Admiral would let him recreate for a fortnight, and send Hardy to me
again.

II.

My Dear Madam,

I had the honour of writing to your Ladyship and Sir William, by the
Vanguard; since which, I have read the few lines you had the goodness
to address to me at the bottom of Lord Nelson's letter of the 9th
inst.

I cannot entertain any hopes of personally paying my respects to you
and Sir William, before your departure for England; but, be assured,
that I can never forget the very flattering attention you have both
been pleased to honour me with.

You must wait a month longer, for the warm weather; otherwise, the
transition may be too great for Sir William.

We are anxiously waiting for the Maltese deputies to return from
Palermo. The inhabitants are critically situated; but, I hope, all
will end well. Good news from you will determine it.

I find, that you fascinate all the navy as much at Palermo as you
did at Naples. If we had many such advocates, every body would be a
candidate for our profession.

God bless, and protect, you and Sir William. May prosperous gales
attend you! May you live a thousand years!

Believe me, with sincere respect and esteem, my dear Madam, your
Ladyship's most devoted and obliged servant,

ALEXANDER JOHN BALL.

23d February 1799.

Letters

FROM THE

EARL OF BRISTOL,

_Bishop of Derry, in Ireland_,

TO

LADY HAMILTON.

Letters OF THE EARL OF BRISTOL, _Bishop of Derry, &c_.

I.

Naples, Sunday Morning,
[1795.]

I return you the inclosed, my Dearest Emma, which does equal honour
to the excellent head and heart of the writer. I shall begin, for the
first time of my life, to have a good opinion of myself, after such
honourable testimonials.

In the mean time, I send you an extraordinary piece of news, just
written me from Ratisbon--a courier from the Elector of Mentz,
desiring _the Empire_ to make a separate peace with France.

Couriers have been sent from the Diet to Sweden and Denmark, desiring
their mediation: "and it is clear," says my letter, "_Somebody_ is at
the bottom of all this; the Elector of Mentz only lends his name."

The suburbs of Warsaw taken; the capitulation of the city daily
expected.

The King of Prussia totally retired beyond Potsdam, and supposed to be
at the eve of madness.

Oh! Emma, who'd ever be wise,
If madness be loving of thee.

B.