Ex Libris C. K. OGDEN THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES NELSON'S LAST DIARY Published by permission of Sir Samuel Evans, President of the Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division. NELSON'S LAST DIARY SEPTEMBER 13— OCTOBER 21, 1805 With an Introduction and Notes by Gilbert Hudson LONDON ELKIN MATHEWS, CORK STREET M CM XVII DA CONTENTS PACK Introduction 9 The Private Diary, September 13 to October 8 15 Note of a Missing Leaf 20 The Private Diary, October 9 to October 19 . 20 Note of a Missing Leaf 23 The Private Diary, October 19 to October 21 . 23 The Codicil 25 The Affidavit 27 Notes 30 Additional Letters 41 The vignette portrait on the title-page is after a drawing by George Cruikshank NOTE The transcription of the Diary was under- taken at the suggestion of Mr. F. W. X. Fincham, Superintendent of the Literary Department, Principal Probate Registry, to whom and all other helpers the writer desires to express his acknowledgments. INTRODUCTION The Private Journal or Diary kept by Nelson from the time of his leaving Merton until the morning of Trafalgar, was afterwards brought to England by Captain Hardy, The Codicil which occupies its final pages, being proved as the eighth and last to the Will, the whole book was duly filed at Doctors' Commons, and transferred, in accordance with the " Probate Court Act" of i8S7, to the Probate Registry at Somerset House, where it and the other testamentary documents, like the Will of Shakespeare, are now preserved in a specially constructed box or case. Dr. Beatty, in his ' Authentic Narrative of the Death of Nelson' (1807), calls the Diary the Memorandum Book ; and as far as looks go it is nothing else. It measures about seven inches by four-and-a-half, and contains twenty leaves — now numbered as forty pages — all of them except the first, and the last five, being 9 INTRODUCTION written on both sides entirely by Nelson's own left hand, interleaved with blotting-paper, and bound in limp leather covers of a deep red shade. Nothing but a slight crinkling of these covers remains to show that the book lay during many years rolled up with the Will and other papers, without distinction of place or treatment. The fact that they have been protected, like thousands of other interesting records, from the deleterious handling of idle curiosity, speaks well for those official regulations which the general public is always ready enough to con- demn as arbitrary and unreasonable. Had the Diary been lodged in scrupulous custody at an earlier date, it might have re- tained its original number of leaves, whereof two, unfortunately, have long been missing. But the mutilation is not visible except on careful scrutiny, and the book now appears only a little more soiled and worn than when it lay in Nelson's escritoire, unhurt amid the perilous tumult of Trafalgar. The time-mellowed pages have a peculiar odour of a much more agreeable pungency than the usual mustiness of ancient "records, and more than faintly suggestive of spicy exhalations from tar and hemp and timber. Whether this arises indeed from some old permeation of nautical atmosphere and circumstance, or merely from certain fragrant qualities of the paper and lo INTRODUCTION binding, or by chance from any process of fumigation or embalmment, or from what other cause soever, it deserves at least brief mention if only for the sake of sentiment. Another curious detail is, that the writing nicely fills the paper, with the exception of the sides left blank, as noted above, at the beginning and the end of the book. Had the length of the entries been foreseen, and adapted to the space (which is impossible), they could not have fitted much better. The contents of the Diary have never been printed word for word either as they exist to-day or as before they were diminished by the theft of two whole leaves ; nor has this injury to the precious manuscript been pointed out till now. The Affidavit, moreover, upon which the Codicil was proved, and which, by the way, was never registered, appears now, probably for the first time, in its proper context. The transcription has