royal navy, and a converted man. I knew him well at Plymouth, and he has often told me of the intimacy of Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson, and the jealousy of Josiah Nisbett, so that at one time when the lady was sitting near Nelson, his son in law went up to her and touched her on the cheek, with a frown, saying, "That's my mother's place, madam.” I was also well acquainted with Barry O'Meara, Esq, and have often dined with him at Montague Square, in London. He was surgeon in the navy at the Mediterranean, and was afterwards appointed surgeon to Bonaparte, at St. Helena. He had seen and known much of Nelson and the Italians and Lady Hamilton at Naples, and he has often told me of her amazing influence with the French ambassador, and the king and queen, and Admiral Nelson, at Naples, as it was generally known and talked of in the fleet up the Mediterranean by officers and seamen. But, alas, in that day, when England so fatally neglected all her officers and sailors in the navy, so that our ships became "floating hells," as I have demonstrated to the world. The Negroes and Hindoos, as heathen, could awaken attention and compassion in England for relgious mis. sions, but sailors and officers might plunge into any immoralities, for what England cared, if they would only fight and kill all who threatened England, or any part of the British empire; so that Nelson and Lady Hamilton then would only excite a laugh-"No man cared for our souls." My God, thou knowest how clearly I can demonstrate this to the world at large, for the year 1799, and other years also, when our ministers, churches, and congregations sent us to fight and perish, so that they were safe at home. Nelson had now more work to do in the Bay of Naples, for the Castle of Elmo, as a fortification, was still held by the French, and therefore he sent a detachment of seamen and ma. rines, with Russians and Portuguese, in command of Capt. Trowbridge, of H.M.S. Culloden, 74, to beseige this castle. The seige of Elino continued from July 3rd to the 12th, when a flag of truce was hoisted, and now the king had the satisfaction of seeing his own flag over the capital. The forts of Capua and Quieto remained in the hands of the French. A thousand men were landed from our ships; but an order came from Lord Keith to Nelson to detach the whole of his squadron for the protection of Menorca. This order he disobeyed until the capture of Capua and the surrender of the garrison on the 28th, Quieto also surrendered August 1st, 1799. Nelson now wrote to Earl Spencer, "I certainly, from having only a left hand, cannot enter into details, which may explain the motives that actuate my conduct, and which may be necessary to a commanding officer who may wish to have every subject detailed by those under his command. My principle, my dear lord, is to assist in driving the French to the and in restoring peace

and happiness to mankind. I am fitter to do the action than to describe it. Therefore all the French being forced to quit this kingdom, and some order restored, two more ships of the line are to sail this evening for Menorca." Nelson now, with the king and his attendants, and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, received every mark of royal favour. The queen came on board and embraced Lady Hamilton, and hung round

B

10 The Grand Naval Fele at Naples, and Journey to England.

her neck a chain of gold set with diamonds, bearing the motto, " Eterna Gratitudini." Two coach loads of costly dresses were sent to the house of Sir William Hamilton, with two pictures worth a thousand guineas each. It is supposed that the whole of these presents amounted to more than six thousand pounds. Nelson was presented by his Majesty with a sword magnificently enriched with diamonds of the value of six thousand ducats, and conferred on him also the title of Duke of Bronti, with an estate producing three thousand pounds per annum. Bronte was fabulously said to be the forger of the thunders of Jove, alluding to the battle of the Nile.

The Grand Naval Fete at Naples, and Journey to England.

