s, the Swedes, and the Russians, the most
unequivocal desire of preserving peace, on the part of Great Britain,
should carry with it the fearless front of a decided readiness to
commence, if necessary, immediate hostilities.

Lord Nelson having consented to go out second in command, on this grand
and most important expedition, came to London, for a few days,
previously to his departure: when his lordship learned, with no small
degree of surprise, that Lady Nelson had given up the house, and was
retired to Brighthelmstone. His astonishment, at thus finding himself
without a house or home, is not easy to be described. He hastened to his
friend Sir William Hamilton, and most pathetically represented his
situation. Sir William embraced him--"My dear friend! while I have a
house, you can never want one." Then, conducting him to his
lady--"Emma," exclaimed Sir William, "Lord Nelson says, he has no home.
I say, he has, while I have one; what say you?" Her ladyship replied,
that she was exactly of the same opinion. Lord Nelson opposed this
arrangement, on account of the slanders of the world: but Sir William
Hamilton, with a noble disdain of malevolence, felt sufficiently
satisfied of the virtue in which he confided; and Lady Hamilton, who
never opposed Sir William in any thing, without affecting to raise
squeamish objections, readily signified her acquiescence. Lord Nelson
then dropped on his knee, and piously appealed to Heaven, as witness of
the purity of his attachment; and, with similar solemnity, they each,
reciprocally, vowed an equally disinterested and indissoluble
friendship. Such was the bond of that sincere amity which, whatever may
be said, the individuals who compose the world will generally be
inclined to estimate, as they always do on such occasions, according to
the larger or lesser degree of vice or virtue which they respectively
find in their Own hearts. From this moment, it was agreed that, while
his lordship should be in England, they would constantly reside
together: and, as no power on earth could have now prevailed on Lord
Nelson again to live with his lady, who had carried her resentments much
farther, in several respects, than it is thought necessary on this
occasion to particularize, deeds of separation were soon after prepared
and executed by mutual consent; the negociation of which was kindly
undertaken by Alexander Davison, Esq. his lordship's confidential
friend.

While Lord Nelson, the second i