been collated with the extracts given, as from the Private Diary, in the seventh volume of the ' Despatches and Letters of Lord Nelson ' (1846)— hereafter referred to simply as the ' Despatches ' — edited by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas ; from which work all subsequent biographers seem to have drawn their quotations. No extracts occur in Clarke and M'Arthur's ' Life of Nelson ' (1840) which do not afterwards appear in the ' Des- II INTRODUCTION patches,' and all the extracts printed in the latter work are described by the editor as taken either from the former, or from Dr. Beatty's ' Narrative of the Death, etc.,' or from " auto- graphs or facsimiles." Was Dr. Beatty, then, the only editor who copied from the Diary itself.? If he had the original before him, the fact that he heads his extract for October 20, as taken from an "autograph or facsimile," proves that the leaf containing this entry — and also, therefore, the corresponding leaf — must have been abstracted before the date of his writing.* Nelson's handwriting is in some places by no means easy to decipher, and would often baffle an unaccustomed reader ; but the consistency of the formations soon makes them clearer upon acquaintance. The lines run remarkably straight, and like the words are freely and evenly spaced. He very frequently wrote capital or enlarged small letters instead of ordinary initials, and less frequently small letters, or what look like them, at the beginning of entries and in other positions where modern usage would have expected capitals. Punctua- tion he almost eschews. An attempt to represent all these peculiarities in type would * See the notes under October 3 and 20 in the text of the Diary and at the end. 12 INTRODUCTION not have served any useful purpose. By printing capitals where custom now demands them, or may at least allow them, and also by supplying necessary stops, the transcriber hopes he has followed a satisfactory course between a thorough modernisation and a facsimile reproduction. G. H. i^ LORD NELSON'S LAST PRIVATE DIARY (known also as the private journal and AS THE memorandum BOOK) Friday Night at half-past Ten drove from dear, dear Merton, where I left all which I hold dear in this World, to go to serve my King & Country. May the Great God Whom I adore enable me to fullfiU the expectations of my Country, and if it is His good pleasure that I should return, my thanks will never cease being offered up to the Throne of His Mercy. If it is His good providence to cut short my days upon Earth, I bow with the greatest submission, relying that He will protect those so dear to me that I may leave behind. His Will be done. Amen. Amen. Amen. Saturday, Sept. 14th, 1805. — At six o'clock arrived at Portsmouth, and having arrainged all my business embarked at the Bathing Machines nelson's last diary with Mr. Rose and Mr. Canning. At 2 got on board the Victory at St. Helen's, who dined with me ; preparing for sea. Sunday, Sept. i$th, 1805. — At day weighed with hght airs Northerly. At 6 was obliged to anchor. At 8 weighed. All day light breezes. At sun sett off Christ Church. All night light Breezes & very foggy. Euryalus in company. Wrote Ly. Hn. Monday, Sept. 16th. — First part light Breezes & very (oggy. At noon fresh Breezes Westerly. In the evening off the Berry head 4 miles. All night fresh Breezes Westerly. Wrote Ly. H. Tuesday, Sept. lyth. — Fresh Breezes WSW. At 9 abreast of Plyh. Sent in Euryalus to call out the AJax and Thunderer. All night standg. to the Westward. Wind from SW to SSW. Wrote Ly. H. Wednesday, Sept. 18. — First part light Breezes & heavy western swell. Wind South. Lay too for the Aj'ax and Thunderer. Lizard North. At noon they joined. Made all possible sail. All night Breezes Vble from SE to SSW Swell from the Westward. Thursday, Sept. igth. — First part fresh gales ,& heavy sea. At noon hard gales at SW. At 16 nelson's last diary 6 P.M. hard Rain, wind at NW. All night heavy sea & fresh breezes. Wrote Ly. Hn. Friday, Sept. 20///.