A great adventuress: Lady Hamilton and the revolution in Naples (1753-1815)

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LADY HAMILTON AND THE
REVOLUTION IN NAPLES

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

r>« .„,. CS'"*" Un'verslty Library
DA 483.H21T95 1914

Great adventuress:

3 1924 027 991 680

a Cornell University
J Library

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/cu31924027991680

A GREAT ADVENTURESS
LADY HAMILTON AND THE
REVOLUTION IN NAPLES

UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME

GREAT COQUETTE.

Madame R^camier and her
Salon. By Joseph Turquan.
With Frontispiece in Photo-
gravure and 1 6 other Illus-
trations

: A GREAT :
ADVENTURESS

LADY HAMILTON AND THE REVOLU-
TION IN NAPLES (1753-1815) BY JOSEPH
TURQUAN' and JULES D'AURIAC WITH
FRONTISPIECE IN PHOTOGRAVURE
AND 16 OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK: BRENTANO'S £8 £8

LONDON: HERBERT JENKINS LTD.

MCMXIV

TRANSLATED BY LILIAN WIGGINS

AT THE MSRCAT PRESS, EDINBURGH

INTRODUCTION TO THE ENGLISH
EDITION

FASCINATED by the extraordinary adventures
and charming personality of the beautiful Lady
Hamilton, we were prompted to endeavour to
discover fresh material about her, and in this we have
been fortunate, as the following pages will show.

We have striven to deal fairly with a woman who
has been at one and the same time so much idealised
and so basely culumniated ; but we found it impossible
to place her upon a pedestal of virtue. What we
have written has at least the merit of being absolutely
impartial, we are unbiassed by the national prejudice
that our lovely heroine was the great Nelson's Emma.

Apart from Lady Hamilton herself, the English
public may be inclined to regard certain of our con-
clusions as two obviously ' French,' notably what we
have said about Nelson. We may be judged harshly ;
but, if so, the judgment will not be a just one. A
century has elapsed since the days of the heroic
struggle between Great Britain and France, and the
momentous events that caused two great nations to
rise up against each other. To-day there is not a
single sensible Frenchman who harbours feelings
of hatred against Pitt, Nelson or Wellington ; but
history has her rights, and we considered it our duty
to examine mercilessly the great man and hero who

vii

VIU

INTRODUCTION

was so intimately connected with Lady Hamilton's
life. We have found him cruel by nature, insub-
ordinate towards his superiors, the adversary, not
only of the liberal views that do honour to England ;
but of all that did not proceed from the Divine Right.
Most of these grave defects we consider are accounted
for by the fact that Nelson sprang from an inferior
class of society, a circumstance that drew him closer
to Lady Hamilton, who was the daughter of a cook
and a blacksmith. No doubt every British heart will
protest against the assertion that Nelson, the son of a
clergyman and the god-child of Horace Walpole, was
not a gentleman ! In support of this severe judgment,
it must be remembered that the conqueror at the Nile
and Trafalgar, went to sea at the early age of twelve,
consequently before he had time to pursue any serious
studies. At the critical moment when the soul begins
to shape itself, he was thrown into the society of
rough sailors. He seldom returned home. He cared
not at all for books, and he was not only ignorant of
the Classics ; but knew very little about history and
philosophy. He could not speak any tongue but his
own. These facts have been gathered from the
works of innumerable English writers and not from
the writings of his enemies.

Nelson sometimes showed strange tastes and
habits. He would, for instance, empty the last
drop from his glass on to his finger-nail. He was
guilty of unpardonable duplicity in the capitula-
tion of Naples. These were not the characteristics
of an English gentleman.

We have endeavoured to present in this volume
a minute and thorough psychological study, worked

INTRODUCTION ix

out on entirely new lines. Our object has been to
make our account interesting and one which, we hope,
will appeal to those readers who find pleasure in
reading of men and women who have influenced the
destines of bygone generations.

Joseph Turquan
Jules d'Auriac

The publishers desire to express their thanks to
those who have helped with the illustrations, in-
cluding Lord Michelham, Sir Robert Harvey, Bt.,
Sir Ernest Cassel, G.C.B., Tankerville Chamber-
layne, Esq., Messrs. Duveen Brothers, and particu-
larly to Mrs Frankau (Frank Danby) whose kind
help has been invaluable.

CONTENTS

PAGE

Introduction to English Edition .... vii

CHAPTER I

Early Days of Emma Lyon — Her Ancestry — Date of
Birth — Education — Becomes a Nurse-maid — Her Vari-
ous Situations — Her Taste for Romances and Theatres
— Her First Adventure — Her Second and Third Adven-
tures — Dr Graham — Sir Charles Greville — Romney —
Sir William Hamilton — Emma at Parkgate — Greville is
Ruined — He Plans to Pass Emma on to His Uncle —
Negotiations — Emma Departs for Naples . . i

CHAPTER II

Sir William Hamilton Receives Emma at Naples — She Stays
at the Embassy — Description of Emma — Hamilton Falls
in Love w^ith Her — Emma's Letters to Greville — The
Matrimonial Campaign — Emma as Artist — Her Rela-
tions w^ith Hamilton — Mistress of the House — Her
Beauty Creates a Sensation — Voyage to England —
Arrival in London — Her Marriage with Sir William
Hamilton — Letters from Horace Walpole and Sir
Thomas Law^rence — Return to Naples ... 24

CHAPTER III

The Ways of the World — Lady Hamilton's Education —
Opinions of Contemporaries — Her Illiteracy — Her
Mother at the Embassy — The Palazzo Sessa — The
Attitudes — Lady Hamilton's Presentation at the Court
of Naples — Her Relations with Greville after Her
Marriage — The Bishop of Derry at Naples — Relations
of Emma with Him, Romney and Featherstonehaugh . 45

xi

xii CONTENTS

CHAPTER IV

PAGE

Emma and the Court — Marie-Caroline Promises to Receive
Her — The Neapolitan Government at the End of the
Eighteenth Century— Ferdinand IV — Marie-Caroline —
Acton and Gallo — Expedition to Egypt — Nelson in the
Mediterranean — Lady Hamilton Induces the Neapolitan
Government to Receive Him — Sir William's Curious
Position . ' 77

CHAPTER V

Nelson's First Meeting with Lady Hamilton — Description
of Nelson — Nelson falls in Love — The Results of His
Love — The Lover and the Husband — Nelson's Esteem
and Friendship for Sir William Hamilton — Correspond-
ence — Mrs Gamlin's Opinion — Nelson's Letter to His
Wife — Lady Hamilton's First Letter to Nelson — Lady
Hamilton's Politics — Aboukir 93

CHAPTER VI

Rejoicings of the Court of Naples at the News of Aboukir —
Nelson's Demands — Protests of the French Minister —
Nelson's Return to Naples — His Triumph . . .122

CHAPTER VII

Nelson's Design on Malta — Lord St Vincent's Letter —
Nelson's First Letters to Lady Hamilton — Preparations
for War at Naples — Lacombe St. Michel Becomes Minis-
ter of France — His Complaints to the Government of
Naples — The Council of War at Caserta — Berthier's
Ultimatum — The Neapolitans Invade the State of
Rome — Strange Situation of Lacombe St. Michel — The
Neapolitans at Rome — Their Retreat — Projected Flight
to Sicily — Assassination of Ferreri — Lady Hamilton's
Devotion to the Royal Family — The Court on the
English Ships — The Death of Prince Albert . .136

CONTENTS xiii

CHAPTER VIII

PAGE

The Fugitives' Perilous Voyage — Their Arrival at Palermo
— The Revolution at Naples — The Installation of the
Republican Government — Speech of Carlo Laubert —
Denunciation of Marie-Caroline and Lady Hamilton —
French Reverse — Cardinal Ruffo — The Army of Santa-
Fe — Ruffo Offers the Neapolitan Forts an Honourable
Surrender — This is Accepted i6o

CHAPTER IX

The Breaking of the Treaty — The English School and the
Responsibility of Lady Hamilton — Detractors and De-
fenders — The Accounts of Sacchinelli and Cacciatore —
The Arrival of Nelson — His Personal Opposition to the
Treaty — Reasons for this Attitude — Discussions betwreen
Him and Ruffo — Protest of the Signatories of the Treaty
— Ruffo's Offer — Nelson Pretends to Yield — New^ Diffi-
culties — Evacuation of the Forts — Letters from Palermo
— The Queen and Lady Hamilton — Ruffo Threatened
— Nelson Breaks the Treaty — His Proclamation —
Nelson and the English Government — The Treaty and
the Armistice — The Historical Theory of von Helfert
and Gutteridge — The Queen and Cardinal Ruffo . . 172

CHAPTER X

The Part of Sir William and Lady Hamilton in the Counter-
Revolution — Hamilton and Nelson — Hamilton's Real
Attitude — His Letters of June 27th — The Cardinal's
Thanks — Lady Hamilton's Indifference — She Becomes
Intermediary — Her Real Interests — Hamilton's Conces-
sion to Nelson — Lady Hamilton and the Queen — The
Case of Cirillo 205

CHAPTER XI

Caracciolo — His Part in the Revolution — His Flight and
Arrest — Nelson's Indignation writh Him — His Trial and
Condemnation — Nelson Refuses to Postpone the Execu-
tion — Sir William Hamilton's Letter on the Subject —

xiv CONTENTS

PAGE

Thurn's Letter — Captain Brenton's Account — An
Anonymous English Account — Lady Hamilton's Two
Interventions — Caracciolo's Last Requests — Nelson's
Silence — Opinions of Palumbo, Sir John Mackintosh,
Cacciatore and Gutteridge — Caracciolo's Corpse —
Weakness of the Counter-Revolution in Naples —
General Disaffection about the Queen — She is Impri-
soned and Exiled — Her Death — Nelson's Death . .216

CHAPTER XII

The Victor's Rejoicings — Nelson Duke of Bronte — The
Fete of September 3 — Lady Hamilton Receives the
Order of Malta — Sir William Hamilton's Return —
Lady Hamilton's Letter to Greville — The Departure
from Naples — Lady Hamilton in Leghorn — Vienna and
Saxony ......... 246

CHAPTER XIII

Nelson's Return to England — His Wife Leaves Him —
Nelson with the Hamiltons — The Birth of Horatia —
She is Entrusted to Mrs Gibson — Mrs Gamlin's Account
of Horatia — James Gilray's Caricature — Nelson's
Fatherly Tenderness — Horatia with Lady Hamilton —
Horatia's Attempt to Discover Her Mother — William
Haslewood's Reply — Nelson's Ambiguous Letters —
Their Probable Motive — The Thomson Letters . . 268

CHAPTER XIV

Lady Hamilton Buys the Estate of Merton in Nelson's Name
— Life at Merton— The Death of Sir William Hamilton
— His Widow Attempts to Get a Pension from the
Government — Nelson Returns to Naples — His Corre-
spondence with Lady Hamilton — Back at Merton —
Lady Hamilton Urges Him to Rejoin the Fleet —
Trafalgar — After Nelson's Death — Lady Hamilton's
Pecuniary Difficulties — The Death of Greville — Pur-
sued by Creditors— Flight to Calais— Death of Lady
Hamilton 201

CONTENTS XV

PAGE

Appendix I — Lady Hamilton's Attitudes . . . 327

Appendix II — Nelson's Letters 331

Appendix III — Certificate of Death of Lady Hamilton . 333

Index 335

ILLUSTRATIONS

The Ambassadress Frontisfiece

From a painting by Romney in the possession of Lord
Michelliain.

To face page
Sir William Hamilton 14

From a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds in the National
Portrait Gallery.

Bacchante 02

From a painting by Vig^e Le Brun in the collection of
Tankerville Chamberlayne, Esq.

Lady Hamilton ^56

From a painting after Westall in the collection of Sir
Robert Harvey, Bt.

Marie-Caroline, Queen of Naples .... 68

Ferdinand IV of Naples So

Horatio, Viscount Nelson 100

Engraved by T. Woolnoth from a painting by J.
Hoppner.

Detail FROM A picture OF THE Royal Hunt . . .118

The Ambassador's House at Naples .... 136
Engraved by A. Robinson from a painting by Fabris.

Marie-Caroline and her Family .... 156

From a print in the British Museum.

Cardinal Ruffo 166

From a bust in the Museum of San Martino,

xvli

xviii ILLUSTRATIONS

To face page
Lady Hamilton 190

Engraved by William Say from a painting by J, J.
Masquerier.

Francesco Caracciolo 216

From a miniature by Michele d'Urso.

Lady Hamilton 230

From a portrait by Angelica Kauffmann found in the
Palazzo Sessa.

Horatio, Viscount Nelson 260

Engraved by J. Skelton from a painting by L. Guzzardi.

Lady Hamilton 282

From a painting by Romney in the collection of Sir
Ernest Cassel.

Merton, Nelson's Seat in Surrey .... 302

A GREAT ADVENTURESS
LADY HAMILTON AND THE
REVOLUTION IN NAPLES

A GREAT ADVENTURESS

CHAPTER I

Early days of Emma Lyon — Her ancestry — Date of birth — Education
— Becomes a nurse-maid — Her various situations — Her taste for
romances and theatres — Her first adventure — Her second and third
adventures — Dr Graham — Charles Greville — Romney — Sir
William Hamilton — Emma at Parkgate — Greville is ruined — He
plans to pass Emma on to his uncle — Negotiations — Emma departs
for Naples.

LADY HAMILTON was the daughter of
Henry Lyon, a blacksmith, and of Mary
Kidd, a cook. Most of her mother's
relatives were sea-faring men or labourers. Thus
according to documents, she was the offspring of
very lowly people. It has, however, been asserted that
she was the child of a nobleman who abandoned her
mother immediately after Emma's birth. If this state-
ment were true, it would give the key to her not very
complicated nature. The father's blood would account
for her love of art, elegance, luxury, and comfort, her
ambition to achieve social — if not moral — success, as well
as the selfishness and want of feeling which she showed
at a very early age. Again, her beauty and wonderful
physical charm, her love of pleasure and extravagant ways
were the inheritance of an aristocratic race. From the
mother came a certain quaint, rough-and-ready manner,
and the peasant's characteristic greed for money, together
with his strength and cunning — in a word, all the prac-
tical, matter-of-fact side of her nature which revealed
itself especially during the latter part of her life. This
would account for Emma's many inconsistencies.

2 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

There are, however, no means of ascertaining the truth
of her alleged parentage. It is one of those things that
are incapable either of proof or of refutation.

Writers do not agree as to the date of her birth, nor does
it matter to history whether Emma Lyon was born in 1761
or in 1764. Mr Walter Sichel* believes her to have been
born on April 26, 1765. His opinion is based solely on
the child's baptismal certificate, which is worded : " Emy,
d"^ of Henry Lyon, Smith of Ness, by Mary his
wife. May 12, 1765." That is all. There are no signa-
tures, the father and mother could but make their marks.

In her death certificate (January 15, 18 15), Emma is
said to be fifty-one years of age. If this statement be
correct, the year 1763 would be the real date of her birth. •
Unfortunately, it is impossible to say whether any reliable
document furnished proof of her age as quoted in the
death-certificate. It is possible that Emma made herself
out to be younger than she really was by giving, through-
out her life, the date of her baptism as that of her birth.
It may also be remarked that, if the child had been born on
April 26, 1765, the mother would scarcely have been able
to attend the infant's christening on the following May 12.

In her valuable studyf Mrs Hilda Gamlin makes
no more definite statement, but says that Emma was pro-
bably born in the year 1765. M. Fauchier-MagnanJ
has since proved, almost beyond doubt, that Emma first
saw the light of day in 1763.

The child never knew her father, for he died a few
days after signing the parish register (June 21, 1765).

The mother, who was the daughter of a countryman
living near Hawarden, in Flintshire, being left unpro-
vided for by the death of her husband, returned with the
child to her father's home.

Training and education Emma had none. Brought up
in the country, she had in her childhood no more school-

* Emma, Lady Hamilton, by Walter Sichel, 1907.

t Emma, Lady Hamilton, by H. Gamlin, 1891.

X Lady Hamilton, by A. Fauchier Magnan, 1910.

A MYSTERIOUS PARENT 3

ing than any other country girl. In later years, however,
when she had become the wife of the English Am-
bassador, she used to say that a certain Lord Halifax had
provided generously for the expense of her education,
and it is true that this nobleman played a part in her
early childhood. He seems to have been the protector
of Mary Lyon, whose charm or whose wiles had capti-
vated him. He it was, she said, who undertook to
provide for her childhood, and from this it might be
inferred that he was really her father; but he can hardly
be said to have undertaken her education, if for no other
reason than that it was not undertaken at all.

However that may be, Emma's education — if educa-
tion it can be called — was not only rudimentary, for she
does not seem to have profited by it, but brief, for at
the age of thirteen, according to the Memoirs* published
under her name, she took a situation as nursemaid in the
house of Horatius Leigh Thomas, brother-in-law to
Boydell, the celebrated engraver.

Moral development in later years depends almost
entirely on the early education and instruction that we
receive during childhood. Emma had neither education
nor instruction. She had none to guide or direct her,
or to furnish her with sound principles, for her mother,
being possessed of none, could not impart them.
Besides, the children of the lower classes are left to grow
unheeded like the wild grass on the roadside. They go
their own way and none heed them; none dream of
putting them on their guard or arming them against the
difficulties that await them, for none care. When still
a mere child, in the very springtide of her youth, Emma
became a serving-maid, and was thrown defenceless on
the London streets. From the very outset she was
exposed to vice of every kind, and perverted by the
examples that surrounded her. All this must be taken
into consideration if we would judge aright the parts
played in her life by circumstance and her own caprice.

* Memoirs, published in Paris 1816. Mrs Gamlin says Emma was
twelve years old. It seems more probable that she was fourteen.

4 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

The young girl had at first the good fortune to enter a
highly respectable household. " Mistress Thomas was in
every way a desirable mistress for young Emma, and
though she exercised her control over the giddy girl,
and held her exuberant spirits in checkj, she retained her
love and respect to the last hour of her life. When her
little serving-maid had attained an elevated position on
the rung of the social ladder, she frequently sent her
former mistress evidences of affection, which are still
in the possession of the descendants and relatives of Mr
and Mrs Thomas, and are highly regarded as heirlooms
by their owners."*

The peaceful monotony of a respectable, middle-class
establishment was not likely to prove congenial to
Emma's exuberant and unruly disposition. It is not
easy to say whether she would have prolonged her stay
in this excellent household. As it happened, her mother
decided to go to London, and took her daughter away.
She got her another situation in the house of Linley,
who, at the time, was part owner of Drury Lane Theatre.

The little maid had wept bitterly on leaving Hawarden,
but her tears soon ceased when she found herself in the
great capital. "London scenes and life had a very bad
effect on the country maid, and her giddiness caused
much annoyance and anxiety to Mrs Thomas, who was a
strict and religious woman."t

In Mr Linley's house the conversation constantly
turned upon musical and theatrical matters, and in these,
not unnaturally, the shrewd child soon took a keen
interest. She seems also to have developed a great
liking for one of Mr Linley's sons, a midshipman.
Parents are often very indiscreet. The midshipman
was no longer a child, yet, when he fell ill, Emma was
told off to nurse him. In spite of every care, the young

* Mrs Gamlin, ch. i, p. 4. On December 26, 1792, writing to
Mrs Burt from Caserta, Lady Hamilton says ; " I am writing to Mrs
Thomas who lives on her estate. . . ."

t Mrs Gamlin, op. cit. ch. i, p. 4.

A ROMANTIC LADY'S-MAID 5

man died and such was her grief that she left the house
of his parents and entered the service of a Dr Budd.
Her next venture brought her into a fruiterer's shop.
However, life behind the counter did not satisfy her
aspirations, and, when a Mrs Kelly, who had noticed the
girl's good looks, offered to take her as a lady's-maid,
Emma accepted with enthusiasm. Lady's-maid! This
was a real promotion. At last her foot was in the
stirrup. With a little good luck and clever management,
what might not be in store for her !

At Mrs Kelly's Emma found novels, which she read
eagerly and for which she soon developed a passion.
Leisure for indulging this passion she secured by
neglecting her duties. Her reading opened to her
imagination the most dazzling prospects, and convinced
her that life must be one long romance. Her head was
still more effectually turned by frequent visits to the
London theatres. Life as represented on the stage
appeared to her far more brilliant and intense than in
the pages of the books she read. She became passion-
ately fond of all sorts of theatrical performances, and
frequented them as often as possible.

When, after an evening spent at the play, she returned
to her own little room, this budding passion for dramatic
art would take possession of her, and she would rehearse
to herself the attitudes of the actresses, endeavouring to
reproduce their ways and the intonation of their voices.
As she flitted about the house, she liked to look at herself
in the mirrors of her mistress's apartment, pausing to
practise the attitudes she already took such delight in.
She also played at being the heroines of her novels, throw-
ing herself into the attitudes she considered suitable to
their tragic predicament. All the while, as she studied
herself, she became more and more enamoured of the
charming image that faced her in the mirror. These
dramatic exercises, this acting and posing, developed in
her a real talent that came to its full expression later in
the famous attitudes, tableaux, dances, and all the per-

6 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

formances that she affected not only for the love of art,
but because they gratified her vanity by setting off the
grace and beauty of her form.

In the meantime, these practices merely served to mark
the limitations of her wardrobe and her lack of interest in
her duties. When at length Mrs Kelly dismissed her
for giving herself airs, she wandered from one situation
to another, and at last went as servant to a tavern, where
her good looks and forward manner were alike calculated
to attract customers. This inn seems to have been a
haunt of artists, actors, musicians, and a regular centre
of Bohemianism. These were not the guests to overlook
for long the pretty servant girl; nor was she one to let
herself be overlooked. By her insinuating manner she
succeeded in ingratiating herself with an actress. Miss
Arabel, who frequented the tavern. She was the
mistress of Romney, the great artist, whose name was
soon to be associated with Emma's. It was not, however,
through her connection with Miss Arabel that she be-
came acquainted with him.

If the Memoirs are to be believed, Emma succeeded
in preserving her virtue even in this tainted atmosphere,
but it was doubtless merely relative, and only awaited
opportunities better than the patrons of the inn could
afford. They had not the means to fulfil the young
Welsh girl's golden dreams of love. She aimed higher.

Her first lapse from virtue was a typical grisette's
adventure. According to the Memoirs, it was a generous
impulse that brought it about, if indeed the story be
true and her generosity concealed no secret thought of
self-interest. Somehow she heard that one of her rela-
tions had been " pressed " and was on board a vessel lying
in the Thames. It occurred to her to go to a certain
captain in the navy — the future Admiral John Willett
Payne, and ask him to intercede for her young relative.
The oflficer made the young servant talk, and was much
amused at her chatter. Apparently she was struggling
with the bashfulness natural to her age. In reality she

THE MAN'S CODE 7

\yas simply exercising the coquette's subtle art of attrac-
tion. Novels and plays had taught her the power of
feminine fascination, and forthwith she tried her talent on
the young officer, the first gentleman whom she had been
able to approach. Success crowned her efforts, but the
unwilling recruit's release was obtained at the price of
his advocate's virtue.

A new life began for her; she had found her path.
Lacking all principles of duty or of dignity, with her
head full of romantic nonsense, how was it likely that
this poor girl could withstand the golden promises and
tempting presents of an officer in the Royal Navy.'' At
Payne's request she cast aside her apron and bade good-
bye to the tavern and its guests. When her protector
discovered that she was as ignorant as she was beautiful,
he decided to have her educated. So Emma took lessons
in writing, arithmetic, and music, and was soon able to
play a little on the piano. By degrees Payne succeeded
in making her drop her country manners and speech, and
did his best to give her polish and refinement.

In the midst of all these serious occupations, the
pupil gave birth to a little girl, on whom she bestowed
her own name, though she displayed no great affection
on that account. The child was entrusted to the care
of Mrs Kidd, its great-grandmother, and with that ended
alike the interest of father and mother.

As gradually the coarseness and vulgarity of the tavern
maid gave place to a greater refinement of language and
manners, the young woman was soon ripe for a wealthier
lover. In the circle of the Captain's friends who
marvelled at his pupil's progress was a young man called
Featherstonehaugh. Her wonderful beauty had made
a still greater impression on him than her intellectual
development, and she made such rapid progress in his
esteem that he asked the Captain to make her over to
him. As Emma's extravagance had already brought
Payne to the verge of ruin, he consented readily enough
to his friend's request. So the fiery knight carried his

8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

conquest off to Up Park, his magnificent country-seat
in Sussex. Doubtless Emma had heard of this estate,
for it is difficult otherwise to explain the rapidity with
which the new love took root in her heart, unless it be
that the young man's easy manners and elegant ap-
pearance were, by themselves, strong enough proof of
ample means to influence her decision. At all events,
they agreed wonderfully well together.

At Up Park began a life of entertainments and
festivities, which transformed the estate into an earthly
paradise. Five or six months slipped by in rapturous
joy. But all things have an end, and pleasant days pass
the most swiftly. Lovers soon weary when there are
no distractions. As winter drew near, the young knight's
ardour cooled, and the couple returned to town, where
they were beset by financial difficulties. Featherstone-
haugh appealed to his family for loans and advances, but
they declined to come to his assistance. The young
adventuress refused to curtail her expenditure, and sulked
persistently. Featherstonehaugh seized the opportunity
and broke with her.

Once more Eve was turned out of paradise. But
having once tasted the golden pleasures of love in
idleness, she vowed that henceforth nothing short of
Eden should satisfy her. In the meantime, until this
new paradise should be discovered, she had to look
forward to enduring all the agony of poverty, for, as are
most girls of her kind, she was invariably penniless.

As she loitered about the streets of London, ever on
the look out for adventures, she became involved in
many vulgar intrigues, and no good purpose can be served
by seeking to investigate these too closely.* It was in

* Mrs Gamlin says that when Sir Harry Featherstonehaugh ruined
himself, Emma went to stay with her grandmother at Hawarden. In
the Biographie Vniverselk, Michaud says that she went on to the streets
and fell at length to the lowest depths of degradation to which a woman
can fall. Although this statement may be only too true, yet Emma has
very likely been accused of more adventures than she really had. As
these reports are not supported by any proofs, the historian cannot
attach any importance to them.

THE GODDESS AND AN IMPRESARIO 9

one of these that she made the acquaintance of Dr
Graham, a quack, who saw in her beauty a source of
profit if not of fortune to himself. This adventurer, a
Cagliostro or Mesmer on a smaller scale, was the inventor
of a marvellous electrical couch which he called Apollo's
Bed. It was said to possess wonderful properties and
to exercise miraculous influence over all — ^young or
old, married or single — ^who had recourse to its healing
virtue.

This artful schemer had no difficulty in getting round
Emma. When she told him of her passion for all kinds
of acting and representations, it occurred to him that
he might delight his clients by an entirely new perfor-
mance, the principal attraction of which would be his new
conquest in the part of the goddess Hygeia, lightly veiled
in vaporous gauze and moving in a soft, discreet light.*
Artists, authors, all the customers of her old haunt the
tavern, and many others, came to worship at the shrine
of the lovely goddess, and obtain from her the gift of
health. The fair idol was enormously popular, and soon
had the satisfaction of seeing her divine form im-
mortalised by countless sketches and engravings. This
satisfaction was followed by another which she ap-
preciated still more keenly. After the manner of Jupiter
when visiting Danae, many of her devotees came to her
in a shower of gold, and she soon learnt the value of her
youth and beauty. She learnt, too, to make use of her
abasement to raise herself to an exalted position.

* Mrs Gamlin maintains that Emma did not represent the Goddess
of Health in Graham's establishment. She quotes the words of a con-
temporary writer but does not give his name : " It has been asserted
that it was the late Lady Hamilton who prefigured the Goddess of
Health, but it was certainly not she." Mrs Gamlin puts forward no
other proof, but adds that " Dr Graham advertised ' the rosy, the
gigantic, tlie stupendous Goddess of Health,' and ' Vestina the
Gigantic,' which produces the rational inference that the character was
taken by a fully developed, massive woman, whereas Emma, at the
time, was only a tall lithe girl of fourteen or fifteen years." Mrs
Gamlin, op. cit, ch. i, pp. lo-ll. As these events must have taken
place in 1782, Emma was at least sixteen. As for Dr Graham, he was
put in jail for " injurious publications."

lo A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Among the admirers who flocked to her shrine was
the Hon. Charles Greville. As Payne's mistress she
had captivated the master of Up Park; as the Goddess
Hygeia she wound her toils about Charles Greville.
They had met before at the gay entertainments given
by Featherstonehaugh, and Emma had decided that this
scion of the illustrious house of Warwick was not a
protector to be despised.* Weary of the unsettled and
precarious- life she was leading, she had long been on
the look-out for a rich prey, and thought that she had
found it in the person of Greville.

In a letter written on January lo, 1782, — that is to
say, when Emma was only sixteen or eighteen years
old and was already accused of having ruined young
Featherstonehaugh, — Greville gently reminded her how
indiscreetly she had behaved during her first stay in
London, adding that as she had returned to her evil
courses he must despair of her happiness. " But," he
concluded, "my dear Emily,t as you seem quite miserable
now, I do not mean to give you uneasiness, but comfort,
and tell you that I will forget your faults and bad conduct
to Sir H. and myself and will not repent my good
humor if I shall find that you have learnt by experience
to value yourself, and endeavour to preserve your friends
by good conduct and affection. "J

These lines open a wide field to conjecture. Emma
had evidently deserved the reproaches of Sir Harry and
his friend. Perhaps she had granted her favours to both
and then deceived each in turn. To Emma nothing came
amiss. Although not particularly gifted in mind or

* Countess de Boigne's account of their first meeting is quite
different. It is well-known that Emma had no brothers, but Mme. de
Boigne states that she was the sister of one of Greville's grooms. One
day as she was sitting in the kitchen mending her stocking Greville saw
her and was struck by the beauty of the girl and her bare foot. He
had no difficulty in persuading her to leave the servant's hall and
preside in his drawing-room. Mimoires, vol. i, p. 113.

I Emma's real name was Amy.

% Morrison MSS. 114. January 10, 1782.

AN HONOURABLE ARRANGEMENT ii

body, as a young man Greville had been a sort of
Alcibiades on a small scale. Though lacking any strict
principles, he was not without character, and to the pre-
tensions of a fop he united the usual indulgence of youth.
His views on women, love, and marriage were of the
broadest, and unhampered by any tiresome scruples. He
was a perfectly honourable man, and always displayed
the grace and polish of good breeding. He possessed
moderate means, and fostered an ambition to rise in favour
at Court. In short, according to the rules of society,
which only regards externals, he was " a gentleman,"
an ideal husband for any young lady who could be con-
tent with such apparent qualifications. To Emma
Greville's accomplishments were sterling qualities, and
before long they were the best of friends. Greville
proposed to her one of those " honourable arrangements "
which Lord Chesterfield, the great educator, thought fit to
recommend to his son. Beautiful Emma was beyond
doubt, and it pleased her protector to imagine that she
was still innocent. With the same consummate art
displayed by Mme. du Barry when she became the
mistress of Louis XV, Emma did all in her power to
foster this fond delusion and to persuade her lover that
she had kept unsullied the flower of her purity. Of her
past she told him only as much as suited her purpose,
and, in spite of all he knew, Greville was no doubt content
to believe what she chose to tell him. When, in spite
of himself, he was forced to believe what he would not,
he pardoned first, then shut his eyes and forgot. After
all, fidelity is not demanded from a mistress. For
Greville, happy in the possession of such a treasure, days
and years rolled by swiftly.

It was Greville who introduced Emma to Romney, the
artist whose eccentricities were no less renowned than
the strength of his drawing and the richness of his
colouring. Like everybody else, Romney was struck
by her beauty, the delicacy of her features, the innocence
and sweet melancholy that shone in her eyes. He begged
her to grant him some sittings, and eventually reproduced

12 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

her in every possible attitude and character — as a
Bacchante, as Cleopatra, Venus, Phryne. So often did
he reproduce the arch beauty and child-like features of
her exquisite face that he became possessed by his model,
and all his feminine portraits bear the mark of Emma's
inspiration. Her beauty suggested all the mischievous
girls that look out from his pictures with wide-
awake eyes, full of wonder and artless candour, bright
as a spring morning, gay as the song of the soaring
lark.*

Greville often accompanied his mistress to the artist's
studio. At other times she was chaperoned by her
mother, whom Greville had raised to the dignity of
housekeeper. Mrs Gamlin says that the good woman,
who was called Mrs Cadogan, " gave all her attention
to the kitchen."

Perhaps she did not give the same attention to her
daughter in Romney's studio. It is not surprising
that, after studying her as Venus and Phryne, the artist
should have fallen in love with his model; but it is
impossible to know whether Romney's attachment for
her was purely platonic. The presence of Mrs Cadogan
— that far from savage Cerberus, whose dignity required
but the smallest sop — sufficed, perhaps, to keep his
passion in ethereal regions. The artist may well have
had some opportunity for making certain advances
calculated to alarm the feelings of so good and bashful
a girl as Emma. At least it is hardly credible that she,
who gave herself so freely, would have withstood the
advances of an artist so well known, who loved her and
who could generously satisfy her passion for luxury and
extravagance.

Like many women of her kind, Emma affected great
interest in art. She loved to dress up and pose before

* In 1804, when Hayley was writing Romney's biography, he wrote
to Lady Hamilton : " You were not only his model, but his inspirer ;
and he truly and gratefully said that he owed a great part of his felicity
as a painter to the angelic kindness and intelligence with which you
used to animate his diffident and tremulous spirits to the grandest efforts
of art." Pettigrew, Memoirs of Lord Nelson^ vol. ii, p. 596.

AN UNREHEARSED EFFECT 13

a mirror, and if she went gladly to Romney's studio,
it was, perhaps, partly for the artist that she went, but
mostly for the pleasure of seeing her triumphant beauty
reproduced in a thousand attitudes by the hand of a
renowned painter. In that she found satisfaction for
all her vanity. In England women are but litde inclined
to busy themselves with fancy needlework and other
futile pastimes; Emma not only belonged to a class that
takes no interest in such occupations, but was, moreover,
too idle to take them up. She preferred a less ordinary
accomplishment, and set about learning to draw, for
which she showed a certain talent. She had, however, a
much greater talent for music, an art to which she was pas-
sionately devoted. " One evening, by way of a treat, Gre-
ville took her to a fashionable resort of the past, Ranelagh
Gardens; where her feelings so overcame her on hearing
the singing of the principal lady, and the applause that
followed it, that she was carried away by her excitement,
and so far forgot herself as to burst forth into one of
her most brilliant scenas, trilling and shaking in emula-
tion of the rival vocalist. At first her interruption caused
annoyance and astonishment to the visitors, who showed
umistakable signs of disapprobation at so unusual a
proceeding; but, as they listened, entranced by her
vocalisation, they broke into a volley of applause."*
Mrs Gamlin relates this incident, and adds that a stormy
scene took place afterwards between Greville and his
mistress, and that it was the only occasion on which he
was obliged to show some severity.

In 1783 a new character appeared on the scene, one
who, though overshadowed by her, was to play an impor-
tant part in Emma's life, and whose memory is intimately
associated alike with hers and Greville's. Sir William
Hamilton, British Ambassador at the Court of Naples,
was the uncle of the Hon. Charles Greville. He was
the son of Lord Archibald Hamilton, some time Governor
of Greenwich Hospital, and subsequently Governor of
Jamaica. His mother was Lady Jane, daughter of the
* Mrs Gamlin, op. cit., ch. i, p. 14.

14 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

sixth Earl of Abercorn. As she was governess to the
children of Frederick, Prince of "Wales, her son was
" named the foster-brother of George the Third from
his constant companionship with the royal children."*
Sir William was an antiquarian of merit, and had
gathered together a collection of Greek and Etruscan
vases which was acquired by the State in 1792, at the
price of ;^8400. On this occasion, Hamilton was made
Knight of the Bath.

He was a fine-looking man with a pleasant countenance
full of intelligence, and bearing the umistakeable mark of
his aristocratic descent. He was then over fifty, but ap-
peared much younger than his age. A sceptic on most sub-
jects, he had a great reverence for women and friendship.
For some years he had been a widower, and was disposed
to make the most of his freedom within the bounds
prescribed by the code of good-breeding and the reserve
that was part of his nature, and which he thought in
keeping with his dignity as a diplomatist. In a word,
he was a mild and genial epicurean, moderate in his follies
and his philosophy, and a fluent and polished conver-
sationalist. Beneath the courtly manners of a citizen of
the world he concealed a very solid store of learning.
He had, however, little or no strength of character.

It was at his nephew's house that he made Emma's
acquaintance. In those days, in spite of Queen
Charlotte's influence, morals were far from strict in
England, and it was not thought in any way extraordinary
for a man belonging to good society to sup with his
nephew and the latter's mistress. The first advances
were probably made by Emma. She displayed towards
him more than the natural amiability to be expected by
the uncle of her lover, and exerted all her wonderful
powers of fascination, and all the wiles of the courtesan.
To her advances Hamilton responded with the good-
humoured indulgence of the middle-aged man who be-
lieves himself proof against the attacks of feminine
frivolity. "Whilst treating her with courtesy and gallantry,
* Mrs Gamlin, o/>. cit., ch. ii, p. 25.

SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON
From a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds in the National Portrait Gallery

A DIPLOMATIST IN LOVE 15

he yet displayed a sufficient ardour and youthful
enthusiasm to temper any evident marks of the ripeness
of his years. In Emma's company he did not pride
himself on using the language of a diplomatist; still less
did he play the moralist, but simply placed her on a
footing of gopd fellowship.

At first Emma behaved with the reserve she was bound
to show towards the uncle of her lover, but she soon
became more familiar, as may be gathered from her letters
to Greville. On June 27 she wrote: "I am much
oblidged to you for all the kind things you say to me, and
tell Sir William I am much oblidged to him for saying
I looked well. I hope he will allways think so; for I am
proud of (his) good word, and I hope I shall never forfeit
it." On July 3 she wrote : " Say everything that is kind
and will render me dear to him." By August 10 she is
on terms of still closer intimacy, for she writes : "My
kind love to Sr William; and tell him if he will come
soon, I will give him a thousand kisses. For I do love
him a little." Perhaps she had already fixed her
calculating eyes upon the diplomatist's fortune, that she
was so prodigal to him of her kisses.

All this took place in 1784. An affection of the
skin made it necessary for Emma to take sea baths,
and she went to Parkgate, which was about one
mile from the village where she was born. Here,
— doubtless in an hour of idleness or ennui — she
suddenly remembered that she was the mother of a
little girl, and she wrote to Greville on June 15: " Tell
me what to do with the child .-"' It would be a mistake to
think these words cold and heartless, for in this same
letter Emma assured Greville of her grateful feelings:
" For I have gratitude, and will show it you all I can,
so don't think of my faults, Greville."* This letter
was signed Emma Hart.f

* Morrison MSS., 125, 126, 128-9.

t It was about this time that, for some unknown reason, Emma
adopted the name of Hart. Probably she did not wish to be recog-
nised by people who had known her as Amy Lyon.

i6

A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Mrs Gamlin thinks it sublime that such a young
woman should express the sentiment contained in the
next letter, written on June 22. However, there is no
reason for going into ecstasies or for over-rating the value
of such a simple action and the feelings that prompted
the accomplishment of the most elementary of duties.
She wrote to Greville that she felt truly a mother — a
feeling that she had never known a week before — and
she adds : " I will do all in my power to prevent her
falling into the error her poor, once miserable mother fell
into."* Words to move Greville, but whose tenderness
and import must not be exaggerated, for they are on
the lips of every abandoned girl who has a child to care
for.

Her cure over, Emma returned to London and, by
Greville's desire, brought the little girl with her. She
was entrusted to the care of the Blackburns, who were
to educate her and look after her in return for a sum
of j£6^ a year.

In London, Emma and Greville led a comfortable if
not luxurious existence, but the expenditure was too
heavy for Greville's purse. Emma had drained Payne's
coffers, she had devoured half of Featherstonehaugh's
substance, and now she was in a fair way to ruin
Greville. She certainly kept the accounts of the house-
hold,! though with what degree of accuracy we cannot

* Morrison MSS. 126.

t A page from Emma's account

book

for the

month of October

784, reads

s

d

Gloves ... I

6

Letters

4

Coach

I

Poor man

i

Tea .

12

Sugar .

9

9

Porter

2

Eggs .

4

Magazines

I

Morrison MSS., Appendix A., p. 375.

THE SPINSTRESS 17

tell, but the revenue was not at all equal to the ex-
penditure.

Like all girls of her sort, Emma was not inclined to
deny herself her pleasures, and in Mme. de Boigne's
phrase, her lover soon saw his fortune ablaze. The
poor fellow was so impoverished that a few year's later,
when he had separated from Emma, he was unable, from
lack of money to pay for it, to accept the delivery of a
portrait of his mistress, which he had ordered from
Romney. A Mr Curwen had seen the painting in the
artist's studio, and had expressed a desire to purchase it.
As Romney had painted the picture to Greville's order,
he wrote to inform him of the offer and to express his
readiness to keep the picture for him and accommodate
him with easy terms. On February 25, 1788, Greville
send him the following reply : " The separation from
the original of ' The Spinstress ' has not been indifferent
to me, and I am but just reconciled to it, from knowing
that the beneficial consequences of the arrangement will
be obtained, and that the aberration from the plan will
be for her benefit. I therefore can have no reason to
value ' The Spinstress ' less than I have done; on the
contrary, the just estimation of its merits is ascertained
by the offer from a person who does not know the
original. Yet I find myself daily so much poorer that
I do not foresee when I can pay for it; and I am already
too much obliged to you to avail myself in any degree
of your kindness to me. Perhaps Mr Christian might
accept my resignation of it, and pay for it, and give me
the option of repurchasing if the improbable event of
my increase of means shall enable me to recover what
I now lose with regret, but I can make no conditions, and
I leave the full and entire disposal of it to you."*

This is a strange letter, for, if Greville's words are

to be trusted, he really regretted the loss of his mistress.

His poverty had forced him to part with her, but he

loved her so well that he wanted to provide for her

* Mrs Gamlin, op. cit., ch. ii, p. 1 7.

1 8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

future, and this suggested to him a singular plan which
he inwardly condemned, but which he clung to for want
of a better one. He thought that by handing Emma
over to his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, who was a
wealthy man, he would have the consolation of giving
his mistress a final proof of his affection. Emma was to
be kept in ignorance of this plan, which would be worked
out carefully, so as not to wound any susceptibilities she
might happen to possess. The regard she had for Sir
William and the familiar footing on which she stood
with him would facilitate the execution of this plan.

It must be remembered that it was mere caprice that
had led Greville into his connection with Emma, who had
accepted him partly on account of his good looks, but
mainly because of his name and fortune. These in-
terested motives had given way to nobler sentiments, and,
on both sides, love had sprung up, just as sometimes
happens when wise parents arrange a suitable marriage
for their children. Greville's letter makes it clear that the
lovers had fallen out, probably on account of Emma's
extravagance. They had even separated, but their
feelings towards each other never varied. In his per-
plexity Greville was planning how he might best prepare
Emma for the final separation and break the ties that
were fast becoming for him a hindrance to more serious
plans for the future, and for her a chain of whose weight
she would be painfully conscious as soon as the gilt
should have worn off.

They had, then, to part, but Greville found himself
driven by a series of circumstances, over which he had
no control, into a position from which there was no
possible means of egress open to him save by a method
to which it would be as difficult to reconcile the world as
Emma. Remembering his uncle's admiration for
Emma's beauty and vivacity, he conceived the idea of
passing his mistress on to Hamilton, and thus leaving
himself free to replenish his exhausted estate and rebuild
his fallen fortunes by marriage with some wealthy heiress.

SEPARATION 19

It was indeed a moral " aberration," but he was the first
to admit it, and he must not be too harshly judged.

His distress was as genuine as his love had been. If
the means he employed leave something to be desired, it
must be acknowledged that the young man was displaying
an altruism rarely to be found in his class. He was en-
deavouring by this unusual arrangement to provide for
the future of her whom he was deserting.

When Emma understood that the separation was a
final one, her grief was no less sincere than Greville's,
and this sincerity must be counted to her for credit.
She mourned awhile the loss of her love, but in time
her vexation gave place to calculation, and to schemes
for her future that closely resembled Greville's. Thus,
with the memory of the past still deeply engraved on
their hearts, they both set about rebuilding their fortunes
and shaping for themselves a prosperous future. It was
all very natural — they had loved, they still loved each
other, but they had to separate, invitus invitam. They
deserve our commendation, for so many girls heedlessly
leave their lovers, and so many young men abandon
their mistresses without a thought for their future, and
the world thinks none the worse of them for it — rather
the better.

Greville knew that his plan was an unworthy one and
he had not hesitated to admit it, but the sacrifice that he
was making blinded him to the real baseness of the pro-
ject. Moreover, it was all for his mistress's good! It
is curious that men often feel themselves bound to show
more consideration to women who are unworthy than to
honourable women.

The execution of his plan gave rise to a series of nego-
tiations that reflect little credit on him. In spite of the
warmth of the sentiments with which he covers the decay
of his principles Greville cuts a sorry figure. When he
first broached the subject to Sir William, who had re-
turned to Naples, his tone was one of self-congratulation.
He wrote :

20 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

" I am sure she is attached to me, or she would not
have refused the offers, which I know have been great,
and such is her spirit that, on the least slight or expression
of my being tired or burdened by her, I am sure she
would not only give up the connexion but would not
even accept a farthing for future assistance. This is
another part of my situation. If I was independent I
should think so little of any other connexion that I never
would marry. I have not an idea of it at present, but if
any proper opportunity offerd I should be much har-
assed, not know how to manage, or how to fix Emma to
her satisfaction . . . Give me your opinion honestly how
you would act in my situation; if I followed only my
own inclination, advice would be unnecessary."*

Thus appealed to, Hamilton wasted no time but cut
the tangled knot at a blow. If his nephew would send
the fair Emma to Naples he would be glad to welcome
her there.

This was just what Greville wanted, but, for form's
sake, he thought it well to raise some objections to con-
ceal his pleasure at this solution of his difficulties.

In his next letter he affected great concern for his mis-
tress and for the rules of decorum : " To leave Emma
unprovided, I could not, and take her to Naples might
do for a time, and to what would it lead! To go there
without her would be debarring her from the last chance
of happiness — ^your protection. I therefore determined
to write to you and to trust, as I would have done on
every occasion to your good sense and to your heart,
and I have not been disappointed . . .

" If you can find only one or two acquaintances, and
let her learn music or drawing, or anything to keep
in order, she will be as happy as if you gave her
every change of disipation ... If you could form a
plan by which you could have a trial, and could invite
her and tell her that I ought not to leave England, and
that I cannot afford to go on, and state it as a kindness
* Morrison MSS. 134.

A NEPHEW'S SOLICITUDE 21

to me if she would accept your invitation, she would go
with pleasure ... I must add that I could not manage
it so well later; after a month's absence and absent from
me, she would consider the whole more calmly."*

As these negotiations proceeded another idea took root
in Greville's mind.

His first thought in sending Emma to his uncle had
been altogether for her and her future, but he now saw
other consequences that might result from the transfer.
If she could amuse him, distract him, keep him occupied
and interested, become his mistress and tend his last years
with loving care, he would never dream of marrying
again, and Greville's inheritance would be assured to him.

The idea is manifested in his letter of March 10, 1785,
which throws a curious light on the psychology of this
faithful but calculating lover : " I know you love
variety and are a general flirt ... I say I neither know
whether your heart or your feet are lightest, but that I
believe them both sound, and altho' Harry Harpur says
he was witness of the deluge of blood of boars that
flowed around you, I know that your heart is neither
calous to friendship nor to beauty ... It must be a very
interested friend indeed who does not sincerely wish
everything that can give happiness to a friend. I sincerely
wish that happiness to you."f

In those days it took a long time for a letter to travel
from London to Naples. Without waiting for an an-
swer to his last hypocritical epistle, Greville wrote once
more to his uncle on November 11, 1785 : " Yet have I no
alternative but to marry or remain a pauper. I shall per-
sist in my resolution not to lose an opportunity if I can
find it, and do not think that my idea of sending her to
Naples on such an event arises from my consulting my
own convenience only. I can assure you she would not
have a scarcity of offers, she has refused great ones."J

* Morrison MSS. 138. t Morrison MSS. 136.

J Morrison MSS.

22 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

At length, the longed-for reply came. Hamilton pro-
posed that Emma should come to Naples and do the hon-
ours of his house. To the Ambassador this arrangement
seemed quite honourable, but again Greville expostulated.
All the laws of decorum made it impossible for a young
girl to live alone with him. Evil reports must be avoided.
The plan was an impossible one. As Greville was con-
stantly pursued by the thought of his inheritance, he
added that he had met Hamilton's brother who was to
leave his fortune to the Ambassador : " I write without
affectation or disguise. If you find me either reserved
or artful you may despise me; but in opening my heart
and thoughts, do not impute conceal'd designs. I wish
you every happiness in this world and long life to enjoy
it. I protest, I do not think the odds in our lives are
proportioned to the difference of our years."*

These sentiments may well have been genuine, but
Greville's insistent reiteration of his sincere affection for
his uncle is itself suspicious.

The whole transaction was carried on in such a deplor-
able way and with such cynical deliberation as cannot
but lower even the lowest estimate that might otherwise
be formed of Greville's good feeling and delicacy.

The ambiguity of the nephew's sentiments and the
feelings that the older man began to evince towards
Emma give a very clear idea of the low moral level
of the circle in which she was situated. Indeed, if
comparison must be made in this respect, it will be
found that she comes the most creditably out of the
ordeal.

For the reasons that have been stated Greville was
most anxious about the success of his scheme, in the
execution of which Hamilton now assisted him to the
very best of his ability, for he longed to have Emma to
enliven the solitude of Naples by her sprightly charms,
her innocent ways, and her fascinating perversity. Emma,
who knew nothing of her lover's real intentions, started
* Morrison MSS. 137.

DEPARTURE FOR NAPLES 23

happily on her journey, for Greville had promised to
join her in six months. She set out under the escort of
her mother, Mrs Cadogan, who lent herself most willingly
to this little combinazione, of Gavin Hamilton, the artist,
and his wife and daughter.

CHAPTER II

Sir William Hamilton receives Emma at Naples — She stays at the
Embassy — Description of Emma — Hamilton falls in love with her
— Emma's letters to Greville — The matrimonial campaign —
Emma as artist — Her relations with Hamilton — Mistress of the
house — Her beauty creates a sensation — Voyage to England —
Arrival in London — Her marriage with Sir William Hamilton —
Letters from Horace Walpole and Sir Thomas Lawrence — Return
to Naples.

THE travellers reached their destination in
safety, and on April 26 — her birthday —
Emma Hart crossed the threshold of the
Palazzo Sessa, the residence of the British Ambassa-
dor in Naples. Sir William spared no pains in pre-
paring a hearty welcome for his nephew's mistress
and her mother, and the finest suite of rooms was placed
at their disposal. Besides the fact that the arrival of his
guests would enliven the monotony of a mansion far too
large for a solitary bachelor, Hamilton could not but
view with pleasure the prospect of seeing every day at
his table or in his salon the fresh young face that had
already fascinated him in London. It was certainly a com-
plete change from the study of antiquities which hitherto
had occupied his leisure hours.

At the time of her arrival in Naples Emma was a
figure of marvellous beauty, slender and lissome, the
incarnation of grace, charm — and perversity, whilst the
angelic expression of her face gave no clue to the sordid
soul within. Closer examination betrayed that she was
not absolutely faultless; her frame was too massive, her
shoulders too heavy, and the lines of her bust and throat

THE CHARMING EMMA HART 25

lacked softness and roundness. Her hands and above all
her feet were too large . Her neck was too long, and the
line from the forehead to the chin too short, but she had
the matchless brilliance of complexion that is a common
feature of English beauty. Her eyes were soft and ten-
der, yet sparkling and full of animation, her mouth was
bewitchingly small, and the whole was set in a generous
frame of dark auburn hair.* Her nose was straight or
very slightly tilted. Later on, it took a more refined curve
and became aquiline, f Her most remarkable feature,
however, was the expression of absolute candour, of vir-
ginal purity and chastity that so belied her character,J
and the sweet, smiling melancholy that shone in her an-
gelic countenance. Some indefinable charm, delicate as
the bloom on a peach, born of ingenuousness or of arti-
fice, enhanced her power of seduction far more than
any ornament of dress or toilet, for, according to
Mme. Le Brun, " she had no style and dressed very
badly." § Nevertheless, she too was on her knees before
her.

If Sir William did not at once adopt this humble atti-
tude, it was not from lack of inclination. In her first
letter to Greville after her arrival in Naples, Emma spoke

* Jeaffireson says that her mouth was her most remarkable feature.
Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson, by JeafFreson, London 1888.

t This may be seen in a sketch made by Lawrence, probably in
J 79 1. In later years, Emma grew extremely stout, her features lost
their delicate outline, and her lowly origin betrayed itself in the heavy
limbs and the powerful frame.

+ Mrs Gamlin says that people compared her to the Madonnas of
the great Masters . Referring to Emma Hart, Horace Walpole quotes
these lines written by an anonymous admirer ;

" All that arose to mental view
When Raphael his best angels drew."

§ In such matters, women are the best judges. Countess de Boigne
says ; " But for her artistic instinct, nothing could be more vulgar and
common than Lady Hamilton. As soon as she laid aside the classical
robe and donned ordinary clothes, she lost all distinction." Mimoires
vol. i, p. 115.

26 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

of the Ambassador's attention to her. No scrupulous
considerations kept her from accepting his advances, but
her faithfulness to Greville's love, which she could not
believe to be lost to her for ever. She wrote constantly
to him, and often, with a touch of irony, consulted the old
lover on the line of conduct she was to follow towards
the new one. In a letter written on April 30, 1786, she
says to him : ". . . You have a true friend* in Sir William,
and he will be happy to see you, and do all he can to make
you happy; and for me, I will be everything you can wish
for ... I respect Sir William, I have a great regard for
him, as the uncle and friend of you, and he loves me,
Greville. But he can never be anything nearer to me
than your uncle and my sincere friend. He never can be
my lover ... I am sorry to say it he loves me now, as
much as ever he could Lady Bolingbroke — ^endead, I am
sorry, for I cannot make him happy . . . But my comfort
is, I rely on your promise, and September or October I
shall see you. But I am quite unhappy at not hearing
from you — no letter for me j^^y Greville. But I must
wait with patience . . ."

Sir William had evidently put his carriage at her dis-
posal, for she goes on to say : " If I was going abbout in
is carriadge the would say, I was either his wife or mis-
tress. Therefore as I am not nor ever can be either, we
have made a very good establishment. I have a very good
apartments of 4 rooms, very pleasant — ^looking to the sea.
... I know you will be pleased to hear that and he has
given me a beautiful gown, cost 25 guineas (India paint-
ing on wite sattin) and several little things of Lady Hamil-
ton's . . .f Pray my dear Greville, do write me word if
you want any money. I am afFraid I distressed you. But
I am sure Sir William will send you some and I told him he

* As Emma was ignorant of the agreement existing between the two
men, Hamilton's endeavours to draw her away from Greville must have
shaken her faith in the genuineness of his friendship.

t Sir William must have been sadly wanting in delicacy, or he would
not have given Emma objects that had belonged to his wife.

OFF WITH THE OLD LOVE 27

must keep you a little now, and send you some for your
journey hear, and he kissed me, and the tears came into
'is eyes, and he told me I might command anything for
he loved us boath dearly."*

The letter shows real feeling and generosity and a de-
gree of delicacy as unexpected in Emma as it is creditable
to her. Whether this sudden display of generosity was
sincere or not is quite another question, but in all proba-
bility it was, as it was not her own money that she offered
to Greville. It is only just to say that although
Emma had a selfish and calculating disposition, through-
out her life she was most liberal and open-handed.
But her pretty lips had become so accustomed to
deceit that her words may well be unconvincing even to
herself.

Greville's lips had not caught their beauty from those
that had been so often pressed to his, but they had caught
their fluency and their facility in deceit. Now he had no
need to lie; he said nothing. To her letters he made no
reply, but with amazing self-conceit he wrote to his uncle
that Emma's love for him was admirable and would not
be in the least embarrassing, as she was so easily con-
tented. He at least did not doubt Emma's whole-hearted
devotion to him, and perhaps he was right. As she heard
nothing from him Emma wrote to him on July 22, 1786,
a letter full of tender entreaty to which his neglect gives
a tinge of sadness : " My ever dearest Greville, I am
now onely writing, to beg of you for God's sake to send
me one letter, if it is onely a farewell. Sure I have de-
served this, for the sake of the love you once had for me.
Think, Greville, of our former connexion and don't de-
spise me. I have not used you ill in any one thing. I
have been from you going of six months, and you have
wrote one letter to me, enstead of which I have sent four-
teen to you. So pray, let me beg of you, my much loved
Greville, only one line from your dear, dear hands. You
don't know how thankful I shall be for it. For, if you
* Morrison MSS. 150

28 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

knew the misery I feel, oh ! your heart would not be in-
tirely shut up against me; for I love you with the truest
affection. Don't let anybody sett you against me.
Some of your friends — your foes perhaps; I don't know
what to stile them — have long wisht me ill. But, Gre-
ville, you never will meet with anybody, that has a truer
affection for you than I have, and I onely wish it was in
my power to shew you what I could do for you. As soon
as I know your determination, I shall take my own mea-
sures. If I don't hear from you, and that you are com-
ing according to promise, I shall be in England at Crist-
mass at farthest. Don't be unhappy at that. I will see you
once more for the last time. I find life is unsuportable
without you. Oh ! my heart is intirely broke. Then for
God's sake, my ever dear Greville, do write to me some
comfort. I don't know what to do. I am now in that
state, I am incapable of anything. I have a language-
master, a singing-master, musick, etc., but what is it
for.'' If it was to amuse you, I should be happy — But
Greville, what will it avail me .'' I am poor, helpless, and
forlorn."*

This seems to have been a last appeal, a supreme effort
to win Greville back. Perhaps Emma was troubled by
Hamilton's attitude and the prospect it opened to her
for the future, or she was weary of the eternal sunshine
of Italy and pined for London's moist and uncertain
climate.

Meanwhile the days dragged on wearily and the un-
certainty of her position became unbearable. Her early
life had not destroyed the natural qualities of her disposi-
tion as much as might have been expected. Her sin-
cerity and faithfulness compare favourably with those of
her lover. Experience had taught her the art of pleasing
and flattering men, but sincere affection only could have
inspired the sweet messages she sent to Greville. There
was no reason for her to affect a sentiment she did not
feel, for Hamilton and his wealth were already in her
* Morrison MSS. 152.

EMMA'S THREAT 29

power, and her declaration to Greville would have been
of the utmost imprudence had it not been a last passionate
farewell to lover and love, before she sold herself to her
elderly protector.

At last, touched by her pleadings or from some feeling
of compunction, Greville answered her appeals. The
purport of his letter can only be conjectured from
Emma's indignant reply. Seeing that his heart was
closed to her, she now appealed to his interests, and re-
torted by a threat that she thought might startle him :
" Pray write, for nothing will make me so angry, and it
is not to your intrest to disoblidge me, for you don't
know the power I have hear ... If you affront me, I will
make him marry me."*

In the face of Greville's silence and Hamilton's em-
boldened advances it would be too much to expect that
Emma should shut herself up in cold and dignified re-
serve. It is only courteous to believe in the virtuous in-
tentions of women, but this " power " that Emma boasts
of leaves no room for doubt.

GreviUe's silence augured nothing good. Greville
ruined could serve her no longer. Money she must have,
and this meant another protector. Sir William was rich;
she would take him, and later on would make him her
husband. His gold should console her for the loss of
Greville, youth and love. Hitherto she had lived only
for the present, but Greville's defection opened her eyes
and made her think of the future. Marriage alone could
assure that future and Hamilton seemed willing to allow
her all her pleasures, if she would but allow him his. Ex-
perience had taught her the truth of Vauvenargue's say-
ing : " Les passions des hommes sont autant de chemins
ouverts pour aller a eux." But she knew better than
to make advances to him; it was for him to come to her.
She would make him do all her will, submit to every
whim and desire, and consent even to marriage. She
would lead him by careful stages through all the byways
* Morrison MSS. 153, August i, 1786.

30 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

of the land of love, now encouraging him, now keeping
him at a distance. To make more sure of her prey she
would let the adventure come almost to a crisis. Thus
would she make him marry her. She had had enough
of this Bohemian existence, she wanted a settled and
regular position, and all means to that end were accept-
able to her.

Either to fan Sir William's ardour, or from an irre-
sistible desire to see Greville once more, Emma now pro-
posed to return to England. As yet she had not thought
fit to yield to Hamilton's desires, for, in a letter to his
nephew, the Ambassador declared that he would have
wished to make some impression on her affections, but,
as she obstinately rejected all his advances, arrangements
were being made for her to carry out her wish and return
to England.

Greville did not want to see his former mistress re-
turn to London. As far as he was concerned the idyll
had ended when Emma started for Naples. Neverthe-
less, he wished to remain on good terms with her who
was, or was soon to become, his uncle's mistress. He
felt that the separation must be a definite one and that
Emma must be brought to understand that the past was
to be forgotten and that in the future there could be no
question of love between them. Later, of course, he
might be very pleased to meet her as a friend. He was
too well-bred not to treat his former mistress with all the
consideration due to a woman, and on this occasion, he
acted with something like kindness. He wrote to her
that he would always be glad to meet her as a friend, but
that she must not look for any other sentiments from
him. He was, as always, generous to her of advice. That
which he gave his uncle on this occasion was particularly
edifying : " Go on circumventing Emma," said the cyni-
cal writer, " she will surrender at last. It is not in the
power of woman to withstand a prolonged siege."

When Emma understood that Greville's decision was
irrevocable, she resigned herself to staying in Naples. If

THE AMBASSADOR OUTWITTED 31

Greville had ceased to love her, there was nothing to take
her to London.

Neither nephew nor uncle saw that not Emma but
they were the dupes. It never entered their heads that,
so far from her being besieged, it was she who was carry-
ing on the siege, who was already mistress of the posi-
tion, and who could make it capitulate at her discretion
whenever it might suit her.

AU Hamilton's perspicacity did not penetrate her
scheme. In spite of what he knew of Emma's past, he
attributed her shyness and hesitation to virtue and sensi-
bility. The touch of her hand, the intoxicating breath
of her presence, her glance of passion or of soft detach-
ment were charms against which his years should have
made him proof. Before them, however, Hamilton's
self-control vanished like smoke. With a youth's im-
petuous ardour he took for love the passions that the
young schemer aroused within him. By all sorts of fal-
lacious arguments he persuaded himself that the girl's
physical beauty was but a pale reflection of the exquisite
beauty of the soul within. He could no longer listen to
the voice of reason, and at the siren's call, he threw to
the winds aU the wisdom and experience of half a cen-
tury. In a moment of rapture, with the spell of Emma's
spirit heavy on him, he was caught and held fast in her
toils. Gone for ever was his liberty. Henceforth he
became but an obedient puppet in her hands.

According to the hour she baited him with bold attacks
or chaste reserve, and by such wiles established herself
for ever in Hamilton's heart. How firmly she held him
in her power may be gathered from a letter to Greville
in which she gave no sign of grief or disappointment,
but assured him that she still thought of him tenderly
and that he would never meet any woman who would
love him as sincerely as she did. Then she added : " Sir
William is never a moment from me. He goes no
where without me. He as no dinners but what I can
be of the party. . . I now live upstairs in the same

32 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

apartments where he lives, and my old apartments is
made the musick-rooms where I have my lessons in the
morning."*

They were now on terms of absolute intimacy. After
having fooled and trifled with her so long the Ambas-
sador had fallen into the nets where so many, including
his nephew, had been caught before him. He was now
involved in a common liaison, and his age made him con-
sider the tie in a serious light. For her part Emma left
nothing undone to establish more and more firmly her
hold on her lover. To please him, she affected great in-
terest in art, at a time when women with artistic tastes
were rare. This unusual distinction added to the charm
of her exquisite beauty a touch of superiority which her
conversation could not give.

Mme. Le Brun had just arrived in Naples. Emma was
eager to become acquainted with the celebrated artist, so
that she might converse with her on painting, and air her
connection with Romney. "With this end in view she
persuaded Sir William to commission Mme. Le Brun to
paint her portrait. Count Scawronski, the Russian Am-
bassador, had just ordered his wife's picture, so the Bri-
tish Ambassador must straightway do as much for his
mistress. True, he already possessed a complete gallery
of Emma in every attitude and pose, but he could refuse
her nothing, and so one morning found them at the Hotel
du Maroc on the Chiaja quay, where the great artist had
taken up her abode. In her Memoirs, Mme. Le Brun
thus relates this visit : " Sir William Hamilton begged
me as a favour, that the first portrait I should paint in
Naples, might be that of a splendid-looking woman whom
he introduced to me. It was Mrs Hart, his mistress, who
was celebrated for her beauty."

The artists of the 17th century and also Nattier and

Boucher had started the fashion of representing their

models as mythological characters. Mme. Le Brun painted

* Morrison MSS. 168. This letter is undated. Mrs Gamlin
thinks it was written in 1789.

ARTISTIC ASPIRATIONS 33

Emma as a Bacchante lying by the sea, and holding a cup
in her hand.*

Casting aside the wine-cup for the pen, the beautiful
Bacchante wrote once more to Greville. She could not
resist the pleasure of singing her own praises to the man
who had first made her take music-lessons in London.
With intense satisfaction, she told him of the success she
had already reaped as an artiste. In the bottom of a
courtesan's heart there slumbers generally some homely
aspiration. All Emma's aspirations were artistic; it was
only later that she called in her art to help her to play
the great lady. Even then the thin coating of veneer
often peeled off and betrayed the grisette of early days.
So Emma wrote to Greville : " I must tell you that I have
had great offers to be first whoman in the Italian Opera
at Madrid, where I was to have six thousand pounds for
three years ... I certainly shall sing at the Pantheon and
Hanover Square except something particular happens,
for Galini says he will make a subscription concert for
me, if I won't engage for the Opera. But I wish'd to
consider of it, before I engage. Sir William says he will
give me leave to sing at Hanover Square, on the condi-
tion Galini as proposed, which is 2 thousand pounds.
Sir William as took my master into the house and pays
him a great price on purpose that he shall not teach any
other person ... I have my French master, I have the
Queen's dancing-master 3 times a week; I have 3 lessons
in singing a day — morning at eight o'clock, before diner
and the evening; and people makes enterest to come and
hear me. My master goes to England with ous."f

To a woman indolent, as Emma was, by nature, the
climate of Naples, with its atmosphere laden with the
perfume of mint, fig-trees, orange-blossom and myrtle,
was far from conducive to constant application. Yet
Emma was hard at work, eager to become a famous artist.

* Emma was particularly fond of personating a Bacchante. Romney
and Sir Joshua Reynolds also represented her in this character.

t Morrison MSS. i68.

34 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

The only explanation is that she wanted to dazzle Sir
Willia,m still further by this display of her talents. She
may also have wished to justify to the world her elevation
to an exalted position and to acquire, by her own merits
as an artist, a place in Neapolitan society from which she
was debarred by reason of her notorious past and the low-
liness of her birth. Her talent would raise her up and
justify the honour bestowed on her, and doubtless she
was encouraged on her way by Hamilton's praise of her
progress and talents. So she worked away, never missing
an opportunity for putting herself forward, fishing for
compliments, singing her own praises and generally mak-
ing the most of her merits. Thus one more string was
added to her well-stocked bow, and her art became a
powerful auxiliary to her wiles and coquetry. Hamilton
had furnished her with one more weapon that was to be
turned against him. However sure Emma may have felt
of her hold on her veteran admirer, she knew full well
that, at the eleventh hour, he might still slip between her
fingers. If this should happen her art might be of great
service to her. She knew men's weaknesses and vanity,
and the attraction that an actress has for them. She would
indeed be unworthy of her gifts if she could not quickly
find a successor to Sir William.

Meanwhile, to the best of her ability, she played the
" lady" and congratulated herself that she played it well.
She was absolute mistress in the Ambassador's house and
did the honours as though she were his legitimate wife.
If the accounts with which she gratified Greville may be
relied upon, she seems to have been a very successful
hostess : " We gave yesterday a diplomatic dinner. So
after dinner I gave them a Concert; so I sent the coach
and my compliments to the Banti, who is first whoman at
San Carlo's and desired her to come and sing at my con-
cert. So she came, and there were near sixty people. So,
after the first quartett I was to sing the first song. At first
I was a little frightened before I begun; for she is a famous
singer, and she placed herself close to me. But when I be-

IN HER ELEMENT 35

gan all fear whent awhay, and I sang so well that she cried
out; Just God what a voice ! I would give a great deal for
your voice. In short, I met with such aplause that it
almost turned my head. Banti sang after me and I asure
you everybody said I sung in a finer stile than her." If
Emma was not an artist, she had all the artist's ingenuous
vanity and credulity. Her mind was not wholly taken
up with music. She had set herself another task and was
working hard to accomplish it. " Poor Sir William was
so enraptured with me. For he was afraid I should have
been in a great fright, and it was of consequence that
evening, for he wanted to shew me of to some Dutch
officers, that was there, that is with a sixty gun ship and a
frigate. The Comodore whose name is Melville was so
inchanted with me, that though he was to depart the next
day, he put it of and give me a diner on board, that realy
surpasses all description . . . "*

How delighted she was with herself and the prospect
of dining on board the Dutch vessel! How eager to
appear before the admiring gaze of the officers in all the
glory of her radiant beauty, set off by the lovely flush
that the excitement of the meal would bring to her
cheeks ! What an opportunity to charm and please. She
loved the sparkle of champagne, the excitement, the free-
dom from restraint. All combined to heighten her viva-
city and to enhance her fascination and allurements.
Emma had the actor's craving for applause. Greville
was her audience and, even at the risk of wearying him
by a long letter, she sent him a minute account of this
wonderful fete, dwelling with delight on every detail,
lingering on the pleasures she had enjoyed. " First Sir
William me and mother . . . But, as we passed the frigate,
she fired all her guns, that I wish you had seen it. We sett
down thirty to dine — me at the head of the table, mis-
tress of the feast, drest all in virgin white and my hair in
ringlets reaching allmost to my heals."t

In her excitement Emma was quite carried away by
* Morrison MSS. i68. f Idem.

26 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

her imagination. It seemed to her that her hair, of which
she was so proud, almost swept the ground; yet, in the
numerous sketches of the " attitudes " made by artists
who had certainly no wish to displease her, her hair
reaches no further than her waist.* With characteristic
thoughtlessness Emma forgot that Greville, of all people
in the world, would know the length of her hair; but per-
haps it had grown with her pretentions, and as she her-
self had grown into a grande dame.

Emma's style of beauty was distinctly English and in
marked contrast to the usual type of Italian beauty. For
this very reason, her appearance caused a sensation in
Naples. In the streets, men, women, and children ren-
dered homage to her after the demonstrative manner of
their race. Even the clergy paid their ecstatic tribute of
admiration and compared the lovely sinner to the Virgin
Mary. One evening, in the midst of a few intimate
friends, Sir William placed a shawl on his mistress's head.
Crumpling it up to her fancy, Emma assumed a look of
deep contrition and, enraptured with her beauty, raised
her eyes slowly to heaven. Her expression was so pure,
so holy, that an enthusiastic Abbe told her, with tears in
his eyes and a quavering voice, that God had sent her on
earth with some special mission. Her poses, her grace
and charm of manner and of person, had much more to
do with Emma's success than her conversation. She
knew that men thought more of looks than words, and,
scandal apart, she had no gift for conversation. Accord-
ing to Mme. Le Brun, she was not witty and her conver-
sation was insipid. t She did not even master the silly,

* Mme. Le Brun writes ; " She had an enormous quantity of beautiful
brown hair that could cover her entirely." On the other hand, Mrs
Trench says that her hair was cut short and dressed after the antique
fashion.

N.B. Mme. Le Brun refers to Emma as she saw her in Naples (1789).
Mrs Trench met Emma in 1799 or 1800, when it was the fashion to
wear the hair i la Titus. (Translator.)

t " Her conversation was devoid of interest or even intelligence."
Countess de Boigne, Mimoires, vol. i, p. 115.

THE FAMOUS ATTITUDES 37

meaningless gossip that conceals so many intellectual de-
ficiences, and is current money in society. Her accom-
plishments were different. Her poses, her dancing, her
attitudes, her tableaux, these were her attractions, and in
these she had no rival.

The performance with which she so often entertained
her friends, required an unlimited supply of shawls. She
might constantly discover new attitudes, but new acces-
sories were not always forthcoming. On one occasion
Greville was asked to " coax " one of her old friends,
Macpherson, to send her a shawl. Greville did as she
wished for, in a subsequent letter Emma bade him thank
his friend. Shawls, and the proper draping of them on
her head and person, became Emma's chief interest in
life.

In the summer, during the great heat, when the Court
of Naples retired to Caserta, the British Ambassador went
there also and hired a villa where he settled down with
his mistress. Emma, who never tired of contemplating
her beauty, had many hours of idleness to while away,
so she ordered another portrait from Mme. Le Brun, who
painted her this time as a Sibyl. The great French artist
had introduced to her two illustrious emigrees. Princess
Joseph de Monaco and her very original countrywoman,
the Duchess de Fleury, the same Aimee de Coigny who,
four years later, was to be the heroine of Andr6 Chenier's
Jeune Captive. They were present at the last sitting,
which Mme. Le Brun thus describes : "With a shawl, one
end of which hung loosely forming a sort of drapery, I
twisted a turban around Mme. Harte's head. (She was
not yet married). This head-dress made her look so
beautiful that the ladies were enraptured with her. As
Hamilton had invited us all to dinner, Mme. Harte re-
tired to dress. When she returned to the drawing-room,
the gown she wore was so commonplace and so unbecom-
ing that the two ladies had the greatest difficulty in re-
cognising her."

There is nothing very astonishing in this. Let a pea-

38 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

sant-girl or a cook put on a lady's clothes. The result
will not be a lady. The elegance of the costume wiU but
accentuate the vulgarity and clumsiness of their appear-
ance. In spite of all the praise bestowed on Emma by
her admirers, her origin and the occupations of her early
life must never be lost sight of.

At the beginning of 1791 Emma informed Greville
that she would accompany Sir William on his trip to
England. As she wished to baffle the gossipers and
scandal-mongers she was to travel incognito. Greville
also must have been somewhat baffled by the virtuous
strain of her letter : " We come for a short time," she
wrote, " and that time must be occupied in business, and
to take our last leave. I don't wish to attract notice. I
wish to be an example of good conduct, and to show the
world that a pretty woman is not allways a fool. All my
ambition is to make Sir Wiliam happy, and you will see
he is so. Sir William will lett you know on what a foot-
ing we are here. On Monday last we gave a concert and
ball at our hous. I had near four hundred persons — all
the foreign ministers and their wives, all the first ladies
of fashion, foregners and Neapolitans. Our house was
full in every room. I had the Banti, the tenor Cosacelli,
and 2 others to sing. Sir William dressd me in wite sattin.
... I was without powder as it was the first great
assembly we had given publickly."*

Emma was proud to tell Greville, who had known her
in her days of poverty, that ladies of the highest rank
were willing to associate with her, thereby, in her eyes,
admitting her to the ranks of honourable women. But
she knew full well that many refused to be her guests,
and her vanity suffered terribly under the humiliation.
She never forgot this slight, and during the Revolution
in Naples many a great lady mounted the scaffold be-
cause she had not responded to the invitation of this
adventuress.

