as a mother, and their daughter had been almost exclusively under her care for education for six years.  The Earl kept the codicil in his pocket until the day 120,000l. was voted for him by the House of Commons.  On that day he dined with Lady Hamilton in Clarges Street, and learning at table what had been done, he brought forth the codicil, and throwing it to Lady Hamilton, coarsely said, she might now do with it as she pleased.”—­Pettigrew’s Memoirs of Nelson, ii. 624, 625.  Lady Hamilton took the paper to Doctors’ Commons, where it stands registered as a codicil to Nelson’s will.  A knowledge of these circumstances is necessary to the full understanding of our correspondents communication.]

Sir,—­The following letters may be found interesting as illustrative of the private history of Lord Nelson, to which public attention has been strongly drawn of late by the able work of Mr. Pettigrew.  The letters were addressed by Earl Nelson to the Rev. A.J.  Scott, the friend and chaplain of the fallen hero.

    18, Charles Street, Berkeley Square,

    Dec. 2. 1805.

Dear Sir,—­I am this day favoured with your obliging letter of October 27.[3] The afflicting intelligence you designed to prepare me for had arrived much sooner; but I am duly sensible of the kind motive which inducted this mark of your attention and remembrance.

The King has been pleased to command that his great and gallant servant shall be buried with funeral honours suitable to the splendid services he rendered to his country, and that the body shall be conveyed by water to Greenwich, in order to be laid in state.  For myself I need not say how anxious I am to pay every tribute of affection and of respect to my honoured and lamented brother’s remains.  And it affords me great satisfaction to learn your intention of accompanying them till deposited in their last earthly mansion.  The coffin made of the L’Orient’s mast will be sent to Greenwich to await the arrival of the body, and I hope there to have an opportunity of making my acknowledgments in person.

    Believe me, dear Sir,

    Your faithful friend, and obedient humble servant,

    NELSON.
{37}
    I beg the favour of your transmitting to me by the first safe
    opportunity such of my dear brother’s papers (not of a public
    nature) as are under your care, and of making for me (with my
    sincere regards and kind compliments) to Captain Hardy the like
    request.

    Please to let me hear from you the moment you arrive at Portsmouth
    and direct to me as above, when I will send you any further
    directions I may have received from ministers.

    18 Charles Street, Berkeley Square,

    Dec. 6. 1805.

My dear Sir,—­I have this moment received your kind letter.  I do not know I can add any thing to my former letter to you, or to what I have written to Captain Hardy.  I will speak fully to Mr. Chevalier[4] before he leaves me.

    Your faithful and obliged humble servant,