— Modte Breezes WSW & heavy sea. At 9 saw a Squadron of Ships of War. At 1 1 passed the Squadron of Rear-Adl. Stirling, consisting of 5 Sail of the Line and one Frigate. At noon wind WSW. Saw a Frigate to windward which made the private signal. At 2 spoke the Decade carrying the Flag of Rear- Adl. Sir Richard Bickerton. Capt. Stuart came on board. Gave him orders for his farther pro- ceedgs. Fresh gales. At 3 reeft the Courses. All night very fresh gales from the NW which came on with heavy rain at 7 o'clock. Saturday, Sept. 2.1st, 1805. — Fresh gales all day at NNW. At night wind at North & NE. Heavy swell. Sunday, Sept. 22nd.- — Modte Breezes at NE & heavy swell from NW. At i o'clock saw a Convoy of 7 sail under a vessel of war in the SE. quarter. At 6 o'clock Eiiryalns made the signal that a vessel was reconnoitering in the East quarter. All night fresh gales at East to ESE, Monday, Sept. 2'i^rd. — Fresh gales E b S. At 6 o'clock abreast of Cape Finisterre 17 Lgs. At 17 C nelson's last diary noon modte W : in Latd 42° : 2*5 [sic] N. All night fine weather. Wind Easterly. Tuesday, Sept. 24//?.— Modte Breezes SE. At noon in Latd. 40 : 05 N : 3 P.M. light airs South. In the evening wind Northerly. Light Breezes all night at NE and a swell from the NW. Wrote Ly. H. Wednesday, Sept. 2^th, 1805. — Light airs Southerly. Saw the Rock of Lisbon SSE 10 Leagues. At sun sett the Capt. of the Con- stance came on board. Sent my letters for England by him to Lisbon, and wrote to Capt. Sutton & the Consul. The Enemy's Fleet had not left Cadiz the iSth of this month, therefore I yet hope they will wait my arrival. Thursday, Sept. 26th.—lAght airs at NW all day. Rock of Lisbon in sight to the NNE 13-14 Lgs. At 4 o'clock sent Eiiryalus to join Vice Adl. Collingwood with my orders to put himself under my Command, considering myself as within the limits of my Command. All night light Breezes at NW. Friday, Sept. 2ytJi, 1S05.— At daylight Cape St. Vincent SE b S by compass 6 Leagues. Saw a Sloop of war or small Frigate East 5 or 6 miles. Called her in. She proved to be the 18 nelson's last diary Nmitilns Sloop from Vice Adl. Collingwood bound to England with dispatches. At noon abreast of Lagos Bay, Fresh Breezes NW. At I A.M. brought too. Fresh Breezes NW b N. Saturday, Sept. 2%th, 1805. — Fresh Breezes at NNW. At daylight bore up & made sail. At 9 saw the Aetna cruizing. At noon saw nine sail of ships of war bearing East Lat : 36 : 32 N. At one saw eighteen Sail. Nearly calm. In the evening joined the Fleet under Vice Admiral Collingwd. Saw the Enemy's Fleet in Cadiz, amounting to 35 or 36 Sail of the Line. Sitnday, Sept. 2<^th. — Fine weather. Gave out the necessary orders for the Fleet. Sent Eiuyabts to watch the Enemy with the Hydra off Cadiz. Monday, Sept. '^Gth. — Fine weather. Wind Easterly. Tuesday, Octr. ist. — Fine Wr. Adl. Louis, I squadron, joined with TJiunder [sic] and Endymion with sprung masts. Sent Aetna to cruize under Cape St. Mary's. Pickle joined from Plymouth, Wrote Ly. Hn, Wednesday, Octr. 2nd. — Fine Wr. Westerly. Sent Thnnder to Gibr., Sarda., Palermo & Naples. Sent Canop7is, Tigre, Spencer, Queen^ 19 C 2 nelson's last diary Zealous to Gibr. & Tetuan for water & provns. Sent the Nimble to England, All night fine weather. Monday, Octi^. "i^rd, 1805. — Fine weather. Sent Eiuydice to cruize under Cape St. Mary's. [Note. — This entry is the last on the page now num- bered 16. Page 17 begins with the words about the Ewydice. Then follows the entry dated October 9th. With the exception therefore of the Eurydice note (which must have been the last under October 8th), the entries for the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th days are wanting. The leaf which contained them was the half-sheet corre- sponding to the half-sheet — also missing — which con- tained most of the entry for October 20th. The latter deficiency can be made good from the " Despatches," but the former seems beyond remedy, unless, indeed, the present possessor of the stolen half-sheet can be found.] {Tuesday, Octr. %th.) — Off Cadiz Eurydice captured a Spanish Privateer. Wednesday, Octr. gth. — Fresh Breezes East- erly. Receiv'd an account from Capt. Black- wood that the French ships had all bent their Topgt. sails. Sent the Pickle to him with orders to keep a good look out. Sent Adl. Collingwood the Nelson Touch. At night wind Westerly. Thursday Octr. loth, 1805. — Fine Wr. Wind Westerly. Received an account that the Enemy are ready for Sea and at the very harbours 20 nelson's last diary Mouth. Bellisle made her number at noon. Bellisle joined from Plyh. In the evening the Renoinniee Frigate & Confonnder G Brig. Sent the Aetna & Confonnder to Gibraltar. All night very fresh Breezes NW & Rain. Friday f Octr. iith. — Fresh Breezes NW. Saturday, Octr. 1 2t]i. — Fresh Breezes N Werly — Keeping to the Westward.