She closed her letter with a burst of feeling that does
* Morrison MSS. 189.

THE NEW LOVE 39

her credit : " Think then, after what Sir William has done
for me, if I should not be the horridest wretch in the
world, not to be exemplary towards him. Endead, I will
do all I can to render him happy. We shall be with you
in the spring, and return heer in November and the next
year you may pay ous a visit. We shall be glad to see you.
I shall allways esteem you for your relationship to Sir
William and having been the means of me knowing him.
As to Sir William, I confess to you I doat on him. Nor
I never can love any person but him. This confession
will please you, I know."*

It will be noticed that Emma made no reference to
the intended marriage, but the fact that she constantly
referred to Sir William and herself as " we " was very
significant. By asserting that she doted on Sir William
she wished to make her former lover understand that her
submission to his will had cost her little, that she had
rooted up and cast to the winds all that remained of her
old affection, and that thenceforth with a safe conscience
he might come and see her simply as a " friend." Such
thoughts may have suggested the words : " This con-
fession will please you, I know." Or she may have
written them with her usual thoughtlessness, but cer-
tainly there was no intention to wound or make an ill-
timed reference to the past.

The contemplated journey took place, the Ambassador
and his mistress reaching London in May 1791. They
lived in the same house, which greatly shocked Emma's
former patron, the more so as her last letter had led him
to believe that she meant to be a model of propriety
during her stay in London. " Greville," Mr Walter
Sichel writes, " was unaware of the dead secret, but he
implored Emma not to live in London as she had done
in Naples; he pressed the propriety of separate establish-
ments. Emma laughed him to scorn,"t and, a few days

* Morrison MSS. 189.

t Emma, Lady Hamilton, by Walter Sichel, p. 131.

40 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

later, persuaded Sir William to give an entertainment in
their house.

The "dead" soon woke to life, the "secret" was
soon public. Sir William's indulgence, his generous
oblivion of her past, exceeded all the common bounds
of convention. Unconsciously he had become Emma's
creature, and now at her bidding consented to make her
his wife. He did his best to justify to himself the
course he was about to take, but, in the most secret
recess of his soul, in that silent chamber where there is
no dissimulating, he was conscious that his weakness was
degrading. He tried to silence the voice of conscience
by endless sophisms, and persuaded himself that he had
discovered a thousand unperceived virtues in the woman
who had given her favours to his nephew and to so many
others.

The marriage was not announced until the very last
moment. Sir William was not anxious to let all London
know that there was a man who was fool enough to marry
Dr Graham's " goddess," and that he, Sir William
Hamilton, was that fool. In August 1791 Horace
Walpole wrote to Miss Berry : " I shall fill my vacuum
with some lines that General Conway has sent me, written
by I know not whom, on Mrs Harte, Sir William
Hamilton's pantomime mistress or wife, who acts all the
antique statues in an Indian shawl. I have not seen her
yet, so I am no judge, but people are mad about her
wonderful expression, which I do not conceive; so few
antique statues having any expression at all, nor being
designed to have it."*

Sir William's marriage was not announced until the
event had become imminent. He then had to face the
surprise and indignation of his family. His niece, Mrs
Dickenson, remonstrated, but in vain. There is nothing
from which a man can be more easily dissuaded than
from marriage with a respectable girl — there are always
reasons to be urged against it, such as lack of fortune, of
* Letters of Horace Walpok, vol. xv, p. 41 .

A QUESTION OF HONOUR 41

talents, or of pedigree, — but let him once make up his
mind to regularise by marriage his connection with his
mistress, and neither the objurgations of his family nor
the lessons of experience nor the certainty that he is com-
mitting an act of folly that will mean his ruin, will avail
aught with him to change his purpose. Fortune, talents
and birth do not enter into the consideration in such a
case. In that of Sir William Hamilton, the ground had
been carefully prepared and his resolution was irrevoc-
able. Before leaving Naples the Ambassador had spoken
to Mme. Le Brun about the opposition that he would
meet with on the part of his family : " She shall be my
wife in spite of them all," he said. " After all, I marry
her for myself!" In this, however, he was mistaken.
He had but married her for Nelson, and was to become
her dupe. Moreover he was wrong when he declared
that his relatives had nothing to do with his marriage.
Each member of a family is responsible for the honoior
of the house, and this consideration alone should have
prevented Hamilton from giving utterance to such a
sophism, and from entrusting his honour to the charge
of a woman who herself had none. And this none knew
better than Sir William himself.

This one-time servant in an inn had no idea of seek-
ing a husband from her own class, of taking a waiter for
her husband. She must have an Ambassador.

Better than all she loved idleness, luxury, extravagance
and adulation. She had played at being in love, and she
had reached the goal she aimed at. Mme. Le Brun, who
knew her well, said : " She was very artful, and by these
means she made Hamilton marry her."

It would seem — and Mr Walter Sichel is also of this
opinion — that during her stay in London, Emma and her
mother went to see Payne's little daughter, whom Greville
was supporting.

Shortly before leaving London, Emma received an
interesting visitor in the person of Lawrence, the painter,
who had been introduced to her at his own special request.

42 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

He had heard so much about her beauty and the wonder-
ful Attitudes that he was most anxious to meet her. To
Mr Lyson the great artist wrote the following letter
referring to his visit : " A particular friend of mine pro-
mised to get me introduced at Sir William Hamilton's
to see this wonderful woman you have doubtless heard
of — Mrs Hart. . . I hear it is the most gratifying thing
to a painter's eyes that can be, and I am frightened at the
same time with the intimation that she will soon be Lady
Hamilton, and I may not have such another oppor-
tunity."*

As soon as the marriage was announced Sir William
and his bride-elect appeared in certain drawing-rooms, the
society of which was not over fastidious or prudish. On
August 23 Horace Walpole wrote to Miss Berry :
" On Saturday evening I was at the Duke of Queens-
bury's (at Richmond, s'entend) with a small company,
and there was Sir William Hamilton and Mrs Harte,
who on the 3rd of next month, previous to their de-
parture, is to be Mme I' Envoy ee a Naples, the Neapolitan
Queen having promised to receive her in that quality.
Here she cannot be presented, where only such over-
virtuous wives as the Duchess of Kingston and Mrs
Hastings — who could go with a husband in each hand —
are admitted. . . . But I forget to retract and make
amende honorable to Mrs Harte. I had only heard of
her Attitudes; and those in dumb show I have not yet
seen. Oh, but she sings admirably; has a very fine, strong
voice; is an excellent buff a, and an astonishing tragedian.
She sang Nina in the highest perfection, and there her
Attitudes were a whole theatre of grace and various
expressions."!

The marriage took place in London on September 6,
1 79 1. Emma signed the register with her own name,
Emy Lyon ; but the wedding cards bore the name of Miss
Hart, by which she was generally known. The wit-

* Mrs Gamlin, o/>. cit., p. 61.

■^Letters of Horace Walpole, vol. xv, p. 57.

AN AGONY OF SORROW 43

nesses were the Marquei5s of Abercorn, a relation of Sir
William on his mother's side, and L. Dutens.

The newly-married couple remained on in London for
a few days, and did not see any necessity for shutting
themselves up in seclusion. Lawrence had feared that
the new Lady Hamilton would refuse to exhibit herself
in the famous Attitudes or, at least, that her husband
would forbid her to do so. He soon found out that he
was mistaken. Romney, whose acquaintance Emma had
renewed, wrote to his friend Hayley : " In my last letter
I told you I was going to dine with Sir William Hamil-
ton and his lady. In the evening of that day there was
collected several people of fashion to hear her sing. She
performed, both in serious and comic, to admiration, both
in singing and acting; but her Nina surpasses everything
I ever saw, and I believe as a piece of acting nothing
ever surpassed it. The whole company was in an agony
of sorrow. Her acting is simple, grand, terrible and
pathetic. My mind was so much heated that I was for
running down to Eartham to fetch you to see her."*

In London, Emma continued to pose as a patroness of
art, and entertained her acquaintances with her success in
Naples, her talents, the fulness of her voice and her
triumphs. To Romney she related the brilliant offers
which had been made to her in Naples, but Sir William
said pleasantly that he had engaged her for life. He had
indeed married the woman who knew so well how to
play the comedy of love.

Hamilton and Emma were, of course, the talk of the
town. Sir William had made himself the laughing-stock
of all London. Those who could remember Emma in
the old days when she performed at Dr Graham's or
presided over the wild supper-parties at Up Park, or as
Romney's model, or as the grisette whom Greville con-
ducted to all the gay places in town, could not reconcile
themselves to the fact that she was now rich, a person of
importance, and the wife of a British Ambassador.
* Add. MSS. 30,805, f. SI.

44 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

This metamorphosis they affected to despise, not, as
they pretended, in the interests of virtue, but to conceal
their own envy and vexation.

It is a relief to turn to one who could at least clothe
his bare thoughts in a witty form. On September ii
Horace Walpole wrote to Miss Berry : " A propos.
Sir William Hamilton has actually married his gallery of
statues, and they are set out on their return to Naples.
I am sorry I did not see her Attitudes, which Lady D.
(a tolerable judge) prefers to anything she ever saw."*

* Letters of Horace Walpole, vol. xv, p. 57.

CHAPTER III

The ways of the world — Lady Hamilton's education — Opinions of
contemporaries — Her illiteracy — Her mother at the embassy —
The Palazzo Sessa — ^The Attitudes — Lady Hamilton's presentation
at the court of Naples — Her relations with Greville after her
marriage — The Bishop of Derry at Naples — Relations of Emma
with him, Romney and Featherstonehaugh.

EMMA was married. She had a title; she
was the wife of an Ambassador. Like all
women who drive a trade with their beauty,
she had endured the tortures of Tantalus in her
lust for gold, luxury and extravagance, pleasures for
which they are ever ready to commit the most in-
famous actions. How often in the old days had she
yearned with passionate longing for a lover who would
clothe her in gold and silken raiment! She gave no
thought to love, for that is a secondary consideration to
a courtesan. To live on man and his passions constitutes
her moral code, her ideal of happiness. Men make her
their idol, poets find in her their inspiration, yet good
cheer and perpetual idleness are her soul's highest
aspirations.

In Emma's case the position she had reached far sur-
passed anything she had ever dreamt of. Even in the
wildest flights of her imagination she had never conceived
of a marriage that could not only retrieve the past, but
give her a prominent place in the official and political
world, which, to be sure, is not over sensitive on the
subject of woman's virtue. Still less had she expected
to enter the diplomatic sphere, to be received at Couit
and to become the bosom friend of a sovereign who was

46 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

a sister of the Queen of France, the daughter and the
mother of an Empress. Could she anticipate that she
would become a sort of Confidential Minister, directing
the movements of armies and fleets, assuming the right
of life and death, and playing a prominent part in a great
Revolution! Could she dream that her name would be
handed down to posterity linked inseparably to that of
one of the greatest men of her day! However wild her
conduct may have been, Emma never indulged in such
extravagant hopes.

She knew that, had such been her ambition, her lack
of every qualification of birth, education, character and
connection would have formed, especially in aristocratic
England, an insurmountable barrier in the way of its
accomplishment.

As yet she was unconscious of the passion that lay
dormant in her soul. She could not know that the de-
cline of the century that had witnessed her abandoned
youth was to produce upheavals which would open broad
avenues to the most extravagant ambitions. Few of
those whose names were soon to ring throughout Europe
could have harboured any notion of the future that lay
before them.

If, as a young man of twenty, Napoleon ever turned
his thoughts to the throne of France, where Louis XVI
then sat, little did he dream that on the ruins of that
throne he was to raise up an empire! Murat and
Bernadotte could not yet see the crowns that were destined
for their heads. The smuggler Massena, the dyer
Lannes, the cooper Ney, Sergeant Hoche of the Gardes
Frangaises, Fouche the Oratorien, and many more could
not yet see themselves generals, ministers, dukes, and
princes.

When, by one of those extraordinary chances that occur
but once perhaps in a thousand years, a man is plucked
from the midst of a multitude and set on a pinnacle he
never hoped to scale, he will find it hard to keep his foot-
ing there. Murat failed; even Napoleon failed — the

WHY HAMILTON MARRIED 47

dizzy height was their undoing. Many perished on the
scaffold. Many declined promotion, from motives of
modesty or of discretion, for the Revolutionary Tribunal
was ever at their heels, ready to pounce upon them at
the least failure.

It is not given to all to play great parts and to be able
to meet the exigencies of a high position, into which they
have not been initiated by family tradition, by education,
by familiarity with society and court circles, by the train-
ing of character and will, or by the habit of prompt
decision. It remained to be seen whether Emma Lyon
would be able to maintain her position in the lofty sphere
to which Hamilton's love had raised her.

From the very start it was clear that she possessed the
necessary talent to play the part fittingly. The married
woman was simply a new character which she set about
studying, and rendered to the best of her ability. To
her infatuated husband it seemed that she succeeded to
perfection, but perhaps he was too easily satisfied. Be-
sides, what sentiments had prompted him to choose for his
wife this woman who had been the mistress of so many
before him.? Beauty is something, but it is not all that'
a man looks for in the guardian of his honour. It is not
enough to draw a veil over her past, to make an honour-
able woman of a courtesan. Some say that Sir William
married her because he saw in her a bearing, an intelli-
gence and a general superiority that in his eyes more than
made up for all that she lacked in birth, education and
virtue. Such a view is obviously impossible.

Though by nature sensible and matter-of-fact, Emma
had illusions, which her lovers shared, and one of these
was that she was gifted with unusual intelligence. She
had pretensions also to wit, but Mme. Le Brun says :
" She possessed no wit, although she was indeed very
much given to biting and disparaging remarks, and this
to such a degree that they formed the whole burden of
her conversation." So she cannot have been very enter-
taining, for " Mockery," says La Bruyere, " often be-

48 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

tokens a lack of wit." Jealousy too, maybe, prompted
this new-made lady's sarcasms.

By nature Hamilton was far from being a fool, but his
infatuation brought him perilously near it. His first
marriage had called forth litde of the love of which he
was capable, and he was now in the grip of one of those
passions that occur in later life and which make up by
their intensity for the long years of barrenness. Once
he had committed this act of folly he could but seek to
justify himself by repeating the old, inadequate reasons
that had led him to take the step.*

He was intimately acquainted with certain episodes in
his wife's early life, but, had he known all, he would still
have found a thousand excuses for her conduct in her
circumstances, misfortune, beauty, youth and innocence.
Her very failings were to him virtues and excellences.
He lived in a fool's paradise, enjoying, in Emma's com-
pany, the peace of mind that springs from the possession
of a good woman's love. He deliberately closed his eyes
to the past and refused to be concerned about the future.

When a man marries he generally chooses a wife whose
education is complete. Sir William knew that Emma had
much to learn, and, as soon as they were married, he set
about teaching her the ways and manners, the language
and idioms of polite society. When obliged to absent
himself, he did not lose sight of her deficiencies, but
filled his letters with sound advice. Several of these,
written in the year 1792, when the Ambassador was
hunting with the King at Persano, still exist. They dis-
play not, as might be expected, an elderly and infatuated
lover, but a wise and sensible husband who, in spite of
his great affection for his wife, was fully aware that she
needed to be guided in the sphere to which her marriage
had given her access. Taking into consideration the
good and bad points of his pupil, he dealt out the neces-
sary advice gently and affectionately. Although he
flattered her much, and humoured her new airs and

* Pascal says " the heart has reasons, that reason cannot know."

LOVE AND SYNTAX 49

vanities, he was not blind to her shortcomings or, what
is rarer still, to the influence she exercised upon men.

He stiU made her take lessons in French, Italian, music
and singing. By filling up her time he may have wished
to keep her from the corrupting and enervating influence
of idleness and the voluptuous atmosphere of Naples;
or it may merely have been to develop her talents and
give her an education, the lack of which was sometimes
so painfuUy evident. On January 8, 1792, he wrote to
her : " Nothing pleases me more, than to hear you do not
neglect your singing. It would be a pity, as you are near
the point of perfection."* Later on Nelson, who was
either more lyrical or more deeply in love, assured her
that she surpassed the greatest singers, f Hamilton con-
tented himself with treating her as a promising pupil
who had still much to learn. His attitude was rather
that of a schoolmaster; thus, on one occasion, he wrote :
" By the bye, I must tell you, that accept and except are
totally diff"erent. You always write : ' I did not except
of the invitation,' when, you know, it should be
accept.""^ In short, he was much more anxious to rectify
her grammar and spelling than to provide her with sound
moral principles. In the first place he was not very well
suited to act the moralist, and, besides, it was rather late
to try and arouse in her feelings that can never be taught,
because the soul must absorb them during childhood and
youth in the atmosphere of a healthy home. Emma
could not possess the dignity, delicacy and consummate
tact that distinguished women owe to their parentage,
their education, and their associations of refinement and
culture. Hamilton was never to succeed in giving to his

* Letters of Lord 'Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. 149.

■f" In a letter written in 1801, the Queen of Naples paid her the
same compliment : " La Nina dopo che si e sentita cantare coUa vostra
espressione non ^ piu sopportabile il sentirla do altra." Carteggio XIII,
by Palumbo. This is one of the few letters which the Queen wrote in
Italian.

X Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. 171.
D

so A GREAT ADVENTURESS

wife or to his home the indefinable charm, the subtle
breath that fills the house of the virtuous woman. This
could not be, for, in spite of his superiority, Hamilton
was not to be the master in his home; he was to remain
in the toils of the fair enchantress who had made him
marry her. He never had any real influence, and was
always kept in the background. Gradually, he passed
under the yoke he was to endure until the end of his
days, a yoke imposed on him by a woman who had been
a prostitute!

When giving advice to his wife, Hamilton certainly
affected the tone of a schoolmaster or a father, but for
all that he did not abdicate his rights as a husband, but
claimed them with delicacy and dignity. Emma owed
him a great deal more even than she suspected, and, al-
though Hamilton may have guessed that she had very
little real feeling, he fondly hoped that the gratitude of
which she loved to boast was indeed sincere. He did not
dare to tell her of his doubts, for he was not altogether
free from the apprehension which an elderly husband
feels in his dealings with a wife who is much younger
than himself. He was afraid of wounding her feelings
by letting her guess that he doubted her sincerity. In
the following letter, however, he gave her to understand
what he expected from her : " The effusion of tenderness,
with regard to me in your letter, is very flattering; I know
the value of it, and will do all I can to keep it alive.
We are now one flesh, and it must be our study to keep
that flesh as warm and comfortable as we can. I will do
all in my power to please you, and I do not doubt of
your doing the same towards me."* (January lo, 1792.)
There were many weak points in the plan here un-
folded; it will suffice to note the gross epicureanism of
this letter. When one cannot raise people to one's own
standard, one must be content to come down to their
level. Sir William was not a diplomatist for nothing!
In the course of this study. Sir William Hamilton will
* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. 154.

THE EDUCATION OF A SYREN 51

often be spoken of as an old man, but the phrase must
not be misunderstood. This epithet is used simply on
account of his age, for, although he was seventy-three
when he died, Sir William was not decrepit, and his
intellect remained unimpaired. He was in full posses-
sion of all his faculties and had great muscular strength,
which he was very fond of exhibiting, and which he
regarded as a victory that he, the husband of so young a
woman, had won over old age. It would be a mistake to
attribute to his increasing age the weakness which he
showed towards his wife. That was a matter of character,
not of years. A man of thirty, with the same disposi-
tion, would have been just as blind, and would have
allowed himself to be duped in exactly the same manner
by a wife as charming and as wily as Emma. Like all
women of her kind, whatever talent she possessed she
used in deceit and dissimulation.

When giving advice to his wife, Hamilton was careful
not to discourage her. Young women, and more especi-
ally those of a certain class, do not care for advice of
which they are so much in need; still less do they care to
be lectured. These remonstrances seem to reproach
them with their low origin; their pride suffers, they take
offence, and before long break out into open revolt.
Hamilton was well aware of this, and took care to treat
his wife with every possible regard, and to flatter her
continuously. If he had to remonstrate with her, his
words were wrapped in silk and cotton-wool. She seemed
to inspire him with quite as much dread as love, and he
approached her with about as much assurance as might
be shown by a man treading on eggs. If he had any-
thing to ask of her, he did it in circuitous and involved
sentences; he was afraid to speak his mind freely or to
look her straight in the eyes. He seemed to fear touch-
ing her, as though she were still soiled by the filth from
which he had dragged her. He trembled lest he might
incur her displeasure.

All this does not give a favourable impression of the

52 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

young bride, for only violent and intolerant natures
require to be handled with such circumspection. When
her husband gave her counsel, he did so in the most
fatherly manner and softened the reproach by many ten-
der compliments. Hamilton knew that such tyrannical
women as Emma are delighted to see a strong man
grovelling at their feet, and it was, no doubt, with the
intention of flattering her vanity as a pretty woman and
a lady that he wrote : " I would not be married to any
woman, but yourself, on earth, for all the world."*

This was great commendation for, in choosing his first
wife, Hamilton had not entirely overlooked the question
of fortune, t He surrounded her with the most loving
care, urging her to follow every whim and fancy, for he
knew that this advice would be acceptable. His one aim
was to make her an elegant doll, irreproachable in manner
and language, but not a woman in the higher and nobler
sense of the word.

When Hamilton was away hunting in Calabria with
King Ferdinand, he was in constant communication with
his wife. On Jauary 9 he wrote : " Amuse yourself, my
dear Emma!" And again, on January 11 : "A picture
would not content me; your image is more strongly re-
presented on my heart, than any that could be produced
by human art."J All lovers write in this strain. Occa-
sionally, however, in the midst of these compliments, the
more cautious side of Hamilton's nature peeped out :
" God knows, we have no secrets; nor, I hope, ever
shall."§ ..." I will allow, however, that a beautiful
young woman feeling herself well dressed will have a
sort of confidence, which will add greatly to the lustre

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, January 6, 1792, vol. ii,
p. 145.

t The first Lady Hamilton was a Miss Barlow. She had one
daughter who died at an early age. M. Andr6 Bonnefons thought Sir
William was a confirmed bachelor. {Marie-Caroline, ch. ii.)

X Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. 156.
§ Idem., vol. ii, p. 168.

THE FEMININE INSTINCT 53

of her eye; but take my word, that, for some years to
come, the more simply you dress, the more conspicuous
will be your beauty, which, according to my idea, is the
most perfect I have yet met with, take it all in all."*

During the early days of wedded life it is necessary to
be thus lavish of praise. It is the language and the
currency of love. Perhaps Sir William was ill-advised
to indulge in such excessive admiration, but with a simple,
sweet, timorous nature such as his it is the natural expres-
sion of love, especially when there is no thought of
jealousy.

The new Lady Hamilton was anything but simple,
sweet and timorous. The difference of age may perhaps
excuse her if she did not love her husband, but it is
doubtful whether there was so much as a spark of affec-
tion or even of gratitude in her heart. On every occasion
she boasted so much of these sentiments that it is im-
possible to doubt her word — or to trust it. It is impos-
sible to be certain of such as she. It would be foolish
to attach the same importance to these assurances from
her as they would carry if uttered by an upright and
straightforward woman.

In spite of Emma's marvellous assurance, so com-
pletely belied by the modest and innocent expression of
her lovely face, it was not without hesitation that she
entered the new world to which her husband had intro-
duced her. Feminine instinct told her that every word,
every guesture would be noted and commented on without
mercy. But women like Emma soon overcome any such
misgivings. With money and assurance a beautiful
woman, especially when she has the advantage of being
the wife of a British Ambassador, can force open every
door. Surely the sordid past would be forgotten in the
glorious present. Who would be so ill-bred as to look
for the blemishes beneath the flashing diamonds!

She was now fully equipped with the language and
manners of polite society; she had served her apprentice-
* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p, 174.

54 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

ship in the circle of the Ambassador's friends during the
years that had preceded her marriage. After such a
training she thought herself an accomplished woman of
the world, she would listen to no counsel and would rule
over her indulgent husband and lead him into many
foolish adventutes. It is impossible to foresee the extra-
ordinary fancies that will occur to women whom marriage
has raised above their sphere. On one occasion Emma
forced Sir William to go on board the Lion, with the
result that the British Ambassador found himself in
quarantine in the Bay of Naples. No doubt the artful
minx had some particular reason for leading him into this
ridiculous scrape, but her secret motive was never
divulged. From on board the vessel, the British Am-
bassador wrote rather sheepishly to Acton, the Minister
for the Navy : " Lady Hamilton, without reflecting and
contrary to my opinion was tempted yesterday to go on
board this ship before she had Pratick and of course, I
was obliged to go on board also." (This admission gives a
very clear idea of the servility with which he submitted to
the domestic tyrant.) Hamilton went on to say that as
there was not one case of sickness on board, he hoped to be
at once released.* Since the first years of his marriage Sir
William had evidently been deposed from his position
as head of the family.

Before meeting Emma, Hamilton had led the life of a
wealthy art connoisseur rather than that of a diplomatist.
In his Italian Journey Goethe describes him as " a man
of universal taste, who has roamed through all the realms
of creation " and has found in a beautiful woman " a
masterpiece of the Arch-Artist." The poet is mistaken
in supposing Hamilton had travelled so much. After
having been brought up with the future King George
III, who remained his friend, he had been appointed in

* From an unpublished letter in the archives at Naples. Emma's
behaviour -was all the more unpardonable as this incident must have
taken place in 1798 or 1799, that is to say during the Revolution. The
Lion belonged to Nelson's fleet.

EMMA'S ARMOURY 55

1764 Ambassador to the Court of Naples. He never
asked to be relieved of his office and remained at this post
for thirty-six years. All his tastes drew him closer to
Italy, and he took the greatest interest in the country.
In 1772 he had published his Observations on Vesuvius.
He had gathered together some works of art that had
escaped the fury of the volcano, and they formed a
precious collection that was the chief object of his
solicitude. Later on, some of them fetched very high
prices. In the year 1791 he was sixty-one, but, judging
by his portraits, he did not look his age. He was very
handsome, with the full and healthy countenance of a
man of forty. Had his. features been less delicate and
his bearing less distinguished he might have been taken
as a model for the classical type of John Bull, so dear to
caricaturists. But although, as a whole, the face is
pleasing, there is something too credulous about his
smile. In other portraits of an earlier age, Hamilton
has much the same appearance. The nose is refined and
well shaped; the general expression of his face pre-
possessing.

His wife was then about twenty-six or twenty-eight
years of age, and her appearance had not changed since
she first came to Naples. She was in the full bloom
of her transcendent beauty. The Rivoluzione Napolitana
gives the most ravishing portrait of her at this period.
If Lady Hamilton was remarkable for her attractions,
she was not less remarkable for the almost diabolical
skill with which she turned them to account. She was
a born courtesan, skilled in her trade, every secret of
which she knew by instinct or experience. Long practice
had taught her what was her most potent fascination.
In Naples she did not forget the success that had crowned
her wonderful Attitudes and the poses that set off the
voluptuous lines of her figure, and she began once more
to give these performances, in spite of her new dignity
as wife of the Ambassador. Hamilton, who was in-
capable of opposing any of her wishes, not only made no

56 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

attempt to stop these artistic performances, but en-
couraged her, and seemed flattered by her success. In
London she must have seen Garrick, whose acting was
the most noble and pathetic expression of the great
emotions of the soul. She took the great actor as her
model, endeavouring to express the most tender senti-
ments and violent passions a woman is capable of feeling.
Her gestures could make her audience shudder; her eyes
could fill them with terror or make them weep with pity.
" You speak to us with your hands," the old Romans
cried to the comedians whose gestures rivalled the elo-
quence of Cicero,* and these words might justly have
been applied to Lady Hamilton's acting. However
successful she may have been in these performances, it
must be admitted they were an intellectual recreation
unworthy of a clever woman, whom the consciousness of
her own dignity would have kept from taking part in
such an exhibition. With a coquette, however, things
are diff^erent. The indulgent guests who responded to
Lady Hamilton's invitations were soon reconciled to this
eccentric form of entertainment, which afforded them
the occasion of admiring the lovely face and form of their
hostess. The more fastidious members of society refused
to receive the Ambassador's wife or to accept her in-
vitations, but the King and Queen of Naples were more
tolerant. However, Mme. de Boigne relates that
Marie-Caroline had at first been disinclined to receive
Emma at Court and that Sir William had persuaded
Mme. d'Osmond to intercede with the sovereign. Poli-
tical interests and their own inclination, however, soon
combined to draw them towards Emma, whose charm
and beauty were irresistible. Goethe, as we know, had
been deeply impressed by her strange power of fascina-
tion; this she brought to bear on the Queen, of whose
mind and heart she soon took complete possession. She
knew that a beautiful woman may act much as she
pleases and yet meet with indulgence. It had been her
* This quotation is taken from Garat's Memories sur M. Suard.

LADY TIAMILTON
Ftojji a fainting after Westall in the Collection of Sir Robert Harvey, Bt.

LADY HAMILTON'S SINGING 57

ambition to become the Queen's friend, and, once again,
her audacity was crowned with success. How cautious
she was in her behaviour, how careful to avoid the
slightest breach of etiquette! Frederica Brun, who
saw her in Naples in 1796, says that at this period there
were no evil reports concerning her. (Nelson had not
yet appeared on the scene.) She further remarks :
" Lady Hamilton is a magnificent Bacchante," — which
might be considered a somewhat doubtful compliment,
but, of course Frederica was merely referring to the
Attitudes. This strange and novel performance had
delighted her, as it did all who witnessed it — even that
scoffer Horace "Walpole. Of Lady Hamilton's singing
Frederica Brun says : " Her voice is rich and beautiful
and her gestures are always in perfect harmony with her
singing. She has the good taste not to let her acting
encroach on her duties as a hostess. I only saw her for
one moment, when she showed herself in the attitude
of my Iphigenia. She is a remarkably handsome woman,
and reminds one of the Bacchante of the sarcophagus in
the courtyard of the Belvedere."*

So much has been said about Emma's Attitudes and
her various talents that it is necessary to quote the
testimony of those who witnessed her performances.
Various quotations will be found at the end of this
volume, t It must be remembered, however, that the
art in which Lady Hamilton excelled leaves no more
traces behind it than singing or acting. In forming a
judgment after the lapse of years posterity can only
rely on the impressions left by contemporaries. Even
so, these cannot be trusted implicitly.

The applause that greets an artist is not necessarily a
proof of her talent. It may be addressed to her as a
hostess, as a friend, or to her beauty, graciousness and

* Voyages, pp. 1 5 7 and 333. All Emma's contemporaries do not agree
as to Emma's faultless beauty. Mrs Trench says her feet were hideous.

■j" See, in the Appendix, the opinions expressed by some of Lady
Hamilton's contemporaries.

58 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

social rank. Lady Hamilton's admirers may have been
carried away by the enthusiastic atmosphere surrounding
them, by the brilliancy of a thousand lights, by the lovely
music, and, above all, by the irresistible charm of youth
and beauty united in the person of a celebrated woman,
whose disposition was bold and free. Such considerations
may well have helped to create a pleasing illusion. How-
ever, according to Mme. Le Brun and Mme. de Boigne,
when the performance was over and the artist reappeared
amongst her guests robed in modern clothing, the spell
was broken, and she seemed incapable of becoming once
more a simple, gracious hostess. The part she had been
playing still lingered about her, making her affected and
self-conscious. Her whole bearing was stiff and preten-
tious, and as much at variance with art as with the sim-
plicity, native ease and good taste of a born lady.

The new Lady Hamilton had nevertheless done her
best to acquire the tone and manners of the circle to
which she now belonged. Certainly her letters were still
full of faults of spelling, endead for indeed, ous for us,
but she took good care that her manners and conduct
should be above reproach. By dint of observing those
around her, and of studying herself closely, she had
very fairly well succeeded in training herself, and could
stand the ordeal of being presented at Court. The
Queen of Naples had been obliged to set aside one rule
of etiquette, according to which no woman who had not
previously been presented to the sovereign of her
country could appear at the Court of Naples. It was
notorious that the Queen of England had refused to
receive Lady Hamilton, but Marie-Caroline's infatuation
for the English beauty over-ruled this consideration, and
it was with a joyous heart that Emma crossed the thres-
hold of the palace and appeared before Their Majesties.
Lady Malmesbury, who was present on this occasion,
said : " She really behaved as well as possible, and quite
wonderfully, considering her origin and education."*

* Lady Malmesbury to Lady Elliot. Mrs Gamlin, op. cit., p. 7 1 .

THE PALAZZO SESSA 59

There is nothing so very astonishing in the fact if it. be
remembered that her husband coached her in every detail
of the part she had to play, and that, being an excellent
comedian, she had no difficulty in playing it to her credit.

It was a clever move of Lady Hamilton to have kept
her mother with her in Naples. Mrs Cadogan, " your
good mother " as Hamilton and Nelson vied with each
other in calling her, found it quite natural that her worthy
son-in-law should allow her .^100 a year. She looked
after the household, but her interest was concentrated on
the kitchen. Sometimes, indeed, she figured at the table
sitting on her daughter's right, but generally the good soul
preferred to take her meals alone, as this entailed less
constraint on both sides. She may also have wished to
leave her daughter and son-in-law to themselves, and spare
them the mortification of any breach of manners that
might escape her in the presence of their guests.

The newly married couple occupied the Palazzo Sessa,
which still exists. It is a lordly old mansion, built in
the Spanish style, so many examples of which are to be
seen in Naples. Towards the end of the i8th century
the family of the Marchese Sessa left the town, and their
residence was let out in flats, just as it is at the present
time. The Ambassador occupied the first and second
floors. After passing through various courtyards and
porticoes, the house is reached by a narrow street. Over
the last portal is a coat-of-arms bearing three towers.
A duke, two counts, and several other notable people now
occupy the house, but it has a forlorn appearance, re-
miniscent of the old French mansions on the He St Louis,
in Paris. But in Naples it often happens that the houses
of the wealthiest people appear old and neglected, and the
Palazzo Sessa may have been in this same condition when
Hamilton lived there. The rooms are very spacious, and
look out on the sea. The Palazzo lies half-way up the
hill on which Naples is built, facing the bay, with a view
of Vesuvius and Capri. On the second floor was an
octagonal drawing-room adorned with mirrors. It is

6o A GREAT ADVENTURESS

said that Emma rehearsed her Attitudes and poses in this
room.

No doubt the vogue attained by her Attitudes put her
in mind of Romney, the artist who had first admired her
talent, and she wrote to him with cordial and sincere affec-
tion : " Rejoice with me, my dear sir, my friend, my more
than father, believe me, I am still that same Emma you
knew me. If I could forget for a moment what I was,
I ought to suffer. Command me in anything I can do
for you here; believe me, I shall have a real pleasure.
Come to Naples, and I will be your model, anything to
induce you to come, that I may have an opportunity to
show my gratitude to you. . . We have many English at
Naples — Ladys Malmsbury, Maiden, Plymouth, Car-
negie, Wright, etc. They are very kind and attentive to
me; they all make it a point to be remarkably civil to
me. You will be happy at this, for you know what
prudes our Ladys are."*

They were not all as particular as Emma would have us
believe; but they were polite to her, and she was very
proud to be able to tell this to Romney. Some of them,
indeed, even condescended to call on her. London was
at such a safe distance, they could not fear their friends'
remonstrances. Lady Hamilton made herself as agreeable
as she possibly could. She was anxious to hide the in-
sipidity of her conversation, the only charm of which
was a winning smile that appealed successfully to the
male sex. For the entertainment of her guests she often
performed her Attitudes, which always evoked an out-
burst of enthusiasm. Her delighted husband com-
missioned Frederick Rehberg, historical painter to the
King of Prussia, to make sketches of all the tableaux
represented by his wife.

Although Emma spent her whole life acting, there was

one part which she never thought of playing. She forgot

she was the mother of a little girl. Truly, it would

have been waste of time and talent to trouble about such

* Morrison MSS. 199.

LADY HAMILTON'S RELATIVES 6i

a role, for there would have been no admiring spectators
to see her in the maternal Attitude. Besides, she did
not wish people to know that she had a child, and her
husband had probably lost sight of this fact, when in
January 1792 a letter from Greville brought the matter
once more to his mind. He wrote to Hamilton about
the education and welfare of the child, whom he politely
called Lady Hamilton's protegee. Up to this period
Greville had provided for her, paying £6^ z. year to the
people who looked after her, but he was now practically
a ruined man, and for this reason asked his uncle to take
charge of the little girl, assuring him that this step was
not inspired by any ill-feeling on his part.

It is curious that, although Emma could so easily
forget the existence of her daughter and abandon her to
the tender mercies of strangers, she showed the greatest
solicitude towards her grand-mother. She was certainly
very fond of her relations, and in spite of her selfishness,
sometimes proved that she had a warm heart. It has
already been stated that she never separated from her
homely mother. She entrusted her with the care of the
household, simply that she might have a pretext for
giving her an allowance of ^100 a year. She sup-
ported her grand-mother, Mrs Kidd, and her letters to
this aged relative are full of tender affection. She also
came to the assistance of an uncle, Thomas Kidd, and
other relations of whose existence she would have been
unaware had her own fortunes been less brilliant.
When, in such poor families, whose only object is money,
one member acquires great wealth, the others do not
worry themselves as to the means by which it was won,
but gather round like wasps on a ripe fruit, eager to have
their share of the profit. The rumour of Emma's
stupendous elevation had spread throughout England,
and petitions poured in on her from all sides. She acted
generously towards all who appealed to her. She may
have been really good-hearted, but it may be that it
flattered her vanity to play the Lady Bountiful, and that

62 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

by her generosity she sought to silence those who envied
her. However, it is not necessary to scrutinize the
motives that guided her, the essential point is that she
was indeed kind and generous. On one occasion she
wrote to Greville : " You must know, I send my grand-
mother every Cristmas twenty pounds, and so I ought . . .
As Sir William is ill I cannot ask him for the order but
if you will get the twenty pounds and send it to her, you
will do me the greatest favour."*

It is evident that she had come to share Greville's
views, and considered him merely as a friend. He
answered in the same strain, and lent her the money.
Perhaps some secret scheme lurked behind Emma's show
of friendship towards her former lover. Hamilton had
been seriously ill, and she had been forced to face the
possibility of being left a widow. " He as been 1 5
days in bed with a billious fever, and I have been almost
as ill as him with anxiety, aprehension and fatige."t
These words seemed to spring from her heart, and,
indeed, they may have been sincere; but perhaps they
really concealed a secret and more interested thought.
She had adopted the hypocritical tone of good society,
and could, like all its members, express sentiments she
did not feel. Perhaps she would have been glad to
ensnare Greville once more, and, by showing him how
much she had improved in every way, suggest to him
the idea of marrying her, should she become a widow,
and inherit Hamilton's large fortune. Emma still loved
Greville. Moreover, her social position was very dear
to her, and if she could marry him she need not return to
a life of obscurity. It is amusing to note how she loved
to boast of the grandeur of her position, as, for instance,
in the following letter from Caserta to Miss Burt, who
had written to her on behalf of her grandmother, dated
December 26, 1792 : " I wrote you a Long Letter Last
march, but I am affraid you never got it, which I am
sorry for, as their was a Long account of my reception
* Morrison MSS. 215. f Idem.

RECEIVED AT COURT 63

at the Court of naples; endead the Queen has been so
Kind to me I cannot express to you, she as often invited
me to Court, and her magesty and nobility treats me with
the most kind and affectionate regard. I am the hap-
piest woman in the world; my husband is the best and
most tender of husbands, and treats me and my mother
with such goodness and tenderness; endead I love him
dearly. If I coud have my dear grandmother with me
how happy I shoud be."*

She was so happy herself that she felt kindly disposed
towards everyone. Since she had been received at Court
her pride was gratified, and her cup of happiness full to
the brim. Realising that in a monarchical country it is
a supreme honour to be admitted into the intimacy of the
sovereign, it is easy to understand how happy Emma was,
when writing to GreviUe, to dwell on her brilliant lot and
the exceptional favour bestowed on her. Her inmost
being must have thrilled with delight when, on June 2,
1793, she wrote to Greville with an affectation of
modesty and a slight touch of irony : " Yesterday the
King and me sung duetts for 3 hours. It was but
bad, as he sings like a King."-\ And again : " I had been
with the Queen the night before alone, en famille, laugh-
ing, singing, etc., but at the drawing-room I kept my
distance, and payd the Queen as much respect as tho' I
had never seen her before, which pleased her much; but
she shewed me great distinction that night, and told me
several times how she admired my good conduct. "J

No doubt it was after having this occasion of ap-
preciating Lady Hamilton's tact and discretion that the
Queen saw fit, in the interest of her policy, to form a
closer connection with her. Her position enabled her
to render great services to Marie-Caroline, for, as Mme.

* Mrs Gamlin, o/>. cit., p. 76.

t Morrison MSS. 221. Napoleon made much the same remark
after having seen his sister, Caroline Murat, act : " C'est royalement
mal joue ! "

% Morrison MSS. 221.

64 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Le Brun remarks : " Lady Hamilton, being very in-
discreet, informed Her Majesty of many small diplomatic
secrets which the Queen turned to the advantage of her
Kingdom."* Moreover, a longing for expansion and a
strange tenderness of feeling drew her towards the former
prostitute of the London streets, who soon became the
favorissime, the Lamballe and Polignac of this sister of
Marie-Antoinette. She wrote to her every day, sending
her sometimes two or three letters. She overwhelmed
her with attentions, consulting her about the fashions, the
entertainments she was to give, concerts, suppers, and
tableaux. In fact it was Emma who organised the
amusements at the Court. The Queen's favour turned
her head, and it is questionable whether all the details she
wrote to Greville can be trusted. Perhaps she wished to
dazzle him by her success, in the interest of the plan she
might possibly wish to carry out in the future. Thus,
on December 19, 1794, she wrote from Caserta : "The
Queen has had the goodness to supply me with horses,
an equerry, and her own servant in livery every day. In
short, if I was her daughter she could not be kinder to
me, and I love her with all my heart. My dear Sir William
is very well, and as fond of me as ever; and I am, as
women generally are, ten thousand times fonder of him
than I was, and you would be delighted to see how happy
we are, — no quarelling, no crossness, nor laziness, f All
nonsense is at an end, and everybody that sees us are
edified by our example of conjugal and domestick felicity.
Will you ever come and see us.? You shall be received
with kindness from us both, for we have both obliga-
tions to you for having made us acquainted with each
other ... Do send me a plan, how I could situate little
Emma, poor thing; for I wish it." J

* That this was the case may be gathered from Emma's letter to
Greville quoted on page 65.

t Naturally, for her husband executed all her wishes and approved of
all she did. There was no reason for disagreement,
t Morrison MSS. 250.

INTELLECTUAL LIMITATIONS 65

In the following year (1794) Greville was appointed
Vice-Chamberlain, and sent the news of his promotion to
his former mistress, whose hearty congratulations prove
how much she prized his friendship. She wrote from
Castellamare on September 16, 1794: "I congratulate
you, my dear Mr Greville, with all my heart on your
appointment to the Vice-Chamberlainship, you have well
merited it, and all your friends must be happy at a change
so favourable, not only for your pecuniary circumstances,
as for the honner of the situation. May you long enjoy
it with every happiness that you deserve! I speak from
my heart. I don't know a better, honester, or more
worthy man than yourself."*

A clever and cultured woman would, in Emma's posi-
tion, have been happy to listen to the distinguished men
who frequented her husband's house and discussed the
extraordinary events that had shaken Europe during the
last few years. It was not so with Emma. She felt no
need of listening or taking part in the conversation.
Although she was happy to be present on these occasions,
she was conscious of her own insignificance, and excused
herself by remarking with a winning smile that she did
not care for politics. In truth, her intellect was not
sufficiently quick or penetrating to fill up the gaps left by
a somewhat rudimentary education. AH her power lay
in her beauty and the pretty airs she affected. As she
wished to play an important part wherever she went, she
felt that she must carefully avoid all conversations that
were not frivolous and which would betray, in the most
humiliating fashion, her intellectual insufliciency. On
April 19, 1795, she wrote to Greville: " Send me some
news, political and private; for, against my will, owing
to my situation here, I am got into politicks and I wish
to have news for our dear much loved Queen, whom I
adore. Nor can I live without her for she is to me a
mother, friend and everything. If you coud know her
as I do, how you woud adore her. For she is the first

' Morrison MSS. 246.

66 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

woman in the world; her talents are superior to every
woman's in the world, and her heart is the most excellent
and strictly good and upright."*

In this respect Lady Hamilton resembled Mme de
Sevigne, who thought Louis XIV a great King for
the sole reason that he had condescended to dance a
minuet with her. Marie-Caroline was not as straight-
forward as the enthusiastic writer delighted in asserting.
Emma was happy and proud because the Queen treated
her with such marked attention, and liked to imagine
that these favours were a proof of the sovereign's at-
tachment to her. Marie-Caroline certainly cared for her
favourite, but political considerations strengthened her
friendship for the woman whose low origin, and stormy
past were not unknown to her, and who had been the
Ambassador's wife years before he married her. If it
be remembered how great a distance separates a Queen
from other women, and that at this period it was most
unusual for a sovereign to treat as an equal any lady of
her Court, even though she might be the wife of a British
Ambassador and of unsullied fame, it must be concluded
that very powerful considerations only could have in-
duced this proud daughter of the House of Habsburg to
stoop to avowed friendship with such a woman as Emma
Lyon. Setting aside the strong impulse of personal
feeling that drew her towards the fascinating English-
woman, her principal object must have been to conciliate
the British nation by the marks of distinction she be-
stowed on their Ambassador in Naples. The Queen was
well aware that, in the midst of the great events that
shook the very foundations of old Europe, Britain could
be of the greatest help to the Kingdom of Naples.

In the course of the year 1795 Marie-Caroline com-
municated to her friend the contents of a confidential
letter, in which Charles IV of Spain informed his brother,
the King of Naples, that he had had enough of the
demands of England and would submit to them no
* Morrison MSS. 263.

THE QUEEN'S CONFIDENCE 67

longer, adding that he had decided not only to make peace
with France but to become her ally — a course which he
advised Ferdinand to follow. However natural this
action may seem under the stress of circumstances, it
proves that the Queen placed absolute confidence in her
friend, and that they kept no secrets from each other. It
is on this that Colletta has founded his theory of the
relations existing between the two women.*

It would seem that the Ambassador's wife, the " spy,"

* Colletta, the Neapolitan historian, was the first to mention the
scandalous story, but he does not substantiate his statements. M. A.
Bonnefons declares that there is not a word in Marie-Caroline's letters
to Lady Hamilton that justifies such an accusation. " The Queen was,
by nature, so nervous, fantastical and unconventional that she would
most certainly have betrayed herself by some unguarded word. This
does not occur in her correspondence. Her letters to Lady Hamilton
are full of hatred of France and admiration for England, but, from a
moral point of view, they are above reproach." (A. Bonnefons,
Le traite de neutraltte, ch. ix.)

M. A. Gagniire, who has written a valuable work on Marie-Caroline,
does not share M. Bonnefons' opinion : " All the private letters which the
Queen wrote to Lady Hamilton as her friend have disappeared. The
Ambassadress only retained those referring to political matters, the pub-
lication of which could not aifect the Queen. . . . The private letters
were far more numerous than the others. Without mentioning the gaps
that occur continually in this correspondence, it is curious to note that
all the letters of the year 1 797 were destroyed. And yet, when writing
to his superior on December 14, 1798, Nelson mentioned that the
Queen and Emma had been for years in the habit of writing to each
other every day."

As Colletta was the first to start these evil reports, he no doubt be-
lieved them to be true ; " When Lord Nelson showed that he was
wildly in love with Lady Hamilton, the Queen, who up to this period
had treated Milady with contempt, as a Queen dealing with an adven-
turess, suddenly laid aside all haughtiness and, mindful of the future,
sought to win her affection by appealing to her vanity. Henceforth, in
the palace, at the theatre, in the public gardens, Emma was always to be
seen with the Queen. They even took their meals together and shared
the same bath and bed. The beautiful Emma was capable of any cor-
ruption." It is easy to believe this when reading in one of her letters
to Greville these words of unblushing cynicism, that reveal the
habitual direction of her thoughts ; " If that is not to be, I will accept of
nothing. I will go to London, there go into every excess of vice till I
die, a miserable broken-hearted wretch." Surely a woman of twenty-

68 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

as M. Gagniere calls her, used her all-powerful influence
in obtaining all she wanted from the Queen. It was in
acknowledgment of these invaluable services that, later
oh, she tried in vain to obtain a reward from the British
Government.

M. Gagniere has published the following letters
written by Marie-Caroline to Lady Hamilton. They
are convincing.

Dear Milady,

Another courier from Spain of the 28th
(April, 1795). There is no mention of peace. Bilbao
has capitulated. All Biscay is in the hands of the French.
But the Court and the Minister are quiet. Alcudea told
our Minister " that this loss was nothing, and that soon
there would he a change for the better."

This is incomprehensible. The French General
Monceny (Moncey) pays compliments to the Spanish
couriers and delivers passports to them. Saint Simon
has been sent to guard Poncorvo and enter Castille.
"What does it all mean.'' I am quite at a loss.

The cipher is being made out. If I hear anything else
you shall be told. But this turn of events is incon-
ceivable.

Adieu. A thousand compliments to the Chevalier.

Yours for life,

Charlotte.

five who could choose such a form of suicide, must indeed have been
absolutely corrupt ! And how bare-faced she must have been to write
such words !

Pietro Colletta wrote a history of Naples under the Bourbons. As
he took part in the events he relates his account cannot be considered
quite impartial. He fought for the Republic in 1799,, and escaped
miraculously from the hands of the Counter-Revolutionists. He served
under Murat. Having risen to the ranlc of general, he was for a short
time Minister of War during the Revolution of 1820. He was next
imprisoned and banished for life. It was during this exile that he wrote
his history. It bears traces of the author's agitated life and his passions.
We have sometimes consulted his work, but always with discretion.

MARIE-CAROLINE, QUEEN OF NAPLES

A SERVICE TO THE STATE 69

According to M. Gagnifere the second letter is still
more explicit,

My Very Dear Milady,

My head is so confused and I am so be-
wildered that I don't know what to do. I hope to see
you to-morrow towards ten o'clock.

I enclose cipher sent from Spain by Galatone.*
Within twenty-four hours you must return it to me so
that the King may find it in its place. It contains infor-
mation that will be of much interest to the British
Government. I am happy to communicate it to them,
and to show my attachment to their cause as well as the
confidence I place in the worthy Chevalier. Only, I
implore him not to compromise me.

Adieu! How much we shall have to talk about to-
morrow. Adieu !

Believe me to be

Your sincere friend,

Charlotte.!

In the margin Lady Hamilton wrote : " Copy of a letter
from the Queen, April 29, 1795. Sir William was
obliged to send the original document to England to-
gether with the copy of the cipher mentioned by Her
Majesty."

On this occasion Emma rendered an important service
to her country. In the Memoirs published under her
name, this episode is not related as it is given here from
authentic documents. They reproduce Palumbo's
fantastical account. " One day as she was conversing
familiarly with Ferdinand IV, according to the custom
of that Court, various despatches were brought to the
King. As, in general, he did not care about state affairs,
after glancing over the contents of each letter he would

* Galatone was the Neapolitan Minister in Madrid.

t La reine Marie-Caroline de Naples, by A. Gagniere, Published by
OUendorfF, Paris^ 1886, pp. 42-4^.

70 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

throw it on to the table. However, on this occasion,
one letter, sealed with the arms of Spain, caught his
attention. As soon as he had read it, instead of throw-
ing it with the others, he put it in his pocket with great
care, as though he wished to guard a secret. To Emma,
who was accustomed to exercise close observation at
Court, this new attitude of the King appeared suspicious.
She bribed a page and persuaded him to take the letter
out of the King's pocket for a few minutes, during which
she made a copy of it."*

This is nothing but a legend. The first account is the
only true and historical version. When taking a part
in politics, Lady Hamilton's conduct was not so much
inspired by true patriotism as by her violent hatred of the
French and all republicans, a sentiment which was to be
fostered in her by Nelson's influence. On some of the
letters which she kept she wrote such notes as these:
" Received : the happy day we received the joyful news
of the great victory over the infernal French by the
brave and gallant Nelson."t

To return to Emma's arrival in Naples after her
marriage. Considering that nothing was changed in
Emma's life, except that instead of being the mistress
of the British Ambassador, she had become his legitimate
wife, it would not be appropriate to speak of the newly-
married couple's honeymoon. However, the serenity of
the first days of their married life was disturbed by an
outbreak of ill-humour on the part of Greville. His
uncle's marriage had quite upset his equanimity. Al-
though he was himself looking for a wife he would have
liked Emma to content herself with amusing Hamilton
during his old age in the character of an obliging lady-
companion, but not as his legitimate spouse. There were
his interests to be considered, and his only object in send-

* Carleggio dl Marie Caroline, Prefazione, xiii. In the Morrison
MSS. is the translation of the letter of Charles IV to Ferdinand, written
by Lady Hamilton herself.

f Carteg^io, xliv,

HUSBAND AND LOVER 71

ing his mistress to Naples had been precisely to safeguard
his interests by preventing his uncle from thinking of
marriage. When he discovered that she had consulted
her own interests only, Greville's dismay knew no
bounds : this marriage had not figured on his programme.
He first manifested his disgust by writing to Hamilton
about " little Emma," for whose education he no longer
felt any inclination to provide. He then gave further
vent to his feelings in a letter which seems to have caused
small satisfaction to his uncle, judging by Hamilton's
words to Emma : " I send you Charles's letter, but do
not lose it, as I will answer it when I return. You see,
the line we have taken will put it out of the power of
our enemies to hurt us."*

Was Charles to be considered an enemy .'' If he found
it impossible to make the best of Emma's elevation, he
had only himself to blame. Emma had a right to look
after her own interests; and it is astonishing that, having
known her from her early youth, he had not suspected she
was capable of persuading any man, even though he were
an Ambassador, into marrying her.

Hamilton had been rather brusque when discussing
the matter with his nephew whom he had supplanted in
the affection of his former mistress. On the contrary,
Emma's attitude towards her former lover had been re-
markably clever. She was more diplomatic than her hus-
band. Long practice had taught her how to glide like
an adder through the perilous ways of intrigue; conse-
quently, without sacrificing the sentiments of love and
hate that she entertained towards Greville, she succeeded
in maintaining him in her orbit, and kept up a friendly
correspondence with him. In Greville's letters, beneath
the tone of commonplace courtesy, it is easy to see that the
writer was aware that they might fall into his uncle's hands,
and his anxiety not to give any cause for offence. To avoid
arousing Hamilton's jealousy he adopted a somewhat
ceremonious tone in assuring Emma of his friendly feel-
* lifttffs of Lor4 Nelson t() Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. i6o,

72 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

ings. Had he used any terms of endearment, Hamilton
might imagine the old love had not quite died out. If,
on the other hand, he wrote coldly, this might lead him
to believe his nephew despised him for having married
his mistress. The only safe course was to express
his feeling in the most courteous and conventional
manner.

All Emma's friends were not like Greville. Happily
for them many had not fallen in love with her, whilst
others had been content to admire her beauty without
letting themselves be ensnared by her charms, and to be
satisfied with the momentary thriU of pleasure which she,
in common with every other woman could afford them.
Sir Harry Featherstonehaugh must be counted amongst
the latter. Twenty years after they had separated " he
still wrote to Emma in terms of respectful friendship as
though their connection had left them only delightful
remembrances."* Sir Harry was a wise man I He knew
how to check the impulses of the heart and did not allow
himself to be carried away by his passions.

Another of Emma's admirers deserves to be mentioned
not only on account of the good humour with which he
gave her up, but also because of the position which he
occupied. Frederick Hervey, Earl of Bristol, was Bishop
of Derryt and a very strange bishop he was. In religious
matters he carried his eccentricities somewhat too far,
but in the age of the abbes de cour the Anglican clergy
were not more exemplary than their Italian brethren or
the aristocratic members of the clergy in France, the most
prominent figure of whom was Talleyrand, the Bishop of
Autun. Bristol was a clever, original and amusing man,
but absolutely unprincipled. His great wealth allowed
him to wander throughout Europe with no other pursuit
in view than his own amusement. In 1794, when, as

* Emma, Lady Hamilton, by A. Fauchier-Magnan.

t According to Palumbo the Earl of Bristol met Emma in Naples
after she had become the wife of Hamilton. In spite of his official
position and duties he was always travelling and was practically a sceptic,

THE CHOIR-MASTER'S DAUGHTER 73

usual, he was " travelling like a curate to get a Bishop's
appetite,"* as he was fond of remarking, he made the
acquaintance in Naples of Mme. Rietz, the Du Barry of
Frederick William, King of Prussia. This young woman,
who was of a somewhat fickle disposition, was then hurry-
ing through Italy, in pursuit of the Chevalier de Saxe.
During her stay in Naples, she conceived a violent wish
to be presented at the Court of Ferdinand IV. In her
case also there were many obstacles to be overconie. She
was the daughter of a choir-master. The King had mar-
ried her to one of the gardeners of Potsdam, but had
not bestowed on her any tide, and it was impossible for
her to appear before Royalty. Bristol, who suddenly
began to profess the most frantic admiration for this
lady, swore that he would break down every obstacle. By
dint of endless intrigue the sceptical Bishop managed to
circumvent Frederick William, who, following an ex-
ample that had occurred recently at the Court of France,
granted his mistress the tide of Countess of Lichtenau,
together with a yearly income of 30,000 francs. Thus en-
dowed and raised to the nobility, she was considered
worthy to be presented at the Court of Ferdinand IV.
The Lord-Bishop, who went daily to perform his devo-
tions at the shrine of the choir-master's daughter, and who
wore her miniature openly round his neck, was now able
to present her at Court. Marie-Caroline took some in-
terest in the beautiful German, and Lady Hamilton, the
Queen's friend, overwhelmed her with attentions. Lord
Bristol was at the same time paying homage to Emma,
and they soon became the best of friends. Considering
that they were both English and far from their country,
it was not astonishing that two people who had the same
liberal views on life, should rapidly be drawn towards
each other. Every day the Bishop was to be seen hover-
ing about the beautiful wife of the Ambassador. His
intentions were, no doubt, of the most honourable nature,
for he still gloried in displaying on his breast the portrait
* Meitioires hy Dampmartin,

74 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

of the " divine Countess " of Lichtenau, a circumstance
which, with his ecclesiastical reputation and Emma's well-
known virtue, must have contributed to reassure Sir
William as to the honour and loyalty of his sentiments.
A little more reserve would have become an Anglican
Bishop better, but in spite of his age — ^he speaks of a
journey undertaken in 1772 — he was altogether too for-
getful of his sacred duties and, if he recalled them by
chance, it was only to scoff at them — an attitude which
showed as much bad taste as Emma's when she boasted
to Greville, her former lover, of her " domestick happi-
ness."

Lady Hamilton soon became Lord Bristol's very dear
Emma. All we have of their correspondence dates from
the year 1795, when Emma had already been married
for four years. No doubt, being a loyal gentleman, the
Ambassador did not read the letters addressed to his wife,
otherwise he might have wondered at a certain epistle
signed familiarly with the initial B., and terminating with
these two lines :

" Oh ! Emma, who'd ever be wise.
If madness be loving of thee .'' "

Had he read this letter Hamilton would have done
well to say to himself that when a man marries a girl like
Emma Lyon, he runs the risk of such adventures even
from a bishop who was all the time in love with another
woman.

On another occasion, Bristol asked Emma to intervene
with the Queen of Naples.

"Emma! If that dear Queen of Naples does not
write, herself, to Prince d'Oria for me, I won't look
at your beautiful face these six months — coUte qui
coAte."*

As soon as Bristol was obliged to leave Emma, he re-
sumed his correspondence with her, calling her the centre
of his heart, the incomparable Emma, ^uella senza para-
* l,etUrs of Lord l<lelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 2^1.4.

LADY HAMILTON AND ROMNEY 75

gona, as he put it in Italian. " This moment I received
your billet doux and very dulcet it is."* Another letter
to his ever dearest Emma ends with these words :

" Ever and invariably, dearest, dear Emma,
Most affectionately Yours,

B.
" You see I am but the second letter of your alphabet,
though you are the first of mine."t

Finally, on November 24, 1798, the merry prelate sent
the following threat from Milan. " If Sir William does
not contrive to send me my passport, I will — I will ex-
communicate him, and send him to the devil before his
time." The letter ends with these words, and bears no
signature. In any case, Sir William was to be on his
guard! 4:

Beside the sincere admirers and fickle friends who
thronged around Emma there were others, her com-
panions not in the search of pleasure, but in the pursuit
of art, with whom she seems to have had only pure inter-
course, and amongst these Romney must probably be
counted. Emma was anxious to keep his esteem or, at
least, to prevent the artist who had known her only too
well, whose favourite model she had been, from com-
menting on the new Lady Hamilton. When writing to
him she took up an unexpected attitude and posed as a
model wife. " Oh, my dear friend, for a time I own,
through distress, my virtue was vanquished, but my sense
of virtue was not overcome. How gratefull now, then,
do I feel to my dear, dear husband that has restored

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton. t Idem.

X Idem., vol. i, p. 262. The Bishop's flippant ways made Emma feel
rather uncomfortable. Referring to Bristol in one of her letters (Decem-
ber 1 9, 1 794) she merely remarks ; " He is very fond of me and very
kind." In the Me'moires de la Contesse de Llchtenau there are some letters
from Bristol to Lady Hamilton. They are most certainly apocryphal
for in them Bristol uses the second person of the singular, which is ngt
(ustomar^ in English,

76 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

peace to my mind, that has given me honors, rank, and,
what is more, innocence and happiness."*

This phrase is recommended to all repentant Magda-
lenes whom some simple-hearted man has married.
Emma possessed a rich store of appropriate sentiments
for all occasions!

* Morrison MSS. 199.

CHAPTER IV

Emma and the court — Marie-Caroline promises to receive her — The
Neapolitan Government at the end of the eighteenth century —
Ferdinand IV — Marie-Caroline — Acton and Gallo — Expedition to
Egypt — Nelson in the Mediterranean — Lady Hamilton induces
the Neapolitan Government to receive him — Sir William's curious
position.

HAVING once chosen to wipe out the past
and commit to oblivion Emma's former
protectors, Hamilton showed only pride in
the possession of such a lovely creature. If she in-
cited him to make a show of her beauty, he certainly
enjoyed producing her, as a connoisseur delights in
the admiration bestowed on some work of art he pos-
sesses. In a letter dated January 7, 1792, he wrote to
her : " I never doubted your gaining every soul you
approach," iand again, on January 10, 1792 : "I am glad
you have been to the Academy, and in the great world. . .
You are certainly, the most domestic young woman I
know; but you are young, and most beautiful; and it
would not be natural if you did not like to shew yourself
a little in public." On January 8, he wrote : " I always
rejoice when I find you do not neglect your singing. I
am, I own, ambitious of producing something extra-
ordinary in you, and it is nearly done." *

At the time when Hamilton thus urged his wife to
push her fortunes, she had only been married about three
months. However bold she may have been, it was natural
she should hesitate before stepping forth into the un-
familiar sphere that filled her with apprehension. Dur-

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, pp. 147 and 176.

77

78 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

ing the years of close intercourse with Hamilton and
Greville, men of such unimpeachable breeding and man-
ners, she had formed herself to the ways of the world,
and had even occasion to study honourable women who
came to her receptions. But she was clever enough to
feel instinctively, and more keenly than another woman,
the perils that awaited her in the world to which she had
so eagerly desired to gain access. Once again Hamilton
became her teacher and with unwearying complaisance
undertook the social education of his wife. He taught
her how to bear herself in the presence of royalty; how
to act towards a prince, a cardinal or a minister. He
showed her how to bow, how to address august person-
ages, how to sit down when they allow it. The young
bride assimilated lessons and rules, and thus equipped
was all the more successful, as, fortunately for her, she
was to be presented to a Queen who was not over par-
ticular about her connections, and had no right to be
exacting. Probably the wily Ambassador had foreseen
this result. He must have consulted the Queen con-
cerning his plan to marry his beautiful mistress, for other-
wise he would have risked losing his post. But at the
Court of Naples he was persona grata, and Marie-Caroline
welcomed his wife, whose popularity soon surpassed his
own.

Political considerations undoubtedly played a great
part in the sanction that was so readily granted to this
extraordinary marriage. Dates are significant and must
not be overlooked. Emma arrived in Naples in the spring
of the year 1786, and it was not until September 6, 1791,
that she became the wife of the Ambassador. More-
over, the marriage took place in London and not in
Naples. It is probable that during these five years or, at
least, during the latter part of this period, the Ambassa-
dor was negotiating with the Court of Naples to secure
the Sovereigns' recognition of the future Lady Hamil-
ton. In 1786 it seemed impossible to grant this favour,
but by 1 79 1 all obstacles had vanished. In the distance

A POLITICAL COMPROMISE 79

was the roar of the French Revolution. At Mantua and
at Pilnitz, Leopold II had declared himself ready to march
against the rebels. It was only natural that Marie-Caro-
line should wish to help her brother in his endeavour to
release their sister, whose hardships had increased since
the unlucky flight to Varennes. But in order to act with
some security, Marie-Caroline required ships to safeguard
her ports. Her fleet was incapable of fighting against a
naval force such as France could display, and the Em-
peror, her brother, had no vessels at all. Britain was the
only nation that could protect the Kingdom of Naples,
therefore it was necessary for Marie-Caroline to conciliate
Britain, and it was not the moment to quarrel with the
British Ambassador about a woman. Although the Queen
was very religious, in this extremity, had Hamilton in-
formed her he was about to marry the devil, she would
gladly have given him her blessing, provided she might
rely on Britain and be protected by her fleet. Thus even
before her marriage Emma became the object of a politi-
cal compromise.*

* There was no compromise at the Court of England however, for
Queen Charlotte, a woman of great virtue, refused to receive the new
Lady Hamilton. In 1800, the Elector of Saxony inflicted the same
mortification on her. A letter from Horace Walpole indicates that,
even before the wedding, Marie-Caroline had promised to acknowledge
her as the wife of the Ambassador. In the same way Marie Antoinette,
who had been so merciless towards Mme. du Barry, gave Emma the
warmest welcome in Versailles after she had become Hamilton's wife.
The two cases were very diiferent. A feeling of personal dignity pre-
vented the Dauphine from speaking to the mistress of Louis XV ;
moreover she did not wish to offend Choiseul who had negotiated
her marriage with the Dauphin, and was the sworn enemy of Mme.
du Barry. Besides, the favourite's husband was a low adventurer
whereas, however humble Emma Lyon's origin might be, she was the
legitimate wife of a British Ambassador. In foreign countries, but
not in England, her marriage had wiped out the past. Thus in the
year 1 802, when Hamilton and his wife, together with Nelson, who
had become their inseparable companion, visited the Castle of Blen-
heim, the Duke of Marlborough sent them refreshments, but did not
appear himself. This slight was not intended for Hamilton, still
less for Nelson. Evidently it was aimed solely at their companion.

8o A GREAT ADVENTURESS

The Neapolitans were simply waiting for England to
join the Coalition. In the beginning of the year 1793,
after the murder of Louis XVI, the British Cabinet at
length came to a decision. On July 1 2 of the same year,
Acton, the Marchese Santo-Marcello and the Marchese
Circello, representing Ferdinand IV, concluded a treaty
with Hamilton, each party promising to provide the other
with troops.

Thus the Neapolitan historian CoUetta is mistaken
when he asserts that Emma's favour sprang from the
ascendency which she exercised over Lord Nelson. The
real motive of the brilliant reception which she met with
at the Court of Naples was a political one and existed at
the time of her marriage and even before.* It existed in
1793 as it did in 1791. Considering the powerful aid she
was to receive from England, Marie-Caroline did not
hesitate to receive the wife of the Ambassador, and Lady
Hamilton's great personal charm soon increased her fav-
our at Court.

It will here be necessary to give a short sketch of the
principal personages of the Neapolitan Court.

The appearance of King Ferdinand IV was conspicuous
by the extraordinary proportions of his nose. The Nea-
politans, who delight in distributing nicknames, called
him irreverently Nasone. He had inherited this peculiar
feature from his father, but in the case of Charles III the
nose was well shaped, elegant and, in spite of its size,
distinguished looking, whereas Ferdinand looked almost
like a caricature. In character the two Kings were also
totally different. Charles III had conquered his kingdom
by a brilliant exploit, having taken an active part in the
victory of Bitonto. He had governed wisely, accom-
plishing great public works and introducing useful re-
forms. Ferdinand, on the contrary, was an ignorant man,

* See our remarks on p. 118 etc. After her marriage, Emma wrote
to Romney that she had been presented at the Queen's personal request
and that Marie-Caroline had invited her to dine as soon as she arrived
in Naples.

FERDINAND IV OF NAPLES

A PHILOSOPHIC MONARCH 8i

and it has even been asserted that his ministers deliber-
ately fostered his ignorance in order to enjoy more power.
Incapable and destitute of elevated sentiments, he yet
possessed enough common sense to act justly on some
occasions. He was a very good-natured man and made
no pretence of being clever. In one respect only did he
resemble his father; he was passionately fond of hunting,
— the hereditary and barbarous taste of the Bourbons.

The following letter written by Marie-Caroline on
January 28, 1799, just after Ferdinand had lost his king-
dom and was mourning the death of one of his children,
will give an idea of the King's character or, rather, of his
sentiments. It is worthy of note that the Queen always
spoke of him with real affection, which is rather singular
if it be remembered how unfaithful they were to each
other : " Religion or resignation help your dear father
to bear up. He is well and contented; he has taken a
pretty little country house; he spends his time building
and cultivating. In the evening he goes to the theatre
or to the fancy dress ball. He is gay and I admire him.
Naples might be the land of Hottentots so completely
has he forgotten it."*

Ferdinand willingly left the burden of State affairs to
his capable wife, of whom he was fond of saying : " My
wife knows everything. She is very wise." Admiral
CoUingwood, wishing to speak indulgently of the Nea-
politan King wrote to his wife : " The King has the
appearance of a country gentleman. Nature surely shaped
him for that condition." General Thiebault, less well
disposed towards him, relates certain stories that circulated
throughout Naples and according to which he was any-
thing but a gentleman, and a boor rather than a country

* Von Helfert, Fahrizto Ruffb, p. 530. " Vostre cher pire se porte,
soit religion r&ignation ; or, il se porte bien et est content, il a pris une
jolie maisonnette de campagne, bitit, cultive, le soir va au theatre, bal
masque est gai et je 1' admire. Naples est pour lui comrae les Hottentots,
il n'y pense plus." — An amusing example of Marie-Caroline's extra-
ordinary French. (Translator's note.)

82 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

squire. Regretfully he calls the King a blackguard.*
Ferdinand's low tastes may account for his having been
such a favourite with the Lazzaroni. Rulers often win
more popularity by their vices than by their virtues. How-
ever, after the Revolution in Naples, he put his shoulder to
the wheel, and to the best of his ability took up the reins
of government.

Marie-Caroline of Lorraine, Queen of Naples, daugh-
ter of the Emperor Francis I and the illustrious Maria
Theresa of Austria, had, on the contrary, inherited her
mother's talents if not her virtues. She was born for
action, and managed the King, the State, and her love
intrigues with the greatest energy. Ferdinand was per-
fectly willing to abdicate in her favour, and this, strange
to say, fulfilled the very wishes and expectations of the
parents of the young Queen. When in 1768 Marie-
Caroline wedded Ferdinand IV, Maria Theresa still be-
wailed the loss of the Two Sicilies which her father had
conquered and then been forced to abandon. She longed
to take possession of them once more, indirectly at least,
through her daughter's marriage with this weak and in-
capable husband, t It had even been stipulated that, in
the event of the Queen giving birth to a son, she should
be entitled to sit in the Council of State. The well-known
fruitfulness of the House of Habsburg justified her hope
that a prince would be born to her daughter, and she
relied on the young Queen's intelligence and energy to
help her In getting a hold on the Kingdom. In both
cases her expectations were fulfilled. Marie-Caroline had
eighteen children, and from the birth of her first son

* See Memoires by General Baron Thiebault, vol. ii, p. 259. These
same details are quoted by Colletta. The indulgent Madame Le Brun
remarks that : " Ferdinand spent most of his time at Caserta busying
himself with the factories there ; the work-girls forming, it is said, a
sort of harem."

t Maria Theresa had been so firmly set on this match, that Marie-
Caroline was the third daughter whom she affianced to Ferdinand, the
wo other princesses, Jeanne and Josepha, having died prematurely.

A MASTERFUL QUEEN 83

(January 6, 1775) she never ceased to rule Naples until
her fatal obstinacy brought the monarchy to the very
verge of destruction.

Mme. Le Brun, who painted several portraits of Queen
Caroline, says : " Although she was not as beautiful as
her younger sister, the Queen of France, yet she reminded
me very much of her. Her face was worn,* yet it still
bore traces of past beauty. Her hands and more especi-
ally her arms, were perfect in shape and colour." In her
portraits Marie-Caroline has a very hard expression, and,
although she was at times capable of real and deep feel-
ing, she could be relentless and unmerciful. Her chin
was powerful; her eyes restless and remarkably piercing.
The general expression of her face was so masterful that
it was almost masculine in its determination. In spite
of these stern characteristics, that seem to exclude all
womanly grace and sweetness, the Queen was essentially
feminine, and her strong will and religious principles did
not save her from all the frailty of her sex. True, her
strength of will was nothing but pig-headedness prompted
by her wish to domineer, and her piety was very much
contaminated by superstition. She was certainly good-
looking, judging by a portrait painted in 1789 by An-
gelica Kauffmann, and by another which she gave to Lady
Hamilton and which recalls the features of Marie-An-
toinette. Emma and other admirers, not to mention
Acton, called her the charming ^ueen, and even making
allowance for the indulgence it is customary to show to
crowned heads, it would have been ridiculous to apply
this epithet to an ugly woman. However, the fact that
she was very generous and gave without counting, may
have contributed to make her appear charming in the
eyes of those she favoured.

Although as a wife Marie-Caroline did not imitate her
mother's virtues, she always showed sincere affection to-
wards her husband. Whether she did so in order to pre-
vent him from suspecting her infidelity, or to make
* Mme. Le Brun saw her in 1790.

