1805.] NELSON RETURNS TO MERTON. 309 bably be from the continuation of northerly winds. We are in lat. 39, long. 16, course west. No information; all night light airs." 1 On the 15th of August, still baffled in his persistent pursuit of the enemy, Nelson joined the Channel Fleet under Cornwallis, off Ushant, and, "on doing so I received an order from him to proceed immediately with Victory and Superb to Spithead, where I arrived this morning." On the 19th he struck his flag and went to Merton, where he resided during the few weeks he was on shore. Notwithstanding his failure to intercept the French Fleet, Nelson's popularity was as great as ever : 66 2 I met Lord Nelson," says Lord Minto, "in August, 1805, in a mob in Piccadilly. I got hold of his arm, so that I was mobbed too. It is really quite affecting to see the wonder and admiration and love and respect of the whole world; and the genuine expression of all these sentiments at once, from gentle and simple, the moment he is seen. It is beyond anything represented in a play or a poem of fame." 3 I Despatches, vol. vii. p. 2. 2 To William Marsden, Spithead, August 19th. 3 Quoted in the Edinburgh Review, as above, pp. 373-4. CHAPTER XV. THE LAST COMMAND. (1805.) Nelson at Merton-Blackwood's news-Nelson at the Admiralty-Early sketches of the intended attack-Sir R. Keats and Lord SidmouthLeaves Merton-Embarks at Portsmouth, September 14th-Joins the fleet off Cadiz, September 28th-Watching the enemy-The enemy coming out of port-The enemy at sea-The last letters before the battle-The Hamilton codicil. ORD NELSON remained at Merton until the 2nd of September, 1805, visited by the whole of his family.! As I have in another chapter given an account of Nelson's private life, both during his journey from the Mediter ranean after the Battle of the Nile, through the continent, and subsequently at Merton, it is needless to repeat it here. As a resident landlord he spared neither pains nor money to render his poorer neighbours comfortable and happy during the brief period of his last residence, which by this time had been In August, 1805, Nelson, writing to Beckford, excused his not accepting his invitation to Fonthill, on the ground that all his family were with him, his stay uncertain, and that he has refused all invitations. Every ship, even the Victory, ordered out. According to Harrison, vol. ii. p. 454, Dr. Nelson and his wife and children; Mr. and Mrs. Bolton, and Thomas Bolton (second Earl Nelson); Mrs. Matcham and her son George (see his account of the life at Merton (Chapter XIX.), and her two daughters and Lady Hamilton. |