* Wrote Ly. Hn. Snnday, Octr. I'^tk, 1805. — Fine weather. Agamemnon joind from England having fallen in with the French Squadron off Cape Finistr. consisting of i Three decker and 5 Two deck'd ships, and had a narrow escape from capture. L'Aimable also joined who had likewise been chased. Prince of Wales sailed for England. Monday, Octr. i^th. — Fine weather. Westerly wind. Sent Amphion to Gibraltar & Algiers. Enemy at the Harbours Mouth. Placed Defence & Agamemnon from seven to ten leagues West of Cadiz and Mars & Colossus five leagues East from the Fleet, whose station will be from 15 Igs. to twenty West of Cadiz, and by this chain I hope to have a constant communication with the Frigates off Cadiz. 't>^ * The words Renomee joined which follow here are struck out. 21 NELSON S LAST DIARY Tuesday, Octr. i^th. — Fine Wr. Westerly. Sent Renommee & L Aim able to Gibralter & Malta and the Warspt. to Gibr. Adl, Louis is order'd to see the Convoy above Carthagena & the Frigates to escort them to Malta. All night modte. Breezes Westerly. Wednesday, Ocir. i6th. — Modte Breezes Westerly. All the forenoon employd forming the Fleet into the order of sailing. At noon fresh Breezes WSW & squally. In the evening fresh gales. Enemy as before, by Sign. from Weazel. TImrsday, Octr. lyth, 1805.— Modte Brezs. N Werly. Sent Donegal to Gibraltar to get a ground tier of casks. Receivd accounts by the Diligent Store ship that Sir Richd. Strachan was supposed in sight of the French Rochford Squadron, which I hope is true. At midnight the wind came to the Eastward. Friday, Octr. \^th. — Fine weather. Wind Easterly. The Combined Fleets cannot have finer Wr. to put to sea. Saturday, Octr. \()th. — Fine weather. Wind Easterly. At i- pt. 9 the 3Iars being one of the Look out ships made the signal that the Enemy were coming out of Port. Made the signal for a general chase SE. Wind at South, 22 nelson's last diary Cadiz bearing ESE by compass distance i6 leagues. At three the Colossus made the signal that the Enemy's Fleet was at sea. In the evening made signals to observe my motions during the night, for the Britannia^ Prince & Dreadnought, they being heavy sailers, to take Stations as convenient, and for Mars, Orion, Bellisle, Leviathan, Bellerophon & Polyphemus to go ahead during the night and to carry a light, standing for the Streights Mouth. [Note. — Here is wanting the leaf spoken of in the note to October 3. In its place the following extract is taken from the " Despatches."] Private Diary (Autograph in the possession of J. Wild, Esq.) Sunday, Ocfr. 20tk, 1805. — Fresh Breezes SSW and rainy. Communicated with Phoebe, Defence and Colossus, who saw near forty sail of ships of War outside of Cadiz yesterday evening, but the wind being Southerly they could not get to the Mouth of the Straits. We were between Trafalgar and Cape Spartel. The Frigates made the signal that they saw 9 sail outside the Harbour ; gave the Frigates instructions for their guidance, and placed Defence, Colossus and Mars between me and the Frigates. At noon fresh gales and heavy rain, Cadiz NE 9 Leagues. In the afternoon 23 nelson's last diary Captain Blackwood telegraphed that the Enemy seemed determined to go to the Westward ; and that they shall not do if in the power of Nelson and Bronte to prevent them. \Note. — The Diary then continues, from the top of the next page.] At 5 telegraph'd Capt. Bd. that I rely'd upon his keeping sight of the Enemy. At 5 o'clock Naiad made the signal for 3 1 sail of the Enemy NNE. The Frigates