Liverpool a few years since: by an old stagerAspinall, James
History
Liverpool a few years since: by an old stager
Aspinall, James
Liverpool (England) -- Biography; Liverpool (England) -- History
And now, as we bring our reminiscences to a conclusion, we must not omit
to chronicle that, three times since memory and observation dawned within
us, we have seen Liverpool overwhelmed by grief and sorrow. The first of
these occasions was when the intelligence arrived of the death of Nelson,
in achieving the greatest of his great victories, that of Trafalgar. As
a sailor, and the chief of sailors, he was an especial favourite in this
seaport town. His name was among our “household words.” His life, a
thousand romances in one reality, was the popular theme at every table,
and round every fire. Wellington was in the bud then, and all the talk
was of Nelson, Nelson, nothing but Nelson. When, therefore, the account
of his death was received, there was not a man in Liverpool but wished
with all his heart and soul that the battle had been unfought, and the
victory unwon, and the departed hero yet alive and spared to us. It
seemed, so intense was the feeling of regret, as if the destroying angel
had again passed through the land, as of old through Egypt, and taken one
from every house. Grief was in every family, lamentation in every
circle, sorrow on every countenance. These feelings were the more
intense in Liverpool, inasmuch as the intelligence of the hero’s death
followed close upon a letter from himself, in which he announced his
intention, as he had never yet seen “the good old town,” of paying it a
visit, as soon as he had “settled his small account” with the French and
Spanish fleets, which he was then blockading in Cadiz. How uncertain are
the events of this life! We wept the hero dead, whom we hoped to welcome
in all the pride and brilliancy of his glory! The envelope containing
the letter in which the announcement alluded to was made, hung for many a
long year, in a splendid frame, in the dining-room of Mr. J. B. Aspinall,
of Duke-street. But there are hero-worshippers yet surviving, who look
up to Nelson as their idol. A few months since we entered a cottage in a
remote district, far from Liverpool. Our eye at once settled upon an
autograph, framed and suspended against the wall. It was Nelson’s
handwriting. The owner of the house entered as we were gazing at it, and
seeing how we were employed, remarked, “That is the greatest treasure I
possess. Nothing on earth should separate me from it while I live.” We
looked at the man, who seemed not to have a spark of enthusiasm in his
composition on any other subject; but, upon talking to him, we found that
his whole soul was wrapped up in adoration of the memory of Nelson. We
may not wonder, then, when such a feeling is found to exist now, at the
burst of enthusiasm which echoed through the nation during the life, and
at the death, of the popular idol; and what a subscription was raised for
a monument to the mighty and fallen hero! And what collections were made
in all our churches for the widows and orphans of the brave defenders of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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