God send you every success; and send you home, safe and well, crowned with additional laurels!  And then, I hope, you will repose your shattered frame; and make your friends happy, by staying with them.

  Emma

Emma is certainly much better, but not quite free from bile.

Ever, my dear Lord, your Lordship’s most attached, and eternally obliged, humble servant,

  Wm. HAMILTON.

X.

  Piccadilly, April 16th, 1801.

What can I say, my Dear Lord! that would convey the smallest idea of what we felt yesterday, on receiving the authentic letters confirming your late most glorious victory:  and read, in your own hand, that God had not only granted you complete success against the enemies of our country; but, in the midst of such perils, prevented your receiving the smallest scratch!

We can only repeat what we knew well, and often said, before—­that Nelson was, is, and to the last will ever be, the first.

However, we all agree that, when we get you safe home once more—­that you should never more risk your shattered frame.

You have done enough, and are well entitled to the motto of Virgil—­

  “Hic Victor caestus artemque repono.”

The famous Broughton, after he had beaten every opponent, that dared to measure hard blows with him, set up an ale-house—­the Broughton’s Head—­in London, with the above verse of Virgil under it.  Some years after, he was persuaded to accept the challenge of a coachman, and was beaten.

Not that I mean to convey, that any such thing could happen to your Lordship; but, you have done enough.  Let others follow your examples; they will be remembered to the latest posterity.

It appeared to me most extraordinary, that the 6th inst. the date of your last letter to Emma, the death of the Emperor Paul (which we have no doubt of here) should not be known at Copenhagen!

It appears to us that, as soon as that great event is known in Sweden and Denmark, with the severe blow you have just given the latter, the formidable giant, Northern Coalition, will of itself fall to pieces; and that we shall have the happiness of embracing you again here, in a very short time.

You would have laughed to have seen what I saw yesterday! Emma did not know whether she was on her head or heels—­in such a hurry to tell your great news, that she could utter nothing but tears of joy and tenderness.

I went to Davison yesterday morning; and found him still in bed, having had a severe fit of the gout, and with your letter, which he had just received:  and he cried like a child!  But, what was very extraordinary, assured me that, from the instant he had read your letter, all pain had left him, and that he felt himself able to get up and walk about.

Your brother, Mrs. Nelson, and Horace, dined with us.  Your brother was more extraordinary than ever.  He would get up suddenly, and cut a caper; rubbing his hands every time that the thought of your fresh laurels came into his head.