of Napoleon, Ney, Berthier,
Junot, Joseph, Lucien, Louis and Jerome Bonaparte, Murat, Caroline, the
youngest sister of Napoleon, Cardinal Fesch, Marie Louise, etc., fetched
but 76 pounds, and, on the other days' sales, the lots went for far under
their value.

My readers may possibly remember how, on 8 Dec., 1900, a number of Nelson
relics in the Painted Hall, at Greenwich Hospital, were stolen, during
the night, by a burglar, who escaped; and may like to know the story of
Nelson's coat. The _Times_ of 9 July, copies the following from the
_Spectator_:

"An interesting relic of Nelson has been discovered; and some
interest also attaches to the manner in which it has been secured to
the nation. Sir Harris Nicolas, in his laborious researches for
editing the hero's Despatches, had satisfied himself that the coat
and waistcoat which Nelson wore when he fell at Trafalgar, were
carefully preserved. In pursuance of the Admiral's directions, they
were given, with several other things, by Sir Thomas Hardy, his
captain, to Lady Hamilton; by her, they were transferred, under
peculiar circumstances, to a late alderman of London, and they
remained in the possession of the alderman's widow. The lady is not
rich, and she asked 150 pounds for the relic. This sum being beyond
his own means, Sir Harris determined to raise it by subscription, in
order that the coat and waistcoat might be deposited, like the coat
which Nelson wore at the battle of the Nile, in Greenwich Hospital.
With that view, he put the proposition in writing, and had it printed
as a circular. Before issuing this circular, however, he sent a copy
to Prince Albert, who immediately desired that the purchase might be
made for himself, as he should feel 'pride and pleasure' in
presenting the precious memorials to Greenwich Hospital. Sir Harris
Nicolas took them to the Royal purchaser on Wednesday; and we
understand that the Prince manifested a very fine feeling on the
occasion. There is kind and generous wisdom in this act; for nothing
could so help to identify the Queen's husband with the British
people, as such little tributes to their maritime pride. The coat is
thus described in Sir Harris Nicolas's circular, and it will be seen
that it has an historic value: 'The coat is the undress uniform of a
vice-admiral, lined with white silk, with lace on the cuf