o the prosperity of the city of
London, on which depends that of our country.

"I am truly sensible of your politeness, in desiring me to say what
particular devices I should wish on the sword which is to be
presented to me by the city of London; but, I beg to leave that to
the better judgment of my fellow-citizens. Believe me, when I
assure you, that I feel myself your most faithful and obliged
servant,"

Nelson.

"Sir William Anderson, Bart late Lord-Mayor of London.

"Vanguard, Palermo,
31st Jan. 1799.

"SIR,

"I have this day received your letter, conveying to me the great
honour conferred upon me by the worshipful Company of Drapers of
London, by presenting me with the freedom of their company. I beg
you will, Sir, have the goodness to convey to the worshipful
Company, how much I feel honoured by their kind notice of my
services; and assure them, that it shall be the study of my life,
to preserve their good opinion. Allow me, also, to thank you, for
the very flattering manner in which you have executed the orders of
the company. Believe me, Sir, with great respect, your much obliged
and most obedient servant,"

"Nelson."

Henry Smith, Esq. Clerk of the Drapers Company.

"Vanguard, Palermo,
31st Jan. 1799.

"SIR,

"I am this day favoured with your letter, conveying to me the
unanimous resolution of the Common Council of Liverpool, to honour
me with their thanks, and also the freedom of their town. I beg you
will assure those whom, from this moment, I am to call my brother
freemen, that my future exertions shall never be wanting, to
approve myself worthy of the high honour conferred upon me by the
representative body of the second sea-port in the kingdom; and
believe me, with the highest respect, your much obliged and
obedient servant,

"Nelson."

"Thomas Leyland, Esq. Mayor of Liverpool."

The transactions of this busy day were of a nature which could not fail
highly to gratify the feelings of our hero. He also received, either on
this day or the following, a most kind, friendly, and highly
satisfactory epistle, from the Earl of St. Vincent; the purport of which
is sufficiently obvious from this answer, dated on board the
Bellerophon, to which he had now shifted his flag.

"Bellerophon, Paler