The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton Volume I Part 18

G.o.d bless you, my dear Lady; and believe me, your's faithfully,

Wm. NELSON.

Tell me, in your next, whether you have seen that little bird, called _Tom t.i.t_.

III.

Hilborough, August 23d, 1801.

MY DEAR LADY HAMILTON,

I have written two long letters to my jewel, but I still seem to have more to say. I can't find out whether a certain Viscountess is expected at Burnham, or no.

I am pleased that you propose bringing Mrs. Nelson to Hilborough. I hope, Sir William will be able to amuse himself with fis.h.i.+ng a little.

The weather is too hot for me to come to London, and I can't leave my parish at this time.

Tell my Brother, I should have great pleasure in seeing him; and will go with him to Plymouth, or any where else, if he particularly desires it. When you have seen Parker and Langford, you can give me a particular account of the state of their wounds. I feel much for them.

I think it is better the _Cub_ did not speak to Mrs. N. It will save some trouble.

I wish you could get a comfortable house near London.

You will find Mr. Nayler, of the Herald's Office, a pleasant young man. I believe, he is my friend, and will readily give every information in his power.

If _Jove_ gets a higher t.i.tle, perhaps things may be settled more to our minds. Now we are already in the patent, as _Barons_; it will be no difficult matter, in that case, to have our entails advanced to the highest honour, if my brother wishes.

This I only mention _entre nous_, without having a desire on the subject. I am perfectly satisfied, that I am in the patent. I don't mean to say more to my Brother.

I am told, there are two or three very old lives, Prebends of Canterbury, in the Minister's gift--near six hundred pounds a year, and good houses.

The Deans of Hereford, Exeter, Litchfield and Coventry, York, and Winchester, are old men.

Write from Deal, and tell me when you are likely to return to London.

You can't come from thence nearer than London, unless my Brother lands you on the other side of the river Thames, on the Ess.e.x or Suffolk coasts. If that plan takes place, Mrs. Nelson had better send Sarah home before you go.

Compliments to Sir William, and all friends. Your's very faithfully,

Wm. NELSON.

IV.

Sunday Morning, Sept. 6th, [1801.]

My Dear Lady,

To be sure, you did promise to write to me on Thursday last; and I was very much disappointed at not receiving a letter yesterday, and sent to the Post Office twice, to be certain there was no mistake: and, now, this morning, comes your roguish, waggish letter, on a Sunday morning, (amidst all my meditations for the good of my paris.h.i.+oners) about love, courts.h.i.+p, marriage, throwing the stocking, going to bed, &c. &c. &c.--quite shocking to write to a country parson, who can have no idea of such _things_. It might do well enough for a King's chaplain; or a church dignitary, who is supposed to have more _learning_, and more knowledge of _things in general_.

I wish you was here, and you should not laugh at me for nothing. I would give you as good as you brought, at any time.

I'll have no Emmas, at present. Stay till there comes one or two of another sort, to keep the line of the Nelsons in the true name and blood, without being obliged to go to others to a.s.sume a name which scarcely belongs to them; and, then, as many Emmas, Elfridas, Evelindas, and Evelinas, as you please.

But, I hope to G.o.d, the present young Horatio will go on as we all wish, and transmit a long race to posterity.

I am delighted with Dr. Heath's letter to my Brother, and the character he gives of him. My only fear is, that we shall spoil him among us.

I have not yet heard from him, how he felt himself. I should have liked to have peeped slyly into his room, and seen how he acted on first receiving the joyful intelligence.

I don't know enough how to thank my Brother, for all his goodness to me and mine; my heart overflows, whenever I think of it: but I can't sit down, and write a formal letter of thanks; it would be too absurd for _me_ to write, or _him_ to read. He well knows me; and I leave it to your Ladys.h.i.+p, (my best and truest friend) to say every thing to him, for and from me: it will come best from your lips, and adorned with your eloquence.

I wish my Brother had done with this business. I hope, a peace will soon put an end to his toils and dangers. * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

V.

Hilborough, September 8th, 1801.

MY DEAR LADY HAMILTON,

I hope you will have received my long letter of Sunday's date, by this time. I wonder you should accuse me of remissness, in not writing to _you_. I told you then, and I repeat it now, that I would always give you "_as good as you brought_:" and, upon looking back to the last week's letters, I find I have always answered your's, whenever I had one; and, generally, by the _same post_.

As I wrote so much on Sunday, and you said--you thought you should leave Deal on Tuesday or Wednesday, I said--I should write no more till you got back to London. Nor should I now, was it not to rebut the charge of remissness and inattention to you.

I am glad Mrs. Nelson is likely to come home soon; but, I hear nothing about your intentions. I shall write to her to-morrow, and direct my letter to Piccadilly; where, I hope, it will find her: and, if this letter travels to Deal, and follows you to London, it is no matter; it is not worth having, when you get it. Only, I could not bear the thoughts of the appearance of neglect, without deserving it.

One or two letters I wrote to Mrs. Nelson last week, I gave public notice, were intended, in a great degree, for the whole party.

Mrs. Bolton is here for a day, to help my solitary life. I find Lady N. has taken a house in Somerset Street, Portman Square. She, and my Father, are to spend the winter in London; and, I am informed, he is to pay half. Whether it is ready-furnished, or not, I can't tell.

Mr. Edwards is this moment gone, and begs his compliments to you all.

Believe me, your's most faithfully,

Wm. NELSON.

Compliments to Parker and Langford.