84 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

amends to him and obtain his forgiveness, is a problem
of feminine psychology that is not easily solved. It seems
that all women who fail like the Queen, entertain the
kindest dispositions towards the husbands they deceive;
indeed Balzac declares : " When a woman treats her hus-
band with consideration there is nothing more to be said."
In all circumstances, Marie-Caroline showed the greatest
regard for Ferdinand. She was much alarmed when he
left her during the Revolution in Naples, and to her
daughter, the Empress, she thus expressed her anxiety :
" All these circumstances have decided your excellent
father to go there himself. He has 1400 foot and 600
horse with him. He made up his mind quite suddenly.
It was all decided and put into execution in the space of
twenty-four hours. You may imagine what I have suf-
fered! We have never been so far from each other be-
fore, and separated by the sea besides."* Such a letter
might have been written by a young bride brutally torn
away from the man she loved. It is hard to realise that
the woman who could thus tremble fondly for the welfare
of her husband — she was writing to her daughter it is
true — had already given herself to a dozen lovers and
that, on his side, the dear husband made a mistress of
every woman who accepted his advances, and even, ac-
cording to Thi6bault, of those who resisted him.f More-
over, the couple were on very bad terms since the Nea-
politan gazettes had revealed to Ferdinand, who was then
in Palermo, the scandals of his wife's private life.

With all her faults, Marie-Caroline was a most devoted
mother, and the love she showed to her daughters in par-
ticular, is really touching, in spite of the awful French
in which she expressed herself. " On Easter morning I
ate two little morsels at your seats thinking of you. I
dare to send you the childish present of two eggs."J " I

* Von Helfert, Fabrizio Ruffo, p. 78.

t General Thiebault, Memoirei, vol. ii, p. 258 note.

X April I, 1804.

THE QUEEN'S CHARACTER 85

have put your hair and some of Antoinette's in a locket
so as to have you always near me."* After the birth of
a grandchild she wrote to one of her daughters : " I wept
with joy and blessed God ! I am still in ecstasies ! Your
dear letter, your charming enquiries and attentions have
increased my raptures, tenderness and joy. May God
bless you! May he comfort you is the prayer of
my sincere heart! May he render you happy and con-
tented! I cannot talk of anything else, as I live and
breathe only for your welfare."! Marie-Caroline was by
no means unprincipled, for she rightly judged her sister-
in-law, the Queen of Spain, wife of Charles IV, whose
son Ferdinand had just married the Princess Antoinette
of Naples — Marie-Caroline's " little Toto." " Her hus-
band is all in all to her, but her mother-in-law is a perfect
wretch; as she has neither religion, morals nor honour, I
am prepared for the worst. No one would ever believe
the gambling, disorder and infamous condition of her
house, of which my daughter and all who have been there
give me accounts.''^ Later on, however, the same evil
reports were spread about concerning the Queen of
Naples.

One trait in the character of the Queen is very much
to her credit. It is well known that she was a bitter enemy
of Napoleon who, through the agency of his police, pub-
lished the worst rumours about her, with the object of
paving the way for the famous decree whereby he de-
clared that the Bourbons of Naples had ceased to reign.
Yet, in spite of the violent hatred with which Napoleon
inspired Marie-Caroline, she always professed the deepest
admiration for his talent. Her masterful mind made her
capable of appreciating the great general. It has already
been stated that from the very first day of their acquaint-
ance she became sincerely attached to Emma, in whose
eyes the " adorable Queen " was clothed with every vir-

* August 13, 1805. t December 21, i8oz.

X October 21, 1804.

86 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

tue. But the clever favourite had been well trained by
her husband, for, in her letters, she often remarked : " I
kept my distance."*

Besides the sovereign who shirked the burden of
authority, and the Queen, who in spite of that clause in
her marriage settlement, could not reign in her own right,
two men of very different calibre, Acton and the Mar-
chese Gallo, ruled the Kingdom of Naples during this
period.

John Acton — in Italy he was called Giovanni — was
born at Besangon, on October i, 1737. His father was
an Irish doctor established in France. Before entering
the service of Naples, he had been successively in the
French and Tuscan navies. His portraits represent him
with wide-open astonished eyes and a foolish expression,
but, in reality, he was by no means devoid of merit. He
first distinguished himself during an expedition which
Charles III of Spain undertook against Algiers with
the help of the Neapolitans, the Maltese and the
Tuscans. Acton was in command of the latter. " The
allies having failed in their attempt to land forces, the
Spanish fleet, composed of great heavy vessels, could not
get near enough to the coast to cover the retreat of the
defeated troops. The vessels commanded by Acton were
of a lighter build and could sail close to the coast, so that
he was able to protect the Spanish with his artillery and
thus saved three or four thousand men, who would other-
wise have been cut to pieces. It is easy, adds the author
of this account, to gain an undeserved reputation amongst
men. Acton owed his success to the fact that his ships

* Letter to Greville written on June z, 1793. Marie-Caroline had
such confidence in her friend that she even confessed to her that docu-
ments had been stolen from Mackau, the French minister, and that it
had been done at her command : " I am delighted you liked Custode.
He is a witty, clever and active man, but he needs to be kept in order.
It was he who carried off the documents and records from Mackau's
house." Concerning this violation of diplomatic rights see Marie-Caro-
line, reine des Deux Sicilies, by Andre Bonnefons, published by Perrin,
1909.

JOHN ACTON 87

were light; but this chance served to win him the reputa-
tion of being a great captain, and a genius capable of
creating a navy."*

This harsh criticism seems to be inspired by an adverse
political passion for, on this occasion, Acton certainly
accomplished his duty in a brilliant manner, displaying
great courage and presence of mind, and Charles III
readily acknowledged his services. The Franco-Irishman
changed his country once more and became director of
the navy at Naples. At Court he succeeded in avoiding
the numerous snares that waylaid him, and pushed his
fortunes so cleverly that he became the Queen's lover,
a circumstance which, however, did not deprive him of
the King's favour. Successively he became Minister of
Marine, Minister of Finance, and finally Prime Min-
ister. His career was not absolutely faultless, but he
bore up honourably until the end, as he remained in
power until the victorious French caused his downfall.

The Marchese Gallo, who did not become Prime Min-
ister until January 10, 1798, had not Acton's brilliant
talents, but he was so supple, so insinuating and clever,
that he was never out of office. He was always needed
somewhere. Acton's violence and hatred of the national
enemy made him all-powerful at home, but Gallo's smooth
tongue was of no less importance when the possibility of
having to negotiate with that same enemy had to be taken
into consideration. Acton personified war, Gallo diplo-
macy. The one was ever ready to go ahead, the other
stood to cover the retreat. Emma, the wife of the diplo-
matist, naturally preferred Acton, and it will be seen how
harshly she judged his wily colleague. Men and women
such as Acton and Emma, are exposed to great reverses;
whereas clever men of Gallo's type ingratiate themselves
with all parties and withstand every upheaval. After
having been Ambassador in Vienna, Gallo became Prime
Minister. Towards the end of the year 1798, he was

* G. M. Arrighi, Saggio storkoper sevire di studio aUe revoluzioni polittcke
t civili dal regno di Napoli, nella stamperia del Corriere, Napoli, 1809.

88 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

once again appointed to the Imperial Court and then sent
to France. He thus succeeded in remaining in office until
the reign of Murat who, in the year 1813, conferred on
him the title of Duke. As a Franco-Italian, he had the
direction of a department, in which the two languages
were used alternatively and, according to the letter he was
writing, he signed himself, il Marchese (or il Ducd) di
Gallo, or le Marquis (or le Due) de Gallo.

These were the principal actors who figured in the Nea-
politan comedy when, between 1791 and 1798, Emma
Lyon made her d6but in the company. They still held
their parts when the farce suddenly became deadly earnest,
and a new character appeared on the scene. This per-
sonage who, like Tartuffe, came on in the third act only,
was destined to spread conflagration in the history of
Naples, and in the life of Lady Hamilton. Emma Lyon
had been much beloved. Many had desired her and she
had abandoned herself to their desire. After having been
the mistress of Greville and of his uncle she had succeeded
in marrying the elder and richer of her two admirers.
The heroine of this sordid past, the prostitute who had
become the wife of an Ambassador was, in her 35 th year,*
to inspire a great man with one of those wild and over-
whelming passions that echo throughout the ages and, in
the memory of men, associate the names of the lover and
the faithless wife; Cleopatra and Anthony; Diana of Poi-
tiers and Henry II; the Marquise du Chatelet and Vol-
taire; Sophie de Monnier and Mirabeau; George Sand
and Alfred de Musset; Mme. de Bonnemains and General
Boulanger.

Before analysing the origin of this celebrated passion
the cause of Rear-Admiral Nelson's visit to Naples must
be stated.

General Buonaparte, who had returned triumphant
from his first campaign, had just proposed to the Govern-
ment of the Directory that expedition to Egypt which has
been variously regarded as a supreme stroke of genius

* According to Mrs Gamlin she was thirty-three.

BUONAPARTE'S ESCAPE 89

and as an incipient act of madness. This point is still un-
settled, but it does not enter into the object of this work
to discuss the question.

The extraordinary secrecy that prevailed over the pre-
liminaries of the expedition is almost unique in the annals
of history. Six men only, the five Directors and the
General, were informed of the object of these prepara-
tions. Not one of the Ministers, not one of Buonaparte's
companions, had been let into the secret, and while the
expedition was being discussed even the secretary of the
Directory had not been admitted to the sittings. Natur-
ally enough the wives of the Directors and Josephine
Buonaparte were also kept in ignorance of the hidden
plans. Indeed the mystery was so well guarded that the
administrators and savants who were to join the expedi-
tion had not the vaguest idea as to their destination. The
troops that were gathered together at Toulon received
the name of Left Wing of the Army of England (Aile
Gauche de 1' armee d' Angleterre). Whatever name it
pleased the French to bestow on this formidable army,
Britain naturally felt some anxiety concerning these
strange preparations that were being carried on in such
secrecy. Admiral Jervis, Earl St. Vincent who, from the
heights of Gibraltar was watching Spain, dispatched Rear-
Admiral Nelson with three, and subsequently thirteen
vessels to blockade Toulon and, at any cost, to prevent
Buonaparte's escape.

On this mission Nelson was pursued by the most ex-
traordinary ill-luck. He encountered fierce storms that
forced him to take his battered vessels into dock at the
Isles St Pierre. Buonaparte made the most of this ad-
vantage, and slipped through Nelson's fingers, sailing on
30th Florial, Year VI. (May 19, 1798). When Nelson at
length reached Toulon, he found the French fleet had
escaped. For the second time Fortune refused to smile
on his ambition, and he had failed in his mission. Furi-
ous, he started wildly in pursuit of the vanished enemy
seeking everywhere for information. But he lacked

90 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

water and supplies. The western ports of the Mediter-
ranean were closed to him by the defection of Spain and
the neutrality of the Italian States. In despair he wrote
to Hamilton, asking him to obtain for his fleet admission
into the Bay of Naples. The Neapolitan Government
had some reason to hesitate before returning a favourable
answer to the Admiral's request. They might well fear
that by opening their ports to a British fleet, the French
would consider that they had committed a breach of the
Franco-Neapolitan treaty. They were unaware that, at
this moment, the Republic wished at all costs to maintain
peace. It was Lady Hamilton who was instrumental in
inducing the Neapolitan Government to receive the Eng-
lish vessels.

" Nelson's messenger. Captain Troubridge, arrived at
the Embassy at 6 o'clock in the morning. Sir WiUiam
and Lady Hamilton at once arose and proceeded to the
residence of the Minister, Sir John Acton, who convened
a council, the King of Naples being present. "While this
conference was taking place Lady Hamilton sought the
Queen's apartments. Her Majesty being still in bed. To
her Lady Hamilton explained the position of the British
fleet, and urged the Queen to write instructions in accord-
ance with Nelson's request, for she was well aware that
any command of Caroline of Naples would be more hon-
oured than that of her feeble-minded husband. At first
the royal lady was reluctant to interfere, saying that the
King and his Ministers would decide in Council; but, on
the earnest representations of her petitioner that dire
calamity would accrue to her Kingdom should the result
be a refusal, and moved by the supplicating entreaties
poured forth by Lady Hamilton, who was kneeling by
her bed-side, she at last consented. A pen was immedi-
ately placed in her hand, and, at the dictation of her clear-
headed companion, she wrote the order, directed to all
the Governors of the Two Sicilies, ' to receive with hos-
pitality the British fleet, to water, victual and aid them.'
At eight o'clock the Council broke up, and the elated

LADY HAMILTON TRIUMPHS 91

Ambassador's wife was summoned to join her husband.
From the expression of the faces of the King, Sir John
Acton, and Sir William, she quickly learnt that the con-
clave had ended in failure, and that they felt they could
not break the compact with France. She said nothing
while the King was present, but on the way home she
told the two gentlemen that she had anticipated the result
and provided against it, and to their astonishment and
delight produced the important document. In communi-
cating to Nelson the decision of the Council, Sir William
Hamilton was proudly desirous that his clever wife would
receive all credit for the great feat she had successfully
performed; he, therefore, left it to her to forward the
Queen's command; and to signify that the achievement
was hers solely, and that as such it should be recognised,
he added to his letter : ' You will receive from Emma
herself what will do all the business and procure all your
wants.' "*

It is impossible to say whether this account may be
relied on. Perhaps Nelson invented it later on so that
the woman he loved might enjoy the honour of having
over-ruled the Neapolitan Government. Or, perhaps, the
whole story was made up by Lady Hamilton, who attri-
buted so much to her own influence and initiative. How-
ever this may be, Emma alone could know the above
mentioned facts, which she inserted later on in a petition
addressed to the Regent, and which seemed all the more
worthy of credit, as Nelson himself referred to them in
the codicil of the will made on the morning of Trafalgar.

In spite of the precision with which certain details are
given, the whole account seems very improbable, and it is
quite possible that Lady Hamilton persuaded her lover
into believing she had played an important part. How-
ever, it is only fair to leave to Lady Hamilton the credit
of having rendered this further service to her country.
Mrs Gamlin gives the account of Emma's intervention,
but she does not mention Nelson's visit to Naples on
* Morrison MSS. 1046.

92 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

June 20. According to her, the Admiral sailed first for
Syracuse and wrote from there to Hamilton on July 23.
It will be seen that during the two months preceding this
date events of the utmost importance, for history in
general and for Nelson and Emma in particular, had
taken place.

Before we turn to these events there is one thing that
calls for comment. Hamilton, the cautious and circum-
spect Ambassador, who treated his wife with such tender
affection, cannot be counted a fastidious husband, and
from this time onwards he played the part of Sganarelle.
What is to be thought of a man who, when writing to
an officer with whom his wife was barely acquainted,
speaks of her familiarly by her Christian name .? " You
will receive from Emma," he wrote. These words,
quoted by Emma herself, must be authentic, in as much
as they confirm Hamilton's way of speaking about his
wife. Other letters written by Hamilton to Nelson
were in the same familiar strain. As her husband,
he should have known better than to speak of her
by her Christian name except when conversing with
relations. The very fact that so many men had previously
called his wife " Emma, my very dear Emma," should
have made him refrain from using this familiar name
when speaking to strangers. It is still more extraordinary
that when writing to Nelson he sometimes speaks of
" our dear Emma" (October 16, 1801). Nothing could
be more explicit.*

* In the memorial which Lady Hamilton addressed to the Regent
Emma says that Nelson called Aboukir " Emma's battle ". This is
significant.

CHAPTER V

Nelson's first meeting with Lady Hamilton — Description of Nelson —
Nelson falls in love — The results of his love — The lover and the
husband — Nelson's esteem and friendship for Sir William Hamilton
— Correspondence — Mrs Gamlin's opinion — Nelson's letter to his
wife — Lady Hamilton's first letter to Nelson — Lady Hamilton's
politics — Aboukir.

NELSON'S love for Lady Hamilton was to be
of such consequence to the civilised world that
it is worth while to try to fix the date of its
origin, and to note when it first manifested itself. This
it is difficult to determine precisely, for no woman cares
to publish on the house-tops or write down in her diary
that on such-and-such a day she was unfaithful to her
husband,* nor does the lover boast of having betrayed
his friend. But there are involuntary and spontaneous
manifestations of the feelings, which reveal the most
carefully guarded secret. The disclosure of their casual
but definite references will suffice to fix the date.

In 1793 Nelson, who was then post-captain, had been
despatched to Naples by Admiral Hood to obtain troops
for Toulon. As soon as he reached Naples he got into
communication with Hamilton. Although, on principle,
the Ambassador never offered hospitality to the officers
of the fleet, he invited Nelson to stay at the Palazzo
Sessa. With singular penetration he seemed to foresee
the brilliant career that lay before his guest, and said to
his wife : " The Captain I am about to introduce to you
is a little man, and far from handsome; but he will live
* The Duchess d'Abrantis is, perhaps, the only woman who displayed
such frankness. See her Journal Intime in La Generale Junot, Duchesse
d'Abranth, by J. Turquan, published by J. Tallandier.

94 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

to be a great man. Let him be put in the room pre-
pared for Prince Augustus."*

This prophecy, which seems to prove that Hamilton
was a better judge of men than of women, aroused
Emma's ambition and interest in the new-comer. Since
the preceding year, when, through Hamilton's illness, she
had been so near becoming a widow, she had often re-
flected on her position. Sir "William was getting on in
years, and a second attack of fever in a climate so un-
favourable to northerners might have a fatal issue. With
a view to guarding herself against the consequences of
such an untoward event, she was looking about for a
possible protector. If her life be subjected to a close
scrutiny, it is abundantly clear that she had thought out
a very practical plan. Hamilton had not succeeded in
curing her moral blemishes, and she played with all her
former skill on the old man's weakness for the further-
ance of her schemes. As a last resource, in the event of
Hamilton's death, she had planned to make Greville
marry her. All her letters breathe the spirit of a love
that was not quite extinguished, that might yet burn
anew, a love tender and enduring. These were her usual
tactics, and from the very beginning of her adventurous
career she had had recourse to them. Captain Payne's
career made him an uncertain protector, who might any
day have to leave her, so she found herself another, to
whom to turn when she had ruined him. Payne was
compliant and Featherstonehaugh had welcomed her, only
to be ruined in his turn. Then she played the same game
with Greville. A few years were enough to beggar him,
but she had taken care to win the good graces of her
lover's uncle. These clever tactics were crowned with a
success beyond all her expectations, for she managed to
inveigle Hamilton into marrying her.

Her whole conduct proves that Emma was incapable
of any great passion but that for money. It is, therefore,
impossible to suppose that she really loved Nelson. At
*2Son of George III.

FEARS FOR THE FUTURE 95

each new intrigue of her frivolous existence, she revealed
a practical, designing nature, together with the cour-
tesan's love of luxury and the artist's craving for ap-
plause. Her own interests came before every other
consideration. Yet some have called her romantic! She
was constantly haunted by the thought of what would
become of her if Sir William were to die without mak-
ing a will in her favour. Her husband allowed her ;^2oo
a year as pin-money, and in those days, in Italy, that sum
was considered almost a fortune. Fine clothes, luxurious
surroundings and extravagance had become necessaries
of life to her. Her title, her position as wife of the
British Ambassador, her life at Court and her friendship
with the Queen had completely turned her head, and she
could not forego the external marks of respect, the bow-
ing and scraping, so dear to those who do not deserve
it, and which the world generally grants to money and
rank. All these considerations convinced her of the
necessity of adding one more string to her bow, for to
work she was ashamed, and she had no will to bury her-
self in the country. Her husband had told her that Nelson
would reach the highest honours. Well and good! She
would make Nelson hers. She would make him love her
and take her as his mistress. When Hamilton died,
Nelson should marry her. True, he was already married,
but that mattered little to Emma. There was the
Divorce Court.

Lady Hamilton was much more concerned about the
perfection of her Attitudes than of her soul, and about
the beauty of her person than of her feelings. Her plan
matured, she bent her whole energy on conquering Nel-
son. She was a past-mistress in the art of coquetry. The
melting glance, the blush that seemed so innocent upon
her cheek, and all the armoury of seduction were hers.
All her contemporaries have praised the charm of her
person and the beauty of her features. Add to this the
freedom of the cunning courtesan, who knows well the
weak points of the place she is investing, and it will

96 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

easily be understood that she soon captivated Nelson.
Sailors who have spent their youth gazing on the broad
bosom of the ocean fall easier victims than other men
to women's wiles. During their long cruises they live in
an unreal world and have a natural tendency to clothe
women with all the perfections that exist only in their
dreams, and to think of love as something infinite and
stupendous as the elements that surround them. All
women feel these things instinctively, and Emma's experi-
ence gave her a very clear insight into the nature of the
man she wished to seduce. That Nelson was not good-
looking, and had never been courted by such a beautiful
women, made the victory all the easier. When with
queenly favour Emma, the former courtesan, made the
first advances. Nelson believed them genuine. In a very
short time their intimacy became so notorious that Josiah
Nisbet, his stepson, " vehemently protested at a public
dinner against the too profuse attentions of his step-father
to Lady Hamilton, his violent conduct necessitating his
removal from the table by his brother officers. His ex-
citement was afterwards condoned on the plea of
inebriety."*

In all circumstances the real and the apparent cause of
an event must be distinguished. In this case we can only

* Mrs H. Gamlin, op. ctt., ch. xii, p. 98. The authoress adds that
Nelson had made some attempts on the virtue of his hostess, and more-
over that he desired every woman he met. In his work Cartegglo di
Maria-Carolina, Palumbo says that the liaison between Nelson and Lady
Hamilton began in 1793, and from this moment they corresponded
without interruption. However he does not substantiate his assertion.
The historian CoUetta believes that it was on his return from Aboukir
that Nelson fell in love with Lady Hamilton. According to W. Sichel,
Lady Hamilton already took an interest in Nelson in 1 796, for her
husband wrote to the Admiral saying ; " Lady Hamilton and I admire
your constancy, and hope the severe service you have undergone will be
handsomely rewarded." {Nekon's ktters, vol. ii, p. i88.) "The severe
service " can only refer to a long cruise which required constancy and
endurance. Fauchier-Magnan quotes a letter written by Emma
before Nelson returned to Naples in 1798 ; "I will not tell you how
glad I shall be to see you." (June 17, 1798.)

THE INDISCRETION OF JOSIAH 97

be guided by probabilities. Josiah Nisbet's indignation
seems to have sprung from a variety of feelings, which
it is necessary to explain. It is quite possible that
Emma's free-and-easy manner and the assurance that
marked her bearing had made a deep impression on the
young sailor, whom she had flattered with some marks of
favour and attention. When a young man attracts the
notice of a well-known and beautiful woman, whose
natural charm is heightened by her coquetry, the senti-
ment which he feels towards her is generally a livelier
one than mere gratitude. Josiah Nisbet, who was a
novice in such matters, had attached undue importance
to the advances whereby Lady Hamilton intended to
secure his neutrality and to conceal the real object of her
attack. His feelings had really become more or less
seriously involved, though Nelson, never thinking that
this excessive amiability on the part of his hostess might
be prompted by some hidden motive, simply attributed
her attitude to politeness, and wrote to his wife :
" Lady Hamilton has been wonderfully kind and good
to Josiah. She is a young woman of amiable man-
ners, and who does honour to the station to which she
is raised."*

If Nelson could thus praise the woman whose notorious
past was known to him, he must already have been under
the spell of her beauty. Perhaps Nisbet also worshipped
her entrancing image. In his youth and inexperience he
may have imagined that the transcendently beautiful
woman really cared for him, and that for him were meant
the wistful glances, the soft words, the playful chatter
that went straight to his heart. Thus is created often a
silent passion, which may last an hour or a lifetime. In
this case the outcome was Nisbet's sudden outburst at
table, when the brutal truth was revealed to him and he
understood he had been fooled and used as a screen to
mask the siren's attack on his step-father. His violence
may have been the expression of poignant grief and shat-
* Lord Nelson's Dispatches, vol. i, p, 326.

98 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

tered hopes, though the officers' respect for their Admiral
attributed it to intoxication.

The young man was still more mortified by the know-
ledge that his step-father had betrayed his mother.
Nisbet had saved Nelson's life at the battle of Teneriffe,
when the Admiral lost his right arm. It is easy to under-
stand the tortures endured by the young officer when the
liaison between his step-father and Lady Hamilton was
made a subject of common gossip. The upshot was that
Lady Hamilton informed Nelson of all that had taken
place, and he ordered the young man to embark immedi-
ately on board the Thalia. After this incident he was kept
away from Naples, and never met his step-father again.

It is impossible to say how far matters had gone be-
tween Nelson and Lady Hamilton at this period, but
when he left Naples he did not forget Emma. On May
27, 1794, he wrote to Hamilton from Bastia, adding a
courteous word for Lady Hamilton : " Will you have
the goodness to forward the inclosed to Mr Brand, and
present my letter to Lady Hamilton." It was certainly
a cold and correct message, but what else could he say
when writing to the husband! He had no other means
of letting Emma know that he did not forget her. If
these few words prove that Nelson's thoughts were with
the lovely enchantress, it would seem, on the other hand,
that Emma's feelings had cooled down. Hamilton was
once again in perfect health, and she found Nelson really
very unattractive. There was no hurry. She could afford
to wait.

Two years later the intrigue does not seem to have
advanced, for Nelson merely added these few words to
his letter to the Ambassador : " With my best respects
to Lady Hamilton." But in 1797 a great change took
place. Nelson was named Rear-Admiral and took com-
mand of the fleet. The future lay open before him.

When Emma realised that Nelson was starting on a
brilliant career, her smouldering love burst into flame.
The scheme she had first planned recurred to her with

AN UNPARDONABLE OFFENCE 99

still greater force, and she decided to play the comedy of
passion to the end. When Nelson returned she would
renew the attack, and she had new a new weapon to
employ. She would tell him how she had suffered during
his absence, and how she had loved him ever since the
first day they met.

It was not long since Emma had written to Romney :
" I am the happiest woman in the world. Sir William
is fonder of me every day, and I hope will have no corse
to repent of what he as done, for I feel so grateful to
him that I think I shall never be able to make him
amends for his goodness to me. But why do I tell you
this. You was the first dear friend I open'd my heart to;
you ought to know me."*

Although Emma could be so deeply designing, at other
times she acted and wrote in the most thoughtless and
inconsistent manner. It is hard to say whether she was
always responsible for her half -cynical, half-ingenuous
behaviour. Without any apparent regret, she had in turn
abandoned each one of her lovers, casting them aside
when she had ruined them. With Greville she had acted
differently. She had once loved him. She had contem-
plated returning to him, as he might eventually be of use
to her.

After his death Nelson was to suffer the same fate as
the others. The uniform which the Admiral was wear-
ing when he was killed had been sent to Lady Hamilton,
not to Lady Nelson. This relic should have been sacred
to her; but her extravagance always kept her poor, and a
collector might pay highly for this old, cast-ofF garment.
So the woman whom Nelson had loved better than his
honour appeased an angry creditor by pledging the blood
of Trafalgar, for the sake of which any noble woman
would have shed the last drop of her own.

In the candid glance of Emma's deep blue eyes none
could detect her heartlessness. Every circumstance con-
spired to entangle Nelson in the toils of the enchantress.
* Morrison MSS., 199.

loo A GREAT ADVENTURESS

He was just on forty, and his weakness was notorious.
Women had always been his undoing. Emma came to
him under conditions which made it impossible for him
not to love her above all human beings, and devote him-
self entirely to her and for ever. In the first place, he
was not good-looking, and could scarcely expect to make
great feminine conquests. He was " a plain little man,*'
and if in youth his appearance had been attractive, he
had now the peasant's vulgar and cunning expression.
His origin was modest, and his father, who was Vicar
of Burnham Thorpe, where Nelson passed most of his
life, owed his living to a fortunate connection with the
Walpoles. The future admiral was the god-son of
Horace Walpole. When looking at Nelson's portraits it
is hard to believe that he was the man who seemed to
have sworn Hannibal's oath against the French, who
destroyed their fleet and was, perhaps, the prime cause
of Napoleon's downfall; the hero who, by his glorious
death in the midst of victory, won for himself a twofold
immortality. In the midst of his success, Nelson always
displayed the tastes of a parvenu. He loved to be in full
uniform and to cover his breast with the numerous
insignia bestowed on him by the different sovereigns of
Europe, but withal he remained simple and unconstrained
in manner. In this curious temperament this weakness
was in no way incompatible with qualities of the first
order.* Three deep furrows running length-wise marked
the face that was otherwise almost expressionless. In his
appearance there was nothing of Conde's lofty dignity,
nothing of the perfect outline of Buonaparte's features.
If anything, he resembled the celebrated condottiere
Walstein. A certain cold brutality was the only expres-

* Nelson had another weakness. Like Emma, he was very super-
stitious. " They each believed in omens. Before the battle of the
Nile, a white bird had perched in his cabin. He and Emma marked
the same white bird when the King was restored in the following
July ; and Nelson always declared he saw it again before Copenhagen,
though it was missed at Trafalgar. It was his herald of victory."
(Walter Sichel, «/. eit., p. 242.)

J. Hoppiierpinxt.

HORATIO, VISCOUNT NELSON

T. Wooliioth sculpts

NELSON'S CONTEMPT FOR DANGER loi

sion that shone on his smooth countenance. He was a
good but undisciplined sailor. Although a dutiful son
and a loving father, he was not a good man. The cele-
brated admiral may have owed his victories to this very
brutality and to the audacity with which, more than any
other commanding officer, he exposed himself to danger.
He received many wounds and was killed in a victorious
battle, but he had always shown the greatest contempt for
danger, of which he seemed almost unconscious. He wns
the son of a clergyman and inherited his father's faith,*
and believed himself to be protected by God.f

Although passionate, Nelson was far from being a Don
Juan, and, in spite of the attraction of women for him,
his conquests in this line had not been distinguished.
This it was that drew him towards Emma and that in-
spired him, who had hitherto only known desire, with a
deep and lasting passion for her. j

Finally, one more consideration of a most intimate

* Dr Scott, chaplain on board the Victory, relates that Nelson never
went to bed without kneeling down to say his prayers. On the
morning of October 21, a lieutenant presented himself at Nelson's
cabin door and found his Lordship on his knees writing a prayer.
(Pettigrew, oj>. cit., vol. ii, p. 519.)

t In March 180 1, on the eve of attacking Copenhagen, he wrote to
Emma : " And that Almighty Providence, who has hitherto protected
me in all dangers, and covered my head in the day of battle, still, if it
be His pleasure, support and assist me." {Dispatches, vol. iv, p. 291.)
His trust in Providence had increased because in the course of his
perilous career he had lost but one eye and one arm.

X During the interminable festivities that were given in Naples after
Nelson's return from Aboukir Bay, his superior. Lord St Vincent, wrote
with contemptuous irony to Lady Hamilton, whom he knew to be
Nelson's mistress : " Pray, do not let your fascinating Neapolitan dames
approach too near him, for he is made of flesh and blood, and cannot
resist their temptations." {Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton,
vol. i, p. 219.) This simple sentence, by which Earl St Vincent taunted
Emma cruelly, is enough to overthrow all the arguments by means of
which Mrs Gamlin endeavours to prove that Nelson never became
Lady Hamilton's lover. Her chief argument is that it was impossible
with such a God-fearing man as Nelson was,

102 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

nature was to draw him towards this woman. It is a
subject that must be treated with the utmost delicacy.

Nelson had just lost his right arm. The soldier may
glory in such a wound, but, no matter what glorious feat
may have caused this loss, the mere man — the physical,
sensible, material man — must in his relations with women
necessarily feel himself disgraced. Nelson had a wife,
but their souls were not in sympathy, and, moreover, she
was far away. Suddenly, his condition was relieved by
a woman who was willing to take pity on him. She was
not altogether virtuous, that he knew, for the rumour of
her notorious past had reached even the sailor on distant
seas. Still, since her marriage she had so far recovered
her good name that she was admitted into society and to
the close companionship of a queen.

It was hard to resist her. Her transcendent beauty was
enhanced by artistic tastes, real or assumed, and she had
talent enough to make men credit her with a superiority
that she did not possess. During long cruises Nelson
had been deprived of all feminine society, consequently
his ardent nature was stirred to its inmost depths by her
alluring advances. The violence of his emotions per-
turbed him all the more as he had then the strictest prin-
ciples on the subject of the marriage vows. Indeed, it
required all the courtesan's skill and audacity to lure him
away from his allegiance and silence the voice of con-
science. It was only after long trouble that she triumphed.
It was only after violent struggles with himself that
Nelson surrendered to her and gave himself to her for
ever, but when the final step was taken he gave way to
his feelings with the completeness and whole-heartedness
that often characterise a sailor's actions. More than one
thing drew him towards Emma. The education of both
had been neglected, the manners and language of both —
and of Emma especially — were vulgar, so that neither
would embarrass the other. Their deficiencies, rather
than their qualities, drew them together and united them.
For this reason Emma accepted the very sincer? love

A .WHIRLWIND OF PASSION 103

which Nelsoii gave her, though there was little he could
offer her with it. There can be no doubt as to the depth
of an affection that could dictate the letter in which
Nelson told her that, if she broke her nose, everybody
else would desert her, but that he would never desert her,
for he loved her for the goodness of her heart.

It is difficult to say whether at this period he had
already responded to her advances, or whether he was
still in that state of delicious torpor when the serpent of
the Bible suddenly glides forth. Perhaps, so far, he had
merely felt himself drawn towards the fatal passion that
was to^ dishonour him. The following letter written by
him to the First Lord of the Admiralty on October 4
is scarcely worded as an official despatch should be : " We
all dine this day with the King on board a Ship. ... I
am writing opposite Lady Hamilton, therefore you will
not be surprised at the glorious jumble of this letter.
Were your Lordship in my place, I much doubt if you
would write so well; our hearts and our hands must be
all in a flutter : Naples is a dangerous place, and we must
keep clear of it."*

A whirlwind of passion runs through these lines, that
seem to be a half-veiled confession that Nelson feared
becoming involved in an adventure, the consequences of
which, when considered in moments of composure, made
him tremble. This letter was written after the Battle of
the Nile, but much had happened before that.

On June 17, 1798, the British fleet had been signalled
off the Bay of Naples. A vessel had been detached and
came to anchor in sight of the town. Immediately Lady
Hamilton scribbled a letter to Nelson.

My Dear Admiral,

I write in a hurry as Capt. T. Carrol stays a
moment. God bless you, and send you victorious, and
that I may see you bring back buonaparte with you.
Pray send Cap. Hardy out to us for I shall have ^

* Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 144.,

I04 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

fever with anxiety, the Queen desires me to say every-
thing thats kind, and bids me say with her whole heart
and soul she wishes you victory. God bless you, my
dear Sir. I will not say how glad I shall be to see you.
Indeed I cannot describe to you my feelings on you being
so near us.

Ever, ever, dear Sir,

Your obliged and grateful

Emma Hamilton.*

Some of these words are very significant and betray her
passion : " for I shall have a fever with anxiety "...
" I will not say how glad I shall be to see you. Indeed
I cannot describe my feelings on you being so near us "
..." Ever, ever, dear Sir . . ." The intimacy and
tenderness of her words make it impossible to suppose
that Nelson and Lady Hamilton were still on terms of
mere courtesy or even of friendship. Besides, what
object had she in writing to him, when she had no par-
ticular news to give him ? Why should she write " your
obliged and grateful " .'' This letter can only be in-
terpreted as the expression of passion — ^real or counter-
feit — for Nelson, and of a no less ardent feeling of
patriotism, when she hopes that Nelson will bring back
Buonaparte a prisoner.

It was almost immediately followed by another note.

Dear Sir,

I send you a letter I have received this moment
from the Queen. Kiss it, and send it me back by Bowen,
as I am bound not to give any of her letters

Ever your

EMMA.f

In a much calmer strain Nelson replied on the same
day, but inadvertently he dated his letter May 17 instead
of June 17.

* Add, MSS. 34,989, f. I. t Add. MSS. 34,989, f. 3.

NELSON WEATHER-BOUND 105

My dear Lady Hamilton,

I have kissed the Queen's letter pray say I
hope for the honor of kissing her hand when no fears
will intervene, assure her Majesty that no person has her
felicity more at heart than myself, and that the sufferings
of her family will be a Tower of Strength on the day of
Battle, fear not the event, God is with us, God bless you
and Sir William pray say I cannot stay to answer his
letter.

Ever your's faithfully

Horatio Nelson.*

The following charming note was written from Syra-
cuse on June 17 :

My dear friends,

Thanks to your exertions, we have victualled
and watered; and surely watering at the fountain of Are-
thusa we must have victory. We shall sail with the
breeze, and be assured I will return either crowned with
laurel or covered with cypress.f

From these letters it may be gathered that, if Emma
contributed so much to the victualling and watering of
Nelson's fleet, she was actuated by a certain amount of
patriotism, but principally by the interested love she was
beginning to foster. In his last will Nelson attributes
all the merit to her intervention. Whatever the truth
may be, it is certain that Nelson remained in Syracuse,
not on account of Lady Hamilton but for want of a
favourable breeze, and General Buonaparte's fleet was able
to cross the Mediterranean without opposition simply
because the enemy's vessels were wind-bound off the coast
of Sicily. At length, however, the longed-for breeze
arose, and Nelson was able to set sail. On July 22 he
wrote to Sir William from Syracuse, but sent no message

* Egerton MSS., 1614, f. i.

t Pettigrew, vol. ii, p. 616. Harrison, vol. i, p. 256. Mr Walter
Sichel thinks this letter was written on July 22,

io6 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

to the Ambassador's wife, as he was writing to her on
the same day. An air of secrecy pervades this letter,
not that the writer had any mysterious information to
give her, but simply because of the secret that lay be-
tween them. This the letter confirms. Courtesy it dis-
plays, but not a trace of affection, still less of love.

My dear Madam,

I am so hurt at the treatment we received
from the power we came to assist and fight for, that I
am hardly in a situation to write a letter to an elegant
body; therefore you must on this occasion, forgive my
want of those attentions which I am ever anxious to show
you. 7 wish to know your and Sir William'' s plans for
coming down the Mediterranean^ for if we are to be
kicked at every port of the Sicilian dominions, the sooner
we are gone the better. Good God ! how sensibly I feel
our treatment, I have only to pray that I may find the
French and throw all my vengeance on them.*

Nelson seems to have written in this cold, formal
strain in order that Lady Hamilton might be able to
show the letter to her husband and to the Queen, trust-
ing the latter would thus be brought to give orders that
would secure a better reception for the British fleet. It
is also possible that by these lines he simply meant to
convey his compliments to the hostess with whom he
had formed a fleeting connection, to which he attached
no more importance than to a dinner or any other
civility. It had been an agreeable incident, and nothing
more. Perhaps, after all, the " God-fearing man " was
anxious to commit to oblivion an adventure which
weighed on his conscience when he thought of the com-
ing meeting with Lady Nelson. It was only later on
that this passing fancy became a deep passion, when after
Aboukir, in the intoxicating atmosphere of triumph and
adulation, he succumbed to a renewed and public attack

* Ivlorrison MSS., 325.

EMMA'S BATTLE 107

on the part of Lady Hamilton. Still later on, as a deli-
cate tribute to his mistress, he deliberately persuaded
himself, and made her believe, that her love had helped
him to the victory of the Nile, which he fondly called
" Emma's battle." Who knows indeed whether, in that
solemn and decisive moment, the haunting beauty of
Lady Hamilton and his passion for her, quickening all
his faculties, filling him with signal daring, may not have
suggested to him the audacious manoeuvre by means of
which he caught the French fleet between two fires.?

Lady Hamilton never lost sight of her plans for the
future, and when she saw that her husband's prophecy
concerning this plain, litde, one-armed officer was com-
ing true, she prosecuted with renewed energy her cam-
paign against the victorious hero. She overwhelmed him
with flattery and caresses; she intoxicated him with her
praise and beauty. Nelson once more forgot that he was
a married man and this time heart as well as senses re-
sponded to her charms. The woman's subtle wiles had
vanquished the conqueror, and Emma became henceforth
the centre of Nelson's life.

So Lady Hamilton was the unconscious cause of
Nelson's victory at Aboukir, just as, in 1799, by retain-
ing Nelson in Palermo, she was the unconscious cause of
Buonaparte's safe return to Fr^jus. Then, as it often
if not always happens, momentous consequences re-
sulted from absurdly small causes. To Emma England
is indebted for the victory of Aboukir, since it was she
who persuaded the Queen Marie-Caroline to allow the
British fleet to get water and provisions in Sicily, thus
rendering the encounter possible, and it was the love with
which she inspired Nelson that, in the hour of batde,
wrought his faculties up to the highest pitch of intensity.

At a first glance the letters exchanged between Lady
Hamilton and Nelson at this period do not betray
any undue intimacy. In the beginning, of their corre-
spondence Nelson addressed her as My dear Madam
(October 24, 1798), M^ dear Lady Hamilton^ an4 cpn-

io8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

tinued using these correct terms until July 31, 1801,
when, for the first time, appears the appellation My
dearest Emma. Lady Hamilton, on her side, addressed
him as Dear Sir (June 30, 1798). Their letters are full
of naive tenderness such as might be expressed by young
people who are unconscious of their real feelings, but,
in spite of this appearance of innocence, they are signifi-
cant to those who know the intricacies of human passion.
The very existence of this correspondence is in itself a
proof of their intimacy. Lovers are essentially clever at
contrivances, and find a thousand means to understand
each other whilst they appear to say nothing. They could
not resist the pleasure of corresponding with each other
on the most trivial subjects, but Sir William had to be
kept in ignorance of their sentiments. No romance ever
thrived without its interchange of letters. Guilty lovers
find a relish in the need of secrecy and the dangers it
entails. This the two lovers realised, but took good care
that in their correspondence no compromising word
escaped them which might betray their secret, should a
letter fall into the hands of Sir William. They were
careful also to avoid mentioning the names of important
personages, for in those troubled times it was easy for a
letter to miscarry. These precautions necessitated the
use of a conventional tone and language, which concealed
confidences, the detail of which sometimes escapes the
reader, but the general tenor of which it is easy to detect.
The French emigres corresponded with their friends in
France by means of an enigmatical language, which be-
came familiar to them and which they used continually.
Like many another lover, Lady Hamilton had recourse
to the same expedients. She and Nelson agreed upon a
certain language which they alone could understand.
Such women as Emma have a special gift for this mys-
terious sort of correspondence, which gives full -scope to
their duplicity and cunning.

Thus, Nelson's letter of May 12, 1799, is not by any
means as innocent as it appears on the surface.

THE SECRET CODE 109

My dear Lady Hamilton,

Accept my sincere thanks for your kind letter.
Nobody writes so well : therefore pray, say not you write
ill; for, if you do, I will say — what your goodness some-
times told me : " You 1 — e ! " I can read, and perfectly
understand, every word you write. We drank your and
Sir William's health. . . .*

The words " I can read and perfectly understand every
word you write," following on his comment on
Emma's style, are sufficient proof that an enigmatical
language agreed upon by the two lovers had been em-
ployed for the first time by Emma, and that Nelson had
been able to decipher it, and begged her to continue cor-
responding in this way. He would be able to understand
all she wrote. " Nobody writes so well." As for Sir
William's name, it was simply brought in as a blind,
under cover of which he could correspond with Emma.

May 19, 1799.
My dear Lady Hamilton,

You, and good Sir William, have spoilt me
for any place but with you. I love Mrs Cadogan. You
cannot conceive what I feel, when I call you all to my
remembrance, even to Mira, do not forget your faithful
and affectionate,

Nelson. t

Here again " good Sir William " is introduced as a
safeguard, in the event of the letter falling into the wrong
hands. As for Mrs Cadogan, Nelson must indeed have
been very deeply in love to include her amongst his
dearest affections. It is a proof that his passion was as
deep as it was sincere. All who have loved will recog-
nise the symptoms. Even Mira had a place in his fer-
vent heart. As Moliere says :

" Jusqu' au chien du logis il s^efforce de plaire."

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 7.
t Idem, vol. i, p. i o.

no A GREAT ADVENTURESS

It was not that Nelson was seeking to win Mira's good
graces. He only mentions her because, being in love with
Emma, the overflow of his affections poured itself out on
to all those who surrounded her, on her mother, her dog,
and even her husband. His condition was very natural
and human.

Nelson's letters were published in 1814, during Lady
Hamilton's life-time, by Harrison, to whom she had
entrusted them in view of a publication of a Life of
Nelson, and who stole them from her. Evidently she
had only shown the least compromising epistles, for at
the time she was constantly soliciting a pension, or at
least some help, which the Government refused to grant
her on account of her notorious connection with Nelson,
and she was bound to conceal that absolute proof of her
dishonour, the secret of Horatia's birth.* To Mr Rose
she wrote that a kind friend had told her that her petitions
were rejected on account of the infamous reports circul-
ated against her honour and that of Nelson, the falseness
of which she would prove. Thus it would be useless to
seek for the truth in this correspondence, but, as it has
been seen, by submitting it to close scrutiny, and by
reading between the lines, we can perhaps get upon its
track.

In the first place, they started corresponding during
Nelson's cruise in June 1798. Henceforward his re-
marks concerning the war, politics, and the fleet were
addressed not only to the British Ambassador, but also
to the latter's wife. It may be wondered what prompted
him to include her in his correspondence on State affairs.
Hamilton was by no means a fool, and, however clever
his wife might be, the old diplomatist was better informed
than she concerning State secrets, statesmen, and the best
way of approaching them. Consequently, when wishing

* The fact that she went on keeping open house after Nelson's death,
did her, no doubt, much harm, as it proved that she was not inconsolable,
and that she had simply fooled Nelson into believing she loved him.
But the British Government was not to be so easily duped.

A COMPLAISANT HUSBAND iii

to have his views adopted, it would have been far more
consistent had Nelson addressed himself solely and
directly to the man who represented his country. But he
was so entirely taken up with Emma that he dedicated
to her not only his thoughts, but even his letters. This
was far more to his taste, and he knew Emma was clever
enough to make her elderly husband content with this
arrangement, for he was so deeply enamoured of her him-
self that at her bidding he would agree to anything.
Nelson always called him " good Sir William," and this
epithet fits his personality. This complaisant husband
was indeed good!* From all eternity he had been des-
tined to shield the lovers by his blind benevolence. This
complaisance and extreme simplicity on the part of a
man who was neither ridiculous nor contemptible, placed
the three actors of this comedy in a position exceptional
and almost unique in the annals of celebrated intrigues.
Generally in such a case the husband disappears. Either
he is put out of the way by force, as in the case of the
Marquis de Montespan whom Louis XIV exiled from
Court, or by a still more radical measure, as when the
troublesome husband is killed by the wife or the lover, or
he withdraws of his own accord, as did M. Dudevant,
rather than screen his wife's disgrace. In the present
case, however, the husband who was thus easily deceived
was of such a noble, loyal and genial disposition that the
two lovers overwhelmed him with kind attentions and
the tokens of an affection which appears to have been
sincere. They were proud that he was their friend. They
deceived him, and yet they loved him. Emma summed
up the situation by these words : " One heart in three
bodies." On her part it may simply have been another
Attitude, but this was certainly not the case with Nelson,
who spoke in affectionate terms of Sir William and sin-
cerely lamented his death.

* " Ce bon et'rebon Baciocchi " was the delightful expression which
Lucien Buonaparte applied to his brother-in-law Baciocchi, the no less
complaisant husband of his sister Elisa. This epithet might very well
be applied to Hamilton.

112 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Nelson generously attributed his own sentiments to
Emma, or else he judged it necessary to make this
platonic concession to the law of worldly decorum. He
saw two separate men in Hamilton. There was the hus-
band whom he deceived, and the betrayal of whom filled
him, no doubt, with remorse. There was the loyal and
trusty friend, who had never failed him. It was Hamil-
ton's loyal disposition that made Nelson consider him so
superior to himself. Referring to the Ambassador's
death, he wrote to the Duke of Clarence : " My dear
Friend, Sir William Hamilton died this morning; the
world never lost a more upright and accomplished gentle-
man."*

It was only fair that he should be the champion of the
man whom he had robbed of his wife. That much he
owed him. But Nelson took his self-imposed mission
so much to heart that he would gladly have sung the
praises of the dead man before the whole world. Hamil-
ton's name was ever on his lips. If, from the mention
of the husband in Nelson's first letters to Emma, it be
concluded that at the time there had been no lapse, what
must be said of some of the later letters, and of this one
in particular : " My dear Emma ! dearest, best, friend of
Nelson. Sir William is arrived, and well, remember me
kindly to him."t

His love for Emma was so great that it embraced not
only her mother, but her husband. Nelson treated
Hamilton as a brother-in-law, whose devoted friend he
had become. He displayed the same simplicity in every
circumstance connected with his love. It was a sort of
unconscious shamelessness which to some extent exoner-
ates him. Throughout his passion he constantly behaved
like an enraptured youth, ignorant, forgetful, or dis-
dainful of the laws of society and good breeding. He
even infected the prudent Hamilton, Emma's other
lover, who, in spite of his sixty years, had still the ardour

* Dispatches, vol. v, p. 57.

t Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 53.

A FIG FOR SOCIETY! 113

of youth. He called his wife by her Christian name when
speaking to Nelson, and cried: "A fig for society!"
when he decided to give hospitality to the hero, who had
then separated from Lady Nelson. " A fig for them all,"
cried Nelson in his turn, when Emma had become a
widow, and he repeatedly assured her that he would malce
her Duchess of Bronte (October 18, 1803). Having lost
all sense of duty, they also lost sight of realities. In
Nelson's eyes Emma was necessarily an angel. All
women appear in this character to the men who have
become their prey, until the moment when the halo and
the wings fall away and reveal the vulture's bare head.
The term " angel " often appears in Nelson's letters. He
was not conscious that Mrs Lutwidge was making fun
of him when she told him that he would soon dine with an
angel, " for," he wrote to Emma, " she was sure you
was one. In short, she adores you; but who does not?
You are so good, so kind, to everybody; old, young, rich
or poor, it is the same thing."* (October 16, 1801).

However, the husband could not be admitted into all
their secrets, and it seems that, independently of the enig-
matical language they had agreed upon and the Thomson
letters, Nelson and Emma exchanged a double corre-
spondence. The one was official and could be placed
before her husband's eyes; the other passed straight into
Emma's hands. This was, of course, highly imprudent,
for during war a letter might easily have fallen into the
hands of the enemy. But a guilty love always entails
desperate measures. Were it not for this supposition, it
would be impossible to account for the following undated
letters, written at the same period, during the expedition
to Copenhagen.

The first was to be shown to Sir William, and the
lovers had agreed that, in the interest of their own safety,
his name was always to figure in their correspondence.
The second letter was strictly private, as were those to
which it referred.

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 77.
H

114 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

The first letter was as follows:

The Saint George will stamp an additional ray of glory
to England's fame, if Nelson survives. . . . Keep me
alive, in your and Sir William's remembrance. My last
thoughts will be with you both, for you love and esteem
me. I judge your hearts by my own. May the Great
God of Heaven protect you and him, is the fervent
prayer of your and Sir William's unalterable friend, till
death.

The second letter ran thus :

Friday Night.
My truly dearest Friend,

... I have read all, all your kind and
affectionate letters : and have read them frequently over :
and committed them to the flames, much against my
inclination. . . I charge my only friend to keep well and
to think of her Nelson's glory.*

For ever, ever, yours,

only yours, t

Hamilton is not mentioned in this second and very
mysterious letter, written in reply to others that Nelson
had been obliged to burn. There is also a strange
difference in the expressions used. In the first letter
Nelson writes : " My last thoughts will be with you
both," but winds up the second letter with these words :
" Yours, only yours."

This letter is almost a unique specimen of its kind
in the correspondence published in 1814. Possibly
Emma destroyed the others and kept this one inad-
vertently. Needless to say, Mrs Gamlin refuses to
admit any guilty relations between Emma and Nelson.

* He was to reap more glory than a man could bear, since he was to
fall under its burden, nor had he chosen a worthy guardian of his fame.
It will be remembered that his " only friend " sold his Admiral's uniform,
with its embroidery of gold and blood, the blood shed at Trafalgar.

t Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 32-34.

NELSON'S DEAREST FRIENDS 115

For the year 1798 she brings forward an argument, which
is of course a very poor one, drawn from Miss Cornelia
Knight's Autobiography. This lady, who became lady-
in-waiting to Princess Charlotte, was then in Naples,
acting as secretary to Lady Hamilton.* " The attentions
paid to Lord Nelson appeared perfectly natural. He
always spoke of his wife with the greatest affection and
respect, and I remember that shortly after the Battle of
the Nile, when my mother said to him that no doubt he
considered the day of that victory as the happiest of his
life, he answered : ' No, the happiest was that on which
I married Lady Nelson.' " A very natural answer to
give to a woman.

It could not be expected that Nelson would confess to
his wife his passion for Lady Hamilton. The following
letter, dated December ii^ 1798, will show how he wrote
to her about the Ambassador's wife : " What can I say of
hers and Sir William's attention to me, they are, in fact,
with the exception of you and my good father, the dearest
friends I have in this world. I live as Sir William's
son in the house, and my glory is as dear to them as
their own; in short, I am under such obligations, as I
can never repay but with my eternal gratitude."t

* Whilst in Naples she composed a poem, and Hamilton asked Acton
to have it published. " I enclose Miss Knight's elegant poem. If your
Excellency woud allow its being printed at the King's office the Admiral
woud be much pleased. Miss Knight, who lives at the Crocelle, will
correct the press." (September z6, 1798) From an unpublished
letter in the National Archives at Naples.

t Dispatches, vol, iii, p. 195. Nelson could not refrain from
mentioning Emma's name to his wife, and this is ample proof of their
intimacy. As early as September 2 5 he wrote : " I hope some day to
have the pleasure of introducing you to Lady Hamilton, she is one of
the very best women in this world ; she is an honour to her sex. Her
kindness, with Sir William's, to me, is more than I can express : I am
in their house. . . . Lady Hamilton intends writing to you." On
September 28 ; " Good Lady H. preserves all the papers as the highest
treat for you." On October 1-6 : " My pride is being your husband,
the son of my dear father, and in having Sir William and Lady
Hamilton for my friends." {Dispatches, vol. iii, pp. 130-135, 139.)

ii6 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

This last letter is not so innocent as it at first appears.
It has a hidden meaning which deserves to be noted.
Nelson announces that he does not intend leaving Naples
before the end of May, and that he has not determined
to leave it even then. " The poor Queen has again
made me promise not to quit her or her Family, until
brighter prospects appear than do at present. The King
is with the Army, and she is sole Regent; she is, in fact,
a great King."*

No doubt, at this moment, events had taken a bad turn
for the Court of Naples. Championnet's success had
just obliged Ferdinand IV to abandon Rome, where he
had only maintained his position for seventeen days;
therefore the Queen urged Nelson to stay on with his
fleet. How well these events served the passion that had
just sprung up in Nelson's heart, causing it to beat like
that of a boy of fifteen!

On leaving the Paradise of Naples, where his heart
remained. Nelson wrote at once to the enchantress, who
had so successfully baited him, and she replied on June
30. Nelson's letter has not come down to us. Possibly
it was too tender and significant to be kept, but Emma's
reply still exists. It proves, as it has already been stated,
that he had spoken to her about all his preoccupations.

Part of Nelson's letter had been read to the Queen, and
perhaps this circumstance was turned into a pretext to
make " good Sir William " understand that henceforth
the political correspondence would be carried on between
Nelson and his wife, as well as with himself.

Naples, June 30th, 1798.
Dear Sir,

I take the opportunity of Captain Hope, to
write a few lines to you, for your kind letter by Captain
Bowen.

The Queen was much pleased, as I translated it for
her : and charges me to thank you; and says, she prays for
* Dispatches, vol. iii, p. ig^j..

AN INSOLENT DOG 117

your honour and safety — victory she is sure you will
have.

We have still the regicide minister here, Garrat; the
most impudent, insolent dog; making the most infamous
demands every day; and I see plainly, the court of Naples
must declare war, if they mean to save their country.

Her Majesty sees, and feels, all you said in your
letter to Sir William, dated off the Faro di Messina, in
its true light; so does General Acton.

But, alas! their First Minister Gallo, a frivolous,
ignorant, self conceited coxcomb, that thinks of nothing
but his fine embroidered coat, ring and snuff-box; and
half Naples thinks him half a Frenchman : and, God
knows, if one may judge of what he did in making the
peace for the Emperor,* he must either be very ignorant,
or not attached to his masters or the cause commune.

The Queen and Acton cannot bear him, and conse-
quently (he) cannot have much power; but, still, a First
Minister, although he may be a minister of smoke, yet
he has always something; enough, at least, to do mischief.

The Jacobins have all been lately declared innocent,
after suffering four years' imprisonment; and, I know
they all deserved to be hanged long ago; and, since Garrat
has been here, and through his insolent letters to Gallo,
these pretty gentlemen, that had planned the death of
their Majesties, are to be let out on society again, f

In short, I am afraid, all is lost here; and I am
grieved to the heart for our dear, charming Queen, who
deserves a better fate. I write to you, my dear Sir, in
confidence, and in a hurry.

I hope you will not quit the Mediterannean without

* It is well known that the Marchese Gallo had acted as intermediary
for the Austrians in their negotiations with General Buonaparte in 1797.
The object of his being appointed Prime Minister in the place of Acton
was to offer some satisfaction to the French Government.

t According to M. A. Bonnefons, the whole accusation fell to pieces,
and Gallo was obliged to acknowledge the inanity of the proofs.
0/>. «'/., ch. iv.

ii8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

taking us. We have our leave, and everything is ready,
at a day's notice to go : but yet, I trust in God, and you,
that we shall destroy those monsters, before we go from
hence. Surely, their reign cannot last long.

If you have any opportunity, write to us; pray do :
you do not know how your letters comfort us.

God bless you, my dear, dear Sir; and believe me,
ever, your most sincerely obliged and attached friend

Emma Hamilton.*

Emma reveals herself in this letter. The touch of
mysticism will be noted. It is something new, and she
must have caught it from her connection with the vicar's
son, for her past life had not directed her thoughts to-
wards religious ideas. In her new-born fervour she
called on the God who has said Vindicta Mihi to favour
the most sanguinary plans of revenge. Above all, her
soul breathed hatred of the French, the Republicans, the
Liberals, the Jacobins. In those days it was quite natural
that an Englishwoman should entertain bitter feelings
towards France. On the other hand, if it be remem-
bered that Britain had praised the first outburst of the
French Revolution, and later on, offered lavish hospitality
to its victims, the emigres, it becomes evident that
Emma's violent animosity must have been fostered by
Nelson's fanatical hatred of all Papists. Various other
reasons account for the strange aversion this daughter
of the populace professed for all liberal ideas. Setting
aside Nelson's influence, two considerations added
singular vigour to Emma's hatred. In the first place,
like all parvenues, she believed that she owed it to her
new dignity and title to be more uncompromising in her
principles, and more zealous, than those who are born in
social elevation. She was trying to outking the King.
Moreover, in the exalted position to which she had been
raised, this upstart had become the friend of a Queen,
and this precious connection, which she had bought at the
* Letten o^ Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, p. i8i.

VENUS AND MINERVA 119

price of great efforts, as well as the base promptings of a
courtier's soul, inclined her to see " monsters " in all who
did not share the servile love she now professed for
royalty.

Nelson and the Neapolitan sovereigns, it must be re-
membered, also professed these extreme opinions, and
this accounts for Emma having adopted them. She
made her choice at the very moment when the Genevese,
Mallet-du-Pan, remarked that extreme views are the
last resource of those who are incapable of embracing
more than one idea at a time! Was not this the case
with Emma and her friends? The former courtesan
felt an instinctive repugnance for all ideas that called on
nations to govern by sound principles, uprooting, in as
far as it is possible, all causes of corruption, and dis-
pensing with incapable princes, whose power should be
given to worthy and virtuous men, without consideration
of rank or birth. No doubt, in practice, this principle
was forgotten or distorted, and became a vain inscription
on the pediment of the Temple of the Republic, for
Viscount Paul de Barras was one of the leaders in France,
and, since the beginning of the Revolution, Europe had
seen enough of the French to know that many of them
paid their devotions more willingly to Venus than to
Minerva. But, as a body, the Constituants and the
Conventionnels, proved themselves worthy, and Robes-
pierre deserved his name " the Incorruptible." Such
facts repelled Emma. Was she, the wife of an Am-
bassador, virtuous.? Was Queen Caroline virtuous?
Did Acton and Ferdinand understand the meaning of
Fraternity? They did not. Absolute power on the one
hand, absolute respect and obedience on the other, these
were the very foundations of society. It has been seen
how Emma succeeded in escaping from her own humble
sphere, and curried favour with the great. Nevertheless,
she exacted as much respect as though she had been born
in the purple, and was unmerciful towards all who inter-
fered with her enjoyment of grandeur.

It will be objected that in the above letter the political

no A GREAT ADVENTURESS

woman is evident, but there is no sign of the passionate
mistress. However, independently of Nelson's influence
on her way of thinking, it must be remembered that the
whole import of a woman's letter is contained in the last
words; and these, in the present case, were : " God bless
you, my dear, dear Sir, and believe me ever, your most
sincerely obliged and attached friend, Emma Hamilton."

The repetition of the term of endearment is a con-
fession in itself. Would any woman write in this way
to a man with whom she was barely acquainted unless she
had already given him some rights over her! It is not
likely, either, that, in spite of all her impudence, Emma
would have used this significant expression had she been
writing before Sir William. By affecting a cold, formal
style, the artful young woman wished to make her friend
understand the tone and manner he was henceforth to
adopt, and from which he was not to stray. At the
same time she wanted to tell Nelson, if only by one word,
that she still belonged to him entirely, and that his absence
had not altered her feelings. The loving message was
effectively conveyed by one word " My dear, dear . . ."

For this reason it may be safely concluded that June
20, 1798, or one of the following days, witnessed the be-
ginning of this celebrated intrigue.* If, on June 30
the hero and Lady Hamilton had not already become
lovers, Emma, at least, intimated that as soon as circum-
stances would allow it, she was willing to abandon herself
to him. The Admiral should only return and she would
fall on his breast, since she could not say that she would
fall into his arms. Nelson being a sailor, and Emma an

* M. Fauchier-Magnan says that Nelson arrived in Naples on
June 16, and bases his assertion on a letter which Emma wrote to
Nelson on June 17. It appears to us that M. Fauchier-Magnan is
mistaken. This letter was written concerning Captain Troubridge who
arrived before Nelson, and is the one referred to by Hamilton, in this
singular sentence : " You will receive from Emma. . . ." It is a short
note beginning thus : " My dear Admiral, — I write in a hurry as
Captain T. Carrol stays a moment. God bless you, and send you
victorious, and that I may see you bring back Buonaparte with you — " etc.

BUONAPARTE IN EGYPT 121

expert in love affairs, it was not likely that they would
let the matter flag.

And, in reality, their ardour suffered no check.
According to Thiers, before leaving for Aboukir Nelson
returned once more to Naples, but it is impossible to say
how many hours or days he spent there. This rapid visit
has left no trace in the Admiral's correspondence or in
Memoirs of the time. He had not a moment to spare.
No matter how great his love, he would never have
sacrificed his duty to it. This sentiment often occurs
in his letters.*

Nelson was, at this moment, in great straits and sorely
perplexed. He had been instructed to be on the look
out for Buonaparte, and to discover the destination of
the mysterious expedition, the secret of which had been
so carefully guarded. Not only had the General slipped
through his fingers at Toulon and taken Malta, but since
his departure from the island, Nelson had been giving
chase in vain across the seas, in the Archipelago, the
Adriatic and round Sicily. In the face of such un-
certainty, even Emma could not dream of detaining the
exasperated Admiral. Moreover, she was too clever
to attempt such a thing. In the first place she was well
aware that she would not prevail, and then the glory of
her hero, and, consequently her own future, depended on
these momentous days.

At length, Nelson received trustworthy information.
Buonaparte was in Egypt. He had landed at Alexandria.
The energetic Englishman immediately started off in
pursuit, and, like Caesar, he came, saw, and conquered.
The French fleet was entirely destroyed in Aboukir Bay
on August I and 2, 1798 (14th and 15th Thermidor,
year VI).

* Particularly in this one written on August 1 8, 1801. "You ask
me, my dear Friend, if I am going on any more Expeditions ? And, even
if I was to forfeit your friendship, which is dearer to me than all the
world, I can tell you nothing. For, I go out ; (if) I see the Enemy,
and can get at them, it is my duty : and you would naturally hate me,
if I kept back one moment." Dispatches, vol. iv, p. 473.

CHAPTER VI

Rejoicings of the Court of Naples at the news of Aboukir^Nelson's
demands — Protests of the French Minister — Nelson's return to
Naples — His triumph.

IT was natural that the news of Nelson's victory
should be greeted with joy alike by the secret and the
acknowledged enemies of France, and the Court of
Naples, headed by the sister of Marie-Antoinette, neces-
sarily counted among the latter. The enthusiasm of the
Royal family went far beyond anything that could be ex-
pected, and whilst sharing their sentiments. Lady Hamil-
ton still retained enough common sense to laugh at the
exaggeration they indulged in : " How shall I describe
to you the transports of Maria Carolina tis not possible
she fainted, cried, kiss'd her husband, her children, walked
frantick with pleasure about the room, cried, kiss'd, em-
braced every person near her."*

And yet, the Court of Naples was at peace with France.
By the treaty that had been signed in 1796, the Republic
had imposed no heavy or onerous conditions on
Ferdinand, and there was nothing to justify an aggression
on the part of a power which, without being friendly,
could and should have remained neutral. The fear of
reprisals might indeed have deterred Marie-Caroline, but
she was influenced by Lady Hamilton who, as has been
seen, execrated the French, and found in her new love a
fresh incentive, even more powerful than her hatred.
Emma wanted war, not only because it was necessary to
Nelson, but because, in the interest of her future plans,
she wished him to reach the highest dignities. On the

' To Nelson — September 8, 1798. Add. MSS., 34,989, f. 4.

THE LAW OF NEUTRALITY 123

other hand, Nelson had absolute need of Naples, as it
was the key to the Mediterranean, which otherwise re-
mained closed to him, Austria and the Italian States
being at peace with France. Malta belonged to the
French; Turkey had not yet broken with the Republic,
and Spain had become the ally of the French against the
English. In spite of his victory, Nelson still ran the risk
of being blockaded in the Mediterranean, and of finding
no harbour should Naples refuse to admit him. His
interests coincided with his love. Lady Hamilton, who
had become Nelson's mouthpiece, and his representative,
just as he was a mere tool in her hands, could not fail
to urge on a war that was of such consequence to her
lover. It was the destiny of this woman with her angel-
face to carry destruction and sorrow wherever she went.
Nelson had made his wishes fairly clear before Aboukir
Bay. In a letter written from Syracuse on July 22, he
complained to Sir William Hamilton that the King of
Naples refused to admit more than three or four vessels
into his ports. This condition was not peculiar to the
Neapolitan Government. It is law amongst all neutral
powers, and is sometimes enforced during peace, there-
fore all the more so in time of war, since harbouring
one of the adversaries and allowing him to water and
victual is practically favouring the one to the prejudice
of the other. Nelson must have known this rule,
common to all nations, but his zeal could not brook any
obstacle : " Our treatment is scandalous for a great
Nation to put up with, and the King's Flag is insulted
at every port we look at ... I have no complaint to
make of private attention, quite the contrary. Every
body of persons have been on board to offer me
civilities."*

Therefore the British Admiral was complaining of the

Neapolitan Government, and, as this Government had

already done all in its power to give him satisfaction, it

would seem that the only object of his apparent anger

* Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 47.

124 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

was to over-rule Ferdinand IV, and drive him — willingly
or unwillingly — into the coalition.

Lady Hamilton knew all about this transparent secret,
and, naturally, she had already exerted herself to draw
the Court of Naples into an alliance with her own country.
The victory of the Nile dealt her a wonderful card, of
which she made admirable use. Nelson's victory had
called forth genuine enthusiasm in Naples, but it was
necessary to fan this sentiment and magnify it, in order
to overcome the last hesitations of the King by bringing
the feelings of the nation to bear upon him. Lachfeze,
who acted as Minister of France at Naples for a short
time, after Carat's departure, relates how Lady Hamilton
conducted this campaign.*

Liberte, EgalitS.

Naples, 19th Fructidor, Year 6.

The charge d'affaires of the French Republic at the Court
of His Majesty the King of the Two Sicilies, to His
Excellency Marchese Gallo :

Monsieur le Marquis,

Yesterday I had the honour of conferring
with you respecting the scene whereby, the night before
last, Mr Hamilton, the British Minister, endeavoured
to incite the populace into insulting the arms of the
French and Cisalpine Republics. Mr Hamilton was
driving with his wife at Santa Lucia. Their satisfaction
was evidently so great that, for a wonder, they greeted
the people affectionately, explaining to them by signs and
gestures the news of a victory won by Admiral Nelson.

* In his Storia tf Italia M ijSi) all iSi^ Botta says that Garat was
recalled at the demand of the King of Naples, who complained of the
haughty tone adopted by the French Minister. Emma called him in-
solent. As for Lachize (Pierre-Joseph de Lach^ze-Morel, 1744-1835)
he had been deputy of the Tiers Etats, then Secretary at the French
Embassy in Naples. Later on he became conseiller general for th? de-
partment Lot. In 1 8 14, Louis XVIII gave him a title, and he became
member of the Chambre Introuvable.

A PROTEST 125

At the same time, they pointed ironically to the image
of Liberty, which has become a sacred emblem to the
French, as also to the Cisalpine Republic, and is destined.
Monsieur le Marquis, to make many conquests.

I had always been under the impression that the
ministers of civilised nations should know how to behave
with self-respect, and not to degrade themselves to acts
whereby they seek to curry favour with the crowd in
foreign countries, and to stir up sedition against the
ministers of other powers, with whom their country may
be at war — measures which common decency and the
dignity of their position should forbid. The regard
which they are bound to show to the Court at which they
reside imposes this obligation on them. I am well aware
that certain British Ministers, actuated by a spirit of in-
trigue communicated to them by their home government,
have already, in the course of this war, strayed from these
principles. But a different attitude was to be expected
from Mr Hamilton, the friend of art, the admirer of the
great models of antiquity. As for his wife, she cannot
be mentioned in an official note from the Minister of
France. But I must beg of you, Monsieur le Marquis,
to take such measures as prudence may suggest to you,
in order to avoid a repetition of the scene which has
already taken place. In the interest of your Government,
from whom I am capable of exacting marked and prompt
reparation in the event of a second offence, which might
cause scandal, I must request you to take all care, that the
images of the French Republic be treated with the respect
due to the nation that has chosen them as an emblem.
In the present circumstances, I do not consider it super-
fluous to make the same request with regard to the person
of the representative of the French Republic, as of all
French citizens who may be here — I beg of you, Sir, to
note this request. Your's, etc.,

Lacheze.*

* National Archives of Naples, unpublished.

126 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Citizen Lacheze had very aptly explained the situation.
Such difficulties may sometimes occur between Ministers
of civilised States, and yet it is surprising that the
correct and cautious Hamilton, the peaceful admirer of
art, should have fallen into such an error. But he had
been influenced by his wife, and, of her " no mention
can be made in an official note from the French Minister."
If it be remembered what Emma was, it must be admitted
that under a polite form, the charge d'affaires had con-
trived to inflict the most deadly insult on his beautiful
enemy. As the charge d'affaires reminds him that he
had already conferred with him on this subject, it seems
probable that the good-natured but pusillanimous Gallo,
had asked Lacheze to write this letter, specifying his
complaint, so that he might put it before the King. It
also seems likely that, prompted by his wife, the King
refused to grant satisfaction, obliging his Minister to
settle the matter by not replying to the remonstrance, for
on 26 th Fructidor, Lacheze made another attempt,
furnishing new details, the importance of which will be
noted :

Monsieur le Marquis,

Before expressing my surprise to you, I
was desirous of witnessing the end of the display made
by the English in Naples, and more especially their
Minister, Mr Hamilton, on the occasion of the victory
won by Admiral Nelson. I am well aware that in every
nation public spirit is more or less pronounced, and
springs from a variety of sentiments : pride, or love of
the fatherland; avarice or generosity; the wish to
dominate or the cause of philanthropy — ^whereby all the
members of a nation participate in the good or evil that
befalls the country, and are prompted to make common
cause with it, in prosperity as well as in adversity. When
this spirit is guided by principles of justice, order and
humanity — the only sources of true glory — it produces
stirring events and acts of heroism, that establish the

A QUESTIONABLE NEUTRALITY 127

duration of nations by making them immortal. When,
the public spirit of a nation takes its source in the love
of gold, all morality is set aside in the pursuit of this end,
and it calmly weighs the effects of crime, base intrigues
and bloodshed. From such arise all the destructive
calamities which having scourged other nations, end by
disorganising and loading with ignominy the nation which
had sought to overcome them by such means.

In consideration of this national spirit of which I
have just spoken, I am not astonished at the loud joy to
which the English and their Ministers have given vent
on the occasion of an event, of which they only see the
immediate consequences. It has been remarked that, in
this circumstance, they have acted precisely as they did at
Leghorn when, after the naval battle which took place
on 23rd Ventose of the Year III, they gave balls and
illuminated the said town, for which, as is well known,
the Livournians were held responsible as having allowed
these manifestations.

But in this Kingdom, Government is powerful and
calls itself independent; therefore, as it is not at war
with any nation, it should be impartial towards the sub-
jects of the different States dwelling under its protection.
How then do you account for the extraordinary com-
plaisance shown towards the English in their excessive
joy regarding a fortunate occurrence, whereas, in a num-
ber of circumstances, when the French have won victories
over their enemies, their Minister has not even been
allowed to publish an account of the event! More than
once, Monsieur le Marquis, Citizen Trouve, charge
d'affaires, has complained to you of these abuses.

In Vienna — and you shared this opinion — we were
forbidden to fly the French colours from the windows of
the Embassy on the occasion* of a public rejoicing,
whereas, here, during three consecutive nights, not only
the British Embassy, but most of the English houses,
have been illuminated and decorated with British flags.

* At the time Bernadotte was Minister of France. The incident
served as a cause, or rather pretext, to the Second Coalition.

128 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

I am well aware that reasons will be found justifying
this circumstance, as also the fact that the English have
dared to distribute money and provisions to the people
of Naples, at the very gate of His Majesty's palace. But
how will you account for the Cross of Malta, accompany
ing the initials H.N., which shone outside Mr Hamilton's
house, and which can only be interpreted as the initials of
Hamilton and Nelson. I know that His Majesty still
lays claim to his ancient rights on Malta. Is it to be
inferred from the association of the Cross of Malta and
Nelson's name, that this Admiral is to defend the claims
of His Majesty, and that a treaty and understanding
already exist on this head.

It is in this sense that the public has naturally inter-
preted this particular circumstance, and the other incidents
I have mentioned to you. Furthermore, the Neapolitan
colours were hoisted on the felucca of the Maltese
skipper, Joseph Gaetan, up to the moment of his de-
parture, which he was allowed to effect yesterday evening,
although your Government has given me no redress con-
cerning this rebel. These circumstances, together with
the measures whereby Mr Hamilton and his wife have
lately urged the populace to insult the arms of my Re-
public, and those of the Cisalpine, besides many other
occurrences of a still more serious nature, and to which
the English must believe themselves indebted for the
success which now causes their rejoicing, — must
necessarily appear to me more than doubtful, and inspire
me with misgivings, which I must impart to my Govern-
ment.

