ling friends did ample justice to the
liberality of the representatives of our Royal Master and Mistress.
Mr. Preston was charge, when I was at Naples with the Duke of
Gloucester; and, though a worthy gentleman, and since a pious Bishop,
he was certainly a dry comedian.

Have the goodness to commend me to the Queen; continue to nurse my
excellent friend, Nelson; and, when I have the happiness to see Sir
William and your Ladyship here, I will pour the effusions of my heart
upon you both. The Governor has added two rooms to the convent, for
your accommodation; and Mrs. Grey, late Miss Whitbread, wife to the
Captain of the Ville de Paris, will contribute all that this house
affords for the entertainment of both.

God bless you, my dear Lady Hamilton; and, be assured, no man respects
and esteems you more truly than your Ladyship's truly affectionate

ST. VINCENT.

Rosia House,
27th February 1799.

Letters

FROM

SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL

TO

LADY HAMILTON.

Letters OF SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, _&c_.

I.

My Dear Madam,

I cannot help loving and esteeming you very much, although you have
proved such a false gipsey to me. Pray, do you recollect looking into
my hand, and telling me a pretty story of carrying home Sir William
and Lady Hamilton, &c. &c. However, I forgive you; as you did not take
money, and could only have in view giving me much pleasure.

I beg leave to introduce to your Ladyship's notice the Abbe Savoye;
who is a sensible man, and the most polished here. He has great
influence with the Maltese. Pray, request Sir William to introduce him
particularly to Le Chevalier Acton.

I shall have the pleasure of seeing you and Sir William Hamilton in
England, this summer. How very much I wished to be near you, when you
were reading the parliamentary effusions of gratitude and joy for the
services Lord Nelson has rendered his country! I would rather be Lord
Nelson, than any Duke--or, indeed, any man--in England; and you may
guess how very proud I am in having such a friend. Indeed, I feel,
that I owe more to him than any man in this world. I have written to
Sir William; God bless you both!

I remain, with sincere respect and esteem, my dear Madam, your
Ladyship's most devoted and obliged humble servant,

ALEXANDER JOHN BALL.

Alexander,
9th February 1799.

Davidge Gould is sighing for Palermo; _alias_ Miss K----. I wish the