Wel. Why --why, to keep in office, to be sure. I see, Nelson, you are not awake to the desperate lengths men of the present day will go to enable them to take up their quarters in Downing-street. I assure you Nelson, you would hardly believe the baseness they will not stoop to, to hold the pursestrings of the nation and fix their teeth in the carcase of John Ball. The Whigs would bid as high as revolution for office. Nel. Fox would not. Wel. No; Fox would never have gone so far as to entice a British officer to take the command of a Brummagem mob. Nel. No, that I believe. Your leading men of the present day appear indeed to be Brummagem. I can hardly expect such selfish men would think of my services or provide for my dear girl. Wel. Nelson! Nelson! pray do not revive that painful subject, or Nel. I must and will, however unpleasant it is to you to hear it. What a mockery to talk of my victories, and how at last I was carried away in a "flaming chariot of glory," and for my dear girl to go unprovided for. I overheard a workman tell another that you had a million of plate; I hardly had enough for my use; that you had fifty monuments, and mine not finished,--but this Iould not mind (as I have learned the vanity of marble) had they taken care of Horatia, and not let poor Lady Hamilton want bread. Wel. Nelson, I cannot stand this: could I have foreseen your reproaches I would have been quietly buried at Strathfieldsaye, I was half inclined so to do. I am paying dear for the honour of having my body dragged through the streets of London by twelve dray-horses. Nel. Dray horses! Wel. Yes; so I overheard. It does seem something like retributive justice, for in a evil hour I left my body to be disposed of as my Sovereign might desire; and, after saying as much as that, her Majesty had no choice but to send me here, I have no doubt to the great delight of the sight-seers and the shopkeepers in the line of march. Nel. The shopkeepers! In what way did they benefit? Wel. In what way?-why, in a way Nelson most pleasing to shopkeepers to put money into their pocket. I heard a labourer say some of them cleared enough to pay their year's rent. Nel. Quite a God-send to them. Wel. Just so. The liberal electors of Westminster and London, who abused me when living, did not hesitate to extract something from me when dead. Nel I understand, from the Iron Duke they extracted gold Wel. Exactly so, Nelson. Nel. Although they called you the Iron Duke, I have no doubt they considered you precious metal. Wel. I assure you they have often put me on my metal. Nel. I overheard a person remark, that you would have been a greater man, had you fallen at Waterloo. Wel. That is a matter of opinion, Nelson-I am aware many persons have expressed such an opinion, but it was my fate to survive that great conflict. I can say with truth, Nelson, I have never covetted office for the sake of its emoluments. My deeds are now a matter of history, and I trust posterity will judge me fairly. On the score of duty I have nothing to regret. In the field or in council, duty to my country has ever guided me. I am aware as a soldier, I have been thought too severe, but were I again on earth a British soldier under my command should never be permitted to degenerate into a Brigand. No, no, Nelson! Had I permitted that, I am doubtful if I should now be at anchor alongside of you. Discipline carried me through Spain; it made the British soldier respected; and even in France, Nelson, the people hailed us as deliverers. Nel. In France ! Wel. Yes, in France, the British soldier was cheered, and, I may say, honoured! Had the British army been freebooters, Nelson, we should have met with a different reception. Nel. No doubt of it-strange that poor Lady Hamilton should have been obliged to seek a refuge in France; how was it, Wellington? Wel. I have heard, to escape the importunities of her creditors. Nel. I feared as much, unhappy lady! After rendering snch service to England, to ask bread of Frenchmen-what a triumph for France! Wel. Nelson, don't let that disturb you; not one Frenchman in ten thousand are aware that the remains of Lady Hamilton repose in Franee; and if all France knew it it is a poor set off against the thrashing you gave them at the Nile and Trafalgar. Come, coine, Nelson, be a philosopher as well as a hero, “what is done, cannot be undone." Cheer