Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-08-17
SeIetteo Ml8eeIIanu.
LoaD NELSON AND LADY HAMILTON.

LO9D NELSON AND LADY HAMILTON.
"The Lives of Great Men" is the title of
a series of very interesting articles in Bel
gravia, One is devoted the English
hero Nelson's adventures with the motor
ious Lady Hamilton, portions of which we
extract:
LADY HAMILToNs ORIGIN.
In 1764, Sir William Hpmiton was ac-
credited to Naples from England When
he returned to England, in 1882, he was
widower of 30. When he returned to Ma
pies he was accompanied by lady not his
wife,
This lady occupying this doubtful posi-
ton was the famous Emma Lyons, whose
history up to this period had best be hur-
ried over as quickly as can be. She was
the daughter of very poor people in Wales,
who were colliers, and born in 1854. Her
mother, lett widow, went to live with her
own family, the Kidds, golfers also; and it
was said that the little girl had been often
seen walking beside a donkey laden with
coal for sale. In some short memoir, which
she was said to have dictated or inspired,
she said Lord Halifax had her educated in
superior manner-a statement refuted by
that Indifferent spelling and English which
she never got rid of to the end of her life.
At l3 she appeared as sort of child's gov
erness or maid at the house of Mrs.
Thomas. Three years later she got to Lon
don as a shop girl in st. James market,
where she soon attracted attention, and a
lady took her for maid-a Mrs. Budd,
MaWho lived in Chatham Place. This was a
gay house, where balls and parties were
always going on--something more like the
field she longed for. Here she read novels,
and paid stolen visits to play houses, and
was presently turned off. She was next
seen at q tavern frequented by artists and
actors, where she acquired that wonderful
dramatic taste end pantomimic action for
which she became SO celebrated; and like
Garrick when q youth, she would go
through q whole series of attitudes and de-
carnations for her histrionic admirers at
the tavern. It was there that ''the female
of whom we are speaking"-to use the va
let-like phrase of the s'hack" who put to-
gether her memoiIs-heard of the impress
ment ofa yonng Welshman whom sheliked !;
and she went TO Captain Payne-a -afterward
the Admiral Payne SO well known as a man
of pleasure-tO intercede for her friend
Such intercession was only too successful,
and fairly started her on the career that
suited her. Sir Harry Featherston was her
new ''protector," with whom, says the
chronicler, "she lived In spIendor" Then
came the usual reverse-misery and even
destitution, and the exhibition with the
quack Graham, notorious for his earth
baths, his bed of Apollo, and lectures,
which gave q prestige as fashionable, and
about as questionable, as that of Madame
Rachel TO this man Emma Lyons hired
herself to personify the goddess of health
and illustrate his lecture and thus became
known to Romney.
After being idolized awhile by the paint
er, she transferred herself to roue, Hon.
Charles Greville- Under his care sherapid-
Iy rose III fortune, but in time was trans
ferred to Greville's uncle Sir William Ham
lton.
At Naples she developed an unexpected
and marvellous ability. She was driven
from society, and was forced to study. We
learn that she soon began to develop.
HER WONDERFUL ABILITIES.
Her wonderful gifts soon began TO de-
velop, aud at private parties given by Sir
William she sang in manner that delight
ed all Thus did Lord Sandwich exhibit
Miss Ray. The most curious performance
was what might be called her poses pl0sti-
qaiss; when she would stand up in the draw
ing-room, and snatching shawl ora piece
of stuff, would by series of striking and
intensely dramatic attitudes, convert her
self into Roman matron, a bayadere, a
nymph, or represent grief, JOY, or terror.
This was also favoritG effect of Garrick' 8,
who would stand up and "go through his
rounds" as he called it. Her elderly pro-
tector was the most enraptured of all the
delighted spectators; and be employed
German artist named Rehberg TO sketch all
these various attitudes in outlines, like the
drawings of Flaxman's figures. These were
had in and or7r
ious, though not very remarkable.
Another performance Of hers was the
shawl-dance, which she gave with great fire
and piquancy.
81 HER MARRIAGE.
Feeling, however, that she had greater
gifts than these, and longing for field
more worthy of her talents, she made all
these faseinations turn to the one end
that of an honorable position; and at last
prevailed SO far that in 1874 they set off for
England with the intention of being mar
ried. This discreditable marriage of an
ambassador of England with his mistress
took place in 1871, at Marylebone Church; !;
and characteristically enough, the sigma
ture to the registry runs "Amy Lyons,
Just as the actresses of our time who play
in burlesque set themselves down in the
bills by invented names, like Lydia This
and Bella That. Great efforts were made
to have the new Lady Hamilton presented
at court; but this was sternly refused
Even on the day of the marriage, Sir Will
liam had private interview with the king.
who mentioned the report of the marriage,
and said he hoped it was not true. The
fashionable world, however, gathered
around her, once she had secured her spa
tent" and hocked about her; 1nd for them
she went through her little performance.
She went to see her old admirer, Romney.
fantastically dressed as Turkish woman,
and took Sir William. The painter fell
back into his old drivellng admiration, and
wearied her out with sittings. 81 devote
my whole time, he wrote, "to the divine
lady. The greatest part of the
summer / shall be engaged painting pic
lures of the divine lady" which were for
the Prince of Wales" He gave her dinner
parties, where she sang and played, and
stood up to give now serious, now comic
characters. Her Nina plunged a whole
fashionable company in g an agony of sor-
row." GalLni, of the Opera House, offer
ed her two thousand year and two bene-
Ats.
APPEARANCE ON THE SCENE OF LORD NELSON.
After his great victory in September,
1898, Nelson returned 10 Naples, where he
was the hero of the day. He had known
the Hamiltons before, and on his return he
resumed their acquaintance. Here, despite
the fact that he had wife in England, he
became enamored of Lady Hamilton. The
fact became notorious, and excited good
deal of remark. IL $500 the Hamilton party
and Nelson sailed for England. They stop
ped at Dresden, where Mrs. st. George
thus wrote of
NELSON NEW FLAME.
"Bold, forward, coarse" with colossal
f,pure and hideous feet. Her bones SEEM
ed large, and in shape she was exceeding
Iy embonpoint; her complexion wes very
coarse. Such really would be the type OF
beauty which an ordinary Jack-tar might
desire in his Moll or Bet The shape OF
her features, however, was fine, as well as
that of her head and ears, and their express