These doubts, these misgivings, I hereby record in
fulfilment of my ministry.

Your's, etc.,

Lacheze.*

* No doubt to this second letter an answer was given for, in an un-
dated note, the Queen wrote to Gallo : " I have informed the King of
what I think a suitable answer to Lachfese. He made no opposition —
on the contrary. You may therefore act." Correspondance avec k Mar-
fuis de Gallo. Paris, Emile Paul.

HONOURING NELSON 129

In this succession of manifestations, which were so much
at variance with Hamilton's cool and forbearing disposi-
tion, his wife's influence was evident, and the charge
d'affaires had not failed to detect it. It was she who
had distributed money and provisions, so that the
Neapolitan people might participate in the joy caused by
Britain's victory. It was she who suggested the illumina-
tion of the Palazzo, the Cross of Malta, accompanying
Nelson's initials, which as Lacheze shrewdly guessed, was
a direct challenge to the French. But he was certainly
mistaken in believing that the two letters stood for the
names of Hamilton and Nelson. The initials H. N. had
another meaning. Emma had simply indulged in the
whim of a woman anxious to please, and had imagined
a means of bestowing delicate flattery on her lover with-
out giving any cause for comment. By the flaming
capitals blazing in the night, the triumphant Am-
bassadress celebrated the glory of Horatio Nelson.
Lacheze indeed might think of her husband. She would
not.*

The charge d'affaires was not mistaken in asserting
that, through their unceasing eiforts, the Hamiltons were
endeavouring to drive the Court of Naples into an
alliance with England, in defiance of the treaty with
France signed scarcely two years before. When Emma
did not undertake the negotiations, Hamilton himself
applied to Acton, ignoring Gallo, whose weakness and
indecision he blamed. As early as May 22, 1798, he
wrote : " The Marquis Gallo seem'd unwilling to answer
these questions, and very properly said the answering in
the affirmative wou'd be a declaration of war with the
French Republic. There is no necessity for any formal
declaration, but I fear that if I am not authorized to give
a satisfactory answer to these questions and my messenger
shou'd arrive in London before the fleet shou'd sail, that
it might retard, perhaps even prevent its coming into the

* This is also the opinion of M. A. Bonnefons : Les Rapports avec le
Directoire, ch. iv.

I30 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Mediterranean. Our fleet once in the Bay of Naples, I
shou'd look upon this glorious country in perfect security,
for it has many resources and may still be great and
flourishing."*

After the Battle of the Nile, Hamilton's demands be-
came more pressing, and on August 27 he referred to a
letter, written in the preceding month :

To His Excellency Sir John Acton,

Your Excellency will recollect having read in
Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson's letter to me, dated from
Syracuse, July 20, and at the moment of his last departure
the following words : " The mast, yards, etc., for the
Vanguard will I hope be prepared directly; for shou'd the
French be so strongly secured in Port, that I cannot get
at them, I shall immediately shift my flag into some other
ship, and send the Vanguard to Naples to be refitted, for
hardly any other person but myself wou'd have continued
on service so long in such a wretched state."t

If Nelson expressed himself in this way before the
victory, giving orders to Ferdinand of Naples as though
he were the vassal of Great Britain, what demands would
he not make after Aboukir Bay had rendered him master
of the Mediterranean !

Nevertheless, he was somewhat embarrassed as to his
future movements. Should he cruise along the coasts
of Egypt and Syria and try to seize Buonaparte .'' Should
he chase Admiral Villeneuve who, after the disaster of
Aboukir Bay, had fled towards Malta with the remnant of
the French fleet .^ Should he return to Naples and repair
his battered vessels that had suffered much during the
battle.'' He shrank from the latter decision as though
a secret presentiment warned him that he must be on his
guard against some danger awaiting him there. Had he
not written to Lord St Vincent : " I detest this voyage to

* The original is in the National Archives of Naples — unpublished.
t National Archives of Naples.

NELSON RETURNS TO NAPLES 131

Naples; nothing but absolute necessity would force
me to the measure. Syracuse in future ... is my
Port."*

He was, apparently, conscious that Lady Hamilton had
an evil influence over him, and felt that he must fly from
her. He was still hesitating, when a Neapolitan frigate,
which Ferdinand had sent in search of him, brought him
a letter in which the King called him his deliverer (libera-
tor); and another from Emma congratulating him on his
victory, and calling him by every flattering name sug-
gested to her by the designs she had upon him.
Both these letters urged him most earnesdy to return to
Naples, and this put an end to his hesitations. He sil-
enced his forebodings by arguing that his vessels had been
sadly maimed during the battle, that Naples was the only
port where they could be properly repaired, and that he
had many wounded on board who could be nursed at
Naples better than anywhere else. In a word, he put for-
ward all the fallacious arguments a man has recourse to
when he decides to follow his inclinations rather than
fulfil his duty. Although he had written to St Vincent
that at Syracuse " every refreshment may be had for a
Fleet,"t he turned his back on Sicily, and set sail for
Naples. As he was no enemy of flattery, he rejoiced in
the anticipation of the homage of a Court which, how-
ever, he despised, and of which he had written to St Vin-
cent that it was composed of " fiddlers and poets, whores
and scoundrels — amongst whom there is not one vir-
tuous woman or one man who does not deserve the gal-
lows or at least the galleys." Nevertheless, he thirsted
for the incense of this dissolute society. Perhaps he
found its atmosphere purified by the disinterestedness
and sincerity of the virtuous Emma; for it is impossible
to deny that Lady Hamilton's influence prevailed on him
to take a decision which was at variance with his plans
and the interests of his fleet. Triumph and the love of

* Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 128.

■j" Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 128.

132 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

a beautiful woman awaited him in Naples, and to Naples
he went.

The most wonderful reception had been prepared for
him. Colletta who witnessed it writes : " The King, the
Queen, the Minister of Britain and his wife, sailing in
boats that were adorned as for a rejoicing, went far out to
sea, to meet the fortunate Nelson and, having gone on
to his vessel, they honoured him in various ways. The
King bestowed on him a magnificent sword, praising him
with such expressions of joy, that he could not have
shown more delight had the victory been won by his own
army, and for the salvation of his Kingdom. The Queen
offered him various presents, amongst others a jewel bear-
ing this inscription : ' To the hero of Aboukir.' The
Ambassador, Sir W. Hamilton, thanked him in the name
of Britain, and the ravishing Lady showed that she was in
love with him."*

Palumbo, another Italian historian, gives some details
concerning the ridiculous, theatrical atttitude which Lady
Hamilton affected when she went on board the Vanguard
and greeted Nelson. " She was preparing one of those
stage effects which she had so well practised in London,
and which was calculated to produce the desired impres-
sion on the happy conqueror. It was impossible for any
one to be duped by such a comedy."t And no one was
taken in except Nelson. He believed in the grimaces
and antics of the performer of Attitudes, and let himself
be ensnared by her ridiculous behaviour, and the incense
she wafted to him in public — so much so that, in the
simplicity of his heart, he, the lover, wrote a detailed
account of the scene to his wife, the grotesque and
affected side of the comedy escaping him entirely : " The
poor wretched Vanguard arrived here on 22 September.
I must endeavour to convey to you something of what
passed ... Sir William and Lady Hamilton came out to

* Colletta, vol. iii, ch. ii.

t Palumbo, Carteggio di Maria Carolina, Prefazione iv.

NELSON IN LOVE 133

sea attended by numerous boats with emblems, etc. They,
my most respectable friends, had really been laid up and
seriously ill; first from anxiety, and then from joy. It was
imprudently told Lady Hamilton in a moment, and the
effect was like a shot; she fell apparently dead, and is not
yet perfectly recovered from severe bruises. Alongside
came my honoured friends: the scene in the boat was
terribly affecting; up flew her Ladyship, and exclaiming
' O God, is it possible?' she fell into my arm more dead
than alive. Tears, however, soon set matters to rights . . .
I hope some day to have the pleasure of introducing
you to Lady Hamilton, she is one of the best women in
this world; she is an honour to her sex. Her kindness,
with Sir William's, to me, is more than I can express : I am
in their house, and I may now tell you, it required all the
kindness of my friends to set me up. Lady Hamilton
intends writing to you. May God Almighty bless you,
and give us in due time, a happy meeting."*

No doubt these words were written in order to make
his wife feel kindly disposed towards those who had
nursed him so well. " The continued kindness of Sir
WiUiam and Lady Hamilton must ever make you and
I love them, and they are deserving the love and admira-
tion of all the world."t (October i to 6, 1798.)

None but a moon-struck lover could fall into such
excesses. Because an adventuress, whose secret designs
and manoeuvres remained hidden from his naive credulity,
threw herself at his head, he at once concluded that
she possessed every virtue, and longed to present this un-
worthy woman to his wife. He even wanted other
people to love her as he himself already worshipped her.
His officers did not share his illusions with regard to the
merits of the sometime courtesan. Most of them were
acquainted with her past. With a contemptuous smile
they watched her as she began playing her part, moving

* Dispatches, vol. iii. p. 130.
t Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 138.

134 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

about with affected agitation, in the barge that bore her
towards the Vanguard. As the sea was in a state of
greater turmoil than the restless Lady herself, the officer
in command, was obliged to beg her to remain quiet, if
she did not wish to upset the boat. It has been seen, from
Nelson's own account, that she made up for this enforced
calm when she came on board the flag-ship. Uncon-
scious, or affecting to be so, Emma was borne into the
Admiral's saloon, where by degrees she pretended to re-
vive. True love has no need for such artifices. Endless
compliments were then exchanged on all sides, and, after
lunch, during which many dithyrambic toasts were given,
the party returned to land. In the midst of the acclama-
tions of a whole nation, pressed by a crowd that was so
dense it was hard to open a way for the carriages, the
victorious Nelson passed through the town, and appeared
more triumphant because of Emma's ovation. Lady
Hamilton sat beside him, her husband drove behind with
the King. They reached the Embassy which was already
illuminated and decorated with the Cross of Malta and
the two initials, that had called forth the just protests of
the Minister of France.

Since Emma could debase herself by playing this absurd
comedy of love, it must be inferred that she had already
given herself to Nelson, and was anxious to trans-
form into a lasting passion, the amourette which he might
otherwise have forgotten, and treated as a mere travelling
adventure. If, in spite of these appearances, he had not
yet done so, it is certain that after the above premeditated
scene, she had no great difficulty in persuading him to
accept her love.

At the same time King George raised the Admiral to
the Peerage, making him Baron Nelson of the Nile. On
September 24, to celebrate his victory, he gave an en-
tertainment on board the Agamemnon which now flew
his colours. The King, the Queen, as well as the Hamil-
tons, Acton and the Ministers, lunched on board the
Agamemnon, which was all flowers and festivity.

NELSON'S BIRTHDAY 135

On the other hand, Emma was not content with the
boisterous welcome she had bestowed on the hero. On
the following day, September 25, she and her husband
entertained Acton and " our brave Admiral," together
with the principal officers of his fleet.* September 29,
Nelson's birthday, was celebrated as though it were a day
of national rejoicing, and who but Emma could have
made known that the hero was forty on that day? On
October i, the Queen received Hamilton, his wife and
Nelson.f On the 15th the King of Naples lunched on
board Nelson's ship; and the Admiral having kissed the
King's hand, His Majesty raised him up in a cordial em-
brace. The Admiral assured the King that he would serve
him with the same zeal as he served his Royal master.;]:

It will be noticed that Nelson entertained his guests at
lunch. His evenings belonged to Emma, and he returned
to the Palazzo Sessa and the fair enchantress.

* Hamilton to Acton, September 25. National Archives of Naples.
Unpublished.

t Hamilton to Acton, October I . National Archives of Naples.
Unpublished.

X Hamilton to Acton, October 25. National Archives of Naples.
Unpublished.

CHAPTER VII

Nelson's design on Malta — Lord St Vincent's letter — Nelson's first
letters to Lady Hamilton — Preparations for war at Naples —
Lacombe St. Michel becomes Minister of France — His complaints
to the Government of Naples — The council of war at Caserta —
Berthier's ultimatum — The Neapolitans invade the State of Rome
— Strange situation of Lacome St. Michel — The Neapolitans at
Rome — Their retreat — Projected flight to Sicily — Assassination of
Ferreri — Lady Hamilton's devotion to the royal family — The
court on the English ships — The death of Prince Albert.

IT is only fair to Nelson to say that he did not rest
upon his laurels, nor did he become absorbed by
his happiness. It proved that, although he was
sometimes weak, he possessed great strength of mind — a
quality that is not often met with. He was staying at
the Embassy. Hamilton's loyal disposition made him
place absolute confidence in his illustrious guest, and ab-
solute trust in the woman whom, as he thought, by mar-
riage, he had raised to his own level. Doubtless Nelson
devoted his evenings only to his love, for very serious
occupations filled his days. He was preparing an expedi-
tion against Malta, proclaiming — sincerely or otherwise —
that he intended to restore the island to the King of
Naples, who possessed incontestable rights, since it was as
King of Naples that Charles V had given it to the Knights
Hospitallers when driven out of Rhodes. If it were a
pretext, it was a clever one, for it gave Ferdinand IV the
occasion, if not the right, of assisting a general who was
fighting for him. Immediately after Nelson's return
from Aboukir Bay the demands which had been so long
put off, were suddenly granted. On September 25,
Hamilton wrote to Acton : " Admiral Nelson desires me

A NOTORIOUS FACT 137

to return your Excellency many thanks for the kind and
. ready assistance he finds in refitting his ships as his pre-
sent favorite object is to endeavor to recover the Island
of Malta and give it to its proper owner the King of the
two Sicilies as he told his majesty this evening."*

At length, after spending a month with his beloved,
Nelson was forced to sail. How short those busy days
must have seemed to the heart that was so devoted to her,
and how difficult it was to satisfy the ardent love the rov-
ing sailor felt for the woman who was tied down to hex
hearth — not indeed by any sense of duty, of which she
had no understanding, but at least by a wish to respect
appearances. Like many other people, Emma believed
that her duty merely consisted in an outward show of
decorum. She could not leave her husband and run after
her lover without sacrificing her position at the Court
of Naples.

Evidently, she could not commit herself to this ex-
tent; but as her connection with Nelson increased her
prestige and power, she considered it necessary, in view
of her interests, present and future, to inform the whole
world that she was his mistress. Sir William, of course,
was the only person who remained ignorant of the noto-
rious fact. An imprudent action which she committed
wilfully and with direct purpose, should however have
caused the scales to fall from his eyes. Mr Walter Sichel
relates that at this period, Lady Hamilton bewailed being
childless. Why should this woman who did not care for
children, suddenly indulge in these lamentations.? It is
a positive fact that she abandoned the daughter to whom
she had given birth when she was only seventeen years of
age, and later on she would have treated Nelson's child
in the same way, had not he been a good father, and loved
his child. As long as he lived, Emma looked after Hor-
atia in order to please him; after his death, considerations
of a pecuniary nature dictated the same attitude; but at
no time was she influenced by the maternal instinct. Mrs

* From an unpublished letter in the National Archives of Naples.

138 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Gamlin puts forward Emma's dislike of children as a
proof that had Horatia really been her child, she would
have abandoned her just as she did her first daughter.
From the consideration of these facts it seems evident
that her only reason for bemoaning her childless condi-
tion in 1798, was to guard herself against the possible
consequences of her intrigue with Nelson.

Whether this liaison began in the month of June or in
September, it was known at Gibraltar at the time, and
Lord St Vincent, Nelson's chief, had been informed of
the fact. He had already met Emma, and it is impossible
to say how intimate he may have been with her. In any
event, being a gallant man, and finding himself outdone
in love as well as in fame by his subordinate, he made the
best of it, and wrote to the Ambassador's wife amusing
notes that deserve to be quoted :

Gibraltar, 18 October, 1798.
My dear Madam,

The prodigies of valour performed by
your new Chevalier have, I fear, obliterated the memory
of your ancient Knight. Nevertheless, I beg your Lady-
ship will lay me at the feet of the Queen of the Two
Sicilies, and assure Her Majesty of my profound respect
for her person, and that my life is devoted to the defence
of it; and for yourself, accept every kind wish of your
Ladyship's truly affectionate and faithful Knight,

St Vincent.*

Admiral's House, Rosia, Gibraltar,
October 28, 1798.
My dear Lady Hamilton,

Ten thousand most grateful thanks
are due to your Ladyship, for restoring the health of our
invaluable friend Nelson, on whose life the fate of the
remaining Government in Europe, whose system has not
been deranged by those devils, depends. Pray, do not
* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamiltott, vol. i, p. 217.

DELIGHTFUL IRONY 139

let your fascinating Neapolitan dames approach too near
him, for he is made of flesh and blood, and cannot resist
their temptations.

Lady St Vincent will be transported with your atten-
tion to her ....

I have obeyed your Ladyship's commands respecting
Tom Bowen, who is now Captain of L'Jquilon, and gone
to Lisbon to take possession of her; and his brother Wil-
liam, who married a daughter of Sir William Parker, I
have appointed to the Caroline, the finest frigate I have,
and he is employed on the most advantageous service for
filling his pockets. Should your Ladyship have any other
protege, I desire you will not spare me . . .

Continue to love me (the term is equivocal) and rest
assured of the most unfeigned and affectionate regard
of, my dear Lady Hamilton,

Your faithful and devoted Knight,

St Vincent.*

On December 7 he wrote : " I hope soon to hear our
dear Lord Nelson is quite well under your fostering
care," and on February 27, 1799: "Continue to nurse
my excellent friend Nelson."t

These notes are full of the most delightful irony. As
the 1 8 th century was about to disappear in a torrent of

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. zig. Mrs Gamlin
quotes the end of this letter and concludes that her heroine had inspired
Lord St Vincent with true admiration ; however, she carefully, and
with good reason, avoids the first sentence which is full of irony.
According to Mr Walter Sichel and M. Fauchier-Magnan, Lord St
Vincent called Nelson and Emma "just a pair of silly sentimental
fools." The only mistake he made was to attribute any feeling to
Emma.

t Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, pp. 224 and 229.
During*the endless round of festivities given in his honour. Nelson
had fallen seriously ill. The combined eiForts of the physicians of the
Court and of the fleet, together with the early fruits from the hot-houses
at Caserta, the exquisite wines from the King's cellars, and above all, the
presence of Lady Hamilton who nursed him, at length restored him to
health.

HO A GREAT ADVENTURESS

bloodshed, St Vincent carried on its spirit unconsciously,
perhaps, but with undeniable talent. Nevertheless,
Emma was clever enough to feel the sting of sarcasm
(Mrs Gamlin does not) concealed by St Vincent's affecta-
tion of courtesy. The constant allusions to Nelson, to
her care of him, to the Neapolitan ladies who might tempt
him — all these remarks were very aggravating. It is
better not to talk too much about certain things ! Emma
must have reproved him, for one of his letters winds up
in a very different strain to the others : " I have the hon-
our to be, with the truest respect, esteem and regard, your
Ladyship's very affectionate, humble servant."*

Did St Vincent really entertain such feelings of respect
for the nameless girl, the former artists' model, the mis-
tress of Greville and Nelson ? It is difficult to say what
his sentiments really were. Certainly, he realised that
Emma was a power, and that as such, she must be treated
with regard. The above mentioned lines were written
from Rosia House, Gibraltar, on December 7, 1798,
when the French and Neapolitan troops were fighting in
the Papal States. At such a moment, a woman having
influence at Court, was not to be neglected. On January
17 of the following year, St Vincent wrote to her once
more : " God bless you, my dear Madam, and enable you
to persevere in the comfort and support of the great and
amiable Queen."f

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 224. Another
officer, Sir Alexander John Ball, used the same terms : " I remain, with
sincere respect and esteem, my dear Madam, your Ladyship's most
devoted and obliged humble servant." {Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady
Hamilton, vol. i, p. 235). And yet he also chaffed her; "I find that
you fascinate all the navy, as much at Palermo as you did at Naples. . .
May you live a thousand years ! " (Idem, p. 237.)

As Nelson had not the same reason as Emma for publishing his love
affairs, he quarrelled with Souwarof who had written to him : " I thought
you had gone from Malta to Egypt to complete there the wonders of
our times. Palermo is not Cythera." (December 12, 1799.) This
letter was mentioned in the Athenaum of March i8, 1876.

t Pettigrew, vol. i, p. 187.

THE SITUATION AT MALTA 141

Had Emma been as discerning as she was clever, she
would have perceived that all this affectation of respect
and esteem was showered on her because she was the
friend of the Queen of Naples. It was the old story of
the Ass laden with Relics. She may have understood this
later when, her husband and lover being dead and her
fortune lost, she entered the ranks once more, and had
to bid farewell tq all homage. Her former admirers
turned their backs on her : donee eris felix.

On October 24, Nelson anchored in sight of Malta.
On the voyage he had not ceased dreaming of the loved
one who had opened to him the gates of Paradise. The
first letter he wrote was addressed to her. He ought first
to have written to the King of Naples, to Acton or Ham-
ilton, submitting to them his observations or demands,
but he was so carried away by his love for Emma that
he confided everything to her, making her his military
and political correspondent. This letter is the first given
in the edition published in 18 14, that is to say the first
letter kept by Emma for, as we know, he had already
written to her previous to June 30 :

Vanguard, off Malta,

October 24, 1798.
My dear Madam,

After a long passage, we are arrived; and
it is as I suspected — the ministers at Naples know no-
thing of the situation of the island. Not a house or bastion
of the Town is in the possession of the Islanders . . .

Ball will have the management of the blockade after
my departure; as it seems, the Court of Naples think my
presence may be necessary, and useful, in the beginning
of November . . . However, all my views are to serve
and save the Two Sicilies; and to do that which their
Majesties may wish me, even against my own opinion,
when I come to Naples and that country is at war. I shall
wish to have a meeting with General Acton on this subject.

You will, I am sure do me justice with the Queen; for

142 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

I declare to God, my whole study is, how to best meet her
approbation.

May God bless you and Sir William! and ever believe
me, with the most affectionate regard,

Your obliged and faithful friend,

Horatio Nelson.

Like many lovers. Nelson added a postcript, which, in
his eyes at least, was far more important than the letter
itself. To Emma it may have been comprehensible, but
to us the meaning is so involved, that it is necessary to
give the entire original text. The reader may exercise
his ingenuity in deciphering the enigma.

I may possibly, but that is not certain, send in the
inclosed letter. Shew it to Sir William. This must
depend on what I hear and see; for I believe scarcely any
thing I hear. Once more God bless you.*

" Once more God bless you." Whatever the sense of
the above lines may be, this ejaculation clearly denotes the
spirit in which they were written. On the same day, on
October 24, Nelson wrote to Hamilton an insignificant
letter in which he made no reference to his, the Ambassa-
dor's, wife. Three days later, having recovered his self-
possession. Nelson sent Hamilton a more interesting
letter, in which he complained that the Court of Naples
made no effort to help on the expedition to Malta. He
asked for instructions, adding : " I trust General Acton
will forgive an honest seaman for telling plain truths.
Js for the other Minister, I do not understand him. We
are different men. He has been bred at Court, and I in
a rough element."! Again not a word for Emma.

However, events were hurrying on in Naples, and the
Government of Ferdinand IV no longer deserved Nel-
son's reproaches. Ever since the victory of the Nile, the

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 3.
t Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 162.

HATRED OF THE FRENCH 143

renewal of hostilities had been decided on. Nevertheless,
some scruple or apprehension withheld the monarchs from
openly declaring war, so that, if necessary they might
profess that they had acted in good faith. This twofold
purpose may possibly be explained by the contrary influ-
ences of Gallo and Acton. The former was anxious to
maintain peace, the latter eager for war, and there was no
authority in the Kingdom to decide which opinion was to
predominate. Acton concentrated all his efforts on try-
ing to disgust and exasperate the French residents and
their Minister, by every imaginable vexatious measure.
The latter complained to GaUo, the Prime Minister, who,
being powerless to give them satisfaction, seldom replied
to their remonstrances, but endeavoured to pacify the bel-
ligerents. Garat had just left Naples. During the in-
terim. Citizen Lacheze acted as charge d'affaires, and was
succeeded by Lacombe Saint-Michel. To Emma, who
hated the Jacobins, each successive appointment was worse
than the last. She had called Garat a regicide; but this
epithet could with much more truth, be applied to La-
combe. As Minister of Justice, Garat had simply read
the death sentence to Louis XVI. Personally he had
taken no active part in a deed which his natural modera-
tion may even have led him to condemn. On the other
hand, Lacombe had been a member of the Convention and
had voted with the small majority that caused the King's
head to fall. It must be admitted that the Republic was
mistaken in choosing such men as representatives.* It
would have been easy to send, at least to the countries
governed by relations of Louis XVI, ambassadors who
were neither regicides nor ministers in 1793. About this
period, Sieyes, who had voted for the King's death in
these words : " La mort sans phrases " was Ambassador
of France at the Court of Prussia. As such, he had asked

* " Let them send us a descendant of Cartouche. Well and good !
But not a Conventional ! " exclaimed the Queen of Naples, the sister of
Marie-Antoinette, when writing to the Marquis Gallo And she was
right. Correspondance avec U Marquis Gallo, p. 250, Emile Paul, 191 1.

144 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

to be introduced to old Marshal Knobelsdorf, who
promptly replied ad hominem: " Non, sans phrasesl"*
In spite of the powerful position she occupied, the great
nation was no longer respected.

On the other hand, France was involved in so many
great undertakings, and esteemed herself so fortunate to
have emerged victorious from the terrible home crisis
and the toils of a formidable coalition, that she wished
henceforth to avoid all conflicts, even with the smallest
States. Consequently, she impressed on her Ambassa-
dors the necessity of acting with the greatest circum-
spection, and of maintaining peace at any price. The
result of this conciliatory attitude was that the Court of
Naples, and the Neapolitans themselves, who from mo-
tives of religious fanaticism hated the French quite as
much as their own Government, gave full vent to
their feelings by heaping insults and outrages on
the French, whose Government refused to retaliate.
Garat's position as Minister had become unbearable, and
Lacombe Saint-Michel fared no better, especially after
the victory of the Nile. On the i8th Fructidor, two
French vessels, the St Vincent from Marseilles, and the
Xebec Marie from La Ciotat entered the port of Naples,
and hoisted the tricolour flag. Immediately hooting and
jeering greeted them on all sides from the small craft and
the fishermen's boats in the Bay. Some cried out that the
French had stolen Venice, Malta and Rome.f In the
coarse language, of which the bassa gente of Naples pos-
sess such an astonishing vocabulary, thousands of insults
were heaped on the French and their flag. In the midst
of the uproar, Desire Clavelly, Captain of the Marie
managed to land; but when he attempted to return on
board, his boat was pelted with stones, and it was impos-
sible for him to embark.J A French musician having

* Memoires, by Dampmartin, p. 398.

"j" The Revolution had broken out in Rome on February 10, 1798.

X Declaration made before the Consulate on 29th Fructidor.

A PASSPORT REFUSED 145

asked for permission to reside in Naples, the commissary
of the district in which he lived, replied that his music
was not wanted.* On another occasion, Lacombe Saint-
Michel wished to hire a box at the theatre; fovir times in
succession he was told that there were none to be had.f
Finally, the coat of arms of the Republic placed above
the windows of the Consulate, on Piazza Santa Lucia,
was pelted with stones far on into the night. J Lacombe
expostulated with Gallo,§ but received no reply. When
he asked for passports, Gallo informed him that as a
general measure, the Neapolitan Government had decided
not to issue any. Again, the Minister of France remon-
strated in a very dignified manner.

Naples,
30th Brumaire, Year VII of the French Republic.
November 20, 1798.
Monsieur le Marquis,

In the course of nine days, I have three times
begged your Excellency to deliver to me passports, enab-
ling me to send off a courier, and allow the despatch-
bearer whom I received on the 26th Brumaire, to return
to Rome. I have now received the letter which you had
the goodness to write to me on November 18, and in
which you inform me positively that His Majesty has
given you absolute orders forbidding you to issue any
passports. If this measure is a general one affecting all
the Ambassadors, it does not behove me to discuss the
insult inflicted on the various States of Europe. But I
must attend to the interests of my country. I applied

* LachJze to Gallo, zoth Fructidor. National Archives of Naples.
Unpublished.

t Lacombe to Gallo, 1 2th Brumaire, Year VII. National Archives
of Naples. Unpublished.

J Official report drawn up by the Consul General and the secretary
on 1 6th Brumaire of the Year VII.

§ zoth Brumaire, National Archives of Naples. Unpublished.
K

146 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

directly to you, and, in spite of the general measure en-
forced, I believed you would submit my demand to the
King. But, it is palpable that this measure is to be applied
to France only. Am I to consider myself a prisoner in
Naples.? I must believe it, if I am not allowed to com-
municate with the outer world. If you are at war with
the Republic, you are bound to send me away, but I have
not the right to abandon my post, unless this be the case or
I am recalled.

In the name of my Government and of the law of Na-
tions, I claim the freedom which the Ambassador of His
Majesty the King of the Two Sicilies enjoys in Paris, and
surely, it will seem very extraordinary that I should be
obliged to make such a demand. It is in vain that the
Neapolitan Government seek to prevent my communicat-
ing with France, and in spite of these efforts, I shall find
means to instruct my Government.

All Europe shall know that the Court of Naples has
openly violated, in the person of the Ambassador of the
French Republic, those sacred rights which all civilised
nations acknowledge.

Your's, etc.,

J. P. Lacombe Saint-Michel.

Naples,
1st Frimaire of the Year VII of the French Republic,
November 21, 1798.
Monsieur le Marquis,

Although you have not answered my letter of 20th
Brumaire and in spite of the fact that I know how use-
less it is to send you any further communications, until
war be declared between our two Governments, I shall
not cease to protest against the violation of the treaty of
peace concluded on October 11, 1796, and which binds
the Republic of France and the Kingdom of the Two
Sicilies. It is a notorious fact that wine, ammunition and

THE KING'S FEARS 147

Neapolitan troops have been embarked on English and
Portuguese vessels, and this constitutes a threefold in-
fringement of Article 4 of the treaty signed October 11,
1796. I must protest against such transgressions. It is
my duty and I shall have the courage to accomplish it.
I hereby beg of your Excellency to acknowledge receipt
of the present note as also that of the 20th Brumaire.

Your's, etc.,

J. P. Lacombe Saint-Michel.*

In those feverish days, comic incidents occurred, as
well as tragic ones. For instance, a French musician,
named Mottainville, was arrested as he left the Embassy,
where Lacombe had entrusted him with two pieces of
poetry that he was to set to music, f

By this time the Court of Naples had indeed come to
a decision, but would not own to it. As Hamilton had
suggested six months earlier, the Neapolitans intended
to open hostilities without having previously declared
war.J The present occasion was a most favourable one
for the furtherance of their designs. The French were in
Rome, where they had proclaimed the Republic. The King
of Naples, inclined to believe that France was downcast
by the disaster of Aboukir Bay, maintained that his King-
dom was threatened by this new invasion of the Jacobins,
and demanded some pledge of security or compensation,
such as the surrender of Benevento and Ponte-Corvo,
which were at the very door of his possessions. Since the
Pope had been overthrown, the King was quite ready to
stretch out his hand and seize part of the spoils. § He

* National Archives of Naples. Unpublished.

t National Archives of Naples. Unpublished.

J Hamilton's letter of May 22, ch. vi, p. 129.

§ On September 8, 1799, the Queen of Naples had asked for
" Tuscany and a line which, starting from the Prhides, would put the
Neapolitan kingdom in communication with it by Civita Vecchia."
Correspmdance avec k Marquis de Gallo. No. 233. This also meant
despoiling the Pope.

148 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

was a religious-minded man, or rather, like the Queen,
he was more superstitious than devout. But his main
object was the aggrandisement of his Kingdom, and no
consideration could prevail against his own interests,
which had become a matter of principle with him. His
conduct would have been more dignified had he frankly
laid claim to what he considered his rights, allowing the
question to be settled by the Ambassadors of each power,
and threatening France with a declaration of war, should
his demands be neglected. But had he been inclined to
take such a course, the timorous Gallo would have inter-
vened, for, at any cost he wanted to avoid a conflict with
the great Republic* On the other hand, the King did
not dare to dismiss Gallo, for that would have been equi-
valent to publishing his own hostile intentions. More-
over, as it often happens in the case of such insignificant-
people who give umbrage to no one, this Minister was
appreciated both in France and Austria, between whom
he had negotiated a treaty of peace highly honourable
to both powers. These considerations explain the strange
conduct of the Government of Ferdinand IV, which ap-
peared to be constantly hesitating and uncertain, whereas,
in reality, it was steadily making for the object in
view. It is also well not to lose sight of the influences
brought to bear on the King, and of which, although they
were predominating, there is no documentary proof.
Nelson and Hamilton prompted Ferdinand who, being
weak and " stupid " as Emma said, submitted willingly
to their direction through the intermediation of Acton.
Above all, he was under the influence of Marie-Caroline,
who, being well trained by Lady Hamilton, did all that
her friend wished, and Emma, prompted by her hus-

* Later on, the Queen reproached herself with not having listened
to this prudent adviser. On January 27, 1790, she wrote to him from
Palermo : " Burn my letter, and let me know that you have done so.
It is the outpouring of my heart to a faithful friend. Had we listened
to him, and profited by his counsels, we should not now be unfortunate.
And the worst has not come yet." Correspondanee de la Reine Marie-
Caroline, by Commandant Weil. No. 310, Emile Paul, Paris.

WAR DECLARED 149

band and her lover, advocated the interests of British
policy, which, in a certain measure was inspired by the
inveterate and ardent hatred felt in England towards
Papists.

During Nelson's stay in Naples, a council of war had
been held at Caserta. Nelson and Hamilton had been
present at this meeting where all the final arrangements
were made. Austria was asked to provide a General, and
Mack was chosen. The troops would have received im-
mediate orders to march, but that the army, being com-
posed of mercenaries who were undisciplined and insuffi-
ciently trained, presented an inadequate means of carry-
ing on warfare.* Nelson wrote to Lord Spencer that the
King of Naples had called him to San Germano " to con-
cert with General Mack and General Acton the com-
mencement of the "War."t It was impossible to conceal
these preparations from the French, and the troops that
had invested Rome, were informed of the hostile inten-
tions of the Court of Naples. The Commander-in-chief,
General Berthier, sent General Balait to Naples, instruct-
ing him to demand of Ferdinand the expulsion of the
Roman refugees; the dismissal of Acton; the right of
passage through Neapolitan territory to Benevento and
Ponte-Corvo; the payment of the tribute which the King
owed to the Pope as his feudatory, and, finally, the re-
moval of the British Ambassador Hamilton. These pre-
posterous exactions forced the Neapolitan Government
into declaring war, which was what Berthier had antici-
pated. For the last six month Ferdinand's policy had
been a tissue of lies and deception, nevertheless, under

* In his Annali, p. 93, Coppi says that " the army being composed of
troops which, for the most part, had never seen any fighting, great diffi-
culties arose at once with regard to the communications, the transport
of ammunition, and still more in the execution of orders, and the gett-
ing in touch with the enemy." Yet Mack was so wanting in perspica-
city that he wrote to Nelson they were " the finest troops in Europe."
Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 170.

t Dispatches, November 13, 1798, vol. iii, p. 170.

ISO A GREAT ADVENTURESS

this insult, he recovered his dignity, or perhaps his coun-
cillors did so for him, and the demands of the French
were rejected. Benevento and Ponte-Corvo were in-
vested, and, after having summoned the French to evac-
uate the Roman territory, it was decided on November
24, to march forward.

At this crisis the Queen wrote to her daughter, the
Empress : " We are in the painful position of not being
able to avoid war. On all sides we are threatened by the
French . . . We are about to be attacked in our own land,
along an enormous frontier that is unfortified, and at
five stages from the capital, which will cause disorder and
general perturbation. Thus we must go . . ."

In his proclamation the King said : " Far from wishing
to renew hostilities with any foreign power, the desire to
render to the Holy Church the homage due to her is the
only motive that has induced us to set out on this under-
taking. We therefore exhort . . . the generals and com-
manders of every foreign army to evacuate immediately
with their troops the Roman territory, without taking
any outward part in the destiny of that State, whose fate,
by reason of its position, and of the most lawful motives,
is of particular interest to our Royal power."

These words were full of dignity and, to a certain ex-
tent, they were justified. As a singular consequence of the
deceitful policy followed by the Court of Naples up to
this date, the French Ambassador Lacombe was not in-
formed oflficially of the rupture between the two States.*
On the other hand, Championnet, the French General,
who had just succeeded to Berthier, did not consider that
he was at war with the Neapolitans. This, according to a
letter written by Marie-Caroline to her daughter the

* Later, when Lady Hamilton related these events in the Memorial
which she addressed to the Prince Regent in order to obtain a pension,
she stated that the French Ambassador was given twenty-four hours'
notice, and was quite unprepared for such a measure. By the documents
above mentioned, it will be seen that, on the contrary Lacombe
considered an open rupture imminent.

A WARLIKE PEACE 151

Empress on November 28, 1782, was the reason he gave
for evacuating Rome.* The French General being
totally unprepared for such an attack on the part of a
neutral power, had first endeavoured to negotiate with
Mack; to whom he wrote on 5th Frimaire : " I must
request you to remember that peace still exists between
the French Republic and the Court of Naples, as also
between the Ambassadors of the respective Govern-
ments, and finally, that no circumstance can have severed
the tie which the last treaty of peace renewed between
the French Republic and the King of the Two Sicilies.
Under these conditions, to order the French troops to
evacuate Roman territory, the defence of which is en-
trusted to their care, is equivalent to breaking the exist-
ing treaties, and violating the law of nations, which does
not permit one Government to attack another without
having previously declared war."

Mack replied that the French had usurped the Roman
States after the treaty of Campo Formio, that neither the
King of Naples nor the Emperor had ratified this usurpa-
tion. He then stated that should the French refuse to
retire, their attitude would be considered as a declaration
of war.f

Thereupon, Championnet withdrew and inforined his
Government of the Neapolitan ultimatum. On the loth
Frimaire the Republic decided to declare war.J

Before Lacombe could be extricated from the sort of
prison in which he was detained, the French commis-
sioners in Rome and the Ambassador himself were obliged

* Quoted by von Helfert in Fahrizio Ruffo, p. 501.

t Proclaim e Sanzioni della republka napoletana, Naples. Stamperia dell
Iride, 1863, p. 130.

X The message of the Government of the Directory was issued
14th Frimaire ; the vote oi the. Conseils on the 1 6th. On the 23rd, in
another note, the Directory reminded the Conseils of the aggressive
attitude of the Neapolitan Government, which had instigated the
insults heaped on the French Consul on 15 th Brumaire, whilst granting
help to Nelson and receiving him in Naples.

152 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

to expostulate with the Neapolitan Government. The
following are the curious documents they sent :

Egalite, Liberte.

Perugia
1 2th Frimaire Year VII of the Republican Era.
The commissioners of the Executive Directory of the
French Republic in the Roman Republic to the
Marquis de Gallo Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Monsieur le Marquis,

Considering that in defiance of the last treaty,
the Court of Naples has given every sort of Succour to
the British fleet, there is no reason to be surprised that
hostilities against the French Republic should have begun
without any previous declaration of war. That under
such circumstances, the French Ambassador and all the
diplomatic agents of the Republic should be detained,
and all communication with their home Government for-
bidden or intercepted, is a most unwarrantable proceed-
ing. It is in your power. Monsieur le Marquis, to put
an end to these abuses. It is a matter in which your
honour, as well as your own safety, are involved, there-
fore, I hereby make a formal demand that no restraint '
be laid on the communications which the Ambassador
and the Agents of the Republic send to their Govern-
ment. We further request that they may be allowed to
receive all the help of which they may stand in need. We
also demand that you safeguard and protect their persons
and their property.

Tour's, etc.,

Sertoli

DuPORT.

15th Frimaire, Year VII.
Citizen Lacombe Saint-Michel, Ambassador of the French
Republic to His Majesty the King of the Two
Sicilies to His Excellency the Marquis de Gallo.

NAPOLEON'S BROTHER CAPTURED 153

Monsieur le Marquis,

It is notorious in this town that a French vessel
sent by General Buonaparte, is held in quarantine out-
side Tarento. Moreover, I am informed that the Nea-
politan Government have detained a despatch addressed
to me. Yesterday evening your Excellency assured me
that no despatch had been intercepted, and that no de-
claration of war between the two powers had been made,
and that no one in the Kingdom of Naples has any right
to intercept a despatch intended for me. I therefore claim
it back from your Excellency, or request you to be so
good as to contradict this report in an official note.
Your's, etc.,

Lacombe Saint-Michel.*

The French Minister in Naples had received correct
information, and the facts are confirmed by the following
letter which the Queen wrote to Lady Hamilton, and
which bears the stamp of the most barefaced outspoken-
ness.

My dear Lady,

Yesterday evening we received an express
(courier) from Tarento, where a French brig has arrived,
having on board Louis Buonaparte, who has escaped the
blockade. He left on 15th Brumaire (November 7, 1798)
and the Devil who helps them in everything, brought
him here in twenty days. Despatches from his brother
the General are being copied and the Chevalier {Hamil-
ton) shall see them. They relate that the Mamelukes
have been destroyed, that the troops are in their quarters
and want for nothing. They contain a great deal of
cipher. Buonaparte demands a diminution of 40m
(evidently this means quarantine) and wants Lacombe to
send him a secretary of the Legation to confer with him,
sending the documents by another secretary, and that he
himself shall leave for Paris en courier.

My humble advice was to inform the Chevalier; then
* National Archives of Naples. Unpublished.

154 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

to send the packet to Tarento saying that under present
circumstances despatches cannot be delivered, that he
(Louis Buonaparte) having come here in ignorance of
these events, will not be kept prisoner, but that he shall
not be allowed to travel through the Kingdom, conse-
quently he had better depart. Hoping in the meantime
that he may be caught.*

Adieu, ma chere Milady,

Charlotte.

Lacombe Saint-Michel was no less well informed con-
cerning other events. On the 14th Frimaire, Gallo still
assured him that there was to be no war, and yet on the
9th Frimaire (November 29, 1798) the Neapolitan troops
had entered Rome. This duplicity was the consequence
of Hamilton's advice, or his wife's influence. But it was
impossible to carry on the comedy much longer, and at
length, on December 10, poor Lacombe was requested to
leave. He had spent only a short time in Naples, but it
had been his lot to play a most difficult part.f And in

* She hoped he might be taken by the English, for Nelson, being
warned by Hamilton, through the Queen's letter to Emma, was about to
chase the French brig. As for the Dispatches addressed to Lacombe,
they never reached him. Those written by Louis Buonaparte were
opened by the Queen, who, after having them copied, showed them to
Hamilton and returned them to Louis Buonaparte at Tarento. Letter
quoted by M. Gagniire in La reine Marie-Caroline de Naples, p. 78.
This odious custom of unsealing letters was a state institution m Naples.
When Count de Vaudreuil, an Emigre, went from Rome to Naples, he
wrote to the Duke d'Artois ; " Do not write to me whilst I am in
Naples for all letters are read." Correspondance intime du Comte de
Vaudreuil et du Comte ^Artois, by L. Pingaud, vol. i, p. 73.

t In his Gloria ff Italia, vol. xvi, Botta relates that during the days
that preceded the entrance of the French into Naples, the people
wanted to kill Lacombe, but some humane royalists hid him and saved
his life [alcuni amatori delnome reale, che piu risguardarono all' umanita che
alle opinione). It would seem that Lacombe was rash enough to delay
his departure. M. Andr6 Bonnefons relates that the unfortunate Ambas-
sador sailed in a Genoese vessel that was captured off the coast of
Tunis ; Lacombe had some difficulty in getting released. According
to Commander Weil and the Marchese Somma Circello, Lacombe left
Naples on November 9. His own letter proves that he was still there
on the 15th Frimaire. (December 5.)

NAPLES IN DANGER 155

the end he was only allowed to go because France had
declared war. (i6th Frimaire.)

The Neapolitan expedition fared no better. The poor
King's advisers had persuaded him to join the army, by
assuring him he would play an important part, for which,
by the way, he was absolutely unfitted. On November
29 he entered Rome; but on December 10, in consequence
of Championnet's success, he was obliged to leave the
city. On December 22 the Neapolitan troops, com-
manded by Mack, retreated to Capua. It then became
evident *that the victorious French were about to march
on Naples. Should the capital be forsaken .-' It has been
asserted that the King was ready to face the possibility
of a siege, for he believed in the courage of the Nea-
politans and the loyalty of the Lazzaroni, with whom he
was very popular, as he shared their tastes and treated
them as familiar comrades.* According to another re-
port, the Queen and her friends frightened him into
consenting to fly, by causing one of his couriers, Ferreri,
whom he had entrusted with a letter for Nelson, to be
murdered on December 21. One of Marie-Caroline's
emissaries, a man named de Simone, is said to have
pointed out Ferreri to the mob as being a French spy.
This may be true, for in those days of wild anxiety and
bloodshed the darkest deeds were perpetrated. However,
without formal evidence, it would be unjust to impute
this crime to the Queen, even though her record be not
otherwise spotless. In a letter to Lady Hamilton, the
Queen later declared that had she been in the King's
place she would have remained at Naples, f It is well

* Byway of preparing for the expected invasion, drilling grounds had
been established. The Queen sometimes rode there accompanied by
the King disguised as an equerry ; but more frequently she came dressed
as a vivandikrt, whilst the King wore the garb of an inn-keeper.
Occasionally dressed as a fisherman or hawker, Ferdinand was seen at
the corner of a street, selling fish he had caught or the game he had
killed. After driving preposterous bargains, he would distribute the
money to his boisterous admirers the Lazzaroni. Mimolres, General
Baron Thidbault, vol. ii, p. 258.

t Pettigrew, op. cit., vol. i, p. 297.

156 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

known how easily a life may be forfeited during revolu-
tionary times. If a man be seen hurrying along, bearing
papers to which he seems to attach great importance, this
will suffice to convict him as a spy. He is promptly put
to death, and when it is too late his murderers discover
his real identity. In the turmoil of a Revolution such
incidents will occur more frequently in a country whose
inhabitants are always ready with their knives, and set
small value upon human life. Let it be hoped that the
murder of the luckless Ferreri was merely the conse-
quence of some such unfortunate mistake.

Whatever the truth may be, this tragedy effectually
decided the King and Queen to fly, and they resolved to
seek refuge in Sicily. It was scarcely the moment to
brand as cowards those whom they were about to abandon
in the midst of troubles, which they alone had brought
on the land.*

By the following words written to Lady Hamilton,
and which she showed to the Queen, Nelson had uncon-
ditionally promised to assist the Neapolitan Sovereigns
in all their undertakings, " and to do that which their
Majesties may wish me, even against my own opinion,
when I come to Naples; and that country is at war."t

In haste, the royal treasures, costly furniture belong-
ing to the crown, together with precious works of art
discovered at Herculaneum and Pompeii, were conveyed
on board English and Neapolitan vessels. In order to
ensure the removal of these valuables without arousing
the suspicions of the mob. Lady Hamilton, at some per-
sonal risk, was obliged to explore a subterranean passage

* Queen Marie-Caroline to the Empress, December n 1 798 ;
" Our infamous troops, bribed and sold, do nothing but fly. No sailors
are to be found . Every one is weak or corrupt. The nobles pull long
faces, hide their money and belongings ; make no offers — do nothing.
Magistrates and lawyers hide from the Court, plotting. The military
run away and are infamous cowards." Histoire Generale des Emigres,
by H. Forneron.

t Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 5 .

THE LIFE OF THE PARTY 157

leading from the Palace to the seashore.* Emma was
the soul of the whole expedition, and a Providence to
the Royal Family. In a letter to Lord St Vincent, Nelson
relates that there were no beds on board, and that there
had been no time to make any preparations for receiving
the royal guests. Ferdinand had been able to bring only
one servant. Emma, remembering her early occupations,
became the serving maid of the Queen and Nelson :
" Lady Hamilton provided her own beds, linen, etc., and
became their slave, . . . nor did her Ladyship enter a bed
the whole time they were on board. Good Sir William
also made every sacrifice for the comfort of the august
Family embarked with him . . ."f

British merchants residing in Naples had been given

* See Lady Hamilton's Memorial to the Prince Regent. General
Thi6bault writes in his Memoir es (vol. ii, p. 291) : " It is nevertheless
doubtful if, in spite of their anger, the people would have allowed the
King to depart, had not Lady Hamilton, the wife of the Ambassador, and
the friend of the Queen, revealed to the latter a subterranean passage,
leading from the castle to the seashore, the existence of which was un-
known even to the inmates of the castle, and which this w had

discovered and used to facilitate her scandalous intrigue with Admiral
Nelson. By this underground passage, in the greatest secrecy, Lady
Hamilton herself, during the seven nights which elapsed between Decem-
ber 14 and 21, conveyed sixty millions in jewels belonging to the King,
and enormous sums said to be worth twenty millions. Then, escorted
by Nelson and a number of his men, the King and Queen, with the
members of their family, their ministers, escaped on December 21 before
daybreak and went on board Admiral Nelson's vessel. On the 23 rd
they sailed, and reached Palermo on the 25th."

General Thiebault, who entered Naples after taking an active part
in the struggle that marked the entrance of the French into this city,
had received accurate information, except on the head of Emma's love
affairs, which had no need of the subterranean passage, and on the
score of the millions which they were supposed to have carried away.
This last point is rectified by an account which Nelson sent in to his
superior. Lord St Vincent : " Lady Hamilton from this time to the 21st,
every night received the jewels of the Royal Family, etc. etc. and
such clothes as might be necessary for the very large party to embark, to
the amount, I am confident, of full two millions five hundred thousand
pounds sterling." (Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 210.)

t Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 213.

158 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

notice that they would find refuge on any vessel in the
squadron. The King and Queen, Acton, the Hamiltons,
and all that remained of this dissolute and shattered mon-
archy, were on board the flagship.

It was the end of December, and furious winds de-
tained the fleet. The magistrates of the town, the
nobility, the people sent a deputation to 'the King, beg-
ging him to return, and promising to make the utmost
eff'orts against the enemy. To one of the envoys, the
Archbishop of Naples, the King replied by an absolute
refusal. He let his Ministers receive the other deputies,
and then the vessel sailed. One of the royal children.
Prince Albert, aged seven, was ailing. Referring to him,
his mother wrote to her daughter in Vienna : " I doubt
that we shall all arrive alive. ... I tremble for my son
Albert."*

This sad presentiment was to be fulfilled. The child
died during the passage, in spite of the efforts of Lady
Hamilton, " who," says Colletta, " took great care of
him and held him in her arms until he breathed his last."

This testimony is all the more valuable as it comes
from an enemy. No doubt it may seem astonishing that
Emma Lyon should bestow on a child that did not belong
to her the care she had withheld from her own. But it
must be remembered that the child whom she watched
through its death-throes was the son of a Queen, and that
she was surrounded by witnesses of the highest rank,
who, with the usual exaggeration common to drawing-
rooms and Courts, fell into ecstasies over the heroic
devotion of the Ambassadress. Since she loved romantic
adventures, she ought indeed to have felt happy, for she
was in the very thick of stirring events. Had she not
reason to rejoice when she considered her position ! War
had been declared. The King and Queen, her friends,
had fled before the invasion threatening their Kingdom
and the Revolution about to break out in their capital.
The conqueror of the Nile, her lover, was protecting
them all on his flagship, and taking them to Sicily !
* Quoted by von Helfert in Fairizio Ruffb, p. 514.

WOMANLY SYMPATHY 159

However, this new Attitude assumed by Lady Hamil-
ton may perhaps be accounted for by the emotional nature
natural to women, and it is possible that in the midst of
misfortune Emma recovered, if only for one short day,
feminine virtues which she had long forgotten; and who
can tell but that, as she nursed the little Prince, her
thoughts went out towards the daughter she had aban-
doned and sacrificed to her marriage.

CHAPTER VIII

The fugitives' perilous voyage — Their arrival at Palermo — The revolution
at Naples — The installation of the Republican Government — Speech
of Carlo Laubert — Denunciation of Marie-Caroline and Lady
Hamilton — French reverse — Cardinal RufFo — The army of Sant^-
Fe — RuiFo offers the Neapolitan Forts an honourable surrender —
This is accepted.

THE stormy, wintry weather made the voyage a
dangerous one, and more than once Nelson him-
self feared that the flagship and its freight of
royal fugitives would sink. In this critical state of
affairs, Hamilton conducted himself with characteristic
calmness and courage, and once he was found holding a
loaded pistol in each hand without any apparent emotion.
" In answer to her Ladyship's exclamation of surprise, he
calmly told her that he was resolved not to die with the
' gugglc-guggle-guggle ' of the salt-water in his throat;
and therefore he was prepared, as soon as he felt the
ship sinking, to shoot himself."*

In a letter written to Greville, Lady Hamilton thus
related the hardships they underwent during the flight:
" We arrived on Christmas Day at night, after having
been near lost, a tempest that Lord Nelson had never
seen for thirty years he has been at sea the like . . . and
poor I to attend and keep up the spirits of the Queen,
the Princess Royall, 3 young princesses, a baby six
weeks old, and 2 young princess Leopold and Albert,
the last six years old, my favourite, taken with convul-
sion in the midst of the storm, and at 7 in the even-
ing of Christmas day, expired in my arms, not a
* Captain Smyth's letter quoted by Pettigrew, vol. i, p. 178.

AT PALERMO i6i

soul to help me, as the few women her Majesty brought
on board were incapable of helping her or the poor Royal
children. Thank God we have got our brave Lord Nel-
son. The King and Queen and the Sicilians adore, next
to worship him, and so they ought; for we shoud not
have had this Island, but for his glorious victory. He
is calld here Nostra Libertore, nostra Salvatore. We
have left every thing at Naples but the vases and
best pictures, 3 houses elegantly furnished, all our horses
and our 6 or 7 carriages I think is enough for the vile
French."*

At length, on December 27, Nelson was able to land
the unhappy royal fugitives, further bereaved by the
death of their child. It is easy to imagine what torture
those tragic days inflicted on the proud Sovereigns, on
the descendant of Louis XIV and on the daughter of
Maria-Theresa, who believed so firmly in their own
Absolute Right. In their hearts they nurtured fierce
plans of revenge, and their sufferings must not be for-
gotten when apportioning the responsibility for what
occurred after the return from Palermo, when a long-
contained fury at length burst forth.

Fully expecting to be robbed of Sicily, the Queen
showed a fine courage. Her one idea was to save her
children by sending them to Austria. She herself was
quite prepared for death. " Ensuite le reste rester," she
said, " le Roi, moi, mon fils, a mourir ou nous sauver,
mais je desirerais mes enfants sauves.^f

The companions of her exile took a less tragic view of
the situation. Had not this opportune Revolution
united them all! Love, confidence, friendship; Nelson,
Emma, Hamilton were gathered together under the same
roof and lived in perfect harmony. To his honour, it
must be said that the Admiral was growing weary of this
enforced inaction. He used his leisure to draw up a
codicil in favour of the Hamiltons, so great was his

* Morrison MSS. 370, January 7, 1799.

t Quoted by von Helfert in Fairizio Ruffii, p; 543.

1 62 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

admiration for them, as Mr Walter Sichel remarks with
charming naivete. To Emma he bequeathed the dia-
monds given him by the Sultan's mother, and to Sir
William he left fifty guineas.* This ridiculous legacy
was left to Hamilton so that the more important gift
made by a married man to a married woman might be
overlooked. This first codicil was, in course of time, to
be followed by several others.

As for Emma, she was now not only the wife of the
Ambassador, but she was acting as Ambassador, Minister,
General : she was happy, for she was all-important, and
had a hand in everything. On May 20 the Queen wrote
to her : " I beg you to inform me why Keith is come
and what force he brings, and if the French and Spanish
squadron has left, and where it is."t

Queen Marie-Caroline considered that it was impera-
tive for the British fleet to remain and defend Sicily.
Six or eight thousand Frenchmen had sufficed to conquer
Naples. One thousand could easily take possession of
Sicily. On January 15, 1799, Nelson wrote to Lord St
Vincent : " Both the King and Queen have so seri-
ously pressed me not to move, that I cannot do it;
they have fears, and have confidence in me, for their
safety.";};

" Nothing could console the Queen this night, but
my promise not to leave them unless the battle was to
be fought off Sardinia." (May 12, 1799.)

" What a state I am in ! If I go, I risk, and more

* For a memorial ring.

t Pettigrew, vol. i, page 224, Her head was quite turned by the
Queen's favour, and the importance it gave her in the eyes of those
about her. On the envelope of a letter which Marie-Caroline wrote to
her on July 2, she traced these words : " This from my friend whom
I love and adore. Yess, I will serve her with my heart and soul
my blood if necessary shall flow for her. Emma will prove to Maria
Carolina that an humble born Englishwoman can serve a Queen with
real and true love, even at the risk of her life." Eg. MSS. 16 16,
folio 38.

X Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 234.

NELSON HESITATES 163

than risk, Sicily, and what is now safe on the Continent . . .
As I stay, my heart is breaking."* (May 13.)

Concerning Naples and the blockade, the Queen wrote
to the Emperor that these plans must be abandoned for
the present and all efforts concentrated on saving Sicily.

However excellent her reasons may have appeared to
the Queen, they did not convince Nelson. He seemed
so uncertain, and so fearful of making a decision, that
in order to persuade him to remain, Lady Hamilton had
to have recourse to all her caressing wiles, so says von
Helfert,! who may be relied on, as he is an ardent
defender of the Admiral.

On May 17 the Queen announced that the French
fleet had passed the Straits of Gibraltar. The British
squadrons under Bridport and St Vincent had failed to
intercept the enemy. At this juncture, instead of push-
ing forward with all his forces. Nelson divided his fleet,
he himself remaining at Palermo with one British and
one Portuguese vessel. The Queen had been right
in her hesitations; but it is more probable that Lady
Hamilton's voice alone had persuaded him to remain on
in Sicily!

More than once Marie-Caroline proved that she was
possessed of sound judgment, and her confidante, who
delighted in meddling with things that did not concern
her, could also give good advice occasionally. Thus,
fearing that the Republicans might invade Sicily, she
pointed out to Lord St Vincent that it would be advis-
able to place a British garrison in Messina. That the
honour of inspiring this move is due to her initiative,
may be gathered from the answer that St Vincent sent
to one of her letters : " My dear Lady Hamilton, I
forwarded the letter your Ladyship committed to my
care . . . and I have sent expresses to London via Lisbon
to apprize our Government of the critical state of the
island of Sicily. I heartily hope that General Stuart will

* Dispatches, vol. iii, pp. 354-355.

t Fabrizio Ruffo, p. 249.

1 64 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

arrive in time to secure Messina."* Sir Charles Stuart
landed a thousand infantry in Messina. According to
the Queen's own confession, the Court of Palermo had
no more soldiers. " The troops sent to Messina," she
wrote, " saved this important port, the fall of which
would have carried with it the remainder of the King-
dom."!

The Revolution had triumphed in Naples. On June
II, 1799, Mack had retired behind the lines of Regni-
Lagni and the Ofanto, and an armistice had been con-
cluded whereby the Kingdom of Naples was to pay eight
millions to the French Republic. The Neapolitans, not
understanding such negotiations, regarded as false to
their country those who were responsible for them.
When Arcambal, chief ordonnateur of the army, arrived
to levy the war indemnity, a riot broke out, and Prince
Pignatelli - Belmonte, whom Ferdinand had appointed
Governor, was obliged to fly, leaving the city in the hands
of the mob.

The French then marched on Naples. The people
defended their city with great courage. " The Lazzaroni
are heroes," said Championnet, in his official report.
General Thiebault has also related how difficult it was to
overcome their desperate resistance and drive them back,
street by street, house by house. Nevertheless, their
courage could not prevail over the practised skill and disci-
pline of the French troops. On January 23, Championnet
entered Naples and, according to the custom then prac-
tised by the French, proclaimed the Parthenopean Re-
public. On the following day, a public ball was given
in the prior's room at the Convent of San Martino.

"Whilst his lieutenants set out to conquer the rest of
the Kingdom, Championnet established a temporary
Government composed of twenty-five members, which
came into force on January 26. It was generally believed
that the Bourbons had gone for ever, and in his opening

* Pettigrew, »/. eit., vol. i, p. 209.

t Correspottdance du Marquis de Galb. No. 323.

AN ANGRY OUTBURST 165

speech Carlo Laubert, who presided over the new Govern-
ment, did not spare the Queen, whom he branded as a
new Messalina. " It appears then to this fury vomited
by the North, that she may with ease tear out from this
soil the germs of liberty. She sets ablaze the torch of
fanaticism, she organises an army of spies; but she
merely hastens her own ruin and our regeneration. All
the evils which this new Alecto has brought on a country
to which she does not belong — the ruin of finance, the
depraving of morals, ignorance and barbarity carried in
triumph — have aroused the indignation of the nation."

It is but natural that the Queen's friend should not
escape the angry outburst of public feeling. The
Monitore Napoletano recalled the part played by Lady
Hamilton in helping the Sovereigns to escape : " When
everything was ready for flight. Admiral Nelson, Hamil-
ton, the British Ambassador and his celebrated wife —
better known as the accomplice of Marie-Caroline's in-
trigues — consulted together as to the plan of operations
to be followed on the flight . . . They debated as to what
artifice to employ to persuade to fly the muddle-headed
Ferdinand, the imbecile whose stupidity kept him always
in a state of indecision."*

The King was far from pleased to read such articles
at Palermo; but it was through the newspapers that he
was enlightened concerning his wife's conduct, which up
to that date he had not suspected. Stormy scenes took
place between the two, which account for the fact that
when the King returned to Naples he left the Queen in
Sicily. Highfy incensed by the revelations brought to
light in the newspapers, and furious with the Neapolitans
who had read them, Marie-Caroline vowed she would be
revenged. She achieved her purpose in the bloody execu-
tions that followed and to which Lady Hamilton lent a
willing hand. She was to persuade Nelson to undertake
this task, just as Anthony avenged the wrongs of
Cleopatra.

* Monitore Napoletano, February 12, 1799.

1 66 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Unforeseen events prevented the Republic from tak-
ing root in Naples. War broke out once more between
France and Austria. Turkey, having been threatened by
Buonaparte, joined the coalition, which was considerably
strengthened by the great Russian general, Souwaroff,
who defeated the French at Magnano. Moreau, who
was in command in the valley of the Po, called the
Neapolitan army to his assistance. It was then under
the command of Macdonald, who had succeeded Cham-
pionnet when the latter was recalled.* Macdonald
abandoned Naples, leaving behind him a small detach-
ment commanded by Colonel Mejean. These forces
would have sufficed had the Parthenopean Republic been
firmly established; but, as it was, the French were then
struggling with a clever and dangerous enemy, Cardinal
Fabrizio Ruffo.

Denizio Fabrizio Ruffo was born at San Lucido, near
Paolo, in Calabria, on September i6, 1744. He belonged
to that hybrid class of Cardinals who had not taken Holy
Orders — an anomaly that occurred frequently in those
days. Mazarin belonged to this order, and Rafaello just
escaped, being enrolled in it. Ruffo had acted as trea-
surer to Pope Pius VI. Later, he had been appointed
Governor-General of the King's palace at Caserta. At
the time of the royal escape to Palermo he had volun-
teered to raise Calabria, his native province, against
the Republic. He was sent there with " a few men
and still less money; unlimited authority and great
promises."t His success was instantaneous amidst a

* Botta gives a singular reason for Championnet's disgrace. The
General was making preparations for an expedition into Sicily. This
did not fit in with the plans of Talleyrand who, believing a restoration
possible, did not wish to exasperate the Bourbons. It must be remem-
bered that Championnet had made a great mistake in causing Faypoult
to be ejected from Naples. Championnet was arrested in France, then
released and put in command of the army of Italy. He was defeated at
Genola, and died of grief in 1800.

t Storia delreame di Napoli </<j/ 1 734 «/ 1 825 by Colletta, vol. iv, ch. ii.

CARDINAL RUFl'O
From a bust in the Museum of San Mat-tino

A WARRIOR CARDINAL 167

fanatical population that hated the French and the Re-
publicans. He soon found himself at the head of an
army of peasants, with which he marched upon Naples.
" He advanced slowly so that the sight of the rich city
might the better excite the greedy covetousness of his
horde of followers, to whom he had promised the plunder
of the town. At dawn on June 13, having erected an
altar in the midst of the camp, and having celebrated
Mass* and implored the help of St Anthony, he mounted
his horse and, clothed in purple and bearing a sword, led
the troops of Santa-F6t against the City."J

It has been said that Ruffo placed his army under the
protection of St Anthony, because the legendary patron
of Naples, San Gennaro, had become unpopular amongst
the troops of Santa-F6 by consenting to perform his
celebrated miracle for the benefit of the French. § This
is quite possible with people who consider the saints as
living beings, and converse familiarly with them, who,
when they have a favour to ask of one of them, rap on
the shrine — (this we have witnessed ourselves) — in order
to attract the attention of the heavenly host. But it will
be noticed that whatever may have been the motives that
caused RufFo to forego the protection of San Gennaro,
no very serious reasons guided him in his choice of a new
patron. He simply chose the first that figured in the

* As Pepe remarks, it would be more correct to say he caused Mass
to be said, for he was not a priest.

t He had given this name to his army.

X See CoUetta, vol. iv, ch. iii. — The Cardinal denied having ever
promised that his army should plunder the city, as Colletta asserted. On
the contrary, RufFo expressed " his grief at not having been able to stop
the bloodshed and pillage committed by the wild mob in the capital.
He had found himself in very critical circumstances and, moreover, the
greater part of his army was in sympathy with the lower classes."
Memorie storiche sulk vita del cardinale Fabrizio Ruffo, by Sacchinelli
Naples, Carlo Cattaneo, 1836, p. 226.

§ See Souvenirs, by Marechal Macdonald, p. 72, Mimoires, by General
Thiebault, vol. ii, p 504.

i68 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

calendar.* For a time St Anthony, who had worked a new
miracle by quelling the Revolution in Naples, became
the favourite of this superstitious people. A print of
the time depicts the miraculous appearance of the glorious
St Anthony of Padua at Naples on June 13, 1799. It is
very roughly drawn, and represents the soldiers of Santa-
F6 with crosses on their caps. They are as stiff as
wooden dolls, and are supposed to be pursuing the flying
republicans. A very simplified panorama of Naples
occupies the background of the picture, and St Anthony
is seen flying in the skies above his troops, holding a white
banner with three fleur-de-lis.

On June 14 the Cardinal entered Naples; but the
struggle was not yet over. The city possessed three
castles, which still exist. Torre Nuovo and Uovo are on
the seashore; St Elmo rises above the city, which is built
like an amphitheatre. The two first named were in the
hands of the Republicans; the third was occupied by the
detachment left behind by Macdonald. The question
was how were these three little fortresses to be overcome ?

" Although the chances of success were on Ruffo's side,
he was not without anxiety concerning a prolonged re-
sistance. He feared that Naples would soon be nothing
but a heap of stones. . . He also feared that in spite of
their superior numbers, his troops might lose their war-
like ardour should victory be long delayed. He thought
of treating with the rebels and offering them honourable
terms. He revealed his intentions to Mejean, the French
Colonel, who was entrenched in St Elmo. This officer
whose attitude appeared most suspicious, and who was
accused of having sold himself to the Royalists,t hastened

* This is also the opinion of Pepe, who considers that San
Gennaro was caduto di eredito presso la pkbe. (Memorte intorno alia
sua vita.)

t This accusation is, unfortunately, only too well founded. The
undeniable proof of his treachery is to be found in two letters which
the Queen addressed to Lady Hamilton on July 7 and 8. (See La Reine
Marie-Caroline de 'Naples by Gagniere, pp. 171-172.)

AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY 169

to communicate the official proposal to the arbiters of the
Republic*

The Lazzaroni and the soldiers of Santa-F^ were not
likely to appreciate RufFo's prudence. They soon began
to declare that he was turning into a Jacobin. But he
remained steadfast, and on June 23 obtained the sur-
render of Castles Uovo and Nuovo. St Elmo still held
out; nevertheless M6jean had been party in the treaty,
for the Neapolitan Directors had declared they would
not trust King Ferdinand or his Vicar General only.f
Thus all the belligerents were involved in the treaty : on
the one side the French; on the other the Russians, the
Turks, and the English, and the allies of the King of
Naples. The English troops, who were to be engaged

* See Bonnefons, ch. v, La Republique Parthenop'ienne. Speaking of
Mejean, Francisco Pignatelli says : " Nearly all the members of the
Neapolitan Government, all the generals, all the personages who were
remarkable for their virtue or talent, perished at Naples by the treachery
of the Austrian shrew and the murderous Admiral. M6jean might have
saved many worthy lives had he exacted the execution of the treaty which
he had confirmed and vouched for." {Apercu hutorique coinplementaire
du Mimoire du Genirol Bonnamy sur la guerre entre la Ripublique Francaise
et le rot de 'Naples et sur la Revolution qui en jut la suite, by F. Pignatelli,
Brigadier General in the Italian army. Berne, Year VIII.) Whatever
may have been Mejean's personal sentiments^ it is diiBcult to form a
judgment on this point. No doubt, he might have protested against
the violation of the treaty and have bombarded the city ; but isolated
as he was, he could not have held out for any length of time, and,
morally, he had no influence at all. Besides, he had been warned that
each cannon fired on the town, would cost the life of one of the 1 500
French prisoners on board the British vessels. {Diario, Archives of
Naples.) On July 1 1 he surrendered. On this subject Botta, ch. xviii,
may be consulted. The Mmoires of General Thi^bault contain an
interesting account concerning General Bonnamy, who was fond of
running with the hare whilst hunting with the hounds ; he also re-
marks that no importance should be attached to his Coup d'oeil sur let
opirations de la campagne de Naples.

Marechal Macdonald's Souvenirs concerning this campaign are also full
of errors which are not always involuntary ones.

t See Micheroux's letter to RufFo in Proclami et Sanzioni della
repubRca napoktana, Naples 1863.

170 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

in suppressing the Revolutionists, were under the com-
mand of Captain Foote, one of Nelson's officers. The
presence of representatives of four different nations gave
exceptional importance to the treaty. The principal
condition was that Republicans should be allowed to
return unmolested to France.

As, in spite of Ruffo's protests, Nelson violated this
treaty, the principal features must be given here.

Article 2. The troops composing the garrisons shall
keep possession of their forts until the vessels which shall
be spoken of hereafter, destined to convey such as are
desirous of going to Toulon, are ready to sail. The
evacuation shall not take place until the moment of
embarkation.

Article 3. The garrisons shall march out with the
honours of war, etc., etc.*

Drawn up at Castel Nuovo, 19th June 1799.
Signed: Massa, Commander of Castle Nuovo.
Signed : L'Aurora, Commander of Castle Uovo.
Signed : Fabrizio, Cardinal Ruffo, Vicar

General of the Kingdom of Naples.
Signed : Antonio, Chev. Micheroux, Minister

plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King

of the Two Sicilies attached to the Russian

Forces.
Signed : E. J. Foote, Commander' of His

Majesty the King of England's vessel,

the Seahorse.
Signed : Baillie, Commander of the troops of

His Majesty the Emperor of all the

Russias.
Signed : Ac met, Commander of the Ottoman

troops.

In pursuance with the decision taken by the Council
of War held at San Elmo on the 3rd Messidor, following
the letter of General Massa, commander of Castle Nuovo,
* Dispatches, app. vol. iii, p. 487.

EVERYBODY KING 171

date 1st Messidor, the commander of San Elmo sanctions
the present capitulation.

Fort San Elmo.
This 3rd Messidor, Year VII of the French Republic.

(June 21, 1799.)
Signed : Mejean.

Although Lady Hamilton took no part in these events,
they must be related, as she has been accused of having
been concerned in them, and of having soiled her hands
with bloodshed. This, however, has been contested; but
as everybody gave orders in this Kingdom except the
King himself, as revolution raged and a veritable anarchy
presided, the guilty have endeavoured to evade the
severe criticism of history, and still find champions who,
however, are more or less discomfited by the odious cause
they defend. It is therefore necessary to examine very
closely all the documentary evidence in order to ascertain
the share of responsibility that attaches to each, and the
extenuating or aggravating circumstances which must be
taken into consideration by impartial posterity.

* Quoted from Cacciatore and the Proclami e Sanzioni della repuUica
napoletana which give the most complete signatures.

In M . Bonnefon's work, the signatures differ somewhat, but the text
is identical. Following the copy in the British Museum, Mr Gutteridge
enumerates the following names only, M6jean, Ruffo, Foote, and two
names which are not to be found anywhere else : Rn Magrouse Syeninoue
Sourine, and Kuburissn Stere. He admits that these names must have
been mis-spelt by the copyist.

CHAPTER IX

The breaking of the treaty — The English school and the responsibility
of Lady Hamilton — Detractors and defenders — The accounts of
Sacchinelli and Cacciatore — The arrival of Nelson — His personal
opposition to the treaty — Reasons for this attitude — Discussions
between him and Ruftb— Protest of tlie signatories of the treaty —
RufFo's offer — Nelson pretends to yield — New difficulties — Evacua-
of the forts — Letters from Palermo — The Queen and Lady
Hamilton — Ruffo threatened — Nelson breaks the treaty — His pro-
clamation — Nelson and the English Government — The treaty and
the Armistice — The historical theory of von Helfert and Gutteridge
— The Queen and Cardinal Ruffo.

COLLETTA relates that *' when Queen Caroline
was informed in Palermo that the castles had
capitulated, she saw that her chance of revenge
had slipped from her hands." Then follows a dramatic
and glowing account : Nelson had just started for Naples :
the Queen forced Lady Hamilton to hasten after him,
charging her to beg him to break a treaty that was in-
compatible with the prerogatives and dignity of the
Crown. No King could treat with rebel subjects! At
first Nelson refused to listen to this dishonourable
counsel, but finally succumbed to the pleadings of the
woman he loved — the " fatal woman." Yielding to this
detestable influence, he broke the treaty, and, by pre-
venting the execution of the principal clause which
authorised the unmolested departure of the Republicans,
delivered them up to Ferdinand's executioners.*

This explanation of the violation of the treaty was,

at first, generally accepted, particularly in England.

Since the great man had committed an infamous action,

an explanation, an excuse had to be found, and the

* Colletta, vol. V, ch. i.

