“I was too much affected when we met at Bath,” wrote she to Mr. Matcham, Nelson’s brother-in-law, “to say every particular in which was always displayed the infinite cleverness and goodness of heart of our dearly beloved Hero.  As a woman, I can only be a judge of those things that I could comprehend—­such as his attention to the young gentlemen who had the happiness of being on his quarter-deck.  It may reasonably be supposed that among the number of thirty, there must be timid as well as bold; the timid he never rebuked, but always wished to show them he desired nothing of them that he would not instantly do himself:  and I have known him say, ’Well, Sir, I am going a race to the masthead, and beg I may meet you there.’  No denial could be given to such a wish, and the poor fellow instantly began his march.  His Lordship never took the least notice with what alacrity it was done, but when he met in the top, instantly began speaking in the most cheerful manner, and saying how much a person was to be pitied that could fancy there was any danger, or even anything disagreeable, in the attempt.  After this excellent example, I have seen the timid youth lead another, and rehearse his captain’s words.  In like manner, he every day went into the school-room, and saw them do their nautical business, and at twelve o’clock he was the first upon deck with his quadrant.  No one there could be behindhand in their business when their captain set them so good an example.  One other circumstance I must mention which will close the subject, which was the day we landed at Barbadoes.  We were to dine at the Governor’s.  Our dear captain said, ’You must permit me, Lady Hughes, to carry one of my aid-de-camps with me;’ and when he presented him to the Governor, he said, ’Your Excellency must excuse me for bringing one of my midshipmen, as I make it a rule to introduce them to all the good company I can, as they have few to look up to besides myself during the time they are at sea.’  This kindness and attention made the young people adore him; and even his wishes, could they have been known, would have been instantly complied with.”

The charm and wisdom of such a bearing is patent; but it was the natural character of the man that thus shone out, and no mere result of conscientious care.  To the last, through all his ill-health, anxiety, and sufferings, the same genial sweetness of manner, the outcome of an unaffected, cordial good-will to all, was shown to those who came in contact with him.  Captain Duff, who met him for the first time three weeks before Trafalgar, and who fell in the battle, wrote to his wife in almost the same words as Lady Hughes:  “You ask me about Lord Nelson, and how I like him.  I have already answered that question as every person must do that ever served under him.  He is so good and pleasant a man, that we all wish to do what he likes, without any kind of orders.  I have been myself very lucky with most of my admirals, but I really think the present