Full text of Memoirs of Emma, lady Hamilton, the friend of Lord Nelson and the court of Naples;

by Yelena Kopylova

  on which Emma would row her hero, around which

  the small Horatia played, in which Charlotte and

  Horatio fished; while on its banks Nelson planted a

  mulberry-tree that Emma fondly vaunted would rival

  Shakespeare's. Goldsmid's Georgian house still

  stands; but Merton Place has vanished into the vista

  of crumbled yet unforgotten things. The ancient

  church, however, though enlarged and well restored,

  is much the same. Its churchyard still shows familiar

  names Thomas Bowen, and the Smiths who were to

  be poor Emma's last befrienders. In the south aisle

  is a picture attributed to Luca Giordano whose name

  380

  EMMA, LADY HAMILTON 381

  must have recalled Naples to Hamilton. The very

  bench on which they sat is still kept in the vestry. The hatchment with Nelson's bearings, which Emma presented after Trafalgar, still hangs in the nave. The

  fine old house " Church House " which they must have passed so often, still fronts the church porch.

  Even when they were there, the famous Priory where

  the great Becket was educated, and round which Mer-

  ton's feudal memories clustered, had been replaced by

  calico factories. How eagerly must Nelson have

  awaited a glimpse even of these, when he drove up

  along the Portsmouth road for his last brief sojourn in

  the home of his heart; how wistfully must he have

  passed them, when the door clicked to, and off he

  rattled to eternity!

  The two snakes in the grass of " Paradise " Merton were lavishness and, as it would seem, its contrast,

  Greville.

  Nelson's liberality was as unbounded as abused;

  even his skin-flint brother William begged him to re-

  frain in his own favour. Applications rained from

  all quarters. A Yorkshireman wrote and said he

  would be pleased to receive 300. " Are these peo-

  ple mad ? " sighed the hero, " or do they take me quite for a fool?" He was always bestowing handsome

  presents, while for his many regular benefactions, he

  had sometimes to draw on Davison. And Emma's

  open-handedness was not far behindhand. She scat-

  tered broadcast to her relations, to the poor, deserv-

  ing or the reverse. The Connors soon began to prey

  on her anticipated means. Money burned a hole in

  her pocket, and she never stopped to think of the

  future. Before the year closed she left a note from

  Coutts for her husband on her toilet-table to the ef-

  fect that her ladyship's balance was now twelve shil-

  382 EMMA, LADY HAMILTON

  lings. Greville must have shuddered when his uncle

  forwarded it to him. " Sensibility " was always overdrawing its banking account, and " Nature " continually forestalling expectations. Added to largesse was

  some extravagance, but not to the degree that has

  often been put forward : it was by no means enor-

  mous, and in these days might be considered normal

  for her husband's position. Emma was in a holiday

  mood. Hamilton would not brace himself to the real

  retrenchment of giving up the London house, nor

  would Emma forego superfluities. Merton, though

  with intervals of quiet, became open house. Nelson's

  sisters, with their families the Boltons with six, the

  Matchams with eight, his brother, still hunting for

  preferment, with his " precious " Charlotte, and little Horatio, the heir; old naval friends, including "poor little fatherless Fady," whom, it will be remembered, Emma tended in 1798. Emma's kindred, Italian singers, the theatrical and musical Mrs. Lind, Mrs. Billing-

  ton, and Mrs. Denis; " Old Q." from Richmond, Wol-cot the satirist, Hayley from Felpham, Dr. Fisher from

  Doctors' Commons; Admiralty big-wigs, disgusted of-

  ficials, noisy journalists, foreign bearers of Nelson's

  decorations, the Abbe Campbell, Prince Castelcicala

  the Neapolitan ambassador, the Marquis Schinato,

  Maria Carolina's own son, Prince Leopold all were

  indiscriminately welcomed. It was a menagerie. The

  Tysons, too, were now at Woolwich, and to them,

  as Nelson's attached adherents, Emma was all atten-

  tion. She chaperoned their young people to balls.

  She healed their conjugal differences : Mrs. Tyson was

  never so happy as at Merton, when her dear husband

  was restored to her, and she could at last " take the sacrament with a composed mind" and " bless

  dear Lady Hamilton." Benevolence, hospitality, and

  racket each mingled in the miscellany, and all of them

  EMMA, LADY HAMILTON 383

  tended to outrun the constable. The cellar was stocked

  with wine, and perhaps included some of those large

  gifts from foreign potentates to which a reference is

  made in the Life of the Reverend Dr. Scott. How-

  ever that may be, when Emma's affairs were liquidated

  seven years later, the valuation of the cellar amounted

  to no less than two thousand pounds.

  Nelson, who had protested against large gatherings,

  affected to enjoy Liberty Hall ; all that his Emma com-

  manded was exemplary. And, indeed, as appears from

  the accounts preserved in the Morrison autographs, the

  profusion was far greater in London, allowing for the

  expenditure of both houses. The joint weekly ex-

  penses at Merton were often no higher than some 30.

