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
Nothing particular occurred to the party, after leaving Brecon, till
they arrived at Milford; where the hero of the Nile, and his friends,
were received with enthusiastic rapture. Sir William Hamilton had not,
for many years, visited his numerous tenants; and they were proud to
behold their paternal friend leagued in so strict an amity with the
first hero in the world. Sir William was delighted to see his dear
friend at Milford, and to shew him off to every body; and every body was
charmed with the pleasing affability of the illustrious hero. Lord
Nelson often mentioned his progress through South Wales to Milford, as
an affecting contrast of the genuine enthusiasm of natural character, to
the cold expression of ministerial approbation by which his reception
had been marked on his return from the Mediterranean, when Lord Keith
was sent to take the chief command of the fleet in those seas. The
corporate towns, villages, nobility, and gentry, on the line through
which his route was directed, vied with each other to detain him, that
their neighbours might participate in the joy they felt on the arrival
of the hero. In many places, it was not possible to avoid their generous
importunity; and these kind attentions, which so honourably testified
national gratitude, were accepted, by his lordship, as the most
gratifying recompences of his public service.
The 1st of August being made the great day at Milford, the Honourable
Mr. Greville had invited all the nobility and gentry of the county of
Pembroke to welcome the hero and his friends at this intended annual
festival. A rowing match, fair day, and shew of cattle, were established
for ever at Milford, in honour of the victory off the Nile. All the most
respectable families twenty miles round, with a prodigious concourse of
the humbler classes, came to see their beloved hero. Mr. Bolton, his
lordship's brother-in-law, too, determined to be present on the
occasion, arrived at Milford, that very morning, from Norfolk. It
proved, all together a most interesting scene. After dinner, Lord
Nelson, with admirable address, gave "Captain Foley!" as his toast: a
friend and brother officer, he said, than whom there was not a braver or
a better man in his majesty's service. He had been with him in all his
chief battles; deserved to participate in every honour; and was, his
lordship had the pleasure to add, in that respectable company, not only
a Welshman, but a native of the county of Pembroke. It need scarcely be
added, that this toast, so honourable both to his lordship and Captain
Foley, and so gratifying to the principality and county, was received,
and drank, with the most rapturous delight. At this public meeting, they
had also the high satisfaction to hear, from his lordship's lips, the
result of his judicious observations on the matchless harbour which that
county embosoms. Lord Nelson had fully examined it's entrance, and its
qualities; and now declared, that he considered Milford Haven, and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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