and Look out ships kept sight of the Enemy most admirably all night, and told me by signals which tack they were upon. At 8 we wore & stood to the SW, and at 4 a.m. wore and stood to the NE. l^Note. — This continuation is quoted in the " Des- patches" as from "a Facsimile Copy in the possession of Philip Toker, Esq., — Clarke and M'Arthur, Vol. 11, p. 441."] Monday, Octr. list, 1805, — At day light saw the Enemy's Combined Fleet from East to ESE. Bore away, made the signal for order of sailing and to prepare for Battle, the Enemy with their heads to the Southward. At 7 the Enemy wearing in succession. May the Great God whom I worship Grant to my Country and for the benefit of Europe in General a great and Glorious Victory, and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it, and may humanity after Victory be the predominant feature in the 24 nelson's last diary British Fleet. For myself individually I commit my life to Him Who made me, and may his blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my Country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted me to Defend. Amen, Amen, Amen. [The Codicil follows, as transcribed in THE " Despatches " and other works.] October the Twenty first, one thousand Eight hundred and five, then in sight of the Combined Fleets of France and Spain, distant about Ten Miles. Whereas the Eminent Services of Emma Hamilton, Widow of the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton, have been of the very greatest service to our King and Country, to my knowledge, without her receiving any reward from either our King or Country, first, that she obtained the King of Spain's letter in 1796 to his brother the King of Naples acquainting him of his intention to declare war against England, from which letter the Ministry sent out orders to then Sir John Jervis to strike a stroke, if opportunity offered against cither the Arsenals of Spain or her Fleets ; that neither of these was done is not the fault of Lady Hamilton, the opportunity might have been offered. Secondly, 25 nelson's last diary the British Fleet under my command could never have returned the second time to Egypt had not hady Hamilton's influence with the Queen of Naples caused Letters to be wrote to the Governor of Syracuse, that he was to en- courage the Fleet being supplied with everything should they put into any Port in Sicily. We put into Syracuse and received every supply, went to Egypt, and destroy'd the French Fleet. Could I have rewarded these services I would not now call upon my Country, but as that has not been in my power, I leave Emma Lady Hamilton therefore a Legacy to my King and Countr}^, that they will give her ample pro- vision to maintain her Rank in Life, I also leave to the beneficence of my Country my adopted daughter Horatia Nelson Thompson and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson only. These are the only favours I ask of my King and Country at this moment, when I am going to fight their Battle. May God bless my King and Country, and all those who I hold dear. My Relations it is needless to mention ; they will of course be amply pro- vided for. Nelson and Bronte (Witness) Henry Blackwood T. M. Hardy 36 THE AFFIDAVIT Extracted from the Principal Registry of the Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice. In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, The following is a copy Affidavit annexed to the Will of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson deceased proved nth July, 1806, but forming no part of the Probate. 