had already rendered Merton Place a little
paradise, by their tasteful arrangements. They jointly directed the
disposition of the most beautiful shrubs; and not unfrequently placed
them in the earth, Sir William or Lady Hamilton assisting his lordship
to plant them with his single hand. A small mulberry-tree, now only a
few feet high, and standing in front of the house, not far distant from
the canal, where it was fixed by Lord Nelson's own hand, may hereafter
rival the celebrated mulberry-tree at Stratford upon Avon, planted by
the immortal Shakspeare; the first dramatic bard, and naval hero, "take
them for all in all," the world is ever likely to know. The prospect of
immediately executing the desirable additional improvements in his
lordship's estate, the plan of which had already been long contrived,
was a source of considerable satisfaction to their anticipatory minds,
as the spring season advanced. The purchase, indeed, was compleated the
beginning of May 1803; but, events were now destined to occur, in the
few intervening days, which rendered the possession of what had been so
eagerly sought, of little value to either of the persons by whom it had
been regarded as so sure a source of increased enjoyments.

Towards the latter end of March, Sir William Hamilton, then in his
seventy-fourth year, suddenly felt himself more than usually indisposed.
He was a gentleman of the most exalted understanding; and knew,
perfectly well, from the nature of his sensations, that the period had
arrived, when his corporeal dissolution must hourly be expected. This
circumstance conveyed, to his excellent heart, no uncommon alarm: the
serious contemplation of death, had not been deferred to the last moment
of his existence; and he therefore beheld, without dismay, every step of
it's awful approach. With a calmness which he was unable to communicate
to his lady, he announced the solemn certainty; and declared his
resolution immediately to leave Merton Place, lest he should, by dying
there, render it an insupportable future abode to the feelings of his
tender and illustrious friend. Sir William, on arriving at his house in
Piccadilly, the 29th of March, instantly annexed the following
remarkable codicil to his will--

"March 29,1803.

"The copy of Madame Le Brun's picture of Emma, in enamel, by Bone,
I give to my dearest friend, Lord Nelson, Duke of Bronte: a small
token of the great regard I have for his lordship;