The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-04-21
LADY HAMILTON.
90 MISERABLE AND wRErcHED EMMA ''
Among the splendid collection

Among the splendid collection of
autographs which enriches the Brit
ish Museum, is one which few per-
sons, familiar with the history in
yoyed therein, can look at without
a mingled smile and sigh. 1t is an
unfinished letter from Lord Nelson to
Lady Hamilton. Victory and death
prevented its completion, for it bears
date "Oct. 81, 1s05''-the day Of
Trafalgar. At the bottom of the
sheet, in hand so excited and trem
ulous that it is scarcely legible, are
these words:
"Found on his desk and brought to Lady
Hamilton by Sir Thomas Hardy.
30 miserable and wretched Emma! o
happy and glorious Nelsonw
The scandals pertaining to the era
of George w., recently resurrected
in the posthumous Memoirs of Mr..
Greville, and likely to receive fresh
impetus from the republications of
the now ell-advertised $4,000
book" have a curious side light
thrown on them by the associations
connected with the letter and memo
randa just mentioned.
Emma Harte Hamilton was by no
means strictly virtuous woman, but
she was decidedly more virtuous
than any Of the numerous members
of the harem of "the first gentleman
in Europe" No matter what she had
been, or what she was, Nelson loved
her with q frantic passion which
amounted to iGolatry; nor is there
any doubt that this love stimulated
the ambition and courage of Eng
lands greatest sailor, and thereby
aided in the accomplishment of those
deeds to which England owes the
sovereignty of the seas. Moreover,
it is an historical fact that when La
dy Hamilton was residing with her
husband at the Court of Naples
when Sir William was then British
Minister-she used her influence
with the Queen to procure the neces-
sary permits for the English feet to
land at Sicily and take on board GER
tain necessary stores; and also that
she advanced large sum of money
we believe fl5,O00 or f20,0O0-out
of her own purse to purchase these
stores. Without this influence and
assistance Nelson could have done
nothing; with them he was enabled
to go to Egypt and destroy the
French fleet at the battle of the Nile.
In his last will, written the day be-
fore Trafalgar, he states what we
have just narrated, and commends
Lady Hamilton to the gratitude and
protection of his country.
Now, We do not say that the Par
lament of England was in duty
bound to treat Lady Hamilton as if
she had never violated the seventh
commandment; but we do most en-
phatically say that the Parliament of
England was in honor bound to pay
her back, with interest, the money
she had advanced for England glory.
But not a single penny did she ever
receive, either Of principal or inter
est The sublimated virtue Of the
Lords and Commons would not per-
nit them to liquidete an honest debt
bequeathed to the Government by
the dying Nelson, because, forsooth,
the person to whom the debt was ow
ing could not claim to be an honest
woman! And at that very time, let
it be borne in mind, Gentleman
George" then Prince Regent, was
Keeping whole bevy of concubines,
and drawing the necessary funds
from the public treasury! At that
very time, too, more than one Peer
who turned up a righteous nose at
poor Lady Hamilton was winking at,
and deriving emoluments from, the
shame of some female of his family
who had caught the fancy of the Sui
tan who reigned at Windsor! At that
very time, too, the Duke Of yelling
ton was the friend of Harriet Will
son, as he was afterward of Mrs. Ar
outhnot, and hardly single member
e OF the Government was not openly
and VIGOROUSLY a violator of mar
rage VOWS! At that very time, too,
the Duke of Clarence-afterward
William 1V.-was living with Mrs.
Jordan and raising the brood of chill
dren who, when their father came to
the throne. were neatly ingrafted in
TO the British aristocracy and fed
and clothed out of the British pocket.
But NOT farthinn nnnld he had for