30TH June, 1806. Appeared Personally the Reverend Alexander John Scott of St. John's College in the University of Cambridge & Vicar of South Minster in the county of Essex Doctor in Divinity and made Oath that he the Deponent on the 21st day of October in the year 1805 & for sometime preceding was Chaplain on board his Majestys Ship Victory one of the Squadron under the Command of the late Right Honorable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson deceased 27 nelson's last diary and this Deponent says that during an Action on the day aforesaid between His said Majesty's Squadron & the Combined Fleets of France & Spain off Trafalgar the said Lord Viscount Nelson having been mortally wounded in the said Action soon after the same happened addressed himself to this Deponent and sayd " I am dying Doctor remember me to Lady Hamilton remember me to Horatia tell Lady * [Hamjilton I have made a will and left her & Horatia a legacy * [to my] Country " And this Deponent says that the said Deceased * [severjal times in the course of the same Day made declaration in the hearing of and to this Deponent to the same effect and having on the same day departed this life he the Deponent was present on board the said Ship with Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy Baronet then Thomas Masterman Hardy Esquire Captain of the said Ship when they found in the escrutoire of the said Deceased a Book wherein amongst other things are the words following to wit October the Twenty first one thousand eight hundred and five then in sight of the Combined Fleets of France and Spain distant about ten miles also the words " I leave Emma Lady Hamilton therefore a legacy to my King and Country that they will give her an ample pro- vision to maintain her Rank in hfe I also leave to the beneficence of my country my adopted daughter Horatia Nelson Thompson " and ending " my relations it is needless to mention they will of course be amply provided for " and thus subscribed " Nelson & Bronte " and this Deponent says that having carefully viewed the Book hereto annexed marked A wherein the * Here a fragment of the paper is missing. 28 nelson's last diary several words before recited appear the same is the identical Book found in the escrutoire aforesaid in the hand writing of the said deceased and that * believes meant & referred to by the deceased and his aforesaid declarations. Same day the said Alexander John Scott Doctor in Divinity aforesaid was duly sworn to the truth hereof. A. J. Scott. Before me. George Ogilvie Surrogate Pre* Geo. Silk. Not. Pub. * Here a few words have been worn out. 29 NOTES 1. Nelson begins at the top of the second side of the first leaf: the first side being blank except for the Doctors' Commons note — " Not to be registered to the words October the twenty first one thousand eight hundred and five, Geo. Silk. Proctor." Which means that the contents thus determined were not officially copied, like the will and other papers. 2. Friday night at half past fen.— In the ' Des- patches ' headed as follows : ' Autograph or facsimile copy in the possession OF P. ToKER, Esq. Friday Night iT,th September.* 3. Ful/Jill.—ln the ' Despatches,' fulfil. Either the facsimile was none, or was inaccurately printed. The Diary itself is of course the only autograph. 4. Bathing machines, instead of from the usual landing place, " to elude the populace," says Southey, " but a crowd collected," etc. — ' Despatches.' 5. Sept. 14///. — In the 'Despatches' the previous heading includes this extract, which is the last one given until Sept. 25th. nelson's last diary 6. Wrote Ly. Hn. — This jotting and its repetitions may be illustrated by ' Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton,' Vol ii., or by the excerpts therefrom given in the ' Despatches.' 7. Vble = Variable. 8. Sepf. 25///. — This entry is headed in the ' Des- patches ' as copied from Dr. Beatty's ' Authentic Narrative of the Death, etc' 2nd edn., the words Wrote Ly. H. and from him being omitted. After this date the 'Despatches' volume contains no extract until the 28th. 9. Sept. 28///. — In the 'Despatches' this entry, taken from Dr. Beatty's ' Narrative,' etc., runs thus : " At noon saw eighteen sail. Nearly calm. In the evening joined the Fleet," etc., the portion from saw nine sail to at one being omitted. And the day is named Sunday 28th September. 10. Septr. 2^th. — His forty-seventh birthday. No further entries in the ' Despatches ' until Octr. 9th. 11. Octr. \st.