We know that his domestic life had been made irritating and unbearable to his sensitive and highly strung nature, but he found in Emma Hamilton one who played upon his vanity, and made him feel that he was regarded as an idol as well as an idolatrous lover.  He thirsted for reverence and the love of soul for soul, and she, in her own way, gave both with lavish profusion, whereas his wife’s austere indifference to his amazing accomplishments fell upon his large heart like ice, and who can estimate his sufferings before he decided to defy society?  He believed and hoped that he would be exonerated, and became in the sight of Heaven (as he avowed) the husband of a woman who, there can be little doubt, did not keep her honour unstained, but who, to him, was the guiding spirit of his remaining days:  and whatever impressions we may have forced upon us of the liaisons of this noxious creature, there is nothing on record that suggests that he was ever unfaithful to her after the bond of union was made.  Nor does he appear to have been openly charged with illicit intimacy with other women after his marriage to Mrs. Nisbet, other than with Lady Hamilton.

We may talk of his wonderful career being morally blunted, but his own belief in the sanctity of the verbal arrangement was sound to the core, and he hazarded the opprobrium of our stern conventional system.  To him, Lady Hamilton had an enduring charm which influenced his wild, weak, generous soul, and was in fact an inspiration to him.  It is a truism that the life-story of all men has its tragedy and romance, and in this, Nelson’s was only similar to others; and who can help loving his memory?

The Hamiltons lived with him at Merton when he was on leave.  They shared the cost of the home, which Lady Hamilton had, with elaborate, artistic taste, prepared for him.  A document written by Sir William makes it clear that the relations of man and wife were strained at times to breaking-point, for, as he states, “I am old and she in the beauty and vigour of youth”; and then he proceeds:  “I have no complaint to make, but I feel that the whole attention of my wife is given to Lord Nelson and his interest at Merton.”  Obviously, this is the old gentleman’s dull way of expressing his idea that there was a gamble going on with the marriage vow, and then, with delightful simplicity, he nullifies his suspicious thoughts by stating that he well knows the purity of Lord Nelson’s friendship for Emma and himself and that he knows how uncomfortable it would make his Lordship, our best friend, if a separation should take place; therefore he was determined to do all in his power to prevent such an extremity, which would be essentially detrimental to all parties, but would be more sensibly felt by “our dear friend than by us."[3] He is willing to go on provided the expenses do not go on increasing, but as he cannot expect to live many years, every moment is precious to him, and hopes that he may be allowed