The Portland daily press., 1894-01-09
A NELSON LOVE-SToRY.
Montreal Corr. N. Y. POST

The attempt to wreck Nelson's monu
ment in this city has drawn the atten-
tion of many writers to the visit of the
hero of Trafalgar to this country. 1t
was in 1882 that duty brought him to
Quebec. He was then in his twenty
fourth year, and had but recently re-
turned from the frigid region of the
Baltic, where he had commanded the
Albemarle frigate, twenty-four guns
He arrived at Bic in July, and in due
course at Quebec. There he remained
for some weeks, when he departed on
a cruise along the American coast, and
returned to Quebec on September II,
knocked up with scurvy," to use his
own words. The sickness of his crew
compelled him to remain at Quebec for
some time, and it was not until October
IA that he was able to take his final de-
paruure from the St. Lawrence.
1t was during this interval that there
occurred one of the most romantic in
cidents of his life. The story is related
by Mr.. Henry j. Morgan of Ottawa, the
well-known historian and proprietor
of the Annual Register. Mr.. Morgan
says that Nelson fell victim to the
charms of Miss MarySimpson, the daugh-
ter of Quebec merchant in which city
he was born in 1866 or 1867. She was
about sixteen at the time of Nelson's
visit and is reputed to have possessed not
only marvellous beauty" but likewise
mental gifts of high order. One old
lady (Mrs. Harrower,) speaking of her
said: IF Mary Simpson was not the
E,.l ri
at any rate the handsomest have ever
beheld." She seems to have acquired
a complete ascendency over the head and
heart of the young first captain and also
of others including the estimable genule-
man who subseq uently became her hus-
band Col. Robert Matthews long the
military secretary in Canada to Lord
some years previous to his death holding
the post of Governor of Chelsea Hospi-
tai. The climax of Nelson's infatuation
is thus related:
When the Albermarle on October a
was ready for sea Capt. Nelson had taken
his leave and had gone down the river to
the place where the men-of-war usually
anchored but theneXt morning asMr Alex
ander Dawson was walking on the beach
he saw Nelson coming back i'll his boat.
On reaching the landingaplace the former
anxiously demanded the cause of his
friends return. Walk up to your house
Nelson replied and you shall be made
acquainted with the cause
He then said: I find it utterly impossi-
BILE to leave this place without again
waiting on her whose society has SO
much added to it's harms and laying
myself and my fortune at her feet Mr..
Dawson earnestly demonstrated with him
on the consequences of SO rash q step
Your utter ruin he said situated as
Unt rrA or Tlpa Sant xxri1I iVnx h lx- fol
low. Then let it follow exclaimed Mel
son for l am resolved to do it.. A
severe alteration ensued but Mr.. David
sons tirmness at length prevailed with
Nelson who with no very good grace re-
llnquished his purpose and suffered him
self to be led back to his boat. 1t is per-
haps useless now to speculate on what
would have been the consequences had
not Mr.. Davison's friendly counsel pre-
vailed with Nelson in his reckless in
factuaton. We have only TO erase from
the annals Of our country the Jour great
naval actions st. Vincent The Nile
Copenhagen and Trafalgar to form
some idea of our probable loss" That
Nelson did not forget what he owed
personally to this determined friend was
frequently proved in after years. Re-
moving to London Davidson became a
navy agent and banker and commissary
and contractor in all of which positions
Nelson's great influence was eXerted in
his favor. OF the fair Quebecker who in
spired SO passionate regard in the heart
of one of Britain's most illustrious sons
the record showssthat yielding at length
to Col. Matthews's ardent proposals he
joined him in England where they were
married. There insLondon.she continued
to reside for the remainder of her days
enjoying in amplest measure the respect
and esteem OF all. She survived MANY
years her early admirer. her death occlirr-
ing in London not before she had reached
her SEVENTEEN year. Officers of distinc-
ton who had served in Canada, includ-
ing his Royal Highness the Duke of
Kent, the Queens father, and Canadians
on visit to the mother country, were in
the habit of calling to pay their respects
to her up to the last, and on such occas-
ions the belle of Wadacona was accus-
toned to make particular inquiries
touching old friends and old scenes in
the land of her nativity.