—ln a letter of this date to Lady Hamilton, Nelson tells her how about four in the morning he had one of his dreadful spasms, " which has almost enervated me. It is very odd ; I was hardly ever better than yesterday. ... I slept un- commonly well, but was awoke with the disorder. . . . However, it is entirely gone off, and I am only weak. . . Perhaps this spasm may not come on again these six months. I had been writing seven hours yester- day ; perhaps that had some hand in bringing it upon me." ' Lord Nelson's Letters, etc' 3i nelson's last diary 12. Octr. ird. — See the note in the text under this date. 13. Octr. gt/i, '■'■the Ndson Touch." — According to a note in the ' Despatches,' Dr. Beatty's ' Narrative ' has " the Nelson truth" and Beatty says that it is to be presumed his Lordship meant the Instructions. . . . But in the above letter to Lady Hamilton Nelson writes : " I joined the Fleet late on the evening of the 28th of September. ... I believe my arrival was most welcome, not only to the Commander of the Fleet, but also to every individual in it ; and when I came to explain to them the Nelson touch, it was like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all approved — It was new — it was singular — it was simple ! ! and, from Admirals downwards it was repeated — It must succeed, if ever they will allow us to get at them " etc. Captain A. T. Mahan in his ' Life of Nelson ' (1899) says of the Nelson Touch: "The expression . . . probably originated in the family circle at Merton. It occurs chiefly, if not wholly, in his letters to Lady Hamilton, to whom, some days before joining the Fleet he wrote : ' I am anxious to join, for it would add to my grief if any other man was to give them the Nelson touch, which We say is warranted never to fail ' ; but there may be a quaint allusion to it in the motto he told Rose he had adopted, Touch and Take." Nelson had written, " I will try to have a Motto — at least it shall be my watchword^ — Touch and Take." The word in the Diary is tonch, beyond doubt. Sir Henry Newbolt has something to say about the 32 nelson's last diary io2uh in his Introduction to Southey's ' Life of Nelson.' No entry now occurs in the ' Despatches ' until the 14th. 14. Octr. \oth. — G Brig i.e. Gun Brig. 15. Oct. \lih. — No entry in the 'Despatches.' 16. Oct. 11 th. — Which I hope is true. The last word is roughly underlined in the Diary, but no one well acquainted with the handwriting would dare attach intention of emphasis to the mark ; for similar, though smaller, strokes of the pen occur in one or two other places where no such intention could have directed them. 17. Oct. \c)th. J/<7^^ ^z^/.—" Directed the fleet," in the extract as quoted in the ' Despatches ' from Clarke and M' Arthur's ' Life of Nelson' (ii. 441). 18. On the 19th Nelson wrote to Lady Hamilton : My Dearest Beloved Emma, the dear friend of my bosom, the signal has been made that the enemies' combined fleet is coming out of port. We have very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them before to-morrow. May the God of Battles crown my endeavours with success. At all events I will take care that my name shall be always most dear to you and to Horatia, both of whom I love as much as my own life ; and as my last writing before the battle will be to you, so I hope to God that I shall live to finish the letter after the battle. May Heaven bless you, prays your Nelson and Bronte. 33 D NELSON S LAST DIARY The words, "as my last writing will be to you," are doubtless the cause, aided by sentiment, that this letter has sometimes been taken for the last writing of any kind from Nelson's pen. In ' Nelson's Legacy,' by Frank Danby (191 5), the letter is introduced with the statement, " He spent the last moments before going on deck to engage in battle, in writing to the love of his life." But the authors omits the important passage, " We have very little wind, so that I have no hopes of seeing them before to-morrow." Continuation of letter dated Octr. 1 9th : — Oct 20th. — In the morning we were close to the Mouth of the Straits, but the wind had not come far enough to the \A'estward to allow the Combined Fleets to weather the Shoals off Trafalgar ; but they were counted as far as forty Sail of Ships of War, which I suppose to be thirty four of the Line and six Frigates. A group of them was seen off