APPENDICES. I. THE BIRTH-PLACE OF NELSON. RESTORATION OF BURNHAM THORPE CHURCH. Y the kindness of the Rev. Lister-Knight, the rector of Burnham Thorpe, at the vicarage of which Nelson was born, I am enabled to give a brief account of its church, the restoration of which is being attempted by a committee of which H.R.H. the Prince of Wales is the chairman, and to which her Majesty has gladly contributed. "This building," says Sir Arthur Bloomfield, in his report, "apart from the interest which it must always inspire in connection with the great name of Nelson, is itself a good specimen of the churches of a country unusually rich in mediaval ecclesiastical architecture. "The columns and arches on each side of the nave, dating from the thirteenth century, are good in character, and very finely proportioned, the rest of the church, including the clerestory, is of the different date of Perpendicular, and the exterior of the east end a beautiful and effective composition. The chancel arch is poor and mean, its poverty no doubt being hid in past days by a rich rood-loft. "Its present condition is sad. Some time in the last century the upper part of the tower fell down, injuring the roof and partially ruining the south aisle, since taken down, its arches built up, and a slated roof put up, quite unworthy of the church, and the upper part of the tower built up, quite regardless of anything like a restoration of the former one. At the same time the western arch was built up and a gallery erected. The old font much injured by the fall of the tower, the stone and base destroyed, lay for many years in the rector's garden, but has now been restored to the church. In the north aisle the ancient roof remains, but much out of repair. The side windows in this aisle are of a very graceful design. In the chancel is the grave of Nelson's father, who was for forty-seven years the rector of the parish. Except some fragments of the lower part of the screen, which formerly divided the eastern bay of the north aisle, no doubt as a chantry chapel, there are no remnants of ancient woodwork. The recess for the reredos and altar in this chapel still remain at the east end, and a small priest's door in the north aisle." Thanks to the interest which the Queen with the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh are taking in this movement for the restoration of the church, and the very liberal responsibility which the rector has taken towards its cost, we may trust that it may be made a fitting monument of the great man whose father was so long its rector. II. NELSON AND ALEXANDER DAVISON. ACCOUNT OF DAVISON'S MEMORIAL TO NELSON, FORMED OUT OF THE GUINEAS FOUND IN HIS PURSE AT TRAFALGAR. If Clarke and McArthur are correct (vol. i. p. 77), Nelson became acquainted with his future friend and naval agent, during his command in the Albermarle on the American station, when, as they relate, he prevented Nelson from ruining his early career with his attachment to a young Canadian lady. "The Albermarle was ready for sea at Quebec, when A. Davison met the frigate's captain as he sprung from his boat to the beach. Davison eagerly asked him the occasion of his return. 'Walk up to your house,' replied Nelson, and you shall be acquainted with the cause. I find it utterly impossible to leave this place without again looking on her who has so much added to its charms, and laying myself and my fortunes at her feet.' 'Your utter ruin,' cried Davison, situated as you are at present, must irretrievably follow.' Then let it follow,' exclaimed Nelson, I am resolved to do it.' Davison, however, talked him over, and watched on the beach until the Albermarle was blowing out to sea." Mr. C. Russell has adopted this anecdote, but it seems to me too like "a stage Nelson," as he says with respect to similar stories, to be worthy of insertion in the text. 6 It is sad to think of the close of the hitherto most successful career |