[N.B. The Mysterious Letter
appears to have been inclosed in this Packet.]
August 26th, 1803.
Wrote several days past.
MY DEAREST EMMA,
By the Canopus, Admiral Campbell,
I have received all your truly kind and affectionate
letters, from May 20th to July 3d; with the exception
of one, dated May 31st, sent to Naples.
This is the first communication I
have had with England since we sailed.
All your letters, my dear letters,
are so entertaining! and which paint so clearly what
you are after, that they give me either the greatest
pleasure or pain. It is the next best thing, to
being with you.
I only desire, my dearest Emma, that
you will always believe, that Nelson’s your
own; Nelson’s Alpha and Omega is
Emma! I cannot alter; my affection and
love is beyond even this world! Nothing can shake
it, but yourself; and that, I will not allow myself
to think, for a moment, is possible.
I feel, that you are the real friend
of my bosom, and dearer to me than life; and, that
I am the same to you. But, I will neither have
P.’s nor Q.’s come near you! No; not
the slice of Single Gloster! But, if I was to
go on, it would argue that want of confidence which
would be injurious to your honour.
I rejoice that you have had so pleasant
a trip into Norfolk; and I hope, one day, to carry
you there by a nearer tie in law, but not in
love and affection, than at present.
I wish, you would never mention that
person’s name! It works up your anger,
for no useful purpose. Her good or bad character,
of me or thee, no one cares about.
This letter will find you at dear
Merton; where we shall one day meet, and be truly
happy.
I do not think it can be a long war;
and, I believe, it will be much shorter than people
expect: and I shall hope to find the new room
built; the grounds laid out, neatly but not expensively;
new Piccadilly gates; kitchen garden; &c. Only
let us have a plan, and then all will go on well.
It will be a great source of amusement to you; and
Horatia shall plant a tree. I dare say, she will
be very busy. Mrs. Nelson, or Mrs. Bolton, &c.
will be with you; and time will pass away, till I
have the inexpressible happiness of arriving at Merton.
Even the thought of it vibrates through my nerves;
for, my love for you is as unbounded as the ocean!
I feel all your good mother’s
kindness; and, I trust, that we shall turn rich, by
being economists. Spending money, to please a
pack of people, is folly, and without thanks.
I desire, that you will say every kind thing from
me to her, and make her a present of something in
my name.
Dr. Scott is gone with my mission
to Algiers, or I would send you a copy of the King
and Queen’s letter. I send you one from
the Queen. Both King, Queen, and Acton, were
very civil to Sir William Bolton. He dined with
Acton.
Bolton does very well in his brig;
but, he has made not a farthing of prize money.
If I knew where to send him for some, he should go;
but, unless we have a Spanish war, I shall live here
at a great expence: although Mr. Chevalier takes
every care, and I have great reason to be satisfied.
I have just asked William, who behaves
very well, whether he chooses to remit any of his
wages to his father. It does not appear, he does,
at present. He is paid, by the King, eighteen
pounds a year, as one of my retinue; therefore I have
nothing to pay. I have told him, whenever he
chooses to send any, to tell Mr. Scott, or Captain
Hardy, and he will receive a remittance bill; so, he
may now act as he pleases.
A-propos of Mr. Scott.
He is very much obliged to you for your news of Mrs.
Scott’s being brought to bed. No letters
came in the cutter, but to me, and he was very uneasy.
He is a very excellent good man; and, I am very fortunate
in having such a one.
I admire your kindness to my dear
sister Bolton. I have wrote her, that certainly
I will assist Tom Bolton at college. It is better,
as I tell her, not to promise more than I am sure
I can perform. It is only doing them a injury.
I tell her, if vacancies, please God, should
happen, that my income will be much increased.
With respect to Mr. Bolton every
body knows, that I have no interest; nobody cares
for me: but, if he will point out what he wants,
I will try what can be done. But, I am sure,
he will not be half so well off as at present.
Supposing he could get a place of a few hundreds a
year, he would be a ten times poorer man than he is
at present. I could convince you of it, in a
moment; but, if I was to begin, then it would be said,
I wanted inclination to render them a service.
I should like to see Sir H
P ’s book. I cannot conceive
how a man that is reported to have been so extravagant
of government’s money, to say no worse, can
make a good story.
I wrote to the old Duke, not long
since. I regard him; but, I would not let him
touch you for all his money. No; that would never
do!
I believe Mr. Bennett’s bill
to be correct; but, it was not intended you should
pay that out of the allowance for Merton; and, how
could you afford to send Mrs. Bolton a hundred pounds.
It is impossible, out of your income.
I wish Mr. Addington would give you
five hundred pounds a year; then, you would be better
able to give away than at present. But your purse,
my dear Emma, will always be empty; your heart is generous
beyond your means.
Your good mother is always sure of
my sincerest regard; pray, tell her so.
Connor is getting on very well:
but, I cannot ask Captain Capel to rate him; that
must depend upon the boy’s fitness, and Capel’s
kindness. I have placed another year’s allowance
of thirty pounds in Capel’s hands, and given
Connor a present.
What a story, about Oliver and Mr.
Matcham buying an estate in Holstein; and, to sell
out at such a loss! I never heard the like.
I sincerely hope it will answer his expectations;
it is a fine country, but miserably cold.
How can Tyson be such a fool!
I sincerely hope, he will never want money. I
am not surprised at Troubridge’s abuse; but,
his tongue is no scandal. You make me laugh,
when you imitate the Doctor!
I am quite delighted with Miss Yonge’s
goodness: and I beg you will make my best respects
to her and her good father; and assure Mr. Yonge,
how much obliged I feel for all his kind attentions
to you. Those who do that, are sure of a warm
place in my esteem.
I have wrote to Dumourier; therefore,
I will only trouble you to say how much I respect
him. I fancy he must have suffered great distress
at Altona. However, I hope, he will now be comfortable
for life. He is a very clever man; and beats
our Generals, out and out. Don’t they feel
his coming? Advise him not to make enemies,
by shewing he knows more than some of us. Envy
knows no bounds to its persecution. He has seen
the world, and will be on his guard.
I put Suckling into a frigate, with
a very good man, who has a schoolmaster; he does very
well. Bulkley will be a most excellent sea-officer;
it is a pity he has not served his time. I have
answered Mr. Suckling’s letter.
Gaetano is very well, and desires
his duty. I think, sometimes, that he wishes
to be left at Naples; but, I am not sure.
Mr. Denis’s relation has been
long in the Victory; but, if the Admiralty will not
promote my lieutenants, they must all make a retrograde
motion. But, I hope, they will not do such a cruel
thing. I have had a very affectionate letter
from Lord Minto. I hope George will be confirmed;
but, the Earl will not answer his application.
I shall send you some sherry, and
a cask of paxoretti, by the convoy. Perhaps,
it had better go to Merton, at once; or, to Davison’s
cellar, where the wine-cooper can draw it off.
I have two pipes of sherry, that is bad; but, if you
like, you can send the Doctor a hogshead of that which
is coming. Davison will pay all the duties.
Send it entirely free, even to the carriage.
You know, doing the thing well, is twice doing it;
for, sometimes, carriage is more thought of than the
prime cost.
The paxoretti I have given to Davison;
and ordered one hogshead of sherry to Canterbury,
and one to dear Merton.