up, cheer up, we can only now use the language of the Roman Catholics, and "pray for the repose of her soul." Nel. Amen, Amen. Wel: One Amen more Nelson. The prayer you wrote before the battle of Trafalgar concludes with THREE AMENS. Nel. Three-then the lubbers have added one-ah, Wellington, tho, half a century has passed away, I well remember that prayer I wrote in the Victory. Wel. Pray repeat it. Nel."May the great God whom I worship, grant to my beloved country. and to Europe, a great and glorious victory. And may humanity after victory prevail in every ship under my command. As for myself, I cmmend my life to him who gave it me-and may he bless my endeavours to serve my country. To him I resign myself, and the cause I am entrusted to defend.-Amen, amen." There you see I only spliced a couple of amens to my yarn. Wel. Soi seems; your memory is first-rate Nelson-I cannot recollect. Wel. Ha, ha! Nelson, you want to get me in a fix; as a DOCTOR OF LAWS I ought to know I am not bound to crimminate myself. Nel. Bravo, Wellington-I like you for your candour. Wel. Suffice it to say, Nelson that the great God who in common with you I worshipped, did grant to my country and to Europe a great victory; and in his great mercy to me did prolong my life, to witness and to aid, by my humble advice, in maintaining the peace that victory secured to my country and to Europe. Nel. How long since the battle of Waterloo? Wel. About thirty-seven years. Nel. What became of Bonaparte? Wel. He was banished at St. Helena, and I assure you, Nelson, it required all my energy and influence to save his life. Marshal Blucher, a brave old fellow who commanded the Prussian army at Waterloo, was for taking his life, on the ground that the peace of Europe could never be safe while he was at large. urged a milder course, banishment to St. Helena, which was carried out. Nel. And did he die there? Wel. He did-but to gratify France, Louis Philippe, who was a sort o Citizen King, solicited the British government to permit his remains to be brought to France. He had a grand public funeral-a splendid car. Nel. What he drawn in a car-then you and I are not the only carmen. It seems rather strange that, notwithstanding the severe thrashings you and I gave him, that he should have been drawn in a car. Many better men have not only been drawn, but quartered. Then after all our doings, Wellington, as regards a public funeral-Jack's as good as his master. Wel. Perfectly so, Nelson. I suppose we shall be designated the "THREE.. ILLUSTRIOUS CARMEN OF THE 19TH CENTURY." Nel. What be classed with that Corsican tyrant-I wish I could be uncar'd if I may be allowed the expression. CARmen indeed-shiver my topsails, if I would not sooner be a Hackney Coachman. If that Marshal Blucher, you spoke of, had had his will, I expect the Corsican would have had a public execution instead of a public funeral. Wel. No doubt of it, Nelson; I may say without vanity I saved his life, and how do you think he showed his gratitude? Nel. How! why perhaps attempting to cut your throat. Wel. Nelson, you have hit the mark-he actually pensioned a scoundrel who made an attempt to assassinate me while I was in Paris. Nel. The villain ! a fine subject for a public funeral. France, I find, is still the same; they have not gained much by their revolution. Wel. They have had two more revolutions since you left the earth. Just Published, price Two-pence!-ROMANISM IN LONDON—A PRIEST'S CONFESSION WITH ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE. Nel. The deuce they have! who governs now? Wel. A nephew of Bonaparte; he was ascending the Throne at the moment I was descending to your berth. Nel. Remarkable indeed. You and seem to have lived in vain; a Bona parte still on the French throne, Wellington? There seems to have been bad management somewhere. Do you attend to your Navy? or is Britannia like my poor girl,-discarded? Wel. We have now a steam Navy, Nelson. The engineer has superseded the Admiral; the engine and boiler take the place of the wooden walls; and the 66 serew propeller" and "horse-power" are now the chief attributes of our Navy. Nel. Horse-power! Wel. Yes, horse-power, Nelson. Nel. You're joking, Wellington. Wel. Nelson, this is not a place for joking; it is a fact I assure you; future victories at sea will depend on our boilers more than "hearts of oak.” Nel. It is possible then, that Britannia will often be in hot water? Wel There's little to fear on her account, Nelson; steam or sails, I've no doubt Britannia will still "rule the waves." Nel. I'm glad to hear that. Wel. Your name still has a charm. Nel. I wish it had a charm in a certain quarter, and provide for my dear girl. My poor Horatia cannot live on a charmed name. the workmen remark, that I had not been well treated. Wel. Nelson! Nelson! 