September 3rd, a naval fete was given to their Sicilian Majesties at Palermo, by their youngest son, Prince Leopold, to celebrate the recovery of the kingdom, under the auspices of the Duke of Bronti, Admiral Nelson. The admirals of the Russian and Turkish squadrons. with their officers, and nobility of Naples and Palermo, were present. Their Majesties received the company, and the young prince, then nine years of age, and educated for the navy, did the honours of the navy, in his midshipman's uniform. The three princesses and the consort of the hereditary prince, each wore round her neck some ornament having allusion to Nelson and the victories he bad achieved. The entertainment began with a magnificent display of fireworks in the garden of the palace, representing the English and French fleets at Aboukir, and the battle of the Nile, with the defeat of the enemy's ships, and the explosion of L'Orient. After the fireworks a Cantata was performed, entitled the Happy Concord;." After this flattering demonstration of royalty, Nelson despatched Commodore Trowbridge to blockade Civita Vecchia, which surrendered, and the seamen of the Monateur and the Culloden landed and took possession of that place; and Corneto, Tolfa, and Rome also surrendered to General Banchard and Captain Louis, of the Monateur, 74. Thus it was triumphed that Nelson took Rome with his ships; (where Paul was imprisoned, and brought before Nero, the Enperor, and when Julius Cesar reigned, who conquered England) The French were carrying off the rarest works of art in Rome, but the arrival of the English squadron stopped this: and the inhabitants, as a tribute of gratitude to Nelson, resolved to erect a superb monument to his honour in that city. Nelson wrote to thank them, and he remained at Palermo till the beginning of the year 1800, when Lord Keith, the Commander in Chief in the Mediterranean, heard that the French intended to succour Malta, that was now beseigel, Nelson was ordered to windward of the island, with three sail of the line; while Lord Keith, ̧ in the Queen Charlotte, 100 guns, lay close to the mouth of the harbour. Nelson was now with the Genereux, one of the large French ships that escaped from him at the battle of the Nile. The Genereux, of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Admiral Perre, the Commander in chief of the French naval force in the Mediterranean, struck to Nelson, with troops on board from Toulon to relieve Malta, who sent her to Syracuse. Nelson was now seized with affliction, and was obliged to retire to Palermo, leaving

Sir Edward Berry in command of H. M.S Foudroyant, 74, who captured the Guilliame Tell, of 86 guns, and one thousand men, as the only ship remaining from the battle of the Nile. A most desperate battle followed with this ship, and she was taken after having two hundred of her crew killed and wounded, and nearly fitty in the English ships that fought with her. On the arrival of Mr. Ar hur Paget, who superseded Sir W. Hamilton at the Neapolitan Court. Neison quitted Palermo for Malta, determined to quit the station and proceed for England. For some time he had been far from enjoying comfort and happiness. His mind was filled with anxious concern and his infatuated attachment to Lady Ha. milton served the rather to augment it. June 8th, he quitted Malta and proceeded to Leghorn, accompanied in his journey overland to England by Sir William and Lady Hamilton, and attendants. They remained a month at Leghorn, and two days at Florence, in the interior of Italy, and travelled across to Ancona, by the Adriatic Sea. Here they remained about a fortnight, and then embarked in two Russian frigates for Trieste, in Germany, at the head of the Adriatic Sea; the Queen travelling with them, as the mother of the Empress of Germany. They now proceeded to Vienna, the capital of Austria, and here they continued six weeks, with all the earthly honours and glories that could be heaped upon them.

Nelson's Journey through Prussia and Hamburgh to England. Sir William Hamilton was much afflicted in travelling, which was the occasion of this delay. The Prince and Princess of Esterhazey invited them all to their delightful palace on the frontiers of Hungary, about forty miles from Vienna. They were entertained with every mark of distinction, at the palace of Eisentadt, for four days, in the most splendid and magnificent manner. A hundred Grenadiers, each full six feet high, constantly waited at table, where every delicacy was served up in profusion. A grand concert was given in the Chapel Royal, under the immediate direction and superintendence of the celebrated composer, Haydn, whose Oratorio of "The Creation" was performed. An aquatic fete was also given by Count Bathiani on the Danube, within a mile of Vienna; and Arnstein, the noted bank r, gave a grand concert and a splendid supper to Lord Nelson and his friends. Thus Nelson and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, were again raised to honours and riches, and pleasures of this life, but where are all these enjoyments and disunctions now? Alas! how transient, unsatisfactory, and unprofitable for eternity, to the bones and dust of all this party now! O God, teach us that we may rather lay up our treasure in heaven: for a greater than Nelson, even Solomon, has tried all the riches, honours, sensual gratifications and pleasures of this lite, and he wrote for the bible," Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit; and there was no profit under the sun." Eccl. ii.

Nelson and his party took leave of the Queen at Vienna, September 26th, and including domestics they consisted of seventeen persons. They travelled now through Bohemia to Dresden, in Prussia. Here they remained eight days. Two gondoliers were fitted up with chambers, to

