, in company with his inseparable
friends, Sir William and Lady Hamilton. The Queen of Naples went with
them to Vienna. While they were at Leghorn, upon a report that the
French were approaching (for, through the folly of weak courts and the
treachery of venal cabinets, they had now recovered their ascendancy
in Italy), the people rose tumultuously, and would fain have persuaded
Nelson to lead them against the enemy. Public honours, and yet more
gratifying testimonials of public admiration, awaited Nelson wherever
he went. The Prince of Esterhazy entertained him in a style of Hungarian
magnificence--a hundred grenadiers, each six feet in height, constantly
waiting at table. At Madgeburgh, the master of the hotel where he was
entertained contrived to show him for money--admitting the curious to
mount a ladder, and peep at him through a small window. A wine merchant
at Hamburgh, who was above seventy years of age, requested to speak with
Lady Hamilton; and told her he had some Rhenish wine, of the vintage of
1625, which had been in his own possession more than half-a-century: he
had preserved it for some extraordinary occasion; and that which had now
arrived was far beyond any that he could ever have expected. His request
was, that her ladyship would prevail upon Lord Nelson to accept six
dozen of this incomparable wine: part of it would then have the honour
to flow into the heart's blood of that immortal hero; and this thought
would make him happy during the remainder of his life. Nelson, when this
singular request was reported to him, went into the room, and taking
the worthy old gentleman kindly by the hand, consented to receive six
bottles, provided the donor would dine with him next day. Twelve were
sent; and Nelson, saying that he hoped yet to win half-a-dozen more
great victories, promised to lay by six bottles of his Hamburgh friend's
wine, for the purpose of drinking one after each. A German pastor,
between seventy and eighty years of age, travelled forty miles, with the
Bible of his parish church, to request that Nelson would write his name
on the first leaf of it. He called him the Saviour of the Christian
world. The old man's hope deceived him. There was no Nelson upon shore,
or Europe would have been saved; but in his foresight of the horrors
with which all Germany and all Christendom were threatened by France,
the pastor could not possibly have apprehended more than has actually
taken place.

CHAPTER VII