The San Francisco call., 1897-05-30

personal charms and accus toned to the
alteration of public men, diplomats aNu
artists, it was natural that Lady hainl' ton
should have laid her nets for the suecess1ul
naval commander whose name ana lame were
at this time 1796) the talk of Europe. Nei-
son arrived at the court OF Naples, met 'ne
renowned wife OF Sir William Hamilton anu
was conquered; but it must not De lmaglneu
that their acquaintance was simple love IL
fair. Through the relations of Lady Hamilton
with the Queen of Naples, whose 'real ana
only confidential friend" she was, Nelson was
enabled to keep his hand upon the pulse OF
Europe, then throbbing feVerishly In looA
we find him writing to Addington, the tnen
Prime Minister OF England:
Having for a length OF time seen the CORE
spondence, both public and prir0te, from all
the Neapolitan Ministers TO their Government
and to the Queen of Naples, am perfectly
acquainted with the views OF Inc several
powers"
From this it will be seen that whatever sue
cess Nelson may have had in the field OF d1plo-
macy it must be attributed to his experiences
at the Neapolitan court under the tuition OF
his inamorsta That she was fully capable,
apart from her exclusive sources OF lnfor ma
tion OF being his tutor may be judged from
an estimate of her character made oy BECK
ford, q contemporary writer, who SAID Oh her:
"She was artful; and no wonder, she had
been trained at the court OF Naples, nne
school for an English woman of any stamp.
As for his own wife, whom he had LETT De-
hind in England, there can be little doubt that
Nelson's arrangement from her was caused by
nothing more serious than a lack OF sympathy
be tween the two Yet several times in his
correspondence he took occasion TO speak in
the highest terms Of Lady Nelson. Thus in a
letter 10 Lord st. Vincent he writes: " am
possessed of everything which is valuable III q
wife" and later he concludes a letter 10 her:
''With every kind wish that fond heart can
frame, believe me, as ever, your most affection
ate husband"
Turn we now to the closing scenes IN the
life OF Nelson. In the chapters of Captain
Mahan's work entitled ''The Antecedents OF
Trafalgar" and 'Trafslgar-The Death OF Mel
son." our author has narrated historical
events with consummate accuracy and skill.
Every point made and every position taken
by the opposing fleets is elucidated in the
clearest possible manner with the use OF dia-
grams. The smallest details of the attack are
presented-even to the position OF the wind on
that memorable day in October, 1908.
The day before the battle of Trafalgar, Nell
son spent much OF his time on the poop of the
Victory. Addressing himself to a number
of midshipmen, the admiral said: "This day
or tomorrow will be fortunate one for you
young gentlemen" alluding to their prospec
of promotion after a successful battle. The
same day at dinner he said to some OF the
company: Tomorrow / will do that which
will give you younger gentlemen something
to talk and think about for the rest of your
lives, but shall not live 10 know about 1t my
SELF" He added that be expected to capture
twenty to twenty-five OF the hostile fleet
This anecdote, it may here be said, is related
BIZ Captain Mshan as q new one, it havin;
been told to him by the son of man who wa
present when Nelson's prophecy was made.
In fairness to the author we shall not dis.
figure the text descriptive of the actua
battle, so ably and thoroughly done, by max
ing short excerpts from the same. One Incl
dent, however, should be touched upon, view
ing it as an illustration of the ruling passion
that is strong even in death. Always prayer
full man, 1t seems strange to read of Nelson's
solicitude for and invocstions to the Deity In
behalf of the object OF his unholy affection
Take care of my dear Lady Hamilton" he be
sought Hardy continually; and to the attend
ant, DR.. Scote: doctor, I have not been q
great sinner. Remember that leave Lady
Hamilton as a legacy TO my country
The substantial results of the battle having
been made known TO him, Nelson was dis
tinctly heard to murmur, "Thank God
have done my duty" and these words, says
his biographer, "sealed the closed book oi
Nelson's story with truth broader and deepe
than ne himself could suspect His duty wa,
done and its truth perfe cted."
The entry in the log book of the Victory un
der date October 81, 1905. is brief and rugged
partial firing continued until 4:3O, when s
victory having been reported to the Righ
Honourable Lord Viscount Nelson, KB, b,
died of his wound" EMANUEL ELIAS.