In the mean time, the memorable Quixottical insanity of the Russian Emperor Paul, having operated, with the intrigues of France, to produce an intended naval confederacy of the northern nations against the maritime power of Great Britain, it was wisely determined, by the then British government, instantly to crush a design pregnant with such alarming consequences.  For this purpose, a powerful fleet was now fitting out, under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker; which, while it conveyed to the triple league of the Danes, the Swedes, and the Russians, the most unequivocal desire of preserving peace, on the part of Great Britain, should carry with it the fearless front of a decided readiness to commence, if necessary, immediate hostilities.

Lord Nelson having consented to go out second in command, on this grand and most important expedition, came to London, for a few days, previously to his departure:  when his lordship learned, with no small degree of surprise, that Lady Nelson had given up the house, and was retired to Brighthelmstone.  His astonishment, at thus finding himself without a house or home, is not easy to be described.  He hastened to his friend Sir William Hamilton, and most pathetically represented his situation.  Sir William embraced him—­“My dear friend! while I have a house, you can never want one.”  Then, conducting him to his lady—­“Emma,” exclaimed Sir William, “Lord Nelson says, he has no home.  I say, he has, while I have one; what say you?” Her ladyship replied, that she was exactly of the same opinion.  Lord Nelson opposed this arrangement, on account of the slanders of the world:  but Sir William Hamilton, with a noble disdain of malevolence, felt sufficiently satisfied of the virtue in which he confided; and Lady Hamilton, who never opposed Sir William in any thing, without affecting to raise squeamish objections, readily signified her acquiescence.  Lord Nelson then dropped on his knee, and piously appealed to Heaven, as witness of the purity of his attachment; and, with similar solemnity, they each, reciprocally, vowed an equally disinterested and indissoluble friendship.  Such was the bond of that sincere amity which, whatever may be said, the individuals who compose the world will generally be inclined to estimate, as they always do on such occasions, according to the larger or lesser degree of vice or virtue which they respectively find in their Own hearts.  From this moment, it was agreed that, while his lordship should be in England, they would constantly reside together:  and, as no power on earth could have now prevailed on Lord Nelson again to live with his lady, who had carried her resentments much farther, in several respects, than it is thought necessary on this occasion to particularize, deeds of separation were soon after prepared and executed by mutual consent; the negociation of which was kindly undertaken by Alexander Davison, Esq. his lordship’s confidential friend.