17>

THE CAPITULATION ANNULLED 173

excuse lay in the Admiral's passionate love for the
beautiful Emma. From the very onset, this school
found many adherents. As long as Nelson lived, Captain
Foote, whom Nelson blamed for having signed the treaty,
did not dare to defend himself, for, in his eyes, Emma
was the guilty one and he could not accuse the mistress
before the lover. But after the Admiral's death, Foote
immediately published a vindication of his conduct,* in
which he attributed the rupture of the treaty to female
vengeance, aided by female insinuation — in other words,
to the revengeful Queen, aided by Lady Hamilton's
intrigues. It was a current report,t and Foote was
sincere when he helped to spread it. So it was generally
admitted that, like Hercules lying in bonds at Omphale's
feet. Nelson had given way to the infamous suggestions
whispered to him by his mistress. " The greatest naval
hero that either England or any other country ever pro-
duced, was, by an unaccountable fatality, persuaded to
annul the capitulation ! I say persuaded, for I will never
be brought to believe, for an instant, that the magnani-
mous, humane, and enlightened Lord Nelson, would have
committed such an act, if the oiEcious and insidious
agency of those around him, had not been most im-
properly exerted."J

* Captain Foote' s vindieation of his conduct, ttc, 1807.

t In the Annale d^ltaVta dal 1750, (Rome 1829), vol. iil, 1799,
Coppi says : " II Cardinale RufFo che avrebbe voluto sostenere la
capitolazione divenne quasi sospetto a colore che la violarono, a Nelson
non sicuro punto di far valere quanto aveva approvato il suo subalterne
Food (sic). Declamarono percio i patrioti essere esso, stato indotto nell'
indifFerenza dai vezzi di Lady Hamilton a tal uopo cola diretta della
Regina Carolina." Coppi was an Anti-republican and his work was
published in Rome with approval: No further comment is required.

X Letters from the Mediterranean by Blaqui^re, p. 505. Mr Walter
Sichel attributes Nelson's actiop to his care for the interests of
his country — a somewhat weak explanation : " That what really
decided Nelson's movement was the dearest wish of his heart —
the honour and interest of Great Britain. After suppressing the
enemies of all authority and order, he still hoped to fall in with the
long-hunted French fleet, and to deal a death blow to the universal]
enemy." Mr Walter Sichel, op. cit., p. 289.

174 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

These sentiments are most noble and do honour to the
Englishman who uttered them. But, as will be seen
later on, Nelson was neither magnanimous or humane.
He was a brilliant man; he had sudden flashes of genius,
but he had no understanding of those elevated senti-
ments, generosity and mercy, which exalt the conqueror.

Defenders also rose up to vindicate Emma, who had been
made responsible for Nelson's fault. As she had done
no glorious deeds that might plead for her, her beauty
remained her sole defence. It seems that even after
death this woman could turn the heads of all who ap-
proach her. Like Helen, Cleopatra, Marie-Antoinette,
Mme Recamier, she counts more lovers now than during
her life-time. She is surrounded by worshippers. She
has called forth fanatical admiration, as in the case of
Mrs Gamlin, who goes so far as to compare her to Joan
of Arc. When a writer falls into such excesses, he has
lost all sense of criticism or history, and substitutes his
own private feelings for facts. By a very simple method,
Mrs Gamlin hopes to circumvent the reader's convic-
tions. She simply cuts out of Emma's life a period
which she would have some difficulty in setting in a good
light, namely the Revolution in Naples. Mrs Gamlin
possesses intimate knowledge of the first and last years
of her heroine's life, and many details concerning her stay
at Naples up to the Revolution, but she suppresses en-
tirely Nelson's arrival in Italy, the beginning of their
liaison, the Parthenopean Republic, its fall and the
counter-Revolution. The reader skips from the flight
to Palermo (December, 1798) to Caracciolo's execution,
June 29, 1799. This is no longer history, but the
method of a lawyer who defends his client by suppress-
ing part of the truth.

According to another school, headed by the Austrian
von Helfert, author of Konigin Karolina and Fabrizio
Ruffo, and the Englishman Gutteridge in his Nelson and
the Neapolitan Jacobins, Lady Hamilton can be left en-
tirely out of the question, as being of no importance,

THE BRITISH FLEET ARRIVES 175

whereas Nelson simply fulfilled his duty by executing the
King's wishes in spite of Ruffo, who betrayed him.
These authors have gathered their opinions from a great
number of documents. In fact, there is not much in-
formation that has escaped Mr Gutteridge's attention.
But preconceived ideas have led them astray. They
mitigate or pass over in silence facts which are against
their theory, on the other hand enlarging upon those
which support their views. It is, therefore, necessary to
take up each one of their assertions, showing which is
well founded and which is false.

Two precious accounts exist, written almost at the very
time of the counter-Revolution. The authors were not
Liberals, but staunch upholders of the Bourbons. These
works are Memorie storiche sulla vita del cardinale
Fabrizio Ruffo, by Sacchinelli, former secretary, to the
Cardinal,* and Esame della storia del Reame di Napoli,
by Cacciatore, who, however, nearly always copies
Sacchinelli. It will be seen how these two friends of
Absolute Power have judged Nelson's attitude; at the
same time the reader will determine whether Messrs von
Helfert and Gutteridge invalidate their statements.

According to Cacciatore, Ruffo was overwhelmed with
joy at the conclusion of the capitulation, and on June 22
sent Captain Foote with the news to the King, together
with a minute account of his operations. But, on the
morning of the 24th, Nelson arrived with his fleet. The
King had sent him to help Ruffo who, in his last letter,
dated June 17, had declared that the situation was be-
coming difficult. As he had written on the 17th, Ruffo
naturally could not mention the capitulation,t which

* By stating that Sacchinelli was merely an assistant and not really
secretary, Mr Gutteridge believes that he lessens the importance of
Sacchinelli's testimony.

t Mr Gutteridge maintains that RufFo was very much put out, as the
treaty, which was too favourable to the Republicans, had been drawn up
by Micheroux with imprudent haste. Finding himself thus involved,
and yet not wishing to disown Micheroux, RufFo feared, on the other

176 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

was not yet concluded. Therefore Nelson had not re-
ceived any orders in view of such a contingency, but he
knew the Court meant to be merciless, and he was quite
in agreement with the Court.* Nelson was accompanied
by the Ambassador and his wife. As Hamilton had
lived so many years in Naples, the King had begged him
to accompany Nelson, who was not acquainted with the
language of the army. As for Lady Hamilton, under
pretext of accompanying her husband, she followed her
lover. Moreover, as Marie-Caroline wrote to her every
day, she represented the Queen's views.f

As soon as Nelson was acquainted with the terms of
the treaty, he declared that he would not recognise it.
Such an attitude was strange on the part of a foreign

hand, that Ferdinand might disown him. This explains the singular
fact that for four days, from June 17 to 21, RufFo did not com-
municate with the King. On the contrary, in a memorandum
{compendio) which is in the Archives of Naples, Micheroux maintains
that he " received the draft of a capitulation only ad referendum "
but that to his surprise, " whether owing to the Cardinal's anxiety to
relieve the city from an alarming situation, or whether because of the
vivacity of his character, or finally on account of his dreading the
arrival of the enemy's fleet, he signed the draft just as it was."
(Gutteridge 41, p. log). This took place on June 19. But M^jean
did not sign until the 21st. This accounts for Ruffo not having
written until the 22nd. He wished to be able to tell the King that all
resistance had ceased.

* As Nelson had no written orders, Gutteridge supposes that the
Admiral followed the Queen's orders, which she had made known in a
letter to RufFo, written on June 21. " You may treat with St Elmo,
which is in the hands of the French, but unless the other two
castles surrender immediately and unconditionally at the intimation of
Admiral Nelson, they will be taken by force and treated at they deserve."
But it will be noticed that in his discussion with the Cardinal, Nelson
did not put forward any such instructions.

t Sir William wrote to Lord Grenville : " Lady Hamilton was very
particularly requested by the Queen of Naples to accompany me and
Lord Nelson on this expedition, and was charged by Her Majesty with
many important commissions in Naples, and to keep up a regular cor-
respondence with Her Majesty." (July 14). Gutteridge No. 159.
p. 3'7-

NELSON'S HATRED OF THE FRENCH 177

leader, who had received no orders, and had not taken any
part in the brilliant campaign whereby the Kingdom had
been reconquered.* But Nelson joined the strife with
a preconceived idea, and a stubborn purpose of which he
was soon to give terrible proof. The bitter, almost
morbid hatred which he entertained for the Frenchf and
the Republicans made it impossible for him to face a com-
promise. In order to understand Sacchinelli and Cac-
ciatore's accounts, it is necessary only to study Nelson's
features.

The Queen's pleadings, and the fear not wholly un-
founded, that Sicily might be attacked and conquered,
had detained Nelson at Palermo, but he had deeply and
sincerely bemoaned his enforced inaction. It is natural
and honourable that a warrior should long to be in the
thick of the fight, and in this respect Nelson deserves
all praise. But he did not long so passionately only for

* On June 1 3, says M. Fauchier Magnan, " Nelson appeared

before the rebel city, endowed with discretionary power to chastise the

guilty, and to ensure the success of the cause of the Bourbons. He

was much surprised to hear that Ruffo had concluded a definite armistice

with the French troops and the Neapolitan rebels. Furious at having

been robbed of his chance of revenge, he returned at once to Palermo,

and had no difficulty in involving the King in his own disappointment."

(pp. 2 1 2-2 13). These lines contain a serious error, and the source from

which the author drew his information must have been inexact.

Gutteridge, who is very well informed, states that on June 13, Nelson

left Palermo with the Crown Prince. The dispatches which he

received at sea from Keith, made him fear the approach of the combined

fleets of France and Spain, so he returned at once and re-appeared at

Palermo on June 14, to the great dismay and surprise of the Court.

Therefore it was not possible for him to be in Naples on the 14th.

Had he arrived on the 1 3 th he would have taken part in the battle

which was fought on that day. Until June 20, he continued to cruise

along the coast of Sicily, and although he was still on the look-out for

the enemy's fleet, on receiving letters from Acton and Hamilton (see

Gutteridge Nos. 54, 55), he decided to set sail for Naples. On June

24, he wrote to Hamilton that he would return in a week. (Gutteridge

56). Finally he took Hamilton and his wife on board.

t He admitted it himself, and as an excuse, said he had inherited it
from his mother. (Fauchier Magnan.)

M

178 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

the battle with its dangers and glory; he did not long only
to lay down his life for his country in wild frenzy of
the struggle :

Oeil pour oeil, dent pour dent, c'est bien! hommes
contre hommes!
Nelson longed above all to crush the impious sect
against which he nourished a fierce and bitter
hatred. At the age of twelve he had entered the
navy. His education was very incomplete, and he
knew no foreign language, for although he had learnt
French, he did not know enough to be of use to him in
conversation. He knew little about history, and stiU
less of philosophy. The Rights of Man, or rather the
Rights of Humanity, did not exist for him. He re-
cognised but one power in the world, that of God. He
had never got any further than the narrow sectarian
teachings of Burnham Thorpe.* In his opinion the
French were Papists, the Republicans all atheists, and
both abandoned by God as being like unto beasts, un-
worthy, not only of all pity, but of all consideration.
For him they did not exist. On the contrary, he con-
sidered Kings as the chosen of God; they were right in
all they did, and in all they thought. Nelson was so
convinced of this that on all occasions he referred matters
to King Ferdinand IV, although he knew him to be a
fool, and that Emma called him " stupid." Thus, the
mind of the clergyman's son coincided exactly with that ■
of Marie-Caroline, whose views he knew most intimately,
although he had not at that time received any special
mission from her.

After the Battle of the Nile, Nelson certainly con-

* " Nelson is in many points a really great man, in others a baby."
said Lord Minto. Speaking of Nelson, the French Ambassador Alquier
said : " Nelson's only value lies in his knowledge of the sea ; in every
other respect he is the most insignificant and thoughtless of men"
{Jrchivei du Min. des Afi. itr., fonds Naples, 129.) Although Clarke and
MacArthur systematically praise their hero, they are obliged to admit
that he was behind his ige in some respects : " It may be noticed that
Nelson had some old fashioned ideas, etc.," Life ifNelsoH, p. i8z.

A NEW JOSHUA 179

sidered himself to be God's instrument. This involved
him in a conflict which really did not concern him, and
from which he should have kept aloof if only for the
sake of his own glory. It was very natural that he
should regret having missed the batde at Naples; but the
fortunate circumstance of his absence made him feel at
ease, whereas, the battle being over, the conqueror might
be called upon to act the part of a police agent or an
executioner. RufFo,, had recovered Naples. He could
not be deprived of the honour due to him. At the same
time, this honour entailed a heavy weight of re-
sponsibility.

Ruffo had to choose between pacification and harsh
measures. If he chose to make use of gentle means, he,
the Neapolitan, knew better than any other person how
he could act best in the King's interests. The English-
man, who knew nothing about the Kingdom of Naples,
and had but a very superficial knowledge of the nature
and customs of its inhabitants, should not have forced
himself into the place of the Italian. This would have
occurred to any leader save the victor of Aboukir Bay.
But Nelson, like a new Joshua, felt himself inspired by
God and fuU of wisdom, although he examined nothing,
weighed no circumstances and refused to accept any advice.
He reprimanded Foote, who was obliged to excuse him-
self for having signed the treaty : * "I signed this
capitulation lest on a reverse of fortune, or the arrival
of the enemy's fleet, it might have been asserted that my
refusal was the cause of such misfortunes as might occur,
and because I considered that the Cardinal was acquainted
with the will and intention of his sovereign."! More-
over, Foote had kept his chief informed of the negotia-

* When Foote summoned Revigliano and Castellamare to surrender,
he gave the word of honour that the defeated troops should be treated
as prisoners of war and that he would intercede for them with the King
(see finJicatieti, Tpip. 155-156). Therefore, his intervention had been
of great weight in the surrender of Naples.

t UtidkaiUtt, p. ISS'

i8o A GREAT ADVENTURESS

tions that were pending, and had not concealed from him
what had caused them. On June 1 8 he wrote : " In
consequence of the very interesting news which the
Count de Thurn and the Governor of Procida, sent me
yesterday evening, relative to the change in the destination
of the squadron under your command, I sent Captain
Oswald to the Cardinal to represent the absolute necessity
of getting possession of the Castles, even by granting very
favourable Terms." And on June 20 : "I make no
doubt that the capitulation will be favourable to the
Rebels, as the regular force employed against them is so
small, and the destination of the French fleet is as yet
unknown to us."

When Foote signed the draft, he did so under pro-
test against anything that could be " contrary to the
honour and rights of his sovereign and the British
nation." But no explanation could satisfy Nelson, who
had, moreover, always distrusted the Cardinal. On June
1 7, Hamilton wrote to him : " Your Lordship sees that
what we suspected of the Cardinal RufFo has proved true,
and I dare say when the capitulation of Naples comes to
this Court, their Sicilian Majesties' dignity will be morti-
fied."* Nelson did not hesitate for one instant, and at
his request Hamilton wrote in French to the Cardinal :

Lord Nelson begs me to inform your Eminence
that he has received from Captain Foote, Commandant
of the Seahorse frigate, a copy of the capitulation which
your Eminence has seen fit to conclude with the Com-
mandants of the castles of St Elmo, Nuovo, and dell'
Uovo; that he disapproves entirely of these capitula-

* Add MSS. 34912, f. 3. See P indication by Captain Foote, pp.
136-138. This was the general opinion. Nicola, a Neapolitan, who
kept a diary, made this entry on June 25 : "It is reported that the
delay which has occurred in publishing the treaty is to be accounted for
by the fact that His Majesty refuses to sanction the treating with rebels
as though they were a powerful enemy. As a matter of fact this is but
just ; but the point is that the city must be saved from the evils which
the despair of thft insurgents might call down on it" (Archives of
Naples).

RUFFO'S CHARACTER i8i

tions, and that he is firmly resolved on no account to
remain neutral with the respectable force which he has
the honour to command; that he has sent to your
Eminence Captains Troubridge and Ball, commandants
of H.B. Majesty's vessels CuUoden and /Alexander. The
Captains are fully acquainted with the sentiments of Lord
Nelson, and will have the honour of explaining them to
His Eminence. My Lord hopes that Cardinal RufFo
will agree with him, and that at daybreak to-morrow he
will be able to act in concert with His Eminence.

Their objects must be the same, i.e., to conquer the
common foe, and to submit his rebellious subjects to the
clemency of his Sicilian Majesty.

I have the honour, etc.,

W. Hamilton.
On board the Foudroyant, 24th June 1799, 5 p.m., in the
Gulf of Naples.*

RufFo was amazed when he received this letter. He
was a strange man, who has been unfairly judged by the
defeated party. CoUettaf accuses him of having made
" too great profit in a short time " when he was acting
as treasurer to Pius VL The accusation seenis to be
well-founded, for Sacchinelli, the Cardinal's own secre-
tary, says that he was accused of " practising usury in
the operations relating to the value of paper money, ":|:
and that the Pope dismissed him from the treasury,
although at the same time making him a Cardinal.
Nevertheless, in the Neapolitan struggle, he displayed
admirable energy. He was such a staunch upholder
of the Absolute Right of Kings, that in order to
defend and raise it up once more, he abandoned his
calling; yet he proved that it is possible to believe in this
principle without becoming its slave. It will be seen that
his attitude became the more noble as that of Nelson grew
more unworthy.

* Gutteridge, p. 205. Sacchinelli possessed the original document
of which he published a facsimile.

■f Colletta, vol. iv, ch. ii, '^ See Sacchinelli, P. 13.

1 82 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

When RufFo read Hamilton's letter, he first believed
that Nelson was displeased because the surrender of the
castles had been settled before his arrival.

The King had indeed written to the Cardinal telling
him not to act before the arrival of the British fleet. But
Ruffo, feeling that he was on the point of victory, had
seized the opportunity, and left unheeded the over-
prudent counsel of his sovereign. And he had acted
wisely. Believing that a short verbal explanation would
suffice to do away with any misunderstanding, the
energetic Cardinal went on board the Foudroyant, where
he met Nelson and the Hamiltons. He was willing to
justify his conduct, admitting there was need for it. He
declared he had hastened on the negotiations because he
feared the arrival of the French and Spanish fleets.
Finally, he stated that " the treaty of capitulation having
been lawfully concluded, it must be observed religiously,
or else they would be guilty of a flagrant breach of
faith."

" Nelson listened in silence, but Hamilton, looking
much annoyed (in aria di risentimento), delivered this
maxim : *' Kings do not treat with rebel subjects."
Whereupon the Cardinal replied that a treaty might have
been avoided, but that since it had been concluded, it was
necessary to keep to it. Noticing, however, that Nelson
approved of Hamilton's maxim, and that the matter was
more serious than he had at first imagined, the Cardinal
again reminded them that the representatives of the
diff^erent Powers having intervened in the signing of the
treaty, he could not give an answer on his own responsi-
bility without having first consulted them. He therefore
took his leave and returned ashore."*

* See Cacciatore, vol. i, p. 144. Gutteridge shares RufFo's view that
Nelson was jealous of the iCardinal's success : " Futhermore he was most
anxious that his squadron should be the principal instrument in replac-
ing Ferdinand on his throne." {Nelson and the Neapolitan Jacobins.)
This jealousy, which sometimes arises between rival generals was, once
more, the ca\i?e of disastrous results. Nelson could not help being

NELSON'S RESPONSIBILITY 183

RufFo then called together the foreign signatories.
They all felt the same indignation, and entered a formal
protest, declaring that the " treaty was useful, necessary
and honourable to the King of the Two Sicilies and to his
powerful allies since, without further bloodshed, this
treaty put an end to a murderous civil and national war,
facilitating the expulsion of the foreign troops common
enemies of the Kingdom." This treaty having been
solemnly signed by the representatives of the said powers,
it would be an abominable breach of faith if it were not
properly executed, or if it were violated. As they had
definitely resolved to keep most religiously to the terms
agreed on, they begged Nelson to recognise the treaty,
making responsible before God any person who should
dare to prevent its execution.* Thus Nelson was dis-
avowed by all the powers, and even his own colleagues.
The support of the signatories having reassured Ruffo,
he sought to deal the finishing blow to Nelson's preten-
tions by informing him that, should he persist in his
attitude, he, Ruffo, as commander of the army of Santa-
Fe, would place the enemy in the position they occupied
before the truce, and let the English begin the struggle
again supported by their own forces only.f

In this defiance Ruffo in his turn went too far. Cap-
tains Troubridge and Ball again journeyed back and forth
between the Foudroyant and Ponte Maddalena, where the

irritated by the sight of the man — and he a Cardinal — who had robbed
him, the victorious Admiral, of the glory of conquering Naples. In a
letter dated May 1 7, Hamilton wrote to Nelson, " His Eminency wat
resolved to conquer Naples himself" and he underlined these words.
(Add. MSS. 34912 ff. 3-4.)

* See Sacchinelli, p. 25 1, Mr Gutteridge finds this manifesto " some-
what bombastic." It seems on the contrary that it was quite natural to
make use of the strongest language in condemning the violation of the
treaty, and that the signatories had every right to feel the indignation
of which Sacchinelli speaks.

t Nelson's attitude is all the more inadmissible as the treaty had already
been put into execution. Hostages had been delivered to Mejean. But
35 Mr Gutteridge says : " this is by itself not <f matter o/^reat imfortanc(,"

1 84 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Cardinal had his headquarters. At length, giving way to
their pressing demands, Ruffo decided to make a con-
cession, a fact the Italian historians have overlooked, but
which is proved by a letter preserved in the British
Museum. He actually consented to renew hostilities
and annul the capitulation. This letter was first pub-
lished by Mr Gutteridge, who, of course, was jubilant
because Nelson's rival had yielded. It is not sufficient,
however, to publish a document without explaining it.
As the letter was written on June 25, at an unknown hour,
Mr Gutteridge supposes that it was sent towards the
end of the day, or, at least, " at a late hour." This does
not seem probable as on the morning of the 26th Nelson
accepted the treaty. He did so grudgingly but still he
accepted it. A man such as he was not likely to forego
an advantage offered him.

Therefore Ruffo had some other reason for yielding,
as will be found in the following letter :

25th June 1799.
Excellency,

The letter to the castles will have gone by
this time, and if there is any hope of their surrendering
at discretion it may succeed, because they see the
augmentation of force, and whenever they wish to attack,
it will be well that they should find us in force to destroy
them. I implore, then, your Excellency to land 1200 men,
whom it would be well to place within striking distance of
St Elmo. I therefore offer for their quarters my house,
which is large and empty, situated at the Largo dello
Spirito Santo; it is called the Palazzo della Bagnara, and
is also out of range of shell fire. I mention this for the
peace of mind of your soldiers. I hope your Excellency
will grant me this favour, as hostilities have already taken
place with St Elmo this evening, and there is no time to
be lost.

I remain, etc.,

F. Cardinal Ruffo."*
* Add. MSS. 34941 f.izjS,

A DIFFICULT POSITION 185

To every unbiassed mind, this letter explains why
RufFo made his offer, and why Nelson refused to consider
it. He did not wish to recognise the treaty. The con-
ferences which had taken place on the morning of the
25th, between his emissaries, Troubridge and Ball, and
the Cardinal had been unproductive. So RufFo con-
cluded it would be better to renew hostilities. He was
ready; let Nelson send him but 1200 men, and although
he could not undertake the reduction of the two castles,
he could at least resist the enemy's attacks. This state
of affairs might last for a month or two. In the mean-
time, the French fleet might arrive, but that would be
Nelson's look out. He did not want it to be said that he
refused help to the allies. He regretted the statement
that he had made on the previous day.* For five months
he had been carrying on war, although he was no soldier.
He could carry it on still longer. It was the cannon's
turn to speak.

Nelson was assuming a terrible responsibility. He
had already given proof that war possessed no terrors for
him. His glorious wounds bore testimony to his
splendid courage. But it was a momentous decision
to annul a capitulation, and to renew hostilities with men
who had already surrendered. How was Nelson to
extricate himself from this complicated position? His
intrigue with the wife of his friend and host had made
falsehood and deceit habitual to him, and had eradi-
cated all morail sense and those delicate sentiments, that
fine flower of honour, which is only to be found in
exalted souls. The latent weakness which slumbered
in the great man's soul, suggested to him an atrocious
thought. He would pretend to enter into the Cardinal's
views, and thus entice the patriots into leaving the castles.
Just as he had betrayed the trust placed in him by his
friend, Nelson did not hesitate once more to deceive
Hamilton, who endeavoured to make him alter his de-
cision. He persuaded him that he shared his conciliatory

* Several documents prove that Ruffo refused to assist Nelson.

1 86 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

views, and thus, having gained his point, fell back upon
his original determination, and relying on the wishes of
the King, well known to him, annulled the treaty. Thus
the very letter that Mr Gutteridge quotes as a proof of
Ruffo's weakness bears witness, on the contrary, to the
loyalty of the Cardinal and the treachery of Nelson, who
neither accepted the offer nor referred to it. He had
made up his mind to fight, and had he published Ruffo's
letter, it would have been an acknowledgment that he
alone wanted war.

He was not entirely unsupported, however, for Marie-
Caroline did not wish any terms to be offered to the
rebels, and she was opposed to a capitulation. Her plan
was to exact an unconditional surrender, and to inflict the
most terrible punishments on the defeated rebels.* She
thirsted for bloodshed and torture. By refusing to re-
spect the armistice, Nelson, who, as an Englishman,
should have remained neutral during these negotiations,
seems to have yielded to Lady Hamilton, the devoted
friend of the Queen, whose power over him was
supreme. Such dealings leave no trace behind them,
because they are transacted by word of mouth, neverthe-
less, their influence is overwhelming.

However this may be, the negotiations came to an end,
and both parties remained in their respective positions.
Much to his credit, the Cardinal then made an effort to
save the Republicans against whom he had fought with
such energy, but whom he refused to hand over to their
murderers. He wrote to them that they might leave by
land, as Nelson was master of the sea.f Unfortunately

* See p. 201, note. No doubt when Captain Troubridge ordered
the savage executions that took place at Procida, he was simply following
the orders the Queen had made known to Nelson through Lady
Hamilton, and which the Admiral had undertaken to fulfill.

t In his Introduction, Mr Gutteridge does not consider that this offer
was genuine. He holds that it was a mere mockery. No doubt the
Republicans would have left at their own risk and peril. They might
very well have fallen into the hands of the fanatical hordes that scoured
the campagna, or be taken b^ the royal police. But Rufb bad np Other

THE CARDINAL'S ENERGY 187

this noble effort was misunderstood. The Republicans
iniagined that the man whom they knew to be their enemy
was setting a trap for them, and, fearing that he might
entertain the same sanguinary passions as his soldiers,
they refused to depart.

Nevertheless, the Cardinal's admirable energy won the
day, and Nelson at length yielded. But, according to
Cacciatore and Sacchinelli, this was a mere subterfuge
(utt inganno) :

He caused Hamilton to write the following note :

On board the Foudroyant in the Gulf of Naples.

June 26, 1799.
Your Eminence,

My Lord Nelson wishes me to inform you
that he has decided to do nothing that might break the
armistice, which your Eminence has granted to the
Castles of Naples. j ^j^^

Your Eminence's humble servant,

W. Hamilton.

Nelson himself addressed the following words to
RufFo:

Sir,

I am just honoured with your Eminency's letter,
and as His Excellency Sir William Hamilton has wrote
you this morning, that I will not on any consideration
break the Armistice entered into by you, I hope Your
Eminency will be satisfied that I am supporting your
ideas. I send you once more Captains Troubridge and
Ball, to arrange with your Eminency everything relative
to an attack on St Elmo, etc.*

chance to offer them, and, by making this last eiFort in their favour, he
gave a remarkable proof of his feelings of humanity and straightforward-
ness. Nelson was incapable of understanding such feelings. It is a
pity that his present champions should appreciate them as little as he did.

* Sacchinelli, p. 225. The note was written in French. Add,
MSS. 34963, folio 104, Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 39^.

1 88 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Towards noon, Troubridge and Ball brought these
letters to the Cardinal, and drew up a third declaration :

" Captains Troubridge and Ball are empowered by-
Lord Nelson to declare to your Eminence that he will
not oppose the embarkation of the rebels, and garrison
of Castles Nuovo and Uovo."*

The matter seemed to be settled; and yet difficulties
still arose. After having drawn up this declaration,
Troubridge refused to sign it, alleging that he and his
colleague were instructed to treat military questions by
word of mouth, and not to write on diplomatic questions.
Although the Cardinal felt that they were not acting
straightforwardly,! he did not care to have any further
discussion with the two Captains, and instructed
Micheroux to accompany them to the Republican leaders
to discuss the carrying out of what had been agreed upon.
The two castles surrendered, and the Cardinal, being
satisfied, wrote thanking Nelson and Hamilton. In re-
turn he received an amiable answer from the Am-
bassador :

On board the Foudroyant, June 27, 1799.
Eminence,

It is with great pleasure that I receive your
Eminence's note. We have all worked alike for the
true welfare of His Sicilian Majesty and the good cause.
Different characters have different ways of expressing
themselves Praise be to God, all goes well, and I may
assure your Eminence that Lord Nelson congratulates
himself on the decision he has taken not to interrupt
your Eminence's operations, but to assist you with all his
power to put an end to the affair which your Eminence
has so well conducted up to the present, in the very
critical circumstances in which your Eminence found
yourself.

* This note is in Italian. The fascimile is contained in Sacchinelli'*
work.

f Cacciatore, vol. i, p. 152.

THE ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS 189

My Lord and I are only too happy if we have been
able to contribute a little to the service of their Sicilian
Majesties, and to the tranquillity of your Eminence. My
Lord begs me to thank your Eminence for your note,
and to say that he will see to the provisions.
I have the honour, etc.

W. Hamilton.*

But whilst the Cardinal felt reassured by this letter and
believed he had won the day, Nelson was shamefully deceiv-
ing him. In the first place, the honours of war promised
by the treaty were not observed.! Then, those who sur-
rendered were kept prisoners on board English vessels.:};
They complained to RufFo who once more, and for the
last time, sent Micheroux to Nelson begging him not to
" sully his fame." It was in vain. Nelson and Hiamilton
stood their ground. The other representatives of the
allied powers did not protest, and the treaty was re-
scinded. § The French commander had four hostages at
St Elmo, but, says honest Sacchinelli, " the French com-
mander of St Elmo cared very little about the Neapolitan
patriots."!!

Mdjean's defection would suffice to confirm all
the accusations brought against him, and which, as it
has already been stated, were only too well founded,
but in this circumstance he had been warned that the
French prisoners would also be treated as hostages. The
desertion of the powers is a far more astonishing fact.
However, it must be remembered that at this moment
news arrived from Ferdinand IV who, prompted by his

* Sacchinelli, p. 264.

f-The Russian. troops alone observed them.

if Mr Gutteridge maintains that Nelson had only promised RuiFo that
the patriots should embark, not that they should he free to sail. None
but a very weak cause can be defended by such arguments.

§ Cacciatore, vol. ii, p. 158.

II Sacchinelli, p. 264..

190 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

relentless consort, also refused to sanction the treaty.*
Mr Gutteridge believes that three letters to this purpose
reached Naples on June 28. The King wrote to Nelson;
Queen Caroline to Lady Hamilton, and Acton to Sir
William. Ferdinand's letter has disappeared, but the two
others leave no room for doubt concerning the designs
of the Court.

Writing to her friend, who had now become her prin-
cipal minister,t the Queen said : " The sight of the brave
English squadron is my hope. The garrison must first
quit St Elmo, and be escorted by an envoy to Marseilles
or Toulon, and without any baggage. The rebel patriots
must lay down their arms, and surrender at discretion to
the pleasure of the King. Then, in my opinion, an
example should be made of some of the leaders of the
representatives, and the others to be transported under
pain of death , . . Finally, my dear Lady, I recommend
Lord Nelson to treat Naples as if it were an Irish town
in rebellion similarly placed ... I recommend to you
therefore, my dear Lady, the greatest firmness, vigour
and severity. "J

On the strength of these orders whispered to him by
his mistress, and urged on him by the two other letters
he had received, Nelson decided to send to the scaffold

* On May 1 7, the Queen wrote to Gallo saying : " I still hope that
the Austrians will take Naples again. In that event, I beg of you, to let
there be no truce, no pardon, no agreements with our wretches. They
must be punished — death for their leaders. Deportation for the others
— I loathe Naples and — with the exception of the lowest classes — all her
infamous inhabitants. A general massacre would not cause me the
slightest grief." (Ccrrespondance avec Gallo), Nos. 318.

t With the simplicity which he always displayed where his wife was
concerned, Hamilton was obliged to admit that he knew less than she
did as to the intentions of Nelson and the Queen .- " As Lord Nelson is
now telling Lady Hamilton what he wishes to say to the queen, you
will probably know from the queen more than I do of Lord Nelson's
intentions." (Gutteridge, No. 89.) And on June 28, Acton replied
that he had seen the letter of Lady Hamilton wherein Lord Nelson's
intentions were mentioned. (Gutteridge, No. 131.)

J Pettigrew, vol. i, p. 233. Acton's letter No. 100.

5"^. y. Masqjierier pinxt.

IFm. Say sailpi^

LADY HAMILTON

A BELLICOSE QUEEN 191

men who stood under the protection of an armistice,
whereas it would have been so easy for him to reply, as
many others had done in the same circumstances, that he
was a general and not an executioner,* and moreover,
that he was not a Neapolitan subject. But these mea-
sures were agreeable to his hatred and, no doubt, to his
love also.

On June 29 and 30 fresh incidents occurred. More
letters arrived from Palermo bringing the answer of the
Court regarding the treaty of which they had now been
informed. As she was opposed to an armistice, the Queen
had not enough honesty or elevation of mind to submit
to the inevitable and recognise the terms agreed upon.
With her own hand she wrote comments on all the clauses
of the Capitulation, which she termed shameful, dishon-
ourable, revolting, exclaiming : " You should have at-
tacked them with all your might." What did it matter
to this mad woman how many lives were sacrificed to her
passion. Not only was she willing to sacrifice her hus-
band, but also her son : " The King on the one side, the
Prince on the other," she wrote, " ought immediately to
arm the provinces, march on the rebel city, and die be-
neath its ruins if there should be any resistance, rather than
remain the vile slaves of the French brigands and their
infamous accomplices the rebels."t The King and Acton,
both having participated in the favours of this hysterical
woman, had caught a touch of her folly and, at her
prompting, they suddenly took an extreme course. Ruffo,
the traitor, was to be arrested and sent to Palermo to

* Viscount d'Orthez sent this well-known retort to Charles IX.
Many governors, amongst others the governor of Alenfon, have answered
in the same terms. General du Barail, who was in a command of a
division during the Commune in 1871, relates that, having received
orders to shoot every rebel taken bearing arms, he merely replied that
it was no work for a general or his men, and contented himself
with handing the insurgents over to the magistrates. Not one was
shot.

t Eg. MSS. 2640, f. 274. Acton to Hamilton, June 26 and 27.

194 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

answer for his infamous conduct. On June 27, Acton
wrote to Hamilton : " If that letter does not bring the
Cardinal to breake the Truce immediately, and follow Lord
Nelson's direction, His Majesty incloses here an order
for the Cardinal to come immediately to Palermo to in-
form His Majesty of the serious business which is trans-
acting in that Kingdom; but if the Cardinal should make
some difficulty, His Majesty begs Lord Nelson to arrest
and send the Cardinal to Palermo."* As for the King,
whose pride could not brook the interference of a stran-
ger, he wrote considerately to the Cardinal, telling him he
must submit to Nelson or else he would be treated as a
rebel.

Palermo, June 27, 1799.

At this moment, namely 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
my frigate has arrived from Naples, and I have heard
with inexpressible consolation of the deeds so happily
accomplished by the very worthy and faithful Ad-
miral, Lord Nelson and his squadron. I have read
the declaration which he, in form of observations, has
despatched to you. It could not be more wise, reason-
able, and adapted to the end, and truly evangelical.
I do not doubt that you immediately conformed to
it, and acted in consequence according to his advice.
Otherwise, that would be equivalent to declaring yourself
a rebel which is impossible, after the many proofs of
fidelity and attachment given me in the past. May the
Lord preserve you as with all my heart I desire, f

Ferdinando B.

These threats, that were as wild as they were inappro-
priate, considering they were addressed by the King to
the man who had replaced him on the throne, were of no
avail. When they reached Naples, the castles had already
surrendered. It is just possible that Nelson did not care

* Eg. MSS. 2640, f. 274.

t Eg. MSS. 26^0, f. 278.

HAMILTON'S TACT 193

to arrest the Cardinal in the midst of his troops,* or per-
haps honest Hamilton refused to assist him in executing
such a disgraceful measure. Mr Gutteridge considers
that this was the most striking proof of his hero's gen-
erous disposition. Instead of making use of the un-
bounded powersf which had been bestowed on him so
rashly, he contented himself with writing to the King :
" I really do not believe that his Eminence has a disloyal
thought towards overthrowing your Majesty's monarchy,
but that his Eminence's wish was to have everything his
own way. "J

However, the English author acknowledges that it was
Hamilton's tact and not the Admiral's attitude, that
brought about the pacification of the two adversaries.
Nevertheless, Nelson is responsible for having let loose
the passions which he might have chained up. Whether
he succumbed to the caresses of a woman or took the
decision of his own free will, his conduct was none the
less shameful. In the name of humanity, and the respect
due to treaties, he should have opposed Ferdinand and
upheld Ruffo. Instead of which, shielding himself be-
hind the orders sent from Palermo, Nelson changed his
mind once more, — a circumstance which supports the

* Mr Gutteridge states that the Calabrians were so devoted to RufFo
that they would have followed him if he had wished to resist Nelson by-
force. The Admiral may have guessed this. The King was all the
more inclined to believe in RufFo's treachery as a report had been
circulated that he wished to place his own brother Francesco on the
throne of Naples. See Acton's letter to Hamilton on June zi.
Eg. MSS. 2640, folio 268.

t In a letter written by Hamilton to Greville, the following
sentence occurs : "We had full powers." When quoting this letter
Mr Gutteridge makes an unfortunate remark : " We (i.e. Nelson, Hamil-
ton, including perhaps Hamilton's wife) . . ." Gutteridge, Intro, p.
Ixxxii. It is just within the limit of things possible that an imbecile King,
a Queen beside herself with passion, should have placed the welfare of a
whole nation within the hands of a woman such as Emma ! But it is
strange that an author of merit should record the fact as quite natural,
and make use of it in vindicating Nelson.

X National Archives of Naples. Gutteridge, No. 143.
N

194 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

view that he was under the influence of his mistress, —
and caused Hamilton to write another note to the Car-
dinal :

Eminence,

My Lord Nelson desires me to inform your
Eminence that, in consequence of an order which he has
just received from His Sicilian Majesty, who entirely
disapproves of the capitulation made with his rebellious
subjects in the castles of Uovo and Nuovo, he is
about to seize and make sure of those who have left
them, and are on board the vessels in this port, submitting
it to the opinion of your Eminence whether it would not
be advisable to publish at first in Naples the reason of
this transaction, and at the same time to warn the rebels
who have escaped to Naples from the said castles that
they must submit to the clemency of his Sicilian Majesty
within the space of twenty-four hours under the pain of
death.

W. Hamilton.*

This letter might vindicate Nelson's conduct, had he
only obeyed higher orders, but, as it happened, he had
already violated the treaty which he was now told to
annul. He had refused the honours of war to an enemy
that had surrendered. He had detained the vessels that
were about to sail.

Nelson's conduct in this affair was so strange that it
must be examined closely. It is to be questioned whether
the principal aim he had in view when he indulged in the
inganno that Sacchinelli reproaches him with, was to de-
prive the Republicans of their last safeguard by making
them give up their hostages. Such, at any rate, was the
first consequence of the surrender of the castles, and their

* Diaries, Hon. G. Rose, vol. i, p. 238. Hamilton to Ruffo and to
Acton. Although RufFo was a subject of the King of Naples, he refused
to obey this order and Nelson, the foreigner, issued the proclamation on
his own authority. This one incident gives the key to the characters
of the two men.

A BREACH OF FAITH 195

unfortunate defenders did not fail to proclaim it in a
protest that was, however, of no avail : " After the arrival
in this roadstead of the British fleet, commanded by your
Excellency [the letter was addressed to Nelson] the
capitulation was put into execution. On the one
hand the garrisons of the Castles of Nuovo and Uovo
set at liberty the prisoners of state and ten English pri-
soners, and placed the troops of his Britannic Majesty in
possession of the gate of the royal palace which leads to
the Castle of Nuovo. On the other hand, the troops of
his Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias allowed the
garrisons to march out with the honours of war to the
naval arsenal, where they laid down their arms and em-
barked on the vessels that were to take them to Toulon.
By means of these acts the Articles of Capitulation, which
had been signed, have been ratified by Russia and by
England, which has received the prisoners and the gate
of the castle."*

Nelson was willing to accept any advantages offered
him, but he gave nothing in return. It was not possible
for Britain to uphold such a breach of faith. It was not
even possible that proud Albion should admit that one of
her admirals had been obliged to obey the commands of
a King of Naples. Nelson was not ignorant of this fact.
After having deceived his enemies, he had now to deceive
his Government. He looked about him for the means
of defending himself in the eyes of his chiefs, and of pos-
terity. At first, he allowed the rumour to be spread that
the castles had surrendered unconditionally, then he stated
it officially himself. He wrote to Lord Keith telling him
that he had refused to ratify the treaty concluded by
RufFo, and produced his note of June 24, adding : " Un-
der this opinion the Rebels came out of the Castles, which

* Ricciardi's Memorial, Williams' Sketches, vol. ii, p. 319. The
original is in French. Nelson replied : " I have shown your paper to your
gracious King, who must be the best judge of the merits and demerits
of his subjects." If this were the case, then why, on his own authority,
did he order Caracciolo to be hanged \ Ricciardi was banished.

196 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

was instantly occupied by the Marines of the Squad-
ron."* Since the rebels had obeyed, who could blame
his conduct! Having established this fact, on July 13,
he declared to Lord Spencer that : " the Rebels came out
of the Castles with this knowledge."t Henceforward,
whenever he was called upon to justify his conduct, he
made use of this false statement. In 1803, when writing
to the historian Alexander Stephens, he reproduced it,J
and, in his private papers he wrote that the two castles
surrendered unconditionally on June 26.§ This state-
ment is false, and no man knew it better than Nelson
himself. Nevertheless, this falsehood has mystified his-
torians, and been used as an argument by the champions
of the dishonoured hero. Clarke and MacArthur have
inserted this note in their Life 0/ Nelson, and Mr Sichel
and Mr Gutteridge both repeat the Admiral's assertion.il

* Dispatches, vol. iii, pp. 390-393.

t Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 406.

if Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 520. This letter is followed by an amusing
postscript. " I must beg leave to warn you to be careful how you
mention the characters of such excellent sovereigns as the King and
Queen of Naples. If you wish to have any conversation with me on the
subject, I shall be at home any morning at lo o'clock." Nelson did not
dare to torite that the King was an imbecile. But Emma had so often
repeated it to him that he was well aware of the fact.

§ From one of Lord Nelson's private notes on the subject.

II Mr Gutteridge mentions Cooper Williams, an eye-witness of the
events who believed that the patriots had surrendered unconditionally.
Evidently Mr Cooper Williams, who was chaplain on board one of the
vessels, merely repeated the assertion made by his chief. Lord Nelson.
Cacciatore simply reproduces the act of investment of Castell Uovo,
" Micheroux appeared per prendere a tenore della capitolazione possesso."
The garrison was called together : " Chiesto loro di spiegare la lora
volonta, d'imbarcarsi per Tolone o pure restare quivi a tenore della
capitolazione, si e trovato essere il numero di noventa cinque quelli
che si son imbarcati." Mr Gutteridge says this document must be
considered " With grave suspicion ". By these means, a prejudiced
author gets rid of proofs that interfere with his theory ! The writers
of this work will also treat one of Nelson's documents with distrust,
but they will be able to give their reasons for doing so.

NELSON'S DEFENCE 197

In his defence, Nelson has also stated that he believed
an armistice had been concluded between the belligerents
and that, arriving with his fleet, he had a right to break
it. He did not make any such statement in the presence
of RufFo, who, by one word, could have silenced him.
He inserted this note in his private papers. This is an-
other falsehood, but the habitual defenders of Nelson take
it for unadulterated truth. Mr Gutteridge attaches great
importance to a Memorandum on the Armistice, which
appears amongst the Dispatches. In this document,
Nelson's opinion is drawn up in such a strange manner
that it hardly seems trustworthy. In the first place, it is
not in his handwriting. He merely wrote at the top of
the paper : " Opinion delivered before I saw the treaty
of Armistice etc.," and at the end of the document :
" Read and explained and rejected by the Cardinal."*
Sacchinelli, who was an eye-witness, makes no
reference to any discussion of this sort, nor is it men-
tioned in the letters exchanged from June 24 to June 27,
between Nelson, RufFo, Hamilton, and the other people
connected with the question at issue. Therefore, it may
be safely concluded that this explanation of his conduct
was invented by Nelson later on, when he was accused of
treachery in England. It is true that before the capitu-
lation was settled, the French had demanded a truce of
twenty days; but, the treaty having been signed, this
negotiation was cancelled, and was not mentioned after
the signature.

If the Armistice had been subject to conditions, these
conditions would figure in the deed, in such words as :
" The undersigned promise to surrender in three days,
provided, etc.," but no such terms are mentioned. Again,
had the Armistice been conditional, the documents of the
time would mention the fact; but not one bears the slight-
est reference to such an understanding. It is true, in
one of his letters, and more particularly in a very im-
portant document which will be given further on, Hamil-
* Dispatches, vol. iii, pp. 384-386.

198 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

ton mentions an armistice; but the word is misused, as
may be gathered from the contents of the letter, from
which it is evident that there was no question of a mere
truce, but of ceasing hostilities.

Before Nelson's arrival there had been a twenty days'
armistice, between RufFo and the Republicans for the
purpose of discussing the conditions of surrender. This
truce had come to an end before Nelson appeared on the
scene, and the treaty stood in its stead.*

At first, when Nelson had not yet built up his system
of defence, he referred only to the final treaty. Thus^on
July 13, he wrote to Earl Spencer: "On my fortunate
arrival here I found a most infamous treaty entered into
with the Rebels in direct disobedience of His Sicilian
Majesty's orders. I had the happiness of saving his
Majesty's honour, rejecting with disdain any terms but
unconditional submission, to Rebels . . . His Majesty has
entirely approved of my conduct in this matter." f

It is not possible to say what Spencer thought on re-
ceiving this dispatch. Now that all the details of the
affair have come to light, it is easy to guess for what
purpose Nelson wrote these lines. He was trying to fore-
stall a reproach that had not yet been uttered against him,
but which he felt would reach him in the near future.
He knew that England would not accept his view of the
violation of the treaty, therefore, he hastened to say that
the treaty was most infamous. He carefully avoided
saying where the infamy lay. He knew well that, were
he to state the bare truth, he would be condemned. By

* The proof of this statement is contained in the following order :
"The officers commanding His Majesty's troops on all the points of
the district Chiaia, are to take measures for suspending hostilities,
throughout their posts, against the Castles Uovo and Nuovo, until
further order, a truce having been concluded in order to discuss a
capitulation. Naples, June 19, 1799.

Signed : Antonio Miche-Raous,
Plenipotentiary to His Sicilian Majesty."
I Diifatches, voi. iii, p. 406.

THE KING'S HONOUR 199

these words, full of artful perfidy, he opened a field to
the wildest conjectxxres. At home they might suppose
that the Neapolitans had exacted that Ferdinand IV
should do public penance, a halter round his neck, con-
fessing himself to be a tyrant; or else, that the rebels had
forced him to accept an anarchical Constitution; or, better
still, it might be imagined that they planned handing over
the fortress to the French, to the common enemy. This
consideration would suffice to justify the righteous anger
affected by Nelson and the fears of the British Govern-
ment, the one having an obscure end in view, whilst the
other had quite a different motive.

When Nelson declared that he had been " fortunate "
enough to save the honour of the King of Naples, he
showed that he had not the slightest conception of what
his chiefs were aiming at. His mission was not to save
the honour of a prince whom all princes despised, but to
reconquer the Kingdom of Naples, and to make it join
the coalition against France. Had it been necessary to
further this purpose, Britain would have made very many
more concessions than Ruffo himself. Later on, for in-
stance, in spite of the opposition of the King of Naples,
she granted a constitution to Sicily.

We must now return to our examination of the system
of defence adopted by Messrs von Helfert and Gutter-
idge. According to these writers. Nelson must be ab-
solved as having merely carried out the King's commands.
Ruffo and the rebels themselves knew fuU well that Fer-
dinand and above all Queen Caroline, had made up their
minds to exercise no clemency and to enter into no agree-
ment with their subjects. The Queen's atrocious sen-
tence that "A general massacre would not cause me the
slightest pain,"* has already been quoted. The next day

* It is a curious fact that, a few years lafer, when writing to his
brother Joseph whom he had made King of Naples, Napoleon expressed
the same sanguinary thought concerning the Neapolitans. " Brother,
I should like the Neapolitan dogs to revolt. Unless you make an

200 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

the vindictive sovereign was still in the same state of
bloodthirsty passion when she wrote : " In the King's
name and for my sake, I implore you, if ever the Aus-
trians or the Russians come near Rome or Naples, never
grant any agreement, covenant, truce or pardon to these
rascals."* Marie-Caroline was not always in this state of
wild fanaticism, bordering on madness and which may
be accounted for, though not excused, by the fact that she
had been outraged in all her feeling as a woman, a mother,
and above all, as a Queen. On some occasions she dis-
played more justice, though no tenderness, towards men
she could not be expected to love. She could recognise
the exigencies of politics, she could even find words of
humane pity. On June 1 5 she wrote : " Gaeta, Capua
and Naples alone remain in the hands of the Republi-
cans . . . The capital, and the castles are theirs, and, as we
wish to avoid shedding the blood of our own subjects,
some measures must be taken . . . Two great Genoese
vessels full of Generals and lycurgues have sailed. They
were allowed to depart, for we do not desire the sangui-
nary reprisals which they well deserve, but only to be rid
of them."t

On June 20, conscious of victory, she once more gave
vent to her vindictive feelings. Nelson " is hastening
on with the entire fleet to compel them to surrender . . .

example of them, you will never master them . I should look on a.
revolution in Naples in the same way as a father would regard his
children who had small-pox ; provided it does not weaken the constitu-
tion too much, it is a very salutary crisis." Napoleon was of the opinion
that a little blood-shed would be very profitable to the Neapolitans, and
result in the establishment of order in their city. The Queen pro-
tested that she entertained no idea of revenge ; she was simply acting in
the interest of a political system. But Napoleon wished to strike at the
rabble, whereas Marie-Caroline wanted to cut down the flower of the
intellectual Neapolitans. What would be left of the sick man who had
been subjected to such blood-letting f

* Correspondence de Marie-Caroline. No. 329.

■\ Correspondence de Marie-Caroline. No. 331.

A PLEA FOR CLEMENCY 201

for, yielding to the rebels means the loss of the crown."*
From these varying moods, it would seem that her de-
cision was not so irrevocable but that a humane com-
mander might have evaded it. Through Emma, Nelson
was most certainly informed of these fluctuations, there-
fore he was free to act as he thought best. On the other
hand, RufFo, who had at least a general idea of the inten-
tions of the Covirt, never ceased to inveigh against their
barbarity, and to preach clemency, f
* Correspondenee de Marie-Caroline. No. 332.

t It is a singular and significant fact that none of the letters in
which Ruffo expressed these sentiments have come down to posterity.
The people they were addressed to destroyed them. But the Cardinal
kept the answers he received, and these leave no doubt as to what he
himself had written. On April 4, Acton wrote to him thus : " Assuredly,
it is well known that mercy is becoming and natural to the King ; but
the Republican Governors, the notorious traitors, and those who have
taken office during this infamous rebellion, insulting their sovereign with
great and horrible villainy by acts and proclamations, must be dis-
tinguished from those who, as I have said, have been led astray or
allured into giving their adherence without becoming members ot this
impious form of Government . . . His Majesty wishes to beg your
Eminence to propose to him a plan of chastisement to be taken as a
basis against the avowed rebels who, by taking office in the Republic,
have usurped the sovereign power ; and for those who were formerly
in the service of His Majesty, His Majesty desires that the penalty
should be death, or deportation." (Archives of Naples.)

On April 14, the Queen wrote : "I see above all that in this capital
the greater number are good aad loyal. But no pity is to be shown. The
bad weeds that poison the others must be uprooted, destroyed, annihil-
ated and deported." (Archives of Naples). On May 17, she wrote
once more ; " I must confess we do not agree with you that we should
dissimulate, forget, or even reward, in order to win over the leaders of
our ruffians. It is not a spirit of revenge, that makes us differ with your
opinion. My heart harbours no such passion . . . but I am speaking
with the sovereign contempt and the indifference which I feel towards
our villains." (Archives of Naples.)

The letters written by the Queen on May Z3 and June 14, may also
be referred to. On the latter date she wrote ; " Open negotiations
with St. Elmo and its French commander, but no negotiations with our
rebel subjects. In his mercy, the King will pardon and out of his
goodness lessen their punishments, but he will never capitulate or treat
with guilty rebels, who are at the last gasp, and who would do harm

202 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

The excesses committed by the victorious people ap-
palled him, but he was helpless to arrest them. On June
21, he wrote to Acton : " Fifteen hundred Jacobins have
been brought to me, and as I do not know where to put
them for safety, I am keeping them in the garrets at the
Ponte Maddalena. Before my very eyes, fifty at least
were carried away or shot, and I was unable to prevent it.
At least two hundred helpless, wounded soldiers have
been massacred here. Seeing that I shuddered at such a
sight, they comforted me by saying that the murdered
men were really the leaders of the brigands, and that the
wounded were resolute enemies of the human race; in a
word, that they were well known to the people. I hope
this is true, and that reassures me somewhat."*

Naples had witnessed enough bloodshed, too much
indeed. RufFo's heart swelled with indignation and pity,
nor did he conceal his feelings. He tried to find a re-
medy to all these evils, endeavouring to establish some
sort of order in the midst of anarchy, defending himself
against the ferocity of his own troops, and of the Nea-
politan rabble. When a man was brought before him,
accused of being a rebel, Ruffo would first discover
whether or no his name was entered on a special register
which he kept to that effect. If he found it, he would
detain the man; but if, on the contrary, he was not on the

were it still in their power, being like mice caught in a trap." (Archives
of Naples.)

RufFo must have received this letter at the very moment when he was
negotiating. He was right in judging that it was best to act promptly.
Believing that her enemies were caught in a trap, Marie-Caroline
lost sight of the fact that they might still destroy the city and receive
help from the French fleet. However, to these last words she added
a more sensible remark : " This is my opinion which I submit to your
judgment and knowledge. If I do not always agree with you, I am not
the less conscious of the great debt of gratitude that we have incurred
towards you."

See also later a letter written by the King on June 20, referring to
the same subject.

* Archives, of Naples.

THE GLORIOUS CARDINAL 203

list, the denunciator received one hundred and fifty
lashes.* He strove to be just. Had he not a right to act
like a master, and to speak haughtily to the King as well
as to the people .'' It was he, not Nelson, who had recon-
quered the Kingdom. He had every reason to expect and
believe that his voice would be listened to. There was
every ground to hope that the cries of rage that escaped
Ferdinand and Marie-Caroline, and which, to some ex-
tent, must be excused by the painful position of the
exiled monarchs, would not find relief in too much blood-
shed. They were in the hands of RufFo and Nelson who
had a right to make them respect the convention that had
been entered into ! United, they were sure of success. It
was impossible to bind the hands of the glorious Cardinal,
who, by his sole efforts, had reconquered Naples. The
instructions sent by the King still left him a certain
amount of independence, and he would not have accepted
them otherwise, for in time of warfare, it is not possible
to foresee all events. It is for the general to decide, ulti-
mately, not the Prince who is far from the field of action.
The King had said : " In the military capitulation which
may take place with the enemy who occupy St Elmo,
the power of stipulating for their departure may be ex-
tended to several rebels, even to the leaders, according
to circumstances, if the general good, the promptitude of
the operation, and reasons of weight make it advisable."!
This was sound good sense. Mr Gutteridge has vainly
endeavoured to lessen the importance of this clause, to
which the King consented on June 10, at the very mo-
ment when the Cardinal was drawing near to Naples. He
pretends that such terms could only be offered to the
French, the enemy of the land, but not to the Neapolitan
rebels. Now, this is precisely what took place, for Mejean
vouched for the treaty. Finally, there is at least one
document proving that Nelson acted on his own initiative,

* D'tario by de Nicola. Archives of Naples,
t Gutteridge, No. 1 6, p. 70.

204 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

and without consulting the King. This letter, written by
Hamilton to Ruffo has already been mentioned. It was
despatched on June 24. It marks the beginning of the
difference of opinion, which divided the Admiral and the
soldier Cardinal. At such a moment Nelson should have
produced the King's orders. This would have been the
best means of convincing his adversary. But Nelson did
not refer to the King, probably because he did not yet
know what Ferdinand's wishes might be.

The King of Naples and more especially his Queen,
have each their share of responsibility in the Counter-
Revolution of 1799, but Nelson claimed a part which it
was his duty to avoid and which he might have evaded.

During these days that throw such a sad light on his-
tory, we have caught glimpses of Lady Hamilton urging
on the Admiral. Now we must examine facts, and ascer-
tain to what extent the beautiful wife of the British Am-
bassador was responsible for her lover's behaviour.

CHAPTER X

The part of Sir William and Lady Hamilton in the counter-revolution
— Hamilton and Nelson — Hamilton's real attitude— His letters of
June 27th — The Cardinal's thanks — Lady Hamilton's indifference
— She becomes intermediary — Her real interests — Hamilton's con-
cession to Nelson — Lady Hamilton and the Queen — The Case of
Cirillo.

IN spite of the pleas of his defenders, be they inter-
ested or merely obtuse, it is easy to discover what
part Nelson played in the Counter-Revolution ; but
Lady Hamilton's part is far less obvious. Yet, her atti-
tude cannot be overlooked. The wife of the British
Ambassador has been accused of urging her lover to deeds
of treachery and cruelty : she must be either cleared or
stand condemned. The documents that exonerate her,
as well as those that impeach her, are far less numerous
and less convincing than those that establish so clearly
Nelson's guilt. Much research is required to arrive at
the truth.

First of all it must be remarked that although Emma
had not given up Nelson in the May of 1799, she was
still living with her husband, whom she accompanied on
board the Foudroyant. No doubt her heart, if she had
one, was with Nelson; but the laws of decorum, her good
fame and prudence obliged her to preserve the proprieties
in regard to Hamilton. Not only was it necessary that
she should conceal from him her guilty intercourse with
Nelson, but she had to be careful not to cross him in any
way. As a matter of fact at this period husband and wife
were on the best of terms. Since her marriage she had
really developed a talent for diplomacy. But a careful
examination of Hamilton's attitude throws some light
upon the situation.

2o6 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Republican authors, being ill-informed, have over-
looked Hamilton's intervention, attributing all the evils
to the " fatal woman." On the other hand, Sacchinelli
and Cacciatore, the two royalists, maintain that Hamilton
played a very active and sinister part. The statements
put forward by these two writers are based on documents
that cannot be questioned. They show that " Nelson was
not the man to let himself be influenced by a woman in a
matter of such importance as the surrender of the casdes.
He held to one principle and was imbued with the prin-
ciple that sovereigns do not treat with rebel subjects.
Whether this doctrine is sound or not, the consequences
must be imputed to two persons only. Nelson and
Hamilton."*

It is not just that the Minister should be condemned
with the Admiral. Hamilton was an honourable man;
his disposition was gentle, devoid of prejudices, and he
entertained no absolute principles or uncompromising
views such as Nelson professed. He was far more highly
cultured than the Admiral, he was well versed in Eng-
lish liberalism, its doctrines and its principles. More-
over, he was a diplomatist and knew the value of a treaty.
Therefore, it seems highly improbable that, on his own
authority, he would have suggested violating an agree-
ment ratified by four different powers. But he loved
Nelson and admired him so intensely that, at the time,
it never occurred to him that the great man could make a
mistake. On the other hand. Nelson with his crafty, de-
ceitful and malicious disposition, was anxious to push
forward Hamilton, to compromise him, so that, in case
of need, he might have an accomplice, a surety as well as
a defender. For this purpose he persuaded Hamilton to
write for him, and on June 24, Hamilton expressed not
his own views but those of Nelson.-f Deceived by these

* Cacciatore, p. 212.

t On the same day Hamilton wrote to Acton : " Of course the
cardinal, having now the support of Great Britain, his Sicilian Majesty's
faithful ally, cannot be obliged to fulfil the articles he has granted when

HAMILTON'S POSITION 207

appearances, Sacchinelli and Cacciatore attribute to Ham-
ilton a part which he did not play during the verbal ne-
gotiations between RufFo and Nelson. The proof of this
will be given later. Besides, Hamilton was merely acting
as interpreter between the Cardinal and Nelson, who did
not know Italian. Therefore, when the Ambassador ex-
pressed an opinion to RufFo, it must be understood that
he was speaking in Nelson's name. Such an attitude of
self-effacement on the part of a British Ambassador is
difficult to understand.

His contemporaries may not have understood his atti-
tude, but it is fully explained by a document that has
come to light, and which will be given later, after some
inevitable explanations.

It is possible that, at first, Hamilton did not approve
of RufFo's treaty. This may have been his personal feel-
ing; but it seems improbable. It is more likely that he
was so much under the influence of Nelson that it was
not even necessary for Emma to intervene between them.
However, when Sir William met RufFo in the Bay of
Naples, and witnessed the noble attitude and the no less
elevated motives that guided his conduct, he may still
have held to his own point of view, realising at the same
time, however, that Nelson and the Neapolitan Court
must submit to the inevitable, and recognise a treaty
solemnly signed by four powers. His experience as a
diplomatist must have brought him to this conclusion.
He therefore exerted his influence in this direction and
obtained, or at least thought he had obtained. Nelson's
approval. It was then, and with the Admiral's assent,
that he despatched Troubridge and Ball to RufFo. Be-
lieving the matter settled, he freely related the proceed-
ings to Acton in a letter which fortunately has been pre-
served in the Record Office at Naples. Several historians
knew of the existence of this document, but most of them

in a feeble state." (Gutteridge, No. 86, p. 207.) These are not
the sentiments of a diplomatist. They are at variance with Hamilton's
honest disposition. Evidently the letter was dictated by Nelson.

2o8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

have passed it over in silence, because it contains crush-
ing evidence against Nelson. Mr Gutteridge has pub-
lished it.* Mr Walter Sichel has only made use of it,
in as much as it suited the purpose of his argument. It
has here been reproduced in its entirety :

Foudroyant,

Bay of Naples,

June 27, 1799.
My dear Sir,

Your Excellency will have perceived by my
last that the opinions of the Cardinal and Lord Nelson by
no means coincided. However, upon cool reflection.
Lord Nelson authorised me to write to his Eminency
early yesterday morning and assure him that he would
not do anything that could break the armistice which
his Eminency had thought proper to make with the rebels
in the castles of Uovo and Nuovo, and that his Lordship
was ready to give him any assistance that the fleet under
his command could afford, and that his Eminency thought
for the good of his Sicilian Majesty's service. This
produced the best effect possible. Naples had been in
confusion expecting Lord Nelson to break the armistice;
now all was calm, and the Cardinal settled with Cap-
tains Ball and Troubridge that the rebels should embark
from the castles of Uovo and Nuovo in the evening,
and that 500 marines should be put on shore from
the fleet to garrison the two castles where now, thank
God, his Sicilian Majesty's flags are flying, and the short-
lived republican flags are now in the cabin of the Fou-
droyant, and so will I hope very soon be the French flag
still flying at St Elmo. We were with Lord Nelson in
his boat seeing the marines land at the Health Ofiice; the
joy of the people was excessive, the British and Nea-
politan colours displayed from many windows, and when
we took possession of the castles a feu de joie went all over
Naples, and at night great illuminations as on the former
* Gutteridge, No. 1 1 6, page 249.

AN EXAMPLE NECESSARY 209

nights. In short, I am now in the greatest hopes that Lord
Nelson's coming here will be of infinite service to their
Sicilian Majesties. A little of my phlegm was necessary
between the cardinal and Lord Nelson or all would have
been up the very first day, and the cardinal has written
to thank me and Lady Hamilton. The Tree of Abomin-
ation is now cutting down opposite the king's palace
and the red cap will be taken off the giant's head. Cap-
tain Troubridge is gone to execute this business, and the
rebels on board of the polaccas cannot stir without a pass-
port from Lord Nelson. Caracciolo and 12 of the most
infamous rebels are this day to be sent to Lord Nel-
son. If my opinion is relished, they should be sent
directly to be tried by the jiidge at Procida, and such as
are condemned be brought back and executed here. Carac-
ciolo will probably be seen hanging at the yard-arm of
the Minerva, Neapolitan frigate, from daybreak to sun-
set, for such an example is necessary for the future marine
service of his Sicilian Majesty, and particularly as Jaco-
binism had prevailed so much in the Neapolitan marine.
St Elmo has fiired every night 7 or 8 shot. We are
told it was at some Calabrese that were taking up rebels
under the walls of the castle. I believe the honour of
reducing St Elmo will fall to the lot of the British and
Russian troops; however, we now shall act perfectly in
concert with the cardinal, though we think the same we
did at first as to the treaty his Eminency made before our
arrival. If one cannot do exactly as one could wish, one
must do the next best thing, and that is what Lord Nelson
is doing, and I hope the result will be approved by their
Sicilian Majesties. Salandra's conduct is such that I am
convinced that he himself is an honest man and loyal,
whatever his connections may be.

Adieu, etc.,

Wm, Hamilton.

This letter, as well as all those which Hamilton wrote
to Ruffo on that same day, require some explanation.
o

2IO A GREAT ADVENTURESS

The Ambassador appears really to have come round to
the Cardinal's views. This is evident in the sentence:
" We think the same we did at first as to the treaty."*

Hamilton could not have failed to notice that Nelson
had already violated the treaty which he had promised to
observe; for, not only were the prisoners not allowed to
return to France, but they could not move without a pass-
port from the Admiral. Later on, Hamilton soothed the
slight scruples that disturbed his soul, by stating that he
had merely submitted to the will of the King of Naples.
On July 14, he wrote to Lord Grenville: " Lord Nelson
assured the Cardinal at the same time that he did not
mean to do anything contrary to his Eminency's treaty,
but as that treaty could not be valid until it had been rati-
fied by his Sicilian Majesty, his Lordship's meaning was
only to secure his Majesty's rebellious subjects until his
Majesty's further pleasure should be known."t This
condition was not mentioned in the correspondence that
was exchanged on June 27. The Ambassador invented
this argument in order to cover the friend he was to
defend in all circumstances. At length he succeeded in
persuading himself that he had always shared Nelson's
relentless and uncompromising views. The same hand
that on June 27 had traced the amiable and conciliatory
note to Ruffo, wrote in the following strain to Charles
Greville : " Lord Nelson has secured all the chiefs of the
Jacobine nobility and their party, who woud otherwise
have escaped the hand of justice by the rascality or im-
becility of the King's Vicar-Gen^"J

* In his correspondence Hamilton often contradicts Nelson, especi-
ally in the letter written on June 27. Mr Gutteridge tries to depreciate
the value of his testimony by alleging that " Sir William was also at the
time in a state of complete nervous prostration " (Gutteridge Intro.,
p. xxxvii). No other author has made such a statement and, judging
by the many letters which the Ambassador wrote at this period, he
seems to have been in full possession of all his faculties. It is strange for
an historian to have recourse to such arguments in order to get rid of a
tiresome witness.

t Gutteridge, No. 158, p. 313.

X July 14, Morrison's Nelson Tapers, vol. ii, p. 53.

ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN 211

The gratitude which the Cardinal expressed not only
to Hamilton, but also to his wife, must now be con-
sidered. Emma had indeed acted as interpreter and had
affected conciliatory sentiments. But did she really de-
serve RufFo's effusive thanks! Her defenders, as well
as her detractors, have exaggerated the importance of the
part she played. Some represent her as a relentless fury
pxirsuing the Republicans, others see in her an angel of
mercy, interceding with Marie-Caroline and Nelson.
This excess of blame or praise was unmerited.

In this circumstance she was actuated by the same sel-
fish motive that invariably guided her throughout her
life. She was absolutely indifferent to all that did not
affect her own interests. Instinctively, and in common
with her countrymen, she loathed the French and the
Republicans; but, for lack of energy, intellect or instruc-
tion, or perhaps from sheer indifference, she also detested
all discussions and, unlike most women, did not care to
contradict. Had she been fond of wrangling, she would
been obliged to support her opinions, to argue, and de-
fend them by serious effort, and this did not suit her
purpose, as it was not so easy as affectations of manner
and graceful attitudes. Consequently, she always shared
the opinion of whoever might be speaking, and when
Ruffo wanted his treaty respected, she thought he was
quite right. When, weary of interpreting for the two
self-willed leaders, Hamilton gave up the arduous task,
Emma for a time took the bixrden on her shoulders and
played an active and conciliatory part. No doubt, Ruffo
really felt grateful and admired her generous attitude.
But she did not deserve any praise. By withdrawing
from the discussion, Hamilton had proved that he had
now adopted the Cardinal's view of the situation, and
regretted not having overcome his friend's opposition.
Since his wife consented to replace him, it is evident that
she was indifferent to what took place. The one thing
that she desired was to return to Naples as soon as pos-
sible and see her royal friends established once more on

212 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

their throne. She longed to be back in her palazzo,
entertaining, dancing, singing, and receiving the applause
and adoration that was showered upon her.* She had no
wish to dabble in diplomatic negotiations. They had
been forced upon her. To her, the solution that could
be arrived at the quickest would surely be the best. The
relentless attitude of the Queen and of Nelson seemed
likely to become a cause of danger,! so she concluded
the Cardinal's clemency might be more useful in arriving
at a solution. In any case, she wanted the matter to be
settled promptly, and as RufFo would not give way, the
best policy was to advocate his cause.

From the last lines of the above mentioned letter, it is
evident that the treaty had been violated, and that Hamil-
ton had countenanced the breach of faith. This is not
to be wondered at, since the British Minister had first
censured the Cardinal's behaviour and proclaimed that
the Crown was omnipotent! However, as a convention
had been signed, it should have been accepted or rejected
just as it stood, and it is difficult to account for the
implied compromise mentioned in the letter. It is pos-
sible that Nelson had yielded as to the essential part of
the matter, still maintaining, however, that certain indi-
viduals who were more guilty than the others must
necessarily be excluded from the amnesty, and that he
would undertake to mete out justice to the rebels, as the

* On July 30, the Queen wrote to her ; " I am very much afraid,
my dear Emma, that your health will suffer from this great heat, and
through being cooped up on a vessel."

t Emma was well aware that the Queen's conduct and her violent
disposition had, to a great extent, been the cause of the insurrection.
After the victory she wrote : " ^//, a// is changed. She has been very
unfortunate ; but she is a good woman . . . and will make for the
ivA\xxt amende honorable iot \!sx& past." (Morrison MSS. 411.) When
Marie-Caroline remained at Palermo whilst the King returned to
Naples, she wrote herself; "I was afraid of lessening the love and
enthusiasm which the King will call forth, and which is not felt for
me." {Carteggio, p. 199.) And again on July 7, she wrote ; « I am
quite decided to withdraw entirely from the world on my return to
Naples." {Carteggio, p. 201.) These sentiments appear frequently in
her letters to Gallo.

LADY HAMILTON'S PART 213

Cardinal's scruples prevented him from participating in
the punishment. In this case it would seem that to save
the others the Cardinal surrendered thirteen wretched
victims. This agreement was not written down, as it was
a disgrace to both parties — to Nelson, because he desired
the massacre; to the Cardinal, because he delivered up
men whom he had promised to defend.

This, after much research, appears to be the most
reasonable explanation of the parts played by the different
actors in the tragedy: by Nelson, to whom we shall
return later; by RufFo, who perhaps did not carry on his
noble resistance to the end;* and by the Hamiltons, who
were led to alter their opinions from various motives —
on his part, honourable; on hers, vague or interested.!

One word more concerning the part played by Lady
Hamilton. Apart from her hatred of the Jacobins, she
was urged by Marie-Caroline who, before she even knew
the terms of the treaty, declared she would never coun-
tenance it since she was the stronger. " It is impossible
for me to treat avec cette canaille.'^ . . . The

* " Fearing these sad events and the anger of the King, RufFo was silent
and gave his aid," CoUetta, vol. iv, ch. iii. In 1 806, disgusted no doubt
with his King, RufFo had nodifHculty in acknowledging Joseph Buonaparte.

"I" If some of our suppositions are open to dispute, it must, at least,
be admitted that they are all feasible and, above all, that they are not
dictated by any prejudice or preconceived idea.

t This canaille included her physician Don Cirillo, Prince Pignatelli,
Admiral Caracciolo, Duke Monteleone, etc. The aristocracy and the
middle classes wearying of Marie-Caroline's tyranny had upheld the Re-
public against the lower classes that had remained loyal. The Queen
realised this fact, but overlooked the causes. On May 22, 1798, she
wrrote from Palermo : " The Neapolitans have excelled their foster-mother
France, but in our country the lower classes are deferential. Those
who have the most to lose are the most enraged — the nobility, the
bishops, monks and petty lawyers. But the higher magistrates and the
people are faithful and show themselves so on all occasions." On
December 11 and 22, 1798, she had written much in the same strain.
She did not perceive that she was witnessing a great social and civil
movement, by which the most enlightened portion of the population re-
volted against the excesses of a corrupt monarchy. La Grande Grke : pay-
sages et Aisioire, by Francois Lenormant, vol. ii, pp. 170-184.

214 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

sight of the brave English squadron is my hope . . .
The females who have distinguished themselves in
the revolution to be treated in the same way, and that
without pity . . . There is no need of a special commis-
sion : it is not an undecided cause, but a palpable, proved
fact . . . Finally, my dear Lady, I recommend Lord
Nelson to treat Naples as if it were an Irish town in
rebellion similarly placed. France will be none the
better for all these thousands of rascals; we shall be all
the better without them."* The Queen would not
have been ill-pleased if Nelson, a foreigner, had taken
upon himself the distribution of the punishments she
had in store for the Revolutionary leaders and their fol-
lowers. She wanted to shift the heavy responsibility on
to his shoulders, therefore she opened her mind to Emma,
so that she might work on him and prepare him for the
task. In spite of her indifference, Emma was happy in
the Queen's friendship, and glad to be associated with
negotiations upon which so many human lives depended,
and happy women know no pity. Cruelty, and an eager-
ness in countenancing all underhand transactions, seemed
to add to the favourite's happiness. Her servile disposi-
tion made her proud to obey the Queen's commands.
But this same woman would just as willingly have
preached clemency to Nelson, had Marie-Caroline ordered
her to do so. Little did she care what the Queen com-
manded. All she wanted was to obey blindly the
Sovereign whom she was proud to approach and call her
friend.

When women of the highest society in Naples, women
such as the Marchese San Felice and Eleonora de Fonseca-
Pimentel were sentenced to death, Lady Hamilton was
accused of having singled them out to their murderers,
to revenge herself on the aristocratic families that had
refused to receive her. It is impossible for a conscien-
tious historian to take into account such grave accusa-
tions when they are not supported by proofs. But Hamil-
* Pettigrew, vol. i, p. 234, Gutteridge, p. 211.

