New-York tribune., 1905-11-27
DUKE OF BR0NTE.
Most of Nelson's Confidential Papers
Preserved Unpublished.

r-sv ptople are aware that there is stu in sx-
,-.nee an immense chest cralnmed full OF the
nrtvate and confidential correspondence of Lord
,-sIson and OF Emma. Lady Hamilton. which the
bsoersphers Of these two personages would have
4ven their very eyes TO obtain, especially in con-
ection with the recent centennial OF the battle OF
trafalgar. They are in the possession of the ad-
-n,raPs great -grandrephew, the Hon. Alexander
sslson Hood private secretary to the Princess of
ITales and who has inherited the Italian title of
T)uke Of Bronte well the extensive estates
n Sicily bestowed by King Ferdinand OF Naples
,,nou England's greatest naval hero.
The duke. for he is known such in Italy, where
he spends the greater portion of the year. has so
Ear resisted all attempts the part of students
Of history and biographers to obtain even glimpse
~ the contents Of all this correspondence Of the
rr.st admiral and Of Emma, Lady Hamilton. Per
hans some day he may see his way TO give It to
the world. He is a man Of considerable decision
:, character, Of varied attainments OF business
,rpe-ience and especially Of pluck, which he mani
tasted on one memorable occasion when, having
resisted demand for tribute by brigands in Sicily
he was subjected by them TO a midnight attack in
so-ce upon his castle of Maniace, followed by a
.ege which eliminated IN his routing the brig
on6s killing some and wounding others. The lat
Ter no did not turn over to the police but had
their wounds cared for at the castle, where they
rsre treated by him with the utmost kindness and
boeuitslity until their recovery, since which time
al scflian brigands have given him wide berth,
,-s,ne him with good will and respect This
tocident has been utilized by Marion Crawford
- several other noveIists as the theme Of some
~ their most popular books
The castle Is & grand old place on the slopes OF
z-.na and was built some thousand years ago by
- C-.ek general Maniaces who with Harold
1y.-s-a6a and the latters NoTsemen, drove the
ss-scens from all that part Of the island II was
,cc,,nied for 4 time by William II, grandson OF
the great King Roger Of Sicily, from whom nearly
every reigning house OF the Old World is descend
cd snd It was there that his mother, Queen Mar
-,srite founded a monastery in 1174 for the
reservation of a sacred painting brought back by
-. ., the mobiles Of Constantine the Great from
-o,e+ant!riople. and which, representing the VIZ
sr I'D the Child was alleged to have been painted
- g Luke The picture which the present Duke
:; E-onte found in the castle now hangs over the
-. ,r the adjacent church. It is very crudely
Ivrn and painted the infant Jesus having dis
tc,1x Oriental appearance and a dark, copper
coIored complexion
A. the time when the Castle of Maniaces. the
monastery and the lands and vineyards were be
s+oued bv King Ferdinand upon Lord Nelson, along
4,h an annuity Of $50 600 year, the place was IN
Stacking condition Of disrepair. and remained so
rn It passed into the possession Of the late LORD
E-dnort as granddaughter Of Lord Nelson IN 1853
Al that time no member Of the family had visited 1t
Cor forty years. Lord Bridport, however took the
estate in hand, spent considerable sum Of money
1 ,As+orlng the castle and the monastery build
,n1s and in developing the property, turning over
tbe entire management thereof IN 1873 to his third
a., Alexander Nelson Hood. the present Duke Of
5ronie,
To-day the estate, which is traversed by nearly
twenty miles Of excellent roads. produces large
eusutity Of excellent wine of the Marsha order
which yields q very handsome return, whlle the
castle has been converted into q most comInodlous
and even luxurious abode crammed almost from
cellar to roof with Nelson relics The entire es-
tate which is Of vast extent. is known as Bronte'
taking its name from the rumbling of the volcano
on the slopes Of which It Is situated For bronte
means thunder
The duke. I may add. was gentleman in walt
a., n c1eAr Victoria and controller OF the house
hold of the late Duchess of Teck, mother Of the
Princess of Wales. He is a novelist, an engineer
and has been decorated by the King OF Italy with
the Order Of the Crown for his services TO Italian
agriculture