1 overheard one of Nel. It's no use messmate-I must give vent to my feelings, By what I overheard, England rewards her military services in a different fashion from those of her Navy. What noise is that? Wel. It's the workmen. Nel. Hark! that carpenter is quoting Lord Byron : "The Prince is now all for the land service, I should like to shake that fellows hand. A noble fellow, that Byron! What Wel. To the Prince of Wales, when Regent. Nel. It appears Byron spoke the truth, not only as regards the Prince of Wales, but his brothers. The land service seems completely to have cast into the shade the British navy." Wel. Not entirely so, Nelson. Lord Byron had a strong prejudice against the Fourth George. He was also very severe upon me because I did not interfere to save the life of Marshel Ney. Nel. Who was Ney. Wel. One of Bonaparte's Marshals. After the allied armies took possession of France in 1814, Bonaparte was sent to isle of Elba, and Lewis the eighteenth was restored the French Throne. In short time Bonaparte escaped from Elba, and entered France. Louis the eighteenth sent Marshal Ney in command of an army to drive him back; instead of which, Ney joined him and brought him back to Paris. After the battle of Waterloo, Ney was tried for this act of treason, found guilty and shot; and as I before told you, Lord Byron, (and many others) have strongly censured me for not interfering to save Ney's life. I considered it an act of foul treason, and consequently refused to interfere. Had Ney done his duty, the battle of Waterloo would not have been fought. Nel. And you perhaps, not stowed in this berth. Wel. Very possible, Nelson. It is by no means a desirable berth; but such as it is, you and I may thank SAINT Napoleon for it. Nel. Saint who? Wel. Napoleon--Bonaparte-they have created him a Saint. Nel. He a Saint! Shiver my topsails, then, if he's not one of these saints. who deserve to be cannonaded rather than canonized! Second Part now Ready. VOICE FROM THE TOMB! A DIALOGUE BETWEEN NELSON AND WELLINGTON, OVERHEARD AT ST. PAUL'S. SECOND PART. LONDON: D. PATTIE, CHRISTOPHER COURT, ST. MARTINS-LE-GRAND), AND SOLD BY M. A. PATTIE, 110, SHOE LANE, FLEET STREET. PRICE ONE PENNY. A VOICE FROM THE TOMB A DIALOGUE BETWEEN NELSON & WELLINGTON, OVERHEARD AT ST. PAUL'S. Wel. Good, Nelson, good, rather a disgrace to the calendar. Nel. More fit for the Newgate Calendar-what became of his wife Josephine? Wel. He put her away under the pretence that she gave him no heir to the throne. Nel. The scoundrel ! Wel. His real motive was to ally himself with one of the great powers. Nel. But here he was mistaken. Wel. Not at all, Nelson. Nel. But, surely, neither of the great powers, as you call them, would consent to give their daughter to the Corsican usurper! Wel. Indeed they did Nelson, Austria consented. Nel. Is it possible! Wel. Perfectly so, the Emperor of Austria consented, and gave his daughter Maria Louise, about nineteen years of age, to play the painful part of FRENCH EMPRESS. Nel. Painful, indeed—and did she produce France an heir. Wel. She did; and Buonaparte pompously styled it "King of Rome," Wel. It seemed a retributive justice on Buonaparte, for putting away Josephine, who was an excellent woman, and most devoted wife-the King of Rome died in his boyhood. Nel. And did his marriage with the Daughter of the Emperor of Austria secure him the friendship of that power? Wel. Not in the least, Nelson-Austria took part with the other powers in putting him down. Nel. And did Maria Louise follow him to St. Helena? Wel. Oh, no! Nel. I suppose this marriage was not what is called an affair of the heart, or she would have shared his captivity. Wel. Just so, Nelson; her heart had little to do with it-the young creature was flattered by being transformed into the " Empress of the French," but she evinced no desire to play the devoted heroine in the romance of the exile. |