THE FATE OF REBELS 215

ton's beautiful wife certainly deserves one reproach. She
could have used her power over Nelson to incline him
towards mercy, and thus save human lives. By so doing,
she might to some extent have rehabilitated herself.
Cirillo, the King's physician and Emma's own doctor, was
an eminent savant and a member of the Royal Society in
London. He had drawn up a scheme of a constitution
for the Republic. When arraigned he implored the pity
of his former client. Emma presented the petition to
Nelson, who wrote in the margin* : " Domenico Cirillo,
who had been the King's physician might have been saved,
but that he chose to play the fool, and lie, denying that
he had ever made speeches against the Government,
and that he had only taken care of the poor in the
hospitals."

Cirillo was executed. Certainly Nelson and his mis-
tress would have reaped more honour had they pretended
to believe in the excuse he alleged and have let him off.

There is no purpose in expanding this account of the
horrors committed at Naples, which only recall the worst
things recorded in history, the crimes of Kings and
people, the massacre of the Albigenses and the Vaudois,
the eve of St Bartholomew, the September Massacres, the
Reign of Terror, the martyrs of Poland and Ireland. . . .
It is a hateful task to relate such sanguinary deeds of
madness. However, as Lady Hamilton was connected
with Admiral Caracciolo's fate, it will be necessary to
made an exception in his case.

* Dispatches, vol. iii, App. p. 505.

CHAPTER XI

Caracciolo — His part in the revolution — His flight and arrest — Nelson's
indignation with him — His trial and condemnation — Nelson refuses
to postpone the execution — Sir William Hamilton's letter on the sub-
ject — Thurn's letter— Captain Brenton's account — An anonymous
English account — Lady Hamilton's two interventions — Caracciolo's
last requests — Nelson's silence — Opinions of Palumbo, Sir John Mac-
kintosh, Cacciatore and Gutteridge — Caracciolo's Corpse — Weak-
ness of the counter-revolution in Naples — General disaffection about
the Queen — She is imprisoned and exiled — Her death — Nelson's
death.

FRANCESCO CARACCIOLO is now regarded as
the most illustrious victim of the CouMter-
Revolution of Naples,* and has become the
eponymous hero, and he owes these honours solely to his
executioner, Nelson, who, pursuing him with barbarous
and incomprehensible fury, succeeded in making him
interesting although in reality there was nothing praise-
worthy about him.f At the present day one of the
finest quays in Naples is named after Caracciolo. On a
neighbouring house the following inscription may be

read — t

In questa casa nacque

Francesco Caracciolo

Ammiraglio

II i8 gennaio 1752

Strangolato al 29 giuegno 1799.

II municipio P. 1868.

* Most of the Royalist historians, Coppi, for instance, in the yinnoli
dUtalia dal 1750 (Rome 1829), vol. iii, and Emm. Palermo, in his5rw«
cenno su la Republica napoktana, bestow the highest praise on Caracciolo
and see in him only a victim.

t This is the opinion of Botta himself : 'In questo certamento il suo
fallere fu enorme." {Op. cit. i, xviii.)

FRANCESCO CARACCIOLO, ADMIRAL OF THE PARTHENOPAEAN REPUBLIC,

EXECUTED 1799

From a miniature by Michele (V Urso

CARACCIOLO TRAITOR 217

That is all. There are no words of praise, because the
dead man had not deserved them. But he had been
strangolato, and so humanity entered this protest against
his ignominious, punishment. If all that has been
written about this drama were to disappear, and this
inscription alone remained, it would be incomprehensible
but for this commentary.

Caracciolo belonged to a princely house, and had risen
to the rank of Rear-Admiral. He was not altogether
without merit. After having learnt seamanship in the
British navy under Rodney, he had fought against the
French in 1795, under Admiral Hotham; and at the naval
battle of Savona his daring and skill had won him the
praise of his chiefs.* He was then captain of a frigate.
But during the Revolution in Naples his conduct was
strangely equivocal. He had figured in the escort that
attended the royal family on their flight to Palermo, and
had then asked the King to allow him to return to Naples
so that " he might not be affected by the decree aimed
at the property of absent citizens." But it stands to
reason that, when the King authorised him to leave
Palermo, he did not expect him to place himself under
the Republican standard^ and fight against his Sovereign.
Caracciolo, who was at heart a Jacobin, believed that the
new Government was destined to be victorious. He
openly joined the rebels and thus became a traitor. He
thought the throne of Naples was about to be overthrown
as it had been in France, where for the last seven years
the Republic had existed. He fancied that this form of
government would take root in his own country. The
French General, Macdonald, worked hard to this end,
and persuaded him to take up the cause of the new Re-
public.J His ambition was to play a great part in the
Government.

* CoUetta, 0/1. cit., vol. iii, ch. iii.

t Marie-Caroline, by Andr6 Bonnefons, ch. v, ii.

X Souvenirs, by Mardchal Macdonald, Due de Tarente, p. 69.

21 8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Unfortunately, his character was not equal to his
aspirations. He considered that it behoved him to give
some pledge to his new party, for, being a prince and
closely allied to the King,* he was looked upon with
some suspicion by the Revolutionists. In order to curry
favour with them, he had recourse to a very unworthy
expedient whereby he sought to flatter their feelings.-
He enlisted as a common soldier.f It was impossible,
of course, for him to remain in this position, and he was
soon put in command of the Republican navy. At this
moment no one, and least of all Nelson, could believe
he was a traitor. On April 13 Captain Troubridge wrote
to Nelson : " I enclose your Lordship one of Caraccioli's
letters, as head of the Marine. I hope he has been forced
into this measure.":]: And again on April 18:" Carac-
cioli, I am assured by all the sailors, is not a Jacobin,
but forced to act as he does. They sign his name to
printed papers without his authority.":}: And writing
to Lord Spencer on April 29, Nelson said : " Caracciolo
has resigned his situation as Head of the Marine. This
man was fool enough to quit his Master when he thought
his case desperate; yet, in his heart, I believe he is no
Jacobin. The fishermen, a few days ago, told him pub-
licly, ' We believe you are loyal, and sent by the King;
but much as we love you, if we find you disloyal, you
shall be amongst the first to fall.' "§

However, when Caracciolo took command of the Re-
publican fleet and fired on the King's colours it was
impossible to doubt his treachery. " That scoundrel

* Marie-Caroline wrote to her daughter the Empress : " Many of
our people, amongst others Caracciolo who is in the navy, and whom
we have always distinguished, ask to return to Naples. Each demand is
like a stab with a dagger."

t FabrizioRuffo by von Helfert, p. 183. M. Fauchier Magnan seems
to think that it was required of him to enlist in the ranks ; but this
seems improbable.

t Dispatches, iii, p. 334.

§ Dispatches, iii, p. 341.

A ROYALIST VICTORY 219

Caracciolo!" "The conduct of this most ungrateful
traitor fills me with disgust." "A mad ungrateful
wretch," wrote the Queen in her letters. " The English
fleet had scarcely left Procida when we were very seriously
attacked by twenty-three vessels commanded by that most
ungrateful and faithless Caracciolo. Thank God, brave
Thurn and Cianchi repulsed them, but they are already
making preparations for a fresh attack, and Caracciolo
will never rest until he has gratified his personal hatred."*
In a dispatch to Nelson, Foote states : " Caracciolo
threatens a second attack, with a considerable addition of
force."t On June 8, Esterhazy-Cresceri wrote: "The
latest news from the Kingdom of Naples is . . . that the
rebel Caracciolo . . . having dared to attack the few British
vessels remaining in the roads of Procida, was driven back
with loss." "Procida still holds out. The British
frigate has arrived there from Messina, one of our own
frigates and four tartans have been despatched to the
rescue, so I hope they will be able to defend themselves
against that great rogue Caracciolo."^

When the Republic fell, Caracciolo tried to fly, but
he was betrayed by a servant. " It was not proved that
he was included in the Amnesty, as this only applied to
the Republicans who had sought refuge in the castles, or
were prisoners in the hands of the Royalists,"§

* The Queen to Ruffo Carteggio delta regina M. C. col Card. F. R. by
Maresca. Archivio napoletano, 1880, xxiv, p. 558.

t Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 360.

X Carteggio, Ixxiii, p. 195.

§ Bonnefons, ch. vi, i. This was the explanation given hy Hamilton
to Lord Grenville in order to account for the summary justice adminis-
tered to the unfortunate Neapolitan. "Admiral Caracciolo, the chief
of the rebels of his Sicilian Majesty's marine, not having been comprised
in the cardinal's treaty, but having been taken endeavouring to make
his escape by land, was by Lord Nelson's orders tried on board the
Foudreyant by a court-martial composed entirely of Neapolitan marine
officers, was condemned and hung up at the yard-arm of the Neapolitan
frigate, the Minerva (the very same ship he had, with the gunboats of
the Neapolitan Republic under his command, fired upon near Procid a)

220 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

He no longer inspired sympathy and even Hamilton,
whilst demanding that the treaty should be applied in
favour of the rebels, showed to Caracciolo no pity. The
Court of Naples was afraid of his talents and the support
he might give to the enemy. On June 19 the Queen
wrote to Ruffo : " The only one among the guilty scoun-
drels whom I do not wish to go to France is the unworthy
Caracciolo; this most ungrateful man knows all the creeks
and inlets of the coast of Naples and Sicily (tutte le cale
et bucchi), and could molest us greatly; in fact he could
endanger the safety of the King — a thing which alarms
me."* On June 20 the King himself, who was inspired
by the Queen, echoed her words, saying : " To spare
these savage vipers, and especially Caracciolo who knows
every inlet of our coast line, might inflict the greatest
damage on us."t

But if Caracciolo was already a condemned man, there
was all the more reason for Nelson to stand aloof from
a trial that was bound to have a fatal issue. By what
right did the British Admiral intervene in a case
which was, so to speak, a personal matter between Fer-
dinand IV and a subject who had betrayed his allegiance !
Could he not have handed him over to the King, who
was by right his judge .'' Why did Nelson throw him-
self into the conflict .'' Why did he hasten on the trial ?

Other authors have been equally severe in judging
Nelson's act. M. Bonnefons writes : " By taking upon
himself to avenge the outraged Majesty of the King of
the Two Sicilies, Nelson cast an indelible stain on his

at five o'clock in the evening of the same day, where he hung until the
setting of the sun, to the great satisfaction of his Sicilian Majesty's loyal
subjects, thousands of whom came off in boats with loud applause of so
speedy an act of justice." (Gutteridge, p. 313.) Hamilton felt it was
necessary to mention the supposed approbation of the nation, in order
to make England countenance Nelson's deed.

* Letter of June 1 9, National Archives of Naples. Gutteridge, No.
49, p. 135.

t Dumas, vol. v, p, 254, Gutteridge, No. 53, p. 141.

THE QUEEN'S DESIGN 221

name. He thereby placed himself on a level with those
vile courtiers of success, who, being destitute of all moral
sense, oblivious of all equity, are guided by interest and
hatred only. If, strictly speaking, Caracciolo deserved
to be prosecuted, the British Admiral had no right to
increase his torture. The very fact that Nelson was in
a foreign land, and that Caracciolo followed the same call-
ing as he, should have withheld him from interfering.
It is difficult to understand that he was not ashamed of
deliberately taking the life of a brother-officer. Fer-
dinand alone had the right to intervene."*

However, it was not the King but the Queen who
intervened. Knowing that Lady Hamilton would be
abjectly subservient to her slightest whims, by persuading
her to influence her lover she made her the instrument
of her revenge. On June 25, as has already been stated,
she wrote from Palermo, charging Nelson to have re-
course to extreme measures in putting down the rebellion.
Lady Hamilton exercised all her power in favour of her
friend's cruel designs, and thus Nelson became a tool in
the hands of these two women, and dishonoured his name
by an ignoble crime. As a consequence of his re-
lentless persecution of his victim, Caracciolo's treason is
forgotten and he is considered a martyr, whereas the man
who constituted himself his judge will always be branded
with the shame of having murdered him.

It is now necessary to resume the account of this dark
tragedy. Nelson himself chose the officers who were to
sit in court-martial and judge the traitor. First amongst
these was Count Thurn, who had lately been fighting
against the Neapolitan Admiral. Of the five officers, two
voted for immediate execution, whilst two proposed that
the sentence should not be carried out until the King
had made known his pleasure. Thurn had the casting
vote, and decided that the execution should take place

* " Under Lady Hamilton's influence this man, who was a hero in
battle, became an abject being, capable of committing the basest
actions." (A. Bonnefons, ch. vi.)

222 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

at five o'clock on the same day (June 29). On this point
he had doubtless received Nelson's instructions, for, as
we have seen, Hamilton wrote about the death and
punishment reserved for the rebel before the trial had
even commenced.

Caracciolo's defence seems to have been a very poor
one. At the trial he appeared to as little advantage as on
the day when he forsook the Sovereign to whom he had
sworn allegiance. He pretended that he had been forced
into the service of the Republic. There were no proofs
to support this assertion. On the contrary, his flight from
Sicily was damning evidence against him. Nelson had
taken upon himself the power of confirming the sentence
and he ordered the execution. However, the part which
he played was manifestly so odious that the British
officers murmured loudly against him, " showing great
agitation and anger."* Their attitude was so marked
that Nelson sent them word to cease their discussion,
and not mix themselves up in the matter. Nelson even
refused to grant a reprieve that might enable the con-

* In the following dispatch written to Acton, whose power he had
usurped, Nelson gave an account of the trial.

June 29 1799.
My dear Sir,

As I have not time to send your Excellency the whole case
against the miserable Caracciolo, I only tell you that he was sentenced
this morning, and that he submitted himself to the just sentence of
death pronounced upon him. I send your Excellency my confirmation
which was adliteram ; I confirm the sentence of death pronounced upon
Francesco Caracciolo, and the same will be executed on board his Sicilian
Majesty's frigate La Minerva at 5 o'clock to-day.

Given etc.
Nelson.
Gutteridge, No. 136, p. 278. The original document in Nelson's
handwriting has disappeared, though an Italian translation exists. (Na-
tional Archives of Naples.) Nelson was not speaking truthfully when he
stated that Caracciolo had " submitted himself to the just sentence of
death pronounced upon him." On the contrary, he never ceased to
protest up to the very moment when they placed the rope round his
neck.

A LOYAL WITNESS 223

demned man to receive the help of his religion. The
worthy, but placid and passive, Hamilton thus relates to
Acton this fresh iniquity and the refinement of cruelty
displayed by Nelson.

On board the Foudroyant.
June 27 1799
I have just time to add Caracciolo has been condemned
by the majority of the court-martial, and Lord Nelson
has ordered him for execution this afternoon at 5 o'clock,
at the foremast yard-arm of the Minerva, and his body
thrown into the sea. Thurn represented it was usual to
give 24 hours for the care of the soul. Lord Nelson's
orders remain the same, although I wished to acquiesce
with Thurn's opinion. AU is for the best. The other
criminals will remain at the mercy of his Sicilian Majesty
on board the polaccas — in the midst of our fleet. Lord
Nelson's manner of acting must be as his conscience and
honour dictate, and I believe his determination will be
found best at last. For God's sake let the King come
at least on board the Foudroyant, and hoist his royal
standard if he can. To-morrow we attack the Castle of
St. Elmo. God prosper the just cause. The die is cast :
we must abide by it as well we can.

Ever yours

W. H.*

This letter requires some explanation. Hamilton is
a trusty and loyal witness who always speaks the truth.
It is therefore a fact that he asked for a delay of twenty-
four hours for the prisoner, and Lord Nelson refused it.f

* Gutteridge, No, 137, page 279, National Archives of Naples.

t M. Fauchier Magnan states that Caracciolo was to be hanged at
two o'clock, and that Nelson adjourned the execution until five o'clock,
in order to give the criminal time for his devotions. This assertion
is inexact for, as it has been stated, in a letter written June 27, Hamilton
was able to make known beforehand the sentence that was in store for
Caracciolo, the death he was to die, and the hour at which he was to be
executed : " Caracciolo will probably be seen hanging at the yardarm of
the Minerva . . . from daybreak to sunset." (Gutteridge, p. 251.)

224 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

It is also certain that Thurn joined in Hamilton's request
for, although he had condemned Caracciolo, he did not
feel that he had a right to deprive him of a favour that
was granted to the worst malefactors.

Unfortunately, Hamilton had not an iron will. Above
all, he thought himself absolutely inferior to Nelson,
under whose influence he had fallen ever since the victory
of the Nile, and he argued that since Nelson had taken
such an extraordinary decision he must have reasons for
doing so, which there was no need for him, Hamilton,

A letter written by Thurn to RufFo and published by Sacchinelli,
gives an account of the trial and some details on this particular point.

" The sentence having been made known to Admiral Nelson, he con-
firmed it and ordered that at five o'clock, on the same day, Caracciolo
should be hanged from the yardarm and exposed there until sunset. At
this hour the rope should be cut, letting the body drop into the sea.
At one o'clock this morning I received the said orders. At half-past
one, the condemned man, Francesco Caracciolo, was conveyed on board
my frigate and taken into chapel. At five o'clock, according to the
orders given, the sentence was carried out." (Sacchinelli, p. 266.)

According to this letter, at 1.30 p.m. Caracciolo was removed from
the British vessel and conveyed on board the Sicilian frigate, where he
was placed in the chapel (posto in cappelld). But we shall give the
account of an eye witnesss who saw Caracciolo leave the Foudroyant
shortly before dinner, which, according to this same witness, took
place at five o'clock. For the following reasons. Count Thurn's
account is the least reliable of the two. Thurn who had pleaded
in vain fir a reprieve, allowing the condemned man to receive the
help of religion, dared not own to a Cardinal that his request had been
rejected. Hamilton's letter on this point, leaves no room for doubt.
It may be added that when this anonymous Englishman described
Caracciolo as starting for the Minerva, falling on his knees and
beseeching, he does not mention that any priest was near him. Had
a priest heard the confession of the condemned prisoner, he would have
accompanied him to the gallows, therefore he would have been by his
side at that moment, endeavouring to comfort him. The Englishman
would have seen him and would have mentioned his presence. But
none of the witnesses speak of a priest having appeared on the scene at
any time. Consequently, it must be concluded that none attended the
victim.

Thurn was rewarded for his guilty complaisance. On June 30,
Nelson wrote to the King ; " Count Thurn acquits himself very much
to my satisfaction^"

A STATE OF ANARCHY 225

to understand. Therefore, " all was for the best ! " His
mind was so pliable and his will so weak that he had no
sooner traced these words of approbation than he re-
gretted them. He felt that he must at least try to explain
why Nelson had been brought to break all the rules of
civilised nations, and why he himself appeared to up-
hold him. It was a difficult task, for, in truth, he had
no reasons whatever to put forward. He trusted Nelson.
Why should not his correspondent Acton, and the Nea-
politan Government, put the same faith in the British
Admiral. " Lord Nelson's manner of acting must be as
his conscience and honour dictate." With this stifled
regret of a timorous soul, the protest ended and no more
was said.

Any system of absolute power is dangerous, but in
this case the crime could not be attributed to an abuse
of power, but to an anonymous Government, a system
which is even more dangerous, because no definite person
can be made responsible for its deeds. The hidden,
nameless power that ordered the massacres of St Bartholo-
mew and the September Massacres has never been re-
vealed. It was due to some unknown power that Carnot
delivered up Danton, Camille and Lucile Desmoulins to
Robespierre, and to this day history has not discovered
who ordered the hostages to be shot down during the
Commune. The incendiaries who set Paris ablaze would
have remained hidden but that, by chance, Ferre's auto-
graph came to light. And Ferre, moreover, had no
right to give the order, Faites de suite flamher
Finances.

In the midst of the anarchy that reigned in Naples,
everyone had a word to say. Nelson gave orders, Hamil-
ton interceded, and Count Thurn followed in his foot-
steps. What, then, was the all-powerful Emma doing,
she who had been the Queen's mouthpiece and was
Nelson's companion on board the Foudroyantl Why did
she not join her prayers to those of Hamilton ? By siding
with him at sudh a moment, by uttering words or
p

226 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

womanly pity, she would have proved that she was a true
woman ! The vices of womankind she had, but none of
the virtues. These swift hours, full of gloomy tragedy,
were to see the decision of Caracciolo's fate. He was
indeed guilty, but excited interest inasmuch as he had
been unfortunate, and was the victim of events that
had turned out differently from what he had expected.
His personality excited interest also, because he was well-
known to all those who had to decide his fate, and his
sudden and terrible end moved not only those who
sought to save him, but also those who were indifferent
to him. In these tragic circumstances, why did Emma
conceal her feelings.'' Why did she remain silent.''

It seems that she had not been quite inactive. Accord-
ing to Captain Brenton, author of a History of Great
Britain from 1793 to 1832, it was at this time that Lady
Hamilton uttered those cruel words : " Come, Bronte,
let us take the barge and have another look at that poor
Caracciolo." The writer adds that a boat was lowered,
and the lovers were rowed over to the frigate, to look
once more on the corpse hanging from the yard-arm.
Later on, he asserts, the memory of this ghastly sight
filled Emma with remorse, and she spoke of it at the
hour of death. The pitiful corpse was always present to
her mind, and she could not bear to be left in darkness.
This evidence is all the more interesting as it comes from
an English writer.

Mrs Gamlin, however, rejects Captain Brenton's
testimony with indignation. She maintains that the
angelic Emma felt no remorse and that the Captain's
account is evidendy absurdly false since he calls Nelson
" Bronte," which title Ferdinand had not yet granted to
the Admiral. Mrs Gamlin lays great stress on this
detail,* which is, however, worthless. A historian may
easily make a mistake about the rank or title conferred
on a person. Even those whom it concerns most closely
are liable to fall into error. Thus, on one occasion,
* For the same reasons, von Helfert rejects the anecdote.

AN ENGLISHMAN'S DIARY 227

Fouch6 was relating an anecdote about the Terror and
said that Robespierre had once addressed him as : " Due
d'Otrante!" This lapse is far more serious than that of
Captain Brenton.

However, as his testimony is not corroborated by any
other author, it may be set aside. Other proofs must be
brought forward. They are all more worthy of atten-
tion, as Mrs Gamlin has quoted them extensively.
These details, which are drawn from the diary of an
Englishman who had taken refuge on board the
Foudroyant, bear the unmistakeable stamp of truth. This
diary has already been mentioned in the preceding pages;
more valuable and interesting details follow.

The author of this diary seems to have occupied a good
position and was personally acquainted with Nelson. He
first states that when the trial began Nelson told him that
neither he nor any officer on board could speak Italian
and that, as he was anxious to follow the debate, he
begged him to go and assist at the trial. The writer
complied, but Count Thurn, who presided over the court-
martial, requested all the foreigners to withdraw. As
the writer himself was turned out, this is at least one
guarantee that his account may be relied upon.

The author next learnt the sentence and saw the
British officers " speaking strongly and openly against
the decision." It has been said that Caracciolo had first
been sentenced to perpetual imprisonment, but that Nelson
had exacted a death sentence.* This assertion must not
be taken into account, because it is contradicted by this
witness, who declares that the votes were two against
three. Hamilton, who is no less trustworthy, states that
Caracciolo was condemned by a majority. This is also
borne out by Count Thurn in the letter already quoted.

The English writer then goes on to describe the pitiful
scene that followed :

" Shortly afterwards, whilst several officers, with my-
self, were pacing the deck, waiting for the dinner hour,
* Colletta and Bonnefons.

228 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Caracciolo was brought up from below, chained and
guarded, to be transferred to the Minerva, a Neapolitan
frigate, where the execution was to take place. On see-
ing the officers and myself, to most of whom he was
perfectly known, he threw himself into a supplicating
attitude, and, almost kneeling, implored for mercy, and
said, in Italian : ' I have not been fairly tried,' or words
to that effect. But no notice, under the circumstances of
the case, could be taken by any officer not supreme in
command, and he was hurried away by the officer who
had him in charge."*

The faint-heartedness of Caracciolo as here described
by this witness, corresponds exactly with what is already
known of his attitude when before his judges. The
writer and the officers pitied him sincerely, but none
dared to raise a voice against Nelson the dictator.

Now, Lady Hamilton is mentioned twice in the course
of this most veracious account. On the first occasion, the
author quotes a remark which she addressed to him :

" Well Mr , we have most important news for you.

That arch-traitor, Caracciolo, is taken."t

Lady Hamilton appears a second time, precisely at the
moment when Caracciolo was about to be executed. At
the appointed hour, during dinner, at which Nelson,
Hamilton and Emma were present, a shot was suddenly
fired. Immediately Lady Hamilton rose from her chair
and, lifting her glass, exclaimed : " Thank God, that shot
announces the doom of a traitor."

Is there any reason for supposing that Emma did not
utter these cruel words ? They were the expression of a
cold heart and servile mind, always ready to curry favour
with the great and flatter the evil passions of the King
and Queen of Naples. In all ages there have been women
noted for their total lack of feeling. Mme. de Sevigne's
heart was full of love for her daughter, and yet, without

* Mrs Gamlin, of.cit., p. 109-H0.
t Mrs Gamlin, op. cit., p. 109.

CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS 229

a shudder, she could describe the atrocious means whereby
the Due d'Aiguillon repressed the rebels in Brittany. Did
not the women of her day go in crowds to witness the
execution of Mme. de Brinvilliers, and later on just as
many flocked together to see the head of the unfortunate
Lally-ToUendal fall, and to watch unlucky Favras dang-
ling from the gallows. In 1789 the wild viragoes of
Caen enacted scenes of cannibalism round the dead body
of young Belzunce. The beautiful Theroigne de Meri-
court urged madmen to murder Suleau; the grim trico-
teuses of the Faubourg St Antoine hatched their bloody
plan, whilst their sisters were known by a hideous name :
les lecheuses de guillotine. During the Restoration
women displayed the same cynical ferocity and the Court
ladies, rivals of the tricoteuses, clamoured for the death
of Marshal Ney and M. de la Valette. In England,
although there was more moderation and refinement, the
feminine character could be just as savage, when not
modified by a sound moral education. Queen Elizabeth
was not the only woman who thirsted for blood.

However, another eye-witness, Augustus Collins or
Collier, who was one of the guests at the memorable
dinner denies the above assertion. He maintains that
not only did Lady Hamilton not rise from her chair or
give the toast, but that during these gloomy days she shut
herself up in her cabin and only appeared at meals.

At first, in the face of such contrary evidence, it seems
impossible to form a judgment; and yet it can be done.
From all that has been previously stated, it appears that
Emma was a selfish creature, callous to everything that
did not affect her personally. When she gave way to
spontaneous emotions, they were generally bad ones; but,
being obsequious and servile in her intercourse with the
great, she always shared their opinion and was ready to
fulfil all their wishes.

The exclamation, " Come, Bronte, etc.," and the anec-
dote about the lovers being rowed out in a barge to glqat
on the victim's corpse, may be eliminated, not that they

230 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

appear improbable, but because they are not sufficiently
substantiated by proofs. Moreover, had Emma expressed
a desire to go and gaze on the dead Caracciolo, some
remnant of self-respect would probably have caused
Nelson to reject her proposal. And yet it is not certain.
Such women as Emma are particularly happy when they
can prevent the man who loves them, and who is like
wax between their fingers, from fulfilling his duty or
bearing himself honourably and with proper dignity. As
they are only guided by their caprices, they cannot under-
stand such considerations, and have no rest until they have
dragged the man — be he husband or lover — down to their
own level. When they have accomplished this feat, they
are exultant and, in the hardness of their hearts, they
tyrannise over him, crush his energy and dominate him
as though he were a boy. " I had a hundred times
more sense than she and yet she overwhelmed me," wrote
Benjamin Constant of one of his wives or mistresses.
It is not a matter of intelligence, but of character.
Nelson was Emma's humble slave. He did not see
Caracciolo during or after the trial; he had no reason for
seeing him.* When his mistress asked to be taken out
to see the gallows, he might have answered that it would
be an improper proceeding. But, after all, he had already
committed many improper actions. However, let it be
said once more, he may not have had any occasion to
refuse her request, for it is not proved that she ever asked
to be taken on this ghastly excursion.

As for the other assertions, it is certain that Lady Hamil-
ton said to the Englishman who kept the diary : "Well, Mr
, we have most important news for you. That arch-
traitor, Caracciolo, is taken. He was found concealed in
a ditch, and is now on board this vessel awaiting his trial,
which Lord Nelson has appointed to take place at one
o'clock to-day. Will you be there ?"t She showed her

* Clarke and MacArthur, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 185.
t Mrs Gamlin, of. cit., p. 109.

LADY HAMILTON
Frovi a portrait by Angelica Kaujfmann found in ike Palazzo Sessa

THE DOOM OF A TRAITOR 231

real self on that day. She gave voice to the hatred of
the eneAy of her friend the Queen. There was nothing
to influence her in another direction. But when the man
she was speaking to showed some pity for the victim,
she did not continue, but broke off the conversa-
tion. She did not like discussions, and could not admit
having her opinion crossed.

It now remains to be considered whether she really
proposed a toast when the cannon was fired. The anony-
mous second-hand witness affirms that she did; Collins,
the eye-witness, denies it. The latter must be credited,
though with certain reservations, for all testimony has
not the same value; it must first be weighed. Collins,
who was one of Nelson's officers, knew that by defending
Emma he would have the approval of his superior. Here
again, however, one is inclined to believe the nameless
witness, who has been so truthful throughout his account.
It is a fact that he was not present at the time, but he
heard of the incident through one of the guests, a ser-
vant, or some other eye-witness. By being repeated so
many times, the exact details were distorted. The first
witness had said that when the cannon was fired. Lady
Hamilton exclaimed : " Thank God, that gun announces
the doom of a traitor." Hence someone else concluded
she had given a toast, but when this was repeated to
Collins, who was at the dinner table with her, he could
answer in all sincerity : " No, she did not rise from her
chair. She did not give a toast." All these facts concur.
Collins is quite right in maintaining that Emma did not
act in the theatrical way attributed to her by the anony-
mous writer, who had the information from an exagger-
ated account. But Collins does not affirm that she
remained silent. She said something. She muttered
between her pretty teeth : " Thank God ! We are rid
of a traitor." She made this barbarous remark deliber-
ately, because she knew that it would go straight to
Nelson's heart. The ominous silence of his officers, as
well as Thurn's and Hamilton's intervention in favour

232 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

of a reprieve, had made him uneasy, and he was in need
of encouragement. Emma seldom did anything without
a set purpose.

It was also an interested motive that prompted her to
show herself in quite a different light to Marie-Caroline.
The Queen now hated " this miserable Caracciolo . . .
this rascal," and not without cause; but the traitor be-
longed to a princely family and was loved by the King.
There was no knowing but that this fantastical Sovereign
might show mercy to the most guilty of the rebels.* It
was therefore expedient to guard against such a possi-
bility. Consequently in Palermo Emma had shown a
generous disposition,! whereas on board the Foudroyant
she was relentless.^ In all circumstances, she was the
performer of Attitudes.

It would almost seem that she herself was embarrassed
by the double game she was playing, for she became
silent, and only appeared in public for meals. She seemed
to be hiding, in order to avoid the last prayer of a con-

* As it has been seen, the King had, on the contrary, impressed on
his emissaries, that they were not to show pity to Caracciolo. But his
feelings were not known to everyone. In a letter written by Acton to
Nelson, a singular sentence occurs whereby he expresses the hope that
Caracciolo and his adherents would have received a fitting reward
before the arrival of his Majesty (see Eg. MSS. 2640 f. 309). Why
were the rebels to be punished before the King reached Naples ?
Acton belonged to the Queen, and, as he knew she wished Caracciolo to
perish, he adopted the same opinion. Moreover, without any fear of
being unjust, it may be stated that he entertained a feeling of personal
rancour against the man who had betrayed the Government, of which
he, Acton, was Prime Minister, and the corrupt practices of which
formed the basis of his power. It would thus appear that Acton feared
the King might be suddenly inclined to show mercy.

t " I beg of you," wrote the Queen, " silence your kind heart and
think only of the evils they have done, and are still ready to commit."
(July 6, Eg. MSS. 1616, f. 42.)

t Only a few days before, on June 1 7, believing her to be goodness per-
sonified, her husband had written to the lover that " poor Emma . . .
has no other fault than that of too much sensibility." O pectora coeca.
(Add. MSS. 34912, f. 34.)

A VINDICTIVE QUEEN 233

demned man. Following the promptings of her reason,
rather than any generous impulse, she had caused the treaty
to be respected, although she was acquainted with the
Queen's intentions, and knew she was opposed to all
clemency. She now wished to please Marie-Caroline and,
perhaps. Nelson also, therefore she showed herself un-
merciful. The proof is to be found in a somewhat mys-
terious letter from Marie-Caroline which, although it
gives no precise details, shows clearly that Emma played
an active part in this drama. On July 2 she wrote : " I
have seen also the sad and merited end of that unfortunate
and mad-brained Caracciolo. I am sensible how much
your excellent heart must have suffered, which increases
my sense of gratitude to you."*

Why should the Queen write that she was sensible
how much her excellent heart had suffered! She did so
because she fuUy realised what an odious mission she
had imposed on her friend when she begged her to influ-
ence Nelson. At any price, she must obtain the death of
this traitor, this scoundrel. Through Emma's power
over Nelson, she had obtained prompt satisfaction.
Acton's letter to Nelson proves that he had anticipated
this event. By these means the matter was settled, and
the vindictive Sovereign had no longer any cause to fear
that, at the last moment, the King might be inclined to
show mercy to a man he had loved, and whom he valued
as a sailor and a warrior.

By writing these words : " I am sensible how much
your excellent heart must have suffered," the Queen
acknowledges Emma's intervention. She wished to
flatter her sensibility, which, by the way, she did not
possess, for it was not a mission to be imposed on any
human being, and Marie-Caroline believed Emma must
have suffered at having to solicit punishment and not for-
giveness, which would have been more becoming in a
woman.

Why should the Queen wind up the words, "which
* Pettigrew, vol. i, p. 260.

234 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

increases my sense of gratitude," unless she meant to
recognise that through Emma's influence Nelson had
been broi^ht to intervene in the Neapolitan struggle
and condemn unmercifully a man whose life would
have endangered the tranquillity of the Sovereigns of
Naples !

Finally, from the cautious tone of her letter, it is evi-
dent that she wished it to be understood by her corre-
spondent only, and convey nothing should it fall into
other hands.

Not only does this letter establish Emma's interven-
tion, but it also accounts for her remaining in her cabin.
Either she was overcome with shame and remorse, or else
she wished to escape from all solicitations during those
fearful days.* As will be seen later on, it also explains
Nelson's relentless conduct.

It has been asserted that Nelson hastened on Carac-
ciolo's trial and execution because he feared the Neapolitan
sailors might rise up and defend their former chief. For
this reason he had him tried on board the British flag-
ship, f According to Colletta, who was an eye-witness,
the impression was that Nelson had seized Caracciolo only
to be able to save him. Such a thought would have been
worthy of a truly noble heart. It was notorious that
Caracciolo was guilty; a foreign power only could save
him from his doom. It was generally believed that he
wanted to save a brave man, who had so often been his
companion in peril, by land and by sea. The conqueror's
generosity was praised. But, misguided by an unlucky
star and his blind love. Nelson had been dragged down
to a deed of shame. He only wanted to get his rival

* Repeatedly, the Queen thanked Emma for having been the
instrument whereby her wishes were accomplished. On July 1 8, she
wrote : " I can imagine how uncomfortable you must be on board a ship,
and this increases my endless gratitude." And speaking of some of the
rebels, she added : " So, I beg of you not to grant any particular
favours." Emma was most certainly the Queen's executioner and
Nelson her assistant.

f According to Clarke and MacArthur,

NELSON>S ANGER 235

Into his power so as to satisfy his vengeance,* or rather
that of the Queen.

Although von Helfert is a zealous defender of
Nelson and his mistress, he relates two anecdotes con-
cerning Caracciolo's death which do them but little credit.
According to his account, Caracciolo sent Lieutenant
Parkinson, in whose charge he was, to intercede for him.
He first besought Lady Hamilton to plead for him.
Then he asked Nelson to allow him to be shot instead
of being hanged. (Von Helfert relates these two appeals
in the reverse order, but it is more natural to suppose
that Caracciolo asked for his life before choosing by what
means he would die.) But Lady Hamilton was not
to be found on the quarter-deck, and so events fol-
lowed their course, f Nelson was furious with the
officer who dared to plead that Caracciolo might die a
soldier's death, and cried out : " Go, Sir, and attend to
your duty." Nelson had lost all control over himself,
for in the bottom of his heart he was dissatisfied with
himself, and his conscience was uneasy. Was it the duty
of a British Admiral to cause an Italian Admiral to be
hanged ?

Later on. Nelson heaped favours on Parkinson, no

* CoUetta, op. cit. vol. v, ch. i. CoUetta gives an explanation of this
thirst for revenge, but we agree virith M. von Helfert (Fabrizio Ruffb,
p. 7) in finding it a ridiculous one. According to the Italian, Nelson
was jealous of the praise that had been bestowed on Caracciolo during
the flight to Sicily. " During the'tempest it had been noticed how well
the Neapolitan vessel, commanded by Caracciolo, progressed through the
heavy sea. Although he might have sailed ahead, he remained near the
King's vessel in order to give him courage and assistance. Whereas the
other ships obeyed the winds, Caracciolo's vessel sailed so proudly that
it seemed to command the elements. The King noticed this and ex-
pressed his admiration, thereby arousing fierce jealousy in Nelson's
heart." (CoUetta, op. cit. iii, ch, xi.)

t Fabrizio Ruffo, p. 353. Concerning this appeal to Emma, Botta
speaks with terrible severity, he says : " Emma did not allow herself to
be found," Ma Emma Liomia non si lascea trovare (xviii). She did not
want to l5e asked to intercede for the man who had been condemned at
her instigation.

23'6 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

doubt hoping by these means to induce him to be silent
concerning this tragic incident. On July i6 he sent him
to England with dispatches for Lord Spencer, to whom
he recommended him most warmly. " Lieutenant Par-
kinson will, I am sure, meet with your kind protection,
he is an officer of great merit."* And Parkinson was
forthwith made Commodore! He could have been a
dangerous witness before the Admiralty and the public.
But how could he help being grateful towards a superior,
— and he the illustrious conqueror of Aboukir Bay, —
who bought his silence by such favours!

Nelson's conduct was atrocious! Even his defenders
fail to explain it, and get out of the difficulty by saying
it was inexplicable. Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas says :
" Lord Nelson's motive for ordering the immediate
execution of Caracciolo is unknown; but the magnitude
and notoriety of his crime, and the supposed necessity,
from the state of Naples, of an immediate example, seem
the most probable cause."t These various reasons would
be very sound indeed had Nelson been chief of the police
in Naples, a great judge, or a Neapolitan general endowed
with full powers. But he had none of these qualifications.
He was in a foreign land, and his interference was an
unwarrantable proceeding. Indeed, it would be absolutely
incomprehensible but for the boundless influence exer-
cised over him by his mistress, the friend of the Queen,
and the docile instrument of her passions.

In 1815, when the combined efforts of Europe over-
threw Napoleon, whose power had not been recognised,
Louis XVIII being the legitimate Sovereign, aU the
French were rebels. And yet no general, no minister,
no foreign ruler committed the smallest act of violence
against these rebels. On the contrary, they gave them
shelter in their states, and, later on, received the proscribed
regicide Conventionnels, just as they had harboured the
emigres in former days.

* Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 406.

f Dispatches, vol. iii, Appendix p. 504.

JUSTIFYING THE EXECUTION 237

No one has ever been able to comprehend Nelson's
cruel bfehaviour, and, it must be said, he himself never
explained it. Since he tried to deceive England concern-
ing the reasons that made him violate the treaty, it must
have been that these motives were not such as do honour
to a man. As it was impossible to give any explanation
with regard to Caracciolo's trial, he did not attempt to
justify his conduct on this point. He did not wish to
confess that he had committed these dishonourable ac-
tions at the instigation of a woman; that he had caused
the death of the Neapolitan Admiral solely because he
wanted to please his mistress, who in hei- turn sought to
satisfy the Queen, her friend. In the face of such a
surrender of conscience and character, or rather such
dastardly cowardice, the weakness of human nature
is terrifying. It is no less alarming to realise the
ferocious spirit that slumbers within the human animal,
and which, at the call of passion, may suddenly break
loose.

Hamilton, who was accustomed to diplomatic negotia-
tions, endeavoured to justify Nelson in his letter of July
27, saying that such an example was necessary for the
future welfare of the navy of his Sicilian Majesty. In
his letter to Lord Grenville he pleaded extenuating cir-
cumstances. Nelson ordered the execution, but gave no
reason for his action. The depth of his pride and un-
consciousness appeared in the disdainful words he wrote
to Acton in his letter of June 29, and in which he took
upon himself the authority that belonged to Acton only.
Even so, he gave no explanations. Nelson was not like
Danton, who boldly declared : " I looked my crime in
the face and I committed it." Nor did he resemble
Napoleon, who said : " I had the Duke d'Enghien shot
at a time when the Duke d'Artois was supporting five
hundred assassins in Paris." Nelson was neither a Dan-
ton nor a Buonaparte. He was guided by instinct, not
by reason. This is why some contemporaries were justi-
fied in saying that in some respects he was a mere child.

238 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

All men are guided by instinct before they reach the age
when they follow the dictates of reason. The defeat of
Buonaparte's first hero, Paoli, embittered him, and for a
while the young Corsican was full of hatred and violently
opposed to France. Later on, reason taught him that in
France his ambition would reap a plentiful harvest. But
Nelson never got beyond the age of instinct.

Palumbo supposes that his head was turned after
Aboukir, and that, intoxicated by the honours showered
on him on all sides, he believed he had a right to act on
his sole authority.* This observation is clever, and to
some extent correct, considering Nelson's somewhat
primitive nature. It requires, however, to be supple-
mented by one other remark. From this moment Nelson
became still more the creature of instinct and blind im-
pulse, for it was after Aboukir that his mistress established
her empire over him. This does not exonerate Caracciolo's
murderer. Sir James Mackintosh declared : " The exe-
cution of Caracciolo is an act which I forbear to char-
acterise."t Even Mr Gutteridge, who is a passionate
defender of the Admiral, forsakes him at this juncture :
" The only matter in issue is whether Nelson showed
undue severity towards Caracciolo — a question on which
opinions will always differ.''^ That is all, and the learned
Englishman passes on.

Palumbo furnishes one more detail, but quotes no
authority. He relates that when Nelson was dying at
Trafalgar he implored his faithful friend. Captain Hardy,
not to allow his body to be buried at sea : " Justice of
God ! " exclaims the Italian historian. " Who can doubt
but that, as his life ebbed away, the tragic fate of his

* Prefazione x,

t Life of Sir James Mackintosh,vo\. i, p. 137. Cacciatore, the worthy
royalist, expressed the same sentiment : •' Concerning Caracciolo, I will
say that, by reason of his felony, he deserved death, but Nelson's hatred
caused him to hurry on the execution, and thus made it impossible for
the King to exercise mercy." Op. cit., vol, i.

j; Gutteridge, Introduction, p. x.

AN APPARITION 239

rival, Caracciolo, appeared to him in all its horror, and
he saw the corpse floating on the waters of the Bay of
Naples."*

The King had not yet done with the unfortunate
Caracciolo. On the morning after his arrival on board
the Foudroyant, as he was proceeding with his toilet in
front of the port-hole of his cabin, his eyes wandered
over the Bay, when he suddenly perceived some strange
object floating towards him on the sea, and as it drew
nearer, it proved to be a human form. It was the corpse
of a man, whose head and shoulders emerged from the
water. The dead man was Caracciolo. His wide-open
eyes seemed to gaze at the King, and his hands were
clasped as if in the attitude of prayer. The King was
so upset and horrified by this ghastly apparition that, with-
out stopping to finish dressing, he burst into the next
cabin, which was occupied by Hamilton : " Monsieur
Hamilton!" shrieked the Prince, "I have just seen — I
have just seen Caracciolo!"

The Ambassador looked out. The sight that met
his gaze was so terribly uncanny that, although he pos-
sessed more coolness than Ferdinand and had less cause
to feel remorse, he was for a moment dumbfounded.
" But what does this dead man want with me?" asked the
King. The Englishman having recovered his senses,
replied : " Sire, it is true that this is Caracciolo, and that
this man was guilty of high treason towards your
Majesty. Nevertheless, he was a good Christian, and it
would seem that he has reappeared to beg for Christian
burial." " You are right," said the King; " let him have
it." The body was taken on board, and buried after a
religious ceremony. One of Nelson's worst crimes had
been disavowed but not atoned for.

Von Helfert's version of this romantic incident is a

much simpler one. Captain Hardy, Commander of the

Foudroyanty having been informed that Caracciolo's body

was floating on the water, informed the King, who

* Prefazione, xiii.

240 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

ordered him to have the corpse buried. It is possible
that the body was first seen by a look-out man, and the
two accounts may complement each other. As the King
was dressing, the incident must have ocurred in the morn-
ing. Hardy informed him of what had occurred, so that
he should not be startled. In any case, the apparition
of the corpse risen from the depths of the sea wove a
legend around Caracciolo's name. Had not the dead
man, who perished unshriven, come out of his watery
grave, to claim a religious burial, and protest against the
barbarous cruelty of those who had in the hour of death
deprived him of the help of religion. The painter Ettore
Cercone has represented this scene according to popular
fancy, that is to say, with a display of ceremony not com-
patible with the disorder that reigns early in the morning.
The King is standing on deck, alone with his son, who
hides his face from the ghastly spectacle. For some
unknown reason the legend makes a priest appear on the
scene, and he advises the King to grant burial to the
corpse. Certainly, a priest was qualified to take such a
step, but Hamilton could make the suggestion also, for
had he not pleaded in vain that the comfort of religion
should be granted to the condemned man. Moreover,
he was the first person that the King was likely to meet;
for, on board an English vessel the state rooms are dis-
tributed according to rank, therefore the cabins of the
British Ambassador, and of the guests of the Foudroyant,
must have been near the royal apartment. The Admiral's
state-room would have been the farthest away. For these
reasons the above stated version must be considered as
the most likely.*

The phenomenon itself must now be explained.
Caracciolo's corpse had been thrown into the sea, weighted

* According to M. Fauchier Magnan, Hamilton was asked to tell the
King of the apparition of the corpse. Referring to this subject, Palumbo
states that Ferdinand remarked smilingly that Caracciolo had come to
sue for pardon. When the first emotion was over, Ferdinand may have
spoken in this way. It would be just what one might expect from such
a man.

THE PRICE OF ORDER 241

with fifty-two pounds of shot. As the body became
inflated, the weight no longer sufficed to keep it down.
The corpse rose to the surface and, by some effort of
equilibrium, the bust emerged from the water, adding
thus to the horror of the apparition. The clasped hands
indicate no doubt that the condemned man had said a
prayer as he was being executed.

Before closing this chapter, in which the reader has
been spared the account of the bloody reprisals that
darkened Naples,* it is necessary to consider how this
work of hatred afi^ected its chief upholders, Marie-
Caroline, Nelson, Lady Hamilton.

In one sense, it is a relief to the human conscience,
to be able to say that nothing remains of this bloody work;
its effects vanished in a few years. It is impossible to lay
any foundations by means of violence. Such measures
are above all dangerous in a monarchy. A Republic may
be relentless without being exposed to the same disad-
vantages, for it governs as a body, and its members are
nameless. But in a monarchy, where the prince has come
into his own again, how is he to meet the mute re-
proachful glances of the relations of his victims.? Five

* It is only just to refute, on this point, a passage in the Mimoires
d''Outre Tombe, and to clear Lady Hamilton of one terrible accusation.
" Order had been re-established," says Chateaubriand. " The Lazzaroni
no longer played ball with skulls for the amusement of Nelson and Lady
Hamilton " (vol. iv, p. 433.) The Lazzaroni may have played
with the heads of the victims, but it was certainly not for the benefit of
the lovers, as, for various reasons, they never came on shore during this
bloody period. Nevertheless, although Emma was not in Naples, her
influence was felt there. Signor Diomede Marinelli wrote what he
witnessed. This unpublished manuscript of his diary is in the National
Library at Naples. He says : " The horrors of plunder, massacre and
licentiousness have reached such a pitch that it is impossible for me to de-
scribe. The lowest rabble — otherwise called San Fedists — vie with each
other in inventing new tortures, or some worse obscenity. At the in-
stigation of Lady Hamilton, a woman of quality endured the most atrocious
outrages. She was stripped of her clothes and whipped on a public
square, and then abandoned to the bestial populace." (Diomede
Marinelli manuscript, vol. ii, National Library in Naples. A. Gagni^re,
op.clt., p. 196).

Q

242 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

members of the great house of the Pignatelli, three pre-
lates, many women such as Eleonora Pimentel, Luisa San
Felice, had perished. There had been ninety-nine death
sentences. Duke Monteleone was only saved by the
intercession of Pope Pius VI. A family of bankers,
the Piatti,* was entirely .exterminated,and, of course, their
property confiscated. The Queen did not dare to return
to Naples. When at length, she came back to her palace,
she was obliged to hear names that had belonged to the
condemned. On January 15, 1803, she wrote to
Vienna : " The King has granted a general pardon and
has, with paternal eagerness, allowed all the criminals
guilty of high treason to return to Court, without any
exception." Marie-Caroline had not willingly consented
to this decision : " It was necessary," she wrote, " as the
number of guilty was too great, and, by being kept in
banishment would have raised too much enmity against
the croWn." (February 19.)

Even this concession did not redeem the past. " Her
reputation was irretrievably compromised. Throughout
Europe and even in the states that were the most deeply
imbued with the anti-French policy, her treachery and
cruelty awakened a feeling of horror."t Napoleon's
troops turned her out of Naples once more. She sought
refuge in Sicily, but could not agree with the English,
her last defenders, for they had dared to ask her to grant
a constitution to the island. This was a fresh outrage
against the royal prerogative, against its privileges, and
the honour of the crown. The English were as odious
as Ruffo, and the whole world had betrayed her, she
thought. Although she was a very clever woman, pride
led her into the most foolish actions. At length she was
kept as a sort of prisoner, and then exiled. Finally, she
left her kingdom never to return. She was seen at
Corfu, at Constantinople, at Odessa, and eventually in

* Domenico Piatti had been a member of the Republican Municip-
ality ; Antonio Piatti, Commissioner of the National Treasury.
I A. Bonnefons, op. c'tt. ch. vii.

THE GROOM-KING 243

Austria. A last punishment aWaited her in her father-
land.

Napoleon's Empire had collapsed. The exiled Kings
returned, and ascended their thrones once more. But
Ferdinand had to content himself with Sicily, as his rival
Murat had cleverly abandoned Napoleon, and his wife,
Caroline Buonaparte, was on very good terms with
Metternich. Was is possible that a former groom was
to be allowed to remain on the throne of Naples! Such
behaviour on the part of the Kings, her brethren,
astounded Marie-Caroline. She spent her time traversing
the ante-chambers of the Congress in Vienna, begging the
sovereigns to dispossess Murat, and replace her on the
throne. It only meant violating another treaty! But
one day, a report, true or false, reached her that the
Emperor of Russia, an all-powerful member of the Con-
gress had set aside her claims saying : " At a moment
when we are considering the interests of nations, we
cannot give the throne of Naples back to a butcher
king." Thus Marie-Caroline was judged and con-
demned by a sovereign.*

These words dealt her a mortal blow. A few days later,
on September 7, 18 14, she was found dead at the Castle

• Cacciatore, {pp. c'tt., iii), does not believe that Alexander made this
remark, but attributes it to the Due de Richelieu, which establishes the
fact that it was the expression of the general feeling. It is reported that
when he met Marie-Caroline at Odessa, in 1813, and heard her express
the hope of returning to Naples, he said to her ■ " But how can your
Majesty return to Naples after the events of 1799 ■ " " ^ see," replied
the Queen, " that you, who of all people, should have done me justice,
have allowed yourself to be influenced by the calumnies of my vile enemies.
During the year that was so fatal to my family, I made every effort in my
power to resist the advice given to the King by Acton, Hamilton and
Nelson, never wearying of imploring mercy for San Felice, and Carac-
ciolo ..." Marie-Caroline was telling a most bare-faced lie. In the
first place, we know by Hamilton's letters that the Ambassador wanted
the treaty to be respected, or at least, that he shared RufFo's views on
the subject. Secondly, the Queen's own letter to Emma leaves no
doubt as to her sentiments regarding " the sad and well-merited end of
that madman Caracciolo." Thirdly, in other letters, she impresses on
Lady Hamilton that Naples must be treated like a rebel Irish town,

244 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

of Hatzendorf. Her mouth was distorted by a stifled
cry; one hand pointed towards the bell she had not been
able to reach. She had died in despair, and abandoned
by her peers. It seemed that even after her death, her
relations wished to disown her, for the Emperor of
Austria, her nephew and son-in-law,* forbade them to
wear mourning, so as not to interrupt the festivities con-
nected with the Congress. King Ferdinand hastened to
replace her, and, fifty days after receiving news of her
death, he married Lucia Migliaccio, the widow of Prince
Partanna. The mockery of fate dealt to Marie-Caroline
one more blow. The only tribute of respect that she re-
ceived after her death was paid to her by an enemy.
When Murat heard of her decease, he was giving an
entertainment in honour of the Princess of Wales, at the
Palace in Portici. " As his dignity did not permit him
to show any satisfaction at the death of an enemy, he and
his wife withdrew, and the fete came to an end."t

Nelson had a sublime end! He died gloriously, in
the midst of victory. He had destroyed the fleet of the
hereditary foe. In the morning he had said : " England
expects every man to do his duty," and in the evening, as
he lay dying in his glory, he repeated : " I have done my
duty." And it was true. But Nelson did not pass away
serenely and peacefully as Epaminondas at Man tinea; as
Gustavus Adolphus at Lutzen; as Desaix at Marengo,
and all those who are not burdened by a hidden unspoken

with the greatest firmness, strength, vigour and severity. From the
fact that the Due de Richelieu made the remark he did, it does not follow
that Alexander refrained from all comment. One thing, however, is
certain. At the time of Marie-Caroline's death, there was no question
of a restoration in Naples, and on this point, Cacciatore makes a great
mistake when he says : " sul finire appunto deW anno 1 8 1 4, quando il re
Ferdinando era gia da/ Cmgresso di Vienna reintegrato."

Ferdinand did not recover his throne till 1815, and might never
have returned to Naples, had it not been for Murat madly taking up arms.

* He was no longer her son-in-law, as his first wife had died and he
had married again.

t CoUetta, c/. dt., vii, ch. iv.

NELSON'S BEQUEST 245

thought. He died in great mental anguish, because he
was tormented by the memory of two beings whom he
loved above all things in the world : Lady Hamilton and
Horatia, the child she had borne him. The blow that
struck him was all the more cruel, as it made him suffer
in his highest feelings — as a lover and as a father. He
bequeathed Lady Hamilton to England. But England
could not honour both the mistress and the legitimate wife,
since the latter was blameless, and Nelson knew that this
could not be.

As for Lady Hamilton, the following pages will show
whether the crime of 1799 was to bring her good fortune.

CHAPTER XII

The victor's rejoicings — Nelson Duke of Bronte — The Flte of Sep-
tember 3 — Lady Hamilton recfeives the Order of 'Malta — Sir
William Hamilton's return — Lady Hamilton's letter to Greville —
The departure from Naples — Lady Hamilton in Leghorn — Vienna
and Saxony,

FOR a short time at least, the Neapolitan
sovereigns, Nelson and Lady Hamilton, believed
that they had crushed the Revolution. They
mistook violence for strength, vengeance and cruelty for
energy and firmness of mind. Their enemies had
perished. They were triumphant. Neither this
daughter of the Caesars, nor the sailor, nor the woman
of Attitudes, had ever opened a book on philosophy
or even on history. So they could not know that the
ideas for which the patriots had died still lived, ready to
spring up from their ashes stronger for the ordeal through
which they had passed. In our days, Naples has erected
a monument to the Martyrs who fell in the cause of
liberty. Four lions surround a slender column. Their
different attitudes symbolise the four insurrections that
took place in 1799, 1820, 1848, and i860. Three of the
lions lie wounded, the fourth stands erect, uttering a roar
of triumph. The allegory is a perfectly true one. The
four rebellions against the Bourbons were inspired by the
same aspirations and the same hearts, for the places left
by those who fell in 1799 were filled up by their sons or
their relations. King Charles III had been popular be-
cause he freed Naples from the Austrian yoke. At first
his son Ferdinand IV reaped the benefit of his father's

THE DUCHY OF BRONTE 247

success, and was the people's symbol of national inde-
pendence. His unfortunate marriage robbed him, how-
ever, of much of his popularity, for the nation felt that
the Habsburgs still wished to dominate Naples. More-
over, coming from the proudest and most aristocratic
Court of Europe, the Queen was an ardent advocate of
the Divine Right of Kings, a fact which disgusted the
Italians. The little liberty that existed under the
Bourbons was endangered; the last privileges of the
Senate and of the Magistrature, were suppressed after
the Revolution of 1799. Marie-Caroline believed that,
at the very moment when France was calling all the
nations to claim their freedom, she would succeed in
exercising a despotic power such as Naples had never
endured. She was to be the first victim of this fatal
error.

At first she was not conscious of the mistake she had
made. Her principal preoccupation was to reward those
who had served her cause. Nelson received the duchy
of Bronte with estates that should have brought him a
yearly income of 18,000 ducats, but the penury of the
Neapolitan treasury, and the events that occurred in Italy
prevented him from enjoying this revenue. Although
he had a weakness for honours and money, it appears that
at first he refused to accept the title and the pension.
This singular attitude can only be explained by the
supposition that he feared to displease his Government
by accepting rewards for political services which Britain
had not approved of and which, moreover, bound him to
a foreign sovereign. He had already done too much for
the King of Naples. He had been reproved by the
Admiralty for putting his men at the disposal of the King
for service that separated them from the fleet :

" Their Lordships by no means approve of the seamen
being, landed to form a part of an Army to be employed
in operations at a distance from the coast, where, if they
should have the misfortune to be defeated, they might be
prevented from returning to the Ships, and the Squadron

248 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

be thereby rendered so defective, as to be no longer
capable of performing the services required of it."* In
answer to Nelson's explanations, the Admiralty replied :
" Their Lordships do not, therefore, from any informa-
tion now before them, see sufficient reason to justify
your having disobeyed the orders you had received from
your Commanding Officer.""]'

It was well that the Admiralty checked Nelson, who
had shown by what dangerous principles he was guided.
Nelson knew it, and was on his guard. However, the
Kipg and, it is asserted. Lady Hamilton over-ruled his
objections and he accepted the Neapolitan duchy. " Do
you want your own name to be covered with glory, whilst
mine would bear the stain of not having acknowledged
your services," said the King. Emma and her husband
were not forgotten either. Their three names had be-
come inseparably linked together. Marie-Caroline pre-
sented Emma with a gold chain and her portrait set in
diamonds, bearing this inscription : " Eternal Gratitude."
The presents which Hamilton and his wife received, re-
presented a value of sixty thousand guineas. Captains
Foote, Troubridge, Hardy, and other officers, were pre-
sented with snuff-boxes, watches, rings and other
objects.;};

In the meantime, the work of repression was being
carried on unmercifully in Naples. The number of
executions that took place has already been quoted. "Was
there no hand to arrest the relentless course of revenge .''
Lady Hamilton was then all-powerful; she could have
made use of her influence to mitigate the anguish of the
doomed patriots. Von Helfert, who attributes every
virtue to his hero and heroine, states that she intervened
in favour of several victims, amongst others the Duchess
of San Marco and Duchess of Sorrentino. For instance
the Queen wrote to her : " I shall see that justice is done
to this interesting Duchess of Sorrentino, and that her

* Disfakkei,yo\. iii, pp. 409-10. | Dispatches, vol. iii, p. 410.

;(: Fairizio Ruffb, by von Helfert.

THE QUEEN'S REMORSE 249

cruel lot is alleviated. . . Alas ! the sole privilege and
satisfaction which I possess is relieving the sorrows of
others."* These moments of passing pity must be re-
membered to the credilf of Marie-Caroline and her friend.
It would seem that, occasionally, they were both
capable of feeling. No disposition is made up entirely of
vice or virtue. Every individual has more or less of these
compounds, accordng to his temperament, his principles,
his interest, or his circumstances. Some poet has said :

. . . notre nature
A de mal et de bien petri sa creature.

These two women were endowed with more evil in
their dispositions than good, and it is to be feared that
political motives were of great weight in prompting these
deeds of mercy. This remark does not, however, contra-
dict the statement already made in their favour. Neither
Marie-Caroline or Emma were bad throughout.
Wounded pride on the one side, excessive complaisance
on the other, led them to commit the most odious actions.
But when their interests were not at stake, the womanly
disposition reasserted itself, and they could be kind and
generous. The Queen seems even to have felt a tardy
regret at having let loose the fury of revenge on Naples.
On September 10, 1799, she wrote to Gallo : "I suffer
mortal torments at the violence and severe measures em-
ployed in Naples. The number of the guilty is so great,
that all cannot be according to justice. My heart bleeds
for them."t And again : " Like all cowards and
poltroons, we believe cruelty gives assurance.":]; As for
Emma, her indifference made her follow the lead of her
friend passively, whether for good or for evil. Whilst

* Palumbo, Ixxxviii, p. 213.

t Correspondance avec k Marquis de Gallo, No, 339.

if Correspondance avec le Marquis de Gallo, No. 334. It will be
remembered that on May 1 7, of the same year, the Queen had written
to Gallo saying : " A general massacre would not cause me the slightest
pain."

250 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

she was on board the Foudroyant, Marie-Caroline sent to
her money to be distributed amongst the needy, " trusting
to her to dispose of it."*

At the Court of Naples, Emma's name was constantly
associated with that of her lover, Hamilton also shared
the glory of the victor. As for the Queen, she did not
object to this state of affairs. In the first place, she had
scarcely a right to preach on the subject of morals, and
besides, in those days, such arrangements were very
frequent in Neapolitan society, and the husband, the wife
and the lover, il ganzo, lived in perfect harmony. So
the three English people had merely adopted a custom
in vogue in many a Neapolitan home.

In August, the hero and his two bosom friends arrived
in Palermo. In the midst of the extraordinary events
that were taking place, the Neapolitan sovereigns decided
to give a great fete in honour of Nelson. They wished
to celebrate September 3, the anniversary of the day on
which news of the victory of the Nile had reached Naples,
at the same time expressing their gratitude for the servicers
which he had rendered to Naples. Count Roger de Damas
writes : " The Queen was too good-hearted to put bounds
to her gratitude. She flattered the vanity of Nelson and his
mistress, and gave a splendid entertainment." A desire
to fawn upon Britain, had quite as much to do with these
festivities, as any wish to show gratitude to Nelson. The
rejoicings were rendered ridiculous by the part played
by Hamilton and his wife. " A temple of Fame was
erected, which contained wax figures, one representing
Lady Hamilton in the character of ' Victory,' holding in
outstretched hand a wreath of laurel for the decoration
of the waxen effigy of the British Admiral, who was being
presented to her by her husband, likewise in model.
Nelson, Sir William and Lady Hamilton were received by
their Sicilian Majesties on the steps of this temple, and
were affectionately embraced by them. The King took the
laurel wreath, set with diamonds, from the hand of
* Palumbo, Ixxxiii, p. Z07 ; Ixxxvii, p. 213.

THE CROWD'S PLAUDITS 251

Victory, and placed it on the head of the veritable Nelson,
also decorating Sir William and Lady Hamilton in a
similar manner. They wore their leafy coronets during
the whole of the entertainment, and anything more
foolish than they must have appeared can hardly be pre-
sented to the imagination. A plain little man with one
arm and one eye, an old man verging on seventy, and a
woman rapidly approaching embonpoint, walking about
in public company so crowned, and smiling in self-
consciousness."*

And the idle crowd rent the air with cries of Viva
Nelsonl Viva Mile di I Viva Hamilton\-\ On that day
Emma enjoyed the intoxicating raptures of success. But
the happy, selfish woman did not guess that the crowd'
cheered without knowing why, simply because of orders
received from the Queen and her courtiers. The salute
of the guns, the uproar, the music, sufficed to delight the
people, and dispose them to cheering whomsoever was
proposed to them. They knew nothing about the trio.
Southern nations love noisy and theatrical manifestations
and gorgeous scenery, just as they love bright, glaring
colours, and all that harmonises with their glorious sun,
and the briUiant colouring of their land. Such demon-
strative ways seem exaggerated to the more reserved
inhabitants of the grey northern regions.

By imposing more and more on the Queen and Nelson,
Lady Hamilton became conscious that she was all-powerful
with them, and she revelled in this delicious sensation of
her glory. All the instincts of the actress were satisfied.
Her head was completely turned with the royal favour
and the cheers of the crowd. And this prevented her

* Mrs Gamlin, oj>, «V., ch. xiv, p. 1 1 6. Count Roger de Damas'
account appears to be more reliable. According to his version, Prince
Leopold, and not the King, crowned Nelson's statue and the hero him-
self. M. de Damas adds that : " no officer of the fleet would consent
to go to the fSte. When Nelson left the temple, he may have felt
prouder, but he was less glorious than when he entered it." Mimoires
du Coikte Roger de Damas. G. F. Rambaud.

t Nelsonian Reminiscences, by Lieutenant Parsons, pp. 16-26.

252 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

from noticing that, like one of Tasso's knights, who
succumbed to the love philtre of an enchantress, her
beloved had become ridiculous and she also. Roger de
Damas says : " Nelson was nothing but a caricature of
Rinaldo, slave of a silly, shameless Armida, destitute of
all magic charms. The officers of the fleet were
humiliated and disgusted at the sight."

Radiant with success, blazing with diamonds, sur-
rounded with luxury. Lady Hamilton bewitched Nelson
and held him spellbound on the enchanted coast of
Palermo. Thinking more of his happy love and his
vanity than his glory, he remained inactive in Sicily.
Accompanied by Lady Hamilton, he made many excur-
sions to Cape ZafFarano in a graceful boat rowed by
twelve oarsmen, clothed in white, wearing black velvet
caps embroidered with a silver leopard. Sometimes,
from the same craft, they watched the King shooting
sea-gulls and sea-mews along the coast. One evening,
after supper on board the Foudroyant, Nelson and Emma
stepped into the barge, and cruised about for two hours in
sight of the city that was splendidly illuminated. And
daily, in Naples, the scaffold ran with blood.

The King and Queen had begged Nelson to remain at
Palermo and protect them with his fleet; but no doubt
Emma's wiles were of much more weight than the
entreaties of the royal pair. He was once more
severely reprimanded by the Admiralty. He let the
storm blow over, obeying his mistress instead of his
chiefs. And, whilst Nelson was lulled to sleep in fair
Palermo, his island of Capua, General Buonaparte stole
across the Mediterranean without meeting one British
vessel. Count Roger de Damas, who was at Palermo
at the time, says : " To this moral torpor we owe Buona-
parte's career. There is no doubt that but for this
lethargy. Nelson's watchfulness and natural activity
would have intercepted the frigate bearing Csesar and his
fortunes from Egypt into France. Buonaparte should
raise an altar to Lady Hamilton; he must count her

JUNOT PRISONER 2S3

first amongst all the lucky chances that led him to the
throne. This is strange, but it is absolutely true."

Whilst the fleet was moored within sight of Palermo,
and Buonaparte had landed peacefully at Frejus, General
Junot left Egypt in accordance with the instructions
given to Kleber. He set sail in a merchant vessel,
which was captured by the Theseus belonging to the
British fleet. He was first taken to Jaffna, and then con-
veyed to Palermo on board the Vaillant. On this
occasion Nelson set aside his hatred of the French, and
on the day after Junot's arrival, following the graceful
custom of the Italians, he welcomed the French general
by sending him courteously a basket full of fruit, and
some bottles of syrup and Bordeaux. Lady Hamilton,
vying with her lover in graciousness, added oranges to
the present.

It was about this time that Lady Hamilton received
an extraordinary distinction which gready flattered her.
The Emperor of Russia, who had constituted himself
Grand Master of the scattered Order of the Maltese
Knights, had just bestowed the Grand Cross on Nelson.
The Admiral asked that the same reward should be given
to his mistress. His request was granted. Formerly
this order was granted only to men who could boast of
high lineage and had made a vow of chastity. Emma
scarcely fulfilled these two conditions. She considered
that she had these and other claims to the honour con-
ferred on her. Thus, on February 25, 1800, she wrote to
Charles Greville; " I have rendered some service to the
poor Maltese. I got them ten thousand pounds and sent
coin when they were in distress. The deputies have
been lodged in my house. . . I am the first English
woman that ever had it. Sir W. is pleased, so I am
happy."*

Later, in her Memorial to the Prince Regent, she stated
that the insignia of the Order had been bestowed on her
with the usual ceremony by Sir Alexander Ball.
* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, p. 271.

254 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

But for the fact that Paul I of Russia was a crowned
lunatic, one might be inclined to wonder why this honour
was conferred on Emma rather than on her husband.
After all, the money and coin which Emma distributed to
the Maltese had been provided out of her husband's
purse, and perhaps from Marie-Caroline's largesse, for
at the beginning of the year 1800 the Queen had en-
trusted her with a sum for the needy. The house that
had given shelter to the Maltese deputies was the British
Embassy. But Paul trusted Nelson, or perhaps he too,
like so many others, had felt the fatal charm whereby the
former nurse-maid could captivate, even at a distance.
As for Hamilton, he shared the fate that awaits the
husband of a great coquette. He simply disappeared,
swallowed up, blotted out by the radiance that surrounded
his wife. In her sphere Emma was as victorious as
Nelson himself; she had more influence than he, she
enjoyed greater triumphs. Surely, the husband could
not quarrel with a man such as Nelson! Some of the
glory that radiated from the hero must certainly be re-
flected in the friend. Hamilton had beguiled himself by
all sorts of sophisms in order to be convinced that he
was right in marrying his nephew's mistress. He was
therefore quite justified in finding fresh ones to reconcile
him with the fact that he must now share his wife with
Nelson. It is also possible that he deliberately closed
his eyes on a situation that secured him the repose which
suited his ripening age !

" Un partage avec Jupiter
N'a rien du tout qui deshonore."

In order to have a peaceful home, some men are willing
to make any concessions. Besides, it is just possible that
Hamilton had not noticed anything, and did not suspect
his wife and friend.

M. Fauchier Magnan constantly defends Emma up to
this period of her life, when he is obliged to adm'it that
the former fille entretenue gives herself airs that make

A DISMANTLED HOME 255

her absolutely ridiculous. And he is right. On July
19 she actually wrote to Greville: "The Queen is not
yet come. She sent me as her Deputy; for I am very
popular. . . Having the head of the Lazeronys an old
friend, he came in the night of our arrival, and told me
that he had 90 thousand Lazeronis ready, at the holding
up of his finger, but only twenty . . . with arms . . .
I have thro him made ' the Queen's party,' and the people
at large have pray'd for her to come back, and she is
now very popular"* Emma was fond of boasting; on
this occasion, however, she may not have been exaggerat-
ing. Her husband, who was not given to praising
himself, and is, moreover, a valuable witness for the
historian, corroborates his wife's statement in a letter to
Charles Greville : " Probably some ships will soon be
sent home from Palermo, and Emma and I shall profit of
one. Every capt. wishes to serve us, and no one are, I
believe, more popular in the navy at this moment than
Emma and I."t

By humouring the passions of a race it is easy to make
friends with them, more especially if these passions are
bad. In the preceding year. Lady Hamilton had stirred
up the population against the French. In this way she
had curried favour with the Neapolitan rabble, and, as she
said, the war and the Revolution had affected her as much
as it had the people of Naples. Her furniture had been
destroyed, her house bombarded. " I saw at a distance
our despoiled house in town . . . Sir William's new
apartment — a bomb burst in it!" she wrote to Greville.;];

* Morrison MSS., No. 411.

j" Morrison, Ne/son Papers, ii, p. 53.

X That Lady Hamilton exaggerated the importance of the losses she
had suiFered, is proved by a somewhat curious document which appears
to have escaped the notice of all her biographers. This document, a pro-
clamation of the Military Committee (Naval section) of the Parthenopean
Republic is dated i6th Germinal (April 7, 1799) and runs thus:
" Brave Neapolitans ! Hear the plans of our enemies. Yesterday under

256 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

With her usual heedlessness, she made the most of the
opportunity, and begged her former lover to give her
some assistance. " It would be a charity to send me
some things; for in saving all for my royal and dear
friend, I lost my little all. Never mind."*

When the Grand Cross of Malta was placed on her
chaste bosom, Emma had received her last favour from
Fortune.

The British Government was guided by other
rules than those of Paul of Russia. They had never

pretext of seeking information as to the belongings which the ex-minister
William Hamilton had left behind him, an officer, John Inelchi and a
Lieutenant from the Culloden presented themselves at Castell Uovo. Every-
body knows that he left nothing belonging to him, and the English are
aware of this fact. However, their request was granted and, being con-
ducted to the Minister's house, they were allowed to inspect the place
themselves. This request was prompted by a wish to reconnoitre our
battery along the coast, etc."

Therefore, had Lady Hamilton left any valuable furniture in her
house, she would have been able to recover it on this occasion.

This document bears only one signature, but a very significant one,
that of Caracciolo. No doubt in his last extremity, the unfortunate
Admiral wished to remind her of this service which he had rendered
her. But the all-powerful Emma " did not allow herself to be found."
A further proof is to be found in another paper dated : April 12,1 799.
" Un parlamentario inglese e andato a Napoli ed a finito di levare della
casa de Hamilton quanto ancora ci si trovava, ed i vini che a trovati
bevuti gli ha fatti pagare." {Cartegglo della regina Maria Carolina col
Cardinale Fairizio Ruffh, published by Benedetto Maresca in the review
Archivia storico per le province Napoletane, 1880.)

One more detail. A short time ago, the present owner of Palazzo
Sessa discovered in a cellar various works of art, dating from the
residence of Hamilton and his wife. Amongst these is a portrait
believed to be that of Mrs Cadogan. It is supposed that when the
Ambassador and his household prepared for flight, at the end of
December 1798, these objects were hurriedly concealed in the cellar,
and probably forgotten, as Hamilton was recalled to London before
they really settled down again in Naples. So they imagined that they
had suffered greater loss than was really the case. These objects are
still in possession of the owner of the Palazzo. They might be claimed
by the heirs of Hamilton, Greville or Horatia.

* Morrison MSS., 411.

