but in the obscure, patient endurance of the last two years, evoked a sentiment which spread over him and her a haze of tender sympathy that still survives.  In the glory of Trafalgar, in his last touching commendation of her and his child to the British Government, in the general grief of the nation, there was justly no room to remember their fault; both acquaintance and strangers saw in her only the woman whom he loved to the end.  The sisters of Nelson, women of mature years and irreproachable character, maintained a correspondence with Lady Hamilton during their lives; long after his death, and the departure of his influence, removed any interested motive for courting her friendship.  Between them and Lady Nelson, on the other hand, the breach was final.  Their occasional mention of her is unfriendly, and upon the whole contemptuous; while she, as far as can be judged from their letters, returned to them an equal measure of disdain.

FOOTNOTES: 

[39] Josiah Nisbet, her son.

[40] Nelson’s eldest brother.  There appear to have been two copies of this letter in Nelson’s hand.  One, of which the latter half only remains, is in the British Museum.  It bears the endorsement of Lady Nelson, as given.  The other copy, entire, is in the Alfred Morrison collection—­Number 536.  Nelson probably sent a copy to Lady Hamilton to satisfy her exigencies that the breach was final.  The two correspond, word for word,—­as far, that is, as the former remains.  Maurice Nelson died in April, 1801.

[41] Nelson several times spoke of Nisbet’s early promise.  The author is indebted to Mrs. F.H.B.  Eccles, Nisbet’s granddaughter, for a copy of the following letter from St. Vincent to his sister Mrs. Ricketts:—­

LONDON, January 22, 1807.

My dear sister,—­Upon reflexion it appears best to send you the only letters I can find relative to Captain Nisbet, and to authorize you to assert in my name that Lord Nelson assured me that he owed his life to the resolution and admirable conduct of his stepson, when wounded at Teneriffe, and that he had witnessed many instances of his courage and enterprise.  Yours most affectionately,

ST. VINCENT.

This letter explains how St. Vincent, feeling the value of Nelson’s life to the country, granted, in the still warm memories of Teneriffe, a promotion which must have been sorely against his judgment.

[42] Nicolas, vol. vii.  Addenda, p. ccix.  In a letter to Lady Hamilton of the same date, Nelson says:  “Read the enclosed, and send it if you approve.  Who should I consult but my friends?” (Morrison, vol. ii. p. 142.) Whether the enclosed was this letter to Davison cannot be said; but it is likely.  Compare foot-note, preceding page.

[43] Nelson.

[44] Lady Nelson.

[45] Morrison, vol. ii. p. 137.

[46] On the 21st of September, 1802, six months before Hamilton’s death, he was still L1,200 in Nelson’s debt. (Morrison, vol. ii. p. 404.)