12 The Lord Mayor, the Fatal Separation, and Balaam's Advice.

convey them to Hamburg, on the bank of the river Elbe. At every place where they touched, assembled crowds lined the German shores; and when they arrived at Hamburg they were greeted with the most rapturous rejoicing. A wine merchant, seventy years old, waited upon Lady Hamilton here, and said he had got some excellent old Rhenish wine, 175 years old, that he had reserved for some extraordinary occasion. Nelson accepted a dozen bottles as a present. Mr. Oliver was Nelson's private secretary, and one morning he introduced a venerable aged clergyman, pastor of a congregation forty miles distant, who had travelled with his parochial bible, in the first page of which he humbly desired Nelson would write his name. This was done, and the minister fell on his knees, humbly praying for a blessing upon Nelson and his friends. Nelson now hired a packet at Cuxhaven, and after a boisterous passage of five days they arrived at Yarmouth, in Norfolk, November 6th. Crowds rushed down to welcome Nelson, aad taking the horses from his carriage, they drew him to the Wrestlers' Inn, amidst loud and deafening shouts. The Mayor and Corporation waited on him and presented the freedom of the town, with general applause. The Infantry paraded before the inn with their regimental band, and continued firing their musketry and ordinance until midnight. On leaving the town the Cavalry drew up and followed his lordship to the boundaries of the county; and every place through which he passed demonstrated their joy at his arrival. Sunday, November 9.h, Nelson arrived in London, at the Hotel in King Street, St. James's, where Lady Nelson and his venerable father had just arrived from Norfolk. The next day being Lord Mayor's Day, he was invited to the civic feast, and joined the procession at the top of Ludgate Hill; the crowd took out his horses, and drew him in triumph to Guildhall. Here an elegant sword was given him by Richard Clark, Esq., Chamberlain of the City of London, who addressed him publicly about the battle of the Nile, August 1st, 1798, extolling the seamen, as to the greatest advantage the nation had derived from their labours." The Chamberlain then added, that "a numerous army, which had triumphed in Europe, landed in Egypt, with designs. of the most extensive nature. One of their objects was to annihilate the English East India trade, and to gain possession of the whole commerce of Africa and Asia. But at this momentous period the Almighty directed your lordship, as his chosen instrument, to check their pride and crush their force--and you saved your country; and in the pious Non Nobis Domini of your modest dispatches, you enforced a most important

truth."

The Lord Mayor, the FATAL SEPARATION, & BALAAM'S ADVICE.

The City Chamberlain, at the Lord Mayor's assembly in the Guildhall, added—“ You have enforced a most important truth, that the most independent conqueror felt in this point of time the influence and protec tion of Him, whoin our enemies had impiously defied. May the same Power, my lord, ever protect you.' Nelson replied by a suitable adaddress, holding up the sword in his left hand, saying that he should persevere, "that this country may expect a solid, honourable, and

permanent peace." But, alas, although surrounded by admiring friends and applanded by the nation at large, Nelson's comfort and happiness was blighted indeed. Lady Hamilton continued her fascinating ensnarements, and in spite of the remonstrance of his friends, and the dictates of conscience, he suffered himself to be thus fatally ensnared,-as Lady Nelson seemed somewhat indifferent to her husband's earthly glories, although manifesting all the affection aud performing all the duties of a wife for him whom she truly loved.

Nelson had been in London scarcely three months in regular communication with Lady Hamilton, when at length he determined on a separation from his wife, and taking up his abode with Sir William Hamilton. To accomplish this he had a farewell interview with Lady Nelson, and at this most affecting and heart-rending interview, he considered it his duty to bear the most solemn testimony to the character of his amiable and faithful wife; and on taking leave of her finally, he exclaimed, "I call God to witness, there is nothing in you or your conduct I wish ctherwise;"—and they separated for the last time in this world-but they will meet again at the judgment seat of the Lord Jesus Christ, when the trumpet shall sound, and the sea shail give up the dead; and St. Paul's Cathedral shall yield the dust and bones of Nelson, before assembled worlds, when it will then appear whether Nelson and Emma Hamilton repented and sought pardon and salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ before they departed this life.

O God, how many officers, nobles, and even ministers and members of Christian churches, have falien like Nelson by the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life. Let us turn from Nelson to David, after all his delivering mercies on the throne of Judea; and Solomon, after all the building and religious dedication of the temple at Jerusalem. Thus the Conquerors of the world have been conquered by the enemy; and hence a restored sailor apostle wrote, by divine inspiration, for all ministers, churches, and "to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bethania, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied;" and in the fulness of his soul at their exal ed Christian privileges, he wrote concerning them, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;" and yet to those eminent, distinguished Christian ministers and members be also most piously and affectionately wrote, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." 1 Peter i 2; and here is a war more dreadful than all the wars of Europe or the world; as Balaam well knew, when all the property and influence of Balak failed; but Balaam having tried curses in vain, he taught "Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication; and in the camp before Beihpeor, there "fell in one day three and twenty thousand." Numbers xxv.