FOX ON THE ATROCITIES 257

approved of the Ambassador's wife, and the Queen of
England had refused to receive her at Court. His
marriage had been sanctioned in consideration of his long
and trusty services, and because an elderly widower
cannot have rules imposed on him as though he were a
young man. At this stage, however, the impression was
that there had been enough scandal. Lady Hamilton was
no longer content with making a show of herself; she
had now chained the hero to her chariot wheels. She
disposed of Nelson's fleet; she gave him orders. In the
House of Commons, Fox had inveighed against
the atrocities of the Counter-Revolution in Naples.*
Nelson was publicly indicted for his guilty complaisance.
The cause of his weakness was well known, but the
Government hesitated before arraigning the conqueror of
the Nile. His constant disregard of orders deserved
punishment, but when the occasion presented itself, they
dared not recall him. Hamilton had rashly petitioned for
leave of absence to look after his interests in England,
adding that it was absolutely necessary for him to under-
take this journey and that, in case of a refusal, he would
be obliged to resign his post. The home authorities did

* " When the right honourable gentleman speaks of the extraordinary
successes of the last campaign, he does not mention the horrors by
which some of these successes were accomplished. Naples, for instance,
has been among others what is called delivered, and yet, if I am rightly
informed, it has been stained and polluted by murders so ferocious, and by
cruelties of every kind so abhorrent, that the heart shudders at the recital.
Nay, England is not totally exempt from reproach, if the rumours that
are circulated be true. It is said, that a party of the Republican inhabi-
tants of Naples took shelter in the fortress of the Castel del Uovo.
They were besieged by a detachment from the royal army, to whom
they refused to surrender ; but demanded that a British officer should
be brought forward, and to him they capitulated. They made terms
with him under the sanction of the British name. It was agreed that
their persons and property should be safe, and that they should be con-
veyed to Toulon. They were accordingly put on board a vessel ; but
before they sailed their property was confiscated, numbers of them taken
out, thrown into dungeons, and some of them, I understand, notwith-
standing the British guarantee, actually executed." (Fox, speeches,
vol. vi, page 419.)

258 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

not miss this chance, and promptly replied that his re-
signation had been accepted. They were perfectly
justified in concluding that Nelson was sure to follow in
the wake of his friends.

Although Palumbo is very hostile to the Hamiltons
and Nelson, he attributes Hamilton's disgrace to a very
honourable cause, stating that the Ambassador insisted
that the Island of Malta should be given back to the
King of Naples.* Nelson and Hamilton had always
promised that it should be handed over to Ferdinand,
but the Government deemed such a promise contrary to
the interest of the nation.

Ferdinand, however, was convinced that Hamilton, or
at least his wife, was playing a double game, trying to
convince him that he would recover Malta whereas they
both knew full well, England would not consent to this
restitution. Consequently, when at the Queen's instiga-
tion Emma besought the King to ask the Foreign Office
to maintain Hamilton in his post, a very violent scene
took place between the two. Emma probably used some
imprudent words, and although men generally show great
consideration to women who deserve none, the King
gave way to a paroxysm of fury. All that is known
about this scene is to be gathered from the following
note written by the Queen to her friend : " Yesterday,
after you left I witnessed an awful scene. He (the King)
screamed like a madman, yelling with fury, declaring that
he would kill you, throw you out of the window. He
wanted to call your husband and complain to him, that
you had become a turn-coat (tornare le spalhy-f

It was a terrible blow to Emma. She felt that
Hamilton was too old ever to obtain another post, and
that, consequently, she would have to withdraw from the
stage where she had so long acted a brilliant part. Instead
of acknowledging that she was to some extent responsible

* Carteggio, by Palumbo, Prefazione xiii.

t According to Mr W. Sichel, this scene was occasioned by Emma
interceding for the Duchess of Sorrentino, o^. cit. p. 321,

A STRANGE SELF-DECEPTION 259

far her husband's disgrace, she burst into invectives
against, her old enemies the infamous Jacobins.
In the excess of her rage, she may really have
come to believe that all she thought was true; that
she never had any lovers, that her marriage had really
been the union of a public man with an honest young
girl, and that Nelson and she knew no other passion save
the pure flame of patriotism. Such injustice was enough
to make her sick of virtue! She must protest. Which
loyal friend could she entrust with the mission of defend-
ing her honour.? She could only choose amongst her
former lovers, and, of these, Charles Greville was best
suited to the task. As she was very proud of being
associated with the great name of Nelson, she had already
boasted to Greville of this connection. It was a matter
of no importance. Emma had a conveniently short
memory, controlled, moreover, by a very lively imagina-
tion. So she forgot that of all the men in the world,
Greville was the one who knew best the price to be set
on Lady Hamilton's honour, and that, should he consent
to be her champion, no one would believe such a witness.
She had such a good opinion of herself that she easily cast
aside all thoughts that annoyed her, and forgot her
treachery, foolishness, secret intrigues, and public crimes,
until she thought herself white as snow. In the words of
Rousseau, she wanted to enjoy the pleasures of vice and
the honours of virtue. In this state of mind, she wrote the
following extraordinary letter to Greville on February 25 :

. . . We are more united and comfortable than ever in
spite of the infamous Jacobin papers, jealous of Lord
Nelson's glory and Sir William's and mine. But we do not
mind them. Lord N. is a truly virtuous and great man;
and because we have been fagging, and ruining our
health, and sacrificing every comfort, in the cause of
loyalty, our private characters are to be stabbed in the dark.
First, it was said, that Sir W. and Lord N. fought; then
that we played and lost. First Sir W. and Lord N. live

26o A GREAT ADVENTURESS

like brothers; next Lord N. never plays; and this I give
you my word of honour. So I beg you will contradict any
of these vile reports. Not that Sir W. and Lord N. mind
it; and I get scolded by the Queen, and all of them, for
having suffered one day's uneasiness.

We are coming home; and I am miserable to leave my
dearest friend the Q . . . She cannot be consoled . . .*

It is possible to be versed in the art of trickery, and
have great experience, without losing all one's simplicity.
This arises from a weak or undisciplined mind, a want
of moral education and tact, or an absence of ideals What
is to be thought of the strange assertion, " we are more
united and comfortable than ever " and " Sir W. and Lord
Nelson live like brothers " .'' She was not the first woman
who, after having been the mistress of a man, had suc-
ceeded in becoming his wife; and, deceiving the trust
he placed in her, betrayed him by causing a close friend-
ship to spring up between him and her lover. It is im-
possible not to smile at the suggestion of a duel between
a sexagenarian and a man with one arm. Two other
amusing statements are : " Lord Nelson never plays,"
and " I give you my word of honour." Surely, a most
entertaining remark on the part of a woman who, if she
had any notion of what the word meant, had certainly
played hard and fast with it throughout her life. Here
again she was calling on her honour in support of a lie.
One might be tempted to believe that Nelson never gam-
bled because, as he had only one arm, it would be very
difficult for him to hold his cards, or shuffle and deal.
On the contrary, however, the Admiral was a great gam-
bler. He lost fabulous sums at Palermo. His friend,
Captain Troubridge was greatly upset and thought it his
duty to remonstrate. In a letter written on February 27,
1799, he begged Nelson to forgive a blunt sailor and
sincere friend for expressing his surprise that he should
care to spend all his nights gambling. Several times these
* Letters ofEord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, p. 270.

L. Gjtzs^ardi pinxt.

HORATIO, VISCOUNT NELSON

y. Skelton sculpt

A SHAMEFUL PROPOSAL 261

reproaches occur in his letters to Nelson. '? These re-
monstrances," says the Queen's biographer, " had no
effect. The Admiral's salary, his prize money, his sav-
ings and the presents given in honour of Aboukir, were
all swallowed up. Lady Hamilton, who was well aware
of her lover's ruin, imagined a palliative which seemed
quite natural to her. Two Spanish vessels laden with a
valuable cargo of mercury were moored in the harbour
of Palermo. She advised Nelson to put an embargo on
this rich plunder. Her method of attack had been too
sudden. Nelson had not realised that he had fallen so
low. He left the room without a word. The adventuress
had many reasons for wishing to gain her point, so she
only laughed at her lover's scruples, and turned to the
King. Here again, she met with a rebuff, for the
' stupid ' Ferdinand also entertained scruples, and re-
plied curtly that she was forgetting herself, that he be-
lieved he had still sufficient authority to protect the
property of a neutral nation, and adding that he was quite
willing to reward brave Nelson, but not by stealing from
his neighbour."*

When Emma left Naples she enjoyed one supreme
consolation. As the Admiralty had foreseen. Nelson fol-
lowed and accompanied her on the homeward journey, f
In order to enjoy her friend's company a little longer,
* La nine Marie-Caroline de Naples, by A. Gagni^re, p. 137.

"I" Mr Von Helfert states that Nelson was recalled : " About this time,
the two good friends and faithful upholders of the Neapolitan sovereigns
were called away. Horatio Nelson was ordered to leave the
Mediterranean, and join the fleet in the Northern Seas, whilst Hamilton
was recalled." {Konigin Karolina.)

In his Prefazione of the Carteggio, Palumbo says the Admiral gave
up his command of his own free will, in order to follow Emma. M.
Fauchier Magnan thinks that he had been reprimanded because of his
insubordination, his inaction at Naples and his passion for Lady
Hamilton. According to the Queen, he left of his own free will : " To
my great regret, he wants to go to England. Keith, who is in command
over him, the departure of the Hamiltons and the annoyances caused
by Acton, all these things have made him take an irrevocable
decision." Correspondance avec Gallo, p. 343.

262 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

the Queen suddenly felt an irresistible longing to visit her
daughter, the Empress, in Vienna. The fact that she was
so unpopular in Naples may also have had something to
do with her decision So they started for Austria,
taking a circuitous route, for war raged everywhere.
Germany was overrun with troops, and Buonaparte's army
was taking a revenge in Italy. M. Fauchier Magnan
calls this a " fatal " journey, because it finally brought
discredit on the quartette, and more especially, on the
strange alliance of husband, wife and lover. " She drags
Nelson about just like a bear-leader showing off his bear,"
was said of Emma. M. Fauchier Magnan further de-
scribes a dinner party during which the celebrated lovers
indulged rather too freely in good wines,* whilst Sir Wil-
liam to prove his nimbleness " hopped " on " his back-
bone."t

As Emma had left Court life, she became once more
the vulgar woman, to whom Hamilton and Marie-Caro-
line had with difficulty given a certain polish. She used
coarse language, and displayed an almost incredible lack
of manners. Loose talk, bold and filthy expressions,
flowed from her exquisite lips like unclean insects emer-
ging from a lovely flower.J

* Remains of Mrs Trench, p. no, October 9, 1 800 ; " A great breakfast
at the Elliots' given to the Nelson party . . . Lady Hamilton, who
declared she was passionately fond of champagne, took such a portion of it
as astonished me . . . Poor Mr Elliot, who was anxious the party should
not expose themselves more than they had done already, endeavoured to
stop the effusion of champagne, and effected it with some difficulty."

t Physical energy and feats of strength were then the fashion, as well
as gourmandising; In Paris, General Junot had a dynamometre by
which each guest was requested to test his strength. Regnault (de St
Jean d'Angely) a Councillor of State could carry a lady all the way
round his dining-room, holding her with his left hand, whilst her two
feet rested on his right hand; General Murat tried his strength with a
simple Major ; resting his elbows on the table, their fingers entwined,
they tried to force down each others hands.

X Elliot accompanied Lady Hamilton as far as Hamburg, and amused
himself with noting down the language she used, the vulgarity of which
was only equalled by the sentiments they expressed. He wrote to Mrs

LADY HAMILTON AS ORATOR 263

She had quite forgotten her husband's fall from fav-
our, and the false position it entailed for her. It was a
sad sight to see this man, who had some merits, being
dragged through Europe by his wife together with her
lover, the married man who was tied to her skirts, whilst
she took a childish pleasure in twisting them both round
her little finger.

The party was numerous and included many distin-
guished travellers. The Queen was accompanied by
three daughters, one of whom. Princess Marie-Amelie,
was to be Queen of the French; Prince Leopold and
Prince Castelcicala. As usual, Emma was escorted by
her mother, good old Mrs Cadogan, and her secretary
Miss Knight. Her heart, her senses, and her vanity,
found entire satisfaction on this journey during which
she was surrounded by her husband, her lover, and the
Queen.

Whilst travelling, she discovered a new talent, and
tried her hand as an orator. As they passed through
Leghorn, news of the battle of Marengo reached the city.
The mob invaded the arsenals and carried off weapons.
Then, knowing that Nelson had arrived, they marched on
the palace and asked to be led against the French. The
Queen was terrified, and quite at a loss how to act.
Lady Hamilton stepped out on to the balcony, and falling
into the attitude of an antique statue, harangued the
crowd. She commanded, they obeyed. Their angry pas-
sions were lulled, and silently they carried their arms
back to the arsenals.

It was perhaps in recognition of this service that, be-
fore leaving Leghorn, Queen Caroline bestowed on her
a diamond necklace, with the ciphers of the royal children
intertwined with locks of hair. She also wanted to grant

Elliot ; " Lady Hamilton's maid began to scold in French about some
provisions which had been forgot, in language quite impossible to repeat,
using certain French words which were never spoken but by men of the
lowest classes . . . Lady Hamilton began bawling for an Irish stew, and her
old mother set about washing the potatoes which she did as cleverly as
possible." Remains of Mrs Trench, p. 1 1 !.

264 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

her a yearly pension of ;^i,ooo, but this Hamilton de-
clined, saying that the British Government would indem-
nify them for the losses which they had sustained whilst
in office abroad.

They started once more on their journey and arrived
at Ancona where they went on bdard a Russian frigate
that brought them to Trieste. By slow stages Vienna
was reached at length. In the Austrian capital they went
through a round of festivities.

Nelson and the Hamiltons stayed with the Esterhazys in
their castle at Saint Weit. One of the guests, Lord Fitz-
harris, not over pleased at Emma making such an ex-
hibition of Nelson, thus relates his impressions of their
visit : " We never sat down to supper or dinner less than
sixty or seventy persons. . . Lady Hamilton is, without
exception, the most coarse, ill-mannered, disagreeable
woman we ever met." The Princess had got a number
of musicians, and the famous Haydn, who was in their
service, to play, knowing Lady Hamilton was fond of
music. Instead of attending to them, however, she sat
down to the faro table, held Nelson's cards for him and
won between ;^300 and ^400, but did not listen to a
note of Haydn's music.

At Schoenbrunn Emma bade farewell to the Queen
who had fostered her fortunes. Then the trio continued
their journey and reached Saxony. It has been already
stated that the wife of the Elector did not treat her beau-
tiful guest with the consideration to which Marie-Caroline
had accustomed her.

Receptions were often held at the Court of Saxony,
and the Electress was noted as a most gracious hostess.
Naturally Emma was eager to be received at Court.
Mrs Elliott, wife of the British Minister, knowing that
the Elector's wife was determined .not to notice Lady
Hamilton, did her best to dissuade her from going there,
assuring her these receptions at the little Court of Saxony
were horribly dull, and quite beneath the notice of one
who had witnessed the recevimenti of the Queen of

A SPLENDID APPETITE 265

Naples. She went on to say that the guests were all stiff
and solemn, hampered by rules of etiquette. There were
no supper parties, no dinner parties. Whereupon Emma
is said to have exclaimed : " What ! No guttling."

It must be remembered that during this journey Emma
neglected her manners, and often made use of the vocabu-
lary that had been familiar to her when she was a tavern
servant. Moreover, she had become very fond of good
cheer. When she found that she was ostracized by the
Electress, she gave vent to her feelings in a few coarse
words, and then indulged in interminable meals.
Although none of her defenders have ever set her up
as a moralist, she was not altogether unprincipled.
Thus she laid down as a maxim that " good food
constitutes the whole happiness of human nature."*
Accordingly, she ate well, and drank well. Although
she did not indulge in the same excesses as the Duchesse
de Berry, daughter of the Regent, she might very well
have competed with her. Her splendid appetite made
her thrive more than she wished, for the sculptural out-
line of her figure was fast losing its graceful elegance^

Mrs Saint George, better known as Mrs Trench, an
English lady living at the time in Dresden, kept a diary
which has been published under the title of Journal of
Mrs Saint George Trench. She met Lady Hamilton dur-
ing her stay in the Saxon capital, and describes her real
personality without enthusiasm or prejudice. Her views
coincide entirely with those of Lord Fitzharris. Hamil-
ton's wife was no longer the slender and graceful girl who
had arrived in Naples fourteen years before.

" She is bold, forward, coarse, assuming, and vain. Her
figure is colossal, but, excepting her feet, which are hid-
eous, well shaped. Her bones are large, and she is exceed-
ingly embonpoint. She resembles the bust of Ariadne;

* When the Marquise du DefFand maintained that " supper is one of
the four ends of man," she was not expressing a low material idea, such
as Lady Hamilton had in view. According to the Marquise, people go
to meals, not so much to eat, as to enjoy a clever conversation, a dainty
which Lady Hamilton was not capable of appreciating.

266 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

the shape of all her features is fine, as is the form of her
head, and particularly her ears; her teeth are a little irre-
gular, but tolerably white, her eyes light blue, with a brown
spot in one, which, though a defect, takes nothing away
from her beauty and expression. Her eyebrows and hair
are dark, and her complexion coarse. Her expression is
strongly marked, variable, and interesting; her move-
ments in common life ungraceful; her voice loud, yet not
disagreeable . . . Mrs Cadogan, Lady Hamilton's mother,
is what one might expect."*

It would have been strange had Lady Hamilton failed
to give her Attitudes in Dresden.")" These famous Atti-
tudes were a peculiar talent which, in Emma's eyes, raised
her above all women. They conferred on her a character,
and for lack of a better one — a sort of dignity. Emma
also let the Saxons hear her voice. Nina no longer ap-
pealed to her. She now sang hymns in honour of Nelson,
and particularly an ode written by Miss Knight to cele-
brate the Battle of the Nile, and which Hadyn had set to
music while they were in Vienna.

" She puffs the incense full in his face; but he receives
it with pleasure, and snuffs it up very cordially. The
songs all ended in the sailors' way, with Hip, hip, hip,
hurra; and a bumper with the last drop on the nail, a cere-
mony I had never heard of or seen before.''^

If Emma treated Nelson as a god, he looked on her as
a divinity. Lady Minto, whose husband was Ambassa-
dor at Vienna, wrote to her sister Lady Malmesbury : " I
don't think Nelson altered in the least, he has the same
shock head of hair, and the same honest, simple manners,
but he is deVoted to Emma. He thinks her quite an
angel, and talks of her as such to her face and behind her
back, and she leads him about like a keeper with a bear.
She must sit by him at dinner to cut his meat, and he
carries her handkerchief."§

* Journal of Mrs Trench, pp. 75-76.

"I" See Mrs Trench's description of the Attitudes, appendix, p. 328.

X Journal oj Mrs Trench, p. 76. § Mrs Gamlin, op. cit., p. 125.

KLOPSTOCK AND THE ATTITUDES 267

At length Hamburg was reached and they embarked
for England. Emma had always been eager to meet cele-*
brated men, or at least to show herself to them. During
her sojourn in Hamburg, she saw Klopstock, and appears
to have impressed the aged poet, just as in earlier days,
she had charmed young Goethe. She never overlooked an
occasion for reaping success, so she did not fail to show
herself in her wonderful Attitudes, which, no less than
her personality, enraptured Hamburg.*

The generosity displayed on all occasions by Nelson
and Lady Hamilton deserves great praise. Here again,
before leaving Hamburg, they gave assistance to all who
appealed to them. Amongst these was Dumouriez, for
whom the Admiral professed the greatest admiration, and
who felt the beneficial effects of his munificence.

* See the interesting work with which Lady Hamilton inspired the
well-known author, Mayer. Skizzen zu elnem Gemalde aus. Hamburg,
1 801-1803. Published by F. H. Nestler.

CHAPTER XIII

Nelson's return to England — His wife leaves him — Nelson with the
Hamiltons — The birth of Horatia — She is entrusted to Mrs
Gibson — Mrs Gamlin's Account ,of Horatia — James Gillray's
Caricature — Nelson's fatherly tenderness — Horatia with Lady
Hamilton — Horatia's attempt to discover her mother — William
Haslewood's reply — Nelson's ambiguous letters — Their probable
motive — The Thomson Letters.

INFATUATION will carry people to the strangest
excesses ! When it was known that Lady Hamilton
was soon to land in England, the inhabitants of
Norwich started a subscription and presented the Am-
bassador's wife with a magnificent ring, a topaz set with
fourteen diamonds and engraved with this inscription :
" Offered to Emma, Lady Hamilton by the inhabitants of
Norwich, November 6, 1800." Thus virtue is ever re-
warded. The unknown person to whom the initiative of
this affair belongs, must have been prompted by interested
motives, or else have known very little about the woman
to whom the offering was made.

The trio reached London. Thousands of enthusiastic
people went out to welcome Nelson. But his wife was
not there. His father and Lady Nelson were to attend
the grand banquet given at the Mansion House. They
did not appear, and the hero arrived escorted by Hamilton
and Emma. Lady Nelson had no wish to sit at the same
table with her husband's mistress, nor did she feel any
inclination to offer her the present of a ring. So she re-
mained at home in dignified reserve.

Nelson's marriage with the widow of Dr Nisbet had
been a love match. Like most passions, it was an ephem-
eral one. Had Nelson not died at Trafalgar, it is prob-

A NOTORIOUS INTRIGUE 269

able that his love for Emma would have had the same
fate. When this passion burst forth and became the talk
of Europe, and to such a degree that the British Govern-
ment saw fit to recall both Nelson and Hamilton, it was
not possible for the wife to ignore her husband's infatua-
tion. The news did not reach her ears through common
report only; Josiah Nisbet, Nelson's stepson, had also
informed her of what was going on.

This young man was deeply attached to Nelson and
had saved his life at TenerifFe. On this occasion, Nelson
had written to his wife : " I know that it will add much
to your pleasure in finding that Josiah, under God's Pro-
vidence, was principally instrumental in saving my life."*
But, although he really loved his stepfather, Josiah was
more deeply attached to his mother and felt it his duty
to tell her the whole truth.f

Besides, Nelson's association with Emma was notorious
and known all over Europe. As early as 1798, it was the
talk of Gibraltar. The officers of the fleet lost no time
in spreading the news on their return to England.

An inconsiderate step on the part of Emma finally con-
firmed Lady Nelson's suspicions. Emma's head had been
so effectually turned by the renown of her Attitudes and
her connection with Queen Marie-Caroline and the con-
queror of the Nile, that she quite forgot the few rules
of good-breeding that Hamilton had endeavoured to
teach her. From Italy she had dared to send Lady Nelson
an account of the festivities in honour of her husband.
She now made a proffer of her services; Lady Nelson
naturally abstained from responding to these uncalled for
civilities, and thereby much surprised the ignorant Lady
Hamilton.

For two years, Lady Nelson had lived in doubt and
sorrow. When at length her husband was free to return
to her, he undertook a long journey through Europe in

* Dispatches, vol. ii, p. 436,

t When Eugine Beauharnais' stepfather, General Buonaparte, started
an intrigue with Pauline Four4s in Egypt, the young man made no
revelations to his mother. True, at the same time, Josephine was
equally taken up with M. Hippolyte Charles, at Malmaison.

270 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

company with the woman who had stolen his heart. This
did not look as though he were very anxious to meet his
wife. Lady Nelson was tortured in her most delicate
feelings. They had ceased to correspond, for Nelson had
bidden his friend Davison announce his return to Lady
Nelson. He did not dare to send her a loving message;
he could not say he longed to see his blameless wife, but
still he was anxious to know what kind of reception he
was likely to meet with.

Nelson denied that there had been any misconduct and,
in such cases it is difficult to bring forward material
proofs. Many historians, and first amongst these Mrs
Gamlin, refuse to believe Nelson guilty. But Lady Nel-
son was convinced. On his return to London the Admiral
had no choice but to reside in his own house, and face his
offended wife. Their meeting must have been rather
unpleasant. Lady Nelson went straight to the point and
questioned him concerning Emma. He admitted that he
felt great friendship for her, but declared his feelings
were of a platonic nature. It was not easy to convince the
wife, but for the present she decided to avoid an ex-
posure. Some mysterious instinct, half jealousy half
curiosity, which often reveals itself in the feminine dis-
position, prompted her to consent to receive her rival.
Long experience and her natural taste had made Emma
a perfect comedian. She put on the gravest expression
she could command, assumed a most dignified demeanour
and thus armed, faced the encounter. Like all women of
her kind, she possessed an inexhaustible fund of assur-
ance, nevertheless, even for her, it was a difficult ordeal to
face Lady Nelson. But such women dare anything except
in a good cause. It is impossible to say how Lady Nelson
was affected by her rival's visit; but the two women cer-
tainly met more than once.*

* To convince the public that they were reconciled Lady Nelson and her
rival went to the theatre together . " I afterwards heard that Lady Nelson
fainted in the box," says Miss Knight in her autobiography. No doubt
Lady Nelson could not face the ordeal of feeling all eyes turned on her party.

A SCENE 271

In the simplicity of his love, Nelson conceived a no
less ingenuous plan of life, and imagined for a time that
la femme et Pamie as Victor Hugo puts it, might live
peaceably side by side.

Such an arrangement was incompatible with Lady Nel-
son's dignity. For the sake of appearances, she tried
hard to control her feelings and accept the painful posi-
tion in which she was placed. The effort was beyond
her powers of endurance, and a very trivial incident suf-
ficed to bring about a rupture. This scene is related by
an eye witness. On April 13, 1846, William Haslewood
wrote to Sir Harris Nicolas : " I happened to be pre-
sent when the unhappy rupture took place ... In the win-
ter of 1 800-1 801, 1 was breakfasting with Lord and Lady
Nelson at their lodgings in Arlington Street, and a cheer-
ful conversation was passing on indifferent subjects, when
Lord Nelson spoke of something which had been done or
said by ' dear Lady Hamilton ' ; upon which Lady Nelson
rose from her chair, and exclaimed with much vehemence,
' I am sick of hearing of dear Lady Hamilton, and am
resolved that you shall give up either her or me.' Lord
Nelson with perfect calmness said, ' Take care, Fanny,
what you say; I love you sincerely, but I cannot forget my
obligations to Lady Hamilton, or speak of her otherwise
than with affection and admiration.' Without one sooth-
ing word or gesture, Lady Nelson left the room, and
shortly after drove from the house. They never lived
together afterwards."*

Nelson might say with truth that he still felt sincere
affection towards his wife. His passion for Lady Hamil-
ton had not robbed him of his friends. Why should his
wife not remain on good terms with him. He could not
but have the greatest regard for her, but women who have
once been loved cannot easily reconcile themselves to the
loss of their rights and, in truth, the position is an intol-
erable one, especially when the law is on their side. Lady
Nelson behaved with perfect dignity. Her retreat was
* Dispatches, vol. vii, p. 392,

272 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

an honourable one, and by the pension granted to her
later on, the British Government proved that she had
never ceased to be considered the true companion of the
great man.

At this difficult juncture. Nelson's behaviour was de-
plorable. For form's sake he tried to get his wife to re-
turn, and he made her an allowance of ^i,6oo, but in
every other respect he behaved like a " child," justifying
the sentence passed on him by his contemporaries. After
the exposure made by Lady Nelson and which was the
result of his conduct, his first duty was to live alone so as
to avoid all further scandal. It was not absolutely neces-
sary for him to break with Emma, for, as he had said,
he could not forget his obligations towards her. At the
same time he forgot that she was at least as much in-
debted to him. Had he contented himself with calling at
Emma's house, in a formal way, he might have rehabili-
tated himself in the eyes of the world and, to some extent
have redeemed his mistress's reputation. He would thus
have avoided making Hamilton ridiculous and increasing
Lady Nelson's grievances. But he never displayed much
tact. He was a man, carried away by his first impulse and
the strength of his passions, and as such he was incap-
able of acting wisely or even prudently. In his wife's
presence he had not been able to keep back a tender re-
ference to the loved one and, as soon as Lady Nelson
left the home, his one thought was to return to Emma.
Henceforward, the great man was to live under the most
dishonourable and shameful conditions. He deceived
his loyal friend, sharing the favours of a woman who had
never been an honourable wife, but who was known
throughout England, Italy, and the whole world, as hav-
ing been a light of love.

Hamilton's blind credulity alone made the position
possible. Nelson having dared to remark that he had not
a place where to lay his head, good Sir William immedi-
ately offered him the shelter of his roof. Nelson de-

THE RELATIONS OF GREAT JOVE 273

murred, suggesting that people might gossip, but Hamil-
ton silenced his scruples by exclaiming : " A fig for the
world ! " And the bond was sealed.*

Nelson's family had not been over delighted at their
celebrated brother's notorious liaison. Lady Hamilton
had endeavoured to get introduced to them, but they
closed their doors on her. After the scandal that accom-
panied Lord Nelson's separation from his wife, his bro-
ther, the Reverend William Nelson, said that Lady Ham-
ilton only came to visit them in order to harm the
relations of Great Jove (Nelson's nickname), adding that
all the evil workings of her mind were now revealed as
also her bad heart, which " Jove " had noticed. But the
Reverend " William was quite mistaken, for Nelson had
not noticed anything of the sort. His brother may have
tried to open his eyes and bring him back to the affection
of his wife, but, seeing that he was wasting his
time and that Nelson would break with his own family
rather than separate from Lady Hamilton, the Reverend
gentleman suddenly veered round and followed a very
different line of conduct. He may have thought that a
man of Nelson's importance could not be constrained to
a strict line of conduct. Suddenly, he ceased being
shocked at his brother's behaviour, and thought it wise
to shower compliments and blessings on the woman he
had previously decried. This was his way of admonishing
the beautiful sinner. On February 19, 1801, he wrote
her this letter which is a curious mixture of hypocrisy,
gallantry, lies and pity :

* However, Hamilton had one lucid moment when it occurred to
him that there might be some drawbacks to this strange arrangement.
The following letter was written on February 19, 1 801, just after Emma
had secretly given birth to her child : " Not that I fear that Emma
could ever be induced to act contrary to the prudent conduct she has
hitherto pursued, but the world is so ill-natured." Letters of Lord
Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. 200. (This letter refers to a visit
of the Prince of Wales. Nelson was not even in London at the
time. — The translator.)

S

274 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

February 19, 1801.
My dear Lady,

For I must call you by that name, and
feel myself highly honoured in being permitted to do it.
I cannot find words to express the grief I feel in leaving;
London and sdch amiable society as yours. Indeed, I
have been scarcely able to speak a word the whole jour-
ney. Your image and voice are constantly before
my imagination, and I can think of nothing else. I never
knew what it was to part with a friend before, and it is no
wonder my good, my virtuous, my beloved brother should
be as much attached to your Ladyship after so long a
friendship, when I feel so much after so short an ac-
quaintance. May it continue unabated to the latest period
of our lives! I hope it will not be very long before we
all meet again. We are now in an inn, thirty miles from
London, and have just finished o\xr mutton chop. Mrs
Nelson, who thinks of you, and loves you all as much as
I do, has this moment given a toast : ' Sir William and
Lady Hamilton, and Lord Nelson. God bless them,' to
which I answer ' Amen, and Amen.' We shall pursue
our journey to-morrow morning, and hope to reach home
by dinner. We beg to join in the kindest regards and
good wishes to Sir William.

I remain.
Your grateful and affectionate friend,

William Nelson.*

In England, as in Naples and on the homeward
journey, the Hamiltons and Nelson were inseparable.
They went together wherever they were invited and, in
spite of her embonpoint, Emma never failed to show her-
self off in her favourite Attitudes. As a compliment to
the hero of Aboukir, the Hamiltons were also invited
when Nelson dined with the Prince of Wales, and the
three friends were beside themselves with joy when His
Royal Highness expressed a desire to hear Emma sing
* Mrs Gamlin, p. 153.

THE BIRTH OF HORATIA 275

with Mme Banti.* They were no less delighted when
the Gentleman's Magazine, April 1800, praised the cele-
brated Attitudes.

Then an event occurred which passed unnoticed, be-
cause it was surrounded by the greatest secrecy. Emma
gave birth to Horatia. Every detail had been thought
out and planned, so that Emma's condition should remain
a secret, and the father, who could not own his rela-
tionship, might be able to watch over the early years of
the nameless child. Although Nelson had not wished
to separate from his wife, the fact of her departure and
Hamilton's welcome provided the child, at least for a
time, with the family that it lacked.

Horatia has been referred to as Lady Hamilton's
daughter, and this relationship has been accepted by al-
most all her biographers. However, as some violent de-
fenders of Lady Hamilton still question Horatia's origin,
it is necessary to relate as much as is known of the child's
earliest days. It is an interesting account and begins like
a novel. The following events took place in year 1801,
in the early days of Romanticism, Anne RadclifFe and
Walter Scott's heroes and heroines.

On a stormy night in January or February, a coach
stopped at the door of a country-woman named Mistress
Gibson. A beautiful and elegantly dressed young woman
stepped out of the carriage, bearing in her arms a child
only a few weeks old. This young woman was Lady
Hamilton and the child Horatia. She gave the nurse
endless instructions and promised to reward her gener-
ously. Then having placed a sum of money in her hands,
the dazzling apparition fled away in this new Attitude of
secret motherhood. She often returned to see the child.
She came with Nelson, who would spend hours playing
with the little girl, whom he called his dear child.

Long after these events, Mrs Gibson's daughter re-
lated these details to her husband, and she could have no
reason for casting a slur on Nelson or Emma. Mrs
* February 19, 1801.

276 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Gamlin does not deny the reliability of this account. To
every unprejudiced mind there is no room for doubt.
Horatia was the child of Nelson and Lady Hamilton, who
alone took interest in her. The very name she bore was
significant. Sir William must be left out of the question.
Considering his age, and that during the ten years of his
married life, no child had been borne to him, it would
have been difficult to make him responsible for Horatia's
birth. Emma indeed was full of forethought where her
interests were concerned, but in this circumstance, she
had not persuaded her husband to try the Celestial Bed
in Graham's Temple of Apollo. Besides, knowing that
the child was his and bestowing his name on her. Nelson
may have recoiled from the thought of deceiving Hamil-
ton once more, and allowing him to take charge of her
as his own. Nelson surrounded Horatia with the deepest
love and interest. The hero of Aboukir Bay and Naples
played with her for hours, laughing and crying. "Would
his feelings have been so intense had she not been his
own flesh and blood. It is evident that Horatia was the
child of Nelson and Lady Hamilton.

Mrs Gamlin, however, is still unconvinced. As by
her marriage, Emma had become a perfect angel, who
could never have thought of breaking her vows, and
Nelson was a God-fearing man who would never have
intrigued with a married woman, it stands to reason that
these two spotless beings cannot be the parents of the
unfortunate little orphan. It was difficult to give a name
to her father, but that detail can be easily passed over.
So many other children have had no father. But Mrs
Gamlin has no difficulty in providing her with a mother.
She does not mention the mother's name; she alludes to
her in a mysterious way as being a person of much higher
condition than Lady Hamilton, who was the first to start
this rumour. Moreover, in the Archives at Rome, there
are a number of letters which were discovered in the
palace at Caserta and written by Nelson and Emma to
the Queen of Naples. These letters belong to the Queen

A SECRET CHILD 277

of Italy and are not shown to the public. They must
undoubtedly contain the secret of Horatia's birth. In
order to save Lady Hamilton, Mrs Gamlin does not hesi-
tate to sacrifice the Queen whose reputation, it is true,
was already somewhat tarnished.

Mrs Gamlin, however, has forgotten that the dates
contradict her assertion. She forgets that at the time of
Horatia's birth, Marie-Caroline was forty-eight years of
age, having been born August 13, 1752. Although
women may still bear children at this age, it seems im-
probable in the case of the Queen of Naples, who after
having given birth to eighteen children between 1772
and 1793, had not had any since the last date.

Again, if Marie-Caroline had had an illegitimate child
in 1 80 1, she might easily have palmed it off on her
husband, just as well as some of those she had already
borne, who may not have been his, although it is
asserted that she never took a lover except when there
was no risk of placing a bastard upon the throne. Fur-
ther, if against all possibility, she had been prevented
from acknowledging the child, there was no plausible
reason for its being sent to England, where she had no
chance of seeing it again, rather than to Italy or to Aus-
tria, where she constantly travelled about, and might con-
sequently, have been able to visit it from time to time.
Besides, when a King or Queen have a child brought up
secretly, they always provide for it. But this was not
the case with Horatia, who had nothing but what Nelson
left her.'

Finally, one more consideration. If the child had been
born in Naples, or during a voyage, towards the end of
1800, it would have been dangerous to take such a young
babe across the sea to England. She would have been
accompanied by a nurse, and the journey would have been
perilous for the child's health and that of the nurse on
whom she depended for her nourishment. As war was
raging all over Europe, they would have Been obliged to
travel by a circuitous route, and the journey would have
lasted at least two months.

278 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Mrs Gamlin does not state absolutely that Horatia
was Queen Marie-Caroline's child; she merely wishes to
prove that Lady Hamilton was not Horatia's mother.
The reasons that she puts forward are the following : At
the time of Horatia's birth, Lady Hamilton went fre-
quently into society. Almost every day she gave enter-
tainments, where she danced and performed her Atti-
tudes. Under these circumstances it would have been
difficult for her to hide her condition.

She did not leave her husband's house at this period,
and it would have been impossible to conceal the child
without arousing suspicion. How could Emma account
for the weakness following on the event itself! And
after bringing the child to Nurse Gibson, would she have
been in a fit condition to return and amuse her guests.

These are the only objections made by Mrs Gamlin.
They may all be covered in this one question : " How
could a society woman conceal from her husband and
friends, first her condition, and then the accouchement?"

Such events take place daily; it is a common occurrence
for women to give birth to their child without anyone
having previously noticed their condition. Others are
able to resume their occupations so rapidly that the event
passes off unnoticed. As another striking instance Mile
de la Valli^re may be mentioned. No one suspected her
condition when she was awaiting the birth of the daugh-
ter who was to be Mile de Blois and, on the evening after
her deliverance, she appeared at Court fully attired and
coiffee. Such efforts certainly require a strong exercise
of will and energy. Emma was just as hard-pressed as
the unfortunate example here quoted . It was of the
greatest importance to her to hide her condition from her
husband. According to M. Fauchier Magnan, she per-
formed her Attitudes towards the end of December, con-
cealing by prodigies of cleverness and energy, the ad-
vanced state of her condition, and during the second fort-
night of 1 80 1, seeing that the event was imminent, she
resolved to isolate herself completely. Under the pre-

A LITTLE ORPHAN 279

text that she was suffering from one of those attacks of
fever that often prostrated her in Naples, she remained
in her private apartment. However improbable it may
seem, it is nevertheless a fact that Sir William never sus-
pected the event that took place in his house in Piccadilly.
When the impatient lover wrote expressing some anxiety
with regard to his mistress's health, it was the husband
who replied sending him the news of the invalid :

Piccadilly, February 19.
Whether Emma will be able to write to you to-day,
or not, is a question . . .

February 20.
My dear Lord,

You need not be the least alarmed that
Emma has commissioned me to send you the newspapers;
and write you a line, to tell you that she is much better,
having vomited naturally, and is now proposing to take
a regular one of tartar emetic. All her convulsive com-
plaints certainly proceed from a foul stomach; and I will
answer for it, she will be in spirits to write to you herself
to-morrow.

On March 7 : " Emma is certainly much better, but
not quite free from bile."*

It is impossible not to smile at such simplicity. Later,
when Nelson and Emma presented the child to him as a
little orphan whom they had adopted out of charity, the
Ambassador did not hesitate to accept the truth of this
strange story. One circumstance, had been of great use
to Emma. In 1800 and 1801 she had become very stout,
a fact which helped her in concealing her figure. Every-
body knew that she was doomed to become a stout woman
and details escaped observation. In a caricature which
he drew just about the time of Horatia's birth, that is in
February 1801, James Gillray makes Emma an enormous
size. He must have seen her shortly before the child
was born, when her condition was advanced.

* The Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, pp. zoo, 205,
209.

28o A GREAT ADVENTURESS

So much for Lady Hamilton's attitude before and
after the birth of Nelson's daughter. The baptismal cer-
tificate runs thus: May 13, Horatia Nelson Thomson,
born October 29, 1800. The date of the child's birth
was altered so that no suspicion could touch Lady Hamil-
ton as, in October 1800, she had not yet reached England.

Some have denied that Horatia was Lady Hamil-
ton's child. It has been asserted that Lady Nelson's
friends had almost persuaded Nelson to give up his
mistress. "When Emma felt that she was losing her hold
on him, she understood the necessity of creating a bond
that would link them together for life. Hamilton was
getting very old and might die any day. What then
would become of her if, by his will, she found her-
self in poorer circumstances than she had hitherto been
accustomed to.* She reflected that the birth of a child
would bind Nelson to her and that she would profit by
the money he would provide for its education. Her
condition and the child's birth were simply a cleverly
played comedy, and Horatia was a substituted infant.
It is difficult to understand, for, since the birth of
Payne's child, she had had no children, although it was
certainly not for lack of lovers. Emma had become very
stout, and it is a known fact that embonpoint is not con-
ducive to child-bearing. At that time there was much
talk in Europe about Buonaparte and Josephine, who
were childless; there was wild gossip about substituting
an infant in order to ensure the dynasty, whose head, the
Consul, was fast striding towards the Empire. No doubt
these events suggested the rumours concerning Emma.
M. Dubarry, who believes that Emma cheated Nelson,

* Lady Hamilton hoped that Nelson would be released by a divorce
and then be free to marry her. Nelson's letters prove that he entertained
the same hope. When Emma became a widow the plan was not
abandoned, but Nelson had not time to put it into execution. He left
England in the May of 1803, one month only after Hamilton's death.
He remained at sea until 1805, when he returned to Merton where he
remained five weeks and was then called off to Trafalgar.

HORATIA AT FIFTY 281

bases his opinion on M. Forgues, who admits that he was
influenced by English criticisms.*

It does not seem that this opinion deserves much
credit. To the proofs already mentioned it may be added,
by way of final argument, that if Emma had been deceiv-
ing Nelson, she would have given him a boy and not a
girl, for the Admiral would have been happy had Emma
presented him with a son on whom he could bestow his
name, his title and his fame.j"

Mrs Gamlin describes Horatia when she was over
fifty. She was a thin woman, with a long nose. Her
features were more refined than Nelson's, but recalled
his face. Without attaching undue importance to it, this

* Maurice Dubarry, Nelson Adultire. This book is quite fanciful and
cannot be quoted as an authority.

t This is proved by the following letter :

Deal. July 31, 1801.

My dearest Emma,

. . . You are never out of my thoughts . . . you need
not fear all the women in this world, for all others' except yourself, are
pests to me. I know but one ; for, who can be like my Emma ? I am
confident, you will do nothing which can hurt my feelings ; and I will
die by torture, sooner than do anything which could offend you. Give
ten thousand kisses to my dear Horatia. (He then speaks about
vaccinating the child and of the peerage bestowed on him.) The
extension of the patent of peerage is going on, . . . the old patent may
extend by issue male of my own carcase. I am not so very old ;
and may marry again, a wife more suitable to my genius.

Ever, for ever, yours

only yours.
Nelson and Bronte.

(Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 43.)

This letter which Lady Hamilton certainly did not show to her
husband, proves first, that Horatia's birth inspired Nelson with the hope
of having a son ; secondly, that he certainly was thinking of divorce and
of marrying Emma, who was "more suitable to his genius."

Referring to this same point Mr Walter Sichel gives a very interesting
letter, but does not mention from where it is drawn ; " Your dear friend,
my dear and truly beloved Mr T. is almost distracted, he wishes there
was peace or if your uncle (Hamilton) would die, he would instantly
come and marry you, for he doats on nothing but you and his child —
He has implicit faith in your fidelity " (op. cit. p. 359).

282 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

resemblance should be remembered. According to Mrs
Gamlin, the very fact that Horatia was brought up by
Lsdy Hamilton proves that she was not her child. Had
she really been her daughter, she would have treated her
as she had treated her first child. Nelson and she would
have been afraid that the little girl's presence might
betray their secret. The argument is an ingenious one,
but Mrs Gamlin forgets the strength of Nelson's paternal
love, and that he obliged Emma to receive the child.

Mrs Gamlin also states that Lady Nelson never sus-
pected her husband of infidelity; Captain Hardy, his
faithful friend, never entertained a doubt either! The
letter which has been quoted in the note on page 281 is
proof of his infidelity. Besides, if Lady Nelson was not
fully convinced of the fact, why did she separate from
her husband. As for Hardy, it was very natural that
he should defend his friend, and so allow his widow to
venerate his memory. But of all people in the world,
he knew best the real state of affairs, for it was he who
hung the portraits of Emma and Horatia in Nelson's
cabin.*

A few weeks after her recovery, in the full bloom of
renewed health and youth. Lady Hamilton started her
receptions once more. One day in April a brilliant com-
pany, in which the masculine element as usual pre-
vailed, was gathered at her house. Amongst her guests
were Sir John Macpherson, the Duke of Queens-
berry, Lord William Gordon, M. de Calonne, former
Minister of Louis XVI, Charles Greville, the Duke of
Noia, a Neapolitan patrician, Mr Kemble, the celebrated
actor, and his wife, the Rev. William Nelson, Nelson's
brother, who never allowed himself to be forgotten, and
finally Sir William and Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, who relates
the following incident. News of Nelson's victory at
Copenhagen and of the destruction of the Danish fleet
had just reached England. The memory of the palmy

* Nelson writing to Lady Hamilton from the Victory, Toulon,
August I, 1803. Nelson's Letters, No. 33.

LADY HAMILTON
From a painting by Romney in the Collection of Sir Ernest C asset, G. C. B.

LADY HAMILTON'S ENERGY 283

days in Naples still haunted Emma. Forgetting that
she was no longer twenty, and always eager to put
herself forward despite the fact that it would have been
wiser not to show off her somewhat imposing figure, she
rose, exclaiming : " Come, a tarentelle in honour of
Lord Nelson!" In spite of his age, he was then seventy-
two, " Sir William began it with her, and maintained the
conflict, for such it might well be esteemed, during some
minutes, when, unable longer to continue it, the Duke
de Noia took his place; but he, too, though near forty
years younger than Sir William, soon gave in. Lady
Hamilton sent for her own maid-servant, who being
presently exhausted, was relieved by another female
attendant, a Copt, perfectly black, whom Lord Nelson
had presented to her on his return from Egypt."*

Having examined Emma's behaviour during the
months that preceded Horatia's birth, and the manner in
which she concealed the actual event, assisted by Mrs
Cadogan as midwife, it is no less interesting to study
Nelson's attitude towards his child, which was that of
an extremely affectionate father. He went into ecstasies
over the babe, and was the more devoted to it as he
had given up all hope of ever having a child. In his
letters to Lady Hamilton, he speaks exactly like a father
discussing his child with the mother. On July 31, 1801,
he suggested that Horatia should be vaccinated. As the
custom was a new one, he gave Emma such details as he
knew. For instance, the child of one of his friends hav-
ing been vaccinated, suffered from fever for two days,
etc. " However," he adds, " do as you please." Could
anything be more natural! As the child's father, he
gives his advice, but he does not force it on the mother,
who has also a right to decide in such matters.

Hamilton is not drawn into these details, although he
and Emma were now living in Nelson's house at Merton.
This constitutes a new proof.

When Hamilton died, Horatia's name occurs still more

* Mrs Gamlin, page 169.

284 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

frequendy in Nelson's correspondence. The child's birth
is no longer veiled in mystery. Nelson himself clears
away all doubt and uncertainty in the first letter which
he wrote to Horatia on October 21, 1803, when she was
about two and a half years old. It begins thus : " My
dear child, receive the last letter of your affectionate
father . . ." After having sung the praises of Lady
Hamilton, he winds up by these words, " and believe me
my dear Horatia, your most affectionate father, Nelson
and Bronte."

On the eve of Trafalgar, he sent her the following
lines :

Victory,

October 19, 1805.

My dearest Angel,

I was made happy by the pleasure of receiving
your letter of September 19th, and I rejoice to hear that
you are so very good a girl, and love my dear Lady
Hamilton, who most dearly loves you. Give her a kiss
for me. The combined fleets of the enemy, are now
reported to be coming out of Cadiz; and therefore I
answer your letter, my dearest Horatia, to mark to you
that you are ever uppermost in my thoughts. I shall be
sure of your prayers for my safety, conquest, and speedy
return to dear Merton, and our dearest good Lady Hamil-
ton. Be a good girl, mind what Miss Connor says to
you.

Believe my dearest Horatia, the affectionate parental
blessing of your father

Nelson and Bronte.*

It is not possible to believe that any but a father could
send these lines of deep affection to a child. He would
not give her his paternal blessing or call himself her
father.

He wished Horatia to be taken away from Nurse
Gibson and entrusted to Lady Hamilton at Merton.
* Pettigrew, vol. ii, page 5 1 6.

HORATIA'S PARENTAGE 285

(August I, 1803.) He showed the most tender foresight
in all that concerned the little girl. A stream running
through his estate had been named the Nile in memory of
his victory. In one of his letters to Emma, he said that a
netting three feet high must be set around it, so that the
"little thing may not tumble in." At the same time,
ducks might be reared.

On another occasion he wrote : " Everything that you
tell me about my dear Horatia charms me. I think I see
her, hear her and admire her, but she is like her dear, dear
mother." (May 30, 1804.)

This " dear mother " can be no one but the woman to
whom the letter was addressed. It would have been in-
considerate towards Emma had he spoken of any other
woman in this way while writing to her.

The mother was far from sharing the father's eager-
ness to see the little girl under her roof. It might some-
times be convenient to have a child in the house, — for
instance, when one was wanted in a tableau vivant repre-
senting Medea, — but otherwise it would be a nuisance.
As she had no heart, Lady Hamilton could not feel
maternal love. After taking her home for a while, she
had definitely abandoned her daughter Emma. Indeed
she had only brought her to Greville for his amusement,
just as she might have brought a doll or a puppy. The
beautiful heartless woman felt no love for Horatia, but
Nelson prevailed and absolutely insisted on the child
living with its mother. He had to overcome Emma's
resistance, and contant references to this plan occur in
his letters. " Kiss dear Horatia, I hope she is at Merton,
fixed." Nelson underlined the word. And again :
" How is my dear Horatia .'' I hope you have her under
your guardian wing at Merton." (March 9, 1805.)*

At length Emma gave way, and reluctantly consented

to play the part of a mother. Nelson was too deeply in

love with her to notice how callous she really was, and

he calls her the Guardian Angel in a letter written to his

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, p. 76-90.

286 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

three-year-old daughter, and which, of course, the mother
was to read.

Victory^

April 23, 1804.

My DEAR HoRATIA,

I send you twelve books of Spanish dresses
which you will let your Guardian Angel, Lady Hamilton,
etc.

However, neither Nelson or Lady Hamilton could
openly acknowledge the proof of their misconduct. As
long as the great man lived, Horatia enjoyed his affec-
tion. After his death, Lady Hamilton kept her as her
only safeguard. When she disappeared, the girl found
herself alone in the world, having no family, no name,
and surrounded by a mystery which was transparent to all
around her, but which no one cared to reveal to her.
On one occasion, after she had been married for many
years, the poor woman made a single attempt to clear
up the mystery and wrote to Nelson's last friend, old
Haslewood. She received the following discouraging
reply, in which, however, the truth stands out too clearly.

Brighton,

September 26, 1840.
My dear Madam,

I dare not write so fully as I could wish on the
topics referred to in your kind letter of the 23rd, lest the
secret which I am bound to keep should be rendered too
transparent. Thus much only may be said without ren-
dering such risk. Your mother was well acquainted with
Lady Hamilton, and saw you often during your infancy;
but soon after her marriage she went to reside at a
considerable distance from London which she never
visited afterwards. Lamenting that I cannot be more
communicative

I remain, always my dear Madam,
faithfully yours,

Wm. Haslewood.*

* Blacl^wood's Magazine. May i888.

NELSON'S DAUGHTER 287

From this letter, it may be gathered that Horatia,
believing Nelson to be her adopted father, had only asked
for her mother's name; but Nelson and Emma had made
their faithful friend promise never to reveal their secret.
So Haslewood was compelled to invent the romantic story
of a young girl who had had a child before being married.
This tale does not bear investigation, for the daughter
of Nurse Gibson stated that Nelson and Lady Hamilton
were the only people who came to see Horatia. Hamil-
ton's wife was surely the child's mother. Haslewood
admits it unconsciously. Up to the present time,
Horatia's parentage has never been questioned. It seems
that a certain school is growing up, capable of denying
all evidence. It is therefore necessary to gather to-
gether all the facts that can throw light on this point.

With regard to Nelson, it has been established that
his tender affection for Horatia can only be explained
by the fact that she was in reality his own child, borne
to him by the woman he worshipped. However, with-
out adopting the one view more than the other, and in
the sole interest of truth, it is necessary to reproduce here
a singular document that casts fresh doubts on the sub-
ject. This is a letter written by Nelson to Lady Hamil-
ton on May 16, 1805, when, her husband being dead, it
would be imagined that Nelson could correspond freely
with her. And yet, in this letter, he expressly called
Horatia his " adopted child." " I again and again, my
dearest friend, request your care of my adopted daugh-
ter."* On closer examination another singularity occurs,
and appears to explain the first one. In this letter Nelson
writes " My dear Lady Hamilton." Now, for years he
had ceased using this cold formal appellation, although
occasionally it appears in their correspondence, notably in
a letter written on August 24, 1803. This anomaly is
certainly to be accounted for, and the following may be
taken as a very plausible explanation. Nelson had every

* Mrs Gamlin, p. 193. This letter was not published in the
edition of 18 14.

288 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

reason to fear that his letters might fall into the hands
of the enemy, or fall into the possession of people who
were not to be initiated into his secrets. Sometimes an
officer or a friend undertook to see that the missive
reached its destination safely. When this was the case,
Nelson mentioned it in his letter. On other occasions,
when he was obliged to trust to the official mail, he may
not have felt so sure, and consequently adopted a more
cautious style. No doubt, Emma had been warned, so
that when her lover's letter was less tender and expan-
sive she knew what it meant.

Besides the proof here mentioned, the Thomson Letters
published in Pettigrew's Life of Nelson settle beyond
doubt the question of Horatia's parentage. However,
as the author was not able to produce the original docu-
ments, some may consider them forgeries, and Mrs
Gamlin takes advantage of this circumstance to invalidate
their testimo^ny.

Nelson burnt Emma's letters, but she kept his, dis-
playing thereby more prudence than she generally in-
dulged in. They constituted a guarantee for the future.
They were the poetical effusions of the lover who rejoiced
and was proud of his fatherhood, that united him for ever
to the woman he loved. We may wonder whether he
felt no sting of remorse in the presence of the honest
and over-trustful Hamilton, who was thus odiously be-
trayed by the two beings he cherished most in the world.
" Not that I fear that Emma could ever be induced to
act, contrary to the prudent conduct," etc., he wrote. How
did Nelson feel as he read those words, which, in their
simplicity, conveyed such a bitter reproach. No doubt
he remained unmoved, for he was entirely absorbed by
his passion, and the habit of deceiving had deadened in
him all nicer feelings and made him worthy of his mis-
tress, who was indeed :

. . . de ces femmes hardies
Qui goutant dans le crime une tranquille paix
Ont su se faire un front qui ne rougit jamais.

NELSON'S TRIUMPH 289

Moreover, in this singular menage Hamilton played
a very insignificant part. Gradually, ever since he had
been pensioned off, he had faded into the background
and become a mere cipher. This is always the fate of a,
husband who allows himself to be over-ruled. What
could Hamilton expect, he who had taken into his own
house the celebrated man who was his wife's lover. To
crown his glory still more effectually. Nelson had been
raised to the peerage. The behaviour of the Rev.
William Nelson towards his brother's mistress was a
source of great edification to the world in general. His
faith in Emma he preserved up to the moment when his
brother died and she lost her revenues. In the mean-
while, as he was intent on making his way, he laid her
influence under contribution in the most barefaced way.

" Now we have received the Peerage, we have only
one thing to ask, and that is my promotion in the Church,
handsomely and honourably, such as becomes Lord Nel-
son's brother and heir-apparent to the title. No put-off
with small beggarly stalls. Mr Addington must be kept
steady to that point. I am sure Nelson is doing every-
thing for him. But a word is enough for your good
sensible heart."*

Happy and proud of being of so much importance.
Lady Hamilton made every effort to further his ambition.

As Emma was always keenly alive to her own interests,
it was no doubt she who had prompted Nelson to make
a tour through the Kingdom. It goes without saying
that she accompanied him on this journey. As she ap-
peared with him in the various towns they visited, some
part of his glory seemed to be reflected on her. But
even this could not equal the satisfaction she enjoyed at
seeing herself the object of envy to all the women whom
she crushed by her greatness. In the midst of these
ovations, the husband cut rather a poor figure. He even
excited the commiseration of a man named Gore, who in
July 1802 wrote from Tenby to the actor EUiston: "I
* Mrs Gamlin, p. 220.

290 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

was yesterday witness to an exhibition which, though
greatly ridiculous, was not wholly so, for it was likewise
pitiable, and this was in the persons of two individuals
who have lately occupied much public attention. I mean
the Duke of Bronte, Lord Nelson, and Emma, Lady
Hamilton. The whole town was at their heels as they
walked together. The lady is grown immensely fat and
equally coarse, while her ' companion in arms ' has taken
to the other extreme — thin, shrunken, and to my im-
pression in bad health. They were evidently vain of each
other, as though the one would have said : ' This is the
Horatio of the Nile,' and the other : ' This is the Emma
of Sir William.' Poor Sir William, wretched, but not
abashed, he followed at a short distance, bearing in his
arms a cucciolo and other emblems of combined folly."*
It is easy to picture the whole scene. The three friends
returned to town with several carriages full of the rich
presents which had been offered to them on their journey.
Lady Hamilton was delighted, and wrote to Mr Davison
that they had had a very agreeable trip, that would make
more than one of Nelson's enemies " burst " with envy.
Another circumstance was likely to make some of Emma's
own good friends " burst " with envy. A son of Mr
Burt, whom she had met previously, had painted a full-
length portrait representing Nelson crowned by Britannia,
and the artist had reproduced Lady Hamilton's features
in the allegorical figure.

* Mrs Gamlin, o/. «/., p. 174.

CHAPTER XIV

Lady Hamilton buys the estate of Merton in Nelson's name — Life at
Merton — The death of Sir William Hamilton — His widow attempts
to get a pension from the Government — Nelson returns to Naples —
His correspondence with Lady Hamilton — Back at Merton — Lady
Hamilton urges him to rejoin the fleet — Trafalgar — After Nelson's
death — Lady Hamilton's pecuniary difficulties — The death of
Greville — Pursued by creditors— Flight to Calais — Death of Lady
Hamilton.

ON his return from this little triumphant progress
through the land, which Nelson had undertaken
at the suggestion of his mistress, and which was
scarcely in good taste or in keeping with his natural feel-
ings of modesty, he had been obliged to re-embark, but
before leaving he and his friends made a plan by which
their lives should be more closely associated. Nelson
had decided to purchase a country house, and to live there
with Sir William and his wife, who were to share with
him the expenses of the establishment. In spite of
Emma's willingness to sacrifice her jewels, financial diffi-
culties prevented the former Ambassador from making
any such acquisition at the time. The Admiral refers
to these two points in a letter written from Deal, on
board the Medusa, August 1 8 and 3 1 :

" I entreat you, my dear friend, to work hard for me,
and get the house and furniture; and I will be so happy
to lend it to you and Sir William!

" Therefore, if you was to take the Duke's house, a
cake-house, open to every body he pleases, you had better
have a booth at once; you never could rest one moment
quiet. Why did not the Duke assist Sir William, when
he wanted his assistance? why not have saved you

2^1 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

from the distress, which Sir William must every day feel
in knowing that his excellent wife sold her jewels to get
a house for him; whilst his own relations, great as they
are in the foolish world's eye, would have left a man of
his respectability and age, to have lodged in the streets. . .

" Sir William owes his life to you; which I believe, he
will never forget."*

Nelson was not to be long separated from his friends.
During his absence he was preoccupied by business
matters that seem to have been the preliminaries of his
cherished plan of divorce. This, at least, is what may
be gathered from a note written to Lady Hamilton on
September 26, 1801, on board the Amazon: "I had,
yesterday, a letter from my father; he seems to think,
that he may do something which I shall not like. I
suppose, he means, going to Somerset Street, f

"Shall I, to an old man, enter upon the detestable subject;
it may shorten his days. But, I think, I shall tell him, that
I cannot go to Somerset Street to see him. But, I shall
not write till I hear your opinion."J

As usual, the lover was weak in the hands of his mistress.
Great lovers behave like overgrown children. They
must constantly sacrifice their will and dignity, annihilat-
ing themselves at the feet of the woman who has them in
her power. The mistress even settles how the lover is to
behave towards the members of his family. Nelson was
as weak as any other man, and allowed Emma to dictate
to him his conduct towards his father and Lady Nelson.

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 54. No doubt,
Nelson here refers to Emma's care of her husband, when he was
laid up with a bilious fever. Out of gallantry, Hamilton had said
that he owed his life to her attentions. This Emma was very will-
ing to believe and repeated it on all sides. As a man is bound to believe
every word a woman, and more especially his mistress says, Nelson re-
mained convinced. This accounts for the above sentence, in which
he seems to take rather the tone of a preacher, a habit no doubt he
inherited from his father, the vicar. In any case it proves that he com-
manded in ■ Hamilton's house.

t Probably Lady- Nelson's home.

X Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamiltoti, vol. i, p. 63.

LIFE AT MERTON 293

About the middle of October, Lady Hamilton had chosen
the beautiful estate of Merton. Looking forward to the
time when she should do the honours of the house for
him, the Admiral wrote on October 26, praising the
choice she had made. " It is, I thank God, only six days
before I shall be with you, and be shown all the beauties
of Merton."* Like all sailors, Nelson was delighted at
the prospect of leading a peaceful country life. He did
not want to be bothered with visits or any social duties.
He meant to live in retirement, in the sole companionship
of the Hamiltons and a few dearly loved sailor friends.
As soon as the Hamiltons had acquired Merton in
Nelson's name, they settled down there, awaiting his re-
turn. Lady Hamilton seemed to delight in the homely
duties of a country housewife. Writing to Nelson on
October 16, 1801, Sir William said : " It would make you
laugh to see Emma and her mother fitting up pigstyes and
hencoops."t Whereupon Nelson gracefully replied to
his mistress : " How I should laugh to see you, my dear
friend, rowing in a boat; the beautiful Emma rowing a
one-armed Admiral in a boat! it will certainly be cari-
catured ! . . . You will make us rich with your economy ."J

Indeed caricaturists had not spared Nelson and Lady
Hamilton. In February 1801 James Gillray represented
the Admiral as Mark Antony, and Lady Hamilton as
Cleopatra, but grotesquely and monstrously stout.
Beneath the drawing were four verses, the last of which
is alone worth repeating.

Ah where, and ah where is my gallant Sailor gone ?
He's gone to fight the Frenchmen for George upon the Throne ;
He's gone to fight the Frenchmen t'loose t'other Arm and Eye,
And left me with the old Antiques to lay me down and cry. §

This shaft is aimed not only at Sir William's collection,
but at Sir William himself Others took off Emma and

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 79.

t Pettigrew, op. at., vol. ii, p. 224.

t Idem, p. 230.

§ The genuine works of John Gillraj^, B. M , Print Roonjt

294 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

her attitudes. Rehberg's sketches were caricatured and
bore the following inscription : " A new edition, con-
siderably enlarged, of Attitudes, faithfully copied from
Nature, humbly dedicated to the Admirers of the Grand
and Sublime. 1807."*

So much for the caricatures. As for the " economy,"
Nelson must have been very naive if he did not smile
as he wrote that word, for Emma's economies are re-
miniscent of those of the Empress Josephine, her con-
temporary and rival in extravagance. However, at
Merton Lady Hamilton kept the accounts of the house-
hold just as she had kept them for Greville, and this
gave an appearance of order to her wild expenditure.
The expenses were divided equally between Nelson and
Hamilton, and amounted to about ;^3,ooo or ;^4,ooo a
year. They shared the expenses of their common home
just as they shared the favours of its mistress. Hamilton
himself had written on October 16, 1801 : "Our dear
Emma."

He was not to say this much longer, and he felt it,
for in anticipation of his death, he drew up his will.
His pension of ^1200 ceased with his death, but he had
some property of his own, the whole of which he be-
queathed to his nephew, Charles Greville, the Deputy
Lord Chamberlain. It would seem that at length the
family spirit had got the better of his blind love. By
these arrangements he made it clear that his wife must
henceforth be content to live in reduced circumstances, for
he left her a small annual income of £joo, charged upon
an estate near Swansea, which he had inherited from his
first wife, and which returned a yearly income of ^5000.
Already, on another occasion, before he married Emma,
he had given her various objects that had belonged to his
wife. The most elementary feelings of delicacy should
have kept him from providing for his former mistress by
money drawn from his dead wife's fortune.

On April 6, 1803, Sir William died, " his hand in that
* Mrs Gamlin, of. «'/., p. 168,

WIDOWED 295

of his wife, and his head on Lord Nelson's breast."*
On April 2 the Admiral had written to Captain Murray :
" I much doubt his holding twenty-four hours longer —
our dear Lady is dreadfully afflicted."t He had held out
four more days. The newspapers sang the praises of the
deceased, at the same time extolling the virtues of his
widow, and this to such an extent that they could not have
said more had it been she who had died. Towards the
end of his life Hamilton no longer laboured under the
delusions of the past, and would most certainly not have
dictated this exaggerated panegyric on Emma. He had
suffered most cruelly through her neglect and the vexations
that destroyed the peace of his home. He had com-
plained with dignity and some show of bitterness. There
had even been some question of a separation. Perhaps he
had discovered or at least suspected the deceit that was being
practised on him, but no one can know. The two beings
whom he had loved best in the v/orld, and who had grossly
betrayed him, were indeed by his death-bed, as he
breathed his last, but it must not be forgotten that he
bequeathed a mere pittance of ;^7oo to the woman he had
entrusted with the honour of his house, and to whom he
had sacrificed all worldly considerations. The reason is
clear enough.

Lady Hamilton was now a widow. She had reached
that dignity and condition in which a woman is free to
act as she pleases and indulge in all her fancies without
being answerable so anyone. Henceforward she was
mistress of her own actions, and she was happy. The
comparatively small bequest which Hamilton left his
wife, was much commented on in London. This circum-
stance, together with the difference of age that existed
between the two; the recollection of the painful discussions
that had taken place, — perhaps not always on the subject
of her extravagance, — and above all, the thought of the
lover to whom she wished more than ever to devote her
life, contributed to stop the flow of tears that Emma was

* Mrs Gamlin, of. cit., p. 179. f Disfatches, vol. v. p, 55.

296 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

bound to weep in the face of the world, but which did
not spring from her heart. Her feelings were no longer
those which she expressed so ostentatiously in her letters
to Greville. She wore with a touch of coquetry even the
robes of mourning imposed on her by the laws of con-
vention, but still continued to receive her friends and to
entertain. Mme. Le Brun, who met her at the time of her
bereavement, says: "When I went to London in 1803,
Lady Hamilton had just lost her husband. I called at
her house, and she immediately came to see me, clothed
in the deepest mourning. She was wrapped in an
enormous black veil, and her beautiful hair was cut short
and dressed a la Titus, according to the prevailing fashion.
This Andromache seemed huge to me, for she had become
extremely stout. She wept, and said she was much to be
pitied, for the death of the Chevalier had bereft her of a
father and a friend, and that she would never be com-
forted. I must confess that her grief made slight im-
pression on me, for she seemed to me to be only playing a
part. I was most certainly not mistaken for, a few
minutes later, having noticed some music on my piano,
she started singing one of her songs."*

After the death of Hamilton, Nelson left Merton, and
settled in Albemarle Street. Emma had every reason to
remember her husband with gratitude but, in spite of the
flowing robes of black which she exhibited, she keenly
appreciated the freedom that came to her in her new
state. Says Regnard : Oui-da, I'etat de veuve est une
douce chose! Whilst Nelson made ready for his
divorce, she would make ready for her second marriage.
In the meantime she was obliged to give her attention to
business matters. She had no idea what feelings Charles
Greville entertained towards her. As she had some
cause to fear that they might not be favourable, she wrote
him a formal note by means of which she carefully re-
connoitred the ground before her, and avoided the
stumbling block of terms that might appear too affec-
* Mmoires, Mme Le Brun,

LADY HAMILTON'S DEBTS 297

tionate or too cold. Her style is very different from that
of the tender loving letters she wrote to him from Naples.
Times had changed. The matter in hand was business,
and in all ages business must come before love affairs.
The note ran thus :

April 1803.
Lady Hamilton will be glad to know how long Mr
Greville can permit her to remain in the house in Picca-
dilly, as she must instantly look out for a lodging; and
therefore, it is right for her to know the full extent of time
she can remain there. She also begs to know, if he will
pay her debts, and what she may depend upon; that she
may reduce her expences and establishment immedi-
ately.*

Greville was well disposed towards his former mistress.
On June 8, 1803, he wrote to her saying that he re-
gretted the amount of her debts was so great that he
could not pay them all, but offered to advance a certain
sum. He added that she had no cause to distrust him,
as he was anxious to settle everything to her satis-
faction.

Indeed, Greville's attitude was always perfectly polite,
but beneath his courteous manner there ran an under-
current of hostile coldness. He had good reason to re-
member that Emma was a spendthrift on whom painful
experiences made no impression. He foresaw that she
would soon be without means, and knowing that she had
as little dignity as sense of economy, he guessed that she
would appeal to him in her penury. This he was most
anxious to avoid. Taking counsel of prudence and fore-
sight rather than of any kinder feeling, he affected a
coolness whereby he kept Emma at a distance, and
avoided being importuned.

The question of money seems to have outweighed all

other considerations, and Hamilton's widow spent her

time soliciting and intriguing on all sides to obtain a

pension or some subsidies, and draw down on herself the

* letters of Lord Nf Imto Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. 273.

298 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

good-will of all. To the Prime Minister, Addington,
she wrote :

April 13, 1803.

Sir,

May I trouble you, and but for a moment, in
consequence of my irreparable loss; my ever-honoured
husband, Sir William Hamilton, being no more. I
cannot avoid it, I am forced to petition for a portion of
his pension. . . And, may I mention — ^what is well
known to the then administration at home, — how I, too,
strove to do all I could towards the service of our King
and Country. The fleet itself I can truly say, could not
have got into Sicily, but for what I was happily able to do
with the Queen of Naples, and through her secret in-
structions so obtained : on which depended the refitting
of the fleet in Sicily; and, with that, all which followed
so gloriously at the Nile.*

She also wrote to the President of the Board of Trade :

I hope you will call on me when you come to town,
and I promise you not to bore you with my own claims;
for if those who have power will not do me justice, I must
be quiet, and in revenge to them I can say, if ever I am
a minister's wife again, with the power I had then, why,
I will again do the same for my country as I did before;
and I did more than any Ambassador did though their
pockets were filled with secret service money, and poor
Sir William and myself never got even a pat on the
back.f

She appealed once more to the Prime Minister, be-
setting him with her petitions, and persuading her friends
to support her claims. In the following letter she begged
Sir William Scott to bring into notice the importance of
her imaginary services.

If you, my dear Sir William, will beg of Mr
Addington to think of me, and may I hope he will think

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol, ii. pp. 131-132,
f Diaries^ Hon. G, Rose, p. 241,

APPEALS FOR HELP 299

favourably, for without his assistance I shall be in great
embarrissement. Lord Nelson has told me that he is
good, great we know he is. My relation, the Duke of
Queensbury, has told me that he means well, and will give
me his protection. You, Sir, are his friend, and can say
something to him for me. I could convince him that I
did much to serve my Country. When I was in power
I never thought on myself, and now, my husband is dead,
our dear friend, the glorious Nelson far away I have
nobody, for I lived so retired, I don't try to make friends.*

In spite of a thousand efforts, and the recommendation
of influential friends, her petitions were of no avail. A
less sanguine character could have understood that no
self-respecting Government would believe in her merits.
Nelson, with a lover's blindness, shared her illusions,
just as he believed in everything his mistress did or said.
He himself made her an annual allowance of ^ 1 200. To
his wife. Lady Nelson, he gave ^1600; but all his affec-
tions were absorbed by Emma and his daughter.

Very shortly after Sir William's death Nelson had been
obliged to go to sea again. He sailed on May 18. Four
days later, at 8 o'clock in the morning, he sent these
comforting lines to the widow :

Be assured, that my attachment, and affectionate
regard is unalterable; nothing can shake it! And, pray,
say so to my dear Mrs T. — when you see her. Tell her
that my love is unbounded, to her and her dear sweet child;
and, if she should have more, it will extend to all of them.
In short, my dear Emma, say everything to her, which
your dear, affectionate, heart and head can think of.f

In July 1803, Nelson arrived with his squadron at
Naples. Times had changed, and the sovereigns who
had showered so many favours and tokens of affection on

* Mrs Gamlin, of. cit., p. 189.

t Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 1 09. It will be re-
membered that this Mrs Thomson was no other than Lady Hamilton.
To baffle all inquiries Horatia had been named Nelson-Thomson on
her birth certifjcat?,

300 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Emma seemed to have forgotten her existence. The
Admiral wrote to Lady Hamilton : " I send you copies
of the King and Queen's letters. I am vexed, that she
does not mention you! I can only account for it, by
her's being a political letter."*

Nelson did not realize that the selfish Queen had cast
Lady Hamilton aside as a useless tool now that she had no
longer any need of her services. He did not reflect that
whereas the Queen ought to have remained attached to
him, since there was a guilty bond of crime between them,
she could not forget that through his influence the island
of Malta had remained in the hands of the English. These
considerations suffice to explain the coolness towards him
and his mistress.

Nevertheless, Nelson wrote to Marie-Caroline, and
tried to rekindle her former friendship for Lady
Hamilton. " When I wrote to the Queen, I said : ' I left
Lady Hamilton, the eighteenth of May; and so attached
to your Majesty, that I am sure that she would lay down
her life to preserve yours. Your Majesty never had a
more sincere, attached, and real friend, than your dear
Emma. You will be sorry to hear that good Sir William
did not leave her in such comfortable circumstances as his
fortune would have allowed. He has given it amongst
his relations. But she will do honour to his memory,
although every one else of his friends call loudly against
him on that account.' I trust, my dear Emma, she has
wrote you. If she can forget Emma, I hope God will
forget her."t

Nelson then wrote a few words on political matters,
and with wonderful foresight declared that sooner or later
Buonaparte would take Naples, but the English would
maintain King Ferdinand in Sicily. He then expressed a
wish to have letters from Merton, and gave news of
friends whom Lady Hamilton had met in former days.
The whole tone of the letter is very reserved, as though
the Admiral feared it might fall into the enemy's hands.

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamiltott, vol. i, p. 1 1±,

f Dispatches, vol. v, p. 1 18,

NELSON^S BROTHER 301

In another letter Nelson speaks of his brother the
Reverend William. He was not a man to let himself be
overlooked, and was dying to be made a bishop.
Although Nelson had known Emma for ten years, his
letters are full of compliments such as a newly fledged
lover might write : ' In short, in every point of view,
from Ambassatrice to the duties of domestic life, I never
saw your equal."* (August 24, 1803.)

