r, your own NELSON.

August 26th, [1803.]

Letters

FROM

LADY HAMILTON

TO

LORD NELSON.

Letters OF LADY HAMILTON, &c.

I.

Naples, June 30th, 1798.

DEAR SIR,

I take the opportunity of Captain Hope, to write a few lines to you,
and thank you for your kind letter by Captain Bowen.

The Queen was much pleased, as I translated it for her: and charges me
to thank you; and say, she prays for your honour and safety--victory,
she is sure you will have.

We have still the regicide minister here, _Garrat_: the most impudent,
insolent dog; making the most infamous demands every day; and I see
plainly, the court of Naples must declare war, if they mean to save
their country.

_Her Majesty_ sees, and feels, all you said in your letter to Sir
William, dated off the Faro di Messina, in its true light; so does
General Acton.

But, alas! their First Minister, _Gallo_, is a frivolous, ignorant,
self-conceited coxcomb, that thinks of nothing but his fine
embroidered coat, ring, and snuff-box; and half Naples thinks him half
a Frenchman: and, God knows, if one may judge of what he did in making
the peace for the Emperor, he must either be very ignorant, or not
attached to his masters or the _cause commune._

The Queen and Acton cannot bear him, and consequently [he] cannot
have much power: but, still, a First Minister, although he may be a
minister of smoke, yet he has always something; enough, at least, to
do mischief.

The Jacobins have all been lately declared innocent, after suffering
four years imprisonment; and, I know, they all deserved to be hanged
long ago: and, since Garrat has been here, and through his insolent
letters to Gallo, these pretty gentlemen, that had planned the death
of their Majesties, are to be let out on society again.

In short, I am afraid, all is lost here; and I am grieved to the heart
for our dear, charming Queen, who deserves a better fate!

I write to you, my dear Sir, in confidence, and in a hurry.

I hope you will not quit the Mediterranean, without taking _us_. We
have our leave, and every thing ready, at a day's notice, to go: but
yet, I trust in God, and you, that we shall destroy those monsters,
before we go from hence. Surely, their reign cannot last long!

If you have any opportunity, write to us; pray, do: you do not know
how your letters comfort us.

God bless you, my dear, dear Sir! and believe me, ever, yo