t altogether unworthy the hero whose life it
records, is the utmost that his present biographer can reasonably hope
to accomplish. Even this, he freely confesses, he must have despaired of
ever effecting, had he not been indulgently honoured by the kindest
communications from some whose near affinity to the immortal
Nelson, is evidently more than nominal; who not only have the
same blood flowing in their veins, but whose hearts possess a large
portion of the same unbounded goodness, generosity, and honour: as well
as from other dear and intimate friends, professional and private, who
were united to his Lordship by the closest ties of a tender reciprocal
amity.

Encouraged by such generous aids, the author may be allowed to boast
that he has, at least, a considerable store of novelties to offer: it
will be for the public to judge, on perusing the work, how far he has
succeeded in making a suitable arrangement of the excellent information
acknowledged to have been thus bountifully and benignantly afforded him.

Particular acknowledgments will be seen in the preface, to such of the
family and friends of Lord Nelson as may have generously assisted the
researches of the author; the number of whom are likely, from obvious
circumstances, to be considerably augmented during the progress of the
work.

It may seem scarcely necessary to add, that the preface, though always
placed, as the very name imports, at the beginning of a book, is usually
the last part printed.

* * * * *

PREFACE.

There are few works, the authors of which can possibly be permitted to
recommend them as worthy of universal regard, without the imputation of
intolerable vanity; an imputation little likely to be diminished by the
consideration, that other writers, over whom a decided preference is
claimed, may have previously occupied the same subject.

A Life of Lord Nelson, however, replete with original anecdotes, many of
them from the mouths of his lordship's nearest and dearest relatives and
friends, with whom the author has, for many months, been honoured with
an almost constant communication; and abounding in a profusion of
interesting letters, and extracts of letters, written by the hero
himself, which have generously flowed in, from all quarters, to aid the
biographer; he may surely, without the charge of presumption, these
facts being self-evident on the slightest inspection, be allowed to
assert, must n