the Light- house of Cadiz this morning, but it blows so very fresh and thick weather, that 1 rather believe they will go into Harbour before night. May God Almighty give us success over these fellows, and enable us to get a Peace. [This letter was found open on Lord Nelson's desk, and was brought to Lady Hamilton by Captain Hardy, on his return to England. — ' Despatches.'] The letter to Horatia runs as follows : My Dearest Angel, — I was made happy by the pleasure of receiving your letter of 19th of September, 34 nelson's last diary and I rejoice to hear you are so very good a girl, and love dear Lady Hamilton, who most dearly loves you. Give her a Kiss for me. The combined fleets of the enemy are now reported to be coming out of Cadiz ; and therefore, I answer your letter, my dearest Horatia, to mark to you that you are ever uppermost in my thoughts. I shall be sure of your prayers for my safety, conquest and speedy return to dear Merton, and our dearest good Lady Hamilton. Be a good girl, mind what Miss Connor [her governess] says to you. Receive, my dearest Horatia, the affectionate parental blessing of your father Nelson & Bront£. " His last act, a few minutes before leaving Merton, was to visit and pray over his child." — ' Despatches.' 19. Oct. 20th. — Who first abstracted this half sheet and its fellow ? How did the former come into the possession of J. Wild, Esq., and who annexed the latter? How did Philip Toker, Esq., obtain his " autographs or facsimiles " ? The book passed of necessity through the hands of lawyers and officials : but can any of these responsible gentlemen have been the culprit? Other eyes and fingers were probably busy, by divers sorts of permission, with the precious pages, and the thief doubtless excused himself either by affectionate desire for a relic or by that hankering after romantic objects which some- times stirs the most prosaic mind. Had a leaf been torn from the Codicil itself, the mutilation would inevitably have been noticed and brought home to the offender. But the cautious removal of two 35 D 2 nelson's last diary corresponding half sheets from the purely nautical portion would be likely to elude observation. It is possible, too, that the theft would not in those days have been taken over seriously by any narrowly ofificial mind, seeing that the nautical pages did not of themselves constitute a legal document. 20. Oct. 2\st. — The 'Despatches' Volume gives this entry as from Dr. Beatty, who heads it : Auto- graph or facsimile copy in the possession of Philip Toker, Esq. 21. In illustration of the entry under Oct. 21st a few extracts are appended from various biographical sources : — {a) His Lordship had ascended the poop, to have a better view of both Lines of the British Fleet, and while there, gave particular directions for taking down from his cabin the different fixtures, and for being very careful in removing the portrait of Lady Hamilton. " Take care of my guardian angel," said he, addressing himself to the persons to be employed in this business. Immediately after this he quitted the poop and retired to his cabin for a few minutes, where he wrote the following Prayer and Codicil to his Will . . ." (i.e. the last prayer, etc.)— Beatty's ' Narrative.' {b) Shortly after this — at about eleven o'clock in the morning — he quitted the poop to withdraw to his cabin for a few minutes. Whilst he was below. Lieutenant Pasco, who, though senior lieutenant, acted as signal lieutenant on board the Victory, went to Nelson's cabin to make a report, and also to 36 nelson's last diary prefer a complaint, namely, that at the moment of so glorious an opportunity he despite his seniority, should be doing duty in an inferior station. On entering the cabin the Lieutenant found Nelson on his knees, writing. . , . He was then penning that beautiful prayer, said the Lieutenant. ... I waited until he rose and communicated what I had to report, but could not at such a moment disturb his mind with any grievances of mine. Either before or immediately after Pasco's visit Nelson added that famous Codicil to his will. — ' Horatio Nelson.' W. Clark Russell. (