The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 2Harrison, James
History
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 2
Harrison, James
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805
battle of Aboukir, he should have had a principality, so that Blenheim
Park should have been only as a kitchen garden to it! The tears came
into his eyes, and he shook Sir William and me by the hand; saying, that
he was content to have done his duty by the country, and the people,
that he loved, and he hoped we should ever approve his conduct; but
that, yet, he had not half done, for there were two or three beds of
laurels in the Mediterranean to be gathered."
It was in this way, that these exalted friends of their country, and of
each other, consoled themselves on all occasions, where they met with
any of that incivility or ingratitude, which few persons of eminent
worth fail to experience in the world. That the Duke of Marlborough
should have come forward, and welcomed the hero to Blenheim, cannot
well be disputed; but his grace, who is said to be of a shy and retiring
disposition, could not, it seems probable, prevail on himself to forego
the ceremonials of introductory etiquette, and might thus give
considerable offence to his lordship and friends, without intending them
the smallest personal disrespect.
The party, next morning, set off for Gloucester, where they were
received with the usual demonstrations of joy, by all ranks of the
inhabitants. The bells were immediately rung; and multitudes eagerly
crouded before the King's Head Inn, to view the hero who had atchieved
so much for his country. During the party's short stay, they visited the
cathedral, and the county prison, with both of which his lordship
expressed himself highly pleased; particularly, with the extent and
convenience of the latter, and the described system of it's internal
regulations. On Sunday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Matcham, with their son,
returned to Bath; while his lordship, and the remainder of his party,
proceeded to Ross.
They entered this town amidst bell-ringing, and the acclamations of the
people; and, after breakfasting at the Swan Inn, where horses had been
ordered to convey them to Monmouth, finding they might be accommodated
with boats, and preferring the excursion by water, for the sake of
viewing the beautiful scenery on the banks of the Wye, they walked
through the beautiful gardens belonging to Walter Hill, Esq. to the
banks of that river, attended by a vast number of people, who decorated
the boat provided for his lordship and friends with laurels, and
exhibited every other demonstration of respect and joy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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