which I now resign to thee. It ought, in future,
to be possessed by the first defender of the same; or, by him who shall
restore it to thee, in case it should ever be lost." At the same time,
Lord Nelson received an official letter from his Excellency the Prince
Di Luzzi, informing him that his Sicilian Majesty had that day been
graciously pleased to create his lordship Duke of Bronte, in Sicily, and
to confer on him all the valuable estate and privileges attached to that
most honourable title.

When it is considered, that the word _Bronte_ signifies, in the Greek
language, _Thunder_; that the fabulous forger of the thunder of Jupiter
was said to be one of the Cyclops, named _Bronte_, who resided at Etna
in the Island of Sicily, where the Dukedom of Bronte is situated; and
that the military guard of honour, appertaining to the Dukes of Bronte,
still actually wear, in allusion to the fabled Cyclops, sons of Neptune
and Amphitrite, who had one large eye in the middle of their foreheads,
the representation of an eye on the front of their caps; there could
not, every person must admit, have been a more appropriate dignity
bestowed on our incomparable hero, by his Sicilian Majesty, than that
which he had thus liberally and judiciously been induced to confer.

Lord Nelson, penetrated with unutterable gratitude, by his majesty's
most generous munificence, instantly wrote the following letter to the
minister who had made this interesting communication.

"Palermo, 13th August 1799.

"SIR,

"I have this moment received the honour of your excellency's
letter, conveying to me his Sicilian Majesty's most gracious
approbation of my conduct; and, also, that his majesty had been
pleased to confer upon me the title of Duke of Bronte, together
with the estate attached to it. I request that your excellency will
lay me, with all humility, and full of gratitude, at his majesty's
feet: express, to him, my attachment to his sacred person, the
queen, and royal family; and that it shall be the study of my life,
by following the same conduct which has gained me his royal
favours, to merit the continuance of them.

"I sincerely thank your excellency for the very handsome manner in
which you have executed the royal commands; and believe me, with
the highest respect, your excellency's most obliged and obedient
servant,

"Bronte Nelson".

"His Ex