It is a sordid story which smears the pages of British History.

Emma lived with the British Ambassador at Naples as his mistress.  He was popular in this city of questionable morals at that time.  She was beautiful and developed remarkable talents as a singer, and was a bright, witty, fascinating conversationalist.  She worked hard at her studies, and became a fluent speaker of the Italian language.  Hamilton had great consideration for her, and never risked having her affronted because of the liaison.  Her singing was a triumph.  It is said she was offered L6,000 to go to Madrid for three years and L2,000 for a season in London.  She invented classic attitudes.  Goethe said that “Sir William Hamilton, after long love and study of art, has at last discovered the most perfect of the wonders of nature and art in a beautiful young woman.  She lives with him, and is about twenty years old.  She is very handsome, and of a beautiful figure.  What the greatest artists have aimed at is shown in perfection, in movement, in ravishing variety.  Standing, kneeling, sitting, lying down, grave or sad, playful, exulting, repentant, wanton, menacing, anxious, all mental states follow rapidly one after another.  With wonderful taste she suits the folding of her veil to each expression, and with the same handkerchief makes every kind of head-dress.  The Old Knight holds the Light for her, and enters into the exhibition with his whole soul.”  Sir William had twelve of the “Representations” done by a German artist named Frederick Rehberg, entitled “Drawings faithfully copied from Nature at Naples.”

Hamilton married Emma in 1791 in England, and when they returned to Naples she was presented to the Queen, and ultimately became on intimate terms with Her Majesty of Naples, whose questionable morals were freely spoken of.  Emma quickly attained a high social standing, but it is doubtful whether she exercised that influence over the Queen of which she liked to boast.

In September, 1793, Nelson was at Naples by orders, and was the guest of the Hamiltons for a few days.  He had not been there for five years, yet the precious Emma, without decorum or ceremony, sent him a written whirlwind of congratulations on the occasion of his victory at the Nile.  Every line of the letter sends forth crackling sparks of fiery passion.  She begins, “My dear, dear Sir,” tells him she is delirious, that she fainted and fell on her side, “and am hurt,” when she heard the joyful news.  She “would feel it a glory to die in such a cause,” but she cannot die until she has embraced “the Victor of the Nile.”  Then she proceeds to describe the transports of Maria Carolina.  “She fainted too, cried, kissed her husband, her children, walked, frantic with pleasure, about the room, cried, kissed and embraced everybody near her.”  Then she continues, “Oh! brave Nelson!  Oh!  God bless and protect our brave deliverer!  Oh!  Nelson, Nelson!  Oh!  Victor!  Oh! that my swollen heart could now tell him personally what we owe to him.  My dress from head to foot is Allah Nelson.  My earrings are Nelson’s anchors.”  She sends him some sonnets, and avers that she must have taken a ship to “send all what is written on you.”  And so she goes on, throwing herself into his arms, metaphorically speaking, at every sentence.