Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-10


Emma to give up 1.-THE Apollo Couch"
enterprise and to live with him Emma
agreed to this, and the pair had three chill
dren. So infatuated was the man that hs
separated from his wife, who, like a spir-
tied woman, obtained divorce Then he
determined to marry Emma.
Sir William Hamilton, born in 1880 and
o representative Of one Of the first English
famisss, was Greyille's uncle and one OF
the foremost scholars of his day. At this
time Sir William: was nearly 65 years of
age, and his life had been that of a stu-
dent. He was England representative at
the court OF Naples when he heard of his
nepheVs infatuation with this adyentur-
ess, and securing a leave of absence he
FASTENED home to prevent the marriage.
Here follows one of the most remarka-
BILE incidents in history. and one of the
strangest illustrations of fascinating
woman's power. On reaching London the
righteously indignant old gentleman. Sir
william Hamilton, had meeting with his
nephew, Greville, and failing to influence
him to decency for the sake of the family
he sought out Emma Lyon. Emma had
been warned in advance of Sir Williams
visit and purpose. She knew he was rich
and widower, and she made her plans
accordingly.
Before two weeks Sir William Hamilton
was her slave. Tho nephew's love was a
calm breeze compared with the tornado of
the unclo's passion. The result was that
on consideration Of Greville giving IN ali
claims to Emma, Sir William paid all his
debts and settled on him a handsome sum.
And then be married himself the woman
he had hurried to England to keep his
pephew from espousing
Europe rang with revolution and war at
the time, SO that Sir William Hamilton's
marriage did not attract the attention it
deserved. He took his wife to Naples.
where her antecedents We're unknown, but
where her grace and beauty as well as her
brilliant intellect made her an immediate
favorite. Queen Catherine adored her.
even though it was said the king was smit-
ten with the wife of the English embassa.
dor.
At Naples in 1899 Lady Hamilton met
for the first time Admiral Nelson, already
, crippled man of middle age and the sail
Or idol of the English nation. 1t is now
very certain that Lady Hamilton loved
Admiral Nelson, SO far as she could love
any one. Plain in appearance and SCARED
though he was, his record, his simplicity
and his manly frankness could not but at
tract her, and in his turn he loved her with
all the strength of his intense, earnest ma
ture.
In 1895 Sir William Hamilton and his
wife returned to England. The old man
must have known of Admiral Nelson re-
lations with his wife, but, absorbed in the
study of antiquities, or it may be because
of moral indifference, he paid 10 heed to
it, but not SO the English people. Their
I'M rati
They regarded their great sailor as a sim
pie minded, pure hearted, unsophisticated
man, who had been duped by an adven-
turess, and so Lady Hamilton was not only
tabooed by the society that adored her
lover, but women not SO good as herself
affected to shudder when she was alluded
to in their presence.
On her return to England Lady Hamil.
ton separated from her husband and after
giving birth to a daughter, christencd
Horatia Nelson Thompson, she went tc
live at home provided for her by the ad
nliral.
So great was her influence over Nelson
that he virtually resigned his command to
be near her, and it was not till increasing
dangers Swallowed the empire that he re
sumed it, for his love of country was
stronger than his love for this fascinating
woman.
Some of Nelson's apologists have tried
to provo, but without success, that the re
lations between him and Lady Hamilton
were of n purely platonic character, and
that the child Horatia was not his.
This argument cannot stand in the pres
ence of the simplest and best known facts
Two hours before the battle of Trafalgar
in which he lost his life, Nelson wen,
down to his cabin to write. His will hat
been made months before The plan o.
the coming contest had been communicat
| ed to his subordinates. The sails of the ap
preaching French fleet could DO seen by
the lookout, but Nelson wrote. The letter
the unfinished letter and the last he evel
| attempted, was addressed to the woman h,
worshipcd. This letter, now preserved
| In the British museum, was sent to Lady
Hamilton. On the unfinished page sh,
| wrote of him as great and glorious Mel
son" and of herself as "wretched, hear
| broken Emma
| "A French sharpshooter up the mast of {
ship alongside the Victory, Nelson's vessel
shot him through the shoulder in the houl
| OF triumph, and he fell never to rise again
Calling to Captain Hardy, his chief o
| staff, he said:
II am dying, Hardy. Take care of my
dear Lady Hamilton. Take care of m!
| poor Lady Hamilton"
| His last words were addressed to tn,
chaplain when he was taken below:
| Doctor, l have been a great sinner
Remember leave Lady Hamilton and m,
daughter Horatia as legacy to my coun
try: And these were his last words.
| Nelson's brother and sisters were amply
cared for by England, but it was not til