  Hamilton, however, whose own extravagance con-

  tributed, though he justified it by hopes from Adding-

  ton, soon began to murmur. Greville, the monitor,

  was at his elbow. The heir's prospects were being

  imperilled by that very Emma whose thrift he had

  first inculcated and extolled; it was too bad; he must

  protect his old uncle, who protested to him that only

  fear of an " explosion " which might destroy his best friend's comfort stopped his rebellion against the

  " nonsense " that invaded his quiet. Before the year was out he even meditated an amicable separation. He

  did not complain ; he still loved her. But he could not

  but perceive that her whole time and attention were

  bestowed on Nelson and " his interest." Therefore (and here Greville's voice appears to recur), after his

  hard fag at Naples, at his waning age, and under the

  circumstances, a wise and well-concerted separation

  might be preferable to " nonsense " and silly alterca-tions. He had not long to live, and " every moment

  was precious " to him. He only wanted to be left

  alone at Staines, or Christie's, the Tuesday Club, the

  Literary Society, and the British Museum. " Nestor "

  384 EMMA, LADY HAMILTON

  continued a philosopher. They might still get on well

  enough apart, or together, if Emma would but consult

  the comfort of a worn-out diplomatist and virtuoso:

  " I am arrived at the age when some repose is really necessary, and I promised myself a quiet home, and

  although I was sensible, and I said so when I married,

  that I should be superannuated when my wife would be

  in her full beauty and vigour of youth ; that time is arrived, and we must make the best of it for the comfort

  of both parties." He " well knew " the " purity of Lord Nelson's friendship " for them both. Nelson

  was their best friend, and it would pain him deeply t
o

  disturb his life or hurt his feelings. " There is no time for nonsense or trifling. I know and admire your

  talents and many excellent qualities, but I am not

  blind to your defects, and confess having many

  myself; therefore, let us bear and forbear, for God's

  sake."

  The voice of this last appeal is that of the kindly old

  epicurean, and not of the calculating cynic. Emma,

  erring Emma, responded to it, and peace was restored

  for the few months remaining. So far, our entire

  sympathy must be with the worried and injured Ham-

  ilton. But ere this his necessities, and the cunning use to which his nephew seems to have put them, had

  prompted a plan which must lower him in our estima-

  tion.

  As a rule, when Greville was asked (and he often

  was) to Merton, he politely excused himself. So

  anxious was Sir William for his presence that he actu-

  ally assured him of Nelson's " love," whereas Nelson, as we know, misliked the cold-blooded caster-off of his

  paragon. Greville, however, perpetually sent his

  warmest messages to the whole party, including his old

  acquaintance Mrs. Cadogan. With Greville, by hook

  or crook, a strange scheme was now to be concocted.

  EMMA, LADY HAMILTON 385

  Failing the princely aid of the previous spring, i bar-

  gain after his own heart was being revived.

  It will be recollected that Beckford, wearied of soli-

  tary magnificence, had offered Sir William a large an-

  nuity if he could induce royalty to grant a peerage to

  Hamilton with a reversion to himself. The Marquis of

  Douglas, heir of the ninth Duke of Hamilton and head

  of the clan, had shown symptoms of attachment to

  Euphemia, Beckford's daughter, whom in the end he

  married. If this attachment could be played upon for

  the purpose by the wary diplomatist, Beckford's object

  and Hamilton's might be secured. For such a plum

  Beckford now proposed a life annuity of 2000 that his

  kinsman might maintain the dignity of the peerage,

  and after his death one of 500 to Emma ; while, as a

  bribe to ministers, Beckford's " two sure seats " were to be at their disposal.

  Hamilton opened his mind the more freely to his

  " dear Marquis " on this " delicate " business since there existed a " very remarkable sympathy between

  them." Beckford had actually sent his West India

  agent to Merton for the management of this affair.

  Sir William ridiculed the mere notion of himself covet-

  ing such empty honours. He might, however, be use-

  ful to his friends, and no eclat need attend the transaction. Beckford had " strong claims on Government."

  An idea had struck Hamilton that the Marquis might

  one day be intimately connected with the Fonthill fam-

  ily. He did not demand definite answers; he was

  " sensible of its being a delicate point," yet he could not help flattering himself that " the good Duke of H. and myself would readily undertake anything for Emma's

  and my advantage, provided it could be done sans vous

  compromettre trop." The Marquis promptly answered

  his kinsman's " very kind and confidential letter from Merton " by a gentle refusal. He found town very

  386 EMMA, LADY HAMILTON

  empty, but a select few, his books, papers, and pic-

  tures, contented him. As to the matter in hand, it was,

  he feared, quite impracticable. With regard to his

  own inclinations, "any symptoms of any sort. 'which might have ' appeared in any part of his family " were unknown to and unencouraged by him. Hamilton

  must convey every kind expression to Lord Nelson and

  Lady Hamilton; to himself he need not name his re-

  gard, and he was and ever should be his affectionate

  friend.

  Poor " Nestor " ! To this pass have art and ambassadorship brought him. And, alas, poor Emma,

  that she, too, should enlist her Nelson in such a

  service !