" I only desire, my dearest Emma, that you will always
believe, that Nelson's your own; Nelson's Alpha and
Omega is Erhmal I cannot alter; my affection and love
is, beyond even this world! Nothing can shake it, but
yourself; and that, I will not allow myself to think, for a
moment is possible."t

These ardent tender words were indeed the sincere
expression of Nelson's love. They call to the mind the
equally passionate lines that Buonaparte wrote, six years
before, from Italy to the wife he had just wedded. In
this same letter, Nelson seems to have felt a pang of
jealousy. Perhaps she had given him some excuse to feel
uneasy, as Josephine gave Buonaparte.

" But, I will have neither P's nor Q's come near you !
No; not the slice of Single Gloster! But, if I was to go
on, it would argue that want of confidence which would
be injurious to your honour.";):

These incidents, however, did not deter him from his
intention of marrying her, though she seems to have de-
served the confidence he placed in her just as little as she
had deserved Sir William's.

" I rejoice that you had so pleasant a trip into Norfolk;
and I hope, one day, to carry you there by a nearer tie
in law, but not in love and affection, than at present."^

He then went on to express the hope that the war

* Dispatches, vol. v, p. 172.

t Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 136.

Xldem, p. 136.

§/<*«, p. 137.

302 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

would not last much longer, and referred again to the joy
of meeting her once more. " Even the thought of it
vibrates through my nerves; for, my love for you is as
unbounded as the ocean."* Nelson wound up this long
letter by the following words : " I have wrote to
Dumourier; therefore, I will only trouble you to say how
much I respect him."t A strange remark for him to
make! However, it was natural that the man who had
not respected the capitulation of the forts of Naples,
should respect a traitor.

On October i8, after having written to Emma that he
appreciated and reciprocated all her love and affection.
Nelson turned to business matters and their marriage.
" If Mr Addington gives you the pension, it is well; but,
do not let it fret you. Have you not Merton.? It is
clear — the first purchase, — and my dear Horatia is provided
for : and, I hope, one of these days, that you will be
my own Duchess of Bronte; and, then, a fig for them
all." . . " You cannot, I am sure, more ardently long to
see me, than I do to be with you; and, if the war goes on,
it is my intention to get leave to spend the next winter
in England; but I verily believe that, long before that
time, we shall have peace."J

However, Nelson's cruise was prolonged beyond all
expectation. From on board the Victory, in sight of
Majorca, he once more renewed his protestations of love :
" You may safely rely, that I can for ever repeat, with
truth, these words — ^f or ever I love you and only you, my
Emma; and, you may be assured, as long as you are the
same to me, that you are never absent a moment from my
thoughts." § On March 14, in sight of Toulon, he was
still occupied with his mistress's interests, and entertained
her with news that must have pleased her very much.
"Whilst I am upon the subject of Bronte, I have one

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. i, p. 138,

t Idem, p. T44.

t Idem, pp. I 5 7, 162.

§ Idem, vol. ii, p. 7.

NELSON SPEAKS OF MARRIAGE 303

word more — and your good, dear, kind heart, must not
think that I shall die one hour the sooner; on the con-
trary, my mind has been more content ever since I have
done it : I have left you a part of the rental of Bronte,
to be first paid every half year, and in advance."*

It is clear from the following letter that the practical
Emma had questioned Nelson about the prize-money
which he had won during the cruise, for the matter-of-
fact, plebeian soul that slept in her, never forgot her
interests. Nelson replied : " I can assure you, for prizes
taken within the Mediterranean, I have not more than
paid my expences."t The father's loving forethought
appears in the following letter : " I also beg, as my dear
Horatia is to be at Merton, that a strong netting, about
three feet high, may be placed round the Nile, that the
little thing may not tumble in; and, then, you may have
ducks in it again.":]:

The thought of marrying Hamilton's widow was never
out of his mind. In a letter written on April 2, referring
to a troublesome " neighbour, he remarked jestingly :
" Never mind the great Bashaw at the Priory. He be
damned ! If he was single, and had a mind to marry you,
he could only make you a Marchioness; but, as he is
situated, and I situated, I can make you a Duchess; and
if it pleases God, that time may arrive, Amen — ^Amen."§
Nelson had no need to be anxious. She had made the
same calculation and was content to bide her time. The
longed-for moment was still deferred by the continuation
of hostilities. A vessel bearing one of Emma's portraits
had fallen into the hands of the French, and Nelson wrote,
saying : " I find, my dearest Emma, that your picture is
very much admired by the French Consul at Barcelona;
and that he has not sent it to be admired — which I am
sure it would be — by Buonaparte. They pretend that
there were three pictures taken. . . But, from us, what

* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, p. 12.

f Idem, vol. ii, p. 17. t l'l">'y vol. ij, p, 14.

§ Idem, vol. ii, p. 23.

304 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

can they find out ? That I love you most dearly; and hate
the French most damnably."*

On May 27, Nelson refers to Marie-Caroline : " The
histories of the Queen are beyond whatever I have heard
from Sir William. . . The Queen's favourite, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel St. Clair, was a subaltern; La Tour, the
Captain in the navy; and another! However, I never
touch on these matters; for, I care not how she amuses
herself. . . The King is angry with her; his love is long
gone by."t These last words are evidently written by a
man who was very tolerant as to the different ideas of
happiness which people make for themselves, and who
understood that each temperament has its own.

It is curious to note that in a letter written on June
10, 1804, after having given news of the war. Nelson
added : " You may communicate this to Mr Addington,
if you think he does not know it."J The Admiral's
intention was evidently to afford Emma occasion of re-
minding the Prime Minister of her petition for a pension".

In another letter, dated July i. Nelson informed Lady
Hamilton that the Queen of Naples seemed to have for-
gotten her completely. Then he entertained her with
scraps of gossip about the Court, which were likely to
amuse her. " The poor King is miserable at the loss of
Acton. The Queen writes to me about ' honest Acton '
etc. etc., and I hear, that she has been the cause of ousting
him : and they say (her enemies) that her conduct is all
French. That, I do not believe; although she is likely
to be the dupe of French emigres, who always beset her.
I doubt much, my dear Emma, even her constancy of real
friendship to you; although, in my letter to Aqton, which
Mr Elliot says he read to her, I mentioned the obligation
she was under to you etc., in very strong terms."§

Vain efforts. The Queen turned a deaf ear on all
these petitions.

Thus repulsed by her former friend, Emm.a did not

* Dispatches, vol. vi, p. 5. f Dispatches, vol. vi, p. 37,

X Dispatches^ vol, vi, p. 68. § Dispatches, vol. vi. p. 95.

A QUEEN'S INGRATITUDE 305

remain silent. " She gave free scope to her venomous
tongue," says a biographer of Marie-Caroline. " To her
cost, the Queen of Naples was to learn that no one can
condescend with impunity. Her past was laid bare and
dragged through the London gutters. The most intimate
secrets of her private life were revealed, and hawked
about, from tavern to tavern. As her voice could not
reach far enough, Emma Lyon took up her pen. The
same writers of libels who had worked the ruin of Mme
du Barry and Marie Antoinette, became frequent guests
at her house. From London the most infamous satires
against Marie-Caroline were issued and spread all over
Europe. This was the end of the fervent friendship that
had once united a daughter of the Caesars and a dissolute
wench off the London streets."*

All the caricatures, all the perfidious, cruel and
atrocious deeds perpetrated in 1 806 against the Queen of
Naples by Napoleon's police, in order to prepare the mind
of France for the invasion and conquest of her Kingdom,
came from London, and consequently were Lady
Hamilton's handiwork. The vengeance she chose was
indeed base, but it was a terrible one.

Marie-Caroline was not the only one of Emma's former
friends who excited Nelson's ire. He was also very in-
dignant with Greville on account of his attitude regarding
his uncle's inheritance. In a letter written on August 31,
1 804, he calls Hamilton's nephew a " shabby fellow," and
goes into all sorts of details on legal proceedings, in order
to make good his assertion. All his letters are full of the
most affectionate protestations of love. Thus on October
13, 1804, he wrote to Emma: " My life, my soul, may
God in heaven bless you."

Lady Hamilton wrote regularly to Nelson. Her
letters were also profusely sprinkled with prayers, bless-
ings and amens. She had caught this habit no doubt from
her lover, the clergyman's son. Although Emma's
spelling was still somewhat defective, and the rules of

* A. Gagniere, op. cit,, pp. 300-301,
V

3o6 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

prosody were unfamiliar to her, she took it into her head
to write poetry in honour of Nelson, so as to give him a
further token of her love, and at the same time, keep him
well in hand until the projected marriage was an accom-
plished fact. The style is most affected and wanting in
sincerity. The following lines, sent to Mr Alex. Davison,
will serve as an example of Emma's poetic Muse.

Clarges Street,

January 26, 1805.

I send you some of my bad verses on my soul's idol. . .

Emma to Nelson.

I think, I have not lost my heart;

Since I, with truth, can swear,
At every moment of my life,

I feel my Nelson there!

If, from thine Emma's breast, her heart

Were stolen or flown away;
Where ! where ! should she my Nelson's love

Record, each happy day?

If, from thine Emma's breast, her heart

Were stolen or flown away.
Where ! where ! should she engrave, my Love,

Each tender word you say.?

Where! where! should Emma treasure up

Her Nelson's smiles and sighs .''
Where mark, with joy, each secret look

Of love, from Nelson's eyes .''

Then, do not rob me of my heart.

Unless you first forsake it;
And, then, so wretched it would be,
Despair alone will take it! *
In the meantime, the hope of a speedy return, filled
the hearts of the two lovers. But it was not until August
* Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, vol. ii, supplement, p, 127.

BRAVE EMMA 307

1805 that Nelson was able to return to Merton, and
enjoy, in the company of Emma and his daughter, the
rest of which he was sorely in need after a severe cruise
that had lasted two years. He was enjoying life in
this peaceful retreat, when suddenly, on September 2, he
received intelligence that the French and Spanish fleets
were before Cadiz. Immediately he became gloomy and
preoccupied.

" You are worried," said Emma.

"No," he replied.

" Yes, Something is on your mind. I know you too
well to be deceived. And I will tell you what it is. You
are longing to get at the enemy. You consider that they
belong to you and you would be unhappy if another
were to fight them in your place It is your right, and
you deserve it in recompense of your long cruises in the
Mediterranean."

In a sudden burst of eloquence, she gave utterance
to sentiments she had not often indulged in. By
associating with the distinguished men who came to
Merton, she had caught some of their moral elevation,
and it really seems that, on this occasion, she only con-
sidered the welfare of her country, and the glory of her
lover. Although her own interests were so closely con-
nected with Nelson, no selfish thought marred her
generous impulse. She advised him not to lose one single
moment, but to ask the Government to put him in com.-
mand of the British fleet.

*' He looked at her for a few moments in silence, and
then the overflowing heart burst forth : ' Brave Emma,
good Emma! If there were more Emmas there would
be more Nelsons; you have penetrated my thoughts, I
wish all you say, but was afraid to trust even myself with
reflecting on the subject. However, I will go to town.' "*

* Mrs Gamlin, op, ctt., p. 1 97, It is doubtful whether these words
were ever really uttered. They convey the impression that Nelson was
vainer than he really was. As they were reported by Emma herself, in
a letter written to Hayley the poet, on January 29, 1 806, we may doubt
their authenticity, knowing as we do, how fond she was of boasting.

3o8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Before leaving Merton, the Admiral went and knelt
by Horatia's little bed, and prayed fervently; Lady
Hamilton was weeping. Lord Minto witnessed this last
scene. It was he, who, after having expressed his ad-
miration of Emma's attitude, surely the most beautiful
one she had ever taken, remarked that Nelson was in some
ways a truly great man and in others a child.

Nelson left immediately. A few days later, Emma
wrote to him, but the Admiral was dead before the letter
reached Trafalgar.

Dearest husband of my heart, — You are all in
this world to your Emma. May God send you victory,
and home to your Emma, Horatia, and paradise Merton,
for when you are there it will be paradise. My own
Nelson, may God prosper you and preserve you . . ,*

On the morning of Trafalgar, in sight of the united
fleets of France and Spain, Nelson wrote the following
prayer, which his patriotism filled with the most noble
and elevated sentiments.

Prayer.
May the great God, whom I worship, grant to my
country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a
great and glorious victory; and may no misconduct,
in any one, tarnish it; and may humanity after victory
be the predominant feature in the British fleet. For
myself, individually, I commit my life to Him who
made me, and may His blessing light upon my endea-
vours for serving my country faithfully. To Him I re-
sign myself, and the just cause which is entrusted to me
to defend. Amen. Amen. Amen.f

After having turned his thoughts to God and his coun-
try during the moments which he knew might be his last
on earth, Nelson's thoughts went out to the woman who
was all to him in life. Knowing that he might fall in the

* Morrison MSS., 845.

t Pettigrew, e/>. cit., vol. ii, p. 518.

NELSON'S LEGACY 309

terrible struggle that was about to take place, perhaps
with some presentiment of his coming end, he wished
to provide for the material welfare of the woman whom
he considered his legitimate wife. With these thoughts
on his mind, at this most solemn moment, he wrote in
his cabin the following codicil to his will :

October 21, 1805, then in sight of the combined fleets
of France and Spain, distant about ten miles.

Whereas the eminent services of Emma Hamilton,
widow of the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton,
have been of the very greatest service to our King and
country, to my knowledge, without her receiving any
reward from either King or country: — first, that she
obtained the King of Spain's letter, in 1796, to his bro-
ther, the King of Naples, acquainting him of his inten-
tion to declare war against England; from which letter,
the Ministry sent out orders to then Sir John Jervis, to
strike a stroke, if opportunity offered, against either, the
arsenals of Spain or her fleets. That neither of these was
done, is not the fault of Lady Hamilton. The oppor-
tunity might have been off^ered. Secondly, the British
fleet, under my command, could never have returned the
second time to Egypt, had not Lady Hamilton's influ-
ence with the Queen of Naples, caused letters to be wrote
to the Governor of Syracuse, that he was to encour-
age the fleet being supplied with every thing, should
they put into any port in Sicily. We put into
Syracuse, and received every supply, went to Egypt,
and destroyed the French fleet. Could I have re-
warded these services, I would not now call upon
my country; but as that has not been in my power, I leave
Emma, Lady Hamilton, therefore, a legacy to my King
and country, that they will give her an ample provision to
maintain her rank in life. I also leave to the beneficence
of my country, my adopted daughter, Horatia Nelson
Thomson; and I desire she will use, in future, the name
of Nelson only. These are the only favours I ask of my

310 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

King and country, at this moment, when lam going to
fight their battle. May God bless my King and country,
and all those who I hold dear. My relations, it is need-
less to mention, they will, of course, be amply provided
for.

Nelson and Bronte.
Witness : Henry Blackwood.

T. M. Hardy.*

Nelson was killed on board the Victory, by a musket
ball fired by a sailor on board the Redoubtable. As he
was carried to his cabin in a dying condition, his thoughts
were entirely absorbed by Emma and Horatia. He spoke
in the most pathetic manner to Captain Hardy, who had
commanded Nelson's, flagship, the Foudroyant, in 1799,
and had been in command of the Victory since 1803.
" What would become of poor Lady Hamilton if she
knew my situation . . . Take care of my dear Lady Hamil-
ton. Hardy, take care of poor Lady Hamilton — Kiss
me. Hardy." Then he begged the chaplain to give a lock
of his hair and his belongings to Lady Hamilton. Her
name was constantly on his lips as he uttered the broken,
panting words : " Remember Lady Hamilton." " Re-
member that I leave Lady Hamilton and my daughter,
Horatia, as a legacy to my country." " Never forget
Horatia." Then his voice died away in the roar of two
thousand cannon.

Nelson died at the very moment when his marvellous
genius had covered himself and his country with im-
mortal glory. In this sublime moment, his heart still
overflowed with boundless love. But there is less cause
to admire the woman who could call forth such a passion,
than the wonderful afi^ection of the man. It is Nelson
who is the pathetic figure, not Emma. To understand
this passion, it must be remembered that the degree of
affection which we are capable of feeling is entirely a
matter of temperament, and, to a great extent, inde-
* Pettigrew, ofi. at., vol. ii, p. 518.

THE DEATH OF NELSON 311

pendent of the object of our love. Thus it often happens
that a person, whose nature is cold and irresponsive, is
violently loved by one whose amative faculties are so
great that he loses all discernment and becomes blind to
the real character of the beloved one.

At the news of Nelson's death, Emma displayed the
most violent grief. Her sorrow may have been sincere,
but it was not deep, and certainly did not last long. She
was proud to think that she had been loved by the hero for
whom the nation mourned. This thought soothed her
grief, and her vanity soon got the better of her regret.
She did not weep longer over the lover than over her
husband. Even Mrs Gamlin, who treats her with great
indulgence, writes : " Unfortunately, at this period of
her history, she fell a victim to her own inordinate vanity,
extravagance and love of society. A friend of the Mer-
ton coterie was one day hailed from a carriage window in
one of the London streets, and he recognised the voice
as that of Lady Hamilton, who requested him to return
home with her for dinner. Being engaged for that even-
ing, he went down to Merton next day, expecting to find
himself the only guest. His astonishment was great on
his arrival to see an assemblage of visitors, including
Signor Rovedino and Madame Bianchi."* So it would
seem that Nelson's death did not greatly affect Lady
Hamilton. Nevertheless, she replied in a heart-broken
strain to the letters of condolence that reached her. To
George Rose, Vice-President of the Board of Trade, she
wrote : " My heart is broken. Life to me is not worth
having; I lived but for him. His glory, I gloried in; it
was my pride that he should go forth; and this fatal last
time he went, I persuaded him to it."t

In consequence of Lord Nelson's death. Lady Hamil-
ton's income was immediately reduced, but she did not
curtail her expenses. She liked to keep open house, and,
in spite of her mourning, continued to entertain just as
she had done when Hamilton died. She went on spend-
* Mrs Gamlin, oj>. at., p. 228. "j" Diaries, vol. i, p. 244.

312 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

ing without stopping to count or to worry about the
debts that accumulated on all sides. In a short time
she found herself in very embarrassed circumstances.
The yearly income of ;^700j bequeathed to her by her
husband, was distrained, and the Government showed
no inclination to provide for the woman and the child
Nelson had left to the care of his country. How-
ever, Lady Hamilton was convinced that, sooner or later,
the State would give her assistance, consequently she did
not curtail her expenditure, and every day her position
became more involved. At length she became anxious.
On September 7, 1806, she wrote to Dr Scott, chaplain
of the Victory; after repeating, as was her wont, the
words which she attributed to Nelson : " If there were
more Emmas there would be more Nelsons," she went
on : "I hope you will come there [Merton] on Saturday,
and pass Sunday with me. I want much to see you :
consult with you about my affairs. How hard it is, hoW
cruel their treatment to me and Horatia. That angel's
last wishes all neglected, not to speak of the fraud that
was acted to keep back the Codicil."*

The fact was that, although England would grant a
pension to the widow of an officer kiUed in action, she
could not provide for his mistress or any other persons
designated in his will. The Government did not see fit
to make an exception even in the case of the hero of
Aboukir Bay and Copenhagen, who died in the very act
of winning a glorious and brilliant victory for his coun-
try. But none can deny that she injured herself in
their eyes by keeping open house after Nelson's death.
No doubt the men in power were disgusted by conduct that
proved she had no true love for the hero, and had simply
fooled him into believing she worshipped him. But for
this behaviour she might perhaps have been granted some
subsidy drawn from the secret service funds.

In the meantime. Lady Hamilton had given herself up
to vain delusions, whereby weak souls are led astray in
* Dispatches, vol. vii, p. 394.

HORATIA'S PROGRESS 313

difficult circumstances. She found herself balked of the
hopes she had founded on the codicil written on the
morning of Trafalgar, the result of which she had im-
prudently forestalled. When her expectations were
frustrated, she was obliged to draw in her expenses. She
left Merton and returned to London in September 1806.
First she lived in Bond Street, and then in Hill Street.

Faithful to her principle of remaining on good terms
with everybody, Lady Hamilton had, from various mo-
tives, kept up friendly relations with Charles Greville.
Besides, having been his beloved mistress and sincere
friend, she was also his aunt. There had only been one
little cloud in all their intercourse, when, after Hamilton's
death, Emma had been somewhat aggressive, as though
she would have liked to pick a quarrel with him when
settling their money matters. But with his usual courtesy,
GreviUe had dispelled this slight misunderstanding by
convincing his aunt that he meant to respect her in-
terests. They had since been on very cordial terms, 33
may be seen from a letter written by Emmj in 1806:
" Horatia is well, and I think you will be pleased with
her education." Evidently, the former lovers were quite
friendly towards each other — or affected to be so — and
Emma felt that Greville was interested in Horatia and
accordingly sent him news of the child from time to time.
It was characteristic of Emma's strange want of reflection
to talk of Horatia to the nephew of the husband she had
betrayed. But she considered it such an honour to have
been Nelson's mistress! She felt as proud of it as she
might have been had she contracted some high and influ-
ential marriage.

Charles Greville did not live to be a very old man.
He died on April 23, 1809, and was succeeded by his
brother the Hon. R. Fulke Greville, who was to pay to
Emma the income left to her by Sir William.

It was not Greville's death that suggested thoughts
of her own end, for she had already drawn up her will in
1806. In the year 1808, she made yet another in which

314 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

she expressed a wish to be buried in St Paul's, near Nel-
son's tomb; regretting that Sir William Hamilton could
not repose beside them, as the King had granted him a
public burial. If St Paul's were debarred her, she elected
to rest beside her mother, to whom she wished a long life
and bequeathed all her fortune until, by her death, it
would devolve on Horatia. She still persisted in ignoring
her first-born child. The latter, who suffered by this
neglect, asked to be acknowledged, "but the avowal
would entail too much risk. . . Whether mother and
daughter ever met again in this world is unknown."*

This is a terrible and crushing sentence on the woman
who had shaken off the burden of duties towards her
child, and refused her a mother's love, because its pres-
ence or existence, had it become known, would have inter-
fered with her plans. Mrs Gamlin adds that it is not
known when or where her daughter died. This is an-
other heavy accusation against the heroine.

Towards the end of 1 809 Lady Hamilton went to live
in Albemarle Street, London. From this moment, on-
wards, life possessed little pleasure for her. She had
placed some hope in the old Duke of Queensbury, a
relation of Sir William Hamilton. She cherished the
plan of getting him to marry her, or, at least, of inherit-
ing his immense fortune. With this end in view she
flattered the vices of the aged libertine and practised all
her wiles on him, as she had done with all her lovers. But
the old sinner was not as naif as Hamilton; he demurred,
and would not be led to the altar. When he died. Lady
Hamilton had a great disappointment. She had believed
she would inherit all his wealth. And lo! In his will,
he had left her only £ i ,000. London laughed, but Emma
wept tears of rage.

Her notoriety and spirit of intrigue brought her into
association with Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, the
future Leopold I of Belgium, who was then married to
Princess Charlotte, who died in child-bed.
* Mrs Gamlin, op. cit., p. 242.

A STRANGE MOURNING 315

It appears that Nelson's rrtistress had grown weary of
living by expedients, but was nevertheless haunted by
ideas of grandeur, and had not yet given up the hope of
retrieving her fortunes by means of her old practices.
For this reason she sought to become intimately ac-
quainted with Prince Leopold and stood candidate for the
post of his mistress, but her tiny face was now buried in
fat, and her figure was huge and had lost all its
comeliness. She would no longer deign to love any-
where but in high quarters. But the Prince responded
to her advances in such an unprincely way that Lady
Hamilton was obliged to retreat. Henceforth she be-
came once more the prey of endless worries, increased by
the rebuff she had met with, and which made her feel
more keenly the irretrievable decline of her powers of
seduction. Then, on Janviary 14, 18 10, she lost her
mother. Although the maternal instinct was never
awakened in Emma's breast, she had always been a good
and devoted daughter. Consequently, this fresh bereave-
ment, coming in the midst of the other sorrows that
darkened the gloomy twilight of her life, made her feel
the loss of her mother more deeply than if she had been
separated from her in the days of her triumphant career.

The woman who could sell to a collector that sacred
relic, the uniform worn by Nelson at the battle of Trafal-
gar, torn by the bullet that killed him, stained with his
heroic blood, seems to have had little appreciation of the
sacredness of memory. However, Michael Kelly relates
in his Reminiscences, that on one occasion, when Lady
Hamilton was present at the performance of a new play,
entitled " Hearts of Oak " — (in spite of her poverty, she
did not find it necessary to deprive herself of the theatres),
she heard an actress. Miss Wheatley, sing a ballad in
honour of a dead warrior. Miss Wheatley put so much
expression into her performance that Lady Hamilton
was much affected. The title alone : " Stay, warrior,
stay," made her tremble convulsively, and she begged her
friends to take her home. She told them that this song

3i6 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

had put her in mind of Nelson, whom she had urged to
join the fleet. But, in all probability, her nerves had
much more to do with her emotion than her heart. Con-
sidering her theatrical temperament and the fact that all
her words and gestures were studied, her actions neces-
sarily fall under suspicion. One is always inclined to
think that she was performing an Attitude, and acting for
an audience. However this may be, the next evening,
she asked the actress to come and sing the ballad to her
alone, and chose her as music-mistress for Horatia.*

As Lady Hamilton did not know how to retrench, she
became daily more involved in debt. She had always
possessed the knack of making use of her friends, so she
had no difficulty in persuading the Hon. George Rose,
to put before Parliament a project granting her ^6,000
or £'j,ooo from the secret service money. This proposal
was rejected by Lord Grenville on the plea that her ser-
vices had not been secret! As a last resource, Mr Rose
advised Emma to appeal to the Prince Regent. So she
sent in a Memorial that met with the- same fate as the
scheme that Mr Rose had laid before Parliament. These
successive repulses filled Lady Hamilton with dismay.
She had boasted so much of her wonderful services, that
Nelson, at length, had become convinced of their import-
ance. A lover is always disposed to believe whatever his
mistress says rather than follow his own convictions. As
a curious result of the workings of her lively imagination,
she herself had become persuaded of their reality and
magnitude. She believed most firmly in her merits. She
considered herself the victim of a hostile Government,
and her heart was filled with bitterness.

On January 5, 18 13, she wrote to Sir William Scott,
the former chaplain on the Victory : " I have been a fool,
and am a victim to my too open heart and soul. All I
want now is quiet and comfort, and to be enabled to
finish Horatia's education. I would sooner give to my
country than take from it. But sure some justice should
* Mrs Gamlin, ch. xxiv, p. 241 .

LADY HAMILTON DESTITUTE 317

have been done me; I wish not for much. I have had
as much of grandeur as a person can have; it is not that
makes happiness. But why not make comfortable the
woman who exerted herself for her country's good."*

At length, being absolutely destitute, Lady Hamilton
was forced to leave her apartment. Henceforth she led
the life of a hunted animal. First, she took refuge in the
house of Mrs BiUington, the actress, and believed herself
in safety. But her creditors discovered her retreat, and
she was arrested and put into the King's Bench prison.
A journalist who saw her at this time says that she was
still beautiful, in spite of the disfigurement of a double
chin. She complained bitterly of the unjust and ungrate-
ful attitude the Government had adopted towards her.f
Prisoners detained for debt were not subject to hard rules
and were allowed to receive visitors. Emma was even
able to invite a friend to dine with her on August i, 1 8 13,
the anniversary of the battle of Aboukir Bay : " Do come,
it is a day to me glorious for I largely contributed to its
success, at the same time, it gives me pain and grief think-
ing on the dear lamented Chief, who so bravely won the
dayj and if you will come we will drink to his Immortal
Memory. He could never have thought that his Child
and MyselfJ should pass the anniversary of that Vic-
torious day where we shall pass it . . ."§ The poor woman
was forgetting that, by her wild extravagance, she
alone was responsible for the painful circumstances in
which she found herself. She would not understand that
one must live according to one's means, and that, if a
State regulates its expenses according to its Budget, it is
imperative for individuals to keep their expenditure
within the limits of their income. Even the time spent in
prison did not teach her wisdom. Several months elapsed
before she was released, thanks to the efforts of Alder-

* Mrs Gamlin, op, clt., p. 256. f Autobiography, W. Jerdan.

X Unconsciously, Emma here admits that she and Nelson were the
parents of Horatia.

§ Mrs Gamlin, op. at., ch. xxv, p. 258.

3i8 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

man Joshua Jonathan Smith, who paid the most urgent
debts.

The poor woman would have felt comparatively happy
had she been allowed to enjoy some peace of mind after
the trials she had undergone. But it was not to be. Her
daughter was not much of a comfort to her. At this
early age she was as fond of teasing and exasperating
people as any full-grown woman might be. On April i8,
1 8 13, Lady Hamilton wrote to her and, after some affec-
tionate words expressed her sorrow that, in spite of advice
and remonstrances, she persisted in not responding to the
care, that was taken of her. " Look into yourself well,
correct yourself of your errors, your caprices, your non-
sensical follies, for by your inattention you have for-
feited all claims to my future kindness. I have weathered
many a storm for your sake, but these frequent blows
have kill'd me. Listen, then, from a mother who speaks
from the dead! ... I grieve and lament to see the in-
creasing strength of your turbulent passions; I weep and
pray you may not be totally lost . . . Look on me as gone
from this world."*

It is impossible to say by what misdemeanour this
child of twelve had deserved such a severe letter from her
mother.

It seems that Horatia did not improve, and that, at the
school where her mother had placed her, she dared to say
that she ill-treated her. On October 3, of the same year,
she received another letter, stiU more tragic in tone than
the last :

" Horatia, Your conduct is so bad, your falsehoods so
dreadfull, your cruel treatment to me such that I cannot
live under these afflicting circumstances; my poor heart
is broken. If my poor mother was living to take my part,
broken as I am with greif and ill-health, I should be happy
to breathe my last in her arms. I thank you for what
you have done to-day. You have helped me on nearer
to God, and may God forgive you ... I shall . . . get
* Morrison MSS., 1047.

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY MATERNITY 319

letters from the Boltons and Matchams to confront you,
and tell the truth, if I have used you ill; but the all-seeing
eye of God knows my innocence. It is therefore my com-
mand that you do not speak to me till Tuesday; and if
to-day you do speak to me, I will that moment let Col.
and Mrs Clive into all your barbarous scenes on my per-
son, life and honnor."*

In common with most women of the i8th century, in
England as well as in France, the maternal instinct had
never been very much developed in Emma, therefore,
the indifference she showed to the child in its early days,
may account for her not having been able to control her
later on. In those days, it was not the fashion to be a
devoted mother. Children were looked after by servants
until they were old enough to have governesses, or be put
to school. Under this regime, the poor little ones knew
very little about their parents. There was no reason to be
astonished when, as they grew up, they did not show the
same respect and tenderness as other children who had
been watched over by loving parents, to whom they are
all the world, and dearer than life.

It really seemed that the unfortunate woman was to
be henceforth pursued by a relentless fate. Ehiring her
imprisonment, a book had been published under the title
of Nelson's Letters. Some of these documents had been
stolen from her, others had been falsified. Although she
had no hand in this publication, and disowned it with the
greatest energy. Lady Hamilton was, nevertheless blamed
by the Press and her friends. They would not believe
her denial. It was well known that she was reduced to
all sorts of expedients and, since she had sold the uniform
and glorious blood of Trafalgar, it was not unlikely she
had made money out of Nelson's letters.

This exposure and the fact that the number of her
debts again threatened her with the King's Bench, made
her decide to leave England in the beginning of the year
18 14, and seek refuge in France, the country she had so

* Morrison MSS., 1051.

320 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

much hated, first without cause, and later because Nelson
hated it.

On reaching Calais she stayed at the best hotel, instead
of taking rooms and living in a more economical way.
She knew she could not afford to live there, but that did
not matter to her. Emma had not lost the pld habits of
the women who, being accustomed to live at other people's
expense, never deny themselves anything, and take it is a
matter of course that they are to have the best of everything
and pay for nothing. From the following description it
will be seen that the Hotel Dessin was likely to suit her ex-
travagant taste. It is probable that in 1814 it had not
changed since the days when, in 1802, an Englishman
declared that although the provincial hotels in France
were seldom good, the Hotel Dessin at Calais was said
to be the largest and best on the Continent. It was run
on English lines and deserved all praise. The table was
elegandy served and the wines choice. The maids wore
caps with flowing pinners and long earrings, and were
dressed according to the latest fashion.* In this golden
retreat Lady Hamilton at length enjoyed a litde peace.
It was, however, of a very relative nature, for she was
tormented by the pecuniary troubles that lay ahead, and
by her anxiety concerning Horatia's behaviour. Judging
from Emma's remonstrances, the young girl had not a
particularly docile disposition. But, as Lady Hamilton
had seen so little of her in her early childhood, and had
never taken pains to study and understand her, she may
have misjudged her. She was an embittered woman
and at no time possessed of much feeling, hence it is
quite possible that she did not treat Horatia with that
affection and devotion which children detect even beneath
the severity of their parents. Did she love her daughter ?
It must not be forgotten that in matters of affection,
children show superior wisdom to grown-up people and
love those who love them. They are, what they are made
to be, and parents have the children they deserve. In
* See J Stranger In FranceJ^ir John Carr.

AT CALAIS 321

bitter words, Lady Hamilton complained of her daugh-
ter. But her grievance was not justified, for if she were
not happy, it was entirely her own fault. Had she been
more devoted, more self-sacrificing, the child would have
responded to her. She was a selfish mother, and selfish
people are never happy.

At Calais, Horatia appears to have given more satis-
faction to her mother. Perhaps the change of scenery and
the consciousness of their painful position, together with
the fact that she was a few months older, had made her
reflect. She was a day-boarder at an establishment kept
by an English lady, attended by the children of the first
families in the land.

Lady Hamilton now looked more leniently on her
daughter's misdemeanours, and conducted her every
day to and from the school. She took her for
walks and was quite surprised to find how much enjoy-
ment was to be got in the regular performance of a
mother's duties. "Writing to George Rose, on July 14,
18 14, she said : " Everybody is pleased with Horatia . . .
The General and his good old wife, are very good to us,
but our little world of happiness is in ourselves." For
once Emma was right. In adversity she learnt many
truths, which otherwise she would never have suspected.
For the beauty which we see in nature, in people, and in
love, exists not in them, but rather in ourselves.

After many vain attempts, the unfortunate woman
had, at length, found some real happiness, but it was con-
stantly marred by her pecuniary troubles. She was not
even sure of their daily bread. She might have worked,
but what was she to do.'' Besides, such a solution re-
quires a strength of mind and energy, which Lady Ham-
ilton did not possess. So she continued to live on credit,
accumulating endless debts, and the poor woman was
perpetually in terrible anxiety. In order to economise
she had left the hotel and taken small lodgings. A gen-
eral servant, who was more devoted than well paid, looked
after the cooking for the household.

322 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

Whatever natural dignity Lady Hamilton may have
possessed abandoned her in the course of this succession
of misfortunes. The habits of the kept woman got the
better of the pride of the Ambassador's wife. Instead of
carrying her head high in spite of her poverty, and de-
priving herself of the servant that was, under the cir-
cumstances, a luxury, she soon started begging. In the
same letter to George Rose, she wrote :

" If Lord Sidmouth would do something for dear Hor-
atia, so that I can be enabled to give her an education, and
also for her dress, it would ease me, and make me very
happy. Surely, he owes this to Nelson. For God's sake,
do try for me, for you do not know how limited I am. I
have left everything to be sold for the creditors, who do
not deserve anything, for I have been the victim of artful,
mercenary wretches, and my too great liberality, and open
heart has been the dupe of villains. To you, Sir, I trust
for my dearest Horatia, to exert yourself for me, etc."

These unfortunate money troubles dominated every other
consideration in her life, hampering her efforts, poisoning
her joys. The unfortunate woman who had handled
millions, did not know where to turn for the few pence of
which she was in need, and still saw no end to her worries.
And yet, she tried every method to replenish her empty
purse. She appealed to Charles Greville's heir, Robert,
who was to pay to her the yearly income of ^700, left to
her by her husband. But, on account of her debts, these
funds were distrained, and Robert Greville replied that he
was helpless, and did not see when this state of affairs
would cease.

The anguish of her soul was no less intense than the
material worries that beset her. Youth and beauty had
fled; rank and fortune had gone from her, and, with them,
relations, friends, credit and consideration had vanished
into thin air. She keenly felt the need of being supported
by those strong affections that never give way. Hamil-
ton and Nelson had spoiled her, and she did not realise
she would never again meet two such devoted hearts. She

THE PEACE OF RELIGION 323

had not the strongly tempered soul that can face solitude,
content with its Own inner life. The distress of her mind
was the consequence of her money troubles, from which
she could not get away, as she had no resource within her-
self, and no society to make her forget her worries. The
emptiness of her soul appalled her, and, she longed to fly
from herself. At length, after she had tried to still this
moral anguish by the use of wine, alcohol and opium, Lady
Hamilton threw herself down at the feet of God. Even
in the gay Neapolitan days, she had been struck by the
solemn grandeur of the Catholic Church. The sacred
music, the harmonious ceremonies of the Holy Sacrifice
had appealed to her artistic temperament and, in a new
and mysterious fashion, thrilled her soul with a sense of the
beautiful that owing to a superficial education had until
then remained undeveloped. These ceremonies had sown
the seed of religion in her soul, and in adversity, they sprang
up, shooting out roots. In those days of distress, the
sharp biting sea wind, piping through the boughs of the
pines and oaks, reminded her of those past sensations,
soothing her tortured soul and inclining her heart towards
God. Sometimes, when the sadness of all things op-
pressed her, she would unconsciously follow the gentle
call of a little bell, and go into some humble church
in Calais, where she remained weeping. The smell of
incense, the damp flag-stones, the devout silence of the
deserted church, broken only by dull echoes, as well as
the triumphant peals of the organ bursting over the fes-
tive crowd of worshippers, soothed the weary woman by
their mysterious harmony. The church is the usual re-
fuge of the broken-hearted; of those whom life's struggle
has torn and wounded. It is a haven for the shipwrecked,
that death has not yet released. Lady Hamilton did not
stop to consider the Church's teachings. She knelt in a
dark and secluded corner. The silent atmosphere of the
church, or the sacred music soothed her shattered nerves,
and restored to them the peace of which they were sorely
in need. Her prayers were best expressed by sighs and

324 A GREAT ADVENTURESS

tears. After her devotions, her heart was lighter, and
swelled with timid hope. With strength renewed, she
went forth to endure the daily struggle against want.
Piety is a remedy, some philosopher has said, and it
worked on her desolate soul. As for her feeble broken
body, no remedy could be of any avail. The poor sinner
was suffering from dropsy. A Catholic priest comforted
her, by administering the last Sacraments. Like the rest
of them, she ended, doing penance, and died on January
15, 1815.

The woman who had been the wife of a British Am-
bassador, the friend of a Queen, and who had been treated
almost like a sovereign in foreign countries, was about to
be buried in a common grave, when an English mer-
chant residing in Calais undertook to pay the expenses
of her burial. About fifty of her own countrymen accom-
panied her to the cemetery. A Mr Henry Cadogan was
chief mourner. "Who was he.'' It has been suggested
that he was the second husband of Emma's mother, but
this is unlikely. He had never been seen before, and he
would not have chosen this moment for making his ap-
pearance. Perhaps he was some relation, some connec-
tion, or even a former lover. It is impossible to say, for
nothing is known of him beyond the fact that he repre-
sented Alderman Smith, one of Emma's last friends.

The same merchant, who had volunteered to defray the
expenses of the funeral, heard that the creditors of the de-
ceased intended to detain Horatia Nelson on account of
her mother's debts. He at once placed the young girl on
board a boat leaving for England. In order to avoid
detection, he had taken the precaution of having her put
on boy's clothes.* On reaching London, she was taken
to Mr Matcham, Nelson's brother-in-law, who took
charge of her and gave her an excellent education. Later
on, she married a clergyman, named "Ward, and died in
1 88 1, leaving several children, who bear in their veins
the blood of Nelson and Lady Hamilton — the offspring
of a celebrated love.

* Lady Hamilton, by W. H. Long.

THE END OF ALL 325

Emma Lyon died at the age of fifty-one, after having
filled this half century with the strange adventures here
related. It would require a great deal of complaisance to
consider this woman a heroine. Some of our predeces-
sors have attempted to do so. It was impossible for us
to follow in their footsteps. Let us acknowledge, how-
ever, that, on some occasions, and as though by chance,
Lady Hamilton showed herself equal to the position her
beauty had raised her to; but she never sustained it long.
Her premature death was the consequence of her life.
She could not bear up against suffering. A creature of
pleasure, she died when life had nothing more in store
for her.

THE END

APPENDIX I

LADY HAMILTON S ATTITUDES

GOETHE, who met Lady Hamilton during his travels
in Italy, wrote on March 16, 1787 : "The Chevalier
Hamilton is still acting as British Ambassador here.
After having been so long an art connoisseur and a
student of nature, he has found the most perfect expression of
both in an English girl who lives with him and is about twenty
years of age. She is very beautiful and finely built. He has had
a Greek costume made for her and it suits her to perfection.
In this garb she lets down her hair, takes a couple of shawls,
and goes through a variety of postures, gestures and attitudes,
until one feels as though it were a dream. With astounding
variety and movement she produces the manifold expressions that
thousands of artists have tried in vain to render. Standing,
kneeling, sitting, reclining ; grave, sad, teasing, sportive, aban-
doned, resplendent, alluring, threatening, terrified : she is all
these in turn, and one attitude is developed from another. For
each different expression she knows how to alter the folds of her
drapery, and she shapes the same kerchief into a hundred kinds of
head-gear. The old knight holds the light during the perform-
ance. He has given himself up entirely to the object of his soul's
desire. In her he finds the charms of all the antiques, all the
lovely profiles of Sicilian coins, even the Apollo Belvedere himself.
This much is certain ; the entertainment is great. We have
already enjoyed it two evenings. This morning Tischbein started
painting her."*

Although the praise that has been bestowed on Lady Hamilton's
Attitudes, seems to have been very much exaggerated, it is certain
that, like Garrick's acting, they must have had great artistic merit,
since they made a deep impression on such a genius as Goethe.
She produced the same effect on women, who are generally less
* Goethe's Italienische Reise, p. i jo.

328 APPENDIX

appreciative of feminine talent : "The most graceful statues or
pictures do not give you an idea of them. Her dancing the
Tarantella is beautiful to a degree." *

The following description of the Attitudes is drawn from the
Remains of Mrs Trench. " Breakfasted with Lady Hamilton, and
saw her represent n succession the best statues and paintings
extant. She assumes their attitude, expression and drapery with
great facility, swiftness, and accuracy. Several Indian shawls, a
chair, some antique vases, a wreath of roses, a tambourine and a
few children are her whole apparatus. She stands at the end of
the room with a strong light to her left and every other window
closed. Her hair (which by-the-bye is never clean) is short,
dressed like an antique, and her gown, a simple calico chemise.^
very easy, with loose sleeves to the wrist. She disposes the
shawls, so as to form Grecian, Turkish, and other drapery, as
well as a variety of turbans. ... It is a beautiful perform-
ance, amusing to the most ignorant, and highly interesting
to the lovers of art. . . . Each representation lasts about ten
minutes. . . . After showing her Attitudes, she sang, and I
accompanied."

And now for the Countess de Boigne's appreciation : " When
she consented to give a performance, she provided herself with two
or three cashmere shawls, an urn, a lyre, and a tambourine. With
these simple implements, clothed in classical garb, she placed her-
self in the centre of the drawing-room. She threw a shawl over
her head, and let it fall down to the ground hiding her figure
entirely. Thus concealed, she draped the other shawls. Then,
she would rise up suddenly, sometimes throwing oJF the shawl,
sometimes making it serve as a drapery in the attitude she wished
to represent. Invariably, she rendered the most admirable statue.

" I have heard artists say, if they had been able to imitate her,
art could not have suggested any improvement.

" Before letting the shawl fall about her, which was the signal
of an interlude, she would vary her attitude and the expression of
her face, being in turn grave or gentle, merry or severe.

" She sometimes took me as an accessory in forming a group.
She would put me in the right position, and place the drapery
round me, before throwing off the shawl which concealed us like
a curtain. My fair hair was in marked contrast with her magnifi-
cent black locks, which she used to great advantage.

* Life and Letters of the first Earl ofMinto, vol. i, p. 406.

APPENDIX 329

" One day, she made me kneel beside an urn, my hands folded
in an attitude of prayer. She was leaning over me, plunged in
the deepest affliction. Both of us had our hair down. Suddenly,
she drew herself up, and took a few steps backwards, and then
seized me by my hair so roughly, that I turned round surprised
and somewhat alarmed, whereby I had unconsciously adapted
myself to the part I was to play, for she held a dagger in her
hand. The passionate applause of the spectators burst forth, in
the midst of cries of : ' Bravo la Medea.^ Then gathering me
to her breast, as though she would shield me from the anger of
the gods, she caused the same enthusiastic voices to exclaim :
* Viva la Niobe'

"In this way she drew her inspiration from the antique
statues, and, without producing a mere copy, recalled their
beauty to the vivid imagination of the Italians, by a sort of im-
provised representation. Others have tried to imitate Lady
Hamilton's talent ; I do not think they have done so with
success. It is one of those things that is either sublime or
ridiculous. Moreover, to vie success'fully with her, the performer
must be perfectly beautiful from head to foot, and such figures
are not often met with." *

Mme. Le Brun, who was in Naples at the same time as young
Adile d'Osmond, future Countess de Boigne, also assisted at
these performances, and considered them highly artistic. She
does not forget to mention them in her Mimoires. " Nothing
could be more curious than the facility with which Lady
Hamilton could suddenly give to her features the various
expressions of joy or sorrow, and personify in the most
marvellous fashion, different characters. With sparkling eyes
and dishevelled locks she was a most exquisite Bacchante, then
suddenly her face would become drawn with sorrow, and she
was transformed into a most admirable repentant Magdalene." t

Was it Lady Hamilton who made these performances fashion-
able ? Baroness de Krtidner seems to think so : "These different
attitudes that represent tragic or touching situations are an
eloquent language drawn from the soul and its passions. When
they are performed by persons whose lives are pure and classic,
enhanced by wonderful power of expression, the effect they
produce is marvellous. Lady Hamilton, who possessed all these
precious advantages, was the first to start this sort of perform-

* Mimoires, vol. i, pp. 1 14-1 15. t Mimoires de Mme. Le Brun.

330 APPENDIX

ance, which may be called a truly dramatic dance." (Valerie,
Letter xviii.)

Mme. de KrUdner describes her heroine delighting a small
circle of friends by this dance, but, it is her own person that
she modestly puts forward under the name of Valerie. Mme.
R6camier, another woman whose modesty was never at rest
unless she could place herself en evidence, also learnt the Shawl
Dance, and her discreet startled airs and graces took the place of
Emma's tragic gestures. To her honour, Mme. de Stad wrote
in a note in Corinne : " It was Mme. R6camier's dancing
that suggested to me the idea of the performance I have tried to
describe." And Mme. de Stafil's enthusiasm was so great that
she also introduced this dance in Delphine : " Men and women
got up on benches to see Delphine dance. Never have grace and
beauty produced such extraordinary effect on a numerous assembly.
This foreign dance has a charm, etc." *

* Delpktrie, by Mme. StaSl.

APPENDIX II

NELSON S LETTERS

MRS GAMLIN says that the letters published in 1814
by Harrison, who had stolen them, were in some places
falsified. She quotes this example : On August i,
1803, Nelson wrote : "Hardy is now busy hanging
up your and Horatia's picture, and I trust soon to see the other
two safe from the Exhibition. You will not expect much news
from us. We see nothing."

Harrison, the thief, thus rendered the above : " Hardy is now
busy hanging up your and Horatia's picture, and I trust soon
to see the other two safe from the Exhibition. I want no
others to ornament my cabin. I can contemplate them, and
find new beauties every day ; and I do not want anyone else." *

Mrs Gramlin next considers The Thomson Letters, and rejects
them also. But, in this case, her proofs are much less convincing.
The Thomson Letters were published by Pettigrew in his Life of
Nelson, Mrs Gamlin notes a curious resemblance between two
letters. The first is in Pettigrew, vol. i, p. 411, and runs thus :
" I sincerely hope that your very serious cold will soon be better.
I am so much interested in your health and happiness, that pray
tell me all. You have had a large party."

The second, given on p. 645, vol. ii, is as follows : " I sincerely
hope that your very serious cold will soon be better. I am so
much interested in your health, that pray tell me all. I delivered
to Mr Thomson, Mrs Thomson's message and note. . . ."

Certainly this coincidence is strange. But perhaps the first
letter was to be shown, the second to be kept secret. It is also
possible that there was only one original letter, which the first
editor published in part. Pettigrew may then have copied No. 2,
from the manuscript without noticing that he was reproducing
the same document.

* Mrs Gamlin, op. cit., p. 142.

ZZ'^ APPENDIX

A more serious consideration, however, lies in the fact that,
according to Mrs Gamlin, the manuscripts of The Thomson Letters
have disappeared, and that, when Pettigrew was asked to produce
them, he gave no answer. It stands to reason that these
manuscripts must exist. If they cannot be traced, they must
be considered forgeries.

APPENDIX III

CERTIFICATE OF DEATH OF LADY HAMILTON

ANNO Domini, 1815, January 15, dame Emma Lyon,
aged fifty-one years, born in Lancashire, England, living
in Calais, daughter of Henry Lyon and Mary Kidd,
widow of William Hamilton, died 15th January 1815,
at one o'clock p.m., in the house of Damy, rue Fran9aise.

A. D. 1815, Janvier 1 5, dame Emma Lyons, &g6e de 5 1 ans,
n6e a Lancashire, a Angleterre, domicilii k Calais, fille de
Henri Lyons et de Marie Kidd, veuve de William Hamilton, est
d6c^d6e le 15 Janvier 1815, h. une heure apres midi au domicile
du sieur Damy, rue Franjaise.

INDEX

Abercorn, Sixth Earl of, 14

Abercorn, Marquess of, 43

d'Abrant^s, Duchess, 93

Acton, Sir John, antecedents, 80 ;
Signs treaty with England, 80;
Becomes Prime Minister, 87 ;
Hatred of the Jacobins, 87 j Re-
ceives Nelson's emissaries, 90;
Hatred of Gallo, 117; Corre-
spondence with Ruffo, 201 ; His
attitude during the Revolution,
200, et seq; The Queen's instru-
ment, 232; Falls into disgrace,

304

Addington, Henry, Viscount Sid-
mouth, Prime Minister^ 289, 298,
302, 304, 322

Albert, Prince, dies at sea, r58

Alexander, Emperor of Russia, 243

d'Artois, Count, 154, 237

Baciocchi, husband of Elisa

Buonaparte, irr
Balait, French General, r49
Ball, Sir Alexander, Letters to

Lady Hamilton, 140, 253
Banti, prima donna, 35, 38, 273
Barail, General du, igr
Barras, Viscount Paul de, ir9
du Barry, Mme., rr, 79
Barlow, Miss, First wife of Sir

William Hamilton, 52, 294
Beauharnais, Eugene, 269
Berthier, French General, r4g
Bertoli, r52

Brenton, Captain, 226, 227
Bristol, Frederick Augustus Her-

vey, Earl of. Bishop of Derry,

72; His admiration for Mme.

Rietr, 73 ; Admiration for

Emma, 72, 73, 745 Letters to

Emma, 74, 75
Blackwood, Henry, 310
Boigne, Countess de, Opinion of

Lady Hamilton, ro, 17, 25, 36,

56, 58, 328

Boydell, engraver, 3

Brun, Frederica, On Lady Hamil-
ton, 57

Buonaparte, Caroline, 243

. Elisa, iir

, Joseph, 199, 213

Buonaparte, Louis, 153, 154

, Lucien, rrr

, Napoleon, Expedition to

Egypt, 88; Sails from Toulon,
89 ; Crosses Mediterranean, 105 j
Takes Malta, r2r ; Defeated in
Aboukir Bay, 121 ; Lands at
Fr^jus, 253; Napoleon and
Queen Marie-Caroline, 85, 305

Burt, Mr, 290

Cadogan, Henry, 324

, Mrs, Mary Kidd, wife of

Henry Lyon, mother of Lady
Hamilton, i, 2, 3, 4, 12; Accom-
panies her daughter to Naples,
23 ; Stays with her, S9) 6I) '09j
256; Homeward journey, 263,
266, 283; At Merton, 293;
Death, 315

Caracciolo, Francesco, 216; Studies
seamanship in England, 217;
His character, 2r8; Takes com-
mand of the Republican fleet,
218; Taken prisoner, 2r9; His
Trial, 220, et seq; Execution,
His body reappears, 239

Cercone, Ettore, 240

Championnet, General, ir6; With-
draws from Rome, 150, 151 ; His
successes, r55, r64; Cause of his
disgrace, r66

Charles III of Spain, father of
Ferdinand of Naples, 80, 246

IV of Spain, brother of Fer-
dinand of Naples, 66

Charlotte, Princess, 115, 314

, Queen of England, r4, 279,

2S7
Chateaubriand, Ren^ de, 241
Chesterfield, Earl of, rr
Cirillo, Domenico, 213, 215
Collins or Collier, Augustus, On

Lady Hamilton, 229, 231
Constant, Benjamin, 230
Williams, Cooper, rg6
Curwen, (Christian) Mr, r7

Damas, Count Roger de, 250, 25 r,

252
Davison, Alexander, 270, 306
Deffand, Marquise du, 26J

336

INDEX

Duportj 152

Dutens, L., 43

Dumouriez, General, 267, 302

Elliot, British Minister at Dres-
den, 262

, Mrs, wife of the above, 264

Emma, daughter of Emma Lyon
and Captain Payne, 7, 158, 314

d'Enghien, Due, The execution of,

237
Esterhazys, the, 264
Esterhazy-Cresceri, 219

Featherstonehaugh, Sir Henry, 7,
8, 72

Ferdinand TV, King of Naples,
His appearance, 80 ; Character,
81 ; Refuses to admit English
fleet into his ports, 123 ; Ovation
to Nelson, 132; Renewal of hos-
tilities decided on, 132; Willing
to despoil the Church, 47 ;
Marches on Rome, r5o; Takes
Rome, 155 ; Leaves Rome, rss ;
Wishes to defend Naples, 155;
Flight of Royal Family, r55, et
seq; Injunctions to Ruffo, 182;
Refuses to sanction treaty, 189;
Letter to Ruffo, 192; Distrusts
Ruffo, 193 ; Ferdinand and
Caracciolo, 2r7, 220; Ferdinand
and the Admiral's corpse, 239;
Ferdinand and Acton, 304; Fer-
dinand and the Queen, 304

Ferreri, courier, 155

Fitzharris, Lord, Opinion of Lady
Hamilton, 264

Fleury, Aim^e de Coigny, Duchess
de, 37

Foote, Captain, 170, r72, r75, 179,
180

Fox, Charles James, on the Nea-
politan atrocities, 257

Frederick-William, King of Prus-
sia, 73

Gallo, Marchese, Characteristics,
87, rr7; Prime Minister, 87;
His weakness, 129 ; Anxious to
maintain peace, 143, 148

Garat, French Minister at Naples,
117, 124, 143, 144

Garrick, actor, 56

Gibson, Mrs, 275, 278, 287

Gillray, James, Caricaturist, 279,

293
Goethe, Wolfgang, Description of

Sir William, 54; Admiratioii for
Emma, 54, 56, 327
Graham, Dr James, quack, 9
Greville, Hon. R. Fulke, 3r3, 322
Greville, Hon. Charles, Meets
Emma, 10; Introduces Emma to
Romney, ri ; Incident at Rane-
lagh Gardens, r3 ; Greville and
Hamilton, 14, et seq; Takes
charge of Emma's little girl,
16; Impoverished condition, 16,
17; Plans to pass Emma over to
his uncle, 18, rg; Letters to Sir
William, 20, 2r, 22, 7r ; Does
not write to Emma at Naples,
26, et seq; On Emma's return
to London, 39 ; Is appointed
Vice-Chamberlain, 65 ; Inherits
his uncle's fortune, 294 ; Behavi-
our towards Lady Hamilton,
297; Death, 313
Grenville, Lord, 176, 210, 237, 3T6

Halifax, Earl of, 3

Hamilton, Lord Archibald, father
of Sir William, r3

, Emma, Lady, Her parentage,

1 ; Date of her birth, 2 ; Child-
hood spent at Hawarden, 2;
Lord Halifax provides for her
education, 3 ; Becomes a nurse-
maid, 3 ; Various situations occu-
pied by her, 4; She goes to
London with her mother, 4;
Takes service in Mr Linley's
house, 4; Grief over the death
of Mr Linley's son, 4; Becomes
lady's-maid to Mrs Kelly, 5 ;
Budding passion for dramatic
art, 5 ; Love of novels and act-
™g) S 5 Takes service in a
tavern, 6; First lapse from
virtue, 6 ; Captain John -Willett
Payne, 6; Payne undertakes to
have her educated, 7; Birth of
little Emma, 7 ; She becomes the
mistress of Sir Henry Feather-
stonehaugh, 7; Gay life at Up
Park, Sussex, 8; She becomes
destitute after Featherstone-
haugh leaves her, 8; She makes
the acquaintance of Dr Graham,
9; She figures the Goddess
Hygeia in Graham's establish-
ment, 9; This assertion contra-
dicted by a contemporary, 9;
She wins many admirers, 9;
Makes the acquaintance of the
Hon. Charles Greville, 10; Gre-

INDEX

337

vine's character, lo; He intro-
duces her to Romney the artist,
II ; Her beauty inspires Rom-
ney, 12; She becomes his model,
12 ; learns drawing, 13 ; Her
talent for music, 13 ; Incident at
the Ranelagh Gardens, 13; She
meets Sir William Hamilton,
13 ; Her attitude towards Hamil-
ton, 14; She goes to Parkgate
(1784), 15; Takes the name of
Emma Hart, 15 ; Care for little
Emma, 15; Returns to London,
16 ; Life in London with Gre-
ville, i6; Her extravagance, 17;
Her grief at separating from
Greville, 18; Starts for Naples,
23 ; Reaches Naples on her
birthday (1786), 24; Stays in
British Embassy, 24; Her ap-
pearance at this time, 25 ; Charm
of her expression, 25 ; Letters
to Greville, 15, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33,
34, 3Sj 38, 39. 62, 63, 64, 65,
160, 259, 252, 255, 297, 315 ; She
withstands Hamilton's advances,
26, 29 ; Flans to make him marry
her, 29, 30, 31 ; Becomes Hamil-
ton's mistress, 32 ; Studies music,
33, 34; Mistress in the Palazzo
Sessa, 34 J Her beauty causes
sensation in Naples, 36 ; Reaps
great success by her Attitudes,
37 ; Announces to Greville her
return to London (1790), 37;
Arrives in London with Hamil-
ton (May 1791), 39; Lives in the
same house with him, 39 ; Her
projected marriage is announced,
40 ; Visits her little daughter,
41 ; The marriage takes place,
42; (1791) Return to Naples, 45;
She pursues her studies, 49 ; Pre-
pares herself for appearing at
Court, 53 ; Her influence over
Hamilton, 54 ; Her Attitudes,
55. 56, 57. 59; She is received
at Court, 58 ; She writes to Rom-
ney, 60 ; Absence of maternal
feeling, 60 ; Love for her other
relations, 61 ; Her generosity,
61 ; She becomes more closely
connected with Queen Caroline,
63, et seq; Asks Greville to send
political news, 65 ; The Queen
entrusts her with letter of
Charles of Spain to Ferdinand
flf Naples, 66 ; This incident as
related by Palumbo, 69; Her
hatred of the French, 70, 118,

122 ; Her attitude towards Gre-
ville, 71; Lord Bristol, 72, 75;
She writes to Romney, 75 ; Poli-
tical considerations that influ-
enced her reception at Court, 78,
79, 80 ; Receives Nelson's mes-
senger, Captain Troubridge, 90;
Her first meeting with Nelson,
93 ; Her care for the future, 94 ;
How she fascinated Nelson, 95,
et seq; Incident with Josiah Nis-
bet, g6, 97, 98 ; Notes to Nelson,
103, 104; Secret correspondence,
107, et seq; Remarkable politi-
cal letter written on June 30,
1798, 116; Entertains Nelson at
the Embassy, 135; Her longing
for a child, 137 ; Lord St Vincent's
letters, 138, et seq; Probable
date of liaison with Nelson, 120;
Cruel insult inflicted by French
Minister, 125 ; She and Hamil-
ton urge the sovereigns of
Naples to break with France,
124, et seq; Her emotion on
meeting Nelson after the Battle
of the Nile, 132, et seq; She
prepares the flight of the Royal
Family, 156, et seq; Her devo-
tion to the Royal fugitives, 157 ;
Her care of little Prince Albert,
158; Perilous journey, 160; Life
at Palermo, 161 ; She takes ac-
tive part in politics, 162, et seq;
Is attacked by newspapers, 165 ;
Becomes the tool of the Queen's
vengeance, 165, 221 ; Influences
Nelson, 165, 1^0, 171, 186, 190;
Part played by her in the Nea-
politan Revolution, 174, 205 ;
She goes with Nelson and
Hamilton to Naples, 176; Her
attitude regarding the surrender
of the Castles, 211, et seq; Her
attitude towards victims of Re-
volution, 214, 215 ; Her attitude
towards Caracciolo, 225 ; Differ-
ent accounts, 226, et seq; Her
intervention established, 234 ;
FSte of September 3, 250 ; She
and Nelson in Palermo, 252, et
seq; She receives the Grand
Cross of Malta, 253 ; Violent
scene with Ferdinand, 258 ;
Leaves Naples, 261 ; Quells
riot at Leghorn, 263 ; At Vienna,
Dresden, Hamburg, 264, et seq;
Reception at Munich, 268 ; Lady
Nelson, 269 ; The Nelson
family, 273, 274, 289; Birth

338

INDEX

of Horatia, 275, et se$; Jour-
ney through Kingdom, 289 ;
Buys Merton in Nelson's name,
291 ; Caricatures, 293 ; Death of
Sir William, 295 ; Small legacy,
29s ; Debts, 296 ; Petition for
pension, 298 ; Marie-Caroline
forsakes her, 300; Her revenge,
305 ; Poetry in honour of Nel-
son, 306 ; Urges him to take
command of the fleet, 307 ;
Nelson's death, 310; Her atti-
tude afterwards, 311, 312;
Leaves Merton, 313 ; Expedi-
ents, 314, 315; Takes shelter in
Mrs Billington's house, 317; In
prison for debt, 317; Worries
with Horatia, 318 ; Escapes to
Calais, 319; Poverty, 320, 322;
Becomes a Roman Catholic,
323; Death, 324

Hamilton, Gavin, artist, 23

, Lady (Sir William's first

wife), 52

, Lady Jane, mother of Sir

William Hamilton, 13, 14

, Sir William (r730-i8o3) ; His

parentage, 14; Appearance, 14;
His attitude towards his
nephew's mistress, 14; Admires
Emma, 18; Bids Greville send
Emma to Naples, 20, 22 ;
Receives Emma at the Embassy,
Makes Emma mistress of his
house, 26 ; Encourages her artis-
tic talent, 36 ; Returns to Lon-
don with Emma, 38 ; Marries
Emma Lyon, 42 ; Continues her
education, 48, et seq; His atti-
tude towards Emma, 50, 77, 78 ;
Goes hunting with King Ferdi-
nand, 52 ; His popularity at
Court, 78 ; He introduces Nel-
son to Emma, 93 ; Excites
Neapolitan people, 124, 126,
129; Urges an alliance with
England, 130 ; Reception given
to Nelson after Aboukir, 132 ;
Accompanies Royal Family on
flight, 158; Palermo, 161; Ac-
companies Nelson to Naples,
176; Letters to Ruffo, 180, 187,
188, 194; Interview with Ruffo,
182 ; His tact, 193 ; His atti-
tude in the Counter-Revolution,
2o6i et seq; Letter to Acton,
208; Defends Nelson, 210; At-
titude towards Caracciolo, 22, et
seq; Admiration for Nelson,
224, 237 ; The resurrection of

Caracciolo, 239; Ovation in
honour of Nelson, 250; Asks
for leave of absence, 257 ; His
resignation is accepted, 258;
Homeward journey, 262; Leg-
horn, Vienna, Dresden, Ham-
burg, 263, 264, 267 ; Takes Nel-
son into his house, 272; Sends
Nelson news of Emma, 279, et
seq; Dances the tarantella, 283;
Leaves small annuity to his
wife — Dies (April, 1803), 294-5
Hardy, Captain, 238, 239, 240, 282,

3iOj 330
Harrison, no, 331
Haslewood, William, 271, 286
Haydn, 264, 266
Hayley, William (1745-1820), letter

to Lady Hamilton, 12 ; Letter

from Romney, 43
Hood, Admiral, 93
Hotham, Admiral, 217
Hugo, Victor, 271

Jerdan, W., journalist, 3r7
Josephine, Empress, 280, 294, 301
Junot, French General, 253, 262

Kauffmann, Angelica, artist, 83
Keith, Lord, 177, 195, 261
Kelly, Mrs, 5, 6
Kelly, Michael, 315
Kidd, Mrs, Lady Hamilton's grand-
mother, 7, 61, 62
Kl^ber, French General, 253
Klopstock, poet, 267
Knight, Miss Cornelia, 115, 263, 270
Krudner, Mme. de, 330

Lacheze (Pierre Joseph de Lach^ze
Morel), Minister of France at
Naples, 124; Letter to Gallo,
124; Comments on letter, 126;
Second letter to Gallo, 126

Lacombe, Saint Michel, Charg^
d'Affaires, 143, 144 ; Letters to
Gallo, 145, 146, 152 ; Not in-
formed of rupture with Naples,
T50; Detained in Naples, T51 ;
Complains to Gallo, 152; Leaves
Naples, 154

Laubert, Carlo, 165

Lawrence, Sir Thomas, artist, 25, 41

Le Brun, Madame Vig^e, her opinion
of Lady Hamilton, 25, 36, 41, 47,
58, 64, 296, 329; Paints Emma's
portrait, 32, 33 ; Paints Emma as
Sibyl, 37 ; On Queen Marie-Caro-
line, 83

Leopold II, Emperor of Austria, 79

INDEX

339

Lichtenau, Countess of (Mme Rietz),

. 73> 74
Linley, Mr, co-owner of Drury Lane

Theatre, 4
Louis XVI, 80

Louis XVIII, King of France, 236
Lutwidge, Mrs, 113
Lyon, Henry, father of Lady
Hamilton, i, \i,

Macdonald, General, 166, 168, 169,
217

Mack, Austrian General, 149, 151,
164

Mackau, Ambassador, 86

Mallet-du-Pan, iig

Malmesbury, Lady, 58, 266

Marinelli, Signor £)iomede, 241

Marie Antoinette, 79, 174, 305

Marie-Caroline of Lorraine, Queen
of Naples, Parentage, 82 ; Char-
acter, 83 ; Temperamenti 84 ; Re-
ceives Emma at Court, 58, 63, 78 ;
Their friendship, 66, 68, 69;
Gives orders for victualling
British fleet, 90; Joy at the Vic-
tory of the Nile, 122, 132, 135 ;
Letter to Emma, 154; Persuades
the King to fly, 155 ; Escapes to
Palermo, 160; Sufferings of
Royal Family, t6r ; Active part
in politics, 162, et seq; Attacked
by Jacobin papers, 165 ; Her in-
dignation and desire for revenge,
165, 199, 200, 201 ; Anger at
signing of treaty, 172; Makes
Nelson her tool, 177, 186, 190,
213, 214 ; Comments on capitula-
tion, 191 ; Feelings towards
Caracciolo, 218, 220, 225, 232,
233, 237 ; Overthrown by the
French, 242 ; Seeks refuge in
Sicily, 242 ; Tries to have Murat
deposed, 243 ; Death at Hatzen-
dorf , 244 ; Murat's tribute of re-
spect, 244

Maria Theresa, Empress of Austtia,
82

Migliaccio, Lucia, 244

M^jean, Colonel, 166, 168, i6g, 171,
188, 203

Metternich, Austrian Minister, 243

Micheroux, Antonio, 170, 175, 176,
T89

Minto, Lord, 178, 308

, Lady, 266

Monaco, Princess Joseph de, 37

Monteleone, Duke, 213, 242

Murat, 88, 243, 244, 262

Murray, Captain 295

Nelson, Rev. Edmund, father of
Lord Nelson, 100, 292

, Horatia (afterwards Mrs

Ward), Birth (1800), 278, 280;
Confided to Nurse Gibson, 275 ;
Considerations concerning her
parentage, 276, et seq; Her ap-
pearance, 281 ; Goes to Merton,
281 ; Admonished by Lady
Hamilton, 318; Goes to Calais,
320 ; Education, 321 ; Returns to
England, 324; Taken to Mr
Matcham, 324; Marries the Rev.
Ward, 324; Tries to discover her
mother's name, 286

, Reverend William, 273, 274,

284, 301

, Lady, cool welcome to her

husband, 268, et seq; Meets Lady
Hamilton, 270 ; Leaves Lord Nel-
son, 271, 272

, Horatio, cause of his visit to

Naples, 88, 89, 90; Hamilton
invites him to stay at the Em-
bassy, 93; First meeting with
Lady Hamilton, 94; Becomes
Rear-Admiral in 1797, 98; Cir-
cumstances that influenced his
love for Lady Hamilton, 100;
His appearance, 100 ; His tem-
perament, 100, et seq; His piety,
loi ; Returns to Naples, 1798,
103 ; Reaches Syracuse, 105 ; In-
dignation at Neapolitan Govern-
ment, 106; Secret correspon-
dence with Lady Hamilton, 108 ;
She becomes his political confi-
dant, no; Love for Sir William,
in; Probable date of the be-
ginning of intrigue, 120 ; Victory
of the Nile, 121 ; Tries to force
Neapolitans into declaring war,
123; His demands, 130; Returns
to Naples, 131 ; Grand reception,
132 ; King George makes him
Baron Nelson of the Nile, 134;
Plans to retake Malta, 136;
Letter to Lady Hamilton from
Malta, 141 ; Promises to assist
Neapolitan sovereigns, 156 ;
Helps them to fly to Palermo,
156; Breaking of the treaty, 172,
et seq; Divine Right of Kings,
178; Refuses to recognise treaty,
176; Reprimands Captain Foote,
179; Deceives Ruffo, 185, 187,
189; Influenced by Emma, 190;
Refers to orders received from
Court, 194 ; Explanations given
by him to Admiralty, 195, et seq;

340

INDEX

Counter-RevoIutioB, 213, 214 ;
His indignation against Carac-
cioloj 220 ; Trial hurried on, 223,
224 ; He approves sentence, 222 ;
Refuses to grant a reprieve, 223 ;
Emma's influence, 223 ; Repri-
manded by Admiralty, 247 ;
Fete given in his honour at
Palermo, 250; Remains with
Emma in Palermo, 252, et seq;
Grand Cross of Malta, 253 ;
Leaves Palermo with the HamiU
tons, 258 ; Gambles, 260, 261 ;
Starts homeward, 262 ; Leghorn,
Vienna, Dresden, Hamburg, 262,
263, 264, 267 ; Enthusiastic re-
reception in London, 268 ; Meet-
ing with Lady Nelson, 270; She
leaves him, 271 ; He lives with
the Hamiltons, 272 ; Birth of
Horatia, 275 ; Love for the child,
27s, 276, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287 ;
Intends to divorce, 280; Tour
through the Kingdom, 289 ;
Purchases Merton, and lends it
to Hamiltons, 295 ; Returns to
Naples, 299 ; Appeals to Marie-
Caroline in favour of Lady
Hamilton, 300 ; Last days at
Merton, 307 ; Draws up codicil
on the morning of Trafalgar,
309; Killed in battle, 244, 310

Nicolas, Sir Nicholas Harris, 236,
27r

Nisbet, Josiah, 96, 97, 269

Noia, Duke of, 283

Parkinson, Lieutenant, 235, 246
Paul, Emperor of Russia, 253, 254
Payne, John Willet, Captain, 6, 7
Piatti, Domenico and Antonio, Nea-
politan bankers, 242
Pignatelli, Prince, 213
Pimentel, Eleonora de Fonseca,
poetess and revolutionist, 214, 242
Pius VI, Pope, 242

QuEENSBEERY, Duke of, 42, 290, 299,
314

Recamier, Mme, r74, 330

Rehberg, Frederick, historical pain-
ter to the King of Prussia, 60,
294

Richelieu, Duke of, 243

Rodney, Admiral, 217

Romney, George, meets Emma, 11;
Her beauty inspires him, 12 ;
" The Spinstress," 17 ; On her
Attitudes, 43

Rose, George, 194, 298, 3ri, 316, 321
Ruffo, Fabrizio, Cardinal, r66;
Volunteers to raise army in Cala-
bria, 166, 167; Troops of Santa
Fe, 167; Takes Naples, r68;
Offers terms to rebels, 168; Ne-
gotiations with Mejean, 168;
Negotiations with Nelson, r76, et
seq; His humanity, r79, 186, 201,
202 ; Goes on board the Foud-
royant, r82 ; Calls together
signatories of treaty, 183 ; Con-
sents to renew hostilities. Ne-
gotiations with Troubridge and
Ball, r88; Letter from Ferdi-
nand, 192; Gratitude towards
Han^ilton and his wife, 211; He
gives aid to Counter-Revolution,
213 ; Acknowledges Joseph
Buonaparte, 213

San Felice, Luisa, 214, 242
San Marco, Duchess of, 248
Saxe, Chevalier de, 73
Saxony, Electress of, 264, 265
Saxe-Coburg, Prince Leopold of,

314
Scott, Dr, Chaplain on board the

Victory, loi, 312, 316
Sidmouth, Viscount, see Addington
Smith, Joshua Jonathan, Alderman,

318, 324
Sorrentino, Duchess of, 248, 258
Spencer, Lord, Letters to, 196, rgS

236
de Stael, Mme, 330
St Vincent, Earl, loi, 138, r39, r40
Suwarrov, T40

Thomas, Horatius Leigh, 3

Thomas, Mrs, 4

Thurn, Count, Austrian Admiral,
219; Part played in Caracciolo's
trial, 22r, 223, 224, 227

Trench, Mrs St George, On Lady
Hamilton, 57, 265, 266, 328, 262

Troubridge, Sir Thomas, Nelson's
emissary 90 ; Executions at
Procida, 186; Acts as Nelson's
emissary to Ruffo, 187, 188; Let-
ter to Nelson, 218, 208, 209 ; Re-
monstrates with Nelson, 260

Valliere, Mile de la, 278
Villeneuve, French Admiral, 130
Vaudreuil, Count de, 154

Walpole, Horace, On Lady Hamil-
ton, 25, 40, 42, 44