rizes safe moored in the
Tagus, conveys the Duke d'Hervie. He, poor man! although a Grandee
of Spain, having been driven out of that kingdom by the insolent
intrigues of Truguet.
I have obeyed your Ladyship's commands respecting Tom Bowen, who is
now Captain of L'Aquilon, and gone to Lisbon to take possession of
her; and his brother William, who married a daughter of Sir William
Parker, I have appointed to the Caroline, the finest frigate I have,
and he is employed on the most advantageous service for filling his
pockets. Should your Ladyship have any other protege, I desire you
will not spare me.
I am very much penetrated with the condescension their Majesties of
the Two Sicilies have graciously shewn to me, through your Ladyship,
and I rely on your doing justice to my feelings upon the occasion.
I have taken up my residence here for some months, that I may be ready
to afford succour to the detachments of the fleet I have the honour to
command, in the Levant and before Cadiz; and, when Sir William and you
arrive, I shall be able to give you some English mutton, in a plain
way.
Continue to love me; and rest assured of the most unfeigned and
affectionate regard of, my dear Lady Hamilton, your faithful and
devoted Knight,
ST. VINCENT.
Admiral's House, Rosia, Gibraltar,
28th October 1798.
III.
MY DEAR LADY HAMILTON,
I have to thank you, which I do most kindly, for your obliging letters
of the 7th and 10th of November; and for the gracious letter which
your Ladyship had received from the charming, delightful Queen of the
Two Sicilies, at whose feet I am anxiously desirous to throw myself:
and, as I have relinquished my intention of returning to England,
(although in possession of leave to go) I hope the period is not far
distant. In the meanwhile, have the goodness to keep me alive in the
remembrance of her Majesty: assure her of my profound respect and
admiration for her as Queen--I dare not give utterance to what I feel
for her as one of the first and most lovely of her sex.
Our possession of the island of Minorca will relieve her Majesty, and
the government, from one embarrassment, touching their last treaty
with France; as Lord Nelson will now be able to refit his squadron,
without committing an infraction of the treaty.
Our excellent friend, General O'Hara, is very busy in erecting two
rooms for the accommodation of your Ladyship and Sir William, when
you visit this curious r
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