  This disappointment happened in the summer, but in

  the spring an event occurred which cast real gloom over

  the Merton household. In April died, at his favourite

  Bath, the well-loved father, that kindly, upright Eng-

  lish clergyman, whom his great son fondly cherished,

  and whom he had actually wished to be a permanent

  inmate of the household. Nelson's health immediately

  grew worse. His first care, however, was for others,

  for his brother and sisters and his father's old man-

  servant. Condolences poured in upon him; nor was

  Emma the least grief -stricken, for this truly Christian soul had treated her with chivalrous charity, had wholly refrained from cruel speculations, and had rather

  sought to raise the thoughts of this strange incomer

  into Horatio's life. While the brother flattered for

  gain, while every application for Nelson's favour came

  through her, she had known and felt that Nelson's

  father, who refused to realise the truth, was wholly

  good as well as godly. She was in London at the

  time, and what she wrote has not survived. Sir Will-

  iam's letter has. It is characteristic of his " philosophy " that of " the best of all possible worlds " : EMMA, LADY HAMILTON 387

  PICCADILLY, April 28, 1802.

  ". . . Emma says I must write a letter to you of

  condolence for the heavy loss your lordship has suf-

  fered. When persons in the prime of life are carried

  off by accident or sickness or what is, I believe,

  oftener the case, by the ignorance and mistakes of the

  physicians then, indeed, there is reason to lament.

  But, as in the case of your good father, the lamp was

  suffered to burn out fairly, and that his sufferings were not great; and that by his son's glorious and unparalleled successes, he saw his family ennobled, and with

  the probability in time of its being amply rewarded,

  as it ought to have been long ago his mind could not

  be troubled, in his latter moments, on account of the

  family he left behind him. And as to his own peace

  of mind at the moment of his dissolution, there can be

  no doubt, among those who ever had the honour of his

  acquaintance. . . ."

  Before the blow, however, had fallen that sad-

  dened Merton, a dinner and musical party was given

  at which Braham, who was afterwards to sing, amid

  furore, the " Death of Nelson," performed.

  Nelson had much offended a society that longed to

  lionise him by sequestering himself from it altogether.

  Except at the assemblies of the Hamiltons' friends, he

  seldom figured at all, and the outraged Lady Nelson's

  advocates added this to their weightier reproaches

  against the " horrid " woman at Merton. He preferred even Bohemian routs to the solemnities of

  Downing Street or the frivolities of Mayfair, though

  he disliked all gatherings but those of intimate friends.

  Among the guests of this evening was their old ac-

  quaintance Lord Minto, formerly of Vienna. He was

  disgusted at the interior with its trophies and por-

  traits, but, above all, with Emma herself. Doubtless

  Memoirs Vol. 14 13

  388 EMMA, LADY HAMILTON

  the sight of him put her in her most self-assertive vein. />
  The reader must form his own judgment; but at any

  rate the censor, in this record, seems mistaken in sup-

  posing that the Hamiltons were " living on " Nelson.

  The Merton accounts in the Morrison Collection prove

  that all expenses were scrupulously shared. And when

  he brands Emma's effusiveness to Nelson as flattery,

  what would he have said had he been able, as we are,

  to read Nelson's own outpourings to Emma? If hers

  was " flattery," then still more was his. But diplomats are not psychologists, nor have they always insight into such emotional temperaments.

  ". . . The whole establishment and way of life is

  such as to make me angry as well as melancholy; but I

  cannot alter it. I do not think myself obliged or at

  liberty to quarrel with him for his weakness, though

  nothing shall ever induce me to give the smallest

  countenance to Lady Hamilton. She looks eventually

  to the chance of marriage. ... In the meanwhile, she,

  Sir William, and the whole set of them are living with

  him at his expense. She is in high looks, but more

  immense than ever. She goes on cramming Nelson

  with trowelfuls of flattery, which he goes on taking as

  quietly as a child does pap. The love she makes to

  him is not only ridiculous, but disgusting. Not only

  the rooms, but the whole house, staircase and all, are

  covered with nothing but pictures of her and him, of all sizes and sorts, and representations of his naval actions, coats of arms, pieces of plate in his honour, the flag-staff of L J Orient, etc., an excess of vanity which coun-teracts its own purpose. If it was Lady H.'s house,

  there might be a pretence for it. To make his own

  a mere looking-glass to view himself all day is bad

  taste. Braham, the celebrated Jew singer, performed

  with Lady H. She is horrid, but he entertained me

  in spite of her. Lord Nelson explained to me a little

  EMMA, LADY HAMILTON 389

  the sort of blame imputed to Sir Hyde Parker for Co-

  penhagen. . . ."

  It was certainly a queer household for seemly self-

  importance to enter. Without question, there was

  warrant for worse than such superficial strictures as

  those in which Elliot here indulged. Emma had deteri-

  orated, and she had never fitted the formalities of

  English drawing-rooms. Average folk, as will be

  seen hereafter, she charmed. But the guest, though

  naturally affronted, was likely to be prejudiced.