 
 Horatio, 21, 25 
 Lady, 173, 175, 176, 182, 
 
 183, 190, 191, 295 
 Mary, Miss, 89 
 
 Nelson, Maurice, 20, 53, 60, 61, 
 72, 126, 129, 187, 188 
 Suckling, 24, 61, 64, 65, 
 77* 85, 103, 104, 105, 
 107, 112, 118, 131, 133 
 Rev. Suckling, 147, 169 
 Thomas, 2nd Earl, 298 
 Rev, William, 21, 117, 
 127, 131, 133, 158, 173, 
 195, 196 
 Rev. William, Earl, 242, 
 244, 245, 262, 263, 264, 
 265, 272, 289, 298 
 Mrs. William, 21, 39 
 Nevis, Island of, 24 
 Newbury, 148 
 Newhouse, 289 
 Newstead, 273 
 Nile, 158 
 
 Nisbet, Frances Herbert, 24 
 Josiah, M.D., 24, 64, loi 
 Mrs. Josiah, 295 
 Norfolk, 78 
 
 North, Christopher, 297 
 Norwich, 2i 
 Noyce, 296 
 
 Oliver, Mr., 206, 267, 268, 
 
 269 
 Orford, Lord, 87, 106 
 Oxford, 201 
 
 Palmer, Mr., 28, 244 
 Parker, Sir Peter, 226 
 Paul, Emperor, 188 
 Peace celebrations, 275 
 Perry, Mr., 260 
 Petition, 149 
 Pitt, Mr., 233, 234, 288 
 Plymouth Breakwater, 273 
 Pointz, Dr. Charles, 40 
 
 Dr., 115 
 Poison, Major, 284 
 Prussia, King of, 224, 276 
 
INDEX 
 
 119, 
 273, 
 
 Raikes, Mr., 93 
 Rennie, Mr., 273 
 Ringwood, 79 
 Robertson, Mr., 260 
 Rolfe, Mrs. Alice, 40 
 
 Rev. Edmund, 123 
 
 Mrs., 131, 270 
 
 Rev. Robert, 21, 40, 
 270 
 Rose, Mr. George, 262, 
 281, 282 
 
 Miss, 270 
 Roundwood, 154 
 Russia, Emperor of, 276 
 
 Salter, Mr., 244 
 San Josef, 178 
 Santissima Trinidada, 237 
 Saumarez, Sir James, 141 
 
 Lady, 121, 127 
 Savage, Mrs. Henry, 32 
 Saxe Gotha, Princess of, 232 
 Saxe Weimar, Prince of, 276 
 Schleswig, 220 
 Scott, Dr., 209 
 
 Mr., 208, 246 
 
 Sir William, 201, 277 
 Scrivener, Mr., 27, 44, 56, 118, 
 121 
 
 Mrs., 50 
 
 Miss Dorothea, 27, 40 
 Sh.ee, Sir George, 219, 220, 254 
 Shepherd's Spring, 89, 154 
 Sheridan, Mr., 247 
 Sherstone, Mr., 130 
 Siddons, Mrs., 29, 257 
 Sidmouth, Lord, 282 
 Smith, Sir Sydney, 230 
 
 Mr., 277, 280, 281 
 Spencer, Lord, 106, 120 
 
 Lady, 64 
 Sporle, 19 
 Spry, Mr., 197 
 Stanhope, Lord, 235 
 
 305 
 
 Stowell, Lord, 273 
 St. Peter 0, 156 
 St. Vincent, 139 
 Suckling, Rev. Maurice, 19 
 
 Captain Maurice, 20, 22 
 
 Colonel, 230 
 
 Lieutenant, 91 
 
 Mr., 244 
 
 Mrs., 271 
 Sulivan, Sir Richard, 241 
 Surgison, Colonel, 269 
 Sussex, Duke of, 262, 263 
 Sutton, Captain, 209, 248 
 Sweden, King of, 256 
 
 Talma, 290 
 Thurlow, Lord, 72, 82 
 Tierney, Mr., 247 
 Trafalgar estate, 289 
 
 Lord, 262 
 
 Battle of, 237, 251 
 Turner, Ann, 19 
 
 Sir Charles, 19 
 
 Mrs., 75 
 Tyson, Mr., 213, 250 
 
 Ulph, Burnham, 77 
 
 Vanguard, H.M.S., 151, 156 
 Victory, H.M.S., 208, 237, 243, 
 
 251 
 
 Villeneuve, Admiral, 235 
 
 Vizier, Grand, 212 
 
 Wales, Prince of, 245, 247 
 
 Frederick, Prince of, 232 
 Walpole of Wolterton, Horace, 
 Lord, 20 
 
 sons of Lord, 245 
 
 Mr. H., 87 
 
 Mr., 245 
 
 Sir R., 87 
 Walpoles of Wolterton, 47 
 
3o6 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Warham, 19 
 Westminster Hall, 54 
 William Henry, Prince, 23 
 Wolterton, 107 
 Woodton, 132 
 Woolward, William, 24 
 
 Yarmouth, 180 
 Yonge, Mrs., 270 
 
 Rev. Henry, 21 
 York, Duke of, 245, 247 
 
 Zealand, Mr. E., n. 217 
 
Hi 
 
 lili