a minister as Mr. Addington:  it must, certainly, appear evident that, if there had not been some very unaccountable neglect, or some most scandalous impediment, the just expectations of so many great and estimable characters, would long since have been satisfied by the grant of a liberal pension to Lady Hamilton; not only as the relict of such an honourable envoy, but for her ladyship’s own individual public services to the country.  What Lord Nelson thought on this subject, to the last hour of his most invaluable life, will necessarily be hereafter more particularly noticed.

Soon after his lordship’s arrival at Gibraltar, while he was going up to Malta, in the month of June, for the purpose of collecting his ships, he wrote to Lady Hamilton that, when he was in sight of Vesuvius, his thoughts of his dear friend, Sir William, were so severe, that he had nearly fainted.  Thus delicately tender were all the virtuous affections, in the bosom of this truly heroic man.

Though Lord Nelson was, now, established commander in chief, in some sense for the first time, the dread with which his name inspired the enemy rendered the service far too inactive for his lordship’s taste.  To watch the motions of a timid enemy, and wait the tedious periods of their venturing out, was to him a most irksome task.  He disdained, however, any strict blockade of Toulon:  but encouraged the boastful fleet, ignominiously skulking there, to come fairly forward; by always leaving them sufficient sea room; though he endeavoured to preserve over all their motions a constantly watchful eye.  Month, after month, seemed sluggishly to pass away, in wearisome succession; though his lordship, whose mind was ever too alert for a state of actual supineness, kept continually cruizing about.  He hoped that, at least, they might thus be encouraged secretly to detach a small squadron, which he had little doubt some of his brave fellows would soon contrive to pick up.  In these cruizes, too, his lordship, at least, was certain of securing one object, ever the first regard of his heart, that of preserving the health of the men, without which no victory could be expected.  His care, in this respect, was most unremittingly employed; and the following letter, written by Lord Nelson, at that period, to his friend and physician, the celebrated Dr. Moseley, of Chelsea Hospital, who has purposely favoured the biographer with a correct copy, will not only evince his lordship’s indefatigable attention, and his very great skill and success, but prove otherwise considerably interesting.

     “Victory, 11th of March 1804.

     “MY DEAR DR. MOSELEY,