put to sea; either for the purpose of going off Brest,
or stretching for the West Indies, when it was impossible
for whole fleets to clear the channel, where they
were now not unfrequently detained as long a time
as would be requisite to make the whole voyage.
Adverting to the example of his esteemed friend, Captain
Foley, as a native of Pembrokeshire, his lordship
remarked that, if government would only continue a
fair encouragement to the port, the officers, the seamen,
and the artificers, of the county of Pembroke, it
could not fail to effect important services for the
nation. His lordship concluded with observing,
that he felt so happy at beholding such public benefits
combined with the objects established on his friend
Sir William Hamilton’s estate, by prudence of
plan, unremitted perseverance, and with small means,
under the judicious arrangements of the Honourable
Mr. Greville, that he would, if not on service, promise
to return, as often as it should be in his power,
to join them in celebrating the annual festivity thus
established: and hoped that what he now publicly
said, or had previously stated in private to his friends
while surveying the port, would be remembered, for
they were genuine truths; and he had already actually
written to the minister, that he was in perfect admiration
of this fine neglected port. Such is the substance
of Lord Nelson’s observations with regard to
Milford Haven; the remembrance of which will, no doubt,
long be cherished in the grateful bosoms of all who
had the honour to hear him.
Sir William Hamilton left a fine whole-length picture
of Lord Nelson, which had been painted at Vienna,
to be preserved, for the perpetual gratification of
visitors, by the occupier of the New Hotel, where his
lordship and friends resided while at Milford.
After visiting Lord Cawdor, at Stackpoole Court; Lord
Milford, at Picton Castle; Lord Kensington; Mr. Foley,
brother of Captain Foley; and other noblemen and gentlemen
in that part of the country, by all of whom they were
sumptuously entertained; the party set out on their
return from this highly satisfactory tour. At
Haverfordwest, on going to visit Mr. Foley, the horses
had been taken from Lord Nelson’s carriage, and
he was drawn through the streets by the populace;
preceded by the Pembrokeshire militia, a troop of
the Haverfordwest cavalry, and the flags of the different
companies and societies, &c. While they were at
Mr. Foley’s, the mayor and corporation waited
on his lordship, and presented him with the freedom
of that ancient town. At Swansea, too, where he
minutely examined the pier, pottery, and other places,
while on a visit to Glasmont, the seat of John Morris,
Esq. the carriage had been drawn through the town
by a choice body of exulting tars; and, after being
regaled with his friends, by the portreeve, his lordship,
and Sir William Hamilton, were both presented with
the freedom of Swansea.